LUCY BURDETTE: To launch the beginning of the summer season, we thought it would be only fair to talk about books! I’ve veered out of the mystery lane lately and tried some new things. OUTRUN by Amy Liptrot was an Ann Cleeves recommendation from several years ago. This is a memoir that takes place primarily on the Orkney islands. The opening chapters about the author struggling with her addiction are difficult to read, but it pays off beautifully and now I’m desperate to go back to Scotland.
I also read YESTERYEAR, which Hank mentioned a while back. The main character is a tradwife influencer with a gaggle of children she doesn’t enjoy and a staggering following. I did not like her but I was compelled to find out how the author could possibly wind this story up. I never could have come up with this plot in a million years!
Now I’m reading Anna Quindlen’s MORE THAN ENOUGH about a woman struggling with infertility and a challenging mother and dementing father. Quindlen writes about families so well! I also read two romances that I won’t recommend. Looking forward to THEO OF GOLDEN, plus Rhys’s new standalone, and Jenn’s as well. Oh, in June, I’m going to hear Ann Patchett talk about her new book, Whistler. Can’t wait for that one!
HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: I just finished Tana’s French’s THE KEEPER and I am in awe. IN AWE! She is such an incredible writer that it's downright intimidating. It;s part 3 of a series, but such a terrific standalone that you can easily read it first. I am also tearing through Gillian McAllister's CALLER UNKNOWN–she is one of my all time favorite authors, and speaking of in awe, I’m not sure how she manages to make her book all have that McAllister voice, but be so incredibly different. I’ve got Anthony Horowitz’s new one up next, which I know will be such a treat! (I am also a judge for a contest, and all I can say is
I sat next to a man on an airplane next to a blue-suited businessman-type who was reading Theo of Golden, and he was crying. SO–nope nope nope, you know me, I am not getting anywhere near that.
HALLIE EPHRON: I’m a wimp when it comes to tear jerkers, too. Anthony Horowitz is always safe in that respect. And so clever and funny, bonus points. And of course I finished reading my sister Amy Ephron’s new book, UNSEASONABLY COLD (late summer, 1939, and a New York heiress goes missing.)
I just started THE CALAMITY CLUB by Kathryn Stockett (author of THE HELP) and I’m enjoying it very much. The opening chapters are flagrantly Dickensian with a little girl getting abandoned in the so called “care” at an orphanage run by heartless/misguided women. I’m looking forward to seeing where it goes next. It’s got MOVIE written all over it, and I’m having fun imagining who’d play the lead.
DEBORAH CROMBIE: I have not been reading anything–not unusual for me towards the end of writing a book. I just don’t have the focus to sit down with the printed page. But I have been listening to audio books and Hank, your comment was very timely. I’m embarrassed to admit this, but I had never read anything by Tana French. I know, right? Maybe I was intimidated.
But I picked up the audio version of THE SEARCHER, the first of her three Cal Hooper books, and I was hooked. Now I am partway through the second book, THE HUNTER. Interestingly, the protagonist is an American, a retired Chicago cop who has resettled in an Irish village. These are not fast paced but I’m loving the language and the characters.
Before that, the new Martha Wells Murderbot book, PLATFORM DECAY, which I loved so much I listened to it twice in a row. And before that, I listened to all but the last full cast audio versions of the Harry Potter books. These are unabridged and the casting is fabulous–I highly recommend!
JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING: I'm so glad there's another Murderbot fan here, Debs!
JENN McKINLAY: I am reading nothing. Shocking, I know, but my every second has been taken up with a new writing venture (more on that at a later date) that is so far out of my comfort zone, I have no time for anything else. Hopefully, I will get back to reading soon as I have a towering TBR to get through.
JULIA: Right now, I'm hurrying to finish Jessica Everett's LAST SUMMER AT MAINE CHANCE because I'm passing it on to Celia when I next visit her. My non-fiction read is the highly recommended TYRANNY OF THE MINORITY: How to Reverse and Authoritarian Turn and Forge a Democracy for All by Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt. Well-written and extremely thought-provoking.
