Two of the most reliable authors in the mystery/suspense genre are the late William G Tapply and William Kent Krueger. Their styles are profoundly different, Tapply writing lean, tightly plotted, short books and Krueger penning longer books with an almost lyrical quality to his prose that reminds me of Tony Hillerman. What they have in common is a high standard. From the late Tapply, who died in 2009, this last book is a complete departure – we have a stand alone suspense novel that is surprising in so many ways. Krueger offers the 10th outing for Cork O’Connor in a bleak tale of old crimes coming back to haunt another generation with painful remembrance and new deaths. The two very different books have that common theme – old sins come back and causing new ones that in turn uncover the past.
- Title: The Nomination
- Author: William G Tapply
- Type: Suspense
- Genre: Politics and cover-ups
- Sub-genre: Supreme Court nominee wants his past buried – literally
- My Grade: C+ to B- (3.5*)
- Rating: PG-17
- Length and price: Full novel – about 80,000 hardcover $15-$17 on sale; list $24.95
- Where Available: Available at most bookstores
- FTC Disclosure: purchased from online bookstore (more…)
What’s Going on with Romantic Suspense
Tags: commentary, Editorial
Obviously, as a mystery reader, I also read romantic suspense. OK, maybe that’s not obvious. Not all readers will read and enjoy both genres, but I do, just as I enjoy Urban Fantasy and paranormal with a mystery element. To some readers – especially male readers – romantic suspense is lame. Yes it is if you’re looking for noir type stories. You’d get closer with UF. My brother hates both genres and he’s pretty picky about mysteries too. He does like some action thrillers and we both like historical mysteries, but we’re picky there too. But here’s my problem. Romantic suspense has been invaded by romance writers who frankly can’t seem to generate any suspense. (more…)