Currently Reading? Just Finished? 2015 Showing 1,101-1,150 of 1,722

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

I'm looking forward to reading A Brief History of Seven Killings, by Marlon James.

[[deleted user]]

I really liked The Sleeping Doll, Bill. Hope you enjoy it.

[[deleted user]]

I finished the newest Michael Bennett, Alert, by James Patterson and it was very good, 5 stars. Today I will be starting a Joe Pike novel, The Sentry by Robert Crais.

[Sean]

Blacklist by Will Jordan

Thank you to Net Galley, the publishers and author for a copy for a honest review.

With no money, no prospects and a long list of computer crimes against his name, Alex Yates's life is going nowhere until he is given a lucrative but dangerous offer - £100,000 to hack into the Central Intelligence Agency's network and recover a file known only as the Black List. At first reluctant to get involved, the disappearance of an old friend leaves Alex with no choice but to return to a world he'd sworn to leave behind. But before he can unlock the secrets contained within the file, he suddenly finds himself the target of an nationwide manhunt. Someone wants him out of the picture fast.

Now plunged into a deadly race against time to recover the Black List, and hunted by police, intelligence operatives and a ruthless covert unit dispatched to take him down, Alex is left with no choice but to accept help from the violent and unpredictable woman who hired him. For in the Black List may lie his salvation, or his death...

One of the fastest books I have read, with great characters, especially Anya, Mitchell, Alex.

Action packed, tension, pace, gripping and tense, with a great hint of humour between Anya and Alex, full of twists and faster paced than a rollercoaster ride.

A great idea for a story(especially as I like the series The Blacklist), with plots all over the world from the UK, Norway, Turkey.

Will has given us the reader in this book strong characters, plenty of action, I read the last 30% of this book in one evening, I just could not stop!

Highly recommended, and a easy five stars

[Bill]

Kathryn wrote: "I really liked The Sleeping Doll, Bill. Hope you enjoy it."

It's moving along nicely, Kathryn. :)

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

I got a lot of reading done yesterday. I am on the edge of finishing The Faces of God: A Mallock Mystery by Mallock, aka Jean-Denis Bruet-Ferreol. It's the first in a series, part of Europa's World Noir imprint. I don't like this one as much as I did his The Cemetery of Swallows .

[Patricia]

I just finished reading . I don't know why it has been a runaway best seller. Although it was good, it definitely was not the best thriller/mystery I've read. There must be some magic secret that the PR people have found to promote a marginal book.

[Rhian]

@Patricia I thought the same thing about The Husbands Secret? I avoid these hyped up books and wait for a few months then decide if I still fancy it after hearing or reading reviews

[❆ Crystal ❆]

I just finished reading Vengeance in Death .
I also wrapped up 2 audiobooks The Green Mile and The Shawshank Redemption .

Up next is Pop Goes the Weasel as an ebook and 'Salem's Lot as an audiobook.... narrated by one of my favorite narrators.

[Sandysbookaday (taking a step back for a while)]

Listening to , reading and about to start
Just finished . here is my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Tom]

I just finished reading Witch-Hunt: Mysteries of the Salem Witch Trials. Proud as punch of my ancestors. Here's my review.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Nancy]

Just started Catherine Coulter's Nemesis from the public library. Her latest in the FBI series. Anyone read it ?

[❆ Crystal ❆]

I'm starting Mean Streak

[Ron]

Just finished Polar Star by Martin Cruz Smith, an Arkady Renko novel, the sequel to Gorky Park. Set several years after Gorky Park, well into Renko's exile from Moscow. He is working on a Soviet fishing factory ship with fishing ships in the North Pacific. A young girl, also working on the Polar Star with Renko, is discovered in a fishing net full of fish just brought up out of the water. Renko, being the only one on board with any investigating experience, is given the case. He soon finds out that almost nobody wants him to be successful in his endeavors. The girl, it turns out, has been missing for a few days with nobody bothering to report her missing. Including her cabin mates. She was quite promiscuous and popular. Quite understandable as a young, attractive female among so many male shipmates. The search for her where abouts in the days leading up to when she went missing leads him onto an American fishing boat working with the Polar Star.

