The Mystery, Crime, and Thriller Group discussion

I am currently reading Nightmare Alley, a bit more noir than mystery, but still some mystery in it.

Gary wrote: "One of the interesting things to me in Swedish detective stories is that they seem to have a lot of meetings to discuss cases. It is so prevalent it must have some basis in reality."

Your comment about meetings made me laugh - have you seen this video? ;)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9oFxn...

Ter'e wrote: "I will never get enough sleep.........
I see what's in my future.
Thanks guys. I am adding notes to my list."

Haha! Sleep is over-rated anyway;)

I finished Before We Met by Lucie Whitehouse late last night. A brilliant psychological thriller!

Jannene wrote: "Kathryn wrote: "Jannene wrote: "I just finished . The book had me laughing throughout it. It was pretty funny. I just wish she'd pick Joe and stick to it. Who co..."

I keep hoping that Evanovich will bring back Sally in an upcoming book. She brings back characters from the past sometimes, why not Sally? He and Randy Briggs are my favorite characters that pop up occasionally. My least favorite is Mooner. A little bit of him goes a long way for me.

I have just finished the wonderful Shattered Edge - A.M. Hargrove. Now I am going to read either Chasing Anya - Jayda McTyson or Kissing Fire - A.M. Hargrove.

Kathryn wrote: "Jannene wrote: "Kathryn wrote: "Jannene wrote: "I just finished . The book had me laughing throughout it. It was pretty funny. I just wish she'd pick Joe and sti..."

Kathryn,
How would you describe the Evanovich novels? Are they serious mysteries? I never can get past the jacket of her books. Crazy, I know. I have a hard time taking them seriously..........I have a couple of her books just sitting idle on the bookshelf. Am I missing out, here too???

Ter'e wrote: "Kathryn wrote: "Jannene wrote: "Kathryn wrote: "Jannene wrote: "I just finished . The book had me laughing throughout it. It was pretty funny. I just wish she'd ..."

They are mostly a cozy mystery. They do have mystery in them. For me, I love the humor in them. The first few books, I seriously was laughing so hard that I had to stop reading them at work on my lunches. Grandma always is entertaining. Personally, I think you are missing out but you really should read these in order. She does bring characters back and you wouldn't want to miss something. She doesn't usually recap the previous book like Sue Grafton does her alphabet series.

Ter'e wrote: "Kathryn wrote: "Jannene wrote: "Kathryn wrote: "Jannene wrote: "I just finished . The book had me laughing throughout it. It was pretty funny. I just wish she'd ..."

Ter'e, this is a pretty good series, though I do like the ones in the beginning the best. Stephanie goes to work as a bounty hunter to make ends meet. They aren't all that serious and the mystery you can usually figure out, but they are funny and it's good light reading in between the more serious books.

Aiesha wrote: "Oak wrote: "Just getting started on The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson and looking forward to it."

I'm currently on the 2nd book, [book:The Girl Who Pl..."

It's a good trilogy Aiesha. Pity Larsson died so young. Have recently acquired a number of books by Scandinavian writers. Suggest you try 'Shuttle Island' & 'Mystic River' by Jo Nesbo, especially 'Shuttle Island'. Good reading!

Bill wrote: "Kalena wrote: "Recently finished

I am looking forward to his next book already--voted for it today!"

That's the only one of Nesbo's stories I've read so far, Kale..."

A great writer Kaleena. Try 'Shutter Island' & 'Mystic River' by JN, particularly 'Shutter Island'. Haven't read his latest, but intend getting round to it in due course.

Paul wrote: "Aiesha wrote: "Oak wrote: "Just getting started on The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson and looking forward to it."

I'm currently on the 2nd book, ..."

Shutter Island and Mystic River are by Dennis Lehane Paul...

I just started The Fallen Angel by Daniel Silva. I will have just one more to catch up on the series. This year I plan to finish a bunch of my series.

just finished

I was disappointed. I have read a lot of Sanders, and expected a lot more from this book. Lots of sex, little plot. I gave it 2 stars.

Brenda wrote: "Paul wrote: "Aiesha wrote: "Oak wrote: "Just getting started on The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson and looking forward to it."

I'm currently on the 2nd..."

Love this group. Thanks Brenda for making the correction on Dennis Lehane being the author of Shutter Island and Mystic River. Shutter island sits on my shelf..........one of those great books i have yet to read.

