Is it okay to start with The Wind-Up Bird?
Although Iām currently settled into an Ann Tyler, which feels like a soft bed with a down comforter.
Start anywhere - heās a very weird, whimsical writer who doesnāt really offer much in the way of plot.
Heās vaguely like a Japanese Fredrick Backmanā¦.
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Boy do you know how to sell it. 
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Iām not sure Anne Tyler is a big believer in plots, either. We just sort of meander along, observing the mundane things that make life soā¦life-y. Vaguely like a female Fredrick Backman.
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Iāve finished all 34 of John Sandfordās āpreyā novels (each book has prey in the title, like toxic prey, silent prey, twisted prey, etc.) & Iāve now started on his spin-off novels, the Virgil Flowers novels, currently reading āDeep Freezeā.
If you really enjoy gritty murder/thriller mystery novels, give this author a try. Every person whom Iāve recommended to read this author (John Sandford) has really enjoyed these novels. The writing is fast paced and you will find yourself looking up at the clock and wondering āDamn? Iāve been reading this now for 3 hours?ā I also enjoy the way the author will often tell the story from the point of view of the same protagonist in all novels, Detective Lucas Davenport, but he will also narrate from the point of view of the killer. Sometimes he simply refers to the killer as he/she, and other times he will use their actual name, but you get to see how the killer reacts to all the various events during Davenportās investigation and watch them get closer and closer to each other in a building climax.
Best part, there are quite a few novels to keep you busy if you decide you enjoy reading this author.
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Itās the way they tell āem
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Well, they got added to my reading list,so you sold them well enough. Lol.
Was your comment in reference to the John Sandford novels I discussed? If so, grab the first 2 or 3 novels on Amazon (the paperbacks are really cheap on Amazon, although I prefer hardbacks, and do not like Kindle/electronic so I cannot comment on that, but Iām sure thatās available too) & give them a shot. If that genre is what you enjoy, youāll burn through that first book in no time and then youāll be glad you have 1 or 2 more handy because you will want to get started on the next one ASAP. Oh, last, I DO recommend you read them in order because there are usually references to previous cases, not to mention you get to follow along Lucas Davenportās character development and his work/personal relationships as well.
Please let me know what you think when you read his prey novels.
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Since Iāve finished all of John Sandfordās novels, Iām going to try out a new author, Iāve got my fingers crossed that these novels are just as good. The author is James Lee Burke and his gritty murder/mystery detective series are called the āDave Robicheauxā series; the cases take place in Louisiana I think. I just googled authors similar to John Sandford and after reading awhile, the general concensus was this author and this specific series. I grabbed the first 2 novels off Amazon, āThe Neon Rainā and āHeavenās Prisonersā so Iāll begin soon. There are a bunch in this series and they go way back, time-wise. The first novel has a copyright for 1987, and they go all the way up to present day.
If anyone has read these novels, please LMK what you think. Thanks
I read some Prey books a long time ago. Entertaining. Didnāt the first one have him making all his money from a table top game like D&D, and then the later books said it was from a video game?
I will give them a shot. Been looking for something to grab my attention and I do love a good series. Iāll order the first 3 and let you know when I get a few under my belt. Thanks for the suggestion.
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Close, Davenport invented some sort of police situational training simulator game, copyrighted it, and ended up selling it to a bunch of PDās across the country and became super rich. Then he kept kicking everyoneās ass, as a wealthy detective, then BCA agent, then Federal Marshall.
Iām such a book nerd that Iām excited FOR YOU to read this series. I will warn you, once you have read a couple, youāll be hooked and looking for more. OH, a little tip, I donāt know if there is a library near where you live, but Iām pretty fortunate that there is a library branch literally across the street from my neighborhood so I actually rent a ton of books too. If you are able, I suggest you check them out from a library. Libraries are fancy now, you can get on their app, have them put books on hold for you, and then you just go and pick them all up. I can even use my phone to scan the barcodes and check them out as Iām picking them up. It will save you a ton of money, so, anyway, good luck.
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Too late. I already ordered them. Lol. If Iām gonna spend money books are a good place for me to do it. I do love my library apps, but I usually use them for audiobooks. However I feel like I need a good physical book in my life right now. Should be finishing my Dan John book tonight or tomorrow so I will need something new soon.
Dude! Spoilers!
DāOH! Well, crap, but that wonāt ruin anything for you. When do the books arrive? At least if you buy them, you can do what I do and sell them to a used bookstoreā¦.and then turn around and use that credit to get MORE books.
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Lol. I keep all my books. We have a rather extensive library.
Not sure when I will get them. Standard shipping from thriftbooks.
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Musashi by Yoshikawa. Fictionalized account of the āSword Saintā Musashi, was a huge seller in Japan 60+ years ago. Good read, insight into Japanās Imperial/feudal samurai times. Long book.
Have you tried any of the John Corey books by Nelson deMille? If not try Plum Island