Saturday, October 11, 2008

What do you like?

What kind of suspense do you like to read? I would love to get different people's opinion on what kind of suspense makes for a good read.

What kind of suspense movies have you've seen that stick with you? One of my favorites is Wait Until Dark which came out in the late 60s. The heroine (Audrey Hepburn) was a blind housewife and some bad guys were after her.They were after a heroin filled doll. I still remember the scene in her apartment when they were trying to kill her. There was one part where I knew they would surprise her and I still jumped in my seat in the theater when it happened. Alfred Hitchcock did a great job of showing a suspenseful moment without much violence. Another older movie that has stuck with me is Charade with Gary Grant and Audrey Hepburn. It was a roller coaster ride and you weren't sure who was the good guys or the bad ones. Neither did the heroine. Very suspenseful with a great mystery. What are some movies you've seen that you remember and remember?

Some of the writers I read that do a wonderful job of keeping my attention to the very end are James Rollins and Michael Crichton. Two of my favorite books from them are Jurassic Park by Crichton and Amazonia by Rollins. But they aren't the only authors I love to read: Dee Henderson, Brandilyn Collins, Tami Hoag,Lisa Jackson, John Stanford and many, many more. What are some books you've read that have kept you up nights? Share some of the types of books you like to read in suspense/mystery genre.

9 comments:

Stormi said...

I also liked Wait until Dark, I watched it a few months ago and thought it wasn't bad. Now you done and mentioned my favorite movie Charades, I love the keep you guessing is he bad is he good all the way through the movie.

I always like those books or movies that you think you know how it is going then...BAM..you sit there all stunned thinking wow I really didn't see that coming.

One of the most resent suspense books that I read that I really liked was Unpretty by Sharon C Rogers.

I just plain love suspense...lol.

Jessica Nelson said...

Hmmm, I just watched a movie called 88 minutes with Al Pacino. It was suspenseful because something was always happening to heighten the conflict. Plus, LOL, he only had 88 minutes to live.

Unknown said...

One book that I find myself thinking about every once in awhile after having read it years ago is Karen Robards' Walking After Midnight. I love the premise.

The heroine is cleaning a funeral home after hours only to discover one of the cadavers isn't dead! He's with the FBI, eluding the bad guys. It's one of those where one of his bosses is corrupt. He doesn't know whether or not he can trust her, so he kidnaps her and she is forced to be on the run with him, especially when the bad guys see her and her life is in danger too.

But I adore the characterizations of these people. She is an ex beauty queen, who gave up a life of modeling or college for a marriage that failed. Now she has to resort to cleaning businesses for a living.

She has real character growth in the story -- but I have always wanted to add faith and her finding the Lord into the plot!

Margaret Daley said...

Thanks, ladystorm. I love a book that leaves you surprised by the solution.

Jessica, I'll have to watch 88 Minutes. Thanks for the suggestion.

Margaret

Margaret Daley said...

Thanks, Audrey. I haven't read that book. I'll have to check that out because it sounds like a great premise.

Margaret

Pamela Tracy said...

Oh, I loved Walking After Midnight too. I rarely read my suspenses more than once because once you know how the book ends.... But suspense movies, just the ambiance will have me watching over and over. Right now, as I right my book, I'm watching Harry Potter. I'm thinking those are suspense because there's always good versus evil, and you never really know who the bad guy of the moment is... until the end.
Great conversation, Margaret!

Debby Giusti said...

Margaret, looks like you and I read the same authors. Except I don't know James Rollins. Thanks for the name of someone new.

Oh, and by the way, I love Margaret Daley's books. Have you read her? :)

Gina Conroy said...

No books come to mind at the moment, guess I need to read more suspense. But the TV show 24 is suspenseful. You get a great aerobic workout while watching because your heart rate is never at rest!

Margaret Daley said...

Thanks, Gina, Pamela and Debby. Gina, I was thinking of starting 24 this year when it comes on. I've never seen it before.

And Debby, thanks! I could say the same about your books. Riveting!

Margaret