Bill's 2016 12 + 4 Mystery Reading Group Challenge

[Bill]

I've started my 13th book in my 12 + 4 challenge, China Lake by Meg Gardiner. It's the first book in her Evan Delaney thriller series. I've got to say, she doesn't waste any time in getting into the story. Enjoying very much so far.

[Bill]

China Lake by Meg Gardiner, the first book in the Evan Delaney series was definitely a thriller. Right from the get-go, the action started and it didn't let up until a fiery, explosive ending. Evan Delaney is a lawyer in Santa Barbara, California. At a funeral for the mother of a dear friend, the funeral party is heckled by a group of protestors from the Church of the Remnant. A confrontation ensues and actions continue from then on. One of the members of the church is the ex-wife of Evan's brother, Brian, who is a Navy fighter pilot. Evan has been taking care of their six-year old son, Luke, since Tabitha abandoned him and while Brian was at sea. Another confrontation, at the Church of the Remnant leaves a man dead, who it turns out has rabies. Tabitha wants to get her son back, Evan goes to the Navy air base at China Lake to get Brian's help. There is more violence and death and it turns out that the Remnant has a plan to bring about an Apocalypse. Does it sound confusing? Well, yes it is, and somewhat far-fetched, but the tension and action are ratcheted tight and you find yourself reading and reading to see how Evan and her brother, oh, and also Evan's boyfriend, Jesse, will solve it and save each other and Tabitha and Luke... Whew!!! Confusing at times and convoluted, but an entertaining, scary, exciting read.... (3 stars)

[Bill]

The Girl Who Played with Fire is the second book in the Lisbeth Salander series. I've had it on my bookshelf for a couple of years and I'm glad that I finally dusted it off. Lisbeth, after the events of the first book, has left Sweden and spent the last couple of years traveling around the world. We find her in Grenada, still keeping tabs on events in Sweden and also on a troublesome man who has some sort of secrets. Back in Sweden Blomquist is working with a young journalist and his wife to publish a book and series of articles in his magazine, Millenium, about the Swedish sex industry. This will cause problems for many people; police, politicians, etc. Lisbeth returns to Sweden to make contact with people that she left behind on her departure and also to check up on the lawyer, Bjurman, who had abused her when she was a young teenager and who she holds under her thumb now. Her return will instigate a series of events, murders that will threaten Lisbeth's life and those of her friends. The story is told very matter-of-factly but holds your interest. So many people involved in the investigation of the murders; for which Lisbeth is the main suspect. The police include some who hate Lisbeth and want to bring her down, others with more open minds. You will reconnect with Armansky, her old boss who wants to try and help her. As well, Blomquist who trusts her implicitly, also works to solve the murders and proves Lisbeth's innocence. Of course, you also have Lisbeth, such an innocent character, smart, troubled, independent; such a neat character. There are some nice surprises in this second story and an exciting ending. I will have to get the third book and see what else Lisbeth becomes involved with. It's a long story, but doesn't seem long. 4 stars

Back to my 12 + 4 challenge with The Cat Who Ate Danish Modern by Lilian Jackson Braun

[Amanda]

Good to see you're enjoying the Millenium series. I find them so exciting and what you say, they may be big books but you get drawn in so they don't feel big. I've got the third one in my pile to read before the end of the year. Have you any other foreign writers in this genre that you would recommend? P.S. I hope you don't mind me writing on your page

[Bill]

Amanda wrote: "Good to see you're enjoying the Millenium series. I find them so exciting and what you say, they may be big books but you get drawn in so they don't feel big. I've got the third one in my pile to r..."

Of course I don't mind you writing on this page. I love comments and discussion. I like Karin Alvtegen, another Swedish mystery (standalone mysteries) very much. Donna Leon writes excellent mysteries set in Venice. You might like to try Malla Nunn. I read her first mystery, set in South Africa, and thought it was excellent. There is a Canadian writer, David Rotenberg who writes another excellent series, one of my favourites, set in China.

