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Bill
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Nov 01, 2011 08:18AM
November is here and I'm starting the month with A Shilling for Candles, an Inspector Grant mystery by Josephine Tey and a World War II spy story by Alan Furst, Spies of the Balkans: A Novel, which I'm enjoying very much so far.
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Have you read Ian Rankin's Ressurection Men. It was pretty good, local color, dirty cops. But one of my favorites who doesn't seem to be much read is Frank Tallis. Try this series Of Dr. Max Lieberman.
Gatorman wrote: "Stefanie wrote: "finished Killing The Shadows by val mcdermid, disappointing!!now reading The Weight of Silence by heather gudenkauf"
Killing The Shadows is my lea..."
I read better by her as well already...
Georgia wrote: "Have you read Ian Rankin's Ressurection Men. It was pretty good, local color, dirty cops. But one of my favorites who doesn't seem to be much read is Frank Tallis. Try this series Of Dr. Max Lie..."Love the Frank Tallis series. I agree he should be more well known.
Just finished Theodore Boone, Kid Lawyer by John Grisham. Even though its written for young adults, I enjoyed it.
Reading
and am finding it very entertaining. Also soon to start
I am very curious of this book, getting very good reviews, but I don;t usually like fantasy too much, this one however sounds very good.
Katherine wrote: "Just finished 
and am reading 
."I love the Dexter series! I am anxious to read the new one!
I just finished Indelible. I love Karin Slaughter's Grant County series! I will start the next in the series right now.
I just finished "Shock Wave" by John Sandford. I just love "That E'fin Flowers" so very much! (laughing) I always picture Aaron Eckhart scuffing around in flip flops, ragged jeans and t-shirts when I try to bring Virgil's image to mind. After finishing Virgil's newest adventure, I was in the mood to start at the very beginning, and so I went all the way back to "Rules of Prey" to refresh my memories on all things Lucas. I'm, now, up to "Invisible Prey", the book that introduces Virgil to the Davenport books. I had forgotten just how well developed Virgil's character was from the very beginning. He fits in so seamlessly that it leaves the reader the impression that he's been in Lucas's world as long as Del has been.
Just finished The Rook by Steven James 2nd in the series. Awesome!! Just started Apple Turnover Murder by Joanne Fluke. This is a fun series!!
Bird wrote: "I'm, now, up to "Invisible Prey", the book that introduces Virgil to the Davenport books. I had forgotten just how well developed Virgil's character was from the very beginning. He fits in so seamlessly that it leaves the reader the impression that he's been in Lucas's world as long as Del has been. "Sandford is a very accomplished writer and has a very definite talent at keeping a series/ multiple series interesting. The Prey series has always been a favorite of mine, Flowers is getting that way and I really would like to see more of his "Kidd" series as well.
Just finished Ghost Road Blues. Excellent read, gave it 4 stars. Just started Those Across the River.
Dalene wrote: "Just finished The Rook by Steven James 2nd in the series. Awesome!! Just started Apple Turnover Murder by Joanne Fluke. This is a fun se..."I loved this entire Series. Read all the way through "The Queen."
The crime story in all of them is exciting and engaging, but I can't help liking the Tessa(Raven)-Patrick connection and the wonderful messages about life, growing up, learning to love, and living life the right way that are woven in there as well.
The way those things are reflected in the main story is amazingly intricate. (note, heal, be human, live right or your no different from them)...but I go on too much I guess.
Did I tell you Loved this series too?
I finished listening to
. It was a great book. This is my first one from this author and am very pleased. I will now start
.
Bird wrote: "I just finished "Shock Wave" by John Sandford. I just love "That E'fin Flowers" so very much! (laughing) I always picture Aaron Eckhart scuffing around in flip flops, ragged jeans and t-shirts wh..."I just finished "Rough Country." I knew Sanford had a sense of humors. You can't read about that F-ing flowers without getting that, but it really came out in a wonderful way in Rough Country. Flowers is unique, I think, even amongst Fictional crime fighters in the way he likes to stir the pot, beat the drum and see what happens next.
Hugh (A.K.A. Hermit the Curmudgeon) wrote: "Bird wrote: "I just finished "Shock Wave" by John Sandford. I just love "That E'fin Flowers" so very much! (laughing) I always picture Aaron Eckhart scuffing around in flip flops, ragged jeans an..."And again, what I love about this is that Sandford can make you laugh in a book where horribly gruesome things are happening and it doesn't seem inappropriate. Most authors can't pull this off.
I too love Sandford. He manages to always stay interesting with his characters and his plot and even their personal lives. You are right James, most authors can't and don't do this, their series get stale after a while, like they are just going through the motions.
Hugh (A.K.A. Hermit the Curmudgeon) wrote: "Dalene wrote: "Just finished The Rook by Steven James 2nd in the series. Awesome!! Just started Apple Turnover Murder by Joanne Fluke. T..."I thoroughly enjoyed the first two. After finishing The Rook last night, I contemplated the similarities between the character Raven and Stiegg Larsson's character Lisbeth. I really grew to like her in the second installment. I do love their relationship and I am excited to see it grow.
Diane wrote: "I too love Sandford. He manages to always stay interesting with his characters and his plot and even their personal lives. You are right James, most authors can't and don't do this, their series ge..."I think one of the most effective things Sandford did with the Prey series was to get Lucas married, with a family and into a more supervisory job with a larger scope, state rather than city. It has allowed him to broaden out with his storylines.
He's done a great job of moving Virgil from supporting character to the star of his own series and I am very interested to see how he continues to handle the adopted daughter.
