Currently Reading? Showing 501-550 of 2,623

[Jeffrey]

Currently reading "The Twenty-Year Death" by Ariel S. Winter. It's absolutely astonishing.

[Kim]

Hannah wrote: "Carol/Bonadie wrote: "Just finished A Place Of Execution on audit. Riveting. I will read more from Val McDermid."

Loved it, too!"

Same here. It's one of my favourite McDermid novels.

[Julie]

I am reading Well-Schooled in Murder

[Joan]

Julie wrote: "I am reading Well-Schooled in Murder"

A great one by Elizabeth George!

[Susan]

Julie wrote: "I am reading Well-Schooled in Murder"

One of my favorites of hers.

[Penny]

I have almost finished and this is my first Tana French - recommended by someone on here!!

I too would love to see the Gamache series - I am slightly surprised they have cast Nathaniel Parker as he is so well known as Lynley - which I love and have read all of.

I have just got back into Josephine Tey and have some waiting to be read. I too, like Kaye, have enjoyed Stephen Booth and he often seems overlooked. I like Ian Rankin but recently tried Peter Robinson and didnt like it much!

Am desperately waiting the release of Ann Cleeves new series 'Shetland'.
And after all this a lovely friend has passed on the entire Inspector Morse series of books - so much to enjoy!!

[Joan]

Penny wrote: "I have almost finished and this is my first Tana French - recommended by someone on here!!..."

What did you think of it, Penny?

[Roberta]

I loved In the Woods and I also read her second one - can't think of the name - but it was also very good.

[Joan]

Roberta wrote: "I loved In the Woods and I also read her second one - can't think of the name - but it was also very good."

The second Tana French novel is "The Likeness." In my opinion, it's by far the best. For some reason, it gets the least press!

If you liked those two, Roberta, then you should definitely read "Faithful Place," which is her third. Unfortunately, I was very disappointed with the fourth ("Broken Harbour").

[Roberta]

I think I have Faithful Place somewhere. Too bad about her 4th. Thanks.

[Kaye]

Discovered Stephen Booth a while back and have been playing catch up with his Cooper/Fry series and am now on bk #4 . I'm really enjoying the setting (peak district) and the characters.

[Penny]

Joan wrote: "Penny wrote: "I have almost finished and this is my first Tana French - recommended by someone on here!!..."

What did you think of it, Penny?"

I finished In The Woods last night. First lets say I enjoyed it and wanted to get to the end - yet I have some reservations about it. I found the whole idea that Adam Ryan could then be Robert Ryan without the police doing any background checks when he joined the force was a bit far-fetched. The relationship between Rob and Cassie was almost the whole focus of the book and was very well drawn in all its frustrations and contradictions. However, it was such a large part of the story it got a bit in the way for me. I also found the repeated statements of what was to come intensely annoying ie 'what was to come later totally changed our relationship', or 'if I had just turned away that morning perhaps then I would not have....' I never like that in books it feels to self-focused and points up problems to come which breaks the tension.

I thought the description of the housing estate, life in the 80's, the impact of the disappearance - all very well done. BUT I really wanted that whole aspect to be resolved and it wasnt!! Rob starts to get his memory back and then loses it again - not sure that I believed that and also it wasnt what I wanted!!

Overall it was a well-plotted book with plenty of changes of focus and mis-leading characters - I would give it a 3.5 due to the issues I personally had with it. What did you make of it Joan?

[Joan]

Penny wrote: "Joan wrote: "Penny wrote: "I have almost finished and this is my first Tana French - recommended by someone on here!!..."

What did you think of it, Penny?"

...

What did you make of it Joan?"

This was the first of the Tana French novels (and the most praised by critics), but it was the second one that I read. I bumped into "The Likeness," her second book, in a brick-and-mortar bookstore while on vacation in Montauk, on the eastern end of Long Island, and it was the first I read; I'd never heard of Tana French before then. Although it took me a few tries to get into it, I wound up passionately loving "The Likeness," of which Cassie is the narrator. It remains my favorite Tana French. So, when I read "In The Woods" next, I was already positively disposed to it, to Cassie, and to Sam.

I didn't wind up loving "In The Woods" with the same ardor that I loved "The Likeness," but I seem to have liked it better than you did. I wasn't at all bothered by the treatment of the relationship between Cassie and Rob. I also wasn't bothered by the failure to resolve the crime from Rob's childhood. However, I think that I expected French to resolve it in a future book in the series. At the time, she had written just two novels, one with Cassie, Rob, and Sam and one with Cassie and Sam. Since then, she seems to have abandoned all three of them; so perhaps that old crime never will be solved. I'd have been bothered by that when I finished "In The Woods" had I known it!

