The Mystery, Crime, and Thriller Group discussion

Finished Death of an Englishman: A Marshal Guarnaccia Investigation, and I'm not sure what to say. I liked it, but I felt like I was in a swarm of bees. But I've been sick so that probably accounts for part of it.

Starting Death in a Serene City. Might as well make it a week of Italian mysteries.

I'm reading A Study in Scarlet.

Hi everyone. I'm back from my vacation and in between reading maps and visiting museums I managed to read A Far Cry from Kensington by Muriel Spark (who wrote The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie). Enjoyed it very much.

Am also finishing up Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. I have a few more things to read before I can start The Girl Who Played with Fire. *pant pant* cant wait!

I have a tendency to want to sample several books before I really settle in to a book. (Anyone else guilty of this?) Last night, I picked up The Water's Edge by Karin Fossum. It's really good.

I'm reading Crisis by Robin Cook. I usually don't read Robin Cook's books because - though I often like the premise - I think he "pads" his books and there are a lot of boring parts. I'm hoping Crisis is better. Anyone read this?

Barbara wrote: "I'm reading Crisis by Robin Cook. I usually don't read Robin Cook's books because - though I often like the premise - I think he "pads" his books and there are a lot of..."

Gave up on it myself; seemed by-the-numbers IMO.

I don't think I've read anything by Robin Cook since Coma first went to paperback. Sheesh, I hate to think how many years ago that was.

Finished The Book of Old Houses, which was so-so. Good humor, poor mystery. Great storyline about the tub, though.

Arson and Old Lace. Fun read. I am sorry the series was canceled, I also happened with High Rhymes and Misdemeanors.

K.B. wrote: "Finished The Book of Old Houses, which was so-so. Good humor, poor mystery. Great storyline about the tub, though."

I agree the mysteries aren't that great in this series, but it is one I really enjoy. And the line about the tub was funny. Maybe I just like the characters. I frequently find historical errors in her books.

Jan, what's not to like about a character who tries to take a cast iron tub with a sledgehammer? I know I've had days when I'd like to do something similar, but since I definitely do not know how to repair any damage I might cause, I manage to refrain.

I just finished the Killing Floor by Child, The Watchman by Crais, and Shadow Prey by Sandford.
Loved The Watchman.
I am going to start on Charlie Huston's The Shotgun Rule.

but don't try and ride it down the stairs!

Something like this?

The HOA in our neighborhood would have a coniption! (Very tempting.)

about half way done with SwimSuit by James Patterson

Kari wrote: "No HOA here. I have one tub, three toliets, and three sinks. I can plant a lot of flowers."

Feed the neighborhood, like this Australian did:


(Google Images - "bathtub gardens" for more ideas)

Oh Yeah! I should be finishing In the Woods today or tomorrow; in fact, I'm back to it now. Happy gardening!

Vince wrote: "
Feed the neighborhood, like this Australian did:


(Google Images - "bathtub gardens" for m..."

That's cool.

Just finished The Panic Zone by Rick Mofina
and posted my review. 4 out of 5 stars. I like his new protaganist, a journalist, which is a little out of the ordinary. Good writing and fast paced adventure.

Kari wrote: "K.B. wrote: "Jan, what's not to like about a character who tries to take a cast iron tub with a sledgehammer? I know I've had days when I'd like to do something similar, but since I definitely do n..."

We did ours earlier this summer... It is great fun, even if there is one drawback: plaster dust. I'm still cleaning it up. I think I've got it all and then more shows up!

PS: What's an HOA?

PPS: I like the bathtub shrine, myself:

Ah, yes... I've been out of the States too long. No pink flamingos or garden gnomes either, I bet.

Hayes wrote: "Ah, yes... I've been out of the States too long. No pink flamingos or garden gnomes either, I bet."

Actually, around here (South Florida), you might actually see real pink flamingos in the yards (and we do have the obligatory faux ones as well). But mostly in our neighborhood we get ibises and the occasional crane.


REading Winter House by Carol O'Connell.

I'm reading Landmark: The Inside Story of America's New Health Care Law and What It Means for Us All. What a gripping thriller!

I'm reading Juliet by Anne Fortier. It's the authors first book but you would never know it by the writing style. She mixes equal amounts of mystery, romance and humor. It's enough to keep you turning the pages.

