Books (fiction) set in Chicago?

Can anyone recommend some light reading where the story takes place in or around Chicago?

Books (fiction) set in Chicago?

Devil in the White City - Erik Larson

The House on Mango Street - Sandra Cisneros (and this is the new One Book One Chicago pick. Also a personal fave)

The Time Travelers Wife - Audrey Niffenegger

The Sara Paretsky series with V.I Warshawski

A Rasin In The Sun - Lorraine Hansberry

Studs Terkel - anything really by him. Not always set in Chicago but he is ';our'; writer

Books (fiction) set in Chicago?

鈥ikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fiction_set_in_C鈥?/a>

I%26#39;d recommend ';Devil in the White City'; by Erik Larson and ';Sin in the Second City'; by Karen Abbott. Both are non fiction but they are both easy reads, not quite historical fiction but not dry at all.

';Devil in the White City'; is an intertwined story with Daniel Burnham, the Columbian Exposition and a serial killer, ';Sin in the Second City'; is about the Levee vice district and the Everleigh sisters who ran a posh bordello there.

Also if you have an interest in Frank Lloyd Wright, ';Loving Frank'; by Nancy Horan is historical fiction about his adulterous relationship with Mamah Cheney, quite the scandal in the day.

';The Boss'; by Mike Royko is a very good book about the current mayor%26#39;s father, who ran Chicago, was responsible for JFK getting elected and started the Chicago Machine Politics. It%26#39;s a wonderful, well written book that is about Chicago, and of course, takes place in Chicago--in a previous era. The book was written in the early 70%26#39;s but takes place in the 50%26#39;s and 60%26#39;s.

';Devil In The White City'; took me two tries to read, but was worth the second effort. I think I was expecting more excitement on the first read, and I%26#39;d classify it as half kind-of dry, half really incredible. The kind-of dry part killed my first read, but if you go in knowing that part of it is less engrossing and skim on, it%26#39;s definitely worth reading.

For fiction, I%26#39;ll recommend Michael Harvey%26#39;s two mysteries - ';Chicago Way'; and its sequel ';The Fifth Floor';. Well-plotted mysteries, with a main character (PI) that I definitely liked. He%26#39;s got a bit of the cliche PI-ness, but not too much. Plus, the Chicago setting is fun.

Also fiction, Susan Elizabeth Phillips has a series of romances based around a fictional NFL team, the Chicago Stars. They don%26#39;t all take place in Chicago, but the first one does. It%26#39;s called ';It Had To Be You';. It%26#39;s honestly not my favorite of the series, but it was good, and worth reading to form a base for the rest of the series.

And now, I%26#39;m surprised. I need to read more Chicago-based fiction. It%26#39;s one of my favorite cities, and that%26#39;s all I%26#39;ve got?

Came up with one more:

Patricia Gaffney%26#39;s ';Wild At Heart'; is set in historical Chicago (around 1900 if I remember correctly).

And to clarify earlier messages - ';Devil In The White City'; is non-fiction.

I just checked out the wikipedia list posted above. The Dresden Files books have been on my to-read list for a while. Knowing they%26#39;re set in Chicago (even magically) has moved them right on up!

If you like a little magic/fantasy, I%26#39;d recommend the Harry Dresden series by Jim Butcher. He%26#39;s a wizard who runs a private detection agency. He%26#39;s also reluctantly used by the Chicago PD to help on ';odd'; cases. A good read, very funny. The first book in the series is called Storm Front.

they did a tv series didn%26#39;t they, based on the Dresden Files.

I thought it was good, but it got cancelled, bah!

origins