The Mystery, Crime, and Thriller Group discussion

Dominique wrote: "Jannene wrote: "I just finished Roses are Red. There was a cliffhanger now I have to hurry and read the next one."

That was a good book. I really like his books."

I do too. Now I have to finish before October 1. :)

Jannene wrote: "Dominique wrote: "Jannene wrote: "I just finished Roses are Red. There was a cliffhanger now I have to hurry and read the next one."

That was a good book. I really like his books."

I..."

It's a fast read!

I just finishedThe Drop by Dennis Lehane. It was pretty good. Been a while since I read one of his. Hadn't realized how much I missed him.

I received the ARC in a giveaway.

I have been hearing great things about Dennis Lehane

I keep trying to tell people..he's a great writer:)

Try Shutter Island, Skye.

ok, Nancy; my good friend Marian raves about him all the time.

I finished Light of the World by James Lee Burke. Louisiana Sheriff's Detective Dave Robichaux, his family, and P.I. Clete Purcell are on vacation in Montana when a teen, Angel Deer Heart is killed. Angel is an adopted member of the wealthy Younger family.
Dave suspects a sadistic serial killer, Asa Surette - thought to be dead - is responsible. Surette has a grudge against Dave's daughter Alafair, and Dave fears for her life. Basically the story is about Dave and Clete trying to stop Asa Surette while they expose some sinister doings in the 'evil' Younger family.
There is also a prominent sub-theme about whether evil is a real, tangible thing which distracted from the story.
Burke's ongoing characters are favorites of mine and I liked the basic mystery premise of the story but Burke is getting too repetitive with some of his story elements. Still, I'd recommend the book to mystery fans.

Jeff wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Try Shutter Island, Skye."

Really, I've been reading that one and I haven't been that impressed with it."

Its a great book!!

im currently reading Déjà Dead. im excited to read the whole series!

I'm currently reading Chasing the Dead by Tim Weaver. He is a new author for me and so far the book is intriguing.

Kristine wrote: "im currently reading Déjà Dead. im excited to read the whole series!"

I have read a few. Some are great some meh. Don't hate but the show is better in my opinion

Just finishedThe Silkworm and I enjoyed it. I love the characters Strike and Robin. I'm hoping there's another book to develop their relationship. Very interesting plot as well.
Next up is The Secret Place by Tana French and Big Little Lies.

I am still reading S is for Silenceand re-reading Cause of Death.

Yay! just got the message Nemesis by Jo Nesbø is in at the library.

Tom wrote: "Yay! just got the message Nemesis by Jo Nesbø is in at the library."

Love that series.

OK, I'm not reading a Mystery, Crime or Thriller right now....I'm reading Denise Grover Swank's Chosen series....not sure where this books falls! :-)
BUT it is good :-)

Tom wrote: "Kristine wrote: "im currently reading Déjà Dead. im excited to read the whole series!"

I have read a few. Some are great some meh. Don't hate but the show is better in my opinion"

I'd disagree and say the books are way better. I even started with the show before the books. I also like all the books in the series so far.

Kristine wrote: "im currently reading Déjà Dead. im excited to read the whole series!"

Oh, I want to read this series too!!

Not crime, but I've just finished A Dance with Dragons, by George R.R. Martin, book #5 in the Song of Ice and Fire series. Now I'll just try to wait patiently for book #6. aaarggh!!

That's the next one I've got to read, Nancy. I'm going to try and read before the end of the year as I've managed to finish most of my challenges. I'm currently reading The Man in the Queue by Josephine Tey, The Sanctuary Sparrow (Chronicles of Brother Cadfael, #7) by Ellis Peters and a ghost story for Hallowe'en month, The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson.

Bill wrote: "That's the next one I've got to read, Nancy. I'm going to try and read before the end of the year as I've managed to finish most of my challenges.

I'm currently reading about to finish The Woman in Black, by Susan Hill, getting a start on my Halloween reads. Next up is Don't Look Now: Selected Stories of Daphne Du Maurier.

Nancy wrote: "Bill wrote: "That's the next one I've got to read, Nancy. I'm going to try and read before the end of the year as I've managed to finish most of my challenges.

I'm currently reading about to fini..."

The Woman in Black was an excellent story and also a spooky, creepy movie, without having to resort to blood and gore. Enjoy Ms Du Maurier.

Bill wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Bill wrote: "That's the next one I've got to read, Nancy. I'm going to try and read before the end of the year as I've managed to finish most of my challenges.

I'm currently reading..."

I do plan on enjoying DuMaurier. I've already read the title story and it's terrifying.

