When I was at U of Maine, Steve King was my bridge partner. I was present when he announced that "Carrie" was accepted for publication. Read "The Shining" and one or two other of his books. Haven't read anything of his in decades--out of envy.

Lately read Thomas Behr's "Blood Brothers" about the first American Barbary war. [Full disclosure: He has asked me to be a reader and fact checker on his next book.]
"Catherine the Great" by Massie. I saw a name among the various counselours and lovers which is the same as one of my ancestrals. It seems he got around a bit.
A. Bertram Chandler's Grimes series, number 3, Star Courier," has been rereleased in omnibus form. Always a good read.
Dewey Lambdin's Alan Lewrie series and Alexander Kent's Bolitho series are always fun.

More to come.