The Mystery, Crime, and Thriller Group discussion

Jan C wrote: "I have read a few of them. I am stuck on one. It is one involving the Mormons in Utah and. I am fighting with my own biases.

Generally, I have a positive opinion of him."

Thanks, Jan. I have been told that he is a good thriller author. I guess I will just dive in.

Pamela wrote: "Jan C wrote: "I have read a few of them. I am stuck on one. It is one involving the Mormons in Utah and. I am fighting with my own biases.

Generally, I have a positive opinion of him."

Thanks, J..."


There is a Stephen White group. It hasn't been too active lately but please feel free to drop by.

I am just about to start two mysteries; River of Darkness and Mistress of the Art of Death..

Andrea wrote: "Just finished reading Nelson DeMille The Lion's Game. Wow! How have I missed this author?

He is terrific!"

If you just found him, try The Gold Coast. It is written in the first person and his character is so irreverent, cynical and brazen it is a hoot. I found myself laughing out loud. DeMille continues the story with The Gate House.

Nena wrote: "Hello to all of you crime-lovers and happy holidays! I realize that Michael Connolly is the author of the month here, but I would like to know if anyone here has ready any of David Baldacci's book..."

Happy New Year Nena. I've read almost all of Baldacci's books; funny that Christmas Train is one I haven't. His first, Absolute Power was would be a good choice or I would recommend the camel club series for its eclectic characters. Enjoy

Bill wrote: "I am just about to start two mysteries; River of Darkness and Mistress of the Art of Death.."

Both great books, Bill! Hope you enjoy them.

finished shutter island which i loved and am now reading a historical crime read set in and around New York in 1905 calle in the shadow of gotham which is not bad at all

Hi Jo. I read In the Shadow of Gotham with my in person book group and really enjoyed it. I thought it was a very good depiction of New York in the early 1900s and the beginnings of the use of psychology in law enforcement.

Andrea wrote: "Just finished reading Nelson DeMille The Lion's Game. Wow! How have I missed this author?

Andrea, I've read every novel DeMille has written. He's not only excellent, but far from formulaic (a quality I insist on). One of his novels, if not his first, is Charm School, a true classic of the spy thriller genre. It's on my list of 30 lifetime best reads.

I just finished All Over but the Shoutin' by Rick Bragg. It's not a mystery, but it's fantastic. What a story...and he sings it like the greatest blues tune ever written. After you've read it, google him. He's a fascinating, Pulitzer winning author.

I am almost half way through The Count of Monte Cristo! I cannot believe I waited so long to read this. It's fantastic!

I started The Confession by John Grisham today and it is very interesting.

Jerry et al...I agree that David Baldacci is great... try his Simple Genius..set in Washington DC about a secret CIA training camp and a secret laboratory...fast paced! Liam www.terminalpolicy.com

Liam wrote: "Jerry et al...I agree that David Baldacci is great... try his Simple Genius..set in Washington DC about a secret CIA training camp and a secret laboratory...fast paced! Liam www.terminalpolicy.com"

Funny you should mention that. Somehow I missed Simple Genius and I picked it up at the airport at Christmas and am almost finished. Loving it so far.

I am just finishing The Black Cat, the latest Martha Grimes book in the Richard Jury series. A satisfying read, as are all of her books.

Jolie wrote: "I am almost half way through The Count of Monte Cristo! I cannot believe I waited so long to read this. It's fantastic!"

Aint it great, Jolie? I just loved it!

Have started Mystic River...not quite sure what to make of it. I'm still at the beginning where the background is getting set up. Hopefully it will all pull together, but in the mean time I am confused! (or am I just getting old? lol)

about to start wolf hall by hilary mantel

Dorie wrote: "Bill wrote: "I am just about to start two mysteries; River of Darkness and Mistress of the Art of Death.."

Both great books, Bill! Hope you enjoy them."

I'm enjoying them both very much so far, Dorie.

