Wow this place looks great!

In regards to Laurie King is there a need to read them in order? My library has many of her books:)

I read them out of order - but the refer to books before the one you are reading, so in order better I think.

Thanks FrancyLou

As a newish resident of Oregon I'm catching up on local authors. Just found an old series (70's) by M. K. Wren about a bookseller in Holiday Beach about 40 minutes west of Salem, where I live. He was a spy and has a family ranch near Pendleton. Fun, but dated. I'll be readin more of her books. The first one is Curiosity Didn't Kill the Cat.

We're just back from three weeks in Scotland, and I'm trying to get caught up with my SN subscriptions. Mostly, I'm afraid, I'm having to just skip to the last page to start, and I really hate that.

But I just had to take the time to tell y'all that one of the towns where we stopped was in the little seaside town of Plockton in the Highlands. It was the town used in the BBC productions of Hamish MacBeth for his town of Loch Dubh. It was a charming town, although John says it's much too large (really it wasn't) - looked just about right to me. Anyhow, when I get my pictures downloaded, I'll try to put one of them up in Pictures Then & Now. I do wish our PBS station showed that series. Has anybody out there seen them?

Edit: I just checked Netflix, and the first season is in their library, so I have added to our queue.

Hi Mary Z, welcome back! Do you have photos??

Hi Hats - yep, something like two full memory sticks for my camera. It'll take a while to get it all sorted out, but I'll be working on it for sure. We got home last night, and it's going to take a while to get over the jet lag, too. It was a great trip, but there's no place like home. Even though we'll undoubtedly be heading out again before too much longer. You know how we are!

Welcome back, Mary. You were missed here and in BB. I've seen the Hamish McBeth series on the BBCAmerica channel when I lived at the farm. We had a satellite dish that included that in the programing. I love to read the books with Hamish, also. Sue

We were in Scotland last year.. Beautiful place and the nicest possible people. I want to go back in the summer and do some of the castles. It is on our long long list. Laurie King.. The Mary Russel are best read in sequence.. The Beekeepers apprentice is the first one.. Her other stuff can be read in any order and she has several stand alones. I just finished Folly and am still blown away by it.

Stephanie, the first two weeks in September were quite good for weather. We had real sunshine most of the time, and just a little "Scottish sunshine" occasionally. The only days we had real rain were some travel days, and our day at Culloden and Cawdor Castle.

One disadvantage to audio book is the inability to skip descriptions that become too graphic. In "Deja Dead" by Kathy Riechs, Tempe Brennan is a forensic anthropologist who studies cut marks on the bones of victims to decifer the type of instrument used. That part didn't bother me. It was cleaning the bones that was almost too much for my stomach. Once past that part, it is an excellent mystery and well worth reading. It is the first of 9 books in the series.

I like Kathy very much indeed and have read each one in turn. I think she has a new hardback, but I always wait until it is paperback..She writes well and makes you understand some awfully peculiar things about bodies.

The TV series "BONES" is based on Kathy Reichs character, Tempe Brennan. Reichs is herself a forensic anthropologist. I enjoy the character as played on TV very much, but was disappointed when I read one of the books. The forensic anthropologist in the novel was not nearly as interesting. There's a switch for you. It's usually the other way around.

Babi

Babi, I am the opposite, I dislike the tv show intensely and my husband adores it. It is just not Tempe.. not even a little bit..

I guess it's because I met the TV Tempe first, Stephanie. She is a much more complex character, and over the last season she has been evolving into someone less closed off and guarded. You come to know why she was originally so unable to relate to people socially, and find many qualities to admire in her.

Babi

But the book Tempe is not like that. She shuttles back and forth from North Carolina to Canada. Has friends in both places.. A daughter away in school.. and now a lover and friend in Canada. So.. I just liked that one. The TV Tempe seems to be such a closed off human..And the male in her life is jerky looking.

Ah, Steph! Jerky-looking? Nah.,,,he looks real. Rugged and real. I prefer that to the too-handsome types.

Babi

I think Tempe's FBI friend is quite nice looking. I haven't read the books, so I enjoy the TV show. It has such a nice ensemble cast.

I was not aware of the TV show, "Bones" but will see if we can get it. I'd like to see it.

I managed to find "Dealing in Murder" by Elaine Flinn. It is not a great read, but I love the setting in Carmel, California. I remember Carmel when it was a sleepy artists' colony, and don't find it so charming now that it is a tourist attraction. I did warm up to Molly Doyle as the book went along, and would like to read the rest of the series. However, I will have to hit the used book stores because our library does not have any more of her works in spite of the fact that we are within a day's drive of Carmel!

"Body of Lies" by Iris Johansen was my car book. I pick up my roommate at the bus stop after work and usually get there 10 to 15 minutes early, or more if the traffic is heavy. I was so caught up in the story that I was leaving early for the bus stop and hoping it would be late. Eve Duncan is a forensic sculptor and the story is fast paced and absorbing. This is the third in the series, and I have read the second but missed the first and will have to go back! There are six in the series now. She certainly is a prolific author. There are 69 books listed on the Fantastic Fiction website.

Perkie, the Carmel stories are OK, but I really like the people and the ambiance. It would be so neat to be a Carmel insider. Iris Johansen's books sound good. I'll rewserve one at my library. thanks.

Jackie

Will have to look up Iris Johanson again. When I owned the store, she did romance and then started with detectives stories, but the first were more romance than mystery.. So I wrote her off, must check her out. Tempe's lover in the books is quite different, very french and very funny in a way. I would guess that it is the personality that I like.. Dont understand the new stuff in the series with some sort of boss..If I could learn to separate the tv from the books, I would be better off.

Michelle Blake's second book, Earth Has No Sorrow, is intense. It is about a mysterious "sect", a spin-off of conservative Roman Catholics, Because Lily (our heroine) is a Catholic turned Anglican Priest, she has much to discuss and mull over as she pursues the mysterious disappearance of her dear friend, Annie. Since I am basically non-religious, I am fascinated by peoples' faith and the trials to their beliefs they can undergo. Lily is a very likable character, as are the other "regulars".

I like the Lily Conner series by Michelle Blake, Mrs. Sherlock, and have read all three of them. Just the thought of cowboy boots and a clerical collar in Boston makes me laugh.

I think I was spoiled by reading "The Naked Detective" by Laurence Shames first. But then, on the other hand, if I had begun on his stories of criminals from New York romping through Key West, I might never have tried "The Naked Detective". I really hope he does more in that series. This comes up because I listened to "Welcome to Paradise" on an audio book. It was mildly amusing, but I don't think I will try any of the others he has written.

Some of Shames is wonderful.. I loved the old men who meddle, one is a retired mafiosa and his dog.. Bert the Shirt..

Based on your recommendation, i just finished my second Nancy Martin book - "Cross my Heart and Hope to Die." Liked it better than the first one - "Some Call it Lethal" I tho't this story was better and the dog didn't annoy me quite so much, he wasn't so much of a nuisance or taken places that didn't make sense. AGain the setting of Philadalphia area intriqued me since i live in the area and she gave more definition of the area in "Cross." I'll read more of hers.

I also read a second Laurie King book, this one about Kate Martinelli - "To Look the Fool." "The Beekeeper's Apprentice" was my first one. In both books, i found it very slow getting interested in the story. I read to the middle of both books, before i "wanted" to pick the book and read it. Do any of you find her slow going at the beginning? The premise of each book was interesting, but they seemed sooooooooo slow and plodding at the beginning........jean

I just finished the new J. A. Jance book - Dead Wrong. It's a pretty good story.

Yes, Lauri King takes a while to sort of draw you into whatever she is writing about. Usually about 1/3 of the way, you start to understand the situation and then the roller coaster begins in many of her books. As you get to know the characters in the Sherlock series, you will become familiar with how she thinks. A good writer.

I really like Laurie King's Sherlock/Mary Russel series (at least the two I have read). Earlier this year I got a bag of hardbound books for $1 from the library sale and and "O Jerusalem" was one of them. That is third in the series. Since then I happened to see "Locked Rooms" and read it. Should have started with the beginning of the series and gone through them. Both the books I have read are outstanding. I didn't find either of these books slow as they were both exciting reading. I especially liked the first one for its interesting setting and the second one revealed a lot about Mary and brought out a depth to her and Holmes character that I found interesting.

I like to read the Laurie King series in order. I started with The Beekeeper's Apprentice. I think the next one is The Monstrous Regiment of Women. I can't remember. I know it is good to read the series in order because of the relationship between Sherlock and Mary Russell changes throughout each book.

The exasperating thing about series is that by the time I learn of them, the author has already turned out a dozen or so. If I like them, I wouldn't mind starting at the beginning and catching up, but more often than not I cannot find all the books! I have learned to take what I can get, and sort out the chronology as best I can.

Babi

Babi, many times I have to do the same thing. Sometimes I start with whatever I can get just to see whether I will like the books. Then, I start from the beginning, if possible.

I have signed up for several Publishing Houses' newsletters. Lately this has helped my husband, Ray, more than me. lol I find them and sometimes ask for a hold for the book from the library. Other times I just put the holds on his card. He is now ahead of me with some of ourfavorite authors.

Has anyone read the Mrs Murphy series by Rita Mae Brown?

I haunt used book stores and library sales to find missing series books. Some it really does not matter, but others the continuing story is important. I think that the Sherlock and MAry series is best read in order if at all possible. Love Rita Mae Brown.. REad all of her stuff, including the cat series, but then we have two corgi and always root for the corgi to solve the crimes in stead of the cats.. Her regular fiction is great as well. Rita Mae has quite a different slant on life sometimes.

Love Rita Mae Brown. Her animals are fun, the Virginia setting is delicious and her characters are fascinating.

I like Rita Mae Brown too. I like the puppies and cats communicating with one another. There are two puppies and one cat?? I can't remember how many cats vs. pups.

Thank you all so much for the feedback on Mrs Murphy series by Rita Mae Brown. One of the places I get my books at on ebay has them for sale--the series of 8 for Mrs Murphy. Laurie King's Mary Russell Series and Anna Pigeon's Nevada Barr are on sale too. I just love looking to see what is all on sale.

I never thought to look on Ebay. Thanks for the idea.

Hats, between Amazon, ebay and a few others I get most of my books. I am limited in walking so don't get to do what most do to get their books.

Delphine, thanks for another source of books. Powells is good too.

Hats, I've never been to Powell's and will check them out. I always, always check the shipping costs first before I buy. Some of them are very high so make the bid useless when you add the S&H costs that some sellers have. That is one of the reasons I like Amazon because they always offer media rate and many sellers on ebay do not.

That's a good idea to check the shipping costs first. Some shipping is just too high!

I like Mrs. Murphy's stories. I love the way the animals discover the truth and than have to find a way to tell the humans. I makes me just a little dense when I can't figure it out until the end.

I get my books through Amazon. I pay a once a year fee and get all my books with no shipping and handling. We also don't have a sales tax here in Portland, Oregon so that helps as well.

When comparing prices for books I have found Powells the most expensive.

Scrawler, that sounds like a real 'find' to not have to pay S&H.

GinnyAnn,Powells used books are cheap, I think. I never buy their new books. If Delphine goes to the Powells site, I hope she looks for the used books. I bought Don Quixote from Powells. Plus, Powells is very nice about making returns and pleasing the customer, that's how it has been for me. My favorite is Amazon.

I am reading Paretsky's "Fire Sale".. Whew.. I believe we are truly digging WalMart in this one. She is an excellent writer and more and more throws in a point of view, that I tend to agree with. I am sure she loses some readers with it..

Don't any one of you get sucked in by Amazon?? I do it every time. I order the one or two books I want and then indicate I'd like to get out now and it says only 2.38 and your shipping is free. Welll I bust my self racing back and buying some book I probably didn't even know what it was to save that postage and thereby adding another book to Amazons overall sales. I had to look it up the other day my slip came and said the books that were on the way and I thought I never heard of that book or that author that can't be me. Well I looked back and remembered the cover, oh well after you have bought all the books you want then by food.

BTW the book was The Right Attitude to rain. by Dalhousie.

I have ordered from Amazon.com for years and have never had any problem. The orders are always correct and as they state it will be. I am sorry that you had a problem, but I never have.

