Today is my father’s birthday. His 81st. He’s a retired physician who worked so many hours during his working life that he never had time for all the things he wanted to do around the house. “Projects” piled up that he was going to get to some day, although I suspect we all do a bit of that “someday” thinking.
I will fix the flibberty-gibbet when I have time…
Only when you do have some time it’s more fun to take a nap or read or do something that is less like work. And now, for various reasons, he cannot do the things he was saving up to do.
Anyway, he loves to read. He doesn’t read on a Kindle, so it’s paper for him all the way. Which gets me into the bookstore pretty often. I try to think of books he might like, but he’s a tough cookie. Very picky. Sometimes I give him a dud, and I feel terrible.
A while back, after I read my first Lee Child book, I knew my dad would love Jack Reacher. And I was right.
Unfortunately, eventually, I had both of us caught up with his backlist. At that point, my dad actually started trolling the internet looking for information about the next Jack Reacher book. He would duly print out whatever he’d found and bring it to me with instructions to please get that book for him. So cute. Then I signed him up for Child’s newsletter. Smash hit. I think I am his favorite daughter whenever a newsletter arrives.
I went to Bouchercon a couple years ago and, as it happens, Lee Child was a speaker and doing a signing. I brought the penultimate hardback with me, and purchased the new book Child was signing, and I stood in a very, very long line and got the books signed for my dad. Child was completely gracious. And my dad was tickled pink to get personally autographed books.
Now my Dad prints off all the newsletters and brings them to me to make sure I get the book for him right away. But I get the newsletter too, and I’m faster on the ‘Net and always have the book on order at the local independent for him.
Dad likes (I’m pretty sure) Navy SEAL books; I got him the bin Laden op book and a couple others and he seems to have liked them. I get him political thrillers because he’s got some rather looney political conspiracy theories himself. (Fiction for us, non-fiction for him?)
My Question to you
Dad loves mysteries and I’ve been thinking that I should possibly get him some of the Heyer mysteries. But I have not read any of them. Have any of you? Which would you recommend? Please let me know in the comments!
Other stuff
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Happy Birthday to your dad! I’m also a fan of Jack Reacher, in fact that’s about the only thing I read that is outside the Historical Fiction genre. A couple of historical mystery series that he might enjoy with a strong masculine lead: the Crispin Guest series by Jeri Westerson, and the Sebastian St. Cyr series by C.S. Harris.
Has he read Dick Francis?
Oh, I would second Dick Francis. LOVED his books and there are plenty of them
But he’d have to be okay with the British horse racing world.
I don’t read anything like that now, though. I did read a Heyer mystery once, but it was pretty light compared to more recent fiction.
I have some of the Heyer mysteries sitting on the shelf but have not gotten to them yet.
I second the recommendation for the Harris mysteries since a surgeon, Paul Gibson, is a recurring secondary character.
I have also been responsible for finding books for my dad at times…so much pressure!
I second Dick Francis too. And in fact there are quite a few which are not limited to English horse racing (although it’s always there in the background), such as:
Proof – wine business
Shattered – glass blowing
Hot Money – finance
The Edge – transcontinental train journey (Canada) with actors staging a murder (very good)
The Danger – kidnapping and insuring against it (very good)
In the Frame – painting, art world, Australia (very good)
To the Hilt (painting)
Try them – they are good, and there are so many of them that they will keep your father happily occupied for quite a while!
How about Helen MacInnes – she wrote several good, tightly-plotted Cold War thrillers generally featuring American or British secret agents fighting the threat of communism…
I love the Sebastian St Cyr series, but does your Dad like historical novels?
Would Suzanne Brockmann appeal? – her Troubleshooters are realistic Navy SEALs, and the romance takes second place to the good plots and interaction between the men. And it’s another lovely long series!
The Georgette Heyer mysteries aren’t bad, but I don’t think they’re as good as her Regencies. The best thing about them is the depiction of life in England for the upper classes in (I think) the 1930s… But if you do try them, be aware that there are two different series. The first Inspector Hemmingway is No Wind of Blame, and the first Superintendent Hannasyde and Giles Carrington is Death in the Stocks. I prefer ones featuring Giles Carrington,
Sebastian St. Cyr, yes yes yes!
As for the Heyer mysteries, I don’t think they’re nearly as much fun as her regencies. Somehow, what’s amusing arrogance in a Regency buck comes across as brattishness in something that’s close to our own times.
Does he ever read SF? Lois McMaster Bujold’s Miles Vorkosigan novels have military intrigue and a fascinating universe; in fact, “A Civil Campaign” has strong Regency elements. The first one is “Cordelia’s Honor”, but you don’t have to start there.
Happy birthday Carolyn’s dad! I wasn’t that impressed with the G. Heyer mysteries I tried. How about Julia Spencer-Fleming, who’s just brilliant, mysteries set in a rural NY town with the chief of police and the (female) episcopalian priest as protagonists who become lovers. He’s read the Peter Wimsey series, I guess? Tana French’s first two books, contemporary Irish police procedurals, fabulous writing. Also the Maisie Dobbs series. Or are these all too girly?
Thanks for the recommendations!
I’m pretty sure he’s read all of Dick Francis, but I’ll ask to make sure. I think so because I read all his Dick Francis books. Hot Money is one of my favs.
My dad surprises me sometimes. I’m not sure I could sneak a Brockmann past him, but I’ve toyed with it.
I’ll see about the St. Cyr series. That sounds like something he’d like.
Thanks for the recommendations!
I’m pretty sure he’s read all of Dick Francis, but I’ll ask to make sure. I think so because I read all his Dick Francis books. Hot Money is one of my favs.
My dad surprises me sometimes. I’m not sure I could sneak a Brockmann past him, but I’ve toyed with it.
I’ll see about the St. Cyr series. That sounds like something he’d like.
Thanks for the recommendations!
I’m pretty sure he’s read all of Dick Francis, but I’ll ask to make sure. I think so because I read all his Dick Francis books. Hot Money is one of my favs.
My dad surprises me sometimes. I’m not sure I could sneak a Brockmann past him, but I’ve toyed with it.
I’ll see about the St. Cyr series. That sounds like something he’d like.
Thanks for the recommendations!
I’m pretty sure he’s read all of Dick Francis, but I’ll ask to make sure. I think so because I read all his Dick Francis books. Hot Money is one of my favs.
My dad surprises me sometimes. I’m not sure I could sneak a Brockmann past him, but I’ve toyed with it.
I’ll see about the St. Cyr series. That sounds like something he’d like.