Beside Heinlen,anyone else have any recommendations on the same theme?

I like John Connolly. He would probably be #3 or maybe #2 in my detective story likes. (Repairman Jack is always #1)

This will give you the order...http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/v/andrew-h-vachss/

I haven't read the entire series, maybe 4 or 5 of them, and there is no doubt Burke is a badass, but the subject matter is pitch black.

Scott's right about the subject matter being dark. It took me awhile to get used to it at first, but there is a fair amount of humor in the books as well, plus a lot of action and interesting characters.

They have a nice selection of Vachss books on Half.com.

-Luthie

I'm now on the prowl for Vachss bargains on Ebay, thanks for the tip.
Beside Heinlen,anyone else have any recommendations on the same theme?

http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/m/john-ramsey-miller/ I was really excited when he started publishing again and he didn't disappoint

http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/g/tess-gerritsen/ Start at Harvest and move forward, she wrote several stand-alones before starting her current series.

http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/e/barry-eisler/ John Rain is very cool.

http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/s/jeff-shelby/ Basing this on just the fun first book in the series about a Travis McGee type of PI, and if you've never read the Travis McGee books then you should.

http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/m/rick-mofina/ Intense thrillers

http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/c/matthew-j-costello/ No series, but solid horror/supernatural tales

http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/s/steven-spruill/ I loved the hemophage trilogy and his medical thrillers. Has a career path that nearly mirrors FPW's.

I like John Connolly. He would probably be #3 or maybe #2 in my detective story likes. (Repairman Jack is always #1)

Hazel, we must have almost the same list of favorites.

I adore Crais's Elvis Cole & Joe Pike characters. That Pike. He's such a kidder.

Michael Connolly's detective Hieronymus "Harry" Bosch is absolutely worth getting to know. A little darker than Robert Crais, but equally entertaining. (I had to come back and edit this -- I keep getting John Connolly and Michael Connolly confused! I like them both, but Michael writes the Harry Bosch books.)

And one more series that fans of Elvis Cole will likely enjoy - the Myron Bolitar novels by Harlan Coben. Most of them were written before he got hugely famous. They are great stories full of wonderful, quirky characters.

#1 Repairman Jack
#2 Elvis Cole & Joe Pike
#3 Myron Bolitar (and assorted sidekicks - especially Win)
#4 Harry Bosch

I'm now on the prowl for Vachss bargains on Ebay, thanks for the tip.
Beside Heinlen,anyone else have any recommendations on the same theme?

Check out the great--and I mean GREAT-- Poul Anderson. And you wouldn't be doin' yerself too shabby by investigatin' the Niven/Pournelle novels. And while I'm at it, Dalt, Jack Vance is worth your time too.

Check out the great--and I mean GREAT-- Poul Anderson. And you wouldn't be doin' yerself too shabby by investigatin' the Niven/Pournelle novels. And while I'm at it, Dalt, Jack Vance is worth your time too.

Any particular characters in mind, so I can refine my search?

Any particular characters in mind, so I can refine my search?

Well, sir, I would suggest the Dominic Flandry novels by Poul Anderson. The Demon Princes series by Jack Vance. And LUCIFER'S HAMMER by Niven/Pournelle. If those books delight you (and they will), you'll want to read everything else by those great authors.

Well, sir, I would suggest the Dominic Flandry novels by Poul Anderson. The Demon Princes series by Jack Vance. And LUCIFER'S HAMMER by Niven/Pournelle. If those books delight you (and they will), you'll want to read everything else by those great authors.

I'm on it.Many thanks folks, for all of the suggestions.
;-)