I agree with you totally about the Millenium series. The size looks intimidating, but the story flows so well and is broken up nicely that it doesn't seem big.

[Thomas]

"There Are Things I Want You to Know" about Stieg Larsson and Me
I read and enjoyed the above after reading the millennium trilogy.

[Amanda]

Thanks Bill for the tips. I'll check them out. I'll have a look at Eva's book too Thomas. Thanks. How do you feel about the David Lagercrantz book and are you going to read it?

[Thomas]

I haven't decided about Lagercrantz book.

[Bill]

Amanda wrote: "Thanks Bill for the tips. I'll check them out. I'll have a look at Eva's book too Thomas. Thanks. How do you feel about the David Lagercrantz book and are you going to read it?"

Good luck with whatever you read, Amanda.

Thomas wrote: ""There Are Things I Want You to Know" about Stieg Larsson and Me
I read and enjoyed the above after reading the millennium trilogy."

Sounds interesting, Thomas.

[Bill]

Starting The Tiger in the Smoke by Margery Allingham. I think I'll be taking my last three books in my 12+4 challenge on my upcoming short trip.

[Bill]

While they aren't necessarily my favourite mystery series, I still enjoy the Albert Campion books by Margery Allingham. I think Campion is sort of unique in that he doesn't seem to play a major role in the stories. He is somewhat like Dorothy Sayers, Lord Peter Wimsey.
He is always around and involved, helping the police and investigating, but at the same time, the other characters; such as the police, the villains, secondary characters, etc also play important roles.
This story, The Tiger in the Smoke, starts off with a friend of Campion requesting his assistance. She is a widow, her husband having been supposedly killed in the war. She has moved on and is engaged to a new man, when she begins getting pictures of her previous husband, which seem to indicate he might still be alive. From this interesting beginning, we find ourselves involved trying to solve the crimes of a serial murderer (who may or may not be related to the previous case), treasure from the war, etc.
The story meanders through the plot, moving over to the criminals, back to the police, to Campion's relatives and family, but all the time leading inexorably to the exciting conclusion. Well worth reading (3 stars)

[Bill]

I enjoyed The Dragon Man, the first DI Hal Challis mystery, by Garry Disher very much. It's an Australian police procedural that moves along very nicely, is populated with many interesting characters and has many nice little twists and turns as the police team investigate the various cases that make up the story. The basic story is the abduction, rape and murder of local women, but there are also other cases that may or may not be related; the woman from New Zealand who is living in the area under witness protection; a spate of arson attacks, break-ins, etc. The police investigation is lead by DI Challis, who also deals with regular calls from his wife who is in prison after trying to murder him; his current girl-friend, the local newspaper reporter; all the while working on rebuilding a damaged airplane. The other members of the police team are all interesting personalities, with their own foibles and issues but are also an effective investigating team. The cases, as well, were very interesting and they were tied together very satisfyingly. An entertaining page turner that I finished in a day once I stated it; excellent introduction to this series. (4 stars)

[Bill]

The Cat Who Ate Danish Modern by Lilian Jackson Braun is the second mystery in the Qwilleran and Koko series. Qwill is a down on his luck news reporter who has found new life working for the Daily Fluxion. He inherited his Siamese cat, Koko, from a friend who was murdered in the first book. In this 2nd book, Qwill discovers that he is to become the editor of a Design supplement to the newspaper, much to his chagin. However, with a promotion as part of the job title and more money in the salary packet, he attacks his new job with gusto. Along with his camera man, Odd Benson, they head out to take photos and write the first article on an exclusive residence whose owner also is a jade fanatic. When a death occurs just after the publishing of the article and with much of the jade disappearing, it looks grim for Qwill's new career as a design reporter. However with Koko's assistance, ,Qwill works through the story and mystery, hoping to solve it and keep his job. The story is written nicely and flows smoothly. I like the characters and enjoy sitting down to this cozy mystery. Book 3 is currently on my shelf and I won't wait too long to give it a try. (4 stars)
This completes my 12 + 4 challenge. Will just continue to work on my ongoing series until the end of the year.

