The Mystery, Crime, and Thriller Group discussion

Marian I sent you a friend request. Looks like we read some of the same books!

Got it and approved you:)Im off to have supper in a minute so I shall be on a little later.By the way Im currently reading "The Other Typist"..have you read this one yet?Im also reading Catch Me..by Lisa Gardner.

I'm reading Nothing Personal by Mike Offitt. This is for a Fresh Meat feature on Criminal Element, so there's a deadline and it derailed my previous reading plans. It's billed as "A Novel of Wall Street" and promises a murder story. We'll see.

Marian wrote: "Got it and approved you:)Im off to have supper in a minute so I shall be on a little later.By the way Im currently reading "The Other Typist"..have you read this one yet?Im also reading Catch Me..b..."

I haven't read either books. I'm fact, I started and gave up. It was moving way too slow for me.

Ohhhhhh,then maybe read her "Touch&Go" book..it was very good!

I love Lisa Gardner! Just picked up my copy of a couple of days ago, and a friend has already read it, and called it "amazing"!

I am now also reading "Catch Me"by Lisa Gardner..havnt read much yet..to soon to tell.

No Rest for the Dead
This book is written by 26 eminent mystery writers. I was sceptical of a "progressive" novel but the writing is of a uniformly high standard. (I am up to chapter 12) I guess none of the pros wanted to be shown up by their peers. It was pubbed in 2011

I have decided to read Faceless: A Mystery - Dawn Kopman Whidden.

Bernie wrote: "No Rest for the Dead
This book is written by 26 eminent mystery writers. I was sceptical of a "progressive" novel but the writing is of a uniformly high standard. (I am up to chapte..."

I've read No Rest for the Dead a couple of years ago and I thought it was quite good. It was an interesting idea and I think the proceeds went to charity. It was a very good group of authors who joined in on the writing.

Kathryn wrote: "Bernie wrote: "No Rest for the Dead
This book is written by 26 eminent mystery writers. I was sceptical of a "progressive" novel but the writing is of a uniformly high standard. (I ..."
Yes, Kathryn, it is a good idea but probably hard to organise. I did not like Kathy Reichs' police reports. Thought she was too clever. I am not a big fan of letters, diary entries, police reports, newspaper stories etc in thrillers. Annoys me when writers get too clever by half.

Just finished 'The Mermaids Singing' by Val McDermid

It was epic.

Now on to 'Stay Alive' by Simon Kernick.

I'm a big Kernick fan so I have high hopes.

I finished Shallow Graves by Jeffery Deaver. John Pellam is in Cleary, New York to line up locations to film a movie. Some residents are excited and others want John and his partner Marty to go away. Harassment ensues and Marty is killed. The townsfolk expect John to leave but he stays to investigate Marty's death. The story has a rather mundane "secrets in a small town" theme but it has some interesting twists. Just an okay book.

I just finished So Close the Hand of Death. It was a very good book. I got creeped out by the character that kept talking to the angel. I hope Taylor comes back to the force without any medical issues.

Just finished Carved in Bone by Jefferson Bass. I gave it 2 stars. I found it pretty dull. Also, there were several unnecessary plot lines that just didn't work for me.

Starting The Reversal by Michael Connelly tonight.

Maia wrote: "anyone ever read anything by lisa Jackson or Erica spindler? any good?"

I don't think I've read anything by Lisa Jackson, Maia, but I read Blood Vines by Erica Spindler a while ago. It was all right, but I wasn't supremely impressed. The mystery was a little heavy handed and the characters weren't as well-developed as I like. But she's pretty popular -- her other books may be great.

I just finished Every Dead Thing by John Connolly -- completely loved it. Beautiful writing, evocative setting, and a plot that kept me up late with most of the lights in the house on. The rest of the series is on my must-read list for 2014.

Maia wrote: "anyone ever read anything by lisa Jackson or Erica spindler? any good?"

I have read books by both Lisa Jackson and Erica Spindler. They both tend to have some romantic element in the book along with the mystery. In Silence creeped me out but it was good and the ending was unexpected. I also read Last Known Victim and it was okay. Hot Blooded was good. I liked it and then the next book Cold Blooded was okay.

Got Done reading
The Stranger You Know by Andrea Kane *LOVE IT*
Still Life by Louise Penny *Didnt care too much*
Vanishing Acts by Jodi Picoult *LOVE IT*
Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill *LOVE IT HE REMIND ME SO MUCH OF HIS FATHER.*

Now I got to start on
Necessary Lies by Diane Chamberlain

And Also going to read these too
Fatal Strike by Shannon McKenna
The Night Is Alive by Heather Graham

I started Salvation of a Saint by Keigo Higashino

I'm currently reading Flesh and Bone, by Jefferson Bass and just starting two others; The Hangman's Daughter by Oliver Pötzsch and The Sultan's Seal by Jenny White.

Just Finished Mel Massey's Earth's Magick was a really interesting read full of secret ceremonies, old gods, and interesting characters.



Just Started J. Woods' Gilded Feathers
I met J. Woods over on Facebook and she's funny and nice so I thought I check out her series and so far it's really well written and pulls you deep into the story right at the beginning, and I'm real interested to see where it goes.

June wrote: "I have a lot of free books on my iPad for those emergencies when I don't have a real book with me. So I started Run RUN by Blake Crouch while riding in my ..."

I'm in the same boat. I thought Blake Crouch's books sounded interesting but....there's just something missing and I have abandoned him.

