Carl Hiaasen
Hiaasen’s newest title, Star Island, is by far my favorite since Skinny Dip. Using the trite and oft-seen story of a starlet going off the rails, Hiaasen drags Cherry Pye, a mediocre singer filled with blind ambition, had her double Ann, into the psychotic world of …
Brian D’amato
D’amato creates a fantastic near-future and recreates the lost Maya civilizations. As 2012 nears, the end of the Maya calendar, a large-scale disaster strikes. The disaster, followed by the end of civilization, are both predicted in a Maya codex. Jed DeLanda, a Maya descendant and expert in the …
Catherine Jinks
Where do you go to school if you are a genius and your father is an evil genius? Why, the evil genius academy, of course. Learn the fine arts of lying, stealing, poisons, hacking, disguise and other deeply useful skills. The only drawbacks? The matriculation rate is nothing …
Trenton Lee Stewart
An ad in the paper looking for exceptional children lures orphan Reynie Muldoon into a strange shadow conspiracy. With a band of other brilliant and bizarre children, they must overthrow an evil mastermind. Inventive and fast-moving, though personally I think a few fires would have solved a …
Terry Pratchett
Moist VonLipwig. Spike. Golums, A small dog named Mr. Fusspot. The Patrician. Perfidious minds. Lousy puns. It’s all good- it’s all Pratchett.…
Caroline Graham
For some inexplicable reason, the Barnaby series covers could double for vapid romance novels from the 50s. However, the books are very recent and have very modern plots. While their is some continuity in the series, they can be read out of order. Two particular favorites are Written …
Nature Girl (Carl Hiaasen) and The Big Bamboo (Tim Dorsey)
I hit two of the unholy Floridian trinity (Dave Barry being the third… yes, that Dave Barry) within a week, so I can’t be held accountable for my actions. Both books live up to their own bizarre standards and fit …
Lincoln Child and Douglas Preston
I realized that this book is fast becoming a favorite as I have read it 3 times in the last year and a half. While the main character, Agent Pendergast, is part of an ongoing series it is not necessary to have read any of …
Steve Alten
…Perfect summer read? Let’s see here:
Creepy cover with short, punchy title in large, raised letters? Check.
Wronged hero trying to right his life? Check
Snarky nemesis for said wronged hero? Check
Loyal sidekick/best friend? Check
Gorgeous dame to win in the end? Check
Fantastic prehistoric creature
Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
This is an all-time favorite of mine. We first got this as an audiobook for a car trip. My husband and I found ourselves glued to our seats in a fast-darkening parking lot, listening to “just one more bit.” Engrossing, tense, fascinating – a true …
