Usually Around the Mark #5

If you follow this regular feature on my blog you will notice I've changed the tag line. The general idea behind it is that even the best authors, or your favourite ones, don't always achieve the same rating with the reader. I'm not sure that the new label conveys that either, but maybe it is getting closer. What do you think?
I guess what I'm trying to say is that these are authors that I will read even if the occasional offering doesn't hit the dizzy heights of excellence. They nearly always have something to offer.
The other element in my thinking is that sometimes the "difference" is in the reader. We don't always bring the same mindset to our reading, and so a book will not always please, even when by a favourite author.
And of course there is the difference between readers. My wine can taste like vinegar to you and vice versa.

My general benchmarks are

5.0 Excellent
4.0 Very Good
3.0 Average
2.0 Poor
1.0 Did Not Like
0 Did Not Finish

In this post I'm considering an author I have been reading since I read his debut novel WOBBLE TO DEATH in 1970: Peter Lovesey.
I have not read all of his novels, and completed an older one just last week, but Peter Lovesey is one of those authors I always find a reliable read, even if I my rating range from 4 to 5.
You'll find lots of references to Lovesey in this blog. In fact I identified him as one of my favourite authors in one of my very first posts.

Titles from my database in rating order.

• THE SUMMONS (1995), my rating 5
• THE VAULT (1999), my rating 5
• THE HOUSE SITTER (2003), my rating 5
• THE CIRCLE (2005), my rating 5
• THE SECRET HANGMAN (2007), my rating 5
• MAD HATTER'S HOLIDAY (1973), my rating 4.4
• THE REAPER (2000), my rating 4.2

The Sergeant Cribb series consists of 8 titles published 1970- 1978
1. Wobble to Death (1970)
2. The Detective Wore Silk Drawers (1971)
3. Abracadaver (1972)
4. Mad Hatter's Holiday (1973)
5. The Tick of Death (1974) aka Invitation to A Dynamite Party
6. A Case of Spirits (1975)
7. Swing, Swing Together (1976)
8. Waxwork (1978)

The Peter Diamond series appeared from 1991- 2009, 10 titles to look for
1. The Last Detective (1991)
2. Diamond Solitaire (1992)
3. The Summons (1995)
4. Bloodhounds (1996)
5. Upon A Dark Night (1997)
6. The Vault (1999)
7. Diamond Dust (2002)
8. The House Sitter (2003)
9. The Secret Hangman (2007)
10. Skeleton Hill (2009)

In 2005 he introduced Inspector Hen Mallin and to date there are just 2 titles.
1. The Circle (2005)
2. The Headhunters (2008)

And then there are 10 stand-alone titles

• Goldengirl (1977) (writing as Peter Lear)
• Spider Girl (1980) (writing as Peter Lear)
• The False Inspector Dew (1982)
• Keystone (1984)
• Rough Cider (1986)
• The Secret Of Spandau (1986) (writing as Peter Lear)
• On the Edge (1989)
• The Reaper(2000)
• In Suspense (2001)
• Dead Gorgeous (2002)

Peter Lovesey has been short-listed for a number of awards:

• Edgar Awards Best Novel nominee (1988) : Rough Cider
• Anthony Awards Best Novel winner (1992) : The Last Detective
• Dagger Awards Best Novel nominee (1995) : The Summons
• Dagger Awards Best Novel nominee (1996) : Bloodhounds
• Edgar Awards Best Novel nominee (1996) : The Summons

and won 2:

• Macavity Awards Best Novel winner (1997) : Bloodhounds
• Macavity Awards Best Novel winner (2004) : The House Sitter

Check Lovesey's own site.

Don't Always Hit the Mark #4

The general idea behind this regular feature on my blog is that even the best authors, or your favourite ones, don't always achieve the same rating with the reader. Today's featured writer almost proves my observation wrong. Her books nearly always hit the bulls-eye with me.

My general benchmarks are

5.0 Excellent
4.0 Very Good
3.0 Average
2.0 Poor
1.0 Did Not Like
0 Did Not Finish

My featured author today is Karin Fossum, often referred to as the Norwegian Queen of Crime.

There are 3 full length reviews on my blog

• BLACK SECONDS
• BLACK OUT
• BROKEN

There are some mini-reviews here.

My ratings in descending order

1. CALLING OUT FOR YOU! aka INDIAN BRIDE (2001) my rating 5
2. DON'T LOOK BACK (2002) my rating 5
3. BLACK SECONDS (2007) my rating 5
4. WHEN THE DEVIL HOLDS A CANDLE (1998) my rating 4.5
5. BROKEN (2006) my rating 4.3
   

You can see from those ratings how often she hits the target for me.
Part of the reason is the engaging Inspector Conrad Sejer who features in her series. The only stand alone in the list above is BROKEN. The other reason why I have enjoyed the Sejer books so much is that I can imagine the central event happening to me.

