Wednesday, December 4, 2013

The happy re-reading of Aaron Elkins' Gideon Oliver books.



As the title to this post would suggest, I'm currently re-reading a few of my early copies of Aaron Elkins' Gideon Oliver books and my memory being what it is, it's almost like reading them again for the first time. You know how that goes. At any rate, if you're not familiar with the Oliver books, I'm here to recommend them all over again because it seems to me I've probably recommended them before and far as I'm concerned, you can't recommend good books enough.


Gideon Oliver is a forensic anthropologist - nicknamed 'The Skeleton Detective' by an over-reaching reporter - who seems always to be on call when bones turn up that need explanation. Since most of these bones herald a heretofore unbeknownst crime scene, we know immediately we're in for another terrific anthropological mystery in just about any corner of the world - Gideon Oliver travels a lot. Usually by his side is his wife Julie, a Washington State park ranger whom he met in THE DARK PLACE, published in 1983 and is currently being re-read by yours truly.

I've just finished MURDER IN THE QUEEN'S ARMES which takes place during Gideon and Julie's honeymoon trip to England and is one of the best books in this long-running series of excellent mysteries featuring exotic (well, exotic to me, anyway) locales, intriguing crime scenes, interesting characters (who knew that skulduggery ran rampant among the the anthropological elite?), not to mention bits and pieces of skeleton minutiae which I find fascinating. 


There's always a whodunit aspect to the stories which make them a unique combo of mystery and thriller with enough cozy aspects to round off the edges, though plenty of action takes place center stage. In MURDER IN THE QUEEN'S ARMES, there is a harrowing (and I mean harrowing) altercation with a 'hound of the Baskervilles' type dog from hell (improbably named 'Bowser') who has been loosed upon the honeymoon couple in the dark of night. 

I'm not reading the books in any sort of order,  just picking through the shelves and seeing what calls out to me. There's one that takes place in Mont St. Michel, France which I'm currently looking for - I think I have the hard cover. That's probably next up.

Author Aaron Elkins infuses his main characters with just the right touch of humor and enough believable traits so that opening the pages of a Gideon Oliver book is like heading off on an exciting adventure with a friend who is not only intelligent and happens to have a most interesting profession, but is very good company as well. 

There are 17 books in the Oliver series and I've read most of them at least once. What have I re-read so far?

CURSES! (1989)
ICY CLUTCHES (1990)
MURDER IN THE QUEEN'S ARMES (1985)

14 comments:

  1. I love this series, and the continuing characters - the FBI guy. Gram

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    1. Me too. And I'm finding that on re-reading they get even better.
      My favorite character is Abe Goldstein, Gideon's old professor and mentor.

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  2. Another writer who I have managed somehow to completely fail to engage with = thanks Yvette, I am clearly making a mistake and must change my ways!

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    1. If you're at all interested in this sort of thing (good mysteries with an anthropological slant) you will enjoy these books, Sergio. If you ever stumble across one - pick it up. Of course with 17 books in the series and counting, they're not all fabulous - but most of them, I have to say, pretty much are.
      I also very VERY highly recommend Elkins' standalone, 'LOOT' - one of my favorite books of all time. I reviewed it on here so you can check if you like.

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  3. Those are such fine covers, Yvette. I think you've just introduced me to Aaron Elkins' books unless I've read about them right here.

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    1. You probably read about them here, Prashant. :) I usually recommend Elkins at least once a year.

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  4. Wasn't this on TV with Lou Gosset Jr as Gideon Oliver? I vaguely recall seeing some of the shows. Never read any of the books. I think I have OLD BONES in some box in the second bedroom, AKA the book warehouse.

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    1. OLD BONES is an especially good one, John, if I'm remembering correctly. :) I'm very fond of this series. A television show? Don't remember. The casting is odd since Oliver isn't African American in the books. But hey, anything's possible.

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  5. I had to look it up on imdb.com to prove I was right. It was series back in 1989, but was very short lived. Only five episode. In addition to the scriptwriters Aaron Elkins has a writing credit for all five shows so maybe that means each episode is based on one of the novels.

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  6. I have a vague (extremely vague) memory of something or other relating to this show. Maybe I saw it. Maybe I just read about it. Who knows? But now that you mention it in more detail...I wish they'd re-do it. Or maybe a movie?

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  7. I am commenting on this late, Yvette, because I am interested in this series, but haven't progressed on them. Years ago I read two of them, and my son read a few more than that.

    I have collected almost every cover, in either hardback or paperback, because I collect books with skeletons or parts thereof on the cover. Yet I haven't gotten past no. 2.

    I am absolutely, definitely going to read LOOT next year, based on your recommendation. I have had the book for years, and in 2014 I am going to read it.

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    1. I loved LOOT as you well know, Tracy. It's just one of those books that has stayed with me over the years. It is so subtly funny, so well conceived and writtten. I hope you will get a chance this year to read this one and more of the Oliver books. :)

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  8. Hey there, Yvette! Also late to the party, but wanted to chime in as another Elkins fan. The Gideon Oliver mysteries are good fun reads with nice use of their exotic locations. My favorite will probably always remain THE DARK PLACE as it was the first one I read and its central conceit is so fresh for a mystery novel, but I've read and heartily enjoyed them all, save for the last one, DYING ON A VINE, which I just ordered off Amazon.

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    1. I've read them all too, Jeff. Except for the latest, that's on the list for this year. I love all that skeleton minutiae. My favorite Gideon Oliver is the one that takes place on Mont San Michel in France. At the moment, can't remember the title. I've been meaning to re-read that one if I can find it on my bookshelves.

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