USA

'This book is dedicated to Route 66, the Mother Road.' Carol O'Connell's book begins in New York but is always centred on what is left of Route 66. To someone who's never been to America, it certainly inspired curiousity.

Michael Connelly is one of my favourite authors. I am in love with Harry Bosch and have been for many years. Unfortunately I do not fit the profile of the women in his life (attractive, slim, brilliant card player...). Bum! I've held back from putting Mr Connelly on this site because I have read so many books set in Los Angeles that it's become almost too familiar without standing out as somewhere I MUST VISIT. This isn't a criticism. I suspect most of the western world feels the same. It's partly thanks to Michael and Harry that when I read other books in the same setting I think, 'Oh, yes, Van Nuys'. Other 'must read' writers set in Los Angeles include the Kellermans and Robert Crais.

I've read most of G.M. Ford's books and enjoyed them all. Seattle appears to be sometimes cold, but always very wet. The Frank Corso stories have a harder edge than his Leo Waterman books: both series have great plots and characters. As someone who has never visited the United States I have no idea how authentic the settings in books like this are. I can only say that I believe in Ford's Seattle and that his writing gives me a sense of a city worth visiting.

James Lee Burke is perhaps the best writer I know for describing settings that reach out of the page and drag you back in there with the characters.