The Mystery, Crime, and Thriller Group discussion
note: This topic has been closed to new comments.
General Chat
>
Currently Reading? Just Finished?
Finished Heartsick by Chelsea Cain. Love her - can hardly wait to get her next book. But I need to catch up with group reads first.Just started The Ritual Bath by Faye Kellerman. Have never read any of her books, but am enjoying this one a lot. Will be looking up more of her books.
I finished First Grave on the Right and enjoyed the heck out of it. It was a very fun read and I highly recommend it.Now I'm starting The Interpretation of Murder by Jed Rubenfeld, which I couldn't wait to read.
Recently finished the first Tess Monaghan, Baltimore Blues (Tess Monaghan Mysteries by Laura Lippman, and am now reading the second in the series, Charm City.
Heather L wrote: "Recently finished the first Tess Monaghan, Baltimore Blues (Tess Monaghan Mysteries by Laura Lippman, and am now reading the second in the series, [book:Charm City|4743..."She also has some good standalones
Jan: I have a couple of those on the TBR shelf as well. She's so prolific, it may take me a while to catch up!
Just finished Innocent in Death by J. D. Robb....Not sure what I will start next, went through a buying spree of books on sale and have quite the backlog.I read my first Laura Lippman not long ago, too, and it wasn't bad, but I've found some others that I liked better - like the PJ Tracy/Monkeewrench crew.
Mo Haydr's "Gone" is in the house but not yet in my stack.
Trying some of the Scandinavian authors out, too.
Just finished Henning Mankell's first two of the Kurt Wallander mysteries, Faceless Killers and The Dogs of Riga. The first one is great; the second merely good. Mankell's the guy who inspired Stieg Larsson.
Hayes wrote: "Bill wrote: "I just finished Terry Jones' Barbarians by
..."I loved the documentary series they showed here (a few years ago by now) on satellite TV. H..."
It wasn't my favourite history novel, Hayes, but it only took me a week to read, so was very readable. It did provide an interesting perspective on the Roman civilization and what they considered Barbarians. I haven't seen the documentary series, so can't compare.
Jill wrote: "Bill wrote: "I just finished Terry Jones' Barbarians by
and am about to start a mystery from 1922, by the author of the Winnie-the-Pooh stories, [authori..."I'm just getting started, Jill, but it seems ok so far. I'm looking forward to getting into it.
Finished Robert Ludlum's "The Cassandra Compact" this evening and am starting "The Paris Option". I like his Covert-One Novels series.
Hey, Charlie, I loved the Ludlum books that I read, especially the Bourne books. But I haven't read any of the Lustbader versions in the series. Have you read these and do you like them?Merrill Heath
I'm reading The Vision by Dean Koontz. I don't usually enjoy Koontz's books but he's so popular that I pick up a book every now and then to see if I'm missing something. This book (an early one apparently) is better than others I've read.
Started The Year of Past Things last night, not sure where I got it from, perhaps a Daedalus book sale - ghosts, food, cats, New Orleans....has potential.....
I think this is a great thread. I have taken many recommendations and added them to my TBR list. New books + new authors = many hours of exciting reading.Thanks everyone !
T wrote: "Started The Year of Past Things last night, not sure where I got it from, perhaps a Daedalus book sale - ghosts, food, cats, New Orleans....has potential....."Hey T.......let me know aboutThe Year of Past Things....sounds like something I would like.
Just finished Killing Mum by Allan Guthrie, a clever novella set in Scotland, where a hit-man is hired to kill his own mother - and he doesn't know who's hiring him. It's intriguing, twists and turns, snappy dialogue, and one of those gruesomely wonderful long scenes about the disposing of a body.
Merrill wrote: "Hey, Charlie, I loved the Ludlum books that I read, especially the Bourne books. But I haven't read any of the Lustbader versions in the series. Have you read these and do you like them?
[author..."
Have not read those yet. Am going to read the Bourne books soon.
[author..."
Have not read those yet. Am going to read the Bourne books soon.
Hugh wrote: "I'm reading The Last 10 Seconds, by Simon Kernick, and I'm thrilled so far. This is my first experience with this author, and things are going very well."I read my first Simon Kernick not long ago and he is unbelievably fast-paced. He just doesn't let up, real page-turners. You always have to read the next chapter!
Mike wrote: "Just finished Killing Mum by Allan Guthrie, a clever novella set in Scotland, where a hit-man is hired to kill his own mother - and he doesn't know who's hiring him. It's intriguing, twists and tur..."Do you recommend reading Guthrie in any particular order?
Jan C wrote: Do you recommend reading Guthrie in any particular order? I've not read all of them so I can't really advise. Certainly the two novellas he has put on the Kindle would be a cheap way to find out if you like his style.
Mike wrote: "Just finished Killing Mum by Allan Guthrie, a clever novella set in Scotland, where a hit-man is hired to kill his own mother - and he doesn't know who's hiring him. It's intriguing, twists and tur..."Mike, this sounds interesting. I plan to download the Kindle version. I'm curious about the cost - only $.99. For a novella would you pay $1.99 or $2.99? Or is $.99 your cap for something of this length?
Merrill Heath
Merrill wrote: For a novella would you pay $1.99 or $2.99? Or is $.99 your cap for something of this length?It's hard to say, for sure. I think I may have paid $2.99 for it when it was first available, but he's reduced the price since then. I think anything up to $2.99 is OK for me for at least a novella. I probably wouldn't pay that for just a short story, although if it was an author I was curious about, I might.
