The Mystery, Crime, and Thriller Group discussion
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Currently reading? Just finished? 2024
Finishing out the week with
Murder at Glenloch Hill by Clara McKenna https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
One Big Joke
by Laurence ShamesA paranoid comedian, a burnt-out comedy writer, a night club owner , a couple of dim-bulb gangsters, a couple of real gangers and various wives, girlfriends and hangers-on get caught up in a deadly and very funny mess in Key West. Luckily we have Burt The Shirt to save the day. Very cute comic mystery. I liked it -- 3 stars.
I just finished Deep Freeze, a futuristic, sci-fi about a secret government cryogenics program funded by a bunch of billionaires that want to live longer. Their test subject wakes up and is on the run and the billionaires are pissed.
- https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...I'm currently reading the sequel, Cold Storage, and the billionaires are still pissed and getting older and sicker and are trying to catch their "prototype" before a bunch of them die.
There's nothing like curling up with a cozy mystery and a cat!Claws of Death
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Lion Women of Tehran
was a strong historical fiction. My 4.5 star review:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I read Malibu Burning by Lee Goldberg It is book 1 in the series and I recommend it. My 4 star review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Close to Death
by Anthony HorowitzThe premise of this series is that (real life) writer Anthony Horowitz chronicles the investigations of (fictional) PI Daniel Hawthorne.
In this book, Horowitz writes up one of Hawthorne's old cases, in which a homeowner - who was unpopular with his neighbors - was murdered.
Great book for mystery lover who enjoy complex creative plots.
3.5 stars
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Hold Strong
is one of my favorites of the year. My five star review:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Spy Coast by Tess Gerritsen is an exciting start to a new series featuring retired spies.review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Home Is Where the Lies Live
by Kerry WilkinsonWhen a couple moves to a new neighborhood, they're soon involved with the secrets and drama of the residents.
Engrossing suspense novel. 3 stars
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Roads Chosen:
I've read a stacks of thrillers and almost always I've been sunk into hours of yawning at the utter implausibility of the plot and the actions within. In most cases, I've put the book aside before its ending; and searching for better choices why I joined Goodreads. In following reviews that contain some level of critical analysis, already I'm unearthing better books. The Roads Chosen is so real and, for me, sits so far above the outlandish yarns that the big publishing houses tell us is from "a master storyteller and the best you'll ever read".
I've no idea why The Roads Chosen was not picked up by a mainstream publishing house and backed by a glowing review from a broadsheet, it deserves such attention.
A thriller grounded in the real life issues for the peoples of Eastern Europe/Central Asia and simply bolted to the factual issues affecting real people. Yet still able to lace a riveting plot line around organised crime, intelligence gathering and systemic abuse of young people.
The most grounded, suspenseful thriller I've ever read.
I've finished The Compound by Robin Mahle
I couldn't find the 'nail-biting tension' and the 'breath-taking suspense' unfortunately: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Black Hand
by Will ThomasBarker and Llewelyn #5, in which ( in 1885 ) they are tasked by HM Government to search out the incursion of the Mafia into London and eliminate this threat. This is another fine entry in the series which is an atmospheric thriller as well as a history lesson. Very well done historical thriller -- 4 stars.
⭐⭐.5 for Scottish crime thriller
Deadfall: The enthralling Scottish crime thriller https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I always enjoy Australian Aboriginal author Tony Birch's excellent writing, often short stories, and his recent novel, Women & Children is another winner. This takes place in a Melbourne suburb in the 1960s, and although he says this isn't him and his family, I suspect it's awfully close. Great read.
My review of Women & Children
I'm not a reader of Oscar Wilde, but I enjoyed his short fairy tale, or whatever you'd call it, The Fisherman and his Soul, which was a recent Goodreads group The Short Story Club choice.
My review of The Fisherman and his Soul
I kicked off the week with
Wedding Bride and Doom by Mary Karnes https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I've tried to read Murder on the Menu by Katie Marsh
Despite the great cover and the great first chapter, I didn't finish the book: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Just finished: 5 starsThe Roads Chosen:
Book and Dagger
by Elyse GrahamNONFICTION. Fascinating history of how academics, professors, librarians and others made a major contribution to winning WW II through their part in the war's spycraft and intelligence gathering and evaluation. Highly recommended. 5 stars.