French's narrative style is great when the narrator is an appealing character. In "Broken Harbor," the fourth French book, her narrator is a jerk; so I found it a very unpleasant read.

[Penny]

Joan wrote: "Penny wrote: "Joan wrote: "Penny wrote: "I have almost finished and this is my first Tana French - recommended by someone on here!!..."

What did you think of it, Pe..."


yes that's interesting - I am the same if the main character doesnt intrigue me in some way then I turn off!

[[deleted user]]

I just finished reading Valerio Valesi"s The Dark Valley. Now re-reading Ruth Rendell's Shake Hands Forever.

[Sandi]

I just finished "The Beautiful Mystery" by Louise Penny. I missed the Three Pines folks, but it was a good book. Unfortunately, we have to wait a long time for the next book.

[Charlene]

I am just finishing "Fire Engine Dead" by Sheila Connolly. I appreciate the tight construction of her sentences and paragraphs, her choice of vocabulary and her ability to teach me about areas outside my expertise without over-simplifying. Her two current series deal with apple orchards in New England and the operation of museums and fund-raising for them in Philadelphia. I am anxiously awaiting her new series to debut in March. By the way she also writes yet another series set in the Southwest under the name of Sarah Atwell. The amateur sleuth is a glass blower.

[Penny]

finished while I have really enjoyed many of these I didnt particularly take to this one. It is number 13 - do you think they just go off the boil? anyone else like Brunetti?

Also read which I really enjoyed although I am not sure if it was trying to be a thriller or relationship type book or what!!

[Karen]

Penny wrote: "I am reading .
Queen Victoria's grandson is murdered as he was a man of 'dubious morals' it is covered up but our man is sent in to try to fi..."

Penny, thanks for this recommendation! I really enjoyed this one. And then I went on and read the second book and have already started on another book in the series.

[Penny]

Karen wrote: "Penny wrote: "I am reading .
Queen Victoria's grandson is murdered as he was a man of 'dubious morals' it is covered up but our man is sent in to try to fi..."

yes I have the next ones in my to - read pile - I hope they are as good - glad someone else has discovered them!!

[Joan]

I am reading "The Red Room," by Nicci French. So far, pretty good but not one of their best. I used "their," not "her," because Nicci French is actually the pen name of a couple.

Does anyone else in this group like Nicci French, particularly the Frieda Klein series?

[Brenda]

I just got BLOTTO, TWINKS AND THE EX-KING'S DAUGHTER by Simon Brett out of the library.

[Caroline]

Brenda wrote: "I just got BLOTTO, TWINKS AND THE EX-KING'S DAUGHTER by Simon Brett out of the library."

I've got it on my TBR list. Is it good? I love Simon Brett.

[Caroline]

I am reading If Snow Hadn't Fallen by S.J. Bolton. Love her books and this one isn't disappointing either so far.

[Brenda]

I dimly remember checking BLOTTO/TWINKS out (in an earlier edition?) and bouncing off many years ago, but It is certainly appealing enough that I have to try it again.

[Penny]

Caroline wrote: "I am reading If Snow Hadn't Fallen by S.J. Bolton. Love her books and this one isn't disappointing either so far."

I enjoy her writing too. I had a funnny moment while reading Now You See Me There is a decapitated body and the head is found at the zoo. So the cops zoom over there to find out more and are introduced to the 'Head Keeper' !!!! well this has me in stitches for ages!! so I messaged Ms Bolton as she 's on goodreads and she said she had no idea it was written like that and I was the only person to have commented. It did make for a hilarious moment in the middle of a great thriller!!

[Caroline]

Penny wrote: "Caroline wrote: "I am reading If Snow Hadn't Fallen by S.J. Bolton. Love her books and this one isn't disappointing either so far."

I enjoy her writing too. I had a funnny moment while reading No..."

I remember that episode, but had not made the funny connection. Now I'm having a funny moment ...... LOL

[Julie]

I am currently reading Dead Cert

[Leslie]

Julie wrote: "I am currently reading Dead Cert"

Oh I love Dick Francis' books! I think I own all of them.

[HJ]

Leslie wrote: "Julie wrote: "I am currently reading Dead Cert"

Oh I love Dick Francis' books! I think I own all of them."

Me too. Every couple of years I re-read them, and enjoy them even though I know who dunnit - I like his characters and relationships, and the detailed backgrounds which, although they always have a link to racing, are not exclusively about racing; they range from merchant banking to glass-blowing!

[Tricia]

Speaking from Among the Bones: A Flavia de Luce Novel
Started this one yesterday and can't seem to put it down!

[Leslie]

Hj wrote: "Leslie wrote: "Julie wrote: "I am currently reading Dead Cert"

Oh I love Dick Francis' books! I think I own all of them."

