RHYS BOWEN: We started this week with sex and we're going to end it with sex too. A veritable orgy!
As I mentioned on Monday I get loads of requests for "More Darcy, please." and my editor actually said once, when we were having a conference, "Do you think Darcy could take his shirt off occasionally?"
I have noticed with this series that my readership has broadened to include many young women, many romance readers so I'm conscious that I'm now writing for those readers as well as the die-hard mystery fans. Besides, as I've confessed before, I'm a sucker for a good romance.
So for our Saturday quiz today I thought I'd throw it open and ask : Who is your favorite mystery hunk? Or if you aren't exactly into hunks which male character in a mystery do you find most attractive?
LUCY BURDETTE: I don't care so much about looks, I like brooding loners who'll go way out on a limb for the underdog and downtrodden. Think Michael Connelly's Detective Bosch or Steve Hamilton's Alex McNight. I was also very, very fond of my own detective in the advice column mysteries, Jack Meigs.
DEBORAH CROMBIE: Oh, hmm, I think I'm in trouble. My thoughts go immediately, not to mystery, but to cross genre books, mystery/fantasy/horror. Jim Butcher's Harry Dresden, Ben Aaronvitch's Peter Grant. Maybe I need to broaden my mystery reading.
JAN BROGAN - Jake Brogan?? Hmmm....he might be a relation. I'm like Debs, I have not fallen for any mystery sleuths. In fact, I made the mistake of listening to a Det. Bosch mystery on audio and the narrator's voice irritated me so he is ruined for me forever. I tend to go for alpha males, so I'm a Rhett Butler/ Augustus Macrae kind of girl. I never trust new age sensitive guys.
I'm still hanging on to my crush for Herman Melville, so in terms if fictional equivalents, my hunk must be Ishmael.
JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING: Don't you mean, "Call my hunk Ishmael?"
Lucy and Hank, an editor once told me that in order to write a character that others will fall in love with, the author needs to be a little in love with him or her as well. So yes, I will also confess I have a bit of a thing for Russ Van Alstyne. I love the idea of the rugged northwoods guy who can fix up a house, cook a meal and take down a bad guy, so I crush hard on Alex McKnight, Cork O'Conner (in William Kent Kruger's wonderful series) and Joe Gunther (by New England's own Archer Mayer.)
JULIA: Oh, oh, yes. Seconding Reacher. He's so...competent. And he respects women as equals without even thinking about it. That's very sexy.
HANK: Reacher, Reacher. Yes, yes! Why is that, you know? It shouldn't be..
DEBS: I was going to say, I do have a bit of a thing about a certain Russ Van Alstyne, but I think he's taken...
HALLIE: Reacher's definitely a hunk, but usually if he falls for a woman, she gets killed. Like those extra officers on the bridge in a Star Trek -- you know they're not long for this world. Definitely Russ Van Alstyne. Robert Dugoni's David Sloane. Martin Cruz Smith's Arkady Renko.
RHYS: I admit Reacher is a hunk, but not the kind of guy for me. I would have said I went for the brooding intellectual, like Morse, but both my heroes are wild Irishmen (can that be because I married a guy who is half Black Irish? Deep psychology here) I've always had a thing for Deb's Duncan. Just an all around nice guy.
So confession time now: who will win our Saturday hunk poll?
Hhhmmm . . . I must admit to a certain fondness for Russ Van Alstyne, Joe Gunther, Jack Reacher, Roarke . . . . I also liked Karin Slaughter's Jeffrey Tolliver, but she killed him off and I was so upset about that that I haven't read one of her books since.
ReplyDeleteHunkiness is in the eye of the beholder. My first choice is Moe Prager (by way of Reed Farrel Coleman). What a mix of head and heart.
ReplyDeleteI'd also put Duncan Kincaid on the list (but he's so taken, so I'd feel guilty) and Bill Smith (via S.J. Rozan) might be good for a brief but intense relationship (but only if he played the piano for me).
