I have long been fascinated by the concept of a concierge. Maybe it's because I have rarely been able to afford to stay in a hotel which has one. Maybe it's because I enjoy situations where I get to challenge someone with questions like, "Best late night cheeseburger where I can also get a craft beer and meet a local celebrity: GO!" Either way, the concept is wonderful to me. I think it should be applied to everything. Including books. And I know, NPR has their book concierge thing they've been doing for several years. But like everything NPR does, fucking yawn, right? Am I right? (Editor's note: The writer of this blog post listens to NPR daily and has been known to record episodes of "Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me," so please disregard his "too cool for school" attitude when discussing all things NPR.)
So the thought got me to thinking. Why I don't I do a little concierging on people the way it needs to be done? Not like those NPR snore brokers. I mean, tell me I'm right. (^) I am a very proud member of the Pandamoon Publishing Crime Team. We haven't agreed on the name, for the record. Mystery Squad? We'll work it out, don't worry. But the Pandamoon library has an impressive collection of mystery titles, if I do say so myself. And what I would like to do is help readers find a title which best meets their tastes. But as much as I love to read (and as a writer, of course I do read a lot), my favorite recommendations for books have always been the comparison of a book to a television series or film. Especially TV. I often find myself getting lost in a series and wishing I could find a book like it. Somewhere I could use to live in that world just a little longer than an hour-long episode. Well, wait no more. Here is your Book Concierge with Pandamoon mysteries matched to some shows you may love. Suck it, NPR. (^^)
Fans of Alias -- 122 Rules, by Deek Rhew
Fast-paced suspense: check. Bad ass female character: check. Deek Rhew's thriller will be right up the alley of anyone pining for more of the J.J. Abrams spy drama.
Fans of Alien Nation -- The Last Detective, by Brian Cohn
This might seem like a bit of a weird, spotted, elongated head scratcher. Because if you've forgotten this show adapted from the Mandy Patinkin film, you may not even know you're a fan. But let me just tell you this: one critic of the show claimed that it "wanted to be In the Heat of the Night in science fiction," but missed the mark. I would counter that it got very close. But Brian Cohn gets even closer. So if the thought of Virgil Tibbs investigating alien murders makes you as excited as it does me, do yourself a favor and pick up a copy.
Fans of Almost Human -- Rogue Alliance, by Michelle Bellon
First off, this was a badass show whose run ended way too soon. It gave us more Minka Kelly and that alone is reason to let it run. But the good news is Michelle Bellon's science-fi thriller hits a lot of the same notes and can help fill the Minka Kelly shaped hole left by Fox's short leash.
Fans of American Crime -- The Ramadan Drummer, by Randolph Splitter
American Crime is way too good for network TV. If you don't believe me, binge watch a season. John Ridley is brilliant, and I will sign up to watch anything he does. It is so much more than a crime drama, just as Randy Splitter's book is so much more than a mystery. Both stories dive deep into race and culture in ways that stick with you long after they end. This, in my opinion, is one of my better match-ups, because fans of the John Ridley show are going to love Splitter.
Fans of Backstrom -- Pariah, by Ward Parker
The short-lived detective show starring Rainn Wilson never really got the credit it deserved. And Ward Parker is here to fill the void with Zeke Adams. A little bit of a sleazy protagonist, former tabloid journalist Zeke Adams can totally meet your fix for a bit of an anti-hero detective.
Fans of Bates Motel -- A Flash of Red, by Sarah K. Stephens
Full disclosure: A Flash of Red is not horror. But ... full disclosure: neither is Bates Motel. If you are coming to either for a dose of horror, you won't find much. But for fans of the show, we already know what you will find. And that's a heaping helping of psychological suspense. And for those of us who love head games, Sarah Stephens can keep piling it on. In fact, Stephens mystery is an even better examination of the true nature of crazy.
