The Mystery, Crime, and Thriller Group discussion
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Scott
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Aug 13, 2011 02:57PM

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Kwei Quartey’s Children of the Street is the sequel to his terrific debut, Wife of the Gods, which introduced Detective Inspector Darko Dawson of the Ghana police in Accra. Our Mystery Book Group read the first book in November 2010, and it was very well received. I was eager to read the sequel and was certainly not disappointed. It became a case of despite everything I needed to do, I just sat in my chair and read instead. It was both a police procedural and a very intense psychological thriller. We learn more about Darko and his family, especially the health issues of his son Hosiah, more about Darko’s colleagues, and in this book, much about the poverty and plight of the Ghanaian street children. Add a serial killer who leaves a trail of bodies throughout the city and you have a fabulous exciting read. I already recommended this to the Mystery Group. It’s just a great read. I love Darko Dawson!

I'll second the recommendation of Wife of the Gods: A Novel. I love reading mysteries set in unusual locations.
In the spirit of full disclosure - Martina and I are in the same in person mystery book group :)
In the spirit of full disclosure - Martina and I are in the same in person mystery book group :)

In the spirit of full disclosure - Martina and I are in the same in p..."
Donna is the reason I'm part of this group! I, too, love unusual settings. There are a number of good series set in South Africa, but I agree this may be the only Ghana setting I recall. The writing is wonderful. I haven't read a book in a few days in a long long time....




Hope you enjoy Sovereign! I am a big fan of the Matthew Shardlake series and highly recommend it for fans of historical crime fiction. You have two more books in the series to look forward to Revelation and Heartstone!! Enjoy!

@ Aprilla, Are you sayng that because you are not enjoying this book?????

You are asking about Horns? Unfortunately yeah, something like that... didn't dislike it but it really didn't do anything for me. I was terribly disappointed, guess I expected too much?


omg, it was so shocking...5 stars from me!! I can highly recommend it"
I love this series. Very high four s..."
Totally agree, why is it taking him so long to bring out a new one. I miss Smokey.

Love Stuart McBride, can't wait to read Shatter the Bones. I always laugh out load at his books and people look at me strangely.



I read Bubba and the Dead Woman last night. I agree with you it was a fun, light-hearted read. I've been ready some pretty heavy duty history books lately so this was a welcome change.

I'm going to get T-Shirts printed up with I heart Willowdean Grey on the front and Miz Demtrice for Congress on the back. :)

You are asking about Horns? Unfortunately yeah, something like that... didn't dislike ..."
I have this book in my library, I have never read anything by Joe Hill, but since he is Stephen King's son, I thought he would be a good choice. I'm not sure when I will get around to reading it, I have so many group reads to start right now.


I'm a huge fan of Wodehouse's Jeeves and Wooster short stories, but this is the first time I've read this novel of his. ..."
I love Wodehouse as well.....his Jeeves/Wooster stories make me laugh out loud. I will look for the book you mentioned. The man was a master of the English language and never fails to please.

You are asking about Horns? Unfortunately yeah, something like that... d..."
I read both Heart-Shaped Box and Horns and liked both of them very much. He is an excellent writer in his own right.

You are asking about Horns? Unfortunately yeah, something like that... d..."
There was some discussion previously concerning authors' offsprings' books (hmm...all those apostrophes in the right place?).....I liked Stephen King's son Joe Hill books better than the Kellermans' son Jesse Kellerman books, and others felt the opposite.
I think I've only read two of each, however, so that may not be a fair sampling. I do recall reading Joe Hill's Heart Shaped Box and liking it, finding it reminiscent of his dad's older works, kinda creepy.

Have not read any Burke before, but fell right into it, with its location of New Orlenas. As usual, plucked #7 in the Robicheaux series, read 'em when I lay my hands on 'em.....

You are asking about Horns? Unfortunately yeah, something ..."
That is interesting T I have 2 of Joe Hill's books and 2 of Jesse Kellerman, but have not read either, I will give them both a try, I usually only give an author 2 tries to reel me in. Hopefully I am not being to harsh. :) If Heart Shaped Box reminds me of his dad, then I am hooked!!