The plot was complex enough to be very entertaining and the characters are very believable. I'd read Gorky Park several years ago. Long enough ago that I worried about remembering enough to not get lost with this story. Was not a problem, as, although Renko's history is important, enough is brought out that Polar Star is strong enough to stand alone without having read the 1st book. I liked it enough to pursue more in the Renko series by Mr. Smith and found several more in my local library system.

Next up is Prime Suspect by Lynda La Plante, a Jane Tennison novel. Turns out that the stories are taken from the TV series of the same name and starred Helen Mirren as Jane. As I liked the TV series, I looked into the books. There are 3 and they are taken from 3 episodes of the TV series. Was hoping for more, but, will still read at least the 1st one. Then decide on any more or not. But, it was disappointing to find that there were no more than 3 stories that I already know the plot.

[Tom]

Ron wrote: "Next up is Prime Suspect (Prime Suspect, #1) by Lynda La PlantePrime Suspect by Lynda La Plante, a Jane Tennison novel. Turns out that the stories are taken from the TV series of the same name and starred Helen Mirren as Jane. As I liked the TV series, I looked into the books. There are 3 and they are taken from 3 episodes of the TV series. Was hoping for more, but, will still read at least the 1st one. Then decide on any more or not. But, it was disappointing to find that there were no more than 3 stories that I already know the plot."

Thanks for letting me know about this. I didn't know that Prime Suspect was based on a book series.

[Tia]

I just finished reading Bones Never Lie. Another successful novel by Kathy Reichs. Though the Temperance Brennan series can be heavy with medical terms at times the mystery entwining it all makes it a great read.

[Ron]

Tom wrote: "Thanks for letting me know about this. I didn't know that Prime Suspect was based on a book series."

Actually, it's the other way around. The books were based on the TV series. From what I understand, Lynda La Plante wrote them from the TV scripts because the TV series was so popular.

While that isn't a bad thing, it lead to my disappointment in that I was hoping for more stories about Jane Tennison, her protagonist.

There are only 3 books and they are based on 3 of the TV series episodes. Well, there is a 4th book, but, it's a collection of all of the other 3 combined into 1 book. Sorry if my original post on Prime Suspect lead you wrong.

[Tom]

Ron wrote: "Tom wrote: "Thanks for letting me know about this. I didn't know that Prime Suspect was based on a book series."

Actually, it's the other way around. The books were based on the TV series. From ..."

That's disappointing.

[Thomas]

Finished the following
In the Woods
My review(5 stars)

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

The Cold Dish

My review(4 stars)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

The Cold Cold Ground

My review(4 stars)

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

[Tom]

I just finished reading a review copy of Green Hell: A Jack Taylor Novel. I've never read anything by this author but I plan to correct that. I didn't think I would like this much when I started it but it grew on me and I really started to like it. Interesting style, too.

Here's my review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Ctgt]

Tom wrote: "I just finished reading a review copy of Green Hell: A Jack Taylor Novel. I've never read anything by this author but I plan to correct that. I didn't think I would like this much w..."

That is one of my favorite series. Love the writing style, the occasional sparseness in his prose. I do remember it taking a bit to get comfortable with the rhythm of his writing but after that initial learning curve I fell hard. There is a pretty good Irish TV series based on the character starring Iain Glen.

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

Ctgt wrote: "Tom wrote: "I just finished reading a review copy of Green Hell: A Jack Taylor Novel. I've never read anything by this author but I plan to correct that. I didn't think I would like..."

I love the Jack Taylor novels, but to me they're often like waiting for the train wreck to happen. You don't want to know what's coming, but you can't help but look. He is such a sad character.

[Ron]

Tom wrote: "Ron wrote: "Tom wrote: "Thanks for letting me know about this. I didn't know that Prime Suspect was based on a book series."

Actually, it's the other way around. The books were based on the TV series. From ..."

That's disappointing. "

Totally agree. Was looking forward to some different stories in the Prime Suspect series and then to find that they were just book versions of the TV series was equally disappointing to me, as well.

