The Mystery, Crime, and Thriller Group discussion

Halfway through Red Gold by Alan Furst (Night Soldiers book 5).
Next book will be Six Years. This will be my first book by Harlan Coben and my first book of the month as well.

I am currently reading: Fatal Choices by anne morgellyn A Psychological suspense thriller which is free on amazon at the moment: http://amzn.to/17sGwqF
Blurb:
Louise Moon believed she knew about death.

After years of working in a morgue, she thought nothing could shake her.

But when her close friend Buz Vubrin goes through with an assisted suicide at a Geneva clinic her world is shaken to its core.

Louise had been dreaming of a new life with her husband, Androssoff, working on a medical research project in New Zealand.

But in the wake of her friend's death, Androssoff returns to London while Louise sets up home in Geneva, giving her space from her struggling marriage.

As Louise attempts to reconnect with Androssoff and look after her young son, her life is thrown into further turmoil when she meets Joffey – a terminally ill session musician who is considering assisted suicide.

She wants to persuade him that life is worth living?

But is it? And as she struggles to hold her own life together, will she be able to save someone else’s?

Some choices in life, Louise is about to discover, can be fatal. And sometimes there is no way back to the life you knew.

'Fatal Choices' is a gripping and topical psychological novel of love,life and death. It completes the Lousie Moon sequence of books that started with Remains of the Dead and continued with Grave Truths and The Art of Dying.

Praise for Anne Morgellyn:

'A masterful, intelligent, gripping example of the master novelist's craft' - Alistair Kinnon, best-selling author of 'The Knotted Cord'.

"A gripping story. I was hooked." - Robert Foster, best-selling author of 'The Lunar Code'.

I'm currently reading 1000 Years of Annoying the French by Stephen Clarke and am about to start Moonraker by Ian Fleming

The new Brian Kavanagh book (A Belinda Lawrence Mystery): The Embroidered Corpse an intelligent murder mystery. Free on Amazon: http://amzn.to/ZR8RVo
Just finished reading, great book. Here is the blurb:
In a quiet English village two bodies are discovered.

Both murdered.

But it is the manner of the death that most startles amateur detective Belinda Lawrence.

They were both slain in a way that perfectly replicates the death a medieval English king.

But why?

There appears to be no motive for so elaborate a crime.

But after she stumbles across a mysterious ancient tapestry, Belinda Lawrence and her associate Hazel Whitby are drawn into a terrifying conspiracy involving a bizarre religious cult, an enigmatic academic, a group of secretive monks -- and a mystery that dates back nearly a thousand years old.

And it soon becomes apparent that 'The Embroidered Corpse' will not be the last dead body - Belinda's own life is at stake.

‘The Embroidered Corpse’ is a brilliant re-invention of the classic English village murder mystery, following on from the best-selling 'Capable of Murder'.

I have recently finished reading Collateral Damage - Free on Amazon. Superb Cold War thriller. http://amzn.to/101lVoV
To interest you here is the blurb:
Hans Koller is a young German obsessed by his father’s Nazi past.

He is also a leading member of an extreme left-wing Palestinian terrorist group known as the Front.

His mission? To place a bomb in a crowded Chelsea street.

But when the operation goes disastrously wrong, Koller suspects the Front has been infiltrated.

But by whom?

And for what deadly purpose?

In a world where no one can be trusted, Koller's reputation as a ruthless killer has been compromised.

And he is determined to get it back.

Stephen Dove is a Midlands schoolteacher.

His beautiful but promiscuous wife, Emma, is an accidental victim of Koller’s Chelsea atrocity.

After losing the woman he loves, Dove is desperate for vengeance.

He begins as dogged, obsessive pursuit of the man he holds responsible for robbing him of his wife.

An innocent caught up in a dangerous world, Dove tracks Koller across the Middle East, becoming entangled in the brutal world of international terrorism.

Both men are seeking answers.

But will they get them when they finally catch up with each other in a deadly spine-chilling shoot out?

Or will they both end up as 'Collateral Damage'?

Finished Poppet and Hayder is good but gritty as expected. Now reading Original Skin and Silken Prey.

I am currently rereading all the Agatha Christie books on my Kindle. (My family got me a Kindle for Christmas and it is just the best present ever.)

