The Mystery, Crime, and Thriller Group discussion
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Currently Reading? Just Finished? 2015
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Just started Not in the Flesh by Ruth Rendell.
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I finished that one not too long ago.
Read my first Bosch.. The Black Echo by Michael Connelly. Don't know what took me so long to find this.
On my recent trip to Ottawa, I finished and enjoyed very much, Roseanna by Maj Sjöwall and Scaredy Cat by Mark Billingham. I'm just starting Grave Peril by Jim Butcher and Mr. Standfast by John Buchan. I'm also reading and about half way through Lord Hornblower by C.S. Forester.
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definitely read them in their publication order.
OK. I ask before somewhere and was told to read the first one first. I was going to ask if I could mixed it up now. I won't go there..
Tom wrote: "OK. I ask before somewhere and was told to read the first one first. I was going to ask if I could mixed it up now. I won't go there.."I've read most of them over the years. While they should be read in order, I wouldn't let that prevent me from reading one that I'm particularly interested in.
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Nancy wrote: "Well, the story, Harry and the colleagues grow from the first book, developing more fully in each installment. I'm a series purist and I will say that it pays off in most cases."I agree, but there is a difference between should and must when it comes to reading series in order.
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Nancy wrote: "I am a definite "must-er." Part of my often quirky approach to reading that stems from childhood."For me, a must-er is Greg Iles' most recent Penn Cage books where Natchez Burning ends with a fire and The Bone Tree begins with the sirens approaching the scene in the distance. The Harry Bosch series has a clear back story but it is just that, a back story, largely unrelated to the main plot of the book. The point I was trying to make is that I wouldn't deprive myself of a good read just because I hadn't read the preceding books in the series.
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I usually do the order. The only series I can think of where I went out is Kathy Reichs because I didn't know there was a series.
I finished The Good Father by Noah Hawley. A U.S Senator running for President is shot and a college dropout named Daniel Allen is arrested for the murder. Daniel's father, a respected rheumatologist named Dr. Paul Allen, believes his son is innocent and develops a compulsion to prove that fact. Underlying Paul's obsession, in part, are feelings of guilt because he and Daniel's mother divorced many years ago. The story jumps back and forth between Daniel's memories of what he's been up to during the last couple of years and Paul's activities. Paul acquires a ton of information about mass murderers and would-be presidential assassins, looking for clues to the mind-set of these individuals. He also hires a private detective, who helps him find out where Daniel has been recently, who he's met, and so on.
Daniel pleads guilty but even this doesn't persuade Paul of his son's guilt. Paul's obsession gets to the point where he neglects his new wife and family to work on Daniel's case.
The plot is well-constructed and the main characters are three-dimensional and believable. I'd recommend the book. 3.5 stars.
I finished Fear the Worst by Linwood Barclay. Tim Blake, a divorced car salesman, has his 17-year-old daughter Sydney living with him for the summer. Sydney has a summer job at a local motel called Just Inn Time. One morning Sydney goes off to work and doesn't come home. When Tim goes to Just Inn Time he's told Sydney never worked there. Confused and anguished, Tim reports his daughter missing and begins an obsessive search for her. It soon becomes clear that Sydney was involved in something that put her on the radar of some bad guys and Tim runs into trouble everywhere he turns. To add to Tim's problems the police aren't very helpful. They seem to look at Tim as a suspect in both Sydney's disappearance and other crimes that are happening in Milford.
The story is suspenseful from beginning to end and the reader sympathizes with Tim's fear and anguish. He's clearly a nice guy in over his head. The other characters add interest to the story, which moves fast to a dramatic climax. I enjoyed the book and recommend it to fans of mystery thrillers. 3.5 stars.
I'm currently reading Junkyard Dogs by Craig Johnson. I love all the Longmire books. I can't believe I never heard of them before the TV series.
Firstly, thank you to the publishers, author and Net galley for a review copy.
Two, let me say this first, I don't give many books five stars, but I loved this book !
Overview
A PROFESSIONAL THAT'S LOST THE DESIRE TO KILL...
Tired and sick of a life of violence, hitman Isaac Rhett is ready to retire after one last assignment. But the assignment turns out to be a trap and pits him against the deadliest assassin in the world, Gustav Fabrice.
A MADMAN WITH NO PURPOSE BUT TO DESTROY...
Gustav is cunning, ferocious, and insane. Without the inhibitions a person would feel against extreme violence, Gustav is on a rampage with the death of Isaac Rhett as his only goal. A single police officer from Interpol is the only witness to the monster that's been let loose on society and attempts to track him down before Gustav carries out his mission.
A DESPERATE FIGHT FOR SURVIVAL... and who will survive !
Rhett's mark turns out to be a congresswoman with no known enemies. Rhett flees with her with Gustav on their heels. But Rhett knows you cannot escape a man like Gustav. At some point, they will have to fight. But there is only one way that Rhett knows to stop Gustav... you must let him kill you first.
My first book by this author, not my last, unbelievable tension, gripping and full of action, shocks and twists and I just could not stop reading. In fact this book never went the way I expected it to, and that takes some great writing to continue to shock you the reader.
An action packed thriller, that will keep you up all night and on the edge of your seat and also your bed! I very much also like the writing style of the author, and also of course like these genre of thrillers, this author joins, Tom Wood, Lee Childs, David Baldacci and Simon Kernick as a favourite.
Next Book another assassin book, In Cold Blood by Mark Dawson, also loving this book
I've also started another book, The Dream Millenium. I found it in a flea market and the plot intrigues me.
