The Mystery, Crime, and Thriller Group discussion

Fiona (Titch) wrote: "Sorry been AWOL, hardly read since I finished . So today I started and finished - James Patterson which I think ..."

Fiona, I liked the second NYPD Red even better than the first one, which was really good.

I finished Vertigo 42 by Martha Grimes. Twenty-two years ago - at a children's party at the home of Tess Williamson - young Hilda Palmer was found dead at the bottom of a pool. No charges were filed but Hilda's mother held Tess responsible. Five years later Tess was found dead at the the bottom of a staircase; the general consensus was that her vertigo resulted in a fall.

In the present day, Tess's husband Tom asks Detective Richard Jury to look into his wife's death. Meanwhile, recent deaths come to Jury's attention: a beautiful well-dressed blonde dies of a 'fall' from a tower; and an unidentified man who was looking for a lost dog is found shot.

During their investigations, Jury and his tea-loving assistant Sergeant Wiggins discover possible links behind the recent deaths and those of Hilda and Tess.

The movie "Vertigo" and the books "A Passage to India" and "Tess of the d'Urbervilles" pop into Jury's mind as he investigates, which seem to provide him with clues to the crimes.

The plot meanders and the resolution of the cases seems unlikely but it's fun to visit with the familiar, well-liked characters in the series. An okay book to pass some time.

Have finished the amazing and sexual A Touch of Lilly - Nina Pierce. Found it boring at the start, but carried on and it got better. Now I can't decide between Fall of Night - Rachel Caine or Tick Tock - James Patterson. 1 is a Vampire series to finish off bar 1 more afterwards and the other is another JP with Michael Bennett as the hero.

Kathryn wrote: "Fiona (Titch) wrote: "Sorry been AWOL, hardly read since I finished . So today I started and finished - [author:James Patterso..."

Can you wait for March/April 2015 for book 3 lol x

Barbara wrote: "I finished Vertigo 42 by Martha Grimes. Twenty-two years ago - at a children's party at the home of Tess Williamson - young Hilda Palmer was found dead at the bottom ..."
I haven't read a Jury book in a long time. Wow, I'm glad to know he's still around. I'll have to pick that one up to see if Grimes has stopped his aging. I remember that for a while he was having memories of being a young child during the blitz - he mother died in it. That would put him past mandatory retirement age for the yard, I would think.I always wondered how she would handle that.

I finished Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger. The narrator of this story is Frank Drum, 13, who lives in a Minnesota town with his family: brother Jake, who stutters; sister Ariel, a talented muscian; father Nathan, a pastor; and mother Ruth, choir director. The Drums are an average family with loving parents and nice children.
The book - structured as a mystery - is really about death and faith. A schoolmate of the Drum brothers is killed by a train and soon afterwords the brothers find a dead hobo in the same spot. This gets the boys thinking about death, God, and heaven.
Soon afterwards the Drums experiences a personal tragedy that rocks their world and tests the faith of some family members.
As authorities investigate the tragedy, Frank - determined to be informed - snoops around with Jake tagging along. Thus the brothers discover things they shouldn't know, talk too much, and do some damage themselves.
The book is filled with interesting characters and the mystery is resolved in a believable fashion. In the end the characters' faith is restored by a small, touching 'miracle'. Overall a good story with a satisfying mystery and a touch of faith that's not overly preachy.

Didn't Marshall Karp co-author NYPD RED? Karp's Lomax & Biggs detective series (The Rabbit Factory is the first)are great reads.

Right Now I am reading Turning Angel by Greg Iles First book i ever read from him my aunt is a big fan of his writing and she gave me this book last year I finally broke down and started to read and so far I am hook I am loving all the people in the book. Cant wait to see what happen at the end of the book!

After I get done with that book I'll be starting on theses
Judgment Calls by Alafair Burke
Ice by Linda Howard
Darkness, My Old Friend by Lisa Unger
Chosen Prey by John Sandford
King and Maxwell by David Baldacci

Finished last might back to Crime and Punishment.

Still reading Blood Meridian, or the Evening Redness in the West, by Cormac McCarthy, with just over 100 pages left. This is by far one of the best novels I've read in my lifetime, although I must say you need a very strong stomach to read it. I'm taking my time with it but hope to finish by Monday or Tuesday.

Arlene wrote: "Finished last might back to Crime and Punishment."

How did you like it, Arlene?

Fiona (Titch) wrote: "Kathryn wrote: "Fiona (Titch) wrote: "Sorry been AWOL, hardly read since I finished . So today I started and finished - [autho..."

I've got in my wish list waiting for a sale to preorder.

Shannon wrote: "Right Now I am reading Turning Angel by Greg Iles First book i ever read from him my aunt is a big fan of his writing and she gave me this book last year I finally broke..."

King and Maxwell was one of my favorites this year, Shannon.

I just finished I really liked it!

Dominique wrote: "I just finished I really liked it!"

