I read mystery novels, always have, as a diversion. I like flawed detectives with a good old fashioned shitty home life and lots of baggage. I know it’s a cliche, but if it weren’t a cliche it wouldn’t be good comfort reading. Henning Mankell’s Wallander is probably the best example – bonus points because Mankell apparently hated writing them and would rather write anything else, and I think a little bit of that came through in his main character. Michael Connelly’s Harry Bosch is good, Ian Rankin’s John Rebus is great, but I’ll read whatever Amazon gives me for free through Prime Reading. A simple crutch to occupy my mind is all I’m looking for.
I just finished Tyler Dilts’ Mercy Dogs, and I thought it was a great example of the genre. He also got the details of taking care of a parent who has dementia and medical problems right. I figure if someone gets the details you know right, they’re probably right about the other stuff, like the experience of having a traumatic brain injury.
Here’s an open thread, and if you have recommendations, please make them.