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        message 1251:
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          Carolien
      
        
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      Apr 21, 2014 10:27AM
    
     Yip, Johannesburg based.
      Yip, Johannesburg based.
    
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   Carolien wrote: "Helen wrote: "waiting for Barbara Cleverly's "The Bee's Kiss" to arrive along with GGK's "River of Stars" & Elizabeth Chadwick's "The Greatest Knight" (eclectic reading). I am going through the Joe..."
      Carolien wrote: "Helen wrote: "waiting for Barbara Cleverly's "The Bee's Kiss" to arrive along with GGK's "River of Stars" & Elizabeth Chadwick's "The Greatest Knight" (eclectic reading). I am going through the Joe..."I just started Long Walk, too, and I'm finding it, strangely enough, entertaining! I'm not sure if I'll keep reading it exclusively or intersperse another book or two.
 Trelawn wrote: "I'm in the unusual position of reading 2 books at once so i'm getting through both slower than normal but I'll look forward to this one picking up"
      Trelawn wrote: "I'm in the unusual position of reading 2 books at once so i'm getting through both slower than normal but I'll look forward to this one picking up"I finished this one, and I have a couple of complaints about it.
 I've been reading some mysteries by J. Jefferson Farjeon, and really enjoying them. He wrote mostly in the 1930s and 40s so the books are out of print but not out of copyright, and they are hard to find (at least here in the US). But I really liked The 5.18 Mystery and Death in Fancy Dress.
      I've been reading some mysteries by J. Jefferson Farjeon, and really enjoying them. He wrote mostly in the 1930s and 40s so the books are out of print but not out of copyright, and they are hard to find (at least here in the US). But I really liked The 5.18 Mystery and Death in Fancy Dress.
     Trelawn wrote: "@ karlyne I'll get back to you when I'm finished and you can share your complaints."
      Trelawn wrote: "@ karlyne I'll get back to you when I'm finished and you can share your complaints."Ok! I'd better write them down before I lose the book...
 Karlyne wrote: "Carolien wrote: "Helen wrote: "waiting for Barbara Cleverly's "The Bee's Kiss" to arrive along with GGK's "River of Stars" & Elizabeth Chadwick's "The Greatest Knight" (eclectic reading). I am goin..."
      Karlyne wrote: "Carolien wrote: "Helen wrote: "waiting for Barbara Cleverly's "The Bee's Kiss" to arrive along with GGK's "River of Stars" & Elizabeth Chadwick's "The Greatest Knight" (eclectic reading). I am goin..."Just realised we're both reading it with the SA Reads group! See you over there!
 Carolien wrote: "Karlyne wrote: "Carolien wrote: "Helen wrote: "waiting for Barbara Cleverly's "The Bee's Kiss" to arrive along with GGK's "River of Stars" & Elizabeth Chadwick's "The Greatest Knight" (eclectic rea..."
      Carolien wrote: "Karlyne wrote: "Carolien wrote: "Helen wrote: "waiting for Barbara Cleverly's "The Bee's Kiss" to arrive along with GGK's "River of Stars" & Elizabeth Chadwick's "The Greatest Knight" (eclectic rea..."Of course! It's all new stuff to me, so I might classify it as a mystery anyway (smile).
 @Mike - Was Chameleon's Shadow your first Walters book? I like her books although I haven't read that one...
      @Mike - Was Chameleon's Shadow your first Walters book? I like her books although I haven't read that one...
     Karen, Farjeon sounded interesting so I looked her up -- the J is for Joan! Neither of SF's libraries have anything but a film she did with Alfred Hitchcock, called Number 17; I've put it on my Netflix Q.
      Karen, Farjeon sounded interesting so I looked her up -- the J is for Joan! Neither of SF's libraries have anything but a film she did with Alfred Hitchcock, called Number 17; I've put it on my Netflix Q.
     @ karlyne I gave up on The Man in the Queue. I just couldn't be bothered trudging through another 150 pages to find out "whodunnit". I just couldn't get into it at all.
      @ karlyne I gave up on The Man in the Queue. I just couldn't be bothered trudging through another 150 pages to find out "whodunnit". I just couldn't get into it at all.
     I know, Mike. The only thing they got right physically was the widow's peak. Annie and Winsome are nowhere close to the books' descriptions of them either. Ken - well, I didn't have a clear picture of him, so he matters less. Their actions, while based on the books, seem a bit off too - or perhaps I should say their personalities. Have you ever seen the Dalziel and Pascoe series, based on Reginald Hill's work? That's another of my favorite series, and the actors are nowhere close. Pascoe is supposed to be handsome and more urbane, and Dalziel should be bigger, more imposing, more confident, more effective. It makes me wonder if the casting people even read the books.
      I know, Mike. The only thing they got right physically was the widow's peak. Annie and Winsome are nowhere close to the books' descriptions of them either. Ken - well, I didn't have a clear picture of him, so he matters less. Their actions, while based on the books, seem a bit off too - or perhaps I should say their personalities. Have you ever seen the Dalziel and Pascoe series, based on Reginald Hill's work? That's another of my favorite series, and the actors are nowhere close. Pascoe is supposed to be handsome and more urbane, and Dalziel should be bigger, more imposing, more confident, more effective. It makes me wonder if the casting people even read the books.
     Trelawn wrote: "@ karlyne I gave up on The Man in the Queue. I just couldn't be bothered trudging through another 150 pages to find out "whodunnit". I just couldn't get into it at all."
      Trelawn wrote: "@ karlyne I gave up on The Man in the Queue. I just couldn't be bothered trudging through another 150 pages to find out "whodunnit". I just couldn't get into it at all."Well, I can't really blame you! The writing does get better, but Grant doesn't really develop, and the ending, although I understand the reason for it, seems like a cop-out (no pun intended as no cops were involved in the solution). On to better things!
 @ Karlyne I agree about Grant. He just didn't develop at all. I was expecting him to be like Poirot or Wimsey where, through the mystery solving , you discover their quirks and indiosyncracies. Grant just seemed to be a cardboard cutout of a detective. He had no personality.
