The Mystery, Crime, and Thriller Group discussion

Starting The Savage Garden today. And I'm staying away from this summer's discussion until after I've read it.

I have been having real trouble getting init Savage Garden. I've been reading off and on for months and I am still only 21% into the book. If it doesn't pick up soon I shall have to abandon it. Maybe you'll like it better.

Jan, I lost interest in Amangasett mid-way through. I hope it doesn't happen with this one too.

Have given up on Rebels and Traitorsby Lindsay Davies. It read more like a history text book detailing military manoeuvres and various battles and skirmishes, displaying the authors knowledge of the period rather than a piece of historical fiction built around the events of the time. Too dry and unpalatable. The fictional characters did not engage me and I couldn't care what happened to them!!! (I hope this type of writing doesn't apply to the Marcus Didius Falco series by the same author as I have a couple of those books in a stack of books waiting to be read). I got about one third of the way through the book (only because I was stuck on a long train journey) and now I have decided that life is too short to waste struggling through a book that I am not enjoying!!!! Time to move on to something else - think I will try The Fury by Jason Pinter next.

Colette wrote: "Have given up on Rebels and Traitorsby Lindsay Davies. It read more like a history text book detailing military manoeuvres and various battles and skirmishes, displaying the authors..."

Colette, I borrowed it from the library, read a chapter, and decided that if I was going to read it, I'd have to do so on my Kindle. So, at some point, I'll try it again when I don't have to hold it.

Donna wrote: "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..."

Don't know what to say, Donna... It's not really coming together, but it is interesting in a weird way. Have decided to read slowly, which I'm sure will confuse me even more, but I have given up on so many books recently that I am loath to chuck this one too.

Am re-reading The Samurai's Garden, which is a lovely story. And have started Middlesex. No mysteries this week.

Sigh. Trip to Half-Price books resulted in bag of 8 books, two by authors I heard about here, so some new authors to check out.

T wrote: "Sigh. Trip to Half-Price books resulted in bag of 8 books, two by authors I heard about here, so some new authors to check out."

That's a sigh of satisfaction, right?

Happy Happy Joy Joy, new reading material!

Finished The Thief-Taker and really enjoyed it, so I'll be reading the sequel at some point. I'm now reading The Taken on my Nook. Really good so far.

Dorie wrote: "Finished The Thief-Taker and really enjoyed it, so I'll be reading the sequel at some point. I'm now reading The Taken on my Nook. Really good so far."

Dorie, did you read The Calling?

K.B. wrote: "Dorie wrote: "Finished The Thief-Taker and really enjoyed it, so I'll be reading the sequel at some point. I'm now reading The Taken on my Nook. Really good so far."..."

Yep, loved it. Good thing, too. The author doesn't give you much in the way of an intro with this book. But I did read the first, so it's all good.

I tend to stick with a genre/locale/ethnicity when I find something I like - right now I'm fascinated by Scandinavian detective mysteries by Ake Edwardson (Erik Winter series), Hakan Nesser ( Mind's Eye), and now Arnaldur Indridason (Jar City). I refuse to read a series out of order and reserve all of them from my library. Next up will be the Stieg Larsson trilogy.

Marjorie wrote: "I'm reading Denise Mina's "Garnethill." She's a Scottish writer and her books are based in Glasgow.
Maureen O'Donnell, a young woman with a problematic personal and family history (we learn early..."

Marjorie, I think Denise Mina is very gifted and I've read all her books. I think if you enjoy them, you should investigate Cold Graniteby Stuart MacBride and his followup novels. They also take you right into the heart of Scotland.

I'm about a quarter of the way through The Savage Garden, and so far, I'm enjoying it. And it's moving along pretty quickly. Though I must say that I'm always perplexed by the "gardens" protrayed in some European literature. They sound enormous, fascinating, surreal. Where I live, a garden is an itty bitty bit of an itty bitty yard that you've planted with something other than grass.

Just finished SISTER by ROSAMUND LUPTON not bad. Am now going back to THE GUARDIANS by ANDREW PYPER, I paused my reading of this to read Sister, and was impressed from the outset.

K.B. wrote: "I'm about a quarter of the way through The Savage Garden, and so far, I'm enjoying it. And it's moving along pretty quickly. Though I must say that I'm always perplexed by the "garde..."

Was pretty good, this book. I'm curious to hear what you think of the ending. Will say no more...

Hayes, I'm somewhere past the half way point and I'm still shaking my head at how long Adam took to realize why there are nine levels to the ampitheater. I got that one right away; in fact, I was ranting at him the way my husband rants at the Eagles when he's watching them on tv!

I'm reading Kindred in Death by J.D. Robb.

