Great Crime Authors!

One of the best crime fiction writers out there right now is Jo Nesbo. Many critics have compared him to Stieg Larsson, but I think Nesbo is in a league of his own. His books are set in Oslo, Norway and follow Detective Harry Hole. When he was rising to fame, not many of his books had be translated into English so the first book I read was Redbreast (#3 in the series now). The series is up to eleven books now. I think they are all good but the one that really sucks you into the world of Harry Hole is Redbreast. 








If you are in the mood for an Irish setting, then Tana French is the author for you. She writes crime fiction that revolves around the Dublin Murder Squad and each book follows a different detective. There are six books in the series and she writes one about every two years. Start with In the Woods.







Another great but overlooked author is Tania Carver. She is the pseudonym of husband and wife team Martyn and Linda Waites. These crime novels are set in England and follow Detective Inspector Philip Brennan and psychologist Marina Esposito as they solve serial murders. This eight book series is not for the faint hearted because of graphic murder scenes, but they are fantastic at showing the points of view of both the killer and the police. You should read this series in order and start with The Surrogate. 




And finally, try crime novelist J.T. Ellison. She has two well-known series: Taylor Jackson is an Nashville detective introduced in All the Pretty Girls. The second series stars Tennessee medical examiner Samantha Owens, beginning with A Deeper Darkness. Read Jackson's story first because Owens first appears in the this series and you learn her back story.




So, consider reading one of these great crime series...you won't be disappointed.

How the Irish Saved Civilization

In honor of the start of March and the impending St. Patrick’s Day, I opted to pick up Tomas Cahill’s How the Irish Saved Civilization: The Untold Story of Ireland’s Heroic Role from the Fall of Rome to the Rise of Medieval Europe. I had actually picked up this long-winded title for a class project a number of years ago, but the demands of the course prevented me from a full read.

Now, I would not recommend reading this book with any academic intent. His treatment of the complexity fall of Rome (which will likely be debated as long as the Roman Empire is taught subject matter) has some issues. He seems to take a few poetic liberties to try to better place his later arguments. However, for all the oddities of the initial chapter the rest of the book more than makes up for it with the subsequent chapters. Cahill’s depictions of how Ireland’s monks and scholars worked to preserve and spread knowledge are both charming and approachable. Admittedly, he can meander at times and does get drawn into the odd detail, but to me, it felt very much within the spirit of the subject.

All in all, I would highly recommend this book for those getting into the spirit, or even just anyone interested in learning a little bit more about the past and how it relates to modern times. But be warned, if you are a history buff or prefer your histories more academic, there are sections that you may get frustrated with.

Win a free Karen Marie Moning book!

Cincinnati-born author Karen Marie Moning has a new book coming out next month.  Shadowfever is the newest installment in the "Fever" series and will be released on January 18, 2011.  To help celebrate this occasion, the author has graciously donated copies of the first book in the series to the library--and you can get your hands on your very own--for free!
Just come to the Adult Services desk at either location and ask for a copy of Darkfever--and it shall be yours. 


Here is a small description from Karen's website:
"MacKayla Lane’s life is good. She has great friends, a decent job, and a car that breaks down only every other week or so. In other words, she’s your perfectly ordinary twenty-first-century woman.
Or so she thinks... until something extraordinary happens.
When her sister is murdered, leaving a single clue to her death–a cryptic message on Mac’s cell phone–Mac journeys to Ireland in search of answers. The quest to find her sister’s killer draws her into a shadowy realm where nothing is as it seems, where good and evil wear the same treacherously seductive mask. She is soon faced with an even greater challenge: staying alive long enough to learn how to handle a power she had no idea she possessed–a gift that allows her to see beyond the world of man, into the dangerous realm of the Fae..." 
Darkfever at www.karenmoning.com.

The free give-away starts Tuesday, December 21, 2011 and will continue as long as supplies last. One book per person please.

Whether you get a free copy or not please try this great series which the author calls a romance, fantasy, mystery, and even a thriller. And don't forget to put yourself on hold for the newest book Shadowfever.

Darkfever
Bloodfever
Faefever
Dreamfever
Shadowfever