Wednesday, January 15, 2020

Marilyn Reads Mysteries: Insights from a book blogger


HALLIE EPHRON: Recently I had the pleasure of speaking at Brandeis at the Osher Learning Center at Brandeis, BOLLI. I was welcomed by Marilyn Brooks, the book blogger who can be found reviewing mystery novels every week at Marilyn's Mystery Reads.

It's a treat to meet a book reviewer who cares as much about the genre as we authors do. So I asked if she'd come on Jungle Red Writers as a guest, and here she is.

Welcome, Marilyn. When did you start writing your blog?

MARILYN BROOKS: I started my blog in February 2010, so it’s almost exactly ten years old.  My older son Rich is the president of a social media company in Portland, ME, and he had suggested that I write a mystery blog since I love mysteries so much.

I thought about it for several months, wondering who would care about my opinions aside from family and close friends, but then I decided to give it a try.  And it’s grown to over 1000 subscribers, so I guess people have found the blog and recommended it to others.

Then, several years later, my husband suggested that I write to authors when I reviewed their books.  Again it took me a while to overcome my reluctance—who am I to write to Sara Paretsky, Louise Penny, Harry Bingham, Thomas Perry—but I’ve been so surprised and delighted that authors, both well-known and newcomers to the genre, have responded to my emails with kind words and promises to put my blog up on their Facebook page, as you did.

I’ve always been a reader of all types of books—novels, travel books, and biographies—but my special fondness is for mysteries.  I love the idea that there’s a puzzle or crime that’s the center of the book, and my job (along with the book’s protagonist) is to solve it.  It makes reading more immediate and personal, somehow.
 

HALLIE: Most of us got hooked on mysteries early with Nancy Drew or the Hardy Boys. Do you remember the first adult author who hooked you?


MARILYN: My  first “adult” author was Agatha Christie, whom I still believe is the best.  Not every one of her books is perfect, but the ones that are—THE MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR AT STYLES, THE MURDER OF ROGER ACKROYD, AND THEN THERE WERE NONE—are the best because they are true originals.

I also started reading John D. MacDonald, Josephine Tey, and Rex Stout early on, and I still re-read them.  I find that their mysteries hold up really well, while some of the others written in that same time period don’t, at least for me.
 

HALLIE: Is there a recent book that blew your socks off?


MARILYN: It’s funny you should ask about a favorite book most readers have never heard of because I just finished a mystery that fits that description perfectly; I blogged about it on January 4th.  It’s called THE BELLAMY TRIAL by Frances Noyes Hart and is a fictionalized story based on a 1922 double murder in New Jersey.  It was called “the crime of the century” until it was eclipsed by the Lindbergh kidnapping. 

I came across it by chance in my town’s library, started it, and couldn’t put it down.  It was written in 1927, five years after the actual murders; its style is somewhat old-fashioned, but the story kept me riveted until the last page.

HALLIE: I love the fortuitous way you found that book! And isn't that the treat, when you crack open a book that's unknown to you and find a gem? How do you discover the books you review?

MARILYN: I’m very fortunate to receive books from various publishers and publicists so I almost always read those books, although I don’t review them if I don’t like them.  I also buy books—my favorite book store for both new and
used books is Mainely Murders in Kennebunk, ME—and I borrow books from the Minuteman Library system on a regular basis.  I also read several online mystery sites to find out what books are being published—CrimeReads, Criminal Element, Marilyn Stasio’s NYTimes columns.

The problem is that there are so many good books and not enough time to read them all.


I don’t always finish a book that I start.  If it doesn’t interest me after about 50 pages or so, I’ll stop reading it.  Or if I find the story is unbelievable—that’s another reason I won’t finish a book.  My feeling is that if I’m reading a book that I’m not enjoying, for whatever reason, then I’m not reading a book I could be enjoying.

HALLIE: Give us a peek at your TBR pile.
MARILYN: My TBR pile is something of a joke in my house.  I’m a fast reader, so I need at least a week’s worth of books on my shelves to read to feel comfortable.  That being said, if I have eight or ten mysteries in my study I begin to panic, so I’m always looking for that perfect amount that will keep me happy and not stress me out.

