Mystery Corner ~ 1/06 Export

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Entries for “Master Mystery Writer”

author voter

David Baldacci GSPoppy & gaj

Lawrence Block Shirley & Ed

Raymond Chandler Bunny Mills

Agatha Christie Mary Hanagan

Michael Connelly newtonite

Patricia Cornwell Phyll

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Jackie Lynch

Dick Francis Stephanie Hochuli

Elizabeth George Carol Jones, jeanlock, & Yuki

Sue Grafton Kiyo

Tony Hillerman Cmac

P.D. James Maida

Faye Kellerman Camw

Jonathan Kellerman Scootergirl

author voter

Laurie R. King Judy Klapper

John D. MacDonald Linda

Ed McBain AJL

Margaret Maron Kippy

Marcia Muller cappie

Robert B. Parker Bruce E. Clark

Ruth Rendell Gail T.

Lawrence Sanders Lee D.

Dorothy L. Sayers Jean Gordon, reffie, & Jeryn

Lisa Scottoline winsum

Mary Stewart annafair

Rex Stout jane

Josephine Tey Gail G. & MaryPage

Peter Tremayne Nancy McKeever

Patricia Wentworth singagain

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Thanks for the nice clean page, jane. I'm sure we can get some murder and mayhem going here soon.

We are still at the rv show, so just a bit of reading to calm down and nap.. Finished a Philip Margolin. I can only read him if I am in the absolute right mood. He is heavy duty upon occasion.

Stephanie: Is Margolin the author or the character? I got the new Susan Wittig Albert book about Beatrix Potter, The Tale of Holly How. Its a cutie. Albert seems to have the english villiage milieu down pat. These are cozies in the truest sense of the word. My cousin in New York State says the new Nevada Barr is the scariest one ever. Anyone ever read Charles McCarry's Tears of Autumn? It's supposed to be fiction about the JFK assasination. Also, what is the best book about Ted Bundy? I've heard of The Stranger Next Door. Others? Thanks

What's the new Nevada Barr? The last one I read was 2005's Hard Truth. Is there one after that??????

I just finished "Nothing But Trouble". It was very good, but I thought the ending left you hanging. I understand why authors do that so they can write a sequel or continuation of the story, but I hate having to wait a year!!!

Mary in TX

Philip Margolin.. book is "Sleeping Beauty".. He has been writing for quite a few years now. Is an attorney on the west coast. Nevada Barr.. I always wait until she reaches paperback and then read her. I like Susan Albert, but have only read the Herb books..I tried one of the books written jointly with her husband and hated it.. Oh well.

As I was passing down the book aisle in WalMart this morning, I noticed a Steve Martini that I didn't recognize. Oh, JOY! It has a 2005 copyright date, and is one we hadn't read...called Double Tap. I'm well into it now.

I read The Tale of Holly How which is Albert's second book in the series. I enjoyed both books but found this one a little too wordy in spots and skipped a paragraph now and then. It is interesting to read about that time period of history and I have read in reviews that Albert is very careful about her portrayal of that historic period.

MaryZ: The Nevada Barr is Hard Truth. Haven't read that one my self.

Thanks, Mrs. Sherlock. Glad I hadn't missed one. I've just gotten the new Sue Grafton ("S") from the library. It's starting off as a good one.

I'm also reading S is for Silence. It is an enjoyable read.

Found a new ( to me) author, who is a bit unusual.. Sujata Massey.. "The Floating Girl" She writes about Rei Shimura, who is part Japanese, part American and living in Tokyo.. Making a living just barely and learning the differences between full Japanese and herself. Interesting in both a mystery and also a cultural shock. Must find the others, she wrote several.

I am reading Martha Grimes, "Stargazey" after I found the book in our apartment library. I used to like her books until she went on an anti-American kick, so I quite reading them. I decided to try again with this one which is one of the series with Richard Jury and Melrose Plant. She is quite a witty writer. According to the book cover, she is living in Santa Fe, New Mexico now, so perhaps she had mellowed.

I have never done an Elderhostel, Mary Z, but if I did, the one in Farmington would be the one! Will you be staying on the campus of San Juan College? It is out in the direction of the restaurant that we used to love, The Trough, which was in Flora Vista, behind a dance hall, and so dark we almost had to eat by braille. However, the ambience was wonderful, the waiters were a lot of fun, and the food was delicious. Sigh. The good things in life never last long enough.

My library has the first in the Kurt Wallander series by Henning Mankell and I have it on my list to try. Thanks.

I am slowly working my way through "Murder in the Blue Room" by Eliot Roosevelt. It is one of the series that features Eleanor Roosevelt. I usually enjoy them, but this one is a real sleeper, literally. One or two pages and the slender book hits the floor, startling the dog. And it is not even boring, except some of the war parts as it is set in 1942, but definitely soporific!

Perkie, obviously you used to live in Farmington. Was that a long time ago? Or is The Trough still there? We'll be there an extra day, so will be looking for places to eat. We love little dark, fun, places with good food, where the locals eat. We stay in a motel, but all the classes and many of the meals are at the college. Here's a link to the EH page with the program...

http://www.elderhostel.org/programs/programdetail.asp?RowId=1%2BLY%2B1580

Reginald Hill's new one, Stranger House, is not Pascoe and Dalziel. But it is a grabber. Intricately plotted, characters with life, no guns, no car chases,English village, I really liked this one.

Hmm,..English villages do tend to go more for poison, or perhaps a shove down the stairs. Guns, it seems, are rarely used. Quite right; a gun would definitely be jarring in the English village atmosphere.

Babi

Stephanie; I am always glad when someone mentions Sujata MAssey. I relly love her books, and the mix of Japanese/American that she writes about. I loved the one about ikebana flower arranging, especially. It is fun when she has "battles" with her aunt who wants here to toe the line a bit more than Rei can manage. I hope more of hers materialize. isak

Just finished The Deadly Dance: An Agatha Raisin Mystery Agatha is complaining bout things that say to me she has gotten older - cute story as usual with all the usual characters - I always wait for the latest to come out in paperback when they are cheaper - these are defiantly one read stories.

isak, I did like Sujata and am looking for more.

I've been reading "Bleak House" by Charles Dickens and watching the PBS movie version. It really is a very interesting book and Dickens "characterization" is off the charts. There is a lot of satire throughout the book - they really don't write any novels like those written in the 19th century any more.

Stephanie Barnes & Noble say that she had The Typhoon Lover appear in 2005, and The Pearl Diver in 2004. The rest are before that. I think I have read all but the Typhoon Lover. isak

Yes, I want to pick up the earliest book and go from there since they seem to have a mild continuing type plot.

From My computer and SN I just lolled about and read ..B&N had a sale on books and since I am a member you wont believe all the books I got for 90 cents each I bought about 50 dollars worth> SOme I gave as presents to my family since they covered multiple subjects Like HARLEY DAVIDSONS that my son in law who has one was THRILLED to get or a book on odd cars my son who is Master MEchanic loved or a book on trains my other son loved VERY Successful but it was the mystery books I loved One was by Susan Isaacs whom I have never heard of ..but for 90 cents I felt I could try ..the book I read was After All these years . It was sort of sassy and pert and I guessed the murderer about 3/4ths way through but still I enjoyed it . so has any one else read one of her books???anna

used to be one of my regular READS. good writer with a sense of history. . . claire

How are you anna. . . .?

I am recovered from an extended holiday with family ..24 were here Jan 8th including my late husbands only sibling , his sister and her husband in their 80's and she is confined to a wheel chair ..she rather enjoyed her strapping 6'3" nephew picking her up and carrying her into the house etc ..Since I dont have to keep my house neat having that many for dinner requires a lot of effort before and after and although I had offers for help I prefer doing things MY WAY LOL So you would recommend this author ? I am glad to hear that because I enjoyed the book ,...and will check B&N's sales for her books again...anna

O.K. you folks have gotten me all excited about this Miss Julia series so I stopped at B&N today and can hardly wait to start.

Of course Monday I went to Elliott Bay book store and bought Pom Soup and am envolved in another book also. This is the first time in my life that all the book cases are stuffed and now books are stacking up.

Got a bad report from the eye doctor the other day and now I have to have cataracts removed from both eyes. I said to him not the second week of Feb I am going to Vegas. He said well you need to get your priorites straight and I said they are thank you very much.

I Monday I had my annual checkup for my eyes and I could have told him I was doing GREAT fifteen years ago I had a cataract removed from my right eye and I have never worn glasses since then That is remarkable since I have worn them since I was 8 but the lens they put in was for distance and my left eye remained nearsighted so my wonderful mind has coped all these years using whatever eye it needed and allowed me to read etc sans glasses Now I understand the surgery etc is so much better than 15 years ago ..almost no waiting for your eyes to adjust, And a very brief time for the surgery . I hear from everyone how successful this is so GO FOR IT . and may you have a very successful surgery PS I guess I would delay long enough to go to Vegas! anna

I'm so glad to see someone here mention Bleak House by Charles Dickens. It definitely qualifies as a mystery, I'd say! And I agree wholeheartedly that they "just don't write novels any more like they did in the 19th century."

The PBS series has had a promising beginning. However, this story has an intricate plot and if you missed the beginning, 2-hour episode, it may be difficult to enjoy the later ones. My neighbor tried and could not get into it... but she had never read the book either. Poor thing.

Has anyone ever read Jill McGown's mysteries? I'm well into my first one... quite British and so far, enjoyable. It's called Unlucky for Some. There are several more in the series.

Susan Isaacs -- I think I have read all of her novels. Started with her in the beginning and just kept reading her work.

I am really enjoyingS Is For Silence.

Susan Isaacs, I have read them all, but she either writes very slowly indeed or has writers block, since she has not written that much. But they are good..The mystery is really just a small part of the plot as well. I bid on and hope to get two Sujarta Massey books currently on ebay..

I enjoyed S is for Silence, too. The format is a bit different, with lots of flash-backs.

I like Jill McGown's books, but haven't read one in a while. There is something about the way British women write about crime and men/women relationships that is very attractive to me. More subtle, perhaps? Nothing very subtle about Evanovich or her ilk, though I like Stephanie Plum. I'll have to think more on this.

I dont know about th e English. I canot remember, but I think that Elizabeth George is English and her relationships are always so complex. I know Lindsey Davies is English and I adore her Romans and their whole hearted committments.. Falco is a master work as far as I am concerned.

Found this on her official web site "Elizabeth George was born Susan Elizabeth George in Warren, Ohio. When she was eighteen months old, her family relocated to the San Francisco Bay Area where they lived in what's now part of Silicon Valley but was then the small town of Mountain View."

Mountain View is still a small town. It is also Silicon Valley; Microsoft has a satellite there.

Mountain View is now part of all of the urban sprawl down the peninsula through Mountain View, Santa Clara, San Jose and to Fremont. All of this is considered to be Silicon Valley.

GoldenState Poppy: Silicon Valley seems, in one sense, to be one big metropolis. Yet, the smaller units work hard at maintaining a sense of self. San Jose is the elephant in the living room of SV. Nearly 1M in population, it has little personality. Mountain View, Sunnyvale, Cupertion, Los Altos, Palo Alto, each strives to be individual, though one can drive endlessly down streets and notice only the boundaries when the street signs change color and font. I recently retired after living all my life in SV. Salem, Oregon, is my new home. So much bare land! And, of course, so much free water! SV is typical of the california semi-arid landscape - green only where there are sprinklers.

What did you retire from if I might ask. . . Claire

Sorry, Mary Z, but The Trough is gone. I have never lived in Farmington, but we have visited several times, usually while driving from Phoenix to Santa Fe. Last May, we had lunch at K.B. Dillon’s. The AAA guide said it was dark and smoky, and it was. The food was excellent. I had a New York Strip Steak with French fries and salad. My companion had a stacked enchilada with the tortillas flat and layered.

I will start watching the library new book shelf for Reginald Hill's new one, "The Stranger House", Mrs. Sherlock. I love Intricately plotted mysteries in English villages.

I looked up "After All these years" by Susan Isaacs in Publisher's Weekly, Annafair, and found the following: Once again Isaacs proves a dab hand at rattling skeletons in the closets of Suburbia--here, murder and adultery in Long Island's tony Shore Haven are skewered with this author's typically savvy wit. Sounds good to me.

Jeryn, Publisher's Weekly also said of Jill McGown's "Unlucky for Some: McGown's series can legitimately be compared to Peter Lovesey's outstanding Peter Diamond novels, blending police procedural and twisty whodunit tropes with sardonic humor and byplay between members of the police force. While she's not yet a household name in U.S. mystery circles, this excellent effort could—and should—change that.

I'm so glad to meet someone else with her priorities straight, Judy. Your doctor needs to get his priorities straight! I had a small skin cancer, the most benign of them, removed and after the surgery, the plastic surgeon thanked me for coming in and having it taken care of. Never had that happen before.

I happily whizzed through "The Cat Who Dropped a Bombshell" by Lilian Jackson Braun. As I recall, "The Cat Who Went Bananas" wasn't up to her usual breezy style, but she is back to her normal tempo with this one.

Claire: I was a financial analyst for a defense contractor for 11 years; when the defense industry went away I wnet into civil service, County of Santa Clara, in Acute Psychiatry, working on Quality Improvement.

do you like psychological thrillers like lincoln child and prestons RELIC. I nevr really got interested in the english ones. can't identify well enough with the settings and characters. I should think the Grissham novels would be interesting to you though. . they are to me . . . . claire

My husband adores Lincoln Child and Prestons books, but I have never been able to get them. Minette Walters and Barbara Vine are both psychological types and English and wonderful. I love and wait for all of their books.

Thanks Perkie I don't know why he cared he couldn't have done it then anyway I got the first one which is Feb 28th. Some people look at you funny when you say your going to Vegas like what's wrong with you. I am not addicted to gambeling I just enjoy it. I especially don't want to do it in my own back yard. Its always been a fun trip for me and I think going around here would not be the fun it is on a short jaunt to Vegas. That is especially when its free.

I've been to Reno with it's all night open world, fascinating to get a big breakfast at two in the morning and free entertainment 7/24, but I've never been to Los Vegas. I think I played a coin machine briefly and experienced immediate loss of the coins, so gambling has already been uncomfortable for me. . .I'd rather eat. all that good stuff they put out for almost nothing. . . Claire

Claire yes the food is unbeatable as is the price. My friend Janet Sue and I conseider ourselves professional buffet eaters. Downtown I have to say the Golden Nugget Strip by far and away Paris

And checked out two Isaacs books they are downstairs or would tell you which one they are ,. also checked out Split Second by David Baldacci Someone gave me one of his about 18 mos ago and I loved it but had to get 1/4 through this one before I cared enough to continue I almost turned to the last page which is my all time indicator a book is JUST NOT holding my attention.... went to B&N and bought a book called Grudge Match by Jay Brandon I think I have read one of his books before and enjoyed it ..Read a couple of mysteries near the end of the last year but would have to go and check them out One thing I will say one and I think it was by Grisham was scary as it showed a world gone wrong ...or at least the possibilty Some of the books I read were by famous authors and I HOPE FAR FETCHED ..I would hate to think they could REALLY happen

I love the English mysteries since the ones I have read were calmer and not quite as high tech ...I will finish the Baldacci book first and then on to Susan...and I am glad to get back to mysteries they dont require me to take them really seriously and never give me nightmares ...anna

is boring. his characters are stock and the theme is predictable subliminal mind control. I'm having trouble staying with it.

And if I had checked the end I am not sure I would have finished it ...so now to Susan...will check and see what books you are reading and which you say Try this one you will like it anna

with a cultural bent and I'm more into mysteries and sci fi and thrillers. I didn't realize she's written those too. . . claire

Winsum, why bother? There are so many other books out there you would actually enjoy reading, it seems such a waste to make youself read one that's boring you. I used to do that, if a book was a 'masterpiece' that I felt duty bound to read. Fortunately, most 'masterpieces' I enjoyed very much. But I'm long past sticking with something that's not worth my time.

Babi

at the time her view of life was a lot like mine and her characters are always well drawn, believable, so I could identify. it's just that I've moved on. . . .claire

Claire that is what motivates me to read or not read ..one thing though over the years I have re read some books I had read at a much earlier age and found two things Either the book was better than I had remembered ( I had lived and learned ) or it was not as good as I remembered for the same reason..Now when I finish a book I pack it up and send it on to two sisters I know they share the books and then donate them to a senior home in their area ...Although some books I keep for some cold and dreary day when I want to enjoy a good story and just do nothing else except eat popcorn and drink fruit juice with club soda....anna

The previous Mystery Corner has been moved to Archives in General and Generic Discussions that have been Completed.

Is that something new, Marjorie? Didn't know they were archiving the Mystery Corner!

Thanks, Perkie, for bringing us that research about Jill McGown. I'm going to look for some more of hers.

Meanwhile, I'm zipping through Jane Langton's The Thief of Venice... very light reading but enjoyable as her "Homer and Mary" characters usually are.

I Finished reading Sue Graftons's S is for Silence. Has anyone else read it?

I am now reading Robert B. Parker's Sea Change . I really like his writing style. This is a Jesse Stone mystery.

I like him . . .Robert B. Parker's . . .his setting are in my locality which makes it more fun. . .claire

Ginny Ann, I read S for Silence. It was good, but some of the parts seemed a bit slow.

I hate having to wait a year or so for the next one!!

Mary in TX

I am reading Evanovich's "To the Nines". As always, I enjoy the difficulties that Stephanie and Lulu get into. It is written with great good humor and the mystery plays second place to the characters. I enjoy Stephanie's relationship with Joe and her temptation with Ranger. We should all have such decisions!

I generally get to Grafton about a letter or two behind, so not up to S yet.. I love Robert Parker. Used to live close to Boston and he is accurate, you could use him for street directions.

GinnyAnn, I read "S" last week, and enjoyed it very much. Grafton's one writer, IMHO, who has written a large series and has kept up the quality (mostly) throughout.

Sue Grafton's books are must reads for me. I do have admit that I didn't finish the R book. The one she solved a real life mystery. The S story left me a bit confused about the villain. I may have to get it again and look up that story. The interpersonal with the flashbacks made this more of a good novel than just a very good mystery.

I think I'm the only one here who doesn't care for Evanovich. Have tried several times reading her books and just can't get far enough into the book to find anything funny. Am reading "The Perils of Paella" by Nancy Fairbanks and especially like the parts where the Italian inspector is complaining about American women. They are funny in a "dry sense of humor" way. It's hard to understand sometimes why some books appeal to us and others just turn us off.

Flajean, you're not the only one

My daughter is a fan and gives me her books, but I can't get interested. I used to like Mary Higgins Clark, but can't get interested in her books anymore.

I wish Tony Hillerman would write another one

Mary in TX

FlaJean - I'm another one who hasn't gotten into the Evanovich books - although all the rest of my family has fits over them - especially when we're all at the beach. Oh, well.....

redbud - At the risk of repeating myself, one of the Elderhostels we're going to in late April is in Farmington, NM. The subjects are the local geology, the Navajo culture, and Hillerman's mysteries. We've been trying to get to this one for years, and this is the first time things have worked out. We're excited!

Has anyone read Hillerman's "Skelton Man?" It just came out in paperback. I can't get into a lot of the "old" writers books any more. I read some time back that Mary Higgins Clark has ghost writers now. I do like Parker's books though.

Anyone remember Rumer Godden? I really enjoyed her books. She is deceased now, but I wonder if I missed any of work. She would be one old-timer worth checking out, IMO.

Babi

No, FlaJean, you are not alone. I can't read Evanovich either. It has been so long since I gave up on her that I don't remember why any more.

I'm glad to hear that "Skeleton Man" is finally out in paperback. Hillerman is one of the few authors that I collect, in paperback, and am looking forward to reading it. He is one of my all time favorites. And I like the Leaphorn/Chee movies, too, even while I mutter, "That wasn't in the book. Leaphorn wouldn't do, or say, that". I like the actor playing Chee better. And I love the settings.

I am glad I am not the only one to give up on her books I am thinking of some authors from the past I loved and their last few efforts read like thier agent or the book company's editor said NOW WE NEED A NEW BOOK FROM YOU ..Daphne du Maurier was one of them and I cant for the life of me recall the other one who was also an authoress ...

I started the JAy Brandon book I enjoyed but decided to read one of the Susan Isaac books from the library ..one called Lily White ..I am having trouble following the story line for some reason It seems she keeps skipping around ..starts out in the present time and then all of a sudden you find you are in an early time ..it is a bit incoherent especially when I have to stop between reads ..enjoy whatever you're reading Will get back later .anna

Mary Z, I can understand why you're excited. I would love to go. Maybe sometime...

Scrawler, I read Skeleton Man when it first came out and really enjoyed it.

BaBi, the name Rumer Godden sounds familier, but I can't recall any of her books.

Perkie, what were the movies based on his books? Either I'm having a 'senior moment' or I missed them

Mary in TX

REDBUD, the one I remember best is "This House of Brede". She also wrote "The River"; I think they made a movie out of that one.

Babi

The Godden sisters.. one of them wrote "Black Narcissus". Together they wrote a book about their growing up, which is great. I think I have read them all, but would reread, and would love to discuss "In "This House of Brede". It truly made me sit and wonder if I could ever be that forgiving. Alas, I am pretty sure not.

I remembered the name Rumor Godden when you mentioned it. I checked and it was "Greengage Summer" that I remember reading. Amazon has some of her books.

I just recently put in a request with my library for Rumer Godden's "In This House of Brede" and also for "China Court". I was amazed that they still had copies of these old titles somewhere in the system. I hope I get a call soon that they are waiting for me to pick up. I remember reading "In This House of Brede" many years ago and loving it but I don't think I ever read "China Court" so I'm really looking forward to that. It's an old cliché but they just don't write books like that anymore.

I'll have to check this out. I remember readin Greengage Summer when I was young; also something about miniatures?

Rumer Godden also wrote a book called "The Doll's House" in which two little girls bring to life a family of dolls. Is that the one you are thinking of? It is a children's book but is pretty "dark" for some children. It is illustrated by one of my favorite children's illustrators.....and people, Tasha Tudor.

FlaJean:

I don't care for Evanovich either. Too silly for me. I've gotten into the Henning Mankell books. So far have read three of them and am about to start the 4th. He's the Swedish author.

thanks for the research on Rumer Godden I knew I had read a book of hers and it was The Doll's House I have no idea what the story was about but her name was so unusual I never forgot it . when I finish some of the books I have checked out and bought I will see if they have that book....anna

Elly Mae: I'm with you on Evanovich and Mankell both. One gets such a feeling of the Swedish society readin about the daily lives of him and his family, the crimes and the criminals. Such a change. Evanovich has becom too formulaic for me. No surprises. Why else read mysteries?

I read most of her stephanie plumb series but found that once she took on a partner her VOICE changed and I no longer foundher amusing. I really got to like LULU and GRANDMA. . . central characters not necessary to the plot and engaging in themselves . . . .Claire

Winsum, I agree with you. Evanovich's books with a partner were a great disappointment. Also here recent book, "Metro Girl" was not nearly as good as the Stephanie Plum series, Admitted they are formulaic, but they are relaxing and funny to me. Usually, I like rather edgy writers, so I find Stephanie Plum relaxing once in a while.

Evanovich writes the Stephanie Plum stories herself. She has a partner for the more 'romance' books. I enjoyed Metro Girl. For her books I just want fun and light reading.

For heaver stuff I am reading Robert B. Parker's Sea Change. Parker can really tell a good story. This one is a Jesse Stone mystery.

Evanovich is for me simply like a rich gooey dessert. I do love to indulge in her. No mystery actually, but funny. The partner ones are not anything. Formulaic romance actually. I am busy reading one of the herb books. This is more of a mystery than normal for this author. ( see I am cheating, I am upstairs and the book is downstairs, so guess who cannot remember either author or title). Actually it is something Dilly.. And she lives in Texas.. Oh me.. senility is creeping up on me for sure.

Stephanie, that sounds like Susan Wittig Albert. Did you know that you can open another window and go search a book database for title/author when the info slips your mind (as it does mine all too often)? Under File click on New Window. Do your surfing. When you want to go back to this page, click on it under Window. My children showed me that trick.

I've never tried that, Mrs. Sherlock. If I want information from elsewhere, I minimize my current screen, go search for the info. I want, then restore the original screen. Sometimes I'll have two or three sites on the bar, waiting to be pulled back up.

Babi

Thanks, Mrs Sherlock. I didn't know that. I enjoy learning something new. I usually go to the drop down menu to the right of the tool bar which lists all of the recently visited sites.

Poppy: This is for when you need to look up something but you haven't opened that site before during the present session. I use the menu you are talking about also, when I want to go back to a site I visited previously.

For any of you who read and like Lisa Gardner's mysteries, her new one "Gone" is a page turner! It was like a roller coaster ride to me, and I literally "couldn't put it down". Stayed up till 2:30 am then finished next morning! Has former FBI profilers, as part of the mystery and as "solvers". Whew!

I knew I could but I am basically lazy.. Finished the book and it was Susan Wittig Albert. I like her individual books, but hate the ones she writes with her husband. Now reading a McNally, but sure why. He is just too too affected at times and I have some goodies waiting to be read.

Lisa Gardner is an Oregonian, though she lives back east now. She was briefly profiled in Sunday's Portland Oregonian - "Gone" takes place in Eugene, home of the U of O. SOunds like I've been missing out. Wonder how long the waiting list is at my Salem OR library?

The waiting list at my library was 13 and they have 10 copies!!!! So I'm #13. Hope that isn't unlucky!!!

They did have her previous book "Alone" which I reserved.

I've found some excellent new authors from tomereader's reviews, so am looking forward to getting them.

Mary in TX

I have never been able to finish a Lisa Gardner.. Good luck. If I can dredge it out of this failing memory, I have read a small series that takes place in Oregon and it was quite good.

Stephanie, are you talking about Barbara Holloway, the defense attorney in Eugene? She is Kate Wilhelm's creation. Having read Kate for 30 or so years, I can credit/blame her in large part for my immigration to Oregon upon my retirement. Your comment about Lisa Gardner makes me suspicious; you are infallably a good judge of authors and books. Was the action too precidtible? Too slow? Were the characters inane?

Susan Wittig Albert has a new China Bayles coming in April called (I think) "Bleeding Hearts". She is one of my favorite authors of mystery books.

Speaking of books set in Oregon, has anyone here read: "Missing Justice" a Samantha Kincaid mystery by Alafair Burke? Her father is James Burke.

scrawler: Thanks for the suggestion. I"ll check the library for it.

Finished Robert B. Parker's Sea Change. It is a fine addition to his Jesse Stone series.

Going to start The Last Templar by Raymond Khoury. My husband Ray read it and enjoyed it.

Well I did not finish Lily White by Susan Isaacs ...I really didnt like the characters and it seemed she kept jumping around in her narrative so it didnt make sense I finally just skipped to the end and read the last few pages and that clinched it I WAS'NT going to read this book I have one more from the library by her and will try that one It was such a disappointment because the first book I read by her I enjoyed so much ...So I am making notes and going to check out some of your suggestions..GOOD READING ALL anna

I have read Kate Wilhelm, but the series was by Alafair Burke. I read her two books because of her Dad. She is not bad all on her own. Lilly White is not the best Susan Isaacs. Her original book was really really good, but the rest have sort of gone downhille. I read in the paper, that Patricia Cornwall in her "I will be the worlds greatest detective mode" is spending big time on finding out why the submarine in Charleston sank. Sigh.. After what she did to the Jack the Ripper, I think I will probably skip the book that will be written.

Books I have read by Susan Isaacs:Dates are when I read her books

Almost Pardise------03/14/9/89

Compromising Positions-----1/01/1989

Magic Hour-----2/26/1991

Close Relations-----2/11/1994

Either Almost Paradise or Compromising Positions was her first. The one about the dentist who got whacked.. Good book.

Hi all. I absolutely love mysteries. When I find an author I like, I tend to read everything he or she ever wrote. (Then I am hard up to find a new good author.) So you can imagine that finding this discussion was like finding a goldmine, like hitting the jackpot! I will look forward to checking out Susan Isaacs, and the other recommendations I see in here.
The authors that I have read and loved are McBain, John D. MacDonald (I met him, shortly before he passed away.), Grafton, Robert Parker, and yes, even Evanovich - for a light read. Her Plum stories are in deed silly, but also so hilarious.
I read a series of about 5 books that I liked, that I have not seen mentioned here. It was set in Africa, and about the "First Lady's Detective Agency". I think the author's name is something like "Alexander-Smith". I have Grafton's S book on reserve at the library, so I am waiting. I didn't like her book about the real crime. Also, I didn't know about Parker's book "Sea Change?" I really look forward to that, as Parker is such an awesome writer.
Patty, in Florida

I have a vague recolection of enjoying that one...now as to that nice list that Ihave growing. If the internet ever lets me go, I'l have lenty to read thanks to all of you and the sci fi group. we overlap a bit. I liked the J>D> Robb series too, but got a little tired of EVE who has a lousy disposition. it's half cop story and sci fi since it takes place in 2058. . . in ne york of that time. I like those aspects of it as well as the mystery and the action. I don't like her romance novels under her other name. . . Nora Roberts. . . . Claire

Some of the authors that I have enjoyed lately are Ablow, Block, Crais, Crittenden, Dunning, Freeman, Goldberg, Haines, Kellerman, McGarrity, Truman.

I keep all of the authors on a spreadsheet with the titles and what I thought of the book. I add more to my list when I read about them here and my list is getting verrrrry long.

a spreadsheet? How does that work. I scribble on a tablet with a lousy pen as I see one I think I might like and plan to have a dayat the library to see what's available. . . I ike your list, or at least most of it. Maybe you could export your spreadsheet? to a web page and give us the url? . . . claire

Winsum, I use Works spreadsheet, but Excel would work as well. I have four columns, Author, Book Title, Date of publication, Comments. You can sort on these spreadhseets and I sort on Authors last name, but you could sort on date of publication, or whatever.

I've got a new Margaret Frazer book! "The Sempster's Tale". Excellent!

Babi

good organizational tool though. I noticed you like ABLOW . . .me too. psychological thrillers my meat. . . claire

PNemeth - Welcome! You'll find lots to like around here. As I remember, SeniorNet had a book discussion of The First Ladies Detective Agency by Alexander-Smith a couple of years ago. It's probably in the archives somewhere, and one of the marvellous people who help the rest of us out will probably put up a link to it for you.

I read Robert B. Parker's Sea Change and loved it. It is a Jesse Stone mystery.

I've just sent you an e-mail--I was in your Latin class last year. Sue

I will stay on the lookout for the Parker. I like all three of his series. Its always fun to find a new author and I too spend a lot of time and effort looking for all of the older books that an author has written. Sometimes I am disappointed. I will read one book, love it, but then find I dont enjoy most of the other books written by the same author.

At my library this morning, I noticed a survey the library is doing. Presently the mysteries are shelved in their own section. The survey wants to know if and why we'd like to have the books shelved in the fiction section or continue as the separate mystery section. I haven't decided yet. I browse in both sections, but usually in the mystery section I go with my list of authors in hand. Of course I could still do that in the general fiction area.

The librarian who checked me out said that so many of the current authors are writing mysteries and other fiction that people who come in to locate books are missing where the book is shelved. I have had that problem when the book is shelved in large print, although now I've found the place on the computer system which sends me to that section.

Any ideas or suggestions about this scheme? Sue

My library has the mystery books shelved together. With authors branching into other genres it is hard to know where to shelve a book. Personally I like mysteries together with other mysteries, sci/fi with other sci/fi, romance with other romance. That way when I am short on time, I can peruse the genre I am in the mood to read and not have to search by author in general fiction.

That's kind of my feeling, Ginny Ann. I'll let you know what is happening when the survey is finished. Sue

I'll take the other side - I'd prefer to have all the fiction shelved together rather than separating by genre. Our library adds an "M" to the code on the back of the book to denote a mystery, but otherwise they're shelved with all the other fiction.

I haven't actually gone to the library to browse for a long time. I find out about a book, look it up in the on-line catalog, and then place a request for it to come to our branch. It works for me.

There are so many authors writing cross-over stories that it is hard for libraries and bookstores to shelve books where they are supposed to be shelved. Sometimes you find mystery authors in fiction and sometimes you find fiction authors in the mystery section. I'd like to see them get some kind of standard such as every thing filed by author or title alphabetically in one great big section. That way I can go with ipod in hand go down my list of authors or titles and start with A without jumping from section to section. I think that's why I like to use the internet to find books rather than going to the library or bookstore. Before they closed our public library (for lack of city/county funds) you could even order your books on-line and than go to the library to pick them up.

That's what we do, Scrawler. How devastating to lose your library! I cannot imagine such a thing.

I also order most of my books on line. Just skim through the new books when I go to pick up books I have ordered. While the the main library is being enlarged, it is in a large warehouse style store. At the old library they had a separate room for new books. Now it is one long shelf.

I once went to a library in a small town that had an odd librarian. She put each and every fiction book under the real name of the author. Talk about confusion.. Wow.. I sort of like Science Fiction sorted out, but other than that,, I love mysteries, but it is the truth that nowadays they do so many crossovers. My used book store, I sorted out, fiction,romance,mystery,science fiction, western, series romance and then nonfiction into various categories.. But used book stores more and more are clumping it all together.