I only buy used books but there have been exceptions to the rule. Today I got "The Book of Light" by Michelle Blake. The book cost $1.99, the S&H was $3.49 but pkg said $1.29 so I guess I paid for the envelope it was in. Yesterday I got "The Tentmaker" the book was .49 cents and the pkg was $1.49. These both came from Amazon. I have sold on ebay over the years and I was always very careful to state what the postage was and what the handling was. Never received a negative comment on my ebay sales. My one exception is that I bought a piece of hardware for my computer and it did not work and the seller refused to take it back even though it said he would in the sale information so I got a negative, my one and only, and I, of course, gave him negative feedback. He called me names but I was a lady and just called him a smuck.

I am basically homebound so I really 'shop' for deals. The other two books should arrive shortly. The total for all the books in the series with shipping & handling was less than $13.00. I think that is a deal.

I dont think Judy was complaining. I know what she means. I adore Amazon and order both new and used. In the new, you can get free shipping, if you order a certain dollar amount. Like her, often I find I only need another 2.00 or so to get the free shipping. I try to keep a list of books that have sounded interesting, but not high priority and then I throw one of them in.. Works for me. Just read a book "Murder on the Barbary Coast" by Kate Bryan.. Fascinating premise. Old carnies and grifters who are now private investigators.. Fun read.

The Poe novella of The Mystery of Marie Roget will begin Sunday, October 1st.

Pat explained that she will use the same heading that was used for The Murders in the Rue Morgue, which ended with post #154

Pat will be mentioning this novella in the Book Bytes. We both will be providing a link for you to follow.

Bill H

Has anyone read the Alaska series by Sue Henry? Or, her Maxie and Stretch series?

Haven't read those, Delphine. We have read all the Alaska mysteries by Dana Stabenow - and really like those.

I've read the Alaska series, and like it a lot, especially the first book. It really gives the feel of the Ididerod. I haven't yet read the Maxie and Stretch ones, except where they are introduced. What is the name of the first one?

#1 The Serpant's Trail; #2 The Tooth of Time; and #3 The Refuge are the Maxie and Stretch series. From Publishers Weekly..." the 63-year-old Alaskan with the insatiable curiosity continues to explore the lower 48 in her "Minnie Winnie," accompanied only by her feisty mini-dachshund, Stretch."

From an author whose "twists and turns keep you turning the pages" (Denver Post) comes a brand-new mystery series starring Maxie McNabb-an independent retiree whose adventures across the country in her motor home are destined for murderous roadblocks.

At 63, Maxie is cruising down the Alaska Highway in her brand-new Winnebago. She's always been a gypsy at heart-and with her mini-dachshund at her side, and the open road ahead, she's never been happier. But before her exploration of the Lower Forty-eight gets underway, Maxie needs to figure out who burglarized her friend's Colorado home-and why. But the closer Maxie gets to solving the puzzle, the more it becomes chillingly clear that her friend's life isn't the only one on the line...

I like Maxie and Stretch much more than the Alaska series by Sue Henry. I have read all of Stabenows books and also a man who I think his last name.. Strahle.. who write wonderful mysteries about Alaska..

I've read them all except The Refuge. Is that new?

That entire Alaska series by Sue Henry was a fabulous read! I agree, the first one was especially great! They are good enough to read once again, after a few years. I love the sled dogs, don't you?

My lab-mix Neuf says Woof, he does too!

The Refuge came out this year.

I am so glad I was referred to Sue Henry. I have a friend, Bobbie, who posts her at SN and she has been 'roading' it for a number of years. I asked her if she had read Sue Henry's RV adventures and she is going to be checking the books out. Thanks again.

My library doesn't have The Refuge yet. Boo Hoo!

I looked up "The Refuge" and it says 2007 so maybe it is not out yet. According to Amazon it will be released on April 3, 2007.

Wow, I'm way behind. I'd better get busy.

I am reading "Black Dahlia" We just saw the movie and I was motivated to get James Ellroys book that it was based on. The book is wild and wooly, but very good indeed. Somewhat different from the movie, but that is standard for this type of stuff.

Tomorrow, Sunday, Oct. 1st , begins the discussion of Poe's

The Mystery of Marie Roget

Bill H

I thought the book was a cross between Chinatown and LA Confidential.

I love Laurie King's Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes series and have no trouble diving into each book. I have read them all as they come out. Kate Martinelli is okay, but not as interesting to me.

Oh, excellent! A new J. A. Jance book," Dead Wrong", in the Joanna Brady series. Thanks, Mary Z. Jance and Hillerman are two of the few authors I collect. Not Jance's Beaumont series, however. I just can't warm up to him.

I, too, root for the Corgi, Tucker, in the Mrs Murphy series by Rita Mae Brown. She and Mrs. Murphy do most of the detecting, while the other cat spends her time looking for food. I have read them in order, but am not sure there is a compelling reason to do so. There is some character development, but not enough to affect appreciation of each book. Have you seen the movies? The dog and cat are well cast, but Ricki Lake does not fit my mental image of Harry.

I didn't know there was a movie! Tell me more, please.

I tried to watch the movie, but Ricki Lake is a non actor and I dont think Harry is that type at all. If you like mysteries with dogs,, Susan Conant is tremendous. My personal favorite..

I was sure there were two movies made from Rita Mae Brown's mystery series, but find only one, "Murder, She Purred", in IMDb.

Back to the books, I just finished #14 in Rita Mae Brown's mystery series, "Sour Puss". It pleased me by having lots of scenes with Mrs. Murphy, Tucker and Pewter in them, as well as the other animals in the barn, who are all heroes in the end. A fun read, as usual.

I love the names of the pets too.

Was the movie "Murder, She Purred" a made for TV-movie?

Cynthia Harrod-Eagles

Orchestrated Death ©1991

Death Watch
are both very good Bill Slider Mysteries I read them both in 1993.
She has written many more mysteries. A list of all her books is at
http://www.cynthiaharrodeagles.com/biography.htm

I was surprised about Cynthia, etc. etc. I thought she only wrote the long long series on an English family. Read several of them, but did not care for them.

Stephanie, I don't care much for the family, but I relish the political stuff, esp. Richard III. The second is about Henry VIII; what did you think about that one?

Nothing like combining addictions. For those of you who, like me, are addicted both to mysteries and crossword puzzles, I just discovered the "Puzzle Lady" series by Parnell Hall, and am reading the first one "A Clue for the Puzzle Lady". Not wonderful (not sure if the alcoholism of the detective is supposed to be a funny takeoff on the hard-drinking "hard-boiled" detectives. If so, it's not really funny). But on the whole, a light amusing read, with enough crossword puzzle clues to make it interesting. I haven't yet worked the crossword puzzle at the end -- I'll tell you how that is.

I don't know if Hall can keep coming up with murders with crossword puzzle clues -- I'll let you know. I'm definitely going to read more.

I think Manny of the Latin courses did one of the crossword puzzles for one of Parnell Hall's puzzle mysteries. I've read quite a few...some better than others, I thought.

jane

I forgot the answer so I'd like your thoughts on the Bed & Breakfast mysteries by Mary Daheim and her Alpine series. Thanks.

Bed and Breakfast mysteries: light, a pleasant quick read, but not outstanding.

If Manny did one of those crossword puzzles, they must be good. Do you know which book? I haven't done the one in mine, yet. The paperback format makes it a little small for comfort. I mean to scan it into the computer and enlarge it.

I just finished "The Tentmaker" and "Earth Has No Sorrow" the last two days and will start "The Book of Light" tonight. They are Lily Connor Mystery Series by Michelle Blake. Light reading but I like them. I like the quote, "Here bring your wounded hearts, here tell your anguish; Earth has no sorrow that Heaven cannot heal." Charles Lamb, Source: Come, Ye Disconsolate.

I liked the Alpine series more than the B and B. Thanks to someone who recommended Brown Eyed Girl by Virginia Swift. Just finished it and loved it. Sally is a real piece of work.. Never been to the state of Wyoming, but from the description,, dont miss it.. Not a winter person. But I have sent for another of hers.. about Sally.

Manny has done crosswords for the New York Times for years....the difficult end-of-week ones. He is a retired doctor who lives in San Francisco and has been an active participant in our Seniornet lunches through the years.

JoanK I have read a couple of Parnell Hall's books. I love those mysteries.

I just checked my books Read Database and saw that I read books by Parnell Hall in 1994 or so.

The Kobra Manifesto

Blackmail

Actor

The Striker Portfolio

Death Holliday

Juror (sounds familiar) These are all Bill Slider Mystery



Later today I plan on starting Dick Francis' latest book, Under Orders

I love the Times' Sunday Crossword Puzzles, and usually have one of the collections of the puzzles handy to while away idle moments. Maybe I'll get a fresh one for my birthday.

GinnyAnn, thanks for the name of the latest Dick Francis book. I would hate to miss one.

Babi

Have any of you read the Jeffrey Deaver mysteries? Are these good books? The detective or sleuth's name is Lincoln Rhymes. I have two of these books. I am thinking about giving one a try.

"Orchestrated Death", the first in Cynthia Harrod-Eagles' series with Bill Slider, received an excellent review in Publishers' Weekly. And my library has a copy. Life is good!

I might check my library for Cynthia Harrod-Eagles too. I have put "Orchestrated Death" on hold. There is a violin on the cover. I thought GinnyAnn listed a website for CHE. I don't see it.

Here is the site again.
www.cynthiaharrodeagles.com/

GinnyAnn, thank you.

Hats, we've missed you. I hope things have been going well wherever you've been.

Mary Z, I have been here. I missed you too. I thought you headed off to Scotland again. Probably, we have been in different places. For September I had been reading "The Poe Shadow." It's a really good book.

Hats, I haven't been in that one - guess that's why we haven't crossed paths.

Maybe next time.

Welcome back Hats.. I could not get through the Poe book, so retired from the discussion. Glad you liked it. I am looking forward to the lates Dick Francis as well. Have every single one of his books and reread the early ones.. This is a Syd Halley book and I always had a soft spot for Syd.

I love Dick Francis too. I should start from the beginning. I can't tell which ones I have read and which ones I have not read. I am glad he is still writing.

I started reading Under Orders by Dick Francis. It is great. I feel at home reading it.

Hats, for reading this book the only ones you may want to read/reread are the Sid Halley books:

Odds Against ©1965

Whip Hand © 1979

Come To Grief © 1995

GinnyAnn, thank you. I have written the titles down.

I have just finished reading "Invasion of Privacy" by Jeremiah Healy. It wasn't bad, but just stereotyped PI. I don't plan to read any more of his books.

I love the Sunday NYTimes crossword puzzles too. And Manny's are always a lot of fun: full of outrageous puns and clever clues. I subscribe to the crossword puzzles online, and print them out. Then a friend and I call each other up, and work them together. We usually finish Sunday's, but when we finish a Friday or Saturday, we feel a real sense of accomplishment.

I'm not sure I want to read Dick Francis' latest -- the first since his wife died. Let us know if it's good.

Jeremiah Healey wrote one excellent book. It is about the Sacco Vanzetti and the trial and a picture that proves something.. The rest of his stuff is sort of formula.. I think the name of the good one is maybe something to do with money..

So far I am very much enjoying the latest Dick Francis. It has the same feel of his other books.

I have one named "Comeback" by Dick Francis. I hope it's a good one.

Hats: I never found a Dick Francis that wasn't good. I learned so much about so many things that he wrote about, always associated with hores and racing. There was one featuring a photographer, another about Insurance for horses, I can't remember all of them. I just remember being fascinated until the last page and regretting that the wonderful ride was over.

Mrs. Sherlock, I have only read about three of his books. I can't remember which ones. You are right. I liked each one. So, I am off to start Comeback. I haven't read the flap yet.

Yes, Scrawler, according to IMDb "Murder, She Purred" was a made for TV-movie.

Publishers' Weekly doesn't have a kind word to day about Jeffrey Deaver's mysteries about Lincoln Rhymes, but I disagree. I found the plots interesting and the action is certainly fast-paced. Another review I read commented that Deaver does a thorough job of research for each book. For a review of "A Maiden's Grave", both book and HBO movie, try: http://www.bookreporter.com/reviews/0451204298.asp

I'm glad there is another Syd Halley book, Stephanie. I like him, too.

I managed to stay with "The Poe Shadow" to the end, but dropped out of the discussion because it was too scholarly for a brain that didn't like analyzing when I was in college and had a much younger one.

