Josh’s Comments (group member since Jun 17, 2010)

Josh’s comments from the Q&A with Josh Lanyon group.

I am OBSESSED.

https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/4403650902

This is one of the art books by Yooichi Kadono who does the illustrations on the Japanese translations of the Art of Murder series.

I find her work inspirational. So much so, that I've got illustrations from the Art of Murder pinned all over my desk.

Jordan wrote: "I've only got a few hours left of this, according to my Kindle. It's a very good book, but I wonder if I'm just not completely in the mood for it. Once I spend some time with it then I get into it,..."

Five years is a bold choice. It allows for significant change within the world and within the characters. The danger is readers feeling they missed out on too much.

I'd love to read an interview where Ginn discusses her choices. She's always so thoughtful and inventive.

Jordan wrote: "Started this book last night for the second time. I feel so much better knowing who all the characters are this time. Lol. Though it’s a bit of a jolt to jump five years into the future. It seems l..."

I do that all the time. :-D

Karen wrote: "I'm stuck midway through Book 1. I think it's mainly because I'm finding it difficult print books these days. It may be my eyes. I'll see whether that's a big part of it after my new glasses and co..."

I haven't started yet, but I'm blanking on those aspects in Rifter. I'm wondering if those elements are harder to read now given how much our own world has changed?

Jordan wrote: "Still enjoying this! I think I have two hours left, so I should be finishing it very soon!

I do wish we'd been there when "Brian" shows up and gives his "irrefutable" proof. I just want to see ho..."

I would say Brian had Tiny Teddy with him when he showed up. Tiny Teddy would probably be the irrefutable proof.

And yes, that would be quite the scene! :-D

Marge wrote: "I'm about halfway through and am totally amazed at how much I've forgotten from my first read. I recall things as I read them, but apart from a few scenes near the end, I can't remember what's comi..."

I still love this group so much. Yes, it's changed through the years--I've changed through the years and so has the world of publishing and books. But this is still a great place to talk books or whatever else is happening in the world.

Popping in here is sort of like phoning home. ;-)

Karen wrote: "I finished my re-listen, along with my re-read. This is a beautifully constructed mystery/romance. I also re-read our long ago discussions and the coda.

The coda is particularly interesting to me..."

Yes. This is a story that, as much as I love it, feels to me like it ended at the right place. There would be a lot of negotiations ahead for Griff and a certain amount of frustration. But the bond between him and Pierce is pretty much unbreakable, and I feel Pierce would be his safe harbor.

WMD wrote: "Pierce is described as quite the metrosexual [is that the right term) at least to start...beautiful suits, silk ties, careful grooming, possible waxing....attractive and sleek. I can't offhand thin..."

I think you're right. Pierce is the most sophisticated and cosmopolitan of my characters.

Taylor... That's interesting. You could be right. Although working as a fed has given him rough edges and the right to go without shaving when necessary. :-D

Karen wrote: "I re-read the book over the past two days and will be re-listening to the audiobook soon. I also re-read our 2014 and 2015 discussions and some of the reviews written by Q&A members. It's nice to r..."

Those were such great discussions!

But it's not just us. Book discussion in general has changed. Maybe it has to do with our shrinking attention spans or the fact that so many people are reading twice if not three times as much as they used to? Or maybe it has to do with the world itself feeling less suited to such genteel pursuits as leisurely book discussions? ;-D

Gabi wrote: "My first time reading it. Started today, already 35% in.
It has a kind of sombre feeling that I really like.
I have a wild theory, which will be wrong probably. 😅"

The clues are there if you're paying attention, so good job!

Johanna wrote: "Here's a link to the book's theme song Stranger on the Shore by Acker Bilk:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsKTG...

The book is a lot like its theme song: beautiful, mysterious, soothing, wis..."

