The Mystery, Crime, and Thriller Group discussion
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Currently reading? Just finished? 2022
The Book of the Most Precious Substance by Sara Gran
First I've read by her. Not sure if it will turn into mystery, fantasy or horror or a combination, but the first person narration has drawn me in quickly. Feels good after bouncing off a couple of books I think I'd like if in a different frame of mind.
First I've read by her. Not sure if it will turn into mystery, fantasy or horror or a combination, but the first person narration has drawn me in quickly. Feels good after bouncing off a couple of books I think I'd like if in a different frame of mind.
A Dead Man in Tangier
by MIchael PearceSeymour of the Yard #4, OK to read as a standalone. I'm reading the series in order and this is so far the best one. Exciting, fun with fascinating information about Tangier and Morocco in 1912. In case you don't know Seymour is his last name and the Yard is Scotland Yard. I liked it a lot, 4 stars.
Now working my way through BORN FOR TROUBLE, the latest collection of short stories by Joe R. Lansdale featuring his usual team of Hap Collins and Leonard Pine.
I finished In Place of Fear by Catriona McPherson
A wonderful piece of historical fiction with great characters. Here's my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
And yes, there is a good mystery too!
Cherry/Cerise returns to her hometown to which she vowed never to return. 2 of 5 stars
My review for this book can be read below.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Stranglehold
by Ed GormanDev Conrad #2, OK to read as a standalone. Conrad is a political consultant and troubleshooter working on a Senate campaign when things start to go very wrong. Realistic characters, exciting plot and some humor -- the book's a keeper. 4 stars.
I just finished Local Gone Missing
Not as good as her prior books. My 3.5 star review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I've had limited reading time since we got home but I did manage to finish Death on the Nile. Solidly good, as I expected. I'm thinking about the latest version of the film with Kenneth Branagh, and realized they added another subplot or two that was never in the book.
I've finished once more "Suspect" by Robert Crais (2013) which I already read in 2014 (and reading this thriller way back then ultimately lead to us getting a German shepherd dog :)). It's the suspenseful story of an injured LAPD cop called Scott who gets matched with a traumatized female K-9 dog called Maggie who lost her previous handler.
The special thing about the book: it's not only told from the male protagonist's point of view, but also in parts from the dog's point of view.
I can highly recommend it and rated it 5 stars.
Now starting THE BURGLAR IN SHORT ORDER, a collection of short stories and essays by Lawrence Block that feature his erudite and crafty NYC thief named Bernie Rhodenbarr.
I read A Judge's Odyssey: From Vermont to Russia, Kazakhstan, and Georgia, Then on to War Crimes and Organ Trafficking in Kosovo by Dean B. PinelesIt is an autobiography of a lawyer who was a Vermont judge for 21 years and then went on to become a legal advisor and Judge in several different countries. I enjoyed it and rate it 4.5 stars rounded down.
The Younger Wife
Sally HepworthA May-December engagement between an older man and younger woman is complicated by a still-living wife with dementia and two grown daughters.
Good domestic drama. 3 stars
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Murder on the Yellow Brick Road
by Stuart KaminskyToby Peters #2, OK to read as a standalone. It's 1940, there's a dead munchkin at the MGM studio except the movie wrapped a year ago. and someone's trying to kill Judy Garland. Who you gonna call? Toby Peters, that's who. Another wonderful entry in the series -- complicated plot, hilarious dialogue, time-capsule characters (Raymond Chandler, Clark Gable) all make for an entertaining easy read.
See Them Die, by Michael Fowler, introduces forensic psychologist Dr. Hamlet Mottrell, who is lying in a hospital bed with bandaged wrists, accused of slaughtering his family. Not a bad start for a new psychological mystery series
3★ My review of See Them Die
As I hardly ever find appealing newly published crime novels, I'm reading right now the Jacob Lomax series by Michael Allegretto which he wrote in the late 1980's and early 1990's. The books are set in Denver, very suspenseful, but not as bloody and disgustingly graphic as most crime novels these days are.
Reading Why Didn't They Ask Evans? after seeing two different adaptations on tv. I started to watch the one with Miss Marple in it, but I quit not too far into it. I don't know what the writers of that version were thinking, but it's just plain awful, starting with the fact that Miss Marple wasn't even in that book and getting worse from there. The other two (the latest with Hugh Laurie and an older version from 1980) tend to follow the book more closely.
The Prodigal Spy
by Joseph KanonStory of the son of a spy and traitor, told from the perspective of the son -- first as a boy approx. 10 and then 20 years later. Way too slow, I quit half way through. Don't know how it turns out, don't care.
Araych wrote: "The Prodigal Spy
by Joseph Kanon
Story of the son of a spy and traitor, told from the perspective of the son -- first as a boy approx. 10 and then 20 years later..."