About a year ago our library moved into a renovated and much larger building. They did a beautiful job. The increase of library users has more than doubled. We have a new book section for both regular and large print, after that the books are separated in categories in both regular and large print. The "Friends of the Library" also have their own area where you can buy used books. I also often order my books on line, especially new books and then pick them up.

Salem's library puts little stickers on the spines of the books, identifying them as mystery, science fiction, fantasy, etc., then selves them in separate areas. I use the on-line service to look for sepcific books and reserve the, but I also browse the shelves. Expeciall the new fiction books, which are all together. The library produces lists which help expand my author's list. One I've used exztensively is for fans of the Jan Karon series; "If you like Jan Karon's series, try these". Anne B. Ross' Miss Julia series, Angele Thirkell, Lynn Hinton, etc. I found some real treasures.

We also have a used book section with books for sale, consisting of a table and four bookshelves, You can pick up a book for 25 cents.

I have finished Margaret Frazer's "The Sempster's Tale", and highly recommend it. It is one of her best.

Babi

Thanks for the input, mystery lovers. My library puts a little sticker on the mysteries which has the call number and a little graphic of Sherlock Holmes (maybe!). They also put little paragraphs inserted into picture frames beside books they think will interest people. Sometimes they tell in which order a series is written, but usually just interesting blurbs about the books. I've found some interesting books that way--and the first was Ann B. Ross's Miss Julia series. Sue

Please excuse all my typos; I was recovering from a "short" trip out of town: get up at 5:30, 21 degrees outside. Board plane at 9:30, arrive at destination at 11:30. Rush around, go to traffic court, rush around (buy sourdough, can;t get it in Salem), board plane at 6:30, arrive at 9:30, go to bed at 11. I'm still feeling like I was rode hard and put away wet.

Oh, dear. I recently made an all-day trip like that, only by car. But at least I had pleasant weather. Do take a day to loaf and rest, Mrs. Sherlock.

Babi

My library puts out litte printed handouts with suggestions about what may be interesting to the patrons..Very handy as it helps to see what they have.

Well I did read the other Susan Isaacs book Long Time no see and it was okay but there was sense of sameness from the first book I read. I think I need to find some other mystery writer ...or pehaps everyone is writing the same story with just different names for the characters ...off to find another mystery writer...anna

Last year, our West Linn Library rearranged its hardback fiction all into one section but retained all the stickers on the book spines that indicate "Mystery" "Western" "Sci-Fi" etc. I find it MUCH easier to find things and more rewarding to browse under this new system. Everything is obvious at a glance and all in alphabetical order by author, of course. I was happy to see them do it because too many books that I think of as mysteries had ended up housed in general fiction. I had to always look in 2-3 places for a particular book. I noticed they did keep a separate section of all Large Print books.

One thing they still do that bugs me... paperbacks are all thrown together on several wire racks, in no particular order at all. Useless to try and find something! The Akron library system put a big "M" or whatever letter of the author's last name on the spine of their paperbacks, then arranged them in ORDER. Lovely.

I always love browsing in a library that puts them all together. I refind authors I had forgotten about.

Jeryn, we are neighbors. I'm new to Oregon, where is West Linn? Do you know Salem?

I am continuing my enjoyment of Henning Mankell's books about Swedish detective Kurt Wallendar. Just started Before the Frost. I haven't read them in order, so have some gaps to fill in.

I'm trying to look at the shelving of the collection from both sides--the patron and the staff sides. As a patron I think I would like to see the library shelve all the fiction together, PROVIDING they clearly label the genre on the spines of the books so that Mysteries, Science Fiction, Romance, etc. are easily identified just by looking at the spine. As a staffer who has to do the sorting and shelving I know they would probably LOVE to have all the fiction shelved together. It would save a lot of sorting on to different shelving carts in the sorting room! So I guess my vote would be to shelve all the fiction together under the author's name, regardless of genre. When I worked in the library I always hated special collections spread all around the library, anyway. On the other hand, I know that there are many patrons who would object to this because they never read anything but mysteries (or sci-fi, or romance) and simply prefer to have them all together in one place so they don't have to be bothered to look through other types of books.

SpringCreek--

Our library used to shelve the mysteries with the other fiction. I didn't like it that way. Eventually, they changed their method and now mysteries have their own section. Although I don't read many mysteries any more, I still prefer to be able to go straight to that section to browse. Just my opinion.

go to paperbavcks directly and to the general alphabetic region, not detailed but in turnable racks. I usually kow what I'm looking for and have limited time on my feet. grab and run to the checkout...more standing. this library is too damn big for a limited mobil person. actually it would be better to call in and reserve what I'm looking for. one desk then and a quarter for their trouble. . . I miss brouseing though. reading first pages to get an idea of the writing which has become important to me. . .claire

I can't stand for very long either, plus with my husband being a semi-invalid, it's hard to get to the library for very long.

It's really great that our library lets you browse the entire system online, reserve and then run in and pickup when it comes to our branch.

Mary in TX

One confusing problem with shelving by the author's name: Our library has started putting all books by an author under the true name, even tho' the suthor writes under other names as well. So you will see a row of books with, for instance, PLA on the spine, but several different authors names on the books. It's a bit awkward. On the other hand, one may find a favorite author writing under an unknown name.

Babi

Films of the Hillerman stories, Redbud, include "A Thief of Time", "Coyote Waits", and "Skinwalkers" which were shown on Mystery! and starred Adam Beach as Jim Chee. "The Dark Wind" was a movie and the only one that had Lou Diamond Phillips as Chee.

"Two Under the Indian Sun" was written by Jon and Rumer Godden and is the story of their childhood in India. I really enjoyed it. I was also fascinated by the interweaving of Dame Phillipa's life before and after entering The House of Brede. I missed seeing the made-for-TV movie in 1975 with Diana Rigg playing Dame Phillipa. Unfortunately there are no copies in my library.

The small town library that put books under the real name of the author was still following the old cataloging rules, Stephanie. The Library of Congress cataloged them that way then, and most libraries bought sets of catalog cards created by the Library of Congress and a small group of university and large public libraries using those rules. The current cataloging rules list the author as it appears on the book.

I have used libraries that put all the fiction together, ignoring genre, and others that separate out mysteries, science fiction, and large type books. I find it is just a matter of getting used to the system, so have no preference.

I sat up half the night reading "Skeleton Man" by Tony Hillerman. I even looked up the airplane crash over Grand Canyon and saw pictures of pieces of the planes. A really gripping story and excellent blend of fact and fiction.

Also finished another of my favorites, an Amelia Peabody. This one was "The Serpent in the Crown". Ramses twins are precocious 4 year olds. The boy is Ramses all over again, and I suspect the girl gets her headstrong ways from Amelia! The family had their hands full with the twins, the digs, and the mystery. I always get the series on audio tape, and if I can't find an audio book and read the book instead, I still hear Barbara Rosenblatt's voice.

Thanks Mystery Lovers for all the input on Mystery Section vs. General Section shelving. You've all made good points for each side. I'll have to check with the librarian when I return to the library to see if the survey period is over. Sue

The Serpent was a goodie, Perkie.. The twins are really going to be something else indeed. I have read all of the books, but may try them in audio, since I am having troubles finding audio books that I like and that make sense when read.. So many do not. or have too many characters to keep straight in my head. Who dun it is not that important to Amelia..

I am currently reading Rumer Godden's "Black Narcissus", another book involving a group of Anglo-Catholic nuns. Convent life and the people who choose it seem to be a favorite theme of hers. I'm wondering if perhaps she spent some time in a convent, either as a student or a postulate. Does anybody happen to know, or shall I bestir myself and look it up?

Babi

Here is the link to Rumer Godden's home page.

http://www.lunaea.com/words/rumer/biography.html

I think the Godden sisters were both posessed with religon, especially as it pertains to nuns. no idea what started it, but they seem to have used it many times. I checked the Page and do remember the Kingfisher book. She used her own life as sort of a background in that book.

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde…

…has been moved to the UPCOMING and PROPOSED discussion table. I plan on doing a two week discussion of the Stevenson's classic, and I will post a schedule if it achieves a quorum. Please use the link below if you wish to sign on. With your posts, I'm sure it could develop into a fine discussion.

Jekyll and Hyde

You can use the link in the heading to reach the online reading web site that has included chapter numbers to help the reader to keep tract of the schedule pace.

Bill H

GINNY ANN, thanks for posting that link for me. No apparent link to convent life there. I'm wondering, tho', if she might have attended a school staffed by nuns while in India. She had to have had some glimpse of that life to write so well about it.

Babi

I just happen to have "In This House of Brede" by Rumer Godden on my bedside table and on the inside of the back of the dust jacket it says,

"In This House Of Brede took three years to write. To facilitate and authenticate the gathering of her material, Miss Godden was allowed to live at the gates of a Benedictine monastery in England, and to have help and advice from the nuns."

--so apparently she didn't live IN the monestery but tried to get close enough to make her stories authentic to nunnery life.

Very good, Phyll! That's what I was looking for.

Babi

I did wonder when I read Brede how she knew about their schedules of prayer etc. Cloistered nuns live such a different life entirely from the rest of us. I did so love that book. Made me really really think of how to forgive.

You're welcome, Babi and Stephanie. I was interested to know, too.

BTW, a couple of weeks ago MRS. SHERLOCK, mentioned a book by Rumer Godden that I went searching for information about. It was A Doll's House and I discovered that it was illustrated by one of my favorite illustrators, and people, Tasha Tudor. I also discovered at the time that Tasha Tudor had published an illustrated cookbook of her family recipes. I was lucky enough to find it at Amazon so now I am the happy owner of Tasha Tudor's Cookbook and all thanks to Mrs. Sherlock and the fun I have in doing reference research here. It always leads to the most interesting things----and sometimes costs me money!

Will have to investigate. A Tasha Tudor cookbook. I collect a lot of her stuff, because I have two corgi and love her corgi's as well. Starting on a new mystery.. This one is about a woman who owns a part shepherd, part husky who is smart and disobient. Tell more than I get past the first 10 pages.

I am on a Carcaterra kick at the moment and just finished Gangster which was good but not as good as the first one I read.

I just finished "The Blue Dahlia" by Raymond Chandler. It was a movie script rather than a book although Chandler was originally supposed to write it as a book with a totally different ending to it, but the Navy insisted on a change in the murderer and that spoiled it for him. You might remember the movie with Alan Ladd, Veronica Lake, and William Bendix in it. The only way Chandler was able to finish the script was to do it "drunk." The background material was almost as good as the script. Now I'm on a Raymond Chandler kick!

My sister shared a couple of kher fifty-cent bargains, Patricia Wentworth's The Wicked Uncle, and Martha Grimes' The Last Struggler. I had forgotten how much fun these author are; will be re-reading all I can get.

I have just discovered Donna Andrews. Especially her series about an "Artificial Intelligence Personality". One reviewer called them "techno-cozy" which I feel is true. Nice, clean books. If reading about computer stuff is not your "cuppa", then I'd say no. She also has a series with birds as theme for titles, but I haven't read those yet.

The artificial intelligence personality (AIP) is called Turing, and is chock-full of ethical and philosophical character. Also, there are references throughout of other mystery writers, books etc. There are four in this techno series: You've Got Murder; Click Here for Murder (2003); Access Denied (2004) and a 2005 one which I've already returned to the library and forgot the title of. (sorry) Turing is a student of human behavior, and really nails some of "our" best and worst qualities! Two or three lovely human characters to do the work she (computer) can't do. A bumbling young PI, Tim, and Maude who is a middle-aged work in progress. (Luv her!)

That's certainly a twist to a plot, Tomereader. Now I'm curious to learn how the computer begins investigating a crime, if the humans are just there to do the leg work.

Babi

On my list, I note that I read Donna Andrews "Murder with Puffins". My evaluation was "too cutesy". It is good we have all different opinions here since it is much more interesting.

I continue reading Steve Martini's "Compelling Evidence". I am slow only because I haven't had much reading time lately. It is a very good book...set in Sacramento. He was a state's attorney at one time. Very good about the amount of preparation needed before a trial.

I have read some of Donna Andrews series named for birds, but never saw the artificial intelligence ones. Will have to look.. I am reading ABigail Padgett.. This is the second one about Blue.. who is quite a distinct prickly personality. Interesting.

I loved the Artificial Intelligence series!

I am home with a cold and into John Grisham's book, "The Broker". I can't think of a better way to get over a cold. This book, as are all of his, is difficult to put down. What a writer!

I still dont get the Grisham thing. I have read a few, but mostly now dont even try. Different strokes.. The Last Blue Plate Special by Abigail Padgett is as always very special. She is a hard edged writer who always has a different slant on things.

I just finished a cute whodunit that should qualify as a "techi-cozy"... love that term! The series by Aaron Elkins involves an archeologist but the two I've read are quite "cozy"... Curses! and Old Bones.

I wasn't going to read any more Hillerman, the last was sort of lame. But with that recommendation, I'll try Skeleton Man... it's not one of his old ones, is it? [I've read them all but forget the titles]

Hey down there, Mrs.Sherlock! Salem is about a half hour from West Linn, which is one of Portland's SW suburbs. We're practically neighbors!

Hi, Neighbor. Are there any other SeniorNetters near by? We could get together for lunch sometime. Have you been seeing the Oregon Books 2 Go set-up? It is electronically downloadable books which can be listened to on your puter, your MP3 player, etc. check out this site:

http://library2go.lib.overdrive.com/568841C4-2C08-4A01-B5BA-C3062244FB05/10/199/en/default.htm

Named Maisie Dobbs ? Bought some books at Barnes and Nobles when they were having a clearence sale in December and since many were only a dollar I thought what the heck . read this one and I am not sure how I feel about it . It is called Pardonable Lies by Jacqueline Winspear Anyone read her ? anna

I checked out my authors list and don't find Winspear, so guess I have never read any of this author.

Just started "The Winner" by David Baldacci. His web site is interesting. I have learned to like reading author's web sites because you learn so much more about them than on a book cover.

Annafair, is Maise Dobbs a woman "detective" set back in time? I think I read one, but not the one you mention. I never found a second one, so I'm not sure either if I really liked the book or if I was just intrigued because it was a little different.

I read Pardonable Lies a few weeks ago and am currently reading Maisie Dobbs which preceded it. The setting is post WWI in England--plus some travel on the continent. Maisie is not exactly a detective in the usual sense of the word, but she does do investigations. She has had an unusual training, using mental and psychological skills to locate persons or solve mysteries. She was a nurse during the War and on the battlefields of France, so much of the books I've read have a great deal to do with psychological effects of war on soldiers (and also the nurses). These books are a different kind of read, certainly not your cozy, but I think worthwhile reading. Sue

Maisie is not a dectective per se but an investigator and is set in England post WWI I will say I did not skip to the end which usually means I am interested enough to trust the author to not disappoint me. it is very different from most "mystery" stories and since I have been nursing a sinus infection and on medication I was rather thankful it wasnt the usual gory and too descriptive It was a pleasent read and I did appreciate the information about the first World War the author did very extensive research and I learned a lot so that was a bonus,. I think I need to read another of her books before I decide but at least it did not give me nightmares ...anna

Winspear?? Have written that down since Maisie certainly sounds interesting. Went to a local Flea Market on Monday and brought home about 10 or 12 used books.. Mostly older types.. Not sure where to put them, since both of my book baskets are jammed full. Oh me, if only I could resist buying books.

ME TOO ! I am addicted to books ...and I DONT WANT TO BE CURED! I am going to read another MAISIE DOBBS novel to see if I like it I think because so many mysteries are really murders and too descriptive . I dont want a "how to murder someone " scenario that when we read a mild book we question the book. just thinking ..anna

I have solved the problem of what to do about my book buying addiction. When I am through, I donate them to the library in my Senior apartment complex. Mysteries are popular there, but not nearly so popular as romance novels.

I greatly prefer getting my books from the library. No cost, no books piling up in already full bookcases, no problem about what to do with them when I'm finished. I still have books everywhere. I need to go through them again and see what I've got I can give away.

Babi

I would imagine that Stephen King is considered "horror" genre, rather than mystery, but just a word of warning to any of you who read King. His latest "Cell" is certainly (IMHO) not worth spending money on. I wonder what happened to the man who could write "The Stand" and "It", among others. He seems to have gotten into a "more gore the better" vein, and it certainly does a disservice to his readers. If you're a Stephen King fanatic though, and feel you must read it, check it out from the library, don't waste your money buying it.

I just finished another Lorenzo Carcaterra book called a safe place. Boy are his books good I wish I knew if they were true stories or not. This one he talks about his father and its the same last name.Am now ready to start another one.

My main problem with library books is the required return date. Sometimes I have more reading time that others and just don't want to be required to return by a certain date.

are good if they are a very quick read. I don't like to have to buy those. I two of the Donna Andrews books on hold at my library. Haven't heard from them yet but. . .thanks for reminding me. I'll call them. . . claire

I do a combination of books, library, used book stores and a very few new. Actually I prefer paperbacks and that is why our local library is not helpful. They simply do not have anything in that line except romance which I dislike. I will be going to Italy for two weeks in a few weeks and when I travel, I always leave each paperback as I finish it. I guess my theory is that someone else gets to be delighted to find a book to read. When I owned the used book store, I had two traders who were hotel housekeepers. They would bring in maybe 30 books a month that had been left in the hotel rooms.. Fun since I had many customers who wanted foreign language novels.

Books at our library can be renewed online which is helpful.

have you heard of Bookcrossings? see here? It's fun, free and though it was started by an American it has become global. A good way to send our books on their way and even track them on their journey, if we want. I look for books whenever I go to a local coffee shop that is a favorite drop off place for Bookcrossing, but they can be put anywhere for anyone to find.

I belong to Bookcrossings. It is fun. I've left books all over. One book I left in Sweden a couple years ago, traveled to Germany and the last I heard it was in New Zealand.

I try to leave one each week at the Mall with a sticker that asks them to log on to http://www.Bookcrossings.com and register its location.

POPPY, one of the advantages of being a library volunteer is that they take the view that the volunteers shouldn't be penalized if they're late getting their books back. A lost book, of course, would be paid for, and I always try to get books back on time or renewed. But if I don't, I never hear about it.

Babi

My late husband was on the local library board, kept the books for the library gratis, paid the librarians, did their tax forms, etc. They excused any late books--or at least gave us as much time as we wanted to return things. Sue

P.S. After he died, many of our friends made memorial contributions to the library in his name.

Bookcrossings sounds wonderful!!

Just now reading Sara Paretsky... "Blacklist" Wow.. I am just blown away. She tackles Blacklist,,, Patriot Act... Paranoia about Muslims.. You name it. What a really really good book. Will be sorry when it ends, but I usually am that way with her. I do so love her stuff.

Mrs. Sherlock, there are a few seniornetters around Oregon but don't know any in Portland/Salem area that are currently posting. Have you checked out the Oregon discussion lately??

Has anyone here tried mysteries by Elizabeth Gunn? I just picked one up and it has begun well. I'll report on it when finished.

I used to love Sara Paretsky. Will have to try Blacklist.

I too, am a firm believer in the public library. If 4 weeks isn't long enough to read a book or two, they can be renewed for another 4 weeks. For free. How can you beat that? I volunteer for the library and also "borrow" books from their bookstore ... a privilege for us who work there!

Four weeks would be super. Our library wont even do audio tapes for more than two weeks, so I cannot use them. Takes me longer to listen than that, since I use them in the gym.. Books,, they do one or two weeks depending on how new it is..

Stephanie,

Libraries often set due dates based on demand for books and tapes and number of materials available, etc. Library boards are usually looking for constructive suggestions to improve services and increase circulation. Perhaps you can make a request to review their policies to allow for longer due dates for older materials. Our library has a 3-week period for general circulation items, with the ability to renew for 3 weeks if no one has requested the book. Videos, DVD's and new books are 7 days, to meet demand. It seems to me that longer periods for books that are not in high demand would encourage people to check them out.

Jweyn, I'm off to the Oregon discussion right this minute. Thanks!

I have just finished David Baldacci's "The Winner". I couldn't put it down and read into the night. The blurb on it says that some watched just to learn how to fix the lottery. I have already read, "The Simple Truth and "Split Second" by Baldacci and hope to read many more.

I am now starting "The Face of Justice" by Bill Blum. I hope it turns out to be as exciting.

I recently finished Baldacci's "Split Second". I've only read a couple of his but enjoyed them both. There are so many good authors, I usually find myself deciding on whatever I'm in the mood for at the time.

Babi

I will finish Split Second tonight. What a great read. There are more of his books on one of my 'TO READ' shelves.

Finished the Paretsky. She never disappoints me. So many authors do throw off books once they get popular. She writes slowly , but it is always worth it. I have recently found Harlen Cobin and am tracking his older stuff. The sports agent is sort of fun, although his friend is truly scary.

Stephanie I just read "Blacklist" at your suggestion.....and WOW - it is really good. I think I will try to find some of her things in pb at HalfPrice books so I can keep them. As you said, she does cover all the bases and presses several of my buttons from that time - but also reminds us to keep our brains and hearts and minds all engaged so as not to lose perspective. Thanks for the heads up. isak

I just discovered this discussion. When Bill ended his "Classical Mysteries" discussion, I didn't realize there was another similar one. This is wonderful because I am always looking for new mystery suggestions.

Welcome, HORSELOVER. Suggestions you will certainly get!! Tell us your favorite authors.

I like Paretsky too.I think she is far and away the best of the "tough gal" writers. Her first book was weak (I've forgotten the name) and thank goodness she finally realized that she can't do sex scenes and started leaving them out. She makes sex sound as exciting as having a root canal! ut everything else is very strong. I especially like the way she weaves the strands of her plots together.

But again, this is the reaction of a political liberal who agrees with her political philosophy. A conservative would not enjoy her. In theory, I don't think detective stories should be used to make political points, but I admit when I agree with the author, I tend to forget that.

Michael Commelly's latest Harry Bosch, The Closers, is out in pb. Harry is at it again, battling the forces of evil in the management of the LAPD. He's come back from retirement after 3 years; assigned to the cold cases unit, and finding corruption high and low. SUrprise! Still that exciting Connelly style, styill the best American police precedurals. Nice contrast to Sweeden's Henning Mankell and England's Geoffrey Hill's Pascoe and Dalziel.

Its been years since I read Paretsky. Sounds like time I re-visited .

Joan, had not thought of it, but yes, Sara Paretsky would not be good reading for a conservative. She is liberal and her books are strongly representative of her beliefs. That is probably why she is a favorite. She also conveys a strong emotion of lost loves, not boy-girl,, but her parents and their different and difficult lives, her cousin who dies.. She is quite good at conveying grief for what once was. I have bought the Closer, but it is in the long long stack. I love Harry..

I found her boring and depressing couldn't finish her because of the writing style . . .very disengaged, I felt, with her characters. takes all kinds . . and I'm a libral

Whoops! Pascoe and Dalziel are written by Reginald Hill, not Geoffrey Hill.

Wow.. found an old Linda Fairstein.. I believe her second book.. Must somehow have missed that one. I enjoy her quite a lot. Reginald Hill.. Somehow I cannot get into him. Everyone loves him.. Alas,, not me.

Final report: I enjoyed Five Card Stud by Elizabeth Gunn very much -- a cute police procedural, if you can imagine such a thing!

I received an email from a new friend of Mysteries who signed herself "Mary"; she asks:

I would appreciate knowing about mysteries that take place in academic settings. Having been a college teacher for many years, I find these mysteries quite interesting. How do I go about putting out this question?

So I guess I'll write her back and tell her she just did it!

I'm so rich -- brought home S is for Silence and Blacklist yesterday! See ya later!

Jeryn - Me too! I just read Blacklist, and now have got Killing Orders out to read. Paretsky rules! - in a lot of ways, at least.

I have Linda Fairstein's newest on reserve - should get it next week - about Lincoln Center....really good - and riveting.

isak

For Mary.. Amanda Cross is the best by far on academic mysteries.. There is also a small series about a Philadelphia School teacher..( I know , senior moment), Dorothy Sayers of course has a wonderful academic mystery.. Very famous of course and she has probably read it.

Academis mysteried? Charlotte MacLeod's Peter Shandy series is academic, although it is definitely not for the faint-hearted. Very punny! P. M. Carlson wrote a short series about a professor/statistician, Maggie Ryan, and her actor husband. One of my all-time favorits lines: when her 3-year-old called a picture of a horse a dog, she explains to her protesting 6-year-old that he has mastered the set of four-legged animals!

the central character always survives so any risks that are incurred by him/her are not seen as such. I prefer the individual novels. . . Claire

The small series about the Philadelphia schoolteacher is by Gillian Roberts, and is very good. The first one in the series is called "caught Dead in Philadelphia". The detective is an English teacher in a private high school, so may not fit the academic model. But each book is based on whatever work of literature her class is reading.

For the strongest academic mysteries, I would recommend Jane Langton. Her detectives, Homer and Mary Kelly, are unlikely Harvard professors, and each book is based on either the life of an author (Thoreau, Dickinson, Dante etc), a piece of music (Handel's Messiah, Bach), a work of art ("Murder at the Gardner", my favorite, about the Gardner museum in Boston), a building (Memorial Hall in Harvard, Monticello) or place (Concord, Venice, Florance, Oxford). I can't remember which is the first in the series

By Lisa Scottoline . . . a two day read and kept my attention throughout. . .recommend her for most of her books. This a new central character. I guess series writers get tired of their characters after a while. The initial ones are more interesting. . .at least to me. . . the first of her women lawyer series was EVERYWHERE THT MARY WENT. and each of the following ones featured a different woman as part of this womens law firm. Now she's back to featuring Mary, so it's time for something new. Claire

I read Scottoline's books, "Dead Ringer" and "Killer Smile". I was particularly interested to learn about the interning of Italians during WWII. She is an excellent writer and I can recommend her.

JoanK - do you know the title of the book that dealt with "Dickinson"?

I had slowed down on Donna Andrews' bird series, Tomereader, but am looking forward to trying her "Artificial Intelligence Personality" series. Thanks for mentioning it.

I liked both of Abigail Padgett's mysteries about Blue McCarron, Stephanie, prickles and all. I wish she would write another. Have you tried her Bo Bradley series? In the first, "Child of Silence", Bo is a closet manic-depressive child abuse investigator who is trying to find the background of a deaf boy found tied to a mattress in an abandoned house. Different and gripping.

Our library has three titles by Jacqueline Winspear, Annafair, and I have requested the first, "Maisie Dobbs" on audio book. I am looking forward to hearing it.

I have not read Lorenzo Carcaterra , Judy Laird, but think I will start with the movie version of "Sleepers" with Kevin Bacon, Robert De Niro, Dustin Hoffman, Jason Patric, and Brad Pitt. That is a high powered cast! The book is listed in our library in the non-fiction under case studies.

The Jane Langton title is "Emily Dickinson is Dead", Scrawler. It was published in 1984.

I listened to another Marcus Didius Falco, "The Accusers", by Lindsey Davis. I love that series. Falco is back in Rome after two books, and six months, in Britain and up to his ears in trouble, as usual. I love Falco's asides to himself, they are so cynical.

I wish there was an online database of book characters that matched the completeness of IMDb, the International Movie Database. It would frequently come in handy.

What a good idea, Perkie, about the IMDb, and I would like it for mysteries. There are so many sub-types within the mystery genre that it would be helpful if they were categorized that way.

Perkie, Yes I read the Bo series first and then the Blue. I wish she would write faster. She is really good. I loved Falco.. and think it would be neat to listen to him as well. The Scottoline information on internship of Italians in WWII amazed me. We hear about the Japanese, but I dont ever remember hearing about the Italians and I grew up in Delaware. There was a pow camp close to where I lived. Many many of the men stayed here after the war and married local girls.

I was disappointed to find only two Donna Andrews books in my library, neither of them in the AI series that I'm interested in. I'll have to look farther afield. Fortunately all the new Lindsay Davis books are ordered as they are published.

Babi

Yes, "Emily Dickinson is Dead". It takes place in her house in Amherst, now a museum.

There's anorther "academic" series where the detective is a campus policewoman on a Midwestern university. I think the author is Lake. A rather jaundiced view of academia.

I finished S is for Silence and thought it was a pretty good one even though I found it a little confusing to sort out the three male characters who were, at the end, under suspicion. A good tale, though... she does better with female character development, methinks.

On to Blacklist...

Thanks for all the recommendations of mysteries with academic settings. Not sure if Mary has found her way back here yet... but we're working on it!

Jeryn,

I have just got to start the Alphabet murders by Grafton. My husband says she will finish the alphabet before I get started.

JoanK,

I bet that is a good one. I will add "Emily Dickinson is Dead" to my library list.

I just finished "The Eagle Catcher" by Margaret Coel. It takes place on an Arapaho reservation in Wyoming.

I am reading another David Baldacci book, "The Christmas Train". It is not a mystery but how characters are changed by a cross country train trip. I am a great fan of his mysteries, but can't decide yet about this book.

I'm about half way through Michael Connelly's "The Closers" which was mentioned by Mrs. Sherlock. I'm really enjoying it and am going to look for some of his others.

Mary in TX

I read "The Christmas Train" right around Christmas and it was a fun book to read at that time of year. It was more of an inspirational book rather than mystery and yet it did have some mystery to it.

I ordered "Emily Dickinson is Dead" from a dealer for less than a dollar. You can't get a new copy because its out of print, but your local library might still have it. I want to get Langston's book "Deserter at Gettysburg."

"Langston's book "Deserter at Gettysburg." Thanks, I haven't read that one yet. Her last one "The Esher Twist" was a big disappointment. I am a huge Esher fan, and was really looking forward to it, but it was very weak.

If you love Dickinson, as I do, you may find too much "poor lonely spinster" in "Emily Dickinson is Dead". My favorites, I think, are "The Memorial Hall Murder" and "Murder at the Gardner".

is Tom Clancy's RAINBOW SIX . . . a long one. He creates characters as he goes along for given purposes and then lets them go but all the self talk defines them as individuals. The problem is that all the self talk sounds just like clancy, with his asides and his style. Lots of technical mayhem in this one. . . Claire

For those of you who loved "The #1 Ladies Detective Agency" and its sequels, there is a new book by Alexander McCall Smith. This one is the beginning of a new series which takes place in Scotland and features another interesting lady detective. This one is an amateur sleuth, but just as intuitive as Precious.

Horselover,

I loved Precious. What a lady!

Thanks for the info, Joan.

The 7th in the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency with Precious "Blue Shoes and Happiness" is due out in US in Feb. 2007. It is out in Great Britain this month. I love this series. McCall Smith's "The Sunday Philosophy Club" series with Isabel Dalhousie is also good, but "Precious" and her Detective Agency is my favorite. McCall Smith has a number of other books including another series.

FlaJean,

Thanks for the info. I'm excited!

Great! I love that series.

Have you read anything by Carolyn G. Hart? I've just started Design for Murder. So far the most interesting thing is that the heroine, mystery book store owner, frequently quotes titles and authors of other mysteries. I haven't counted the names dropped in the first 72 pages, but there are many. I think I'll go back when I finish reading it and make a list of authors and titles that sound interesting. She mentions them in the context of the story that is developing in this book. Sue

I checked with Amazon. They said the new No. 1 Ladies DA is coming out April 18.

Thomas Perry has long been a favorite; he writes about criminals in a way that you kind of want them to stick around only they should give up those nasty habits. His series about the woman who "hides" people was such a different view, and she had such depth. Now, he has a new book, Nightflight, about a woman serial killer. I can't wait to see what his spin on this theme will be. (I heard him interviewed on NPR.)

I've been reading Martha Grimes, and the character of Lady Ardrey irritates me no end. So what makes her that way? I finally decidec (takes me a whil sometimes) that she is a bully. Next, I asked myself why is it necessary to have a bully as a leading character? Is it for comic effect? Why is a bully funny? Is it because she is an inept bully? Why did the author choose to make her American? I don't see where she adds anything to the story line, in fact she impedes it. Are not Grimes stories strong enough to stand on their own without Lady A?

What characters irritate/aggravate you? Why?

Mrs. S. - I'm not familiar with that author or character, but if I don't like the characters, I don't read the book. If I get into a book, of whatever genre, and decide I don't care what happens to the characters, the book goes straight into the used-book-store pile. I don't feel the need to finish it.

I gave up on Grimes several years ago. She became strongly anti-American in her stories. Her books are also based on social class and the stereotypes of each. I recently read one of her books. I found the same problem. The obnoxious character was American. She is witty, but not worth reading again.

Grimes' stories seem to be entire without the bully, so why include her? It is only the one character, not the whole collection. Grimes aside, how does a bully become comical? I was thinking of Reginald Hill, Dalziel and Pascoe. Dalziel is the head cop, and is a bully of sorts. He does have a heart, though, which may be the difference. Certainly he is the bad cop to Pascoe's good cop.

is a bully/bitch/bad tempered sleuth/detective of the 205458 time slot. She has an unfortunate history which is her excuse but I got really tired of her. Her sidekick is cute . . .but I forget her name. anyhow I found the setting in the New York of the future fun. . . and interesting. There is a series of twenty five books now and I've read most of them until I got a little tired of EVE. . . Claire

isn't a bully but she is a bounty hunter which should be a forceful character. she's funny because she's inept. keeps burning up her cars and IT ISN'T HER FAULT. she keeps saying. actually I like her inept side kick LULU better and GRANDMA is a kick. Why are sidekicks more interesting than principle characters . . .or are they. . .claire

I think what most annoys me about the bullies is that they are allowed to get away with it. I assume, because the author thinks they are amusing. What I would really enjoy is to have someone refuse to let the bully get away with it. Lady Ardley, IMO, should be shipped back home with little ceremony. But then, I also stopped reading Grimes some time ago.