This is one of my favorite Crais books :)

Barbara wrote: "Dominique wrote: "I just finished I really liked it!"

This is one of my favorite Crais books :)"

Any other books from him that was good?

Dominique wrote: "Barbara wrote: "Dominique wrote: "I just finished I really liked it!"

This is one of my favorite Crais books :)"

Any other books from him that was good?"

Dominique, I've read a bunch of his books, which I mostly gave 3 stars. There are a few I gave 4 stars (which is a high rating for me). They are:

Sunset Express
Chasing Darkness
Indigo Slam

Barbara wrote: "Dominique wrote: "Barbara wrote: "Dominique wrote: "I just finished I really liked it!"

This is one of my favorite Crais books :)"

Any other books from him that was g..."

Thanks, I will chack them out

Nancy wrote: "Arlene wrote: "Finished last might back to Crime and Punishment."

How did you like it, Arlene?"

Hi Nancy, I loved it. It turns out that the movie was pretty close to the book. Of course you get more detail in the book. It made you think, it was really well written and it was entertaining (the charters were really well written). Next will be the Painted Veil.

Arlene wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Arlene wrote: "Finished last might back to Crime and Punishment."

How did you like it, Arlene?"

Hi Nancy, I loved it. It turns out that the movie ..."

I LOVED The Painted Veil.

Nancy wrote: "Arlene wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Arlene wrote: "Finished last might back to Crime and Punishment."

How did you like it, Arlene?"

Hi Nancy, I loved it. It turns out ..."

Good, then I'm really looking forward to it. Have you read

Arlene wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Arlene wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Arlene wrote: "Finished last might back to Crime and Punishment."

How did you like it, Arlene?"

Hi Nancy, I loved it...."

No, not yet. I'm planning on getting to his The Magician in 2015; I've got Of Human Bondage somewhere in my tbr mountain range. The movie of The Painted Veil is not nearly as good as the book.

Nancy wrote: "Arlene wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Arlene wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Arlene wrote: "Finished last might back to Crime and Punishment."

How did you like it, Arlene?"

Hi Nan..."

Thanks, that's good to know. I liked Of Human Bondage (actually alot) but I must confess I did skip several pages of the painting and art discussions. Please let me know if you like The Magician.

Arlene wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Arlene wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Arlene wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Arlene wrote: "Finished last might back to Crime and Punishment."

How did you like it, Ar..."

Will do. I just have to find it first!

Nancy wrote: "Arlene wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Arlene wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Arlene wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Arlene wrote: "Finished last night back to Crime and Punishment."

How did ..."

LOL , have a great weekend!

A Fatal Thaw by Dana Stabenow

Shannon wrote: "Right Now I am reading Turning Angel by Greg Iles First book i ever read from him my aunt is a big fan of his writing and she gave me this book last year I finally broke..."

Haven't read Turning Angel (I will eventually do so based on your post) but I found 24 Hours by GI to be one of the more memorable books.

The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith

Just started reading

Mara wrote: "The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith"

Hello Mara, I just bought that book please let me know what you think about it.

I just started an impulse read from the library - 'The Devil Takes Half' by Leta Serafim. It's the first in 'A Greek Islands Mystery' series. Too soon to tell what I think.

Barbara wrote: " A Fatal Thaw by Dana Stabenow"

I really enjoy this series. I've read 3 or 4 of them in the Kate Shugark (sp)
series. I've also read one with the male main character. My first read was on a trip to Alaska to get a feel for the state. These stories have such great information on the culture of the Alaskan native Americans, the weather, the geography, and the daily life of Alaskans. Combine this with a crime to be solved and Dana Stabenow gives you a great read.

My wife and I have been reading Stabenow since 1996, after a trip to Alaska in 1995. We also read Sue Henry's books

Dominique wrote: "Barbara wrote: "Dominique wrote: "I just finished I really liked it!"

This is one of my favorite Crais books :)"

Any other books from him that was good?"

The Two Minute Rule was very good, also.

Kathryn wrote: "Dominique wrote: "Barbara wrote: "Dominique wrote: "I just finished I really liked it!"

This is one of my favorite Crais books :)"

Any other books from him that was g..."

Thanks, I will check this one out.

Death Angel by Linda Fairstein

Dominique wrote: "Kathryn wrote: "Dominique wrote: "Barbara wrote: "Dominique wrote: "I just finished I really liked it!"

This is one of my favorite Crais books :)"

Any other books fro..."

Another really good one, Dominique, is Demolition Angel. I loved it!

Kathryn wrote: "Dominique wrote: "Kathryn wrote: "Dominique wrote: "Barbara wrote: "Dominique wrote: "I just finished I really liked it!"

This is one of my favorite Crais books :)"

A..."

Thanks, My TBR is going to grow with his author

Carol wrote: "Barbara wrote: " A Fatal Thaw by Dana Stabenow"

I really enjoy this series. I've read 3 or 4 of them in the Kate Shugark (sp)
serie..."