[Amanda]

Well done on completing your challenge!

[Thomas]

Congrats, Bill

[Bill]

Thanks, folks.

[Bill]

Disclaimer (I'll start this review by saying that the author sent me a copy because she thought it might suit my taste and asked for my comments when I read it).
Having said that, let's get into the book. Basically Slow Curve on the Coquihalla by R.E. Donald follows an ex-RCMP officer, Hunter Rayne, who has quit the force and now works as a long haul truck driver. A friend who owns a trucking company is found dead at the bottom of a ravine, possibly due to a driving accident or maybe due to murder? His daughter, Suzanne, asks for Hunter's help in finding out the cause of his death.
That is the gist of the story. What did I like about the story. Firstly, I liked the setting, the interior of British Columbia. While I live on Vancouver Island, it was still nicely close to home and I enjoyed the descriptions of the area and just the overall setting. I liked many of the characters. Hunter is interesting, trying to deal with his past, maintain contact with his teenage daughters (he's divorced) and not sure how to go about it. His boss, El, is a strong woman who works in the trucking industry; has her soft spots but also her tough side. Suzanne and her two girls, trying to cope with the death of her father and also to keep his trucking business working, is lovely and like Hunter, I wanted to protect her. Sorry, the ex biker and wild child, is fun and loud. Hunter likes him, uses him to help in his investigation but still doesn't quite trust him.
The dialogue was natural and the writing intelligent. Unlike many mysteries, we don't have to follow a trail of bodies, which is nice. We can get to know Hunter, his friends and the story. It's a well-crafted, interesting story. Even the ending was satisfying.
There are other books in this series and I will check them out as well. (4 stars)

[Thomas]

Thanks for this review. I have it on my kindle.

[Bill]

Thomas wrote: "Thanks for this review. I have it on my kindle."

I hope you like it.

[Bill]

I've read a couple of other books by Michael Gilbert and have enjoyed them all so far. Smallbone Deceased ranks up there with Petrella at Q as my favorites of his. Smallbone is a perfect little mystery. It's billed as an Inspector Hazelrigg mystery and, indeed, the good Inspector does play a prominent role.
But the supporting cast also adds very much to the story, especially poor Sgt Plumptree who has to wander around London interviewing possible witnesses. He is an inexhaustible man, a credit to the London Police Force. As well, there is Henry Bohun, the newest member of the offices of Horniman, Birley and Craine, who finds himself helping Inspector Hazelrigg with his investigation to a great extent.
The basic story is that a body, that of Mr. Smallbone, a client of the firm, is found in one of the firm's deed boxes, having resided there for a few weeks. This starts up the investigation, which I enjoyed following very much. There was an interesting steadiness to the investigation; I've mentioned Sgt Plumbtree already, but the rest of the team of investigators are all excellent. I'll highlight Mr. Hoffman who works through the paperwork, checking the firm's finances to try and find reasons for the murder.
The investigation moves at a nice, steady pace, allowing all of the characters time to inculcate themselves into your memory. They all are enjoyable; there is a nice humour at times that keeps the story light. All in all, the book was so very enjoyable, even the ending was satisfying. I will definitely continue to find more books by Gilbert to enjoy. (5 stars)

[Bill]

Fountain of Death by Jane Haddam is the 19th book in the Gregor Demarkian mystery series. It's a nice series because you don't really have to read them in order. I'm sure that there are personal incidents, such as Demarkian's burgeoning relationship with Bennis Hannaford, that probably would be easier to track if you did read them in order, but it's definitely not critical to do so. With that preamble, Fountain of Death was, as all the others in the series I've read, an enjoyable, well-paced, interesting mystery. Demarkian, an ex-FBI profiler, goes to New Haven, Ct, at the behest of a police investigator there, to help work on the murder of a weight training instructor at a local health spa. His body is found naked, poisoned under a hedge at the spa. From the beginning, Demarkian feels that the police officer is ignoring him and just using him to show that all avenues are being explored in solving the murder. Demarkian basically goes off on his own, working with the local pathologist and getting assistance in travelling around from a friendly lady cabbie. There are other incidents and deaths that move the plot along nicely and the story also gets into the lives of those people who might be possible suspects or victims. It's an enjoyable story, Demarkian is fun to follow around and his instincts are always impressive. Most enjoyable. (4 stars).