Oh, well. It was a great TV series and I will continue to read the 1st book in the series. There is always the hope that the books will go into more detail than the TV shows. Or, as one member here on Goodreads put it, more of the back story can be found in books that TV/movies don't go into.

[Barbara]

Ron wrote: "Just finished Polar Star by Martin Cruz Smith, an Arkady Renko novel, the sequel to Gorky Park. Set several years after [boo..."

I'm a big fan of Martin Cruz Smith's Arkady Renko books; always good.

[Ron]

Barbara wrote: "Ron wrote: "Just finished Polar Star by Martin Cruz Smith, an Arkady Renko novel, the sequel to Gorky Park. Set several year..."

Glad to hear that. I've only read the 1st 2 and have really liked them both. But, I did read Gorky Park many years ago. It was after the movie came out and even after the DVD came out. Back when the DVD wasn't released so soon after the movie release.

[Ctgt]

Nancy wrote: "I love the Jack Taylor novels, but to me they're often like waiting for the train wreck to happen. You don't want to know what's coming, but you can't help but look. He is such a sad character. "

No doubt about that, Nancy. Bruen really kicks his character around in these books. I think part of the reason I enjoy the series so much is that after all that is thrown at him, Taylor just picks himself up and keeps trudging along.

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

Ctgt wrote: "Nancy wrote: "I love the Jack Taylor novels, but to me they're often like waiting for the train wreck to happen. You don't want to know what's coming, but you can't help but look. He is such a sad ..."

I remember after reading the first one thinking I can't read another one because Taylor was such a sad character, but then I ended up reading them one after another and I was emotionally hosed after each one. Now that's a really good writer.

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

I just finished The Beetle: A Mystery, by Richard Marsh, first published in 1897. It's a mix of horror, old-fashioned pulp, and above all a fun mystery.

[Olivia "So many books--so little time.""]

I've just started reading Creature by John Saul. It's about a family that moves to a small town in Colorado where the football team never loses a game. I just finished The Tunnels by Michelle Gagnon. It was about an FBI agent's attempt to catch a serial killer. I really liked it--I gave it four stars.

[Barbara]

I finished Deserves to Die by Lisa Jackson. Detectives Pescoli and Alvarez investigate serial killings in Grizzly Falls, Montana. At the same time a woman on the run arrives in town followed by a stalker. Fast moving story but some plot points don't ring true. 3 stars.

My complete review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Barbara]

I finished Backlash by Lynda La Plante. In this Anna Travis thriller a traffic stop leads to the discovery of a body and arrest of the driver - who just may be a serial killer. The book is essentially a long police procedural where the cops search for bodies and evidence. 3 stars.

My complete review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[❆ Crystal ❆]

I'll be starting Roses are Red later today

[Rhian]

finished Wool by hugh howey and it was fantastic whatever I choose next is bound to be disappointing after that!

[DKT]

A couple Kindle Freebies ~ both have mentioned that they have a Stephanie Plum style. Figured I would post here for Kindle folks to grab, have not read either so they could tank, but they look promising and since they are free ~ it's worth a chance. Wanted to start the Vegas one last night, but got sidetracked steaming the floors.

&

Just Finished:

Real Quick Mystery Read ~ a light mystery, just because I know some prefer a harder-core mystery when they read.

(Also noticed book 11(I think it was) of Virgin River is free right now too for anyone working through them.)

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

I'm doing an Italian crime double feature: about to finish Camilleri's Game of Mirrors, after which I'm starting Black Run , by Antonio Manzini. I'm taking a brain break.

[Tom]

Nancy wrote: "I'm doing an Italian crime double feature: about to finish Camilleri's Game of Mirrors, after which I'm starting Black Run , by Antonio Manzini. I'm taking a brain ..."

Sounds like a good double feature. I'm not familiar with Manzini.

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

Tom wrote: "Nancy wrote: "I'm doing an Italian crime double feature: about to finish Camilleri's Game of Mirrors, after which I'm starting Black Run , by Antonio Manzini. I'm t..."

I'd only heard of Manzini earlier this year. It actually looks really good.

