The Mystery, Crime, and Thriller Group discussion

I don't usually write long winded reviews. But I feel A Fool’s Circle by Suzanne Seddon definitely warrants one!
I read a lot of the authors background, before tackling this book from a blog tour. Which is really interesting to say the least.
Seddon Grew up around domestic violence and mental abuse, which she has remarkably captured in it's most shocking form, in this debut psychological thriller!
The characters are well developed and the language is totally unforgiving. 'But domestic violence isn't pretty, right?' and I wasn't in the slightest put off by the swearing.
Seddon brings this to the forefront in such a raw form. That you can't help but wonder, how much of this actually took place in her own life?
After reading about the author Seddon states that part of this book was taken from some of her own personal experiences. But reluctant to say which parts?
The main character Kate Saunders will take you on an emotional roller-coaster that most times had me on the edge of my seat and surely left me wanting more!
( write another book Suzanne Seddon ) I have read many Martina Cole books and I couldn't help but compare Seddon to her at her best!
For those of you that like a good solid psychological thriller with plenty of twists and turns along the way, with obviously an element of truth involved. Then look no further, this book is for you.
A very easy 5 stars from me! I enjoyed every minute of it. ( highly recommended)

Barbara wrote: "I like his Bernie Rhodenbarr books. So clever and funny. 😊 "

I will have to try them someday, I have only tried his hitman Keller series besides Scudder, that one was not as engaging as Scudder books.

Before I Go to Sleep by S.J. Watson


Because of traumatic amnesia Christine loses all her memories every night and wakes up bewildered about who she is....so her husband Ben has to tell her. When a new doctor starts to help Christine things take an unexpected turn. Interesting premise. 3 stars

My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Alafair Burke does write a good mystery! I certainly enjoyed The Wife's ordeal a lot more than she did.
Link to my review

Sandra wrote: "I don't usually write long winded reviews. But I feel A Fool’s Circle by Suzanne Seddon definitely warrants one!
I read a lot of the authors background, before tackling this book from a blog tour...."

You've certainly piqued my interest -- thank you. Now on my TBR list.

I have started reading Dark Pines by Will Dean. Only a few chapters in, it is one of those books that has already got me engaged. It is unusual in being set in Sweden but by a British author, one who has made his home in a remote Swedish forest. His personal experience of life in the woods comes through in his writing. I had the good fortune to meet Will Dean at a crime festival in March 2019; he is very engaging, and comes highly recommended by many of his fellow authors.

Restarted Gods of Guilt by Michael Connelly. Should finish this time.

Started reading Innocent Graves by Peter Robinson

Finished The Van Apfel Girls Are Gone

My Review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Finished reading , No Man's Land

by , David Baldacci

My Review

The Corpse on the Court by Simon Brett

In this 'Fethering Mystery' amateur sleuths Carole and Jude investigate separate murders....and Jude learns a lot about 'real tennis.' Fun cozy. 3 stars

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Recently finished two great books:

Redemption by David Baldacci, the fifth book in the Amos Decker (Memory Man) series and
The Fiend by Margaret Millar. Both were excellent reads.

Sorry, I'd be happy to put the books and their authors as hyperlinks, but I've forgotten how to do so. Ouch!

Addendum: Emma was kind enough to walk me through the process of adding the links. : )

I just finished a dark murder mystery set in Nuuk, Greenland, Girl Without Skin
My review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I finished my 42nd book

Shannon that’s a lot of books that you read lol

Christine wrote: "I finished my 42nd book" 👍

The Dog Who Knew Too Much by Spencer Quinn

Chet the dog narrates this mystery in which his partner Bernie ( in the 'Little Detective Agency' ) gets arrested. Entertaining humorous mystery. 3 stars

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Sorry, I'd be h..."
super easy Deb, click on the words add book/author on top of message box, then enter the words to search, click on Add when you have found the book. Before clicking on ADD, you can change the option at the very end of that ADD window, to have it display as hyperlink, or as cover. I may be wrong, I think you need to do it twice to display both as a cover and as a hyperlink

Currently reading The Night Before. loving it! Great author, I have already read 2 other books by her

Doing some fluff reading right now. Dead in the Water, by Stuart Woods, a Stone Barrington novel.

Stone Barrington is an ex-cop turned lawyer and all of his cases are very high end. Highly entertaining reading, but, not for the serious minded reader. But, for light reading? This comes recommended.

Emma wrote: "Sorry, I'd be h..."
super easy Deb, click on the words add book/author on top of message box, then enter the words to search, click on Add when you have found the book. Before clicking on ADD, you ..."

Thank you, Emma! I'll give it a go. : )

I had an entire day of uninterrupted reading time and just finished The Wolf and the Watchman, by Niklas Nacht Och Dag, a Scandinavian writer. Absolutely amazing. Not at all any kind of average crime novel, much more on the literary side of historical crime writing.

Sorry, a rant.

I am missing something here. Some books are described as fluff. Others are not for the serious minded. I do not understand why those interested in reading serious books would be reading mysteries and thrillers in the first place? Has the world run out of writers who write high-minded books without having to disguise them as genre fiction? Do readers feel guilty when the result of reading is only pleasure? Is noir a more realistic and therefore a more praiseworthy pursuit? And serial killers? Or damaged detectives?