Killing Time
by M.C. Beaton and R.W. GreenIn this addition to the Agatha Raisin series, the private detective investigates burglary, murder, and death threats. The book works fine as a standalone.
Fun cozy mystery. 3.5 stars
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Christine wrote: "I finished my 98th book"Nice going Christine. 😊
I read A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage by Asia Mackay. It is an unusual mystery. My 3.5 star review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Their Chosen Way (The Roads Chosen Trilogy #3)
Head Cases
was a fun thriller with a FBI crew. My four star review:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Save the Last Dance for Me
by Ed GormanSam McCain #4. It's 1960 and Richard Nixon is running for president against John Kennedy. His next stop is Black River Falls, Iowa but before he arrives there's a little trouble. The snake-handling anti-Catholic anti-Semitic religious kooks are out in force. And what looks like a heart attack is actually murder. Very cute entry in the series with lots of 60's nostalgia on display. I liked it -- 3 stars.
Robert Dugoni proves he can tackle any style. A Killing on the Hill
is a golden age murder mystery. My four star review:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I have begun reading Nightmare Range by Martin Limon. It is 16 short stories set in South Korea featuring CID agents Sueno and Bascom. 
Araych wrote: "Book and Dagger by Elyse GrahamNONFICTION. Fascinating history of how academics, profes..."
I just picked up this book.
NoHo: Wisdom Tree 5 (for North Hollywood), is where the fifth novella of the The Wisdom Tree collection takes place. Nick Earls is an Aussie author, and I have to say I'm now a real fan. Each story is narrated by a different actor, and all are excellent. They were published separately, but they've now produced an audio and a Kindle ebook edition of the whole collection.
My review of NoHo Wisdom Tree #5
I have also long been a fan of Aussie crime/mystery author Michael Robotham. Professor Joe O'Loughlin is a London psychologist who works as a profiler with the police. There is some blood and gore (well, serial killers are notoriously messy, aren't they?) but it's never the focus, and there are other crimes. Watching You is #7 in the Joseph O'Loughlin series, but you could enjoy it as a standalone.
My review of Watching You
COVID Stories from India: Long Road Home
4 star. Feel good Short story at the sidelines of Covid.
My review here - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I'm finishing out November with
Ashes Never Lie by Lee Goldberg https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Great Hippopotamus Hotel
by Alexander McCall SmithIn this addition to the 'No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency' series, Mma Ramotswe and Mma Makutsi look into mischief at a popular hotel and a man having a midlife crisis.
It's always nice to visit with these sleuths and their entourage. 3.5 stars
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I just finished a really good mystery/suspense story from Alice Feeney. 
- https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...However, I do feel compelled to mention that it is a typical Alice Feeney story with a shocking end and some wild and crazy twists and turns. If you're the kind of reader whose enjoyment of a fictious story is contingent on the story's level of believability, then this would probably not be your kind of story. For those like me, where the crazier the better, then you may like this story. JMHO
The Return of Ellie Black
is a strong, disturbing thriller. My 4.5 star review:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I read Lost Hills by Lee GoldbergIt is book 1 in the series and I recommend it. My 4 star review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Good Dirt mixes a whole slew of genres. My four star review:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
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The Mystery, Crime, and Thriller Group
Books mentioned in this topic
The Yard (other topics)In Too Deep (other topics)
The Jackal's Mistress (other topics)
Dream Town (other topics)
Flesh and Blood (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Alex Grecian (other topics)Lee Child (other topics)
Lee Goldberg (other topics)
Patricia Cornwell (other topics)
Erin Crosby Eckstine (other topics)
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One Lucky Subscriber by Kellye Garrett features an imaginative YouTube celebrity hosting a tricky hide-n-seek with big prize money in the the American Dream Mall.
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A Classic Case by Alicia Thompson is my favourite - a delightful rom-com mystery with a nice twist. Good finish to an uneven collection.