Bill wrote: "Jeanie wrote: "Just finished Case Histories. The plot was kind of all over the place. Since I listen to most books it was, at times, a trifle hard to follow. I kept wanting to page backwards, but ..."

I second the suggestion re: the BBC series. It was truly excellent.

I really enjoyed the murder mystery series by Jim Kelly particular those set in the fenlands of Britain (the Philip Dryden series)
The Water Clock
The Fire Baby

I have finished Faceless - Dawn Kopman Whidden and now about to pick up The Husband's Secret - Liane Moriarty.

I enjoyed the new 007 book, Solo by William Boyd - thought it was a good idea to set it in the late '60s with an ageing Commander Bond...

Just finished reading and I'm moving onto . I also have sitting here that I'll be starting shortly.

I'm reading Gone Girl, by Gillian Flynn. I am finding that the 'voice' for the husband and wife have my emotions going up and down since it's told in both viewpoints (first person in different chapters). It's a good read. I'm starting to dislike the husband. I'm almost at the halfway point in the book.

thanks for the feedback on those authors guys. I have also read 'catch me' by Lisa Gardiner and enjoyed it, however I do find her very up and down- 'say goodbye' was fantastic, I couldn't put it down, but there are a couple of her books that I didn't even finish because I got bored.

Marliese wrote: "I really enjoyed the murder mystery series by Jim Kelly particular those set in the fenlands of Britain (the Philip Dryden series)
The Water Clock
The Fire Baby"
I like his books but his writing about the USAF in the Fire Baby was completely inaccurate. He hasn't done that well with the British military either. In one book he had a character who was major but described his rank insignia as that of a captain.

Gary wrote: "Marliese wrote: "I really enjoyed the murder mystery series by Jim Kelly particular those set in the fenlands of Britain (the Philip Dryden series)
The Water Clock
[book:The Fire Bab..."

Sigh...see that's the kind of stuff that I would never catch...

Finished The Dead in Their Vaulted Arches, which was absolutely wonderful. Now I'm starting Night Film, which I've been curious to try.

I just finished . I really loved this book. She added some warming characters and they had roles that haven't been used in her books before. The dogs added a bit of validity to the story. I just hope in the next book her path crosses Creed's again.

I just started .

Went to the library today and picked up a copy of and . On top of the 2 books I've already got. My "to read" list is growing. Anyone here have any suggestions in particular? Anything not in my to read shelf?

if you like true crime type books I'd suggest 'In cold blood' Truman Capote and 'we need to talk about Kevin' Lionel Shriver.

if you like true crime type books I'd suggest 'In cold blood' Truman Capote and 'we need to talk about Kevin' Lionel Shriver.

no idea why that came out twice! sorry!

I finished Salvation of a Saint by Keigo Higashino. Wealthy businessman Yoshitaka Mashiba tells his wife Ayane that he's divorcing her because she hasn't become pregnant within a year of their marriage. Meanwhile Yoshitaka has been having an affair with Ayane's apprentice. Yoshitaka is murdered with arsenic-laced coffee and the police suspect Ayane, but she has an ironclad alibi. Moreover, the police can't figure out how the arsenic got into the coffee. So the female detective on the team, Kaoru Utsumi, consults the physicist Yukawa, who's a whiz at solving difficult cases. Eventually the ingenious murder method and the killer are uncovered in a not quite satisfying ending. The book reads like a cozy but I would have liked the characters to be more fully developed.

Just finished I Am Legend
Now thinking about starting The Snowman by Joe Nesbo, I haven't read anything by him before.

My other books are in the car so I picked Jim Thompson's "A Swell Looking Babe" off the shelf.

Malina wrote: "Just finished I Am Legend
Now thinking about starting The Snowman by Joe Nesbo, I haven't read anything by him before."
The Snowman was probably my least favorite books of his. That said he is a terrific author. I recommend trying to read his books in order starting with the Redbreast.

Thanks Gary! I got The Snowman from the library , so I'll give it a try and then look for the others :)

I liked the Snowman. But I do agree with Gary that you should start Jo Nesbo at the beginning with The Bat, The Snowman is #7 in the series and Detective Harry Hole is one of those fractured guys that you need to see go through his "problems" before you can appreciate where he lands.
PS... According to the Jo Nesbo website Redbreast is Harry Hole #3

Oh Yeah. I should mention that Headhunters is a great stand alone novel that was actually made into a pretty awesome Norwegian movie of the same name that's one of the better adaptations of a book I've seen in a while

Just started The Counterfeit Agent by Alex Berenson and it's already flying by. Love this author and the complexity of these books and it's hero. John Wells is a great character.

PS... According to the Jo Nesbo website Redbreast is Harry Hole #3
That's true but for years the first two books weren't available in English and they are set outside Norway. Read them first if you can but there is no harm in starting with Redbreast.

I'm starting Takedown Twenty by Janet Evanovich

Gary wrote: "PS... According to the Jo Nesbo website Redbreast is Harry Hole #3
That's true but for years the first two books weren't available in English and they are set outside Norway. Read them first if y..."

I like the Jo Nesbo books. Harry Hole is an interesting character... a gritty, damaged detective.

Just started 'A Darkness More Than Night' by Michael Connelly.

I need to get a few more Harry Bosch books in before the Bosch TV series comes out.

The book is great so far, as you'd expect from Michael Connelly.