At the time I’m writing this, I have five mysteries from the library and four from publishers on my shelves and nine books on my library reserve list.  Plus I’m in a book club that I started way back in the 60s, and we meet once a month and read everything except mysteries.

HALLIE: Well we're very grateful to you, Marilyn, for beating the drum for crime fiction.

And listening to Marilyn talk about reviewing books takes me back to my own 12 years reviewing crime fiction for the Boston Globe. And the thrill of being among the first to read books that hadn't been yet published by authors who weren't yet established names. I remember reading an advance copy of first novel by Gillian Flynn, SHARP OBJECTS. It left me breathless. And being blown away by CITIZEN VINCE by Jess Walter. What a thrill!
If you were (or if you ARE!) a crime fiction book reviewer, how would you decide which books to read and write about? How many pages does it take you to decide whether to keep reading?

63 comments:

  1. It’s lovely to meet you, Marilyn . . . .

    I’ve never set a book aside without finishing it, so I guess the answer is once I start a book, I always keep reading . . . .

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    1. Nominating you for sainthood, Joan...

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    2. I'm delighted to meet you too, Joan. Thanks so much for your kind comment.

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  2. I hardly ever decide to not finish a book. It has to be really awful. Once or twice I've read entire books before realizing... Wait, I've read this before. 😬

    I pick books now by looking on the hoopla or Libby apps under "similar authors," and it has led me to some amazing authors. Or I ask my mother in law for ideas because I don't think I have ever disliked a book she recommended to me. I don't know why I would change my methods if I wrote a blog. I guess the difference would be books sent to me. If a book is placed in my hands I must read it.



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    1. Going to look for Libby apps / "similar authors," sounds like something I could use.

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    3. Reading a book (unknowingly) for the second time has certainly happened to me too, Amy. We're just so preoccupied with so many other things it's easy to forget. Thanks for your comment.

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  3. Thank you for a behind the scenes peek into a reviewer's life. Sounds like a dream job.

    I rarely set aside a book, there is usually something to like, some nugget that makes it worth turning those pages.

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    1. A "dream job" that is so quickly vanishing...

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    2. Right? Thank God for volunteer reviewers like Marilyn, who are able to do it for the love of books. SO many newspapers have been unable to keep their reviewers. I look back at the newspaper reviews of my first book, back in '02. Most of the papers - those that are still around! - have stopped regular book reviewing.

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    3. Thank you for your kind comment, Julia. You may be interested to know that I'll be teaching a course at BOLLI in the fall on clerical murders, and one of the books the class will be reading will be yours. I've enjoyed the entire Clare Fergusson series and am eager to read the next one.

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  4. Great to know you, Marilyn, and to discover your blog. (I happen to have a hot ARC of my second Cape Cod mystery, in case you're interested...)

    I'm a much pickier reader now that I'm an author. I don't have time for writing that isn't up to snuff, that doesn't have a beginning that draws me in. I've put down books after two pages. My TBR pile of good books is way too tall for that!

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    1. I'm with you, Edith. Two pages, and if it's not working for me OVER AND OUT. So taht eliminates books because the writing isn't that good, but also books that just aren't to my taste... not the author's fault, and there are definitely audiences for those books.

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    2. Thank you for your offer, Edith. I'm a bit overwhelmed with books right now, but I won't forget about it.

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  5. Oh goodie! Another book blog to discover new mysteries for me to read. Always fun to discover a new site. I look forward to checking out your site Marilyn.

    Writing for Mystery Scene I get up to four books per cycle from them to read and review. If the books I get are by authors I already like, those are must reads. For books I'm unfamiliar with, I read the synopsis.

    I try to read everything that they send me. (Full disclosure: Part of the reason is because I get paid for the reviews and who can't use a bit extra cash?) But when I get to reading a book that doesn't grab me I usually stop reading it and let my editor know that I won't be doing a review.

    The bloggers I know/read tend to not do any negative reviews but whether for Mystery Scene or my own personal reviews that I post on Goodreads, I'll write what I think if I finish the book. It's up to the magazine whether they use the review or not.

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    1. When I reviewed for the Boston Globe, I tried not to write negative reviews by only writing about books I liked. But sometimes I'd run out of time... and be finishing a book that let me down at the end. And I don't like reading snarky reviews where the reviewer seems to be enjoying their own superiorty.