I just finished A Thousand Lives, which tells the true story of the People's Temple from its inception in Indiana to the murder/suicide of 1000 followers in Guyana almost 20 years later. I'm old enough to remember the news coverage vividly. This is a good enough book. I imagine it would be mind-blowing to anyone who isn't familiar with the story.
I've started Val McDermid's latest novel, The Retribution. It starts with a prison escape. I like Val McDermid a lot, but this particular incident has me struggling to cross the suspension bridge of disbelief. *Sigh*Hopefully the narrative will be so exciting that I won't notice if it gets any more implausible than it already is!
finished
now reading
Kim wrote: "I've started Val McDermid's latest novel, The Retribution. It starts with a prison escape. I like Val McDermid a lot, but this particular incident has me struggling to cross the sus..."i have an ARC of this to read this month..hope it gets better
Has anyone read Linda Fairstein and her Alex Cooper series???What about Martha Grimes and her Richard Jury series???
What are your thoughts and input??
Pamela wrote: "Has anyone read Linda Fairstein and her Alex Cooper series???What about Martha Grimes and her Richard Jury s
What are your thoughts and input??"
The main problem with Martha Grimes you really need to read the first book first in order to get the characters and their relationships straight. There have been comments here that the last few books have gone downhill. I'm behind in my reading so I haven't really seen that yet.
I've been reading Linda Fairstein, too. I'm way behind on her also. Very readable. Once picked up, I frequently have trouble putting down.
Thanks for your input, Jan C. I plan on checking out Linda Fairstein real soon :)
A few days ago I finished Acceptable Loss by Anne Perry. Good historical mystery.I started The Emperor's Tomb by Steve Berry and like it so far. He certainly knows how to keep you reading!
Pamela wrote: "Has anyone read Linda Fairstein and her Alex Cooper series???What about Martha Grimes and her Richard Jury series???
What are your thoughts and input??"
I've read a lot of the newer Fairstein books, probably have not gone back to read the first ones. There's always some NY or military history included in the tale, and the three main characters have an ongoing habit of playing final Jeopardy.
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Pamela wrote: "Has anyone read Linda Fairstein and her Alex Cooper series???What about Martha Grimes and her Richard Jury series???
What are your thoughts and input??"
I have read all Linda Fairstein Alex Cooper novels so far and I love them. They are very well plotted thrillers and the relationship between the three main characters develops well as the series goes on. There is a distinct 'will they, won't they' thread running through the books between two of the characters, so far they 'haven't'. You'll know what I mean when you start reading them. I hope you enjoy them.
Kimberly wrote: "i have an ARC of this to read this month..hope it gets better..."The plausibility quotient hasn't really increased, Kimberly. But who knows, the problem may be with me and not McDermid! At any rate, her characters are great and that - rather than the plot - is what's kept me reading this one, .
I'll be interested to read your comments about the book.
Just finished Buried Alive by Jack Kerley. A Carson Ryder novel. I thoroughly enjoyed this book although set in Kentucky rather than Mobile it had a very dark story line which included mental an physical torture. Not every ones cup of tea and sometimes I have to wonder where these authors get there ideas from! Not for the faint hearted. Have now started Worst Case by James Patterson which I am hoping is better than some of his recent lazy efforts. I did swear that I would never read another JP book after that abomination that was 'Cross Country' but this was on the shelf and at least I can guarantee it will be a quick read!
T wrote: "Pamela wrote: "Has anyone read Linda Fairstein and her Alex Cooper series???..."I too have read lots of Linda Fairstein. I love the NYC setting and the history of the city which Fairstein weaves into the narrative. However, after reading umpteen instalments, I'm actually a bit weary of their repetitiveness. Her characters don't really seem to have moved terribly far. So I like the books, and I've kept on reading them, but I don't know how long I'll continue to do so.
Again, this may have more to do with me than with Fairstein. I get series fatigue unless the author does something spectacular to shake things up, as did Karin Slaughter and Elizabeth George.
It may just be that I'm turning into a grumpy old woman!
LOL, Kim :) I know what you mean in regards to a series being repetitive. However, I am a series addict. I am always looking for a new series to start. I like to mix the different series up and shuffle them around. In this way, I enjoy coming "home" to read another book in a series.Thanks to all who gave the input to my question regarding both Linda Fairstein and Martha Grimes. They are now on my ever growing TBR list :)
I've never read any of Val McDermid's books. Perhaps, he'll be on my list of authors to cover for 2012. I do,however, LOVE the British television series "Wire in the Blood", which, I understand, was based on his books. My husband and I caught them on Netflix a couple of years ago. I think the series has been cancelled, though, which is truly a shame. I miss Tony and the gang.
I just finished listening to A is for Alibi. It was a good book and kept my curiousity peaked. I didn't see the ending coming which is always a bonus in books. I started listening to Deadly Décisions and am still muddling through the ebook The English Assassin.
On second of Cara Black's mysteries, Aime LeDuc is the detective involved. Like the book OK, but certainly don't like her scheming selfish friend, Anais who thinks nothing of selfishly taking advantage of anybody and anything.
I just finished reading
book Practically PerfectI just enjoyed this book. I love the chacters in it and the story line was fun to read. I will read more of Katie Fforde books.
Just went old-school with Ed McBain's Heat, it's been a few years since I've visited the 87th Precinct. Still fresh!
Started The Constant Gardener by Le Carre, can't help liking Justin's character and the plot is enthralling.
Finished One Was a Soldier last night. Story wasn't bad, but the early onslaught of characters confused me since I was popping into book #7 of the series without having previously read any of the others. Also, all the military jargon was foreign to me, too.Just started Shock Wave this morning. Should go quickly, another fan of John Sandford/Virgil Flowers.
Right now I am on a Harry Potter kick. I am reading
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