--Marjorie of Connecticut
I still get shivers thinking about Joe Pike and Elvis Cole. Though lately they've been joined by Det. Inspector Jack Lennon in Stuart Neville's books. Single father, Protestant and in Northern Ireland.
ReplyDeleteHmmm....I have quite a list now that I think about it, including Russ Van Alstyne and Duncan Kincaid and Roarke. I'll also add Walt Longmire and Henry Standing Bear and Karin Slaughter's Will Trent. I like Win from Harlan Coben's books and Gamache and Jean-Guy from Louise Penny's world. I better stop by saying that I am very fond of James Hathaway, Inspector Lewis' sidekick. Is that enough? LOL
ReplyDeleteLately, there's this gardening lady named Paula. It's easy to love a woman who likes to get her hands dirty. But I always come back to Sue Grafton's Kinsey Millhone. I want tough, solid, and quiet.
ReplyDeleteI think I was spoiled by Roderick Alleyn and can never get past the "gentleman detective" thing.
ReplyDeleteI HATE a male hero who whines. One "poor me" and I'm done. But I like big strong men with a tragic past. Two favorites are Frank Bennett from SW Hubbard's Adirondack series, and the young Boston detective Tim Quinn from Sarah Stewart Taylor's Sweeney books. Both lost their wives in tragic ways, both suffer guilt and pain because of it, but they don't whine. The fine line between angst and whining is hard to define, but I know it when I see it. I also like Jean-Guy from Louise Penny's Gamache series.
I am not a fan of bad boys, but one of the most fun men I've ever written was a complete rake. He was totally self-involved, and I was wildly in love with him.
Joe Pike, Harry Bosch, Monk, and of course my own Riley.
ReplyDeleteYes, Russ Van Alstyne, Darcy, Duncan Kincaid, Spenser, Mick Abruzzo, Sherlock Holmes in the Laurie R. King books, Radcliffe Emerson aka Emerson, and my new favorite: Hamish Macbeth.
ReplyDeleteI can't be true to any one hero, what can I say?
And yes, Ramona, I'm with you on the whininess. They're fictional; why not make them a little larger than life?
Paula would be delighted to be thought of as a "mystery hunk." She can kick butt if she needs to also. Maybe we can fix her up with Russ if the thing with Clare doesn't work out.
ReplyDeleteOhhh, I would really love to meet Duncan. Just cause he's such a nice guy and I picture him as absolutely gorgeous. (Sorry, Gemma.)
ReplyDeleteI'm in lust with Darcy, of course. I can't get enough of the interplay between Mr O'Mara and Georgie.
Jack Reacher is cool but the whole Tom Cruise as Reacher is turning me off. Did Lee Child have any say in that? It seems so WRONG.
I'm so fickle, though. Right now I'm reading Linda Castillo's series so I find John Tomasetti a very likable but flawed character.
Jack Ryan in Tom Clancy's earlier books has always been a favorite.
So many books...so many hunks!
Russ Van Alstyne, Duncan Kincaid, and Rhys's Darcy, yes. Louise Penny's Gamache. I really like Paul Doiron's Mike Bowditch now that he's starting to grow up and develop. Johns Lescroart's Dismas Hardy. Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee. Better stop before I reveal my total book sluttiness.
ReplyDeleteI am SO glad none of you mentioned Linda Fairstein's Mike Chapman. I would hate to have to arm wrestle (wrassle ? ?) any of you to stake my claim!
ReplyDeleteRamona, I loved SW Hubbard's Frank Bennett to! and forgot to include Cork O'Connor from Kent Kreuger's series.
ReplyDeleteLuckily, there seem to be enough to go around:)
No one so far has mentioned Adam Dalgliesh! Tall, dark, handsome, brilliant, a poet, aloof, independent, brooding....what more could one yearn for?