Aiesha wrote: "Kristine wrote: "im currently reading Déjà Dead. im excited to read the whole series!"

Oh, I want to read this series too!!"

Yes, do it! Especially the first several. All good.

Nancy wrote: "Bill wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Bill wrote: "That's the next one I've got to read, Nancy. I'm going to try and read before the end of the year as I've managed to finish most of my challenges.

I'm curr..."

She was wonderful and was a trend setter.

Three mysteries I've recently read that I enjoyed:

How the Light Gets In by Louise Penny - 5 stars
Frankly, I'm glad that the police corruption substory that Louise has been carrying across a number of her books finally seems to be resolved in this one. I hope she goes back to focusing primarily on the mystery-at-hand in each book. Well written, as usual.

A Red Herring Without Mustard by Alan Bradley - 4 stars
This series, as well an quite a few others, is one I intend to stick with, because of the great writing. I have some catching up to do, though!

Cockatiels at Seven by Donna Andrews - 4 stars
Donna is such a hoot and I love her humor in this series. Again, I'm trying to catch up.

I'm currently reading The Hearse You Came in On by Tim Cockey. I love this series about undertaker Hitchcock Sewell and have read books 3 & 4 in it. This is the first book in the series, so I'm going back and filling in the holes. I wish Tim Cockey wrote more than 5 books in the series, and I'll be disappointed to finish it.

Beth wrote: "Three mysteries I've recently read that I enjoyed:

How the Light Gets In by Louise Penny - 5 stars
Frankly, I'm glad that the police corruption substory that Louise has been carryi..."

You know, when Henning Mankell ended his Wallander series, I was so sad, but someone told me that an author needs to end a series at some point. I figure as long as a series goes out well loved and at a high point, that's the best time to do it.

I'm reading The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini. I've read A Thousand Splendid Suns - Khaled Hosseini which I liked, but took me a six years to read this book lol.

Carol wrote: "Just finishedThe Silkworm and I enjoyed it. I love the characters Strike and Robin. I'm hoping there's another book to develop their relationship. Very interesting plot as well.
N..."

Hi Carol,
i tried to read "The Secret Place" and could not get into it. I also have "The Silkworm" in my TBR Pile! Good to hear you liked it!

Nancy wrote: "Beth wrote: "Three mysteries I've recently read that I enjoyed:

How the Light Gets In by Louise Penny - 5 stars
Frankly, I'm glad that the police corruption substory that Louise ha..."

I agree Nancy. It's best when a series ends on a high note. Some series go on way too long - past the point where the author has good ideas for the plots/characters.

I finally got The Secret Place from the library - so I'm looking forward to joining the discussion about Tana French's latest.

I've finished The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini which I found rather interesting and eye opening to what happened in Afghanistan. Now I am reading Bloodstone - Barbra Annino

I finished Seconds Away. It was a very fast and light read. I adore all the characters. Spoon cracks me up and I have to say I think he is my favorite character.

Jannene wrote: "I finished Seconds Away. It was a very fast and light read. I adore all the characters. Spoon cracks me up and I have to say I think he is my favorite character."

Great book, was fun reading it with you!

Just finished Ed McBain's "The Big Bad City." The central mystery was easy to solve, but he weaves three story lines, the characters seem real and it is just a good, gritty read.

Dominique wrote: "Jannene wrote: "I finished Seconds Away. It was a very fast and light read. I adore all the characters. Spoon cracks me up and I have to say I think he is my favorite character."

G..."

Same here, it was great reading with you!

The eighth psychological suspense novel by international bestselling author Brian Freeman brings the long-awaited return of Lieutenant Jonathan Stride to the bitter cold of Duluth, Minnesota.

"My mother told me that if there was ever a time in my life when I needed protection, and no one was around for me, I should go to you. Find Mr. Stride, she told me. She said you'd help me."

Yes the welcome return of Stride, Serena and Maggie with the added great personality of the young Catalina Mateo.

As Jonathan Stride returns home to his cottage on the shore of Lake Superior after midnight, he finds a teenage girl hiding in his bedroom. She's pretty, scared, and soaked to the bone...and she says that someone is trying to kill her. The girl isn't a stranger to Stride. She's the daughter of a woman he tried - and failed - to protect from an abusive, murderous ex-husband years earlier.


Freeman weaves the scenes and clues together so seamlessly, that I was hooked from the start. The recent antagonism between himself and his partner keeps their interactions edgy and his persistence in seeking the truth tests his resolve and honesty to the max.