I just got hold of PLATFORM DECAY and I can't believe Debs beat me to the punch. Though she's now known for SF, I can also highly recommend Well's fantasy novels. Next up: I'm super excited to read the ARC of Rhys's upcoming THE CASTLE IN THE GLEN.
Which means I don't have a mystery in rotation! I'm working my way through the Poirot series on Hulu, and would love any recs anyone can share for some good old-fashioned whodunnits, bonus points if they're set in the 1920s or '30s. (I almost wrote "the '20s" but realized we're living there right now...)
Red readers, what are you reading or looking forward to reading?
I just finished J.D. Robb's FURY IN DEATH . . . I really enjoy this series . . .
ReplyDeleteOther recently-read books include Andy Weir's PROJECT HAIL MARY . . . Woody Clark's HADRON'S RUN . . . David Baldacci's THE COLLECTORS . . . .
I love J.D. Robb's series
DeleteLoved Project Hail Mary!
DeleteI just finished Leslie Karst’s new book that I won here on the blog. Now I started another freebie I picked up at the 5th Anniversary of the Friends and Fiction Official Book Club live event I attended in Atlanta last August. The book is P. S. I Hate You by Lauren Connolly. It is starting out good, but I’ve read some bad reviews so I am not sure what I am getting in to. The premise is a young man dies from cancer and in his will he has specified that his best friend and his sister spread portions of his ashes in each of the 8 states he never made it to. He provides 8 letters sealed in envelopes with the latitude and longitude of the destinations written on the outside. Of course the two main characters have a complicated history.
ReplyDeleteI don’t normally read much romance. I am curious, Lucy, about the reasons you aren’t recommending the two that you read.
I think my next one is going to be The Lies They Told by Ellen Marie Wiseman.
Brenda, I enjoy a good romance, but it has to be well written and not silly. I guess it's no different with mysteries! if I spend the whole time muttering "she really needed an editor", I won't recommend.
DeleteLucy, I recently read a cozy where I was doing the same thing. It was the first in a series so maybe the author found an editor for the subsequent books. — Pat S
DeleteLucy, I asked the same question about an hour ago. I get it! No need to elaborate. Sometimes I love " silly!" It's not for everyone.
DeleteI usually like to give a first time author a chance for me to look forward to their next book.
DeleteRecently I have read several books where the characters do things that they have no reason to do, such as investigate situations they have no connection to and I wondered why are they even involved. Other issues are lack of common sense-the too stupid…
I just finished a book by an author who has written several series I have liked but I don’t understand what she is doing now. There is too much repetition describing places and people and the whole plot just seems to wander. This wasn’t silly, it was just annoying I did finish it but I probably won’t read anything else by her. I think the only thing an editor could have told her was start all over again.
There are too many books waiting to be read to waste time with something you don’t enjoy.
From Celia: Distraction seems to rule I've just finished Rhys' THE CASTLE IN THE GLEN which was all that Rhys standalones brings to us and now I need to grab some time to write the review which is a bit of a challenge as there are actually three stories twisted together including a possible murder not to forget the past clan history between the
ReplyDeleteProtagonists.
Just to keep occupied I borrowed The Last Mandarin- Louise Penny and Mellisa Fung. I do love spy fiction. I think I own all
of Le Carre. But this is interesting. Who is manipulating the end of the world? And will the Chinese Terracotta Army rise to save whom? However I also question the. Writing style and wonder if this is an AI effort that Louise is using as it doesn't feel like her writing.
I also have a copy of Richard Cass's latest from Julia which I'm Looking forward to starting not to mention several cook books I hope to share with you all in good time.
I'm tempted by The Last Mandarin too. Cannot wait to start Rhys's!
DeleteI did really enjoy Louise's collaboration with Hillary Clinton, so was wondering about The Last Mandarin.
DeleteDebs, Irwin enjoyed Louise Penny's collaboration with Hillary Clinton, too. I never got to it, but he still talks about it from time to time.
DeleteFrom Celia: I can't decide if the writing is really off kilter or if I'm just not spending long enough chunks of time as my concentration isn't great right now. But it's exciting.
DeleteI am a little overwhelmed but the number of new book recommendations in the weekend NYT. I feel overwhelmed with trying to keep up let alone getting ahead.
