One benefit to moving around as much as I have is that I have friends all over the country. And this winter, it seems that every time I turn around, somebody is getting snowed or iced in. Heck, even my Atlanta friends have had a snow day this year. We had a snow (well, ice) day in Dallas.
I think just about the best thing a person can do on a cold day is hunker down with a good book and escape. And if this winter is going to keep dumping snow/ice/wintry mix on us all, maybe we need to escape to books set someplace warm. Here, off the top of my head, are a few ideas:
Botswana: The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series featuring Precious Ramotswe, written by Alexander McCall Smith. It’s never really cold in Botswana, and Mma Ramotswe’s personality infuses all these books with tremendous warmth.
Hawaii: The Descendants, by Kaui Hart Hemmings. The rare case where the movie doesn’t ruin the book.
Los Angeles: Any of the Harry Bosch or Mickey Haller books by Michael Connelly. Personally, I prefer the Haller books (and not just because he’s Matthew McConaughey in my head thanks to The Lincoln Lawyer). I find Bosch too morose.
The Texas border: These mysteries by Tricia Fields star small-town sheriff Josie Gray. Here’s a review I wrote of the second in the series, Scratchgravel Road, last year.
What’s your favorite book set in a warm climate?