      @ Karlyne I agree about Grant. He just didn't develop at all. I was expecting him to be like Poirot or Wimsey where, through the mystery solving , you discover their quirks and indiosyncracies. Grant just seemed to be a cardboard cutout of a detective. He had no personality.
     Trelawn wrote: "@ Karlyne I agree about Grant. He just didn't develop at all. I was expecting him to be like Poirot or Wimsey where, through the mystery solving , you discover their quirks and indiosyncracies. Gra..."
      Trelawn wrote: "@ Karlyne I agree about Grant. He just didn't develop at all. I was expecting him to be like Poirot or Wimsey where, through the mystery solving , you discover their quirks and indiosyncracies. Gra..."The only other Grant I've read is The Singing Sands, and my memory is that he was real in that one. I'll have to read it again (someday) and compare them!
 @Jean-Luke: If it's not up there already, you may want to put a short statement on the group's homepage that prohibits the posting of advertisements and promotions in discussion threads.
      @Jean-Luke: If it's not up there already, you may want to put a short statement on the group's homepage that prohibits the posting of advertisements and promotions in discussion threads.
     Brenda wrote: "I loved PETTIGREW too. It is not that usual, to have protagonists who are getting on in years."
      Brenda wrote: "I loved PETTIGREW too. It is not that usual, to have protagonists who are getting on in years."I'm getting it today from the library. It has to be good when this many people love it and I am partial to protagonists who are getting on in years also.
I just finished Southern Heat thanks to reading a recommendation on this thread. It was very enjoyable, especially for an author's first book.
 Joan wrote: "Just started Gallows Lane, by Brian McGilloway."
      Joan wrote: "Just started Gallows Lane, by Brian McGilloway."Just finished this one. Meh. I found it slow.
 Yes, Mike; if only we could make him write faster . . . .
      Yes, Mike; if only we could make him write faster . . . . I just read Murder at Mullings by Dorothy Cannell. I haven't been a big fan of her stuff, and again I find her work lacking. The characters - except the murderer - are wonderful people, the writing is very pleasant, and I think many people would love it. However, if the puzzle is important to you as it is for me, this is not the book for you. She knows what she does well and her many readers love her for it; I need to stop expecting her to do anything else.
 Mike wrote: "... The only thing I don't like about Alan Banks is the television adaptation. Not true to the books at all."
      Mike wrote: "... The only thing I don't like about Alan Banks is the television adaptation. Not true to the books at all."I could not agree more!
 Joan wrote: "Mike wrote: "... The only thing I don't like about Alan Banks is the television adaptation. Not true to the books at all."
      Joan wrote: "Mike wrote: "... The only thing I don't like about Alan Banks is the television adaptation. Not true to the books at all."I could not agree more!"
Oh good, as I dislike the TV show so I had been avoiding the books. Now I will try them :)
 Mike wrote: "Just Finished.
      Mike wrote: "Just Finished. A Killing of Angels by
A Killing of Angels by  Kate Rhodes
Kate RhodesThe first death looked like a suicide. ..."
Hi Mike
If you liked these, you may enjoy Margie Orford. The books are set in Cape Town and can get quite dark, but Clare a Hart is an interesting character and psychologist.
 I recently finished the first Mrs. Bradley book, Speedy Death. I was slightly taken aback by Mrs. Bradley's character, as she was portrayed quite differently on the PBS show by Diana Rigg...
      I recently finished the first Mrs. Bradley book, Speedy Death. I was slightly taken aback by Mrs. Bradley's character, as she was portrayed quite differently on the PBS show by Diana Rigg...
     Just started Ed McBain's 'Hail, Hail! The Gang's All Here. A 1972 87th Precinct police procedural. Haven't read him for years.
      Just started Ed McBain's 'Hail, Hail! The Gang's All Here. A 1972 87th Precinct police procedural. Haven't read him for years.Grisly start: young actress repeatedly stabbed and murdered in alley at back of theatre. Seems pretty good.
 I have that book Leslie, I have this weird thing that I like to read books in the same season as they are set so that is my reading for Christmas.
      I have that book Leslie, I have this weird thing that I like to read books in the same season as they are set so that is my reading for Christmas.I have just finished Murder At Mansfield Park by Lynn Shepherd- it was entertaining but not gripping. My new crime choice is 'Murdering Mr Velfrage' by Roy Vickers. I have a very battered first edition green and white penguin so I hope it doesn't fall apart on me.
 Just finished Bleed the River Deep, by Brian McGilloway. As I said in my review, there's a lot to recommend this series, but I just cannot get into Ben Devlin.
      Just finished Bleed the River Deep, by Brian McGilloway. As I said in my review, there's a lot to recommend this series, but I just cannot get into Ben Devlin.
     Joan wrote: "Just finished Bleed the River Deep, by Brian McGilloway. As I said in my review, there's a lot to recommend this series, but I just cannot get into Ben Devlin."
      Joan wrote: "Just finished Bleed the River Deep, by Brian McGilloway. As I said in my review, there's a lot to recommend this series, but I just cannot get into Ben Devlin."I was going to give this series a go - is it just a personal dislike Joan, would you still recommend the book?
 Just finished
      Just finished 
   - what did you all think of it? I found it a bit plodding in that its very much a 'police procedural' even though its a PI not a cop but I did enjoy it and I think Strike and his companion, Robyn, have promise but I have big problems believing the ending. Just wondered if thats just me?
 - what did you all think of it? I found it a bit plodding in that its very much a 'police procedural' even though its a PI not a cop but I did enjoy it and I think Strike and his companion, Robyn, have promise but I have big problems believing the ending. Just wondered if thats just me?
    
