The Mystery, Crime, and Thriller Group discussion
note: This topic has been closed to new comments.
General Chat
>
Currently Reading? Just Finished?
message 4851:
by
Genine
(new)
Dec 17, 2011 07:38AM

reply
|
flag
Well I was assaulted by a book in the bookstore today. "Take me home, or it's paper cuts for you! And take my friends too." So what else could I do?
(My husband kindly offered them as my Christmas present this year, so I guess it's all right... right?)
(My husband kindly offered them as my Christmas present this year, so I guess it's all right... right?)






(My husband kindly offered them as my Christmas..."
Don'tcha just hate when they reach out and grab you and give you a little shake?!? (No, not a milk shake...)

I've just finished The Burning Wire and was quite disappointed. I keep giving Deaver chances but, I gotta say, I'm about done with him. The research is great but the plots are often weak and the characterization is heavy-handed.
Currently reading Think of a Number and enjoying it so far. Should appeal to fans of Jonathan Kellerman and John Katzenbach.

The Invention of Hugo Cabret is beautiful! Usually Caldecott books are thin since they are picture books chosen to honor an artist's work. This book is pretty thick & full of the most beautiful, detailed drawings. I read it to my class a couple of years ago when it won the Caldecott in 2008, then donated it to our school library where it stays checked out. I need to read it to my current class since there is a movie now.

(My husband kindly offered them as my Christmas..."
Totally alright!!!! Enjoy.........



Is Murder at the Vicarage what they call a "cozy" mystery? I know Kathy Reichs isn't. Maybe you don't like "cozies".

You know, you brought up terms I just don't understand yet. What qualifies a "cozy" mystery? I've often seen people say that. Another question is what is "chick lit"? I read a few of Janet Evanovich's books and some people refer them as "chick lit" and I just see them all as mysteries. I guess I need to be taught the other categories.

"...a subgenre of crime fiction in which sex and violence are downplayed or treated humorously, and the crime and detection take place in a small, socially intimate community."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cozy_mys...
"Chick lit is genre fiction which addresses issues of modern womanhood, often humorously and lightheartedly..."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chick_lit
I think if something qualifies as a mystery or crime fiction, that supersedes its chick-lit qualities. Just like if you had a book that was primarily chick-lit, and it had a murder in it, it wouldn't suddenly become crime fiction.

"...a subgenre of crime fiction in which sex and violence are downplayed or treated humorously, and the crime and detection take place in a small,..."
Thanks Lobstergirl. That helps a lot.

Yes, Lobstergirl's definition of cozies from Wikipedia about sums it up - they are mysteries that don't frighten, than make you feel "cozy" instead.
Lobstergirl wrote: "They are often filled with spinsters and tea-drinking."
Don't forget the cats and needlework, knitting, etc.
Don't forget the cats and needlework, knitting, etc.

I'm currently reading Death Comes to Pemberley. I generally avoid anything which smacks of Austen fan fiction like the plague, but I thought this could be good because P.D. James is an excellent writer. But I'm a bit disappointed so far. Far too much "As you know, Bob" exposition and some annoying foreshadowing. *sigh*

Can anyone recommend another good thrill..."
Rachel, Happy to share a bunch of fantastic favorites with you . . . try Daniel Silva, Stephen Hunter, James Lee Burke, Sue Grafton, John Sandford, Joseph Finder, and Stephen J. Cannell. (Just to name a few). Enjoy!

Can anyone recommend anot..."
I too like Daniel Silva and Sue Grafton. They are complete opposites of each other though. I like the spy type books of Silva's (really liked "A Death in Vienna").

And Ken Follet. He's got some WWII era thrillers I REALLY enjoyed.

Daughter is getting two of them in trade paper. Oh well.

And Ken Follet..."
Agree with you on Ken Follet. He's on my favorites list, too!

..."
Did you like Jackdaws? I LOVED it! I recommended it to about five other people, and none of them were particularly excited about it.
So I'm beginning to think that I might not be normal.

..."
Did you like Jackdaws? I LOVED it! I recommended it to about five other people, and none of them were partic..."
I heard this book was pretty good. I will put it on my list.

..."
Did you like Jackdaws? I LOVED it! I recommended it to about five other people, and none of them were partic..."
Haha! You're normal! (Or maybe neither one of us is!) I liked it too. People's tastes in reading material varies a lot. I would be bored to death with what some of my friends read. I like a page-turning mystery/thriller anytime.





James Lee Burke is AWESOME. I've read all his books, in fact, just recently finished his latest, Feast of Fools. Highly recommend it! (Reading them in order is helpful).

Can anyone recommend another good thrill..."
Try Vince Flynn's Mitch Rapp series. Addictive!!!

Can anyone recommend anot..."
Oh my gosh, yes!!!! I LOVE Mitch Rapp! How could I have forgotten to mention this? Thanks for bringing up this series. A must for lovers of the spy/thriller genre!


The voice was done well - the woman is mentally unsound from ingesting radium while working and she had a North Carolina affectation to her speech/thoughts. It is well represented.
The book is not a thriller, but interesting. Very interesting.




'Call for the Dead' is the first of the George Smiley books. Its far from the best but it does intro a great character. Even if you aren't impressed with this one from 1975, give
[book:Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy|18989] a try. Once read, you will become one of Smiley's People.





Yum! I wasn't aware of that book. Thanks for the recommendation.




I tried Tim Dorsey, but did not like it as much as Hiassen and gave up....Don't remember if I finished the one I started, but know that I don't feel inclined to read more of Dorsey.
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...