Do we have any Greg Iles fans on here? Gosh I enjoy his writing. Love the Penn Cage series.

Ter'e wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Paul wrote: "Aiesha wrote: "Oak wrote: "Just getting started on The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson and looking forward to it."

I'm curre..."

You're welcome:) I've read Mystic River and enjoyed it, but not Shutter Island yet:) I haven't read Greg Iles either Ter'e...

I've just finished reading Pig Island and am not sure if I'll read The Crucifix Killer or Poppet next.

Just starting two new mysteries; Killing Floor by Lee Child and The Pure in Heart by Susan Hill.

"Killing Floor" has remained my fav Lee child book.
Enjoy!!!

Brenda wrote: "Paul wrote: "Aiesha wrote: "Oak wrote: "Just getting started on The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson and looking forward to it."

I'm currently on the 2nd..."

Oops, sorry, my bad. I've read 'The Leopard' by Jo Nesbo & quite enjoyed THAT. Little faux pas there.

Paul wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Paul wrote: "Aiesha wrote: "Oak wrote: "Just getting started on The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson and looking forward to it."

I'm curre..."

That's OK;) I find I always link as you automatically get your correct author:)

Just finished Storm Front by John Sandford last night. It was another great Virgil Flowers book, but my favorite remains Rough Country. I just started the latest Temperance Brennan book Bones of the Lost. So far, she is irritating me so I hope she comes out of it before long.

Temperance gets on my nerves. I had to put the books away and move on to better things.

I had to look up the correct authors name.........but y'all might want to try the Jillianne Hoffman books. They will keep you awake at night, for sure. Love her books! When I am reading her books, I literally carry them wherever I go.

After charging through my last exciting book The Hit By David Baldacci, I thought I would go with one of my favourite authors and read Simon Kernick's new book Stay Alive.

Wow, a second book in a row I just could not put down and read this book in four days.

This author knows how to keep his story fast paced, action packed, great strong characters, and just keeps you guessing to the last pages.

Great to have one of his returning characters from The Siege, and also Mike Bolt.

This is just pace, pace , pace.

All the way through the book I was guessing what was happening, what's going on?

Only thing is my next decision is tough !!

What do I read next, so many recommendations.

Still waiting for my ordered Tap On The Window, Linwood Barclay.

Tough decision but reading the recommended The Never List by Koethi Zan

Ter'e wrote: ""Killing Floor" has remained my fav Lee child book.
Enjoy!!!"

It's reading very nicely so far.

Bill wrote: "Ter'e wrote: ""Killing Floor" has remained my fav Lee child book.
Enjoy!!!"

It's reading very nicely so far."

I thought it was a fantastic read. Enjoy.

I've just started Triptych by Karin Slaughter. It's started off good.

I have just finished Kissing Fire - A.M. Hargrove. Now I am about to read 12th of Never - James Patterson.

I just finished . It was a good book. I plan to finish the series in April. Now I plan to start .

Curlyhair wrote: "I've just started Triptych by Karin Slaughter. It's started off good."

LOVE this book and whole series!!

Aiesha,
If I can make one simple comment..........take a look at Karin's books and read them in order (if you haven't already). these books fit like a glove and make references back to previous books.
You will love Sara, Jeffrey and Will. Some of my very favorite books!
As soon as a new one become available, I run and buy it! Great entertainment.

Just finished The Beast , I enjoyed it, fast read.

OOPS...that should have been directed to Curlyhair!!!!!

Ter'e wrote: "OOPS...that should have been directed to Curlyhair!!!!!"

Yes I am reading them in order - one every few months. Each one is better than the last.

Just finished "Iron Lake" by William Kent Kruger! Good Book! Looking forward to the next in the series!

I finished Firewall by Henning Mankell. Inspector Kurt Wallender's team is investigating two deaths: a cab driver brutally murdered by teen girls and a computer expert dead from what seems to be a heart attack. Turns out one of the girls has a connection with the dead computer guy who - in turn - has seriously encrypted files on his computer. The police bring in a teen hacker to decode the files and the cops and hacker are soon in a race against time to avert a catastrophe. Meanwhile Wallender is off his game because of accusations of police brutality, an involvement with a pretty woman, and trouble with an underhanded colleague. The story's central conspiracy is far-fetched but it's an engrossing, fast-paced mystery.

