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British actor Hugh Laurie is probably most well-known for his work on the hit television show House but since I have never seen an episode of the medical drama, I'm not a fan of his because of that. Rather, I'm a fan of his because of his humor and his ability to always make me laugh whenever he is at an awards show and makes a speech. Being from England, his sense of humor could be considered different than the humor most are used to. It's dry and sarcastic and dark. But I love British humor. Just another thing I inherited from my dad. But now I'm a fan of Hugh Laurie because of his debut thriller novel The Gun Seller. It was published back in May of 2004 but I just discovered it a few months ago buried on the shelves at Barnes and Noble. Standing in the aisle, I read the first few pages and after actually laughing out loud at several parts, I knew I had to get it. I bought it and read it in about three days.

Cold-blooded murder just isn't Thomas Lang's cup of tea. Offered a bundle to assassinate an American industrialist, he opts to warn the intended victim instead -- a good deed that soon takes a bad turn. Quicker than he can down a shot of his favorite whiskey, Lang is bashing heads with a Buddha statue, matching wits with evil billionaires, and putting his life (among other things) in the hands of a bevy of femmes fatales. Up against rogue CIA agents, wannabe terrorists, and an arms dealer looking to make a high-tech killing, Lang's out to save the leggy lady he has come to love...and prevent an international bloodbath to boot.

An exert from The Gun Seller: I've been in prison, you see. Only three weeks, and only on remand, but when you've had to play chess twice a day with a monosyllabic West Ham supporter, who has 'HATE' tattooed on one hand, and 'HATE' on the other -- using a set missing six pawns, all the rooks and two of the bishops -- you find yourself cherishing the little things in life. Like not being in prison. [Copyright © 1996 by Hugh Laurie]

If you have a chance to read this book, do it. It's funny, suspensful, and intense and it definitely draws the reader in just after the first few pages. The way it is written also makes it for a fast read. I hope Hugh Laurie plans on writing another book because if it's anything like The Gun Seller, I am already going to love it.