Cozy Mysteries discussion

Here is my 4 star review of the final book in the core Black Flagged series: Vindicta by Steven Konkoly

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

My review for Odessa by Annie Seaton

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

I finished The War of the Worlds. SciFi really isn’t my genre, but Wells is usually good and reads fairly fast. It’s easy to understand why his books are still revered. I read this for the PopSugar challenge, so now 35/50. Just a matter of which prompt it goes towards, social horror or Hugo Award. I have other books that fit both categories, but leaning towards another Hugo book, even though I’m not, as I said, big on SciFi. Decisions, decisions.... 😬

LOL! Challenges take over our lives don't they Heather ;)

Brenda wrote: "LOL! Challenges take over our lives don't they Heather ;)"

Indeed they do — BUT, they also force me to delve into some of the books moldering in Mount TBR.
😐😳🤣

Totally agree with both of you!

Heather L wrote: "Brenda wrote: "LOL! Challenges take over our lives don't they Heather ;)"

Indeed they do — BUT, they also force me to delve into some of the books moldering in Mount TBR.
😐😳🤣"

Completely agree!!

My review for The Last Restaurant in Paris by Lily Graham

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

Book four of After the rift series The Temple of Forgotten Secrets C.J. Archer

My review for The Islands by Emily Brugman

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

I will start reading book 5 of the After the Rift series The Prison of Buried Hopes by C.J. Archer

Read in the last 24 hours:

* Uncle Vanya by Anton Chekhov, classic group read.

* Fantastic Mr. Fox by Roald Dahl

* The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me by Roald Dahl

My review for Gone to Ground by debut Aussie author Bronwyn Hall

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

Violeta by Isabel Allende. Takes place in Chile. I like her books a lot but this is not a favorite. Some characters were interesting but most I did not like much.Spans 100 years. Beautiful cover art though

Here is my 4 star review of Black Dog by Stuart Woods:

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

This is the 62nd book in the series and I still enjoy reading them.

My review for Outsider: A Novel of Suspense by Linda Castillo

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

Here is my 4 star review of Long Gone by Joanna Schaffhausen.

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

This is the second book in a police procedural series set in Chicago, IL.

PamG wrote: "I finished a book that had been on my physical TBR shelf for a couple of years..."

Congratulations?? :o)

Karen wrote: "PamG wrote: "I finished a book that had been on my physical TBR shelf for a couple of years..."

Congratulations?? :o)"

Any time I finish a book on my physical bookshelf, it's time to celebrate. My problem is I keep requesting / accepting ARCs from NetGalley.

I've started reading time travel novels by Jodi Taylor. I'm not normally a fan of time travel, but this is a pretty good series, and included a little humor.

I am currently reading the final book of the After the Rift series. It is a fantasy mystery series. The Return of Absent Souls byC.J. Archer

Spent the weekend reading Something Rotten by Jasper Fforde, book four in the Thursday Next series. These books are always a fun romp! It also crosses off another PopSugar prompt, a book with a parallel reality. Now 36/50.

Two police procedurals this past week:

Movieland by Lee Goldberg https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

The Drop by Michael Connelly https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

My review for The Child of Ukraine by Tetyana Denford

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

PamG wrote: "Any time I finish a book on my physical bookshelf, it's time to celebrate. My problem is I keep requesting / accepting ARCs from NetGalley."

First... Free is free, so I get your NetGalley addiction (plus, you write good reviews!). It's one of the reasons my eReaders are filled with stuff I've never read --and may never read -- I like free!

Now the big question... When you finish a book "off the shelf," do you box it up for selling or donation? I have so many books sitting on my shelves that need boxing (and ridding!).

Sadly, I think I could clear the bookshelves of stuff I've read, then fill it with TBRs I still have boxed (and I haven't purchased a hard copy book in years.). :o\

Heather L wrote: "Spent the weekend reading Something Rotten by Jasper Fforde, book four in the Thursday Next series. These books are always a fun romp! It also crosses off another PopSuga..."

I always enjoy the Thursday Next series. His Nursery Crimes books are also good.

Karen— Do you have any Little Free Libraries near you? They are a great way to put books you no longer want in the hands of someone who might, without the expense of shipping. If you don’t know if there are any LFLs near you, there is now a free app available, or you can explore the map on their website. Just plug in your location or zip code and it will show where registered libraries are near you.

(Note: not all LFLs are registered at the LFL website. I have five in my neighborhood, and only three are chartered.)

https://littlefreelibrary.org/

Karen wrote: "PamG wrote: "Any time I finish a book on my physical bookshelf, it's time to celebrate. My problem is I keep requesting / accepting ARCs from NetGalley."

First... Free is free, so I get your NetG..."

When I finish a book "off the shelf", I make a determination of where it should go: 1. On one of my "read" bookshelves 2. Send to my Mom. 3. Donate to charity.

