The Mystery, Crime, and Thriller Group discussion

Paula wrote: "I'm listening to The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie. So far, so good."

Hi Paula, I will be opening the Group Read folder for this book on Thursday, 4/15/10. I hope you will be joining the discussion.

I finished The Broken Window by Jeffrey Deaver. The story was okay, pretty typical Deaver. What I found more interesting than the plot was the discussion about data mining companies collecting all sorts of information about us (the general public). In this book the perp took advantage of this data to commit and get away with his crimes.

I have just finished The Vows of Silence by Susan Hill, Thoroughly enjoyed it. Now I am having a change from crime and going to read Fortune House by Kirsty Scott.

I finished The Killing Edge last night. Giving it 5*.

Started The Murderer's Daughters this morning. I won this book from Goodreads awhile back and just now getting to it.

Lisa S wrote: "I won this book from Goodreads awhile back and just now getting..."

Lucky you! I haven't won anything from Goodreads... there isn't much to choose from here either, but that's another problem. Let us know how you like it!

Will do Hayes

I finished Invisible Prey by John Sandford. The detective, Lucas Davenport, is on the trail of antique thieves. The plan to profit from the thefts was confusing and - as in too many books - the thieves decide a good offense is to go after the detective. To me this plot device is usually not believable. That said, the book was okay - 3 stars.

Hayes, I finished The Murderer's Daughters and it was nothing like I thought it would be. I thought it was a mystery, but it wasn't.

Wow, that was fast! Did you like it anyway?

It was ok Hayes. I gave it 2*

I finished Nine Dragons about 3 weeks ago. It is one of the latest in the Harry Bosch series by Michael Connelly, who is one of my all-time favourite authors. It was really good, Harry, my all-time favourite book hero, in excellent form, but I was a little disappointed at how it all unravelled towards the ending. I still really enjoyed it but I don't like that I ended up with mixed feelings. Sometimes my expectations are too high I guess.

Finished Devil Bones by Kathy Reichs on Wednesday. Average read for the series.

I finished The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag, which I enjoyed but not quite as much as the first book. (Although I loved the ending much more than the first.) Since I was in the historical mode already, I'm continuing with A Beautiful Blue Death. Fairly good so far. I'm enjoying the friendship between Lenox and Lady Jane, as well as his unique friendship with his butler. I look forward to finding out the background on that relationship.

Hi Dorie, I enjoyed A Beautiful Blue Death very much. I thought the setting was well described and the relationship betwen Lenox and Lady Jane intersting with the potential for a good series. Let us know what you think when you are finished.

Dorie wrote: "I finished The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag, which I enjoyed but not quite as much as the first book. (Although I loved the ending much more than the first.) Since I was in ..."

I'm reading The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag now. I'm up to about page 60 and enjoying it so far.

Hi Dorie and Barbara, When you have a moment check out the discussion of The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie which is this months group read. We would love to hear your thoughts on this book.

I'm listening the the audio of Act Of Treason by Vince Flynn. In this book a motorcade containing the democratic candidates for president and vice-president is involved in a terrorist bombing - but the candidates walk away unharmed. Not so the would-be president's wife, who is killed along with the secret service agent guarding her. Who was the real target? CIA operative Mitch Rapp is on the case!

Barbara wrote: "I'm listening the the audio of Act Of Treason by Vince Flynn. In this book a motorcade containing the democratic candidates for president and vice-president is involved in a terrorist ..."

The reviews of Flynn's books look very good. Do you have to read them in order to enjoy them?

Just finished The Spellmans Strike Again It was good enough. Sounds like she wrapped up a lot of loose ends, though. Is this the last book or something?

Dunno... you can ask her directly at the Q & A session:

http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/1...

i have just finished Polar Star by martin cruz smith and found it marvellous. interesting lead, super minor characters and very colourful. five stars.

Have you read Gorky Park, Antonia? I really liked that one, and I think the movie was an excellent representation of the book.

"gorky park" was the reason i picked that one up. i remembered that i read it years ago and really liked it. haven't seen the film though but if it was a good representation i will certainly watch it! thanks for the tip.

Dorie wrote: "Jan, that was a horrific storyline. Good book though. They refer to that case a lot in this new book."

Dorie - I finished Bones of Betrayal: A Body Farm Novel this week. That was a good book. I can see why they will have to refer back to this case. It had consequences.

Here is my review (I think): http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Antonia wrote: ""gorky park" was the reason i picked that one up. i remembered that i read it years ago and really liked it. haven't seen the film though but if it was a good representation i will certainly watch ..."

I read Gorky Park as a teenager and loved it. The film is a surprisingly good adaptation and William Hurt was excellent as the lead.

Donna wrote: "Barbara wrote: "I'm listening the the audio of Act Of Treason by Vince Flynn. In this book a motorcade containing the democratic candidates for president and vice-president is involved..."

