I read a wide range of books but when I want to read something which doesn't tax the brain, I like the "relic hunter" books. So far I've read
Dan Brown
Scott Moriani
Chris Kuzneski
Boyd Morrison
and a couple more. Can anyone recommend other authors in this genre?
Eddie
Whole chunks of my life come under the heading "it seemed like a good idea at the time".
Can't imagine that you haven't read (or tried to read and didn't like), but FWIW when I don't want to tax the brain and fly through a book I generally reach for
Lee Child
Jeffery Deaver
Perhaps not the genre you're looking for but I'm also partial William Boyd
Don't you just hate it when you ask a quite specific question and someone gives a recommendation that wasn't what you were looking for...
It's not a 'relic hunter' book but I read my first Steven King book, 'Under The Dome' in 20years recently and was reminded what an excellent story teller he is. It's not great literature and it doesn't tax the brain but it's a good (long ) tale very well told.
Matthew Reilly (Jack West Jr books)
Andy McDermott
David Leadbeater
Clive Cussler
Just got back into Scott Mariani's Ben Hope books myself.
Dave
Last edited by dforgrieve; 5th October 2014 at 12:50.
Thanks, I've read Lee Child and Geoffrey Deaver plus Harlan Coben and Michael Connelly but I'm particularly looking for more "relic hunter" books. I've recently enjoyed reading lots of Kathy Reichs books, who I can recommend.Originally Posted by adzman808
Eddie
Whole chunks of my life come under the heading "it seemed like a good idea at the time".
David Leadbeater's Matt Drake books?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bones-Odin-M...8NMZTC975Q307V
Not sure it's in the same field eddie , but I enjoy reading bernard cornwells books when offshore, great story lines but nothing too indepth.
Mike
I'll second the Andy McDermott recommendation. Plus Greig Beck. Both in the relic hunter mould and easy reads.
For easy readable thrillers, Steve Hunter and Brad Taylor.
Joe Abercrombie should keep you hooked.
If you like Kathy Reichs, try Karin Slaughter and Jų Nesbo.
Same genre and slightly edge Reichs IMO.
(Best to read in chrono order)
I'd second the Bernard Cornwell recommendation. The "Grail Quest" series were good - "Harlequin", "Vagabond","Heretic" and "1356".
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
The Shepherd by Frederick Forsyth (a short book)
A time of Gifts by Patrick Leigh Fermor
enjoy
post script OOOPS not in OP'S target genre ,sorry (well, the Alchemist is, sort of)
but good anyway
I've read many books by both of these, most enjoyable.
Eddie
Whole chunks of my life come under the heading "it seemed like a good idea at the time".
Have you tried tess gerritsen?
Yes, read most of them.
Eddie
Whole chunks of my life come under the heading "it seemed like a good idea at the time".
That's my usual suspects for a decent chill out read exhausted.
I'll be keeping an eye on this thread for suggestions too.
(Currently reading zombie apocalypse. :D )
Yup, was about to be my suggestion.
Not fiction but nevertheless straining brain cells only as much as one wishes, very amusing yet giving great, unexpected perspective are a combination of three books;
The Lost Cyclist by David Herlihy.
Across Asia on a Bicycle by Allen & Sachtleben.
Around the World on a Bicycle by Stevens.
Three astounding travel stories which you can pick up and lay down whenever. Together they vividly paint a comprehensive picture of the real world at the end of the 19th c.
Last edited by Huertecilla; 5th October 2014 at 19:15.
Matthew Reilly wrote on called 'Temple'.
Very easy on the brain. Also 'Ice Station' is ok.
Not exactly Wordsworth though....
James Patterson, I really like the Alex Cross series.
I rather enjoyed that.
Has anyone else tried the Erast Fandorin adventure/detective novels by Boris Akunin? Rollicking good Imperial period Russian detective novels...
I echo Stephen King for telling great stories. However, something that isn't like Relic Hunter is 'The Universe vs Alex Woods'. It starts of in one way, and then becomes a different kind of book. I really enjoyed it.
In a similar manner. The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry.
Finally, the best book I have read in the last 5 years is 'The Gone Away World'. It's hard to explain what it's like, it's kind of semi intellectual, but a SciFi action romp. I read it on holiday as I think you have to get into the swing of it.
do you have a Kindle Eddie?
Real airport lounge stuff but great fun...