I just finished "The Face Of Deception" by Iris Johansen, the first in the Eve Duncan series. I read the third one first and am now filling in the background. I recommend reading them in order. I have somewhat mixed feelings about the books. They are well written and the characters are three dimensional and interesting, but never having had a serious obsession, it is hard for me to have much empathy for Eve. Lots of sympathy, yes, because it must be heart-wrenching to have a 7-year-old daughter kidnapped and killed and her body never found, but it seems like Eve is stuck and spinning her wheels without any healing going on, even after 10 years, even after being told repeatedly by the ghost of her daughter to move on with her life.

Perkie, I am on page twenty six of Comeback by Dick Francis. It is impossible to stop reading now. The book is soooo good. Well, I do need to head back to India. I will keep Dick Francis beside me.

I do not believe I have ever read a Dick Francis book. Am I the only one that has not. Will have to put it on my list. Which book should I start with?

I just finished my second book by Nancy Martin about the Blackberry sisters, "Cross my heart and hope to die". It is just as delightful as the first. The sisters continue to try to earn a living. They were brought up in wealth and high society and now must earn a living. One has a job writing for the society section of the newspaper. Another has decided to sell sex toys and potients through home parties like Avon does. The third sister is currently in rehab for alcoholism. A very witty author.

All the Dick Francis books are great. They are not a series so it doesn't matter where you start.

Thanks Mrs Sherlock, I will look for them the next time I am out and about.

Dick Francis ( with his wifes able assistance) wrote wonderful horse racing type mysteries. They branched out a bit as he aged and wrote about many things that interested him. He actually started off writing a biography about another jockey after he was severely injured in a race.. Since he could no longer race, and the biography was well received, he started out with fiction. I think any of the books is easy to go with. The Syd books deserve to be read in sequence. But that was his only attempt at a series. Warning.. he did not do love stuff or good women..But did do very very brave and strong men.

Stephanie: Your description, " he did not do love stuff" makes me think of the stereotypical cowboy who kissed his horse at the end of the movie! Thanks for the laugh.

Dick Francis ..you are right.. I just did not think. He does devotion and strong love that way, but no sexual interludes to skip. I hate it when a good mystery writer throws in nonsense in the middle of a good plot.

I hate that too. Dick Francis does make you love a horse. The care of a horse is very important. One of the books I read by Dick Francis was about dosing the horse. Something had been given to the horse, if I remember correctly, to make the horse run faster. I might have my mysteries mixed up. Maybe not. The only horse mystery I have read are the Dick Francis ones.

Hats: Sounds like something I remember, too. I was always surprised that Dick Francis could find so many new and fascinating aspects of horses and horse racing to write about without ever being stale and predictable.

Mrs. Sherlock, I agree. He is a very good writer.

I loved the one he wrote about transporting horses all over the world. I just had never thought of how this was done and found it fascinating.

A new book by Tony Hillerman "The Shape Shifters" will be out next month. I'm already on the library's reserve list. I've enjoyed all of his Leaphorn/Chee books. Am looking forward to a new one.

Wow - thanks for the heads up, Fla Jean! And it's already listed in our library's catalog, and we're #1 !!! in the hold list.

I will note this on my not yet in paperback lists. I love Hillerman, but wait until Paper for him. I am currently reading. How to Murder a Millionaire by Nancy Martin. Very funny. The Blackbird sisters are really really odd.

I thought Hillerman had written a book about shape shifters already. No, I remember; he wrote one about 'skinwalkers'. I don't think that is the same thing.

Babi

I am reading "One Shot" by Lee Child. It is his ninth Jack Reacher story. I find that I like Child's books. He is a native of England and a former TV writer although he lives in NYC and his books are set in this country. One reviewer says about Reacher "The thinking reader's action hero, a surprisingly tender combination of chess master and G.I.Joe, a guy who always thinks six or eight steps ahead before making his move."

Dick Francis has been one of my favorites since he started writing. Of course, I will read anything that has a horse in it, but it helps when the writing is good, too. His first ones read a little like a Mickey Spillane on horseback, and it has been fascinating to see him grow as a writer and to view racing from so many different professions, some quite tangential to the racetrack.

Another of my favorites is Philip R. Craig. The latest is "Dead in Vineyard Sand". J.W. Jackson is in his usual fine form, with a good mystery, good fishing, good eating and just enough Island politics to be interesting and not stifling. "Tarzan and the Leopard Woman" with Johnny Weismuller is one important theme of the book and I was disappointed to find that it is indeed unavailable. I would love it if the book would inspire some movie company to re-issue it.

I really like Phillip R. Craig. He uses the same setting Martha's Vineyards. All of his plots are so different. I picked up a book by Sujata Massey. She writes mysteries. Is anyone familiar with her?

Our daughter got John started on Lee Childs, and he loves the books. He is rapidly going through all they have in our library.

I've read Sujata Massey and like her books. The first book, The Salaryman's Wife, set the tone: modern Japan through the eyes of a young woman on her own. Lots of atmosphere and the stories are good. I think you'll like her.

I just finished the series that includes the book called "The Tentmaker" and have them listed on ebay and am still reading Maeve Binchy "Firefly Summer" which is really a thick book. I am getting ready to start Rita Mae Brown's series. From what I've heard I am in for a treat. I have all of Binchy's books only because I want to read about Ireland and she does her backgrounds very well.

I also like Sujata Massey. Each book features a different aspect of Japanese culture: antique furniture, flower arranging, kimono etc.

I read several of the Sujata Massey books. Interesting indeed, although I mentally cant understand her determination to live somewhere where she is not valued.

I have started "The Salaryman's Wife." I heard her interviewed on a internet talk show. I am glad all of you like her. I like mysteries involving other cultures. I think communal bathing is a part of the Japanese culture, not sure. It's in the book. By the way, in the interview, I really liked Sujata Massey. She seems like an interesting person.

PERKIE, I thoroughly enjoyed the Tarzan movies as a kid, Thinking back on them now, tho', I suspect you would have to be a kid to enjoy them. From a more mature viewpoint, I fear the acting was pretty hammy.

Babi

Babi, I like the stupid and silly "George of the Jungle" movies which are from Disney, I think. They are tongue in cheek take offs on the original Tarzan movies, IMO. Good for a funny hour and a half. Sue

I finished Dick Francis's Under Orders. It has a satisfying ending. Don't know if it was as smooth as his others, but it was a good read.

Have the new Patricia Cornwall in paperback.. Starting sort of odd.. Milo is some sort of biker?? Kay is as always a saint on earth ( boo) and Lucy is again a predator.. But will persevere a bit.. Someone said it was better than the last several.

Just finished the last of Simon Brett's "Mrs. Pargeter" series. It's different and entertaining. He hasn't written one in this series since about 1998, I think. So maybe he finished this series when he started concentrating on the Feathering Mysteries with the two women, Carole and Jude. I've also read all of this series and enjoyed it.

I got a kick out of Mrs. Pargetter, didn't you? She's one of a kind.

I think it was when Cornwell started messing up Lucy that I stopped reading the books. Now Lucy is a 'predator'? Glad I quit when I did.

Babi

I am now reading "Promise Me' by Harlan Coben. It was recommended by someone here, and I can only say "Thank you". It is excellent writing. He has written an entire series with Myron Bolitar as the hero. He is a representative for sports stars and entertainers. He was a young basketball star, wiped out by a knee accident. This one was published in 2006, so now I will go back and read earlier ones.

Harlen Coben has written two distinctly different types of books.. Myron as a series , and a separate amount of stand alones.. Myron is great fun.. The stand alones tend to be very tense types,but excellent. A good author that I have tried to read every single one..

Just seeing you mention "George of the Jungle" made me chuckle, SpringCreekFarm Sue. It has just the right amount and kind of slapstick to tickle my funnybone. Brendan Fraser was perfect for the part. I also loved him in "Dudley Do-Right".

I remember my mother loved Johnny Weismuller's Tarzan, and hated it when Lex Barker took over. I still like the Weismuller films, and don't mind the hamminess since it was just the style of the time.

"Death in the Garden" by Elizabeth Ironside was on the new mystery shelf, but it could have been on the fiction shelf. The murder seemed somewhat incidental to the unfolding of the characters. It jumped in time from the 1920s to the 1990s, the earlier date being when the murder took place and the later when a grand-niece tried to solve it. It was interesting but not compelling.

I finished "The Salaryman's Wife" by Sujata Massey. I am looking forward to reading another one in the series. In this mystery, the first one, Rei Shimura is in Japan working as an English teacher. I am anxious to read more about her experiences with clients who want Japanese antiques. Rei is an Asian art history major.

I read two of the Massey books. She tends to be very marginal in her employment. The estrangement of how she lives and how she is perceived as an outsider is interesting in the later book. Have not yet found any more by her.

I'm reading Henning Mankell's The White Lioness. Great atmosphere, as always. I love Kurt, he's so imperfect but still muddles through. I had read some of these but not in order; now I'm filling in the blanks thanks to the library which has them all. It doesn't have his novels, though. Anybody read those? Or his plays?

I am trying to read Rita Mae Brown and Sneaky Pie's books. Does anyone have any feedback on her books?

Delphine I loved them - just pretend (to yourself) that this could be true.

Delphine: I'm at the opposite end; I couldn't get into Brown's SneakyPie books.

Delphine, I love the Sneaky Pie Brown books. I haven't read all of them yet. Those books are always good. I like talking pets.

Put me in the plus column; I like all Rita Mae Brown's books.

Francy, I have been trying to read her first book and even though I love animals I keep thinking this would make a I am no prude by any sense of the imagination but cats and dogs using language I don't use also seems unnecessary.

I think they would make great movies. (I don't know what that did not get in the above message--must have hit a wrong key.)

I agree with Horselover. Sneaky Pie is best read one at a time.. But not all at once.. Rita Mae writes a lot of stuff. Some of her books on just humans are her very best efforts.

I have always loved to read books by Rita Mae Brown not only the ones with "talking animals" but many of her other books as well. She always has something important to say about life. And I agree her books are best read when mingled with other books by other authors.

Just finished Parkers.. School Days.. An odd case for Spencer and No Hawk.. Which I really really hate. I love Hawk.. On the other hand, very little Susan Silverman, which made me happy. I am just not fond of Miss Picky..

Talk here about Elizabeth George's Lynley series piqued my interest so I got the first one, A Great Deliverance. Really powerful stuff. I look forward to reading more about Lynley and Havers. Thanks

I haven't read Elizabeth George either. Her books are really big. Does she keep the mystery plot going??

Hats, in Deliverance the plot and the lives of Lynley and Havers are entwined very dramatically. It was hard to put down and I'm eager to read the next one to see what happens next to the protagonists. She is an excellent writer and her use of the language is intriguing: she describes clouds as kissing the sky. Lovely image, isn't it? Hope this helps. BYW, the resolution, while somewhat predictable, was still mind-blowing.

"Clouds kissing the sky" is beautiful. That kind of writing and a mystery too gets my vote. Thanks, Mrs. Sherlock.

I love Elizabeth George. She is long winded, but the plots tie together at one point or another and she addresses some problems that are quite english, but still universal. Dont like the TV shows.. Not my idea of any of the characters.

Yesterday started the newest Elizabeth George - What Came Before He Shot Her. Very different from any of the other books. Totally about the character who shot Helen, Lynley's wife, in the previous book.

I want to read the Elizabeth George, but the killing of Lady Helen was sad.. Lynley loved her and the only thing that kept him human was her.

Elizabeth George is a terrific author! Enjoy!

I think the books are best read in order, does anyone recall if that is correct?

But don't let that stop you from grabbing any one at a used book sale or anywhere. Bargains are fun!

I agree that this is one author whose books are best read in order as the characters and their relationships with each other develop.

The newest book (What Came Before He Shot Her) in the series was quite different and its story has far more meaning to those who read the previous book (With No One As Witness) than as a stand alone.

I would definitely read these two titles in sequential order.

Yes, Elizabeth George is definitely a read in order author. There is at least one exception where Barbara gets involved by herself because of her landlord, but even that should probably be taken in order. I am reading a neat sort of mystery--or fantasy by Charlaine Harris.. This is Grave Sight and is the start of a new series for her. Just into it.. The woman can detect dead bodies and even know what killed them. Sort of an odd gift at best.

What is the first book in the Elizabeth George series??

Hats.. It might have been A GReat Deliverance.. Cannot remember, but check a book. The order is published with the books in the front.

Stephanie, thanks. I am going to do it now.

You are right. "The Great Deliverance."