I got to see Martha Wells in San Diego on her PLATFORM DECAY tour. In related news, I got a T-shirt that says “Murderbot is my Sanctuary Moon.”
ReplyDeleteCurrently reading KLARA AND THE SUN for second book club. Then ALIAS GRACE for first book club.
Lisa, color me jealous! I would love a Murderbot T-shirt. I live for it's snark. -- Victoria
DeleteI would love a Murderbot T-shirt--I would buy a couple for family members too!
DeleteMe, too, me, too!!!! Where did you get the t-shirt, Lisa?
DeleteRedbubble has lots of Murderbot designs.
DeleteOh Lucy, I loved “Outrun” We published it when I was still at Norton and it has stayed with me. I will put the new MurderbOt on my library request list. I just finished “Our Woman in Moscow” by Beatriz Williams. It takes place in the late 30s, just before WWII, then the late 40s, and early 50s. Spies, love,ca bit of history. I definitely recommend. Next up “Dance” by Colum McCann, a novel centered around Rudolph Nureyev. I actually saw Nureyev dance in Boston and New York so it should be fun. And, of course, more mysteries.
ReplyDeleteOutrun was a gorgeous book! I was looking for what else she's written, but there isn't much. Although there was a movie made of Outrun, which we will have to look for.
DeleteAdding the dance one to my list, Suzette, thanks!
DeleteLucy, I think The Outrun might be on Netflix.Debs, I promise not to divulge any of “Dancer”.
DeleteFresh off an overseas flight and without a new Daniel Silva thriller to read, loaded my tablet with:
ReplyDeleteTHE LAST DETECTIVE, Peter Lovesay (an oldie but goodie); THE CORRESPONDENT, Virginia Evans; WHAT HAPPENED TO NINA?, Dervla McTiernan; RUBY FALLS, Gin Phillips; THE MAGNOLIA PALACE, Fiona Davis; HEARTWOOD, Amity Gaige; ALL THE COLORS OF THE DARK, Chris Whitaker; THE KEEPER, Tana French; THE FATAL TOUCH, Conor Fitzgerald.
Lots of good reading there Margaret!
DeleteFrom Celia: oh Margaret are you a Silva fan like me? I love his books. And Peter Lovsey? Is he the one who wrote ModestyBlaise? That takes me back into the '60's.
DeleteI just finished Elle Cosimano's FINLAY DONOVAN CROSSES THE LINE, have started Bruce Robert Coffin's CRIMSON THAW, and am eager for Hank's upcoming MOTHER DAUGHTER SISTER STRANGER.
ReplyDeleteAwwww thank you! Crossing fingers you love it!
DeleteAnnette, Bruce Robert Coffin's Maine State Police detective series is excellent. I am looking forward to the next book this summer.
DeleteOne that I can recommend for its subject matter – Liberty Street by Heather Marshall. She is a Canadian author. I really enjoyed her two previous books “Looking for Jane” which is about searching for women who performed safe abortions – known as codename Jane, and “The Secret Life of Audrey James”. In ‘Liberty Street, I had to reset myself because the ‘back in time’ was set in 1961 and I thought it was the ‘current’ time as I remembered living it all. No, the now was 1996. Oh, I am getting old! The story revolves around a magazine that I grew up with, and the reporter (fictional) and the results of the story. The news story was concerning the fact that any man including your father could state that you were uncontrollable and have you instituted – for perhaps forever. I liked the story and felt that it was worth discussion, so bought 10 copies of the book, and it was placed on the Book Club roto in the library system.
ReplyDeleteSince I have been too busy to think, I have a lot of books on the ‘all had to come in together pile” which means I have to read them all before Libby makes them go poof. It includes Jane Harper’s Last One Out, Kathryn Stockett’s The Calamity Club, Patrick Radden Keefe’s Say Nothing, James Laine on Stephen Sondheim and Fausta Cialente’s A Very Cold Winter on post WW2 in Milan. I am currently reading Remarkably Bright Creatures. Of course, Julia is still waiting in the wings – I bought her, so can enjoy at and in my leisure.
