The Mystery, Crime, and Thriller Group discussion
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Currently Reading? Just Finished?
Cliff wrote: "Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "I just finished Night Soldiers, a marvelous spy novel that I learned about from this group. Excellent, superb, cannot find enough superlatives for this. I'v..If you liked this you may also like the 'Ashenden' short stories by W Somerset Maugham, also spy stories, set in a slightly earlier period. "Thanks for the recommendation, which I have added. The edition I read suggested that Furst has been compared with Graham Greene and Eric Ambler. Furst said he thought Ambler's best is A Coffin for Dimitrios, which I have also added.
I read LeCarre's The Spy Who Came in from the Cold a few months ago. It was good, but "thin" compared to Furst. I have The End of the Affair on my Wish List. I've asked this elsewhere, but if anyone knows where I can sign up for 36 hour days, please post.
I've been reading a lot of darker books lately so I needed a break and I picked up Flowerbed of State which was a Goodreads Giveaway.
I don't read a lot of cozies but I live in the DC area and I've been to the White House including the West Wing and I know a few former Secret Service Agents so the setting attracted me.
The description of the White House and immediate neighborhood was reasonably accurate although I did have to suspend belief with some of the actions of the Secret Service and Casey’s interactions with the high powered visitors to the Oval Office. Still there was enough of a mystery to keep me reading. Milo, the First Dog, was the best secondary character. Good poolside read.
I don't read a lot of cozies but I live in the DC area and I've been to the White House including the West Wing and I know a few former Secret Service Agents so the setting attracted me.
The description of the White House and immediate neighborhood was reasonably accurate although I did have to suspend belief with some of the actions of the Secret Service and Casey’s interactions with the high powered visitors to the Oval Office. Still there was enough of a mystery to keep me reading. Milo, the First Dog, was the best secondary character. Good poolside read.
Just finished the great Blood Atonement - Dan Waddell. I am now about to start Shadow -Michael Morpurgo
Finished the delightful Shadow - Michael Morpurgo. Now I am about to start Dread Pirate Fleur and the Ruby Heart - Sara Starbuck.
Just picked up Skull Session by Daniel Hecht in e. It's been a few years and I enjoyed a ton when I read it in print-- hopefully it's still great. A friend in her 70's just discovered Raymond Chandler. Hearing her quote from The Big Sleep has me thinking about rereading these too. Kind of hate to do it when the TBR is so large, but...
I just finished Fer-de-Lance by Rex Stout. It was the first of the Nero Wolfe books. Now I'm reading the second one The League of Frightened Men. After reading three Jo Nesbø books in a row I needed a complete change and I'm enjoying it.
Just starting John Brunner's The Shockwave Rider after having completed Blackfly Season by Giles Blunt, a series I totally recommend
Finished "Capital Crimes" by the Kellermans, two novellas, quite good but unfortunately the last of the two had one of my pet peeves ... the kind that make me want to throw things, book first. I've been a horsewoman all my life so there aren't many errors regarding horses I don't notice and it irritates me to no end, if an author does not know horses, either research, ask someone who does know ... or make it so general you're not going to have this huge goof! I know, probably not one reader in a thousand would realize it was an error ... in my case it's like someone dragging their nails across a blackboard ... Kentucky race horse breeding farm and major error as a 'throwaway' kind of detail to establish expertise ... NOT!Okay ... rant over.
Now reading Jeffrey Deaver's "Edge". Good, convoluted plot line and interesting characters. I tend to forget Deaver sometimes but find him very readable, though I don't have any of his on my "own to re-read" shelves.
Finished the great Dread Pirate Fleur and the Ruby Heart - Sara Starbuck. Now I am reading Doctor Who: The War Machines - Ian Stuart Black.
Still reading Wilkie Collins' The Moonstone. (It's very long!!). Finished Jo Nesbo's The Snowman last night and have reported on it in the June / July Group Read thread. Have now started Trent's Last Case by E.C. Bentley, which I'd never heard of until I recently read Dorothy L Sayers' letters. She was a big fan and so far I'm liking it a lot.
Kim wrote: "Still reading Wilkie Collins' The Moonstone. (It's very long!!)... "
Long, but I loved it. It gets a little bogged down in the middle/end, but I thought every page was wonderful.
My reading has been all over the place recently. July is finally coming into view and my life is back to normal (how I loathe the month of June--not really, it's just too busy: end of school, exams, music recitals, basketball tournaments!)
I'm re-reading The Alienist, which takes place in one of my favorite time periods, turn of the century NYC.
I'm also reading The Third Man, the screenplay, not the subsequent novella.
Also reading The Historian, which is strange and interesting. A little too much talk and not enough action, but I will keep moving through it.
Long, but I loved it. It gets a little bogged down in the middle/end, but I thought every page was wonderful.
