Not Quite Classics, But Still...

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Today I would like to fill you in on a few authors that have been around for a while, for two reasons. They are both rooted in the fact that most days I drive an hour and a half each way for work. I fill the time with audio books, almost always from the mystery or thriller genres.

Two things make good criteria for me. The books have to be easy to get on lending apps like Hoopla or Libby, for one thing, and I would like them to be part of a series. This allows me to spend very little and know that I am usually getting something I like, based on experience. The series that meet these two requirements are usually older series, some started in the 1980's and several still going strong today. So here are my picks for some easy to find series that will get you hours entertainment.

One note about the Beaumont and Doc Ford novels: for several of the first books in each series, the sex scenes are failrly explicit. I recommend them but with that caveat. If that's not something you want, start with the Tim Sullivan books below. I am busy finding others for you. And, of course, writing one.

The J.P. Beaumont novels by J.A. Jance. Jance follows her main character from a midpoint in his career right into semi-retirement. His personal history is rich and interesting as are the cases he solve. These are written in the police procedura style, with a wealth of characters that draw you in.  If you are going for the audiobook versions as I do, you will like all the readers chosen.

The Joanna Brady novels by J.A. Jance. When her deputy husband is killed in the line of duty, Joanna Brady takes his place as a candidate for Sheriff of Cochise County, Arizona. And so it begins. Again the characters are great. One novel interleaves story with Native American legends, which  does not work any better than Herman Melville explaining whaling every second chapter in Moby Dick. Another is read by Ellen Travolta. The legends slow the book down, while Travolta destroys the audio book.  Based on these two series I may read her others as well.

The Doc Ford books by Randy Wayne White. As a Michigander I have a legal obligation to try out Florida culture. White's Doc Ford books are set there. Ford, a marine biologist who formerly worked for [REDACTED] sees a lot of action. Deep and moving stories often rooted in world or local cultures are bit educational as well. You will get a kick out of his pal Tomlinson, whose counterculture wisdom left over from the 1960's is often very useful. To a point I have listened, but once George Guidall started reading them I gave up and will switch to the ebooks. Guidall's readings are very stiff, with inflection for each phrase as if it were the end of a sentence. He also sounds like he is shortwinded, unable to complete longer sentences in a single breath.


The D.S. Cross series by Tim Sullivan. Being autistic puts cross at an advantage and a disadvantage. While he has trouble relating to his coworkers, the public, even his own father, he gets his details straight. If you like stories where one little clue is the tip of the iceberg of a crime, you will like the Cross books. While there is some genuine solid humor in the books, Sullivan avoids the "anything for a laugh" aesthetic that weakened TV's Monk series a bit.

I think I have just pointed you at about 65 or so volumes. This should keep you busy until my next post. Until then, have fun!

--
Dean Paczewitz

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