Masterfully plotted....Freeman shows how those endless North Shore winters have toughened and aged Stride, closing him off from the world, but the author also convincingly makes Stride break out of his icy, self-imposed shell.

Another great book from the great Brian Freeman and highly recommended

Gave up on Bloodstone - Barbra Annino as I couldn't get into the characters lol. So I am now reading Together Forever - Vicki Green which I've read books 1 and 3 before. Looks like another 1.30am staying up due to the nature of this author's book that keeps me gripped lol.

I just finished Violets Are Blue. I didn't care for the vampire plot. Other than that, it was an okay read.

Finished 10th Anniversary. Getting a bit tired of the Womens Murder Club. Having a change of pace with Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children. Good so far.

Im still reading

Too Little, Too Late by Marta Tandori
Spanning the years between the end of WWII and current times, and taking us between Nazi Germany, Norway and Hollywood, this intriguing thriller tells the story of Kate Stanton and her family.
Who is the homeless woman who is run down by a hit-and-run driver after a violent confrontation with several teenagers, one of them Kate's grand-daughter?
What was she trying to put in Kate's letter-box?
And why?
And where is it now?
Kate soon realizes that some questions are better left unasked after she is left scrambling to stay one step ahead of a killer who’s determined to end her life in order to save his own.
In this sweeping murder mystery based on the novella FORBIDDEN, past mistakes are pitted against bittersweet revenge and family secrets as old as Hollywood and Hitler threaten to destroy one family tainted by a poisonous legacy none of them can ever hope to escape.
I really enjoyed this book. Every time I thought I had it all figured out, there would be a clever twist in the plot, and I would have to begin again.
I will definitely be reading the rest of the Kate Stanton series!

I'm reading Flash and Bones by Kathy Reichs.

I finished Dust by Patricia Cornwell. Medical examiner Kay Scarpetta has troubles: she's traumatized after school shootings; she's recovering from flu; her head investigator Pete Marino has bailed; her FBI profiler husband - Benton Wesley - is on the outs with his boss; and a serial killer is at work in Massachusetts where she lives.
As usual in Cornwell's series, Kay and Benton chase criminals while being simultaneously harassed by self-serving/evil individuals. Pete Marino also exhibits his usual childish behavior, angry that Kay isn't in love with him.
The plot of the book is fairly straightforward. Kay is determined to help capture a sadistic murderer who killed several people in Washington, D.C. before heading for Massachusetts. Kay is thwarted, however, because the FBI seems to be tampering with evidence and a corrupt corporation is obstructing the investigation. Kay carries on, however, and does numerous forensic examinations that are described in great detail.
This book is a little better than the last couple of books in the Scarpetta series but it's not very good. Huge Scarpetta fans, though, might like it.

Just finished Fallen, The: A Jade de Jong Investigation by Jassy Mackenzie. It's been a great series so far, set in South Africa.

Jeff wrote: "I finished "Shutter Island today by Dennis Lehane. I didn't care for it. I'm now reading Iron House by John Hart"

I read Iron House last week and it was an unexpectedly great story (including the 'ick' factor). Hope you enjoy it too.

Now I'm hunting down all of John Hart's other books.

I finished The Shadow Dancer by Margaret Coel. Vicky Holden, an Arapaho lawyer from the Wind River Reservation, recently returned to the region. Her abusive ex-husband, Ben Holden, is soon shot dead and Vicky is a suspect. There are also other problems in the area: a "prophet" named Orlando has revived the Shadow Dance religion, meant to restore the land to the Indians; and computer expert Dean Little Horse is missing.
Determined to clear her name Vicky investigates. She learns that Ben had a confrontation with two Lakota Indians who stole something from him. Vicky thinks they were involved in Ben's death and sets out to find them - running into trouble along the way.
Vicky is assisted by Father John O'Malley, the priest in charge of the Catholic mission on the reservation. Father John sets out to help Vicky prove her innocence, find Dean Little Horse, and shut down Orlando's cult.
Margaret Coel skillfully includes glimpses about the Arapaho people and culture, which was a good addition to the story. The motive for the killings made sense and the mystery - and tangential issues - were resolved in a satisfactory manner. I'd recommend the book as light reading for mystery fans.

In the middle of Reykjavik Nights: An Inspector Erlendur Novel by Indridason. It's a prequel -- Erlendur is a traffic cop here. Not out until 2015 here, but I bought it from the UK because I love this series.

I am reading Nemesis by Jo Nesbø. Have The Cat Who Played Post Office by Lilian Jackson Braun at the library to pick up. The who knows where the wind will take me!