The Mystery, Crime, and Thriller Group discussion

The Likeness was very good, I didn't enjoy Into The Woods nearly as much, but the Likeness was really interesting

I finished Never Nosh a Matzo Ball by Sharon Kahn. In this amusing cozy mystery set in the town of Eternal, Texas, Ruby Rothman, widow of the late rabbi of Temple Rita, is involved in many Temple activities. So when Ruby's nemesis - bossy, narcissistic Essie Sue Margolis - decides to sell lo-cal (and inedible) matzo balls as a fund raiser for the Temple, Ruby is roped in to help. In the midst of planning the matzo ball sale, Bogie, a trainer at the fitness center owned by Essie Sue is found dead in suspicious circumstances. Of course Ruby, being a natural born yenta and self-styled amateur sleuth gets right on the job. Plenty of fun situations and fun characters in the book. Great for a light read

reading and really liking The Innocent

Rachel wrote: "reading and really liking The Innocent"

Great book. I enjoyed it.

Just completed Dave Eggars The Circle. I gave it 5 stars. Was hooked on the book. My next book is Ruth Rendels 13 floors down.

I've given up on Three Gentlemen of Verona: The Lovelife of London Society - Gianni Ventura (just couldn't understand it.) So now I am reading Escaping Reality - Lisa Renee Jones.

Ronhummer wrote: "Rachel wrote: "reading and really liking The Innocent"

Great book. I enjoyed it."

Looks like a good book. I requested it from the library.

Just finished an unexpectedly good free download (don't know if it still is or not) The Season of the Unholy Moon which oddly enough is listed on Amazon (Kindle) with the incorrect author.

Anyway, gave it 4 out of 5, would have been a 5 or close to it if I'd actually liked the main character better. Will actually be looking for more books by this author, hopefully in this series, as I'd like the guy better if he cleans up his act a bit. But overall, interesting plot, good characterization, nice sense of the area and a deft touch with the paranormal for the most part.

Just started The English Girl. Have The Cuckoo's Calling lined up after.

I've finished (finally ... whew, 455 pages that could've/should've been 290; review coming) and am moving on to and looking forward to .


Peace, Seeley

I finished my first Daniel Silva novel, The Kill Artist. I thought it was good but not great. A review, https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Decided to read some non thriller, non fiction. Started Out of My League: A Rookie's Survival in the Bigs. Dirk Hayhurst is a better writer than a baseball player. His books are funny reads, especially if you like baseball.

Barbara wrote: "Ronhummer wrote: "Rachel wrote: "reading and really liking The Innocent"

Great book. I enjoyed it."

Looks like a good book. I requested it from the library."

hope you like it Barbara!

This morning I finished my Halloween read which was Dying to Live - C.M. Wright.

I finished The Broken Ones by Stephen M. Irwin. In this book "Gray Wednesday" is a world-changing event: the Earth's poles abruptly reverse, world electronics are thrown into disarray, and ghosts suddenly appear. Every human being gets their own ghost, visible only to themselves, who shadows them 24/7. In this atmosphere police detective Oscar Mariani investigates the torture/murder of teenage girls. This is especially distressing for Oscar because he badly injured a teenage girl when the sudden appearance of his ghost on Gray Wednesday caused him to swerve his car. Despite many barriers thrown in his path Oscar continues to hunt the murderer, leading him into bizarre and dangerous situations. It's an engrossing story that contains serial killing, supernatural creatures, bad cops, beautiful women, disgraced friends and more...all leading to a satisfying concluson.

Two new books to start the month; The Far Country by Nevil Shute and Dead Souls, Rebus #10 by Ian Rankin.

Reading The Stone Boyand liking it so far.

Started The Pericles Commission last night. (A historical set in ancient Athens.)

Bill wrote: "Two new books to start the month; The Far Country by Nevil Shute and Dead Souls, Rebus #10 by Ian Rankin."

I'm putting that Rebus book on my TBR list :)

The Desperate , Part IV of the Trench Coats serial, marks the return of knight-in-tarnished-armor Jacob, an engaging character with a clear voice. Author James keeps a firm hold on the plot reins, making the action go down easy. Four stars.

Read the full review here.

Currently reaading The Hollow City by Dan Wells.

Gosh Thanks DAn! I will log onto amazon and check out complicit witness. Have you read any David Balducu (?) books
Paige

I just finished reading "The Circle" it was a great book!!

I just finished . I would have never figured out the true identity of Mr. Smith. It blew me away. I really like this Alex Cross series almost as much as The Women's Murder Club series.

I just started . So far, so good.

Just finished an obscure Raymond Chandler book titled Playback. I thought I had read everything he had written. This is hardly as good as his earlier work (re-reading Trouble is My Business).

Interesting footnotes to Playback is it occurs in San Diego (La Jolla but called Esmeralda), is set in the 1950s and the end sets up the story line of Poodle Springs, started by Chandler and completed posthumously.

Shameless plug follows:


I tried in to capture the mood of the Marlowe books but made the story current and set it on the Gold Coast of OC so I didn't tread on the master's turf. I read a lot of Chandler's work for 'atmosphere' and pace. I stop when I find myself talking out of the side of my mouth.

reading Sharp Objects

Barbara wrote: "Bill wrote: "Two new books to start the month; The Far Country by Nevil Shute and Dead Souls, Rebus #10 by Ian Rankin."

I'm putting that Rebus book on my TBR list :)"

It's an excellent series Barbara.

Recently finished The Last Judgement and The Redbreast both very interesting.