The parallels with the Sherlock Holmes stories are more evident to me this time around. Clearly Agatha was not above using Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's ideas as a springboard.

Also, some of the storylines are highly improbable and I have a little difficulty suspending disbelief.

And yet none of this spoils her stories for me. I wonder if that is because she is able to create such intriguing characters and also, of course, because I have always loved her stories and nothing will change that.

Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys. Best book of the year by far!

I’ve been struggling to read of late. In fact, I always struggle to read to some extent. To make it worth the effort of revisiting lines and sentences that haven’t made sense, I have to be really engaged.

An audio-book seemed like a good thing to try as an alternative. I get to drive to work 2 or 3 times a week and have a CD player, so why not?

This isn’t the first audio-book I’ve tried. I’ve experimented many times in the past, but generally have found them a little frustrating. Apart from anything else, there are always those stutters and echoes that come with the territory – no doubt that comes from the ever-increasing number of pot-holes in our roads.

Anyway, I set off to Tranent last week to The Watchman by Robert Cray, read by William Roberts.

The story opens pretty slowly and in a fairly run-of-the-mill way.

A rather annoying rich girl is involved in an accident. Before long the FBI are interested because the girl identifies a dangerous killer as one of the passengers in the other car.

Not long after that, it seems that Larkin’s life is in jeopardy. That shouldn’t be a concern to a very wealthy father, only the first couple of safe-houses set up by the FBI under the protection of Bud are attacked by men aiming to kill Larkin.

In steps Joe Pike at the behest of the Bud. This pair has a history going back to Pike’s early days in the LAPD. It’s a history that is explored as the book unfolds and becomes a very satisfying strand of the novel.

The play is now that Larkin is under Pike’s protection.

They move to another safe house, one of Bud’s own. It should be perfectly safe, but it’s not long before they’re attacked and Pike is able to demonstrate some of his almost super-hero like abilities.
Pike and Larkin have little in common, or so it seems, and Pike’s insistence that they do things on his terms mean that the pretty little thing he’s protecting really has to slum it for a while.

It’s fairly ordinary up to this point.

I also found the narration to be a little strained. Some of the intonation jarred and the need to take on the voice of a gruff male and a teenage girl is quite a stretch.

There was also an element of repeating information just to make sure I’d got it as the listener that seemed a little heavy for me; a little more subtlety might have helped me here.

In spite of any reservations I stuck with it. The story had enough juice to keep me interested and I’m so glad I didn’t give up.

It’s not long after this that the plot thickens.

Elvis Cole comes into play, forensics at the LAPD, fraudsters, Mexican gangs, terrorists become part of the plot and it thickens up like perfectly made custard.

Best of all is Pike and his need to move forwards. Even when he’s wrong, there’s only one way.

As he does his job, his relationship with Larkin gels. They soften towards each other. The story develops into a rather splendid buddy tale. As each of the pair let their guard down, I got to know them more that I might have imagined. They even get to know each other in a way that seemed impossible at the off. It’s superbly done.

All the while, as things grew more complex and more gripping the narrations also became familiar. The jarring had gone and instead I found things to be smooth and silky – I guess that’s when a reader has done a good job.

By the end of the first week of commuting I had to bring the discs into the house. They’ve replaced the TV in the evenings and accompanied me as I’ve done the housework.

It’s a very enjoyable book and a very satisfying listen.

I’ll be back for more audio-books and I’ll definitely be picking up more Robert Crais.

Finished which was creepy as expected. Now reading Widow's Tears and Original Skin

I'm 82% into by Tess Gerritsen

Hey Ya'll! I'm pretty new to Goodreads and I've been happily taking it all in. I just recently finished reading all three of Gillian Flynn's books: Gone Girl, Sharp Objects and Dark Places. I also just finished Elizabeth Haynes Into the Darkest Corner. I'm looking for something like that. Something to give me that slight feeling of uneasyness while reading and something that leaves me feeling satisfied but mind
f!#*ed at the same time. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance :)

hi angela, just finished . I think you would enjoy it.

