Critically acclaimed, award-winning author Terry Shames
writes the bestselling Samuel Craddock series, set in small-town Texas. Her most recent
release is a prequel to the series. Learn
more about Terry and her books at her website.
Favorites
This is a
great time of year to give a shout-out to favorites. I am going to list my
favorite bookstores and books of the year, because they are what sustains
readers when everything not-so-favorite is happening.
My favorite
bookstores, and why I chose them:
Mrs.
Dalloway’s Art and Garden Center, Berkeley. This is my “local.” If it were a
pub, I’d have my own stool with my name on it and the bartender wouldn’t have
to ask for my order. It has a wonderful, welcoming feel to it and the customers
are book-lovers who will engage readily in conversation.
Borderlands,
San Francisco. Specializing in sci-fi and mystery. You will never find a
bookstore more supportive of writers.
BookPeople,
Austin, TX. My home away from home. Scott Montgomery, the mystery section
honcho, has probably sold more of my books than any other bookseller. He is
also a writer, so he understands the struggles writers have to promote their
books, so when he finds a book he likes, he makes a huge fuss over it.
Book
Carnival (Orange, CA) and Clues Unlimited (Tucson, AZ)— A couple of months
before a book comes out, both Anne and Chris contact me to say, “When are you
coming? Let’s get it set up now!” It makes me feel special. I know I’m not the
only author they do that for, but it feels that way.
Favorite
books? I am an eclectic reader. I will try anything. I may not finish if I
don’t like it, but I have been happily surprised by books that I thought were
out of my interest range.
Mystery?
Not exactly
Liane
Moriarity’s books are not necessarily mysteries, but as with so much good
fiction, there is a mystery at the heart of each book. Big Little Lies completely captivated me. Moriarity is a writer who
isn’t satisfied with an easy ending, which I appreciate.
Sci-fi
The Book of Strange New Things by Michael Faber. Rich and
satisfying. As you peal the onion of the story, you get philosophy, humor,
religion, psychology, and a dynamite plot.
Underground Airline, Ben H. Winters. This is a serious
“alternate history” book. After Winter’s Last Policeman trilogy, this shows
that his imagination is boundless.
Mystery
Gun Street Girl, the fourth in Adrian McKinty’s “trilogy”
will break your heart, make you laugh, and make you wish you could write
characters as well as McKinty does.
Lamentation, Joe Clifford. I loved this book.
About losers who struggle not to be losers when it seems to be their destiny.
Fields Where They Lay, Tim Hallinan. One of my favorite
authors. This is in the Junior Bender series—the philosophical thief, hired to
catch thieves at Christmas.
Literary Fiction
My Name is Lucy Barton, Elizabeth Stroud. Not much needs to
be said since this is on just about everyone’s “best of” list. But everyone is
right.
Pleasantville, Attica Locke. Winner of the Harper
Lee Prize for legal fiction. It is a mystery, but so, so much more.
Mystery of
sorts
Dead is Better by Jo Perry. One of the most
imaginative books I’ve read in a while. Really short and really satisfying.
Thrillers
Descent, Tim Johnson—It’s breathtaking,
well written, and compelling. About family and courage.
The Drifter, Nicholas Petrie. Great writing,
compelling characters, relevant to contemporary life. Action scenes were
totally believable, a rarity in thrillers.
Humorous
Mystery
The Chet
and Bernie series by Spencer Quinn is funny without being precious. Paw and Order does not disappoint. Quinn
has an uncanny ability to imagine what a dog is thinking.
Hope
everyone has a terrific 2017. Visit bookstores, and read on!
An Unsettling Crime for Samuel
Craddock
A Samuel
Craddock Mystery
When the Jarrett
Creek Fire Department is called to douse a blaze on the outskirts of town, they
discover a grisly scene: five black young people have been murdered. Newly
elected Chief of Police Samuel Craddock, just back from a stint in the Air
Force, finds himself an outsider in the investigation headed by the Texas
Highway Patrol. He takes an immediate dislike to John Sutherland, a racist
trooper
Craddock’s fears
are realized when Sutherland arrests Truly Bennett, a young black man whom
Craddock knows and respects. Sutherland cites dubious evidence that points to
Bennett, and Craddock uncovers facts leading in another direction. When
Sutherland refuses to relent, Craddock is faced with a choice that will define
him as a lawman—either let the highway patrol have its way, or take on a
separate investigation himself.
Although his choice
to investigate puts both Craddock and his family in danger, he perseveres. In
the process, he learns something about himself and the limits of law
enforcement in Jarrett Creek.
Buy Links
2 comments:
Awesome looking book cover, Terry. Best wishes for a great 2017!
That a huge list of books that you like and none that's I've read, but will try. Thanks for the list and best of luck Terry with your book throughout the New Year.
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