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Currently Reading? Just Finished?
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Gatorman
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Aug 18, 2011 02:11PM
It was nominated for the 2011 Ngaio Marsh Award which I believe is being awarded this Sunday.
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Just finished an ARC of "The Boy in the Suitcase".
I am fascinated by the recent Danish crime novels I've read. While they are different in plot, there is a similarity in structure I think. The story is told from the outset by several voices. The threads do not necessarily seem to mesh. As the story unfolds, I found I went through periods of 'what IS this?' and then suddenly, something small or something big makes it all click together in my mind. I don't mind this type of non-linear or multi-linear storyline, but know that some do not like it at all. My only quibble with this book is the number of story lines with characters having similar or no known name from the outset. I should have written them down as I went, something I normally would do if I were interested in the book for my mystery group. I am, and I will, but I was just being lazy! Serves me right. Won't spoil the story for other readers. It had aspects quite different from many books I've read recently. The book was shortlisted for the Scandinavian Glass Key Award for Crime Fiction. Note: Publication date in the US is November 2011 from Soho Crime.
Gatorman wrote: "Just finished 
and absolutley loved it, a 5-star read. Will now be starting 
."Thanks for the recommendation, G, sounds like fun!
< bwah ha ha ha ha ha ha..... >
Priya wrote: "I just re-read Nine TailorsThe Nine Tailors A bit slow-moving."Priya, it's defnitely not a fast paced novel, but that's one of the things I like about it. I love the way Sayers creates a sense of time and place in the book. The church and the landscape are characters in themselves and the mystery is almost incidental.
However, I'm a bit biased. I just love Sayers' writing.
I'm supposed to finish Iron House. Sagging middle means other stories keep pushing it aside. Just started The Four Ms Bradwells - really like it so far
I am reading The Dogs of Rome by Connor Fitzgerald. Just 5% read according to my Kindle and already hooked. First Connor Fitzgerald/Alec Blume that I have read. Interesting to be in Italy after reading Jo Nesbo (Norway)
Kim wrote: "Priya wrote: "I just re-read Nine TailorsThe Nine Tailors A bit slow-moving."Priya, it's defnitely not a fast paced novel, but that's one of the things I like about it. I love the ..."
I love Sayers' writing and I did not really mind the slow pace in which the English Winter and Way of Life, were characters, but Whimsey's affectations got to me.Funny, I've never minded them before.
Priya wrote: "Whimsey's affectations got to me.Funny, I've never minded them before. ...."Maybe Wimsey just didn't suit your mood when you were reading it, Priya. I suspect Wimsey is not a character for every day!
I am finally reading Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen, which has been on my TBR pile for three years! Now that I'm actually reading it, I can't believe I waited this long!! What an awesome book, pulled me right in too!!
Is good, isn't it Susan? I loved it.
I can't believe I waited so long to read this!! It is going really fast for me and I keep flipping the pages because I'm going crazy trying to figure out how it will end!! LOL
T wrote: "Gatorman wrote: "Just finished and absolutley loved it, a 5-star read. Will now be starting ."Thanks for the recommen..."
Yeah, it's a laugh riot! lol Hope you enjoy it.
Finished
which I liked, Eloise the psychic that appeared in Fragile plays a prominent role in this one. Have now Started
which I am really looking forward to and also started
which they are making a movie of. Book trailer is on youtube.
Diane wrote: "Finished which I liked, Eloise the psychic that appeared in Fragile plays a prominent role in this one. Have now Started [bookcover:Collecting C..."Put Woman in Black on my TBR list...
I've read and loved (for the most part) Hill's Simon Serailler series but I just felt in the modd for a ghost story. Plus I intend to see the movie and always like reading the book first.
Taking a quick break from crime and mystery to read Revolutionary Road for my book club.@ Melody...i read Out a few years and quite liked it. And welcome to the group!
Monica wrote: "Taking a quick break from crime and mystery to read Revolutionary Road for my book club.@ Melody...i read Out a few years and quite liked it. And welcome to the group!"
