The Mystery, Crime, and Thriller Group discussion

I just finished The Price of Malice: A Joe Gunther Novel. I enjoyed it, but I don't think it's among the better books in this series. That said, most of the 20 books in the series have been very good, and so it's a high standard that Mayor has to hit every time out of the gate.

I'm reading Cold Case Squad by Edna Buchanon. Very good so far.

I remember liking that book.

I had to quit "Smilla's Sense of Snow" - I didn't like the writing style. Now I'm reading "An Unsuitable Job For a Woman" by P.D. James.

Hayes wrote: "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 reading the the first Thursday Next book, The Eyre Affair. It's very good so far; the author is quite imaginative.

I just finished The Chemistry of Death for my F2F book group and I did enjoy it. I wanted to give it 4 stars but the whodunnit was just to much of a stretch so I gave it 3.

On to lighter fare now, Bruno, Chief of Police by Martin Walker. Not a comedy exactly but there is a lighter touch, a bit Hamish McBeth and Precious Ramotswe, with a bit of Peter Mayle too.

Barbara wrote: "Hayes wrote: "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 reading the the firs..."

They are a bit over the top. I found a web site that explains all the references and in jokes... will hunt it down for you, Barbara.

@Lobstergirl: I liked Smilla, both the book and the movie (with the dreamy Gabriel Byrne!) The story is a bit weird at the end, however.

I finished listening to A Bone to Pick and I did not like it at all. So irritating!

Back to The Spellman Files!

I bought the new Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes novel that came out yesterday, The God of the Hive [image error] . The only problem is that I am having to go back and review because this new one is a continuation of that one. A friend of mine tells me that we read too many books, and that's why we can't remember. However, I think it also might have to do with The Language of Bees having been my least favorite of the series, probably because Russell and Holmes were apart most of the novel.

Antonia wrote: "Marjorie wrote: "I'm reading Denise Mina's "Garnethill." She's a Scottish writer and her books are based in Glasgow.
"

i read "the dead hour" ( The Dead Hour: A Novel ) by her some t..."

I just finished "The Dead Hour" yesterday. I read the first in the series featuring Paddy Meehan, and now this one. Both very good - enjoyed learning about a completely different society, and one can't help but root for Paddy. I would read more. Anxious to hear what you think of the "garnethill" trilogy.

Hayes wrote: "I found a web site that explains all the references and in jokes... will hunt it down for you, Barbara..."

Try this for Eyre Affair: http://www.jasperfforde.com/reader/re...

Here are the notes for Lost in a Good Book:

http://www.jasperfforde.com/reader/re...

I am now reading The Iron King and it is really good so far!

Hayes wrote: "Hayes wrote: "I found a web site that explains all the references and in jokes... will hunt it down for you, Barbara..."

Try this for Eyre Affair: http://www.jasperfforde.com/reader/re......"

Thanks Hayes.

Just finished Dickens' Fur Coat and Charlotte's Unanswered Letters: The Rows and Romances of England's Great Victorian Novelists by Daniel Pool
and started Birthright by Nora Roberts

After listening to A Bone to Pick which I didn't like a all. What do I do? I bought a download of Three Bedrooms, One Corpse. Go figure. The 3rd Aurura Teagarden book isn't as whiny.

I finished "Expiration Date" by Duane Swierczynski, which was good but not great. I went to the bookstore today, coupon in hand, and couldn't find the one book I had been wanting to buy. Very frustrating. But I was happy to find a new Monkeewrench book by P.J. Tracy Shoot to Thrill, which I picked up instead and am now going to start.

Hi Dorie, I didn't know there was a new Monkeewrench book out. I am going to have to move Snow Blind up on my TBR pile.

I just finished Hard Rain Falling by Don Carpenter, which I really liked a lot. I also just finished The Black Ice Score by Donald Westlake writing as Richard Stark. This is one of the books in Stark's Parker series, which I really enjoy. I didn't think that this was one of the better books in the series, but it was still fun.

Donna, Snow Blind wasn't my favorite of the series, but I have high hopes for this new one. It's been a long wait.

I just finished Last Seen Wearing by Colin Dexter which is an Inspector Morse book.
It wasn't bad but it dragged at the end.

I'm now reading Legal Tender by Lisa Scottoline, the first book by this author I've read. I'm about halfway through, and so far I really like it.

I just finished The God of the Hive and loved it!!!!!!!!!! Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes and a cast of other great characters!

I finished listening to Three Bedrooms, One Corpse. I don't care for Rue Teagarden at all. I thought by the 3rd book she would have gotten less irritating, but she didn't.

Kathy wrote: "I just finished The God of the Hive and loved it!!!!!!!!!! Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes and a cast of other great characters!"

I loved it too! I read an ARC a while back, and now I have the real published edition. I'm going to reread The Language of Bees and The God of the Hive back to back, since they're two parts of the same story.

Sheila wrote: "Kathy wrote: "I just finished The God of the Hive and loved it!!!!!!!!!! Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes and a cast of other great characters!"

I loved it too! I read an ARC a wh..."

I ended up rereading a large portion of The Language of Bees before diving into The God of the Hive, and it really made it flow so much better. Enjoy your rereads, Shelia. They are well worth it.

Esther wrote: "I just finished Last Seen Wearing by Colin Dexter which is an Inspector Morse book.
It wasn't bad but it dragged at the end."

