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Currently Reading? Just Finished? 2015
Just finished
Payment in Blood by Elizabeth George, an Inspector Lynley mystery. 2nd book of the series that I've read and I've enjoyed them both.A theatre group is in Scotland for the reading of a new play. Tempers flare at the reading and the next morning, the playwright is found dead in her bed. A dirk through her neck pinning her to the mattress. Inspector Thomas Lynley, the 8th Earl of Asherton, is called in on the case. The choice was suspect, at best. The playwright, a Ms. Joy Sinclair, was on the verge of changing lines in the play and many didn't like what their part was becoming. As I say, an enjoyable read.
Next up with
No Way to Die by M.D. Grayson, a Danny Logan, PI, novel. Read the 1st of the series, this is the 2nd, and enjoyed it. Looking forward to continuing with the series.
Ron wrote: "Just finished Payment in Blood by Elizabeth George, an Inspector Lynley mystery. 2nd book of the series that I've read and I've en..."I like the Thomas Lynley mysteries
I finished Lucky Stuff by Sharon Fiffer. Private investigator and antique picker Jane Wheel goes home to Kankakee just when comedian Lucky Miller is in town, trying to recover childhood memories. Some plot elements were not believable to me. 3 stars.
My complete review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Ctgt wrote: "Just started my next Jack Taylor book Sanctuary 
"I think that's a series I want to start from the beginning.
Barbara wrote: "Ron wrote: "Just finished Payment in Blood by Elizabeth George, an Inspector Lynley mystery. 2nd book of the series that I've read...I like the Thomas Lynley mysteries "
After just the 1st 2, I have to agree with you. Hopefully, the rest will be as entertaining as these 1st 2.
My wife and I watched all of the TV series and really liked it. Because of that, I decided to look into the books. So far, so good.
Ron wrote: "Barbara wrote: "Ron wrote: "Just finished Payment in Blood by Elizabeth George, an Inspector Lynley mystery. 2nd book of the serie..."I used to love the Lynley mysteries, but I wasn't crazy about the one three books back, and I quit the next to last one halfway through. I couldn't buy what George did with one of the main characters.
I doubt I'll read anymore.
However, YMMV.
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A late night call from de Gier sends Grijpstra to Maine to help his old partner, who's being blackmailed for a murder he may or may not have committed. A complex plot, a cast of eccentric characters, and many discussions on the meaning of life, truth, right and wrong, and zen philosophy. All in all a good read.
Nancy wrote: "I've finally finished All the Light We Cannot See. I know I'll be the only nattering nabob of negativity when book group day comes around."I didn't like it either. I read halfway through (mostly because of the reviews) and then set it aside.
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Now I need to go read some good crime.
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I enjoy those books! I read them eons ago.
Ruth wrote: "Ron wrote: "Barbara wrote: "Ron wrote: "Just finished Payment in Blood by Elizabeth George, an Inspector Lynley mystery. 2nd book ..."I agree Ruth, that the last few Lynley books were troublesome . I didn't like what Elizabeth George did with the character you have in mind t and I had problems with Lymley's behavior in the last couple of books as well. Maybe the series is winding down - deliberately or not.
Barbara wrote: "Ruth wrote: "Ron wrote: "Barbara wrote: "Ron wrote: "Just finished Payment in Blood by Elizabeth George, an Inspector Lynley myster..."Glad to know I'm not the only one.
Tom wrote: "I think that's a series I want to start from the beginning."I think that's a good idea for this character. Some series you can read out of sequence and not miss much but there is quite a bit of personal baggage added throughout this series that sets the tone for the following books. IMO much of the impact would be lost if you didn't know the history.
I've just finished The Grisha series by Leigh Bardugo (loved them) and am now reading Mystic Riverby Dennis Lehane for something completely different :)
I'm currently reading I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes. So far it has been very good. Before that I read Arc Light by Eric L. Harry. It was pretty good--I gave it three stars.