ReplyDeleteJoe Pike, Hawk from the Spenser novels, and Tim Cockey's Hitchcock Sewell. I know he was an undertaker but the character was funny and funny gets me every time.
ReplyDeleteLinda, "book sluttiness." Have to remember that one:-)
ReplyDeleteDuncan is flattered, but Doug's feelings are a bit hurt...
And I'm thrilled that I seem to have Harry Dresden to myself.
Kay, I will arm "wrastle" you over James Hathaway!!!!
I have a thing for John Corey, Nelson DeMille's ex-cop, now fighting international terrorists! Smart ass, smart mouth, irreverent, but underneath a heart as big as his mouth!!! Thelma Straw in Manhattan
ReplyDeleteHarry Dresden, yes, although his brother Thomas, also, VERY MUCH.
ReplyDeleteDuncan Kincaid. Totally.
Buster from Terri Thayer's DEWEY PELLICANO books. And I'm not just saying that because I know Terri. He IRONS, people. His own clothes. Because he WANTS to.
Tommy (of Tommy and Tuppence).
Julian Kestrel (Kate Ross' books)
Holland (Barbara Paul's Marian Larch series)
And let's just all say it together, ladies: PETER WIMSEY!
Oh, I had to add one more--Dr. Siri Paiboun from Colin Cotterill's series. If you like them older and utterly charming.
ReplyDeleteOn the historical front, I used to be quite fond of Sgt. Cribb. And on the Crombie front I ask that you not over look sub heart throbs Alan Ross and Ronnie Babcock. I keep hoping she'll bring Ross back to revenge the ex-wife who ran off with the dancing fertilizer salesman. As for Hamish Macbeth, I like the TV version much better than the books, but that's because I have a little crush on Robert Carlyle.
ReplyDeleteRobert Carlyle is pretty terrific. Love Morse and Gamache.
ReplyDeleteRebus forever.
ReplyDeleteOh, I've been totally crushed out for years on Marcia Muller's Hy Ripinsky and SJ Rozan's Bill Smith. Oh swoon.
ReplyDeleteSome off the top of my head and the other remarks: Roderick Allyn, Tommy Hambleton, Roarke, Joe Burgess, Peter Wimsey, Lt.Mendoza, Vic Varello,...
ReplyDeleteI could go on...Dee
I am so sorry Ms. Crombie, but you don't have Harry Dresden all to yourself -- you'll have to share him with me! I also adore Duncan, and Roderick Alleyn. (Just in passing,I would love to have Kit in one of my classes.)
ReplyDeleteLove a lot of the same guys-Russ Van Allstyne, Gamache, Morse and Dalgleish. I have a crush on James Hathaway, and Mick Abruzzo is HOT. Crispin Guest is also a hottie. There are a lot of good men being written out there.
ReplyDeleteYes, it would be Jack Reacher.
ReplyDeleteThis will likely date me, but Peter Duluth has always been high on my list! Then of course, Wimsey. Ramses Emerson too.
ReplyDeleteCommissario Guido Brunetti in Donna Leon's mysteries is my choice. He's warm hearted, perceptive and very principled.
ReplyDeleteI like so many, but three of my favorites are: Adam Dalgliesh;
ReplyDelete(Lord) Thomas Lynley; and Bernie Rhodenbarr (The Burglar Who).
Ditto on Duncan (Gemma can't object to other admiring him from afar :-). And Peter Wimsey and Adam Dagleish. And Sherlock Holmes - brilliance is very sexy.
ReplyDeleteDuncan Kincaid- no doubt! Joe O'Laughlin from the Robothan Series and does the vicar from Blood Harvest by S.J. Bolton count?
ReplyDeleteI love Morse, Duncan Kincaid and Adam Dagleish as well, but I would also add Elizabeth George's Thomas Lynley and in a totally different vein, Margaret Maron's Dwight Bryant. Now seriously, who could NOT love Dwight?
