What should we read next?

[Erin]

Okay, folks! It's about that time of year again when we start looking for new books to add to our group "To Read" shelf. So I'm looking for your thoughts and recommendations.

What books do you want to read as a group?

It's kind of a tricky question because we're not just talking about recommending a great book to a friend (though please, share those too!!). What have you read that you considered complex and interesting, that called out to be analyzed and discussed? Maybe something that you didn't absolutely love right off the bat, but grew to appreciate with thought. Maybe something that reminded you of several other books you've read...but in the way that it made you want to compare and contrast for how it was handled rather than write it off as having borrowed plots.

Let's get our thinking caps on and throw around some ideas!

[Kathryn]

I have enjoyed these two books, and have read all the available books in the two series.

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley
The Sunday Philosophy Club by Alexander McCall Smith

[Linda]

It's not a mystery but a fabulous read with complex and wonderful characters. "THe Supremes and Big Earl's All-You-Can-Eat."

[Carole]

We've already read Sweetness.

[Lesley]

What about A DUTY TO THE DEAD by Charles Todd which is the first book in the Bess Crawford series. Also the prequel to the Ian Rutledge series just came out, A FINE SUMMER'S DAY? We could read the first in the Crowther and Westerman series by Imogen Robertson?

[KarenB]

Laurie mentioned Ben Aaronovitch's series and having just read the first, Midnight Riot (Rivers of London, UK title) I would recommend it. It's a police procedural with supernatural elements. Off-beat, funny, and original.

[Merrily]

I suggest Ruth Rendell's "The Girl Next Door." This is a terrific psychological novel about the impact the discovery of a long-ago murder has upon a group of elderly friends (who were children at the time of the killing). There IS a mystery - a pair of lovers were killed by the woman's jealous husband, but we don't know exactly who the male victim was - but it's less important than how a pair of skeletal hands in a biscuit box, uncovered at a building site, reach out to cause life-changing repercussions in the present. The characters involved are interesting and complex and I think a read of this book would lead to a good VBC discussion!

[Carol]

I second Merrily's suggestion. Rendell has written a novel that appeals on so many levels. There is a mystery there, but her deft and insightful character studies make this a good choice for the group.

[Merrily]

Carol wrote: "I second Merrily's suggestion. Rendell has written a novel that appeals on so many levels. There is a mystery there, but her deft and insightful character studies make this a good choice for the ..."

Carol, I listened to it as an audio book and it was amazing! And speaking for myself it was nice to read a book in which the protagonists were older adults...

[Kay]

Several of the suggestions sounded good to me: I read the two Charles Todd novels within the last year. My preference is A Duty to the Dead. However, I am also a fan of Ruth Rendell. I did try one of the Ben Aronovich series - but didn't finish. I am willing to give them another try!

[Kay]

Sorry! One correction: Aaronovitch not Aronovich.

[Merrily]

Kay wrote: "Sorry! One correction: Aaronovitch not Aronovich."

I like the Aaronovich books a lot - it's a very clever concept, mixing a Scotland Yard procedural in with a world in which magic is a reality. And of course I love the concept of having all the waterways in and around London personified by the gods and goddesses of the rivers and streams. (For those of you who haven't read them, I know it sounds odd but it works...)

[Lenore]

I haven't read the Ruth Rendell book, but from Merrily's description, I think it sounds really good. (And we know it's available in audio, which is important to at least one of us -- me!)

[Laura]

Either book sounds ok to me. I would like to suggest that in the late summer or fall we read the new Harper Lee book. We've had enough interest in it in the last 2 weeks that we could have a good discussion.

[Lenore]

Laura wrote: "Either book sounds ok to me. I would like to suggest that in the late summer or fall we read the new Harper Lee book. We've had enough interest in it in the last 2 weeks that we could have a good..."

Oh, yes, when it's out.

[MaryL]

Several years ago we talked about maybe reading Thirteenth Night by Alan Gordon. I'd like to throw it in the ring again. It is a clever start to a series that postulates the Fool's Guild was responsible for a number of Shakespeare's basic plots in that WS is re-telling stories handed down from previous ages. There are layers on layers of mysteries, a cynical older narrator, excellent depictions of Medieval times, and tremendously well researched while being a captivating read.

[Emily]

The Rennie Airth mysteries are also quite good. They are a little dark (as are the Charles Todd books), but I felt that they were ultimately warmer than they seemed at the start.

[Linda]

I cast my vote for Ruth Rendell,not that I don't like Charles Todd, I do! But that synopsis sounds absolutely yummy.

[Margaret]

I loved Thirteenth Night. Wish it and the sequels were available in audio.

[Erin]

KarenB wrote: "Laurie mentioned Ben Aaronovitch's series and having just read the first, Midnight Riot (Rivers of London, UK title) I would recommend it. It's a police procedural with supernatural elements. Off-b..."

I didn't catch Laurie's mention of this series, Karen, but I absolutely love these books!

[Erin]

Laura wrote: "Either book sounds ok to me. I would like to suggest that in the late summer or fall we read the new Harper Lee book. We've had enough interest in it in the last 2 weeks that we could have a good..."

