The Mystery, Crime, and Thriller Group discussion
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Currently Reading? Just Finished?
Currently reading Michael Connelly's The Black Box. I needed a guaranteed quality read, and he is the top of my go-to authors.
First, REBECCA re-boot continued... this was the best article I found on it: http://www.blouinartinfo.com/news/sto...Second, I am compulsively reading the Jack Daniels series by J.A. Konrath. I requested Cherry Bomb because someone dies at the end of Fuzzy Navel but who?!?! The first line of Cherry Bomb answers the question. So, with that I should be able to set it aside for the handful of other books in or on the nightstand, the stairs, the car, my purse, the kitchen, et. al. But no, everything must stop so I can read THIS series. I don't think it's healthy. But I don't think I care. All good things must come to an end... 'nothing gold can stay' and all that. Ultimately, like Kinsey Milhone, I will come to the end of the series. Oh, I'm not ready to think about that yet.
Let it go by td jakes. Very good inspirational book
Ken wrote: "I'm just past halfway through Ice Cold and I figure I ought to comment as I might not make it to the end. This is my first Rizzoli and Isles and probably the last.The first half of the book was ..."
Were you seriously expecting Isle to act like Mickey Spillane, Sam Spade or philip Marlowe? The character is a braniac and a forensic pathologist not a hard boiled detective after all. I'm guessing you've not seen the TV series or that would make your head explode. (It has lots of womanly feelings and even some hugging)
No, the touchy feely was tolerable and, in context, expected. Once the holes started sinking the story, then the soap opera aspects ran the whole thing on the rocks. How does this guy who is halfway around the planet turn up when there is no way he could possibly know there is even an issue? A noted brainiac Boston Pathologist dies in WY and her colleagues just accept some half-azzed coroner's report. The only accuracy in the whole post-mortem sequences was the contraction of the long tendons. What coroner, homicide detective, or FBI agent would accept an ID based largely on a luggage tag? I'm sure the first books were probably pretty good, much like Patricia Cornwell's ME stories. Those have descended into silly soap operas.
I did expect Isle to actually take a logical approach to resolving the mystery instead of stamping her foot and demanding her husband support her.
just finised
loveddd it and i am gonna start b soon i need to finish a few more of the books i been reading..
That statement just stood out for me because Rizzoli & Isles just seemed like they were totally opposite type of characters than the ones you cited but I don't doubt your review. That's why I sometimes don't like to read series. The writer seems to run out of ideas after a while or they start getting sloppy.
fivesunflowers wrote: "currently reading 
- love SK's twisted imagination lol"ya i love his books too and his imagination
I'm reading Garnethill by Denise Mina and am starting to love it. A woman wakes up after coming home very drunk and finds her ex-boyfriend tied up in her living room with his throat slit. Set in Glasgow so the terminology is a little different but it's growing on me and I'm glad I finally decided to read it.
Renee wrote: "First, REBECCA re-boot continued... this was the best article I found on it: http://www.blouinartinfo.com/news/sto...Second, I am compulsivel..."
Renee/Lori/Katherine/Jan C. Re REBECCA: Looking forward to the new film version. Always interested to see how they handle things compared to the book, so I suppose the time to re-read would be when the new movie is out. I think maybe the second film version I referred to earlier was a made-for-TV film with Charles Dance as de Winter and Diana Rigg as Mrs Danvers. It was very good, especially Dianna Rigg's Mrs Danvers. But maybe it was never shown in the US?
Charles Beddingfield.
Yvonne wrote: "That statement just stood out for me because Rizzoli & Isles just seemed like they were totally opposite type of characters than the ones you cited but I don't doubt your review. That's why I so..."And the main characters become more and more perfect. Couldn't stand the TV series. Same reason why I stopped reading kathy reichs and Patricia Cornwall
I'm reading
and
. I've actually got two more that I had to put on the back burner because my group reads are getting backed up and I need to get a grip on things. lol
just finished A Cold and Lonely Place by Sara J Henry really liked it.
Malina wrote: "just finished A Cold and Lonely Place by Sara J Henry really liked it."Read this and liked it too. Good new series.
Jim wrote: "Just finished Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith. Five star read!!! Looking forward to diving into the second book of Smith's trilogy, The Secret Speech."The entire trilogy is excellent, Jim.
Dave wrote: "Mark wrote: "Just finished 
-- trying to work out what's next!"Mark: Keep on reading the Harry Bosch series. You can't go wrong."
Sounds like good advice - reading SOG by John Plaster at the moment for research, but will come back to Harry soon!