Currently on a Robert Crais roll. Can't believe I've missed out on this author all these years. Where have I been? So glad I found him now. First book I read was Suspect, which is a stand alone book, and was great. I then started the Elvis Cole series, and I am now on number 8 so far. They are quick reads, full of great wit, and with some interesting plot twists at times. Thoroughly enjoyable light reads. I love the main characters quirky sense of humor, which seems to be the author's sense of humor as well, as there are some fantastic one liner's and idioms throughout. I particularly love the first paragraphs of most of his books - after you read a few you'll understand!

Sarah wrote: "hi angela, just finished . I think you would enjoy it."

Thank you Sarah!

Dottie wrote: "Currently on a Robert Crais roll. Can't believe I've missed out on this author all these years. Where have I been? So glad I found him now. First book I read was Suspect, which is a stand alone..."

I love Crais too, love the sense of humor he injects into Elvis. My very favorite book of his is the one you're reading now, L.A. Requiem. What a great book! Hope you love it as well.

Angela wrote: "Hey Ya'll! I'm pretty new to Goodreads and I've been happily taking it all in. I just recently finished reading all three of Gillian Flynn's books: Gone Girl, Sharp Objects and Dark Places. I also ..."

A Gillian Flynn marathon? You must be exhausted--and checking the locks on your doors obsessively. I've just started reading Mo Hayder, starting with Birdman, and yup, I'm a smidge uneasy. For edgy with a little wry humor you might try the Jack Daniel's series by J A Konrath. It starts with Whiskey Sour. (Once you get past the cutesy titles, the first four books in the series are the best and they just get darker as the series goes on.)

And finally, if you haven't dabbled in the Scandinavians yet, you might try there. Um, lessee, there's Henning Menkell, starting with Faceless Killers, there's the whole Girl With The Dragon Tattoo business, of course. Then there's also the Kari Vaara series by, James Thompson that starts with Snow Angels.

I'm on my way to the library to hunt down Elizabeth Haynes!

I just finished Still Alice and I have picked up 11/22/63. I also just finished The Affair on audio and have now started The Camel Club.

Angela wrote: "Hey Ya'll! I'm pretty new to Goodreads and I've been happily taking it all in. I just recently finished reading all three of Gillian Flynn's books: Gone Girl, Sharp Objects and Dark Places. I also ..."

Have you read The Snowman by Jo Nesbø? That book made me very uneasy at night, and read most of the creepy parts during the day!

About to finish by johnny shaw.
“There is something about the desert that pisses everything off” –. There’s a laugh on damn near every page, which gives the almost-as-frequent dramatic moments that much more impact. I feel like I have spent the last week on the California Mexico border... a damn fine fun read.

Just finished . Another excellent entry in the Bernie Gunther series. Gave it 4 stars. Getting ready to start .

Reading Barry Eisler's and loving it. All the Vietnam War background for John Rain is taken from a book called SOG by John Plaster. I finished reading that (for my own research) just before I started the Eisler book. A slightly weird coincidence, but an excellent lesson in how Eisler used his research for Rain's backstory.

Linda wrote: "I'm 82% into by Tess Gerritsen"

I loved this book, Linda. It's a great start to one of my favorites series.

Angela wrote: "Hey Ya'll! I'm pretty new to Goodreads and I've been happily taking it all in. I just recently finished reading all three of Gillian Flynn's books: Gone Girl, Sharp Objects and Dark Places. I also ..."

How about . I think it will make you feel sick to your stomach at times, but it's very good. It stars a sick and twisted Gretchen Lowell.

I finished .Fatal Decree by H. Terrell Griffin, a mystery thriller set in the Florida keys. The book was okay but the ending was too contrived for my taste; the wrapping up of the threads had a kind of 'deus ex machina' feel to it.
I haven't read this author before so I don't know if this is a habit with his books... not sure I'd read another book by this author

I am reading The Eight and wondering WHY it took me so long to read this book. I'm a 100 pages in and it is amazing.

Donna Leon's The Jewels of Paradise. Love all her stuff! not far in and already really into it.

Next to mysteries and thrillers, I like to read historical fiction. I just finished reading Fall of Giants. I just starting to read Victims by Jonathan Kellerman. I like Alex Delaware character and his friend Milo. It has been awhile since I have read any books by Kellerman.

Still reading these


And will be starting on


Soon too

Just finished A Bitter Veil, currently reading Death of a Chimney Sweep and Dead Insider.

I just finished The Cold Room last night. It was very good! I do seem to enjoy this series.