LOL! "Don't know how it turns out, don't care."
by Joseph KanonStory of the son of a spy and traitor, told from the perspective of the son -- first as a boy approx. 10 and then 20 years later..."
LOL! "Don't know how it turns out, don't care."
I just finished London Rules
I love this series. My four star review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Nancy wrote: "Reading Why Didn't They Ask Evans? after seeing two different adaptations on tv. I started to watch the one with Miss Marple in it, but I quit not too far into it. I don't know what the writers of..."How is the novel?
I finished my 57th book. Should be done with my 60th book by 5/1 and then have 120 more books to go until end of December.
Christine wrote: "I finished my 36th book"I guess we have more than one Christine as the other one said this today
Christine wrote: "I finished my 57th book. Should be done with my 60th book by 5/1 and then have 120 more books to go until end of December."
Christine wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Reading Why Didn't They Ask Evans? after seeing two different adaptations on tv. I started to watch the one with Miss Marple in it, but I quit not too far into it. I don't know what t..."
Just started it but so far so good.
Just started it but so far so good.
CBRetriever wrote: "Christine wrote: "I finished my 36th book"
I guess we have more than one Christine as the other one said this today
Christine wrote: "I finished my 57th book. Should be done with my 60th book by ..."
Yes, we do.
I guess we have more than one Christine as the other one said this today
Christine wrote: "I finished my 57th book. Should be done with my 60th book by ..."
Yes, we do.
Christine wrote: "I finished my 57th book. Should be done with my 60th book by 5/1 and then have 120 more books to go until end of December."
I know we have some pretty fast readers in the group, but that's a lot of books.
I know we have some pretty fast readers in the group, but that's a lot of books.
Nancy wrote: "Christine wrote: "I finished my 57th book. Should be done with my 60th book by 5/1 and then have 120 more books to go until end of December."I know we have some pretty fast readers in the group, ..."
a 300 page simple mystery w/o too many twists and turns is a day's reading for me. Sci-Fi that's technical will slow me down some as will non fiction. This is why ereaderiq is invaluable to me so I can afford to indulge my hobby
Both my wife and I read and enjoyed The Wedding Dress Sewing Circle by Jennifer RyanIt is historical fiction, set in WWII Britain. A group of women start a sewing group to mend a wedding dress, which grows into a group lending wedding dresses to prospective brides.
My 4 star review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
What a genre-busting delight The Nancys is! NZ author R.W.R. McDonald's debut is a funny, amateur-sleuth mystery with bright, young Tippy Chan and her over-the-top gay uncle and his beau.
4★ My review of The Nancys
I recently read Take It Back, the first of Kia Abdullah's popular new mystery series. Interesting premise: In London, a white, disabled girl accuses 4 Muslim boys of rape. Her lawyer is a beautiful, smart Muslim woman. Dilemma?
My review of Take It Back
CBRetriever wrote: "Christine wrote: "I finished my 36th book"I guess we have more than one Christine as the other one said this today
Christine wrote: "I finished my 57th book. Should be done with my 60th book by ..."
I'm Chrissie and joined around 2009.
Nancy wrote: "Christine wrote: "I finished my 57th book. Should be done with my 60th book by 5/1 and then have 120 more books to go until end of December."I know we have some pretty fast readers in the group, ..."
I had a few duds which I did not finish, but I counted them nevertheless.
Archie Meets Nero Wolfe
by Robert GoldsboroughThe Nero Wolfe books feature the eccentric detective and his assistant Archie Goodwin.
This book is a prequel that harks back to the depression, when nineteen-year-old Archie first arrives in New York City and (in time) meets Nero Wolfe.
Good story. 3.5 stars
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
T.F. Muir aka T. Frank Muir mysteries (books 7-10)The Killing Connection right now which is book 8. The books are set in St Andrews, Scotland and are pretty good
CBRetriever wrote: "T.F. Muir aka T. Frank Muir mysteries (books 7-10)The Killing Connection right now which is book 8. The books are set in St Andrews, Scotland and..."
Thank you so much for mentioning St. Andrews. My husband played golf in St. Andrews (the cradle of golf) twice and now he'll read those books.
I finished reading Delirium by Lauren Oliver. I’m going to to the second book in the trilogy called Pandemonium.
I finished rereading a book I loved as a child, The Littles by John Lawrence Peterson. I see why I loved it as a child.
Currently reading:
In Bloom by Fern Michaels, Lori Foster and Carolyn Brown
Forgotten by Nicole Trope
One of Us Is Dead by Jeneva Rose
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Books mentioned in this topic
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Authors mentioned in this topic
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Hurricane Season by Fernanda Melchor
Rating: 4 stars
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/r..."
and she has another one coming in May, Paradais. I don't know how she can top Hurricane Season.