For many years, I kept every book I bought, but when we moved for the fifth time, I donated several thousand to the library for their annual book sale. Then 2 years later, I donated another 2000 or so when we moved again. Now, I am only keeping certain authors, but I still have several thousand books. LOL.

Karen wrote: "Now the big question... When you finish a book "off the shelf," do you box it up for selling or donation? I have so many books sitting on my shelves that need boxing (and ridding!)."

Unless it's a book I absolutely loved (and those don't come along very often), I don't keep books once I finish them. I rarely reread, so why keep the books? I donate them to our library's Friends group, who holds book sales three or four times a year.

PamG, you'r my book soulmate, I think... I've been trying to downsize all the stuff in the house and have currently donated a couple thousand books. I was feeling pretty proud of myself, as I have a hard time giving up books, until my husband burst my happy bubble with: Yea, a couple thousand now but many more thousand to go. Party pooper. 😂🤣

Meg wrote: "PamG, you'r my book soulmate, I think... I've been trying to downsize all the stuff in the house and have currently donated a couple thousand books. I was feeling pretty proud of myself, as I have ..."

😃

Here is my 4 star review of A Simple Choice by David Pepper.

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

This political thriller has plenty of suspense, some action, lots of investigation, and an intensity that kept me fully engaged throughout the novel.

Teresa wrote: "I always enjoy the Thursday Next series. His Nursery Crimes books are also good”

I was surprised to see that it had been three years since I read book three. I believe I have the next two books in Mount TBR. Definitely need to make sure there isn’t that long a gap between books four and five! I also have the Nursery Crimes books, but have not yet read them.

Heather L wrote: "Do you have any Little Free Libraries near you?"

I actually thought of starting one years ago when I first heard about them (I think on an episode of CBS Sunday Morning). There are a couple close to my neighborhood, but I haven't perused or exchanged as of yet.

PamG wrote: "For many years, I kept every book I bought, but when we moved for the fifth time, I donated several thousand to the library for their annual book sale."
~and~
Meg wrote: "PamG, you'r my book soulmate, I think... I've been trying to downsize all the stuff in the house and have currently donated a couple thousand books."

Ditto. I cleared my bookshelves and donated to an annual book sale. Then, sadly, refilled them. I think about having my nephew take what I now have to Bookmans and Half-priced Books to get whatever cash I can then donate what they don't want, but that seems like a hassle. And, I can't see either store wanting to go through a couple thousand books.

The good news is that I'm so good about using the library/eLibrary that at least I haven't added to the pile! I really just need to clear out what I have. Getting them packed in bankers' boxes for the library to pick up. -- The bad new is that my laziness and procrastination have kept me from doing that. :o(

Barb wrote: "Unless it's a book I absolutely loved (and those don't come along very often), I don't keep books once I finish them. I rarely reread, so why keep the books? I donate them to our library's Friends group, who holds book sales three or four times a year."

Like Pam, I used to keep everything I read. I do reread things, but space really becomes an issue! I am so glad I forced myself to stop (extremely limit!) buying physical books (now they just take up hard drive space -- not as pretty on a shelf, but...) At least I don't add to the clutter... well the book clutter anyway.

Here is my 4 star review of Quarter to Midnight by Karen Rose:

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

Karen Rose brings suspense, danger, action, intense moments, and romance to her first book in the New Orleans romantic suspense series. Overall, this briskly paced novel was engaging and atmospheric with diverse characterization.

Rereading before donating Four In Hand byStephanie Laurens

My review for The River Gum Cottage by Leonie Kelsall

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

My review for Down a Dark River by Karen Odden

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

Here is my 4 star review of You're Invited by Amanda Jayatissa:

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

This multi-layered mystery was intense, somewhat unsettling at times, and has many threads woven into the plot.

My review for Framed by John M. Green

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

My review for Daughters of War by Dinah Jefferies

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

My 3 star review of Undercurrent by Sara K. Parker:

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

Overall, this romantic suspense novel was enjoyable. While there is plenty of danger and suspense, nothing distinguished it from other novels.

I read The Whale Rider by Witi Ihimaera this week for one of the PopSugar prompts (book by a Pacific Islander) and loved it. Now 38/50, only twelve prompts left for that challenge.

You're doing well with the PopSugar challenge Heather!

Thanks, Brenda! I have books for the remaining prompts, it’s only a matter of working them in, and four or five are over 500 pages.

Oh goodness!! I only read over 500 page books now and again. I finished one yesterday in which the pages flew by - so that's fine. It's when they drag that it's a chore!!! Hope they're quick reads for you :)

Two are part of a trilogy. I read book one late last year, and both of these fit the PopSugar Challenge, so really want to read them. Plus, they’re a box set on my Nook, so archiving that as read will free up some space. Book one took me five days, which isn’t too bad. Just need to time them over weekends when I have no plans. 😉😐😮

Good luck!!

My review for Judas Horse by Lynda La Plante

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

Rereading before donating Rosamund by Bertrice Small