Internet resources for book searches

GENERAL SITES

TO FIND MORE OF THE TYPES OF BOOKS YOU LIKE, WHATEVER THEY MAY BE: Allreaders.com has a search-able database that breaks down reviews and recommendations not just by category but by the amount of violence, style, setting, etc. It lets you enter the kind of book you're looking for and pulls up recommendations.

whatshouldireadnext.com/search

fantasticfiction.co.uk--lists book awards and their winners, descriptions of over 250,000 books.

MYSTERY SITES

www.stopyourekillingme.com

--The least dark type of mystery is a cozy (definition from Cluelass.com): -- A "traditional" mystery whose best-known practitioner is Agatha Christie. Common elements include: a domestic setting such as a country house or quiet neighborhood; a limited roster of suspects--most known to each other; little or no description of violence or sex; a mildly romantic subplot; and an amateur sleuth or eccentric professional.

FOR A COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF COZIES, MANY OF WHICH ARE EXCELLENT, go to Cozy-Mystery.com

FOR WELL-WRITTEN "SAFE" BOOKS SEE AGATHA-AWARD WINNERS (not necessarily cozies, but mysteries which are not violent, do not contain explicit sex, etc.), go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agatha_Award

Some Good Reads

MY FAVORITE AUTHORS
Barry, Dave (Big Trouble-S. H-T found hilarious. Adult language.)

Bujold, Lois McMaster-Vorkosigan series (sci fi but w/ some mysteries, some romance, some of everything. S.L. H-T's fav overall series).

Chabon, Michael: The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay, The Yiddish Policemen's Union--Pulitzer-prize winning author

Connors, Rose--have only read Absolute Certainty--intriguing and not a thriller, but not without violence. Skim coroner's reports if you're skittish.

Crusie, Jennifer (The only romance author both smart and belly-laugh funny. Like her both in her solo and duo-authored books. Several of her books--especially the ones written with the ex-navy SEAL--are mysteries. Explicit sex, but that's not where the main action is.).

Davidson, Diane Mott--smart catering cozies with great characters. Read in order for character development. I fell in love with the characters.

Elkins, Aaron-forensic paleontologist. Smart and interesting.

Evanovich, Janet--Not a smart read, but an S.L. H-T fav on audio because the readers are fabulous actors and absolutely hilarious. The first few Stephanie Plum books are weak.

Fowler, Earlene--Quilting/western art cozy with wonderful characters. Her mysteries aren't always well-plotted, but her stories are great if you're character-oriented. I haven't been able to read her in order, but it doesn't seem to matter.

Francis, Dick--my favs are Come to Grief and To the Hilt. A bit of grimness/violence in all his books. All involve the main character, who is a lone wolf, suffering in the process of resolving the mystery. Torture may be involved. Francis does extensive research on the settings and is an excellent writer.

George, Anne--Southern Sisters Mysteries cozies--an S.L. H-T fav for belly-laughs and very well-written. May be most appreciated by "women of a certain age."

Gilman, Dorothy The Mrs. Polifax series--a sort of American Pink Panther except she isn't so much bumbling as unexpected. A bit dated and a bit silly, but good for belly-laughs.

Isaacs, Susan- "After All These Years," in which the protagonist trips over her murdered husband's body and goes on the lam to prove her innocence!

King, Laurie R.--Mary Russell series in which the protagonist is a bright young woman who becomes apprenticed to Sherlock Holmes--lots of brains, action and suspense--but not thrillers. Read in order for character and plot developments. (an S. H-T fav--note: King's Kate Martinelli series has graphic violence including violence against women and children and is too grim for me)

Levine, Paul--Solomon vs. Lord--S. H-T fav for humor and attitude.

Maron, Margaret's Judge Deborah Knott series with warmth, humor--combines cozy with legal proceedings in judge's court and close look at social realities (S H-T very fav mystery series). Read in order for character and plot developments. Moderate level of suspense. Murders sometimes gruesome but are off-stage.

Moon, Elizabeth The Speed of Dark--an incredible read and a diabolical plot (see my Amazon.com review).

Mortimer, John-Horace Rumpole of the Bailey-a British barrister, husband of She Who Must Be Obeyed. Funny but a bit dated. Also excellent is BBC TV series. (S. H-T fav)

Peters, Ellis (Edith Pargeter)--Cadfael series (12th century Benedictine monk/former soldier cozy--S. H-T fav--also available via BBC). Many books involve graphic descriptions of dead bodies, but while I can find this a little unnerving in the TV series, it doesn't bother me in the books. Edith Pargeter has a wonderful writing voice with a great deal of compassion and warmth that the shows lack.

Rosenfelt, David-lawyer Andy Carpenter series. Like for the self-deprecating humor. Have heard that Harlan Coben writes similar mysteries better.

Smith, Alexander McCall-Sunday Philosophy Club and No. One Ladies Detective Agency. Both series are excellent and leave me feeling better about the human race. Read both in order for character and plot development.

Woodhouse, P.G.-Jeeves and Wooster books-British humor that pokes fun at the British class system and many other things. Has at least one racist scene (protagonists wear black-face). Otherwise very funny. Also try the BBC TV series, available from many libraries. Read in any order you please! (S. H-T fav)