I'm reading Spare Change by Robert B. Parker, a Sunny Randall mystery. Parker is best known for his "Spenser" series but in recent years has also written a "Jesse Stone" series - about a police chief in Paradise, Massachusetts and a "Sunny Randall" series about a female private eye in Boston. What's interesting is that some characters meander from one series into another. For example, Sunny's psychiatrist is Susan Silverman (Spenser's gal pal). I'm enjoying the book. Parker's always good for a quick mystery read.

I finished The Rhetoric of Death and really enjoyed it. Very good for a first book, and I look forward to more from that author. I'm now reading Think of a Number.

Just finished The Passage. Great book. Currently reading So Cold the River. A little slow to start out but interesting.

Why did I ever put down In the Shadow of Gotham. Just picked it back up again.

Jan C wrote: "Why did I ever put down In the Shadow of Gotham. Just picked it back up again."
very easy to read, and it's a real quick read.

jo wrote: "Jan C wrote: "Why did I ever put down In the Shadow of Gotham. Just picked it back up again."
very easy to read, and it's a real quick read."

And I see that the author did her homework. Most just go for the more commonly used "suffragette" but she is using the correct terminology "suffragist".

Finally finished The Hangman's Daughter. Good, but rough reading in places. Now, I'm starting Giotto's Hand.

Jan, I did the same thing with In the Shadow of Gotham. I started reading the library's copy, got busy, and couldn't renew it. So I bought my own copy and then left it sitting for ages. When I finally read it, I absolutely loved it and immediately got and devoured A Curtain Falls. Now I'm not so patiently waiting for the third book in the series to be released.

Gatorman wrote: "Just finished The Passage. Great book. Currently reading So Cold the River. A little slow to start out but interesting."

I was pretty pleased with The Passage also...waiting for the second book (of three planned)

Almost finished with The Confession by John Grisham. I like his books. Getting ready to start The Last Templar by Raymond Khoury.

I'm reading Plum Lucky by Janet Evanovich. If you're familiar with the series - Lula is really a riot in this one.

Hi everyone and Happy New Year a little late.

Well, I'm reading Mystic River, and while the story is keeping me interested I'm finding the prose a little over the top.

Also reading A Farewell to Arms and can say that I continue in my dislike for Hemingway. I will carry bravely on.

I'm reading Skipping Christmas & Cyanide Wells. I don't usually read John Grisham but this was a Christmas gift.

I just finished MY GUN IS QUICK by Mickey Spillane. Anyone who has never read Spillane should read this one first. The passion in his writing really shows itself.

Currently, I'm reading TRIP WIRE by Lee Child, a Reacher novel. So far, so good.

I just finished The Attenbury Emeralds by Jill Paton Walsh. It's based on the Lord Peter Wimsey mysteries by Dorothy L. Sayers and it's a wonderful example of a classic cozy British mystery. I highly recommend it.

Jan wrote: "I just finished The Attenbury Emeralds by Jill Paton Walsh. It's based on the Lord Peter Wimsey mysteries by Dorothy L. Sayers and it's a wonderful exampl..."
I am going to search out one of Walsh's book. I love the Wimsey books and tend to steer away from continuations by authors other than the originator of the series. But I will take your recommendation to heart and give her a try.

Jill wrote: "Jan wrote: "I just finished The Attenbury Emeralds by Jill Paton Walsh. It's based on the Lord Peter Wimsey mysteries by Dorothy L. Sayers and it's a wond..."

Jill, I read the two previous Wimsey stories that Paton Walsh did and found them both enjoyable. I can't wait to get my hands on this new one.

Jan wrote: "I just finished The Attenbury Emeralds by Jill Paton Walsh. It's based on the Lord Peter Wimsey mysteries by Dorothy L. Sayers and it's a wonderful exampl..."

Thanks Jan. I enjoyed the Lord Peter Wimsey books and will give Jill Paton Walsh's books a try.

Jan C wrote: "Jill wrote: "Jan wrote: "I just finished The Attenbury Emeralds by Jill Paton Walsh. It's based on the Lord Peter Wimsey mysteries by Dorothy L. Sayers an..."

I liked them too, although I liked A Presumption of Death better than
Thrones, Dominations. I too will look for the Attenbury Emeralds. How could I resist Lord Peter's first case?

