The Mystery, Crime, and Thriller Group discussion

I finished The Dogs of Riga , the second installment in Henning Mankell's Kurt Wallander series. An unexpected foray into political intrigue saves the normally dithery and diffident Wallander from himself and provides a welcome relief from the nonstop bleak hopelessness of the Scandinoir I've read so far...but not enough to turn me into a fan. Three and a half stars, rounded down.

Read the full review here.

I didn't find Wallander dithery at all.

Arlene wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Arlene wrote: "Malina wrote: "Arlene wrote: "Im currently reading "

I hope you enjoy it! I read it a few months ago, I loved..."

If you do go, you should do a ghost tour! We went on a walking ghost tour that started at midnite, and while it was a little hokey, you learn a lot about the area.

I just finished

and now going into...

Another great read from Brian Freeman.

It is nice to read his first book, when you are introduced to three of his main characters, Jonathon Stride, Maggie and Serena.

Three great powerful and strong characters, as Brian let's you get to know their personalities throughout this powerful and gripping book.

One of the first books that has taken me through a serial killer/murderer, a court case to more even more story.

So many twists and turns, with for me no glues at all to how this was going to end, a complete surprise and shock.

This really was a breath taking page turner and to me has Brian Freeman as one of my favourite authors for pure gripping stories with so many twists.

A great author, and deserving of all the many awards it won.

Now reading my August Book Pal novel Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. Read so many different reviews.

Lance wrote: "I finished The Dogs of Riga, the second installment in Henning Mankell's Kurt Wallander series. An unexpected foray into political intrigue saves the normally dithery and diffident Wal..."

Thanks, Nancy. I pulled up short at the word "dithery" too. Wallander is many things: brooding, deliberate, certainly diffident. Now I have an image of Kenneth Brannagh making little birdy motions with his hands at a crime scene.

HOWEVER, I did like the political intrigue that threw Wallander for a loop in The Dogs of Riga. It made for an unexpected follow-up to Faceless Killers. And to top it off, while I didn't agree with every part of your review, Lance, I enjoyed reading it.

Actually, I sort of agree with the star rating Lance gave it -- it was probably my least favorite Wallander novel of them all.

Nancy wrote: "Actually, I sort of agree with the star rating Lance gave it -- it was probably my least favorite Wallander novel of them all."

Nancy, do you want to be a buddy read for Birdman? I know others may.join since it didn't win again.

I'll join in, but I'm not free for the rest of August. Can we start in September?

Nancy wrote: "I'll join in, but I'm not free for the rest of August. Can we start in September?"

Absolutely. Where would I create the thread for it?

I'll make a buddy reads folder -- that way if there are any other people who want to do a buddy read for any other book, they can start their own topic thread. I can actually do that later today.

Thanks!

Okay, folder is made. Now anyone who wants to do buddy reads can start their own threads.

Nancy wrote: "Okay, folder is made. Now anyone who wants to do buddy reads can start their own threads."

Awesome!

I started a buddy read for Birdman by Mo Hayder in September. Anyone want to join; Autumn, Anne, Rachel?

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Back to the topic at hand, I've just finished Savage Night, by Jim Thompson. Going back for a second read.

I am currently Reading Umberto Echo's The Name of The Rose..... so far very interesting lol but I think I need plenty of cups of coffee to get my head around some descriptions and view points lol

I just finished Obsessed . I won a free copy and at the time I didn't know it was part of a series but I was able to follow along without any problems. It really was good and I am going back to read the other three books! Thank you T.R. Ragan for giving me the opportunity to read this book!

I finished Deadly Heat and will be writing my review in just a few. It was pretty good... nothing I'd go crazy over but it was a good addition to the series!

Since I could not decide what to read next, which is quite frustrating, I decided to go into the book shelf at home and pull out some books that have been sitting there neglected lol. I pulled out a trilogy by Christopher Reich, which I have not read before. I bought this trilogy for next to nothing when a bookstore was going out of business so I am going to give them a try. The 1st book is Rules of Deception .

I just finished Christie's A Murder Is Announced and am now reading Perry's Midnight at Marble Arch.

I am now reading the glass books of the dream eaters after finishing umberto echo's the name of the rose so far this one is better than the last

Finished The Private Sector by Joseph Hone, an overlooked mystery/espionage classic from 1971, and recommend it highly. I hope to write a review soon. Here's a good article on Hone:

http://www.jeremy-duns.com/jeremy-dun...

