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Currently Reading? Just Finished? 2019
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Sandysbookaday (taking a midwinter break)
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Nov 19, 2019 04:44PM
Just finished the stunning
Whatever It Takes by Paul Cleave. My spoiler free review can be found at https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/... and https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
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I just finished reading
I love this author (I just discovered her and have already read several of her books) but I didn't like Bobby Dodd. I thought he was acting like a moron when it came to Catherine. I am skipping his next book and am reading
I'm currently reading Charles Salzberg's Swann's Down, in the Swann series about a skip tracer, and Deborah Crombie's Breach of Promise, in the William Monk series. Swann is an interesting character with a colorful supporting cast in a richly detailed NYC milieu. The Crombie book is an older one, filling in details for me about Monk's developing relationship with Hester before they were married. Both highly recommended.
MJ wrote: "I just finished reading I love this author (I just discovered her and have already read several of her books) but I didn't like Bobby Dodd. I thought he was acting like a mo..."
She is one of my favorite authors as well - read almost all of her books/series
MJ wrote: "I just finished reading I love this author (I just discovered her and have already read several of her books) but I didn't like Bobby Dodd. I thought he was acting like a mo..."
I was also dissatisfied by Bobby and was waiting for someone to tell me with which book to start. So, thanks.
I felt the book is excellent & the flow took me by surprise when I compare it to many “police” movies & TV shows that I have seen...
Kate Atkinson is one of my favourite authors, and while Transcription isn't my favourite of her books, her trademark fine writing and quirky humour make it fun.
4★ Link to my review
A Book of Bones
by John ConnollyCharlie Parker #17. Can be read as stand-alone but I would recommend this series be read in order. Parker is a P.I. in Maine whose foes are sometimes not entirely of this world. These books are a bit difficult to label. This one is over 650 pages with lots of moving parts--pay attention. A thriller of the highest order--5 stars.
No Safe House
by Linwood BarclayIn this sequel to 'No Time For Goodbye' the members of the Archer family - mom, dad, and teen daughter - more or less inadvertently get involved in serious criminal activity. The book can be read as a standalone.
There's a lot going on in this thriller. 3 stars
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Elementary, She Read
by Vicki DelanyIn this first 'Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery', a new book store owner has to hustle to avoid being arrested for murder.
Fun cozy mystery. 3 stars
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Behind Every Lie
by Christina McDonaldPottery artist Eva Hanson is struck by lightning on the very night her mother is brutally murdered. Eva can't remember what happened on the fatal night, which is bad because she's the prime suspect.
Plenty of surprises in this fast-moving thriller. 3 stars
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
finished The Fifth To Die and The Lying Woodsstarted 1st book Holy Island from the DCI Ryan Mysteries Series by L.J. Ross
About to start
The Other Daughter by Shalini Boland after finishing an entertaining collection of Christmas based short stories
Midwinter Mysteries: A Christmas Crime Anthology by various authors. My spoiler free review can be found at https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... and my webpage
Currently reading once upon a river by Diane Setterfield.... very intriguing
Mod
I've read that twice now, including October when I read it with my real-world book group. It starts out so slowly, but is so worth it, in my opinion.
Christine wrote: "I finished my 105th book" 👍
The Dark Vineyard
by Martin WalkerBruno, Chief of Police of a lovely French town investigates arson and murder while living a pleasant life.
Lovely ambiance of the French countryside in this mystery. 3.5 stars
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Finished Find a Victim
by Ross Macdonald. Not the best one in the series so far but still a good noir and I will recommend the Lew Archer series to all pulp fans. Rating - 4/5My Review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I finished The German Agent: A World War One Thriller Set in Washington DC by J. Sydney Jones today. My review belowhttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Starting the 2nd George Gently mystery next, Gently By the Shore by Alan Hunter
Just finished an oldie, Bleeding Hooks by Harriet Rutland. There were only 3 books. So now I'll move on to #3, Blue Murder.
It is taking me a while to get through Silkworm. Could it be that I was compelled to watch impeachment hearings (yes, at work too) and CNN later instead of reading? Could it be that I think the book is a bit boring and goes on and on and on and is rather redundant? Could it be end of year book blues? It is a mystery. :)
Gretchen wrote: "It is taking me a while to get through Silkworm. Could it be that I was compelled to watch impeachment hearings (yes, at work too) and CNN later instead of reading? Could it be that I think the boo..."The impeachment hearings drew me in as well, Gretchen, and besides making me very angry, affected my whole week's worth of reading. I had a much more enjoyable weekend, avoiding any news shows and just doing what I like best, relaxing with the missus and dogs and settling down with many good books.
Angie wrote: "Finished 
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Just started
"Hi. Can you please let me know how Someone We Know is when you are finished reading the book. Thanks
Finished The Wife by Alafair Burke. Was good for 90% of its length, a procedural look at how sexual abuse allegations ruin a family and becomes a media circus. Then it becomes stupid twist after stupid twist. Rating - 3/5My Review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
PS. Does anyone actually like it when a first person narrator lies for no reason? I don't mind when there is a in story reason to lie like Gone Girl or Memento but otherwise it's such a stupid way to keep things moving.
Almost done with Will and Testament by Vigdis Hjorth. I’ve included a New Yorker article about this book, because I couldn’t figure out how to describe this book. I’ve never read a book that I found so emotionally true and raw.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.newy...
Aditya, what do you mean by “lie for no reason”? Do you think the author was manipulating the reader by this, showing a flaw in the writer? Or is this more of an idiosyncrasy of the character that suddenly came up and is not authentic to the character; or one that is unlikable?
Patty wrote: "Almost done with Will and Testament by Vigdis Hjorth. I’ve included a New Yorker article about this book, because I couldn’t figure out how to describe this book. I’ve never read a book that I fo..."
Very interesting article. Of course families tend to circle the wagons when a member (like a father) is accused of sexual abuse. They don't want their name besmirched and maybe they really believe the person is innocent.
So things get really hairy if the accusations are true.
I'm going to see if my library has this book.
I finished a suspenseful mystery The Vanishing Season[email protected]My review. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Barbara, it’s one of those books written like we speak: repeated sentences, for example. It’s so human.
Patty wrote: "Aditya, what do you mean by “lie for no reason”? Do you think the author was manipulating the reader by this, showing a flaw in the writer? Or is this more of an idiosyncrasy of the character tha..."
I meant lying by omission as a flaw of the writer specifically plotting. Just to give a generic example: We are following our lead character where he documents every minute thing he has done in a particular period say a week but neglects to mention something crucial that impacts the plot. Say he murdered someone or gave false testimony to put another character in jail. This information is hidden till the climax of the book for no logical reason except to provide the reader with a twist.
It would be like a detective figuring out the mystery ten pages in, rambling for another 300 pages and then saying "Oops forgot to tell you, got this stuff figured out about hundred years ago." In most psychological thrillers this is becoming a norm but it makes no sense.
Aditya, that fits into my category of an author manipulating the reader. I hate that. I think it’s a lazy technique. It’s just as bad as an author who spends 2/3 of a book giving intricate and interweaving storylines of several characters—let’s say five. These are all main characters, mind you, and these story lines go on throughout the entire book. Inexplicably, four of those character are not heard from again.
Patty wrote: "Aditya, that fits into my category of an author manipulating the reader. I hate that. I think it’s a lazy technique. It’s just as bad as an author who spends 2/3 of a book giving intricate and in..."
Luckily I have not seen a lot of the second so far but sounds very ridiculous and irritating.
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