I finally found my way to the library today and picked up Below Suspicion by John Dickson Carr, another Dr. Fell story. He wears a shovel hat. The first time I read that I had to google what a shovel hat was.

Not reading a mystery this week, but I just started Galileo's Daughter: A Historical Memoir of Science, Faith, and Love and I think it's going to be a keeper.

Also reading which is incredibly beautiful (also visually; great paintings) and moving.

Starting Death of a Dutchman by Magdalen Nabb. This is the second book in her Marshall Guarnaccia series.

Kari wrote: "I just started I am not too far in but I was looking for a good mystery/thriller. Hoping this fits the bill."

I enjoyed Shutter Island and have read it twice.. it's good. Hope you enjoy it.

Just finished reading The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong.

Currently reading The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Stieg Larsson, which is the final book in the millenium trilogy..

Hi;
Check out the review I just posted on Carl Hiaasen's latest best seller, "Star Island."
http://www.mikedraperinguilford.blogs...
Thanks

I'm reading The French Lieutenant's Woman.

JF: The Passage

SR: The Pure in Heart

Couldn't wait to finish my other books before starting The Girl Who Played with Fire. I'm hooked already!

Just finished In the Woods . (loved it!)
Last Call: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition is still "in transit", so I started Tomato Red by Daniel Woodrell. (Only 169 pgs.)

Started Hell Gate by Linda Fairstein. I liked some of the earlier books better.

Just finished and enjoyed "Innocent" by Turow.
Check out my review at
http://www.mikedraperinguilford.blogs...



Will be starting

Finished . Not her best, I believe, but still ok.

Starting for the groupread. That might become a race against the clock.

I have just started Angel's Game.
I am already feeling a thrill of mystery although nothing much has happened so far.

I just read DEEP CREEK, by Dana Hand. Great stuff. Based on a real-life American crime, the 1887 murders of Chinese gold miners on Idaho's Snake River, and the middle-aged judge who went undercover to nail them, even though pursuing justice might be political suicide in that time and place. Lots of contemporary resonance; also fine clear writing. (And for once a decent love story, between grownups.)

Hi Laura, The nice thing about group reads discussions is that they never really end. You can always add to the thread because we do not close then. To see all the past group read discussions click on the "view all" at the top of the folder.

I just started The Moses Expedition and it is a real page turner. Just what I need for the last long weekend of the summer.

Thanks Donna, I'll check into the older once and take my time for this one. There's always so much other stuff to read....

Kari wrote: "I just started I am not too far in but I was looking for a good mystery/thriller. Hoping this fits the bill."

I had read some of Lehane's other books and like them. I saw the trailer for the movie a year ago and decided to read/listen the book before seeing them movie. I loved the book. Enjoy

European mysteries are consuming me on this long weekend. Just finished A Noble Radiance and have started Outsider in Amsterdam. And now...it's raining! What a shame, i can read all day and feel perfectly justified that i'm not getting out into the sun.

I just finished Faithful Place by Tana French a few days ago. If we could rate half stars I would have given this 4 1/2. I really enjoyed this book and found myself thinking about it when I wasn't reading it. It falls down in the characterization of Mackey's daughter, I think, but really comes to life when Mackey's dysfunctional family is portrayed.
I still highly recommend this book and this author.

One of the things I like best about the Kindle is the ability to sample a book. Never thought I would become such a fan of it.

You WHAT!?!?! Is this the beginning of the apocalypse?

Barry wrote: "I just got my 1st Kindle and was overjoyed to find and read stories by 2 of my favorite writers, Fredric Brown and Jim Thompson. Jim's "Forever After" and Fredric's "The Winch is Dead." Among othe..."

Getting to the end of Silesian Station by David Downing -- an Anglo-American journalist working in Berlin just before WWII breaks out moonlights as a double agent, underground railroader and would-be resistance fighter while hoping to keep his son and girlfriend safe. Lots of nice historical detail, though the story wanders a little between competing plots. Works for me though, since it's much like Alan Furst's books and I'm always up for a historical espionage story.

Happy readin',
Steve Anderson
Besserwisser: A Novel | False Refuge | The Losing Role