Mary's Literary Lunch: Sample Some Good Books!

Are you familiar with James Patterson, Patricia Cornwell, Mary Higgins Clark, Nora Roberts, and J.K. Rowling? Most people recognize these names as top selling authors. I would like to acquaint you with some names you may not be so familiar with, but who will be just as intriguing.

I’ll start with southern authors and as the weeks go on, I hope you will interact with me and add some names of your own. Let me give you a little background first. I am an avid reader and rarely let a day go by without reading at least 2 – 3 hours. I’m old, so that means I get up early and stay up late—that’s where all the time comes from. I read just about any genre and rarely reject a book (although there was one…). I also watch at least one movie every day, besides my other activities, so I have a pretty well rounded life.

My preferences go towards thriller and mystery, but I also like the southern settings with a good family plot. Southern authors I plan to discuss include Mary Alice Monroe, Anne George, Greg Iles, John Grishom, Carolyn Haines, Mary Kay Andrews, Paula Wall, Randy Wayne White, Rick Bragg, and Ann B. Ross. This is a mixed bag and I’m sure at least a few names are familiar to some of you and maybe you are surprised to learn that one or two of them are southerners.

I’ll start with someone who is relatively unknown in this area: Jeff Abbott. I guess he is really more western than southern since he lives in Austin, TX, but we still consider him southern. What I appreciate about his books is that you can start anywhere. They are all very fast page-turners with excellent plots, well-developed characters and unexpected twists and turns that leave you breathless and begging for more. Current paperback titles include Collision, Fear, Panic and Cut and Run. His most recent release is Trust Me, and trust me, it is a good one.

Mary