The Mystery, Crime, and Thriller Group discussion

I finished The Ludwig Conspiracy by Oliver Pötzsch. Just before he's murdered an elderly gent hides a secret diary in a used bookstore in Munich. The bookstore owner is Steven Lukas, a quiet young man. Before long the old gent's niece, Sara, shows up. She and Steven discover that the diary - which is written in code and has some undecipherable passages in an even more mysterious cipher - was written by mad King Ludwig medical assistant. Ludwig was an 'eccentric' who spent all of Bavaria's money building elaborate castles for himself before he died rather suddenly in 1886.
Was old King Ludwig murdered? Was he gay? Does the diary explain his sudden death? A lot of people want to know, so when Sara and Steve race around looking for clues to decipher the diary they're chased by a variety of cut-throats and gangs who want the book for themselves. As the diary is slowly deciphered we learn about King Ludwig's life as well as political machinations in 19th century Bavaria.
This is a pretty good thriller/mystery with a little bit of romance, some interesting characters, and some intriguing blather about secret codes. I'd give it 3.5 stars.

Just finished The Honorary Consul by Graham Greene. I always enjoy cynical boozy expats with suspect friends stuck in a far-flung outpost with a mission that can't end well. I always like Graham Greene. This left me a little cold though, as it was perhaps a little too clinical from the master still in his prime, but I still recommend it.

Reading The Bedwetter by Sarah Silverman. I didn't want to like this as much as I do.

Scott wrote: "Reading The Bedwetter by Sarah Silverman. I didn't want to like this as much as I do."

Stephen wrote: "Bob wrote: "I just started ( I'm halfway through ) Daughter of Time by Tey. Good so far !"

There's a reason it's a classic. Enjoy!"

Must have read it 6 times...always enjoyed it. Try the others of hers maybe.

Just borrowed 2 mysteries from the library and sent both back after page six. Getting fussy. Tana French has a new one...The Secret Place...sounds marvelous. She's as good as the two I picked up (shall be nameless) were bad.

Dear Readin' Friends:

What would you take with you to read on a 9-hour flight? (Not for your e-reader, flesh and paper books.)

On the coming Wednesday I'm flying to the Netherlands (out of Vancouver, BC) and staying there for almost two weeks. My travel companions are my four sisters and my Mom. And I love them very much and I also happen to like them.

However, there are nine hours in a plane to get through--I don't sleep on planes. There's also a week or so of bedtime reading. (And probably one day of, "You know I love you very much but please leave me alone.")

I trust your taste and have been scanning this particular thread the last few days.

HELP! I don't care if it is a large book. I'm light packer anyway. I've got room and if it isn't filled with a book my sisters will look at me askance then start bargaining for my extra space.

Louise Penny's THE LONG WAY HOME. Loving every moment I listen to it.

Have you read The Goldfinch? Big and fat and interesting. Big section happens in Amsterdam.
How about All the Light you Cannot See....a World War II book of great charm that pairs well with the non-fiction The Monuments Men.

Had a really good week, have finished:

Imitation in Death by J.D. Robb
Triptych by Karin Slaughter
World After by Susan Ee
Deadlocked by Charlaine Harris

That's certainly gotten me out of my recent reading funk.

Renee wrote: "Dear Readin' Friends:

What would you take with you to read on a 9-hour flight? (Not for your e-reader, flesh and paper books.)

On the coming Wednesday I'm flying to the Netherlands (out of Vanco..."

I looked at your TBR pile compared to mine. It looks like you have Heartsick by Chelsea Cain on there. I gave it 5 stars. It is a very good read but somewhat disturbing too.

and/or

A Time to Kill:)

Renee: from your TBR pile, I really enjoyed A Fatal Grace, by Louise Penny.

Still no internet. Tring the Mobile app. Almost settled in. 25 more boxes of books to unpack! Hate moving! And I bruised some ribs by trying to dump some trash into my burn barrel. lol

Ow! I'm sorry about your ribs, Anne.

Jean wrote: "Just borrowed 2 mysteries from the library and sent both back after page six. Getting fussy. Tana French has a new one...The Secret Place...sounds marvelous. She's as good as the two I picked up ..."

Read Anonymous by Christine Benedict. you won't be disappointed.

Renee wrote: "Dear Readin' Friends:

What would you take with you to read on a 9-hour flight? (Not for your e-reader, flesh and paper books.)

On the coming Wednesday I'm flying to the Netherlands (out of Vanco..."

Read Anonymous by Christine Benedict. The time will fly by.

Christine wrote: "Renee wrote: "Dear Readin' Friends:

What would you take with you to read on a 9-hour flight? (Not for your e-reader, flesh and paper books.)

On the coming Wednesday I'm flying to the Netherlands..."

Self promote away, Christine, but not here, please. Thanks!