Babi

I love David Balducci and have several of his books Got started with him when I was at the shore and one of the other guests had just finished reading a book by him DO I RECALL THE NAME no ..but I brought him home . enjoyed him and now have several more I needed to order a book from Barnes and Nobles and since yuo get free mailing for a 25 dollar order I ordered some Ed McBain books since I recalled I enjoyed them years ago and the do move along quickly but I havent decided if I am enjoying them ..they have served to occupy my mind as I underwent some teeth extraction and now trying to adjust to new dentures . WOW as I recover I will give my real opinion on McBain ..since they were cheap I ordered 5 and have only read two ...they filled the time when I was trying to keep my mind occupied and not thinking of my teeth problems///anna

MsSherlock, I too loved Thomas Perry's Jane Whitefield series. His newest is a distinct departure from that. I had emailed him sometime last year asking when a new "Jane" would be forthcoming. I actually got an email back, which said he was working on something different, (his latest,I guess) and hinted that he might get back to the "Jane" stories later. I can't wait.

Tomereader, Thomas Pery seemed to reach a dry spell with Jane IMHO. Have you read any of his earlier books? Butcher's Boy comes to mind and Metzger's Dog. There was one about an island, hilarious. Here is an interview with him: http://www.bookreporter.com/authors/au-perry-thomas.asp He has a formidable imagination!

I also love David Balducci . While on vacation I read his Split Second. My husband, Ray is now reading and enjoying it. His Last Man Standing got me hooked on his work.

that was the name of the book someone gave me ...I think he is outstanding.....anna

A series that I became hooked on and have enjoyed reading is the Peter Robinson series featuring DCI Alan Banks. Have any of you read these books?

Recently, I got to meet one of the sisters who write the Perri O'Shaughnessy mysteries--a lovely lady who lives in the Bay Area. She invited the local book club to her home for a meeting and we discussed the short story collection by the sisters called "Sinister Shorts." It was lots of fun. Unlike the longer novels which are written by both sisters, each of the stories in this collection was written by one or the other. At the end of the discussion, we all tried to guess which ones were written by our hostess. Surprisingly, after meeting with her for such a short time, we did pretty well.

Horselover, what a wonderful opportunity! You lucky thing. I haven't heard of the Perri Shaughnessy series, tho. You didn't mention the sisters' name.

Annafair, I always enjoyed the Ed McBain 'Precinct' books, primarily because of Steve Carella, his delightful mute wife (every man's dream, right?), and Meyer Meyer. Some of his other books I have also read, but find they are mostly, as you said, entertaining time fillers.

Babi

I went to the web site of David Baldacci. They offer to send out bookmarkers to anyone who asks. The bookmarker lists all of the books he has written. I recently finished "The Christmas Train" which is not a mystery, but a delightful book. He also has written a book for children called "Freddie and the French Fries". My favorite of all of his books is "The Winner". His most recent is "The Camel Club". I look forward to it. He is an outstanding writer.

The Peter Robinson books are outstanding. Here is a website: http://www.inspectorbanks.com/

His Final Account still haunts me; unforgettable.

BaBi, The sisters' names are Mary and Pamela O'Shaughnessy. They write tigether under the name Perri. Mary is the one we met.

MrsSherlock, I'll check out that web site. Right now, I'm almost finished with his latest--"Strange Affair."

Has anyone read Balducci's "The Camel Club"? I picked it up while at B&N, but it's on my stack of "to read books" - one of many stacks that is.

BaBi, The sisters' names are Mary and Pamela. They write together under the name, Perri. The one who hosted our meeting is Mary.

MrsSherlock, Thanks for that link. That web site had a link to a great interview of Peter Robinson by Michael Connelly, another mystery/suspense writer.

I like these best. Lincon Child and Douglas Preston are more apt to do these. I think I started with RELIQUE. . . claire

Thanks, Horselover. Ijust picked up an author who is new to me, featuring an ex-cop, now running a housecleaning business with her mother and doing private tec. work on the side. How's that for a combination? Her name is Callahan Garrity. Who could resist a name like that? The author is Kathy Hogan Krocheck.

Babi

Martha Grimes: I gave up on her years ago. Her early books are good, but then fiddling around with her "comic" characters takes over and drowns the story. I don't like humor where the point is to make (malicious) fun of one character, especially when that character is a cartoon stereotype of an elderly women.

I think it about time we seniors start reacting to the constant negative images of the elderly in our society. I saw Andrew Weill on TV the other day, talking about healthy aging.I didn't care for everything he said, but one thing was interesting. He had lived on Okinawa, and he said the elderly there look different: they almost glow!! He thinks it is largely because age there is respected, even venerated. He thinks it's important to get these negative stereotypes out of our minds.

Of course some old people are unpleasant, just as some young people are. But I felt, in the early Grimes, that the reason they make constant fun of Agatha is not that she's a bully, but that she's old and a spinster (immediate proof that she's worthless and a figure of fun, right?) Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

JoanK, I never thought of that element of Lady A's character. Somehing I shall look our for. How can we figfht this? Perhaps we should start with emails to those authors who are guilty. It isn't as if we were were powerless, since we are each readers of many books per year. Here is Martha Grimes' website: http://www.marthagrimes.com/index.html

Mrs. Sherlock mentioned Michael Connelly's "The Closer" awhile back. He was a new author to me. I really enjoyed the book and Harry Bosch. He has written six books featuring Harry and I was able to get the first five at the library. So far I've read "Black Echo" and "The Concrete Blonde". I've enjoyed both. In a way he reminds me of J.A. Jance's J.P. Beaumont altho a bit grittier. Maybe it's the difference between L.A. and Seattle.

Mary in TX

Read Karen Rose Nothing to Fear and that one kept me on the edge of my seat. I am going to try to find some of her others.

BaBi, The sisters' names are Mary and Pamela. They write together under the name Perri. The main character in the series is a Tahoe attorney, Nina Reilly. The one who hosted our meeting was Mary.

MrsSherlock, Thanks for the link. I went to the Peter Robinson web site. There was a great interview there of Robinson by Michael Connelly, another suspense writer.

I saw your earlier post about the sisters, HORSELOVER; I guess you missed my reply. I've made a note of the name., Thanks...Babi

Redbud, the differnece between Connelley and Jance may be due to their genders, as well. Jance is female. LA must be the pits, though, for a cop. Connelley has written outside the Bosch (LOL). He wrote, among others, Blood Work, which CLint Eastwood made into a movie. I've seen some names here which I carried to the library: Padgett, Moggach, Valentine, Winspear. Thanks for the recommendations.

Stephanie, I dropped in here because I love mysteries and I ALWAYS leave the ones I finish for others (in Hotels usually.) I didn't know that there were others that do this. Tomorrow I will go to the site and find out more.about how to do it officially.

As a teenager I worked for four years in our local library. I hung out there so much that the librarians all knew me. When an opening for a shelver opened up I got the job. Shelving was the greatest for a teen ager. I got to know the names of all the authors and especially the most popular ones which I was always shelving. After two years I worked my way into making cards (remeber those?) and them to the ultimate---check out desk.

Judy

Judy, I never worked in our public library, but was a school library aide from junior high clear thru senior high. It was the best class period of the day for me

I've always been a book lover and got my own library card when I was 8 years old. You had to be able to write your name legibly in cursive

My goal in life was to be a librarian, but life intervened and I never made it.

Six years ago, the middle school where our daughter teaches was destroyed by an arson fire over the summer. That fall, the school hired me for about 5 months to help the librarian set up a new library in an old metal building that had survived. It was a challenge but I really enjoyed working with the books. I helped the librarian several times later with special projects until my husband's health got worse and I couldn't leave him alone.

I make lists of interesting books y'all mention both here and in other discussions, and request them online from the library. Then all I have to do is run down and pick them up. I don't know how we managed without computers

Mary

I always wanted to be a librarian. I was a library assistant in high school and actually earned credits for reading the new books and writing about them on little cards - so that others would know what the books were about. Than the Vietnam War came and I met my husband, married, had two kids and as they say: the rest his history. But my love of books and writing has always remained with me.

I too always loved books. I was very shy growing up and books were my saving grace. I'd go to the library, pick up some books, and sneak home through the back alleys so no one would see me and spend the rest of the summer reading. I always wanted to be a librarian but never got there, but I love being around books. I don't know what I'd do if I didn't have books lying around waiting to be read.

Apropos our discussion about Martha Grimes portrayal of a 60+ woman, I just finished reading Abigail Padgett's Blue. Talk about older women! Padgett's women have character, depth, beauty. Grimes' Lady A is a cardboard caricature. I trhought about emailing Grimes to complain, but couldn't think of any way to express my negativity without sounding shrill. However, now I can tell her to read Padgett to see how to write about seniors!

Hello,

Just a friendly reminder that the discussion of "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" opens April 1st. Follow the link below to the discussion.

Jekyll/Hyde

Bill H

The character you are discussin in Martha Grimes books reminds me very much of an older woman I work with - she's pretty much that one-dimensional, one-track mind type of bully on the outside. Whether there is more to her beneath remains to be seen - I don't care enough for her to find out - but this real life person does affect the behavior of those around her. I always thought that was the purpose of the obnoxious aunt in the Grimes' books - to provide a little comic relief and contrast with the other characters.

I haven't read Martha Grimes books in a long time. Perhaps she is trying to show, through her characters, what unacceptable behavior is. But I can't see where this will get her for very long. Most people, like yourselves, don't like bullies for lead characters. Perhaps if they were interesting enough they might hold water for a little while, but I would think that after a few books you'd get tired of them.

In Martha Grimes books, the lead character is the victim. He permits himself to be bullied by his aunt. There is a hint that he feels guilty because he inherited the title and money and she didn't.

Hi, back from Italy and brimming with news from all of you.. Finished a Burglar book over seas( fun, but repetitive) the latest Elizabeth George.. I did cry over her killing of one of my favorite characters.. Darn.. the books will not be the same. I love Michael Connelly, but consider him a good deal grittier than Jance.. I gave up on Grimes.. Her characters just seem to get further and further from people I would want to meet.. Was in Venice, so I now understand a bit better Donna Leoni's series.. Also finished The Amateur Marriage in Italy. A new Thomas Perry.. Be still my heart. I have read each and every one of his books. An excellent writer, who always surprises me.

I love Donna Leoni's series set in Venice. Just finished a few books by Carola Dunn about the Honorable Daisy Dalrymple now married to Chief Detective Inspector Fletcher of New Scotland Yard. The plots are set in England in the 1920's. Author Dunn was born and raised in England but now lives in Eugene, OR. She has made Daisy an interesting protagonist--born to the aristocracy but down to earth and practical. Another British author I find especially good is John Malcolm who writes a series about Tim Simpson, an art investment specialist in London. A lot of interesting information in his books about art and antiques. However, his books aren't so readily available here in the states.

Stephanie, have you read John Grisham's latest, "The Broker"? It is set primarily in Italy, so you might enjoy the setting. I find Grisham's books to always be exciting and well written. And, that certainly applies to this one.

Grisham is not my cup of tea. My husband adores me and reads all of the stuff and I will tell him. I think he writes the same book over and over and that his women are totally unreal, so skip him.

[GRIN] I'm sure your husband adores you, Stephanie...and Grisham too, I presume.

I just finished an entertaining little book called "Whiskey on the Rocks", by Nina Wright. 'Whiskey' is the nickname of the heroine. The book also features a gorgeous, but difficult Afghan named "Abra", who is frequently compared, 'in profile', to Sarah Jessica Parker.

Babi

Nina, I'll have to check that one out. Thanks. Randy Wayne White's latest Doc Ford, Key West Connection, paints a frightening picture of the potential for environmental rape in Florida's sugar cane country. Doc's usual coterie is along for the fun. How can it be noir in the bright, hot light of Florida? White pulls it off. This is another of my grabbit authors - when I see the name, I grab it.

I love the Margaret Coel series about Vickie Holden, an Arapaho attorney, and Father John O'Malley, a Catholic priest on the Reservation, Hats. "The Eagle Catcher" in the second in a series of, so far, 11 titles. I have not caught up with the last one on the new book shelf as yet. The books are fairly short, but there is still good character development.

I find it interesting that so many have expressed the opinion that Martha Grimes is anti-American since she was born in Pittsburgh, PA, spent her summers in Western Maryland and lives in Washington, D.C. She travels to England but doesn't seem to have ever lived there! Lady Ardry is extremely irritating, but we only get Melrose Plant's side of the story. I think she is insecure and is trying to make herself important. Those people are frequently irritating because they have to spend all their energies on themselves.

I completely agree about the new Grisham, Golden State Poppy. "The Broker" is well written and kept me reading into the wee hours. My partner's mother tried to read it. She is 93 and the only author she loves is Zane Grey. Anyway, she gave "The Broker" to us and we both loved it and passed it on to my partner's sister, who introduced us to Grisham when "The Client" was published.

I had not heard of Nina Wright, Babi, but am a sucker for books that include interesting animals. I am looking forward to meeting Abra. I know all of the names of the dogs I meet while walking my Corgi, but only know the name of one owner that I happened to meet at a neighborhood party!

I just finished "In a Dark House" by Deborah Crombie, the tenth in the Duncan Kincaid and Jemma James series. This one was a real page turner about a serial arsonist trying to recreate renown fires of the past. I thought the arsonist's motive was a bit weak, but it didn't detract from an otherwise strong story.

Perkie, I'll add Deborah Crombie to my list. Thanks.

BaBi, Thanks for the tip about the house-cleaning detective. I love quirky detectives with odd day jobs.

I also love Donna Leon's Inspector Brunetti; I've read them all.

Babi.. Ah, the foibles of typing. I suspect that my husband adores Grisham and is used to me, after 48 years, that is. Will look up your new author. Sounds interesting and I am with Perkie, that I know the names of all the dogs that I meet when walking mine, but none of the owners. Kathy Hogan Trochek... writes at least two different series and they are both good, although quite different. One of the House Mouse, cleaning service and the other is about a senior citizen..

Actually, Horselover>, that quirky detective didn't do a lot of the housecleaning herself. She and her mother mostly ran the operation, and had employees who did most of the actual cleaning. Two of them were sisters in their eighties, one nearly deaf and the other nearly blind, who were constantly sniping at each other. Plenty of humor in this one.

Babi

Ah, Stephanie,...I'll have to look up the senior citizen series. Have to support our fellow s.c.'s, right?

Babi

You are right, as a general rule, she runs House Mouse, hired quirky cleaners and fights with her boyfriend and runs down crimes.. As I remember she was briefly a policeman.

A police "person", Stephanie! Or maybe a policewoman. Actually I think she may have been a detective, but couldn't stand the chief of detectives who was a hard nosed sexist, if I recall correctly. Sue

I have a hate for the man,woman,person syndrome, so generally use the wrong one..Just finished a book by a new author( to me) The Bells of Solace Glen by Susan S. James. Sort of a gentle mystery. To some extent more of a small town type novel.. Think Miss Julia and Jan Karons novels with a small mystery factored in.. Nice actually. For people who like cozies, they would probably like it.

Will look for the Susan James book you recommended, Stephanie. My husband and I both enjoyed the Jan Karon books, including her latest and final Mitford book "Light from Heaven" published in 2005. I especially like the cozy mysteries because they don't describe too vividly the violence (although it is there) and they are not depressing as I find in so many of the hard bitten types of mysteries. Good thing for the authors that the reading audience varies in their likes.

I have now completed Michael Connelly's "The Poet". It is rather a strange book with entwined double killings across the country. There is always a note left with a Poe quotation. The "hero" is a reporter from the Rocky Mountain News. I did not find him very likeable. Those who like unusual mysteries will like this book.

Michael Connoly is a big time favorite of mine. He writes a small series about Harry Bosch and then a variety of others. He has a second series about a retired FBI agent that are also interesting. Sort of noir, but good writing indeed. I just finished a Carol o Connel.. Whew. I do love her, but her books are intense indeed. Winter House is a shocker in many many ways. To waste a life is a sin indeed..

Steph, I like this author too. I went back and read all of them from the beginning. HOpe there is another one out soon. "winter house" was a terrific read.

I'm in Molena Point (read Carmel) with Joe Grey and the rest of the gang again. Shirley Rousseau Murphy;s talking cat fascinates me, Plus Carmel is porbably my altime favorite place. As I read, I can picture the streets, the deli, the restaurants. Plus the mysteries are top notch. I'll check out the James book, always looking for a good "cozy". Finished Jacqueline WQinspear's second, Birds of a Feather. Really like Maisie Dobbs and am hoping the library has the first on the shelves. Even though Michael Connelley writes a strange book now and then, he never strikes out for me. Roger Crais' The Forgotten Man was a real trip. He's another author i devour.

Have any of you read an author named Tony Broadbent? I'm reading his second book, "Spectres in the Smoke", and definitely planning to go back and read his first, "Smoke". It is a genuine page-turner, set in post-war London. Not precisely a mystery, but the action is great, the setting is authentic, and the background history is fascinating. (A list of London street slang of the period is up-front, for handy reference.)

Babi

Babi, sounds good. I'll check my library shelves for this author. Thanks

Mrs. Sherlock,

I love Shirley Rousseau Murphy. I have only read two or three. I just fell in love with her talking cats helping to solve a mystery.

A gentle mystery sounds good to me, Stephanie. I would gladly give "The Belles of Solace Glen" (2004), by Susan S. James, a try except that our library does not have any of the three titles I found in the Library of Congress online catalog. The other two titles are "Siren of Solace Glen" (2005) and "Solace Glen Honeymoon" (2005). I found it interesting that all three are in the Rare Book/Special Collections Reading Room at the Library of Congress. Where did you get your copy?

I don't know that I would characterize the Aunt Dimity series as gentle, but they can be when Lori isn't having a hissie. Which she does quite often. I have just finished the latest one, "Aunt Dimity and the Deep Blue Sea". Nancy Atherton's descriptions of the isle off the coast of Scotland, where the bulk of the book takes place, are excellent. And I liked the people who live there. The villain is a shadowy figure until near the end and his comeuppance has a bit of a 'time to end the story' feel about it. What I love most about the books are the conversations between Lori and Aunt Dimity through the latter's journal.

Hats, I have read several books in a mystery series about two talking cats and a talking dog. Sometimes, the horses also talk. The last one I read was "Claws and Effect." But I think they were by a different author than the one you mentioned. I'll have to check that out.

Rita May Brown writes about animals who talke to one another; they live in Virginia. Shirley Rousseau Murphy writes abgout catw who have the ability to talk to humans; these stories take place in Carmel, California.

Thanks MrsSherlock. The Virginia stories are the ones I have read and enjoyed. But I will definitely check out the ones by Shirley Rousseau Murphy located in Carmel. My daughter was married at the Highlands Inn in Carmel, and this has always been one of my favorite places.

Sue Henry writes about Alaska, specifically sled dog driver Jesse Arnold. Beneath the Ashes is one I have read, I love these Alaska books. Anyway, Sue reviews Thomas Perry's latest, Nightlife, in today's Oregonian: book review PS: She likes it

Far-fetched as they are, I too am a fan of Joe Grey and his friend, Dulcie. They make talking cats seem quite normal! In fact, I have one unread burning a hole in my shelf as we speak.

I'm reading Triple Play, the first of Elizabeth Gunn's Jake Hines series. I hope it's as much fun as Five Card Stud. Appears she has a number thing going with her titles.

I'm reading one of the Agatha Raisin mysteries right now. For some reason this aging heroine, who can't cook or understand the men in her life, appeals to me.

Solace Glen.. It was a paperback. brand new.. One of my d-i-l's pounced on it this weekend and carried it off or I would mail to you. I know she will pass it on to her sisters ( there are four girls in the family and three boys)so I will probably not see it again. I believe I got it at a used book store, but it had never even had the back cracked.. Strange.. I will try Amazon and see what happens.

horselover, We love Agatha Raisin. Have you read M.C.Beaton's other series about Hamish MacBeth? If not, you need to read those, too.

Stephanie, you really just delicately inform your DIL's that they are very welcome to read your books, after you have finished with them. I don't think I could have reacted so calmly to someone walking off with a book I bought and planned to read. :c

Babi

Mary,I haven't read M.C.Beaton's other series about Hamish MacBeth, but it's going onto my list.

No..Babi, I had read the book and I put it in the bookbags that hold books that I have read. I take them to the used book store every once in a while, but friends and d-i-l;s etc know that they can have any book in there and Sue stopped in and scooped it up.Along with about 20 more.I dont mind and have told them to do that. I have a friend who comes over to my free book store about once every 6 months and carries away tons of them. The only rule is it must be in the book bags.. Right now there are four full bags.

Stephanie, what is your address? I'll be right over.

Me too Stephanie I would love to go through your book bags someday.

My apologies to Your DIL, Stephanie. I misread or misunderstood your post. I'm with Judy and Mrs. Sherlock; I'd love to be a beneficiary of your used book club.

If I don't find a taker for offered books in the Book Exchange, I take down to the Senior Center bookshelf. They are about to get a few more.

Babi

I live in central Florida and you are all quite welcome to come visit and take books. Both my husband and I read a lot. I read pretty much everything and he is a courtroom freak, so there is always a variety of things. I am plodding through Nevada Barrs newest paperback just now. Having problems with the down down down atmosphere in the book. I like Anna and the new woman is sort of interesting, but I have problems with small children being tormented.

an online friend just sent me a box of books and I had to put most of them in a bag in the garage to get rid of the smell of stale tobacco. Eventually I'll try to get used to it or spray them with something or other. Any ideas? , , , Claire

I am just beginning a light book, which I alternate with heavier books such as the just finished "Hour Game" by David Baldacci.

I am now reading "Crossed Bones" by Carolyn Haines. She writes about the Mississipi delta. Publishers Weekly says about her "The Mississippi Delta in the summer heat is not all that is sizzling in Haines newest book."

The book begins "My Great Aunt Cilla was fond of saying that there's nothing like the feel of a blooded animal between a woman's thighs. Of course with Aunt Cilla, that might apply to a Thoroughbred or a Southern gentleman with good lineage." Sarah Booth Delaney is the last in a long line of Southern belles, but she doesn't conform to the image of the "daddy's girls". She is a PI.

Her books are always enjoyable, fast moving and "the next best thing to curling up with a mint julep on the porch swing on a lazy afternoon."

Claire, I received some books from the Book Exchange that smelled very much of cigarettes. I sprinkled them with baking soda and put them in zip loc bags, but it didn't help much. I finally took them to the used book store and donated them. I won't order from that particular person again. Sue

Claire you might want to add kitty litter to the bag of books. I also have a problem with reading a library book after a smoker has read it. Used to be a bigger problem, but I think less people are smoking inside. A bigger problem for me is mildew. After having the book sit in the sun, if the smell isn't gone I don't read it.

I am reading False Impressions by Jeffrey Archer. The 3rd section is titled 9/11. Wow. Especially poignant with the trial reports on the news.

any particular kitty litter? I thought about spraying with deoderant or deoderizer or alcohal or just anything. I've got a bunch of them. When I was in college all my friends smoked and in order to be with them I'd bum cigarettes. they aren't as bad as STALE smoke and this smells like CIGAR SMOKE. so maybe I won't bother with them. any smoker here who would like to have them...detective, mystery type things.

Kitty Litter is good.. An apple sometimes works.. When we had the store, I did not accept books that stunk of cigarettes. Simply not worth it. Easier to get rid of mildew..

My library discards books that have gotten wet, even if they are new books. They hate to lose a good book, but the mold that results will spread. So, whatever you do about your odor problem, Claire, don't get the books wet.

Babi

Claire, I used to have a problem with magazines that arrived with all those perfume-saturated cards. So glad they finally stopped doing that. I don't know if it would work with the smoking smell, but I used to hang the magazines over a line in a protected place outside or in the garage, so that they'd stay open, until the smell was gone.

Re having received smokey books from the Book Exchange, I think I'd put that as a feed-back comment, if the Exchange has that sort of thing (like Amazon does for used book sellers). Or I'd complain to the Book Exchange.

I spent several days staying with some smoking friends, helping out during an illess. When I got home, I stood outside on the deck and peeled off all my clothes before I even went into the house. Then I put all those clothes plus what was in my suitcase into the washing machine. Then I put myself into the shower! And I used to be a 2-pack-a-day smoker.

Being a reformed smoker as well, yes, I am terrible now about smoke.. Will get up and leave a restaurant if I have to, although living in Florida, thank heaven, you cannot smoke in restaurants, but that is not true for all states. Still staggering along with Nevada Barr.. Finally getting to the point of all of the lying. I truly am not impressed with this book and I have always loved Anna and Nevada Barrs books.

I thought you might be interested in the Library Journal's comment about Nevada Barr's mystery, "Hard Truth", Stephanie. "Although Barr's Anna Pigeon series (High Country) have set the standard for outdoor mysteries, her latest is an ambitous, if heavy-handed, attempt to do more; it's as laden with psychological issues (pedophilia, brainwashing) as any urban mystery." I was still glued to it, I am such an Anna Pigeon fan, but can see why it would be slow going for anyone else.

I read my first Ellie Quicke mystery by Veronica Heley. It is the fifth in the series, titled "Murder in the Garden". It is a cozy, easy reading, but I don't think I will go back and read the first four. Her daughter and newly-deceased husband are so unpleasant that I don't have any desire to meet them again when Ellie was under the thumb of her husband. I will look for later ones, as I am interested to see how she grows now that she has some freedom.

I don't smoke, but my daughter, who lives with me, does,...alas. She tries to confine her smoking to her end of the house, but we both share the computer room. She airs it out when she finishes working, before I go in.

It hadn't occurred to me that the books in here would become impregnated with the odor. If I have sent any smelly books to anyone, I do apologize. In future, I will take care to offer only books that have remained firmly on my side of the house, but since we read a lot of the same books, that probably won't be many.

Babi

I'll send them on to used book shops and libraries. I wonder what they do when they get these things. The odd thing is that for the most part smokers are otherwise considerate people. They don't seem to consider themselves offensive when they smoke. . . but they are . . .offensive. . . claire

I wonder if baking soda would help the smoky books. If the books were placed in a box or plastic bag with a open box of baking soda it might help, though it would probably take awhile.

My latest audio book was "Murder at Montecello" by Jane Langton. It is in the Mary and Homer Kelly series. This one had almost as much history about Jefferson and the Lewis and Clark expedition as it did about the story, which was also interesting. I had forgotten, if I ever knew, that Sacajawea had an infant, born just before she encountered Lewis and Clark, and she carried the child all the way to the Pacific Ocean and back in a cradle board. Little mention is made of the infant in the journals.

Babi you might want to ask your daughter to not smoke in the computer room. The smoke is hurting computer. One of my sons is a smoker, but he is not allowed to smoke in the house.

You really have to be a serious smoker and keep the book in a room you smoke in all the time for the books to smell of smoke. So I would not worry Babi, or I would specify that the books have been in a smoking house,etc.

Perkie, I just finished Langton's Emily Dickinson Is Dead, mentioned here a while ago. I love the little illustrations scattered through the text. looks like there are many books by this author to look forward to. Another series i'm reading is the Miss Maud Silver stories by Patricia Wentworth. These are the traditional English country house mysteries, a trip down notsalgia row. Did people really live like this? It's almost science fiction...

How come, when I get interested in mysteries and come to this discussion, there isn't anything about James Patterson in the above listing? I've heard he was such a good writer and I really enjoy his books. In fact, I'm trying to catch up on his writings. Don't think I will. I've just finnished ROSES ARE RED and have started VIOLETS ARE BLUE. Has anyone else read these books or this author?

James Patterson and also James North Patterson and also Lisa scottoline and they aren't there either. how does one add to the list? . . . these are all old ones up there. and where are the native american indian writers tony hillerman and his ilk. it's a very old fashioned group of writers. I wouldn't vote for most of them although I like faye Kellerman better than her husband .. . . .Claire

I am another who like James Patterson. But one of the best writers, David Baldacci isn't listed above, either. This list was done before I began reading and posting here a couple of years ago, so I don't know how it was done. Perhaps the list would just be too long.

Currently I continue with Carolyn Haines, "Crossed Bones". She is a good writer and intersperses the mystery with wit and humor.

Maybe we need a new Masters of Mystery Fiction: 21st Century.

I also like James Patterson and his main character, Dr. Alex Cross. I think he is generally classified as a suspense writer rather than a mystery writer. The difference is, in suspense stories, you usually know who the criminal is at the outset. Then there is the suspense of catching him.

I had not heard this difference in definition between mystery and suspense. Thanks!

Since I have a posting on that list,, the answer is we were asked about our very very favorite master mystery writer. I love Tony Hillerman, etc, read some of James North Patterson ( not all) and a lot of current writers. However this was supposed to be our very very favorite writer of all time.. So you can see why so many older writers are there.

We're in Farmington, NM, for an Elderhostel that starts tonight. The subjects are the local geology, the Navajo culture, and the novels of Tony Hillerman. We're excited. I'll be sure to post any new insights.

One really great part of this EH is that another participant is going to be our own Pat Westerdale. What a treat to get to meet her!

Sue Henry has a new series going, Maxie McNabb and her dog, Stretch. Maxie is 60-something and travels around in her RV. In The Tooth of Time she's in New Mexico. I like feisty old ladies! Go, Maxie, go.

MrsSherlock Maxie McNabb and Stretch are definitely two characters I have to meet!\ isak

I love Alex Cross. James Patterson is one of the very favorites.

I found James Patterson and Richard North Patterson in my library, O'Sharny, but no James North Patterson. Am I missing something? I think I will try Richard North Patterson, since he lives in San Francisco and Martha's Vineyard!

I read Sarah R. Shaber's first mystery, "Simon Said". It is set in Raleigh, North Carolina, in a small, renown college and the murder victim's bones have been unearthed on the campus after being buried for 70 years. Simon is a history professor and the book is full of departmental back-stabbing which becomes an important part of the plot. The story moves along smoothly and the characters and settings are well defined. I enjoyed it and plan to read more of her works.

I know how to add names to the "Master Mystery Writer" list. I made it originally and Stephanie has it right. We requested your "alltime favorite mystery writers".

I think you will find many of those listed are still writing... Hillerman is up there! Connelly is up there! E. George! Sue Grafton! Both the Kellermans! Actually, I think the list is a nice mix of the old and the new.

I've been loathe to add "just any author" but if so many of you want James Patterson... I'll do it. So let's hear it pro/con James Patterson. Is he your "alltime favorite Master Mystery Writer"???

it's richard not james north patterson most likey. haven't looked it up but will take your word for it. sorryyyyy. . . .claire.

Lisa Scottoline is on the best seller list frequently. . .excellent legal type mysteries. My request . . .please?.

Mrs. Sherlock. I read one of the Maxie books and they are really good. Fun and different. It is James Patterson and Richard North Patterson, my typing is always faster than my brain.. I used to like Alex Cross, but some of the stories have gotten way farfetched. Dont like his collaboration stuff at all and not overfond of the four women stories as well.

GAJ, my daughter's work is right here in the computer room, via computer. With the exception of a couple of half-hour breaks, she is in here working nearly 8 hours. I don't feel I can realistically expect her to not smoke in here at all, tho' hopefully she can manage to do most of it outdoors on her breaks.

She has always used various air clearing devices when smoking anywhere near me, but she now goes outside. As I pointed out, either she needed to go out to smoke, or I needed to go out to breathe, and it was much easier for her to cut down on her smoking than for me to cut down on my breathing!

She made no argument whatsoever on that.

Babi

I would rank Davied Baldacci over James Patterson or Scottolini as a "Master Mystery Writer". It is a difficult task to decide an all time best. And, we all have different tastes.

and all but one Scottoline. different tasts. . .claire

I second the vote for Davied Baldacci. His stories are mysteries and thrillers.

Did I mention how I am enjoying Jeffrey Archer's False Impressions? It is a thriller.

Am reading a mystery on ancient Egypt. Slow going, but interesting. I was in the mood for something entirely different, so dug threw my not read pile and found this one.

Found an interesting new( to me) author. Beth Saulnier.. Am reading "The Fourth Wall". Heroine is a newspaper reporter in a small upstate town in New York. An interesting story with a giddy young reporter and her friends. Not bad at all..

Okay... I added Lisa Scottoline and David Baldacci. Did I get all the names right? Hope you don't mind being "GSPoppy" in the interest of spacesaving, Golden State Poppy?

Have any of you read the books by Donna Leon about Inspector Guido Brunetti of Venice, Italy. I love these stories bacause the mysteries are so different, and also because I've learned so much about Venice where the author lived for many years. The setting is crucial to these mysteries and creates an interesting trip to another place.