The first time I heard that song was in a noisy Irish pub, and I loved it so much I had to go and ask the sax player what it was. Even the title sounded magical. ;-)

Kriss wrote: "My absolute favourite among all of Josh’s books, the one I reread and relistened to the most. Even knowing how the story is going to evolve, I still feel emotional and amazed every time I read it, ..."

Even though I didn't have time to join in the discussion, I did the reread--to be honest, I got sucked in as I was looking for lines to use in teasers to promote the discussion. :-D But that's the proof I do really love this book. The fact, that I could get sucked into it even though I wrote it.

It's very emotional, I think, and quite sad. Because, as you say, something truly tragic happened--and from that tragedy sprang additional tragedies that might not have occurred had Fate gone a different way.

Even though it, of course, ends happily--it's not a happy ending that can erase or even mitigate much of what went wrong.

Johanna wrote: "Thank you, Jordan, for making this happen!

I quite clearly remember falling in love with this book the first time I read it. And I've been back to it several times since. In a way, for me, it's a ..."

That quote would make a great teaser! How did I miss that. :-D

I love going back to the old discussions too. In fact, even now, when I'm going to write a new installment on a series, I go back and read these old discussions.

Jordan wrote: "Josh wrote: "I'll just say here that this is one of my very favorite standalone novels. I hadn't read it in years--not since it was published--but when I learned it had been selected as one of the ..."

When I think of writing another standlone, this is the book I think of. Possibly for that very reason. It has everything I love.

It also has a somehow leisurely feel to it or maybe that's my own feeling because I'd had such a long break and then I'd written Blood-Red Butterfly, which was quite short, and then I launched into this--one of my longest novels, in fact.

Finally, FINALLY had a chance to pop in and read the comments--which I loved so much. As I mentioned, this is one of my favorite standalones.

I seem to recall it was the first novel I wrote after that sabbatical in 2014 (or was it '15?) BACK IN OLDEN DAZE. Actually, it's the book that convinced me to stop reading my own reviews because after it came out, I saw several comments about how I'd clearly "lost it" and so forth. :-D

Which was discouraging to say the least, especially since I loved it so much and had worked so hard on it. A few of you mentioned the "magical" feel, and the book had an enchanted feel as I was writing it. I was completely lost in the world of the Arlingtons.

Anyway, the book did exceptionally well. It was one of my all-time best sellers, so there you go.

Antonella wrote: "Mymymble wrote: "Sweetie you do realise gps shit literally everywhere? Far greater volume than cats or rabbits l."

LOL! Given that Mymymble started ;-)...

My neighbours' children had three guine..."

If you're thinking about going THAT small, then the do make LITTLE dogs. I have a pair and they're not too bad. ;-D

Seriously though, I had big dogs all my life. I never thought I wanted a small dog, but they're actually wonderful little beings.

Also truly brave.

Marlowe is such a little scaredy cat until he thinks he's defending his home and hearth. The first Xmas after we got him, he was just a year old, and the SO thought it would be funny to hide behind the kitchen island and then stand up wearing a stupid knit hat with blinking lights (that--cough--I'd got him for a joke).

Marlowe was cuddled against me on the sofa, and when Kevin stood up, blinking and winking, Marlowe let out a terrified screech, flew off the sofa, and got between us. He was NOT going to let the monster pass.

:-D :-D :-D

It was so brave because he was clearly so frightened. But he stood his ground.

Ije the Devourer of Books wrote: "It is nice to be surprised though 😀👏🥳"

:-D :-D :-D

Jordan wrote: "Maybe. 😂"

LOL

Jordan wrote: "Wow! Super cool! Thanks for letting us know!"

Oh yeah. MAYBE I SHOULD HAVE MENTIONED THAT. :-D

Lillian wrote: "Jordan wrote: "Karen wrote: "I was trying to wait until some of you finished this before commenting. I read it last month. I have this funny/kind of embarrassing "relationship" with AJ Sherwood boo..."

Oh! Silent Sin sounds right up my alley.