Summer Title Selection - August.

[Tina]

I don't believe there are any August babies in The Parlor so might we have any suggestions? Beachy? Holiday?

Hmm? In keeping with the classic theme, anyone up for a Mary Roberts Rinehart mystery? I've read one and really liked it.

Or, does M C Beaton have a new Agatha Raisin coming out.

Looking forward to your suggestions.

[Mark Pghfan]

I would love to try a Mary Roberts Rinehart! Very classic!

[Allison]

I have never read any Mary Roberts Rinehart so I'd try one. Does she have just 1 series or several?

[Mark Pghfan]

She is a very long-ago writer, even predating Christie and Sayers. That means that her books are available on Kindle for free! I don't think she wrote a series; just individual novels. And only a handful The Circular Staircase being the one that comes to my mind.

[Tina]

Pghfan's correct. I don't recall there being a series but individual stories. Which could make for a nice change as we've always loved series, we could give stand alone reads a chance.

There also was a great beach side mystery released about a month ago but I think it may have been a bit gritty for our Parlor sensibilities. (I'll see of I can find the title). Well, we've one or two more PI's to hear from then we can go from there. So far MRR looks a possibility.

[J]

I have always avoided Ms. Rinehart's works because I thought they were a bit on the gritty side and not really cozies. Am I mistaken?

[Tina]

J, I thought they were spooky, suspenseful which I like in a mystery but I don't recall the other.

[Tina]

Here are a few title that sounded intriguing. Anyone read them yet?

Empty Mansions,

Murder House,

Dinner Most Deadly

[Jill]

I've never read any of the MRR's nor have I heard of the titles you mentioned Tina, but they all sound interesting. Murder House had a lot pop up and I wasn't sure which one you were talking about but I think I found the one. I'll go with the majority and check back in later to see if anyone has suggested any more. I will say I got a couple of the MRR's to try out and I went a head and bought Dinner Most Deadly as it sounded intriguing. Ok peeps gots to get ready for work. Talk with all this evening and I have tomm off, and I'm grounded to the house as hubby has to put new brakes on the Jeep.

[Tina]

Well played, Jill. Dinner Most Deadly did look good. I need to investigate further. And Murder House should either be a 2015 or 16 release. Enjoy!

[J]

A few non Rinehart, summer choices:

Dead Days of Summer - Carolyn Hart

Murder At Wrightsville Beach- Ellen Elizabeth Hunter

Town in A Strawberry Swirl- B.B. Haywood
(Same author as Town in A Pumpkin Patch)

[Tina]

J, I'll look into Wrightsville and Strawberry Swirl. Though I love the bookshop series by Ms. Hart, I wasn't big on Dead Days. I
never finished the book. Being it was a signed, hard copy, I thought I'd at least finish it. I dunno, just something didn't do it for me. But that's just my take on it. I'll go along with the majority.

Any more, PI's?

[J]

Tina- which Murder House did you mean? There are several, although I'm guessing you didn't mean The Hardy Boys one lol.

[Tina]

LOL J, I thought about it (HB's). Looks and sounds good but Patterson does not usually write cozies. lol Might be too heavy for The PI's at least in The Parlor.

[PugMom]

I've been meaning to read Murder House. Maybe as a side read?

I just picked up Maggie Toussaint's Gone Done It. I'm pretty sure it's a cozy. Has anyone read it? I got it because it's the first in the Dreamwalker series and (as far as I know) the author is sending me the 3rd book in the series to read for review and I wanted to catch up before I read it.

[Tina]

Hmm. Answered this post yet I can't find it. Looking.

[Jill]

Tina wrote: " LOL J, I thought about it (HB's). Looks and sounds good but Patterson does not usually write cozies. lol Might be too heavy for The PI's at least in The Parlor."

I've already read Murder House when it first came out, I really liked it. Didn't see the killer coming through! Boy was I fooled

[Jill]

Nicole wrote: "I've been meaning to read Murder House. Maybe as a side read?

I just picked up Maggie Toussaint's Gone Done It. I'm pretty sure it's a cozy. Has anyone read it? I got it because it's the first in..."