Ken wrote: "I'm just past halfway through Ice Cold and I figure I ought to comment as I might not make it to the end. This is my first Rizzoli and Isles and probably the last.
The first half of the book was ..."
Though I like the entire Rizzoli and Isles series, Ice Cold was my favorite. I liked the spooky nature of it. I think it plays along well with the rest of the books in the series. Each one takes us to an entirely different storyline while getting to know the characters better.
The first half of the book was ..."
Though I like the entire Rizzoli and Isles series, Ice Cold was my favorite. I liked the spooky nature of it. I think it plays along well with the rest of the books in the series. Each one takes us to an entirely different storyline while getting to know the characters better.
Katherine wrote: "Yvonne wrote: "That statement just stood out for me because Rizzoli & Isles just seemed like they were totally opposite type of characters than the ones you cited but I don't doubt your review. ..."
I wouldn't call Isles perfect, since she spends many books sleeping with a priest.
I wouldn't call Isles perfect, since she spends many books sleeping with a priest.
Just finished The Hard Way and was a bit disappointed. I'm a big Reacher fan, but this was the weakest I've read so far. (I've only got one left in the entire series) Enjoyable, but it doesn't hold up well to Child's earlier stories.
Charles wrote: "Renee wrote: "First, REBECCA re-boot continued... this was the best article I found on it: http://www.blouinartinfo.com/news/sto...Second, I ..."
Diana Rigg is ALWAYS good. As Mrs. Danvers, I can only imagine she was awesome. I'm gonna go hunting for that one. There was a 1997 re-make, not sure if it went straight to video. Rumor has it that not even Hitchcock was satisfied with his own film. But it's still the best one out there. Curious enough about the new one to see it when it comes out.
Hitchcock didn't have much control over it. Selznick was peering over his shoulder and pretty much dictating every scene.
Read:
creepy in a old time twilight zone, hitchcock kind of way.
like an episode of criminal minds!
on my quest to reread/catch up in J.D. Robb's series.
I've finished The Morganville Vampires Book Seven: Fade Out - Rachel Caine. Now I am going to read The Morganville Vampires Book Eight: Kiss of Death - Rachel Caine.
I finally finished
and the review is here:http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
Also got through
and the review is here:http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
Now reading
I finished The Likeness by Tana French. I thought the premise of the book was clever (a detective goes undercover when a look-alike murder victim is discovered) but I became impatient with the pace of the story. I wanted less blather among the characters and more moving along of the plot.
Hey everyone! I juust finised Red Moon Rising-Episode 1 and Red Moon Rage-Episode 2. It reminded me of the show LOST with each episode interconnected but it own private story. They are short stories revolving around a drug cartel masquarading as a FedEx type company. Each episode follows a different person and the effects the cartel has on their lives. Very suspenseful. Waiting for Episode 3!
Barbara wrote: "I finished The Likeness by Tana French. I thought the premise of the book was clever (a detective goes undercover when a look-alike murder victim is discovered) but I became impatient with the pace..."I'm reading
and I'm finding it the same.She seems to be able to write 100 pages without moving forward.This book is 533 pages and she still hasn't gotten anywhere with the murders.
Mark wrote: "Dave wrote: "Mark wrote: "Just finished -- trying to work out what's next!"Mark: Keep on reading the Harry Bosch series. You can't go wrong."
Sounds like good a..."
Great advice. I love Harry Bosch.
Sarah wrote: "I'm about half way through Harvest and 3/4 of the way through Gone Girl"
I thought Harvest was a very good book, something that may be happening somewhere right now. I am just starting Gone girl.
I thought Harvest was a very good book, something that may be happening somewhere right now. I am just starting Gone girl.
Nikki wrote: "Hi, im new to crime novels and have just finished 
I thoroughly enjoyed this and wondered if anyone can recommend some other books for me? (Ive previously been a c..."
If you want to read mystery books with chicks in it, try the Women's Murder Club series by James Patterson. The first is
. I like the series quite well, and I don't like chick lit.
I thoroughly enjoyed this and wondered if anyone can recommend some other books for me? (Ive previously been a c..."If you want to read mystery books with chicks in it, try the Women's Murder Club series by James Patterson. The first is
. I like the series quite well, and I don't like chick lit.
I've finished The Morganville Vampires Book Eight: Kiss of Death - Rachel Caine. Now I am going to read The Morganville Vampires Book Nine: Ghost Town - Rachel Caine.