I am currently reading Tom Grieves`s A Cry In The Night and its ok so far though am not sure about the characters such as Zoe Barnes and Sam Taylor they to me just dont seem to gel like certain cops colleagues do but I don't know havent got to the heart of the matter yet but so far its alright not great but alright am wondering what other people may have thought about this If you have read this?

Just finished reading The Group by Kevin Doyle. It was surprisingly good. What starts as a seemingly average murder mystery (did he kill his ex-mistress or did his wife do it?) unfolds into a tangled web of murders connected by a seemingly innocuous event. Review to follow.

OH, thank you for great recommendations! Nine un-interrupted hours of reading really isn't something to complain about, now is it?

If any of you have read The Dinner by Herman Koch, it mentions how long dinners last in the Netherlands. I can confirm this is true. When I was young and we had company and dinner stretched on and on, my parents would turn a blind eye to the book I was reading just under the table cloth. I'm totally prepared for that now.

Thanks all!

I just started The Sleeping Doll a few days ago. It is a pretty good read.

Finally -- I've finished Laura Lippman's book After I'm Gone. Would anyone (in the US) like my copy?

Just finished THE LONG WAY HOME by Louise Penny.

Loved it. Will listen to again. Was surprised by the ending. (No Spoiler). Almost cried.

Mars, is that a series where you really need to read them in order?

Louise Penny's Inspector Gamache books? Yes, I would read them in order.

I am reading "Middlesex" by Jefferey Eugenides.

Mara wrote: "Just finished THE LONG WAY HOME by Louise Penny.

Loved it. Will listen to again. Was surprised by the ending. (No Spoiler). Almost cried."

Oh, I wanted to read a Louise Penny book, I will try that one - Thanks!

Oh my -- "almost cried". I started re-reading all her books and am now re-reading A Beautiful Mystery (which made me almost cry at the end). Already have The Long Way Home on my Kindle and can hardly wait to read it now!

Renee wrote: "OH, thank you for great recommendations! Nine un-interrupted hours of reading really isn't something to complain about, now is it?

If any of you have read The Dinner by Herman Koc..."
Please let us know what book you decided to read and have a wonderful trip!

Just finished Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

Interesting that a few people mention Louise Penny since I finally got back into her Armand Gamache series and just started the 3rd book

The Cruelest Month

Alex wrote: "Just finished Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

Interesting that a few people mention Louise Penny since I finally got back into her Armand Gamache series and just started..."

The Cruelest Month looks like a good read. I've put it on my TBR list. Thanks, Alex!

I’ve just finished Close To Home, a.k.a. The Summer That Never Was, by Peter Robinson. His writing style is not for me. The narrative was constantly interrupted by long descriptive passages – of the scenery, the weather or the main character’s internal musings of childhood memories – that slowed the pace to a standstill (there wasn’t much pace to begin with, imo) and kept throwing me out of the story. In the end I was skip-reading the descriptions to try and connect with the story thread once more. I won’t be choosing another book by this author.

I'm about halfway through A Noble Radiance. This is a very good mystery series that takes place in and around Venice.

I am reading Shut Your Eyes Tight by John Verdon. I like the way he makes the reader use his/her brain to figure out what happens next.

Perfect by Rachel Joyce

I just finished The Sleeping Doll by Jeffery Deaver. I loved it. It had many very unexpected turns and kept me guessing. I thoroughly enjoyed the book.

Just making a start on The Suspicions of Mr Whicher. Not bad so far.

Barbara wrote: "Perfect by Rachel Joyce"

That was a fine book !

I am starting Birdman as a buddy read since it epically failed to win three times in a row as a group read. If anyone wants to join the link is https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/....

Currently I'm reading Lifeguard by James Patterson and Andrew Gross. So far I've found it entertaining.

Just started AFTER I'M GONE by Laura Lippman.

I've almost finished Hallways in The Night

I'm not usually drawn to legal thrillers but I really did enjoy listening to this one

Charlotte (Buried in Books) wrote: "Just making a start on The Suspicions of Mr Whicher. Not bad so far."

I liked that book. There's also a movie, but it doesn't really do the book justice.

Finished Vicious by Kevin O'Brien this weekend and W.O.W. What a book! That was my first KO book and if I wasn't doing a couple of buddy reads this month, I'd be reading some more of his books. Awesome book!

I started Birdman by Mo Hayder with a Goodreads group and will be starting The Girl with a Clock for a Heart next week for another group read. I've never done group/buddy reads before so I am looking forward to the discussions afterwards!

Stephen wrote: "Bob wrote: "I just started ( I'm halfway through ) Daughter of Time by Tey. Good so far !"

There's a reason it's a classic. Enjoy!"
It really is one of a kind and I'm glad I'm finally reading it.

I've just finished my review of A Dancer in the Dust, by Thomas H. Cook. Amazing book.

I'm reading Sorrow Bound by David Mark

Barbara wrote: "I'm reading Sorrow Bound by David Mark"

Have you read the two previous? They give you really good insight into the characters that you might want to have before this one.