What should I review?

If you have a suggestion for a book that I should review in my next column, please post it in the comments section. I've got several things on my list, but I'm not that excited about a couple of them.

Ideally, the book will be published between mid-November and the end of December. No 2007 books, please.

Comments

[Janine]

How about S.J. Rozan's In this Rain?

[Bill Peschel]

FWIW, I'm reading Hiaasen's "Nature Girl" and liking it better than "Skinny Dip." (11/14 pub date).

Wambaugh's "Hollywood Station" might be interesting, to see if he can still do it so many years after "New Centurions" and "Choirboys." Reading them during my tender years was like a virgin visiting the whorehouse.

[David J. Montgomery]

I read the new Wambaugh and liked it. I already wrote a single-book review of it (which hasn't run yet).

I started the new Hiaasen and it was okay... but then I found out the paper was already reviewing it, so I dropped it. His work in recent years just hasn't appealed to me like his early books did.

I tried Rozan's new book, but it didn't grab me. I have the same reaction to all her books: I think they're well written (her prose is sharp), but I just don't care.

I had a similar reaction to the new Carol O'Connell book. Good writing, but it never made me care. I ended up quitting it 3/4 of the way through because I was tired of slogging through it.

[David Montgomery]

It just goes to show, I think, that no matter how well a book is written, if the story doesn't interest you or the characters don't appeal to you, it's very difficult to enjoy the book.

[Nancy]

Greg Iles True Evil??

[Duane]

I haven't read it yet, but I'm looking forward to Charlie Huston's NO DOMINION.

I'm 50 pages into the new Wambaugh and loving it.

[Alan Cranis]

What about Westlake's latest Richard Stark novel, ASK THE PARROT? Or the latest from Sean Doolittle?

[David Montgomery]

Good choices, Alan. I read and enjoyed both of those a lot, and they're both currently on the list as possibles.

[Steve]

How 'bout Don Winslow's latest?

[David Montgomery]

Hasn't that been out a while now? This column probably won't run 'til late-December at the earliest.

[Aldo]

How about THE LIGHTNING RULE, THE BLADE by Marcus Sakey, STREET RAISED by Pierce Hansen (damn this book is dark and draws back it at night)

[Marcus Sakey]

Hey David,

I just finished Theresa Schwegel's PROBABLE CAUSE--it's pretty terrific. She handles a male perspective with grace and insight, and her cop-writing is second to none.

And Aldo, thanks for the shout-out. ;)

-Marcus

[David Montgomery]

Marcus' book is definitely on the schedule, but it's not out 'til January. I'm not familiar with the other ones you mention, Aldo.

I tried Probably Cause, but didn't like it as much as the first one. Story didn't grab me.

[jsb]

RESTLESS by William Boyd is excellent.

[Bruce Cook]

I would suggest Robert Fate's Baby Shark to review. A really fresh voice, a dark vision, and a great heroine.

[Robert Fate]

1. Thou must send the the book to the reviewer. This is the most important point, and it's something you'll hear me say repeatedly. There simply is no way around it. If I don't get the book, I can't review it. And, unfortunately, that happens more often than you'd think.
May I have an address, please? I will send Baby Shark's Beaumont Blues to you tomorrow - May2007 publication.