I am reading "The Rules of Silence" by David Lindsey, a new author for me. He brings the Latin American "kidnapping for money" scenario to Texas. A computer company owner is threatened by the world's most notorious kidnapper/killer. The surveillance and communication technology is beyond anything I have heard of. It is exciting and violent. I will need a calm, humorous book to recover from this one.

I am ready "Seizure" by Robin Cook. In light of the recent controversy with regard to Parkinson's Disease and the publicity generated by Michael J. Fox...it is quite intriging....

(Dr. Daniel Lowell leaves his secured tenured position as chairman of his department at Harvard to open his own research company specializing in gene therapy. He develops the HTSR technique, which involves replacing a part of a person's DNA that causes a particular disease with DNA that is disease free.)

Finished Grave Sight.. Charlaine Harris in an interesting author. I liked the characters, but it is darker than Sookie for sure. More about alienation for being different. A different type of mystery.

I have read four of Sujato Massey's books: The Salaryman's Wife, Flower Master, Zen Attitude, and Floating Girl. Now I see there are 5 more: The Bride's Kimono, The Samurai's Daughter, The Pearl Diver, The Typhoon Lover, & Girl in a Box.

I love the Sneaky Pie Brown mysteries, but then I am a sucker for anything with a Corgi in it. Actually, I like Rita Mae Brown's works and find the mysteries just plain fun. And I like the setting and the people and the fantasy of talking animals. I even looked up Crozet, Virginia, on MapQuest and it is a real town.

I am going to have to re-read "With No One As Witness". I don't remember Inspector Lynley's wife Helen being shot. I agree with Mippy that the series is best read in order so the reader can watch the growth of the relationship between Lynley and Havers. I look forward to the new one. I like the new series by Charlaine Harris "Grave Sight" being the first. Harper Connelly can sense the location of dead people and is called by police departments to locate missing persons who are believed to be dead. An original theme, well written and not as dark as the Vampire series. My favorite of Harris' series is still the ones set in the town of Shakespeare, Arkansas.

Having been a fan of Ruth Rendell for years, I was interested to find a British film version of "A Dark Adapted Eye", written under the pseudonym Barbara Vine. I thought the acting was excellent. The main character was Helena Bonham-Carter

I was a little disappointed in "Tomb of the Golden Bird" in the Amelia Peabody series by Elizabeth Peters. Usually I love them, but this one covers the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb and I found the mixture of such an important event with the fictional family to be jarring. And no, I don't have the same problem with the politics of the time, not even The Great War. To have Emerson agruing with Lord Carnavan and Howard Carter was a bit much.

Charlaine Harris' Shakespeare series is good, but I still ike her Aurora Teagarden series best. Haven't read Grave Sight but I like the premise very much. I'm reading the second in the Lynely/Havers series, Payment in Blood, and I've got the next two on reserve.

The Sujato Massey books looked interesting, PERKIE. I did a quick check in my library catalog, and didn't find a single book by that author. Sigh

Babi

Perkie, I picked up The Flower Master from the library yesterday. I would love to, one day, read all of the Amelia Peabody series. Then, start over again.

Babi, I would send you "The Salaryman's Wife." The problem is I loaned it to a friend. I don't think she is finished it yet. When she returns it, I could put it on the Book Exchange.

Alexander Poe's novella "The Purloined Letter" will begin Wednesday, November 1st.

You can read the story on line if you wish by clicking the link below.

The Purloined letter

The graphic is Poe. Not me.

Bill H

How sweet of you to offer, HATS. Let me first check with the other library within my reach; it is larger and may have some Massey books. If I still can't find them, I would appreciate having the one you offer.

Babi

Ok Babi, good luck.

I just finished Margaret Coel's newest novel "The Drowning Man". She writes a series about the Arspaho Indians in Wyoming. If you like Tony Hillerman's novels, I think you would also enjoy Coel's. On the front of the cover is a blurb by Tony Hillerman "She's a master". I agree.

I love Coel's series. I haven't read the whole series. I have a long way to go.

I'm behind Hats, trying to catch up with her series. The library has them, but I can't count on getting them in order, so following the (non)relationship between the characters is a bit confusing. But I like the series a lot

JoanK, I didn't start with the first one. I have been reading these as they come along.

Joan, what I try to do when I come across a new series that I want to read is to go to a used book store and pick up a bunch of them, checking the copyright dates to get them in order. I'll check with the library catalog, too, for the dates, and again, reserve them in chronological order.

Sometimes, I just get TOO organized....

Good idea. I check the copyright dates, too. How irritating that many publishers list prior books alphabetically, instead of by date. I really appreciate Sue Grafton and Janet Evanovitch for sequencing their series for us.

Read another Parnell Hall Crossword Puzzle lady book (Puzzled to Death). Light but fun, clever solution. This one dealt with a crossword puzzle tournament. Since I recently saw "Word Play", the movie with a crossword puzzle tournament in it, I especially enjoyed it.

HATS, neither of the libraries available to me has any of Bujato Massey's books, I'm surprised to find. So, when your friend has finished with "The Salaryman" I'd be pleased to read it.

When you get the book back, e-mail me and I'll give you my address. (Just click on my name in the post for my e-mail address.) Be sure to include your mailing address when the book is mailed, so I can return postage.

Thank you for the offer. I'll be sure and notify the Book Exchange when it comes.

Babi

On the road.. Reading.. The Innocent by Harlan Coben.. Very very complicated book.. Interesting however. Do you supposed prison truly does change the way you view life?

Babi, I will get in touch with you.

Stephanie, I just received Harlan Coben's book "The Innocent". I got it from Amazon.com's used books. I look forward to reading it. I enjoyed his book, "Promise Me". I usually order five books at a time, many of them for one cent plus shipping. They come from little bookstores all over the country...usually very prompt and the condition of the books have been good.

The discussion of Edgar Allan Poe's "The Purloined Letter" is now opened for comments from the readers. If you wish to participate in this discussion the link below will take you the forum.

The Purloined Letter Forum

Bill H

I have used Amazon as well as others, but my newest passion is paperbackbookswap.com It is just wonderful. You list books and people request them as do you.. you pay for shipping your books 1.59 and they pay for theirs. Each book that you ship out gives you a point and each one you want costs you a point. I have gotten some goodies to put it mildly.

Stephanie, do you have to take books to the PO to mail them out or is there some type of container such as Netflix has?

My sister alerted me to a special ElderHostel cruise this summer on the Queen Mary II. It is a mystery theme; combines tours in several locations in Britain and is followed by a 6-day cruise back to NY. Sounds like fun. Ann Cleeves will be a sort of host. I haven't read her yet, nothing on the shelf at the library so I'll have to reserve her books. Anyone read her stuff? What did you think?

Sounds great. I've read a few of Ann Cleeves, find her a little depressing. But it would be great to have an established writer as a host.

How are you on seasickness? I crossed the Atlantic in Queen Mary I in the Winter. Most of the ship was seasick. But the Summer should be gentler.

JoanK: I never thought of seasickness. I have a perscription for Meclizine since I have periodic bouts of vertigo. It's supposed to be good for that, also. What did you do for your seasickness?

Mrs. Sherlock, that sounds like a very interesting cruise and tour. Some friends call the Queen Mary II as their "ship of choice" as they have been on it more than once. They returned from England on it this past spring, they've never said anything about seasickness.

I'm not familiar with Ann Cleeves, but my face2face mystery group is always looking for new authors. Will have to check her out.

I was one of those who didn't get seasick. But there are medications for it. I don't mean to put you off what sounds like a great trip.

I got a call from a friend who took the QEII to Hawaii and was very disappointed with the food. He said his wife loves shrimp and they had little to none for them. He said otherwise it was a lovely ship. He said he was also not impressed by the staff. He has been on many cruises throughout the world but he could not recommend the QEII as one of the top lines. This was his 20th cruise he said.

Just finished Tami Hoag Kill the Messenger and it was fun. Told a story revolving around a young bycycle messenger boy they have some close calls.

HATS, I just got an e-mail from Pedlin to say she had a copy of "The Salaryman" sitting on her shelf gathering dust. She's going to send it to me. My thanks to you for your offer. I'll let you know my reaction to my first Massey book.

Babi

Babi, you are welcome.

Lee Child's The Killing Floor is his first book in the Reacher series. He is almost an antihero, but achingly vulnerable despite his machismo. Violent but I couldn't put it down.

Lee Child has created a well rounded character in his mystery series. I love reading about Reacher, his protagonist. The first book is written in first person. Most of the series are written in 3rd person. I prefer the first person books. But, have read all of the series.

I am reading Stephen White's "Missing Persons". The author is a psychotherapist and his books are about psychotherapy. He lives in Boulder, Co and that is the setting of this book. This is the first book I have read by him although a dozen are listed.

I found the pace slow at first. He spends a great deal of time educating us. I now know the difference between a schizoid and a schizophrenic, for instance. The main character is Psychologist Alan Gregory, who at first I found insipid. He is torn by the ethics of his profession and the need to help people. However, I got caught up in the story and find it riveting. I will definitely read more by this author.

Stephen White's books are good. I love the Denver setting.

Stephen White is quite an interesting writer. I always enjoy his books.

I'm so glad there is a new Margaret Coel, FlaJean. I have read all of her series about Vickie Holden, the Arapaho lawyer, and Father John O'Malley. They are fairly light reading, and I like the glimpses into the Arapaho culture.

Try http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/ for author bibliographies. I usually find every author I look up, American as well as English. The bibliographies are listed by author, then by series and in order of publication. Extremely helpful, and still free.

I read "With No One As Witness", the penultimate in the Lynley/Havers series by Elizabeth George, and wept my way through the last few chapters. When I closed the book, I looked at the picture of the author and asked, "How could you kill Helen (Lynley's wife)?" Actually, I think it is one of the best in the series. I feel like I know the main characters and had a glimpse into the torment of the serial killer. Elizabeth George calls it a novel, and she is right. Well developed and intricate plot.

Perkie,, Me to.. I cried and thought of how lost he was. Helen kept him anchored to being human.. I have not read the followup on her killers..

Perkie, thank you for the link.

I am a little afraid to try Elizabeth George. I read up on The Great Deliverance. The father's head is decapitated. That made me kind of back off. I really did want to get in to her books.

Oh, Hats, these are stories about four people who get into crime detection sort of by the way, but the real story is about their inter-relationships. I think you will be as captivated as I am. Actually I didn't even remember the decapitation. But the leading characters are so vividly portrayed that they are unforgettable. I think you won't be sorry if you read that book. Jackie

Hats, I agree with Jackie. These are truly stories of a number of people who live, fight, love and really try to be fair and honest and sometimes fail. Barbara who is a younger policewoman is particularly well drawn. You feel so impelled by her inability to pull herself together in life. Her honesty and now her uncertain relationship with her landlord and his daughter. I get somewhat impatient with some of the characters and want to get up and yell.. "Get on with it".. so you can see that I get involved with them. Like Jackie, dont remember the decapitation.

I am going out this morning. I am going to buy one if I stop at a bookstore.

Just finished the latest Father Dowling mystery "The Prudence of the Flesh". They are just pleasant and easy reads. Enjoyed it and found it quite up-to-date and relevant to the recent problems in the Catholic church. I'm not Catholic but find Father Dowling such a comfortable protagonist. That's an odd way to put it but that is the way I feel when reading those books.

I am back. I have "The Great Deliverance." I can't wait to start it.

Elizabeth George's stories deal with the results of violent acts as Havers/Lindley solve the mysteries but she does not describe the violence as it took place.

CubFan, thank you. I have started one. I am enjoying the writing. I love it.

The Father Dowling mysteries are easy reading. I feel like they are the comfort food of mysteries! Have you seen any of the TV programs? They were filmed in the late 1980's. I liked Tom Bosley as Father Dowling and Tracy Nelson as Sister Steve.

It has been so long since I have read any of the Inspector Dalgliesh series by P. D. James, that I really don't remember how he is portrayed in the books. Now I see him as Martin Shaw in the BBC programs. The last rented was "The Murder Room". The programs are not as well done as the Inspector Morse ones, but are still enjoyable. It was interesting to see two actresses from other mystery series. One was Samantha Bond who played Julia Simmons in the Miss Marple (Joan Hickson) program "A Murder Is Announced:. The other was Lesley Vickerage as Helen Clyde Lynley in the Lynley/Havers programs.

