Another books for my dad thread - can you help please.

[Rugbylovingmum]

Hi,

I want to buy a couple of books for my dad for xmas but I'm going in circles deciding which author to go for. Any help would be appreciated. He likes typical 'dad' books and because he works long hours and is tired in the evenings he enjoys fairly easy reading books with a likable main character, or at least one you can sympathise with.

He loves Lee Child and I usually buy him the latest book but they have been going downhill a bit and the new one doesn't have good reviews. He has read and enjoyed Lee Child, Harlan Coben, Robert Crais, Ian Rankin, Peter Robinson and I think he enjoyed Robert B Parker's Spenser books and some of Sue Grafton's earlier books. He doesn't like Jo Nesbo, the dragon trilogy, Karin Slaughter or Quintin Jardine. I know he has read Jonathon Kellerman and Jack Kerley and I think he thought they were OK but didn't love the books.
My dad and DP usually agree on books and DP didn't particularly enjoy Tess Gerritsen or Kathy Reichs. For some reason they both seem to prefer a male lead character.

If he doesn't have anything new to read he always goes back to Louis L'Amour or the Godfather trilogy and has recently been reading Brendan O’Carroll's books.

Any recommendations? Thanks for the help.

[Johnogroats]

What about Ben macintyres books - agent Zigzag and others. True story but reads like a thriller. Also recently enjoyed Stella Rimmington.

[iseenodust]

If he likes Harlan Coban then I suggest David Baldacci - the Camel Club series is good. Also Nelson DeMille writes good thrillers.

For something different if he likes sport at all, I've bought a male relative Penguins Stopped Play which has great Amazon reviews.

[Rugbylovingmum]

Thanks, I'll go and check those out on amazon now. He's not very sporty but he does watch a bit of football.

[Rugbylovingmum]

Hmm, reviewers seem to say that David Baldacci's Camel club plots are quite farfetched and my dad generally prefers a straight forward crime story as opposed to a conspiracy/spy book. Not that Lee Childs is exactly believeable but you know what I mean. They do look good though, I might stick one on my kindle and give it a read. Same with Ben McIntyre.

[tripfiction]

One of our top reads this year has been The House of Dolls by David Hewson www.tripfiction.com/house-dolls-fiction-set-in-amsterdam/ We called it an absolute cracker.

Hope you find something you feel your Dad will like!

[IsabellaofFrance]

What about John Grisham? They are not as fast paced as Baldacci or Lee Child, but they are really, really good.

[highlandcoo]

You could also look at the Louise Penny Inspector Gamache detective series. Set in French Canada, not too gory, but a likeable main character and an interesting setting.

Susan Hill's Simon Serailler series, set in a cathedral town in England, is also very good.

[Rugbylovingmum]

Thanks for the suggestions IsabellaofFrance, tripfiction and Highlandcoo, I'll check them out now.

[fatowl]

I bought my dad 11/22/63 by Stephen King, a few months ago - he loved it. He said he'd always had Stpehen King down as a horror writer so wouldn't have picked it up. It is a bit of a doorstop though.

[DonkeysDontRideBicycles]

Wonder if your dad would like the Lawrence Block "Matthew Scudder, P.I." books?

His "Keller" novels (Hit Man(1998),Hit List(2000),Hit Parade(2006) +Hit MeHit and Run(2008)) are about a contract killer.

Going back a bit there was a long series featuring NYC 87th Precinct by Ed McBain (who was also known as Evan Hunter who wrote The Blackboard Jungle).

[wigglesrock]

I asked the same question a few weeks ago and got some great ideas . A few posters recommended I am Pilgrim - Terry Hayes. I actually just finished reading it myself today, it's very good. I think my Dad would like. He's also read a few of the books you mention in your OP. Mine also liked Child 44 and the first John Connelly Charlie Parker book - Every Dead thing.

[Rugbylovingmum]

Thanks for all the great suggestions. I am having a nightmare week at work (and at home as I'm bringing piles of paperwork home). I haven't had time to have a good look at the new suggestions but I'm going to spend some time checking them out this weekend. Thanks again xx

[VerucaInTheNutRoom]

If he likes Ian Rankin then he might like Stuart MacBride, I think the main character is called Logan McRae. Also Peter James' Roy Grace series. You could look at the Book People as they often do sets of 5 or 10 books for popular crime writers.

I'd also suggest Caro Ramsey's crime novels, there's only a handful so far.

[Atthebottomofthegarden]

What about the Jackson Brodie books by Kate Atkinson, or are they too girlie do you think? The first one is Case Histories.

[DavenotChas]

I second Stuart McBride's Logan McRae series, dark humour and great characters. Also 11/22/63 blew me away. Stephen Leather's Spider Shepherd series is fast paced and very jack reacherish so he might enjoy that.

[Rugbylovingmum]

Thanks all. I have ordered him the first two books from Stuart McBride's Logan McRae series but have made a note of all the other suggestions for the future!

[Rugbylovingmum]

I have also ordered 11/22/63 for DP - I think he'll enjoy it and it means I can read it when he has finished Thanks again.

[agoodbook]

Best choice if he likes Lee Child is Vince Flynn - Matt Hilton is also good-

[Rugbylovingmum]

Thanks agoodbook. DP really enjoyed all the Vince Flynn books and passed them on to my dad who thought they were okay but didn't really get into them. Strange because he and DP usually agree (although DP doesn't like any of the Rebus books and DF loves them). I'll have a look at Matt Hilton, don't think I've come across his before.

[skolastica]

Peter May - The Lewis Man, The Blackhouse

[agoodbook]

I remembered Tom Cain as well- he's only written about 4 or 5 though :)

[Rugbylovingmum]

Thanks all, in the end I went for Peter May, Stuart MacBride and James Oswald just because I could get the first book from the recommended series at a good price. I have a few recommendations left over for the future so thanks!