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Currently Reading? Just Finished? 2015
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Sharon
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Jan 23, 2015 03:36PM
Finished both Aftershock: A Thriller and Shockwave: A Thriller. Liked both of them, the first book better than the second. Some parallels with the Burke series, though the main character comes from a military background and is married, small town background rather than city. The usual vivid characterizations I expect from this author and very edgy writing, with the plots revolving around seriously bleak social issues. Not as grimly pessimistic as the Burke series, but far from light reading.
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See Them Run by Stacy GreenMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Wow! Stacy Green sure doesn't pull her punches.
This book had me holding my breath..........
In See Them Run, Lucy Kendall, self appointed avenger for abused children, has discovered a child trafficking ring operating in Philadelphia.
She sets out to bust it open, single-handed, not wanting to involve those she has come to care about in something that may bring about her downfall.
Can't wait for April and the release of Lucy Kendall #3 Gone to Die.
View all my reviews
Skye wrote: "I just finished Dark Places"< What did you think Skye?
I couldn't finish. Could see where it was going and the style was the same as Gone Girl.
Finished VictimsAm currently reading:-
Deliver Us From Evil started yesterday
And
Stay Close though i think I have read this already so is a re read
I have started reading The Thirteen Problems by Agatha Christie. It is my first in Miss Marple series.(Couldn't find the first book.) The Tuesday Night Club gathers once a week to solve mysteries. One of the members tells the others about a mystery to which he already know the answer to. The members of the club have to solve the mystery with the facts they've been given. So far score one for Miss Marple.
I love this book so far. I like how Christie portrays Miss Marple. She is underestimated by her peers but she manages to surprise everyone at the end.
I wish this group had a challenge like this. It would have been cool to solve a mystery, not just read about it.
Charlotte (Buried in Books) wrote: "This weekend I want to try and finish Unlucky 13 by James Patterson, The Darkest Passion by Gena Showalter and [book:The Castle of Otrant..."I read Unlucky 13 last month. It isn't my favorite of the series. I found the Yuki and Brady story arc to be unnecessary. It really didn't add anything to the plot. It was as if the author just wanted to add another story to drag the book.
Unfortunately it's a common occurrence with a lot of the Women's Murder Club books. A real need to throw as many storylines as possible into them.
I just finished a reread of The Goldfinch, and if possible, I enjoyed it even more than the first time I read it. Now I am reading The Preacher, the second in the Patrik Hedstrom series by Camilla Lackberg. I enjoyed the first in the series and am hoping that this will also be a good read.
Firstly Dave, thanks for the review copy of your book, two months before release.
After thoroughly enjoying the first book, I was pleased with the opportunity to read Dave's second book, and number two in the Peter Savage books.
First chapter had me a little confused, but when I started the second chapter, I just could not stop reading, the pace built up very quickly and stayed action packed, suspenseful, gripping, tense all the way through to a action packed conclusion.
Dave's knowledge and background helps so much with the stories, but it is the action and tense and touching moments that make this so good, you know Peter Savage and his background, his friends and his good friend James Nicolau and his team, all great characters.
I do believe there is quite a bit of Dave Edlund in our hero Peter Savage.
I look forward to number three, and will be happy to review this book Dave !
Highly recommended, but start with number one Crossing Savage, then enjoy this one
Started reading
today & obtained a copy of the movie of the same name.
I finished Zoo by James Patterson, which I loved 5 stars worth, and A Stranger Magic by D.C. Akers, 3 stars but I think it was young adult. Now I'm reading Deadline by John Sandford and Swamp Bones: A Novella by Kathy Reichs.
Currently reading Killer About halfway and finding it the usual entertaining, professional read I expect of the author.
Just finished
California Fire and Life
. It isn't a bad way to become acquainted with Don Winslow, and is perhaps a better start than
The Death and Life of Bobby Z
for established fans to explore the roots of his SoCal/surfer noir works. The arson angle makes for a different sort of crime story, and the words go down like a fresh margarita. Four stars.Read the full review here.
Now reading Tapping the Source .