Thanks for the recommendations. I need to catch up on Tana French and Martha Wells and you've given me lots of other great suggestions.
ReplyDeleteI'm currently savoring THE KILLING STONES by Ann Cleeves, and trying to remember my long ago week on Orkney. I have clear memories of sitting with our backs against the big standing stones. I think it was the Ring of Brogar. It's lovely to visit Jimmy and Willow a few years later! I've been enjoying the Ruth Galloway series by Elly Griffiths, finished A ROOM FULL OF BONES, and am waiting for the library hold to come through with the next one. A friend gave me TILT by Emma Pattee for my birthday. I remember hearing about it when it was published (pregnant woman shopping at IKEA when the big earthquake hits) but had completely forgotten that it was set in Portland. As she walks her way through the devastated city, I absolutely know every street. It was totally real to me --and very disturbing. The goodness and badness of we humans is on full display. Highly recommend. I loved another little book, THE WOMEN IN BLACK by Madeline St. John. First published in 1993, it's a tender and light-hearted comical look at a group of women who work in the "Ladies Cocktail Frocks" section of a Sydney department store in the late 1950s. For Spanish class, we are plowing through La Casa de los Espiritus by Isabel Allende. There's a new adaptation on Netflix, which I'm hoping to be able to access in Spanish.
Nice to hear The Killing Stones evokes memories of Orkney, I loved visiting there. That book is on my TBR pile for when I have time to take time reading it.
DeleteI haven't read Tana French in a long time. I've been thinking of revisiting. My favorites of hers were Into the Woods and The Likeness, and I'm thinking of rereading them. I've been reading Rennie Airth lately, and I absolutely loved The Reckoning, certainly one of my favorites now. I'm currently rereading the first of the series. I'm often reading Jane Austen, as well. Given that most of my reading comprises mysteries, I'm happy to say that Jane Austen in Context, and the Cambridge Companion to Jane Austen, both published by Cambridge University Press arrived a few days ago. Oh, what a joy to "dip in." So many wonderful insights. I chose these two books as my "compensation" for having had to purchase a copy of my own newly-published book when the Cambridge team screwed up. I needed a copy for a book presentation. I think I can now say that I'm so happy the Cambridge team "forgot" to send our contributors copies of our book, as I never would have thought to browse through the Cambridge catalogue for these two. Like Deborah, I consume much of my reading through audio books, so that makes sitting down with with these Austen books is a real treat. (I've been copying out by hand, with fountain pens, Mansfield Park, which I had never read before. I would never consider copying out a mystery! Too slow! In the past it's been things like Dickens or the Aeneid, things like that.)
ReplyDeleteHank, you mentioned THEO OF GOLDEN
ReplyDeleteOPPS, I'll try again...
ReplyDeleteHank, you mentioned not wanting to read THEO of GOLDEN, I presume because someone reading it was crying. It is not a sad book, but very lovely and heartwarming. I book that is rich in kindness and I highly recommend it. It also has a bit of a mystery which turns out good in the end. It was very hard to put down - it would be a great choice for a book club read.
So kind of you to tell me this! Thank you thank you thank you .
DeleteI’ve read ODE TO THE BONES by Carolyn Haines, POUR CHOICES by Adrian Andover, THE FORTY-YEAR GRUDGE by Liza Tully, THE MASALA CHAI MYSTERY CLUB by MJ Soni, and THE GRAPEVINE by Alexandra Sokoloff and Craig Robertson.
ReplyDeleteDru Ann do you recommend THE MASALA CHAI MYSTERY CLUB by MJ Soni?
DeleteI should say most of my pleasure reading is done with the Kindle app, so that's why it's pleasurable to read a "real book." My insomnia reading must be done on a Kindle, and the house is so filled with books that I hesitate to invite more in, other than the scholarly books I need. Our public library doesn't have the best collection, from my point of view.
ReplyDeleteFirst off, Roberta, please share what you did not like about the romances that you decided not to recommend. I read about ½ romance and ½ mystery and fantasy/Syfy. I love to listen to rom coms.
