Mystery/Thriller Reading Friends discussion

Hello Everyone.

Here are my June reads:

Top Reads

The Russia House
John le Carré
Well written with excellent characterizations and the slow deliberate plotting that always seems realistic. Listened to the audio version which was excellently read by Michael Jayston.

The Do-Right
Lisa Sandlin
Debut mystery set in Beaumont Texas in the 1970s during the Watergate hearings, this was not your usual PI novel. The main character is newly released from jail and her PO gets her a job with a newly minted PI who is a Vietnam vet and former Oil Rig worker. I really enjoyed the characterizations and the plotting was well paced.

Good Reads

Needles
William Deverell
The author's first book published back in 1979, this was a bit dated and over the top but very entertaining with gritty street crime scenes and courtroom drama.

Children of the Revolution
Peter Robinson
Pretty decent addition to this English police procedural series. The plot was more to my liking with less thriller type action.

Crown Jewel
Christopher Reich
A fun thriller that had lots of action and interesting locales. Listened to the audio which was narrated by Paul Michael.

Frequent Hearses
Edmund Crispin
Oxford Don and amateur detective Gervase Fen is lending his expertise on Alexander Pope to a film studio and gets involved in another case of murder. A fun look at post WW2 film studios in England though the actual plot was a bit contrived. Listened to the audio version which was very well narrated by Philip Bird.

The Prisoner of Guantanamo
Dan Fesperman
While the plot was a bit complicated and the characters somewhat flat, the setting and atmosphere made this a compelling read.

Sandi: Very nice looking month! The Do-Right looks good!

Really interesting choices.

Nice mix of new and vintage. How did you hear of The Do-Right?

Carol/Bonadie wrote: "Nice mix of new and vintage. How did you hear of The Do-Right?"

From the awards page on StopyoureKillingme.com. It won the Shamus for best first PI novel in 2016.

Plus I saw a review for her newest book The Bird Boys which is coming out soon so, of course, I had to go back and start with book one.

Sandi: I'm glad you found it! I grabbed a library Kindle loan. On occasion the dialogue is a bit hard to decipher, but that adds to the book rather than detracting.
Sandi wrote: "From the awards page on StopyoureKillingme.com. It won the Shamus for best first PI novel in 2016."

Carol/Bonadie wrote: "Nice mix of new and vintage. How did you hear of The Do-Right?"

Ann wrote: "Sandi: I'm glad you found it! I grabbed a library Kindle loan. On occasion the dialogue is a bit hard to decipher, but that adds to the book rather than detracting. "

Yes, I found the cadence, phrasing, and tone quite different at the beginning and had to really concentrate on what I was actually reading, but after I adjusted, it helped me really get engaged with the story and brought the east Texas setting to life.

Sandi wrote: "...Plus I saw a review for her newest book The Bird Boys which is coming out soon so, of course, I had to go back and start with book one..."

Obviously!! Thanks for bringing this series to our attention.

Good month! You & Shomeret always read some books I would have never found!