IT Can Be DangerousGenre: Murder / Mystery / Thriller / Suspense / Crime / Detective / IT
Rating: 3 Star
Review: IT Can Be Dangerous
A murder in an IT firm and an innocent programmer becomes suspect
Sunny Side UpGenre: Murder / Mystery / Suspense / Crime / Series / Cozy Mystery
Rating: 3 Star
Review: Sunny Side Up (Lake Erie Mysteries Book 1)
A cozy murder mystery of two ladies investigating to save a innocent suspect
Never SpokenGenre: YA / New Adult / Romance / Thriller / Short Story
Rating: 5 Star
Review: Never Spoken
A love triangle in a completely different dimension
Cause of DeathGenre: Murder / Mystery / Thriller / Crime / Serial Killer / Psychological Crime / Detective / Series
Rating: 3 Star
Review: Cause of Death (Det. Annie Avants #1)
A serial killer who kills using black widow bites and Annie Avants on his prowl
Mod
What is with the big Hollywood type endings in newer crime novels?
Sharon wrote: "Currently reading Killer About halfway and finding it the usual entertaining, professional read I expect of the author."
I liked that one as well.
I liked that one as well.
Just finished
which I got as a free download. Marketed as a cozy, but leans toward a more standard small town police procedural, which is good for me.
Hard PlayGenre: Murder / Mytery / Crime / Thriller / Detective
Rating: 3 Star
Review: Hard Play
A murder mystery with an unconventional detective
Mod
Just finished "Shatter" by Michael Robotham. Gut wrenching!Currently reading:
"You're Next" by Gregg Hurwitz
"Ice Station" by Matthew Reilly
Mod
A) I ended up liking it
B) I deserve a medal
C) I'm going to go read something very light now.
Sounds like you've earned it!
Mod
He's very, no strike that, excruciatingly verbose!
Finished Swamp Bones and it was pretty good.
I finished The Reckoning by Rennie Airth. Retiree Oswald Gibson is shot in Sussex, England while he's fishing. The killing is similar to the recent murder of an elderly doctor in Scotland. Investigation reveals that before his death Oswald wrote - but didn't send - a letter inquring about John Madden, a former Scotland Yard detective. As more old men are killed DI Styles of Scotland Yard asks retired John Madden to help with the investigation. It's discovered that 30 years before, during WWI, all the dead men were soldiers and served in the same region of France as did John Madden - though Madden has no memory of the victims. It turns out that all the men were involved in the same unfortunate army incident. Styles and his team try to learn more about the the occurrence but the records are sealed.
The detectives question acquaintances of the victims and gather clues that explain the killing rampage. The murderer, though, is adept at concealing identity and is difficult to catch. This leads to an engaging game of cat and mouse between Scotland Yard and the murderer.
Eventually all is revealed and the killer is cornered. The story brings home the horror of war and the suffering caused by PTSD, which was unrecognized during WWI. The characters in the story are well-rounded and the story held my attention. Plus, it was good to see one of the early (fictional) female detectives hold her own at Scotland Yard.
Just finished
. Very enjoyable. Review to follow.Just started
Susan Hill, I love your Simon Serrailler series.This is the second book in the series I have read and thoroughly enjoyed. Please read the series in order, otherwise you might be a bit lost as to relationships, etc.
DCI Simon Serrailler is on a painting holiday in Venice when he is called home to the bedside of his dying youngest sister, Martha.
Returning to work early, he is thrust into a case where a little boy disappears from outside his home while waiting to be collected from school.
The Pure in Heart is neither a thriller nor a whodunnit, but a crime novel arising out of character and circumstance. Susan Hill says she is intrigued by the psychology of crime, and this definitely shines through in her writing.
If you like a novel that careers through its plot at 100mph, then this is probably not for you.
But if you like cleverly crafted stories with wonderful character development, you will love this one!
Mod
Just finished Spider Woman's Daughter by Anne Hillerman. This is her first novel, taking up the mantel of her father Tony Hillerman. The transition is seamless. The writing is good, the plotting is good, the characters are full bodied. I enjoyed it. Gave it 4 stars.
Sandra wrote: "Susan Hill, I love your Simon Serrailler series.This is the second book in the series I have read and thoroughly enjoyed. Please read the series in order, otherwise you might be a bit lost as to ..."
I've read one of this series and enjoyed. I do like her writing style. I found this series after reading The Woman in Black. I plan to read more of the series as well.
Michael wrote: "Just finished Spider Woman's Daughter by Anne Hillerman. "The library has this one and have put it on hold. I've always liked the original Hillerman mysteries.
