The Mystery, Crime, and Thriller Group discussion

The man Who Died Twice A Thursday Murder club book no. 2

Shogun

I finished The Dead Friend Project by Joanna Wallace


Well-written, hilarious in times, but good characterization.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I read Maria: A Novel of Maria von Trapp by Michelle Moran It is an excellent reconstruction of the life of Maria von Trapp. My 4 star review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

My review of Thieves on the Fens by Joy Ellis

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

Starting out July with Murder in Rose Hill by Victoria Thompson https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

This morning I finished reading Rodolfo Walsh's Last Case by Elsa Drucaroff (Argentina). The title makes it sound like some cheesy mystery novel but it is anything but -- it refers to the real-life Walsh (who gathered intelligence for the Montoneros against the Argentinian military during the dictatorship) having also been a writer of crime fiction stories. Here, he is trying to find out what happened to his daughter (this is all real-life stuff by the way) who may or may not have been killed during a military raid on a house in Buenos Aires. It's really, really good if you like solidly-written historical fiction,

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

This felt very different, in a good way, compared with Bardugo's Shadow and Bone trilogy though is set in the same universe. It’s not often that I read a high stakes international crime caper in the urban fantasy genre.


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

Worthy Brown's Daughter by Phillip Margolin

In 1860, when Oregon is a new state - and the issue of slavery is dividing the nation - a White lawyer defends a Black man accused of murder.

Good book, and a departure for Phillip Margolin, who usually writes modern legal thrillers. 4 stars

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

Honor deserves more than five stars. My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Clete by James Lee Burke

In this Detective Dave Robicheaux thriller, lowlifes accidently hide their stash in the car of Dave's friend Clete Purcell, and all kinds of trouble follows.

Good thriller set in southern Louisiana. 4. stars

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

My other book for the week is the cozy-adjacent Mother-Daughter Murder Night by Nina Simon https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Devil's Kitchen by Candice Fox is a fast paced thriller featuring a band of NY firefighters who are heroes and criminals at the same time.

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

Three Seconds

The Instruments of Darkness by John Connolly

In this supernatural mystery thriller, P.I. Charlie Parker investigates the disappearance of a child.

John Connolly is a master of this genre and this is a fine addition to the series. 4 stars

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

I was glad to hear Aussie author and former journo Tim Ayliffe say he plans to continue his John Bailey series in and around Sydney. I just enjoyed the latest, #5, The Wrong Man. I know those parts of Sydney but luckily not the dangerous kinds of people Bailey gets mixed up with.
My review of The Wrong Man

My review of Murder at an English Pub by Alice Castle

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

I finished my 68th book

A Long Time Dead is a good start to a new (to me) series. My four star review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

My review of What Cannot Be Said by C.S. Harris

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

I thought Holy Island was a police procedural but it was more a sleazy romance. My 1 star review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I'm currently reading The Astrology House by Carinn Jade


This is about a group of family and friends who stay at a rather unusual retreat for the weekend.
It's a debut and I'm liking it so far.

I finished the overrated thriller (now a streaming series!)


Dark Matter by Blake Crouch
Rating: 3 stars
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

and I started reading a near-forgotten gem of a horror story written by a former actor


The Other by Thomas Tryon

Also, I finished the disappointing third installment in the Mick Axebrewder and Ginny Fistoulari hard-boiled Private Eye series


The Man Who Tried to Get Away by Stephen R. Donaldson
Rating: 2 stars
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

and I started reading the first book in the Marseilles Trilogy


Total Chaos by Jean-Claude Izzo

RJ - Slayer of Trolls wrote: "Also, I finished the disappointing third installment in the Mick Axebrewder and Ginny Fistoulari hard-boiled Private Eye series


[book:The Man Who T..."

The Marseilles Trilogy is really good.

My review of Sun, Sand and Slaughter by Emerald Finn

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

It sounds macabre when a police archaelogist draws a map of an area in LA where old remains are found and titles it a City of Bones, but it makes perfect sense in Michael Connelly's 8th Harry Bosch novel. Another great read.
My review of City of Bones

Started The Other by Thomas Tryon for a group read elsewhere. Also dipping into Loteria by Cynthia Pelayo and Golden Age Whodunits edited by Otto Penzler as the mood strikes.

If novels are like movies and short stories are like 1/2-hour episodes of a TV show, then Pelayo's shorts are, so far, closer to photos: Quick, specific and pointed.

A police procedural with a heavy dose of thriller, Force of Hate was an entertaining listen. My four star review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Eddie's Boy by Thomas Perry

Butcher's Boy #4. I like the series about a professional killer who tries to retire but this thriller is very similar to some of Perry's previous books. I liked it but nothing new here. 3 stars.

I read Forgotten on Sunday by Valérie Perrin It is historical/literary fiction, set in a small town in France. It was a bestseller in France. My 3.5 star review, rounded down. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

A Talent for Murder by Peter Swanson is another entertaining thriller featuring the unusual team of Lucy Kintner and Henry Kimball, who find themselves on the trail of a very devious and dangerous killer.

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

My review of Murder on Devil's Pond by Ayla Rose

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

I finished my 67th book

Winter Lost

Patricia Briggs is back on track after a couple of average installments in the Mercy-verse.

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

Not as enthralled with the latest Dr. Nell Ward book. A Swarm of Butterflies . My three star review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Read Harbor Lights
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I'm kicking off the week with Murder on Devil's Pond by Ayla Rose https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

The Paris Widow by Kimberly Belle is a suspenseful thriller, where a woman discovers she doesn't really know the man she married.

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

The Bonnie Dead is a good start to a Scottish police procedural. My four star review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

The Burning by Linda Castillo

Police Chief Kate Burkholder investigates the murder of an Amish man who had been excommunicated.

Exciting thriller. 4 stars

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

My review of Murder in Rose Hill by Victoria Thompson

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

Despite some qualms, i still really enjoyed The Dark Wives . My four star review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I read The River Runs Orange by R.J. Harlick It is a mystery/thriller set in rural northwestern Quebec, Canada. I recommend the series to cozy mystery fans. It is book 3 in the series. My 4 star review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

A Refiner’s Fire by Donna Leon

Commissario Guido Brunetti of the Carabinieri investigates a local man who was deployed during the Iraq war.

Colorful mystery set in beautiful Venice. 3,5 stars

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

Dog Day Afternoon by David Rosenfelt

At the request of Marcus Clark- who's usually a nod and grunt guy - reluctant defense attorney Andy Carpenter defends a man accused of mass murder.

Another good addition to this fun cozy mystery series. 3.5 stars

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

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

My review of An Assassination on the Agenda by T.E. Kinsey

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