The Straw Men, by Michael Marshall — They are brilliant and bloodthirsty elite nihilists who are convinced they’re the next stage in human evolution. They have lots of money. They live on huge, rural estates. They like to experiment. WARNING: don’t read alone at night.
The Secret History, by Donna Tartt — Classical humanism has never been more macabre.
The Snowman, by Jo Nesbø — Scandinavian thrillers are chillers: literally.
Dune, by Frank Herbert — If you can read only one sci-fi novel in your life, read this one.
The Charm School, by Nelson DeMille — In the old Soviet Union a young American tourist in a Trans Am picks up a fellow American hitchhiker on the run. The story he tells the driver is staggering. Soon, both are dead.
Hannibal, by Thomas Harris — If the good doctor is terrifying behind bars, what would he be like roaming around a free man?
Spy Line, by Len Deighton — A British intelligence agent gets into East Germany to exfiltrate a double agent. She happens to be his wife.
The Broken Shore, by Peter Temple — An Aussie detective hunting down a wealthy sexual fiend.
The Leopard, by Jo Nesbø — Why does the deeply flawed detective Harry Hole (WHO-lu) get stuck investigating the most pernicious serial killers on the planet.
Red Leaves, by Paullina Simons — Such close-knit school students. The red boots of one are found standing alone in the snow. The wearer is not.
Don't watch the movie of "The Snowman." Both Jo Nesbo books are great . I'll have to check out the other titles. "Spy Line" is the one that sticks out for me.
Considering that the Straw Men are nihilists, meaning void, meaningless and soulless, I believe the title refers to 'walking dead' bodies possessed by evil spirits who have fractured the souls and destroyed the minds of the bodies they've possessed. The brilliance of the Straw Men is diabolical because demonic. They prey on humans because the possessing spirit craves the psychic energy given off by violently tormented and tortured human spirits just prior to death of body.
Some possessed Indian god-men crave that energy too.
In Perelandra, CS Lewis applied the term 'Un Man" to a possessed scientist. The Un Man was a sadist par excellence thus, enjoyed ripping feathers out of birds, ripping open frogs, and other such things.
Hannibal? I've read "The Red Dragon" and "Silence of the Lambs" and enjoyed. After I finished the "Hannibal" I was so angry at the end of it I threw the paperback against the wall as hard as I could.
Don't watch the movie of "The Snowman." Both Jo Nesbo books are great . I'll have to check out the other titles. "Spy Line" is the one that sticks out for me.
Dune is fantastic. I heard it in Audible and it was even better. Thank you for the recommendations Doc. I’ll read all these books.
Considering that the Straw Men are nihilists, meaning void, meaningless and soulless, I believe the title refers to 'walking dead' bodies possessed by evil spirits who have fractured the souls and destroyed the minds of the bodies they've possessed. The brilliance of the Straw Men is diabolical because demonic. They prey on humans because the possessing spirit craves the psychic energy given off by violently tormented and tortured human spirits just prior to death of body.
Some possessed Indian god-men crave that energy too.
In Perelandra, CS Lewis applied the term 'Un Man" to a possessed scientist. The Un Man was a sadist par excellence thus, enjoyed ripping feathers out of birds, ripping open frogs, and other such things.
Hannibal? I've read "The Red Dragon" and "Silence of the Lambs" and enjoyed. After I finished the "Hannibal" I was so angry at the end of it I threw the paperback against the wall as hard as I could.