Hooray.. yesterday I keep getting that senior net was not available. Glad to hear they solved the problem. Finished the Beth Saulnier.. Excellent book, will look up and find what else she has written. If you think you would like a little generation x in your life.. she does a good job.

Thanks for adding Baldacci to the list and I don't mind having my screen name shortened at all.

I, too, love the Donna Leon stories. Venice seems so exotic, but here is a family man, intenseliy involved with his personal life and also an outstanding solver of the puzzles his job presents him with. Patricia Wentworth continues to enchant. Miss Maud Silver was not her only protagonist; Rolling Stone had a charming gentleman spy in the lead role. Laurie R. King has a new PB, Locked Rooms. Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes travel to San Francisco...

Grrrrr! I simply can't read fast enough to read everything I want to. Besides the books mentioned here, I keep coming across more at the library that I want to get back to. I keep getting 'behinder' all the time.

Babi

It takes awhile for me to get back to Sr Net but as I said, I just started reading mysteries. I looked James Patterson up with Google and found a whole bio on Dr Alex Cross!

I've read all but the latest Sue Grafton and Have a letter from her. I had written to see if her birthday was May 5th as her main character celebrates that day but it is not Sues'. It is mine however and also Jeryns' cat, Purrsia.

In a previous book discussion group, we read one David Baldacci but I didn't care that much for him. The lady who reccommended him really liked his writing. I belong to two book discussions here since we moved and dropped the mystery group as it was the same night as an all day quilting group. I'll look in the private library here for Tony Hillerman as I only have one more James Patterson to read.

O'Sharny, we've been in Farmington, NM, at an Elderhostel focussed on the Navajos and Tony Hillerman's books. I think we'd all recommend that, as much as possible, you read them in chronological order. The characters do develop and grow so much as the series goes along. I hope you enjoy them as much as we do.

Thanks Jeryn for adding David Baldacci to the Master Mystery Writers chart.

Oh me,, A new Lauri King. I do like all of her stuff. The Holmes stuff and the other San Francisco stuff. She is an excellent writer. But oh me, my list grows longer and longer. Reading a Harlan Coben that I had missed just now. I like Myron very much.

I particularly like the author, Leonard Goldberg. I am just finishing his"Fever Cell". He is a doctor and a UCLA clinical professor. Of course, his books are in a medical setting. The heroine is Joanna Blalock, a forensic pathologist. This book is about a potential pandemic. It was so exciting that I read into the night last night. I couldn't put it down. I recommend it when you don't need sleep.

In my bag of hardbacks for $1 from a library sale, I got a Laurie King book "O Jerusalem" featuring Holmes and Mary Russell (1999). The write-up didn't appeal to me but after starting it I was hooked. She is a new author for me and a very good writer. We lived in Morocco for several years so I found the arab scenes really interesting. I look forward to more of her books.

Flajean, these are best read in sequence. The first is Beekeeper's Apprentice. I think that O Jerusalem is my favorite, but it is a tough call.

The Mary H olmes books by Lauri King are best read in sequence, but the other stuff that Lauri writes is mostly stand alone and interesting as well.

Thanks for those suggestions. I'll check the list of her books on the Internet.

I'm glad The Mystery Corner is back online. I felt like a piece of my world was missing!

I have several authors who gladden my heart when they publish a new work. Laurie R. King is one of them. I have never been disappointed in any of her books. I look forward to reading "Locked Rooms".

James Patterson does not interest me. I have never read David Baldacci, so need to give him a try.

I second Mary Z's advice to read the Hillerman series in order. The characters of Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee definitely grow and develop throughout the series.

"Crouching Buzzard, Leaping Loon" in the fourth in Donna Andrews series about Meg Lanslow. I enjoyed it the most because there seemed to be more humor and creativity interlaced with the story. I don't remember enjoying her father as much in the previous books. And the mental image of her brother trying to do a complicated kata (A system of basic body positioning and movement exercises, as in karate or judo.) that Meg made up for him has me laughing all over again.

Susan Conant's third book in her Holly Winter series, "The Wicked Flea" was also light reading. I love her description of, and interaction with, her Malamutes. The controversy over dog parks and people parks overlapping is carried on in our community, with the same arguments, but so far no murders over the issue!

"The Late Lady" is the fifth, and my first, in the Superintendent Bone series by Susannah Stacey. It was on the Free Books cart at the library and had been discarded from the collection, but I found it light and very readable with well developed characters. There aren't any other titles in the library catalog, so I guess she does not have a following.

Have any of you seen the movies based on Hillerman's novels. I believe that Robert Redford is the producer. They have done a really good job with them. They have been shown on the San Jose PBS station a few times on Friday night, mystery night.

Redford made a theater movie based on one of Hillerman's books several years ago (I just heard this last week, and now can't remember which one), and it was pretty routinely panned. The two that were made recently for PBS were pretty good. I don't remember the theater one, but have seen both of the PBS ones.

Perkie, Yes, I like Donna Andrews and agree that the Buzzard was one of her best thus far. I am reading a Susan Strohmeir book.. Bubble Unbound.. Funny and sort of silly at the same time. Supposedly written by a woman encouraged by Janet Evenovich and reads like a sort of low grade Stephanie Plum. Stephanie is funnier, but Bubbles has more problems.

RE: Susannah Stacy: Jill Staynes and Margaret Storey wrote under the name of Elizabeth Eyre, also. I though, from reading the references ont he internet fiction data base and google that these were Inspector Bone stories. Not so, at least in Coffin for the Cardinal which is about Sigismondo and his iad Benno. The locale is Italy, the time is when horses and swords were common, and the plot involves a Cardinal, several Princes and Dukes, and, need I say it, skullduggery galore. Fun. I'm still looking for Inspector Bone...

AHA! Found Susannah Stacy; three titles at Bookfinders.com.

Tried the Stacey, but not my type. Am reading a Denise Hamilton.. Very good, but sort of confusing thus far.

I was pleasantly surprised to discover Lawrence Sanders has a light side. I just finished "McNally's Luck", a very different approach from the seven deadly sins!

Babi

Elizabeth Eyre's books are very "machiavellian". I'll have to read the others, all of whose titles are alliterative, i.e., Death for the Duchess, etc.

Babi, Lawrence Sanders wrote several McNally's, but this is the only series that has continued since his death. Someone else is writing them now, but they tend to be the same. I have read most of them, although sometimes I am not sure why. I understand they were written to have fun with his neighbors and friends in Palm Beach, where he lived before he died.

Laurie King's Locked Rooms is a treat for San Francisco history lovers. From the 1906 earthquake to the 1924 "present" there is fabulous color and detail. .

I do love Lauri and have it on my next to buy list. Just now with th enew used bookstore, I am knee deep in all sorts of new and old stuff.

I went back and picked up the first book that introduces Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes, .."The Beekeepers' Assistant". Most of the book is spent in establishing their early relationship and Mary Russell's unusually gifted mind and Holmesian style talents. They solve a few small mysteries along the way, I'm happy to say. A pleasant book.

Babi

GoldenStatePoppy, I haven't seen any feature films of Hillerman novels, but there have been at least three PBS series based on them.

Babi, Mary Russell is an interesting character on her own and the relationship deepens as the book progress. Lauri King has a gift for character development. Her other series are much much darker, but still excellent.

According to IMDb, TV movies on PBS were made from Hillerman's Skinwalkers, A Thief of Time, and Coyote Waits in 2002-2004. The Dark Wind was made into a theater movie in 1991 (a really bad one according to one of our presenters in the Elderhostel we just finished).

Mary Z, I hope you will tell us more about the elderhostel and how it relates to Hillerman.

Robert Redford was the Executive Producer of the Hillerman movie "The Dark Wind". Some of it was shot on the Hopi Reservation and Redford promised the Hopi Nation that nothing of their rituals would be portrayed. Apparently there was a basic disagreement about just what that included, and when we visited the Hopi Nation soon after the movie was released there was a definite coolness in the way we were treated. No rudeness but no friendly smiles as we had received on the Navajo Reservation. We never saw the movie in a theater and had to call around to several video stores before finding a copy. As I remember, the movie was not as good as the three Mystery! productions. All four play somewhat fast and loose with the book plots.

I like Mary Higgins Clark as a rule, and I did enjoy "No Place Like Home" but I stopped in the middle to read Philip Pullman's Dark Matter series. They are science fiction for the young adult market, but are very well written and so imaginative. This is the third time I have read the series and each time I pick up new things. What struck me more forcibly this time was the struggle against the cruelty of the religious institution in one of the many worlds and its attempts to spread its domination into other worlds. After I went back to "No Place Like Home" the style of writing didn't seemed as rich. I think it had too many simple sentences.

I find the same, PERKIE,in my reading. We long-time readers require imagination and style, good writing, to really hold our attention. Some books are just too simplistic, or too shallow, to spend much time on them, don't you think.

Babi

A major player in religous prejudice... The Handmaidens Tale by Margaret Atwood.. Wow.. what a book. Was also a movie, but not nearly as effective.

GSP, the Elderhostel was great. The three subjects were Navajo culture, Tony Hillerman, and the geology of the San Juan Basin. We had several Navajo speakers, who told us lots about their customs and history. Most of the Hillerman portion was talking about him and how he happened to write about the Navajo, and his life in the NM area. We never really discussed whether all his protrayals of the Navajo was true-to-life or not, but I do know that the Navajo think very highly of him, and think that he has written about them correctly.

When talking about the movies made, the speaker was very negative about the 1991 Redford movie - saying that it wasn't made on the Navajo Rez (as Perkie mentioned), and that it was generally not a very well-made movie on any level. I don't remember having seen it, but now I'd like to track it down.

I didn't know any of the Margaret Atwood stories had been made into a movie, Steph. I've read several of hers but can't remember whether "The Handmaidens Tale" was one of them. Off-hand, I don't remember one centering around a handmaiden. Can you give me an idea of the story line? That should jog my memory.

Babi

Handmaiden's Tale, 1990, had a stellar cast. Robert Duvall, Natasha Richardson, Faye Dunnaway, et al. Here's the IMDB site:http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0099731/ If you had read it you would remember it.

1990, eh? I hadn't discovered Margaret Atwood back then, so I may not have read this one. I tried the site you posted, but didn't find it. The page said I either had the add. wrong or it had moved. But don't worry with it. I'll check for the book at my library. Thanks for taking the trouble, Mrs. Sherlock.

Babi

Sorry, BaBi. Google IMDB for the movie.

THE FIRST few chapters reviewed

HERE not exactly a mystery more like sci fi . . .

I agree, Handmaid is not a mystery. It is one of my favorite all time books however. It could happen here. When you listen to the conservative right, it gets scary and this book seems more and more real. I just finished a light chick mystery,, Sofi Metropolis.. The authors( two) say they get advice from Janet, but it is not a Stephanie Plum.. Sofi is interesting, but too many quirks.. No laughing out loud yet.

"Social satire is a natural concomitant of science fiction. Indeed, before science fiction might truly be said to exist (in the sense of stories appearing that deal with the consequences of scientific and technological advances) there were social satires set in imaginary societies that might be considered "pronto-science fiction." The best example of this would be Jonathan Swifit's Gulliver's Travels, which was first published in 1726.

Social satire doesn't always have to be realistic and convincing (though it can be.) Ideally, it takes a social trend and carries it to an extreme. If the trend is (in the opinion of the author) a bad one, its viciousness can be more clearly demonstrated if one puts it under the microscope, so to speak, by imagining it to continue to a point well beyond reason." ~ Isaac Asimov

I think this is what happens in "The Handmaiden's Tale".

also in the DUNE SERIES by Frank Herbert. . . although after the first two I couldn't identify. I like the j.d. robb series because it takes place in new york in the near future and I can identify with that. claire

I just finished what IMO was a terrible NB book, Ill Wind. Anna is described as having an alcohol problem and i was wondering if NB was drinking or smoking something when she wrote this one. LOL

Her descriptions of the place and what was happening were "unseeable" for me. It was confusing. She had phrases that seemed to allude to something that had happened before, but she hadn't talked about it befire. In one spot a friend had cut off Anna's clothes that had been contaminated w/ acid. He had taken them off at his house, later she has Anna hoping the nurse at the hospital had not destroyed them because they were evidence w/ no indication whether or why they would have been at the hospital.

It was all very strange.......jean

I am reading Sue Grafton's book, "R is for Ricochet". What you are describing about Nevada Barr's book could also apply to this one. I have always enjoyed Grafton's previous books, but I find similar inconsistencies to the ones you describe in this one. She left her billfold somewhere to have an excuse to return. Then she pulls it out of a paper bad without having retrieved it. Characters seem to me to be inconsistent in their behavior. I had decided it must just be me and I still enjoy reading her books. Perhaps authors just have a "bad day" which extends to an entire book.

But their editors ought to catch those errors, I think. I wonder if it might be because they are submitting by computers? I don't think text editors on computer catch things that the old fashioned editors do. Just look at your daily newspaper and you'll see what I mean! Sue

I wonder what editors do these days. I am not sure if it is the teacher in me, but I hate to come across errors.

Kathy Lynn Emerson has an online group of which I am a member. I started liking with the first "Face Down In..." mystery She has told us she has to keep going over her work for mistakes and jokingly said it is the best sleep aide. She even has to find other author's for the recommendations. I can't figure out what good an editor is for an author.

WINSUM, what is this future New York series by J.D. Robb? I've enjoyed every J.D. Robb I've read and would like to know about these. I like Nora Roberts 'Robb' books better than those under her own name. I just like the genre better.

Babi

I think there are twenty three of them and it's a series name, similar in every book. I was just going to ask google for a few examples but why don't you do it. there is a page AI believe. . . . claire

J.D. Robb

TWENTY-THREE?!!! Good heavens! Well, that should make it easy to figure out which series is the one I'm looking for. The site you left for me mentions a series with 'Death' in every title, but I dont't know if that's it. I'll check my 'Fantastic Fiction' site. Thanks, Clare.

Babi

best to start at the beginning since the people in it form relationships and grow. . . ..claire

but i didn't enjoy the last two as much, i think they are all too much alike and i've become bored w/ them. WOW 23! I would probably be throwing them at the wall - as Ginny mentions in Book Nook about a book she read recently....LOL ...if i tried to read thru them all. I guess that's why we should be grateful there are so many great, entertaining, sometimes just enjoyable books out there to read. We can diversify!!! And my list grows longer EVERYTIME i come to SN.......jean

It's stressful - LOL - reading books and newspapers these days, OR listening to tv. ANCHORS. who i would assume had a decent education. Everyone has completely forgotten about the past participle tense......"had got!" is all over the place, etc. I've heard what I would consider "the best" make such terrible grammatical errors and not when they are just chatting, but reading copy - that they had to think, write, edit, so that's at least 3 looks at it before it got on the air!! And where are the editors???.......jean

I have been disappointed in Nevada Barr for the last several books. She started with such promise, but Anna is not becoming what I had hoped. I like the Robb ( Nora Roberts)series,.Not sure why, since I dont like her other stuff. But I do like the interaction in the Robb stuff. Finished off a Sue Henry, but dont think I will try her again. Just could not get really interested and yet I love Dana"s Alaska Kate Shugak..Hmm.

the author seems to have her tongue stuck firmly in her cheek thruout and surprised me with her understanding of relationships. I'll read the last two when the library gets them or the paperback exchange. this light stuff isn't worth buying, but well . . . but. . .claire

This new paperback swap I have found has tons of J.D.Robb..It is great fun.

I'm into Robert Ludlums Hady's Factor. just started and find it hard to put down. . .covert one seems to be a series . ludlum has written for thirty years or more. this is with a co-author. . . .claire

It's interesting where all these Ludlum books are coming from. He died in March of 2001, but his name seems to be continuing to be attached to a lot of books...and promises of more to come...as the Covert-One series:

http://www.ludlumbooks.com/covert-one.html

I thought some of the books that were published right before his death were more like his early works...and not so much the "formula" that so many of them seemed to have become. There must be an author whose picked up the writing and they're including Ludlum's name for whatever reason, or they're manuscripts he left or ???

jane

In a family book swap I got Louis L'Amour's The Last of the Breed (1983). I couldn't put it down. An American test pilot, flying a secret mission over the Arctic, is forced down by Russians, captured and sent to a secret camp in Siberia for questioning. He is mixed breed Sioux/Scot. Within hours of his arrival at the camp he escapes and aims to reach the Bering Straits and home. What a thrilling chase.

the last of the breed was wonderful. it was my first louis l'amour book and I've read everyone since and have a box full i can't seem to give up for recycling. the others are all westerns but with the same ability to grab and hold.

Winsum, it seemed as if there should be a sequel, but he died soon after this book came out, maybe he didn't have time. Glad to hear theya re all good. hE WILL KEEP ME IN BOOKS FOR A LONG TIME. i READ VERY FAST AND IT IS HARD TO KEEO MYSLEF SUPPLIED WITH GOOD READS.Oops I hit the caps lock key, sorry.

the caps key and since I'm not looking at the screen . . .hurts eyes and besides I make fewer typos watching the keyboard. . .anyhow I felt the same way when I started the L'Amour books and he's just died the year before. The westerns are mostly short except for a few which are really the best of the lot. enjoy. I'm stuck n the Hades thing by Ludlum. Can't seem to put it down although the eyes have trouble here too. they work best on he books though the screens for tv and the internet are the problem. seeya, claire

Read LaMours..The Distant Drum years ago, but never liked his westerns, will look for the Russian one since it sounds interesting.

I am reading "Faceless Killers" by Henning Mankell, the Swedish writer. Because it is a translation from the Swedish, it doesn't flow quite as smoothly as one written in English and the names and places take some getting used to. However, I think the author is a terrific writer. His hero, Kurt Wallander has more problems than anyone. His wife left him. His daughter won't speak to him. He has to solve the murder of an old couple of farmers. Mankell was recommended by someone here. My thanks to them. It is great to read something so different and so good.

Poppy, I love Henning Mankell! Somehow, though he does have heaps of personal problems, he muddles through. The settings are exotic, the nearest I will ever get to Sweden for sure. Enjoy!

great book and and it will keep you guessing til the end. Scent of Danger by Andrea Kane

Michael Connelly has a new book out called "Crime Beat". I'm #5 on the reserve list at our Library.

Mary

Our local PBS station, KTEH in San Jose will show "Coyote Waits" tonight. Here is the info:

Coyote Waits: An American Mystery! Special PBS 10 May 05 09:00pm Special/Other, 120 Mins.

Two Navajo tribal policemen unravel a complex plot involving a historical find, a lost fortune and a mythical coyote.

Lucky you, GSP. The two PBS stations that we get here aren't running it. It is a rerun, though, originally done in 2003 (according to IMDb).

I just checked and our PBS station isn't running it tonight, either. Too bad as I'm staying home tonight, my Friday night bridge group is not coming because one of the ladies is having a PET scan today. Another Friday night with not many choices on TV.

Mary, what is IMDB? I've seen that written, but don't know what it means. Sue

Sue, it's International Movie Database. It's where I look to check for all movie/TV/actor questions. Here's the site....

http://www.imdb.com/

Thanks, Mary. I added it to my favorites. It looks interesting with lots of information. Sue

three showing at local pbs stations designated here according to zip code. . . claire

I finally read my first Commissario Guido Brunetti book by Donna Leon. Someone here recommended them, and they were so right about how different Venice and its people are from what we know. As to govt., stealing from the government is deep-seated and of long-standing. People are expected to make the most of whatever opportunities present themselves in filling their office.

And on the domestic front, it is expected that the husband will usually be home for lunch. And it is taken for granted that the wife is preparing three full meals a day, from scratch. Taking the teen-agers out for hamburgers at McDonald's is, in Brunetti's opinion, child abuse. The women must spend most of their day just cooking!

Babi

His wife has a profession! I don't remember what, college professor, maybe.

Yes, Brunetti's wife is a college professor. She also comes from a very wealthy family. Their marriage is shown in the book as strong and unusual to have gone against the social and economic classes. She also sounds like a terrific cook.

I have tried three times, but simply cannot get into the Donna Leon books. Just went to Venice in March.. Extremely odd place.. Beautiful but very very damp all over. Our guide says it is losing population each year.

Just finished Weeping by Shelley Reuben. Terrific. Eager for more. Would you believe a character named "Fritillary"? Starting The Smoke by Tony Boradbent; a cat burgler in London. If you like cockney rhyming slang, there's some goodies here. Both of these are, in a sense, How-to...

I read the second book of Broadbent's series, and I've got a hold in for his first, "Smoke". "Starting the Smoke" must be the third. Good writer, but his hero does seem to take quite a few beatings.

Babi

Just to emphasize how different we are, I loved "Ill Wind" by Nevada Barr. We re-read it just before visiting Mesa Verde, and even drove around the employee housing area, trying to decide which house Anna might have lived in had she been real. Yes, Anna has had a drinking problem through several books. It has been a contention between Anna and her sister who smokes too much. After the sister married Frederick Stanton, the FBI agent Anna almost fell in love with, there seemed to be less contact between Anna and her sister. I miss those scenes, but realize that they show that Anna is finally healing from her husband's death.

I didn't know that Louis L'Amour wrote anything but westerns, Mrs. Sherlock. I have read a few of them but was not impressed. My library has "The Last of the Breed" so I will certainly try it.

I listened to my first Laurence Shames mystery. It is "The Naked Detective" and is an delightful blend of murder, corruption, and love, told in a light-hearted manner. It is set in Key West and describes it from a local's point of view. Pete Amsterdam is retired, is listed with the IRS as a detective so he can claim his wine room as an 'office', rides a bicycle everywhere, and basks in glorious sunsets, hot tubs, good music and wine. He is dragged, kicking and screaming, into trying to act like a detective, and the fun begins.

Odd but the only other western writer I like is Larry McMurtry and he does other things too. La L'mour begins each western with a "grabber", something dramatic happening right away which always grabs me because his settings actually exist. I looked for them out of the window of my plane when flying over the area. His heros are typical heros and the action is typical too so why do I like it. there is so much interaction with the settings that they become characters as well. . . .claire

Claire, like Lamour, Tony Hillerman is very true to the geography he writes about. On our many trips to the Four Corners area, we use our DeLorme Atlas, and find all the roads and communities he mentions. In the Elderhostel we took last month that included a section on his writing, we got a chance to see many of the sites that he mentions.

Another writer who is true to "place" is J.A.Jance in her stories set in SE Arizona. We've been in many of those areas, too.

We love to read with maps at hand to "follow the trail".

I find that I want to see the map of a place I am reading about. Evan Evans Wales, by Rhys Bowen, is a case in point. I also need a map of Sweden for Henning Mankell.

I have a book someone must have given me by Stephen Ambrose based on the Lewis and Clark expedition full of maps showing the old names for places we know differently. it's based on Lewis' journals and full of drawings as well. UNDAUNTED COURAGE. I find all of this very slow reading whereas a mystery is over in a day or two. I have to learn to do this. . .read a book slowly in snatches and in this case saver it as it's well done, even snatches of dialogue in the speech of the times. I understand it may be a possible selection for discussion here in August. . . .claire

Robert Parker in his Spencer series gives you a wonderful map of Boston and surrounding towns. We spent 10 years in New England I always laughed because he really makes you know he lives there. Susan Conant who writes mysteries that concern dogs.. lives and writes in Cambridge and you really get to know the place from her books. I do love authors who are true to their areas and make you feel as if you can live there too. There is a wonderful Alaskan writer who lives up there ( not Dana, who also lives there) and his small town Ketchikan comes through so clearly, it is almost a character in each book.

RE: Undaunted Courage, there is a rave review in today's Oregonian of a book of writings by "Indians" on the L&C Expedition."In fact, this book turned out to be the most compelling Lewis and Clark-related book in that it challenged almost every historical assumption I held about the expedition..." Through Indian Eyes

Dianne Day, in her Fremont Jones series set in early 20th century San Francisco, also gives a good feeling of place for me. Her first book takes place just before, during and after the 1906 earthquake and made me feel a little of how it must have felt for those who lived through it.

I came across an early Donald E. Westlake mystery on the Free Shelf in the library. It is "Killy" about two union organizers who go to a company town in New York state at the request of a company union worker. The writing seemed a bit uneven, but I was caught up in the story enough to do some skipping until I came to the good parts again.

The Smoke, by Tony Broadbent, reminds me somewhat of Geprge V. Higgins (The Friends of Eddie Coyle) who wrote about the underworld and politics in Boston and environs about twenty years ago. His stories were long on dialogue, full of slang, meandering, hilarious, but moved the story along just fine, than you very much. Broadbent has more violence and action in general, but the sense of time and place, the underworld in Post-war Britain, is very compelling.

Ross Thomas was one of my favorite writers. He knew the ins and outs of Washington DC. The Cold War Swap was one of his fun books.

I enjoyed the Geprge V. Higgins book The Friends of Eddie Coyle.

Ah, Ross Thomas was another great one. Loved his sly humor.

I like Fremont Jones. They are somewhat hard to find, but every once in a while, I run into one. Diane Day is a good writer who makes you feel the era very much.

She hasn't written one in a long while. I'll check her website. The last one I remember was when she went back to Boston and had to face her wicked step-mother. Nothing listed after 2000 but I did learn she writes romances and at least one Sci-fi. Dianne Day Another site had a brief bio; she was Phi Beta Kappa at Stanford, hubby taught at Harvard, etc.

The only trouble with Margaret Coel is that I read her books too quickly and they over too soon. The latest one is "Eye of the Wolf" which brings in a lot more of the Old Time (history) of the Arapaho and Shoshone tribes and the fear and enmity that lies too close to the surface of an uneasy co-existance. This story revolves around the last big battle between the two tribes in 1874. A gripping story, as always. I have gotten very fond of Vickie Holden and Father O'Malley. They are so well portrayed over the series (this is the 11th) that I feel like I could drive to Lander and look them up!

I could kick myself. I ran across an author I didn't know who was writing mysteries set in Wyoming, with a Ranger as the protagonist. I didn't take time to write down the author's name, and know I can't remember it! I should know better! Anybody know who this might have been?

Babi

Babi -- Let me guess -- Open Season by C. J. Box

I just love C. J. Box. His characters are so good. And the sense of place...

Winner of the Anthony Award, Prix Calibre 38 (France), the Macavity Award, the Gumshoe Award, the Barry Award, and an Edgar Award and L.A. Times Book Prize Finalist.

"In the crowded field of crime fiction, C.J. Box has quickly established himself as an original voice. When I came across the world of Joe Pickett, I was reminded of the time I discovered the work of Tony Hillerman. Like Hillerman, Box is exploring new territory. He is fresh, captivating, and has something to say." - Michael Connelly

My list of authors to read just keeps getting longer and longer. I am adding C.J. Box.

Perkie, I've read several of Margaret Coel's books and enjoyed them but forgot about her. Will have to try and locate the rest of them.

Since I love mysteries with dogs in them, I looked forward to reading Nina Wright's series about Whiskey Mattimoe and her Afgan hound, Abra (short for Abracadabra). If I had a dog like that, I would take her back to the breeder. I found the story too confusing and too full of hysterics for my taste. Back to Dana Stabenow and Rita Mae Brown!

Thanks for the CJBox recommendation. I've ordered his first two books from the library. I had been checking for the latest Stabenow and McGarrity before we left, and our library didn't have them. I'd forgotten, but now will have to start looking again. Thanks for jogging my memory.

PAT, MRS. SHERLOCK, HORSELOVER..EVERYBODY seems to know this author. How come I'm just now learning about him? I'll include him on my list to pick up at the library this week. Thanks, ladies.

Babi

I have trouble keeping up with the new-to-me authors, too.

There are so many many new authors and so many favorites of mine, I constantly find I missed out on a favorite. Am reading a Michael Connoly in paper that is relatively recent. He is back on the force in the closed case squad. Interesting thus far. I do like Harry.

Perkie, I am currently listening to the audio version of Rita Mae Brown's "Sour Puss." I like hearing the animals 'talk.'

Sometimes, I wonder if I'll live long enough to read everything on my list.

Sour Puss is next on my list, but I always wait until it hits paperback status.. But I am thrilled that Harry is finally coming to her sense and remarryin Fair.. Rita Mae is not a big romance person, but she gives it a shot in this one.

Yes, Stephanie, Harry has such an ideal relationship with Fair now, it makes me jealous.

has convinced me that I don't want to be owned by a CAT. . . claire

You have to understand, Claire. Cat's are affectionate animals, but it has to be clearly understood that we are there to serve!

Babi

I have just finished Henning Mankell's "Faceless Killers". I can highly recommend it. Kurt Wallender is a policeman with many personal problems but a doggedness that causes him to carry on. The book is exciting with many unexpected trists and turns.

GSP: I've read that Henning Mankell but I saw a new one at B&N today, Before the Frost. Have you read that one? I'll get it next week, when the pension check comes!

the copyright is for Sarah Shankman so I guess they are one in the same. this was a good one day read set in the south. I 'll have to read the predecessor if I can find it. KILL ALL THE LAWYERS. . . CLAIRE

I like Rita Mae's writing period. She writes these, a small series about foxes, a lot of just flatout fiction, etc. A good lifetime writer. I love Tucker, but then I am owned by two corgi.

The ending of "Sour Puss" was a bit predictable, but the animals are always interesting characters--sometimes more well-rounded and interesting than the people.

One of the hallmarks of Rita Mae is Virginia, specifically where she actually lives. She uses it in all of her books and makes you really want to move there. Amazing how authors can make so clear a mental picture of place..

Hi everyone, I haven't been in here in a long time because I have been busy reading so many of the authors recommended here. Thank you so very much for all the suggestions that I have enjoyed so much. From just the last 10 messages I have now added five new authors to my list.

SeniorNet is a site I recommend to everyone because there are so many wonderful discussion groups, something that may interest anyone that comes here.

Bernie

I agree her animals tend to be smarter and well-rounded than some of the human characters.

Bernie, nice of you to drop in. Have you an author to contirbute? We're always looking for more.

I'm behind in posts, so you all may have mentioned this. The PBS club in June will be looking at the second set of PBS Miss Marple movies, which is due then.

The last Agatha Raison will be in paperback next month - I always wait till they are in paperback - but a fun evenings read she is...

Barbara, Which is the last Agatha Raisin??? I recently read "Agatha Raisin and the Love from Hell." Great fun, but it's from 2001 so I don't think it's the latest.

the latest is "The Perfect Paragon" the one before that was "The Deadly Dance" - number 14 was "Agatha Raisin and the Haunted House"

"Agatha Raisin and the Love from Hell" was number 11 - number 12 was "Agatha Raisin and the Day the Floods Came" and 13 was "Agatha Raisin and the Case of the Curious Curate."

horselover you will have fun catching up...

Finished Michael Connelly's The Closer.. Excellent. I do like Harry and this was a goodie.

The new Miss Marple series for fans of Agatha Christie, is going to be the featured subject of an up and coming PBS Program Clubs presentation here on SN, so if you can be scanning your PBS now, because it may show where you live ahead of schedule.

There will be a lot to discuss, not the least the portrayal of Geraldine McEwan as Miss Marple: she's got big shoes to fill, this is just to alert you that we'll discuss all of them in June, please start looking now for any sort of that type of program, here's the official link Joan G put up to the program, airing June 4 in some places but earlier in others: Miss Marple: the New Series we'll need all Mystery Buffs on hand.

The NY Times last Sunday ran a huge ad for a new book called A Field of Darkness by Cornelia Read. I did a search here and don't see the author mentioned. The reviews are out of this world for it, and I got the last hardback copy at B&N on Friday. Here's one:

Wonderful, sassy, smart, sad, and engaging. What a voice! Here is the beginning of talent writ huge." (This is her first book.) Others say "a marvel….smart, darkly funny, intense read, un-put-downable. I'm hooked."

And they're all like that. It has a Ferris Wheel on the cover, my all time personal Fright Nemesis. Have any of you read it?

How is your rescue Corgi coming along, Stephanie? Our new Corgi was 18 months when we got her and was raised in a kennel. I house-trained her by walking her a mile morning and night. It has done wonders for my waistline!

Egad, I am two books behind on the Tucker and Mrs. Murphy series by Rita Mae Brown. I haven't read "Cat's Eyewitness" and now there is "Sour Puss" .

I want to thank everyone who mentioned David Baldacci. I just finished "Hour Game" which gives insights into both the serial murderer, without revealing who he is until the end, and those trying to catch him. A complex, but not confusing, story, that is very fast-paced. I will definitely look for more of his books.

I would recommend two of David Baldacci's books, "Absolute Power" and "The Winner". All of his books are very good, but I think those two are the best.

Here is his web site. http://www.david-baldacci.com/

good story lousy writing. . . too bad. I read the first chapter of LAST MAN STANDING offered on line. too explanatory for an action story. It should begin wit the action as Louis L'Amour does in most of his westerns, from the very first sentence.

I have enjoyed 2 of David Baldacci's books. Split Second

Last Man Standing.

Waiting to be read are

The Simple Truth

Saving Faith

Hour Game.

I would like to read all his books so any not mentioned can be considered on my "To Read" list.

David Baldacci's book, "The Christmas Train" is not a mystery, but is quite a delightful book. I recommend it as well.

Thanks, Barbara! I think I read some out-of-order. I did read "The Deadly Dance." I think I also read "...the Day the Floods Came," and ...the Curious Curate." But I will definitely check out "...the Haunted House," and be on the lookout for "The Perfect Paragon."