Jill wrote: "Marjorie wrote: "I'm reading Denise Mina's "Garnethill." She's a Scottish writer and her books are based in Glasgow.
Maureen O'Donnell, a young woman with a problematic personal and family histo..."

I wholeheartedly agree. I've read all of Denise Mina's books, save for her most recent, Still Midnight, which I bought when it came out but have not yet gotten to. And excellent suggestion in Stuart MacBride. He, too, is a very talented Scottish author. I'd say that in the books by both authors, the characters are well-developed and interesting, and the stories are hard-core, gruesome and grisly, but with just the right amount of humor. Two of my favorite authors.

Did everyone know that October is Mystery Month? To celebrate, I'm trying to get a little more caught up in two of my favorite series, those written by William Kent Krueger and Louise Penny. I'm reading Thunder Bay: A Cork O'Connor Mystery now, and I'm really enjoying it. Next on my list is The Cruellest Month .

Hi y'all. I just finished The Burning Wire by Jeffery Deaver. IMO it was his best yet. It only took me a couple of days to read it. Thoroughly realistic and terrifying. I always try to guess at the way it will end and who the bad guy/woman it is. I have to say I never would have solved it. I have just started Something Wicked This Way Comes by [author Ray Bradbury|1630]. I'm only about a quarter way through it. I'99% positive that I won't be able to figure out the end of this one.

JF The Murder Room: The Heirs of Sherlock Holmes Gather to Solve the World's Most Perplexing Cold Cases; great stories, poor writing.

JS Dracula No sparkly vampires for me.

Dracula is da man. I'll never forget reading it at summer camp, after lights out, under the covers of my blank.

Vince wrote: "
JS Dracula No sparkly vampires for me. ..."

Finished The Savage Garden and will post my thoughts to the thread from this summer. Started The Railway Detective, which so far is a really good book.

I couldnt get into Dracula in the beginning. I really got interested a little after the middle of the book. Im so glad that I read it. I just loved The Beast. It was definitely a heart-breaker.

K.B. wrote: "Finished The Savage Garden and will post my thoughts to the thread from this summer. Started The Railway Detective, which so far is a really good book."

I really liked the Railway Detective books. And they introduced me to other Edward Marston series, in particular, Elizabethan Theater and Domesday. I think he does a good job setting the historical scene and creating sympathetic characters.

Based on comments on this site, I picked up a PJ Tracy, Laura Lippman and a Brian Freeman to try....Not that I'm running short of all my usual favorites!

Now reading River of Darkness by Rennie Airth, who is new to me. It has a good opening at least.

Finished The Woods which I really enjoyed for the group read and then went to my large TBR pile and picked up Southwesterly Wind by Luiz Alfredo Garcia-Roza. It's certainly not your normal police procedural and I am finding it very interesting.

Also downloaded the audio of The Perfect Murder by H.R.F. Keating and already I am becoming very fond of Insp. Ghote.

Dorie wrote: "Now reading River of Darkness by Rennie Airth, who is new to me. It has a good opening at least."

I thoroughly enjoyed River of Darkness. It took years for him to come out with his second, The Blood-Dimmed Tide, which I am still reading. Then, I got his third book last year - on my TBR.

I felt in the mood of something of a page turner after The White Company, so I've started one of the Bookman series; The Bookman's Promise by John Dunning. For my bedtime book, I'm reading The Blight by John Creasey, about a plague?? that is affecting the world's trees.. Both are nice reads.

Jan C wrote: "I thoroughly enjoyed River of Darkness. It took years for him to come out with his second, The Blood-Dimmed Tide, which I am still reading. Then, I got his third book last year - on my TBR..."

I'm glad they're ready and waiting for me. I hate waiting!

I know what you mean, Dorie.

Kari wrote: "
The John Dunning books are some of my favorite.
..."

Kari, I LOVE John Dunning, both his series featuring mystery solving book collector Cliff Janeway (first in the series is Booked to Die) and his standalones. I think Two O'Clock, Eastern Wartime is outstanding, both as a mystery and as a description of old time radio and the social and political dynamics in the U.S during WWII.

Carol/Bonadie wrote: "Kari wrote: "
The John Dunning books are some of my favorite.
..."

Kari, I LOVE John Dunning, both his series featuring mystery solving book collector Cliff Janeway (first in the series is [book:B..."

Somehow I thought I had read all of John Dunning, but I missed Two O'Clock ... Thanks for the tip!

Kari wrote: "Carol/Bonadie wrote: "Kari wrote: "
The John Dunning books are some of my favorite.
..."

Kari, I LOVE John Dunning, both his series featuring mystery solving book collector Cliff Janeway (firs..."