The Shardlake series by CJ Sansom is excellent - crime thriller set in the time of Henry VIII
Also the Thorne series by Mark Billingham is good and there are around 10 or more to get your teeth into
I'm reading Stephen King's "The Stand" at the moment and it is really good, I can highly recommend it.
Mark
Blimey, I went out with his sister for a few years. Somewhere I have a copy of his first book, the entire run of which, less a few copies, was pulped before being publised because it had the wrong author's name on the spine.
I find Clive Cussler's are an easy bedtime read Eddie.
There is usually a bit of relic hunting dropped in too.
Cheers,
Neil.
Try James Rollins, starting with Excavation perhaps. Greg Loomis as well.
I second this one. Reading it now, and it's a very interesting and captivating read.Real airport lounge stuff but great fun...
Nelson DeMille is a brilliant author and if you've not tried one of his novels you should!
http://www.nelsondemille.net/content/index.asp
I've loved all of his books but 'Gold Coast' 'Plum Island' and 'Charm School' are among my favourites.
If its something to send you to sleep.....
Zen and the art of Motorcycle Maintenance should do the trick.
No, I have a Bookeen which can do ePub.
Eddie
Whole chunks of my life come under the heading "it seemed like a good idea at the time".
I've just finished The Rule Of Four by Ian Caldwell which was pretty good.
Almost fits the 'Relic Hunter' theme, but deserved a sequel really.
For a good fun/easy read I'd recommend the Camel Club books by Baldacci. Some of his novels I find a bit much, but that's a top series to get into - not a million miles from the Jack Reacher stuff, but Oliver Stone is in his 60's.
I second these
Also worth trying are the Hawkwood series by James McGee. Only onto my second one but, I bought them for my Mum and she devoured them and said they are good. He is a Bow Street Runner, and the world is painted well and most enjoyable.
Tom Rob Smith's stuff is dark but great page turners.
Damn you, was just about to recommend him. My favourite was The Lions Game, but all of them are pretty good.
I almost added Lions Game but agreed, all excellent books. 'Up Country' is also very very good.
Eddie- I have multiple copies of some of his books, if you'd like to try one just say and I'll send you a copy ;-)
Thanks for the offer but I'm specifically looking for "relic hunter" type books. I still have all Fleming's James Bond, a Jeeves & Wooster collection and classic WW2 stories to get through so it's not as if I don't have anything to read ;-)
Eddie
Whole chunks of my life come under the heading "it seemed like a good idea at the time".
Good thread.
I've also done the Shardlake _ Sansom books and the Joe Abercrombie ones.
Have now ordered I am Pilgrim :)
Have recently been enjoying urban fantasy books - but that's a different thread I think :) (Mike Shevdon, Ben Aaronawich, benedict jacka, Richard kadrey etc)) and some bonkers Victoriana Steam punk mania by Mark Hodder (the burton and swinbourne stuff). Etc etc, I read all sorts....crime too.
So many books, so little time.
Not quite the same genre, but for something easy but immensely fun try this series http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/0755...&robot_redir=1
4 books about police in the 70s... Brilliant
Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryptonomicon
That's a complex old book... like a lot of his stuff. Worth it though :-)
Well, I thought Eddie might like the Second World War bits, reminiscing and all that. :-)
For those Shardlake fans, there is a new book out later this month
+1 for Clive Cussler, Dirk Pitt/Kurt Austin/Sam & Remi Fargo - they all seem to get involved in relic hunting somewhere along the line and they're all easy reading in a boys own/James Bond kind of way. I read them whilst on the cross trainer and find the 1/2hr to 1hr goes far easier than without a good book to read.
I must have read most of his books over the last 20 years and have just landed a job lot of 30 Cusslers for £15 from ebay, lots of which i've read, lots i haven't but all will be read again as i tend to forget anyway after 10-20 years
For pure non-stop escapism, have you tried Matthew Reilly, especially Ice Station, it will make a fantastic blockbuster film, as long asTom Cruise stays away!!
Eddie, try "The Historian" by Elizabeth Kostova. Right up your alley.
Also, Trevanian's "Shibumi" is a classic.
I got this last week and initially found it hard going. I can see that there's a good story in there but she uses a lot of words to tell it. In some ways it reminds me of reading Edgar Allan Poe, certainly not written in a contemporary style. I'm about half-way through now and will definitely finish it.
Eddie
Whole chunks of my life come under the heading "it seemed like a good idea at the time".
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