The Mystery, Crime, and Thriller Group discussion

Chris wrote:
Now started Intensity by Koontz. I have been itching to read this since I first saw it mentioned on this board. ..."

Ooh Chris, I hope you share about it often while you are reading. Would love to relive this creepy book.

Taking a short break from Drood and back to reading The Dogs Of Rome.

Just finished All My Enemies by Barry Maitland. Published in the U.S. out of order. But another excellent read from him.

Gatorman wrote: "Just started Prince of Thieves. Interested to see how good Hogan is away from The Strain trilogy."

This is quite good; you do know it's the new Affleck movie, "The Town". Don't want you to spoil the book by seeing the movie at the same time.

Still reading The Likeness, but my library is suddenly getting ahead of me, so I'm also reading The Murder Room: The Heirs of Sherlock Holmes Gather to Solve the World's Most Perplexing Cold Cases. Some fascinating stories so far.

I'm currently reading The Burning Wire by Jeffery Deaver. I just love his books. This one starts out with a blast!
I just finished Deception: An Alex Delaware Novel byJonathan Kellerman. It was not one of my favorites by him. But it still held my attention.

Just finished One for the Money my first one by Evanovich. Will be reading the rest of the series! Now on to The Imperfectionists

I'm currently reading Arthur Conan Doyle's, The White Company, which I'm finding interesting but a bit of a slow read. It's a historical novel about Sir Nigel Loring and his knightly adventures in France.

I'm also reading Kingsley Amis', The Green Man which is more interesting; a ghost story mystery, so far anyway. It's definitely holding my attention.

Just finished Two Lethal Lies by Annie Solomon. I won it here at GR, it showed up Friday and I read it yesterday. Yow! What a thriller. Could not put it down.

Bill wrote: "I'm currently reading Arthur Conan Doyle's, The White Company, which I'm finding interesting but a bit of a slow read. It's a historical novel about Sir Nigel Loring and his knightly adventures in ..."

I enjoyed what I read of The White Company, but I didn't get to finish it before my husband "straightened" my books up. Now it's buried somewhere and I have yet to find it.

I just finished Still Missing, and it was soooo good. I highly recommend it to those who like Karin Slaughter, Gillian Flynn, Lisa Gardner, and others like them.

Currently reading Heartstone by CJ Sansom, great to be back in the world of Matthew Shardlake and the intrigues of Tudor England again!!!

Colette wrote: "Currently reading Heartstone by CJ Sansom, great to be back in the world of Matthew Shardlake and the intrigues of Tudor England again!!!"

Still jealous that you all east of the Atlantic are enjoying Hearstone already!

I'm reading The Reversal by Michael Connelly.

Had to backtrack a tad because I missed Crowner John #5 The Tinner's Corpse: A Crowner John Mystery. I love this series, solid 3* all the way through and John de Wolfe also features in the The Tainted Relic: An Historical Mystery

Good luck finding it. lol.. Darn hubby's and they're straightening up.. It's a nice little story of its type.

Finally, at long last, after weeks of reading... (yeah, ok, I'll quit channeling now) I have finished Drood.

I just started THE DAMAGE DONE by Hilary Davidson and I'm enjoying it. (A crime story in which a woman searches for her sister.) Next up for me is THINK OF A NUMBER. It's a serial killer story, which I have swore off of, but my discussion group has chosen it, so I'm trying to be open minded and to participate. We'll see.
L.J.
Secrets to Die For
The Baby Thief
The Sex Club
The Suicide Effect
Thrilled to Death

Think of a Number is a fantastic read! Quite different.

Just finished Heartstoneby CJ Sansom!!! Couldn't put it down!!! I was transported back to the days of Henry VIII's England at a time of war. Sansom's words really bring Tudor England to life, so much so that you could almost smell the vile stenchs of its streets and alleys and taste the bad beer and rancid meat that it's poor population had to endure!!! Hope there will be another instalment in the Shardlake series very soon!!!!