Perkie,, OUr Dexter is and always will be very very shy. He now knows that this is his house and his family and his very very bossy big sister, but strangers send him scurrying to behind the furniture. He waits and watches as Bridget goes charging up to be petted and loved, then will gently creep up to get a pet. He is a sweet sweet rescue. Reading.. I am reading the latest Prey book.. I do like Sandford. Lucas is growing older as is Elle. I also have a Bookman that I have not started in paper. I always wait until it hits paper to read things.

Another in a family book swap I enjoyed: The Woman from Sicily, bu Frank Swinnerton. Characterization very good, action kkept me guessing. Sort of cozy but with a twist. I'm looking for more by him. David Baldacci's Wish You Well was also in my batch. It seems not to be a mystery. Anyone read it?

I was browsing in the mystery section of my library tonight after my f2f book club meeting there. The librarians had made business cards which were on the shelf for readers to take home--with the Callahan Garrity Mysteries in order. I thought some of you might like to see it.

1. Every Crooked Nanny 2. To Live and Die in Dixie 3. Homemade Sin 4. Happy Never After 5. Heart Trouble 6. Strange Brew 7. Midnight Clear 8. Irish Eyes

I really like the way our library puts notes and comments on books on the shelves near the author's books. Sue

SUE: that's great! The last one I read was "Strange Brew". I see I'm two behind.

I read "Happy Never After" and enjoyed it. I hadn't even looked to see what else Trochek had written. It occurs to me that too much of what I'm reading is just for the moment...and I remember very little of it on down the road. One thing about the non-fiction books that make you think, they stick with you.

Babi

I just bought David Baldacci's "Absolute Power" at a library book sale. I saw the movie starring Clint Eastwood a while ago, Although I enjoyed it very much, I hadn't thought to read the book until reading your posts here. I think I'll also look for Baldacci's other titles when I finish this one. Thanks for the recommendations.

Trochek has written two series. The House Mouse about the cleaning service and another about a retired man , Truman Kicklighter who solves crimes. Both relatively light reading. I am reading John Dunning. The new Bookman in paper. I do like him and it is starting out different. Having a live in girlfriend is changing the character a bit.

Just finished Shelley Reuben's Tabula Rasa. Strong stuff.

On the new book shelf, I found the seventh Jane Austen Mystery by Stephanie Barron. This one is "Jane and His Lordship's Legacy". I don't know how much of these historical mysteries are fact and how much fiction, but they are very readable and believable. If her mother is portrayed correctly, she is the model for the mother in "Pride and Prejudice". It is no wonder so many women died in childbirth. The wife of Jane's brother Edward died bearing their eleventh child. Even brood mares are allowed a year's rest between colts. I recommend that they be read in order, as they seem to follow the timeline of her life.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO SIR ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE!

Jane's mother is definately the model for the mother in Pride and Predjudice. And her father for the father (although by the time of the seventh book, her father had died.

Still working on th eDunning, Bookman. This one is not riveting my attention for some reason. Too many bad guys.. too much snow.. not enough books..darn it all.

Those of us who have enjoyed the tales of Fremont Jones, Typewritest, of San Francisco circa 1906, written by Dianne Day, may be happy to learn that Ms. Day has undertaken a new Civil War Mystery series using the name of Ava Dianne Day. My daughter just bave me the first, Cut to the Heart,starring Clara Barton! I let you know how it goes.

I like Fremont, so will write the name down on my way too long list of favorites.

I wonder if Dianne Day added the Ava to her name so readers could distinguish between the two series. I wish J. A. Jance had done the same with her Joanna Brady series. I keep thinking, oh, boy, and new Joanna Brady only to find it is a J. P. Beaumont, which I don't like.

Publishers' Weekly gave "Cut To The Heart" a good review while commenting that it is more historical novel than mystery. The reviewer was impressed with Day's research as well as her writing skills. I look forward to trying the new book.

It took me awhile to get into Susan Dunlap's "No Immunity", a Kiernan O'Shaughnessy mystery. I like her Jill Smith series, placed in Berkeley. This one takes place in Las Vegas and environs. I don't think Dunlap is a great writer, and if it weren't for the characters and the Berkeley setting, probably would not read her. The new book has a more complex plot and brings up more social issues, and I was gradually pulled into the story. I will give her another try.

It is 9:41pm and the temp is 80F. Ray put the air on today.

I am reading and very much enjoying Julian Secret by Gregg Loomis. This is his second book. His first was The Pegasus Secret. Both books follow Lang Reilly who is a former CIA operative. Great mystery/thrillers.

Hi GAJ from hot Washington. We put the air on a few days ago. Time to read some nice Alaska mysteries, like Sue Henry "Murder on the Ididerod(sp?).

I just finished "How to Murder a Millionaire" by Nancy Martin. It's light and funny, oh and a dead body too.

Hi hats and all!

Just lurking here but hats, your title reminded me of a series I read years ago by Dorothy Cannell. One was entitled HOW TO MURDER YOUR MOTHER IN LAW- just hilarious! Oh hats- you should try to find this on tape. That is actually how I "read" it. It would be a good one for you to try on tape if you get a chance.

Just finished Earlene Fowler's latest Benni Harper series "Delectable Mountains". I think it is one of her best. This series is best read from the beginning as her characters age and circumstances change as in real life. She also has written a non-series book "The Saddlemaker's Wife" which I just got from the library. My husband was so tired of TV reruns that he read it and could hardly put it down it was so interesting. That says a lot since he doesn't read many books. I'll let you know what I think. Jean

Just finished Keith Ablow's book Psychopath. A very brutal book but interesting.

I have read Keith Ablow's books, "Psychopath" and "Compulsion". I would agree with your evaluation. He is very Freudian, but well worth reading.

I have just begun reading "Known Dead" by Donald Harstad. He writes about Deputy Sheriff Carl Houseman of Nation County, Iowa. It is a police procedural, but very good so far.

Scootz,

I have some of Dorothy Cannell's mysteries. I will give the one you mentioned a try by listening to the audio. I hope my library owns it.

I like some of Dorothy Cannell,but not all. Sort of tedious sometimes.

And here I thought that Freud and his theories were so thoroughly discredited that no one was "Freudian" anymore. Thanks for the warning, Judy and Poppy. I will be careful to avoid Mr. Ablow.

Babi

And enjoyed them very much. . .takes all kinds doesn't it. . . Claire

I'm reading the latest Alexander McCall Smith, "Blue Shoes and Happiness." For those of you who might not be familiar with the saga of Precious Ramotswe, you are in for a treat. But you should start with the first book of the series, "No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency." This latest one, so far, is as good as all the rest.

Horselover,

Don't you love the new title by Alexander McCall Smith? "Blue Shoes and Happiness," I love it.

I am really looking forward to "Blue Shoes and Happiness". I have read all the books in this series. They are what I would call a "very pleasant read". Jean

Jean,

I agree. I love Precious.

PBS Mystery!: Miss Marple, Series II~Beginning June 4

"Geraldine McEwan (The Magdalene Sisters, Wallace & Gromit) reprises her role as Agatha Christie's famous spinster sleuth Miss Marple in four new adaptations for the popular series. MYSTERY! "Miss Marple, Series II" airs on PBS Sundays, June 4-July 16, 2006, 9:00-10:00 p.m. and July 23, 9:00-11:00 p.m. ET. Check local listings. " (PBS PREVIEW)

Geraldine McEwan was in that charming BBC series Mulberry, too. I'll be tuning in for this.

Tony Broadbent's Spectre in the Smoke, sequel to Smoke, is another tour de force. Not as graphic as Smoke, but still has some stomach churning violence. However, the story was an eye-opener to me. I knew about the horrible rationing in Britain after the war, but I wasn't aware of the political turmoil. A very tasty stew. Too bad there's not another one (yet)!

because now I'm a little old lady too. . .can't identify with her or her settings. too bad I think I liked the Mystery series. . . claire

Claire,

I do too. I like older women sleuths. Sometimes I like the young ones too like Stephanie Plum and Bubbles and the Blackbird sisters. I guess the characters have to fit the mood.

I read "The Saddlemaker's Wife" by Earlene Fowler. It isn't a mystery but a very good story--lots of twists and turns. I believe this is the first book by Fowler that isn't a mystery. The Miss Marple series has been on our PBS station for several weeks. I enjoy them but liked the last Miss Marple series better. I thought Joan Hickson portrayed Miss Marple exactly like she appeared to me in the books.

MRS. SHERLOCK, don't you think the Broadbent stories are naturals for movies. I agree that our hero always (well, both times) seems to suffer more torture than one could reasonably expect a mortal to survive..twice! I hope the author doesn't intend to make that an essential part of all the Jethro stories.

Another author and character that is tailor-made for film, and that's Jim Butcher's Wizard series, featuring the very human Harry Dresden. He also seems to spend most of his time exhausted, hungry, and hurting, but winning thru' anyway. I've read #2 and #8 of the series (all I could find) and I'm looking for more.

Babi

I just read in today's paper that Patricia Cornwell has a new book out - not a Kay Scarpetta mystery. It says"

"At Risk" is the latest foensic thrille from Patricia Cornwell...But readers will care more about the main character, Winston Garano, than whether the case is solved.

He's an investigator with the Massachusetts State Police. Is this a new character? I've not heard of him before.

My favorite mystery about murdering a relative is "The Murder of My Aunt" by Richard Hull. It was written in 1934 and is probably out of print but it has an O'Henry twist that I really like!

I wonder if the blue shoes in Alexander McCall Smith's "Blue Shoes and Happiness" refer to Grace Makutsi's shoes. I love that she is so proud of her blue shoes and looks at her shoes when she is thinking.

I just finished my 9th mystery by Michael McGarrity, "Nothing But Trouble". It is the 10th in the series. I discovered I had missed #8 and will have to go back and fill in. I like the police chief Kevin Kerney and the fact that he is chief in Santa Fe is what got me started on the series. Kerney is intelligent and likes to think things through, which brings him to the correct answers from somewhat creative approaches. This one takes him down into the New Mexico Bootheel, which projects into Mexico, as a technical advisor to a movie being filmed there. There is much more about his wife, a colonel in the army, and army politics in this one. Since Kerney is on the verge of retirement, and probably will retire in the next book, I wonder if the series is winding to a close.

I have enjoyed the Michael McGarrity books, but haven't begun to read them all. I will watch for this one.

After he was mentioned here, I eventually got all his books and read them in sequence.

He is a great author and I hope he doesn't "retire".

Mary in TX

We love Michael McGarrity, and have managed to find them all - except for the latest one. For some reason, our library doesn't have it. Guess I'll have to resort to a used book site.

The library also hasn't gotten the latest Dana Stabenow book. Pshaw!!!

I just finished the latest(?) Nevada Barr "Hard Truth". It's far and away her best! As one who uses a whellchair, I especially appreciated the former mountain climber trying to adjust to life in a wheelchair. But this has the world's scariest villian!

JoanK,

I would like to read that one.

me too I think...what is the setting.

JoanK is not kidding when she says it is far from her best. I was very disappointed in it.

Oh, I must have misread JoanK's post. I think JoanK is saying it is "far and away" her best. In other words, it is her best. Right, JoanK?

I did not like the newest Nevada Barr. Just seems to be pushing Anna aside for another character, plus she got married and I was looking forward to more stuff with her husband.Oh well.

Is the first book of Nevada Barr's Liberty Falling? I would love to start from the beginning.

No, Hats, the first one is set in Mesa Verde Nat'l Park. I'd go to the library web site, and make a list from the copyright dates. Or maybe she has her own web site that'll have a chronological list.

Mary Z,

Good idea! I am going to look for her website. I would like to see it.

Just finished McCall Smith's latest book in the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series "Blue Shoes and Happiness". It was a very satisfying few hours spent reading about Prescious Ramotswe and others.

I am continuing to read "Known Dead" by Donald Harstad. He is a former Iowa county sheriff and writes about what he knows very effectively. It is about a group of crazy right wing nuts holed up in a standoff with law enforcement. What the author writes about well, is the stress of coordinating with various local, state and federal agencies. There are turf wars and power plays. Anyway, so far, so good with this book and this author.

Nevada Barr has a fairly good web site. If you read Dana Stabenow, she has a truly great web site. Funny down to earth lady, who adores her Alaska. I was reading an old Joe Gores.. One of the DKA books, I love that nefarious crew.

HATS, you were right -- I thought "Hard Truth" was Barr's best. Funny how much we can disagree. I don't expect Barr to write well about relationships -- she just doesn't. I look for insight into the national parks and an interesting plot.

This was a different kind of killer -- a psychopath. And the book shows Anna's sour take on organized religion -- in spite of the fact that she married a minister. I don't see her working out as a minister's wife, maybe that's why Barr had to get her out of there. She's sort of plotted herself into a corner.

But I liked the character of the paraplegic. I'm a little tired of Anna's emotional crises, and glad to deal with someone else's, especially since it resonated with my own experiences.

JoanK, that is exactly why I want to read her books. The national park angle interests me.

Have any of you read Laurie King? I love Laurie King. I started with "The Beekeeper's Apprentice" and went through the series. I have the newest in the series, I think, titled "Locked Room." I thought of Laurie King because JoanK mentioned organized religion. One of the books in the King series takes this plot too. It's called "A Monstrous Regiment of Women." Really good too. The whole series is good.

Someone days ago mentioned "Folly." I enjoyed this one too. It's not part of the series.

Hats, I just read "Locked Room" a couple of weeks ago and think it is one of King's best. It explained much about Mary and also showed a different side Sherlock's nature. I haven't read Laurie King's other series yet. Are they as good as the Russell/Holmes series?

I, too, am a Laurie King fan. I've read all she has written. Folly, to me, was almost a call to arms for 60's women. Keeping Watch is also about Folly Island, though not a sequel. The Kate Matrinelli series is about a San Franciscl policewoman. It lacks the emotional connection for me that the Mary Russel books have.

I love all of Lauri King. Quite different in tone, but oh so interesting. I started reading Nevada because of the parks, but got interested in watching Anna grow emotionally. This book, she seems to have gone backwards.

I very much enjoy Laurie King's Mary Russell series. I've read three, and I'm very pleased to hear there is another one out. I was especially glad to find "The Beekeepers' Apprentice" and see how it all began.

Babi

Here is Laurie R. King's website. It has lots of info about all her books. There are several Mary Russell books, starting with the Beekeeper's Apprentice.

Laurie R King Homepage

due out on the 20th is on her web site....must get on the reserve list at the library, looks as funny as we'd expect....jean

I just finished "Blue Shoes and Happiness," the latest by Alexander McCall Smith. It makes you feel as good as all the other stories in this wonderful series.

I've also got "In Plain Sight," the latest by C.J. Box.

Mabel,

I am up to "High Five." I love Stephanie Plum.

Mrs. Sherlock, thank you for the website.

Horselover, I have never read C.J. Box.

Nora Deloach is a good mystery writer. She passed on a couple of years ago. All of the titles begin with the word "Mama."

I have read two of Momma and they are really good. Sorry to hear she died.

Yep, I really liked her books.

Thanks for the link, Mrs. Sherlock. I've read "Locked Rooms" already, but realized at the time that I had missed a number of interim books. It will be my pleasure to find and read them as well.

Babi

I like Laura DeLoach a lot,too. I'm sorry to hear she died. Another mystery writer I like who died unexpectedly is Ann George. I'll miss her.

Rats!! I was in Borders yesterday, buying mysteries, saw Locked Room, and didn't pick it up because I already had an armful. I'm behind in all the writers I like. Currently reading Earlene Fowler's latest and enjoying it.Amazing how she weaves quilting patterns into all her stories.

I have a wonderful stack of books waiting to read. Crais, Blcok, and Shames from Amazon's used books. Then, I have Meltzer and Lescroart from our apartment library. A wealth of riches.

I seem to fall further and further b ehind, but partly because I see more and more books, I absolutely must have. Bought St. Dale while in Asheville. It is finally out in paperback.

Is it Nora or Laura Deloach? Hats called her Nora and Joan called her Laura. I've never read anything by her and would like to look for them.

That's where all these suggestions are housed. I'm into something else now but love to read mysteries and sci fi and legal thrillers as well as the historical book by Phillipa Gregory which I've just started. not just a romance much more than that. . . .Claire

I have had an interest in the Elizabethan Renaissance for quite some time. Here is a short list of some mysteries set in the Elizabethan era.

Fiona Buckley has a series of mysteries featuring Ursula Blanchard. Elizabethan mysteries

Kathy Lynn Emerson writes mysteries set in Elizabethan times

Karen Harper writes mysteries that have Elizabeth as the sleuth.

Edward Marston's mysteries follow a troupe of players in Elizabethan times.

gaj: Some lovely new sources for my ER I obsession! Thanks.

Horselover, my mystery lady is "Nora." Here are a couple of websites.

Nora Deloach

Deloach

Simply a mistake on my part. I knew she was Nora.

Thanks! I'm adding her to my never-ending list.

I love getting on the list each yr,

waiting to get the book,

reading the book......................and theeeeennnnnnnn having to wait another 10 or 12 months for the next one....LOL.......jean

Evanovich is one of the few authors that I actually buy new.. That is in paperback of coure. But only the Stephanie Plum. I dont like the coauthored books at all. I am reading Charlaine Harris, the newest Sookie book in paper. A lovely funny read that has something to say about human nature and is fun too.. a little mystery, but mostly plot.

I like the PLum series too and don't care for the others and don't buy the new. don't buy anything new. it looks like you've got another for me too. made note of the harris name and books and jis Julie is a fun read although the stereotype of the fiesty old lady comes too close to home for me. claire

Charlaine Harris writes both mysteries ( two different series) and a wonderfully funny perceptive book on how the real world and the vampire world become known..She does this through Sookie Stackhouse. Sookie is a real delight. She tries so hard to be fair and true to all and keeps meeting up with the underground world of fairies and weres, etc. She is a mind reader and has always been shy because of it and the books develop her nicely as a character. Start with the first one since they do follow a continuing line.

Stephanie, I have written Charlaine Harris on my list. She sounds like fun. "Harris" is my maiden name. What does that have to do with anything??? Oh well....

I have been reading paranormal romance books. But, I have never read one that is a mystery story. On your recomendation, I just requested/placed a hold for Dead Until Dark and Shakespeare's Landlord from my library.

Dear until Dark is Sookie, but not the first one.. The Shakespeare is a mystery, but not a paranormal. Do You like J.D. Robb. This is sort of fantasy, mystery and continuing love story all in one..

I have never tried J.D. Robb. I don't know where to start. There are so many of those books.

I love it do start at the beginning of the DEATH IN . . . series. . . claire

Claire, I will definitely get the first one. I am going to visit Nora Roberts website to find the J.D. Robb series in order.

The Shakespeare series sounds like it could be fun because I an a student of the Elizabethan Renaissance.

I love Nora Roberts. but don't like her when she writes as J.D.Robb. When I tried the first one it felt way too dark for me.

Just goes to show, GAJ. I love J.D. Robb, but am not really interested in her writing as Nora Roberts. Different strokes,..to be highly original.

The Sharon Lee/Steve Miller 'Leiden' series always includes a strong romantic feature, always between two unusual and intriguing people. They are sci/fi, and generally include a thoughtful theme. "Local Custom", for example, brought out strongly the difficulties and misinterpretations that arise between people of two very different cultures.

Babi

Shakespeare is the name of a small town in Arkansas. The protagonist is a woman who lives alone and is a housecleaner. Not much to do with the Bard except her name is Lily Bard, good stories. Charlaine Harris also writes/wrote about a woman named Aurora Teagarden, my favorites. Sookie Stackhouse will soon star in her own HBO series if the pilot is a sucess; Six Feet Under creator Alan Ball is quite taken with the undead in this series and has signed a contract with HBO. My favorite character is Bubba. You'll have to read Dead Until Dark to find out why.

Did someone here recommend Margaret Coel and her Arapaho Indian mysteries? I had her name written on one of my recommended cards and picked up her Eye of the Wolf at the library. I'm about a third of the way into the book--and it's very hard to put down. I'm going back and try to read the others in this series. Sue

writes romances. . .pretty graphic sex scenes too, but then she has em in the j.d. robb series as well. I don't generally read romances unless they are historical in nature as with the Phillipa Gregory ones. . .Claire

Claire have you tried any of the historical mysteries? Kathy Lynn Emerson writes some set in Elizabethan times. They are not romances but a continuing series.

Oh, I love the Kathy Lynn Emerson series. The Face Down series, right or wrong? The heroine is an herbalist or writes herbal books. I love that series.

I like the Margaret Coel series too.

A new Curious Minds discussion has started. It is about antiques and classics and, if you would care to join in, please use the link below

ANTIQUES

Bill H

I cannot imagine Sookie on TV, but would watch to see if I agree with him. I liked Six Feet Under, but my husband hated it. Margaret Coel writes quite well. I have read some of them. I like Historical Detectives and read some of them. There is a midwife series that is really well done.

Just popping in after a long time. I liked your discussion about Nevada Barr, and the comments about her latest make me really want to read it. I've only read a couple and don't remember their names. The one I liked best was set at Dry Tortuga National Park, where the former Civil War prison Fort Jefferson was located. It was actually two stories in one, one of them being letters from the Civil War period.

a very fey approach though. I found myself avoiding the first few minutes where someone gets killed. the rest was very sophisticated stuff very well done. . . I miss it now that they are done. . .claire

I am enjoying Lawrence Shames "Welcome to Paradise". He has a quirky sense of humor. Two incompetent mobsters are sent to annoy another. They manage to follow the wrong man. My thanks to whoever recommended Shames here.

I think I have read every single Lawrence Shames. He has a wonderful sense of humor and I love them. I also like to listen to his books because like Janet Evenovich, he makes me laugh out loud.

I have never heard of Lawrence Shames. I will have to look him up at the library.

He is funny. Does a lot of Key West stuff and New Yorkers and former wise guys who have moved there for one reason or another. Bert the Shirt is a stitch and his chihuahua is of course a very special dog.

I am continuing to read Shames "Welcome to Paradise". Big Al, Mafia capo, takes girlfriend Katy for a vacation in Florida. At the same time Al Tuschman, mild-mannered salesman wins a trip to Florida. "Big Al" is a little man with a big dog. Al #2 is a big man with a little dog who finds his prise trip is a stay in Paradise, a hotel favored by eurotrash among others. Big Al is being chased by Chop Parillo and Sid the Squid but they mistake Al, the salesman, for their intended target, Big Al.

This is a delightful book and I look forward to more by Shames.

GoldenStatePoppy, that looks like a really fun read. I'll put it one reserve at the library. Thanks

MrsSherlock you may be interested in these authors.

The Shining Edge of Death: Who Killed Christopher Marlowe? By Judith Cook

To Shield The Queen: A Mystery at Queen Elizabeth's Court featuring Ursula Blanchard by Fiona Buckley

The Triumph of Evil by Karen Harper (Elizabeth solves the crime)

A Shrine of Murders: Being the First of the Canterbury Tales by C. L. S. Stone Mystery of Kathryn Swenbrooke, Leech & Physician

I got a new book.. Alexander McCall Smith about Scotland, Edinburgh and a lady who is supposed to be too smart for her own good. Sounds interesting. I am not fond of Precious, but this one sounded more to my liking.

I've read one of the Kathryn Swinburne books, and like it very well. I need to see if I can find some more. I also read one of the books in which Queen Elizabeth I is the sleuth, and didn't care for it at all. Didn't sound at all like the QE history has shown us.

Babi

BaBi I have agree with you about the Elizabeth as the sleuth. I think that Karen Harper has also written some mysteries set in Amish Country. Haven't read any of them.

The Oregonian had an article about the 60+ sleuth which is becoming popular. Duh! I really miss D. B. Borton's Cat Caliban. She was a hoot! She sold her nice home in Cincinatti and bought a 4-unit apartment house on the wrong side of town. She had three cats, who were her "children" (she also had the two legged variety). Each title started with a number: One for the Money was first, etc. Kept getting involved in investigations, of course. Her tenants played a big part in her life. Wish she would write more.

I had forgotten Cat and I really liked her. But there were only a few as I recall.

So somebody named Borton had used "One For The Money" before Evanovich did? But then, I imagine titles like that are naturals and will no doubt be used again.

Babi

BaBi: Apparently titles may be used over and over. Makes it confusing sometimes.

I miss Cat, too. Thanks for reminding me.

There are title rules, but I honestly have forgotten how they work. They often change titles of English books to publish over here. Agatha had many changed and of course Harry Potter the first book was changed.. Borton writes still, but does not seem to write about Cat.

My daughter just finished her latest book, "Twelve Sharp". She said it was good but different than the previous ones and the title had nothing to do with the story.

I've never read any of her books. I've tried but couldn't get interested in them.

Mary

I just started Twelve Sharp. I had been reading another book, but put it down to read Evanovich.

I got bored with Evanovich around #6. Haven't read a Cornwell book in years. Janet Reich's pathologist still interests me as does Beverly Connor's forensic archeologist, Victoria Thompson's midwife. When I read too many by one author too close together, I burn out.

Did someone in this board suggest Chasing Shakespeares by Sarah Smith?

Thank you, thank you! Just finished it! Absolutely great!

Mrs. S ~ Likewise, on Patricia Cornwell. Used to like her, but the later ones have gotten so bad,
I don't even try them.

We're going to the beach on Saturday. One of our traditions is that a friend from Houston who comes with us gets and brings the latest Evanovich. Then it gets passed around to all those who read her. It usually gets read by 5-6 folks during the week. Not me, though - I've never been able to get into them.

I wait until paperback on Evanovich, so I am reading the Eleven on Top, which is funny. I like her, but would not read more than one at a time. I like Thompsons midwife series very much. Such a feeling for the period. Cornwell has a new book out, I noticed and it is not about Kay. If it ever gets to paperback, will look at the used book store, but would not consider paying full price for her. Such a racket she has. I got the Jack the Ripper thing,she did and it was the most ridiculous research I have ever seen.

I still own number ten. . . the one where lulu kills the kids bike instead of the tin can. I started to re read it just for the funnies, and found I couldn't. I turn them in at the used paper back book store and get the new ones there if I can. they didn't have any last time I was there. evanovich goes out pretty quickly. . . have yet to see "eleven". isn't there also a "twelve"? We could pass them around here thru the book exchange I guess but somehow they never get there first. . . only after a couple of thousand others have read them. . .Claire

I'm like you, Stephanie - I'm a bit tired of Kay Scarpetta. But Cornwell's new one has a new protagonist, so I'll read it. I won't buy it, though - I have it on reserve at the library.

Have you read Cornwell's biography of Ruth Graham, wife of the Evangelist, Billy Graham? Cornwell was a neighbor and family friend of the Graham's when young. I don't usually enjoy biographies, but I liked that one. Mrs. Graham was an interesting woman and Cornwell certainly admired her. Sue

Thought some of you mystery lovers might want to hear about Matthew Pearl's new novel, "The Shadow of Poe. We plan to read it here on SeniorNet in September - with this author participating. FYI-

Matthew Pearl is on a whirlwind book tour of the US right now - leaves for Spain next week! Here's a link to his schedule; you might want to check and see if he will be in your area ~

I did take notes and will share them with you. Some surprises. First of all, he says he looks forward to participating with us on SeniorNet - he got such a "kick" out of us last time. He even inscribed my copy of The Poe Shadow with this intention.

Second, the photo was taken by Matthew's Aunt Anna - very, very sweet. Am hoping she will join us in the discussion. Keep your fingers crossed. Imagine the stories she could tell!

Here are a few of the points he made last evening:

Matthew Pearl's story - the obituary of Poe's death is the springboard for The Poe Shadow. Though it is fiction, the story is based on heavily researched historical fact. Matthew says a good way to describe his fiction - "authentic without being accurate," though he hastens to add - "Every quote attributed to Poe was actually said by Poe."

Poe himself was not accurate in stating facts - a nice way of saying, he lied about things such as his birthdate, (he shaved off a year and actually died when he was 40, not 39) oh, and he claimed he had been to Paris for the writing of the Murders in the Rue Morgue - apparently not true.

Edgar Allan Poe - not really his name and he wouldn't be happy to hear the "Allan" included - although he himself used it once or twice - it seems that he was taken in to live with a family in Richmond, VA named Allan. This was not a happy time in his life.
He also claimed to have written a novel - in two parts. Matthew is not sure that isn't true, but no one has been able to locate it if it is.

Some M.Pearl reviewers have noted:
"Pearl writes deliberately in the style of Poe, and his attention to period detail is remarkable. The Poe Shadow is a hugely enjoyable read in its own right, and a clever literary exercise to boot." -- THE SUNDAY MERCURY (UK)

The Poe Shadow works well on two levels: It's effective history, sure to please fans of Edgar Allan Poe, and also it can stand alone as a fine piece of mystery writing, brimming with suspense. -- THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS
Poe's death: many theories. The Poe Museum in Richmond has a board that holds spinning blocks of about 30 different theories as to the cause of his death - you turn the blocks to read the details; everything from alcohol poisoning to rabies. It will be interesting to see how Matthew's fictional detective, Poe fan, Quentin Clark treats the facts as he attempts to solve the mystery of his death. Remember, Matthew bases this story on much research. He told us he came upon previously unpublished information in the course of the three years he did his research, but we need to wait to read the book first. (After last night, I can't wait!)

Poe's Mysteries - Matthew Pearl has edited a new collection of three of Poe's detective stories he has titled "Murders in the Rue Morgue: Dupin Tales: "The Murders in the Rue Morgue," "The Mystery of Marie Rogêt," and "The Purloined Letter." He says that make a great companion with his novel, and we plan to provide a companion discussion of these stories in September with our Bill as discussion leader. Matthew has written an introduction to this collection and will probably drop in on this discussion for comment if we invite him.

There was a lot more to the session...ask me questions and I'll try to answer them as Matthew did. What would you have asked him?

<Here's a link to the newly forming discussion of Matthew Pearl's The Poe Shadow to meet in September

Here is a list of the Nevada Barr series:

1 Track of the cat - 2 A Superior death - 3 Ill wind - 4 Firestorm - 5 Endangered species - 6 Blind descent - 7 Liberty falling - 8 Deep South - 9 Blood lure - 10 Hunting season - 11 Flashback - 12 High country - 13 Hard times

I had complete blocked out that Anna's husband is a preacher! I'm sorry that her sister (Molly?) is playing a less important role in Anna's life since her marriage to Frederick.

I read my first P.I. Spenser mystery by Robert B. Parker. It is titled "Potshot" and takes place in the foothills near Los Angeles. I love his conversational style, full of wisecracks and literary references. I now join those of you who love Spenser.

Oh do go back and start out at the beginning with Spencer.. You will love him and at the beginning, Susan Silverman was not quite so large a presence as later. I am crazy about Hawke as well.

the setting is always familiar to me which is why I enjoy them. . .Parker a local celebrity. . . claire

Perkie, I am glad to see a list of Nevada Barr's books. Thank you. My friend just mentioned Robert Parker. I have never tried his books. She is really enjoying his books. I have forgotten the title she is reading. I will have to try him.

Parker is fun in that he lives just outside of boston and so the books are like road maps. You can follow them and drive to any number of the spots in the books.. I am reading The Sunday Philosophers Club, but it is heavy going for me. I just dont consider his characters as fully realized at all.

Stephanie, I have heard others say that about "The Sunday Philosopher's Club."

After Sue posted the list of titles in this series, I was able to get the first four at the library.

I finished #4 "Happy Never After" last night. I've enjoyed all of them but #3 "Homemade Sin" was the best. I couldn't put it down and stayed up close to midnite to finish it

I'm going to check the library tomorrow for the next four.

Mary

I'm reading the latest (I think) J. D. Robb about Eve Dallas, "Memory in Death". Some painful dragging up of her early childhood memories, but also some lines that have me LOL. A good book, like all I've read in the J.D. Robb line.

Babi

I went to see and it doesn't always tell in this list from the side bar. but this is it. prolific lady did sever iin 2005 that I haven't read yet. . . and I think there are more for this list . . .she's stilll at it .....claire

Memory in Death

Bump in the Night

Origin In Death

Memory In Death

Midnight in Death

Survivor in Death

Origin in Death

Visions In Death

Survivor in Death

Glory in Death

Divided in Death

Visions in Death

Remember When

Naked in Death

Divided in Death

Remember When

Imitation in Death

Portrait in Death

Purity In Death

Reunion In Death

Seduction In Death

Out Of This World

Betrayal in Death

Judgment in Death

Witness in Death

Loyalty in Death

Vengeance in Death

Conspiracy in Death

Silent Night

Holiday in Death

Ceremony in Death

Rapture in Death

Immortal in Death

Glory in Death

Naked in Death

Are all of those J.D. Robb? I thought I had read the series, but I certainly do not remember all of those titles. Finished the Sunday Philosophers Club. An exceedingly odd book. Did not agree with the ending either. All in all, very peculiar. Think I will pass on any more of them.

Is "Memory.." the first in the series. I just have to read one in this series.

We've just now opened the site for the discussion of Edgar Allan Poe's Rue Morgue Mysteries. There's even a link to the online text for all three of them.