[Nancy]

Read the first two Stephanie Plum books. Some laughs but NOT a series I will continue..because of the popularity I was curious..and now I know.
Numerous negatives starting with the main character ....
[I might read other books by this author.]

[DKT]

Slapstick I guess is how I would described it & Although the MC and I have some personality similarities as it relates to humor/ sarcasm and the black cloud over our heads, we have complete opposite moral compasses. My Mom and neighbor have just fallen in love with the characters and for years I put them off. It took me a couple, but I did enjoy them. Read them too quickly though, hopefully a mistake I won't make again with other series books.

I have to pick books of this nature carefully though and usually keep things light.

[Barbara]

I finished Little Black Lies by Sharon Bolton. A child has disappeared in the isolated Falkland Islands, the third such occurrence in recent years. The book's three main characters, each suffering from terrible traumas, join in the search. 3.5 stars.

My complete review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

Finished with Manzini's Black Run. Reading it just after finishing Camilleri's Game of Mirrors was like reading at opposite ends of the spectrum in terms of the main characters. Much more gritty and mean and I don't particularly care for the lead cop, but at least I know why he is the way he is after finishing the book. I'll definitely continue the series.

[Sean]

As dusk approaches a small Dublin suburb in the summer of 1984, mothers begin to call their children home. But on this warm evening, three children do not return from the dark and silent woods. When the police arrive, they find only one of the children. He is gripping a tree trunk in terror, wearing blood-filled sneakers and unable to recall a single detail of the previous hours.

Twenty years later, the found boy, Rob Ryan, is a detective on the Dublin Murder Squad and keeps his past a secret. But when a 12-year-old girl is found murdered in the same woods, he and Detective Cassie Maddox (his partner and closest friend) find themselves investigating a case chillingly similar to the previous unsolved mystery. Now, with only snippets of long-buried memories to guide him, Ryan has the chance to uncover both the mystery of the case before him and that of his own shadowy past.


First reading for this author, and read as nominated for my August Book Pal read, my book pal's Tim favourite author.

So want did I think. Firstly this book is a 500-page story that should have been told in about 300.

Very heavy going, very slow and just become thoroughly boring, I very nearly gave up on this book, but believe that as a book read I had to finish.

The last 40-50 pages of the book raised me one star, as up to them only a two star.

It is sad when you read a book, and you are not so bothered by what is going to happen, and have guesses very early.

I know many readers have loved this book, and I know luckily we are all different, a good thing.

Personally not my type of author, too much backwards and forwards with the former story, and the new story.

This was a "grand slam" debut - winning the, Anthony, Macavity, Barry & Edgar for first novel. I had to give it a try. I may be a minority here....any suprises, no, any suspense, no, gripping, no not really. Did this book drag, yes.

Do I want to read another book by her , no not really, I am sorry to all her fans and the author, but my honest opinion.

Sadly only 3 stars, really 2.5

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

I think I'm ready for the next Highsmith novel - A Game for the Living. I had to take a break between the first few and this one, and to make matters worse, I've recently reread In Cold Blood. It is enough to warp a person's head.

[Fiona (Titch)]

I have read loads of different books since I last posted, but not sure I am enjoying current book which is What You Wish For - Mark Edwards. Have now read/listened to 23% (56 pages so far) and still not grabbing me :(

[Nancy]

Nemesis by Catherine Coulter. Two story lines to follow as married FBI agents (Savich & Sherlock) work to solve separate murder cases.

[Fiona (Titch)]

Reading Time to Die - Caroline Mitchell

[Rhian]

@Sean I absolutely hated that book but I decided to give Tana French another try and read The Secret Place sadly it was just as bad, too many unanswered questions for my liking

[Rhian]

I'm reading girl missing by Tess Gerritsen

[Janet]

Sean wrote: "

As dusk approaches a small Dublin suburb in the summer of 1984, mothers begin to call their children home. But on this warm evening, three children do not return fr..."

I absolutely agree with you. My mystery book group, which has been meeting for 18 years, read this a while ago. None of us liked it. Bloated with unsatisfactory ending.

[Tom]

I just finished reading Armada. Don't bother. I loved Ready Player One but this one is a stinker.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...