I agree. Stabenow's books give the reader a real feel for the landscape and ambiance of Alaska.

I finished Death Angel by Linda Fairstein. A homeless girl, dubbed "Angel", is found dead in Central Park and the trio of Assistant DA Alex Cooper, Detective Mike Chapman, and Detective Mercer Wallace investigate. Though these familiar characters in the series are fun to visit with, the book is not a success.
Fairstein's novels always involve murder at iconic NYC locations and the reader gets a dose of the architecture and history of the site(s) along with an interesting investigation. Not in this book. Most of the book is devoted to the geography, history, structure, and uses of Central Park and a small part to a disjointed, sprawling, almost incomprehensible mystery.
Angel's death somehow leads investigators to the Dakota, a ritzy apartment building near Central Park. The resident Dalton family experienced a tragedy in the past, the disappearance of a 3-year-old child. Meanwhile,in the present, as Angel's killer is being sought a rapist is attacking women and another death occurs. Are these events all connected somehow?
To top it all off, Mike Chapman is in trouble because he had an affair with - and dumped - a crazy lady judge who wants revenge. Other characters in the story include an elderly Dalton, Dalton family servants, homeless people, mental patients, and more.
Eventually, Angel's killer is uncovered in a resolution that seems almost disconnected from the rest of the story. Moreover, some plot points seem to go unresolved - but by the end I didn't care. If this book was billed as a story about Central Park it would be a success. If you're looking for a good mystery, skip this book.

Thanks for the review. I have never read any of her books. How are the others? I am currently reading
Worst Case by James Patterson and I am finding it to be too formula based--like many of his co-author books. This was lent to me by s-i-l, who thinks that he is a genius. He certainly knows how to make money.
I read a NY Times interview article where he explained his co-author formula. He writes a book outline and then gives it to the co author to write the book. I sent the article link to s-i-l who then told me that he was a genius.

Thomas wrote: "Thanks for the review. I have never read any of her books. How are the others? I am currently reading
Worst Case by James Patterson and I am finding it to be ..."

I read one James Patterson book (which I did not finish) his description of one of the charters "a man mountain" I can't read crap like that. Now Richard North Patterson...that is a real author!!

I'm reading . It was given to me whilst convalescing & i almost threw it immediately in the recycle bin. The story would be a lot better, were it not for Kay's constant preoccupation will her personal life. Readable, but basically more mindless pap from this writer.

Thomas wrote: "Thanks for the review. I have never read any of her books. How are the others? I am currently reading
Worst Case by James Patterson and I am finding it to be ..."

@Thomas; I've read several Linda Fairstein books and most of them are pretty good.

I haven't read much James Patterson so I don't have an opinion about the quality of his books; I do think, though authors should write their own books. Seems like cheating if they don't.

A spell bounded psychological thriller which will keep you guessing till the very end its simple splendid. Check out my review at Songs of the Maniacs

A brilliant murder mystery with a hint of romance in it
Mystery romance lovers must try it. Check out my review at Amazon Burning

I finished A Fatal Thaw by Dana Stabenow. PI Kate Shugak lives on an isolated homestead in Alaska. One morning, a killer picks up his rifle, strolls through town, and shoots whoever he meets. Kate, warned that the murderer is coming her way, captures him with the help of her wolf/husky mix, Mutt.
Examination of the murder victims shows that one of them - beautiful Lisa Getty - was killed with a different rifle, by a different killer. Kate investigates. She learns that Lisa seduced almost all the men she met (married or not), grew marijuana, poached animals, and was generally a bad girl.
As Kate pursues Lisa's murderer we're treated to a peek at the culture of the Alaskan natives, including meals of moose stew, a potlatch - a sort of pot luck with native dancing, mountain climbing, driving snow machines rather than cars, etc. One can almost feel what it would be like to live in a frozen environment.
There are plenty of interesting characters but my favorite is the canine Mutt, who helps herself to hidden treats, understands English, has her own opinions - and lets them be known, and is absolutely loyal to Kate.
Kate's investigation leads to a dramatic climax on a mountain, and a satisfying ending. An enjoyable mystery with a fascinating setting.

Kathryn wrote: "Dominique wrote: "Kathryn wrote: "Dominique wrote: "Barbara wrote: "Dominique wrote: "I just finished I really liked it!"

This is one of my favorite Crais books :)"

A..."

Demolition Angel is excellent.

Barbara wrote: "Thomas wrote: "Thanks for the review. I have never read any of her books. How are the others? I am currently reading
Worst Case by James Patterson and I am fi..."

Thanks Barbara

Tay wrote: "Kathryn wrote: "Dominique wrote: "Kathryn wrote: "Dominique wrote: "Barbara wrote: "Dominique wrote: "I just finished I really liked it!"

This is one of my favorite Cr..."

Thanks will check it out!