The Magician's Daughter is a quick read. Just the kind of book you want on a rainy day. The protagonist, Valentine Hill, is a quirky young woman making a living doing magic, mostly on street corners. She's smart, funny and gutsy, (my kind of heroine). She gets her smarts, but not her ethics, from her con-artist mother. Valentine's ethics come from her beloved departed Aunt June who raised her. Valentine's Holy Grail is factual information about her birthdate, birthplace, and the identity of her never-present father, whom she believes was a magician. Only her mother, who changed this information each time she used Valentine in a new scam, knows the truth that will allow Valentine to get a social security card, instead of the library cards she uses for identification, and a sense of who she is. The search for her mother takes Valentine on a wild ride into San Francisco where she encounters danger, deceit, and a very compelling guy whose identity changes as often as hers does.
I finished The English Spy by Daniel Silva. Israeli spy Gabriel Allon blames bomb-maker Quinn for the death of his first wife and child. In this fast-paced thriller Gabriel's out to find and kill the terrorist. 4 stars.My complete review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I just finished the grittiest crime novel I've read all year and, for what it's worth, I really liked it. Karl Craven, the star of Solomon's Vineyard, likes it rough, whatever it happens to be. He may not be able to spell misogyny, racism or homophobia but he sure knows how to do them. That said, this is a gritty hard-boiled pulp that was written in 1941 and banned from publication until 1988. The review is here. Now please excuse me while I go take a shower.
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Started on the girl who kicked a hornets nest
I'm currently reading Stephen King's Dark Tower series. I'm on the 6th book, and let me tell you. This series is a doozy! My brain is gonna need a break after this, I'll need to read something light, like a nice murder mystery. :)
I'm currently reading Stephen King's Dark Tower series. I'm on the 6th book, and let me tell you. This series is a doozy! My brain is gonna need a break after this, I'll need to read something light, like a nice murder mystery. :)
I was reading THE CUCKOO'S CALLING by Galbraith, but put it down after a sparkling beginning started to drag. Now I'm racing through Catriona McPherson's brilliant THE CHILD GARDEN.
I finished The Private Patient by P.D. James. An investigative journalist has plastic surgery to remove a facial scar after which she's brutally murdered. Adam Dalgliesh and his team investigate. Not one of P.D. James best books. 3 stars.My complete review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I finished The Company of Cats by Marian Babson. When a multi-millionaire leaves his fortune to a cat shenanigans ensue. 3.5 stars.My complete review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Okay I got these finshThe Cat Who Could Read Backwards by Lilian Jackson Braun First book i ever read from this person and I liked it going have to try the rest of her seires in this
Zoo by James Patterson really didnt like this one at all which is a shock since I usely love all JP books but this one not so good
The Good Sister by Wendy Corsi Staub I really loved this one. IMO this is the best book I read from her. I couldnt put it down which shock me because most of her books with me is a slow read
Now I am reading this
The Stranger by Harlan Coben On page 50 right now hopeful to get it finsh this weekend so far i like it
Capital Crimes by Jonathan Kellerman I am on page 100 and I am loving this
first book i read from both Jonthan & Faye I am so going have to check books out from them again!
After I get these two done I will be read
The Escape by David Baldacci
Along with The Hero of Ages, I started The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair. It looks interesting, but I'm curious to see why some people are disappointed by it.
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I love that series. Some time ago my daughter and I listened to the entire series on CD, and then I went back and reread each novel in book form. She's actually rereading the series right now.
Just finished and really enjoyed Rubbernecker
. A crime story with a slow burn using a couple of unique POVs. The author used some of my own preconceived notions to lead me astray.
I am halfway through The Memory Painter. I like the story so far. There are some interesting characters when the "painter" goes back in time. He paints his past lives."What if there was a drug that could help you remember your past lives?
What if the lives you remember could lead to your one true love?
What if you learned, that for thousands of years, a deadly enemy has conspired to keep the two of you apart?"
