The Mystery, Crime, and Thriller Group discussion
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    Currently Reading? Just Finished? 2020
    
  
  
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          Sandysbookaday (taking a step back for a while)
      
        
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      Feb 07, 2020 07:51PM
    
     Just finished listening to
      Just finished listening to 
   Fry's English Delight: Series 1....absolutely delightful. ❤😍😂🤣 my review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
 Fry's English Delight: Series 1....absolutely delightful. ❤😍😂🤣 my review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
    
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   Nancy wrote: "I was in the middle of a book that hasn't been published yet and really liking it. Then I lost it. I found it this morning, in the sheets I'd just washed:
      Nancy wrote: "I was in the middle of a book that hasn't been published yet and really liking it. Then I lost it. I found it this morning, in the sheets I'd just washed: " Oh dear!! Perhaps you should take it as a sign?
As I read on through the comments, I saw you are getting another copy. Yea for you!
 @Atl Relic is good, it is my favorite Pendergrast book. Reliquary was not as good as the first one. But the next 4-5 books in the series also remain entertaining, and then Preston-Child hits a slump from which they never really recover.
      @Atl Relic is good, it is my favorite Pendergrast book. Reliquary was not as good as the first one. But the next 4-5 books in the series also remain entertaining, and then Preston-Child hits a slump from which they never really recover.
     I finished a book by one of my favorite mystery writers; Wall Of Eyes by Margaret Millar (5 stars) My review is below
      I finished a book by one of my favorite mystery writers; Wall Of Eyes by Margaret Millar (5 stars) My review is belowhttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Another Millar book is next, the 2nd Inspector Sands mystery; Taste of Fears
 Flowers on Her Grave, third book in the Katie Scott series by Jennifer Chase. 4*
      Flowers on Her Grave, third book in the Katie Scott series by Jennifer Chase. 4*https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
 I am a fan of Louise Penny's Chief Inspector Armand Gamache of the Sûreté du Québec. I love visiting the fictional village of Three Pines, although it does seem to have a lot of homicides! How the Light Gets In is my favourite in the series so far.
      I am a fan of Louise Penny's Chief Inspector Armand Gamache of the Sûreté du Québec. I love visiting the fictional village of Three Pines, although it does seem to have a lot of homicides! How the Light Gets In is my favourite in the series so far.  5★ Link to my review
 5★ Link to my review
     Night Soldiers ..... by Alan Furst
      Night Soldiers ..... by Alan FurstMost of Furst's spy novels follow the adventures of a Westerner (French, American, etc.) caught up in the events leading to WWII. This much longer novel concerns a young Bulgarian from 1934 through the end of the war. Wonderfully evocative of time and place, though I had a harder time identifying with our hero Khristo. Very interesting story very well told although I would give 2 bits of guidance to those readers who follow me. 1, put a paper clip on the map at the front of the book so you can turn to it easily--you'll need it, and 2, try to remember--or write down-- the names of the people Khristo encounters--they may well reappear (sort of a like a Russian novel in that regard--lots of names).
        
      I spent my day reading I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer, by Michelle McNamara. I hadn't planned to read all day, but I couldn't put the book down. Now I'm planning to reread Christie's The Pale Horse, since I need to refresh my memory before watching the new adaptation.
    
  
  
   I finished my first Linda Wallheim mystery by Mette Ivie Harrison, The Bishop’s Wife. (3 stars)
      I finished my first Linda Wallheim mystery by Mette Ivie Harrison, The Bishop’s Wife. (3 stars)My review is below
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
 
      
   
Finished Hope to Die by Lawrence Block. Another good addition to one of the best modern crime series. Rating - 4/5
My Review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
        
      finished The Pale Horse, by Agatha Christie. It was okay. As to what I'll read next in the mystery/crime zone, I have no clue.
    
