The Mystery, Crime, and Thriller Group discussion

Patricia wrote: "Finished reading The Consultant. It is a thriller which features an accountant as the protagonist. He is hired as a free lance consultant by an accounting firm after being fired f..."

This title reminds me of a book with the same name by John McNeil. The protagonist, Chris Webb, is a computer consultant who uncovers a fraud in a major bank. In a superb twist, the author turns Chris Webb into a bad guy who kills off the original fraudster, and leaves the computer code in place to start diverting funds to his own account. It was an outstanding book, with the characterization such that I kept rooting for Webb.

The copy that I had, became tattered and I had to discard it. I notice some used copies for sale at Amazon but I don't know whether they will ship used copies to India. But it would be a shame to spend 20$ to ship a book costing 0.99.

I did not hear of any other books by the author and would have loved to lay my hands on anything else that he wrote. I wonder whether he achieved the same magic, though. Most authors taper off, the magic fading in their later books. There is mention in these pages of Lee Child's Never Go Back being flat. I have experienced that with Alistair MacLean and Grisham. On second thoughts, maybe it is good that I did not read anything else by McNeil.

Prakash wrote: "Patricia wrote: "Finished reading The Consultant. It is a thriller which features an accountant as the protagonist. He is hired as a free lance consultant by an accounting firm af..."

You are right. This book is similar. You might enjoy it.

Sharon wrote: "Recently finished the latest Faye Kellerman mystery and actually liked it better than most of the series. Murder 101For some reason I find myself often unsympathetic to the interact..."

Sounds interesting Sharon. I was disappointed with the last couple of Faye Kellerman's books but this one looks good. I'm adding it to my TBR list.

I finished The Redeemer by Jo Nesbø. As the story opens, it's 1991 and the young daughter of an officer in Norway's Salvation Army is raped. During that same year a Croation youth is dubbed "Little Redeemer" for his brave deeds against Serbian militias.
Fast forward a dozen years and the "Little Redeemer" - now a hitman for hire - goes to Norway and kills a young member of the Norwegian Salvation Army. He soon discovers he murdered the wrong guy and pursues the real target. Enter Harry Hole and his team of detectives who try to catch the killer.
Much happens along the way: the killer repeatedly escapes and hides; Hole travels to Croatia; a cop is stabbed; a woman is horribly murdered; another girl is raped, and much more.
The book has a wide array of well-written, memorable characters who interact in a variety of ways.
Jo Nesbo loves misdirection and unexpected twists and he outdoes himself here. The book is chock full of surprises. This is a complex,engaging story. A good mystery thriller.

Just getting into The Paying Guests

Malina wrote: "Just getting into The Paying Guests"

I LOVED that book. Absolutely. She is one of my all-time favorite authors. When you finish that one, read her The Little Stranger.

Nancy wrote: "Malina wrote: "Just getting into The Paying Guests"

I LOVED that book. Absolutely. She is one of my all-time favorite authors. When you finish..."

Thanks Nancy! Now that I read the excerpt, I think I may have read it a while back, I'm terrible for not remembering books I've read before, I'll need to revisit. I did read Fingersmith and enjoyed it.

Barbara wrote: "I finished The Redeemer by Jo Nesbø. As the story opens, it's 1991 and the young daughter of an officer in Norway's Salvation Army is raped. During that same year a ..."

Although I liked this book, it is my least favorite of the series. I have jumped off the Scandinavian crime bandwagon for now, but I will still read anything by Jo Nesbo.

I am back to C.J. Lyons Fight Dirty and her first Heart and Drake thriller Nerves of Steel.

Fight Dirty brings three characters we met in C.J.'s The Lucy Guardino FBI Thrillers. Jenna, the Postal inspector assigned to Lucy's task force who along with Lucy went after a serial killer in Blood Stained. In this book we also meet Morgan the 14 year old sociopath daughter of the serial killer who almost killed Jenna.
We also meet up again with Andre, an Afghanistan war veteran suffering from PTSD after being burned that we met in Hard Fall.
Jenna and Andre have come together both as a couple and to start their own PI business. Unfortunately for Jenna, the sociopath Morgan has decided to use her as a study to learn "NORMAL". This book is one you will either love or hate and as I read it I can see why. The Character Jenna seems to be more damaged then the sociopath Morgan, at least Morgan accepts who and what she is and is determined to fit in with societ although for her own self preservation where the character Jenna is a portrait of a selfish, self serving, spoiled rich girl with a habit of blaming others for her short comings. But Jenna is holding secrets.

Nerves of Steel is my first Medical/Detective story in C.J. Lyons Heart and Drake series and the fist that I have read. So far I am enjoying the mystery and the characters

Just finished by Clive Cussler

I just started Presumed Innocent. My professor recommended it to me, and so far it's great!

Nancy wrote: "Malina wrote: "Just getting into The Paying Guests"

I LOVED that book. Absolutely. She is one of my all-time favorite authors. When you finish..."

I got the book as soon as it came out but just haven't gotten around to it. If it's as good as her previous books I'm sure I will love it.

I finally started series.