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    2. I read a reviewer once - I can't for the life of me recall who - who said she only did negative reviews if it was going to be a huge, national bestseller, something on everyone's to-buy list. She figured in those cases, readers ought to know what they were getting.

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    3. Hallie, I don't do snarky reviews. I don't think I am quite that arrogant to think I'm superior to someone who actually wrote a book. I just say why I didn't like a book. Doesn't mean others won't like or even love a book, just that I didn't. And I try to make sure that the review doesn't sound like my criticism is coming off like I'm being a Richard Edward...Dick Ed for short.

      Julia, I review a book based on the story not on how big the hype around a book is. And I'm not really thinking that someone is going to truly care about what I have to say.

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    4. Hi Jay,
      I don't do negative reviews either. I always assume the author has tried to write a really good book; it's just that it doesn't appeal to me. Looking forward to your next Mystery Scene review.

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  6. Welcome Marilyn. I'll have to take a look at your site. Always happy to discover new good books.
    I don't feel obligated to finish a book that doesn't interest me. The number of pages I read depends with every book but there are too many good books to waste my time.

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    1. "...but there are too many good books to waste my time" - HERE HERE!

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    2. Hi Danielle-momo, Thanks, that's kind of how I feel about books I don't finish. I have a label pin on a jacket that read "So many books, so little time." Too true.

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  7. Good morning Marilyn, and welcome.

    I, too, put down any book that I don't like. And with Kindle books, I return them, although not very often as I usually know from the sample whether to buy or not. I do write short reviews, opinions really, on Goodreads and Amazon. And I never write a bad one, because that's just me. Someone else night like a book that I didn't.

    About not finishing a book: I don't have the time to waste on something that isn't to my liking. Too many books, too little time, and all that!

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    1. Aren't 'samples' great?!? On my web site I've got links to the first THREE chapters of CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR... hopefully enough to let any reader know if it's their kind of book or not.

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  8. Wonderful to meet you Marilyn. I'll be off to bookmark your site momentarily.

    As a fellow blogger, I do many similar things. I don't post negative reviews (even though there are plenty of books I don't enjoy), I read 50 pages - make a judgement to continue; do the same at 100 pages; if at that point I continue, I always finish.

    Because I am so active in the community - attending mystery conventions, serving on Board of Directors, reviewing for multiple sites beyond my own blog, and generally hanging with the tribe - I usually know what buzz-worthy books are in the pipeline (even before they reach the ARC stage). Since receiving the MWA Raven Award, my schedule tends to fill up 4-5 months in advance. I do always leave room in there for those unexpected gems that always manage to appear.

    It's wonderful for authors (and readers) that they can find bloggers who specialize in their particular genres and sub-genre preferences. Certainly those of us that know each other tend to bounce requests and suggestions amongst each other and everyone is willing to do what they can to promote the books they love.

    Now, if only there were a salary attached!! But we wouldn't do it if we didn't love it.

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    1. You SHOULD be paid for what you do Kristopher. No question about it.

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    2. I've just booked your site, Kristopher. Thanks for your kind words. Four-five months in advance--wow!

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  9. Oh, I am giving you a standing ovation! And what a joy to hear from you.
    Did you read the new edition of The Bellamy Trial? If you did, I hope you noticed I wrote the introduction to it. I absolutely adore that book, and I think, as you do, it is an absolute treasure. (if you read an older version, let me know, and I will send you the new one!)
    And Hallie and Marilyn— worlds collide! I just reviewed Citizen Vince for Criminal Element. And it was a difficult review to write, because it is one of the best novels I have ever read.
    So… What a difficult job you have undertaken, Marilyn— With readers relying on you, and authors knowing you have their lives in your hand. Thank you so much for being here today! (and now you are going to be inundated with jungle red books, I fear…)
    Let me ask you: do you like it when you can guess the end? Or do you only like to be surprised?

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    1. On Citizen Vince... too bad he hasn't continued to write crime novels. We'll have to talk about it next time we get together! Shades of THE FRIENDS OF EDDIE COYLE. And it's got a world class opening line: "One day you know more dead people than live ones."

