I picked up Men’s Journal (Dec. 07) the other day. There is a menacing photo of Russell Crowe on the cover. The title of the article on him is: Our Favorite S.O.B. How could I resist that?
Inside was another article that caught my interest. The editors name the 15 best literary thrillers ever written. They are, in countdown order, as follows:
15. Havana by Stephen Hunter - The editors call it “a double shot of escapism” which sure is intriguing.
14. Red Lights by Georges Simenon - Called a psychopathological thriller.
13. From Russia With Love by Ian Flemming - Bond, baby. Bond.
12. The Last Good Kiss by James Crumley - Apparently there is a beer-drinking dog in the first sentence.
11. Hard Revolution by George Pelecanos - Read it!!
10. The Thirty-Nine Steps by John Buchan - Called “the great-grandfather of the spy thriller…” I like that description.
9. Dog Soldiers by Robert Stone -I didn’t think I’d hear of this one until I read the blurb. Now I think I read it.
8. The Deep Blue Good-By by John D. MacDonald - The world of Travis McGee. Not a big suprise to this author on the list.
7. Freedomland by Richard Price - The editors say: “Think Charles Dickens beamed into a Newark ghetto.” Ummm…?
6. The Great Escape by Paul Brickhill - This one is a true story, or based on one, and includes Nazi POW camps.
5. The Tears of Autumn by Charles McCarry - Called “indelibly American” and I’m not sure what that means.
4. The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler -Philip Marlowe. You knew Chandler would be on the list somewhere.
3. Kill Shot by Elmore Leonard - Another author you’d expect to be on the list. No idea how the authors narrowed his work down to one.
2. The Spy Who Came In From The Cold by John le Carre - I tried to read this one a few times and couldn’t get into it.
1. Rogue Male by Geoffrey Household -Never heard of it.
The men have spoken. At least Men’s Journal has. Any book you’d put on there instead?
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uhhh what about Robert Ludlum’s Bourne books? Or Tom Clancey’s Hunt For Red October?
Guess it depends what they classify as a ‘thriller’. But I’d pick those.
by Jaci Burton November 8th, 2007 at 11:53 amI’m surprised not to see Dean Koontz on that list. But can’t argue with Travis McGee, sigh. I loved that entire series.
by Charlene Teglia November 8th, 2007 at 5:47 pmI read the Travis McGee books because Dean Koontz recommended them!
The “literary” tacked in front of “thrillers” pretty much negates any opinion I might have on the subject. John Sandford writes some good slick, commercial stuff, particularly the Prey series. I’ve recently glommed onto P.J. Tracy, as well.
by Kerry Allen November 9th, 2007 at 8:14 amI’d put Hunter’s “Point of Impact” on the list instead of “Havana.” POI kicked off his Swagger family saga and is a much better book, IMHO
I’d also include one of Richard Stark’s “Parker” novels. He has so many, it would be hard to pick which one, though.
by Jennifer Estep November 9th, 2007 at 9:39 amI guess the thrillers I like aren’t literary enough. I love Clive Cussler (I guess he’s more adventure than thriller, though) and Stephen Coonts.
by Tori Lennox November 9th, 2007 at 10:15 amI’m surprised that Ken Follett’s not on there anywhere!
Thought my fave book of his isn’t a thriller, it’s Pillars of the Earth…and the sequel’s coming out soon! YAY!
by Leslie Kelly November 9th, 2007 at 1:02 pmInteresting that there are no women on this list. What about Ruth Rendell or Elizabeth George? I don’t usually read thrillers (at least not yet), but surely there are women out there who write great thrillers.
(And where is Nora?
)
by Sandy L November 10th, 2007 at 7:19 amMy dude has a subscription so he and I went over the list when it came. I have to say I think it’s a really good list!
Dog Soldiers is , wow, it’s one of those books that you can’t stop reading even though you don’t want to look anymore. Amazing and compelling but really heavy on the grit. And The 39 Steps – loved it. I should read it again sometime soon.
I’m a big noir fan so I was happy to see Chandler on the list as well.
I’d have liked to see some modern stuff like Richard Morgan’s Altered Carbon on the list. Cyber noir – uber fabulous futuristic stuff.
by Lauren Dane November 10th, 2007 at 2:19 pmMy favorite all time book is Exodus. When they made the movie I spent the whole time drooling over Paul Newman. He was definitely hunk material. Does anyone else from the over 50 group feel the same.
by Susan Wise November 10th, 2007 at 5:52 pmI am mostly a thriller/mystery reader and I have never read any of those authors on that list. The only names I am familiar with on that list are these three, but I’ve never read them.
by RachaelfromNJ November 10th, 2007 at 9:42 pmGeorge Pelecanos
Elmore Leonard -
Raymond Chandler