My first thought was "a loaded gun rattling around a bag?", but if it's one where pulling the trigger doesn't cock the thing, that is somewhat safer. But still . . .

Laurie R. King's The Pirate King

I'm reading her Mary Russell books right now! I'm almost done with the second (A Monstrous Regiment of Women), and I'm really enjoying them, except I'm quite put off by the idea of Russell and Holmes marrying.

I liked the first few Russell novels, but Jerusalem put me over the edge. Mary Russell had become just too perfect, too multi-talented in too many ways, and I began to find her unbearable. Pity.

Of course she's perfect! She landed the famously unsociable Holmes (I don't want to say misogynistic, because Holmes was respectful to women, he just didn't think much of most people)!

I liked the first book, and I would have greatly enjoyed a series of Holmes as her mentor, carping about her study choices and potential romances.

I loved that series, but it did take a little getting used to when she and Holmes married. I think the only one I haven't read is O, Jerusalem -- I just couldn't get into it. I still have the God of the Hive and The Pirate King to read, too.

I need recs for a new series, too. I got bored with the Inspector Lynley series, and Minette Walters only writes stand-alones, and they've been few and far between lately. I still love Deborah Crombie, but that's once a year now that I'm caught up.

Hmm. Amy, have you read Martha Grimes? I really enjoyed a number of them, although I admit I stopped picking them up some years back. But the relationship between Richard Jury and his friend memfault is quite good.

I've been working my way through Lord Peter Wimsey on audiobook, which has been fun except for the occasional visit from the Racism Fairy or the AntiSemitism Fairy. There is even, in Gaudy Night, a character who says in all seriousness that what England needs is a Hitler. Yikes. And it's chock-full of classism, as well. And yet! I still really enjoy them.

I forgot about Martha Grimes -- I should try those. I might go back and pick up some more P.D. James at the used bookstore, too -- I only read a couple of them.

I've been saving Ruth Rendell's Inspector Wexford series for a total drought, too -- I've read all her stand-alones, and most of her Barbara Vine stuff.

There's also Edith Pargeter/Ellis Peters. She's best known for her Cadfael novels, but I really loved her other work, as well.

Especially The Eighth Champion of Christendom, which is a trilogy telling the story of WWII, written while the war was underway, following a British footsoldier from England to France, North Africa, Singapore, and back to France and Germany. It's brilliant, and really very sympathetic, except for the bit in Malaysia, where she bought into all the worst stereotypes about the Japanese, while being very sympathetic and insightful about the Malays and Chinese.

I started reading the Amelia Peabody books last summer (actually, Mary Russell reminds me a lot of Amelia Peabody), and then my attention kind of trickled away after the first 5 or so. Not sure why. But I really liked them when I started them.

and his friend memfault

Heh, that's actually close to his name! Melrose Plant, my favorite character of hers.

Mmm, Ruth Rendell. I read her books so out of order and at random it's really hard to tell what I've left to read. Can't say I mind too much when I do end up re-reading, though.