Bill wrote: "Dorie wrote: "Bill wrote: "I am just about to start two mysteries; River of Darkness and Mistress of the Art of Death.."

Both great books, Bill! Hope you enjoy the..."

If you enjoy River of Darkness you should the follow up books, The Blood-Dimmed Tide and The Dead of Winter. Both of them are excellent as well.

I've started listening to the audio of Blindsighted by Karin Slaughter.

I just started Don Winslow's SAVAGES http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/80.... Janet Maslin in the NYT cited it as one of the best of 2010. It hasn't grabbed me yet. Spare to the point of sounding more like a film treatment in places. But I'm still reading so that's a good sign.

Jill wrote: "Jan wrote: "I just finished The Attenbury Emeralds by Jill Paton Walsh. It's based on the Lord Peter Wimsey mysteries by Dorothy L. Sayers and it's a wond..."
Also replying to Jill, Jan C and Hayes:
I just started reading
Agatha Christie's Secret Notebooks: Fifty Years of Mysteries in the Making - Includes Two Unpublished Poirot Stories by John Curran. It's interesting to read Dame Agatha's thoughts about her writing.

Just finished The Track of Sand; I adore Inspector Montalbano. Now I've started Sun and Shadow by Åke Edwardson and am listening to The Case of the Missing Servant by Tarquin Hall. Enjoying both of them so far and feeling very international

Hi, just joined a few days ago. Last year, got an ipad, and I have really jumped back into reading again. Enjoy all genre's but I'm on a dystopian kick right now, so reading anything dystopian, that I can get my hands on. Last 5 were, The Hunger Game trilogies, Unwind, and Birthmarked, and really enjoyed all of them! Currently reading, The City of Ember, Matched, and The Maze Runner. Also enjoying all three of them! Right before I got on this dystopian kick, I had read, Sworn to Silence, Pray for Silence, all of J.A Konraths- Jack Daniels Mysteries, Out, and James Pattersons- Womens Murder Club 1-4,

Pat

Pat

Lauren wrote: "Just finished The Track of Sand; I adore Inspector Montalbano. Now I've started Sun and Shadow by Åke Edwardson and am listening to [book:The Case of the..."

Hi Lauren. Have you ever seen the TV adaptation of the Montalbano series? They are terrific.

Let us know how the Ake Edwardson book is. I have one somewhere on my TBR bookcase that I have been wanting to read.

My at home read: Autobiography of Mark Twain: The Complete and Authoritative Edition, Volume 1 (too cumbersome for commuting)
For the commute: Fever of the Bone

Vince wrote: "My at home read: Autobiography of Mark Twain: The Complete and Authoritative Edition, Volume 1 (too cumbersome for commuting)
For the commute: Fever of the Bone"

How's that Twain Biog, Vince? It got mixed reviews and I balked at the price (and the size!)

Hayes wrote: "Vince wrote: "My at home read: Autobiography of Mark Twain: The Complete and Authoritative Edition, Volume 1 (too cumbersome for commuting)
For the commute: [book:Fever of the Bone|7..."

I've just started, but so far so good. Right now I'm only going to read the middle 1/3, the part that he dictated and wanted held for a century after his death. I bought it for half-price at either Amazon or Barnes & Noble. With two more volumes to come, I may need another bookshelf.

Just finished In Silence by Erica Spindler and it was a real grabber. I had a hard time putting the book down.

Donna wrote: "Lauren wrote: "Just finished The Track of Sand; I adore Inspector Montalbano. Now I've started Sun and Shadow by Åke Edwardson and am listening to [book:..."

Montalbano on TV? I didn't know; will have to search for it - thanks!

Am about a third of the way through Wolf Hall which is a really excellent read, although you really have to concentrate on who's speaking due to the narrative form.

Lauren wrote: "Donna wrote: "Lauren wrote: "Just finished The Track of Sand; I adore Inspector Montalbano. Now I've started Sun and Shadow by Åke Edwardson and am liste..."

It's the series produced by the RAI (Italian State TV) and they are really well done. Screenplays by Camilleri himself.