That's the first book in that series, isn't it? It's been a long time since I read it, and so I don't remember the ending. But I really liked the series as a whole. One of my favorites is The Wench Is Dead. Morse is stuck in the hospital and so to exercise his mind he attempts to solve from his hospital bed a crime that took place over a hundred years ago. A very clever and entertaining book.

James wrote: "Esther wrote: "I just finished Last Seen Wearing by Colin Dexter which is an Inspector Morse book.
It wasn't bad but it dragged at the end."

That's the first book in that series, i..."

Last Seen Wearing is actually the second book. The first is Last Bus to Woodstock.

I have only read this one book but remember the stories well from the TV series, especially the ones at the beginning which I have watched 3 or 4 times!

I've read all the books, although it's been a while since I read the early ones. I really enjoyed the TV series as well, and thought that John Thaw was perfectly cast as Morse.

The BBC series of the Morse books was one of the first British detective series that I watched on PBS and I was hooked. John Thaw was wonderful.

Finished Bruno, Chief of Police and really did enjoy it. A good mix of mystery plot, characters, and a delightful setting. I want to book a flight to France today.

Donna wrote: "Finished Bruno, Chief of Police and really did enjoy it. A good mix of mystery plot, characters, and a delightful setting. I want to book a..."

Sounds a little like the Hamish MacBeth books by M.C. Beaton. Have you read any of those?

Hi Barbara, Bruno, Chief of Police is a lot like Hamish MacBeth. I've read most of the Hamish books and really enjoyed the the BBC TV series too.

Just getting started on The 9th Judgment . It is off to a quick start and hoping it stays that way. Seems like this will be a good one.

Currently reading Brimstone right now. Probably going to give it a 4/5. Not a fan of the religious nut. They always seem to ruin the book, or movie, for me. (Like in the movie "The Mist").

Anyway, going to be reading a Lincoln Child book next. Not sure which one.

I just finished South of Broad, and gave it 2 stars only because I love Charleston. However, it was a disappointment coming from Pat Conroy.

I'm now reading Memoirs of a Geisha, and I'm loving it so far.

I have a big gap in my reading life, law school, starting in 1987, and practice. In those days I read so much only to survive. Reading for pleasure just didn't factor in.

Only in the past 2 years (retirement/disability), did I finally start experiencing the pure pleasure of reading of whatever grabbed me. I have a lot of catching up to do.

I'm reading Playing for the Ashes. I have mixed feelings, but it does seem like it's on an improving trajectory.

Lobstergirl wrote: "I'm reading Playing for the Ashes. I have mixed feelings, but it does seem like it's on an improving trajectory."

I've enjoyed most of the Lynley books I've read and TV shows I've seen but I guess they can't all be terrific. I hope this one improves for you.

Katie, MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA is one of my all-time favorites. Enjoyed the movie too :)

Donna wrote: "Lobstergirl wrote: "I'm reading Playing for the Ashes. I have mixed feelings, but it does seem like it's on an improving trajectory."

I've enjoyed most of the Lynley books I've re..."

Yes, it did improve. My rating went from 2 to 3 stars by the time I was done.

I finished Rules Of Prey by John Sandford. It's the first in the Lucas Davenport series. The plot was good and the characters interesting. I enjoyed it and would recommend it.

Barbara wrote: "I finished Rules Of Prey by John Sandford. It's the first in the Lucas Davenport series. The plot was good and the characters interesting. I enjoyed it and would recommend it."

Hi Barbara, Glad to hear this is a good one. I just picked it up at the used book sale at the library.

Excellent news! Lawrence Block has announced a new Matthew Scudder novel to be released in April, 2011. I plan to begin reading it the day it is first available.

Donna wrote: "Barbara wrote: "I finished Rules Of Prey by John Sandford. It's the first in the Lucas Davenport series. The plot was good and the characters interesting. I enjoyed it and would recomm..."

I thought this was a very good book and a great introduction to the series. Lucas Davenport is one of my favorite crime fiction protagonists.

Picked up a battered, used book of Coffin Dancer, the #2 book in the Lincoln Rhyme series by Jeffrey Deaver. It's a page turner. Gripping.

Didn't think I'd go for the Lincoln Rhyme series cause as a quadraplegic Rhyme is stationary. I didn't like the Rex Stout Nero Wolfe books for that reason. Wolfe never leaves his townhouse. Boring.

Somehow Rhyme's inability to move is overcome by the author.

"Excellent news! Lawrence Block has announced a new Matthew Scudder novel to be released in April, 2011. I plan to begin reading it the day it is first available."

This is excellent news! I had given up there ever being a new Scudder.

Faith wrote: This is excellent news! I had g..."

Yes, I had too. I had heard him say a couple of times that he might not even write another novel, let alone another Scudder, so I am thrilled. I just wish I didn't have to wait almost a year to read it.

I just finished Do They Know I'm Running?: A Novel and am about 200 pages into Empire of Liberty: A History of the Early Republic, 1789-1815.

Faith wrote: ""Excellent news! Lawrence Block has announced a new Matthew Scudder novel to be released in April, 2011. I plan to begin reading it the day it is first available."

This is excellent news! I had g..."

I like the Matthew Scudder books also but they are soooo violent. I usually have to brace myself for the rough parts.

Just finished The Case of the Missing Servant by Tarquil Hall .

Charming new series set in Delhi, India with a modern day Hercule Poirot in the form of Vish Puri at the center of the action. Puri's extended family and staff are entertaining characters and the sites and traditions of India provide an interesting background to a very good mystery.

I am looking forward to the next in this series.