Like Johnson, Wendelboe is very accurate when it comes to the background that is the setting of his plot, that particular area of SD (which I know well) and the Sioux and their politics, lives and attitudes.
The criticisms I have are probably, for the most part, first book issues and I have hopes that this will develop into a successful series.
Diane wrote: "I will have to try this series, you make it sound very enticing and I don;t think I have read anything set in Ghana."
Hi Diane, I just read this blog about Wife of the Gods: A Novel. Very interesting plus some background on Ghana. http://www.criminalelement.com/blogs/...-
Hi Diane, I just read this blog about Wife of the Gods: A Novel. Very interesting plus some background on Ghana. http://www.criminalelement.com/blogs/...-
Hi everyone! I am back from my holiday at the beach. 196 messages, yikes! You have all been really busy, but I'm not going to read through them all.
I too read a lot:
The Apothecary Rose was not my kind of thing so I didn't enjoy it too much. (Medieval setting, good premise for a series, didn't like the characters.)
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, which were re-reads, but just as fun the 3rd or 4th time round.
Survival in Auschwitz was heartbreaking, but Levi's prose is incredible.
Great Expectations, so so so good. I listened to a brilliant audiobook from Librivox.org
Carte Blanche, the first of the Commissioner De Luca series, was okay, but not brilliant. I'm reading the second one now The Damned Season and it is much better, I'm really getting into this one.
I too read a lot:
The Apothecary Rose was not my kind of thing so I didn't enjoy it too much. (Medieval setting, good premise for a series, didn't like the characters.)
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, which were re-reads, but just as fun the 3rd or 4th time round.
Survival in Auschwitz was heartbreaking, but Levi's prose is incredible.
Great Expectations, so so so good. I listened to a brilliant audiobook from Librivox.org
Carte Blanche, the first of the Commissioner De Luca series, was okay, but not brilliant. I'm reading the second one now The Damned Season and it is much better, I'm really getting into this one.

Hi Diane, I just read this blog about [book:Wife of the Gods: ..."
Thanks Donna,

I was so wrong on both counts.

I've read a couple of the Martinelli books but they didn't appeal to me that much and I'm not really much on historical fiction as a rule either. I'm not sure just why I like this Russell/ Holmes series so well but it has been a consistent favorite for me, though I do have to be in a particular frame of mind to enjoy them fully. It's not something I can pick up anytime and enjoy but there are moods where nothing else works quite as well.

Glad that you finally dove in, Kim. It has been quite the extension of your horizons between Beekeeper's Apprentice and the Harry Potter series!
I have not yet read the Martinelli series, but I have read the first 3 books of the Russell/Holmes series. Looking forward to getting into the Martinelli series. However, I must say that my favorite Laurie R. King book to date has got to be




Hope y..."
Colette - I think CJ Sansom gets better and more comfortable with the characters and stories with each story. Sovereign has grabbed me right away and I'm really enjoying it so far. I will probably read the others too. Have you read any of Ariana Franklin's historical mysteries? I've read one so far, The Mistress of the Art of Death and it was just as good.


You will love the whole series if you like that one. He has also written a couple of stand alones lately and they are very good as well. Happy reading.

I originally wanted to read Heart Shaped Box because I had it (because I wanted to read it) but a Group Read selected Horns so I read that one first and I'm still really looking forward to HSB. I can see from that Horns that he's a very talented writer and if you like the subject it was probably very good but I seldom get fully into that type of book ... don't want to say too much but horns just don't do it for me LOL I think my real disappointment stems from wanting to like him so much, I'm a SK fan :)


Hi Diane, I just read this blog about [book:Wife..."
After seeing the remarks from Martina and Donna I downloaded the book last night and will start reading it tonight. My parents were missionaries in Ghana for several years and loved the people and the country. I've read the sample and the writing seems to be good.


HI Bill,
Yes, I have read a few of Ariana Franklin's historical maysteries and I have enjoyed them. Sadly, this author passed away earlier this year (I only discovered this while browsing through the message boards here on Goodreads). Glad that you are enjoying the Shardlake series - it's one of my favourites!!
Kim wrote: "I am finally reading The Beekeeper's Apprentice and loving it. "
Yay!! Love this series!
Kelly: Touchstone was good, but for the stand alones my favorite is Folly. I love the setting in the Pacific North West and the descriptions of the woodworking.
Yay!! Love this series!
Kelly: Touchstone was good, but for the stand alones my favorite is Folly. I love the setting in the Pacific North West and the descriptions of the woodworking.

Diane wrote: "I did start reading her by reading her Martinelli series and I liked them as well, also liked her stand alones. ..."
Hayes wrote: "Yay!! Love this series!."
Kelly - Goodreads has certainly got me out of my literary rut. I find myself reading all sorts of things I wouldn't have picked up a year ago. It's fantastic.
Diane (and Kelly) - I didn't know that King had written any stand alones. Even more books to add to the TBR list!
Hayes - I originally decided to read the series because of your enthusiasm for it. I figured that a fellow Sayers fan could not be wrong! ;)
Kim wrote: "Hayes - I originally decided to read the series because of your enthusiasm for it. I figured that a fellow Sayers fan could not be wrong! ;) "
Just doing my job, ma'am.
;o)
(PS: #2 of the series is essential for the storyline, but the plot is a bit thin. #3 is one of my faves.)
Just doing my job, ma'am.
;o)
(PS: #2 of the series is essential for the storyline, but the plot is a bit thin. #3 is one of my faves.)

#2 of the series is essential for the storyline, but the plot is a bit thin. #3 is one of my faves...."
And a very good job you do too!
Thanks for the heads up re #2. I can cope with a bit of a thin plot for the sake of a decent series arc.

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