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Currently Reading? Just Finished? 2020
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Chris
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Mar 15, 2020 12:06PM

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Here is my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...


This dual-timeline mystery was inspired by real life events.....namely the disappearance of a volume of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's diary. The story alternates between the present, when the diary was purportedly found, and the past, when it was written.
Good story with two sets of amateur detectives using Sherlockian techniques to investigate crime. 3.5 stars
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I thought that it had a rather slow start and gave it 3.5 stars rounded down. My review
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...


Inspector Troy #1. Takes place mostly in England late in WW II. Part detective, part spy novel. I liked the characters and writing very much except Troy getting shot/beaten, etc time after time. That bit got a little old, otherwise a very fine effort, very atmospheric.


Inspector Troy #1. Takes place mostly in England late in WW II. Part detective, part spy novel. I liked the characters and writing very much ex..."
I've been meaning to read this.

It is the story of the 21 men murdered by ISIS in Feb 2015 because they were Christians, It is not a mystery, but has a lot of information about the Coptic culture & religion.
My review, 3.5 stars, rounded down
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...


FUN - 4 Stars! My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...


A beautiful blonde CIA operative - who tends to go rogue - is up against a plot to murder her assets.
Good thriller. 3 stars
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

First Frost
Henry, a pen name for James Gurbutt, is a long-time of fan of original Inspector Frost series by R.D. Wingfield and writes his own Frost tales with permission of Wingfield's family and estate.
I, too, am a big fan of R.D. Wingfield and his protagonist, Jack Frost. What a pleasant surprise it was to read First Frost and find the experience every bit as enjoyable as with the original Frost series.
Has anyone else read any of the James Henry works?

First Frost
Henry, a pen name for James Gurbutt, is a long-time of f..."
I enjoyed the Frost books very much.

I am torn; I’m supposed to write reviews for these ARCs. Is it appropriate to just write: This book is awful?
Patty wrote: "I just finished a book that I got as an ARC. It is by a well established author, and the book has gotten 5 and 4 stars. It was awful. I gave it one star. I’m an eclectic reader; I love horror (whic..."
If you say it is awful (which is okay to do), at least explain why you found it so. You don't have to go into detail but at least give a rough sketch.
If you say it is awful (which is okay to do), at least explain why you found it so. You don't have to go into detail but at least give a rough sketch.


Stephanie Plum #8, OK to read as stand-alone. Another cute story about the adventures of Stephanie Plum , the second-best female bounty hunter in New Jersey, marred by a poorly done, too abrupt ending.





When a British satellite malfunctions and an American space shuttle crashes, some people think there's a connection between the two incidents, and they decide to investigate.
This is one of Ian Rankin's early books, which has been re-released. Okay thriller. 3 stars
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...




It is a light, pleasant read, 3.5 stars.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Review is below
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Next in line is the 2nd Bern Fortin mystery, Open Secret by Deryn Collier



Remote working and social distancing has opened up more reading time for me and I discovered some good, long lost titles on Amazon Prime Reading, if you have a Prime account.
I just finished The House of Green Turf by Ellis Peters of Cadfael fame. I love the Cadfael books and the TV series so I was excited to discover that she wrote another, completely different and more contemporary series. It was enjoyable, if a little dated, and I will watch for more in the series.
Another older title I've read is Stop the Presses! by Robert Goldsborough. This is a Nero Wolf mystery and I've read some of the original by Rex Stout so this was fun to see how a new author takes on a classic character. This too, was very good.
Lastly, I read Death at La Fenice by Donna Leon. I hang my head in shame at admitting that I never read this, the first in the long running series of which I am very, very fond in both book and TV versions. It was terrific.
I just finished The House of Green Turf by Ellis Peters of Cadfael fame. I love the Cadfael books and the TV series so I was excited to discover that she wrote another, completely different and more contemporary series. It was enjoyable, if a little dated, and I will watch for more in the series.
Another older title I've read is Stop the Presses! by Robert Goldsborough. This is a Nero Wolf mystery and I've read some of the original by Rex Stout so this was fun to see how a new author takes on a classic character. This too, was very good.
Lastly, I read Death at La Fenice by Donna Leon. I hang my head in shame at admitting that I never read this, the first in the long running series of which I am very, very fond in both book and TV versions. It was terrific.

I just finished [boo..."
You should hang your head... lol... One of my favorite series.. I've never tried any of Ellis Peter's other books. Maybe I will when I finish the Cadfael books.





Starting



King & Maxwell #2, OK to read as stand-alone. Started out fine and in the last half deteriorated into pulp silliness. Driving very fast on a twisty road, at a corner the car tilts onto 2 wheels (!) , during which the driver has time to speak to the passenger. 2 people shoot at each other and the bullets collide. As Nero says, "Pfui". 2 stars.


Pathologist Dr. Quirke helps his friend Detective Inspector Hacket investigate the deaths of two businessmen.
As much a character study as a mystery. 3 stars
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
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