Just finished The Third Rule - The Complete Story
by Andrew BarrettA brilliant book that I struggled to put down once half way through.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Let's mention one thing first, I started this book only three days ago, and have finished already, and have ordered the next two in the series.
A fast paced, action packed, thriller, with a great female action lead Beatrice Rose.
REVENGE IS A DISH BEST SERVED COLD
The new book from acclaimed writer Mark Dawson , IN COLD BLOOD is an action-packed thriller about ruthless betrayal and bloodthirsty vengeance.
Beatrix Rose was the most dangerous assassin in an off-the-books government kill squad until her former boss betrayed her. A decade later, she emerges from the Hong Kong underworld with payback on her mind. They gunned down her husband and kidnapped her daughter, and now the debt needs to be repaid. It’s a blood feud she didn’t start but she is going to finish.
Beatrix has already crossed one name off her Kill List. Her second target is a mercenary being held hostage by Somali terrorists. Can she infiltrate the most dangerous failed state on the planet and scrub him off the List, too?
Packed with explosive action and page-turning suspense, this is the must-read first novel in a brand new series and I look forward to reading Mark Dawson's successful series of books on John Milton series.
An easy four stars for me, and highly recommended
I havent not been feeling to good and i been staying in because its way to hot so i got these books readAll The Pretty Girls by J.T. Ellison I am going start rereading this series from First to last. Now on to this. A Great A debut book and also great debute in the series. I love Taylor and Baldwin they work well together with J.T. writing them. So cant wait to re read the whole series!
Killer Dreams by Iris Johansen Another reread reason i decide to read this again because I forgot what the book was about. Glad i read it again its a very good book and I love the whole idea of Night terrors since alot of us sefer from them. Also love the bond between the mother & Son in it.
The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins Finally the library had the book in. I read it but I didnt really care for it all that much. It was a good mystery and all but I just didnt think it was all that.
Hush Hush by Laura Lippman This has gotta be Laura Lippman best every! But the mother was so damn nuts in it!
I'm currently reading The Store by Bentley Little. It's about a huge Walmart-type store and its horrifying effects on a small Arizona town and its people. So far it has been a page-turner. I just finished Vicious by Kevin O'Brien, which is about a serial killer called "Mama's Boy" who specialized in killing the mothers of sons. It was excellent--I gave it five stars.
Shannon wrote: "I havent not been feeling to good and i been staying in because its way to hot so i got these books readAll The Pretty Girls by J.T. Ellison I am going start rerea..."
Count me in as one who thinks The Girl On The Train is a mediocre book. My wife read it and has the same opinion. What has eluded us? I cannot understand the popularity of the book. Besides, the theme of spotting someone from a train has been used often, most notably in the past by the Queen of Crime, Agatha Christie. I really wish someone would point out the appeal of this book. Jack
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I'm with you, Jack. Absolutely.
Recently finished
Justice Perverted: How The Innocence Project at Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism Sent an Innocent Man to Prison
. It is a true story involving events that are still happening now. Very interesting read.
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I never heard about this development. I remember when they found him in Milwaukee and Porter was released. Wonder why he left the Trib?
Arlene wrote: "Just started 
"Enjoy... great book.
I just finished OPEN SEASON by CJ Box. A great read!
Kathryn wrote: "❆ Crystal ❆ wrote: "I've started the audiobook King and Maxwell 
"That's a good one!"
I especially love the audio version.... I'm really enjoying it.
I haven't read this whole series yet, but this one is my favorite out of the ones that I have read.
Just finished
. Don't miss it. All should read it even though it really isn't a mystery. Excellent book
Just finished
don't miss it. It not a mystery but is an excellent book
I'm new to this group! I'm currently in the middle of In The Woods by Tana French. I cannot put it down.
Odds of Dying by Judith Janeway. Allison Weaver is a spunky former nurse trying to finish her dissertation when she discovers the body of a homeless man, Stevie Number, in the dumpster behind her workplace. She knows Stevie from her volunteer work with Berkeley street people but, until his murder, she has never suspected how much their lives intertwined. Humor, romance, and a tour of Berkeley's great divide between the rich and poor makes for a great read.
Finished The Escape by David Baldacci and it was excellent, 5 Stars. I'm still reading Plum Island by Nelson DeMille and will start 14th Deadly Sin by James Patterson today.
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The Mystery, Crime, and Thriller Group
Books mentioned in this topic
A Dirty Job (other topics)Secondhand Souls (other topics)
The Black Dahlia (other topics)
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The Black Dahlia (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Christopher Moore (other topics)Jeffery Deaver (other topics)
Jeffery Deaver (other topics)
Caroline Graham (other topics)
Vince Flynn (other topics)
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Moreover - is it just a coincidence that J.D. Duncan, a new detective with the Longboat Key police, once worked on the Miami cases? Could someone be sending her a message? J.D. and her friend, retired attorney Matt Royal, look into the crimes.
Before long there are several attempts to kill J.D. People also seem to be trying to kill Matt, the most likely suspects being suspicious Guatemalans. To cap it all off, Gene Alexander is soon found murdered, his death staged (incompetently) to look like suicide.
The main action of the story consists of Matt and J.D. trying to figure out what the heck is going on while their lives are in jeopardy and additional murders are occuring all over Longboat Key. The investigation jogs along slowly, however, with Matt and J.D going to a lot of restaurants, bringing each other sandwiches, and so on.
I don't want to reveal spoilers so I'll just say the plot doesn't hold together and the ending - where all is revealed --is complex and completely unbelievable. I don't recommend this book. There are plenty of better mystery/thrillers available. 2 stars.