Since we just opened, and haven't a quorum yet for discussing Poe's stories, it would be great if you go down and post now so we can schedule this for the Fall lineup...concurrent with Matthew Pearl's mystery.The Poe Shadow

Here's the link to Poe's Murders in the Rue Morgue: Dupin Tales. Hope to see you there!

I haven't always done that, but i'm trying. I've read: Reunion in Death, Seduction with Death, Purity in Death, Divided in Death, Naked in Death, Portrait in Death and Glory in Death. I had no idea there were that many more! Do you think that Nora Robts can possibly write all the books her name is on as author?

I want to thank someone for suggesting Julie Garwood. I just finished her Killjoy and loved it, will look for more of hers......jean

Mabel, I have "Killjoy." As a matter of fact, I thought about it the other day. I will definitely give it a try. Oh boy, more books are falling on my head.

Have started on St. DAle, which is a Sharon McCrumb, but since I dislike Nascar racing am not doing too well with it. Sigh.. Why do successful authors decide to branch out from what they do best.

Thanks for the heads up, Stephanie. I love Sharyn McCrumb, but have no use for NASCAR. Guess I'll skip that one.

I also started the NASCAR book by Sharyn McCrumb.and put it down, but will read it one day. "St. Dale (Kensington) -- it's a remake of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales set in the modern-day world of NASCAR racing." Writer's Blog. http://www.writerswrite.com/writersblog/wblog.php?wblog=21051

How wonderful the world would be if everyone adhered to that......Always did like that Tim Russert......was that his or his father's statement, do you remember?............jean

mable, I wrote it down when I saw Russert interviewed about his book. I think it came from one of the letters he received after his first book came out. So I don't know the specific author. Obviously, it struck a chord with me.

I think his first book was about his father. The Wisdom of our Fathers is a second book written using the letters he received from people about their fathers after they read his first book.

I am feeling blagh today. Read too late last night. But knew if I went to bed I wouldn't sleep until I finished the book. Twelve Sharp by Janet Evanovich. It was good, but not her best work. We learn a lot about Ranger.

I have just finished reading "The Forgotten Man" by Robert Crais. He writes about the LA detective, Elvis Cole. He writes hard-hitting stories about the underbelly of LA. His lead character is flawed and can never seem to get it right about his women. His stories are so exciting that it is difficult to put them down.

http://www.robertcrais.com

Thanks for posting a link to Robert Crais's web page. He is a new author for me.

Robert Crais. I do like Elvis and I wish he and Lucy could work things out. An interesting flawed man and a good detective and Joe Pike is awesome.

I'm a Crais fan also. This is one of his best. Just got Michael Connelley'ls new one, Lincoln Lawyer, but I put it on hold while I'm reading the new Jo Dereske, Bookmarked for Murder. I'm so glad Miss Zukas is back!

What has happened to Michael Malone? I enjoyed his books so much, but I haven't heard of anything from him in ages. Well, maybe not ages...

Babi

I was curious when you mentioned Michael Malone. It seems he has a new book out. Here is the link.

http://annex.ncwc.edu/humanities/english/Malone.htm

that the library has a waiting list of two hundred for one of them and the only twelve available for weeks is the large print one that just came came. . .so I went and got it because the librarian was so pleased that it was available I couldn't disappoint her. right now I'm not reading a great deal but I'm well into stephanie Plum twelve and as usual enjoying the way evanovich expresses. She is a delight. . . .claire

Oh Miss Zukas,, I have not read her in quite a while and do enjoy her. Sigh.. yet another book to put on my list, which is now probably 10 pages long.

I have 2 hardback books by Michael Malone here. Long time ago somebody reccomended them I thought boy that sounds good, they are still on the shelf, too little time too many books.

Thanks for the Malone link, POPPY. I suppose the new book you referred to is the collection of short stories. I don't generally care much for short stories; I like more depth.

JUDY, by all means get those two Malones off the shelf and read them. It's a shame to leave them sitting there unappreciated.

Babi

Just finished The Raven and the Nightingale" It is by Joanne Dobson.. It is about a college, the detective is a professor and the theme is Edgar Allen Poe and a lady poetess( she is fictional) who was supposed to kill herself for love.. Fun read and appropriate since in September, we will be reading a new Poe type book, plus Poe himself. I enjoyed it.

I've gotten myself into a Christopher Marlowe fixation. First was The Intelligencer, by Leslie Siberet. It is about his career as a spy for QE I. Then I got The Slicing Edge of Death, by Judith Cook, subtitled Who Killed Christopher Marlowe?B&N has 2 other 2006 books about Marlowe: Christopher Marlowe: Poet and Spy and World of Christopher Marlowe by David Riggs. Now, I confess I have never studied Marlowe or his poetry or his play. You can bet I will be starting to read them now! Apparently his poetry was risque, but his plays rank right up there with Will's. Stay tuned.

I have just finished reading Lee Child's "Running Blind". All I can say is WOW! He has written an entire series with Jack Reacher as the main character. I had never read any books by this British born author and happened on the book by accident. The New York Times calls his work "Swift and Brutal". The Denver Post says "Good thrillers exist in a class of their own.....makes the reader sit back and gasp both in wonder and understanding". Both are true of this book, and I will now read all of his books in order, I think.

http://leechild.com/

I started reading Lee Child when he was first getting started. Fell in love with Jack Reacher. lol Got my husband to read him, and now he has read the latest and I haven't yet. lol I have it in my library bag waiting to be read once I finish Robert B. Parker's Blue Screen.

Still pushing forward with St. Dale. Sharon McCrumb must have fallen in love with NASCAR.. Wish I could share that, but I still dont. The characters are interesting as always.

As usual couldn't put it down - didn't start reading till 11: then read all night till 5: the new Agatha Raisin in paper back The Perfect Paragon

She has less entanglement with men or the villagers in this one and has "3" murders to solve - having her own agency allows more indepth studies of a few characters where as the village characters in earlier books were hardly even single dimensional except for the Vicar's Wife. Both the Vicar's Wife and Agatha let their hair down a bit in this one but the end is a cliff hanger since Lacey - Agatha's lost and recently divorced husband returns - didn't he join the monks? Charles and that young guy in London are in the story along with Bill Wong and his all-suffering parents.

This one actually had me going as I was coming up with conclusion who done it, till the end when it was all stitched together with all three murders connected. Great fun and no checking the locks in the house and no spine tingling chills going to bed even if it meant sleeping away the morning.

Busy reading a Benni Harper mystery. This one has her helping out old friends who are starting a dude ranch. Not bad, but slow at the beginning. Then I had one Laurell Hamilton that I had missed, so I got it, but am sorry now I did. Not a mystery, not a fantasy, but pure sex on the hoof.. Darn.

Just finished reading Lawrence Block's "Girl with the Long Green Heart". It seems to be a new division of mysteries called Hard Case. I think it is an attempt to bring out old mysteries that are almost Pulp Fiction with a sexually provocative cover. It is about a grifter and the long con, which goes wrong. I didn't like it as well as his other books which are centered in NYC.

I have read a lot of Lawrence Block, but man that title is new to me. Let us know.. See what the copyright date is. He does do a nice Florida series with Matthew Scudder as the hero. Excellent series, but the titles are mostly plays on fairy tale titles.

Have put about 25 books on the Book Exchange today, , some of them new, some of them older and hard to find mysteries, you might want to take a look before Larry goes to all the trouble to put them up?

Lawrence Block's Matthew Scudder lives in New York City. Home Page

He wrote The Girl with the Long Green Heart in a different style than either The Burglar books or the Matthew Scudder books

I love the burglar/bookseller series. Such fun!

Oops.. Sorry about the error on Scudder. The Florida series is an attorney. Sorry cannot remember the name, but I like them the most of all of his stuff.

Lawrence Block"The Girl with the Long Green Heart" was interesting with a surprise ending. I can't imagine how he knows so much about grifters and cons. Either he knows some, or he was one. I very much like his Matthew Scudder series, but am less enchanted with his other books.

Stephanie when you remember more about the Florida series I would love to learn about it.

I just finished Robert B. Parker's Blue Screen and found it an enjoyable light read.

The next book I plan to read is The Hard Way by Lee Child

I just ordered Lee Child's "The Killing Floor". I look forward to reading it after I finish "The First Counsel" by Brad Meltzer. This author is reminiscence of John Grisham. Michael Garrick, a young White House lawyer, has a date with the president's daughter where they witness something that draws them into a betrayal and murder.

I just finished my first Michael Allen Dymmoch mystery. Actually it is more a historical novel with a touch of science fiction, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. It takes place in today's England and in the England of Cogidubnus, 1st century king of the Celts. I remember Cogidubnus from "A Body In The Bathhouse", one of the later books in the Didius Falco series by Lindsey Davis. In "The Cymry Ring" a detective inspector is inadvertently time-traveled back to the 1st century and spends the book trying to figure out how to get back home. The author seems to have done a lot of research into that historical period. I have been reading reviews of her other books and her writing seems to be uneven. The best review was for "The Man Who Understood Cats", the first in a series about psychiatrist Jack Caleb and streetwise policeman John Thinnes. The others in the series were called 'plodding' and 'heavy-handed'.

I've just finished reading Blindfold Game, the latest from Dana Stabenow. It's not a Kate Shugak or Liam Campbell mystery, but a thriller about the US Coast Guard and terrorists.

I really like her books about Shugak, but frankly, this one was a struggle for me to finish. Usually, I have no problem putting a book down, but, for some reason I wanted to finish this one. I still was underwhelmed.

I don't know how she got so carried away with some of her prose, but check out this incredibly long sentence from the book....

"The elder Noortman was a Netherlander who had gone to sea when he was sixteen and fetched up on the shore of the South China Sea, there to meet and marry a less than beautiful but very well connected Singporean woman whose father had retired from twenty years at sea to a post with the Board of Customs in Singapore, and who brought his new son-in-law into what he regarded as the family firm almost immediately, which would have been impossible otherwise for a white man with no connections."

What TERRIBLE writing!

I saw on her web site that she does have a new Kate Shugak coming out, "A Deeper Sleep". I can only hope that this one will be better. At least I'll give it a try.

I read and thoroughly enjoyed First Counsel by Brad Meltzer. In fact I think I flew through it.

I have to go through the archives and recent posts and make a list to show my librarian to see what's available there and poke my way through some to see If I want to read them and if they are not available to check out the used book store same process and . . .

So who else does this kind of thing and does it pay off for you. I really get turned of by bad writing. It's one of the first things I notice when browsing.

I can do long sentences too. . .vbg.

So can we all, Claire - the trick is to know when to break them up.

Chasing Shakespeare, but Sussanah(?) Smith, is good. It's about the question of who really wrote the plays and sonnets. Deep into the scholarly research, comparing sources, .style of writing, political and historical issues. Great characterization. This ties neatly into my Shakespeare project, reading all the plays and the recent commentaries of same. Thank you for bringing it to my attention.

Oh dear, I knew that Dana Stabenow was doing something entirely different ( from her website, which is fun), but that does not sound like anything I want to read. Such a shame. I love Kate and like the other series about the mountie as well. On the other series by Block.. try.. Gladly, the crosseyed bear as a title. I remember that title since it was so skewed.

gaj, it is nice to learn that someone else appreciated "The First Counsel" by Brad Melzer. I am eager to read other books he has written.

For used books, I again recommend Amazon. I got several I had been looking for for $.01 plus $3.50 shipping. I love receiving them from small bookstores all over the country.

GSP, we've done that, too - just can't pass up a book for a penny - even when we know about the $3.50 in S&H. It's still a bargain!

charges sixty five cents.and credit. I use them when I can but they don't have EVERYTHING like amazon. right now I've tons of things waiting to be read and then recycled THERE. It means I don't have much to offer HERE. sorry bout that.

I am saddened, not that Dana Stabenow is trying a different type of book, but that she apparently did it so poorly. I have never felt that her Liam Campbell series lived up to her Kate Shugak series, but at least they were readable. I will keep my fingers crossed that the new Kate Shugak book is as good as the earlier ones.'

I am unfamiliar with Brad Meltzer, Ginny Ann, but will definitely give him a try after your glowing recommendation.

I really enjoyed "S is for Silence" by Sue Grafton. I felt she had been off her stride in a couple of the previous books, but she turned out a winner this time, at least in my opinion. I liked the way she built up a picture of the murdered woman through her flash-back chapters.

While I was on vacation, I read "The Dead Man and the Sea" by Janice Steinberg. Not a great book, but interesting. I picked it up off the library's free shelf, and then noticed that they don't carry any of her titles. I guess she doesn't have any fans up here in Northern California! The main character is Margo Simon, a San Diego Public Radio reporter.

I always read Sue Grafton, but have felt like you that she had not been up to standards. Glad to hear she could be back. I am reading a first novel just now by an actuary. It is a murder mystery and I do like it.. It is as always downstairs and I am up, but will try to remember to bring it to give you the author. I belong to a thing called paperback exchange. You simply list booke,get credits for them and then you can ask for books. You pay for shipping your books and the people you ask for books pay at that end. Fun and really costs just 1.59 a book.. Lots of variety as well.

I have been reading the series about Sherlock Holmes and Mary Russell - I had a hard time getting into the first book, but the rest have been pretty good. Some of it is strange.

after i mentioned reading The Beekeepers' Apprentice, is that what you are talking about Fancy? I didn't know it was a series. Yes, I had a slow going at the beginning of this book also, could put it down easily, but i kept picking it up again and have finished it. So, you liked the succeeding ones better?.........jean

I was at Borders today and wanted to bye the latest Mary Russel Sherlock Holmes. But I completely blanked at the name of the author. (Senior moment). Please remind me.

I love Lauri King and have read all of the series and all of the other stuff she has written. She is a really good writer as far as I am concerned. Just finished Calculated Risk by Denise Tiller. A first novel. It was originally an enovel it seems and came late to paper, but I liked it very much.

Hi everyone,

I don't come in very often and my reading list is so long that I have a hard time getting through them all because I keep adding to it every day.

For a quick, fun read try Joanne Fluke. She writes as the owner of a coffee shop-bakery called, "The Cookie Jar". All her books include recipes for cookies etc. As I said these are quick reads and funny too.

So as not to became jaded I am reading other genre also. I am on the list for the book, "Yeh Yeh's House" which the author will dicuss at our library in October. So far everyone that read it says it is good. It is of course a Chinese setting, which I really like, so I am anxious to get it.

Enjoy reading everyone,

Bernie

Hi, Bernie. Nice to see you. Keep us posted about Yeh Yeh's House. Who wrote it?

I hav e read several Joanne Fluke's.. They are quite nice and the cookie recipes are good. Thats a change since so many of the detective-cooking type books are authors who use cream and butter like crazy. I am not fond of fat and generally will not even try the recipes without a drastic reduction of fats.

I, too, enjoy Hannah Swenson and her recipes from her Cookie Jar. They are light and enjoyable and I look forward to each new one. I would suggest reading them in order.

I see Diane Mott Davidson has a new hardback out. Dark Tort, I believe is the title. Just got a glimpse as I was going through Borders. I'll need to check the Lib. here for it. I'm so glad she got off that "abuse" track with the JRK. She'd worn that theme out, I thought.

jane

Now if she would just send that miserable kid off to college, life would be easier.

I'd think Arch would about be old enough. He's been 15 forever, it seems??

The reading schedule for "The Dupin Tales" has been posted. You can use the following link to easily guide you to the schedule.

The Dupin Tales

Bill H

Jean, yes. The Beekeepers Apprentice, by Laurie R. King is the first book in the series. I read them out of order so was wondering many times about her references. Which also made them strange because of the questions they left in my head, lol.

I do enjoy L. Kings writing.

Bill H, I am signed up! I have the book held for me at the library.

Just finished Charlain Harris' Sweet and Deadly - o.k., not great, good read during my trip to Georgia.......and a Fern Michaels book, first of hers that i read, also o.k. and good trip reading. I read two Sue Grafton books a couple of yrs ago and tho't them very simplistic, maybe that was during her "not up to standard" period. I think they may have been in the "K,L, or M" titles.......jean

The Sherlock Holmes/Mary Russell series, by Laurie R. King, is worth reading in order because the relationship between the two develops with each book. I love her writing, though am somewhat less enamored of the Kate Martinelli series.

The Ella Clah series, by Aimée & David Thurlo, is set on the Navajo reservation, and so I read them although they are not as well crafted as Tony Hillerman's. The latest was of particular interest to me. Ella's mother, Rose Destea, plays the major role and the plot revolves around the Plant Watchers and the theft of medicinal and religious plants. I learned a lot about the importance of certain plants in the life of the Dineh, the Navajo people.

Leslie Meier writes a series with holiday themes, and that attracted me. They are light and quick reading, but I don't search them out. I happened to find "Back to School Murder" on the free shelf at the library, and it passed a few hours pleasantly. How is that for damning with faint praise?

I seem to recall some mention of some of the Dick Francis books being made into a TV series, so I was delighted to find a couple on in the library video section. Especially now that they no longer charge for videos, only DVDs. I selected "Blood Sport", with Ian McShane. The series obviously took the liberty of using the name of David Cleveland (who only appeared in Slayride) as a race course detective for the TV series. The main character in the book was Gene Hawkins. All that aside, I did enjoy the film. They caught the flavor of Dick Francis fairly well.

I am finishing my second Laurence Shames mystery, "Florida Straits". His descriptions of Key West and of his characters are just priceless. He has a wit that resonates on two levels. This is the story of two sons of a Mafia don, one legitimate and one illegitimate. Some comments of the reviewers: "a comic suspense novel where the comic and the suspenseful are beautifully merged", "a wacky caper too wondafaull fa words", "Shames quirky Key West denizens clash wonderfully with the insulated and seamy lives of the mobsters"

My library has Under Orders by Dick Francis in my reserve list. Has anyone heard anything about it?

Amazon says: This title will be released on September 12, 2006.

My library says: Summary
Sid Halley, former jockey-turned-detective, returns. Death at the races is not uncommon, but three in one day--including a winning horse and champion jockey--are more than enough to raise Halley's suspicions.

GAJ: I'm amazed. When his wife died, Francis said he was going to stop writing. Let's see how he does without her.

is back in the saddle again. good he writs a good mystery and I like his horsey settings. . . claire

I love Syd, but I must confess to being surprised. Dick Francis said in many interviews, that he could not write without his wife. She did the research for everything. Am looking forward however to seeing Syd again.

Perkie, thanks for mentioning the Dick Francis videos. I hope my library has them...and that they're closed captioned.

Maybe he found someone to do his research for him for his new book. Or maybe (and I hope not), someone else has taken up the series writing in his name. That's usually not done until an author is deceased, but I suppose it could be arranged.

Babi

I wouldnt think that Dick would do that. He always struck me as a honest and true writer, who enjoyed what he did. It could be that he could write about Syd, because Syd was one of his very few continuing characters.

I found the following on Wikipedia, the online encyclopedia. Since ANYONE can add an article to Wikipedia, they should be viewed judiciously, but this seems to be reasonably accurate. This will be the third Sid Halley book, Sid being the only character in more than one book. The first two are "Whiphand" in 1970 and "Come to Grief" in 1995. It will be interesting to see how the new book compares to the previous ones.

"Dick Francis himself has written no new works after Mary's death in the year 2000. However, Francis has announced that a new book, titled Under Orders (a racing term for when the horses are at the start and subject to the starter's orders) will be released in September 2006.

"Dick Francis' manager (and research assistant on the new book) is his son Felix Francis. Felix left his well-paid post as a teacher at a UK private school (Bloxham School in Oxfordshire) in order to work for his father."

I finished another Mary Higgins Clark mystery. This one was "Remember Me" and had a touch of "Gaslight" only the one trying to drive the wife insane was not the husband. It takes place on Cape Cod and has some interesting history of the area woven into the story. I could do with a little less belaboring of certain details of the story, but on the whole enjoyed the book.

just finished it in two days . . .all 594 pages. couldn't put it down.

international intrigue plus. . . claire

Have any of you read David Baldacci's books? I have "Absolute Power." It sounds great. For some reason I think of John Grisham. I don't know why.

Hats, my whole family reads Baldacci. We're always waiting for the next one to come out. Enjoy.

Mary Z, Wow! I certainly trust your recommendation. I bet he is really good. I am just getting acquainted with him.

I have read all of the David Baldacci books. I think "Absolute Power" and "The Winner" are best, but all of his books are good.

It's good, her usual good story-telling with a strong woman lead character. Someone did a lot of research about fire. Do you think she really researches and writes all these books, or does she have a stable of apprentices like the renissance artists had??? .........jean

I like Baldacci's books, but don't care that much for Grisham's novels. I think Baldacci is a much better writer than Grisham. He really is an excellent story teller. After reading the "The Winner" I really had to think twice about our lottery systems. Great Reads!

I read em both in my lawyer phase. right now I'm into Allan Folsom and his WHAT IF kind of thriller. THE EXILE comes next

Nora must have researchers. She writes too fast and publishes too many to do any research. I like the J.D. Robb stuff, but not her regular stuff.

re Robb you me and everyone else in San Clemente. the used book exchange is completely out of everything robb wrote. I was there yesterday and brought her one. they go back out immediately. . . claire

Charlaine Harris seems a little twisted, but I like that. I started out with her series set in Shakespeare, Arkansas. The main character, Lily Bard, was attacked and badly injured, but has turned herself into a strong woman. Nothing strange about the plots.

Harris's next series is about vampires and humans living together in relative harmony. Rather strange but strangely believable. The main character in a human woman who is in love with a vampire man. It gets her into some ticklish situations.

Now comes "Grave Sight". The main character is a woman who was struck by lightening as a teenager and since then is able to locate dead people. Once she locates a body or stands on a grave, she can also relive that person's last moments, but not who did the killing. I found it well written and intriguing. It is not gruesome, no dwelling on blood and gore and violence, other than that inherent in a killing, but it is not a book that will interest everyone.

Perkie, thanks for the heads-up about Harris' new series. I had not heard about Grave Sight (!) but it is on my list.

Grave Sight is new to me as well. I like Charlaine, but she did start with a book about a realtor.. Just a few of them, then the Shakespeare and I do like Sookie very much. Charlaine has a sense of humor and Laurell Hamilton seems to have lost that and gone for gory blood and violent sex.. Not fun to read any more.

I have just finished my second Lee Child's book "Killing Floor". It was the first in the Jack Reacher series. He is a wonderful writer and his books are page turners. However, it is violent, which some might find troublesome.

I finished the last of Kathy Trocheck's Callahan Garrity series "Irish Eyes". I enjoyed all the characters and they all were easy reading - no complicated plots to keep track of.

Since Irish Eyes was published in 2000, I wonder if she is going to continue with the series.

Mary

I am reading Lee Child's The Hard Way. It is the most recent of his Reacher books. Violence is a part of all of Child's books. They are not cozies.

As soon as I finish the engrossing SciFi series I've been immersed in, I will be starting a new mystery. It's set in Nepal, and is entitled "The Coroner's Lunch". The coroner is an elderly doctor who was summarily appointed to the office after the British withdrew, and he has no training whatever for the job. But he does have a large dose of curiosity, which I gather will come in handy.

I'll let you know how it goes. Babi

Kathy Trochek writes several series, so may she has been busy with one of her other series characters. I think his name is Truman Kicklighter and he is a senior citizen. They are fun as well as Callahan.

ERROR! ERROR!

"The Colonel's Lunch" is set in Laos after the Communist takeover, NOT Nepal after the British left. (A thing which I don't believe ever happened, as I don't recall the British ever ruled there.) I had read the jacket blurb, and between then and yesterday's post Laos became Nepal and...well, what can I say? Vague memory and too lazy to get up and go check. Apologies to all.

Babi

Today's Salem Statesman reviewed the latest Edgar winner, Citizen Vince, by Jess Walker, a writer out of Spokane, Washington. The premise is that a New york gangster enters the witness protection program and is sent to Spokane where he becomes an honest businessman and prepares to vote in the 1980 Presidential Election between Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan. Felons can't vote so this is Vince's first chance to participate. He sets out to learn all about the two candidates. Doesn't sound much like a mystery, does it? Apparently Walker didn't think so either although he writes "about cops, crooks and crimes." Has the mainstreat caught up with the genre? I plan to read this and Walker's other books: Land of the Blind, Over Tumbled Graves (about a serial killer), Every Knee Shall Bend (Ruby Ridge), and a biography of Christopher Darden, one of OJ's prosecutors. Since the StatesmanJournal's Sunday edition is not yet available online I recommend you google "Citizen Vince" to learn more.

Publisher's Weekly gives "The Coroner's Lunch", by Colin Cotterill, an excellent review, ending with: " ... this debut mystery, with its convincing and highly interesting portrayal of an exotic locale, marks the author as someone to watch." I'm glad my library has it.

I don't know if it is just me, but it seems that the writing in "Cat's Eyewitness", the Rita Mae Brown & Sneaky Pie Brown series with the detective cats, Mrs. Murphy and Pewter, and the detective Corgis, Tucker and Owen, has become more simplistic. I don't remember so many chapter endings that say that he/she doesn't think things can get worse. But they will. Or so many asides: ' " ... that doesn't mean she isn't dating." "She's not." Susan thought the coffee tasted pretty good.' Since it has Corgis and good Corgi drawings, I enjoyed it anyway and will be back for more!

Sounds like a lot of very interesting reading is going on with people who post here. I like a lot of writers first few books and then they all seem to go to the 'formula' of writing and they loose me as a reader for obvious reasons. Is this happening to others?

Hats, I thin it was you who mentioned readin The Devil in the White City. I am so enjoying it! The real story is the stunning 1892 Chicago World's Fair; the devil-serial killer is definitely minor. I want to see all the marvels I'm reading about. Author Erik Larson has scattered verbatim comments throughout from letters, newspaper stories, etc., and little vignettes such as the meeting between the inventor of the braille typewriter and Helen Keller at the fair. Makes the story live, beyond the recititation of its statistics. Thank you, Hats, for giving me such a grand experience.

Perkie, I am with you. The corgi content and drawings keep me reading the Sneaky Pie mysteries. That and the fact that Fair and Harry are getting back together. I think Rita Mae has gotten a bit bored with those characters. I read all of her stuff and the cats seems to have run a course. The foxes as well. She needs to go back to her general fiction, which is usually excellent.

Mrs. Sherlock, sorry I am the wrong person. I haven't read "Devil in the White City."

We read it a couple of years ago.

"Devil in the White City ~ Erik Larson ~ 4/04 ~ Nonfiction"

By one of our good Illinois authors.

Our library system has 30 copies of "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson and there are 2 holds for the first copies that are turned in! I was surprised, since it was published in 2003. Has anyone read his earlier work that came out in 1999, "Isaac's Storm" about a hurricane in Galveston in 1900?

I started the Jack Caleb and John Thinnes series, by Michael Allen Dymmoch, at the beginning, "The Man Who Understood Cats". Caleb is a psychiatrist who categorizes people as dog people or cat people. Dog people crave constant attention and approval while cat people are aloof and hard to reach. I think it is a continuum rather an either/or and I am closer to the cat people end but do like some attention. Thinnes is a detective and I like the interplay between the two. The writing is good and the plot held my attention through a hot (105 degrees) day. In the San Francisco Bay Area, that is hot indeed and so unusual that we don't have air conditioning. We just sweat (I don't glow) and wait for the fog to return.

I am having so much fun with Colin Cotterill's 73-yr.-old Laotian coroner. Here is an excerpt, a dialog between Siri(the coronor) and his old friend Civilai, who is in the local Politburo, but not overly impressed by it. Siri has asked Civilai what's the latest news from the recent politburo meeting:

"Well, there's the ongoing puppet scandal"

"Tell me."

"The Party ordered the puppets at Xiang Thong temp[le in Luang Prabang to stop using royal language, and said they had to start calling each other 'comrade'."

"Quite right, too. We have to show those puppets who's pulling the strings." (Civilai hits him with a lettuce leaf from his sandwich.) "What happened?"

"Puppets refused."

"Subversive bastards."

"The local party members locked them up in their box, and they aren't allowed out till they succumb."

"That'll teach 'em."

This is all aside, you understand, from the fact that Siri does have mysterious deaths to solve. A fun book.

Babi

I just finished a mystery in a series I had not read before: "The Innocent," A Marshal Guarnaccia Investigation by Magdalen Nabb. The Marshal is a very interesting character along with his family and his colleagues in the caribinieri. The story takes place in Florence, Italy and the author manages to create a wonderful picture of this interesting city. Now I can look forward to the rest of her books about this great character.

I am reading a new paperback from Elaine Viets.. Not part of her regular series, but the heroine is a secret shopper. Sort of a cross between a cozy and chic lit in some ways.

I think I read one of that series, HORSELOVER. I enjoyed it, too, but haven't found others in my library. I didn't think it quite great enough to dig around looking. The greatest impression it made on me was the incredible meals the lady of the house produced, apparently 3/day, every day!

Babi

Elaine Viets seems to be a cross between thwarted romance, light mystery and different occupations. Not fond of her down with Mothers campaign, but otherwise they are nice light stuff.

I have that one on the shelf by Elaine Viets. It looks like fun. I just finished "Cinnamon Kiss" by Walter Mosley. It's a fast moving mystery. There is some hard cursing in there. I skipped that part, if it's possible. I have just put about five mysteries on hold. I couldn't remove my finger from the mouse. One is called "Fatal Remains."

I did start "The Seduction of Water" by Carol Goodman. It's intriguing. Is that how you spell intriguing? It looks funny.

Babi, I read your Post #710 about "The Coroner's Lunch" by Colin Cotterel. I got it from the library yesterday and am enjoying it so much. A little different and an interesting change from my usual mystery reading.

The Coroner's Lunch sounds just right for these hot, hot days. Will check my library. Thanks. Hats, your reading is so vast I guess I automaically thought of you. I must improve my notes so I can put the book title, author, and recommender together. I'm curious about your studying English Lit when you went back to college. Is that a major? Or did you simply take lots of the classes because you were interested? My Soc major did not allow for much Lit reading outside of sociology, but I think I want to study Eng Lit now. You've lit a fire, Hats!

When I went to complete a degree, I found that working toward a BA in English was the shortest route. Only needed one math class. It was work, but work I could handle. I hung out in the writing lab. The secretary there loved mysteries so we were often sharing favorite authors. One of the authors we discussed -- Joan Hess. Her The Murder At the Murder At the Mimisa Inn may have been my first book by Hess I just love that title.

I am joining the group here that will read Poe this Fall. I look forward to being involved in it. It is so many years since I read Poe that it will be a good refresher.

Would you believe I'm down to one book, and it's non-fiction and serious stuff. Thanks for the Joan Hess reminder. I liked the books of hers I've read, and meant to read some more. I'll be at the library tomorrow stocking up again.

Babi

I would like to start reading the Joan Hess' books. Thanks for the recommendation.

My sister recommended Celestine Sibley to me. Has anyone read her books?

Celestine Sibley is a well known Georgia writer, once had a newspaper column in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, I think. I've read several of her books some time ago--I think mostly regional and lots of love of nature and environment in them. I enjoyed them, but sorry I can't remember more of the plot lines. Sue

I also remember liking Sibley, but cannot remember titles. I am reading a new to me author from Canada..Since the book is downstairs and I am up, will reserve the title and name until tomorrow since I am running late this morning.. It is good though.. A serial killer of children in the frozen north of Canada.. Just learned that the special squad in Canada is like Internal Affairs here.

Later.. The book I am reading is Forty Words for Sorrow and it is by Giles Blunt. It was up for several awards in Canada.. Excellent, but one to read slowly so as not to miss anything. You are getting both the detective and the murderers..

BaBi, You are so on target with your comment about the meals in those series about Italian detectives. I remember thinking the same thing when I was reading the series about Inspector Brunetti by Donna Leon. It seems that whether the detective is from Florence or Venice, the wives do lots of meal preparation. And these are working women, too. It makes me feel so lazy.

And the meals sound so delicious! Oregon does not have the strong Italian food tradition as the San Francisco region has. I miss lots of good Italian offerings in the markets. There are restaurants, but sometimes I just want to grab a slice of salami out of the fridge with a piece of cheese. I used to get the ends of prosciutto for a cut price and dice them for salads. Oh, well.

my library called to say i'm next up on the Twelve Sharp list! I was number 24 when i signed up. Anybody got a review for me? REad it already?......jean

One of the highest stars on my list in Italy was their salami's.. They are so much better than anything I have ever bought in the states.

Aren't some of the best summer lunches just a bit of meat, cheese, some olives and maybe tomatoes? Some seasoned crackers for crunch. Ver-r-ry nice!

Babi

Depends on the tomatoes. Some of them are AWFUL!

I am trying to grow tomatoes in a container on the patio. I have four green tomatoes, two big ones and two baby ones. At least, I tried.

Tomatoes. I grew up in the country and used to love Tomato, Mayo and white bread eated over the sink.. But the current tomatoes just do not do it for me. But I love a bit of salami, any sort of strong cheese, found a new cracker that is like pretzels sliced thin and really nice.. Then a peach for dessert since just now the peaches are juicy and fresh.. Hmm. could it be time for lunch?

I know I'm almost ready for lunch. I got some good tomatoes at a fruit stand near our house - so I'm on for a BLT. (I use the pre-cooked bacon, so it's easy.)