ReplyDeleteMmmm... For sure Duncan Kincaid and Armand Gamache. And, oh dear, Kurt Wallander. Oh oh oh, and Dalgliesh (Fred Vargas). In all cases, the mind and the spirit attract before anything else.
ReplyDeleteI Love "Gentlemen" and Considerate men
ReplyDeleteRoderick Alleyn.......Duncan Kincaid....Tony Hethridge (just finished emma Jameson's 2 books with TH)......Charles Parker....Robert Bone....Inspector Witherspoon,not a hunk, but such a gentle soul......Erskine Powell....C.D. Sloan.....Tom Barnaby
I would LOVE a Harry Dresden for myself, but Roarke came to mind first.
ReplyDeleteTo cross genre again - Bones from Jeaniene Frost. LOVE HIM! but I have to admit I listened to most of her books, & that made a difference.
All damaged men who admit to it and keep going and/or use it to their advantage.
Annette Blair's vintage clothing mysteries has two main men who are quite attractive and yummy.
And the classic argument - Joe or Ranger?
I've been in love with Endeavour Morse for almost as long, as I've yearned for my first love, Adam Dalgliesh. Both have razor intellects, have suffered enough to make them sympathetic to the victims, and have a love of literature.
ReplyDeleteMind you, thanks to fiction, I was once too young for them, and I'm rapidly becoming too old! Catch me while you can Morse...I'll be waiting in the "Bird and Baby" with a pint of Shepherd Neame's "Spitfire" ready for you.
There's something about mysterious bad boys...Janet Evanovich's Ranger perks up my interest. And readers tell me my protagonist's ex, Dickie, is harder to resist than he ought to be. TV's Dangerous Davis is such a sweetie, he gets a big vote from me.
ReplyDeleteHow could I have forgotten Gabriel Allon??? And there's Ian Rutledge, too.
ReplyDeleteI like men with high intelligence and who see women as equals and are caring and able to be leaders. Looks don't matter. I don't like hunks--can't stand any of the so called handsome celebrity men.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite hunks vary widely from the British intellectuals, Adam Dalgliesh and Thomas Lynley, to the devastating Joe Pike (sorry Elvis), another secondary character Wyatt Hunt (John Lescroart), Sgt. Jim Chopin (Dana Stabenow), and Kate Atkinson's Jackson.
ReplyDeleteLove to all these hunks from Sue.
I'm in love with Joe Leaphorn, but Jim Chee is right up there with him with his spiritual connection.
ReplyDeleteGamache, though, is the kind of man I see in terms of solid comfort and strength, like the one I now have and love.
I love Duncan, Darcy, Hathaway and Richard Jury. If stepping back in time, I love Thomas Pitt. All smart men who are respectful, kind and witty in their own ways.
ReplyDeleteI'm in love Duncan Kinkaid - I've always pictured Kenneth Branagh when I read about him, and he is a good father, which gets it in my book! And I love Inspector Gamache in Louise Penny's book, a bit older but of very good character, and he loves his wife, his dog and his kids AND Jean Guy.
ReplyDeleteApparently I have a thing for Brits because after Russ Van Allstyne my faves are Robbie Lewis, James Hathaway, and Lord Peter Wimsey!
ReplyDeleteCathy AJ
Russ Van Alstyne, Armand Gamache,and, since there's this thing for older men... Sherlock Holmes, especially as portrayed in the Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes series by Laurie R. King. Of course, there's also a little blushing periodically over Peter Pascoe. I'm going to miss Reginald Hill's gang big time.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI go for older men, so my choice is Radcliffe Emerson in Elizabeth Peters' Amelia Peabody/Egyptian archeology series. Oh, that roaring voice and those sapphirine eyes!
ReplyDeleteI go for older men, so my choice is Radcliffe Emerson in Elizabeth Peters' Amelia Peabody/Egyptian archeology series. Oh, that roaring voice and those sapphirine eyes!
ReplyDelete