Kathryn wrote: "Just finished The Forgotten by David Baldacci. It's the second in the John Puller series. I didn't think it was as good as Zero Day was, but it was s..."

I loved those two books. Zero Day was definitely better, but The Forgotten was also good. I also wanted to 'get int' his Oliver Stone series but never was able to. Can't wait for the next in this series now.

I finished Mission to Paris by Alan Furst. It's the late 1930s and Warner Brothers sends Austrian-born Hollywood actor Frederic Stahl to Paris to star in a movie. During this time Hitler is waging a propaganda and intimidation campaign across Europe, meant to expand Germany's power without war. Hitler's henchmen hope to get the popular Stahl to hobnob with Nazis, to make it seem like he agrees with their philosophy. Stahl resists and finds that he's spied on, pressured, and threatened. Meanwhile, an American diplomat suggests that Stahl comply with the Nazis so he can engage in a spot of espionage. It's all quietly exciting and makes for a good story.

I rec'd "The Innocent" in todays mail. Another David B book. Better hurry up and finish " Absolute Power". I think I might have to sneak in a Chris Mooney book first, tho.....just to stir it up. My books are mounting up faster than I can read them.

Are there any fans of the Jussi Adler-Olsen books.....I am on the third one and got stuck on page 88. I liked the first two, "The Keeper of Lost Causes" and "The Absent One". " A Conspiracy of Faith" is dragging a bit. Who else is reading these?????

Barbara wrote: "I finished Mission to Paris by Alan Furst. It's the late 1930s and Warner Brothers sends Austrian-born Hollywood actor Frederic Stahl to Paris to star in a movie. Dur..."

I've read a couple of other of Alan Furst's Night Soldier books and enjoyed them very much as well, especially Spies of the Balkans. I've got Mission to Paris on my shelf to read. I'm looking forward go it.

just finished hella good they are going to do a tv series from the book even tho its not called teh same as the book but all the same characters!

Ter'e wrote: "I rec'd "The Innocent" in todays mail. Another David B book. Better hurry up and finish " Absolute Power". I think I might have to sneak in a Chris Mooney book first, tho.....just to stir it up..."

I hope you enjoy The Innocent Ter'e. I loved it, very action-packed and you will be flipping through the pages.

Re-reading, recently. Seems as if a lot of the new ones I've tried have turned out to be "meh" for me, so have gone back to re-reads of some of my old favorite authors ... currently some of the more recent Lucas Davenport "Prey" series by John Sandford.

Always good.

I will make a guarantee. LOL
W.E.B. griffin has a series out, called "BADGE OF HONOR". I will guarantee, if you like good cop books........you will love this. I have started so many people out on WEB's books. On this particular series, you will be totally hooked by page 50. I betcha!!!! Of course, WEB is my favorite author, so I am biased.

I read a few of these books after a friend urged me to reconsider Russell Blake. I have to say, I like them. They're well written, smart, and move fast. But they aren't an immersible world like Daniel Silva or George RR Martin. They were a good value and good entertainment but a little light.

Does anyone else read his work?

Ter'e wrote: "I will make a guarantee. LOL
W.E.B. griffin has a series out, called "BADGE OF HONOR". I will guarantee, if you like good cop books........you will love this. I have started so many people out o..."

I have read some of the military books by Griffin. Will try some of the Badge of Honor series, should be entertaining at least, even if they don't end up in my top-5. Thanks ...

I see multiple mentions of Daniel Silva. I read the Kill artist last year and found it to be slow and average. Is the fist book representative of the whole series or does it get better?

Bryan wrote: "Just finished "Iron Lake" by William Kent Kruger! Good Book! Looking forward to the next in the series!"

This is one of my favorite series. I can see a bit of improvement in the writing since Krueger first started writing. But his books have always been very consistent in terms of quality. I hope you enjoy the further books as well.

Tim "The Enchanter" wrote: "I see multiple mentions of Daniel Silva. I read the Kill artist last year and found it to be slow and average. Is the fist book representative of the whole series or does it get better?"

I find Silva to be more of an intellectual read than a fast paced thriller. You learn things reading his books. I've never learned anything critical, but art history, Judaism, restoration, and other enriching things. If you're looking for Patterson-esque thrillers, stick with James Rollins or Lincoln & Child.

Peace, Seeley