My reading has been all over the place recently. July is finally coming into view and my life is back to normal (how I loathe the month of June--not really, it's just too busy: end of school, exams, music recitals, basketball tournaments!)
I'm re-reading The Alienist, which takes place in one of my favorite time periods, turn of the century NYC.
I'm also reading The Third Man, the screenplay, not the subsequent novella.
Also reading The Historian, which is strange and interesting. A little too much talk and not enough action, but I will keep moving through it.
Melanie wrote: "Just picked up Skull Session by Daniel Hecht in e. It's been a few years and I enjoyed a ton when I read it in print-- hopefully it's still great. A friend in her 70's just discover..."
Loved Skull Session, one of my favorite books. Too bad none of his subsequent books were ever as remotely good.
Melanie wrote: "Just picked up Skull Session by Daniel Hecht in e. It's been a few years and I enjoyed a ton when I read it in print-- hopefully it's still great. I started with his Cree Black series, the first two I liked very well, third not so much. I then tried Skull Session and just simply could not get into it, not sure just why, maybe just not what I was expecting.
Kim wrote: "Still reading Wilkie Collins' The Moonstone. (It's very long!!). Finished Jo Nesbo's The Snowman last night and have reported on it in the June / July Gr..."I'm re-reading TLC right now. I originally read it in college.
I'm currently reading Copycat by Erica Spindler and loving it. Interesting story and good characters.
Jan C wrote: "I'm re-reading TLC right now. I originally read it in college...."
You got to read interesting things in college, Jan!
Seem to be reading a lot of non-mystery books lately. But I'm about to start Murder at the Savoy by Maj Sjowall and Per Wahloo. Hope it's as good as the other Martin Beck stories I've read!
Kim wrote: "Jan C wrote: "I'm re-reading TLC right now. I originally read it in college...."
You got to read interesting things in college, Jan!"
As a history major, I needed to find an escape. Although my English History professor turned me on to Josephine Tey. She assigned us to read The Daughter of Time.
Jan C wrote: "As a history major, I needed to find an escape. Although my English History professor turned me on to Josephine Tey. She assigned us to read The Daughter of Time. ..."Love Josephine Tey. The Franchise Affair was on the English syllabus in my second year of high school. I went on to read The Daughter of Time and became a bit obsessed with Richard III for a while there.
I've liked a number of the Tey books and have one, "Brat Farrar" on my bookshelves. Involves horses, naturally, and I've probably read it at least once a year since I read it the first time.
Misery BayFallen. Both came in at library and on my favorite list. So I abandon my other books to read them
Finished The League of Frightened Men last night and started Trent's Last Case. It was nominated for the monthly book and I couldn't remember ever reading it. It's amusing with a very period feel to it. Even though it's an ebook I can almost smell the old book aroma. I like that in a book.
I am now reading The Cypress House by Michael Koryta, The Last Time I Was Me by Cathy Lamb, and The Kindness of Strangers by Katrina Kittle.
READING The Heart Specialist BY The Heart Specialist WHICH IS ABOUT ONE OF THE FIRST WOMAN DOCTORS IN CANADA AND ALSO READING Splendid Isolation: The Jekyll Island Millionaires Club 1888-1942
Now it's Spies of Warsaw for me! By Alan Furst. The Polish Officer was fantastic! I hate for these books to come to an end.
Mary wrote: "Just finishedThink of a Number and have now started A Perfect Evil (Maggie O'Dell, #1)"I loved 'Think of a Number', Mary. What did you think? I can't wait for his next book.
Dorie wrote: "Mary wrote: "Just finishedThink of a Number and have now started A Perfect Evil (Maggie O'Dell, #1)"I loved 'Think of a Number', Mary. What did you think? I can't..."
I liked Number a lot, too. His newest one,
Shut Your Eyes Tight: A Novel, comes out next month.
I've heard that Operation Napoleon by Arnaldur Indriðason is being released shortly in the US. I think it is more historical/thriller in nature. Sounds good.
Barbara wrote: "I'm reading Broken - Karin Slaughter's latest and loving it!"Oh, I'm glad it's good! My copy arrived the other day. It will be the next book I start.
I found a copy of Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy in a used bookstore. I think this is moving to the top of my TBR list.
Gatorman wrote: "Dorie wrote: "Mary wrote: "Just finishedThink of a Number and have now started A Perfect Evil (Maggie O'Dell, #1)"I loved 'Think of a Number', Mary. What did you t..."
I really liked it, thought it was a great debut and can't wait for his next one.
Melissa wrote: "I found a copy of Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy in a used bookstore. I think this is moving to the top of my TBR list."Enjoy :) John Le Carré books are always good.
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I love all of the Lucas Davenport series, but I think this was my favourite.