Best books?

I'm going on a road trip with my dad to my grandmothers house in a couple of weeks. It's 2 days there and 2 days back. I can't read in the car, BUT dad and grandma take lots of naps and I don't. I haven't found a great book in a long time. The last novel that really did it for me was a Gear and Gear novel series called "The anasazi mysteries". It was a historically based murder mystery.
Anyone have a favourite book that I should give a try??? I like stuff with lots of action...vampires, fantasy and murder mysteries.
I NEED a great book! Suggestions PLEASE??

Sorry for bumping. I really need a good book. Come on, I know you must have at least one favourite each!

Oh I have a wonderful series to tell you about!! Especially if you like the vampire fantasy stuff. Its a series by Laurell K Hamilton, the Anita Blake series. Here's a little bit about the series: Anita is a woman with the power to raise the dead. In her world/time/whatever you want to call it, wereanimals, vampires, zombies, etc. are a part of the normal world. There are b/t 12-15 books out now (cant think of the exact number right now) and she is continuing. Here is her website if you want to check it out, if you go to the Anita Blake stuff, you can read a chapter or so from each book to get a feel for them. Let me know what you think!

PS - She also has a newer series out about fairies, but haven't read any of them.

Is it one of those series where you need to read them in succession? They look interesting, but one too many times I've gotten #3 in a series and then had to stop reading and go back to #1 to understand.

laureen227 is right....the series can be read out of order, but is better if read in order. There are some explicit scenes, the first books aren't quite as graphic as the latter ones. I'm also a HUGE Nora Roberts fan! My favorite of hers is called The Donovan Legacy, which is in the fantasy area. But like Lauren227 said, I've loved them all! I have yet to read any of the ones she writes under JD Robb. Any specific recommendations from her under that name? I'll have to try the other vampire other...thanks!

Ok, anything by Stephen King is great! His Dark Tower series is particularly good, but I would try to start at the beginning or you can read Book 4 and then go back to one!!

And they are fairly big books so it should last you for a while!

The Harry Potter books are great. They start at a simple level of reading and understanding and become more difficult and complex as they go along.

Lilian Jackson Braun THE CAT WHO series,,,,,,,
I love them all and have read most of them twice.

Humm...so many things to think about! I was able to borrow "memiors of a geshia" from my mom and it looks pretty good. I will however be checking out those vampire novels pretty soon. The first chapter hooks you right in!
I have read all of the Harry Potter books up until the last one, but wait until I can borrow a copy from the library. They're good, and I'll probably buy a set for my kids, but I can't see myself reading those books over and over again.
Dad's reccomended the cat who books a number of times. I don't know why I haven't read them, maybe it's because he's the only one who recomended it. I think I might even have one of those books around the house somewhere to try!
Ah, I feel so much better now! It felt strange not to have any books on my list to read! Thank you all for your suggestions

Why not get a book on tape or CD? I listen to them to/from work - great! Stephen King and Dean Koontz are good - quite a few others work well.

Oh, I'm so totally addicted to the Books on Tape version of the Harry Potter series. The reader (or really, "actor" because that what it comes to) is Jim Dale, and when he does a character's voice, you know which character it is, he's REALLY good. I also listen to them in the car too. It really makes the drive go fast.

Jane is right about Stephen King. At his best, King writes circles around most everybody, in any genre.

I'm not into the Dark Tower series, though -- my recommendation is "Bag Of Bones." It's written in first-person, which I love, and it is without a doubt the best, most believable, most chilling ghost story I've ever read. It's beautifully written, brilliantly structured, and extremely powerful. At one point, King made me so angry that I threw the book across the room... and at another, I gasped out loud and turned back to re-read a page, unable to believe what was happening. THIS IS A GREAT BOOK.

Also, anything by the team of Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child, or by either gentleman on his own. They write brilliant science-based thrillers.

Have fun on your trip!

I just discovered Lee Charles Kelley. His most recent book is "The Bite Before Christmas". I enjoyed it so much, that I've reserved his three previous ones at the library. These are murder mysteries, with a dog trainer/retired cop protagonist.

I also just discovered the Preston/Childs books and am currently reading the first one, "Relic".

Originally Posted by katl8e

I just discovered Lee Charles Kelley. His most recent book is "The Bite Before Christmas". I enjoyed it so much, that I've reserved his three previous ones at the library. These are murder mysteries, with a dog trainer/retired cop protagonist.

I also just discovered the Preston/Childs books and am currently reading the first one, "Relic".

Click to expand...

Ooooh, I loved Relic!

there are these books by John Bellairs, who is dead since the year i was born (1991) . They take only an hour to read each, but they are so good. They are where i got my vocabulary of obscure descripive language, like flabbergasted, dumbfounded, befuddled . They take place in the fifties. They are mostly fantasy, with one non fantasy mystery thrown in. They all star one of three sets of characters, but are not really a series because they usually don't refer to things that happened in other books. The anthony monday books are the best!

I am only thirteen, but i love to read. I thought maybe you would like my opinion.

Joecool

The book Eragon is really good. I'm reading Eldest now, the second in the Tril. I'd really reccomend that!!!