Down to earth crime thriller fiction

by E.R. Yatscoff
|
5 books
I enjoy crime, some thrillers, and adventure reads. I am adventurous and have had my share of them through my life via travelling and my career as a firefighter. Some thrillers tend to be over the top, like Tom Cruise movies. I read one book where the protagonist and crew slept on the ground in the jungle. Obviously, the author had never been in a jungle. My crime thrillers are down to earth and are based on my experience. I do like to infuse that experience into my writing. I knew, and do know, a lot of tough guys in my life and each character is one or a blend of them. I don’t consider my stories as hard-boiled, more like hard edged.
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Cliff Diver

Carmen Amato, 2023
This story kicks off a series starring Acapulco detective Emilia Cruz who is the first female detective in the city. She’s tough and vulnerable, always at the edge if her career is worth the grief and heartache. She’s got to constantly fight for respect in her department fight as she works alongside men who either want to bed her or have her fired. But she’s a great detective and cuts through the systemic corruption and upsets the status quo.  Bet you can’t read just one.

The Warlord's Son

Dan Fesperman, 2007
A washed up newspaperman gets a chance to vault back in the high life by heading to Afghanistan before the U.S. goes in. He wants the real story but needs someone who knows the way around. He finds a teenager in Pakistan with ties deep ties in Afghanistan. The American doesn’t know how dangerous the trip into Afghanistan will be. The teen carries baggage of being disgraced by his tribe and risks death upon his return. Adventure, smugglers and spies, suspicion, duplicity, and tribal politics terror all rolled into one.

Hard Revolution

A Novel
George Pelecanos, 2004
In Washington, D.C. police officer Derek Strange hunts his brother's killer through a city erupting with rage during riots in the 60’s. Derek takes it on the chin from white racists as well as 'his own people,' some of whom have pegged him as an 'Uncle Tom.' But he promises to right his brother being wronged, even if by doing so he must give up some of his accomplishments. Doing what he has to do may be mutually exclusive to the life he now leads. Passion and the tension bubble and boil as his path is fraught with danger from within and without.

Blood on the Tracks

Barbara Nickless, 2016
Another great female investigator. What makes this one different? Sydney Rose Parnell is a railroad police Special Agent, brought in by the Denver Major Crimes unit to help investigate a murder, possibly a serial killer. It’s an interesting angle as she works along a stretch of railway away from big city police depts. She can't shake the feeling that larger forces are behind this crime. She uncovers a savage gang of rail riders. She does far more than kick hobos off trains. You’ll like her trusty dog, too. She’s tough and vulnerable.

The Cambodian Book Of The Dead

Tom Vater, 2021
What, a German investigator? In Cambodia? Yeah, that what makes this read special. Mailer is no super tough guy. He goes about doing his work and tolerates a lot. He is dogged if not a bit stupid. I spent time In Cambodia, too, and he fills the image and vibe out well.