What We're Reading

LUCY BURDETTE: today was supposed to be our new Red Susan's day to strut her stuff. But she got waylaid--it's an incredible story and she'll tell it all next week. So today we're talking about what we're reading, and we'd love to hear your recommendations too!

I just finished Kristan Higgins's new romance, THE PERFECT MATCH. She's brilliant at swoony but not gooey love stories with fully-fleshed out characters. I'm always sad to see one end.

 






And now my bookmark is in Sujata Massey's new historical novel, THE SLEEPING DICTIONARY. So far it's about an Indian girl whose home and family is wiped out by a tsunami, and also about India's fight for freedom. I loved Massey's mysteries set in Japan, so I'm betting this will be a great read too.

HALLIE EPHRON: I just finished THE SILENT WIFE. Everyone said, if you liked GONE GIRL (and I did, very much) then you'll like THE SILENT WIFE (I did.) Less nasty and just as wicked, it tells the story Jodi and Todd in a "perfect" marriage. They live in a lovely home where she makes lovely meals and he mixes her perfect martinis. A psychotherapist, all day long Jodi listens to self-deluding patients, all the while in a state of denial herself as she puts up with being married to man who is "not good at monogamy." Until she snaps. 

Also reading ORPHAN TRAIN by Christina Baker Kline and loving it. There are two linked stories -- one tells of the friendship between a 91-year-old woman and a 17-year-old alienated foster child who is sentenced to community service work for stealing her favorite book from the library. They are both orphans. The second story is of an Irish orphan girl shipped west, as so many children were in the late 20s, in nearly Dickensian circumstances, in the hope of finding a family and a future.

RHYS BOWEN: I wish I could tell you what I'm reading, but I can't, because once again I'm chairing an MWA contest and I can't tell you anything about it. But I can tell you that the submissions start at a trickle and by the deadline they turn into a flood. So reading away at things that are not always my cup of tea and looking forward to picking up my TBR pile that has Julia's new book at the top of it.

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN:  I am reading Linwood Barclay's A TAP AT THE WINDOW.Reds, he is SO fabulous. It's sinister, but possible-- realistic but creepy, normal-with-a-twist. Exactly the kind of book I love. I want to be him when I grow up.

Rachel Howzell Hall's LAND OF SHADOWS--tough, gritty, smart, so original. A book to watch out for: ICE SHEAR by MP Cooley. A terrific main character in a debut that's seamlessly natural! Watch for it. I also read a soon to be published manuscript by Marilyn Levinson called MURDER a la CHRISTIE, which  is adorable. Go, Marilyn, and good luck! 

Finally, I sat down to read a couple of chapters of Lisa Scottoline's ACCUSED--and never got up. It's a page-turner, and pure wonderful Lisa. 

DEBORAH CROMBIE:  I just finished a galley of a debut novel called BONE DUST WHITE by a writer named Karin Salvalaggio. Funny thing, Karin

is an American who lives in London and sets her stories in--are you ready?  Minnesota. I think there is a little irony where I am concerned, but this is a great, polished read, with a female detective readers will love.  And if you thought Julia's Through the Evil Days made you feel cold, just wait for this one!

Now I'm reading the new Theresa Maclean novel, The Price of Innocence,  by Lisa Black, who will be our guest on Tuesday.  I love this series, so this is a real treat.

I think I'm seeing a strong female detective thread here...