ReplyDeleteI’ll begin with what I have listened to this month. I loved the audio version of VANISHED IN THE CROWD, Rhys and Clare’s latest Molly Murphy book. What a great topic to center a mystery around! I was impatient to read it but had a pile of library books so I got the audio version. Excellent narration.
I finally finished listening to the audiobook versions of the first 5 Peter Wimsey books by Dorothy Sayers. He’s a very long-winded main character, and his spouting of things that are now obscure was exhausting. But I did it!
I listened to RICH GIRL by Julie Mulhern. What a super series!
I also listened to another Lily Chu rom com written just for Audible, with Asian characters and their families and situations in the forefront. Her stories are simply delightful.
GREEN TEETH by Molly O’Neill is a fantasy about mythical creatures helping a human witch get rid of a monstrous fae. The story is a quest and it’s clever. It is not cozy, although it should have been, because if she had left out some of the violence it would have been the same good story, appropriate for more readers.
THE VERY SECRET SOCIETY OF IRREGULAR WITCHES by Sangu Mandanna. This is just a really good story about finding family and community. It’s a fantasy.
I also listened to MOVIELAND the 4th. Eve Ronin book by Lee Goldberg. It’s really good! I love the series and the brash main character.
I also recommend RULES FOR THE SUMMER, the latest rom com by Meghan Quinn, featuring some hilarious situations and terrific narration.
I also listened to DIE LIKE AN EAGLE by Donna Andrews. You all know by now that I am seeking “funny” and she always delivers on that!
Here, I’ll list a few romance writers whose stories I really enjoy and just a word about them rather than list the books. Amy Daws writes modern rom coms with excellent characters and lots of spice. Melanie Summers is also writing modern rom coms and with LOL situations. Pippa Grant is one of my favorite rom com writers. Her situations and characters are over-the-top silly, unrealistic and hilarious. I also love Louise Bay’s rom com’s, especially the audiobook versions which are read by some of the best voices in the industry. The main characters in her stories are nice people with challenges. I relisten to her books frequently because they are always heading towards happily ever afters. Claire Kingsley writes modern romance series with serious situations, mysteries and danger. She’s really good at it! (I’ve listened to something of each author recently.)
I have been actually reading, too. I recommend Patrice McDonough’s Dr Julia Lewis series for atmospheric mysteries set in mid-19th Century London.
Rob Osler’s latest Harriet Morrow mystery THE CASE OF THE MURDERED MUCKRAKER is the book I am currently reading. It’s a good series, set in turn of the 20th Century Chicago with an unconventional protagonist.
There are more these were the best.
Wow - I am very impressed Judy! I am so glad you took the time to share your recommendations. You should (seriously) start a blog. I would love to read more.
DeleteThank you, Anon! It's heartwarming to get this kind of feedback. I don't really know how I would manage doing a blog. I think about it sometimes. I certainly have opinions and I am not shy about sharing them.
DeleteFrom Celia: Judy you've worn me out!!! Hahaha. I'm most impressed but I do
DeleteHave to ask, " do you sleep?"
I'm halfway through Catriona McPherson's THE DEAD ROOM, which is fabulous. Next up is Naomi Hirahara's CROWN CITY, followed by Ashley-Ruth Bernier's debut BUSH TEA MURDER. She won the Agatha for Best Short Story and I'm looking forward to her first mystery.
ReplyDeleteI've been reading but not finishing some books recently. I just couldn't get into the stories so figuring I had many other books to choose from I stopped reading them. If they were books I got from the library, I returned them. If they were my own copies, I put them in the Mystery Book Club bag to give to other members of the group at our next meeting.
ReplyDeleteCurrently I'm working on TRACK OF THE CAT by Nevada Barr (mostly due to the upcoming TV series starring Tracy Spiridakos from Chicago P.D.). I'm SLOWLY reading a fantasy novel called THE TYRANNY OF FAITH by Richard Swan (though I'm pretty close to stopping, it isn't really grabbing me so far).
I got the new Michael Connelly book IRONWOOD, the second in his new Catalina series. I loved the first one and thanks to sales and reward discounts got it for less than half of cover price ON the day of release. (Which is the only reason to still go to Barnes and Noble after the stupid comments made by their CEO about AI-"written" books).
