The Mystery, Crime, and Thriller Group discussion

Dark Music

RJ - Slayer of Trolls wrote: "I finished


The Third Man / The Fallen Idol by Graham Greene
Rating: 4 stars
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/revie..."

Mildred Pierce provided a line we use regularly in our home when things are just crap and we really could use a drink or two: "Let's get stinko."

RJ - Slayer of Trolls wrote: "I finished


The Third Man / The Fallen Idol by Graham Greene
Rating: 4 stars
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/revie..."

The boy in the film of The Fallen Idol, Bobby Henrey, did a truly great job there.

Nancy wrote: "The boy in the film of The Fallen Idol, Bobby Henrey, did a truly great job there."

I haven't ever seen the film. Now I suppose I have a reason to track it down.

Nancy wrote: "Mildred Pierce provided a line we use regularly in our home when things are just crap and we really could use a drink or two: "Let's get stinko.""

I don't think there's a better match than James M. Cain and the Depression Era.

I finished


A Land More Kind Than Home by Wiley Cash
Rating: 3 stars
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

The Historian / Elizabeth Kostova took me much longer to read than I had planned; however, it held my attention throughout. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...
I will read more of her books as time allows.

I recently read a most unusual, longish Amazon short story set in rural Germany in 1945, near the end of WW2. The Wehrwolf by Alma Katsu is as creepy as it sounds. It is a fable of sorts - what lengths would you go to in desperation? It was an appropriate read for spooky October.
4★ My review of The Wehrwolf

I'm a fan of Aussie author Michael Robotham and his Parkinson-bedeviled psychology professor Joseph O'Loughlin. In Shatter (book 3), Joe's work-life balance is as out of kilter as his stumbling walk.

5★ My review of Shatter

I finished In the Mouth of the Wolf: A Murder, a Cover-Up, and the True Cost of Silencing the Press by Katherine Corcoran. I've seen it labeled as true crime, but it goes well beyond that.

I've finished The Hiker by M.J. Ford


Nice enough but not spectacular: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

and I've finished Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult


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

I'm currently reading My Mother's Secret: A Novel of the Jewish Autonomous Region by Alina Adams


Absolutely superb! It makes me think, it makes me cry and sometimes it makes me laught. I hope to finish it today but it will be a few days, I think, before I can put my feelings and thoughts on paper.

I just listened to The Trouble with Goats and Sheep.

Part coming of age, part mystery. My four star review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Jannelies wrote: "I'm currently reading My Mother's Secret: A Novel of the Jewish Autonomous Region by Alina Adams


Ab..."

Looking forward to your thoughts Jannelies.

Santa's Little Yelpers by David Rosenfelt

In this 26th book in the 'Andy Carpenter' series, set during the Christmas season, the defense attorney represents an ex-convict accused of murder.

Fun humorous mystery. 3.5 stars

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

Now starting FORSAKEN COUNTRY by Allen Eskens, his latest hardcover release that continues his award-winning mystery series set in modern day Minnesota.

This one focuses on former homicide detective Max Rupert, who we last saw in THE DEEP DARK DESCENDING (2017).

After finishing a book I didn't like very much (The Great Mistake by Jonathan Lee), I started a re-read of They Shoot Horses, Don't They? by Horace McCoy. I read this some years ago - probably around the time I saw the movie.

How does Ireland produce such good writers?! I have added Colm Tóibín to my growing list of Irish authors I've enjoyed. Brooklyn is a far cry from the Irish village where young Eilis grew up. Quite an eye-opener for her.
4★ My review of Brooklyn

I quite liked C.V. Chauhan's brand new Detective Inspector Rohan Sharma from the Leicestershire Police. Both Chauhan and his detective are of South Asian descent, which gives Sharma a bit of an advantage with some migrant families. The Dance of Death is the first in a new series that looks promising.
3★My review of Dance of Death

Finished reading King City

by Lee Goldberg

My Review

So, it looks as though we have a spammer that just can't keep away. For the last three days or so I've had to delete the spammer from the group each time his/her post shows up, but I don't go to all of the threads in this group. If you see spam, please flag the comment, and let me know asap so I can send a note to support.

Thank you!

Jim how’s your book going King City by Lee Goldberg?

Nancy wrote: "So, it looks as though we have a spammer that just can't keep away. For the last three days or so I've had to delete the spammer from the group each time his/her post shows up, but I don't go to al..."

