The Mystery, Crime, and Thriller Group discussion

I love Mutt already!

Mel wrote: "Susan wrote: "I'm reading A Faint Cold Fear by Karin Slaughter. It is the 3rd book in the Grant County Series. This series has pulled me in from the first page of the fi..."

I have never tried Karen Rose but I'm heading to check her out now! Thanks Mel!!! :)

T wrote: "I finished "Though Not Dead" by Dana Stabenow, a pre-release book that I won in a GR give-away.

First one I've read from D. Stabenow, and I have to say that I enjoyed it a lot, although I did get ..."

I also won this from GR. I haven't gotten very far in it yet but I have read her before. Hope to get into it this weekend.

Carol wrote: "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, Ch..."

I know I read this but I couldn't remember how much I liked it; now you've got me wanting to read the sequel.

K.B. wrote: "T wrote: "I finished "Though Not Dead" by Dana Stabenow, a pre-release book that I won in a GR give-away.

First one I've read from D. Stabenow, and I have to say that I enjoyed it a lot, althoug..."

T wrote: "I finished "Though Not Dead" by Dana Stabenow, a pre-release book that I won in a GR give-away.

First one I've read from D. Stabenow, and I have to say that I enjoyed it a lot, although I did get ..."

I like Stabenow also, both the Kate Shugak series and Liam Campbell, which seems to have hit a wall at 4 books in 2003. I'll be interested to hear what you think if you read more of the series. I read most of the first 16 in a row, including one on audio book that had me literally crying in the car. I can imagine it would be hard starting at #17 without knowing all the history.

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..."

It took me longer than usual to get into it, but I liked it and will read more in the series. I think sometimes the first book in a series has too many jobs to do, with building the character and his or her background, as well as telling a good story. It also felt a little strange with the mentions of the body farm, since I've recently been reading the Jefferson Bass Body Farm series.

Thanks for the suggestion from someone who responded to me being a sucker for forensic anthropologists. Fortunately, this is a fairly recent series so it doesn't add as many books to my list for now.

Just finished listening to What Is Left the Daughter which is well enough written I wish I had read it not listened so that I could enjoy the words. Not really a mystery -- all the dead are accounted for -- but good reading anyhow.

Also finished Worst Case, the third in the Michael Bennett series by James Patterson. Good choice to borrow from the library for my e-reader as it's a typical Patterson novel, fast-paced and easy-reading; an action thriller.

I'm reading Eggs Benedict Arnold by Laura Childs now -- another light read; maybe it's the season, or maybe I just overdid it with the dark stuff. This is part of her third series, the Cackleberry Club.

Does anyone know if she does all her own writing? I think each series had a new book this year and in 2009.

I'm about half way through A Fatal Grace by Louise Penny and as usual I am hooked on the mystery and the people at Three Pines. This is such an excellent series and I would highly recommend it. If you haven't read any of Penny's books before start with the first one - Still Life.

Susan wrote: "Mel wrote: "Susan wrote: "I'm reading A Faint Cold Fear by Karin Slaughter. It is the 3rd book in the Grant County Series. This series has pulled me in from the first pa..."

You're welcome Susan, In my opinion Karen Rose has taken over from, dare I say it, James Patterson!

Enjoy the reads.

Kaye wrote: "I'm about half way through A Fatal Grace by Louise Penny and as usual I am hooked on the mystery and the people at Three Pines. This is such an excellent series and I ..."

I agree, I just love that series. On one hand I could kick myself for not finding it sooner; but on the other hand I'm glad I had several to read once I did find it!

I'm just starting Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter: A Novel by Tom Franklin, which I got for half price at B&N.

I just finished Don't Blinkby James Patterson. Finished it in two days. Would have finished in one day if I didn't have to work. Very entertaining book. Now I am finishing The Disappearanceby Bentley Little. This book is very good as well. I will be heading to the library today to pick up all of my books on hold so I'll be starting something new today as well. Happy reading all.

Just finished Two for the Dough, it was ok, not great. Now starting Water for Elephants

Patricia wrote: "Just finished Two for the Dough, it was ok, not great. Now starting Water for Elephants"

I loved that one, Patricia. Have fun!

I'm reading About Face by Donna Leon. I like her Commissario Guido Brunetti mysteries. The stories are intriguing and the setting, in Venice, Italy, gives you a feel for the city.

Barbara wrote: "I'm reading About Face by Donna Leon. I like her Commissario Guido Brunetti mysteries. The stories are intriguing and the setting, in Venice, Italy, gives you a fe..."

The Donna Leon series is one of my favourites. There is nothing more enjoyable for me than to settle down with one of her mysteries.

Just finished Hercule Poirot's Christmas , which has inspired me to go back to Christie, as I haven't read her for a while and really enjoyed this one. Am now reading The Mysterious Mr. Quinmay have a December month of classic Christie.

jo wrote: "Just finished Hercule Poirot's Christmas , which has inspired me to go back to Christie, as I haven't read her for a while and really enjoyed this one. Am now reading [book:The Myster..."

I should re-read Poirot's Christmas; it's been a while.

I didn't realize that Christie had done any holiday-themed novels. I'll have to look for it.

K.B. wrote: "I didn't realize that Christie had done any holiday-themed novels. I'll have to look for it."

Have you tried Jane Haddam's holiday themed mysteries? For example, Not a Creature Was Stirring

Hi Kari, How about A Rumpole Christmas: Stories. I love the Rumpole stories but I haven't tried this one yet.

Bill wrote: "K.B. wrote: "I didn't realize that Christie had done any holiday-themed novels. I'll have to look for it."