Colette wrote: "Just finished Heartstoneby CJ Sansom!!! Couldn't put it down!!! I was transported back to the days of Henry VIII's England at a time of war. Sansom's words really bring Tudor Englan..."

I've read one Samson so far, Dissolution. Quite enjoyed it. He does describe the period quite well.

Oh lucky you, Bill. You have some catching up to do. When I "discovered" Sansom, I had to gobble up all the other Shardlake books. It's rather nice to find an author you like and have a sizable backlist of books to read.

Currently working on Ashes to Ashes for the group read.

Just started The Thief-Taker: Memoirs of a Bow Street Runner.

K.B. wrote: "Oh lucky you, Bill. You have some catching up to do. When I "discovered" Sansom, I had to gobble up all the other Shardlake books. It's rather nice to find an author you like and have a sizable bac..."

I used to stick with one author when I found one that I particularly liked. Now I tend to jump around more, maybe for the variety and so I know that there is always a favourite author's book still available if I need the fix. :0)

Just finished J. Kellerman's Deception. Headed for K. Reich's Spider Bones next.

The Black Lizard Big Book of Black Mask Stories. Good read so far.

Dorie wrote: "Just started The Thief-Taker: Memoirs of a Bow Street Runner."

I don't know if it is me or what. But I've had real trouble getting into this book.

I guess I hoped it would be like the Bruce Alexander Sir John Fielding series which I've been enjoying for years.

Finished readingDevil in a Blue Dress by Walter Mosley which I found very interesting and I think I would like to read more about Easy.

Finished listening to Don't Point that Thing at Me by Kyril Bonfiglioli and I have to admit I had trouble getting into it. I don't know if it was the reader or if the book is just a bit dated. I might try another but not as an audiobook.

Jan C wrote: "I don't know if it is me or what. But I've had real trouble getting into this book..."

I'm not far enough into it yet to have an opinion, but the characters at least seem to be unique, so I'm encouraged.

Just finished The Green Man by Kingsley Amis, an interesting ghost story. Not sure what to start next.. maybe a Charlaine Harris..

I got my hands on an ARC of Dennis Lehane's Moonlight Mile, and I'm really enjoying it. It's a continuation of the story begun in Gone Baby Gone with Angie Genarro and Patrick Kenzie. The first two chapters were sent around by Author Tracker.com and they really whet the appetite.

Finished The Likeness and enjoyed it a great deal, unlikely premise & all. Now I'm trying to finish The Murder Room: The Heirs of Sherlock Holmes Gather to Solve the World's Most Perplexing Cold Cases without throwing it across the room. Some fascinating true crime stories are being are being spoiled for me by this author's "style". I'm glad I didn't buy the book. Next up is my Halloween treat, Dracula.

Donna wrote: "Finished readingDevil in a Blue Dress by Walter Mosley which I found very interesting and I think I would like to read more about Easy.

Finished listening to [book:Don't Point that ..."

I had the same problem with "Don't Point That Thing at Me" -- ended up liking it but not enough to run out and get another Bonfiglioli. I listened to the audiobook like you did, so I'll be interested in hearing if you read one in print and like it better.

Hayes wrote: "Hayes wrote: "I found a web site that explains all the references and in jokes... will hunt it down for you, Barbara..."

Try this for Eyre Affair: http://www.jasperfforde.com/reader/re......"

Listening to The Eyre Affair right now, so this is a great resource. Thanks!

Just started reading Wild Penance by Sandi Ault. I liked the first three of this series - reminiscent of Nevada Barr except the protagonist is with the BLM in New Mexico. (Another one for the 50 state challenge!)

Also listening to The Eyre Affair, which I'm enjoying for the literary allusions and the almost believable fantasy -- I'm not much of a fantasy fan, but I like this as it is well mixed in with the mystery.