Me too. Every couple of years I re-read them, and enjoy them even thoug..."

Hahaha, glad to know I'm not the only one!

[Julie]

Leslie wrote: "Hj wrote: "Leslie wrote: "Julie wrote: "I am currently reading Dead Cert"

Oh I love Dick Francis' books! I think I own all of them."

Me too. Every couple of years I re-read them, and enjoy them..."
These books stand the test of time. I don't have all of them, but I have a nice little collection of them.

[Leslie]

Hj wrote: "Leslie wrote: "Julie wrote: "I am currently reading Dead Cert"

Oh I love Dick Francis' books! I think I own all of them."

Me too. Every couple of years I re-read them, and enjoy them even thoug..."

Do you have a favorite? Mine varies but right now Decider is the one of his I like best.

[Anne]

Leslie wrote: "Hj wrote: "Leslie wrote: "Julie wrote: "I am currently reading Dead Cert"

Oh I love Dick Francis' books! I think I own all of them."

Me too. Every couple of years I re-read them, and enjoy them..."

Pardon my ignorance, but are these books stand-alones or in series? I would like to try Dick Francis, but there are so many, I don't know where to start.

[Joan]

It's been ages since I've read Dick Francis, but I loved many of them. I was very impressed by the fact it is was not just the horse-racing world that he brought to life but also the worlds of so many different professions, from jeweler to tax accountant to banker to painter. Perhaps our English mystery group should pick one of them for BOTM. I don't have just one all-time favorite, but one of them was "Twice Shy."

[Lorraine]

I liked "Twice Shy" and have it at home to read again. I finally finished all of the novels last year, after working at it for 20 years.

I'm currently re-reading a wonderful favourite of mine, Mary Stewart's This Rough Magic, set on the island of Corfu.

[Leslie]

Anne wrote: "Pardon my ignorance, but are these books stand-alones or in series? I would like to try Dick Francis, but there are so many, I don't know where to start..."

They are mostly stand-alones, although Sid Halley (from Twice Shy) is in 4 books & there are two other books with repeating characters (Kit and Holly who are twins) - Bolt and Break In I think...

@Lorraine - I love that Mary Stewart! The setting is marvellous!!

[Arpita (BagfullofBooks)]

I always think of Corfu and My family and other animals... I am tempted to read the Mary Stewart

[Joan]

Leslie wrote: "They are mostly stand-alones, although Sid Halley (from Twice Shy) is in 4 books &..."

I don't think Sid Halley was in Twice Shy. According to Wikipedia, he was in Odds Against, Whip Hand, Come to Grief, and Under Orders.

[Leslie]

Joan wrote: "Leslie wrote: "They are mostly stand-alones, although Sid Halley (from Twice Shy) is in 4 books &..."

I don't think Sid Halley was in Twice Shy. According to Wikipedia, he was in Odds Against, Wh..."

Oops! Thanks Joan... that's what happens when I post without checking! Maybe it is time to reread these:)

[Joan]

Leslie wrote: "Oops! Thanks Joan... that's what happens when I post without checking! Maybe it is time to reread these:) "

Let's ask Jean-Luc to put a Dick Francis on the slate of candidates for April BOTM.

[HJ]

Arpita wrote: "I always think of Corfu and My family and other animals... I am tempted to read the Mary Stewart"

I second the recommendation of This Rough Magic. It's one of the books which made me very keen to go there.

[HJ]

Leslie wrote: "Do you have a favorite? Mine varies but right now Decider is the one of his I like best. ..."

The first which came to mind as I pondered that question was The Danger. However, I had to search to find the name - I do find it difficult to remember which title goes with which Dick Francis book! This is the one about kidnapping. The other one I thought of was To the Hilt, the one about Alexander Kinloch, the artist. (The synopsis on Goodreads is bizarre!!)

[Cheryl S.]

Just finished P.D. James' "Devices and Desires". This one did keep me guessing until the end.

[[deleted user]]

Finished Wilbur Smith's 'The Dark of the Sun' yesterday, planning to start with a mystery from tomorrow.

[Julie]

I just started The Fallen Curtain

[Lorraine]

Cheryl S. wrote: "Just finished P.D. James' "Devices and Desires". This one did keep me guessing until the end."

That's my favourite P.D. James. Another is
The Lighthouse - highly recommended if you haven't already read it.

[Carolien]

Arpita wrote: "I always think of Corfu and My family and other animals... I am tempted to read the Mary Stewart"

I had exactly the same thought!

[Penny]

I finished and really enjoyed it - if you like Agatha you'll like this. A group of oldies go to a new convalescent home and a new arrival appears to know secrets about all of them. So she is murdered in front of their eyes!!