I haven't read any of her books, you'll have to let me know how they are

[Jill]

J wrote: "A few non Rinehart, summer choices:

Dead Days of Summer - Carolyn Hart

Murder At Wrightsville Beach- Ellen Elizabeth Hunter

Town in A Strawberry Swirl- B.B. Haywood
(Same author as Town in A..."

I read Carolyn Hart books and I haven't read Dead Days, and I've been meaning to read Strawberry Swirl. Haven't heard of Ellen Elizabeth Hunter

[Tina]

Murder House or A Blue Moon by Wendy Staub for side read. -

"A century ago, the Sleeping Beauty Murders terrified picturesque Mundy’s Landing. The victims, like the killer, were never identified. Now, on the hundredth anniversary, the Historical Society’s annual “Mundypalooza” offers a hefty reward for solving the notorious case.

Annabelle Bingham, living in one of the three Murder Houses, can’t escape the feeling that her family is being watched—and not just by news crews and amateur sleuths. She’s right. Having unearthed the startling truth behind the horrific crimes, a copycat killer is about to reenact them—beneath the mansard roof of Annabelle’s dream home . . . "


A MRR or your pick for main read.

I'll just toss those in to further process along.

[J]

Is that a cozy? Doesn't particularly sound like one.
It seems those books are listed under Traditional Mysteries and cozies but they are not specifically identified as either one.
I prefer to stick with cozies but other PIs may feel differently.

[Jill]

Tina wrote: "Murder House or A Blue Moon by Wendy Staub for side read. -

"A century ago, the Sleeping Beauty Murders terrified picturesque Mundy’s Landing. The victims, like the ..."

I'll read it as a side read, just bought it, sounds good to me

[Tina]

I'll read it as a side read as well. Haven't a copy yet but I'll wait 'til the others weigh in. So far two for Blue Moon as a side read. Our main title pick will be a cozy.

Seeing as I'd dibs with others on side read, I'll go with others to have say on the main cozy pick.

[PugMom]

I've read several Carolyn Hart books but the last few haven't "grabbed " me. I'll take a look at the others that were suggested.

[Tina]

Nicole, Dead Days didn't do it for me either. I didn't finish it.

[Jill]

It's getting so hard to find our cozy's because a lot of the series's have been dropped by publishers. This just upsets me to no end! We might have to go back and read the other books in the series's that we've already read, which wouldn't hurt my feeling any...lol

[PugMom]

My library has the Strawberry book. I think I read the previous Blueberry book but I"ll have to check.
Has anyone read any of the 5 Ingredient Mysteries or the Book Retreat Mysteries? I've been meaning to take a look at those.

[PugMom]

I'm not sure if anyone follows Must Read Mysteries on Facebook but she posts a lot of FREE or low priced mysteries. Lots of cozies. I just got Body in the Gorge and and Bound to Die for free. There's also a set of Afternoon Tea Cozy/Traditional mysteries for 99cents. I usually download the free ones. My NOOK is going to explode one day!!

[Jill]

Mine's going to explode as well one day

[J]

I'm going to check it out. Thanks Nicole!

[Tina]

Here's another one. Ghostly echoes.

[Tina]

Wow, I'm finding more side read candidates than main cozy titles. lol But that's okay. My side read noms are: Murder House, Blue Moon and Ghostly Echos. PI's are these okay to pick from?
As for main titles, I'm for just about anything but Hart's Dead Days Summer. As for cozy, I'm all in for them but as far as the cupcakey angle, I don't mind that so long as the mystery, plotting are real enough to balance the read.

[PugMom]

Are you all considering newer cozies or older ones, first in series?

[Allison]

I am up for anything. I like the idea of a MRR as I have not read anything of hers or Murder at Wrightsville Beach

as I just had my vacation at the beach so it seems like that's a good match, lol.

On the sideread, Blue Moon does look good, darker than I normally read but I would give it a try. Ghostly Echoes looks good too but I notice it's #3 in a series and I haven't read the first two so not sure if I would be able to follow.