Not all of Karin Fossum's Sejer series has been translated into English, and just to annoy readers even more, they have actually been translated out of order.
I haven't yet read the most recent one translated: THE WATER'S EDGE.

Here is the order you should read them in

1. EVE's EYE - not sure this is available in English
2. DON'T LOOK BACK
3. HE WHO FEARS THE WOLF
4. WHEN THE DEVIL HOLDS THE CANDLE
5. CALLING OUT FOR YOU
6. BLACK SECONDS
7. THE MURDER OF HARRIET KRONE - not sure this is available in English
8. THE WATER'S EDGE
   

All references to Karin Fossum on my blog.

Don't Always Hit the Mark #3

The general idea behind this regular feature on my blog is that even the best authors, or your favourite ones, don't always achieve the same rating with the reader. In previous posts I looked at how I have rated novels by Agatha Christie, and Ruth Rendell/Barbara Vine.

My general benchmarks are

5.0 Excellent
4.0 Very Good
3.0 Average
2.0 Poor
1.0 Did Not Like
0 Did Not Finish

This week I'm considering another author whose new book I always look forward to: Donna Leon.

I have a couple of reviews on my blog, but many more books listed in my database.

• ABOUT FACE
• THE GIRL OF HIS DREAMS
• SUFFER THE LITTLE CHILDREN
  

Mini reviews of titles not actually reviewed in a full post are here.

My ratings in descending order:

1. BLOOD FROM A STONE (2005), my rating 4.8
2. DOCTORED EVIDENCE (2005), my rating 4.8
3. THROUGH A GLASS DARKLY (2006), my rating 4.8
4. SUFFER THE LITTLE CHILDREN (2007), my rating 4.8
5. THE GIRL OF HIS DREAMS (2008), my rating 4.7
6. A VENETIAN RECKONING (1996), my rating 4.6
7. FATAL REMEDIES (1999), my rating 4.6
8. THE ANONYMOUS VENETIAN (1994), my rating 4.6
9. ABOUT FACE (2009), my rating 4.4

There are gaps in this list, but that is probably due to the fact that my database begins only at the end of 2004 rather than that I haven't read them. ABOUT FACE is #18 in the series, and I actually think I have probably read about 16 of them over the years. In my review of ABOUT FACE I tackle the issue of whether you need to read them in order.

You'll see that my average rating is about 4.7, and that I didn't enjoy the last one as much as I have others. But all the ratings show that I generally do rate Donna Leon very highly, almost always close to Excellent. Why?

I listed Donna Leon as one of my favourite authors very early in my blog.
They strike a chord with me partly because I have been to Venice several times and love the city. I also love the way Leon weaves a crime fiction story against a background of modern Venice and it's problems such as political corruption, illegal immigration, the rising waters, the challenges to traditional industries, and industrial pollution.
I have enjoyed also the development of the characters, and visiting with her protagonist Guido Brunetti is like renewing an old friendship.

Which of the Leon novels sticks in your mind as the best?

Don't Always Hit the Mark #2

This is a series that I began last week.
The general idea behind it is that even the best authors, or your favourite ones, don't always achieve the same rating with the reader.
There are of course many reasons for this - some of them lie with the author, some with the reader. You probably already recognise the factors that affect how you feel about a book - sometimes it is the plot, sometimes plot lines that don't quite come off, sometimes unconvincing characters, but sometimes too it is your mood when you are reading, factors in your life that the author could not have predicted.

Any way each of these posts will deal with an author or two, and the titles stored on my database as well as those I have reviewed on my blog. Last week I looked at Agatha Christie.

This week I am looking at Ruth Rendell/Barbara Vine.

Here are my records in rating order:

Ruth Rendell

1. NOT IN THE FLESH (2007) my rating 4.8
2. END IN TEARS (2005) my rating 4.8
3. THE FEVER TREE AND OTHER STORIES (1982) my rating 4.8
4. THE WATER'S LOVELY (2006) my rating 4.7
5. COLLECTED STORIES (2007) my rating 4.6
6. FROM DOON WITH DEATH (1964) my rating 4.2
7. PORTOBELLO (2008) my rating 4.2

My average rating of Ruth Rendell titles is 4.5 which makes them a safe pick for me.

Barbara Vine:

1. THE MINOTAUR (2005) my rating 5
2. THE BIRTHDAY PRESENT (2008) my rating 4.1
3. NO NIGHT IS TOO LONG (1994) my rating 4.0
   

You can see that the Barbara Vine titles, admittedly there are only 3 of them on my list, although I've actually read many more, don't fare so well.