The reviews of Flynn's books look very good. Do you have to read them in order to enjoy them?

Donna, this is my first Flynn book and I'm not having any problem understanding what's going on. I don't think they have to be read in order....but I'm not a person who's compelled to read books in order. I just read whatever I can get my hands on at the moment.

I just finished An Unpardonable Crime: A Novel (The American Boy in the UK) by Andrew Taylor, great crime/mystery read featuring Edgar Allan Poe as a young boy in England.

Hi Kathy... I really want to read this. Will find a copy sooner or later. I might just have to slink back to the library!

Hayes wrote: "Hi Kathy... I really want to read this. Will find a copy sooner or later. I might just have to slink back to the library!"

I hope you find a copy soon, Hayes.

I'm listening to the audio of Quantico by Greg Bear, about terrorists who seem to be planning a biological attack. I'm not too far along yet but it's good so far.

I am going to start Good Morning Midnight by Reginald Hill. Another Dalziel & Pascoe.

I've started A Murderous Procession by Ariana Franklin. Happy to be catching up with Adelia, Rowley, Mansur and of course, King Henry, who is always amusing in these books.

I just finished 2 in the last week. Blindsighted by Karin Slaughter and Obedience by Will Lavender. Both were very good reads and I recommend both books.

Dorie wrote: "I've started A Murderous Procession by Ariana Franklin. Happy to be catching up with Adelia, Rowley, Mansur and of course, King Henry, who is always amusing in these books."

I like the Ariana Franklin books too Dorie. I'm adding this new one to my TBR list.

I finished Act Of Treason by Vince Flynn. I feel like it started off stronger than it ended. CIA operative Mitch Rapp (the investigator in this series) did his job well but I didn't love the way justice was dispensed. That said it's worth reading. I give it 3 stars.

I finished listening to The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie and will resume reading The Spellman Files.

Paula wrote: "I finished listening to The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie and will resume reading The Spellman Files."

I finished today too. I really liked it.

Like Donna, I really enjoyed reading A Beautiful Blue Death. It was a finalist for the Best First Novel Agatha Award in 2007, the same year my A Real Basket Case was. I highly recommend the book, and Charles Finch, the author is the nicest guy!

I finished Quantico by Greg Bear. The first 2/3 or so of the book was pretty good: a plot is being hatched to disperse a super dangerous biological weapon and the FBI and other agencies are trying to stop the culprits. The last part of the book had some major plot twists but was confused and unbelievable. In an afterward the author said the danger of manipulating biological agents (like what happened in his book) was real and so on...and I believe him. The story didn't hold up though. I gave the book 3 stars because the beginning was good.

I'm currently reading Michael Connelly's Nine Dragons and listening to Art Pepper while I read. One of Harry Bosch's favorites.

I'm now reading Andrea Camilleri's The Terra-Cotta Dog, the second in the Inspector Montalbano series. Dark and violent, but also hilarious, especially the character Catarella.

I love Camilleri's books so much. The Terra-Cotta Dog was really good. I've got his first (The Shape of Water) coming up soon on TBR.

Paula wrote: "I've looked at reviews for 'The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag' and the story looks very interesting. Another series to add to my TBR pile! [book:The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie|621828..."

Paula, I loved both of these books. Enjoy!

Dorie wrote: "I've started The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag. Loved the first one and the character of Flavia."

Yay, Dorie! You will love this one, too.

I've enjoyed all the books I've read lately, including A Beautiful Blue Death, The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag and the latest, A Murderous Procession (review coming soon). I don't think I would have discovered so many wonderful authors if it weren't for Goodreads.

I'm now starting Expiration Date by Duane Swierczynski. A crime fiction thriller combined with time travel? I'm so there.

I loved the two Flavia de Luce books too! I thought the second one was even better than the first.

Sheila wrote: "I loved the two Flavia de Luce books too! I thought the second one was even better than the first."

Hi Sheila, Have you checked out the discussion of The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie. It's this month's group read. We would love to hear your thoughts.

I've just started Martha Grimes' latest, The Black Cat. This is a favorite series of mine. I love her eccentric characters, and I'm looking forward to meeting the preternaturally talented dog Mungo again!

I'm reading the third installment of the Thursday Next series, The Well of Lost Plots. It's okay... keeps me entertained, which is always good.

I'm currently reading Life Support by Robert Whitlow. It opens with a young wife (abused as a child) pushing her wealthy husband over a cliff, she hopes to his death. Unfortunately or her he survives and is in a comma and she begins a legal fight with his control freak father to have his life support turned off. Enter a police officer who thinks it may not be an accident and a female attorney (the heroine) who is falling for a poor Christian minister who is a brilliant classical pianist. PS, this is the last thing the attorney wants to do.