After all, books which have their premises in murder and mayhem do not paint a rosy picture of human nature. As one knows frm Agatha Christie, anybody can be a murderer.

Bicky wrote: "Sorry, a rant.

I am missing something here. Some books are described as fluff. Others are not for the serious minded. I do not understand why those interested in reading serious books would be rea..."

I can only speak for myself here, but I prefer my crime novels more on the literary side, the ones that hone in on human nature and have more going on under the surface. Hence my love of noir. I read more less-serious books when I want a break from that sort of thing. That applies across genre for me.

And "high-minded?" Are you saying that because people enjoy more literary fiction that they shouldn't also enjoy a nice, juicy puzzler of a mystery novel?

Everyone reads and enjoys what they read and enjoy. It's that simple.

Nancy wrote: "
Everyone reads and enjoys what they read and enjoy. It's that simple"

I agree.

Love the idea of that they "hone" in. Sharpening their weapons, I guess.

I forgot this too, Deb, and am too pressed for time to look it up...and then when I have time I never remember!

Deb wrote: "Recently finished two great books:

Redemption by David Baldacci, the fifth book in the Amos Decker (Memory Man) series and
The Fiend by Margaret Millar. Both were ex..."

Just finished, "Burn Town," by Jennifer McMahon which I really enjoyed (but have yet to review here on Goodreads). Am currently reading Sarah Rayne's book, "The Silence" which is the third in a series of ghostly stories set in the UK.

When I think of “fluff”, I think of books that are relaxing, or less serious. For mystery, these would be any of the Janet Evanovich books; and themed book/cozy series such as Joanne Fluke’s Hannah Swensen (baking), Rita Mae Brown’s Mrs. Murphy (cat), and Maggie Sefton (knitting).

These are wonderfully written and entertaining (usually).

The Psychology of Time Travel by Kate Mascarenhas

This is a science fiction-mystery.
After four brilliant women invent time travel, a whole culture develops around the phenomenon. When a murder occurs, some people before and after the crime (chronologically) become intent on investigating.
Very complex plot but it's a good story. 4 stars

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

J.P. wrote: "I forgot this too, Deb, and am too pressed for time to look it up...and then when I have time I never remember!

Deb wrote: "Recently finished two great books:

Redemption by David..."

These are the instructions Emma was kind enough to provide: "Click on the words add book/author on top of message box, then enter the words to search, click on Add when you have found the book. Before clicking on ADD, you can change the option at the very end of that ADD window, to have it display as hyperlink, or as cover. I may be wrong, I think you need to do it twice to display both as a cover and as a hyperlink"

Trust No One by Paul Cleave

A mystery writer with early onset Alzheimer's confuses the plots in his novels with his real life.....just when a real killer is on the loose. Good story. 3.5 stars

My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Her Nightly Embrace by Adi Tantimedh


This book is really a collection of novellas, all featuring Ravi Singh, an Indian-British PI in London. Some interesting plot ideas, but not written at a high level. What with all the great mysteries yet unread, this book is not recommended.

I am currently reading three books... yes but there’s one book which I feel is soo good I just don’t want to finish it just yet. So the Great Passage by Shion Miura and Guy Gavriel Kay’s The Last Light of The Sun as well as his Children of earth and sky novel... there are just too many books for me to choose from ☺️ I am happy

Fnished The Perfect Alibi

My Review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I finished my 43rd book

I finished Cross Bones by Kathy Reichs this morning. One of the better Temperance Brennan books I've read so far.. My review below

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Now I'm starting Natchez Burning by Greg Iles.

I finished The Deadly Cotton Heart
My review, 4 stars for an overlooked hard boiled mystery writer. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

finished gods of guilt

My review of Beautiful Bad by Annie Ward:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Christine wrote: "I finished my 43rd book"

Doing good. 👍

Night Terrors by Dennis Palumbo

In this 3rd book in the 'Daniel Rinaldi' series, the psychologist put his life in danger when he pursues a murderer. The book can be read as a standalone. Good thriller with LOTS of action. 3 stars

My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Zoe wrote: "I am currently reading three books... yes but there’s one book which I feel is soo good I just don’t want to finish it just yet. So the Great Passage by Shion Miura and Guy Gavriel Kay’s The Last L..."

Sounds like a wonderful non-problem to have, Zoe. ENJOY!

I just loved these early adventures of the exuberant child (who grew up to become the dashing Sir Robert Carey in his mystery series) in a couple of wonderful introductory works (free!) by P.F. Chisholm aka Patricia Finney.
A Pest of a Boy and A Boy in Trouble.

4.5★ Link to my review of A Pest of a Boy

5★ Link to my review of A Boy in Trouble

Finished The American Agent yesterday.

Just finished

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Currently reading

I finished my 44th book

Started Redemption by Baldacci

Bicky wrote: "Nancy wrote: "
Everyone reads and enjoys what they read and enjoy. It's that simple"

I agree."

Count me in. I also like mystery fiction with a literary feel. Of course I can sink myself into a cheap thriller too. It's just two different kinds of fun.

Aww thanks Barbara