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    2. Jess Walter is an amazing writer. He allegedly has another novel coming out in February - NOTHING WEST OF DEAD - but since there's almost nothing about it on Goodreads and zippo on Amazon, I'm going to guess he's on the Julia Spencer-Fleming book production model" it'll get there eventually.

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  10. Oh! I am blushing… I just looked at your blog, and saw you mentioned my introduction. Awwww..Thank you thank you thank you! How lovely of you.

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  11. Always happy to find out about another book blog— that’s where I get most of my book ideas these days. I was about to admit, a bit shamefaced, that my TBR pile is a TBR bookcase. Then I stopped to think about it and realized that’s not true. My TBR pile is TWO bookcases, plus six books from the library. And more books on the Kindle. And I’m headed to the library before work this morning to pick up three more books I requested. Luckily retirement is just a few years away.

    In the last few years I have stopped books that I don’t enjoy, usually around 60-70 pages, although I rarely just stop. I frequently read the end since I need to know what happens even if I don’t care for the writing. A few times the ending has been interesting enough that I’ve gone back to finish the book.

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    1. Cindy, Someone else told me they did the same thing. They would read a chapter or two; if they didn't like it, they would go to the end to find out what happened. Then, if they liked that, they'd start reading the chapter before the end and the chapter before that....I can't do that, but it's an interesting way to deal with books that don't grab you from the beginning.

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  12. Is anyone else doing the same thing with TV shows now that you can stream them? Start watching and then put them aside... maybe come back, maybe not.

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    1. Yes exactly— It’s interesting the ones you latch on to—Unbelievable, and The Jury—and the ones that just fade from memory. Another topic for another day!

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    2. Oh yes. I can't count the number of shows I watch a few eps of and never come back. But then they are good, they are good.

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    3. The Jury? Sigh... another reason to subscribe to BritBox.

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    4. I do this ALL the time. It's almost as if - if I can't binge the whole series, I'll stop and forget to get back to it.

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    5. We have trouble remembering where the binge watch worthy show even is!

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    6. Yes, I do that so often these days. Sometimes I just get distracted and then I forget what I started. The last few days I've gone back to Series 3 of Broadchurch, which I started ages ago and then completely forgot!

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    7. Hallie, yes, I have been doing that. I would start watching a show on Netflix / Britbox / AcornTV then put it aside.

      Diana

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    8. Yes. We started watching "Dead to Me." We didn't like it, then we did, then we didn't, then we did...I can't remember why we stopped, but we have something like 3-4 episodes to go and haven't made it back.

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  13. Marilyn, welcome to Jungle Reds! I enjoyed reading about your experiences writing a blog about your book reviews. Though I kind of have a blog writing my book reviews, I do not write as often as I could. My last blog post was a list of Best of 2019 Books from my list and several other people's lists. How do I decide to do a book review? I only write reviews of books that I really, really liked when I remember to write a book review.

    This is my link to my blog:

    https://wonderwomanbookrevew.wordpress.com/

    Diana

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  14. Hi Marilyn! Your blog looks terrific. We authors so appreciate those of you who review just for the love of books! Especially, as others have mentioned, since so many newspapers are no longer reviewing. (I used to look forward to Hallie's reviews in The Boston Globe!)

    I'm pretty ruthless about quitting on a book I'm not enjoying these days. Too many books, not enough time. Why read something that just isn't my cup of tea when I could be LOVING something else? And my to-read pile is 2 triple-stacked bookcases, an overflowing bedside table, and so many books on Kindle and Audible that I will never manage to read or listen to them all!

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    1. Deborah, there has been a few books that I just could not finish. There are so many books to read! I finally read a book that I meant to read before Christmas. I flew through this paperback and loved it. I had five books on my TBR list for January and so far, I have finished ONE book from that TBR pile because I keep on adding new books to read. And it's my birthday month so I am getting lots of books for my birthday.

      Diana

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  15. Marilyn, I'll start checking your blog on a weekly basis. The Cincinnati Hamilton County library system sends me a weekly list of new acquisitions, by genre, with links to the catalogue. I learn about other titles from social media. In addition to the Washington Post and NYT reviews, I receive a weekly email from Murder by the Book in Houston.