Agree, Laura. Especially considering how much participation we had for TKaM.

[Sabrina]

Didn't someone mention that Station Eleven would be a different sort of book to read for the mystery book, but the discussion would probably be interesting?

[Erin]

Sabrina wrote: "Didn't someone mention that Station Eleven would be a different sort of book to read for the mystery book, but the discussion would probably be interesting?"

Oh yeah, good call Sabrina. Laurie mentioned this one a few months ago as a really interesting read.

[John]

I am certainly a fan of Thirteenth Night and the rest of the Fool's Guild novels; I guess the problem remains of how accessible copies of the book are.
I am also liked very much Station Eleven; it was off beat enough to be right up my alley!

[Lenore]

I'm intrigued by Station Eleven. I'm on the waitlist for the audio version at two libraries.

[Lenore]

I'm listening to Station Eleven now and I'm blown away!

[C.P.]

Has the group ever read any of Tasha Alexander's Lady Emily novels? I like most of them, but Death in the Floating City and A Fatal Waltz are particularly good.

[John]

I have read all of the Lady Emily books, C.P., and have enjoyed them all. Tasha's newest one should be out in the fall, I think.

[KarenB]

I've just finished Station Eleven and while I think the writing is wonderful, the plotting left something to be desired. It would be an interesting book for a discussion, since there is quite a lot in there worth talking over.

[Erin]

KarenB wrote: "I've just finished Station Eleven and while I think the writing is wonderful, the plotting left something to be desired. It would be an interesting book for a discussion, since there is quite a lot..."

It's our discussion pick for July, Karen!

[Laura]

Erin wrote: "Okay, folks! It's about that time of year again when we start looking for new books to add to our group "To Read" shelf. So I'm looking for your thoughts and recommendations.

What books do you w..."
I saw a review from my local independent book store for Susan Hill's Simon Serrailler series. It looks interesting.

I would suggest "The Last Runaway" by Tracey Chevailer? It's not a mystery but has mystery& crime elements in it. I loved it because of the characters and the time setting. As a Quaker I felt it was fairly accurate to what I know of Quaker practices around the Underground Railroad. If it doesn't fit for the group I recommend it.

Also Kimberly MCreight who wrote "Reconstructing Amelia" has a new book "Where They Found Her" I have not even read the back cover but I did see it on the new book shelf at the library.

[John]

Laura wrote: "Erin wrote: "Okay, folks! It's about that time of year again when we start looking for new books to add to our group "To Read" shelf. So I'm looking for your thoughts and recommendations.

What b..."


I am currently finishing up reading Where They Found Her, and am finding it to be another idiosyncratic, very interesting, read.

[Anne]

I have been working my way through the Susan Hill Simon Serrailler series, it is really enjoyable. I have also been reading a series by Barbara Cleverly, the Joe Sandilands series. It takes place in British controlled India between the first and second World War. It is fascinating and so much of the information applies to modern world problems in that region. Closer to home, Jeffrey Deaver's series is great if you love crime scene investigation. Lincoln Rimes was a great investigator who is now paralyzed from the neck down due to an accident. For a historical look at the civil rights movement in the south Greg Iles' Penn Cage mysteries are also good. They involve solving cold case murders in Natchez and Louisiana of blacks. And of course, the history still affects the modern day characters.

[Emily]

Would the group consider a departure from mysteries in order to read one or more books that would illuminate the background to the Russell series? Maybe books about WWI, post-war British society, or places Russell and Holmes visit?

[Laura]

Gleodream wrote: "Would the group consider a departure from mysteries in order to read one or more books that would illuminate the background to the Russell series? Maybe books about WWI, post-war British society, o..."

Great idea.Maybe Laurie can suggest some books for us.

[Susan Pola]

Donna Leon has a new Commissario Brunetti, Falling In Love, that I just checked out from library. I'll start it as soon as I finish Rodin's Lover and Lady in Gold. What about Donna Leon's and Lady in Gold (Klimt portrait of Adele Block-Bauer?

[Erin]

Laura wrote: "Gleodream wrote: "Would the group consider a departure from mysteries in order to read one or more books that would illuminate the background to the Russell series? Maybe books about WWI, post-war ..."

Yes, of course! We've done this a few times. We've read Testament of Youth (which is an absolutely amazing WWI memoir) as a Russell/WWI background book. We did Kim as a precursor/related read for GAME. And we did The Things They Carried when we read Keeping Watch. All great discussion reads.

I'll ask Laurie if she has any other Russell background books we might read as a group.

[LindaH]

Has anyone read the new Edgar winner, The Figure of the Detective: A Literary History and Analysis?

[Anne]

I just won a first reads copy from Goodreads by Lindsay Faye, will let you know if it is good.

[Antoinette]

Susan wrote: "Donna Leon has a new Commissario Brunetti, Falling In Love, that I just checked out from library. I'll start it as soon as I finish Rodin's Lover and Lady in Gold. What about Donna Leon's and Lad..."

I'll read anything that Donna Leon writes.

[Laura]

I just remembered that we talked about readin the new Harper Lee book after it is published in July