The Mystery, Crime, and Thriller Group discussion

This is a place to discuss police and detective procedural books.

I just finished Snapshot by Garry Disher. This is the 3rd in the Hal Challis series and it continues to be a solid police procedural. I do enjoy the setting in southern Australia and I am really getting to know the main characters so not only was the "solving the crime" part good but the continuing character stories were interesting as well.

Sounds really good, Donna. What's the first one called?

Hi Hayes, The first is The Dragon Man and the second is Kittyhawk Down.

Do you think we should start separate topics when a new series/author is being discussed? That way people can see recent conversations without going through long general threads? Maybe Kandice and Fiona have some guidence on this?

Donna, as long as you try to get it in the folder that fits, you can start a thread on any book you like. If it's a series, it would be better to do a thread on the entire series, as opposed to each installment, otherwise...have at it:)!

Definitely Henning Mankell's Kurt Wallander books fit the bill here. Wallander is an interesting and introspective detective. Most of them have been translated to English from his native Swedish, and are well worth the time to read.

Over the weekend I read an interesting book, Siren of the Waters by Michael Genelin. This is the first in a new series set in Brataslavia, Slovakia. The main character, Jana Martinova, is a Commander in the Slovak Criminal Police but she began her career in the Czechoslovakian police force under Russian control. It was a good complex mystery with some unusual twists and turns and the background history on Jana and Czechoslovakia was very interesting. I am looking forward to more books in this series.

Donna wrote: "Over the weekend I read an interesting book, Siren of the Waters by Michael Genelin. This is the first in a new series set in Brataslavia, Slovakia. The main character, Jana Martinov..."
Definitely one I'll end up buying. The synopsis sounds excellent. Thanks.

Hi Pontalba, I visited Bratislava, Prague, Vienna, and Brno a few years ago and I think the author captured the atmosphere of modern Slovakia/Czech Republic well. I hope he will continue with more information about these interesting countries - and more good mysteries - in the rest of the series.

Donna, I just bought a second hand hardback from Amazon of it, and I noticed there is in fact a second one out. Dark Dreams. :)

I;m glad to know the atmosphere is in line with reality, thanks.

Donna wrote: "Over the weekend I read an interesting book, Siren of the Waters by Michael Genelin. This is the first in a new series set in Brataslavia, Slovakia. The main character, Jana Martinov..."

Sounds intersting. Will try and get hold of a copy of the book.Never read stories from this part of the world.

Pontalba wrote: "Definitely Henning Mankell's Kurt Wallander books fit the bill here. Wallander is an interesting and introspective detective. Most of them have been translated to English from his ..."

Agree with you. Mankell's books give you an idea of how the police function.His books are very realistic and interesting too.

Has anyone read the books by Louise Penny? I am considering buying them if they are worth reading

Hi Anne, I read the first one, Still Life and did enjoy it. It was for an in person book group and if I remember correctly most in the group liked it.

I just finished This Night's Foul Work by Fred Vargas and I really enjoyed this book. Complex mystery and very interesting and eccentric characters. Unfortunately this was the most recent book in the series and the most recent book translated from French and I missed some of the backstory so now I am looking for others in this series. Anyone read any of the earlier ones?

I really liked the Louise Penny books. I've read all 4 of them and am just waiting for the softcover version of #5.

Just finished Dismissed With Prejudice by JA Jance. It was a little slower to get moving than some of her previous books in the Beaumont series, but once it did, it was quick and interesting and overall well worth reading.