    I post Amazon and Goodreads reviews for every book I read, always positive and enthusiastic because I've managed to finish reading the books. The books I throw across the room in disgust I don't bother reviewing.

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    1. Margaret, I very much appreciate your adding me to your blog list. I'm impressed with your method of "getting rid" of books you don't like.

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    2. Hi Marilyn, I just subscribed to your blog today!

      Diana

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  16. Marilyn, my first "adult" mystery author was Agatha Christie. I remember the first novel I read. It was At Bertram's Hotel - a Miss Marple Mystery.

    Diana

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  17. Hi, Marilyn! Book bloggers are heroes, in my opinion. So many newspapers have cut their reviewers and without you guys and gals, where would readers be when they need to find their next book?

    I used to finish everything I started. Now, not so much. The number of pages varies, but there is usually a point where I say, "Yeah, this just isn't doing it for me. Next!"

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  18. Hi, Marilyn. Another mystery/crime book blogger here. My site is The Reading Room on eblogger. I'm delighted to learn about your blog and will definitely visit it after commenting.

    Over the years I've built up an author list of ones that I always review, including the amazing Jungle Red authors. I can count on those I regularly review to have outstanding books. Of course, it's a thrill to discover a new author, too, whether it's a debut or an author I just haven't read yet. I love promoting authors and their stories by my reviews and other posts on FB and my blog I feel it's the least I can do for their gifts of treasured reading. I don't do negative reviews either, and quite frankly, I don't know when the last time was I didn't like a book.

    I choose my books by the authors I always review, by intriguing ARCs I receive, by word of mouth from other bloggers, from book buzz in the pipeline, and I can't begin to count the number of books and authors this blog has brought to me. I rarely read or review but oks that aren't mystery or crime, but my most recent review actually is a non-mystery. It's a book read I did with my daughter.

    Like my good friend and extraordinary blogger Kristopher, it would be lovely if the blogging were a paying gig, but it is indeed my heart's vocation, and when authors acknowledge you, that's a pretty good reward.

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    1. I agree, Kathy; it's nice to know that we're spreading the word about mysteries worth reading. Thanks so much for your comment.
      Marilyn

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    2. Kathy, I've just gone to your blog and bookmarked it. I love the graphic on your home page.

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    3. Marilyn, I've been in and out today, but I finally got to visit your blog. Your organization of it is superb. I'm a big fan of well-organized pages, and yours has such great categories/tabs to click on for information. I'll be adding it to my page on the sidebar, where I list favorite blogs.

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  19. why don't you review a book you don't like? movie reviewers do, and people still get to make up their own mind.

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    1. Pauline, That's a good question. I can only say that there are so many good books out there that I want to give them publicity and not spend time on publicizing books I didn't like or enjoy.

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  20. I'm finally getting a chance to come over here and comment. Marilyn, it is a pleasure to meet you, today.

    I am a book blogger as well. Since it is an unpaid hobby (all consuming, but a hobby none-the-less), I pick books that interest me. When I find an author I enjoy, I will read all of their books and look for new ones from them as well. At times, I am reviewing the same books as everyone else, but I try to mix in some less known, or at least not brand new books, each month as well, so it's not exactly the same as you'd see everywhere.

    It is very rare that I don't finish a book. I can only think of a couple of times when that hasn't happened. I view my audience as fellow readers, so I will post negative reviews. However, they are few and far between since (going back to what I already said) this is a hobby and I try to pick authors I think I will enjoy or know I will enjoy to read.

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  21. Hi, Marilyn! Wonderful to “meet” you. On behalf of all authors, thank you!

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  22. Thank you for all of your hard work, Marilyn. Fascinating insights!

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  23. As a fellow book blogger, I read what interests me. If a book doesn't capture my attention within the first couple of chapters, I put it down as there are too many books I want to read and don't have the time. I'm always on the look out for new series and any buzz I hear. My blog is geared towards cozy authors with a few non-cozy authors visiting my blog (dru's book musings). I will check out your blog when I'm done.

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  24. I have discussed many a mystery with Marilyn and find her comments insightful. She has added much to my appreciation of mysteries.

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