        message 1289:
      by
      
          Sandysbookaday (taking a step back for a while)
      
        
          (last edited May 14, 2014 02:18AM)
        
        
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   Reading this for the third time in as many years. I love Val McDermid. Realistic, gritty, and intriguing. Thoroughly recommend it. A dead girl ies on a blood oaked mattress, her limbs spread in a parody of ecstacy. The scene matches a series of murders which ended when irrefutable forensic evidence secured the conviction of one Derek Tyler. But Tyler's been locked up in a mental institiution for 2 years..... This is one of the Tony Hill series. Definitely one of, if not the best.
Reading this for the third time in as many years. I love Val McDermid. Realistic, gritty, and intriguing. Thoroughly recommend it. A dead girl ies on a blood oaked mattress, her limbs spread in a parody of ecstacy. The scene matches a series of murders which ended when irrefutable forensic evidence secured the conviction of one Derek Tyler. But Tyler's been locked up in a mental institiution for 2 years..... This is one of the Tony Hill series. Definitely one of, if not the best.
     Just completed Murder in Mykonos. An enjoyable read. The author knows the island and I learned quite a bit about customs and the history of the area.
      Just completed Murder in Mykonos. An enjoyable read. The author knows the island and I learned quite a bit about customs and the history of the area.
     If you enjoy it, poke through the archives on this blog, he has posted numerous photographs of the island over time. They are beautiful. The most recent set also includes Delos which features in the book. The author posts on Saturdays.
      If you enjoy it, poke through the archives on this blog, he has posted numerous photographs of the island over time. They are beautiful. The most recent set also includes Delos which features in the book. The author posts on Saturdays.http://murderiseverywhere.blogspot.com/
 Mike wrote: "Just finished.
      Mike wrote: "Just finished. Exile by
Exile by  Denise Mina
Denise MinaMaureen is confronted with a grisly case of murder. Ann Harris is nursing..."
Another three to add to my list of to reads....so many books, so little time!
 Ellen wrote: "Just finished The Thin Woman by Dorothy Cannell. It was fun."
      Ellen wrote: "Just finished The Thin Woman by Dorothy Cannell. It was fun."Yes, I found that a fun read too.
 Just started Recognition, by Kate Vane. I don't know how it wound up in my Kindle app, because I don't remember buying it. I'm enjoying it so far. Has anyone else read anything by Vane?
      Just started Recognition, by Kate Vane. I don't know how it wound up in my Kindle app, because I don't remember buying it. I'm enjoying it so far. Has anyone else read anything by Vane?
    Books mentioned in this topic
The Taken (other topics)Sherlock Holmes: Murder at the Savoy & Other Stories (other topics)
Wicked Autumn (other topics)
Cover Her Face (other topics)
A Mind to Murder (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Alice Clark-Platts (other topics)Chris Ould (other topics)
Adrian McKinty (other topics)
Will Thomas (other topics)
Anna Katharine Green (other topics)
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