You know that feeling?

The one you get when you’re close to finishing a book you’re enjoying – particularly one by a favourite author?

I had that feeling on Sunday.

Bangers and mash in June? Surely more of a winter meal? Yes, well, Juneuary is upon us, so it seemed appropriate. But I digress.

I can’t remember who put me on to Norwegian writer Jo Nesbo and his Harry Hole series. Might have stumbled across him in one of Margaret Canon’s reviews in the Globe and Mail. Anyway, if you like your detectives to be brilliant, but seriously flawed human beings – which I very much do – you’d be hard pressed to find anyone to beat Harry. Flawed is pretty much his middle name. But, man, can this flawed guy feel. Breaks your heart. 

Feels like a long time since Harry and I got together. And indeed it has, as I’ve just discovered doing some googling (during which I discovered he’s also written a series of children’s books). Four years. A long bender in LA before being drawn back to Oslo.

There was a point at around two in the morning on Sunday (or rather Monday) when I had to make a decision. I was getting close to the end. Should I plough on for another hour or two? (Yes! I thought. Yes, yes, yes!) Or should I force myself to shut the book? Somehow I managed the latter, which meant I got another night in bed with Harry last night. But it’s over now. Sigh.

The good news is that the ending made it clear there’s more to come. The bad news, as I discovered during said googling, is that Nesbo’s next novel is going to be another standalone. Yeah, great, fine. But I want more Harry! Obviously going to be a couple of years.

What am I going to do with myself until then?

Time for some more googling. 

Okay, there’s a new Mick Herron out in September. Long wait, but okay. Oh, hang on a sec, it’s also a standalone. I mean, sure, I’ll buy it and read it, but no Jackson? What?!? 

What about Ian Rankin? He’s usually good for a book release on or around my birthday. Argh. No new Rebus this year (after the way the last one finished!), instead he is apparently producing a novellla (grr) which will only be available as an ebook or an audio book. Okay, he’s signed a deal to write at least two more Rebus books, but when?!?

Rankin’s no help. What about Michael Connelly? Oh, he does have a novel coming out for my birthday! But, damn, it’s a Micky Haller, not a Bosch. Bollocks, bollocks, bollocks.

This is torture.

Let’s check in on Kate Atkinson. Now we’re talking – new book in August. Two months away, but okay. Oh, wait, it’s short stories. Shit.

Carol O’Connell seems to have just stopped writing. Is she dead? Quick google check. Apparently not, but neither is there any sign of a new novel.

Finally – some light at the end of the tunnel. New Richard Osman out in September and it’s a Thursday Murder Club. Now we’re talking.

But still. September’s a long way away.

I need a new detective.