I've flagged a few. It's not just author spam, it's sock puppets (reader profiles who are usually created by the author) pretending they are reading his book. Ugh.

RJ - Slayer of Trolls wrote: "Nancy wrote: "So, it looks as though we have a spammer that just can't keep away. For the last three days or so I've had to delete the spammer from the group each time his/her post shows up, but I ..."

Thank you, RJ. The one I've been seeing here is someone pimping some business where you can work at home and make thousands. Definitely reported to GR support.

I went on a Caribbean cruise with very poor wifi. I read 3 kindle books: The first 2 are NetGalley eARCs
Historical fiction set during the Sri Lankan civil war, Brotherless Night by V.V. Ganeshananthan I enjoyed it and recommend it. My 4 star review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
UK spy thriller The Whispering Dead I rate it 4 stars. My review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Book 17 in the No 1 Ladies Detective Agency cozy mystery series. Precious and Grace by Alexander McCall Smith It is a pleasant, easy read without violence. My 4 star review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... Both my wife and I enjoy this series. This was a library ebook, through the Libby app.

I finished my 82nd book

Four stars for The Language of Secrets. . My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I recently read Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus, and I have to admit my opinions kept changing. I think I liked it. 😊
4★My review

Famous English author D.H. Lawrence, grew up in a small coal-mining town like the one in this dark short story, Odour of Chrysanthemums.
4★My review

How appropriate that this mystery has two titles: Crossing the Lines, and After She Wrote Him. Aussie author Sulari Gentill is a favourite of mine, and I loved her unique, twisty, psychological invention!
5★ My review of Crossing the Lines / After She Wrote Him

The Paris Apartment

Retribution by Sarah Barrie ⭐⭐⭐⭐.6 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...

A Three Book Problem by Vicki Delany

In this 7th book in the 'Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mysteries', bookstore manager/amateur sleuth Gemma Doyle investigates a death at a country manor.

This is a light but enjoyable cozy mystery. 3 stars

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

Everyone in My Family has Killed Someone is great fun. Five stars!

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

I finished by

I tried reading Stockholm South: Siege by Karl Eiden Jale Poljarevius

Sadly, a good plot but the writing style leaves to be desired: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I finished Altered: A psychological thriller that keeps you guessing until the very end! by Rob Kaufman


Interesting but with a bit too much coincidence: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Barbara wrote: "Jannelies wrote: "I'm currently reading My Mother's Secret: A Novel of the Jewish Autonomous Region by Alina Adams
[bookcover:My Mother's Secret: A Novel of the Jewish Autonomous Re..."

Thank you Barbara. It's hard... I'm not the best of writers and there are so many things going on in this book. I'll do my best to publish my review soon.

Finished Conference with the Dead by Terry Lamsley. Short review:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Back to Mostly Murder by Joe Gores, which I now intend to finish.

Along with Luigi Musolino's A Different Darkness and Other Abominations, I'm reading The Apparition Phase by Will Maclean. Stormy night reading in both cases!

. The Clark Gable and Carole Lombard Murder case by George Baxt

Hollywood, 1939. Several men and a pretty young starlet have disappeared. The girl was a friend of Carole Lombard. Now she, Clark Gable, the cops, the FBI, Groucho Marx, W.C. Fields and a cast of many are on the case. Light fun reading, one of the best in Baxt's series. If you're interested in the Hollywood 1939 gossip this is the book for you. I liked it a lot, 4 stars.

The Story of "St 25" - Adventure and Romance in The Secret Intelligence Service in Red Russia, by Sir Paul Dukes.

I finished my 83rd book

The Dark Room by Lisa Gray ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
https://www.instagram.com/p/CkxgKT2L5...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...

Death at Whitewater Church was a decent mystery. My three star review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I just finished - The Tilt by Chris Hammer

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

Now starting SEA CHANGE by Robert Goddard, a stand alone thriller published back in 2000.

Finished Mostly Murder by Joe Gores. Short Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Next up, I think, unless something really good catches my eye, is Not Safe After Dark: And Other Stories by Peter Robinson. I'm hoping I don't get whiplash from the difference in tone and style.

Robert Bryndza book coming out early next year, Devil's Way
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Sandy how are 2 of your books going?

I just listened to Splintered Silence and was impressed by this first in the series. My four star review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I read The Sanctuary by Katrine Engberg I thought that it was a well done police procedural. It is set on the Danish island of Bornholm. My 4 star review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Recommended to fans of Nordic noir and mystery fans in general.