  
  
   Recent reads include these soft crime offerings:
      Recent reads include these soft crime offerings:A Man's Head
 by Georges Simenon
 by Georges Simenon 
   , the 5th in the Inspector Maigret series
, the 5th in the Inspector Maigret seriesThe Blackhouse
 by Peter May
 by Peter May 
   , the first in the Lewis Trilogy series.
, the first in the Lewis Trilogy series.
     I have been reading library books the last month.
      I have been reading library books the last month.Book 15 in the Longmire series Land of Wolves
I enjoyed it and recommend it to fans of the series.
My 4 star review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Historical fiction by Bernard Cornwell
Sword of Kings
No one write better 10th century battle scenes than Cornwell.My 4 star review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
A spy story, somewhat disappointing from Alan Furst Dark Voyage
My 3 star review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
One more historical fiction mystery by C. S. Harris When Maidens Mourn
My 4 star review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
 Hi Five
      Hi Five
   by Joe Ide
 by Joe IdeI Q #4, can be read as stand-alone but recommend reading at least the 1st in the series 1st. In this one IQ gets hooked up with an evil arms merchant and his very crazy daughter. Big fan of this series, love the setting in my ex-home town, Long Beach. Highly recommended, 4 stars.
 The Caves of Steel
      The Caves of Steel 
   by Isaac Asimov
 by Isaac AsimovScience fiction writer Asimov wrote this fusion sci-fi/detective story. A bit light on the detection but an interesting venture. 3 stars
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
******************
 The Robots of Dawn by Isaac Asimov
 The Robots of Dawn by Isaac AsimovThe solution to the 'murder' of a humanoid robot may determine the future of humankind. 4 stars
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
 Araych wrote: "Hi Five
      Araych wrote: "Hi Five by Joe Ide
 by Joe IdeI Q #4, can be read as stand-alone but recommend reading at least the 1st in the series 1st. In this one IQ gets hooked up with an evil arms merchan..."
I like this series too. 😊
 Lily wrote: "I just finished Dark Fire by CJ Sansom, the third in his Matthew Shardlake. Terrific series."
      Lily wrote: "I just finished Dark Fire by CJ Sansom, the third in his Matthew Shardlake. Terrific series."They seem to get better and better.
 I finished what I thought was the final book in the John Madden mystery series, The Death of Kings by Rennie Airth. It turns out that there will be a new book in 2020. Woo hoo! My review is below
      I finished what I thought was the final book in the John Madden mystery series, The Death of Kings by Rennie Airth. It turns out that there will be a new book in 2020. Woo hoo! My review is belowhttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Next in line is the final Mr. Moto spy story; Stopover: Tokyo by John P. Marquand
 
      
   
