Mystery Lovers! discussion
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What are you reading? Do you recommend it?
Boris Akunin Leviathon, so many Fandorin books to read. I've also got my hands on Mary Stewart's My brother Michael been trying to find this for a while.
Oh, yumm! I've started Michael Connelly's Nine Dragons and love it. Stayed up till almost 2 last nigh because I couldn't put it down.
Anyone looking for a WWII mystery series might consider the series that begins with Billy Boyle. The protagonist is a young policeman from Boston, a distant relation of Eisenhower, who happens into an unusual posting in the General's Command and finds himself investigating various crimes and war-related incidents.I've found the episodes I've read very interesting.
I seem to be reading books five and six at a time lately. The current crop:Murder Most Royal
The Quilter's Homecoming
Act of Treason
The Shop on Blossom Street
Divine Inspiration
Only two of them are mysteries in any sense.
Sue wrote: "Anyone looking for a WWII mystery series might consider the series that begins with Billy Boyle. The protagonist is a young policeman from Boston, a distant relation of Eisenhower, ..."Sue, you do manage to find some unusual mysteries- and from our Massachusetts!!
I used to get recommendations from Kate of the much missed Kate's Mystery Books of cambridge. I used to love going there. She's the one who introduced me to Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear and all the Charles Todd books among others. I also read lots of reviews. The Boston Globe is pretty good at finding local writers or locally set mysteries.
This is one I wrote, and everyone (almost) who reads it seems to like it. Since I am a voracious reader, I chose the kind of books l like to read--a thriller that keeps moving, a love interest, some redemption and a contemporary story that is relevant. Seems like it worked. There are reviews on amazon to check it out. So much for the "plug." Now I'll get back to reading what others like.
Sue wrote: "Anyone looking for a WWII mystery series might consider the series that begins with Billy Boyle. The protagonist is a young policeman from Boston, a distant relation of Eisenhower, ..."This is an excellent series.
I have read 1 and am now reading a second one.
Thanks for the heads up on this series.
I'm glad you're enjoying it, Jim. My favorite so far is the 4th, Evil for Evil. I've just realized, however, that I think I skipped over #3 and will need to read that. (unless my memory is failing me...and my GR library).
Another tip for mystery lovers is the website www.stopyourekillingme.com. They have a regular newsletter and provide updates on new mysteries being published, whether series or stand alones, hardcover or paperback. You can find full lists of books in series, etc and all styles of mysteries. It's a nice resource. I get the email monthly.
SueGot the DVD of Case histories from amazon.
Reading Nine coaches waiting by Mary Stewart, hope to finish it today.
Guess I better read that book pretty soon, Deanne. Please let us know how it is.
SueBetter read the first 3 books, Case histories, One good turn and When will there be good news. Each book was covered in 2 episodes, there is some differences from the books but I thought they were very good. Though it was difficult with Jason Isaacs playing Jackson, he talks with a Yorkshire accent, bit different from Lucius Malfoy and his posh accent.
I've already read One Good Turn and I have the other 2 on my shelf so I'm all set to go. At least I know they are out there in case PBS doesn't pick up the series at some point. Maybe I should suggest it to them. I am a memberr of my local station.
Sue wrote: "I've already read One Good Turn and I have the other 2 on my shelf so I'm all set to go. At least I know they are out there in case PBS doesn't pick up the series at some point. Maybe I should sugg..."That's a good idea, Sue! I'll call GBH also!
Recently finished Buried Prey by John Sanford. Recommend for those that like this genre. Lots of action and pace.
I just started The Enemy We Know by Donna White Glaser. The opening scene is a grabber and it's very well written. I'm only 7% in (Kindle version) but I really like it.
Linda wrote: "Recently finished Buried Prey by John Sanford. Recommend for those that like this genre. Lots of action and pace."I love the whole Prey series. I am on the waiting list at the library for this one.
A fairly new writer I've enjoyed is Stefanie Pintoff. Her first book was In the Shadow of Gotham. It's historical fiction, taking place in New York City area in the 1st decade of the 20th century. Her third in the series has just come out earlier this year. Recommended Also agree about the Prey series. Great reads, very consistent.
I saw Buried Prey on my Libraries new shelf at lunch. I started the series a few months ago and I am only on Phantom Prey so I had to leave it on the shelf. The way life works I will have to be on a waitlist for 3 months when I get to it.After reading all the Lincoln Lawyer books I am now reading Connelly from the beginning. I am up to Trunk Music.
And the third series I am reading through is the Evan Evans cozies from Rhys Bowen. I am on the last book when I will pick up CJ Box's Wyoming Game Warden stuff where I left off (book 4).
I also just finished Atkinson's latest - Started Early, Took my (the?) Dog. It was pretty good but you can kind of guess once you ar efamiliar with the author's style of building a plot.
