It’s Criminal Part 1: Death & Destruction in the Pacific Northwest

[Author’s Note]

I had so many mystery/thrillers I wanted to discuss, I’m breaking this post into sections. Today: Death and Destruction in the Pacific Northwest. Why? Because I live here. And it has become a popular setting for this kind of story. For example:

Spokane, Washington was supposed to be where the remake of Red Dawn took place,

(Although most of it was actually filmed in Michigan. Same thing, right?)

Idaho and Spokane have both been used as settings for episodes of Criminal Minds,

and the mystery books set in this area are many and varied, but read the actual post for more on that. So, to sum up my post today: Local authors, local settings, great reads.

Again, please comment. I am always looking for new books for my reading list, and if you disagree with my assessments, I’d like to know why. Questions? Comments? Concerns about my mental health? If you’re thinking it, post it!

The River City Books by Frank Zafiro- He’s from right here in Spokane, Washington, and he writes the most authentic crime fiction you will ever read. Mix that gritty realism with a diverse cast of believeable characters, brilliant dialogue, a good dose of humor (dark and otherwise), and you have a recipe for success. Bloody, sometimes tragic, can’t-put-it-down success. [BTW, if you take the time to pick out the landmarks in the stories, you’ll notice that the setting is local as well. 😉 You didn’t hear that from me.]

Heartsick (and sequels) by Chelsea Cain- This series is set in Portland, Oregon, and written by an author who lives there. She ranks second only to Frank Zafiro for authenticity. You need a strong stomach to read these books, let alone enjoy them. You’ve been warned. But, her characters are addictive, and she actually keeps me guessing, which isn’t easy to do.

The Fat Detective by John Soennichsen- Technically, this is a spoof, but it’s one of my favorite spoofs, and it was written by another Spokanite, which is always fun for me. Whether you’re a fan of old noir detective stories or a fan of making fun of noir, or you just want something funny, this one’s great.

The Sheriff Bo Tully Mysteries by Patrick F. McManus- We can’t forget Idaho! Patrick McManus is a favorite author of mine, and has been for years. I was thrilled to learn he’d started writing fictional mysteries in addition to his tall tales about hunting and camping, which never fail to crack me up.