It is interesting how the brain works. In "The Murder Room", Adam Dalgliesh is not married. I was thinking, "Wasn't he married to a painter?" Then I remembered that he was married to her in "A Clutch of Constables", so I looked that up and of course that was Ngaio Marsh and her characters were Detective Roderick Alleyn and Agatha Troy!

I am reading another of Laurence Shame's books, "Mangrove Squeeze". I continue to enjoy is wit and his characters. Two of the choice ones in this book are Fred and Pineapple. They are two bums who have moved into an old abandoned hot dog stand. It is shaped like a hot dog and one sleeps at each end. They each have jobs of sorts. Pineapple holds a sign at a corner each day, when he feels like working. Fred digs holes for contractors...all kinds of holes, when he feels like working. Pineapple is the philosopher who wonders about things like whether there is such a thing as luck.

Janet Evanovich's Motor Mouth was a light fun read. Lots of coincidents and such, but it moved a long. I kept saying to myself just one more chapter and ended up getting to bed later than I wanted. lol

GinnyAnn, I have that one checked out from the library. I hope to read it before the due date comes along.

Oh, I don't have "Motor Mouth." I have "Full Scoop."

I remember the Father Dowling mysteries on TV.. Seems that it was one of the few where I enjoyed the series, although it was quite different from the books. Saw a new Janet Evanovich in the supermarket, but it turned out to be a recycled old romance, she had done. I wish writers would lay off the old stuff.

When I see what appears to be a new book by an author I like, I've learned to check the copyright date. Nowadays, the publishers are reissuing old titles. I've gotten stung a couple of times.

MaryZ, thanks for the tip.

I had forgotten about the Father Dowling mysteries on TV until Perkie mentioned them. I did enjoy them a lot even 'tho they were different than the books, as Stephanie said. Our public TV station no longer has mysteries on Sunday night but are showing Masterpiece reruns. I miss the mysteries!

It isn't necessarily the authors wanting reissues of their books, but publishers wanting to cash in when an author gets hot. I also check copyright dates.

Andrew Greeley's "Father Blackie" is also fun, and of course always compared to "Father Dowling". Father 'Blackie' progresses all the way up to Monsignor, and vicar under the Bishop in the Diocesan cathedral. The stories are set in Chicago, and the main characters of Greeley's beloved Irish. I do enjoy them.

Babi

Just finished a new author to me Barbara Freethy. The book is Don't say a word and was very good.

I agree, Babi, the Father Blackie series are also fun. I think I've read most of them.

The copyrights will fool you. Substantial revisions and they issue a new copyright.. That has happened a few times to me.. I also read an Agatha Christie one time and then a few years later, reread it under a different name.. One was the english version, one was ours..

I just finished Lillian Jackson Braun's The Cat Who Could Read Backwards It was a wonderful read. My next is The Cat Who Played Post Office. I am also reading Maeve Binchy's Firefly Summer.

I want to thank everyone who comes here for recommending these two authors. They are addictive.

I had forgotten about Andrew Greeley's "Father Blackie" series, BaBi. I have read a couple of them and look forward to reading more. Thanks for reminding me.

I usually like the Homer and Mary Kelly series by Jane Langton, but "The Dante Game" had too much Dante and not enough about the characters, who all spouted quotes from "The Divine Comedy". It was set in Florence, and for once the descriptions were not interesting. How can that be, when I would love to visit Florence? Another problem was having Mary off in Milan, and I found that Homer is not as interesting without Mary around.

DelphineAZ ~ The early Cat Who..... books were wonderful fun reads. I found that the more current ones were becoming more about the characters than about a mystery.

Maeve Binchy's books are wonderful novels.

Perkie ~ Andrew Greeley's Blackie Ryan books are usually well constructed mysteries. I am way behind in the series. He had a locked room mystery that was clever.

Finally gave up on Michael Connellys "The Lincoln Lawyer". I usually love him,but hated this one..Strange how sometimes a writer uses a totally different character and you discover it does not work for you.

Indeed, Stephanie. Not just characters, but attempts at a new style. Like Patricia Cornwell's "At Risk". I'm reading it, but I am irritated at the constant present tense, as though someone were reading stage directions. If she was attempting to make the story more 'live', it is not succeeding.

Babi

Babi, gee, I'm glad to hear you say that. I really hated that use of the present tense - and thought I was alone out here.

Some authors can pull off present,, but Cornwall is simply not that good. Connelly does wonderful policeman and FBI people, but lawyers.. nada..I am doing my Christmas book list ( I know, I probably have more paperbacks than I have time in the world for, but I always have a list)

I caught up with "The White Lioness" by Henning Mankell, Mrs. Sherlock. I agree with you about the atmosphere, and the humanness of Kurt Wallender. This was a complex story that brought in the problems in South Africa during the breakdown of the aparteid rule after the release of Nelson Mandela. Since there are more books in the series, I assume Kurt recovered from the emotional battering he sustained. I notice that Mankell lives in Mozambique, so is familiar with problems in Africa. I thought the following quote, by a lawyer who reported to President de Klerk was interesting. He and his wife had seen the white lioness during a visit to a game park.

At last he realized what the white lioness in the moonlight had meant to him. First and foremost he was not an Afrikaner, a white man. He was an African.

Perkie, could I ask the publication date on "The White Lioness". I read one of his books but it was set in Sweden and dealt with the immigration problem...many wanting to migrate into Sweden and being kept in camps until processed.

I didn't know that he lived in Mozambique!

I never heard of The White Lioness by Henning Mankell. I have written the title down. Thank you Perkie.

I'm working my way through Elizabeth George's Lynley and Havers series. For the Sake of Elema is very deep. The various examples of "love" and Tommy's struggle with his obsession with Helen spotlight the human condition. George's talent with people and their motivations far surpasses mere genre, IMHO. Each book is better than the last.

Okay, I'm sold. I had not read any of the Lynley/Havers books, because of watching the PBS series. Yet everyone recommends them so highly, I think I'm missing out here. Uh,..how many are there?

Babi

I second the Elizabeth George bandwagon. I have read each and every one. She seems to always surprise me with new information on the characters in each book. She tends to concentrate on a different member of the small group including Barbara ( who I adore, but want to shake sometimes). I think the tv series is mostly about the mystery, but the books are more about the character and how they handle situations.

I have begun my first Elizabeth George. I love her writing style. So, I have added another favorite to my list.

I've been on the Elizabeth George bandwagon for a long time. A friend once told me she didn't like mysteries because the characterization wasn't deep enough. But that definitely isn't true with George's books. Her characters are very well developed. What amazes me about her writing is that you would think the books were written by an English author. I can never remember the titles, but I especially liked the one that focused on Havers and her little neighbor when they were at the beach.

The TV series is okay/so-so. I am puzzled by some recent ones which show Lynley and Helen to be separated after she loses her baby. Did that ever happen in the books? Were they separated when Helen was shot? I can't remember.

A year or so ago I attended a book signing/presentation by Elizabeth George and she said that she had given permission for the development of TV programs using the characters of Lynley and Havers. She and the producers both felt that they could do a better production developing programs that fit the 90 minute time slot rather than trying to fit her books into the 90 minutes. As you know, when they adapt her books to TV they leave out many supporting characters and details that help develop the main characters. I don't know how involved she is with the TV series now. She did have some input into the book adaptations. The TV programs are not following the story lines of her books - such as having the marital separation (TV) vs Helen's death (book) and new story lines that do not exist in her books.

If you ever have an opportunity to hear her speak she does a very nice presentation. She has an interesting background and talks about using the English setting for her novels.

When Lady Helen was killed, she was pregnant.. The baby died as well. That was part of his deep deep grief. I am reading "The Flower Master" by Sujarta Massey. I keep being bothered by the attitudes in the book, but I would guess she is being accurate in the Japanese inability to want to bother with other cultures and their deep suspicion of anyone other than Japanese. I keep wondering whyRei wishes to live there.

"The White Lioness" was published in 1998, GoldenStatePoppy. I think I recall immigration camps in his first book in the series "Faceless Killers".

There are 14 books in the Linley/Havers series, BaBi. For the chronological list try:

http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/g/elizabeth-george/

They list two, that I include in the series, as novels. One is "Deception on His Mind", which primarily features Havers, and the other is "A Place of Hiding", which primarily features Simon and Deborah St. James. Linley makes only cameo appearances in each.

I found "The Ice House", based on the novel by Minette Walters, on the library video shelf. It was a two part Mystery! program back when Diana Rigg was host. It was excellent. I didn't recognize any of the actors, but they were all good. Colin Redgrave may be a member of The Redgraves of film fame, but I don't remember seeing him in anything before.

I've been reading through the crossword puzzle lady series by Pernel (sp?) Hall. I've finally gotten to the one where our own Seniornetter Manny Novotsky designed the puzzles.

The book is "Stalking the Puzzle Lady". The author acknowledges him in the front a "Murderin' Manny Novotsky", saying that while he claims never to have murdered anyone, she is suspicious, due to his eagerness to participate. Hmmmm.. Who knew?

JoanK -- Do you have to read them in order or could one just jump to "Manny's book?"

Better to read them in order. There are continuing characters whose lives and interrelations develop. The first is "A Clue for the Puzzle Lady"

Perkie, If you like the Walters tv , you will love the books. Minette Walters is a supurb writer. But oh me, she keeps you in suspense until the last few pages at best. The Sculptress still has me wondoring exactly who did what.. I love her, but she needs to be read in the daytime, since she really feels real and horrible.

I have 'Fantastic Fiction' in my favorites list, PERKIE. I refer to it often; it's a great help.

Minette Walters is indeed a great writer, and every book is different. She is definitely not a 'formula' author. But I would be interested in seeing that video, if it's closed captioned. Thanks for mentioning it.

Babi

I can just imagine Manny being eager to participate in helping with a murder mystery. He has a wonderful sense of humor and a great curiosity about everything. He usually comes to our Bay Area luncheons. He was a urologist and often participated in our Seniors and Sexuality group on Seniornet.

I finished Tony Hillerman's latest book The Shape Shifter last nite. Lt. Joe Leaphorn is retired and not handling retirement too well. He gets a letter in the mail and all his old instincts kick in and he has to "close" an old case of his.

He is a wonderful author and his descriptions of the area makes you feel like you are in the truck with him riding shotgun.

I hate having to wait until my favorite authors write their next book

Have a great Thanksgiving everyone.

Mary

Mary, I was first on the list to get the new Hillerman at our library. John read it first, and I'm about half-way through. We were out in that area last April, at an Elderhostel which featured Hillerman's novels. We've driven all those roads, and been to many of the towns. It's just wonderful!

Like you, I hate waiting for the next one to come out.

MaryZ, do I need to start at the beginning of the series?

Hats, if you are refering to Tony Hillerman, each book is a stand-alone. He makes reference to the same characters in each book; i.e. Sgt. Jim Chee, but each book has its own plot.

Mary

MaryZ, I remember you mentioning you trip to the Elderhostel.

I'm familiar with the Four Corners area, having lived in Arizona at one time. He really makes the area come alive in his books.

Mary

I agree with Mary(redbud), Hats. The stories stand alone. But the characters do progress in the stories.

One of the things we love about Hillerman is that he makes the Navajo people and the geography of the Navajo Reservation (mostly NW New Mexico and NE Arizona) characters in his stories. You can use an atlas or the AAA Indian Country map and follow his characters on "real" roads. We've driven many of those roads over the years.

I'm still way down on the list at the library for Hillerman's latest book. There are a lot of Hillerman fans here.

I couldn't believe I was first on the list. I looked for it in the on-line catalog, found it and reserved it as #1. Then I found out that it wasn't even going to be released for two weeks after that.

Redbud thank you. All of this time and I didn't know his books were stand alones. Goody. MaryZ thank you too.

I am not sure that stand alone for Hillerman is accurate.. Both of the men continue in life and Chee especially becomes quite different as he goes along. I would try to look for them in sequence if possible. There are also at least two books that are not Indian. One if wonderful.. Viet Nam is the theme and it is really really spectacular.. Something like Waiting for Moon.. Sorry , we are in the coac and I do not have any of my library with me.

I will look for the first one. I think MaryZ talked about the development of characters in each book.

Stephanie: I agree that these are best read in chronological order. Waiting for Moon sounds right, too. Very powerful.

I went to my very favorite Salvation Army store today to look for books and found Elizabeth George's "A Place of Hiding", "The Springs of Affection, Stories of Dublin" by Maeve Brennan, "Ireland" by Frank Delaney and "Martha Stewart's Christmas" All HC, All MINT NEW condition.