I've been reading Two O'Clock, Eastern Wartime for years. I guess I've been reading it in fits and starts. It's a big book ... interesting. But I guess I've been finding it hard to follow - probably because this book gets interspersed with others. But I am closing in on the end. It has made it to the bedside table (desk) so I guess I am within the last 100 pages.

I just finished Carol O'Connell's Shell Game and The Winter Garden Mystery by Carola Dunn. I think she captures the mood of the between the wars era.

Finished listening to The Eyre Affair and enjoyed it. Has anyone read the others in the series?

I just finished listening to The Blind Contessa's New Machine and it was okay, but when I read non-mysteries I find myself waiting for something to happen. Tomorrow, I'll start either Compulsion by Jonathan Kellerman, An Incomplete Revenge by Jacqueline Winspear (although I'm afraid I may have read both of them) or Divine Justice (Camel Club 4) by David Baldacci. I like all three series, but I'm thinking I might need the Baldacci first.

I also started Bones of Betrayal, by Jefferson Bass last night. I really like this series - I'm a sucker for forensics - but I'm trying to make them last.

I found a new series by Steven James (The Bowers Files) The books are about a Patrick Bower, who is an environmental criminologist who employs geospatial technology which explores the time and place a crime takes place. So far the first book is very good. It's new and interesting. The books in the series are as follows:
The Pawn
The Rook
The Knight
The Bishop

I am told there will be eight books in the series. Has anybody read this series or have any reviews to offer me. I am about a fifth of the way into book one and I'm really enjoying it.

Lauren wrote: "Finished listening to The Eyre Affair and enjoyed it. Has anyone read the others in the series? "

I've read the first three. They are a lot of fun. I just adore Miss Havesham, yes that one from Great Expectations. Does she show up in #1, or is it #2 and #3? Cant remember.

I thought they were good, but I will stop at #3 because the premise is wearing a little thin for me.

@Lauren and Hayes - The Mrs Danvers clone army cracked me up, can't remember which Thursday book it was in.

Finished The Railway Detective. It was fun. Colbeck is a bit too Holmesian for me. (There's only one Sherlock Holmes, and I do wish authors would quit trying to recreate him in different guises.) The plot was good but it could have used a few false leads to make it more believable. 3 stars.

That's what I thought too, K.B. I'll try the next in the series on the hopes that it will be a little more "fleshed out". Have you read any of his other series?

Hayes, I started one of the Domesday books, but I got sidetracked and it had to go back to the library. But I'm sure I'll try another one. Sooner or later, Colbeck will have to make a mistake. And I suspect at some point, Marston will tell the story of Colbeck's decision to join the police. Surely there's an entire book in that.

I did really like Leeming though. I found his understated humor to be wonderful.

Bettie wrote: "@Lauren and Hayes - The Mrs Danvers clone army cracked me up, can't remember which Thursday book it was in."

Hayes and Bettie -- thanks for your thoughts on Thursday Next. I'll look forward to Mrs. Havesham and the Mrs. Danvers clone army! I picked up First Among Sequels for $1.99 at a book sale and I now see it's the last/fifth book, so I will probably end up reading them all.

K.B. wrote: "Hayes, I started one of the Domesday books, but I got sidetracked and it had to go back to the library. But I'm sure I'll try another one. Sooner or later, Colbeck will have to make a mistake. And ..."

I've read the Domesday and Elizabethan Theater series and liked them both. I didn't think I'd like the theater ones but I found more humor in the characters than the others and the hero is not as infallible. As I recall, the conflicts and crimes are more varied in this series as well. Domesday was good because they travel to different cities in each book, although they do seem to run together after awhile. I like his total series more than any one book in the series; to me, they read more like a monthly magazine serial.

Jan C wrote: "Kari wrote: "Carol/Bonadie wrote: "Kari wrote: "
The John Dunning books are some of my favorite.
..."

Kari, I LOVE John Dunning, both his series featuring mystery solving book collector Cliff ..."

I have to say I agree about Two o'clock Eastern Wartime. I was disappointed with it. Maybe because I expected more of the Bookman type story, but I really had difficulty with it. I prefer the Bookman stories

Fred wrote: "I found a new series by Steven James (The Bowers Files) The books are about a Patrick Bower, who is an environmental criminologist who employs geospatial technology which explores the time and plac..."

I have read all of The Bowers Files series and love them. The mysteries are great and I believe he has even gotten better in the later books. He continues to develop the relationship with his step daughter and the problem that entails too over the series.

Thanks Tina, I have been in a read funk lately and I'm really enjoy The Pawn. I can't wait to see where it goes and with (so I hear) 8 books in the series I have a lot to look forward to. My guess for last four book are King, Queen, Check and Checkmate (there is the possibility of Castle as one of them as well).