The Mystery, Crime, and Thriller Group discussion
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Currently Reading? Just Finished? 2017
Jim wrote: "Finished reading
by
Hampton Sides
My Review
I a..."
Both are excellent books, Jim. I think I enjoyed In the Kingdom of Ice: The Grand and Terrible Polar Voyage of the USS Jeannette more. I had the very great privilege of hearing him give a talk about the book, while showing slides of his adventures while writing it.
by
Hampton SidesMy Review
I a..."
Both are excellent books, Jim. I think I enjoyed In the Kingdom of Ice: The Grand and Terrible Polar Voyage of the USS Jeannette more. I had the very great privilege of hearing him give a talk about the book, while showing slides of his adventures while writing it.
I finished Eva's Eye
by Karin Fossum.This is the first book in the Norwegian Inspector Konrad Sejer series.
The inspector investigates two murders in Oslo: a high-class prostitute and a brewery worker. A woman named Eva Magnus, an artist who was friends with the working girl, is a person of interest to the cops. Pretty good mystery. 3 stars.
My complete review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Just finished
Looking to the Woods by Frédérique Molay a very atmospheric read. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...About to start
The Five Matchboxes by John Russell Fearn
Started reading
Cold GraniteJust finished Rush of Blood
My Review:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
4.5★ Loved Claire Fuller's new novel Swimming Lessons. How much do kids overhear? How much do they know? What happened to mum, and why?
.My review
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I just finished reading Love You More by Lisa Gardner and I'm starting today Mistletoe Murder by Leslie Meier.
Have just started reading an oldie, The Human Comedy, by William Saroyan. So far it's wonderful, taking place in a small California town during WWII.
The Human Comedy is one I haven't read but think I'd like to, Linda. Glad to see it get a mention here. :)
I've just read Aussie author Sarah Ridout's debut novel, a mystery of sorts, Le Chateau. It starts as if it might be a thriller . . . I think she will attract plenty of romance readers, but it wasn't for me. (This novel, I mean, not romance!) It's still available on NetGalley.
My review
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Patty, if you do read The Human Comedy, be sure and find an older version of it (my copy was from 1983, which was fine). I've heard that changes were made in a more recent reprint because of a movie that was made of the story, and readers of the new version aren't pleased.
Just finished IQ by Joe Ide. Hopefully the first in a series by an exciting new author. Here's my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I finished Arthur Conan Doyle: A Life
by Hesketh Pearson.This audiobook (which I got on Hoopla) is a short colorful biography of Doyle, best known for his Sherlock Holmes stories. Doyle had a varied, interesting life, described with humor and heart in this book. 3.5 stars
My complete review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I recently finished an audio recording of Four-Four-Two, a young adult account of two friends who enlisted in the 442nd Regimental Combat team during World War II. This unit, made up almost entirely of Japanese American soldiers, became the most decorated unit in the history of American warfare, earning, among other things, twenty-one Medals of Honor. The unit’s Combat Casualty Rate was an unimaginable 314 percent. It's a good story that does an excellent job of describing the suffering and sacrifice that friends Yuki and Shig endured just to be recognized and respected as Americans.
Here is my review.
I finished A Killer Collection
by J.B. Stanley (aka Ellery Adams)In this cozy mystery, amateur sleuth Molly Appleby is writing a series of articles about North Carolina potters when an avid pottery collector is killed. Molly intends to find the murderer. Good cozy with lots of details about making pottery 3 stars.
My complete review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Emily Fridlund's debut novel History of Wolves is an interesting read. Slow to start until we learn a little more. Not a crime thriller, but it is mysterious.Link to my review
Not technically a mystery or a thriller, but there is plenty of crime in Dennis Lehane's historical fiction novel, Live by Night
. My review:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Just finished my first ever by Chelsea Cain, Sweetheart
I am totally anamoured. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I just ... eventually ... finished reading Robert Galbraith's "The Cuckoo's Calling"
. Took me longer than I expected ...
