Do you need a few quick books to read? Do you want a good story and only have a week of vacation time to read books? Let's talk about quick reads that are good books.
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First, we need to establish what "quick" means. Some people could read a large fantasy novel in one day and sitting. I am an avid reader. I can read fast. If you can barely read a 200-page book keep in mind I can read a 400-page book in one day. This measuring stick will help you understand what I call "quick". I'll also say my favorite books are quick reads because I don't stop reading them for more than a bathroom break when I pick them up. Time loses meaning. An hour feels like five minutes.
I'm defining "quick" reads as books that can be read in two days or less. I'll start with the longest and move toward the shortest. I'm going by page numbers to keep a consistent measurement of length. You'll notice that the numbers are an average and not exact. Every book here is a series or by the same author, and thus, may vary in length.
Your standard of "good" may be different than mine. That is totally okay. I love mysteries, adventures, and romances - usually all mixed together. Keep my preferences in mind as you read down this list. If I don't match yours it is totally okay. We can have different favorites. Everyone has a different genre of choice or favorite author. These just happen to be mine.
NUMA files and Isaac Bell (400 to 520 pages)
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These series are both by Clive Cussler and a co-author. Now it may only be a co-author. Cussler himself passed away in 2020. Authorship aside, these series include a team of people we follow, with one or two main people we focus on.
NUMA files is about Kurt Austin and Joe Zavala running missions for NUMA (National Underwater and Marine Agency). His team of people kick butt in an action-adventure series that focuses on water and boating, as well as history and plots to cause major disasters. It's like James Bond combined with experienced sailors.
Isaac Bell is set in the 1900s and involves a detective agency. We follow everyone but focus on Isaac Bell. It has even more history-mystery to it. It takes historical figures and events, blends them into the whimsical adventure, and still has the same feel as the NUMA files I love.
Like what you hear? Let me give you a comprehensive list of both series.
Jules Verne Novels (430 ish pages)
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These are not new by any means. You've got Around The World In 80 Days, Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Sea (beware of a thousand fish species names, but otherwise great), and Journey To The Center Of The Earth as highlights, but there are more. I bought a whole set on a whim. The longest in the set is Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Sea and the rest are much shorter. Easy reads and a fun adventure for all ages. Aside from way too many genus and species of fish (and I do mean far too many) this man's books read like great travel journals. The Storyline is mostly a few characters going on a journey of some form. Something unexpected happens. Generally, it ends well.
If this sounds like a fun time, check out the link below to get the whole list of his books. I only have a set of five. I think they'd take up a full two shelves or three to have all his works.
In Death Series by JD Robb (around 400 pages)
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The In Death series is by JD Robb (Nora Roberts) about a female police detective (Eve Dallas) in a mid-21st century world. It takes place in New York and sometimes off-planet. It is a futuristic world with lots of technology. There is also lots of sex between our main character and the man she marries. I'm telling you now so it isn't a shock when you come upon steamy scenes. Don't read this to your kids. It is also a heinous crime series (think Women's Murder Club with more sex and future tech). You'll see sexual and serial killer crimes over and over again.
I'll say it again for those who only skimmed that paragraph. If you don't like serial killers, heinous crimes, and sex in your fiction you shouldn't pick this up. It isn't as graphic as some books can get, but all the same, I'd make sure you don't give this to your children on a whim. I am reading this as an adult and it is not meant for children.
On the other hand, if you like what you heard in that description (no judgment for reading dirty suspense), I have the link to the entire series here. There are a lot.
Women's Murder Club (400 pages)
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If you would like the book above set in modern times and with slightly less sex, you get Women's Murder Club. Still has sex in it, but a few times less. Lindsay Boxer is a police detective in San Francisco with a lawyer friend, a friend working in the morgue, and a reporter friend. One of her friends is killed off in the third book. Basically, these women maintain friendships and help each other solve the crimes. It is still dealing the heinous crimes. It is not a cozy mystery.
I'll say the same thing for this book as I did the other; this is not what you hand a small child. I may have read this as a gifted reader in junior high, but that doesn't mean I understood everything. I skipped scenes because of sex, read the book again in adulthood, and realized I skipped serious plot points. Yes, I read this in junior high, but I don't think the target demographic is that age. High school or above are good to read this book in my opinion. It isn't In Death with steamy scenes. Use your own judgment and read it first if you don't quite know who it is meant for.
You know the drill by now. Here's the link to the series.
Bridgerton Series (400 pages)
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You probably live under a rock if Bridgerton is not a name you know. It's either that or you don't have Netflix. The series on Netflix began as a series of books. There are even spinoffs to the original books because they were so loved. The original series is 8 books. There are 8 kids to marry off, so that makes sense. We get the pleasure of reading about the Bridgerton clan, an established and powerful family with 8 kids. The year is 1812 (from the first book at least) and Mrs. Bridgerton is sending her kids into the world to marry. The best part of the books has to be seeing them in their married life. We don't end with the wedding here - oh no - we show their marital struggles.
Be aware this is not a clean romance series. Don't expect it to be. While it isn't steamy scenes on every page, it isn't what I'd read to a child. The series vibe is basically what the Netflix series vibe shows. Sex happens. It isn't on every page, but it isn't glossed over in one sentence.