I finished The Handsome Man's Deluxe Café by Alexander McCall Smith.In this 15th book in the series Mma Ramotswe has made her assistant, Mma Makutsi - now happily married with a new baby - a partner in the "No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency." This makes little difference in Mma Makutsi's job, however, since business is sparse. Economic problems also make it necessary for Mma Ramotswe's husband - who owns a garage - to fire his apprentice Charlie.
Feeling bad for Charlie Mma Ramotswe hires him for her agency - a chancy idea since Charlie would rather chase ladies than work.
Meanwhile Mma Ramotswe is looking into the case of an Indian woman, called "Mrs.", who lost her memory. Mrs. has been taken in by Indian siblings who hire Mma Ratowswe to find out who she is before she's deported.
Also on Mma Ramotswe's mind is a new project of Mma Makutski, who has decided to open an upscale cafe. Unfortunately Mma Makutski makes some unfortunate hiring and menu decisions.
As always in this series the story meanders along, with many cups of tea and homey chit-chat. There's little mystery or detective work in this book. It's more of an update about what the characters are up to. Still, fans of the series will probably enjoy it.
Sharon wrote: "Michael wrote: "Just finished Spider Woman's Daughter by Anne Hillerman. "The library has this one and have put it on hold. I've always liked the original Hillerman mysteries."
I like the Tony Hillerman books too. I'll have to give this one a try.
Barbara wrote: "I like the Tony Hillerman books too. I'll have to give this one a try...."
If you like the Hillerman books, you may like the Gabriel DuPre series by Peter Bowen (older series, he's no longer writing). The main character is a brand inspector rather than actual law enforcement, but a great deal of Native American involvement.
You might also like the Craig Johnson series as well, which have a strong Native American thread in some of them.
I am enjoying
by David Downing very much. I like the setting, pre WWII Germany. In some ways, it's a very scary book, must have been like that living then, not knowing what might happen next. I'm just about to start the second Department Q mystery,
by Jussi Adler-Olsen. I enjoyed the first one very much.
Just finished You're Next by Gregg Hurwitz. First time for this author, but won't be the last. A solid 3 stars.After about three thrillers in a row, I'm up for a change of pace. So I'm starting in on The Alien Years by Robert Silverberg. Close encounters gone amok.
One of my aims for this year is to get through as many James Patterson books as possible (because I have shedloads in the house courtesy of my oldest sister). Just finished number 4 for the year so far. Private was pretty good. One of the great things about Pattersons books is they are so quick to read, this one really held my interest. There were no crazy storylines (that have marred some of his work).The drawback was that I've already gone out and bought the next in the series.
The past few weeks have been good to me:"Rediscovered" an old author of my younger days - Brian Garfield, and reread his Hopscotch, Kolchak's Gold, Recoil, and Death Wish. Enjoyed all of them. Before picking them up i wondered whether time had surrounded Garfield with a glow. But no, he was every bit as good as i remembered.
Had a surprisingly good time with both the books of Robert Galbraith. (S)he writes with the elegance and unhurry of days gone by. Modern authors, whom I enjoy also, have a dearth of phrases like
"knowing that he was heading into penury, he had been determined to travel there in the cheapest fashion."
And
"Duffield and his cohorts' apparent unselfconsciousness was, Strike recognized, nothing but expert artifice; they had, all of them, the hyper-alertness of the prey animal combined with the casual arrogance of the predators."
I just finished The Silkworm, which was excellent, and Whistling Past the Graveyard, which was also very good. Next up is The Stonecutter, the 3rd in Camilla Lackberg's Hedstrom series. I have high hopes for it.
Prakash wrote: ""Rediscovered" an old author of my younger days - Brian Garfield, and reread his Hopscotch, Kolchak's Gold, Recoil, and Death Wish. Enjoyed all of them. Before picking them up i wondered whether time had surrounded Garfield with a glow. But no, he was every bit as good as i remembered."Hopscotch is one of my long-appreciated favorites, re-read often. I even saw the movie made from the book and liked it very much, which is almost unknown for me. I also do remember reading and liking the others, may have to search them out again as well.
Has anyone read
. Getting into it. Took me over my 50 page limit,but now I have to find out what happens, but I've a good idea WHO!
This month I'm reading Farewell, My Lovely. Till now, a good novel, but I'm a little worry about a repetitive pattern in this series.
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