Mystery/Thriller Reading Friends discussion

I read four books in June. Two of them were mysteries.

1)The Hidden One by Linda Castillo (mystery) Source: Net Galley Started: 5/31 Finished: 6/5

Why Read: I've been wanting to read a book by Linda Castillo, and finally got around to it when I received a request to read this one. Unfortunately, I've been having problems with my e-mail account and can't find the request.

Comments: This is the 14th book in Castillo's Kate Burkholder series. Kate's boyfriend as a teen, Jonas, was arrested for murder. Kate is a chief of police but not in the Amish community where this novel takes place. She left the Amish some time ago. She is determined to investigate the case and hopefully clear Jonas. The investigation is resolved but there were predictable elements. I gave the book a B.

2)Disability Pride: Dispatches from a Post-ADA World by Ben Mattlin Source: Edelweiss Started: 6/7 Finished: 6/19

Why Read: Edelweiss sends me a monthly e-mail with a list of all the pre-publication books they have available in digital format. This one interested me because my former co-blogger is deaf. So I downloaded it.

Comments: It was from a disability rights perspective and I thought it was very thorough. I gave it an A.

3) Forever Past by Marty Ambrose (historical mystery) 186 pages. Source: Publicist Started: 6/10 Finished: 6/13

Why Read: The publicist who sent me a request to review this book mailed me a hardcover. I have a long relationship with this publicist, so I put aside my current read to focus on this review copy.

Comments: This is the third in a series dealing with real historical personages. Protagonist Claire Claremont was part of the Byron/Shelley circle. This is a missing person mystery. Claire is looking for her daughter. I gave it a B rather than an A because the resolution isn't what happened historically.

4)A Duet for Homeby Karina Yan Glaser (YA contemporary fiction) Source: Library Started: 6/20 Finished: 6/24

Why Read: I found it on the New Books shelves and checked it out because I was interested in the homeless protagonist. I had never read a book from the perspective of someone who was homeless.

Comments: This was a fight to preserve the homeless shelter and the community the residents found there. I gave it a B+ rather than an A because the YA perspective made the book less complex.


Although my reads were few, I had an A rated book among them. So I was pleased.

Nice group, Shomeret. I've read 2 in the Kate Burkholder series at the suggestion of posters here, but had no idea there were 14 of them!

Nice list Shomeret, I haven’t read a Linda Castile book yet. I’ve meant to. Of your four, two catch my eye. Disability Pride: Dispatches from a Post-ADA World looks good and will hope to read it. I’m avoiding YA lately so will think about A Duet for Home. It is an important topic.