The day after Thanksgiving they have a 50 percent off everything but clothing and that is nothing more than $1.00. I don't do the clothing but so many people were there and they were piles of designer clothes being bought by the cart fulls. Because I cannot stand or walk for to long of a time I picked a chair with wheels and I bought that too for $12.25. It is a brand new leather office chair. Between the chair and the shopping cart I had a really good time and got some wonderful Christmas things including a wonderful hanging garland kind of thing that is needlepoint "Merry Christmas" that I doubt was ever used and is about 4 ft long. The letters are about 8 inches high. I have to tell you that I am a big fan of their stores and always come away with books among other things. It is my #1 donation non profit.

I looked at every book and there were a lot of mystery books but I've read most of them so didn't get any of those.

DELFINE: I'll have to look in our local one. I didn't know they carried books. We have several excellent used bookstores in our neighborhood. Plus Amazon often has very cheap ones.

"Waiting for Moon" sounds right to me, too. Excellent. The other non-Indian book by Hillarman is "Fly on the Wall". I believe it was his first book, and is not as good as his others -- a standard Washington spy thriller.

I just finished "Sinister Pig". Is this his latest, or is there a newer one? It was slighter than the others, although quite readable.

Hillerman does a fantastic job of bringing alive not only the Navaho culture, but the land. You can tell he has a real love for the land, and he really conveys it. His characters never drive down a road without you seeing and feeling every bump, rock, as well as the breadth of the sky and landscape. I really admire that.

Joan, Sinister Pig is two books ago. Skeleton Man comes after that one, and the newest one (that I'm about to finish) is The Shape Shifter.

I never read the Washington one that was his first book.. But I have read all of the Indian ones except for the latest. And the Viet Nam one.. Hats,, Do read Waiting for Moon. It is truly a book to think of many times in many ways and it does not connect to any of his others.

Stephanie, I like your recommendations. I will put "Finding Moon" on my list. I just read the synopsis on Amazon. Boy, it is a very interesting plot. Can't wait to read it.

I do love Minette Walters books, Staphanie, which is why "The Icehouse" caught my eye. Sorry, BaBi, I didn't note whether it was closed captioned, but since I always use it myself and don't recall having any trouble following the dialogue, I think it is probable that it is.

Tony Hillerman is one of the few authors whose books we buy and re-read, especially the earlier ones, Rosebud. I am looking forward to the new one. Do you think Leaphorn and the professor will ever make it to China? The only thing I will never forgive Hillerman for, is letting Emma die.

Another of my favorite authors is Laurie R. King. The latest in the Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes series is "Locked Rooms". Mary Russell was 6 years old and living in Pacific Heights in San Francisco during the 1906 earthquake. She and Holmes sail from Japan to San Francisco to settle her inheritance and Mary has to retrieve buried memories while ducking someone trying to kill her. A different twist is having part being told in the first person, from her 'memoirs' as are the others in the series, and part being told in the third person. Excellent as always.

It just occurred to me to check the library bibliographic information for the movie version of "The Ice House", Babi, and it does indeed have closed captioning. I hope you can find a copy and that you enjoy it as much as I did.

Thank you, PERKIE. I've made a note to check and see if Netflix has it. I'll check my library listings too.

Babi

Perkie, I just finished the Lauri King and loved it. Mary is gaining in depth throughout the series..

I've always been a Margaret Truman (Capitol Crimes series) fan and recently started Murder at the Washington Tribune. I was disappointed and didn't stick with it. It's interesting to watch authors (of a series) change from their tried-and-true techniques, and this is a stand alone, not a Mac Smith/Annabelle. It just didn't click for me -- seemed a little far-fetched. (I'd hate to think it was because I'm an old fogie who doesn't like change. )

On the other hand, I've started a recent Margaret Maron --Rituals of the Season -- so far a typical Deborah Knott mystery -- and enjoying it. Maron might be just a tad more earthy than usual, but funny. Love the language and expressions. Do any of you say "might could" as in for example -- "we might could do that?" Is that strictly a regional or Carolina expression?

I grew up in the midwest and would not have said "might could". We would have said "we might be able to do that".

pedin, I believe "we might could" must be a Carolina expression. I'm originally from the southeastern area of Virginia and never heard that expression used. However, many of the expressions used in her books I am familiar with. I have read all the Deborah Knott books and also her other books about the New York detective. They were also good but they are mostly out of print and hard to find.

Pedln, I have never read one of Margaret Truman's mysteries. She is one of the mystery authors I want to read.

I just discovered this site. I hope it's not already listed in the heading.

First in series

Thanks for the link to that list, Hats. I have printed it out.

What a great site that is, Hats! thanks.

GoldenStatePoppy you're welcome.

I've liked Elizabeth George for years, until I got the most recent one..."What Came Before He Shot Her". I found I couldn't even read it. In the first place I can't see why she felt killing Helen was a good idea...and trying to read her view of the person who did the killing made me kind of sick. I really hate this, because now I'm not planning to read her anymore. Why on earth do authors do such things? Prior to this, I only wanted to ask her why she couldn't do something to make Barbara Havers look at bit better.... No more...no way...she lost me..though I'm sure that won't bother her..

I am holding back from reading the new Elizabeth George because I will hate it if they justify Lady Helen dying. Just too hard to deal with.. Besides I must confess I am sick of " Lo the poor killer, he had a hard life" Maybe so, but his life is still with him and the person they killed is dead forever.

I've heard people in/from South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama use the expression "might could", but never in serious conversation. It's a slangy colloquialism. Sue

Pedlin - The new Margaret Truman is out - Murder at the Opera - and she has returned to Mac Smith and Annabelle. It just came today so have only read the introduction and chapter one. Looks like the old familiar Margaret.

SugarCat - I stuck it out through the whole thing - What Came Before He Shot Her - a very long and difficult read. My least favorite of all her books. Naturally the reviews are over the top. I seldom agree with reviewers.

Stephanie - Based on what you've said I can almost guarantee that you don't want to read this George. I won't give away the story but it's pretty much what you don't want and I found it very depressing.

Might could was definitely in my vocabulary when I left Mobile, Alabama at the age of eight and occassionally it will sneak back in.

'might could' sounds like PA too. My husband is from NW PA and he has all kinds of word usages that we never heard in the Midwest.

Delphine, I love that quote.

That's an interesting site, Hats. My F2F mystery group often wants to start with the first in a series, so that's a good source. I see Antonia Fraser listed -- I haven't read her in a long time. Has she come out with anything new recently?

Re: Elizabeth George -- wouldn't you love to ask her the reason behind Helen's death. I couldn't even finish that book. But why? Helen didn't really play that big a part in Lynley and Haver's work? It makes you wonder if she has a plan mapped out for Lynley to follow. It's kind of amazing, the power of an author to evoke strong feelings like this.

Who watches Numbers? I don't know who plays Larry F, but is he on his way to bigger and better things? Why is he being sent into outer space for six months?

We watch Numbers. Peter MacNicol plays Larry. He's been around for quite some time and was one of the lawyers on Ally McBeal a few years ago. Here's his site on IMDb.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001493/

MaryZ, thank you for the link.

Peter Macnicol.. I loved him on Ally ,, he has some sort of elfin charm that amuses me to watch..Dont watch numbers.. too late for the early bird.

Stephanie, those 10 p.m. ET shows sometimes get taped to watch the next day.

I love Peter MacNicol and was delighted to see him turn up in Numbers. He was one of my favorite characters in Ally McBeal, which I watched for many seasons before it became so raunchy I got sick of it.

HATS & PEDLIN, I am about half way through "The Salaryman's Wife" and enjoying it very much. After reading so many books about old Japan, it's most interesting to get a look at the modern Japan. It has a murder mystery, with the added difficulties of the changing younger generation accommodating the still important courtesies and formalities of the older generations.

Babi

Ditto Mary, and here it comes on at 9 pm, I always like to have a few 1 hour mysteries taped to sometimes watch with lunch.

Babi, I really got mad at Numbers a few weeks ago because after one of the commercial breaks they didn't have captioning. It's one thing not to have it period, but to stop it in the middle, is dirty pool. I sent an email off somewhere, but never got an answer. However, that happened on Suze Orman once, and they responded very nicely.

I recorded Prime Suspect so I could watch all of it at once. Recording is used frequently in this house; always when there are 2 programs we want to see and they are opposite one another. Plus, I turn into a pumpkin very early these days and recording let's me have the best of both worlds. Numbers is always recorded.

"First in Series" is a nice addition to our Series series... so I put it in the heading. Bottom line, left. Thanks!

Jeryn, I have been enjoying all the other links in the heading. I go up to the header often. Thank you!

I have just finished Immaculate Deception by Iain Pears. This is a mystery built around a piece of stolen artwork. Not only is art important in the plot, Politics is important too. Art and Politics together made my brain lose step a few times. I kept reading because the idea of an art theft squad had my interest. Plus, I loved the characters, Flavia and her husband Jonathan Argyll. Iain Pears is an Art Historian. So, he writes about what he knows which makes the book really exciting. This isn't the first in the series. I am going back and get the first book in the series.

HATS, so far as I know, all of Ian Pears books have an artwork theme. Another nice way for me to learn something while I'm enjoying a mystery.

MRS. SHERLOCK, my daughter and I do a great deal of recording, too. Even with only local broadcasting, we find many occasions when two or more of our favorite TV shows are on at the same time. I don't know how people manage when they have multiple cable programs, too. There's just no way to tape, or watch, them all.

Babi

My favorite resource is Stop You're Killing Me which has indexes by author, character, location. Also has new releases. When I search for an author, I get all the books, by series, in chronological order. http://www.stopyourekillingme.com/

Hats, art and politics sounds like a great duo for a mystery. I'm not familiar with the works of Iain Pears, but will definitely look him up. I have enjoyed the books by Aaron Elkins, one of whose characters works at Seattle Art Museum. He also has an archaeologist in another series.

Another advantage to recording is being able to scan over all those commercials. And the billboarding of upcoming shows. Sometimes I've thought the upcoming show promotion was part of the show I was watching. Some confusion there.

Hi Pedln, I love Archaeology and Art. I will look for Aaron Elkins books. Here is a website about Iain Pears books.

Iain Pears

Aaron Elkins' books look really good. Thank you, Pedln for the recommendation.

Jeryn, that's a great addition - first of a series, thanks

Mrs Sherlock - like that website, thank you......

this place - SN - is just a treasure trove of resources.....jean

Hats, thank you for that link. I'm thinking now that I need to get these sites on my laptop. My F2F group is now meeting in a place that has wireless and these site would be really helpful. We usually don't plan more than two months in advance and often it's just off the cuff. These sites you all bring here will help us pick some really good ones -- if I can get moving.

Pedln, I bet it's great fun meeting with a F2F group. I guess an online group and a F2F group are totally different.

Pedln, I bet it's great fun being a part of an F2F group.

It is always exciting to see that Cynthia Spencer-Phillips has a new book out. I've been avidly following this series about the Episcopalean priest (female) in Millers Kill, NY. The latest, All Mortal Flesh, is going to be truly mysterious because the reviewer in the Oregonian warns that we not read the review because this book will "...take readers on an unsettling ride." That's good enough for me. If you haven't read this series, please start with the first one: In the Bleak Midwinter, and read them in order. Very important to read them in order. BTW, I've already put my name on the reserve list at the library.

I am confused about the books mentioned above. I could not find an author by that name but did find an author named Julia Spencer-Fleming who wrote a book called "In the Bleak Midwinter". Is this the same person?

The title resonates, doesn't it. It sounds like Poe..."..distinctly I remember, it was in the bleak December.."

As soon as you'all work out the author's name, I'll add it to my list. Babi

Amazon lists:

All Mortal Flesh: A Clare Fergusson and Russ Van Alstyne Mystery (Clare Fergusson/Russ Van Alstyne Mysteries (Hardcover)) by Julia Spencer-Fleming (Hardcover - Oct 3, 2006)



LINK

Color me embarrassed, it is Julia, not Cynthia. A senior moment, what can I say.

Mrs Sherlock, I have a lot of them. For example, right now, I am remembering that I have forgotten to remember to eat today. But I did remember to take my book with me when I went to the bank today so that I would have something to do while I was standing in line. My bank has Sunday hours at one of the grocery stores.

Delphine ~ please remember to eat. You don't want to faint from low blood sugar.

