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So You Love Crime Fiction?
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2 BEST SELLING FICTION AUTHORS; 2 BEST SELLING FICTION SERIES
Both Lee Child and Adrian McKinty have an honored place in my little red wagon full of great reading. Though Lee Child is the better known of the two, I put them both at the top of the heap in their shared fiction genre.
And What would that genre be? Crime Fiction; Suspense? Loners who keep getting into trouble fiction? Macho men fiction?
These two authors, McKinty and Child, have each created a character that I find remarkable.
McKinty's Michael Forsythe and Child's Jack Reacher, have a lot in common. Both are equipped with the inexplicable ability to survive. And Survive they do very well. Both are ex-military and cynical about it -- and honest about the deadly and sneaky skills learned (or maybe the skills were there all along) from the armed forces. Both play the "God of Revenge" to the max. Both spend years trying not to be found.
HOW I BECAME ADDICTED
darker in nature but his personality can be quite humorous. So far, Jack Reacher is not funny.
McKinty is not a baby boomer, but his interests seem to be boomer oriented. I registered quite a few mentions of Led Zeppelin in his last novel. I would love to meet McKinty, but I am afraid that the author's quick wit would do a "Michael Forsythe" on me--knock me for a loop (or on my butt). I just know that I am missing many of his literary references. As an educated person, I am embarrassed to admit that fact. I am not worthy, I am not worthy.
Child's Jack Reacher is a "Boomer" so I assume that Mr. Child is one himself. Reacher has tuned in, turned off, and checked out. A former military policeman, Reacher saw too much when in the military. He was born in a military family and found his career there. He was good. He was smart--too smart. He had ethics. He saw too much non-ethical conduct, so he got out. He tries to disappear and is an expert at doing so. Until....? I think that modern technology (cell phones, on-line banking, etc...) has made it almost impossible to be too independent.
A HANDY LIST OF THE MICHAEL FORSYTHE SERIES by McKinty
I hope it has not ended with 3 novels!
, but I love him, anyway.One should really read them in order.
Praise for McKinty and a link to EBooks! Wow!
- Praise for Adrian McKinty
- Website with praises for McKinty's work--Dead I well may be--in particular!
How I Feel About McKinty's Books
What I have read
Dead I Well May Be (the 1st)Some passages too wordy for my taste-but I am no authority on wordiness. Had to skim the more violent sections due to my own squeamish nature. But I am in love with Michael Forsythe.
The Dead Yard (2nd)
A real page turner for me. If I ever visit Iraq, I would want Michael and Jack Reacher as companions.
Hidden River (not in Michael Forsythe series)
Chose to read this book mostly because it's set in Colorado. I lived in Denver for almost three years beginning in 2000, and fell in love with the state.
As mentioned earlier, the Michael Forsythe books are written with some sense of humor. I can't remember any specifics from one, but I can relate an example of the dark humor in McKinty's writing from Hidden River. One of the characters in this novel works in an environmental non-profit organization where the dress code is sub-business casual. Because two co-workers died mysteriously, this young man has chosen to not wear his much loved Grateful Dead t-shirt to the office for a while. Wait, maybe it was a "Things to do in Denver when you are dead" shirt.
I also love the use of narrative foreshadowing in the structure of this novel.
The Bloomsday Dead
(Yes, the obvious comparison to the king of Irish novelists, James Joyce is noted.)
This is the 3rd novel in this suspense series about Michael Forsythe. I could not wait to read it. Read it. Tried to not read so fast because I didn't want it to end. One day in the life of Michael in Dublin is exhausting, to say the least. The novel could be read in one day, but I wanted to take my time reaching the end.
McKinty must have a t-shirt collection. In this book, Michael is given a Led-Zeppelin tee to wear. Stairway to Heaven? If I was a true scholar, I would try to find meaning in the tee-shirts, songs and books mentioned in McKinty's writing. They must be clues to something meaningful. But alas, I am no scholar (which is obvious).
I know I am missing literary allusions, but I am not a perfect reader. I just enjoy the reading.
Keep writing, Mr. McKinty!
Adrian McKinty on Amazon
SOMETIMES YOU GET FREE SHIPPING!!
Bloomsday Dead
Amazon Price: $21.29 (as of 10/11/2008)
Used Price: $13.48
The Lighthouse Keepers: The Lighthouse Trilogy Book Three (The Lighthouse Trilogy)
Amazon Price: $11.53 (as of 10/11/2008)
Used Price: $12.02
The Lighthouse War: The Lighthouse Trilogy Book Two (The Lighthouse Trilogy)
Amazon Price: $7.95 (as of 10/11/2008)
Used Price: $5.98
Links to McKinty on the WWW
Hand picked by me!
- Rocky Mountain News article by McKinty
- McKinty's thoughts about author Philip K. Dick. Mr. Dick wrote the novels that the movies Bladerunner and Minority Report were based.
- Hidden River review in Washington Post
- Great review!
- Bloomsday Dead #7 on List of Best Books
- Bloomsday Dead Chosen # 7 for 2007 on Crime Always Pays Blog. Check it out.
