The Mystery Starts Here

Mystery Books you Might Not Want to Read

Well, I was going to write about something entirely different but I’m so disappointed I just had to share. I went to the library on Thursday and checked out six books. The first one I read in a couple of hours, “Plum Lucky” by Janet Evanovitch. It’s a cute, fast (only 166 pages!) read. Who doesn’t love Grandma and Lula? Then I started on Sue Grafton’s latest book, “T is for Trespass.” I think it was misnamed. It should have been titled, “T is for Terrible.” It certainly didn’t pass my 50 page rule. It was so boring I couldn’t believe Sue Grafton wrote it! Sometimes I think I’m too picky, so I went to www.amazon.com and checked out the book’s reviews there. Nope, I was right, it’s boring.

Next I picked up a book titled, “Night Work.” I got to page 75 on that one before giving up. It was first person, all telling and nobody got whacked until about page 65. Yup, it was very boring, too. Once the body was discovered it was too, too obvious what was going to happen. Once again I checked out amazon and found I was right on the money. It’s no fun to read mysteries that you can figure out so early in the book.

I figured book number four HAD to be better! Well, it wasn’t. It’s titled, “Run” and was all description, unbelievable characters and ….would you believe paragraphs there were over a page long! Well, it was good for one thing – it knocked me out last night and I slept like a puppy after too much exercise.

I find it very discouraging. As a writer of mysteries myself, I try very hard to do all the right things. I kill folks right off the bat, plant clues, and keep the pace fast. I can’t help but wonder how some of these books get published. Sue Grafton has a track record so I suppose the publisher assumes people will buy the next letter of the alphabet. I have to wonder how many of the faithful will run out to buy “U as in ?? Uninspired?” I hadn’t heard of the other two authors before and am still trying to figure out who they had to kill to get published. It’s enough to make a grown writer weep. I’m almost afraid to start book number five. Anyone have a recommendation for a good mystery? I think I’ll start a list so next time I visit the library I’ll be prepared.