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Currently Reading? Just Finished?
I finished `What Comes Next' by John Katzenback. Definitely a book worth reading. I was especially affected by the old male character and the journey he makes. I recomment it.
Has anyone read 'End of the Wasp Season'? Thinking of buying as read a small extract but wanted some feedback first.
I just finished
. It got off to a good start, but by the middle it had gotten ridiculous. I still plan to go on with the series, because I know it gets better. I just started
VickiLee wrote: "I finished `What Comes Next' by John Katzenback. Definitely a book worth reading. I was especially affected by the old male character and the journey he makes. I recomment it."I have that downloaded on my Nook. I am a Katzenbach fan. Looking forward to reading it.
Just started All That Remains by Patricia Cornwell and so far I am enjoying it. Planning to read Garnethill by Denise Mina next
Haven't been feeling too good last past week so i have not done much reading but this week I am starting to read
Just finished two outstanding psychological thrillers by Andrew Kaufman - "While the Savage Sleeps" http://www.amazon.com/While-the-Savag... and "The Lion, the Lamb, the Hunted." http://www.amazon.com/Lion-Lamb-Hunte...
read Ben Coes The Last refuge and loved it so much I went back to read the prior 2 books with the main character Dewy Andreas
Just finished 'Sweet Heart' by Peter James. Excellent read, as usual, from an author who I think is one of the best in writing books of the Paranormal/Thriller genre. I always make the mistake of reading them before bed which doesn't really bode for a goodnights sleep!
Just started 'The Surrogate' by Tania Carver. This is the first of four books introducing DI Phil Brennan and his team as well as criminal profiler Marina Esposito. There have only been three books so far but I understand a fourth is due for release in September. I read the third one first 'Cage of Bones' so I thought I'd give the previous two a try and I have not been didsppointed! Looking forward to this being the start of an excellent series.
I finished
, and
, which is romantic suspense/crime novel, I am about to start
. I really miss this author, and wish him well, hope to read something from his soon.
Monica wrote: "Half way through Defending Jacob...and it's not really captured my full attention."I read all of it---and it didn't capture my attention, either.
Anne, Just love Anne Perry. I have read 10 of her books so you see, she is one of my favorites. Face of a Stranger is GREAT!!!!!!!!!!! 5 stars!
Georgia wrote: "Anne, Just love Anne Perry. I have read 10 of her books so you see, she is one of my favorites. Face of a Stranger is GREAT!!!!!!!!!!! 5 stars!"Yes, I am really enjoying her books!!
I just finished a page-turner, Julie Kramer's Shunning Sarah. If you're interested in the Amish or just want a good thriller, I highly recommend this one. My review
Been rereading Lawrence Block now that I'm out of unread Lee Childs. In the Midst of Death and The Sins of the Fathers.
Just broke my summer new book fast (where I promise to not buy anything new until September) and picked up Alif the Unseen. No guilt.
To day I closed the cover on `Afraid to Die' by Lisa Jackson. This is an uncomplicated novel, good for a lazy afternoon read when you don't want something too complex.
Just finishing
and have enjoyed very much. My first read ever of something by Armistead Maupin and I was pleasantly surprised. About to start
by H.G. Wells.
I'm reading
by John Grisham can't say I'm very impressed so far. Seems to be taking a long time to get going and I think I've pretty much guessed the ending already!
Just back after an enforced 5-day computer layoff. Have a great computer tech, he's competent, cheap and makes house calls ... but nobody would ever accuse him of being fast! I now need to catch up on reviews.
The Chalk Circle Man: A Commissaire Adamsberg Mystery is the first Fred Vargas book I’ve read and I knew I’d become a fan of her work within a few pages.This is an extraordinary book that has a different feel and flavour to any of the crime-fiction I’ve read of late.
Jean-Baptiste Adamsberg has just been appointed as Commissaireof the police headquarters in Paris’ 5th arrondissement. He’s a small town boy arriving in the city as if by accident, who has the ability to solve crimes by using his intuitions, senses and uncanny thought-processes and has a reputation based upon that. For the logic and collection of evidence, he relies upon his team. After solving a murder by working on gut-feeling, he wins over the wonderful Danglard and from then on they begin to build an unusual relationship based upon like and mutual respect.
When the chalk circles of the title begin to appear around seemingly random objects across Paris, Jean-Baptiste takes an interest. He senses that the objects contained within the circles are going to become bigger and that there’s something sinister at hand. Danglard is detailed the job of keeping in touch with the circles as they appear, which is good because he’s a morning person – afternoon’s tend to be slightly less efficient due to the consumption of wine. There’s a wonderful humour to the way the killing is introduced and the case proper begins:
‘Two circles were discovered: In the rue l’Abbe-de-l’Epee was the cork from a wine bottle, and in the rue Pierre-et-Maire-Curie, in the 5th Arrondissement, lay a woman with her throat cut, staring up at the sky.’
The joy of this book lies in the characters living within it and in the ambience created.
It’s seductive. Gently paced. Stimulates all of the senses.
