The Mystery, Crime, and Thriller Group discussion

Nancy wrote: "We have finally put the medical issues successfully behind us and my brain is beginning to function again. Over the last four weeks my poor spouse has had three surgeries (the last completely unexp..."

Hi, Nancy. I'm glad to hear life is getting back to something more normal.

My review of The Memory Ward by Jon Bassoff

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

My 4-star review of The Block Party --> https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Dark of the Earth by Ivan Obolensky

In this addition to the 'Eye of the Moon' series, Johnny Dodge is in a coma after a car crash, and his friend Percy means to expose the culprits who tried to kill Johnny.

Historical drama with supernatural overtones. 3.5 stars

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

Nancy wrote: "We have finally put the medical issues successfully behind us and my brain is beginning to function again. Over the last four weeks my poor spouse has had three surgeries (the last completely unexp..."

Glad to hear things are getting better with your family Nancy.

My review of The Widows’ Guide to Murder by Amanda Ashby

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

May the Wolf Die is a strong, fast paced debut thriller. My five star review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Down for the Count by Stuart Kaminsky

Toby Peters #10. ----- L.A., about 1943. Toby needs to save heavyweight champ Joe Louis from a murder charge. This is another fun likeable Toby Peters mystery; I liked it -- 3 stars.

I read Sovereign by C.J. Sansom
It is set in Tudor England during the reign of Henry VIII. I recommend this book and the series. My 4 star review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I'm kicking off the month with Silent as the Grave by Rhys Bowen and Clare Broyles https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Randy wrote: "Nancy wrote: "We have finally put the medical issues successfully behind us and my brain is beginning to function again. Over the last four weeks my poor spouse has had three surgeries (the last co..."

Thank you, Randy! It's good to everything bad behind us now. Finally!

Barbara wrote: "Nancy wrote: "We have finally put the medical issues successfully behind us and my brain is beginning to function again. Over the last four weeks my poor spouse has had three surgeries (the last co..."

Thank you, Barbara! It's been such a long road but things are definitely better now.

Nancy, I too am glad that your husband is doing well.

I am reading

I Got a Name: The Murder of Krystal Senyk

Eliza Robertson

The Ladies Road Guide to Utter Ruin is great fun. My four star review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

The Big Empty by Robert Crais

Private investigators Elvis Cole and Joe Pike - who are a formidable team - look for a missing person.

Good thriller. 4 stars

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

Araych wrote: "Down for the Count by Stuart Kaminsky

Toby Peters #10. ----- L.A., about 1943. Toby needs to save heavyweight champ Joe Louis from a murder charge. This is an..."

I like the Toby Peters books.

My review of Echoes on the Fens by Joy Ellis

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

Now starting BLUFFING MR. CHURCHILL (2005) by John Lawton, the fourth novel in his mystery series set during and after WWII that features Inspector Troy of Scotland Yard. The book was originally published in the U.K. back in 2001 with the title RIPTIDE.

I have been reading Lawton's newest mystery/thriller series, which has a couple of the characters that carry over from the Troy series. I figured I was overdue to check out some of the earlier novels that I had missed.

Nancy wrote: "We have finally put the medical issues successfully behind us and my brain is beginning to function again. Over the last four weeks my poor spouse has had three surgeries (the last completely unexp..."

That must be a relief, Nancy. Long may peace reign for you both!

Regency England is often depicted as romantically glamorous, but Viscount Sebastian St Cyr's investigation of shadowy murders and his wife Hero's research into the abject poverty of the time, show a very different picture. C.S. Harris writes THE best historical mysteries. Who Speaks for the Damned is terrific.
My review of Who Speaks for the Damned

I was caught offguard by this surprising little short story, The Curfew Tolls by Stephen Vincent Benét. It's available free online, and I've included the link in my review. It's a quick read - give it a go. 😊
My review of The Curfew Tolls

I finished my 19th book

Currently reading: Deaths Acre ~ Bill Bass & Jon Jefferson
Just finished: If She Knew ~ Blake Pierce

I finished Witness 8 by Steve Cavanagh


The first book I've read by this author but it won't be the last: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I read A Lesson In Dying by Ann Cleeves It is a police procedural set in northern England. I recommend it to fans of the author. My 4 star review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

⭐⭐⭐.8 for #11 in the Irish Village Mystery series - Murder in an Irish Garden by Carlene O'Connor https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

I'm ending the week with a trip to the wine country via the pages of Running on Empty by Karin Fitz Sanford https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Thomas wrote: "Nancy, I too am glad that your husband is doing well."