[Jill]

All the side reads and main reads sound good to me since I haven't read any of them...lol

Nicole, I'm thinking some of the series that we've read and continuing on with them. Another one of my series that I read just got the axe, but the author is thinking about self publishing, but isn't for sure, I hope she does I do enjoy that series.

I know of a good series I classify it as a cozy other's just classify it as a mystery but Janet Evanovich Stephanie Plum series is really good and come this Nov. she will put out number 23. So excited for that one!

[PugMom]

Is there a list of the previous book selections? I know I came late to the Parlor Party do I'm sure I've missed a great deal of reads!

[Tina]

How about we go with this narrowing down? Murder at Wrightsville Beach or a MRR title for main selection? Wrightsville is #4 in the series? Would that be okay w/everyone?

And for side read, how about Blue Moon or Ghostly Echoes? GE is #3 in series.

As for the 4 & 3 in series (above), usually authors are pretty good at making their novels work as stand alone projects. They may refer to previous books in series but usually not in depth. I know there are many that must be read in order but audience is usually warned about that before reader goes in.

As for above, I'm torn on main read but I'm leaning more for Ghostly Echos as side read.


Heard a lot about Stephanie Plum series but have yet to read any. I think eventually I'll start with #1 and see if I like it.

[PugMom]

Tina, the first Plum book was made into a movie that you might have heard of. One for the Money. It was pretty good but the books are 100% better. I always seem to read those books fairly quickly.

I believe I will have an easier time finding a MRR book at the library than the other one.

I'm not sure if I'll have time for a side read but Blue Moon does sound intriguing !

[Tina]

I'm leaning more towards MRR for the main read too. And Blue Moon's okay with me as well. I'll get to Ghostly Echoes down the line.

[Jill]

Tina wrote: "How about we go with this narrowing down? Murder at Wrightsville Beach or a MRR title for main selection? Wrightsville is #4 in the series? Would that be okay w/everyone?

And for side read, how ab..."

# 1 One for the Money does a good job of introducing everyone, and two and three goes along with it, and then it starts picking up. There was a section in the middle that the niece got on my nerves and eventually that problem left (Think the fans got tired of it so she got rid of it) and then the rest just keep moving right along. it's one of my favorite series.

[Jill]

Maybe we can read Ghostly Echoes as a side read for Oct. It is the month of Halloween, and a good Ghost story would fit right in with that month.

[J]

Tina I'm curious as to why you eliminated Town in a Strawberry Swirl. Some of us had expressed interest in it.

[Tina]

Nothing in particular. Unfort., we can only read one at a time so between the two, I know MRR's writing so I 'm going with that. I think there's Pghfan and I for MRR and the rest of the PI's maybe going w/Strawberry? If so, then the majority wins with Strawberry.

We should make a count and total by say, Tuesday eve. Sound good everyone?

[Mark Pghfan]

I'm with MRR.

[Tina]

Two for MRR. How many for Strawberry? Can someone do a count? Thankyew. ;-)

I'm good with any MRR title, Pghfan. Want to pick?

[Tina]

Wild Card August...just got an idea. If it's poop, feel free to say so. It just came to me and I thought to post it. Okay, how 'bout we do something different just for August. Seeing there are four titles bobbling up as title choices, why not run all four: Strawberry, MRR, Blue Moon and Ghostly. One PI per each title and we just participate in one or all four if we want. Some of you read 10 books to my one lol so you would be able to participate in one or all and not wait for me. I dunno. Just came to me and I thought I'd run it by you lot. No problem if bad idea. What say you all?

[PugMom]

Now that's an idea! I'll put Strawberry on hold at the library. I'm sure it won't take long to get it. Now, which MRR? I haven't read any so i'm not sure where to begin.

[Jill]

I like that idea Tina! I'll see if my library can get Strawberry, have several MMR that I got for free, (Thanks Pghfan!) hopefully you'll pick on that I already have, bought Blue Moon, and I can pick up Ghostly tomm.

[Jill]

Tina, Ghostly Echoes isn't available for purchase until the 23rd of Aug. :( But I did pre-order it...lol

[PugMom]

Since we have to wait anyway, maybe Ghostly Echos would be a good side read for October like someone suggested! Nice and spooky!