Ginny Ann, a good reminder for everyone.

Hmm. Remembering to eat for me never happens. Probably a good thing if it did. Went to the latest James Bond movie last night. Terrifying... horrible, worst Bond.. They ruined the series for me. No more Bond except for the old ones.. Why do they have to cater to the worst in humans..

Thanks for the alert, Stephanie. I was looking forward to seeing what the new Bond is like. Sounds bad, esp. the "cater to the worst i humans" part. Too bad.

I read "Sinister Pig" and "Skeleton Man", two of Hillerman's recent books. I didn't finish "Sinister Pig" because I found it too boring. "Skeleton Man", tho', was good; what I have come to expect from Hillerman.

I'm now reading my first Lynley/Havers book, "Well-Schooled in Murder", and enjoying it very much. My thanks to all of you who recommended reading Elizabeth George's series, instead of just watching the TV series.

Babi

Babi, the newest Hillerman, The Shape Shifter, is a good one, too.

I have always loved Hillerman. I am reading another Nancy Martin about the Blackbird sisters. They are sort of fun, although very much a cozy type.

I love the Blackbird sisters. I love cozies too.

Have a Stephen White going as well. I like him, although he does tend to kill off his friends.

Never heard of Stephen White. I am going to check the library. Thanks for the recommendation. Love new authors.

Donna Andrews brings back her wacky cast of characters in No Nest for the Wicket wherein eXtreme Croquet is featured. For an idea of what goes on check out this site:

http://www.lakewoodcroquet.com/rules/

Not your grandmother's croquet!

I am a great fan of the Blackbird Sisters books by Nancy Martin. I enjoy her wit and characters.

I read one book by Donna Andrews "Murder with Puffins". After I read it my comment was "too cutesy". But perhaps I should give her books another try.

Donna Andrews is sort of cutesy, but fun. I did not like the computer series she does, but the other series is fun. Stephen White is psychologist and his hero is also.. The setting is Colorado, Boulder to be exact.. There are I think at least 12 now and they need in some ways to be read in order. Each book is separate. But he falls in love and marries and has a child in the course of the books and so it might be confusing out of order.

Laurie R King has a sense of humor, which we who read her well know. Her latest Kate Martinelli book, The Art of Detection, marries her police procedural (PP) with her wildly successful Mary Russell series through the personna of Sherlock Holmes. Her writing just gets better and better with each new book. Caveat: Kate is lesbian and lives with her partner who is the biological mother of their child. If you can be comfortable with this, you are in for a great experience.

I can't believe I've been on the computer all morning. Most of the time ordering three books for a baby gift for family in Hawaii. A slow process with dial-up, when you want to look inside the books.

But, my F2F mystery group meets today, so I've just finished "printer-friendlying" this site, jotting down lots of your recommendations, including Hats' URL for "First in the Series." We're discussiong Ann Ross' "Miss Julia Takes Over," which is enjoyable, but I think a little silly. We're doing Sue Henry's mystery about a cruise ship in Alaska for January, and I think Kate Wilhelm's "Death Qualified" in Feb. Now I want to push for Parnell Hall, J.A. Jance, and P.D. James.

We started a few years ago, just to introduce each other to different mystery writers, and we're trying not to repeat. A former teaching colleague has just opened up a book and coffee shop, so now we're meeting there and it's wonderful. Lots of quiet and cozy rooms and no more noisy B&N Coffee machines to drown out everything.

A new author for me, and our very first as a club, was Ann McMillan. Can't remember the title, but she writes mysteries taking place in Richmond during the Civil War.

O h Pedlin, I do envy you. A mystery reading club. All of the local clubs are either best sellers or romance.. I dont do romance and best sellers are sort of iffy. A f2f club would be so neat.

It is neat, Stephanie. Most of us are former teachers, including two English teachers, one who said she never like mysteries because they lacked characterization, but we are slowly changing her opinion about that. (She loved THe Dante Club when we did that). We've settled on a Greg Illes for February, (I'm not familiar with him) and I pushed the first Parnell Hall for March -- hope it's good. We kind of decided to alternate between easy/cozy and more meatier titles.

Stephanie, why don't you start one. We got started just by one of the gals saying "I want to talk about mysteries with other people," let's get together and talk about this one."

Ann McMillan - I remember. I liked her books, different. I wonder if the library has any? The used book store had a few titles but I haven't read them all.

Having moved into our townhouse two years ago, we dont really know many people here. The townhouse developement is small and now our clubhouse just got done. I guess I am hoping that maybe we will get involved and I will meet people. I dont like the over 55 communities but I can see it would be easier to make new friends in one.

I'm reading a Sara Paretsky book, "The Blacklist". I like her books, and I don't know why I haven't read more of them. Simply can't read everything we'd like to, I suppose.

Babi

I have just finished one of Robert Crais' books, "The Last Detective". He is a wonderful story teller, but his books have too much graphic violence to suit me. He writes about Elvis Cole and Joe Pike. Crais was a screenwriter and based on the picture in his books and on his web sites, he is certainly the handsomest writer.

http://www.robertcrais.com

Well, I agree he is a good looking man, POPPY, but I'm still not a fan of graphic violence. Now that I think about it, most of our popular authors are older now,...like us. Anyone have competition for the handsome Mr. Crais?

Babi

I love Sara Paretsky and like Robert Crais.. I believe he did something in show business before writing. For some reason although they are violent, I like Elvis and Joe. Sara is an issues writer. I like that very much and learned quite a lot about the blacklist from the book. But I know some of the senior netters dont like the bias.

STEPHANIE, I'm always glad to see someone pointing out how very un-American Joe McCarthy and his witch-hunting House Unamerican Activities Comm. was. I'm not any happier about the gross abuse of civil liberties now taking place in the name of protecting our safety. I recognize the need for precautions and alertness, but I fear we have, and are, abusing the human rights of many wholly innocent people, and that is terrible!

Benjamin Franklin said something on that subject. I don't remember the quote exactly, but it was something like 'Those who surrender precious liberties for a temporary safety, deserve neither.'

Babi

I just finished "What Came Before He Shot Her". It was very good. But I missed the book that came right before this one, "With No One As Witness", by Elizabeth George. It should be read first, as I was lost on who was it that got shot. (Or I have forgotten.)

The latest Deborah Knott mystery by Maron is "Winter's Child". Quick read (of course you can't put it down) and very good plotting.

I love her books.

Yes, and I have it in my hot little hand and have just finished the one right before it -- Rituals of the Season. A good mystery, but also full of family details. Maybe that's what I like so much about her books.

One of my goals is to visit Sea Grove (Grave?) -- the setting for her Uncommon Clay, which was one of her best Deborah Knotts -- to see all that folk pottery. I also really enjoyed the one set in High Point, NC -- about the furniture industry -- can't remember the name. They're all good.

Elizabeth George's portrayal of women in the last two I've read, Playing for the Ashes and In the Presence of the Enemy is rather harsh. Would anyone like to talk about this in depth? Did it make you uncomfortable?

Grrr! I have started reading Elizabeth George's Lynley/Havers series in what is supposed to be chronological order. I just started book four, only to find it takes place 3-4 years before book three on my list. In book four he is engaged to Deborah Cotter; in book three she has been married to Simon St. James for three years! Drat!

Babi

I think that Elizabeth George did some backstory for us, but they are really in sequence. I like Elizabeth and agree that her female characters are sometimes problematic. I keep wanting to march out and shake Havers and make her dress human and comb her hair, but I do like how vulnerable she is to her landlord and daughter. I was very fond of Lady Helen, but dont like Deborah particularly. As you can see, Elizabeth tends to personalize her females more than her males.

I found it a bit unsettling that Linley and Lady Helen, in the book, looked nothing at all like the characters in the TV series. That makes it hard for me to visualize Linley now, as I keep imagining him as dark. Lady Helen is easier for me, as I never liked the character as played on TV. In the books, she is so very different.

Babi

I am reading Michael Connelly's "Blood Work". His female characters seem undeveloped to me. The hero has just had a heart transplant, and is disobeying his doctors orders to get back to work. Somehow, I don't find his main character particularly sympathetic. I notice by his web site that this book is to be made into a movie. Perhaps it is one that will be better as a movie than as a book. Or, perhaps this is the wrong book for me to read during the Christmas season.

You're probably right, POPPY, that this will be a better movie than book. Movie makers prefer action and excitement to character development for an 1 & 1/2 hour film. Then it will be up to the actors to try to give their roles some depth or make their characters more sympathetic. We'll have to watch for the movie, and you can give us your comparison.

Babi

Has anyone here read the latest "Cross" book by James Patterson. I was wondering if it was any good. I havn't enjoyed some of his later books very much - they didn't seem to have the same style and substance as his earlier books.

Blood Work was released in 2002 with Clint Eastwood directing and starring. It got excellent reviews. Here is the IMDB site: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0309377/

I have pretty much given up on Patterson. I think he farms out his writing..Boo. I like Connelly very much. I also saw Blood Work and it was good, but I liked the book better. I also prefer his other continuing.. but he is violent at best. Also read The Blood Doctor..Barbara Vine.. this time, she bombed out for me. I read the whole entire book and decided there was no real plot at all. What a disappointment.

My F2F group read M. Connelly's Blood Work and I liked it, but was terribly disappointed with the movie. It's been a while, but as I remember, the movie just didn't seem like it was from the same book.

I think that is often the case with books-to-movies, PEDLIN. We would probably enjoy the movies more if we hadn't read the book. MRS. SHERLOCK said the movie had excellent reviews. Unfortunately, violence seems to be a big seller in movies, too.

Babi

Read a new ( for me) author who is interesting. Alex Matthew.. Read Vendettas Victim.. She writes about Cassidy McCabe. Whi is a psychotherapist. Although definitely not the normal type. This one seems to spill all to her lover about her clients, which is a definite no-no.. But the story was interesting. I gather there were two previous and probably some more newer, but that is the first one I have found. Will look for more.

So good to read what others think of people like Elizabeth Geroge. I loved her books until she decided to kill Helen, and then I tried to read the one where she excused the killer. Found I couldn't even read it. I loved her earlier work, though I kept thinking it was time to make Barbara Havers look a bit better... Always loved Barara's feeling for her neighbors...especially her feeling for the wonderful little girl, and her father...Most especially when she saved the child, regardless of what might happen to her career.

Sugarcat, I think everyone is unhappy with George for shooting Helen. Just doesn't seem to be any reason rhyme or reason for that. But she does a wonderful job with her characterizations. I love the depiction of the little Pakistani neighbor girl -- you can almost hear her voice and see her jumping up and down with excitement and enthusiasm. But I sure don't understand why the TV show made her into such an insipid little thing.

I think I am glad I dont watch the tv version of Elizabeth George. I tried once and none of the characters looked like my mental pictures, so I stopped. I love the little pakistani girl and cannot imagine her as insipid.. She is such a dear little thing and makes Havers understand life a little bit.

Always a big fan of Tony Hillerman and Lieutenant Leaphorn, I didn't quite know what to make of "Shape Shifter". I guess, in mystery series, I like my Boy Scouts to be Boy Scouts forever. On the other hand, I am more anxious than ever to read Hillerman's next offering.

It's just a guess on my part, but I sometimes feel in a series, whether books or TV, the writers feel a wife limits the romantic interest possible for their heroes. I disagree, but it seems to happen fairly often. Look at Inspector Alleyn and his lovely wife, or Anne Perry's Wm. Monk and his very involved wife. No loss of interest there!

As for Helen, I haven't reached the book where she is killed. The Lady Helen I met in the books I will hate to lose. The one depicted in the TV series I would be happy to lose. I really did not like her.

Babi

I am reading Martha Grimes "The Man with a Load of Mischief". It seems that they are republishing early books by some authors. This is the first Richard Jury mystery and was first published in 1981. I find her characters are so exajerated that they become cartoons. However, she is a wonderful writer, and I notice now lives in the US in Santa Fe.

When I finished "What Came Before He Shot Her" I was not sure Helen was dead - the police said dead, the the newspaper(?) said in serious condition or something to that effect. Also the title did not read "what came before he killed her". This made me think she would recover so she could tell them the child was not guilty.

"With No One As Witness", should be read first, as I was lost on who was it that got shot. I guess I missed any discussion of "With No One As Witness".

I am just now reading [about half way through] Elizabeth George's latest in which we explore What Came Before He Shot Her. I find this whole set of new characters absolutely fascinating and probably very true to type, sorry to say. [I was a social worker...] Where she is going with this I fear to know... don't make a killer of that nice little boy, please...

