No need to hack his texts…yet.

My son now has a record.  Not unlike Cool Hand Luke, he recently spent a few hours pulling weeds in the middle school courtyard while others watched a movie in the gym.  A repeat offender, his rap sheet boasts multiple gum chewing incidents and one broken cafeteria broom.  Not unlike his father who once set off a bottle rocket in an empty school hallway, my honor roll son just can’t seem to consistently tow the line.  Repeatedly praised for his polite manner, good grades and generous spirit, I’ve tended to minimize his detentions as they seem to present harm only to the bottom of someone’s shoe.  But should I?  After reading these recent thrillers, paranoia becomes an option.

Defending Jacob by William Landay
A 14-year-old boy is accused of murdering a classmate.  The original district attorney assigned to the case, his father must now sit on the other side of the bench, helping to defend his son.  When questions involving heredity come to light, the boy’s mother comes to her own conclusions.  The ending made me gasp and grapple with choices I hope never have to be made.

The Good Father by Noah Hawley
Paul thinks nothing of his son dropping out of college to “see the country” until the Secret Service knocks on his door.  His gentle, Greenpeace-loving son has assassinated a leading presidential candidate.  Re-married with young children, Paul must come to terms with his part in his first son’s choices.

Afterwards by Rosamund Lupton
Comatose after saving her daughter Jenny from a devastating fire, Grace searches for the arsonist, her daughter’s potential killer, in overheard conversations and out-of-body experiences.  Her son is accused of the crime, and Grace must learn more about the hidden lives of her daughter and family and friends in order to rest in peace.  In the style of “The Lovely Bones”, but with a twist.

We Need to Talk about Kevin by Lionel Shriver
When her son kills seven in a school massacre, Eva attempts to apportion blame.  Was Kevin born a killer or was her inability to love a “difficult child” the deciding factor?

Given that my son once carried a stray dog around three local developments looking for its owner, I highly doubt I need to reserve him a place in maximum security at this point.  But, I should probably notify the school that pulling weeds on a beautiful sunny day rather than watching Ice Age in the stuffy gym was not much of a deterrent to the mid-day need of a sugary snack.  Not, that is, until he had to pull them again from the flower beds at home.  Now that’s what I call “character building.”

What reads or movies have scared you into being a better parent?

Once again P.D. James has stabbed me in the back.  I’d forgiven her long ago for branching off with the futuristic novel Children of Men, but only because Doctor Who comes a close second to PBS Mystery in my television hierarchy.  But after waiting THREE YEARS for the next Dalgliesh mystery, I get another Jane Austen knockoff instead.  Haven’t Elizabeth and Darcy been sliced and diced enough already without Wickham’s corpse now fowling up the estate grounds?

James should have taken pointers from Nora Roberts.  Long ago, Roberts created her J.D. Robb mystery writing pseudonym as a clear pointer for her romance fans to stay away or risk disappointment. Loyal, happy fans ensued and Roberts was able to scratch a creative itch.

But, whether out of boredom or the need to expand their coffers, authors continue to boldly write outside their norm, banking on name recognition alone.  Writing for a young adult or juvenile audience has almost become a must for any big name author. Literary authors are dabbling with genre writing and many mystery, romance and thriller writers are striving to get more literary. Titles from authors trying out new digs include:

Shelter by Harlan Coben
Long running adult character Myron Bolitar has an estranged teenage nephew who investigates the disappearance of his new girlfriend – Coben sticks to his mystery/thriller roots, but gears this book towards teens.

11/22/63 by Stephen King
Sci-fi, alternate history and historical fiction combine in this tale of a time traveler who attempts to prevent the assassination of JFK – a big change from King’s usual.

Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott
After writing successful realistic romances for young adults, Scott shocked readers with this chilling tale of a girl abducted and held hostage by a sexual predator.

Insatiable by Meg Cabot
Author of sweet teen books like the Princess Diaries series, Cabot jumps on the vampire bandwagon with this campy paranormal romance for adults.

The Leftovers by Tom Perrotta
Famous for satirical fiction like Election (made into a movie with Reese Witherspoon and Matthew Broderick) Perrotta’s latest novel explores what life would be like in an apocalyptic, post-Rapture age.

Just as Patterson seemed to push the envelope too far with his “nonfiction thriller” on the murder of King Tut, will James’ new Death Comes to Pemberley prove too much for those of us enthralled by her poet turned detective Adam Dalgliesh?  I haven’t succumbed yet, but then the cover is pretty enticing…

Are you disappointed or thrilled when authors try new genres?