I just finished The Survivor by Gregg Hurwitz. Once again, Mr. Hurwitz has proven he is one of the best thriller writers on the planet.

I finished by Tess Gerritsen. Started by William Patterson because I can't read my tablet outside. I also started by Michael Grant for an April group read.

Just finished . It was really good but I liked a little better. Now reading .

Angela wrote: "Hey Ya'll! I'm pretty new to Goodreads and I've been happily taking it all in. I just recently finished reading all three of Gillian Flynn's books: Gone Girl, Sharp Objects and Dark Places. I also ..."

Ah, Angela, how could we forget: Karin Slaughter! With that last name she was kinda born to write the brutal mystery thriller, no?

The two series that I've started--both great, dark, disturbing and suspenseful--are the Grant County series, starting with Blindsighted and the even darker Will Trent series that starts with Triptych. I read one before and one right after my own Gillian Flynn fling and they suited the mood.

Oh, and the Frank Corso series by G.M. Ford. The first book is called FURY. He has another series featuring Leo Waterman and it's also great but a little lighter and with a sense of humor.

Just finished The Buzzard Table by Margaret Maron. I always love catching up with the judge and the quirky members of her huge family and the folk of Cotton Grove, NC.

Now I'm working on Silken Prey by John Sandford and Live by Night by Dennis Lehane.

Jannene wrote: "I just finished The Cold Room last night. It was very good! I do seem to enjoy this series."

I keep meaning to read this series. I'm from Nashville and I'm curious to see how the author paints us.

Last night I finished The Morganville Vampires Book Eleven: Last Breath - Rachel Caine. Now I am going to carry on reading Bang: Memoirs of a Relationship Assassin - David Wailing on my kindle.

I'm reading Speaking from Among the Bones by Alan Bradley, a Flavia de Luce mystery.

I finished The Case of the Locked Drawer: A Henri Derringer Mystery by Larry Winebrenner, a Goodreads author. The book features Etta Derringer, a spry nonagenarian amateur detective in a wheelchair who conducts investigations using a very high-tech computer. Though the mystery was scant in this book the interactions among Etta's eclectic group of friends and acquaintances was interesting and kept my attention. 3 stars for me.

I've been borrowing the James Bond novels one at a time on Kindle. Very happy with them. From Russia, With Love and Casino Royale have been my favorites so far. It's interesting to see how he plots, particularly in From Russia, With Love. He follows the main plot arc through the entire novel without regard for the main character. I don't think Bond shows up until about halfway into it. Very nifty.

Jacob wrote: "I've been borrowing the James Bond novels one at a time on Kindle. Very happy with them. From Russia, With Love and Casino Royale have been my favorites so far. It's interesting to see how he plot..."

I'm focussing on Ian Fleming this month, Jacob, currently reading Moonraker. I read so many of them as a teenager; it's interesting to try and reread them now. Enjoying very much so far. Glad to hear you're enjoying your reading too.

Last night I finished The Morganville Vampires Book Eleven: Last Breath - Rachel Caine. Now I am going to carry on reading Bang: Memoirs of a Relationship Assassin - David Wailing on my kindle.

Just finished

Rene, read 11/22/63 with an open mind. Stephen King sure did when he penned the extraordinary book .
Walter

I am reading The Last Victim by Karen Robards. It is really good so far.

Jeanie wrote: "Jannene wrote: "I just finished The Cold Room last night. It was very good! I do seem to enjoy this series."

I keep meaning to read this series. I'm from Nashville and I'm curious to see how the a..."

I think you should try one. I haven't been disappointed yet.

Nigel wrote: "I’ve been struggling to read of late. In fact, I always struggle to read to some extent. To make it worth the effort of revisiting lines and sentences that haven’t made sense, I have to be really..."

If you like Crais on audio, you might try James Lee Burke's Dave Robicheaux series (but for god's sake get the ones narrated by Mark Hammer first... I think he died, so there's another narrator now, but I don't think he's even close to as good as Hammer was...) or Lawrence Block (The Matt Scudder series).

I just finished The Night Detectives: A David Mapstone Mystery and just started Black Out

I'm reading Improbable by Adam Fawer, an interesting mix of thriller, physics manual, and probability theory. Am ambitious undertaking.