Rhian wrote: "What did you think of it Mariah? I've been putting it off because I have a hardback version"I gave it 3* Rhian. I like a good old traditional "blueprint" sort of crime, and it falls into that category. But I found the pace slow, and it was too long for me. I've got hold of a copy of the second in the series (The Silkworm) as an ebook from the library, I'm interested to know how that compares
Thanks for your reply Mariah, I'm told the next 2 books are better and I want to read them before they come on tv, I just keep putting it off
Just finished The Crooked House, Christobell Kent. Disappointing to say the least. 2 stars and that is being generous.
Rhian wrote: "Thanks for your reply Mariah, I'm told the next 2 books are better and I want to read them before they come on tv, I just keep putting it off"You're welcome ... if you do read it I'd be interested to know what you think.
Just finished My Husband's Son, but unfortunately it wasn't the book for me. Here's my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
After an entire night of zero sleep, I finished Six Four, by Hideo Yokoyama. Given it's 643 pages, that just tells you how very awake I was. Really, really good book.
Dennis wrote: "Just finished IQ by Joe Ide. Hopefully the first in a series by an exciting new author. Here's my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."I agree. The reader on the audiobook added to the atmosphere of the book.
Just finished Raven Black by Ann Cleeves. She writes the Vera series. This is the first in another series with Inspector Jimmy Perez and takes place on the Shetland Islands. Its a good mystery. I guessed who didn't do it but there were plenty of possibilities and I didn't know who until the end. I will certainly read more.
Laurie (Kwiltreader) wrote: "Just finished Raven Black by Ann Cleeves. She writes the Vera series. This is the first in another series with Inspector Jimmy Perez and takes place on the Shetland Islands. Its a goo..."Word of warning on the Shetland books - be wary of reading future reviews! There is eventually a twist in the series and I have a GR friend who recently read Raven Black who was very disappointed to see that spoiler in later reviews when she started looking to continue the series.
Other than that, enjoy! I really liked both the Shetland and Vera series.
Laurie (Kwiltreader) wrote: "Just finished Raven Black by Ann Cleeves. She writes the Vera series. This is the first in another series with Inspector Jimmy Perez and takes place on the Shetland Islands. Its a goo..."It's also been turned into an excellent TV drama series. There are differences from the books but I still have enjoyed both.
Neither are crime/mystery books, but I've finished Universal Harvester by John Darnielle - verdict is still out on this one while I think about it; Starting Lincoln in the Bardo, by George Saunders, which I've been looking forward to reading for a while now.
Miss M wrote: "Laurie (Kwiltreader) wrote: "Just finished Raven Black by Ann Cleeves. She writes the Vera series. This is the first in another series with Inspector Jimmy Perez and takes place on th..."Thanks for the heads up.
Taking PityThis is book 4 in the DS Aector McAvoy police procedural series, set in Hull, England. DS McAvoy is on indefinite sick leave, recovering from an attack by organized criminals that nearly killed him and his family(subject of book 3, "Sorrow Bound"). This an intricately plotted mystery with many players-- rival criminal gangs and the police, including some corrupt cops feeding info to the criminals.
There are horrific descriptions of torture--pressing, (a medieval torture) and nail guns among others. This book is not for the squeamish, but you like a mystery with long kept secrets going back 50 years and some determined, honest cops carefully unraveling the truth, then this book is for you.
I do recommend that you read them in order, starting with "Dark Winter."
McAvoy is asked to investigate a murder that took place in 1966 by his boss Trish Pharaoh. She was contacted by the Home Office who specifically asked for McAvoy, known to be incorruptible and determined. Another player is suspended DCI Colin Ray, with his own ax to grind. He was suspended for beating a suspect to death and wants to get reinstated with a splashy arrest.
The characters are complex and the plot moves along briskly.
Two quotes:
weather--"Black clouds hang heavy over a city the rain never seems to wash clean."
a bar--"Six customers, and perhaps twenty-three teeth."
I rate this library book 4 out 5 stars.
Just finished
Sticks and Stones by Michael Hiebert. Not one I will be recommending. My review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
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