The Mystery, Crime, and Thriller Group discussion

"who knows where the wind will take me" --

That's the best way to read, I think.

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

That one has been on my shelf for a couple years...Let me know how you like it. It may finally be time to give it a read!

I am a huge Nesbo fan so I am saying 4 to 5 stars I have about 100 pages to go. Couldn't keep my eyes open last night

Tom wrote: "I am a huge Nesbo fan so I am saying 4 to 5 stars I have about 100 pages to go. Couldn't keep my eyes open last night"

I've only read The Redbreast, but I had the same experience. I read it in one sitting! I'm definitely pushing Nemesis up on my to read list.

Nemesis is apparently the 2nd in the trilogy with Redbreast being first. There are many of the same characters

Tom wrote: "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 w..."

I plan on reading this Nemesis in two weeks. I hope it is good.

I finished Flash and Bones and it was ok. I also finished A Raging Storm which also was okay.

I started to get reacquainted with Harry Bosch and am reading Lost Light. I just adore Harry.

Just finished Reykjavik Nights: An Inspector Erlendur Novel, the latest from Arnaldur Indridason. Anyone who's a fan of the Erlendur series will definitely not want to miss this one, as it provides a LOT of insight into Erlendur's character.

Just finished the delightful Together Forever - Vicki Green. This was book 2 in the Forever Series. I am now off to read The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - Stieg Larsson (a book I have been putting off for the past 2 nearly 3 yrs lol). Wish me luck ;) x

Just finishing "No Second Chance" by Harlen Coben. His books are really addictive!.

Elizabeth wrote: "Just finishing "No Second Chance"by Harlen Coben. His books are really addictive!."

L-O-V-E his books!!!

Any one of Harlan Coben's books better than others?

Elizabeth wrote: "Any one of Harlan Coben's books better than others?"

I haven't read a whole lot but looking back at my ratings, I have Gone for Good and Six Years rated the highest. I've not read a bad one though :)

Thanks for the suggestions. I will pick them up!

Elizabeth wrote: "Thanks for the suggestions. I will pick them up!"

I read and there are YA books but it was pretty good

I am listening to Mommy, May I? - A.K. Alexander

I finished The Secret Place by Tana French. Two British boarding schools, St. Kilda's for girls and St. Colm’s for boys are located close together. When Chris Harper - a boy from St. Colm's - is found murdered on the grounds of St. Kilda's, the case remains unsolved. A year later a St. Kilda's student finds a photo of Chris on a school bulletin board with cut-out letters that spell 'I know who killed him'.
Detectives investigate. The main 'suspects' for who placed the card on the bulletin board are two groups of friends: 'the snobby girls' and 'the nice girls'. The book is told in alternating scenes: in the present, the detectives question the girls to find out what they know; in flashbacks we see the interactions among the teens from the two schools.
Turns out there were various relationships among the students of St. Kilda's and St. Colm's leading to jealousies, spying, anger, threats, etc. Of course this was related to Chris's death.
I've enjoyed Tana French's previous books but this wasn't a favorite. The detective work (talking) was tedious; the characters weren't likable; and the mystery's resolution wasn't satisfying.
Still, I'd recommend the book to fans of the author; familiar characters from past books always show up in current ones and it's good to see what's going on with them.

The Magpies by Mark Edwards.



A first for this author, although this is his first solo book, but also semi based on a true story from his own past.

When Jamie and Kirsty move into their first home together they are full of optimism. The future, in which they plan to get married and start a family, is bright. The other residents of their building seem friendly too: the horror writer and the middle-aged herbalist who live upstairs, and the Newtons, a married couple who welcome them to the building with open arms.

At first, the two couples get on well. But then strange things start to happen. Dead rats are left on their doorstep. They hear disturbing noises, and much worse, in the night. After Jamie’s best friend is injured in a horrific accident, Jamie and Kirsty find themselves targeted by a campaign of terror.

The Magpies is a cunningly crafted piece of psychological chilling fiction which burrows into the brain with a plentiful supply of ‘what if’ moments that’ll have you concerned about your own closest neighbours next door or below you, whilst also (hopefully) giving you some assurance that you’re probably much better off than the central characters in this story.