My general benchmarks are

5.0 Excellent
4.0 Very Good
3.0 Average
2.0 Poor
1.0 Did Not Like
0 Did Not Finish

Reviews on my blog:

Rendell, Ruth:

• FROM DOON WITH DEATH
• PORTOBELLO

Vine, Barbara: THE BIRTHDAY PRESENT

All my posts relating to Ruth Rendell and

Don't Always Hit the Mark #1

I was reminded by a comment made here on MiP that novelists often vary in their attainment in their finished novels.
Or, at least, in the way that the reader feels about their novel.

My friend Crime Scraps had remarked on my post about H.R.F. Keating's THE PERFECT MURDER, that he had recently been to an event featuring Simon Brett interviewing Harry Keating who is in his 80s and not too well. Norman said "perhaps his later books are not up to the standard of those written in his physical and mental prime."

Our mutual friend Dorte from DJs Krimiblog pointed out that she has "not read any of Keating´s books, but if an author writes more than 60 books, there are quite often some which are not up to scratch. I would say the same about Agatha Christie, I like several of her books, but I could also mention some I would never read again. Even Ruth Rendell (one of my favourites) has written books that strike me as ordinary, almost boring."

So I decided to test this.
On my database (kept since end of 2004) I have 25 records of Agatha Christie titles, with very few duplicates. Not all these appear in my blog, despite the fact that I am working my way through the works of Agatha Christie in order of publication for the Agatha Christie Reading Challenge.

Here are my records in rating order:

1. MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS (audio)-1934- my rating 4.7
2. THE MURDER AT THE VICARAGE-1930- my rating 4.7
3. Death in the Clouds (BBC Radio CD)-0- my rating 4.6
4. THE MYSTERY OF THE BLUE TRAIN-1928- my rating 4.6
5. LORD EDGWARE DIES-1933- my rating 4.5
6. THE THIRTEEN PROBLEMS-1932- my rating 4.5
7. PERIL AT END HOUSE-1932- my rating 4.5
8. SLEEPING MURDER (Audio CD)-1976- my rating 4.5
9. THE MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR AT STYLES-1920- my rating 4.5
10. The Mystery of the Blue Train (Audio CD)-1928- my rating 4.5
11. AND THEN THERE WERE NONE (Audio CD)-1939- my rating 4.5
12. At Bertram's Hotel (Audio CD)-1965- my rating 4.4
13. THE BIG FOUR-1927- my rating 4.4
14. THE MYSTERIOUS MR QUIN-1930- my rating 4.4
15. THE SITTAFORD MYSTERY-1931- my rating 4.3
16. THE MURDER OF ROGER ACKROYD-1926- my rating 4.2
17. AFTER THE FUNERAL (Audio CD)-1953- my rating 4.2
18. THE MURDER ON THE LINKS-1923- my rating 4.2
19. PERIL AT END HOUSE (Audio CD)-1932- my rating 4.2
20. POIROT INVESTIGATES-1924- my rating 4.2
21. THE SECRET ADVERSARY-1922- my rating 4.1
22. PROBLEM AT POLLENSA BAY and other stories-1997- my rating 4.0
23. THE SEVEN DIALS MYSTERY-1929- my rating 4.0
24. THE MAN IN THE BROWN SUIT-1924- my rating 3.8
25. THE SECRET OF CHIMNEYS-1925- my rating 3.8
    

My general benchmarks are

5.0 Excellent
4.0 Very Good
3.0 Average
2.0 Poor
1.0 Did Not Like
0 Did Not Finish

So you can see even the books at the bottom of my list are close to Very Good.

You can check my reviews of Agatha Christie titles through the following links.

• LORD EDGWARE DIES
• THE BIG FOUR
• THE MAN IN THE BROWN SUIT
• THE MURDER AT THE VICARAGE
• THE MURDER OF ROGER ACKROYD
• THE MURDER ON THE LINKS
• MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS
• THE MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR AT STYLES
• THE MYSTERIOUS MR QUIN
• THE MYSTERY OF THE BLUE TRAIN
• PERIL AT END HOUSE
• POIROT INVESTIGATES
• PROBLEM AT POLLENSA BAY and other stories
• THE SECRET ADVERSARY
• THE SECRET OF CHIMNEYS
• THE SECRET OF CHIMNEYS (comic strip version)
• THE SEVEN DIALS MYSTERY
• THE SITTAFORD MYSTERY
• THE THIRTEEN PROBLEMS

I'll continue this theme at another time with other authors.