Assuming you are okay with a few sex scenes and you like seeing characters with real depth in romance novels, here's the link to the entire series - with spinoff titles as a bonus.
Phillip Marlowe Series (380 pages)
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I've talked about this series before. It is much like the James Bond series, in the way that publishers have continued it through varied authors. Raymond Chandler is not the only author now. He started it, died midbook (Poodle Springs), and it has continued since. Poodle Springs was continued by another author around chapter four and you can't tell. I'm going to link to my overview of Philip Marlowe here.
To put things simply, Philip Marlowe is a noir-era private detective and was written for magazines early on. YouTube has radio broadcasts uploaded. These are legitimate radio dramas that last one hour long (with some parts cut short when compared to the book). If you like Noir-style detectives you'll love Marlowe and his witty, sarcastic comebacks.
James Bond Series (300 pages)
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Do I have to tell you who James Bond is? Do I really? I think you already know. 007 is not an obscure movie series. It is, also, an extremely successful book series. Ian Fleming may have died, but his series on 007 never did. There are modern Bond novels out there. If you start from the beginning of Bond (Fleming) and move outward in time you'll get a good feel for who Bond is and his history. It's worth it.
Let me be plain. Ian Fleming was sexist and it shows in his writing. This was written in the 50s and 60s. You, reader, shouldn't be shocked to see moments that make you cringe. There are terms used then that can't be used now. That applies to every time period and will apply to our current time eventually. Some things age well and some select moments aged like milk. Modern writers dropped the sexism like it was poison. I think I understand why. All the same, seeing the original Bond is worth reading past the sexist moments.
If you want to experience Bond as the books have written him and compare the movies to the books (not the same), here is the link to the whole series.
Agatha Christie Mysteries (240 pages)
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| Courtesy of The Cheat Sheet |
Agatha Christie is considered the queen of suspense. She's amazing and wrote mysteries. Her mysteries are often hard to solve just by reading the book for clues. She died in 1976. There was a point where she faked her disappearance for days and never said what she'd done in that time. She dumped her cheating husband soon after. Some people think she'd gone into some depressive haze because her marriage was going south.
Agatha aside, her books are brilliant. English mysteries found their standard in her books. Two main characters (each a series of their own) are famous. Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple are the two characters that took off. Poirot was a detective from Belgium who continued because he made her money. She killed him off in the last book so no one could use him. Miss Marple is an elderly woman who solves mysteries by listening to her friends and neighbors, while still gardening despite her knees. Eventually, she just complains about the man who does her gardening for her because she can't do it.
I'd highly suggest her mysteries if you like BBC TV shows. If you like the David Suchet Poirot or the Miss Marple series pick up the books. They are all great.
Phryne Fisher (235 pages)
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A 1920s-era flapper solving mysteries may interest you. Hon. Phryne Fisher is an English woman living in Australia and working as a private detective. She's rich. She has servants and adopted daughters who help her solve her cases. She tends to pick up lost souls and she gives them a home working for her. She tends to sleep around. They call her a vamp in 1920s terms. She isn't a saint, but she's an excellent detective.
If you wanted to know if this had sex in it, the answer is yes. In comparison to In Death, it is rather glossed over. It's vague. It isn't the focus of the plot. Only one lover actually sticks around for several books. Phryne becomes his concubine (I know, weird, but it is there).
Annie's Unraveled Mysteries (230 pages)
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| Courtesy of Anniesfiction.com |
This is a cozy mystery with some edge to it. Annie's put out some cozy mysteries and this one is focused on a woman who moved to Texas. She's putting out crochet books and making custom projects for work. She blogs and deals with her past trauma of her ex-husband. Kate Stevens stumbles upon several mysteries, including one that makes her a prime suspect (first book). She gets close to a police detective named Peter. I love it. The mysteries themselves have an edge to them. One has Kate being kidnapped. Another has her finding a body under Azalia bushes. It doesn't make it uncozy. It gives suspense lovers a cozy mystery to enjoy.
Nancy Drew (200 pages)
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Nancy Drew is a teen girl solving mysteries in the town of River Heights and beyond. Her story began around 1930 and hasn't stopped since. They are still writing Nancy Drew mysteries under the name Carolyn Keene. She's been ghost-written for years. The same people published Hardy Boys novels. The two have been tied to each other for years. When you see Nancy, the Hardy boys aren't far behind.
I could go on forever. The series isn't just one series. It is several by now. It can be found in the children's section or the teen section. All ages can read this series. While that isn't true for everything on my shelf, it is true for my Nancy Drew Collection.
Nancy Drew is courageous, tenacious, and can do anything. She's what many women wanted to be in 1930 and today. I look up to Nancy as a hero in fiction.
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I wrote a book (and I'm told it's a quick read)! I am delighted to say that I have 5 five-star reviews up on Amazon now, which is amazing. I hope you like it, too. If you're interested in buying a paperback, hardcover, or ebook version go to my website link in this blog or click here to go straight to my Amazon page.
Jack Thomas is running from a past case. He's hiding in Wrenville. Is his past case catching up with him?
Find out in my first book, Wrenville, a stand-alone suspense novel.
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