Often with this genre of novel, or indeed film of this type (of which this would make a great one), the story suffers from those moments where little is happening, when the reader/viewer is left to ponder what the next set piece might be coming along, not here.

With The Magpies, Edwards has built the tension and the elements of the unknown sufficiently well enough that, even in those quieter moments, you’ll be clutching your book tightly with concern about just what is to unfold on the next page.

How this book unfolds to a mighty last few chapters is not what you expect at all.

A great book that I highly recommend.

Barbara wrote: "I finished The Secret Place by Tana French. Two British boarding schools, St. Kilda's for girls and St. Colm’s for boys are located close together. When Chris Harper..."

Even fans of this author (me) have been really disappointed by this one:(

Last night I finished Mommy, May I? - A.K. Alexander (on audio). Not sure what I think as it was laughable one minute and boring the next lol. Now I have Die For Me: A Novel of the Valentine Killer - Cynthia Eden (Audio) and reading Broken Build - Rachelle Ayala for a challenge.

Starting two new books this weekend, maybe three if I finish one I'm currently working on; The Man in the Queue by Josephine Tey. The other books are A Deeper Darkness by J.T. Ellison and The Virgin in the Ice by Ellis Peters.

Bill wrote: "Starting two new books this weekend, maybe three if I finish one I'm currently working on; The Man in the Queue by Josephine Tey. The other books are [book:A Deeper Da..."

just to let you know on one of your books that you are about to read The Virgin In The Ice by Ellis Peters is one of my favourites and its really good just be warned you will get hooked :P

Dying To Tell by Robert Goddard

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


4.5*
Listened to this book on audio.

Lance Bradley is idling away his life in the Somerset town of Glastonbury as usual when he receives a call for help from the eccentric sister of his old friend Rupert Alder. Inexplicably, Rupe has stopped sending the money that his dysfunctional siblings depend on.

Reluctantly, Lance goes to London to learn what he can, only to find that his friend has vanished.

His employers, a shipping company, believe he is guilty of a major fraud.

A Japanese businessman called Hashimoto claims he has stolen a document of life and death importance.

And a private detective who has been working for Rupert's trying to trace an American called Townley has been warned off by unnamed but immensely powerful interests.

No sooner has Lance decided that whatever Rupert was up to is too risky for him to get involved in than he finds that he already is involved, and the only way out is to get in deeper still.

Where is Rupert?

What is the document he has stolen, and where is it?

Who is Townley?

And what happened in the summer of 1963 that holds the key to a secret more devastating than Lance Bradley could ever have imagined?

Dying to Tell is a classic Robert Goddard mystery, intricate, compelling, and this time with a good number of red herrings, and a twist or two in the end of the tale that is, quite literally, sensational. I had to listen to the last 2 chapters twice!



View all my reviews

I finished Lost Light by Michael Connelly last night. I just love Harry. He is persistent and is very loyal. This was another great book in the series.

Zoe wrote: "Bill wrote: "Starting two new books this weekend, maybe three if I finish one I'm currently working on; The Man in the Queue by Josephine Tey. The other books are [boo..."

Thanks, Zoe. Glad to hear you enjoyed it. I enjoy the series very much and I'm glad I still have quite a few to read in it. :)

Finally getting around to Angelica's Smile, by Camilleri. I will be so sad when this series is over!

Diane S. wrote: "Starting The Bookman's Tale: A Novel of Obsession and think I am going to love it."

Diana, that looks so good.

I haven't had time to read for a few days; working three jobs at the moment and also trying to watch some new TV shows that intrigue me; I am still reading Sue Grafton and read Patricia Cornwell.

Just finished Close by Martina Cole now starting Faithless by Karin Slaughter

I've just started One Kick by Chelsea Cain. I'm only four chapters in but really enjoying it so far. The main character is intriguing. Kidnapped at age 6 by a child pornographer, Kick is brainwashed before being recovered by chance at age 11. She became an emancipated minor after her birth mother turned 'mother of an abducted child' into a career with books and TV spots. By age 21 Kick has learned just about every self-defense technique there is. She is approached by a man who appears to be a soldier of fortune who wants her assistance in recovering an abducted child.

