Straley has written a couple of series, mostly set in and around Alaska where he has lived since the late 70s.
A few authors I like sing his praises, so that's good enough for me......
Lesser writers look to their characters'’ poor choices and attempt to rectify them, John Straley loves his characters for just those choices. . . . damned near every one of us, sooner or later, ends up in one of Straley’s wise, wayward, wonderfully unhinged novels.” -- James Sallis, author of Drive
Like the Coen brothers on literary speed, John Straley is among the very best stylists of his generation. Cold Storage, Alaska is truly stunning, poetic, and smart.” -- —Ken Bruen, Shamus Award winning author of The Guard
His website is here.
These two are part of his seven book, Cecil Younger series - the third and fourth. He also has three novels in his Cold Storage series.
The Music of What Happens (1996)
"That rarity, a unique voice..... These novels have established Straley as a purveyor of darkly poetic, off-beat crime fiction. Really excellent, the kind of book you're always looking for and rarely find."
- Crime Time
Death and the Language of Happiness (1997)
Cecil Younger is a private investigator who takes comfort in the absurdity of the universe. And the universe is obliging him with a joint phone call from his lawyer and his shrink to convey a message from another client: Someone will pay Cecil well to get rid of a problem...by killing a man.Common sense tells him that this is not a good career move, but he needs the money. The potential client, 97-year-old William Flynn, is razor-sharp on what happened eighty years ago, but he's none too clear on what happened this week. What happened this week is the murder of Angela Rameriez, and the murder weapon has been found in Flynn's room at the nursing home. And Cecil's potential victim is Angela's ex-husband.
Finding him - which might, after all, help Flynn's defence - takes Cecil from a rough-and-tumble Aleutian island town to the perilous streets of Seattle, from the pathetic murder of a drunken woman in a cheap hotel to a decades-old slaughter that is still reaching into the present. And its dark and chilly grasp may extend to Cecil Younger himself...
I already like the setting for these books, Col. And Cecil Younger sounds like an interesting character. I hope you'll enjoy them.
ReplyDeleteThanks Margot. I think Straley might be an author where our tastes overlap.
DeleteYet another author whose work I don't know . . .
ReplyDeleteAnother trip to the library maybe...
DeleteI don’t know this writer. Thanks, Col.
ReplyDeleteElgin, I don't think it's possible to know everyone. I'll have a bloody good go though!
DeleteAha, now I have read a book by him, when we lived in Seattle. Because it was set in Alaska (which we visited) and because it had one of the best titles ever: The Woman Who Married a Bear, or something similar. So far as I remember, it was enjoyable, and the setting was intriguing.
ReplyDeleteI have the bear book as well! I ought to read that one first, I think it's the series opener.
DeleteI have only read one by this author (The Woman Who Married a Bear) and I liked it a lot. I will definitely be reading more by him.
ReplyDeleteBook sale isn't too far away. Keep your eyes peeled!
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