The next book for the Mystery Book Club is THE GLASS RAINBOW by James Lee Burke so I've got a copy of that from the library.
After that, I'm not sure of what I might be reading. There's no path forward as my reading time is a bit limited right now.
By the way, don't forget to read Maddie Day's new book A POISONOUS POUR. Not only is it a fabulous mystery (of course it is because Maddie aka Edith Maxwell always writes great mysteries!) but there's a nice little inclusion in the author comments I think you might get a chuckle from. I'll let you figure out that one.
And my friend Ann is reading a TON of books on her (UGH) Kindle. It's her birthday today and after we go to lunch to mark that occasion and she does her geocaching thing for a bit, she'll be back to reading like a demon I'm sure.
Jay, I agree 100% about the B&N CEO's statement. Not that there's a B&&N near me, but any road trips, I'll be boycotting them.
DeleteRecently read PARADOX by Douglas Preston and daughter, WHEN THE WOLVES ARE SILENT by C. S. Harris, and THE VAMPYRE CLIENT by Jeri Westerson. Almost finished with an older book AFTERMATH by Peter Robinson. Marjorie
ReplyDeleteI just finished A COLD COLD GROUND by Adrian McKinty. I remember seeing him on a virtual podcast during the pandemic and being intrigued by him.
ReplyDeleteI love McKinty's Sean Duffy books, but always listen to the audio as they are read by my own narrator, Gerard Doyle!
DeleteI have been in a brief period where I have actually been able to read a lot, which has been delightful. Titles I have enjoyed that are tied to the Reds community included Annette Dashofy's NO STONE LEFT UNURNED, Maddie Day's A POISONOUS POUR, Rhys Bowen's MRS. ENDICOTT'S SPLENDID ADVENTURE, and Jenn McKinlay's WITCHES OF DUBIOUS ORIGIN. I also enjoyed the newest by Anthony Horowitz and Anne Cleeves, already mentioned above.
ReplyDeleteHas anyone else discovered THE UNSELECTED JOURNALS OF EMMA M LION? The first book is tiny, but it is the kind of series where things are not left particularly resolved at the end, so I will quickly be moving on to the next one. The tone is very Jane Austen, while the character voice is more reminiscent of Deanna Raybourn's Veronica Speedwell, and the overall book something new and uniquely its own. I found it very addictive.
Speaking of Deanna Raybourn, I read her KILLERS OF A CERTAIN AGE and it was not at all what I expected, but absolutely delightful. I also enjoyed FIRST SIGN OF DANGER, the newest installment in Kelley Armstrong's wonderful Haven's Rock series.
Raybourn's Kills Well with Others that follows the same characters is also wonderful.
DeleteNeeding reading as an escape from the realities of the noise and dust of construction and landscaping here at my condo. (It’s been going on in various forms outside and inside since July 1, 2025 and not likely to finish soon.) I have just started through Tommy and Tuppence in Agatha Christie’s books. Never read them before (have seen old BBC series but can’t remember when). The noise and dust are too much for any thoughtful reading. Happy unofficial start to summer…solstice is still about a month away. Elisabeth
ReplyDeleteThe Tommy and Tuppences are my favorite Christies!
DeleteUggh I hear you Elisabeth!!
DeleteWe have a 3,000+ sq ft home being built next door which won't finish until probably Feb 2027. The noise isn't so much of a problem (unless we go outside) but the DUST is everywhere!!
Yes, Tommy & Tuppence are favorites too. For Christie's movie l like Witness for the Prosecution.
DeleteElisabeth and Deb’s, I loved the tuppence and Tommy mysteries by Agatha Christie
DeleteI can't wait to read Rhys's Castle in the Glen, and --this week!!!--Jenn's A Summer Share!
ReplyDeleteOMG, Jenn's book arrives this week! Put everything else aside! Woo-hoo!
DeleteYes, I have it preordered! And Jenn will be here on Thursday to tell us all about it!