Nikki wrote: "Hi, im new to crime novels and have just finished I thoroughly enjoyed this and wondered if anyone can recommend some other books for me? (Ive previously been a c..."Hi, Nikki and welcome to the world of crime. (Insert sinister laughter here.) After TIME TO THINK, which is now on my TBR list, I would recommend G.M. Ford's Frank Corso series, starting with Fury. He also has a slightly lighter-with-a-side-of-wry-humor series featuring PI Leo Waterman. Corso's books are set in Seattle, so I'm a bit partial.
Across the globe is the series set in Botswana by Michael Stanley and one in South Africa by Jassie Mackenzie. Those are also good crime novels, in my humble opinion. (Yes, I spelled IMHO out. I'm all about full disclosure these days. ;> )
Just finished The Black Echo by Michael Connelly, and I will be starting The Affair by Lee Child today. This will be my first Lee Child book, and I am really excited to get to know Reacher.
I just finished Stardust by Neil Gaiman. It was a great fairy tale for adults and a nice change of pace for my normal reading habits. Now I'm working my way back to more familiar territory with The Ridge by Michael Koryta. After reading some of his other supernatural thrillers, I'm very excited to read this one as well.
Just finished A Dying Fall and I just love the Ruth Galloway series. Starting The Mystery of Mercy Close and Lifetime.
Mark wrote: "I finally finished and the review is here:http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
Also got through
and the review is here:h..."
Great reviews Mark!
Just finished
byDonald Ray Pollock.It was grim and dark this story,real and unflinching..one helluva book.
Started reading
byHarry Crews.
Just started Dodger by Terry Prachett -- so good so far!! Its a great take on Charles Dicken's Dodger and placed in Victorian England with a bit of Sherlock Holmes thrown in!!
Ipsith wrote: "Just finished byDonald Ray Pollock.It was grim and dark this story,real and unflinching..one helluva book.
Started reading [bookcover:A Feast of Snakes|2..."
Never read anything or even heard of Crews. Let me know what you think of that one, it looks good.
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The Mystery, Crime, and Thriller Group
Books mentioned in this topic
Speaking from Among the Bones (other topics)Ice Hunter (other topics)
Harvest (other topics)
Whiskey Sour (other topics)
Bait (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Alan Bradley (other topics)Chris Grabenstein (other topics)
Adam Fawer (other topics)
Rachel Caine (other topics)
David Wailing (other topics)
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The first half of the book was fine, nothing to get excited about, a good premise, a little mystery, throw in some blood curdling scenes. I was even able to get by the endless relationship and broken heart stuff until...
Isles says to her husband "I really need you to support me on this." and he puts his arms around her and she knows he is totally on her side. Mickey Spillane doesn't do this. Sam Spade doesn't need emotional support and neither does Philip Marlowe. Not Angela Gennaro nor Harry Bosch. At least no one is sending out the 'hold me, I'm feeling vulnerable right now' message.
SPOILER AHEAD: While in Wyoming, Jane and Gabriel come back to their hotel to find two guys and lovers of Maura the Missing sitting together at a table in the lounge. The reader is supposed to infer that one of them, the gazillionaire is an old lover. Its never explained. Then it just falls apart.
The author describes the rich guy as a man so 'paranoid about his privacy, he rarely goes out in public.' Next paragraph we find the guy had been vacationing in Italy. Probably his own private Italy as the only one I know is public.
Rich guy tells us he just flew in on his private jet when he heard. Problem is, no one has contacted him. There are about a dozen people who even know about the circumstances and only three of them know this guy has an interest. Of the three, one doesn't know about Maura and the other two haven't contacted rich guy or knew he was in Italy and are surprised to see him there. Is Rich guy sitting in a luxury hotel in Milan monitoring police frequencies in Sublette County, WY? Still, its a good thing he showed up so they can fly the body back to Boston in his private jet and talk about their relationship with Maura all the way back.
WY made an ID on a charred corpse based on X-Rays that determine the body is female and about the right age and weight. Besides they have the woman's luggage from the wreck. They even did a dental X-ray and determined she had once been to a dentist. Slam dunk on the ID, right?
Back in Boston, the police, FBI and ME decide it might be a good idea to do an autopsy for a more positive ID. They do this after the funeral. Now they have dental records and guess what? Wrong Body. Autopsy unnecessary but all her friends got to stand around in the morgue and grieve over the crispy critter.
Hey, back to Wyoming. We have another major character to introduce with a hundred pages to go and Maura's story has disappeared for about 40 pages so let's pick that up again.
Once a mytery/thriller writer has jumped the shark this bad, I don't see a point in going on. How say you?