How To Read Me – Reading Your Books in Order

Dalziel and Pascoe Books in Order: How to read Reginald Hill’s series?

Fabien
March 28, 2023May 8, 2023

The books behind the popular BBC show.

What is the Dalziel and Pascoe series about?

The series is about the criminal investigations led by Detective Superintendent Andrew “Andy” Dalziel and Detective Sergeant (and later Detective Inspector) Peter Pascoe, the two Yorkshire detectives featured in a series of novels by Reginald Hill (1936–2012).

The two men are not alike as Dalziel is rude, insensitive, and quite blunt, unlike Pascoe who is calm, well-mannered, and pretty polite. But they work well together, even if they don’t always get their man!

It’s not common, but the series is known for breaking from the storytelling norm of the genre by using various structural tricks, like telling the story of non-chronological order, alternating with sections from a novel supposedly written by Peter Pascoe’s wife, Ellie—or taking us to the future in a short story!

The Dalziel and Pascoe series was adapted for TV, first by ITV in 1993, then more successfully by BBC in 1996. This show lasted for 11 seasons and starred Warren Clarke as Dalziel and Colin Buchanan as Pascoe.

Inspector Morse Books in Order: How to read Colin Dexter’s series?

Fabien
March 27, 2023May 18, 2023

The Classic British Detective Series.

What is the Inspector Morse series about?

Detective Chief Inspector Endeavour Morse is the main protagonist of the classic crime series written by the English author Colin Dexter (1930-2017) that first appeared in 1975 in the novel “Last Bus to Woodstock.”

Morse is an officer with the Thames Valley Police in Oxford—in England, obviously. He is considered to be a gentleman detective with a working-class background. He is working with his Welsh (and younger) assistant, Lewis.

A crossword addict with a dislike for grammatical and spelling errors, Morse is a highly intelligent man with a great intuition and a fantastic memory, tools he is using to apprehend criminals.

Of course, Inspector Morse is quite famous for the TV show based on the novels. The first series simply titled Inspector Morse (1987–2000) starred John Thaw as Morse and Kevin Whately as Lewis—Lewis got his own spin-off (from 2006 to 2015). All those shows were broadcast on ITV, including the prequel series Endeavour (2012–2023) starring Shaun Evans as a young Morse.

His Fair Assassin Series in Order by Robin LaFevers

Fabien
March 26, 2023May 18, 2023

Not your usual Royal Assassin.

What is the His Fair Assassin Series about?

The “His Fair Assassin” series is a young adult fantasy series coming from the American author Robin LaFevers–also known for her children’s books under the name R. L. LaFevers; she’s the author of the Theodosia, Nathaniel Fludd, Beastologist series.

His Fair Assassin is about assassin nuns in medieval France. Launched in 2012 with the novel Grave Mercy, the series starts in Brittany during the late 15th century where we are introduced to a 14-year-old peasant named Ismae Rienne who joins the St. Mortain convent where she learns to be an assassin in service of the God of Death, Mortain.

A few years later, she successfully completes her firsts missions and is sent on a new one that will force her to face the impossible choices she must make as a daughter of Death.

The Hard-Boiled Detectives: A Look into the Gritty World of Noir Fiction

Fabien
March 21, 2023May 3, 2023

The crime fiction genre was nothing new when hard-boiled detective fiction emerged in the United States during the early 20th century. This subgenre has its roots in the pulp magazines of the 1920s and 1930s. From there, it evolved into a popular—and now respectable—literary genre.

But before going into more detail about the evolution of the genre, what are the hard-boiled detective stories about?

The simplest way to answer is that the genre is characterized by its tough, cynical, and often violent protagonists who operate outside of the law to bring justice to the criminal underworld. Most of the time, it’s about private detectives who evolve in a gritty, urban landscape that is rife with corruption, vice, and violence. They are lone wolves motivated by a personal code of honor rather than a desire for justice or even a sense of duty to the law.

The Maggie Newberry Books in Order by Susan Kiernan-Lewis

Fabien
March 20, 2023May 1, 2023

Murder in France!

What is The Maggie Newberry series about?

Coming from American author Susan Kiernan-Lewis, The Maggie Newberry series is taking us to France and there’re murders on the menu.

This cozy mystery series is about an American ex-pat named Maggie Newberry who lives on a vineyard in the south of France… and she solves mysteries.

Kiernan-Lewis is also writing more series set in France with The Claire Baskerville Mysteries and the Stranded in Provence Mysteries, but also the dystopian series Irish End Game, and more.

Tom Wilde Books in Order: How to read Rory Clements’s series?

Fabien
March 20, 2023May 12, 2023

By the author of the John Shakespeare series.

What is the Tom Wilde series about?

Coming from a former British national newspaper journalist, Rory Clements (author of the John Shakespeare series), the John Shakespeare thrillers are historical spy novels.

The series is set in the years leading up to and during World War II, and follows the adventures of a Cambridge professor and secret agent for the British government named Tom Wilde who must navigate the treacherous waters of wartime espionage and intrigue.

Besides being an expert in Elizabethan history, Wilde is a confident and resourceful man who is not afraid to take risks.

Beatrix Rose Books in Order: How to read Mark Dawson’s Series?

Fabien
March 1, 2023May 25, 2023

By the author of the John Milton series.

What is the Beatrix Rose series about?

Coming from Mark Dawson, a self-published English author, the Beatrix Rose series is about a betrayed assassin with a kill list who wants revenge.

Ten years ago, Beatrix Rose headed an off-the-books hit squad to carry out the dirty work of the British government. When she discovered that the commander of the squad was corrupt, he sent five of his assassins to rub her out. But they failed.

Now, she emerges from the Hong Kong underworld with a list of names…

Jack Nightingale Books in Order: How to read Stephen Leather’s series?

Fabien
February 28, 2023May 28, 2023

By the author of the Spider Shepherd series.

What is the Jack Nightingale series about?

Written by British author and TV Writer Stephen Leather, the Jack Nightingale series is about a former police negotiator who becomes a private investigator, with a supernatural twist.

A fan of occult stories (including the Hellblazer comics), Leather wanted to write a police story with a real investigation, but the culprit a demon from Hell. The result was the Jack Nightingale series

Though, at first, the story of Jack Nightingale was written to be a movie. The screenplay was published in 2017 under the title “Devilzone – A Jack Nightingale Screenplay”, a good read for the fan of the series.

Robin Hobb Books in Order (Assassin’s Apprentice, Ship of Destiny…)

Carole
February 27, 2023February 27, 2023

All of Robin Hobb’s Books!

Who is Robin Hobb?

Robin Hobb is one of the pen names of Margaret Astrid Lindholm Odgen. She grew up in Alaska, a setting that has impacted her work. She had her first stories published when she was thirty, under her other pen name, Megan Lindholm.

A professional writer for almost 40 years, Robin Hobb writes epic traditional fantasy since 1995 with the publication of her book, Assassin’s Apprentice, the first one taking place in the Realm of Elderlings.

It is in this universe that most of Hobb’s books take place and she is known for her focus on the characters’ internal conflicts over the external. She has been nominated for and won multiple awards, and was given in 2021 the World Fantasy Award for Life Achievement.

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