Just started Hand for a Hand which is a real page turner.

I finished Swimsuit by James Patterson (and a co-author, Maxine Paetro). The premise of this story is that Ben Hawkins, former cop and current novelist, is being forced by a sociopathic serial killer to write a book about the killer's life and crimes. The killer's modus operandi is to videotape the sexual abuse, torture, and murder of his victims so that a group of sick voyeurs can watch and enjoy. For me the premise was unbelievable, the characters were flat, and the story was not very original. Not a great book.

Just finished which is probably more paranormal/mystery with a touch of romance than strictly mystery/crime/thriller ... but it was fascinating. As an artist myself, I found the plot fascinating, the main character an artist who does memorial paintings by mixing the ashes of the deceased with her paint and somehow connects with the dead person's life.

I have just finished Escaping Reality - Lisa Renee Jones. Now I am not sure whether to read Rouge - Isabella Modra or The Succubus Gift - B.R. Kingsolver.

I just put down a book that i couldn't finish. It was recommended by a friend but the story was ridiculous. I understand "suspension of disbelief" but some books make no sense at all.

My question is:

Should I review the book, rate it and tell people that I stopped?

I've never done that before but I see a number of other people who do that regularly. Is that normal? I think if you didn't read it, you're not really qualified to review it.

i don't write review most of the time even i find the book awesomely great, however I don't write a review that I happen to stop in the middle of the book because I really don't want to give my time and effort if I didn't like it. just my 2 cents here.

Almost all of my new reads come from the free downloads on my Kindle (some from the library) and if I read one from beginning to end, I try very hard to review it. Figure that's the least I can do for the author that provided me with good free entertainment.

There are a lot of the freebies that I don't finish, however, and I don't make a big effort to finish something I'm not enjoying ... those I do not write reviews for.

Always write a review, even if you hate the book. We authors can't get better if you don't tell us what doesn't work or what you like. It's better to know, than to wonder, so just let it rip, if you think it's only worth 1 star then say so. On the other hand if you like it, make sure everyone know, because the only way people find self published authors is by word of mouth.

I am still proud as hell of my only one star review. The reviewer didn't buy the book or even go beyond the 'look inside' but having the single bad review gives credence my other reviews aren't friends, family, and shills.

I've read some bad books, some from respected authors but most from indies. I have no issue lambasting an author who has 'made it'. No matter how bad, I'm not going to pillory and independent. The guy/gal is just trying to get read and to scratch out a few bucks.

My only book with bad reviews is also my best selling book... Of course it does have a lot more good reviews than bad, but I think your right the bad reviews let people know it's not just you and your friends reviewing your book

Julia wrote: "I just put down a book that i couldn't finish. It was recommended by a friend but the story was ridiculous. I understand "suspension of disbelief" but some books make no sense at all.

My question..."

Depends on why you don't like it. If it was badly written or had glaring errors, let the author know. If it wasn't your style (I read 30 pages of Twilight and couldn't take it), don't review it. On that first thought, most indie authors are easy to find via email or Facebook, just send him/her a thoughtful note.

Peace, Seeley

If it's not your style, I see no reason not to mention that, either. Someone else might like the style described.

I just finishedWild Fire by Nelson DeMille. My first DeMille and I loved it. I really liked the character of John Corey. His personality is similar to my husband's. Now reading The Body in the Lighthouse by Katherine Hall Page.

I just finished Left To Diewhich was recommended to me by a friend. Loved it! I am now reading Chosen To Diethe next in the series & starting Speak No Evil

I'm bouncing between Adrian McKinty's "Dead I May Well Be" and Brent Ghelfi's "Volk's Game" right now. Both are working well for me so far. I suspect the latter might prove to be the more interesting book.

I recently finished Roger Hobbs' "Ghostman." It was interesting for a few procedural elements of crime (including one I call b.s. on), but it's hard to get into passionless/sociopathic protagonists.

Westlake/Stark's Parker works because his apathy makes him audacious--he never reacts the way a normal human (or even a normal criminal) might, so he surprises other people constantly. But even Westlake had to eventually give Parker a love interest so that he didn't come off like an automaton all the time.

EDIT: with regard to reviews, I've found that tone is important. Not everyone is going to like a book, but there's no point in being a jerk in an Amazon review. If you don't like it, say why, but say why politely. Use constructive criticism. No cheap shots, no insults, no blanket dismissals. None of that is helpful or necessary.

I just finished


and now Im reading The Bat

Just starting Twinkle, Twinkle Little Spy by Len Deighton and getting into Dead Souls by Ian Rankin.

I'm excited to be starting Judith Rock's newest in the Charles De Luc series, The Whispering of Bones. Glad I preordered this one.

I just finished Broken Homes. It is certainly not a traditional Crime/mystery novel. I really enjoy this series. The main character is an apprentice wizard. That said, there is only minimal magic and the magic is explain through science without reference to any occult or mysticism. A fun non traditional police procedural.

I just finished reading "The Yonahlossee Riding Camp for Girls". It was a great book, but then I am "addicted" to horses as she was and attended a school similar to hers after High School. I would recommend this book as I think most women would enjoy it.

I recently finished Panic - an entertaining action thriller with interesting characters and plenty of violent confrontations.

Just finished A Darkness More Than Night by Michael Connelly. Now reading Mortal Sin by Paul Levine.

I've finished The Succubus Gift - B.R. Kingsolver today. Now I think I will read From a Dead Sleep - John Daly.