I have enjoyed Earlene Fowler's Benni Harper mysteries, set in Southern California, near the Coast, and so I was pleased to see her new work, with new characters, and set on the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada mountains in Northern California.. It is a more complex work, and didn't draw me into the story as quickly, but it grew on me as I went along, and I am glad I read it.

Thanks for the info about Earlene Fowler's new series.

I am reading John Lescroart's 1997 book, "Guilt". The lead character is such an unsavory character that at first it was difficult for me to relate. However, I have become increasingly interested as I get into the book. Mark Dooher seems to have a charmed life. He is a successful attorney with the archdiose of the Catholic Church of San Francisco as one of his most important clients. The archdiose is about to be sued by a Vietnamese lawyer. Mark falls for a beautiful young law student, but cannot risk divorce because of his Catholic client. His opponent beccomes Sargeant Glitsky of the SF PF, a man under great stress with a dying wife. Very powerful writing.

GSP. sounds good. I always love to read about SF and the Bay Area, even though I've moved north a ways. I'll check it out.

I didn't know about Earlene Fowler's new series. Does it involve quilts too?

Susan Conant is offering a new series too. Instead of dogs, it's cats.

I love Susan Conant, but not sure I will like the cats, since most of the charm of her earlier books was her great knowledge of the dog show world. Since I was once a member of that tribe, I remember what life was like as a teen with parents who showed and as a young woman and mother who showed my own.. But cats.. I have always had cats, but I think that old Sneakie Pie Brown is my one and only book cat.

Susan Conant's change surprises me. On the back cover of the new cat book, she is photographed with her dog. Does that make sense???

She really does have malemutes and does show them, so maybe she always has her picture taken with them.. I have friends who know her through her obedience work in Boston.

Yes, this one is a malemute. Beautiful. Does she ever talk about cats? This seems so out of category for her.

They are a true northern dog and beautiful but they howl.. So you need to get used to that rather than any bark at all. We live in Florida and they would be a horrible choice down here. They have a true double coat and would really really have problems down here.

Too hot, right? Howl???? Sounds like we're talking about a coyote.

but an Alaskan Malamute

claire.

WINSUM, that looks like a gen-oo-wine sled dog. Not all of them were Huskies, surely. I could swear I've seen Malamutes in dog teams.

Babi

what kind of dogs did you show? I love to watch or go to dog shows, they are such beautiful creatures - except maybe that new breed they are showing in the U.S., the Metropolitan Mastiff???

Wwwwhhhooooooo what a slobberer!.......jean

Claire, thanks for the photo. I know what the malamute looks like. Later we went on to discuss how the malamute sounds, his howl. Thanks for the photo.

True sled dogs are Malemutes.. Siberian Huskies also are sled dogs, but Malemutes are larger and considered more durable. I bred and showed St. Bernards. My parents had Keeshonden and Miniature Schnauzers, my Mother also dabbled a bit in Pekinese which do not rank high on my nice dog lists. I now have Pembrook Welsh Corgi, but have not shown for years. My husband worked for a venture Capitol company and we moved a great deal, so dogs for fun and love were fine, but showing was just too hard.

have any of you been watching THE DOG WHISPERER on National Geographics TV channel. here it's 108 and he'll be on tonight and I think all week at nine pacific and probably central time. Caesar is more people psychologist than dog tamer. H teaches people how to be PACK LEADERS.

the animals have to respect us before we can give affection or they will run away with the store. I think there is a book too. Caesar Mallin the DOG WHISPERER. My daughter and I think maybe we're closet pack leaders. vbg. We have and had collies. no way I can have a dog now and I miss them. Claire

collies from home page

I bought Cesar's Way:The Natural, Everyday Guide to Understanding & Correcting Common Dog Problems by Cesar Millan because I was keeping it out too long from the library. It is a book with lots of information written in clear easy to understand manner.

No, Hats, there are no quilts in Earlene Fowler's new book. I don't know if it will turn into a series. It read more like a stand-alone story.

Publisher's Weekly says of Susan Conant's "Scratch the Surface", the first in her new Cat Lovers Mysteries: "Yes, the setup—a cat mystery about a cat mystery writer who finds a real body—is a trifle meta. But Conant, never precious, takes the opportunity to poke gentle fun at some of the conventions of the cozy genre. Sidesplittingly funny and very clever, this book is just about purr-fect."

Ruth Rendell has long been one of my favorite authors, and she mostly did not let me down with her new work, "13 Steps Down". The ending felt like Rendell decided the book was long enough and wound it up logically but too quickly. The rest of the book has her normal twists and bizarre plot, which is what I love about her stories.

I just finished "Guilt" by John Lescroart. I couldn't put it down during the last quarter of the book. It is breathtaking. I plan to read more of his books in the future.

I found the second Dido mystery by Marianne Macdonald and am busy with Didos new adventures. It is very English, but not particularly a cozy. Good writer.

I've started Diane Mott Davidson's Dark Tort. It's enjoyable so far and now that the JERK is permanently gone, is better than some of the earlier ones. Arch is still around, but doesn't seem to be the center of attentions as in some previous ones, at least as far as I've gotten.

jane

I'm reading "The Bookman's Promise", a Cliff Janeway book, and it is as good as the others I've read. My attention was caught, however, by the attention given in the book to Richard Burton..not the actor,. but the explorer, linguist, author, been-everywhere-done-everything Richard Burton. I've got to find out more about this astounding man.

Babi

We've always enjoyed the Bookman series - and keep looking for more.

Babi, Yes, that Richard Burton was quite an amazing person. I hunted down a lot of things years ago that he had written or had been written about it. Posessed of course, but fascinating. I believe that he was supposed to be the man portrayed in the movie years ago about the Englishman who led the Arabs in WWI..

According to Bookman, a biography by Fawn Brodie is supposed to be the best, and the most accurate presentation of Richard F. Burton. A number of earlier biographies are supposed to have focused on what was considered, in those Victorian days, to be scandalous. Burton wrote exactly what he saw in exploring the cultures of Africa, etc., and what he saw was simply too much for the sensitivities of his era.

I think it was Lawrence of Arabia who led Arab forces in WWI, Stephanie. Of course, Burton could have been active there, too. I would be interested in reading something of Burton's, but I don't think I can handle his 3-vol. work about Mecca and Medina. Could you recommend something that would be shorter, but good,...and not impossible to find. I checked my library and B&N, and found only a couple of his books. I do have his translation of the Arabian Nights. I don't know for sure if it's the original or a cleaned up version.

Babi

No, this was a smaller type movie about Richard.. focusing on his obsession with the desert and life with wanderers. He was a most peculiar man. His wife is supposed to have burned a lot of his private writings after he died. Fawn Brodie has written some interesting biographies ( At least I think it was her)

I liked it. It's a bit more serious than the previous ones, but still humorous, and Ranger is a more important character than in previous ones, which suits me fine - he's a fascinating character and JE keeps us guessing whether it's finally going to be Joe OR Ranger. Which one would you choose for Stephanie?..........jean

Joe will win out. Ranger is never going to settle for one woman for the rest of his life.

Ranger isn't available long term . he's only interested for the time being. Maybe she'll meet someone else. . .claire

Yes, Burton's wife burned years of unpublished writings. From what 'Bookman' says, it's because so much of his writing was 'socially' unacceptable and she wanted to clean up his image. She also wrote a biography, in which I assume she did more of the same. I gather she was a typical Victorian prude of the area, and her husbands writings embarrassed her. A pity Burton couldn't have married a woman who would have appreciated his genius.

Babi

I've read all of John Lescroart and think they're great, too.

For those of you who like Inspector Guido Brunetti of the Venice Police, there is a new one out called "Through a Glass Darkly."

I'm just finishing one by Edna Buchanan. Have any of you read her series about the Miami crime reporter, Britt Montero?

I have been reading Charlaime Harris Shakespeare series and really like Lily Bard. Must find some of the rest. Her heroines are always unpredictable. It will be Joe for Stephanie in the end. Ranger is not a long term person.

I have read one of Magdalen Nabb's series with Marshall Guarnaccia of Florence, Horselover. It is "The Marshal and the Murderer", the 5th in the series. "The Innocent" is 13th. I like the Marshal's slow, almost sleepy style and plan to read more.

For a full list of the series, plus other of her works, try:

http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/n/magdalen-nabb/

If you haven't been introduced to the Fantastic Fiction site, it is wonderful. It claims to have 9000 titles. I use it frequently.

I just finished J A Jance's newest book in the Joanna Brady series, "Dead Wrong".

I think it was one of her best in the series also early on I did figure out part of the plot. I sat up well past my bedtime to finish it

Mary in TX

Thanks, Mary in TX - I didn't know that Jance had a new one out. It's now on reserve at our library.

I have two of Jance's in my book stack. She seems to be writing faster or I am reading slower.. Cant tell.

Just finished two of Margaret Nabb's Marshall Guarnaccia series:"The Marshall and the Mad Woman" and "The Marshall's Own Case". I also enjoy them, Perkie, especially when the story is more about the introspective Marshall and his way of solving crimes than about the victims and their families.

Perkie and Jean, If you liked the series about The Marshal, you will probably like Donna Leon's series about the Venice Inspector Guido Brunetti. The two series seem to share many of the same features--lots about interesting Italian family life, great settings, and an attractive thinking main character.

Thank you both for telling me about the rest of The Marshal series. This gives me a nice long list of books to enjoy, since I've already read all the Donna Leon series except the latest.

I read both the Italian series, one in Florence, the other in Venice. They both share a kind of dour look on life. I don't think of that as typical of Italians -- maybe they are imitating the French Maigret series.

I just got the latest Leon: it's on my queue. have to finish the latest Sara Paretski first. It's good (given that you agree with her liberal politics -- I'm not sure detective stories should deal so much with political issues).

I have read all of Donna Leon's Inspector Brunetti series including the latest. I really enjoy the character as he is portrayed and the family unity in both series.

Start Work on a new book: Work of the Angels by Kat Goldring. It is a sort of odd mixture of Indian and Seance and farseeing. Interesting.

I am reading Tami Hoag's "A Thin Dark Line". It was published in 1997 and is about the Bayou country in Louisiana. I find this book to be enthralling and have trouble putting it down. Here is one review of the book:

"A Thin Dark Line is chilling, it's atmospheric, it's even romantic; but the novel's best achievement is its making readers constantly interrogate their ideas about justice and revenge, their own presumptions of guilt and innocence."

The heroine is Deputy Annie Broussard who is working in a department that does not want any women upsetting the old boys network. She is investigating the murder of mutilated women. She is forced off the case and as a result forms an alliance with Fourcade, a man she doesn't trust, to find out who is killing these women. She stopped him from killing the chief suspect.

I've read "The Thin Dark Line", POPPY, and you've made a very good summation of it. It does get more intense than some of Hoag's books, primarily because of Fourcade and his dark, brooding, on the edge temperament.

Babi

I have finished my second book in the Caleb and Thinnes series by Michael Allen Dymmoch. This one had a Navajo painter who used Blue Mountain Cat as his nom de plume, or I guess in this case his nom de brosse. I really like Dymmoch's style and the interaction between the psychiatrist and the detective. In the picture on the inside back flap of the cover, Dymmoch was dressed as a man in fedora and an overly large trench coat. The face looked feminine, however, so I looked up a biography and she is indeed a woman.

I recently discovered a whole series I had never heard about--The Martha's Vineyard Mysteries. There are at least ten of these, maybe more. I've got two of them--"Murder at a Vineyard Mansion" and "Vineyard Prey." My queue is soooo long. And I also got a copy of "The Poe Shadow" by Matthew Pearl for the September discussion. I may not even have time to brush my teeth. :>)

Just looked up in my Books Read Database to see if I had read A Thin Dark Line and was surprised I hadn't read it. I may own it. lol Will have to check.

Glad to learn another has a database. I couldn't keep track of what I have read and what I want to read without it.

I am continuing with "A Thin Dark Line". It is a rather dark mystery with a great deal of description of the Lousiana bayou country, which is rather dark and mysterious in itself. It continues to be compelling, and I am glad I stumbled onto the book in my apartment complex library.

Tami Hoag writes a lot of mysteries. I have read a few. Still working on the Kat Goldring. Somewhere between a cozy and not a mystery..

Someone mentioned him to me recently and he sounded interesting.....jean

Just a general question today, who would you say are the best of the women sleuth mystery writers? I like series with the same woman sleuth. Patrica Conway is a favorite as is Kathy Reichs. I just bought the Kat Goldring series of four Willi Gallagher & Wuannah Lassiter books from ebay. I always check shipping costs because they can really be high but today I got lucky.

More later, thanks.

Delphine; I like the very light ones, so my favorite authors with a continuing female sleuth are Joan Hess, Joanne Fluke, Diane Mott Davidson.

Joan Hess is fun. J. D. Robb's Dallas is a topnotch policeman. The gals that solve murders while running bookstores and bed-and-breakfasts are okay for occasional light reading, but one can't really take them seriously, IMO.

Babi

Delphine, we like J. A. Jance, Sue Grafton, Nevada Barr, Patricia Cornwell - probably others, just can't think of them right now.

Delphine, my favorites are J A Jance and Sue Grafton.

Mary in TX

I like Grafton and for humor, I love Evanovich. I am quite impressed with the author I am reading now, Tami Hoag.

the authors take the easy way out though. once theyr's invented a character male or female they just keep using it and only the circumstances change. I'm interested in character itself, more than just the principal one. Lis Scottoline is a compromise her characters are all related in a womans' law firm but each book is about a different one of them and interesting in herself.

How would you compare Tami Hoag's "Thin Dark Line" with James Lee Burke's series set in the Louisiana bayou country, GoldenStatePoppy? I keep looking up "Thin Red Line", a WWII story made into a feature film starring John Travolta, George Clooney, Nick Nolte, Leonardo DiCaprio, Gary Oldman, and many others.

I agree with Mary Z and Redbud. Also Susan Wittig Albert, Nancy Atherton, Lillian Jackson Braun, Rita Mae Brown (cats & Corgi series), Margaret Coel, Deborah Crombie, Dianne Day, Earlene Fowler, Elizabeth George, Martha Grimes, P.D. James, Sharyn McCrumb (Nora Bonesteel series), Anne Perry, Elizabeth Peters, Ellis Peters, Ruth Rendell, Kate Sedley, Dana Stabenow and Judith Van Gieson,

I love the Martha's Vineyard series, Horselover. Since the characters change and grow, the books are really better if read in order. For the complete list, try

http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/c/philip-r-craig/

Richard North Patterson's books on Killkenny and political life in America. Characters are all interesting and wel. designed for the story. . .although it is a series. at about five hundred pages per, too big and long for a single book. . . claire

jean I have read Caleb Carr. He puts me to sleep. Literally!

Thank you all for your feedback. I have read all of Sue Grafton and Evanovich, the others will be on my list. I stay away from books that have a lot of sexual violence in them-- Murder and mayhem I can handle but to many books have sex in them for the sake of sex.

I like most of the authors mentioned but didn't see Margaret Maron mentioned. She is one of my favorites.

I love Sara Paretsky,but she is certainly not light. Forget the author, but I love Judge DeborahKnott and her clan. She exemplifies southern life. I am reading Kat Goldring just now ,but I am not enjoying it much. I like Nevada Barr mostly. LOve Sharon McCrumb,Evanovich of course for just flat out fun. J.D. Robb for the near future. I like individual stand alone from many authors. Mustnt forget Abigail Padgett,Anna Salter, neither are light.. Minette Walters. Oh boy,, I just read a lot of books.

Margaret Maron's newest Deborah Knott book, "Winter's Child", will be out in two weeks. It has gotten good reviews but is apparently a little more serious than her other novels in the Knott series.

She's a favorite of mine, too, and especially since I recognize so many of the places that she writes about here in North Carolina.

Phyll, I am looking forward to Maron's new book. Thanks for that update,

This is so much fun hearing about what you all like. Thank you so much.

I'm reading a Mary Daheim new one: Saks & Violins and am becoming annoyed by the constant mention of the "artificial hip" of the central character/sleuth. It's ok once or twice or four or five times...but it seems to enter into almost everything. She writes as if this is some terrible thing...about the pain pills she must have for it, the fear of "dislocating" it, etc. My SIL has two artifical hips and she's not on pain pills and, at 82, walks as if she were 50. The other thing that really is getting to me is the central character's mother...who refers to the daughter as her "idiot child"...and addresses daughter and son-in-law (a retired cop) as Dumbbells. This kind of speech is in every bit of "dialogue" the mother utters. Since dead bodies seem to be turning up, I keep wondering why this nasty mother's isn't one of them. Maybe she will be before this book ends....if I can stick it out to find out who did in the music guy.

jane

jane, I probably would've stopped reading that one a long time ago.

I've never felt I had to read to the end of any book if I didn't like it and don't really care what happens to any of the characters.

Mary: I usually do as well; I think I'll skip to the end and see "who done it"...and cross this author off my list for the future.

Too many books, too little time to read something that annoys me so!!

jane

Got that right, jane!!!!

Jane, thanks for the alert. Will not put her on my list either.

Some of Daheim is good. She does a series ( I think) all tht have Alpine in the title. They are better than the B and B ones.

I have seen Daheim's books. I have not tried one yet. I like a bed and breakfast setting.

I am reading a mystery called "Orange Crushed" by Pamela Thomas-Graham. The mystery involves two universities, Harvard and Princeton. The writing style is very relaxing. I just can't figure out whodunnit.

If any of you are 'History Detective' fans, there will be a discussion of the upcoming program Aug. 14. The subjects will be a watch possibly belonging to Doc Holliday, a buffalo skull found with an Indian arrowhead still imbedded init, and a ticket for the Black Star Line, an African/American transportation line I had never heard of before.

HISTORY

Babi

Reading Shakespeares Counselor. Again a Lily Bard and since I have not been able to obtain some of the middle books, in this one she has a totally different boyfriend and her life has changed.. Still excellent. Charlaine Harris is truly a good writer.

I hesitated about listening to the audio book of "While Other People Sleep" by Marcia Muller. It involves a stalker who also steals Sharon McCone's identity. I'm glad I decided to go ahead, and what I heard was well written and interesting. However, the tapes were mixed up and I went from tape 4 to tape 6 without noticing the gap in the story. Once I knew the ending, I had no desire to go back and fill in the gap. I think it says something about her writing of this story!

I am reading "How to Murder a Millionaire" by Nancy. The cover says it is the first in a new series. It is mostly lighthearted, sexy and fun to read. The Blackberry Sisters of Philadelphia from an old and wealthy family. However, their parents have scammed money out of many and taken off for warmer climes. The sisters have to learn to take care of themselves which they do with a variety of ups and downs along the way. This story is about Nora, a 31-year-old beauty with no skills who gets a job as assistant to the society editor of the local newspaper. I am enjoying this and recommend it for light reading.

I love the Blackberry sisters. I have read the first one.

not a mystery except for the FLASHER. cute style as usual boring book. written before the plum series and only now being published.

I am reading "Little Scarlett" by Walter Mosley. Good mystery. It takes place during the Watts riots, a very sad time in history.

I picked up "The Zebra-striped Hearse" by Ross MacDonald from the free shelf at the library. I have seen his name mentioned here, but was too busy with other authors to pick up one of his books. I am glad I finally did. It moved quickly and held my interest from first page to last. I found the detective, Lew Archer, to be a sympathetic character while effective at his job. I will be looking for other works on the regular shelves. Is there any reason to read them in order of publication?

Perkie I will try Ross MacDonald. I will write him on my list.

Hats and Perkie -- I have read Ross McDonald and liked him. Here is a link to information about his different Pen Names and a list of his books.

http://www.thrillingdetective.com/trivia/kenmillar.html

GinnyAnn thank you.

I read Ross Mcdonald out of order and it was fine.. He was good. Like you I appreciated Lew Archer. I am still working on the Charlaine Harris series with Lily Bard. I really like Lily.

I'm reading Laurie King's "Keeping Watch", and it's excellent. It's about a Vietnam vet who has a breakdown after the war, Once he gets himself back together, he puts his skills as a soldier to work rescuing battered and abused women and children. King puts the two sides to this story together skillfully. I recommend this one.

Babi

I've just finished Patricia Cornwell's latest, At Risk. It's not a bad yarn, and I kind of liked the new character. It's shorter than most of her Scarpetta books. Mainly I absolutely HATE that she has chosen to write it in the present tense. I really dislike that gimmick - it's like fingernails down a blackboard to me. John's just picked it up - I'll be interested in his take on it.

Just ordered Folly by Laurie King. Sounded quite fascinating and I love her deeper books. She writes about alienation better than most.

I was just posting in the Book Nook about mysteries with a Washington DC setting. The challenge is to find ones that don't deal with "the use of power" i.e. politics. I only came up with Chessie West and Phyllis Richman. I'm sure I'm missing some, but who?

I am starting a new book, "The Motive" by John Lescroart. According to his web page, he also writes about music. I also learned how to pronounce his name correctly.

http://www.johnlescroart.com/

JoanK, Margaret Truman has some really good books with Washington as the place of action. Murder in the White House - 1980 Murder on Capitol Hill - 1981 Murder in the Supreme Court - 1982 Murder in the Smithsonian - 1983 Murder on Embassy Row - 1984 Murder at the FBI - 1985 Murder in Georgetown - 1986 Murder in the CIA - 1987 Murder at the Kennedy Center - 1989 Murder at the National Cathedral - 1990 Murder at the Pentagon - 1992 Murder on the Potomac - 1994 Murder at the National Gallery - 1996 Murder in the House - 1997 Murder at the Watergate - 1998 Murder in the Library of Congress - 1999 Murder at Foggy Bottom - 2000 Murder at Ford's Theatre - 2002

Right. I included her with a group of known political figures who use their knowledge of "official" Washington: Eliot Roosevelt, William Cohen (former cabinet officer), Senator Barbara McCulsky(sp.?) to write mysteries. The challenge was to find books that did not involve the political life of the Capitol.

Joan, that is a tall order. Good luck.

Thanks for the link to Lescroart's web site. I've been wondering how to pronounce his name, also. I'd tried about 3 different versions! Sue

I never would have guessed that's the way it's pronounced.

And I have to go look again. I've already forgotten the last part! Sue

I went to Lescroart's web site to see how his name is pronounced. It sure wasn't the way I read it when I saw his name. After reading a little about him, I am curious about his books. I haven't read any of his work.

His name is French, pronounced "Less kwah". This is only the 2nd book I have read of his, but I am greatly impressed. The setting is San Francisco, so I recognize many of the sites he mentions.

Reading Joanne Dobson "The Northbury Papers" If you like academic mysteries, this is a goodie. She writes about an English professor ( womens studies) in a small northeastern college.. The plots always revolve around something literary and they are excellent.

I took a look at some LesCroart books, since they are well recommended here. I found their size daunting. Nowadays, I look at a book that size and ask myself, 'Do I want to spend the time reading this book or 2-3 others in the same amount of time?' I'd have to be sure the bi-i-ig book was better than the other three, at least. Since I can't sit and read for very long at a time w/o getting stiff, it takes me a long time to work my way thru' the thick ones.

Babi

I find Lescroart's books well worth the time. I read mainly in bed before I go to sleep, so my criteria for a book is that it be a size I can hold easily and the plot is such that I can always remember it even though I get it in bits and pieces.

I thought Lescroart's books were set in San Francisco. I bought 3 for my son's birthday and I think that's what the blurb said. Could be wrong, though. He took me out to eat tonight and I forgot to ask if he'd read them yet. Sue

I could have the wrong guy. French names all look alike to me. will check. . .claire

edit: yep the wrong guy. . .does anyone know who I mean he wrote spy novels set in England with French connections and a a French name that I got wrong since I can't pronounce French.. ..so will delete previous assesment and look for his books since they sound YUMMY. claire

and this is what they say about it

John Le Carre owns the Cold War spy novel "

I"m not dyslexic. just didn't like his books too slow and stilted.

claire

so that's how you spell it. thank you Sue just came back to fix it.

The following mini-mysteries were sent to me in an email. Thought you might enjoy the challenge:

Mystery 1...

A man was found murdered on Sunday morning. His wife immediately called the police. The police questioned the wife and staff and got these alibis:

The Wife said she was sleeping. The Cook was cooking breakfast. The Gardener was picking vegetables. The Maid was getting the mail. The Butler was cleaning the closet.

The police instantly arrested the murderer. Who did it and how did they know?

Mystery 2...

A man walks into a his bathroom and shoots himself right between the eyes using a real gun with real bullets. He walks out alive, with no blood anywhere. And no, he didn't miss and he wasn't Superman or any other caped crusader. How did he do this?

Mystery 3...

Old Mr. Tidy was found dead in his study by Mr. Fiend. Mr. Fiend recounted his dismal discovery to the police. "I was walking by Mr. Tidy's house when I thought I would just pop in for a visit. I noticed his study light was on and I decided to peek in from the outside to see if he was in there. There was frost on the window, so I had to wipe it away to see inside. That is when I saw his body. So I kicked in the front door to confirm my suspicions of foul play. I called the police immediately afterward."

The officer immediately arrested Mr. Fiend for the murder of Mr. Tidy. How did he know Mr. Fiend was lying?

Try to figure these questions before looking at the answers below. Keep on scrolling down.

ANSWERS:

1. It was the Maid. She said she was getting the mail. There is no mail on Sunday.

2. He shot his reflection in the bathroom mirror.

3. Frost forms on the inside of the window, not the outside. So, Mr. Fiend could not have wiped it off to discover Mr. Tidy's body.

the mysteries are beyond my kin. . but thanks for offering them. . .claire

I got 2 and 3 correct. Feel stupid about not getting 1 because my Ray is a retired mail carrier. <blush>

John LeCarre.. I read his stuff, but have to be in the exact right mood. They are slow and then all of sudden become a freight train. Smiley always just sort of dithered around and then boom.. life got interesting.. Dont like Lescroat though. My husband adores him and reads every single one.

For my birthday, I got Christie, Christie, and more Christie -- on DVD.

The first Miss Marple series with McEwen from my son (the good one, NOT the second batch) and two Tommy and Tuppence DVDs (Partners in Crime) from my daughter. So if I ever run out of books (ha,ha), I'll still have mysteries!

I recommend the first Partners DVD highly: they've caught the flavor of the book and added fun 20s clothing and cars.

Speaking of detective movies, I'm reading Dahem's (sp?) bed and breakfast series: Dead Man Docking. She does a takeoff on the Thin Man - Nick and Nora Charles. I remember reading the books, but I never saw the movies, with Myrna Loy and William Powell. Are they any good? I'm thinking of ordering one from Netflicks.

JoanK, I love the Thin Man movies and wish there were more of them. They show them on TCM, Turner Classic Movies, every few months. Love Miss Marple and they show her series on PBS but not nearly enough of them. (Our local PBS has more weeks of fund raising than they have weeks of programming and they have more money than Ft Knox. We are in pledge month again so have not had it on last week or this week. I was a big supporter until they sold my name to a bunch of organizations that I am adamantly opposed to--) Anyway back to mystery corner. I have been watching Hallmark Channel on TV. They are doing mystery movies and so far I have not been disappointed.

I am reading Ann B Ross's Miss Julia series between mysteries. I have so many books to read now that my house is now in the third week of no dusting. LOL

One of my favorite stories about reading is the Lee Iacoca (Chrysler) story where he says he reads 52 books a year and the reporter asks him how he has time to do that along with running Chrysler Corp. Mr Iacoca says I have books on my desk and I read them when I am on hold.

Mr. Iacoca must be a slow reader--even on hold. That's only 1 book a week! Sue

I am one who is not fond of the Nick and Nora Charles (Thin Man) movies. He is always drunk or appearing to be. Apparently, that was considered humorous in the 1920's.

POPPY, I used to enjoy the Nick and Nora Charles movie, way back when. However, when I read one of the books, my reaction was the same as yours. Who wants to spend time reading about a drunk who supposedly is still sharp enough to solve mysteries?

I also received those 'mysteries' you posted, and solved the first two. I considered the frost on the window in the third mystery, but felt sure frost does form on the outside of a window. I know condensation forms inside, but I am quite sure I have seen windows frosted over with ice on the outside. Perhaps the 'mystery' was making a distinction between ice and frost.

Babi

I remember frost on the inside of windows when I was a child. I think it is the humidity from people breathing inside a house. Perhaps I should do a search on frost.

I'd forgotten about the drinking in the Thin Man. I think they came out in the thirties, and were part of that glitzy world of the movies to distract people from the grim reality of the depression. When I read them as a child, the drinking seemed part of the sophistication. I guess my parents trusted me to have too much common sense to be influenced by that, and luckily they were right.

I prefer Tommy and Tuppence, who don't drink, but are always eating (and staying thin as rails). We all have our own weaknesses.

To comment, in contrast to several of you who have posted, I never have found Lescroart's books worth the time. I really don't think they are well constructed. He's overrated, IMO.

In contrast, this summer I love Laurie King. Start with Beekeepers Apprentice, and read the series in order. I think someone posted about this in June, but I missed it. My daughter has loaned me five of the series! Amazing.
Hint: Sherlock Holmes is "real" in these, not the fictional creation of Conan Doyle.
Mary Russell is the fantastic main character. What a woman!
Try these, you'll get hooked, if you ever enjoyed Sherlock Holmes stories!

I was never offended by the drinking in the "Thin Man" movies, they were movies not real life as I knew it. I enjoyed the banter and the fun of the characters. In the Thin Man movies it did not offend me because the drinking had nothing to do with the story line or the banter between characters. However, in movies and books since then, where it plays a key role in the violence and abuse within families it angers me so deeply that I cannot express fully my disdain for drunks and people who provide them with booze to get drunker.

In real life I have absolutely no time for drunks or lawyers who defend them. My nephew was killed by 4 drunk drivers in the 1970s (who sued the bars for $250,000 each and they won in court), my granddaughter by a drunk in the 1990s, my niece by a drug/drunk in the 1990s and my dad also in the 1980s.

Everyone has tragic events in their lives that seem insurmountable but time and faith gives us the knowledge that our loved ones are in a far better place. My family knows that they are all in a better place and for some very special reason God choose them to come home sooner than we wanted to let them go.

My deepest sympathy, Delphine, for the senseless loss of so many family members to drunk drivers. And to have the drunks win their law suits against the bars, thus profiting by your loss, is really adding salt to a wound. I'm glad you have your faith to help you through.

I like Lily Bard, also, Stephanie. She is a strong woman to survive and recover from the brutal attack on her.

I just can't warm up to Geraldine McEwan as Miss Marple, That pursed mouth, squinty eyed look she gets that is supposed, I think, to make her look wise, makes me grind my teeth.

The Thin Man movies make me laugh. They are not to be taken seriously, just enjoyed. The drinking never bothered me, either. It was just part of the 1930's milieu. And, of course, I loved Asta's antics.

Here is a good explanation of window frost:

http://www.its.caltech.edu/~atomic/snowcrystals/frost/frost.htm

"Murder By the Glass", by Michele Scott, is placed in California's Napa Valley, which is why I picked it up. It is labeled A Wine Lover's Mystery, and many wines are mentioned, both in the story and as accompaniments to the recipes that are included. It is a cozy mystery/romance and not memorable enough to bother looking for the first in the series, "Murder Uncorked". I did enjoy the descriptions of places in the Napa and Sonoma Valleys.

Delphine, your family has indeed suffered from drunken drivers. It sounds like that might be some sort of record, and an unhappy one it is.

I would imagine you and others of your family are strong supporters of groups like MADD. And the things that juries award damages for these day are so ridiculous and so infuriating! I wish something practical could be done to stop that. At least the new limits on damages impose some rule of reason.

Babi

Babi, yes we are. At one point during this period of time I was Exec Dir of a state chapter and spent a lot of time on the road giving speeches to volunteers, legislators and state and local police departments. Many people are able to move on with their grief but there are a few who cannot and that is the saddest part--they will never recover and their hatred grows each day as the years go bye and they have just stop living and the remaining living members of their families get lost in the shuffle.

I just finished reading all of the Miss Julia books last night I had. The only one I have not read is Miss Julia School of Beauty. I should get that book this week from ebay. I loved these books and since last Monday I have had my head in the other six Ann B Ross's Miss Julia books. I needed to read somthing light and Miss Julia was just what I needed. Yesterday's mail brought me 10 Maeve Binchy's books. The other three have been ordered from ebay and Amazon. I am really looking forward to reading this Irish writer whose focus is Ireland. But before I start those I have to read the only one left to read of the Dr Scarpetta series, this one is "Cause of Death". I've read all the others.

Mippy, Thanks for telling us about Laurie King.I just got a copy of the latest Guido Brunetti mystery by Donna Leon, "Through a Glass Darkly." But will look for "Beekeepers Apprentice" after that.

I like most of Maeve Binchy's book.. Not one that the title had something to do with a lake, but the rest are just fine. Lauri King is really really good and the non Sherlock books which are darker are excellent. I love both the series and the others. I have been involved in reading and tracking down the Shakespeare series by Charlaine Harris. Still missing two and am keeping looking.

