Second the nominations of John D. Macdonald, Kenneth Roberts and Sharyn McCrumb!
Strongly recommend the SF novels of Lois McMaster Bujold (and her most recent fantasy novel, Curse of Chalion)all of her stuff is worth not only reading but re-reading many times.
Nonfiction: Kevin Phillips' The Cousins Wars, also Feynman's Six Not-so-easy Pieces. PETE