I'm finally down with In Cold Blood. I have mixed thoughts about it, not as impressive, well written or as interesting I was expecting from everything I had heard.

A 3/5 stars for me, if only for the fact that it was my first venture into non-fiction and Capote, apparently, created the genre.

Here's my review if you're interested
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...


Now onto Think of a Number following recommendations from this group :)

I'm listening to Faithful Place by Tana French and it's fast on its way to becoming a favorite. I haven't read her before, so it's been a revelation so far. Really good. Suspenseful, and if you like a good Irish accent, the narrator is awesome.

I love it when a great story and a great narrator are paired together.

I finished Off the Grid by P.J. Tracy. Grace MacBride is on a sailing trip with her friend, retired FBI agent John Smith, when a couple of Saudi nationals try to kill John. Turns out John may have information about terrorist plans to attack American cities. Thus John and his friends, especially Grace and her colleagues at the software company Monkeewrench, become targets for the terrorists. Meanwhile, Somali gangs and Native American thugs have teamed up to kidnap young girls for the sex trade, and detectives Leo Magozzi and Gino Rolseth are on the job. Before long the hunt for terrorists and the pursuit of gang members dovetail because the sex trade is being used to fund terrorist activities. Before the end there are some exciting gun, bow and arrow, and knife battles. For me the book was just so-so but fans of the series will enjoy visiting with favorite characters.

Just finished

and now reading...

Marian wrote: "Just finished

and now reading..."

Thanks for the recommendation Marian. I added it to my TBR list. :)

@Tad - Faithful place is my favourite Tana French novel and an all time favourite. It's an amazing novel.

Tim said: Faithful place is my favourite Tana French novel and an all time favourite. It's an amazing novel.

I'm about 40% through and loving it. She reminds me a little of Michael Robotham and Sophie Hannah

I will have to check out those authors Tad.

I just picked up Savage Harvest, a fact mystery about a Rockefeller eaten by cannibals. (!)

I finished Heartsick by Chelsea Cain last night. It was a sick, twisted ride, and I enjoyed it very much! Starting Stripped by Brian Freeman this morning.

Brenda wrote: "I finished Heartsick by Chelsea Cain last night. It was a sick, twisted ride, and I enjoyed it very much! Starting Stripped by [author:Brian Freeman|693..."

@ Brenda - I know Chelsea Cain's series is popular and I've tried to get interested but it's a little too twisted for me ... the images it plants in my head are just too gruesome :)

Barbara wrote: "Brenda wrote: "I finished Heartsick by Chelsea Cain last night. It was a sick, twisted ride, and I enjoyed it very much! Starting Stripped by [author:Br..."

I completely understand!

Now reading Money Laundering Through Art: A Criminal Justice Perspective . Research, not self-improvement.

I just finished and I liked it better than haven't decided what to read next

Corvida wrote: "I just picked up Savage Harvest, a fact mystery about a Rockefeller eaten by cannibals. (!)"

I want to read that book!

I finished The Hypnotist this morning and thought it was great; lots of tension, excellent story and well-paced (4 stars). Heading back to Sweden for my next book, an Inspector Van Veeteren mystery, The Return: An Inspector Van Veeteren Mystery by Håkan Nesser.

I'm currently reading The Swarm by Frank Schatzing.
I'm about 200 pages in & am enjoying it very much. I've read mixed reviews about it, but it has caught my interest.

Just Finished --

Currently Reading --

I'm currently reading

started

I'm about to start The Fever by Megan Abbott.

Just started reading 4 titles:

King and Maxwell
Children of Liberty
The Hindenburg Murders
The Thief

Bill wrote: "I finished The Hypnotist this morning and thought it was great; lots of tension, excellent story and well-paced (4 stars). Heading back to Sweden for my next book, an Inspector Van ..."

The Hypnotist has been a book I've wanted to read for a long time but never have. Glad to hear you liked it. I'll have to give it a go soon.

Currently reading Garment of Shadows, by Laurie R. King.

Susanna - Censored by GoodReads wrote: "Currently reading Garment of Shadows, by Laurie R. King."

just to let you know that is an awesome book absolutely brilliant love the whole series :) if you haven't already check out bee keepers apprentice.

Oh yes, I've read the rest of the series.

what do you think? I enjoy the idea of an older sherlock holmes with a young feisty feminist sidekick who is both incredibly clever and yet human lol

I just finished The Redbreast. It was a good book but some things weren't tied up. I really dislike that in a book.