The Mystery, Crime, and Thriller Group discussion

I just finished Wicked Appetite by Janet Evanovich and enjoyed it immensely. If you like Stephanie Plum and her crowd, I think you'll like Lizzy Tucker, Diesel, Glo, Wulf, et al. It's light and funny in the same way as the Plum series, with a one-eyed cat, a monkey and a little magic mixed in. Since this is noted to be Unmentionables #1, I'm looking forward to more in the series.

Lauren: I enjoyed it, too - I think Diesel is a hoot....Just something fun for a break from the deep dark stuff!

I was home sick from work yesterday and managed to read The Crossing Places by Elly Griffiths, which wasn't hard. The action moved along a a good pace and I love Ruth! I give it 4 stars.

Just Finished :
-Good, not great

Next up:
or


can't decide....arrghh

Chris, the title of the Crumley book would make me want to read it next.

Not too long ago, some of you were talking about Creepers and it sounded intriguing. So I'll be starting that one this evening.

About to start Farewell, My Lovely, last of my "Books to Read this Year".

Finished Moonlight Mile. Like Chris I thought it was good but not great. Also finished Never Let Me Go in a completely different style.

K.B. How are you going in your reading of Creepers? I could hardly seem to put it dow. I really didnt need a new author to read budt I canr wait to read more of him. I hope u enjoh kn as wrll

Started The Chemistry of Death last night. Good so far, but I recommend you do not start reading this over dinner.

Karen wrote: "K.B. How are you going in your reading of Creepers? I could hardly seem to put it dow. I really didnt need a new author to read budt I canr wait to read more of him. I hope u enjoh kn as wrll"

Finished it in one sitting. It was a 4.5-hour pulse-pounding thrill ride. And since I was up with a terrible cold, it was exactly the kind of read I needed. I don't want to stop and analyze it because then I'd start focussing on flaws (like the mutated animals--that reeked of an abandoned storyline).

Yay! I finally get to check off another state!

Lauren wrote: "Barbara wrote: "I'm reading Carved in Bone by Jefferson Bass. The forensic anthropologist in the book runs the "body farm" at the University of Tennessee that does re..."

Lauren, since you recommend books 2, 3, and 4 maybe I'll give the body farm books another try.

Barbara wrote: "Lauren wrote: "Barbara wrote: "I'm reading Carved in Bone by Jefferson Bass. The forensic anthropologist in the book runs the "body farm" at the University of Tenness..."

I was reading one of those and it was kind of slow, so I put it aside.

I am totally indulging in a Magdalen Nabb book, the 6th in her Marshal Guarnaccia series, The Marshal and the Madwoman.

I am reading Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn. I am enjoying it so far.

Borrowed The Fat Man by Ken Harmon from the library. The idea of a Christmas noir sounded amusing. So far it's not, but I'll give it another chapter or so before I decide whether or not to wallbang it.

Just finished Room, which was absolutely amazing. Now I'm starting Silent in the Grave.

I just finished Palahniuk's Haunted. Not sure what will get picked up next.

Dorie - read a bit about Room, sounded interesting....

T wrote: "Dorie - read a bit about Room, sounded interesting...."

I loved it and thought it was wonderful. It would make a great group read, I think. Lots to discuss.

Thanks, Dorie, I'll add it to my TBR list.

And on other news fronts, I started John Sandford's Bad Blood last night....Love them Virgil Flowers stories!

Starting Two for the Dough

I'm close to finishing Dog On It, one of the Chet and Bernie mysteries.

Sarah wrote: "I'm close to finishing Dog On It, one of the Chet and Bernie mysteries."

I'm so tempted by these, Sarah. What do you think?

Hayes wrote:
I'm so tempted by these, Sarah. What do you think?"

I was given this book by a co-worker and fellow animal lover. I have about 20pgs left. So far it has been a fun and quick read. I like that it's written from the dog's POV. The plot is not really filled with intrigue, but there's enough to hold my attention.

Sounds perfect for those "in between" moments! Thanks Sarah.

Is it anything like that series told by the cat? I think Shirley Rousseau Murphy is the author.

Just read The Disappeared by M.R. Hall and I really liked it because of the flawed female character. I've seen another book by the same author The Coroner and I wonder if anyone has read it and what it is like?

Cathy wrote: "Just read The Disappeared by M.R. Hall and I really liked it because of the flawed female character. I've seen another book by the same author The Coroner

I started The Disappeared, but it wasn't grabbing me at the time. I really think it was me, so I'll try it again.

Finished Carte Blanche, which is a very tight police procedural set in Italy during WWII. And I'm about half way through Chesapeake Crimes.

I was just looking at Carte Blanche (not the book, the info I mean). Looks really good. What did you think K.B.?

I'm close to finishing, "The Enemy" by Lee Child. It's very good. A typical Reacher novel.

Hi Hayes and K.B. I really liked Carte Blanche and I have been looking for the other 2 in the trilogy at the library but I may just have to bite the bullet and order them from Amazon.

Lauren wrote: "Started The Chemistry of Death last night. Good so far, but I recommend you do not start reading this over dinner."