Nancy wrote: "I've finished Mr. Bazalgette's Agent, one of the British Library Crime Classics. Huzzah!"How many stars is 'Huzzah!'?
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How many stars is 'Huzzah!'?"
3.5 or so give or take a tenth or two.
I just finished these two books:The Memory Painter
"What if there was a drug that could help you remember your past lives?
What if the lives you remember could lead to your one true love?
What if you learned, that for thousands of years, a deadly enemy has conspired to keep the two of you apart?"
That was on the back cover and it intrigued me. What if you were able to dream your past lives? In this book a man dreams them and paints them. It's a mystery to be solved because the same people occur over and over throughout their lives. The mystery is the villain and why he/she has been after them for all those centuries. There are a lot of interesting tid bits in this book throughout history. From the Great Pyramids to monks in China, a famous painter, a violin maker, the Japanese custom of tooth blackening to adventurers and more.
I enjoyed learning about their past lives and how it tied everyone together.
And I finished Monkeewrench
I really enjoyed this mystery about a serial killer has decided to play out the murders from a computer game. There were some great characters and not a lot of gore.
Now I am reading Boo about a boy who dies and tells us all about the place he has gone to.
"When Oliver "Boo" Dalrymple wakes up in heaven, the eighth-grade science geek thinks he died of a heart defect at his school. But soon after arriving in this hereafter reserved for dead thirteen-year-olds, Boo discovers he’s a 'gommer', a kid who was murdered. What’s more, his killer may also be in heaven. With help from the volatile Johnny, a classmate killed at the same school, Boo sets out to track down the mysterious Gunboy who cut short both their lives.
In a heartrending story written to his beloved parents, the odd but endearing Boo relates his astonishing heavenly adventures as he tests the limits of friendship, learns about forgiveness and, finally, makes peace with the boy he once was and the boy he can now be."
I just finished
by Becky Masterman. There is an interesting older female protagonist who is a retired FBI special agent. She is contacted by the new agent working a serial killer case for her opinion. This was an open case when she retired from the FBI and has been an obsession with her since. I enjoyed this book and will read the second in this series.
Could someone tell me how to leave the pictures of the books here? Sorry. I'm somewhat of a newb in the participation department
Amy wrote: "Could someone tell me how to leave the pictures of the books here? Sorry. I'm somewhat of a newb in the participation department "If you are on a computer browser you will see a add book/author at the top of the text box. click on that and search for the book you want to add. Once it is selected, there is an option at the bottom to insert the title as either a 'link' or a 'cover'. Select cover.
Amy wrote: "Could someone tell me how to leave the pictures of the books here? Sorry. I'm somewhat of a newb in the participation department "Hi Amy,
You click on the link add book/author (right above the comment box) and type in the book. Choose cover at the bottom and when you see the book you want, click on add.
Thank you both, Tom and Crystal, so much! I am often on my mobile so that explains a lot. Thanks for your help again, I will be sure to switch to at least my browser when not on my laptop. Hugs...Amy
The Spellman FilesConsumed the Spellman Files in one sitting. Most of you know the story. A dysfunctional family of PIs in San Francisco. Very entertaining - a fun read. Very large on the character development and back story, but light on the detecting. Certainly not noir, but hardly meant to be.
Bad Things HappenLast week, I read the first of Harry Dolan's David Loogan books (Bad Things Happen). A most enjoyable read - a good "who done it" with a great (and likable) main protagonist (perhaps a bit too perfect? prints like a typewriter, etc.).
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The Mystery, Crime, and Thriller Group
Books mentioned in this topic
A Dirty Job (other topics)Secondhand Souls (other topics)
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The Black Dahlia (other topics)
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Christopher Moore (other topics)Jeffery Deaver (other topics)
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Vince Flynn (other topics)
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I don't think you'll be a..."
Not a top favorite of mine either, unfortunately. It had promise and I'll agree that lots of the writing was moving but the shifting timelines and the shifting between characters made it seem like he was trying too hard to be "literary".