Jean-Baptiste is a wonderful creation. He’s handsomely ugly with an inner beauty that influences all those around him. He’s an optimistic fatalist who ‘always set out feeling hopeful and disappointment was invariable painful.’ And how’s this for a superb description of a man – ‘Adamsberg was open to every wind, like a cabin made of rough planks, letting his brain receive fresh air...you could imagine that everything that went in through his ears, eyes and nose – smoke, colours, paper rustling – caused a draught to whistle through his thoughts and stopped them solidifying.’
Danglard is also a gem. He has 5 children to look after without help, bottles of wine to keep him sane, a love of information and logic and he talks his cases through with his kids when others might choose fairytales.
As if these two alone weren’t enough, there’s a great supporting cast:
Mathilde is a marine biologist who collects oddities, describes the world with reference to the sea, follows people like they’re objects of study and remains sexy in spite of her years.
Charles Reyer is the ‘beautiful blind man’ who Mathilde ‘collects’. He’s bitter and awkward and likes to go up to seeing folk to ask if he can help them across the road.
Clemence Valmont is another of Mathilde’s oddities. She’s old, but is constantly on the lookout for a husband through the lonely hearts. Here’s one she decides not to reply to:
‘M. 66. Well-preserved, large appetite, small pension, would like to meet F., not too ugly, small appetite, large pension, to keep each other company on the last stretch of the road.’
What I particularly like about this story is the way the solving of the crime felt almost incidental.
There are so many layers of interest that the attention is fully engaged without any feeling that there’s a need to rush. It’s easy to get hooked to Jean-Baptiste’s pace and that makes the read such a pleasure. I often envy the French for those long lunch-breaks when everything slows down and to me, this book has the feel of working slowly through a many –coursed meal where each plate is delicious and you just know whatever is coming next is guaranteed to be brilliant.
I’ve been a fan of Maigret for almost 30 years now.
I’m about to add Jean-Baptiste and Danglard right up there on the shelf next to him.
A delight.
Just finished The Fallen Angel: A Novel by Daniel Silva. I enjoyed the characters, pacing and descriptions of the various settings (Rome, Vienna, St. Moritz, Jerusalem), and learned a about life in modern-day Jerusalem to boot.
I just finished The Talented Mr. Ripley by P. Highsmith and was very entertained. She really leaves the reader wanting to read the rest of the Ripley stories. (I need to figure out how to do the links...)
I finished The Messenger a few days ago. It was entertaining. I enjoyed the characters and the little role Chiara had in the book. I just do not like her at all.Yesterday I finished Split Second and it was very good. The first book I wasn't all that attached to it but decided to go on. This one seemed much better of a read.
I just started The Black Ice. I loved the first book and hope this will be just as good. Summer classes just ended for me so I can start catching up on my reading especially since I will be going on a cruise and long flights. I will need something to pass the time. ;)
I'm on my way through all of Michael Connelly's books. I had read the Poet years ago and wanted to try some more of his. I just finished the last coyote (bosche book 4) and starting the next one today.
Currently reading and nearly finished Theodore Boone: The Abduction by John Grisham. I love these young adult books. So straight forward, with a decent story, fast paced and great characters.
Just starting
Very good start and I'm only 30 some pages into it.
I just finished Sunset Express byRobert Crais. Back to back disappointment from Crais. I am now reading Sucker BetbyJames Swain. Love Tony Valentine character.
I love the notion that there are activities you can't really do safely while reading horrors! For me, if you can iron a shirt and read a passage from American Psycho at the same time, you're as good as certifiable.Brilliant, evil, clever book by a great writer.
Thanks!
Amaya
(Actually, it's so good, I think I'm going to write my next Fiction Fest blogpost about it . . .)
I just finished City of Veils by Zoe Ferraris. I gave it 3 stars. I found it kind of hard to stay with it. Maybe there was too much backstorey and not enough about the crime.
I am reading "Gone for Good" by Harlan Coban. Took a little for me to start and then it was hard to put down. Now it is on my desk waiting for my lunch hour!
Just finished
and
Now starting to read
Just finished Die Trying by Lee Child - the second in the Reacher series...good fun, and I see how his book jumped on a popular theme when it was written. Now back to the Saxon series from Bernard Cornwell.
Not new here but this is the most active thread so I chose it to wish all you other left-handers a Happy and Productive Left-Handed Day."Everyone is born right-handed. Only the greatest overcome it"
Alex, at first I didn't like
by John Grisham, but the more I thought about it, the more it grew on me. He makes a very good case for one to be opposed to the Death Penalty
Jennifer wrote: "Been rereading Lawrence Block now that I'm out of unread Lee Childs. In the Midst of Death and The Sins of the Fathers."The Sins of the Fathers was a great book: excellent dialogue, believable characters and nice references to details of when it was written - mid-1970s.
Just finished a good, easy quick read Theodore Boone: The Abduction by John Grisham it's a young adult book, but a great little read , with a decent story and likeable characters.
Eric wrote: "I'm on my way through all of Michael Connelly's books. I had read the Poet years ago and wanted to try some more of his. I just finished the last coyote (bosche book 4) and starting the next one ..."I did a Connelly project a couple years ago - - read all of the Harry Bosch books in order. Plus I've read many others. He is my favorite author, along with David Baldacci.
I just finished The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie and absolutely loved it. I can't wait to read the rest of the books in the series. Flavia rules!
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I'm reading that book too!