Delphine, have you read Rosamunde Pilcher? I like her writing, too. She writes about Scotland and Cornwall. My sister introduced me to both Pilcher and Binchy and I've been devouring them both eversince. She gave me The Coast Road by Barbara Delinsky and that was a great read, also. Have to check out other Delinsky books. Coast Road is about the Bir Sur region of California but Delinsky's other books are not set in CA.

Thank you Mrs Sherlock for the recommendations. I have not read any of their books-- Are they all romance? I tend to stay away from them these days. I use to read books that had a little romance but the books now with romance are really about sex and have little about a weaving of a good story line. I have printed out the lists for both authors and am looking forward to reading about Cornwall and Scottland. Thanks again.

The Delinsky I read was about people, incidently with a romance thread, but no sex. I like big stories with lots of characters going off and doing things. Angela Thirkell writes about England between the wars in just that way. Her Barsetshire is populated with many families whose lives are interwoven and she picks up different ones to feature but they all pop in and out of the stories. No sex, just loving, caring people living together.

Mrs Sherlock, I am really looking forward to following up on your recommendations. Like you, I like books that have characters whose lives are interwoven into good books that we tell other people about. Thank you so much.

it's one of the driving features in stories about people. it's the great unpredictable motive... is everyone here a prude or just old

Claire, maybe they just feel like my mother did years ago. She had gotten a book from the library, and then had me take it back. She said "I don't mind sex in a book, but I don't want an instruction manual." I just howled with laughter. She was in her mid70s at the time. I've always thought that was a reasonable way to look at it.

I read the books with sex when it helps move the story. However, I leave most erotica on the store or library shelf. Some of the thriller writers combine edginess and sex that make for a hard to put down book. Sandra Brown has moved from a romance writer to a thriller writer.

I think I would have liked your mother, Mary Z! Her comment made me laugh.

The Inspector Monk series by Anne Perry is not my favorite of her series. I'm sorry he lost his memory and that it has caused him so much soul searching, but I feel like Anne Perry is pounding the subject into the ground and breaking it off with a big stick. That said, I feel like Monk is beginning to come out on the other side, finally, since he has joined the Thames River Police. The first one was "The Shifting Tide" and the latest one, which I just finished, is "Dark Assassin". It has to do with the building of new sewers under London in the late 1860s or early 1870s, after the death of Prince Albert and Queen Victoria's return to duty after a three year mourning period. I was so caught up in the story that I didn't even feel that I ended up knowing more about London's sewers than I ever wanted to know. The series is one in which the characters grow and interact and so anyone who wants to know Monk's whole history should read them in order. Since becoming a member of the Thames River Police, many new characters are added and it almost like part 2 of the series and I feel one could start with "The Shifting Tide" and not miss anything by not having read the 13 books of part 1.

Perkie, you'd've loved my mother. She was a hoot! And, she would've loved the internet, I think - having all this information at her fingertips. She died in 1983 (way too young, at 75), and would've been 98 this year.

the fruit doesn't fall too far from the tree. I like you both. . .claire and I did laugh. still smiling.

Thanks, Claire - I consider that a high compliment!

Yes, it is the "instruction manual" aspect of some writers' sex scenes that turns me off. I expect healthy adults to have sex lives, The closeness/intimacy of sharing sex with someone you love can be implied. Sex should not be a spectator sport. (That's probably my gender bias showing.)

the truth is that it is and people pay to get in. Anything that is worth money in this society is going to be sold and in the case of otherwise uninteresting literature it helps to get it published.

there is no SHOULD about it. everyone can choose whether or not to buy or even read it. you can always skip if it gets too obnoxious. I do.

Winsum, you're right, I can and do skip it (sometimes) but it can distract the reader from the story.

I just finished Eileen Goudge's The Second Silence. It was enjoyable. Has anybody read her triology of a Calif town. They had the first chapter in the back of this book. I have never heard of her, picked up the book at the library book sale......jean

The sex does not bother me if it is really part of the story, but in many cases, its like..stop the plot and throw in a sex scene.. So.. I just avoid it.. As much as I like J.D. Robb, I skip her sex scenes.. Just too too violent for me.

I agree with Mary Z's mother...I prefer that something be left to the imagination. And I definitely do not like what Stephanie just described so well...'stop the plot and throw in a sex scene'.

When I complained one day about the prevalence of show-all sex scenes in movies these days, a liberal friend chided me that 'sex was natural'. I promptly replied that sex was, but public sex and voyeurism were not! Viewers seem to forget that these are real people on the screen, carrying out this scene in front of production crews. I refuse to forced in voyeurism.

Babi

Brokeback Mountain had steamy sex where it wasn't needed, I thought. One scene, which was very moving, showed the two lovers lying in one another's arms. It was intimate and loving without being graphic.

I am reading "A Fatal Vineyard Season" by Philip R. Craig. The mystery takes place on Martha's Vineyard.

Hate, I love Philip Craig's series about Martha's Vineyard. HOpe you enjoy the book. I just finished Kate Wilhelm's non-series book, The Price of Silence. A complex plot, interesting characters, an engrossing mystery or two AND her marvelous sense of place translated into vivid words creating striking mental pictures. She has written about Oregon in one genre or another for more than 30 years, and I credit her in no small part for my decision to retire to Oregon's Willamette Valley. I shall be getting out my maps and attempt to recreate the milieu she writes about here, the boundary between the Cascade Range to the West and the Great Basin desert to the East. PLus, another Barbara Holloway book is coming out in HC next month. I always wait for the PB.

Attention "Miss Julia" fans...there's a new one out...just picked it up from my Library's New Books shelves...Miss Julia Stands Her Ground

jane

Hello Jane, it is a grand book. I finished it over the weekend. Loved the whole series.

Hats, I just finished "Murder at a Vineyard Mansion" and "Vineyard Prey." Love this series, and there are so many left to read since I started at the end.

Jane, Who is the author of the Miss Julia series?

Horselover I didn't start at the beginning either. I would love to read the whole series. I am glad you like the series too.

Ann B. Ross, Hats.

Very light, very just fun.

jane

just fun, light reading...AND a reasonably smart, capable older woman w/ all her faculties.....jean

Just finished "Light from Heaven" and it was wonderful. BTW, in 2006 Father Tim will go to Mississippi so look for that book to be followed by his trip to Ireland to search for his roots and then to England to search for her roots. Three more to wait for, isn't that grand? I was just at her web site..... great place.

I remember slugging through Eileen Goudge's "The Trail of Secrets" and crossing her off as an author I wanted to read. I am willing to give her another chance with her Carson Springs, California, trilogy, however. The titles are "Stranger in Paradise", "Taste of Honey", and "Wish Come True".

Kate Wilhelm's, "The Price of Silence" sounds familiar, but I have no record of reading it. I'll have to try it and see!

I am now thoroughly hooked on Jack Caleb and John Thinnes mysteries by Michael Allen Dymmoch. I just finished my, and her, third one, "Incendiary Designs" about a serial arsonist. I was so caught up in the story that our Corgi had trouble getting me up to take her for her morning walk. "Just one more chapter. They are short. Honest."

New authors! Hooray! Just finished Elaine Flinn's 3rd book about Mollie Doyle and her Carmel, CA, antique shop: Deadly Collection is the best so far. No word about another book. Boo Hoo.

MrsSherlock, Do you know how many antique shops there are in Carmel? How will we ever find the right one?

Perkie I loved the Carson Springs trilogy. I didn't want that trilogy to end.

Elaine Flinn is a new author to me and I will put her on my increasingly long long list. Perkie.. My corgi get truly upset about not having walks at the designated times. I get much hmmph and snorting and circling of my chair until I move..Good thing they canot talk.

How will we find Daria's restaurant? I can almost taste the goodies they describe as they sit around the table in the back...

do you watch HE DOG WHISPERER on national geographic discovery chanel?

I often wonder who the pack leader is myself. The trouble with Corgi is that they are highly intelligent like most herd dogs. They are also creatures of habit and their walks are the big moment of their day. Watching those bright shining eyes and the look of happiness makes me know that both they and me.. need that exercise.

Our library has only the first in Elaine Flinn's series about Mollie Doyle and her Carmel, CA, antique shop: Dealing in Murder. Fortunately I will be able to get the other two on interlibrary loan.

I loved Virginia Rich's series with Eugenia Potter. I loved the cooking school and the recipes from New England and the Southwest. Even after Nancy Pickard took over the series on Virginia Rich's death, the series was still good. I eagerly checked out one of Nancy Pickard's Jenny Cain series and was so disappointed, that I stopped looking for Pickard's titles. Then I noticed a new book, a single, not part of a series, by Pickard, "The Virgin of Small Plains". I was a little skeptical, but willing to give it a try, and I am so glad I did. It is a complex, well constructed work and kept me in suspense and jolted me with surprises. I hope she writes more singles.

Pickard does a nice small series on a true crime writer in Miami.. I like that one.. But did not like her continuance of Eugenia and actively dislike the Jenny series..Very uneven writer.

I just finished "The Lighthouse" and enjoyed it. I noticed that P.D. James is 86 years old and still going strong.

Mary

I am reading another book by Laurence Shames..."The Naked Detective". As the others by Shames, it is delightful and funny. His descriptions of Key West are wonderful. His characters are often endearing. The hero of this book made his money "the American way: by sheer dumb luck, doing work I hated on a silly product that only make life more trivial and annoying".

He retired to Key West to play tennis and sit in his hot tub naked. His accountant suggested that as a tax dodge, he list himself as a private investigator. It worked for several years until someone actually wanted to hire him.

Shames is so much fun. We live in Florida and his descriptions of Key West are quite accurate. It is a most peculiar place with some really different types of people. They glory in being eccentric..

I just got Straight into Darknessby Faye Kellerman. It is the first of hers I have had that is set in a foreign country. It is 1920's Germany at the opening and as I am only a chapter in I can only say I am as usual excited by her introduction to the story and cant wait to read some more. I will come back and let you all know if it stands up to her other works. She has had a few stinkers but I generally love her mysteries. Faithr

Just reading your mention of "The Naked Detective", by Laurence Shames, made me smile, GoldenStatePoppy. I hope he does a sequel. The New York mafia imports to Key West, in his other books, don't sound all that interesting to me.

The latest Richard Jury mystery, "The Old Wine Shades", by Martha Grimes, could have been written by Ruth Rendell, except that Rendell would probably have told it from the perspective of the murderer and in a more cohesive manner. More was mentioned about quantum mechanics and superstring theory than I ever wanted to know and so I was often at a loss as to how they fit into the mysterious disappearance that is the foundation of the plot. I still like the cast enough to finish the book: CS Racer's eternal battle with Cyril the cat, Melrose Plant and the Long Piddington group, and Carol-anne from the apartment upstairs. The conclusion, if one can call it that, was open-ended and unsatisfying. I hope it does not leave the door open for a sequel. There is some good writing here, as I would expect from Grimes, but I don't like the tack she has taken.

I love faye kellerman. like her husband not so sure about the setting period though. . thanks for the review. . .claire

I have read all of Faye Kellermans, but have held off on this one since the period and place were not normal for her. Tell us how you like it. I love her normal series books.

Well I am half way thru my Kellerman book,Clair. I am not really into the politics and racial denigration that is in this story- carried out in Munich when Hitler was still trying for power. The author is probably sticking pretty close to actual events and it is hard to read about the way the police were already treating the Jews and others too with such indignities.

It is about a serial killer of the type we are more familiar with in this day and age of all the tv shows. At that time it was still difficult to gather evidence as forensics were not very advanced.This gave the police a chance to lie and fabricate as they wished. It is scary reading about that.

I put it down last night and said I wouldn't read anymore as it brought back lots of stuff I heard about in my childhood and still I picked it up again at lunch and read a bit. I will finish it as I rarely leave a novel even if I don't like it much. faith

FAITHR, I have come to feel that my time is too precious to waste on forcing my way thru' books I don't like. There are too many out there that I still want to try, authors I've never met. I've already decided that if I find myself again in a discussion of a book I loathe, like that Eco book we discussed a few months ago, I will drop out. It's simply not worth it, to me.

Babi

Miss Julia meets her match it does have it's moments including the tent meeting. I'm glad I held out. . .claire

Daniel Silva has a new Gabriel Allon book, The Messenger, which pits master spy/art restorer Allon against Al Quaeda. I'm putting it on reserve at my library.

Just finished Emperor Norton's Ghost. Dianne Day and Fremont Jones are really fun. This brought back the time when spiritualism was all the rage. Fremont has such courage, but so many problems of her own. Quite interesting.

GoldenStatePoppy, When I read your post, I remembered having read the "Naked Detective" quite a while age. It was fun!

Naked Detective rang a bell and I went digging in my not read box.. Sure enough, I found it at a thrift shop for .50..will put it on top. Am reading three different books just now, but when one is done, will throw it into the mix. Sounds nice and I like Shames.

The discussion of The Murders in the Rue Morgue is open for your posts. Follow this link to the discussion.

The Murders in the Rue Morgue

Bill H

Babi I do agree with you that time is against us at this late date and we should do things we truly enjoy not just because we were told to finish what we start. That was a big deal in our home.

I have read so many modern murder mysteries that I too am going back into my archives(stack of books in the closet) to weed out some of the more interesting books and do some rereading. My kids bring sacks of paper backs ot me and I honestly dont know if I have read all that are stored back there. Faith

I'm 5th on the reserve list for Margaret Maron's latest Deborah Knott mystery "Winter's Child". Really looking forward to it. Right now I'm reading "Children of the Storm" by Elizabeth Peters.

Has anyone read "No Nest for the Wicket" the lastest Donna Andrews?

Ive just put that Donna Andrews on reserve. Thanks

I like Donna Andrews and will look for it. Have started Folly by Laurie King. Wow.. I am simply blown away by the isolation and desolation. This is a really really good book. Not sure how much mystery is involved, but the island is really wild.

I have read "Folly." Laurie king, I think, is a wonderful writer. "Folly," I think, is a keeper book. I want to reread it. At the time, I felt so happy to have it, I rushed it. It is not a book I should have rush. It's so much involved in the change taking place in the woman's life once she leaves her home and goes to the island. As she physically builds, her emotional side is being built as well. It is an extraordinary book.

Funny, as I post about the book, it's all coming back to me. Many times I felt fear for the woman on the island. I could feel all of her emotions. The book came across in such a "real" way.

I want to read "Keeping Watch" by Laurie King.

Interesting "double" book, "Roberts writes" a contemporary story which is quite and interesting mystery and then "Robb" picks it up in 2050 with the third generation. I enjoyed it, not quite so gruesome as some of "Robb's" stories and not as much extraneous sex. I am constantly amazed at Roberts' technical details of the specific subject she puts in each book, this one was about stealing diamonds and about antiques........jean

I haven't tried J.D. Robb yet. I have got to read one.

same author who does the same darn thing making so much of the sex lives of her main characters. It's almost like an invasion of their privacy.

claire

I have just finished reading Lisa Gardner's "The Perfect Husband". It is just as good as her other books that I have read: "The Next Accident", "The Third Victim", "Alone". She is truly quite an amazing writer. I notice, according to her bio, that she sold her first book when she was 20 and in 1993 graduated magma cum laude from the Univ of Pennsylvania with a degree in international relations.

FRANCYLOU, that title, "No Nest for the Wicket" reminds me of my favorite pun. It's somewhat long, and I have inflicted it on SN posters before, so I won't repeat it again. (Be glad!)

Babi

I loved Virginia Swift's Browy-eyed Girl, about a former western singer who had become a college teacher and come back home to Wyoming or Montant, I forget which. The next book wasn't as good and I missed seeing the third one entirely but the fourth, Hello, Stranger, is starting out very well. I'll probably go back and read the others now to see if it was just me or if she truly was a little off. Also picked up Alan Furst's Foreign Correspondent. Again, it's pre-WWII Europe with spies on every corner. I just love his books. Spies are the most fascinating heros. Reminds me, Sandbaggers is available at Netflix. I'll be putting it on my list.

BaBi, lol !!

MrsSherlock, sounds like a series I'd like. I put her on my list.

Oh,my!!! The list of books to read is sooo long.

Off to the paperback exchange to see about Virginia Swift. Sounds interesting.

Spotted Shirley Tallman's Murder on Nob Hill on the library shelves. Imagine a woman in 1880 San Francisco who is also a lawyer. What in interesting premise. Will keep you posted. (Pardon the pun.)

Mrs Sherlock - sounds like one I'll enjoy a lot.

I recorded "Sandbaggers" long ago when it was a PBS series, and I still have all the videotapes. Maybe I'll dig them out and watch them again.

What is Sandbaggers all about?

I read and enjoyed Shirley Tallman's second book, "Russian Hill Murders", Mrs. Sherlock, but haven't caught up with "Murder on Nob Hill" yet. I love the references to The City (San Francisco) of the 1800s.

I finally found a copy of "How to Murder a Millionaire", Hats and GoldenStatePoppy, and agree with your assessment that it is light and funny and there's a dead body, too. At first, I was a little put off by the bickering among the three sisters, but then I was caught up in the story and bickering just became the way the three interacted and was not annoying any more. Thanks for mentioning it. Have you read "Dead Girls Don't Wear Diamonds", the next in the series? I am on the look-out for it now.

I found some information about "Sandbaggers" at http://www.opsroom.org/pages/faq/index.html

Sandbaggers is a cold war spy series, British, starring a very sexy young Roy Marsden, later to star as Adam Dalgliesh. Very exciting. I'll probably buy the DVDs but I want to watch it first to see if it holds up after all these years.

Perkie, I have read "Dead Girls Don't Wear Diamonds" yet. I am anxious to read it. I am glad you ended up liking the Blackbird sisters.

I just finished Faye Kellerman's Straight into Darkness. As a detective novel it is well written and the suspense holds right to the end however, I just hated the setting...1920's Germany while Hitler was still a small time thug leading the Brown Shirts etc.

So now I am in my archives and since I have lots of choices I will see what feels unfamiliar. I often forget I have read a book until I am in the middle so that is how I choose when I dont feel like going to the library or buying a new book. My son will be here this month and he always brings a bag of detective and science fiction books. His wife likes romance novels so I do get those sometimes too. faith

Nancy Martin's Blackbird Sisters Mystery Series sounded really interesting so I looked her up, and here is the list for those who are interested:

How to Murder a Millionaire: October. 2002
Dead Girls Don't Wear Diamonds: July 2003
Some Like It Lethal: April 2004
Drop-Dead Blonde: February 2005
Have your Cake and Hope to Die, paperback March 2006
Have Your Cake and Kill Him Too Hardcover release, March 2006

Also: This story is only available from a club, "Mick's Story" Teaser.

FrancyLou thank you.

Cliff Janeway seems to be turning back into a cop and away from his bookstore in the Bookman series by John Dunning. The latest mystery, "The Bookwoman's Last Fling" tells more about the workings of a race track than the book world, although there are bibliophiles and bibliomaniacs here and there. Not to worry, however, as it is a well crafted and riveting work. Part of it takes place in and around Golden Gate Fields in Albany, just north of Berkeley, California, so it was fun to see familiar street names pop up.

I just looked up Nancy Martin on Amazon.com. All of her books are available in both new and used editions, except for the one that seems to be going to be published in 2007. Since I enjoy the first one so much, I plan to order more of them.

My paperback swap had one Nancy Martin, so I asked for it.. Sounds interesting. No Virginia Swifts at this point, but I will keep looking. Still plugging away at Poes Shadow, but not sure why. Finished Folly.. Loved it.

MRS. SHERLOCK, where/when will you be watching "Sandbagers"? It sounds interesting and I'd like to give it a trial. If it's on PBS, that is, and not on cable. This is the first I've heard of it.

Babi

It was originally on PBS but now I've put it on my NetFlix queue so I'll watch it on DVD. It is really a great series. Do you NetFlix? Check it out.

Val and I do have Netflix. Thanks for the tip. ...Babi

"The Sandbaggers was a taut British spy series comprising twenty 50-minute episodes produced by Yorkshire Television. The stories centred on the elite covert operations section of British Intelligence, nicknamed the Sandbaggers, and their boss Neil Burnside, himself a former Sandbagger, but now having to battle more with British bureaucracy than enemy agents. It was set contemporaneously with its original broadcast in the late 1970s and early 1980s when the Cold War still dominated the Western intelligence agenda. Burnside's main operative (codenamed Sandbagger One) is Willie Caine, his most experienced agent. Burnside's main opponents in the series are not his KGB adversaries but the bureaucrats and functionaries of his own government, often his own superiors. He is constantly at odds his his Deputy Chief and occasionally with "C", the head of the Secret Service. Burnside frequently solicits unauthorised support or cooperation from the CIA's London station chief, Jeff Ross, and uses whatever methods, no matter how morally untoward, to protect his team or achieve his goal."

The series is dated, since the Cold War is presumed to be officially over. But I suspect that, behind the scenes, the intelligence services and their bureaucrats are still operating in much the same way.

Speaking of spies, Alan Furst's latest is another gem. He focuses on the little people of the pre=WWI era, not Le Carre's Smiley or Sandbagger's Neil Burnside. Here it is The Foreigh Correspondent, who works for Reuters in Paris, covering stories about talking dogs and the Signing of the Steel Pact between Hitler and Mussolini and anything else in between. He is also editor of the little monthly Liberazione which is smuggled into Italy and clandestinely distributed. Did you know that Mussolini took over the Italian government in 1924? That his rule almost as repressant as Hitler's? The tiny group of Liberazione writers soon comes to the attention of the OVRA, Mussolini's SS, which begins picking them off one by one. Weisz, our foreign correspondent, juggles OVRA, British secret service, the Surete, and Reuters. Does he pull it off? I haven't finished. Furst's stories are noirish, in the style of Casablanca, but utterly realistic, not romantic. He brings pre-war Europe to life for me.

The funny thing in Italy is now Mussolini was something of a hero. Very distasteful to me, but we also got a lot of .. the allies bombed this and that .. meaning monasteries, etc. I tend to bristle at that sort of nonsense,, but our tour guide was into it. Then again he was austrian and they certainly do not have anything to brag about from WWII

Stephanie, I have a friend who is both an Irishish and American citizen. He travels as an Irish citizen. He has spent the last year traveling throughout Europe and relishes the fact that everyone there hates us. He was in Italy and he found the same thing you say. I told him they have always hated us for what we've done to them in both wars... I guess they didn't want freedom, what do you think? Maybe we should have let Hilter and Mussolini and Stalin have their way--

I did not mean to come on so strong about how people feel about Americans. I guess I am still distressed that my friend is so anti American and will not admit to people he is an American.

Yes, Adrienne, I did realize that "Mrs. Henderson Presents" was based on an actual story. Mrs. Henderson must have been a strong, creative woman to imagine a non-stop revue with nude tableaux.

We should feel bad about the way people in other countries feel about Americans, Delphine, because we have done a lot of things to earn their enmity. I just learned that the CIA has prison and interrogation camps! That goes way beyond what I thought was their mandate and says to me that the Cold War mentality in not dead in our government. I do feel that the Axis powers had to be stopped because they were expanding their territory to include other nations that did not want to be part of them. Just as I feel we should never have been the aggressors in Iraq, as it probably has more to do with oil than with the Iraqi government.

I found "The Sandbaggers" at the public library and have seen the first three episodes. I wasn't that interested in episode one, but by episode three I was hooked. I almost didn't recognize Roy Marsden. He looks quite different in this role than he did in the Adam Dalgliesh role. A lot of it is age and a fuller face, but a big part of it is body language. Neil Burnside is controlled as is necessary since he must send his people out into extremely dangerous situations. Adam Dalgliesh is able to be much warmer and seems to lean toward you, while Neil Burnside seems to pull away.

I found the following quote in Wikipedia (which must be viewed skeptically since there is no editorial control over the context of its articles), but it seems plausible.

"Why the group was called the Sandbaggers was not explained in the context of the show, but it may have to do with putting up sandbags as a defense against an incoming flood. To "sandbag" someone also means to coerce them through heavy-handed means, or to misrepresent one's position to gain an advantage."

Hello Perkie-- I wish we didn't know what is going on. The only reason we do is that everything is political and the war of politics is more important than national security or international security. Why are we the bad guys all the time? France has had secret prisons for years and years and their prisoners never get tried. (Source, not USA papers, but a simple search of the internet will tell you what other countries have secret prisons where trials never happen.)

The best book I ever read on spys and how it is done is called, "The Charm School". This book leaves no question unanswsered except one, we allow them to do it.

I come here as a relief from politics and to enjoy learning what books others are reading. I am about to make an order from Amazon's used books, so I appreciate your opinions. Someone here mentioned Reginald Hill so it is on my list. However, I don't remember what was said about his books.

IMO, today's generation doesn't know what it was like to live in a Fascist Italy, but can learn from their history that Mussolini was an efficient administrator (had the trains running on time!). Italy has always had a very volatile political make-up, and the Mussolini regime may have been one of the best regulated. If you didn't mind living under Fascism.

While I enjoy history, politics is an arcane mystery to me. My mind generally goes numb in the presence of a discussion of politics. Even inter-office politics was beyond me, I would be blind-sided every time!

Babi

The Charm School by Nelson DeMille is a very good read. I have many of his books waiting to be read. Ray has read all of his books and is waiting in expectation for the next book, which is due out soon.

I liked The Charm School, but I still think from my point of view, that LeCarre wrote best about spies and the cold war era. I think all countries do things with secret prisons.. I dislike the notion that we are not told for our own good.. Politicians really seem to believe that they are somehow gifted to know best. Sort of sad actually. A lot of sins were and are committed in the name of war and religion.. I was annoyed at our guide, because he was snide all the time about Americans and he makes his living ( and a good one) off of Americans. I dont think that individuals hate us,,but then they are sensible enough to look at us as individuals also.

Poppy: I really like Reginald Hill's police procedurals. They take place in a small British city which allows for a variety of criminals. It is like a Hill Street Blues without the gritty big city feel. His characters are engaging, even the comic relief head honcho (I forget his title). The mysteries are puzzles, very important to me. Hope this helps.

I hate how America has been redefined as a nation which distorts truth for its own ends and seems to have no accountability for its lies when they are revealed. Where dissension is termed "unpatriotic". Reminds me too much of fascistic thinking. The founding fathers must be spinning, spinning, spinning.

Mrs Sherlock, thank you for say, "The founding fathers must be spinning, spinning, spinning." I am so glad to hear that Thomas Jefferson's writings are back in demand.

MrsSherlock, thank you for the information about Reginald Hill. I will definitely order one of his books.

I got the nancy Martin book Some Like It Lethal and have just finished it. It was a good read, especially because it is set in Philadelphia area, so i recognize where she's talking about. I did get a bit tired of her taking the nasty little dog everywhere - and i mean everywhere. But all and all it was a fun, good read......thanks for the recommendation, I'll look for some more Blackbird sister stories. .........jean

Just saw a review for Dick Francis new book.. Sounds wonderful.. will wait for the paperback since I keep all of his stuff. I never could get into Reginald Hill. JUst seemed to not be my cup of tea. Thomas Jefferson is a personal hero..I keep wondering if anyone in the government remembers Viet Nam and the horrors that came from it. I really believed that we had learned our lesson on interfering in another country, but obviously according to the VP, we have not.

Susan Dunlap writes a series about Jill Smith, a policewoman in Berkeley. They are fairly light and the descriptions of Berkeley, where I lived when I was at the University as a returning student in the 1960's, are fun to read.

Now she has written a mystery about different people. It starts in L.A. with the killing of Liza Silvestri's husband and her escape to Northern California with her friend Ellen and her piglet Felton. It is a complex story with a lot of tension and twists and turns that kept me racing to the end. It could be a stand-alone story or the beginning of a series without Felton who has been left with a good home along the way. I was sorry to see him go, but he was a regular pig, not a pot-bellied one, and would soon grow too large to travel unnoticed.

I remember reading several books by Susan Dunlap a few years ago. Since I live near Berkeley all of the settings were familiar. I remember liking her books, so am glad to be reminded of her and to know that she is still writing.

Susan Dunlop's name had fallen off my authors-to-read list. Thank you for recalling her charming Berkeley stories to me.

Do you need to read Susan Dunlap in order?

Susan writes or did write several small series. All was excellent. I have some of hers around in my not read box.. Must look for them.

Perkie, what is the name of the book with Felton?

Laurie R. King Fans: Here is an announcement from her blog:

NPR’s “To the Best of Our Knowledge” on September 17th will include as the second hour:

HOUR TWO - “Elementary Holmes” "Forget the deerstalker cap and the calabash pipe. The real Sherlock Holmes is much hipper than that. One scholar suggests that with his violin, creative spirit, cocaine and costumes, Holmes was the rock star of his day. In this hour of To the Best of Our Knowledge we’ll investigate the elementary Sherlock Holmes, from the new annotated edition - to his wife!"

Did the used book thing yesterday. Came home with a large haul to add to the already horrendous stack of unread.. Why..oh why.. My husband had run out of his beloved courtroom thrillers and I went along for the ride.. Ho... Ho... Ho...

Ho, ho, ho!! I love trolling used book stores -- one near us has a great mystery department.

Me too but I have had to,with force, not to stop at book stores. In fact, my favorite place has been the Salvation Army and I don't even go there now. I have no resistance to books and over the years have managed to collect thousands of them and have had to move them when I've moved. I read a bunch, then take them to the used books store and get more. I buy from Amazon and ebay most of the time (and Half Price Books) so am able to hold down my compulsion (more or less) to buy everything in site. I called a book seller one time when I moved and told him I had books so he went through them and took about 200 books. I told him the only way I would sell him the books is if he took all the books. He gave me what I wanted and took all the books must to his un-delight. LOL

I once owned a used book store, so know most of the owners around here. They know my weakness for certain types of mysteries and so.. I get nailed. The library in Orlando is having their once a year used book sale.. I am trying hard to not go, but I can hear those books calling.

It's terrible when they know your name, isn't it?

It was my son's dream when he was younger to own his own bookstore. He always has been a reader and worked part-time at a local bookstore as a teenager.

Unfortunately, now with Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Waldenbooks and other large corporations, it is nearly impossible for an independent to make it.

Mary

All of the Amazon.com used books that I buy come from small local bookstores all over the country. I have no idea what their agreement is with these store, since I pay to Amazon. But, I wonder if this isn't helping small local stores.

Golden State Poppy, I like Amazon a lot and it does help all the local stores. I have seen some of them from Arizona selling books. Their shipping costs are so much lower than from ebay and I can buy them cheaper on Amazon than I can drive to the local stores to buy.

I talked to a lady last week who has shop in Casa Grande and she said that Saturday was her book day. She spends it going around and buying books she can sell on Amazon and ebay.

It would be interesting what the difference in costs are to the seller.

B&N has the same set-up. So does Alibrix, Abebooks, etc. There are many on-line booksellers where I search for used books. Sometimes one doesn't have my book listed but another does. The books always come from small bookstores around the country.

I just got two books from Amazon in today's mail from a bookstore in WA. They are both by Anne George, "Murder on a Bad Hair Day" and "Murder Gets a Life".They were the missing books in the Southern Sisters series.

I've ordered books from Amazon affiliates all over the country, including some great used book stores, like Powells, in Portland. Some of the choices are not bookstores, but individuals who buy up remainders in bulk, and sell them off. When a hardback mystery (or other book) comes out in paperback, you can buy the new hardback actually cheaper than the paperback from these venders.

Amazon and some of the others are godsends for some of the used book stores. An old friend still in the business supports herself by selling audio cds and tapes. All on the web. The problem with most of the little guys is the rent.. It has gotten out of hand unless you go to obscure places and that makes it so hard for people to find you. The one I visited the other day is a delight, but she has two of them and getting help is close to impossible. She asked me how the clerk in the store I was in the other day was working out and I had to admit.. Not well at all. Very surly..and talking on the phone to a friend the entire time I was there.

What they need to do is hire some of us mellow oldsters in their stores.

Sorry, Francie Lou. The title of Susan Dunlap's book with Felton the piglet is "Fast Friends".

I don't feel strongly that Susan Dunlap's series with Jill Smith in Berkeley need to be read in order, Ginny Ann. There is, of course, some development of characters and of her relationship with her boyfriend, but each book stands alone fairly well.

Susan Dunlap's other series are: Kiernan O'Shaughnessy, former San Francisco medical examiner turned PI in La Jolla, California and Vejay Haskell, Pacific Gas & Electric meter reader in northern California. I will have to look into them, especially Vejay.

The problem with this "mellow oldster" working in a bookstore, even part time, is having to get dressed in good clothes and be somewhere at a certain time. I love my leisurely, retired days.

I just finished an excellent novel by Barbara Vine. It really belongs on the Fiction Discussion Group, but since Vine is Ruth Rendell's pen name for her psychological fiction, rather than her mysteries, I will comment on it here. It is the best work I have read by Vine/Rendell. The title is "The Blood Doctor" and has three intertwined threads. The primary thread is about unraveling the history of Lord Nanther's great grandfather, a physician to Queen Victoria and knowledgeable about hemophilia. I didn't know that Queen Victoria was a carrier. This thread interested me because I had a cousin who died of hemophilia when he was in his 20s. His father was my father's younger brother, so my brother and I were not genetically at risk. The second thread is about the inner workings of the House of Lords. And the third thread is about his wife's desperate tries to carry a baby to term. It is a long book, but I never felt the need to take a break, as I sometimes do with long books.