Mystery/Thriller Reading Friends discussion

Blacktop Wasteland: SA Cosby
I believe it was a recommendation from Dan that sent me to this, but that he was citing a recommendation from somebody else (Ann?). Anyway, a fresh voice to me in Thrillers. As a man who wants to be good finds that life keeps driving him to being bad. If I ever decide to turn to a life of crime, I don;t want to be a wheelman, it seems to end badly. (A)

Billy Summers: Stephen King
A story within a story as a hit man tries to fix a double cross while writing a book on how he came to be what he was. All the essential elements are there, revenge, redemption, morality, and maybe a little brush with the Overlook Hotel. (A)

Another Kind of Eden: James Lee Burke
A Holland family novel, and for once, the bad guys actually act worse than the good guys. As always, there is a supernatural element, and it fits seamlessly in the story. Also as always, the story is incredibly well written, to the point you can feel the heat in the air, the sand blowing in the wind, and the general miasma floating around. (A-)

Fallen: Linda Castillo
I take it as a matter of faith- if the murder is solved with 100 pages to go, then the murder is not solved. I’m not giving anything away, the foreshadowing was heavy handed enough that you will not miss it. The story revolves around an Amish girl that left the fold, and upon her return, was murdered. A couple good twists to the story as well (B+)

The Crazy Ladies of Pearl St: Trevanian
Novelized autobiography of the author’s upbringing in a poor Albany neighborhood. (B+)

Nuclear Winter (book 1): Bobby Akart
The first of a series of life following a limited nuclear strike. (B+)

One Year After: Forstchen, William R
Must be revenge of the preppers, I am in two series that want me to understand that if I do not prep, I will not make it through the limited nuclear war or the EMP pulse. Facebook keeps telling me that as well. A bit funny that both series (the other being nuclear winter) have limited nuclear wars, but in one, the world devolves into a cold nuclear winter, in the other, most of the world dies off as we lose all of the advantages of modern technology. (B+)

False Witness: Karin Slaughter
A complicated set up for a convoluted novel. Slaughter outdoes herself with damaged characters, heading right to psychopathic and self destructive. (B)

City of Endless Night: Preston/Child
I had slowed down on this series believing the authors had moved it too far “out there”. Maybe they got the hint, as this take was much more conventional and character driven, an unusual search for a serial killer. (B)

Uncommon Type: Tom Hanks
Short stories (B)

A Perfect Harvest: Bill Fitzhugh
Being a Fitzhugh, it is, of course, a farce. A man who is dying and wants to donate all of his organize before he dies inspires a musical on the subject. (B)

A Familiar Sight: Brianna Labuskes
An Amazon First Read, many trips back and forth in time. By the time I learned who the murderer was, I really did not care anymore. (B-)

The Eighth Detective: Alex Pavisi
A very British mystery. An editor reads a series of mysteries by the same author and goes to interview him. She finds the structure of the mysteries, and a series of purported errors are suspicious in and of themselves. (B-)

That is a lot of books for one month. And mostly good ones it sounds like. I have had Billy Summers on hold at my local library awhile, but maybe it will come in for October reading if not sooner.

Nice month Barry, I loved Billy Summers too, it was a really good one. It reminded me a bit of 11/22/63 in structure and voice. (view spoiler)[(obviously a different story and no time tunnels) (hide spoiler)]

I'm glad you enjoyed Blacktop Wasteland, I do recommend this author to those who like gritty, fast thrillers. I read S.A. Cosby's next book this month and it was also quite good; Razorblade Tears

Wow, Barry wrote: "Slaughter outdoes herself with damaged characters, heading right to psychopathic and self destructive." I am looking forward to False Witness when I am in the right mindset to handle it.

What a great month Barry!!

Good month, Barry. Nothing to say about Uncommon Type? I really enjoyed it.

Billy Summers is waiting to be picked up at the library. Can't wait to get started.

Good month! I have Billy Summers sitting at the top of The Pile and hope to get motivated to pick it up this month.

Another great month for you! I already have Billy Summers on request but will have to look for Blacktop Wasteland. If you and Ann both like it, I know I will!

Carol/Bonadie wrote: "Good month, Barry. Nothing to say about Uncommon Type? I really enjoyed it.

Short stories are such a mixed bag. Some I really liked, some I found myself almost skimming. None of it seemed very Tom Hanks like

Barry wrote: "Short stories are such a mixed bag. Some I really liked, some I found myself almost skimming. None of it seemed very Tom Hanks like ..."

Barry, I agree about short stories. Just wrote pretty much the same for Five-Carat Soul by James McBride, whose Deacon King Kong I really liked. Glad I read it though.