[Bill]

I do love the Roderick Alleyn mysteries. I've read the first 8 so far, with Overture to Death by Ngaio Marsh being the 8th one, plus a couple of others further down the line. They do seem to get better and better. The mysteries are always interesting. In this story, an unpopular woman is murdered in a most interesting way. Was she the target or another? Alleyn and his team, the steady, constant Inspector Fox and his friend, news reporter Nigel Bathgate, accompany Alleyn to Pen Cuckoo at the behest of the local authorities as they are busy trying to sort out a series of robberies. I love the investigation, the interviews with the various characters. I also like how Marsh develops the story, leading up the murder before even bringing Alleyn into the picture, about half way through the story. There is nice humour, there are lovely touches (I'm thinking of late in the story when Alleyn writes a letter to his beloved, Troy. The whole story is a joy to read and hard to put down. Excellent series and excellent story. (4 stars)

[Bill]

I read my first Inspector Gideon mystery, Gideon's Day, 5 or 6 years ago. And while I've accumulated 3 or 4 more books in the series, I've kind of avoided getting back to them. My loss really. Gideon's Month, by J.J. Marric, aka John Creasey, is the 4th book in the series. We find Gideon now the Commander of Scotland Yard's Criminal Investigation Division, spending the month running the CID all over London, working various cases, moving and manipulating his personnel like chess pieces to try and get a hold on the varied criminal cases that are in the forefront of his schedule.
It's an interesting, very matter-of-fact police procedural. We follow Gideon, we follow various of his investigators who are working on the applicable cases and also the people who are the victims and / or the instigators of the crimes.
There is Frisky Lee, an arch-nemesis from Gideon's past, a man that Gideon has never been able to catch, who is moving to Australia, and who Gideon wants to sort out before he departs. There is a child crime ring; young children being taught to be pick-pockets by their mothers. This case strikes a chord with Gideon and his investigators who have strong feelings about child abuse. There is the nurse/ caretaker who seems to be killing off elder gentlemen to get their money. This is investigated by Inspector Marr, another interesting character. And there are other cases that Gideon follows, encourages his men to push forward and to try and solve the cases.
It's a month in the life, an interesting look at the criminals, the investigators and how the proceed to try and solve the crimes in their hands. I liked it very much and won't wait so long to try another of the Gideon series. (3.5 stars)

[Bill]

I like Nevada Barr's Anna Pigeon mystery series very much. Anna is a US Park Ranger who finds herself assigned to work in the varied National Parks in the US each book. Each book lets you have a view of new areas of the US and at the same time people the stories with interesting characters and thrilling mysteries. In Winter Study, for the first time in the series, Anna returns to a park she's worked at before. This is Isle Royale National Park, an island park located in Lake Superior near Michigan.
As you can guess from the title, the story takes place in mid-winter, as Anna joins a group of scientists who are conducting the annual study of the wolf packs that reside at Isle Royale. At the same time, a representative of Homeland Security is visiting to gauge whether the park should be open year round (it closes in the winter normally), as Canada is such a threat to US security (the last comment is a joke of course, but the park being on the border with another country is a security concern)
So you've got winter conditions, a group of people isolated on a frigid island and a mystery. Call it the 'And then there Were none scenario'. Nevada Barr ramps up the story and tension and creates an excellent story. We have the death of one of the members, people wandering off in the cold, wolves in the vicinity, extreme frigid temperatures and all add up to a tense, interesting story.
There are frustrating thriller scenarios; why do people wander off on their own and why don't the others seem to notice or to care, that sort of thing. Anna gets beaten and frozen but she's a tough lady and always manages to work through these dangerous situations.
All in all, it's an interesting story, with surprising, even if maybe far-fetched results, but even so, in true thriller style, satisfying. I like Anna Pigeon very much. She's a strong-willed, stubborn, interesting woman and I've enjoyed pretty well all of this series so far. (3 stars)

[Thomas]

My wife and I also enjoy the Anna Pigeon series. I read this book in May 2011.

