Richard Laymon
Alarums (1993), In The Dark (1994), Island (1995)
This is a case where someone recommends an author really highly and I wanted to really like the work but we didn't click. The three books I talk about here, all of which I bought second hand, (plus one more which I will read) aren't bad, they just don't grab me.
These are all thrillers, with sex, murder, blood and guts and some surprise twists. There were lots of things I liked in all the books: the characters were generally smart and even as they did stupid things they knew they were doing them for greed or revenge or sex; the characters were literate and there were lots of book quotes and references throughout; and all the rape, sex, mutilation, betrayal, and gore was well written and made every book a page turner. Alarums I read in one sitting, the others nearly as fast and easily digestible.
What they didn't have was anything extra, anything that made me want to think about them later, or discuss them with someone. Not one person in any of the books was less than nasty, willing to betray their own moral standards for something (usually sex), and most were really over the top in manipulation and brutishness.
Of the three books read so far, Island gave me pause to ruminate for a few moments. The others will be going in the pile of books ready for 'Booktown', but Island will be the one I keep for reference on Richard Laymon's writing.