DeleteI'm reading many of the same books as everyone here. I just finished Tana French's THE KEEPER and completely agree that she's so talented that it's mind-blowing. (I don't at all like looking at my own work after reading hers! I'm also nearly done with YESTERYEAR and can't put it down. The protagonist is definitely unlikable, but the humor is so sharp and dry that I love it. Up next, ALL THIS COULD BE YOURS, which I'm really looking forward to.
ReplyDeleteI recently read two books that take place in Australia, but in very different locations. LAST ONE OUT by Jane Harper and A FAR-FLUNG LIFE by M. L. Stedman, who also wrote THE LIGHT BETWEEN TWO OCEANS. Both are excellent! The latest book by C.J. Box, THE CROSSROADS, was a bit different from his usual books because it was his daughters figuring out who did the nefarious deed.
ReplyDeleteCJ Box was here in McKinney signing for Crossroads and I was very embarrassed that I'd never read his books. I have the first on in my Audible library.
DeleteC.J. Box writes a rugged character in a wooded, mountainous landscape. I really need to continue reading his series. It's very exciting.
DeleteI love CJ Box's characters so much but the books are not light!
DeleteLucy, I so agree about CJ Box--love the characters, the setting, but the books are too dark for me right now. I tried watching the TV series, but ditto.
DeleteI have recently read S.A. Crosby’s King of Ashes (well-written, but too noir for my taste); David Baldacci’s Nash Falls; Susan Meissner’s The Nature of Fragile Things (not a mystery; set in 1906 San Francisco, but not the usual earthquake story); Andy Weir’s Project Hail Mary; Catriona McPherson’s The Dead Room (my first book by her that was a “serious” mystery — not cozy — and it is GOOD!); Margaret Mizushima’s ninth Timber Creek K-9 mystery, The Gathering Mist (#11 is coming out this Fall so I’m trying to catch up); and an old Anthony Horowitz, The Word is Murder. I’m currently reading Stacy Hackney’s The Primrose Murder Society and Evelyn Clarke’s The Ending Writes Itself. — Pat S
ReplyDeleteI will tuck these recommendations away for summer reading! Thank you. I am deep into Oldies but goodies by Ken Follett. I just finished on audible “ The Evening and the Morning” and just started “Pillars of the Earth”. The narrator was fabulous and what a book! I love the trip back to 10th century England and Follett’s character development. Tremendous book and excite to read “Pillars..”. Perhaps I am the ladt to catch on to his historical fiction. I read “Eye of the Needle” years ago and fid mot know what was missing.
ReplyDeleteDebs you mentioned your own narrator, Gerard Doyle. I know the other Reds have their books on audio. I've always wanted to know if you don't like the narrator - can you request someone else or is it decided by the editor or publisher?
ReplyDeleteGood question, anon! I can, yes, but I've been with my publisher for a long time. Not sure that was true in the early days. I got lucky when they gave me Gerard for my first book. Then they switched to Jenny Sterlin, who I also liked, but who never quite captured the characters for me the way Gerard did, and after a few books I learned that I could request a narrator of my choice.
DeleteThats interesting Debs, thsnks!
DeleteThe last 3 mysteries I read were all worth recommending - The Murder at World's End by Ross Montogomery, The Ending Writes Itself by Evelyn Clarke, and This Weekend Doesn't End Well for Anyone by Catherine Mack. The first two are stand alones, but Mack's is the 3rd. in a series and references the first two also good books nicely. Next up is a fantasy - Jodi Taylor's Out of Time. Love those Time Police.
ReplyDeleteWeeks ago, I read YESTERYEAR and my brain just exploded literally! It is easier for me to describe this in Sign Language than writing in English. Simply put, this is a book that I would Not want to read again. Because Hank recommended the book, I decided to read it. I flew through the pages in one sitting.
ReplyDeleteLike Jenn, I have a towering TBR to get back to. Somehow I manage to carve out ten minutes daily to read a book. Right now I am reading an ebook written by Eliza Reid, the former First Lady of Iceland. She wrote a memoir about her life, including being First Lady of Iceland.
Sounds liked something about the book as you read right thru to the end. But I am stymied why you'd not read again. Can I ask why? Too intense, not good, too long....
DeleteOh I will look for the book by the first lady of Iceland for sure!
