I figure a good way to cope with the loss of Terriers would be to share some recommendations that are similar to the show. I'd recommend the book Fletch. Also, the comic book Criminal by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips because they're character-driven crime stories, just like our favorite show.
shareYou should give NBC's Life a shot. It's about Detective Charlie Crews, who was falsely convicted of murder and served several years in prison before being released when they discovered they had the wrong guy. Once released, he goes back to work as a detective but on the side he runs an undercover investigation to try to find who framed him. Donal Logue is in the second season. Life and Terriers are two of the best shows i've ever seen.
shareBook-wise, any self-respecting Terriers fan would do well to get into Joe R. Lansdale's superb Hap & Leonard series, 8 novels starting with 1990's "Savage Season" all the way up through last year's "Devil Red" -- it's two dudes in East Texas who get up to all manner of trouble, and lately they're pretty much unlicensced P.I's. Their dynamic is pretty close to Hank and Britt. They're both middle-aged now in the series but the oddball mayhem is ever-present. They're a black and white buddy team with enthusiasms in martial arts, accidental righteous crusading and witty banter - and the tougher of the two is gay.
I think my favorite is still Bad Chili, summarized thusly:
Hap Collins is in a LaBorde, Texas, hospital recuperating from an attack by a rabid squirrel and wondering why his best friend, Leonard Pine, hasn't been by to visit. Turns out that Leonard was upset enough about his boyfriend Raul leaving him for another guy that he went down to the biker bar this guy hangs out at and beats him with a broom handle. When the biker turns up dead later that night, it doesn't take long to guess who the primary suspect is--especially with Leonard nowhere to be found.
After Hap checks himself out of the hospital and finds Leonard hiding in his bed, the fourth novel in this series kicks into high gear--or what passes for high gear in Lansdale's deceptively laid-back storytelling style. Pretty soon, they've stumbled onto a conspiracy involving gaybasher pornography, and Leonard's ready to exact some vigilante justice over Hap's protestations: "There's few people think a roach exterminator is a murderer. I'm not talkin' about beatin' up and rapin' innocent people who are lookin' for love in all the wrong places. I'm talkin' about stampin' out a plague, man.... I've heard you rave about the horrors of the child sex trade in Thailand, the poor, the plight of blacks and women and gays, and all the stuff you gripe about, but me, I'm gonna do somethin'."
Add in a budding romance between Hap and Brett Sawyer, the nurse who tells him on their first date about how she set her abusive husband on fire--which impresses him much more than it scares him--and you've got the makings of another classic Lansdale thriller.
Thank you for your book/author suggestions. It's difficult to find writers who write in a style I like, and I have now found a new one, thanks to you.
Part of what I liked about Terriers was that it's set and shot here in San Diego, so I have fun trying to recognize the different places they are around the city.
My neighbor said Veronica Mars was shot in Del Mar/Solana Beach area. I'm not as familiar with that part of the city, but hopefully there will be scenes from other parts of the city as well.
I just really wanted to thank you for your author suggestion, as corny and silly as that sounds. It's really hard to find authors/series that I like, so I thought I'd thank you for that. :)
I can't believe no one has suggested "The Rockford Files." At least in terms of style and tone "Terriers" borrowed from that show like crazy. Also, you can't see Hank and Gustafson's relationship and not think Rockford and Becker. Don't get me wrong I think "Terriers" is a better show than "Rockford." Rockford's one of the better shows of the 70s, but even good 70's shows didn't do much character development or long story arcs. Still Rockford is extremely well acted and written (it's where David Chase got his start). It's pretty funny too. The sense of humor especially reminds me of "Terriers."
"Justified" also seems to be something that you'd like if you liked "Terriers." They even cast Neal McDonough, whom Terriers was setting up as the heavy for season 2 and beyond, as the villain in season 3.
well, that sounds cool. thx.
Season's Greetings
The Zero Effect (1998) It a movie with a mystery that pull you in and Quirky characters with chemistry that you will love in spite of their flaws.
TERRIERS/The Chicago Code R.I.P
BBC America Copper Sundays 10/9c
I agree with the guys who suggested Joe R. Lansdale, Breaking Bad, the Fletch books and The Rockford Files. Speaking of Lansdale, his Hap and Leonard books are about to be turned into a TV series for Sundance and his novel Cold in July was the basis for last year's film of the same name with Michael C. Hall and Don Johnson, which is well worth checking out.
My own suggestions: Better Call Saul- the new Breaking Bad spin-off and probably more similar in tone with Terriers than the original.
The Travis McGee series of books by John D. MacDonald. 21 books published between 1964 and 1984 about a "salvage consultant" in Florida.
The novels of Carl Hiaasen, another Florida author.
The Dortmunder books by Donald Westlake. 14 books published between 1970 and 2009.
If you liked Terriers you're also likely to enjoy the works of Elmore Leonard and the various movies and shows based on it, particularly Justified.
Bloodline.
it's darker, but very character driven.
also Out of Sight, The Big Bounce, LIfe of Crime (more Elmore)