The Mystery, Crime, and Thriller Group discussion
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Currently Reading? Just Finished? 2019
Oh yes, I like some books with unreliable narrators very much. Depends on how well it's done.
Finished Inspector Ghote's Good CrusadeMy review, 3.5 rounded up
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I am about to start listening to
Red Bones by Ann Cleeves after finishing a lovely family drama/mystery The Girls
by Lisa Jewell. My spoiler free review can be found at https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... and my webpage sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
I love the Shetland series by Ann Cleeves. I hope you enjoy it. I just finished Eight Perfect Murders which was delightful. The main character blogged his list of his favorite "perfect" murders. They are:
1. The Red House Mystery- A.A. Milne
2. Malice Afterthought- Anthony Berkeley Cox
3. The A.B.C. Murders- Agatha Christie
4. Double Indemnity- James M. Cain
5. Strangers on a Train- Patricia Highsmith
6. The Drowner-John D. MacDonald
7. Death Trap- Ira Levin (actually a play)
8. The Secret History-Donna Tartt
I think we could have a great discussion on what we think are the perfect murders.
Eight Perfect Murders by Peter SwansonMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
4.5 stars
This is a difficult book to review because I don't want to give a thing away. The surprises are what make this book so delightful. It is about a mystery book seller in Boston who one day writes a blog about the Eight Perfect Murders. They are:
1. The Red House Mystery- A.A. Milne
2. Malice Afterthought- Anthony Berkeley Cox
3. The A.B.C. Murders- Agatha Christie
4. Double Indemnity- James M. Cain
5. Strangers on a Train- Patricia Highsmith
6. The Drowner-John D. MacDonald
7. Death Trap- Ira Levin (actually a play)
8. The Secret History-Donna Tartt
The blog sparks little discussion on-line but suddenly dead bodies linked to the author start turning up. This is a wonderfully different book that refers to a lot of mystery stories so to a fan, it is quite delightful. And befitting a book about the best mysteries, it's chock full of surprises.
Thanks to Edelweiss for a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.
View all my reviews
^ ooo that book sounds perfect for me especially as I agree with the list he compiles about the eight perfect murders. Fascinating and need to get lol. Thank you for the heads up
Police at the Station and They Don't Look Friendly is #6 in the series by Adrian McKinty, but I was correctly informed that it works fine as a standalone, and it sure does! Now to find some more. :)
4.5★ (rounded up) Link to my review
Mystery by Jonathan KellermanPsychologist Alex Delaware helps Detective Sturgis investigate the death of a rich older man's 'sugar baby.'
More or less a police procedural. 3 stars
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Three to Get Deadly
by Janet EvanovichStephanie Plum #3. Further adventures of Stephanie Plum, girl bounty hunter. Light and amusing, very well done.
PattyMacDotComma wrote: "Police at the Station and They Don't Look Friendly is #6 in the series by Adrian McKinty, but I was correctly informed that it works fine as a standalone, and it sure..."I am so glad you liked it.
Finished The Turnaround by George Pelecanos. One of his worst books. Slow, boring and pretentious. Rating - 2/5My Review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Blue Moon
by Lee ChildJack Reacher #24, OK to read as stand-alone. Reacher comes to town and cleans up not-Dodge City. I'm a fan of this series but this was not one of the best. Dragged through the middle and some bits and pieces rang very false--large company stops paying for medical insurance and nobody notices until one woman gets very sick. Two musicians morph into Special Forces super-retired-soldiers. 2 stars.
Crossroads
by James L. ThaneAmidst a fierce battle of words between environmentalist and logging proponents in northwestern Montana, a man is bludgeoned to death. A suspect is quickly arrested and attorney Dave Matthews, fresh off a personal crisis, agrees to defend him.
Good traditional mystery. 3.5 stars
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Just finished:
The Better Liar by Tanen Jones
Debut effort that has some troubling elements. See my full review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Susan wrote: "PattyMacDotComma wrote: "Police at the Station and They Don't Look Friendly is #6 in the series by Adrian McKinty, but I was correctly informed that it works fine as ...I am so glad you liked it."
I didn't at first, Susan, but by golly he grew on me, so I'm delighted to see a couple of five-stars in the series on your shelves. I'll have to retrace my steps with Detective Sean Duffy. :)
Popular Aussie author Nicole Trope's suspenseful The Boy in the Photo will be sure to gain her some more fans.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I like the Nero Wolfe books by Rex Stout. 😊
Shadow of a Broken Man
by George ChesbroMongo #1. Robert "Mongo" Frederickson is a genius ex-circus gymnast P.I. who also happens to be a dwarf. He is hired to look into the supposed-death 5 years prior of a famous architect. It's a fun book (from 1977) but it's impossible to take seriously, although the book is not written in a joking manner--it's all very serious and straight-ahead. I'll probably read another 1 or 2 of the series but it's not good enough to be enthused about.
Christine wrote: "I finished my 109th book"Going great guns Christine. 😊
I finished Gently By the Shore by Alan Hunter today, excellent. My review below.https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Death of a Village
by M.C. BeatonIn this 18th book in the 'Hamish Macbeth' series, the Scottish constable investigates a string of cases. The book can be read as a standalone.
Fun light mystery. 3 stars
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Just started
Single by K.L. Slater after finishing two 4 star reads
When the Time Comes by Adele O'Neill the review for which can be found at https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... or on my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...And
The Mother I Could Have Been by Kerry Fisher the review for which can be found at https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... and on my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
The 6th Extinction
by James RollinsIn this 10th 'Sigma Force' novel, scientists are working on solutions to human destruction of the Earth when a doomsday virus gets loose. If not stopped, it will destroy all life on the planet.
Sigma Force is mobilized to deal with the situation. Exciting thriller that works fine as a standalone. 3.5 stars
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I finished: 
Rainbow Six by Tom Clancy
Rating: 3 stars
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank
Rating: 4 stars
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
and I started reading:
In the Heat of the Night by John Dudley Ball
Acceptance by Jeff VanderMeer
Finished
Single by K.L. Slater this morning. My spoiler free review can be found at https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...Now reading
The Last Affair by Margot Hunt
The Unseen World
by Liz MooreTwelve-year-old Ada Sibelius is very close to her single father, a leading computer scientist who's developing an AI machine. When dad falls ill, Ada's life changes dramatically.
The book is part coming-of-age novel and part dissertation on secrets, encryptions, and codes. 3.5 stars
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I'm halfway through
which I won on Goodreads and I thank them for this opportunity as when I first started to read it I wasn't certain I would like it as I was introduced to some scientific thought which I'm not steeped in but as I kept reading I really began to like it. Why? The plot unfolds against many historical events which have occurred in my lifetime making it a fun read. It will probably rate a 4.5 or 5 stars by me depending on the 2nd half
Curious Minds
by Janet EvanovichKnight & Moon #1. Newly graduated lawyer Riley and hugely rich Emerson work together to prevent an enormous crime. Light, entertaining mystery, good for the beach.
Take One With You
by Oak AndersonWhen two disaffected teens create a website called 'Take One With You', which encourages suicidal people to bump off a criminal before they go, things soon spiral out of control.
Interesting premise. 3 stars
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
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The Mystery, Crime, and Thriller Group
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A good psychological thriller, my review 3.5 rounded up, https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...