What are you reading the week of Sunday, November 9, 2014?

[scarletwoman]

12. I've been busy with my continuing project of re-reading the Martin Beck series.

http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/w/per-wahloo/

This week I finished #s 3, 4, 5, 9, & 10. I had to read 9 & 10 out of order because they were due back at the library the earliest of the eight I had left to read. I had already finished and returned #s 1 & 2, the week before.

I ordered all ten titles in the series on the same day, but due to the fact that all but two of them had to be gotten through the Interlibrary Loan system from different libraries all over the state, they arrived at my local library completely out of order. I'm midway through #6, which is due back this Thursday, and then that will it. I had to return #s 7 & 8 last week without reading them, because they could not be renewed and I had run out of time.

It has been great fun to re-read this series, which I had first read about 4 or 5 years ago. It's been especially interesting to see, now that I've read so many Scandinavian crime fiction books since then, how many bits and pieces subsequent authors "borrowed" from the Martin Beck books.

I'm in great shape for the coming week in terms of reading material, having on hand both Tana French's latest, The Secret Place, and Deborah Crombie's latest, To Dwell in Darkness - as well as Louise Penny's latest, The Long Way Home waiting for me at the library.

But wait? Not a single Nordic Noir title among them! Alas, I've run out of translated titles from my favorite Scandinavian authors, having read every single book of every single series by every single Scandinavian author whose work I like, save one - now that I'm wrapping up the Martin Beck series, I'm going to order Arnaldur Indriðason's latest, Reykjavik Nights, which goes back in time to a younger Erlandur, new to the police force. (I put off ordering this one because I've had such a glut of books to read these past 3-4 weeks.)

Regarding Scandinavian authors in general - I have not read EVERY Scandinavian author out there with books in translation because there are a few whose work simply does not interest me. There are a couple authors whose earlier books I read and decided I just didn't like, and a few more authors who, upon reading the descriptions of their books, I decided weren't for me since their stuff sounds too bloody and violent, or they seem to be stuck on the serial killer schtick, with which I am thoroughly fed up and have vowed to avoid. I am decidedly not into "Thrillers". Give me a nice, calm, methodical police procedural with interesting characters and non-psycho villians, and I'm happy.

So,

Tana French - Irish. In a class by herself, I would say. Police procedurals so beautifully written they are almost poetry - I love her books. Her series is collectively called The Dublin Murder Squad, and each book features a different member of the Squad in the leading role, and written in a distinctly different voice. I think her writing skills are absolutely amazing. Her stories are fascinating and the settings make you feel like you're actually there in Ireland. http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/f/tana-french/

Deborah Crombie - British. Sort of police procedural/cozy hybrid. I got into this series by randomly picking up one of Crombie's books off my library shelf one day when I couldn't find anything I wanted to read. I found her main characters intriguing, so I ordered the whole series up to that point, and sort of got stuck on them. Easy, pleasant reading with fascinating descriptions of place and history in the course of the contemporary stories - and having read books 1-15 of her Duncan Kincaid / Gemma James series, what could I do but get the latest? I need to find out what happens next! I suppose it's sort of like being hooked on a soap opera, although perhaps a bit more classy. http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/c/deborah-crombie/

Louise Penny - Canadian. Another police procedural/cozy hybrid of sorts. Her settings move between Quebec City and rural Quebec, and the books are peopled with characters you would love to hang out with in real life. I find her books to be aesthetically elegant, witty, charming and warmly human. They are a delight to read. http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/p/louise-penny/

As winter sets in here in Minnesota - our first major snowstorm is on its way tonight - I hope I'll be able to get back to some Nordic authors soon, I have several titles already on order that I'm waiting for...