Sunday, June 29, 2008

Summer 08 Reads

Deaver, Jeffrey   Blue Nowhere - identity theft, social engineering, murder, CA  good read, won't teach but better than Leonard Chang

Mosley, Walter Cinnamon - listened to on tape in car over two weeks, setting LA, SF, '60's , great plot, dialogue, characters, lots of sex, maybe teach with R rating warning

Boyle, TC Friend of Earth,  eco-future story, Michael Jackson-like character, weird story that gets better as it goes along, Sierra the tree sitter, father Ty, eco-crazy like Earth First type, not a mystery but filled with law-breakers

!!!King, Laurie, The Art of Detection,   Kate Martinelli, lesbian SF cop, investigates murder of memeber of a Sherlock Holmes club.  Clever, strong characters and setting, especially Marin Headlands.  Could teach in mystery course.

!!!Russell, Kurt, Shell Games,  first in a new series featuring John Marquez, a Fish & Game law enforcer, who solves a murder involving abalone poachers & drugs.  Kind of involved, but good to read and teach.

Gordon, Nadia, Sharpshooter,  I was so excited to read this murder mystery about a foodie in the Napa valley (sharpshooter is both killer with a gun and an insect).  Unfortunately written in chick-lit dialogue.  Really too bad.

Revoyr, Nina.  Southland.    Another one I was excited to read, but didn't even finish.  A good idea for a story:  gay, Japanese law student discovers family past during and post Watts riots in '65.  Too many layers, gratuitous sex.  

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