The Mystery, Crime, and Thriller Group discussion

I am not a serial killer by dan wells

The Dirty Duck by Martha Grimes

This is Richard Jury #4, ok to read as a stand-alone. Jury and Plant try to stop a serial killer targeting American tourists in England. A fine effort though I felt it lacked a bit from previous efforts by Grimes.

I just started Recursion

Finished Meet Me at the Morgue by Ross Macdonald. Above avg old school noir. Rating - 3/5.

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

Aditya wrote: "Finished Meet Me at the Morgue by Ross Macdonald. Above avg old school noir. Rating - 3/5.

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

I've not tried any of his non-Archer books yet. I think I'll finish the Archer ones first though.

@Bill I try to read most authors chronologically if I can, so mixing his non series books with Archer ones. You are not missing out on much though, his first four non-Archer books are supposedly borderline unreadable, I tried the first two and the sentiment fits those.

murder on the qe2

Judgment Call by J.A. Jance

Sheriff Joanna Brady investigates the murder of her daughter's high school principal. The book can be read as a standalone. It's always fun to see the usual recurring characters. 3 stars

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

I finished my 57th book

I just finished Hidden Bodies, it’ll be interesting to see how the third book progresses from here.

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

Murdered in Argentina
My review. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Never Tell by Lisa Gardner

Detective D.D. Warrant has two deaths to look into - a recent killing and an 'accidental death' from 16 years ago. Good mystery with a lot going on. 3 stars

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

Never Tell by Lisa Gardner

Detective D.D. Warren has two deaths to look into - a recent killing and an 'accidental death' from 16 years ago. Good mystery with a lot going on. 3 stars

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

Barbara i’m a huge fan of Lisa Gardner

I've just read I'm Not Scared by Niccolò Ammaniti, told from the POV of a 9 year old, which had so much promise but I found the ending really disappointing!

Jimmy the Kid by Donald Westlake


Dortmunder #3. The gang tries it's hand at a kidnapping. It does not go exactly perfectly.

Araych wrote: "Jimmy the Kid by Donald Westlake


Dortmunder #3. The gang tries it's hand at a kidnapping. It does not go exactly perfectly."

It wouldn't be Dortmunder and friends if things went as planned, though, right? I'm just beginning Dortmunder #2 and looking forward to the criminals that might well be opposite to the Keystone Cops.

I started:


The Best American Mystery Stories 2017 edited by John Sandford

RJ wrote: "I started:


The Best American Mystery Stories 2017 edited by John Sandford"

I have got the noir version edited by the same guy (Otto Penzler), so let me know how the collection holds up.

Finished Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell. Competently written but very predictable psychological thriller. Rating - 3/5.

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

PS. Does anyone else gets irritated when all these psychological mysteries end up revealing its villain as a completely crazy psycho, the kind of which most of us would never know in real life, just seems to be taking the easy way out instead of providing a nuanced motivation behind the crime.

"Does anyone else gets irritated when all these psychological mysteries end up revealing its villain as a completely crazy psycho, the kind of which most of us would never know in real life, just seems to be taking the easy way out instead of providing a nuanced motivation behind the crime. "

I do.

Just finished Hearts of Sand by Jane Haddam-starting The Stone Circle by Elly Griffiths.

The Limpopo Academy of Private Detection by Alexander McCall Smith

In this 'No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agengy' mystery, Mma Ramotswe gets to meet her role model Clovis Anderson, who wrote the 'bible' of private detection. The book can be read as a standalone.

Very entertaining. One of the best books in the series. 5 stars

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

Macbeth by Jo Nesbo. Although an action-filled start, it has not yet grabbed me like previous Nesbo novels. But the reviews I have read said "just wait".

currently reading Red Sparrow

Pat wrote: "Macbeth by Jo Nesbo. Although an action-filled start, it has not yet grabbed me like previous Nesbo novels. But the reviews I have read said "just wait"."

I like this book. It's an interesting modernization of the play. 😊

Note red by James Patterson

Pat wrote: "Macbeth by Jo Nesbo. Although an action-filled start, it has not yet grabbed me like previous Nesbo novels. But the reviews I have read said "just wait"."

Don't look at it along the lines of a previous Nesbo novel. It was specifically written for the Hogarth Shakespeare series

http://hogarthshakespeare.com/

and as Barbara said, it is meant to be Macbeth in modern times. I think he did a fine job, actually. It's still Nesbo, but it's definitely Macbeth.

Finished reading , The Guilty

by , David Baldacci

My Review

Inspector of the Dead by David Morrell

In this 2nd book in the 'Thomas De Quincey' mystery series, the opium eater/detective is on the trail of a murderer who's threatened the Queen. The book can be read as a standalone.
Okay historical mystery. 3 stars

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

Just finished Rumpole A La Carte by John Mortimer. Another fun collection of Rumpole stories. My review

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

Starting July off with Stranger In Paradise, a Jesse Stone mystery by Robert B. Parker, and

The Lady in the Lake, a Philip Marlowe mystery by Raymond Chandler

Finished the first Constable Evans mystery Evans Above by Rhys Bowen. An enjoyable cozy for a little change of pace.

I finished my 58th book

Finished Murder at the New York World's Fair by Phoebe Atwood Taylor.

Started The Dime Museum Murders by Daniel Stashower. First in a series featuring Harry Houdini. Told in flashback by his brother.

Jan C wrote: "Finished Murder at the New York World's Fair by Phoebe Atwood Taylor.

Started The Dime Museum Murders by Daniel Stashower. First in a ser..."

the Stashower books are fun. I read them years and years ago.

Brutal retelling of The Iliad set in N. Ireland.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

finished The Killer Inside Me and i loved it so much i gave it 5 stars!!!

now reading Two Past Midnight: Secret Window, Secret Garden

Christine wrote: "I finished my 58th book"

Going strong Christine. 😊🌴🍄

Trinity by Louisa Hall

Not a mystery, but Oppenheimer (the father of the atomic bomb) was a mysterious man.

Seven fictional characters talk about Robert Oppenheimer, based on his real life. Interesting, but Oppie's personality doesn't become much clearer. 3 stars

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

Gone to Dust by Matt Goldman


Goldman and his hero, PI Nils Shapiro, are new to me. I love it when I run across a new author with new characters. Takes place present day, winter in Minneapolis. A murder, naturally, but covered up in a completely new way. Great plot, great characters, great snarky dialogue from our hero. Highly recommended.

Nancy wrote: "Jan C wrote: "Finished Murder at the New York World's Fair by Phoebe Atwood Taylor.

Started The Dime Museum Murders by Daniel Stashower. ..."

I only knew about his non-fiction books. So it is a surprise.

Started reading Detection Unlimited by Georgette Heyer

After taking a couple of months off of committed reading, I think I am ready to get back into it. I am halfway through with Sandford's Holy Ghost (Virgil Flowers).

Has anyone read L.A. Confidential? Loved the movie. I just sort of started the book. I want to be engaged with it. Any comments? Thanks.