The Mystery, Crime, and Thriller Group discussion

John wrote: "Nikki wrote: "I just finished reading The Woods. It's the second book I've read by Harlan Coben. I really love his writing style."

Hi Nikki. I haven't read any Harlan Coben yet, and I guess I shou..."

Hi John,

The first book I read was Caught. I like that Coben throws in enough red herrings to keep you interested and a little confused. I'm trying to read all his stand alone books, but also work through my to do list!

Nikki wrote: "John wrote: "Nikki wrote: "I just finished reading The Woods. It's the second book I've read by Harlan Coben. I really love his writing style."

Hi Nikki. I haven't read any Harlan Coben yet, and I..."

Hi Nikki,

Thanks for the response. Hmmn. So many to choose from. I'll go over to Amazon, close my eyes and stick a pin in on his author page. It's good to to have a recommendation, though at present I'm feeling a little 'Caught'. :-)

Best,

John

Starting this week on

I'm currently reading Sworn to Silence by Linda Castillo. My first by this author, and I'm really enjoying it. A recommendation from someone here (I think!)

Nikki wrote: "John wrote: "Nikki wrote: "I just finished reading The Woods. It's the second book I've read by Harlan Coben. I really love his writing style."

Hi Nikki. I haven't read any Harlan Coben yet, and I..."

Oh yeah! I read Caught too. Great, as always!

Aiesha wrote: "Nikki wrote: "John wrote: "Nikki wrote: "I just finished reading The Woods. It's the second book I've read by Harlan Coben. I really love his writing style."

Hi Nikki. I haven't read any Harlan Co..."

OK! :-)

Tay wrote: "I'm now reading The Black Box by Michael Connelly"

Michael Connelly is one of my favorite authors. I'm still playing catch up with all his books, but I'm going slow because I don't want them to end!

Ursula wrote: "I'm currently reading "

If you like Gerritsen read "The Bone Garden". Great book.

Just got back from the library with four of the authors mentioned on this very board. Not the same titles. I like to read in chrono order so I don't miss any backstory that pops up.

Those of you who recommended stinkers. Don't make me come over there.

Just finished Black Order: A Sigma Force Novel by James Rollins.

Review here: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Started The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler

Dipanjan wrote: "Just finished Black Order: A Sigma Force Novel by James Rollins.

Review here: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Started The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler"

I loved The Big Sleep. Hmmn, now I'm wondering if I ever rated it. Must check ... :-)

John wrote: "I loved The Big Sleep..."

See if you can find a copy of the Raymond Chandler Omnibus. Contains the Big Sleep and three others considered his best work.



The Simple Art of Murder has commentary by Chandler and a good sample of his earlier novellas. It doesn't include Red Wind that has my favorite Chandler line:

"There was a desert wind blowing that night. It was one of those hot dry Santa Anas that come down through the mountain passes and curl your hair and make your nerves jump and your skin itch. On nights like that every booze party ends in a fight. Meek little wives feel the edge of the carving knife and study their husbands' necks. Anything can happen. You can even get a full glass of beer at a cocktail lounge."

http://www.design.caltech.edu/erik/Mi...

Ken, I've read that line in one of Chandler's first four Phillip Marlowe novels, but which one escapes me at the moment.

Finished Life of Pi, and staredDivergent

Ken wrote: "John wrote: "I loved The Big Sleep..."

See if you can find a copy of the Raymond Chandler Omnibus. Contains the Big Sleep and three others considered his best work.



The Simple Art of Murder ha..."

Oh man, I really love that quote!

Finished , it was better than expected. Now I'm reading,

I'm currently reading Fever Dream by Lincoln Child. Just finished Blood Gospel. Hope this one is a page turner too.

Reading and loving it so far.

I'm just starting The Burn Palace by Stephen Dobyns.

Brenda wrote: "I'm currently reading Sworn to Silence by Linda Castillo. My first by this author, and I'm really enjoying it. A recommendation from someone here (I think!)"

I recently read this book and was quite impressed that is a first novel. She holds nothing back in the murders and adds just enough suspects that each choice made sense. Even the ending unfolded in time and wasn't rushed or forced. I like that the main character is flawed and scarred from earlier incidents and she is still a strong woman who doesn't make silly decisions.

Teresa in Ohio wrote: "Brenda wrote: "I'm currently reading Sworn to Silence by Linda Castillo. My first by this author, and I'm really enjoying it. A recommendation from someone here (I think!)"

I recently read this bo..."

Thanks Teresa..I'm about half way through, and loving it!

Linda wrote: "Finished , it was better than expected..."

I expected a lot and it delivered, I loved that book... :-)

I was really surprised how good it was.

Just finished . Very good fun though suspense is lost in the farce. it keeps you entertained rather than on your toes and delivers the surprise at the end which is all the better for being unexpected.

Linda wrote: "Finished , it was better than expected. Now I'm reading, "

I really enjoyed Divergent.

Brenda wrote: "Teresa in Ohio wrote: "Brenda wrote: "I'm currently reading Sworn to Silence by Linda Castillo. My first by this author, and I'm really enjoying it. A recommendation from someone here (I think!)"
..."

yw, just got the second one in the series. I love Karin slaughter and for some reason this book seems to be of same caliber.

Teresa in Ohio wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Teresa in Ohio wrote: "Brenda wrote: "I'm currently reading Sworn to Silence by Linda Castillo. My first by this author, and I'm really enjoying it. A recommendation from someone he..."

