Gift help for a book lover, please!

[aka_anonymous]

I know my flist is filled with book lovers with great taste (buttered you all up enough yet? ^__^), so I thought I'd ask your help. My mom has spent years devouring crappy romance novels and has finally started branching out into series and mystery novels like Harlan Coben's Myron Bolitar series or Judy Gardner's (sp?) FBI series. I want to

Comments

[stormcloude]

Not sure if these are what you're looking for. I tend to like more hard-hitting mysteries, but I liked these series:

Kathleen Mallory novels

Kay Scarpetta series (though I haven't kept up with either of these to the end. I tend to follow new shinies.)

[aka_anonymous]

Oh, and I think I passed some Kathleen Mallory books today at the mall and went "...hmmmm, I wonder?" But I hate buying books without a good reference. And you definitely count as that!

Thanks so much, Storm!! Merry Christmas!!

[just_ruth]

Linda Lael Miller's two occult mystery novels - Deadly Gamble and Deadly Deceptions. You can't go wrong with a ghost whisperer named Mojo Sheepshanks (no, really!)

Also recommend Heather Graham books.

[aka_anonymous]

LOL, that's one heck of a name! I'll write those down and see if the local bookstore has them! Thankyouthankyouthankyou for the recommendations! I was sooo lost in this genre!!

Merry Christmas!!

[lil_1337]

This is so my area *rubs hands together* I would recommend Nevada Barr's Anna pidgeon series or JA Jance's Joanna Brady books. Both have strong female leads and there is romance but it is background. If she doesn't mind violence Robert Crais' Elvis Cole books rock. He has good stand alones, but I adore Elvis. If you want to go classic then anything by Dashiel Hammett is good though I would recommend 'The thin man' as an introduction. James Patterson's Alex Cross mysteries are really good and they remind me a bit of Coben style wise.

[aka_anonymous]

I'm all for the strong female characters! My favorite character in the Bolitar series is Esparanza. She kicks ass.

I'll write down those names--I think she's read one or two JA Jance books, but I had forgotten the name--and am sooo thankful for the help. I'm so lost when it comes to this spectrum of fiction.

Thanks so much! Merry Christmas!!

[lil_1337]

You are very welcome. I'm always glad to get other people hooked on books I enjoy. JA Jance has several series, one of which is set in Seattle. Those star PD Beaumont and if they are the ones she's read there is a couple that cross over with the Joanna Brady series it might be a way to introduce the other one.

[fablespinner]

If you want a GOOD ROMANCE.... ANYTHING by Lynn Kurland. I can read her novels over and over and over again. They are not bodice rippers, in fact the sex is almost nonexistent. They have great plot and humor. I LOVE THEM! Get her started with "Stardust of Yesterday" that will make her want to devour the rest. :)
http://www.amazon.com/Stardust-Yesterday-Haunting-Hearts-Kurland/dp/042518238X

[aka_anonymous]

*GLOMP* She loves humor and witty banter in her books, so this sounds great!

Thanks, D! Merry Christmas!!

[fablespinner]

It is great.... especially where Medieval Knight Meets Blender without Lid.... Buwhahahahahahahah Chocolate Shake everywhere....