- Crime Always Pays: Mi Casa, Su Casa: Adrian McKinty On James Ellroy
- Crime Always Pays"Crime is but a left-handed form of human endeavour." W.R. BurnettDown those mean streets a man must go who is not himself mean but is in fact quite happy to share the latest news, reviews, gossip and slander about the dicks, dames and desperados of (mostly) Irish crime fiction, no
WONDERFUL LEE CHILD NOVELS
Jack Reacher found!
I love Jack Reacher. He is the recurring character in this series by Lee Child. Why do I love him? He is tall. He is strong. He is human (though he likes to play God). He is a loyal friend. He is a military brat, like me.
Echo Burning was the first book I found by Mr. Child. The character of Reacher and the "damsel in distress" plot of the novel were fascinating.
Bad Luck and Trouble is the 11th book in the Jack Reacher series. This novel delivers more information from Reacher's past. Love it. I find it comforting that Reacher has finally developed a footprint in the world--he might not have a cell phone, but he needs a bank account! Isn't it interesting that his name is Reacher, but it he is difficult to reach? The reader meets more people from his past life as a Marine. Reacher did disappoint me is this book, though. He acted as God. For me, he became more human.
I have read or listened to the unabridged audio for all the other novels. Liked them all. I always look forward to new additions to the series.
Nothing to Lose, the 12th Reacher novel, was published in the Summer of 2008. Check out my review of this novel by clicking here.
A HANDY LIST OF THE JACK REACHER NOVELS by Lee Child
I tried to read them in order if I could. It is not necessary to do so and it is not always possible to find the books.
1. Killing Floor (1997)
Anthony Award winner
Barry Award winner
Dilys Award nominee
Macavity Award nominee
2. Die Trying (1998)
WH Smith Thumping Good Read Award winner
3. Tripwire (1999)
4. Running Blind (known as The Visitor in the UK) (2000)
5. Echo Burning (2001)
6. Without Fail (2002)
Dilys Award nominee
7. Persuader (2003)
8. The Enemy (2004)
Dilys Award nominee
9. One Shot (2005)
Macavity Award nominee
10. The Hard Way (2006)
11. Bad Luck and Trouble (2007)
12. Nothing To Lose (2008)
Lee Child on Wikipedia
Lee Child (born 1954, Coventry, England) is the pen name of British thriller writer Jim Grant . His wife Jane is a New Yorker and they currently live in New York state. His first novel, Killing Floor, won the Anthony Award for Best First Novel.
Each of Child's novels follows the adventures of a former American Military Policeman named Jack Reacher who is wandering the United States. In 2007, it was reported that the Reacher novels sold at the rate of one every second.
Mr. Child on Amazon
The first FIVE of the Jack Reacher Novels on Amazon
Die Trying (Jack Reacher)
Amazon Price: $7.99 (as of 10/11/2008)
Tripwire
Amazon Price: (as of 10/11/2008)
Running Blind
Amazon Price: (as of 10/11/2008)
Echo Burning
I loved this book. It was the first Jack Reacher Novel I read and it started my obsession with this series.
Amazon Price: (as of 10/11/2008)
Learn More About Lee Child
Go Surfing
- Author Lee Child
- Author Lee Child's Official Website: Information on best-selling writer Lee Child's novels, tour schedule and more.
- Interview | Lee Child
- Interview features his early career in television, and his best-known character, the ex-military policeman Jack Reacher.
- Shooting the Breeze with Lee Child
- Homepage and introduction to Shotsmag,ezine for crime & mystery fiction, features include interviews, book reviews, short stories, author profiles, ...
- Interview: A Conversation With Lee Child *Writers Write -- The IWJ*
- Interview: A Conversation With Lee Child By Claire E. White -- The Internet Writing Journal(R)
- Author Lee Child - TIME
- The bestselling author talks about his itinerant herod Jack Reacher, and doing business with Tom Cruise.
SO YOU LOVE CRIME FICTION
THEN CHECK OUT THESE BLOGS
- IT'S A CRIME! (OR A MYSTERY...)
- For crime & thriller fiction (mainly UK); new & emerging authors; authors who deserve more attention; crime on screen; literary festivals; author & other events; the odd amusing thing; the odd rant and some politics creeping through.
- Crime Fiction Dossier
- Fair trade certified commentary on books, authors and publishing.
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Did I Make an Impression on You?
Am I the only person on the planet that sees a connection between McKinty and Child? Tell Me How You See It?
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CherylK
A great lens - very well done. Have never read these authors but I'm sure going to check them out...they look to be right up my alley. Posted October 01, 2008 |
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ElizabethJeanAllen
I haven't read any of McKinty or Child's work but I will now. Posted September 20, 2008 |
I am in awe of anyone with enough personal time to be current and well-read. Is there a prescription I can ask my doctor to award me that makes this outcome possible? Bless your blogging. I will try to ketchup.
Posted February 24, 2008
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Mickie Posted January 16, 2008 |
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I am a Baby Boomer who is trying to find my place in the world. So who isn't?
My new "cottage business". Little Red Wagon Book Repair. Visit me at Little Red Wagon... more
What's here
- HOW I BECAME ADDICTED
- A HANDY LIST OF THE MICHAEL FORSYTHE SERIES by McKinty
- Praise for McKinty and a link to EBooks! Wow!
- How I Feel About McKinty's Books
- Adrian McKinty on Amazon
- More...
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