DeleteI interviewed Eliza Reid when she did a signing here in Dallas. She is delightful and so interesting.
DeleteOh, Eliza Reed is absolutely lovely, truly a wonderful person, and her story is astonishing and unbelievable!
DeleteAnd I hope the fact that your brain exploded is a compliment! I agree, I might not read it again, but it was really a tour de force.
DeleteDebs, you got to meet Eliza Reid! May I ask if there are pictures?
DeleteHank, the book indeed was a tour de force! There are triggers like emotional abuse. If the intention was to make my brain explode, then I could say it’s a compliment?
I read a couple of noir mysteries set in the early 1950s by M.E.Proctor: Bop City Swing and Kansas City Breakdown. They're set on the West Coast. I read Yesteryear. What????? The Hope Keeper by Heather Webb; set around one of the Hope diamond owners in Washington, D.C. back in the 1920s. Summer State of Mind is a wonderful feel good Southern novel. And for something completely different, The Jellyfish Problem by Tessa Yang. If it were a movie it'd be on SyFy.
ReplyDeleteAnd oh, Roberta, about YESTERYEAR! I absolutely loved it, devoured it, and completely understand your feelings about how unlikable the main character was. Hilariously ridiculous ridiculously unlikable, and sometimes I laughed out loud. I also agree that I could not figure out how the author was going to pull off the ending, but I thought she really did. I am constantly recommending this book, even with how absolutely outrageous it is. I thought it was an incredible commentary
ReplyDeleteAnd, if anyone is watching Elspeth, which I don’t, but happened to see on the road, there was a recent episode that was completely ripped off from this book. Astonishing. Did anyone see it
Did not see it. Funnily enough, John is now reading Yesteryear and really enjoying it!
DeleteI did watch that episode and immediately wondered after reading this thread if the TV writers had copied the idea from the book Yesteryear. (I didn't warm to "Elsbeth" when it first aired; I thought the writers were rehashing their version of "Columbo". Which was a tall order to fill. Peter Falk's interpretation of the homicide detective Lt. Columbo was so unique on its own. But it seems the network felt the Elsbeth Tascioni character with all her quirkiness and peculiar habits was worth "reincarnating" through different spinoffs along the way. I'm still not sure how I feel about the show.)
DeleteSo agree about the show in general, Evelyn. And I thought that episode was really outrageous! Roberta, you should try to find it, it’s really jaw dropping. And so fun that John is reading!
DeleteFor Golden Age mysteries, there is, of course, Dorothy Sayers. Others include Edmund Crispin, Lesley Charteris-The Saint series, Ellery Queen for both Charteris and Queen the earlier ones were better. I think the later ones were more influenced by tv versions and got away from the original stories. Others include Rex Stout, Phoebe Atwood Taylor.
ReplyDeleteThere was also Baroness Orczy who was primarily known for The Scarlet Pimpernel, but had two series featuring detectives.
For a more modern author there is Kerry Greenwood who wrote two series, one of which, Phryne Fisher appeared recently in a number of episodes on PBS. The stories take place in Australia around the 1920’s
Others with more of an espionage orientation were Manning Coles, Eric Ambler and Agatha Christie’s Tommy and Tuppence.
There are many other worthy additions, but I have concentrated on earlier authors who wrote traditional stories focusing on unique characters who really had a major influence on the mystery genre. They did this without graphic descriptions of violence or other societal aberrations.
Anne Hathaway bought the rights to Yesteryear and will be starring in the upcoming movie.
ReplyDeleteHow could I have forgotten Chet and Bernie's latest adventure UP ON THE WOOF TOP by Spencer Quinn. This is the best one yet!
ReplyDeleteI've read several mysteries, but can only recall the most recent one at the moment--no reflection on the quality of the other books. Jean-Luc Bannalec's THE SECRETS OF THE ABBEY. These are set in Brittany and I've enjoyed the series, especially this last one. I attempted a couple of nonfiction books: LITURGIES OF THE WILD by Martin Shaw was one, but couldn't get very far with it. A WORLD APPEARS by Michael Pollan--this is about consciousness and a book I will probably return to once I'm not so tired every night.
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