Finally, just downloaded the first in Susan Wittig Albert's new series The Darling Dahlias and the Cucumber Tree for my e-reader. I've enjoyed the China Bayles series for light mystery, especially b/c I like gardening and growing herbs, and I liked the first few of the Beatrix Potter series, although I have a limited tolerance for talking animals. I've had three dogs and four cats and, as far as I can tell, only one has done any crime-fighting and that was without verbal discussion.

No crime fighting among our family pets, with or without verbal discussion, and I'm not usually fond of talking animal detectives either but I did enjoy Three Bags Full by Leonie Swann. Devoted sheep solve the murder of their shepherd.

Let us know what you think of The Darling Dahlias and the Cucumber Tree

Carol/Bonadie wrote: "I got my hands on an ARC of Dennis Lehane's Moonlight Mile, and I'm really enjoying it. It's a continuation of the story begun in Gone Baby Gone with Angie Genarro and Patrick Kenzie. The first t..."

Hi Carol, I am very jealous. I recently discovered the Kenzie and Genarro series by Lehane and I am really looking forward to this new one.

I'm reading My Name Is Red, which is a strange sort of historical mystery. I'm having a hard time keeping all the bits straight; it jumps around a lot as the story is told from differing points of view. Interesting though: one of the chapters is narrated by a painting!

Donna, send me your email in GR if you want me to forward the first two chapters. They're really good.

Donna wrote: "I recently discovered the Kenzie and Genarro series by Lehane and I am really looking forward to this new one. ..."

Hayes wrote: "I'm reading My Name Is Red, which is a strange sort of historical mystery. I'm having a hard time keeping all the bits straight; it jumps around a lot as the story is told from differin..."

I have My Name is Red on my bookcase and I've dipped into it but never really got into it. Let me know if it comes together and I'll give it another try.

Reading Jack & Jill by James Patterson and enjoying it!

Just finished Sanctuary. I got into it from the beginning but I didn't like the ending too well though. It didn't end like I thought it should.

I'm now reading Finger Lickin' Fifteenfor some light mystery/humor

Marjorie wrote: "I recently discovered Martin Walker. He writes a series about Bruno Courrèges, a small town policeman in the Dordogne region in the southwest of France. So far there have been two books in the seri..."

I loved Bruno! Happy to hear there is a second one available and it looks like there is now a third in the series (Black Diamond) that might not be published yet in the U.S.

I also read his novel, the Caves of Perigord, which was interesting, but not at all like the Bruno books. One of those books that jumps around between historical periods and the present; I remember having to trudge through it a bit.

I loved Bruno too and I am glad to hear about book 3 even if it will be awhile before it hits the US.

Donna wrote: "I loved Bruno too and I am glad to hear about book 3 even if it will be awhile before it hits the US."

I had no idea that there was a second and third book. I really enjoyed the first Bruno book. It was great. Thanks for mentioning it.. wooo hoooooo

Just finished Ashes to Ashes by Tami Hoag. I'm finishing up Home in Carolina by Sherryl Woods and then I will read Dust to Dust continuing with the Tami Hoag series.

I'm reading Black Out by John Lawton. English detective Freddie Troy investigates murders in wartime London during the Blitz and mixes it up with Yanks stationed there. Good stuff, but it took a while to get up and running. Longtime UK resident Lawton gets the Yanks right as only an American writer probably could, though sometimes it's a little over the top -- which I like.

So many great tips on this thread. When will I get to them all?

-- Steve
Steve Anderson

Lauren wrote: ," although I have a limited tolerance for talking animals. I've had three dogs and four cats and, as far as I can tell, only one has done any crime-fighting and that was without verbal discussion."

Lol, Lauren, thanks for the giggles.

Finished Ashes to Ashes last night. Now I'm back to The Dogs Of Rome.

Finally finished The Dogs of Rome. It was pretty good. I hope to see a new Alec Blume book Conor Fitzgerald one day.