Thanks! I have an ulterior motive for asking...I'm writing a mystery series that are all novellas. Still feeling out the pricing to find that sweet spot.Merrill Heath
Bearing False Witness
Merrill wrote: "Thanks! I have an ulterior motive for asking...I'm writing a mystery series that are all novellas. Still feeling out the pricing to find that sweet spot.Merrill Heath
[book:Bearing False Witne..."
Right! Good luck. My own first crime novel is currently 'in review' on the Kindle. I've gone for $2.99. Everyone is still feeling their way but I figure that as an unknown quantity, I have to price it low to try to persuade people to give it a try. The great thing about indie-publishing is that you can adjust the price and see what happens. I think that, unlike with conventional publishing, for us it's not about maximising profits it's about maximising readers.
Mike wrote: "My own first crime novel is currently 'in review' on the Kindle..."Good luck! Let me know when it's available so I can read it.
Merrill Heath
Consequences
Thanks, it's now available on the Amazon Kindle Stores in the USA and UK. Just search for Strip till Dead. I'll return the favor! Reviews welcome.
Wow, am coming out of my second big "unable to read much" slump in just a few months. Breaking the ice with my first Andrea Camilleri book, The Shape of Water.
I just read the third Dexter book, Dexter in the Dark. I don't think the plot was as good as the prior two books. It got all supernatural, as if what drives Dexter is some force that has been in existence since the beginning of time. I still liked the dark humor of the main character.Gus Cileone
www.augustuscileone.com
I just finished The Swan Thieves which I really enjoyed. Just starting The Name of the Rose... Hard to believe I've never read it.
Augustus wrote: "I just read the third Dexter book, Dexter in the Dark. I don't think the plot was as good as the prior two books. It got all supernatural, as if what drives Dexter is some force that has been in ..."love the dexter novels dark and witty.
I just finished reading The Ritual Bath by Faye Kellerman. I actually gave this a 3 star rating as I felt the story line dragged at times. She has done research regarding Jewish customs and spends a lot of time explaining those.All in all, a quick read with a little love interest on the side. I will probably read another Faye Kellerman sometime in the future.
Pamela wrote: "I just finished reading The Ritual Bath by Faye Kellerman. I actually gave this a 3 star rating as I felt the story line dragged at times. She has done research regar..."Think Faye Kellerman is a interesting, fun crime read. Also like her husband Jonathan's novels.
4cats wrote: "Pamela wrote: "I just finished reading The Ritual Bath by Faye Kellerman. I actually gave this a 3 star rating as I felt the story line dragged at times. She has done..."Their son Jesse also writes. He may have three (or more) books by now. I think I am on the second one.
Heidi wrote: "I just finished The Swan Thieves which I really enjoyed. Just starting The Name of the Rose... Hard to believe I've never read it."The Names of the Rose is pretty "meaty". I kept hoping that it would show up on the Group Read, so that I could read it again and discuss it with everyone.
It is one of the few books that I own as an "independent book". Most of my personal library books are part of a series. So it sticks out of place and is calling me to re-read.
I hope that you enjoy it as much as I remember. It has been long enough ago, that I think I could read it again and be surprised all over again. (Well almost, the ending is hard to forget!)
Rita wrote: "I've just started Nemesis by Jo Nesbo. Very good so far."Hi Rita, I am also just about to start Nemesisby Jo Nesbo. Also looking forwarded to it. I just finished The Redbreast last night.
I just started The Last Surgeon by Michael Palmer. I'm enjoying it so far. Finished Victim Six by Gregg Olsen recently and was not too impressed.
Jill wrote: "T wrote: "Started The Year of Past Things last night, not sure where I got it from, perhaps a Daedalus book sale - ghosts, food, cats, New Orleans....has potential....."Hey T........."
Sounds interesting to me too!
Jan C wrote: "4cats wrote: "Pamela wrote: "I just finished reading The Ritual Bath by Faye Kellerman. I actually gave this a 3 star rating as I felt the story line dragged at times...."is he any good, have meant to try him.
4cats wrote: "Jan C wrote: "4cats wrote: "Pamela wrote: "I just finished reading The Ritual Bath by Faye Kellerman. I actually gave this a 3 star rating as I felt the story line dra..."I liked the first one. Haven't really gotten started on #2 yet. They are standalones.
Almeta: I finished The Year of Past Things and found it to be a little on the "light" side. There's a ghost, it's set in New Orleans, one character is a chef in his own restaurant, his wife is a professor, they've both been married previously. The ghost isn't spooky really, and it's as much about relationships as it is about the ghost and his story.As to the comments about Faye Kellerman - I read all her books, but some of the earlier stand alones are perhaps less interesting that her newer ones. I guess I like the middle books the best.
Also am a fan of her husband, Jonathan Kellerman and not as much a fan of their son Jesse.
I am currently reading Déjà DeadKathy Reichs draws pictures with words.
"longing for boats and bikes and sneakers, checking their watches, bitten by June."
"the exposed wires looped around themselves like worms in a bait carton."
"his words racing out like children released for recess."
She is also subtly funny. I wonder if she knows it.
On page 121 and thoroughly enjoying the book.
This topic has been frozen by the moderator. No new comments can be posted.
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)
More...
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)
More...








What a great book.
Washington Weirdos by Gayle Wigglesworth
Went right on to this one and will probably read all of her books this year.