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The Big Four and the Gorey

Here is my Top Five list. This is not a hard and fast list. The full list is 30 books, and of those these are the ones I would be the most excited to acquire.

1. Heaven's Prisoners - James Lee Burke
Second Dave Robicheaux book and surprisingly not that bad of a movie. I picked up Neon Rain a long time ago and have failed on many occasions to pull the trigger on this one. This all comes down to cost and availability. The book has always been around $175-$200 for as long as I can remember. Secondarily the book is usually a pretty easy find at a show, because the modern fiction dealer will usually carry it as their nod to the genre. Still I need to do this soon. The cheaper price point means I'll probably pick this up before Lullaby Town.

 2. Lullaby Town - Robert Crais
'Scarce third novel by author' is the phrase most associated with this novel. Something about libraries buying up much of the first edition. I want to say I used to know. It is far and away the most expensive book in his canon. His first two don't even come close. Luckily its a great book. Where I am kind of lukewarm on his first two Lullaby Town killed. Until recently I saw this book going for over $500. Maybe I get lucky, but probably gonna pay $450-550.

3. The Beekeeper's Apprentice - Laurie R. King
Second book for the author and first in the Mary Russell series. I recall this book being quite expensive at one point. Only recently have I hunted down a price and found to be in the $175-$200 range which is great. Perhaps I am confusing this with her first, A Grave Talent, a book which is dauntingly priced near $500. The book pops up on occasion, especially at Bouchercon where Ms. King is frequent attendant.  

This is a monolithic book for me. It is in my personal top 5. With A Firing Offense and Nick's Trip I could recognize the greatness of the author. Richly detailed with depressingly wonderful prose, but I failed to connect with either book on an emotional level. This book gutted me. I think it of it so often. I see this book infrequently, so this book maybe on the list for awhile. In fact I can see a time where this list is comprised solely of books by Mr. Pelecanos.

The Loathsome Couple - Edward Gorey
There are a bunch of important Gorey's to me, too many to name. So picking The Loathsome Couple is really no more than a place holder. I don't mean to damn it with faint praise. It is described as macabre even by Edward Gorey standards, so it is not without merit. Probably not the next Gorey I will get but maybe the next Gorey I will be the most excited to acquire.
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