Have you tried Jane Haddam's holiday themed mysteries? For example, [book..."

Nope. Didn't know she did a holiday-themed series either. Do they feature Gregor?

K.B. wrote: "Bill wrote: "K.B. wrote: "I didn't realize that Christie had done any holiday-themed novels. I'll have to look for it."

Have you tried Jane Haddam's holiday themed mysteries? For e..."

They do indeed feature Gregor and I've read the Valentine's one ,Bleeding Hearts plus a couple of others. If I recall, she kind of started with the holiday themes as sort of her thing, but then branched out to more general mysteries as she changed publishers

I'll have to look for those too. Thanks.

So as long as we're sharing holiday-themed series, I do know that Anne Perry and Kate Kingsbury do Christmas mysteries.

Just finished The Mysterious Mr. Quinand am now moving onto A Caribbean Mystery December has certainly turned into an Agatha Christie month for me : )

K.B. wrote: "I didn't realize that Christie had done any holiday-themed novels. I'll have to look for it."

There is also The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding by Christie which i'm planning to read around christmas.

Kari wrote: "I just finished Holiday for Murder. It was a good Christie. It was a country house mystery and Poirot is on hand to solve the mystery.

The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding is next in my Chris..."
Think I will have to check out Murder for Christmas, sounds like a fun read. I'm really enjoying revisiting Christie, she is such a fun read.

Last night, I started The Tavern in the Morning.

Hi all....I am new to the group but am in some other groups with some of you.

I just finished The Nursing Home Murder by one of my favorite of the British Golden Age authors, Ngaio Marsh. I love her Alleyn stories and this one was no exception.
I noticed that Jo was reading the Harley Quin stories by Christie..........aren't they great? Its too bad that she wrote only a handful featuring that character.

Jill wrote: "Hi all....I am new to the group but am in some other groups with some of you.

I just finished The Nursing Home Murder by one of my favorite of the British Golden Age authors, Ngaio M..."
hi Jill, the Mr Quin short stories are really good, a bit different to the usual Christie. I haven't read her for a while and decided to go back to her, am loving reading her again.

I'm reading Lean Mean Thirteen by Janet Evanovich

Reading the third book in the Inspector Devlin series, Bleed a River Deep!

Having just completed Insurrection by Robyn Young - an action packed historical adventure set in the Scotland of Robert the Bruce and William Wallace (a cracking read) I have moved on to Tsarist Russia and A Razor Wrapped in Silk by R.N. Morris. so far is seems quite promising.

Hi Colette, I recently read The Gentle Axe, which was the first in the Porfiry Petrovich series, and enjoyed it very much. I hope the series continues to be as good as the first.

I've been on vacation for a few days but still managed to squeeze in some reading. I finished Night Ferry to Death by Patricia Moyes which is a classic. I've read a number of her books before but found this one at a used book sale since most are now out of print. Great classic mystery.

Next up was Last Rituals by Yrsa Sigurðardóttir. Just about finished and it is a real page turner. Set in Iceland it has lots of the Scandanavian flair so popular right now except the main character is a not-so-depressed female lawyer.

Next in my Christie challenge, Towards Zero.

Donna wrote: "I've been on vacation for a few days but still managed to squeeze in some reading. I finished Night Ferry to Death by Patricia Moyes which is a classic. I've read a number of her boo..."

Really enjoyed Last Rituals, she's a good author.

Just finished Sleep no More by Susan Crandall and it was a very good suspense/mystery book despite the cheesy cover.

For something like and fluffy, I'm reading Dig Deep for Murder. I like her Pennyfoot series better.

Finished The Bone Thief by Jefferson Bass; enjoy these but ready for a break before the next one.

Now reading Wormwood by Susan Wittig Albert; I can always count on these herbal mysteries for a good read.

Finished Kraken, a non-mystery book...and on to one of my favorite authors, Donna Leon and A Sea of Troubles, always a comfort read.

Has anyone read any of the books from Iain Pears or Michael Dibdin?

Yes to both Pears and Dibdin. If you like Leon, you'll probably like both Pears and Dibdin.

I'll second the endorsement of Pears and Dibdin.

Although, Pears' art mysteries are very different from his standalones, so don't use the very excellent An Instance of the Fingerpost as your judge.

Thanks for the responses about Pears and Dibdin...because i really need another series or two to add to my list! Happy Friday :)

Ooh, yeah! Like Hewson's stuff a lot! I "discovered" that series with the book in which his wife dies. So I have some backtracking and then moving forward to do.

Hi! This is my first post - might as well just jump in. I'm reading Steve Berry for the first time: The Templar Legacy. I'm really liking Cotton Malone. Also picked up Leslie Meier's "Mistletoe Murder" from the library.

Kay wrote: "Hi! This is my first post - might as well just jump in. I'm reading Steve Berry for the first time: The Templar Legacy. I'm really liking Cotton Malone. Also picked up Leslie Meier's "Mistletoe..."

Hi Kay, welcome to the group. I've got The Templar Legacy on my TBR list, but who knows when I will get to it!

Check out the threads and the discussions. There are some great story telling games going on in the "Fun and Games" folder.

Marjorie wrote: "Another good mystery series set in Italy: the Nic Costa series by David Hewson"

Thanks for adding another, Marjorie...i came across this author recently and wondered if i should consider his series.

Just finished this book by Ethan Canin.
Please see the link to my amazon review.
http://www.amazon.com/review/R2OH2SND...

check out the review and if you agree, please indicate "YES" the review was helpful.
Thanks.