Fans of Bloodline -- Revengers, by David Valdes Greenwood
This one is a stretch, granted, but stick with me. Revengers is a YA paranormal mystery. Bloodlines is almost none of those. But what these two share is what I think fans will be drawn to about both. There are tormented, conflicted, guilt haunted characters who are hell bent on setting right what once went wrong. And not in a funny Dr. Samuel Beckett kind of way either. These are two dark tales, both spinning webs of ever-increasing entanglement.
Fans of Fargo -- Juggling Kittens, by Some Jackass
All right. Yes. Shameless self promotion. But I am part of the Pandamoon Criminal Alliance. Worst one. I hear it now. Sorry. As unbiased as I can try to be, I will say ... I truly believe fans of the macabre humor in Fargo, with its stunning sense of place, will love my little book. Different place, same comedic underpinnings in a really gritty shit show of a story.
Fans of Grantchester -- The New Royal Mysteries, by Laura Ellen Scott
I'm not sure how many people know this show, but if you do I am positive you want more. And Laura Ellen Scott is here to deliver. These two don't match perfectly because Scott is one of a kind, to say the least. But what you have in the two New Royal Mysteries are unique mystery solvers in a very well-crafted and original place. Those are precisely the elements we Reverend Sidney Chambers lovers (swoon) are looking for in a mystery.
Fans of Life on Mars -- Knights of the Shield, by Jeff Messick
This weird little show is one of my favorites in recent years. The cast is STELLAR, and the storyline is bizarre as fuck. In a delightful way. Jeff Messick's book is a police procedural in a slightly bizarre sci-fi world. If that's your bag (and fans of the show definitely can dig it, baby), then you have found your next read.
Fans of Mr. Robot -- The Unraveling of Brendan Meeks, by Brian Cohn
Even the covers have a weird sort of connective tissue. Both of these involve unreliable narrators dealing with mental illness and a sordid cast of supporting characters. This is definitely my best comparison. If you enjoy Mr. Robot, I PROMISE you will like this book.
Fans of Psychoville -- The Juliet, by Laura Ellen Scott
I told you Laura Ellen Scott was hard. She's a fruit in a garden full of vegetables, man. And I mean that as the highest praise. BUT ... if you are a fan of this quirky little BBC show, first off, let's you and I be friends, what do you say? And, secondly, I am guessing you enjoy an ensemble cast of off-the-wall characters, some tangled mystery, and at least a bit of humor. If I'm right, check out Scott's first Pandamoon book.
Fans of Rectify -- On the Bricks, by Penni Jones
Easy one. Both the Sundance Channel show and the Penni Jones debut novel deal with you-can't-go-home-again stories against the backdrop of a mystery. Jones brings a touch more humor than the broody Rectify, but these are both operating in the same color tones. If you want to spend a little extra time in Paulie, Georgia, you won't go wrong by taking a detour to West Plains, Arkansas.
Fans of Stranger Things -- Becoming Thuperman, by Elgon Williams
Like Laura Ellen Scott, Elgon Williams is hard to compare to anyone or anything. But his YA coming-of-age supernatural mystery has a strong hint of the Netflix runaway cultural phenomenon. There is a strong feeling of nostalgia and the wonderment of childhood, but also the fun and mystery of supernatural elements. They might not line up perfectly, but fans of the show will be sure to enjoy Williams' romp through a childhood and superhero origin tales.
Fans of Terriers -- Made Safe, by Francis Sparks
One of my favorite shows for one of my favorite Pandamoon books. This overlooked and gone-too-soon show is neo-noir done right. It's got the down-and-out detectives, the rapid fire witty dialogue, and the tangled mysteries filled with femme fatales and gnarly bad guys. Francis Sparks knows how to do all of those things as well as any writer you'll find.
There you have it, book and TV fans. A concierge who knows how to root out your true interests and match them to books you are sure to love. So eat a dick, NPR.
Matt Coleman is the author of Juggling Kittens and the soon-to-be-released Graffiti Creek. You can read more of his writing, find out about his books, and see a picture of him racing in something called the Lunch Lady Games at www.mattcolemanbooks.com.