All the Flowers Are Dying by Lawrence Block. Too gratuitous, only recommended to Scudder and Block fans. Rating - 3/5
My review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Araych wrote: "Hi Five
 by Joe Ide
 by Joe IdeI Q #4, can be read as stand-alone but recommend reading at least the 1st in the series 1st. In this one IQ gets hooked up with an evil arms merchan..."
Nice to know you are still enjoying them, I gave up after the third one.
 Lily wrote: "I just finished Dark Fire by CJ Sansom, the third in his Matthew Shardlake. Terrific series."
      Lily wrote: "I just finished Dark Fire by CJ Sansom, the third in his Matthew Shardlake. Terrific series."I agree, Lily! They are excellent stories and characters.
 Finished Mathew Scudder #4 - A stab in the dark. I am definitely tired of this series. There has been no change in character's alcohol self discussion - recovery or not. I would like to see him spend more time on the solving of the case. In this book, it was definitely lacking as he got from talking to a person and determining that person was the bad one. I had to go back and read what I missed. I didn't miss anything. I gave it 3 stars but that was being generous, I think.
      Finished Mathew Scudder #4 - A stab in the dark. I am definitely tired of this series. There has been no change in character's alcohol self discussion - recovery or not. I would like to see him spend more time on the solving of the case. In this book, it was definitely lacking as he got from talking to a person and determining that person was the bad one. I had to go back and read what I missed. I didn't miss anything. I gave it 3 stars but that was being generous, I think.
     Dark Tort
      Dark Tort 
   by Diane Mott Davidson
 by Diane Mott DavidsonIn this 13th book in the 'Goldy Bear Culinary Mystery' series, Goldy Schulz, who's a professional caterer and amateur sleuth, sets out to discover who killed her neighbor. The book can be read as a standalone.
Pleasant cozy. 3 stars
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
 Still working on Natchez Burning. Started a new book I received free through Amazon - Thief River Falls by Brian Freeman. Just started so no opinion yet.
      Still working on Natchez Burning. Started a new book I received free through Amazon - Thief River Falls by Brian Freeman. Just started so no opinion yet.
     Just finished "The Woman in Cabin 10", Ruth Ware. Like many women-centric contemporary books, I thought it read like something making a too obvious play for selling movie rights. Didn't grab me. But I thought I would give Ware a second try, and right now reading "The Death of Mrs. Westwaway." A little better, but unless the plot really firms up, I probably won't go in for a 3rd Ware book.
      Just finished "The Woman in Cabin 10", Ruth Ware. Like many women-centric contemporary books, I thought it read like something making a too obvious play for selling movie rights. Didn't grab me. But I thought I would give Ware a second try, and right now reading "The Death of Mrs. Westwaway." A little better, but unless the plot really firms up, I probably won't go in for a 3rd Ware book.
     Gretchen wrote: "Finished Mathew Scudder #4 - A stab in the dark. I am definitely tired of this series. There has been no change in character's alcohol self discussion - recovery or not. I would like to see him spe..."
      Gretchen wrote: "Finished Mathew Scudder #4 - A stab in the dark. I am definitely tired of this series. There has been no change in character's alcohol self discussion - recovery or not. I would like to see him spe..."The next one in the series deals with Scudder's alcoholism directly. But the other thing that bothered you does not really change throughout the course of the series. Scudder's investigations remain low key, street level and gritty. That's what fans including me love about it. It is almost all legwork no genius leaps of logic. If you are not enjoying the overall lived in world that Scudder inhibits or the extended conversations filled with a lot of heart and wit, I don't really think this will ever work for you.
But in case you want to give it one last shot try one of the books from #8 - #10. They are thrillers rather than whodunits. So the pace is faster but keep in mind they are much more violent than what you have found in the series so far.
 I have read 6 of his books and have enjoyed them. #4 was just a not interesting book for me. The other ones I have enjoyed. I have to keep reading them because of his relationship change with Elaine. It's not violence. I like his problem solving, I just don't think there was much to it this time.
      I have read 6 of his books and have enjoyed them. #4 was just a not interesting book for me. The other ones I have enjoyed. I have to keep reading them because of his relationship change with Elaine. It's not violence. I like his problem solving, I just don't think there was much to it this time.Thanks for your thoughts, though.
 I’m currently reading two books: Calibans war by james sa Corey on my kindle and every dead thing by John connolly on audible.
      I’m currently reading two books: Calibans war by james sa Corey on my kindle and every dead thing by John connolly on audible.Every dead thing is more in line with this group, it’s a mystery thriller, the first in the Charlie Parker series. It’s gritty and dark and funny. I’m liking it so far.
 Barbara wrote: "Just finished "The Woman in Cabin 10", Ruth Ware. Like many women-centric contemporary books, I thought it read like something making a too obvious play for selling movie rights. Didn't grab me. Bu..."
      Barbara wrote: "Just finished "The Woman in Cabin 10", Ruth Ware. Like many women-centric contemporary books, I thought it read like something making a too obvious play for selling movie rights. Didn't grab me. Bu..."I'll be interested in your thoughts when you finish The Death of Mrs. Westaway. I've read it and her Turn of the Key. One I found compelling, the other not so much. let us know your thoughts.
 De, yeah I’m interested in both your thoughts on both of those books as both of them are on my want to read shelf.
      De, yeah I’m interested in both your thoughts on both of those books as both of them are on my want to read shelf.
     Atl wrote: "De, yeah I’m interested in both your thoughts on both of those books as both of them are on my want to read shelf."
      Atl wrote: "De, yeah I’m interested in both your thoughts on both of those books as both of them are on my want to read shelf."I don't want to influence Barbara's perception, but I found The death of Mrs. Westaway to be a 5-star read; The Turn of the Key did not work as well -- for me -- as I rated it a 3-star read. There are so many factors to one person's opinions, though, from state of mind while reading a particular book to just personal preferences.
I hope you'll give at least one of them a try and share your thoughts here when you do.
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