S.W. Hubbard's Blog: Reading & Writing with S.W. Hubbard, page 5

Enter the Giveaway for FALSE CAST

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False Cast


by S.W. Hubbard

Giveaway ends February 17, 2017.

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6 Book Club-Worthy Mysteries

Does your book club read mysteries, or do you stick to "literary" fiction and classics? I've compiled this list of great book club mysteries (I've read them all!) because I think my favorite genre offers plenty of opportunity for stimulating discussions. Sure, there are mysteries we read just for fun, but these morally complex book club mysteries tackle serious social and ethical problems. They also feature fully developed characters, and plots that will keep you turning the pages. Now, no one in your book club will complain, "I couldn't get through this one!"

Have you ever invited an author to participate in your book club's discussion of his or her book? Many authors welcome this opportunity to meet readers and answer their questions. Authors can attend either face-to-face or virtually via Skype or Facetime. So be sure to check the author's website for book discussion questions and contact information. Don't be shy--the author will be flattered!
The Guilty One by Lisa Ballantyne 
This is the story of one child who kills another and the lawyer who defends the killer. The novel leaves readers with plenty to think about: the bond between biological parents and children, the role that other loving adults play in helping kids thrive, the failures of the criminal justice system, and most of all the responsibilities we each have to one another to avoid being the guilty ones. Get discussion questions here.
Treasure of Darkness by S.W. Hubbard
Have you ever known a hoarder? Have you ever struggled to help a friend or family member with mental illness? How do you feel about hard-working immigrants who may have entered our county illegally? This mystery tackles some thorny social issues as the estate sale organizer protagonist uncovers layers of mystery amid the trash and treasure in a hoarder's house. Get discussion questions here and invite the author to your group here.
The Wicked Girls by Alex Marwood
This is another book about children accused of crimes, and the long reach of publicity that makes it hard for them to ever escape their past. Two girls convicted of killing a child spend a decade separated in the juvenile justice system. Once they are released,they go one to live very different lives. Finally, fate intervenes when a series of murders sets up a confrontation between these two women who should never have met again.Contact the author at http://www.alexmarwood.com/
I Let You Go by Claire Mackintosh
A young mother lets go of her son's hand for a moment and he is killed by a hit-and-run driver. This mystery tackles survivor's guilt, domestic abuse, and personal responsibility. There's is a great twist which bears discussing, and the  portrayal of the killer's thought process is particularly perceptive and chilling. Find discussion question here.
Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter by Tom Franklin
An atmospheric tale set in rural Mississippi, this mystery explores race and class issues as it explores a murder in the past and one in the present. It also grapples with what it means to be bookish in a community that doesn't value intellectual pursuits. Find discussion questions here.
The Long and Faraway Gone by Lou Berney

This 2016 Edgar Award winner is all about the six degrees of separation that link us all, and the sudden flashes of insight that bring the past into focus. There are two intersecting mysteries: a horrific shooting in a movie theatre and a tragic disappearance from a state fair. Both involve the carefree recklessness of teenagers and the ability of people to survive tragedy without ever fully recovering. Contact the author at:  www.louberney.com

6 Great Book Club Mysteries to Read & Discuss

Does your book club read mysteries, or do you stick to “literary” fiction and classics? I’ve compiled this list of great book club mysteries (I’ve read them all!) because I think my favorite genre offers plenty of opportunity for stimulating discussions. Sure, there are mysteries we read just for fun, but these morally complex book club […]

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A Free Christmas Mystery, a bargain & inspiration

A FREE Christmas mystery, a bargain, and some inspiration Do you feel frazzled around the holidays? If you’re anything like me, you’re scrambling to finish your shopping, plan for travel and entertaining, and decorate the house. To make your life easier, I’d like to give you three things: a FREE Christmas mystery, a bargain, and […]

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Large Headed Woman Seeks Winter Hat

On Tuesday, I went to REI on my annual pilgrimage to find a non-hideous winter hat that fits me. My hall closet is a graveyard of ugly, uncomfortable hats bought in years gone by. You see, I have a peculiar affliction—my head is freakishly large. I don’t look like a bobble head doll (at least […]

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Book Review: A Constellation of Vital Phenomena

A Constellation of Vital Phenomena by Anthony Marra My rating: 4 of 5 stars My book club has read three books about war in the past six months: All the Light We Cannot See, The Nightingale, and now A Constellation of Vital Phenomena. Reading them so close together made me see that on an elemental […]

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Book Review: The Unseen World

The Unseen World by Liz Moore My rating: 5 of 5 stars I loved Liz Moore’s previous book, HEFT, and was looking forward to reading this one. Moore has written another winner. The author has a real talent for depicting quirky characters sympathetically without making them seem freakish or over-the-top. This novel revolves around David, […]

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Prime Reading: 5 mysteries with smart female sleuths

Are you an Amazon Prime member? Do you love mysteries with smart, strong female sleuths? Then you’re in luck! Amazon’s new program, Prime Reading, now allows Prime members to download an unlimited number of Kindle books from a rotating selection of thousands of highly rated titles—FREE! Currently, there are nearly 200 mystery and thriller titles to choose from. Here’s some help narrowing down your choices if you like a good twisty plot and strong, smart, well-developed characters. Take advantage of your Prime Reading benefits and download one--or all--of these great mysteries, all rated 4.2 stars or above.

Another Man’s Treasure—On a snowy Christmas Eve, a beautiful young mother goes out for a few last-minute gifts and never returns. Thirty years later, her daughter—an estate sale organizer—picks up the trail…with deadly results. Antiques Roadshow meets Law and Order in this tense romantic thriller.

The Three Deaths of Magdalene Lynton—First her death is ruled an accidental drowning. Years later, a dying man comes forward and confesses to murdering her. But the facts don’t totally fit either scenario. Now Detective Constable Ngaire (pronounced Ny-ree) Blakes must solve the 40 year old cold case. Set in New Zealand!

Mother’s Day Out—Stay-at-home-mom Margie Peterson takes a part-time job as a PI and finds herself knee-deep in murder and mayhem. This high-spirited romp is laugh-out-loud funny and more sophisticated than the standard cozy mystery.

Circle of Bones—Former Marine Maggie Riley tries to sail away from a troubled past but steers her sailboat straight into a political conspiracy and a Caribbean treasure hunt. The author captains her own sailboat.

The Shark—Virginia State Trooper Riley Tatum is caught up in a cat-and-mouse game with a serial killer who haunts her past and threatens her future and the safety of her teenage foster daughter.

5 Kindle Unlimited Mysteries with Smart Female Sleuths

Are you looking for Kindle Unlimited mysteries with strong, smart female sleuths? They’re not always easy to find. No one wants to read a stinker with a too-stupid-to-live heroine. So here’s some help narrowing down your choices of Kindle Unlimited mysteries. These novels will please if you like a good twisty plot and  well-developed characters. […]

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Prime Reading: 5 Mysteries with Smart Female Sleuths

Are you an Amazon Prime member? Do you love mysteries with smart, strong female sleuths? Then you’re in luck! Amazon’s new program, Prime Reading, now allows Prime members to download an unlimited number of Kindle books from a rotating selection of thousands of highly rated titles—FREE! Currently, there are nearly 200 mystery and thriller titles […]

The post Prime Reading: 5 Mysteries with Smart Female Sleuths appeared first on SWHubbard.