Monica, I'm a bit scared of this one. Seems that there are so many platitudes that are treated like wisdom that one grows up with and patterns their future goals around. Some are so unrealistic, and it's hurtful if you've immersed yourself in it. I'll be looking forward to hear what you think of the book...but, too, I may still just let it go on by...
Monica wrote: "Taking a quick break from crime and mystery to read Revolutionary Road for my book club.@ Melody...i read Out a few years and quite liked it. And welcome to the group!"
Elli wrote: "Monica wrote: "Taking a quick break from crime and mystery to read Revolutionary Road for my book club.
@ Melody...i read Out a few years and quite liked it. And welcom..."
Monica wrote: "Taking a quick break from crime and mystery to read Revolutionary Road for my book club.
@ Melody...i read Out a few years and quite liked it. And welcome to the group!"
Melody wrote: "Monica wrote: "Taking a quick break from crime and mystery to read Revolutionary Road for my book club.@ Melody...i read Out a few years and quite liked it. And welcom..."
Hi Monica, and thanks for the welcoming words! I am reallybenjoying "Out"... Asked for itbat the library and got it right away, whack surprised me because it is so good. I am listening to the audio which adds to the atmosphere. I hope the author has more out there!
Well, that post is FULL of typos....lol...sorry!
I have not long ago finished An Expert in Murder by Nicola Upson which is about Josephine Tey (fictional). I really enjoyed it but wondered if Tey is still popular?
I guess I'm going to jump on the Jo Nesbo bangwagon too.
I'm currently reading two books, Margaret Atwood's The Blind Assassin and J.A. Konrath's Shaken. And, I have to say, I'm loving them both. Weird, huh?
Oooh, tell me what you think of Shaken. I'm of two minds on that one. ( loved the Jack Daniels series)
Jane wrote: "I have not long ago finished An Expert in Murder by Nicola Upson which is about Josephine Tey (fictional). I really enjoyed it but wondered if Tey is still popular?"I have two on my shelf now. Gearing up to re-read The Daughter of Time.
Brilliant I hope you enjoy them. It is such a pity that she only wrote 8.
Hugh wrote: "Oooh, tell me what you think of Shaken. I'm of two minds on that one. ( loved the Jack Daniels series)"You bet I will. I've just started. Haven't made up my mind. Sometimes I cringe (not used to reading stuff so explicit), other times I laugh. I've got the ebook and JA Konrath explains that it includes two versions—the first with plot out of chronological order, the way he intended it to be; the second, in chronological order.
I read all my Jack Daniels Books on my Kindle. I read the one in the order he intended, not the one in chronological order. I also read the series in chronological order. Harry's a hoot isn't he?
Enjoy the read.
J. A. Konraith is a local author for us, our library sponsors a local author fair and he is usually in attendance. I loved his earlier Jack Daniels books but the last 2 not as well.
He wrote some Horror books. I think they may be technically better writing from him, for that genre, but I have a hard time liking them better than Jack Daniels.The first one is one of the best. One of them (Cherry Bomb) I think, the bad guy scared the heck out of me... what he was doing and all.. )
Hugh wrote: "He wrote some Horror books. I think they may be technically better writing from him, for that genre, but I have a hard time liking them better than Jack Daniels.The first one is one of the best...."
I agree. I also thought his first was his best.
Diane wrote: "J. A. Konraith is a local author for us, our library sponsors a local author fair and he is usually in attendance. I loved his earlier Jack Daniels books but the last 2 not as well."I enjoyed the first one. Not sure why I haven't gotten a second one yet.
It read as though he was from the area. Good to know he actually is.
Diane wrote: "Hugh wrote: "He wrote some Horror books. I think they may be technically better writing from him, for that genre, but I have a hard time liking them better than Jack Daniels.The first one is o..."
I liked all of them. Even the ones I like less than the others, have some parts of them that I think are great.
the first one, that's the hook though. best one.