Dorie wrote: "I've just started One Kick by Chelsea Cain. I'm only four chapters in but really enjoying it so far. The main character is intriguing. Kidnapped at age 6 by a child p..."

I started One Kick last night. I agree: so far, sooooo good.

I finished The Racketeer by John Grisham. Malcolm Bannister, an attorney, was caught up in a money laundering scheme and sent to federal prison. When Judge Fawcett is murdered, Bannister contacts the FBI, claiming he will name the killer in exchange for immediate release from prison.
This happens, and once he is free Bannister embarks on an elaborate scheme to enrich himself. To say more would be a spoiler.
I will say, however, that Bannister's scheme is completely unbelievable. Moreover, Bannister is an unlikable character who - though he claims to be bereft by his divorce and loss of his son - makes no attempt to see the boy once he's out of prison.
This book is slow, boring, and poorly plotted. The characters are two-dimensional and uninteresting. I almost can't believe John Grisham wrote this book.
I'd recommend skipping this one.

Just finished Bad Paper: Chasing Debt from Wall Street to the Underworld by Jake Halpern. Four strong stars.



Now reading Chris Brookmyre's Where the Bodies Are Buried .

L'm reading by Douglas Preston

Reading Ripley's Game by one of my favorites, Patricia Highsmith.

Dominique wrote: "L'm reading by Douglas Preston"

Dominique: is it good?

Steve wrote: "Reading Ripley's Game by one of my favorites, Patricia Highsmith."

How are you enjoying this Steve? It sounds intriguing...

Sandra wrote: "Steve wrote: "Reading Ripley's Game by one of my favorites, Patricia Highsmith."

How are you enjoying this Steve? It sounds intriguing..."

I'm enjoying it a lot, Sandra, even though I think I read it years ago. Don't want it to end. Tom Ripley's one of my favorite characters. He shouldn't be likable but yet I want to see what he gets up to.

Have you read the others Steve? And is it necessary to read them first?

I definitely recommend reading the Ripley books in order, because his character changes and "improves" himself based on deeds he's done before.

Skye wrote: "Dominique wrote: "L'm reading by Douglas Preston"

Dominique: is it good?"

I just started but the first one of the series was good

Steve wrote: "I definitely recommend reading the Ripley books in order, because his character changes and "improves" himself based on deeds he's done before."

Thanks Steve - will do! 8:D

I've just finished Angelica's Smile, by Camilleri, an Inspector Montalbano novel. I have to say I figured out the whole thing early on and was a wee bit disappointed overall. Not half as good as his other books.

:(

Steve wrote: "Sandra wrote: "Steve wrote: "Reading Ripley's Game by one of my favorites, Patricia Highsmith."

How are you enjoying this Steve? It sounds intrigui..."

Ripely is one of the best anti-heroes in the universe. I love those books.

I've just started reading Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov. I know I'm a bit too late to read this.
Been busy with other books. :-)

Will be finished with

soon.

Aniket wrote: "I've just started reading Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov. I know I'm a bit too late to read this.
Been busy with other books. :-)"


It's never too late for Nabokov. Enjoy.

I am reading Devil Bones by Kathy Reichs so you know there is quite a literary difference there!

I just started Judgment by Carey Baldwin. It started a little stiff but a few pages in and I'm thinking I'm going to like it.

Tom wrote: "It's never too late for Nabokov. Enjoy.

I am readin..."

Wow, that book sounds interesting! How are you enjoying it? Would you recommend it to a friend?

What, Devil Bones? I am on pg100ish. So far its good. I have read a few in the series and I will go on. So yes I would recommend

Tom wrote: "What, Devil Bones? I am on pg100ish. So far its good. I have read a few in the series and I will go on. So yes I would recommend"

Thanks, mate. I'm gonna try it sometime soon.