Ketchup

Pimping other people’s work is something I’d like to do more on this blog—a lot more. The irony is that I first started to write because I love to read and wanted to play, too, but as a full-time pro I barely read at all anymore. I’m too busy trying to keep up with my own projects, life, etc.

For anyone who isn’t reading Crais, you’re missing out! I was lucky enough to discover him when he was still in mass market paperback (ahem) way back in the mid-1990s. He was good then. He’s gotten outrageously better, even though I don’t think it’s unfair to say that his detective thrillers are fairly straightforward. For example, his best hero, Elvis Cole, is a wisecracking P.I. who’s a dead shot and good with the ladies. Where have I seen that before? Sure, he gives great action and reversals and dialogue, but where Crais truly excels is with VOICE. Voice is not dialogue. Voice is how the narrative flows and how the pages turn. Holy cow, are these books a lot of fun!!!!

The most recent Crais novel I’ve read is The Watchman. It’s your typical Kung Fu Terminator Meets Paris Hilton, Paris Falls In love, Terminator Kicks Ass On Bad Guys sort of detective novel. Wait. What did I just write?

Seriously, this was the rare book that I could not put down and I was pleased as heck that I brought it with me to Denver for WorldCon so that I could read it uninterrupted on both plane flights. Yes, that was in August. I’ve been meaning to bang out 500 words of high praise and finally made time for it.

Go. Go forth and buy Crais. It’s for good reason that they’re making Bruce Willis movies out of his stuff, you know… ;)

Labels: Recommended Reading, Robert Crais, The Watchman, topnotch