Susan wrote: "I can't believe I waited so long to read this!! It is going really fast for me and I keep flipping the pages because I'm going crazy trying to figure out how it will end!! LOL"I thought it was great, too, Susan.
Dorie wrote: "Barbara wrote: "I've started The Complaints by Ian Rankin; you can't go wrong with Rankin."How is that one, Barbara? Is the protagonist likeable enough? From the ..."
I'm enjoying the book. The protagonist isn't as colorful as Rebus but he's an okay guy who means well and manages to get into plenty of trouble. The storyline is pretty interesting...Fox (the protagonist) is a cop who investigate dirty cops (in this case a suspected child abuser); meanwhile Fox's sister's boyfriend (who beats her) gets murdered and the suspected dirty cop heads that investigation.
So things get kind of mixed up together. I love the Scotland atmosphere that Rankin does so well.
Jan wrote: "I'm reading The House at Sea's End by Elly Griffiths. I'm really enjoying this series. I love Ruth!"I'm reading an ARC of House at Sea's End now too. It's just so good. I had a lot of reading I should be doing, but Elly Griffiths just jumped in my lap and laughed at me! How could I resist?
Finished Collecting Cooper and it is a gritty thriller that I liked quite a bit. The characters are great and the setting in New Zealand, Christchurch in particular, is unique. Does anyone know of any other mysteries set in New Zealamd?
I have just started The Devil in the White City, it is looking good.
I'm reading Sara Paretsky's Body Work. I started reading it months ago and put it aside when my daughter asked to borrow it from me. The fact that I was willing to give it to her straight away indicates I was not enthralled by it. I've picked it up again because it's remained on the TBR list ever since. I'm sure I'll finish it, but I'm not sure that Paretsky's still at the top of her game. But maybe that's just me. Hopefully I'll get more into it as I go on.
Diane wrote: "Finished Collecting Cooper and it is a gritty thriller that I liked quite a bit. The characters are great and the setting in New Zealand, Christchurch in particular, is unique. Does anyone know of ..."Glad you liked it, Diane!
Just finished The Postcard Killers for this group. I'm going to finish up some other books I'm reading.
Gatorman wrote: "Diane wrote: "Finished Collecting Cooper and it is a gritty thriller that I liked quite a bit. The characters are great and the setting in New Zealand, Christchurch in particular, is unique. Does a..."I did very much. Thanks! Did he win the Ngaio Marsh, if not who did?
Starting an arc of The Burning, they are comparing her to Sophie Hannah and Tana French, two of my favorite psychological writers.
Diane wrote: "Gatorman wrote: "Diane wrote: "Finished Collecting Cooper and it is a gritty thriller that I liked quite a bit. The characters are great and the setting in New Zealand, Christchurch in particular, ..."Don't know yet. Will find out and let you know.
Hugh wrote: "I'm going to sample 
next.I just finished
and thought it was absolutely terrific!"Love the Borkmann books!
I am totally enjoying C.J. Sansom's Sovereign. It's the 3rd book in the Matthew Shardlake mystery series and has totally grabbed me. I think Sansom has gotten better as he's gotten into his series and grown more comfortable with the time frame (set during Henry VIII's reign), the intrigue and the characters. Great story and great historical mystery
i am currently reading, 'Strong Women' by Roberta Kray
just finished & here's my review: Dumpster Dying, by Lesley A. Diehl.
Cozy, woman amateur sleuth
Publisher: Oak Tree Press, Taylorville, IL
ISBN: 978-1-51009-006-3
Trade paperback $14.95
Emily Rhodes is, as Detective Stanton Lewis likes to think, “Not much bigger than one of Santa’s Elves.” She’s petite and blond, cute as a button, on the young side of fifty and on the wrong side of luck when her love of ten years keels over from a heart attack.
Bartending at the Big Lake Country Club in the heart of Florida cowboy country seems like a fit, she gets paid, likes her boss Carla, and there’s always golf with some girlfriends when she can work it in.