I think you're right there Teresa...I too love Karin's work. I looked at reserving the second one at my library when I finished the first yesterday, but thought I'll wait awhile...I have LOTS of others to read!

After reading how you were enjoying Sworn to Silence, I got a preview and it was so good I got the book too. Hope to tell you soon how much I enjoyed it also.

I have just finished reading which is quite a surprise for me because I never like History subject during my student's years. And currently locked reading which is a bit prison break-esque to me.

Just finished The End of Everything by Megan Abbott. She's one of my favourite noir writers. So original and so dark. Has anyone else read this?

Antonia wrote: "Marjorie wrote: "I'm reading Denise Mina's "Garnethill." She's a Scottish writer and her books are based in Glasgow.
"

i read "the dead hour" ( The Dead Hour: A Novel ) by her some time back and ..."

Ooh great recommendation - thanks!

Reading Divergent, and istening tô Crime and Punishment

I just finished and loved it, 5 stars. I'm now reading .

Ctgt wrote: "Ken wrote: "John wrote: "I loved The Big Sleep..."

See if you can find a copy of the Raymond Chandler Omnibus. Contains the Big Sleep and three others considered his best work.



You can't do better than Raymond Chandler. He defined the genre.
Fred

Iris wrote: "After reading how you were enjoying Sworn to Silence, I got a preview and it was so good I got the book too. Hope to tell you soon how much I enjoyed it also."

can't wait to see how you feel about it, For it being a first novel is quite developed in writing and characters. I love the fact that the female character is strong, opiniated and independent but flawed at the same time.

Based on recommendations in this very thread, I started reading some Lawrence Block. In this case, Small Town. I am eating it up and I thought I would share a couple of observations.

Small Town, my first Block venture, had a familiar feel to it. I finally realized I felt like I was reading Tom Wolfe. Is this the 'New (now old) Journalism' style?

Part of why I felt it was like Wolfe's work was the characters seemed similar, either in their personalities or in their literary style. They could have stepped out of the pages of The Bonfire of the Vanities

I think it was a review of one of Dennis Lehane's bookks where the reviewer said the reader cares about the characters but wouldn't want them within a mile of their home. That's the same reaction I have to Small Town, but for opposite reasons than Kenzie and Gennero. The Manhattanites seemed self-indulgent dilettantes. I'm not crazy about books that have a writer for one of the main characters. Seems a copout to me. Writers just aren't that interesting.

Have been sticking to re-reads the last month or more as a ploy to not procrastinate with an artwork commission, which I will do if I have books I can't put down ... you know how that goes.

However, all good intentions aside, two of my hold requests came up at the library, so have just finished one The Boyfriendand am about halfway through NYPD Red.

Thomas Perry book was good, as always, very competent mystery writer although this one seemed a little 'uninspired' ... and NYPD Red is Patterson's usual high speed thriller.

Reading Sleeping in Eden: A Noveland an ARC of Reconstructing Amelia.

Ken wrote: "Based on recommendations in this very thread, I started reading some Lawrence Block. In this case, Small Town. I am eating it up and I thought I would share a couple of observations.

Small Town,..."

I have not read Small Town but have read the first several books in his Matthew Scudder series, which I really love. I also have Burglars Can't Be Choosers and Hit Man waiting in the wings. Needless to say, I'm a big fan.

Was wondering if anyone would like to read the first chapter of my book, I am currently working on.

http://www.goodreads.com/story/show/2...

Wasn't sure where else to post this... Is there a thread I could post this type of thing?

Liz wrote: "Was wondering if anyone would like to read the first chapter of my book, I am currently working on.

http://www.goodreads.com/story/show/2...

Wasn't sure where..."

Hi Liz. You should probably post this on one of the 'Authors' groups (I'm an author myself, but try not to talk about my own writings on these threads). However, if you'd like to 'friend' me on Goodreads, I'll take a look and send you over some comments, OK?
By the way, don't expect wisdom :-)

John wrote: "Liz wrote: "Was wondering if anyone would like to read the first chapter of my book, I am currently working on.

http://www.goodreads.com/story/show/2...

Wasn..."

My apologies, I wasn't sure where to send it. I am not a author as yet. So wasn't sure if I should send it to the Authors Groups. But thanks for letting me know :)

Liz wrote: "John wrote: "Liz wrote: "Was wondering if anyone would like to read the first chapter of my book, I am currently working on.

http://www.goodreads.com/story/show/2......"

Hey, Liz, if you're writing, you're an author. You're just not published yet :-)

Just finished a fantastic book titled Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk by Ben Fountain - beautifully written, every page an emotional torrent and a great story in which not a lot happens except that a hero finds out who he really is and what love means. Great book. Five stars. Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk

John wrote: "Liz wrote: "John wrote: "Liz wrote: "Was wondering if anyone would like to read the first chapter of my book, I am currently working on.

http://www.goodreads.com/story/show/2...-..."

What a extremely nice thing to say John... Oh and John is my lead characters name in my book :)

just finished The Anatomist's Wife... pretty good for first foray into period mysteries but just too bland for me.

Finished



Seriously...I'm Kidding
by Ellen DeGeneres
3/30 ****
a few places she was too cute but overall good.

Started



When it Happens to You
by Molly Ringwald

Currently in the middle of Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger.

I'm reading Private Games by James Patterson

Finished Entertaining, fast pacing, rather interesting plotting although I did find myself hesitating with the movie-script segments used for the antagonist. As a non-movie/TV watcher that type of writing does not read smoothly for me.