The Mystery, Crime, and Thriller Group discussion
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Currently Reading? Just Finished? 2020
Barbara wrote: "Struggling to get through one of the Lenox books by Charles Finch - The Vanishing Man. I'll finish it because I started it but it is very poor writing, a lot of filler material. The Amazon page say..."I read the first and it was ok... I finally bought the 2nd so will probably give it a go to see if it improves
Linda wrote: "The Tommyknockers"I haven't read a lot of Stephen King, but that was one of my favorites of his that I have read.
Before She Was Found
by Heather GudenkaufIn a small Iowa town three 12-year-old girls have a sleepover and one ends up viciously attacked near a defunct railroad depot. When the police investigate, no one seems to want to tell the truth.
Good mystery thriller. 3.5 stars
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I am working my way through the Hardman series by Ralph DennisMy review of Working For The Man
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Finished Auntie Poldi and the Sicilian Lions by Mario Giordano. It was very enjoyable and a good escape from all that is going on. Eccentric characters and wonderful description of life in Sicily with dashes of humor too. Some of the action was a bit over the top but the mystery held together to a reasonable conclusion. I'll be looking for the next in the series.
Just finished
A Time to Die: A Mark East Mystery, by Hilda Lawrence. A nicely balanced pulp mystery -- neither too cynical nor cloying. This is the 2nd book in her three book series featuring detective Mark East. Looking forward to reading that third book very soon.
Starting
The Island Girls: A heartbreaking historical novel by Noëlle Harrison after finishing the unusual and intriguing
Can You See Her? by S.E. Lynes. My spoiler free review can be found at https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
I am always happy to revisit Canadian author Louise Penny's village of Three Pines. Too bad that death is the price of admission. I loved The Nature of the Beast.
4.5★ Link to my 'Nature of the Beast' review
Sacrilege
by S.J. ParrisIn this third book in the 'Giordano Bruno' series, Bruno tries to track down a killer in Canterbury while he exposes Catholic plots against Queen Elizabeth. The novel can be read as a standalone.
Good historical fiction/mystery. 3.5 stars
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Disappointed to hear poor review of The Vanishing Man by Charles Finch. I’m about one third through & this is my first in the series . I’m always on the lookout for a new series that will catch my interest. Nothing seems to satisfy the way Maisie Dobbs books by Winspear. I’ll finish this though.
Flesh and Blood
by Jonathan KellermanAlex Delaware #15, OK to read as stand-alone. Delaware investigates the murder of an ex-patient. Professionally written, plot moves right along -- some of the motivations were a bit weak. I liked it pretty well, 3 stars.
The Informer
by Craig NovaMurder and intrigue in Berlin, 1930. Really more an historical novel than a mystery. Slow going, not an easy read but to be fair some parts are beautifully written. Compares unfavorably to the work of Alan Furst. 2 stars.
I finished the 2nd Mike Haller mystery by author Max Byrd; Fly Away, Jill. Glad I discovered it as it's most enjoyable. Too bad he only wrote 3 books in the series. My review belowhttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Next in line is the final book in the Kamil Pasha historical mystery series, The Winter Thief by Jenny White
Michael Connelly has another hit on his hands with Fair Warning.
Here’s my four star review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Man in the Brown Suit
by Agatha ChristieAbsolutely charming period piece (1924) about a young woman caught up in a conspiracy and murder. Part mystery, part thriller. No MIss Marple, no Poirot, but I really enjoyed it. Be aware the writing style is of the period. 4 stars.
Shadow prey by John Sanford, I like it although I find lucas davenports relationship with his baby mama annoying .
Starting
The Apartment by K.L. Slater after finishing the disappointing 2.5 star
The Island Girls: A heartbreaking historical novel by Noëlle Harrison. My spoiler free review can be found at https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/... and https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I'm just about to start Her Father's Name by Florence Marryat (one of my favorite Victorian writers), a novel from 1876, which according to the blurb on the cover "combines murder, mystery, cross-dressing, illegitimacy, amateur sleuthing, and hysteria."
Obviously I'm in need of escape literature. This ought to do the trick.
Obviously I'm in need of escape literature. This ought to do the trick.
Finished the 2nd published book by English author, Minette Walters, The Sculptress. As always with Walters, an excellent mystery. (4 stars) My reviewhttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Next in line is another Walters mystery, The Echo
The Operator
by Gretchen BergA 1950s telephone operator in Wooster, Ohio - who eavesdrop on people's calls - hears a secret about her own family.
Engaging amusing book. 3 stars
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Bruce wrote: "Finished Picture of Dorian Gray, by Oscar Wilde"
Coincidentally, I finished that book this very afternoon!! I love Decadence literature; French mainly but the English writers aren't too far behind (although Wilde was Irish), followed by the Czechs.
Coincidentally, I finished that book this very afternoon!! I love Decadence literature; French mainly but the English writers aren't too far behind (although Wilde was Irish), followed by the Czechs.
Finished listening to The Cutting Season by Attica Locke. Overall a very good book with wonderful writing and while there is a murder, or maybe two, to solve it is not really a straightforward murder mystery but a look at family and what you would do for those you love.
Nancy wrote: "Bruce wrote: "Finished Picture of Dorian Gray, by Oscar Wilde"Coincidentally, I finished that book this very afternoon!! I love Decadence literature; French mainly but the English writers aren't ..."
I loved Dorian Gray. Nancy, I'll bite...what is Decadence literature?
Chris wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Bruce wrote: "Finished Picture of Dorian Gray, by Oscar Wilde"
Coincidentally, I finished that book this very afternoon!! I love Decadence literature; French mainly but the English w..."
I'll give you a link you can follow to read about it; trying to explain it in a nutshell is a wee bit tough. It will also list a few authors if you're at all interested.
http://www.artandpopularculture.com/D...
Coincidentally, I finished that book this very afternoon!! I love Decadence literature; French mainly but the English w..."
I'll give you a link you can follow to read about it; trying to explain it in a nutshell is a wee bit tough. It will also list a few authors if you're at all interested.
http://www.artandpopularculture.com/D...
I didn’t know that, but it makes some sense, although I thought a lot of the book was a critique on the rich being decadent, while being hypocrites at the same time about “lewd” behavior and lifestyles. Wilde was also a part of the Aestheticist movement, and probably several other movements as well.
Bruce wrote: "I didn’t know that, but it makes some sense, although I thought a lot of the book was a critique on the rich being decadent, while being hypocrites at the same time about “lewd” behavior and lifest..."
This might help (scroll down to the section on Decadence and you'll see how it relates to aestheticism -- "art for art's sake"):
https://www.bl.uk/romantics-and-victo...
This might help (scroll down to the section on Decadence and you'll see how it relates to aestheticism -- "art for art's sake"):
https://www.bl.uk/romantics-and-victo...
Bruce wrote: "I didn’t know that, but it makes some sense, although I thought a lot of the book was a critique on the rich being decadent, while being hypocrites at the same time about “lewd” behav..."
ps/ sorry ... I'm not really a know-it-all, just a nerd.
ps/ sorry ... I'm not really a know-it-all, just a nerd.
Continuing my digging into long running series with Seven Up by Janet Evanovich on audiobook while I sew masks and One Fine Day the Rabbi Bought a Cross by Harry Kemelman. Enjoying both.
Just finished
Bad Monkeys by Matt Ruff. Attempting to be The Matrix meets M. Night Shyamalan, but the premise here just doesn't pan out. Been a while since I read a clunker, so I guess I was due for one!
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