Unfortunately, life gets complicated after a late night shift and the garbage that won’t fit into the dumpster soon shows why: there’s the body of a nasty customer in it. She has every intention of calling the police, but the door is locked behind her, leaving her stranded without keys or cell phone. Fortunately, the local deputies show up because someone anonymously called it in, and doesn’t she look sweet for the crime?
But, as they say, wait…. It gets better. The good news is that her boss, Carla, used to be a practicing attorney, and with the chutzpa of Godzilla, manages to spring Emily from the local police station. The bad news is that Carla soon becomes a suspect because, like most people in town, she hated the guy. And, to add to Emily’s stress, it looks like she’s going to have to fight her lover’s ex in court for his modest home and meager estate, and where’s she going to get the money for an attorney? Carla’s dad, despite living in a rest home so he’ll have women to chase, is still a practicing attorney, or at least he is when he’s interested, or likes the client. He likes Emily, so as a favor he decides to represent her against the ex-wife and the possible arraignment for murder.
I was charmed by the family dynamics in this book; Emily and her newly found biological daughter, and Carla, her dad and her son. There was enough humor to keep me giggling at the author’s asides about the men in the story and I was also pleased to see that Emily, who generally greets a frightful situation with hiccups, grows into a resourceful and competent amateur sleuth.Ultimately, it’s Emily’s boss, Carla, and her troubled teenaged son’s past that will become the focus of a complicated history that sweeps all of them up into a maelstrom of murder.
The plotting is tight and I loved the author's quick wit, so I'm adding this book as one of my few highly recommended reviews.
RP Dahlke, author of the Lalla Bains mystery series
Amazon/Kindle:http://tinyurl.com/6hdg3bf
Cozy, woman amateur sleuth
Publisher: Oak Tree Press, Taylorville, IL
ISBN: 978-1-51009-006-3
Trade paperback $14.95
Emily Rhodes is, as Detective Stanton Lewis likes to think, “Not much bigger than one of Santa’s Elves.” She’s petite and blond, cute as a button, on the young side of fifty and on the wrong side of luck when her love of ten years keels over from a heart attack.
Bartending at the Big Lake Country Club in the heart of Florida cowboy country seems like a fit, she gets paid, likes her boss Carla, and there’s always golf with some girlfriends when she can work it in.
Unfortunately, life gets complicated after a late night shift and the garbage that won’t fit into the dumpster soon shows why: there’s the body of a nasty customer in it. She has every intention of calling the police, but the door is locked behind her, leaving her stranded without keys or cell phone. Fortunately, the local deputies show up because someone anonymously called it in, and doesn’t she look sweet for the crime?
But, as they say, wait…. It gets better. The good news is that her boss, Carla, used to be a practicing attorney, and with the chutzpa of Godzilla, manages to spring Emily from the local police station. The bad news is that Carla soon becomes a suspect because, like most people in town, she hated the guy. And, to add to Emily’s stress, it looks like she’s going to have to fight her lover’s ex in court for his modest home and meager estate, and where’s she going to get the money for an attorney? Carla’s dad, despite living in a rest home so he’ll have women to chase, is still a practicing attorney, or at least he is when he’s interested, or likes the client. He likes Emily, so as a favor he decides to represent her against the ex-wife and the possible arraignment for murder.
I was charmed by the family dynamics in this book; Emily and her newly found biological daughter, and Carla, her dad and her son. There was enough humor to keep me giggling at the author’s asides about the men in the story and I was also pleased to see that Emily, who generally greets a frightful situation with hiccups, grows into a resourceful and competent amateur sleuth.Ultimately, it’s Emily’s boss, Carla, and her troubled teenaged son’s past that will become the focus of a complicated history that sweeps all of them up into a maelstrom of murder.
The plotting is tight and I loved the author's quick wit, so I'm adding this book as one of my few highly recommended reviews.
RP Dahlke, author of the Lalla Bains mystery series
Amazon/Kindle:http://tinyurl.com/6hdg3bf
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