About halfway reading Havana Bay by Martin Cruz Smith. I might have read it before but don't care because the writing's that good.

Just started

Poirot Investigates by Agatha Christie

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Audio

A collection of short stories featuring the great deductive powers of Hercule Poirot and his off-sider Captain Hastings.
They were lacking the depth found in the full length novels, but were fine for an easy listen walking to and from work.



View all my reviews

I finished Bonefire of the Vanities by Carolyn Haines. Wealthy Marjorie Littlefield is haunted by the death of her daughter Mariam years ago. She thinks her son Chasley may have drowned his sister. So Marjorie plans to leave her fortune to her cat.
Desperate to find out how Mariam died Marjorie has fallen under the influence of the Westins, a mother-daughter duo who hold seances to contact the dead.
Private detectives Sarah Booth and Tinkie are hired to protect Marjorie from being fleeced at the Westins retreat. The detectives pose as maids to get in and soon after they arrive people start to die and disappear.
I was disappointed with this 12th book in the series. The characters are 2-dimensional, the motives for the crimes are murky, the solution is unlikely, and the ending strains credulity.
One mildly amusing touch is Sarah Booth's personal 'haint'(ghost) Jitty - who impersonates a variety of detectives from books and movies.
I've read several books in this series that were pretty good, but this isn't one of them.

Bobby wrote: "I just started Presumed Innocent. My professor recommended it to me, and so far it's great!"

Very good book; the movie is okay too.

I was reading what a stupid book, I could have written it and I can't write. I only made it to page 143, I didn't even care how it ended. I have the next book in the series I won't even bother to read it. They are both removed from my Kindle

Barbara wrote: "Bobby wrote: "I just started Presumed Innocent. My professor recommended it to me, and so far it's great!"

Very good book; the movie is okay too."

I read the book years ago I thought it was excellent. The movie was ok. Had I realized that I had read the book before I saw the movie I probably would not have gone, but I do love Harrison Ford.

Here's another book I've finished in my quest to read works by obscure British women authors: Masked Murder, by Marjorie Alan. Who is Marjorie Alan, you might ask? Well, good question. She wrote eight books, but pretty much nothing is known about her. Definitely fits the obscure bill.

I just finished No Safe House by Linwood Barclay . I thought it was excellent. And I like the fact that I didn't have to read the first one No Time For Goodbye. No Safe House stands well on its own, but mentions the fact that their relationships developed from a past experience (No Time For Goodbye). Thoroughly enjoyed this book and will now be reading No Time For Goodbye. Anyone else a Linwood Barclay fan?

Dee wrote: "I just finished No Safe House by Linwood Barclay . I thought it was excellent. And I like the fact that I didn't have to read the first one No Time For Goodbye. No..."

I'm reading this book now. Glad you liked it Dee.

I finished The Falls by Ian Rankin on the weekend. One of my favourite Rebus mysteries, and I've enjoyed the whole series thus far. This was a nice, complete, well-paced, well-charactered, interesting mystery and overall story. Loved it, it showed such maturity and story - telling ability from Rankin. A real 5-star read. I'm now working on the next in the series, Resurrection Men.

I just finished and started

Victor is an assassin at the top of his game. After an all too simple job in Paris, a hit-squad is sent to kill Victor but the only man who knows where he is, sent him to Paris in the first place. Betrayed and out in the open, Victor has turned from the hunter into the hunted for the first time in his life. Running across Europe, he desperately tries to unravel the conspiracy against him, but how high does the rot go? Will he manage to survive long enough to piece together the big picture? Time will tell...

This has to be one of the fastest paced books I have read, in fact one of the best books I have ever read, full stop.

Victor is Bourne, Reacher, Bond on Speed!

This books is superbly written, with really great action, fantastic characters, strong plot and twists, great hints of humour between female character and Victor.

I couldn't put it down and the end of the book had me gasping for breath to see who was going to survive, with so many powerful characters, with great international settings, from France, UK, USA, Russia, Cyprus just great international plot.

This author has become one of my favourites after only reading two of his books.

Love, love this book..Highly recommended.

I am just starting Redheads, It is described as a mystery/horror/CSI themed read. Looking forward to getting into it.

Just finished Dark Place, and now I'm reading Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn.

An awesome Jewish murder mystery reviewed and absolutely liked Wedding Wipeout by Jacob M. Appel . No matter what the other reviewers say, I am all for the book and honestly hope another one to come out soon. Check out the book at

I got done reading Far Gone by Laura Griffin last week it was a very good read I like it alot

Also got this book Gone by James Patterson its part of his Michael Bennet series i like this one alot better then I, Michael Bennett now i am looking foward to his next book of the series which is called Burned

Now I will be reading these

I'm reading right now and am not loving it. I'm forcing myself through the book. I will finish tonight.

I'm currently reading PLAYING GOD (2006) by Kate Flora. This is her first book in the Homicide Detective Sgt. Joe Burgess series set in Portland, Maine. This author was recommended to me by a member of DorothyL. I really enjoy police procedurals and this book is a winner so far.