Very sweet of you, Thomas! I appreciate it.

I recently reread A Great Deliverance by Elizabeth George, the first Lynley/Havers mystery in the series. Oh my god. I thought I was going to die of boredom. Had she taken out all of the personal issues plaguing the main characters, the mystery would have been solved in like a few chapters. I get that she is setting the stage for character development for the later books, but sheesh.

Jannelies (living between hope and fear) wrote: "I finished Witness 8 by Steve Cavanagh


The first book I've read by this author but it won't be the last: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show......"
Hi Jannelies, nice review. I read this as an ARC back in August which was my introduction to Steve Cavanagh also. I gave it a 5* review too.
You reminded me I do need to read more of his.

(my review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...)

Shy Creatures is a character rich story that slowly sucked me in. My four star review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

PattyMacDotComma wrote: "Nancy wrote: "We have finally put the medical issues successfully behind us and my brain is beginning to function again. Over the last four weeks my poor spouse has had three surgeries (the last co..."

Thank you so much! Agreed!!

⭐⭐⭐.8 for the first in a new series - The Widows’ Guide to Murder by Amanda Ashby. An easy fun read and I have #2 lined up, ready to go. 💖📚

What You Leave Behind by Wanda M. Morris

A lawyer returns to her hometown of Brunswick, Georgia and comes across a scheme to fleece Black residents.

Good book with historical, supernatural, and mystery elements. 4 stars

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

I finished You Killed Me First by John Marrs


Five stars, of course!
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I finished Everyone in the Group Chat Dies by L.M. Chilton


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

Metropolis by Philip Kerr

Bernie Gunther #14 but is written as a prequel to the series. Berlin, 1928. Bernie has been promoted to the murder squad which is investigating 2 serial killers -- someone is killing prostitutes and someone is killing disabled veterans of the Great War. As always Karr presents a wonderful portrait of the place and time but for me the plot lacked something. Not Kerr's best work. 3 stars.

My review of Death at Porthcurno Cove by Sally Rigby

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

Not Our Daughter

I enjoy novels written by Chad Zunker. He takes common fears, longings, ambition and gives a twist to the scenario. Clever writing of a couple wanting to adopt a child and they do, but the journey is not what they expected.

Anytime characters in a novel disappear completely from the grid, I am hooked. Get on for the ride and the resolution. Very likeable and believable characters in the novel. I also enjoyed reading more about Chad Zunker's journey into writing. I love that he never gave up his dream despite setbacks and find him to be an inspiration. I just published my first novel "The Bayou Heist" and received many rejections. I am just so pleased to publish in my favorite genre.

I hope to have the opportunity to meet Mr. Zunker one day and learn more of the process of marketing a book. Right now, I am searching for beta readers for my second novel. Cheers!

I recently finished the excellent play, The Amazing Dr Clitterhouse by Barre Lyndon

It was turned into a film with Edward G Robinson. The play was set in London, and originally starred Ralph Richardson. I still haven’t seen the film, although I believe it was Americanized.

I just finished reading The Wrong Daughter My Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I finished Shot on the Downs by Victor L. Whitechurch in the early hours this morning.

I read Vera Wong's Guide to Snooping on a Dead Man by Jesse Q. Sutanto
It is a hilarious book and #2 in the series, but works as a stand alone.
My 5 star review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I just finished the dark hours by Amy Jordan and now reading you kill me first and the favourites x

The Note by Alafair Burke

A vacation in the Hamptons takes a dark turn for three longtime female friends.

Good suspense novel. 3.5 stars

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

A reminder to check out this free publication with lengthy preview samples, Buzz Books 2025 Spring/Summer. They even have links to request review copies from NetGalley. I mentioned a few books that interest me and have a link to the download page.
My review of Buzz Books 2025 Spring/Summer