[Bill]

Just like every other Stephanie Plum mystery / adventure, To the Nines is a fun, entertaining ride. Just pack all your troubles away for the few days (hours?) it takes to get through her trials and tribulations.
As always, Stephanie's life seems to be a shambles. Her family is at loggerheads, what with perfect sis, Valerie camped at her parent's home with her two girls and one on the way. Stephanie is forced to move in with on and off again boyfriend, Morelli, due to threats on her life. She still can't seem to make up her mind between Ranger and Morelli, although, she now seems to be leaning toward Morelli and has an uneasy agreement with Ranger to avoid shenanigans. Even Morelli and Ranger have accepted the situation and are willing to work together to keep Stephanie out of trouble.. which follows Steph around.
Stephanie and her best friend, Lula, are tasked by their boss and Steph's cousin, Vinnie, to bring in Samuel Singh, who has disappeared. Their investigation leaves behind a trail of bodies. Steph, Connie (Vinnie's assistant) and Lula take a trip to Vegas to try and track down Singh. (This is a great part of the book). Ranger's gang of bounty hunters, tasked to keep an eye on Steph, end up in various states of injury. So much going on and such fun to read.
If you're feeling blue at all, try a Plum mystery. It's sure to cheer you up. It's sexy, funny and a great mystery. (3 stars)

[Bill]

I have enjoyed every one of Donna Leon's Inspector Brunetti mysteries. Quietly in Their Sleep is the 5th book in the series and was as entertaining as all of the others. A nun, who looked after Brunetti's mother in a home, comes to see Brunetti. She has left her Order and tells Brunetti that she suspects that people in an old age home are being killed for their inheritance. She has little evidence but Brunetti starts to investigate.
The ex-nun is hit by a car and remains in a coma at a local hospital. It's a very slow-paced story and at times I thought that the investigation was started on very flimsy evidence. But as the story progresses and we start to look at a Catholic secret society Opus Dei and a side story involving a priest, at Brunetti's daughter's school, who might be abusing young girls, the story begins to move along quickly and a very dark, scary feel develops.
As always, I liked the characters; Brunetti and his wife, Paola, his Sgt Vianelli and the ever - knowledgeable Signora Elettra. While I don't know that it is my favourite Brunetti story, it is still interesting and thoughtful. (3.5 stars)

[Bill]

Finished my last book of 2016
A Monstrous Regiment of Women by Laurie R. King is the 2nd book in the Mary Russell / Sherlock Holmes mystery series. I read the first back in 2013. What to say about this book?
Let's start with the story, which is set in 1920/ 21. Mary has reached the age of 21 so now inherits the monies and estate from her deceased parents. She is preparing to present her thesis at Oxford. An old friend from Oxford comes to her for help; in trying to locate her fiance. He has returned from the war (WWI) a damaged man, who now is dependent on drugs. Mary also accompanies her friend to a Temple run by a fascinating woman, Margery Childe, who is forming a league of wealthy women to help women in trouble and overall to better the lot of all women.
There is a mystery hidden in the depths of this outline, several women associated with the Temple who had left money to the organization in their wills, have died.
Mary investigates, while still studying and learning to spend her newfound wealth and also continuing to work with Holmes and to resolve her feelings for him.
The book wasn't what I'd call a real page turner. Mary is an interesting character, smart, inventive, resolute, but also frustrating and sticky (if that is a description that means anything). The story revolves around her and she finds herself in a very scary predicament. The writing can be somewhat stilted at times, but once the story starts to move (you have to wait a bit), it picks up and the ultimate resolution is interesting. I'll continue to work through this series; it's worth giving it a go. (3 stars)

Now, on to 2017!!! :0)