If you like this you'll LOVE... Book 'dating' service!

I couldn't read Shades Of Grey. though I like dystopian etc. I just think he's a really irritating writer.

I would say I found the first Thursday Next book mildly amusing, but one was definitely enough. I did like Fforde's Shades of Grey though (and not a riding crop in sight ).

Rivers of London - not great writing, but good enough that I've read the first & second and would probably pick up a third if I saw it in the library.

Remus - Rivers of Ldn review made me chortle. I do like HP but not Jasper Fforde and appreciate good writing so... Probably give it a miss?

Review that can't be compared to anything else is intriguing, though poss too violent for me. Will see if there is an ebook sample or read 1st chap in bookstore like the olden days

I'm tempted to write a rec, with Toastie's (much easier to type!) rules, about the Black Dagger Brotherhood series. Only, I don't watch porn so can't think of anything to compare it to. (Vampires with wrist-thick penises. )

Well Disorderly, Every Dead Thing, his debut novel, is a straight thriller, featuring blood and fear. But nothing supernatural. Apart from a blind clairvoyant, but she gets killed. So that's ok :o

They don't descend into horror, but there is lots of terror and superstition in subsequent novels.

There is nothing I've read I can compare them to. Yet.

Nicholas, What are the Charlier Parker books similar to? Even a film or tv show if not like another book you can think of.

I can't tell the genre from your review. Purely thriller, or horror? I am a wimp don't like horror. Bloody violence is fine but nothing demon-y supernatural.

OP - The Gone Away World.. I've vaguely heard of this before, But not read it. Sounds like just my kind of thing, thanks.

Okay. The Lymond Chronicles by Dorothy Dunnett are historical fiction at their finest. They follow gifted, erudite, Scotsman Francis Crawford of Lymond through Renaissance Europe, over the course of 6 fantastic novels.

You'll like them if you like... A Game of Thrones. Like GRRM's books, the heroes are far from perfect, villains are multi layered and not just evil, lots of romance and adventure, HUGE twists and surprises, zero sentimentality (be warned!)

The Charlie Parker novels by John Connolly. The heroes are deeply flawed, they are seriously bloody (literally) good thrillers, well written and feel like they're superglued to your hands. There is humour amid the horror, and The Black Angel is probably the best novel of the genre.

There are ten in the series, and I recommend reading them in sequence. An eleventh is released on Friday, Wrath Of Angels, a sequel to The Black Angel. Apparently the baddie, Brightwell, makes an appearance. I wonder how his death at the hands of the gay hitman is reconciled...

Just so long as you don't come and ask for a refund if you don't like them I am a massive Le Guin fan though (hence the nname) and I think that if you like her books, you'd probably enjoy either of my suggestions.

You only need to have read one book that is vaguely like something else to contribute Bertie. Come on... Have a go!

Takver, I am going to spend Too Much Money on books this month now! I'm not sure whether to thank you or not!

Am thinking up another rec...

It is a good idea for a thread. I shall lurk. I don't read enough adult fiction to feel able to contribute, though.

OK, I'll add another (with you in mind, DisorderlyNights)

Native Tongue by Suzette Haden Elgin (and sequel the Judas Rose). A dystopia novel that isn't depressing, this SF series explores the idea that you can change the possible through changing language.

If you enjoyed The Handmaid's Tale, would like something ultimately less gruelling, but still intellectually engaging with a good strong story that carries the book along, then try Native Tongue.

Thanks. I've been reading a lot of kidslit for work research lately, so really needing good, meaty adult recs.

Just seen that mumsnet book club obviously approve of this thread, they tweeted a link to it earlier!

DisorderlyNight - I think you would still like it. Its not great literature, IYSWIM, but very amusing. And (as a vegetable grower) I loved the fact that one of the cases involved stolen unusual veggies

Sounds like a business plan, Bertie! I wonder if The Prince's Trust would fund you setting it up? :)

Aww, I thought this was an idea for a new dating service where your match is made solely on book taste.

I was having visions of 50 shades of grey fans being paired with lunatics with a riding crop...

I've got another one but it's not based on books I particularly like - but somebody might!

'Rivers Of London' by Ben Aaronovitch - it's described as Harry Potter grown up and working as a policeman. It's a kind of urban fantasy with river goddesses, evil magicians, wise old wizard and very silly jokes, interspersed with some fairly interesting London history.

You'll like this if you like Jasper Fffffffffffjorde - although this is probably mildly less irritating to be honest. It's not great literature by any stretch of the imagination but it's written by somebody who clearly has half a brain cell and a sense of humour and knows a bit about London.

That sounds hilarious Takver! I didn't like the bill though, will I still like it? I like detective stuff in general, and LOVE le Guin?

Ah! have just thought of one I can do

"Acts of Destruction" by Mat Coward is a lighthearted police procedural set in a near future in which a bloodless revolution has instituted a socialist Green republic in Britain.

Ideal if you like the idea of an episode of the Bill rewritten by Ursula le Guin just after she finished the Dispossessed.

I think its great and have it marked to watch :) - just not sure I can write one myself . . .

(I liked the first Temeraire book a lot, but was very uninspired by the sequels, think she should have quit while she was ahead)

Surprised how little traffic this has had so far. Wants more...