I just finished Rules Of Prey and I'm not a fan. The lead character was too flawed for my taste. I am starting Suspect today.

Finished Double Indemnity, by James M. Cain. Do not for one second think that if you've seen the movie, you should skip the book.

I just finished 'Funeral in Blue,' book 12 in Anne Perry's William Monk series. It was ok (3 stars), but not the best that I have read in this series. But, I do enjoy William and Hester Monk, as well as Oliver Rathbone, who wasn't in this book.

Next up is 'Suspect' by Robert Crais, which is one of the BOM selections. This is my first book by this author, but as a dog lover, I'm looking forward to this book, especially as I hear the dog doesn't die but is available for a sequel.

I finished The Dead Room by Robert Ellis last night and I thought it was really good. And, it was free on Amazon so that makes it even better. My first by Ellis but I would definitely read more.

I've two mysteries on the go, an ongoing favourite series (Rebus) with Resurrection Men by Ian Rankin and one that I just started (I was downtown picking up the missus and realized I hadn't brought a book to read to wile away the time while I waited for her), Confined Space by Deryn Collier, the first Bern Fortin mystery.

Sorry been AWOL, hardly read since I finished . So today I started and finished - James Patterson which I think he is getting back to usual self. Now I need to read - James Patterson to carry on the story.

Nancy wrote: "Finished Double Indemnity, by James M. Cain. Do not for one second think that if you've seen the movie, you should skip the book."

Nancy, don't you often find that to be true? A few months ago I read the Big Sleep (love the movie) but my gosh the book is better and makes much more sense. I often wonder why they make movies from books (in the 1940's) that have to be changed because they would not have been appropriate for the viewing audience.

Nancy wrote: "Here's another book I've finished in my quest to read works by obscure British women authors: Masked Murder, by Marjorie Alan. Who is Marjorie Alan, you might ask? Well, good questi..."

Well, here's a link to a French biography, I have no translator though
http://fr.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marjor...
I came across it when tracking Down some books

Arlene wrote: "Just started"

I've so much enjoyed this series, hope you stick with it

Bec wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Here's another book I've finished in my quest to read works by obscure British women authors: Masked Murder, by Marjorie Alan. Who is Marjorie Alan, you might ask? Wel..."

Merci millefois! I can read French so I'm happy. Thank you so incredibly much! I'm actually very touched by your thoughtfulness.

Arlene wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Finished Double Indemnity, by James M. Cain. Do not for one second think that if you've seen the movie, you should skip the book."

Nancy, don't you often find that to b..."

I do find it to be true. For example, Geoffrey Homes' novel Build My Gallows High was redone by the author (whose real name is Daniel Mainwaring) as a movie script/screenplay. The movie was "Out of the Past," starring Robert Mitchum. Lots of things had changed between page and screen, enough so that it boggled my head as to why.

Arlene wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Finished Double Indemnity, by James M. Cain. Do not for one second think that if you've seen the movie, you should skip the book."

Nancy, don't you often find that to b..."

I felt the same way about The Big Sleep as well, btw.

Bec wrote: "Arlene wrote: "Just started"

I've so much enjoyed this series, hope you stick with it"

Hi Bec, I plan to I have enjoyed the first two.

Nancy wrote: "Bec wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Here's another book I've finished in my quest to read works by obscure British women authors: Masked Murder, by Marjorie Alan. Who is Marjorie Alan, you mi..."

You are welcome

Just started

Arlene wrote: "Just started "

Someday .....

I finished No Safe House by Linwood Barclay. The Archers - dad Terry, mom Cynthia, and teen daughter Grace - had a serious personal trauma so Cynthia is over-protective of her daughter. Thus rebellious Grace dates a delinquent and breaks into a house to 'borrow' a car. Coincidentally someone else has also broken into the house, a gun goes off and things go belly up.
To protect Grace from the cops the Archers need help from an old acquaintance - known criminal Vince - who has been using 'respectable' houses to hide loot from his criminal enterprises. At the same time another set of killers has become interested in these houses - looking for a specific mysterious object. This all leads to a complicated plot in which Vince needs to recover all the loot from the safe houses before the police or the rival killers get to it. Terry becomes unwillingly caught up in these plans.
There's a complicated relationship between the characters that overshadows their interactions: Vince was injured years ago when he was helping the Archers, which he still resents; Grace's boyfriend is the son of a thug in Vince's gang, and so on.
The story is a somewhat suspenseful page-turner but most of the characters are not likable and the plot strains credulity. Just a so-so thriller.

Nancy wrote: "Arlene wrote: "Just started "

Someday ....."

Nancy wrote: "Arlene wrote: "Just started "

Someday ....."

I just downloaded it from the library. I love love love this movie so I really wanted to read the book.

Have now finished NYPD Red 2 - James Patterson which I thought had me guessing in the first 25% of the book. Then I get to 75% and BANG it threw me off course and I was like "I NEVER SAW THAT COMING". So I am now going to read A Touch of Lilly - Nina Pierce for a slightly steamy kinda book (avert your eyes now if you don't like or do Erotica kind of books lol).