I read The Chemisty of Death and I agree about the not reading while eating. I enjoyed it but not loved it. Let us know what you think.

Donna wrote: "Lauren wrote: "Started The Chemistry of Death last night. Good so far, but I recommend you do not start reading this over dinner."

I read The Chemisty of Death and I agree about the..." I read the synopsis and think I will try this... just finished reading the Killing Floor and it was difficult for me to get through...

Hayes wrote: "I was just looking at Carte Blanche (not the book, the info I mean). Looks really good. What did you think K.B.?"

Hayes, as I said, it's very tight. No wasted words, scenes, descriptions, IMO. De Luca seems to be a man adrift. He's done his job, no matter how unpleasant, well. He wants to be seen as a simple policeman rather than as a former member of what appears to be a secret police of sorts. I'd say he's haunted. Other characters are flatter and I had a hard time keeping some of them straight. It's certainly worth spending a few hours reading.

Hi all. I am currently reading The Rembrandt Affair by Daniel Silva. I am not too far along but it is good so far.

I'll be listening to The Mysterious Mr. Quin: Twelve Complete Mysteries, read by Hugh Fraser, on my road trip this week.

Backing up to 'Dog On It', I liked it so much I re-read it right away...and then in the next few weeks, couldn't find anything to satisfy my mood, so read it again (with satisfaction). The dog, Chet, is so funny...I could picture my dog doing and saying those things...'and then I scarfed a cheeto on the fly...', and what is more comforting than a man's and dog's devotion to one another through perilous times? So, high drama it ain't, but it left me feeling good, about the dog, about the man...and their future together...and hoping there would be a sequel (which there is).

I have not read the series by Shirley Rousseau Murphy, but Rita Mae Brown has written a series about two cats and a dog who talk to each other (and other animals), the main character being an orange tabby (female) named Mrs Murphy, with Pewter (also female) a gray longhaired curmudgeon and Tee Tucker, a Welsh Corgi (male). Very easy read, background is Virginia country living. She also pens a series about fox-hunting in Virginia...also a very good read.

Then there's the 'Cat Who...' series, which also goes by very fast with likeable characters, murders and mystery.

Carol: It's not a mystery, but if you haven't read The Art of Racing in the Rain (Garth Stein), check it out - it's a favorite of mine and people that I've recommended it to also enjoyed it immensely.

I finished Deal Breaker last night and started The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Millennium, #1).

Gary wrote: "I'm close to finishing, "The Enemy" by Lee Child. It's very good. A typical Reacher novel."

I read this a couple weeks ago. I loved how the story laid a solid background for Reacher.

Chris wrote: "Gary wrote: "I'm close to finishing, "The Enemy" by Lee Child. It's very good. A typical Reacher novel."

I read this a couple weeks ago. I loved how the story laid a solid background for Reacher."

I have looked into reading some of the books by Lee Child. Do you recommend them?

Lee Child is one of my all-time favorite authors. I've read every single one of his books - and none of them disappoint. And they really don't need to be read in any particular order as every book is kind of its own story, with one recurring theme - Jack Reacher, the main character. He's always finding trouble and making it right. I can't recommend these books enough.

I'm now reading Silent in the Sanctuary, second in the Lady Julia Grey series.

Just finished The Miracle Inspector The Miracle Inspector by Helen Smith and reviewed it. If Patricia Highsmith wrote dystopian fiction but had more of a sense of humor, it might be something like this.

Also, just started Matterhorn, which so far reads like The Naked and the Dead but in Vietnam. Promising so far.

Neither of which really fit this thread or my usual historical espionage/mystery/crime reading, so I haven't been around here much. Still, The Miracle Inspector has elements of mystery so I thought I'd mention it.

Happy reading,
Steve
Steve Anderson

Voula wrote: "Lee Child is one of my all-time favorite authors. I've read every single one of his books - and none of them disappoint. And they really don't need to be read in any particular order as every book..."

Sounds great! I'm going to have to pick up one of his books. Glad to know I don't have to read them in order.

I'm not reading any mysteries either, but just finished The Book of Lost Things, which I really liked and was not expecting to quite so much. Am finishing Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, which is witty and very well written. I am starting The First Man in Rome... mysteries next week!

I finished Sharp Objects last night. It was quite unsettling at times, but I do most enjoy a novel that has some kind of psychological element to it. This definitely did.

Voula wrote: "Lee Child is one of my all-time favorite authors. I've read every single one of his books - and none of them disappoint. And they really don't need to be read in any particular order as every book..."

i too have read all the books but i think lee peaked ages ago-his last half dozen have all had a fairly threadbare plot but survives on the incredible character of reacher. i will always buy the books but i think we deserve a decent plot now and again

I just finished Darkness, Take My Hand, and really liked it. This is my second Lehane and I am hooked. I purchased the 3rd in the series and will start it soon, but am looking for something else in between. I will have to look on my TBR list, all the talk above about Lee Child may have me starting another Reacher :)

I finished Chesapeake Crimes yesterday. As with many anthologies, some stories were good and some weren't. But this one didn't inspire to look for other works by the authors I wasn't familiar with.