With the Prey books I am also weaving in the Virgil Flowers' books. My wife did not want to read the Prey books from the beginning So I suggested she start with the Flowers' ones. She thinks they are great (And Lucas and crew from the Prey books do make an appearance).
I am reading The Turkish Gambit by the pseudonymous Boris Akunin - slow-paced and sly, but where's the mystery?
If you like the Prey series, you might want to try the Lou Boldt/Seattle series by Ridley Pearson. The first one is Undercurrents. It is one of my all time faves, a go-to book to reread when I don't have something new. He has a second series that takes place in Sun Valley that is also good. Lou Boldt appears in the most reason of the Sun Valley series. Enjoy!
I've wondered about Ridley Pearson. Do you recommend a starting point or can I just pick up any book. Is Undercurrents a good starting point?
Sue wrote: "I've wondered about Ridley Pearson. Do you recommend a starting point or can I just pick up any book. Is Undercurrents a good starting point?"They can be read as stand alones, but I think they are better in order, as you see the relationships of the characters develop. Regardless of in-order or out, I would start with Undercurrents. :~)
Two mysteries at the moment-- Divine Inspiration
and A Fall from Grace: A Novel of Suspense
. And I'll probably start the next Cleo Coyle on my list, or the Pulver that is that last book I need for one of my challenges, as well.
Linda wrote: "Loved loved Before I Go to Sleep by S.J. Watson. Excellent mystery, I could not put it down!!"I liked this one too. At first I wasn't so sure, thought it was going to be the same thing over and over, but it had some great twists and turns. Good read!
Reading
which is a Scudder novel, half way done and am liking it and also just started
which is the third of this series I have read, liked the other two so we will see.
I'm reading the latest by Ellie Griffiths The House at Sea's End. I really like this series about a forensic archaeologist who occasionally assists the police.
Julia wrote: "I just started The Janus Stone, which, so far, I much prefer to The Crossing Places"All the characters really got set up in the first book. By The Janus Stone it felt like I knew them better. I really like the setting...it feels like another character in the book to me.
I had liked Dog Day, featuring Barcelona police inspector Petra Delicado, but only afterwards did I realize it was actually the second in the series. I've just begun the first one Death Rites this weekend. I almost think it reads better in this order as I liked Petra before, and now the background information of the series set up has more context. The translator does such a great job that I have to consciously recall at times that it was originally written in Spanish.One item that I hadn't realized before, that caused me to need to suspend disbelief, is that Petra's colleague speaks no Catalan whatsoever, only Spanish!
Sue wrote: "Julia wrote: "I just started The Janus Stone, which, so far, I much prefer to The Crossing Places"All the characters really got set up in the first book. By The Janu..."
Julia & Sue, I agree that Janus Stone was better than Crossing Places. I just put The House at Sea's End on hold at the library - looking forward to it!
Julia and Jan....I think you'll be pleased with The House at Sea's End. All the characters continue to develop and I found that really fun. I'm enjoying Ruth as she's really multifaceted. I hope you both enjoy it and will enjoy hearing from you.
Reading THE BURNING LAKE by Brent Gehlfi. fast and intense with 2 plot lines that appear to be coming together for a collision
This book made me grateful that I live in the U.S.
I'm currently reading the latest C.J. Box -- COLD WIND.
I just started working through CJ Bow's backlist - I am only up to Trophy Hunt (#4). So far thet are pretty good.I am starting Julie Kramer's latest tonight - Killing Kate. Her books are always great fun and everyone should give them a try.
S.D. wrote: "I'm currently reading the latest C.J. Box -- COLD WIND."S.D. and David, I'm a big C.J. Box fan, too. In fact, I'm a fan of a lot of the outdoor-oriented mystery series since I write one. My latest C.J. Box read was Below Zero and I gave it 5 stars.
For a change of pace, I just finished up a Carl Hiaasen book, Lucky You. I love his sense of humor and his wacky characters!
BLOODLINES by Mark Billingham - fast paced and feel like the detective who's investigating a serial killer
I am starting on Sixkill. His books are such an easy read and I love Spencer. I heard that his writings will be carried on but I wonder if they will be as good.
I have read most of Parker's books and readSixkill. I did not find it as good,nor as suspenseful as many of his other books. However, it does contain the essence of Parker, which we fans all enjoy. (Susan irked me in this one, though!)I also wonder if a new writer can do what Parker did so well. I'm rather skeptical.
Reading a real period piece - Josephine Tey's first novel. I like how the city of London is almost a character, but the "Dago"s are very jarring.
Susan wrote: "I just started Eyes Wide Open by Andrew Gross...I just love his books!!!"I just got it from the library!
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I love Vince Flynn. The series develops his character so well and each story is set in current believable events (terrorism,Middle East unrest, political skullduggery). I have recently switched to audio versions so my husband and I can listen to the books as we drive on longer trips. We got to the beach and he insisted on finishing the last 20 min of the book before we went out to the beach!