Hooray.. I found a Jo Dereske... Miss Zukas book and am loving it. They are hard to find here and I generally score them in thrift shops, etc. I do like her. She is a really unusual character and in this one, she has two admirers.. Not that she seems to care at all.

I've had a hard time finding them too...bought the only two Borders had..the first and the last...but need to get those in the middle to follow the characters. I noted a big jump in one character's "presence" so have quit the last one until I can get the middle two. Guess I'll have to order online if I can't find them at Borders. B&N has nothing by her at the store nearest me.

jane

Jo dereske has written 9 books in the Miss Zukas series and the 10th has been announced for April 2007 for which I say Hooray! Here is her website: http://www.jodereske.com/

I hadn't heard of the Miss Zukas series. Sounds like an interesting series. Thanks for the URL. I'm definitely checking out this author.

I would love to read the Mrs. Zukas series.

I think you'll like her. She is like no other woman in mystery fiction!

Thanks, Jackie.

jane

I notice the Dereske website lists four places where her books can be bought, including B&N and Amazon. She and Mrs. Zukas are new names to me, too.

Babi

I just bookmarked Jo Dereske site. Sounds like fun.

I really like the Jo Dereske site. Thanks Mrs. Sherlock.

Have no idea why it is so hard to find Miss. Zukas, but it really is. I scored one more at my paperback exchange site, but they are few and far between. She is truly a very very different protagonists.

My local library doesn't have anything of hers. I haven't checked the other two I use, yet. We shall see.

Babi

Aha, Stopped at Habitat thrift store to leave off some stuff and boom.. Another Miss Zukas.. I am catching up. Just two more on the list and I will have them all.

Great!

There must be another Zukas fan living near your thrift store, STEPHANIE, and passing on her books. Lucky you!

Babi

I forgot to mention how impressed I was with Elizabeth George's "A Suitable Vengeance". At the first, the 'vengeance' seemed to relate to the murder victim. It was far more complex than that, and could also be seen in the relationship between Deborah and Simon St.James, and between Lynley and his mother. My respect for Ms. George went up another notch.

Babi

Babi, Yes Elizabeth George always seems to have several layers going in her stories and I honestly am not sure they should be considered mysteries as much as fiction period. Excellent writing with much information on England and the Brits of various classes as well as life in general.

I have just finished a Stephen White mystery, "The Program". It is supurb and I like this writer better and better. He is the best writer of psychological suspense that I have read.

I have just finished 4 of Sujata Massey's books about the American Japanese girl leaving in Japan. I've enjoyed the books but a little tired of her constant romantic struggles with loving first this one and then back to the other one, etc. I wish the author would show her with a little more personal maturity at 30 years old. However, the books do give a lot of interesting information and seem to be well researched about Japan and its people Sujata is not Japanese but of Indian (India) and German heritage according her official web site.

I have read three of Masseys books. I like her, but still marvel at the motivation involved. Why would anyone want to always be the one out of step with the world.

The desire to be 'out of step with the world' tends to be very much a youthful viewpoint, STEPHANI. Whatever is, is wrong; that sort of thing. As FlaJean says, one expects greater maturity by the age of 30.

Babi

Currently I am enjoying The Camel Club by David Baldacci.

Thanks, Ginny Ann. We love Baldacci, and I don't think we've read that one. I've just put it on reserve at the library.

just started a new author for me.. Dana Cameron.. We will see.

I've just started "Dark Horse", by Tami Hoag. She's always good, so I can expect a good read. I'm alternating that with "The Woman in White" for the discussion starting Jan. 1. That should give me some interesting contrasts, period piece to modern.

Babi

I have been too caught up in the holidays to keep up with the Mystery Corner, so excuse me for harking back to November and 'might could'. I moved to Georgia, just outside of Atlanta, when in high school and 'might could' was commonly used by kids and parents alike. Along with 'tote' (to lift physically) and 'carry' (to take in the car, as in "Will you carry me to the store?") 'might could' quickly joined my repertoire.

"Divine Inspiration" by Jane Langton, spent more time with other people than it did with Homer and Mary Kelly and the plot seemed more complex than her earlier works in the series. She handled the various themes running through the story very well, and I enjoyed it. I was surprised that Mary was so tall. I had somehow pictured her as much shorter than Homer. There was also some time spent on her clothing, which seemed out of character. It didn't really matter, just puzzled me.

When an author writes out of character, PERKIE, I wonder if an editor has been urging, for example, "Women like descriptions of the clothes; put some more in the book." And then I wonder, is this the sign of a good editor, or of a formula editor?

All of which only proves I've got too much idle time on my hands.

Babi

I mus t confess that I too wonder when the author seems to be quite different in style.. Is it an old book revamped or a new one and the author has decided to change what they do.. It is my main complaint with Patricia Cornwall. I loved her first stuff, but she got further and further out on a limb and now she is just flat out silly with some of her stuff. James Patterson the same way. I liked the Washington DC series at first, but when he started on the vampire tie in in one of the books, I just gave him up.. Dana Cameron. I liked the one book that I read. Her heroine is a professor and an archeologist. Author is definitely an academic since she spends a bit too much time growsing about academic problems.. Still an interesting mystery.

Me, three, on the influence of the editor...and I also wonder if some of the very popular authors are farming out the work to ghost writers. Heavens knows there must be a ton of them for all the "celebrities" who are suddenly publishing books. [I've heard some of them speak in interviews, etc....and there's no way any number of them can write a coherent book! ]

I loved Robert Ludlum's early works..esp. Parsifal Mosaic and The Matarese Circle. I thought he got off into "just add more characters to increase the pagination" with the Bourne books...and I stopped reading them. Then, after his death, a couple more appeared and they seemed much more like the early ones. I just saw at Wikipedia this about these books now appearing:reportedly leaving behind several unpublished manuscripts and rough outlines, which continue to be dusted off and published with the help of ghostwriters.

jane

One of our active SN posters is a ghostwriter, with her partner. I won't say who; that's her business. I once asked her what books she had ghostwritten, and she explained that not identifying herself as the real author was part of the contract as a ghostwriter. It goes beyond those books identified "as told to....". Wouldn't it be interesting if she and her partner had written some of those celebrity books, JANE? We'll never know.

Babi

Babi: I'm sure most of the celebrity books are ghostwritten. Those that say "as told to" are at least honest about the fact, in my opinion.

Some first thought that Margaret Truman Daniel's mysteries were ghost written, but I'd read elsewhere that "they" now think she does write them and that she is/was also an editor.

jane

I don't know if the following example will explain some of my feelings about later books by at first favorite authors. In the 1980s I interviewed a writer who had been a benchmark for self-help and inspirational books carried by small book stores like Baxter's Books in downtown Minneapolis. (Baxter was a brother of actress Meridith Baxter Bierny, David's wife). I met with her several times over the summer. She told me things about the publishing industry and made me promise never to reveal her name or anything she was telling me about the industry's secrets. Her publisher (a very big name in publishing), she said, sent her registered letters demanding that she abandon her writing style and use their formula or they would no longer publish or distribute her books. (She also appeared on national talk shows.) Baxter's Books was one of her outlets as was a very large book store in the Uptown area of Minneapolis. Both books stores were popular independent book stores that carried all the NY Times books as well as independents. She continued to write in her style and they ended their contract with her. She then found an independent published who published her books but more of less faded into the background. Baxter's and the Uptown book store had also received notices from the big publishing houses that unless they stopped selling independent publishing houses books and self-publishing authors they would end their contracts with them. Both book stores refused and the publishing houses stopped sending them books. Shortly thereafter Brian Baxter's ordeal was made public and the reasons why, he went out of business as did the very large book store in the Uptown area of Minneapolis.

Fast forward to now, it is my belief that the reason the later books are so different from the first books which we all loved is that the publishing houses demand the writers follow a formula that has a certain amount of murder, mystery, sex and betrayal in them. I also believe that many of the authors are no longer the writers of the books bearing their names but the publishing houses are using ghost writers and as they own the names of their under contract authors so the original authors have no power over what is released under their names. If an author refuses to cooperate, they are up the creek. If they do continue to write, you may find them on places like ebay but otherwise, they have no national way to sell their books.

DelphineAZ ~ Yikes. I hate that author's are so restricted. When the publishing houses were being bought up by non-book companies I was worried, especially I was worried by the non- western buyers. I guess I had a right to be worried. A romance author, in her on line book discussion has mentioned the pressure she is under to write what the publishers think is selling best. Hence all the paranormal books. That may explain Patterson's vampires. Since I had enjoyed the early paranormal romances, I have looked at some of the new ones. Ick! For mysteries to add the vampires and such could be making them horror books.

Oh, my God!!!

I learned the hard way that publishers own the books the minute a contract is signed. I wrote a couple of computer books for a small publisher. Then he changed the titles and shuffled the chapters around. When I complained, he told me that he could do anything he wanted with my books. However, I continued to receive royalties.

gaj, you reminded me of something in the country music industry. A good friend is a talent agent in Nashville. His reps talent for the traditional country music stars and entertainers. He says he cannot book his talent into casinos throughout the country because they say the stars are not on the radio. He went to a conference recently in Nashville with the owners of the country music industry and they told the attendees that their programming on radio, TV and the internet will not include the old timers because they are not being played on radio. Some of the attendees pointed out that their clients are selling out wherever they perform and they were booed down by the suits from NY and LA (who own the music industry) and were told no one cares. The suits decide who is being played when and where and according to my friend, sex sells, old doesn't. Oh, by the way, according to my friend, the music industry is now an off shore business.

Who listens to the radio anymore?!! Well, I suppose people do listen to the radio while driving, but that's about it. I don't, because I can't understand what's being said.

Boy, this is really spoiling my day. I think it's time some of the authors got together and started their own publishing company. And told the hotshot suits with the formulas to get lost! HEY, SUITS!! WE GET TIRED OF YOUR FORMULAS PDQ, AND STOP READING THEM!!

Babi

And if any more of the suits have the judgment of Judith Regan (she of the ReganBooks imprint who thought the O.J. Simpson's "confession" of how to kill your wife, even if you didn't really kill her, of course, would sell and with an interview to go with it), they should fire themselves as they fired her. BUT, it was only, in my opinion, because of the public outcry again about O.J. attempting to profit from the killings of Nicole and the Goldman young man that brought Rupert Murdock and his fellow "executives" to stop that project. In the end, of course, it's all about $$.

jane

I am suspicous about several authors.. Nora Roberts for one. She simply puts out too many books in too many genres to be able to do this. James Patterson of course is a factory of sorts. I agree that many people write and it is sold as someone elses book. There are also series that are written by several different people.. I like some of the vampire books, but a favorite author.. Laurell Hamilton has gotten so deep into sex and gore, that I have given her up and she is truly a talented woman, but either her publishers or she has gone off the deep end.. One of the reasons I like Charlaine Harris is because she does a nice light vampire series. I do like Sookie.

I found out the hard way too. When I submitted my book to a large publishing house, they wanted CHANGES! At first I did the changes hoping to get a chance at the bright life etc. but than they wanted so many changes that it would literally change the entire story - like sex in every chapter - give me a break - we don't live in the bedroom 24 hours a day.

So I said no and went on my merry way. I ended up self-publishing which was fine with me. Interestingly enough I have found that science fiction and horror publishers will accept more of an author's ideas than say romance or mainstream categories and now mysteries. I can't help feel that this "controlling" feature of the publishers reflects the times we live in.

At any rate I just write for my own pleasure and that's fine by me.

My friend in Nashville -- I have asked him many times if it so bad there why don't the zillionaires like the Alan Jacksons buy out the industry instead of complaining about it. He said that many artists have been fired by the big producers because they won't let the artists do the music that got them to the big time in the first place-- To combat what the suits are doing the artists themselves are forming their own production companies and are doing music their way and running their own show and selling millions of records and music videos. They are doing the, what he called, the Willie Nelson way, because Nelson wasn't allowed to do his music his way so he left Record Row and went back to Texas. Imagine Johnny Cash being fired by the record company he was with for decades and then went to an independent producer and they showed what can be done when music is done the way the artist wants it done. I don't think this would work with writers--they don't have the freedom musicians have.

It is, like you have all said, about money and the bottom line and about corporate suits who have no clue what they are doing. Wantabes like Donald Trump who bought the rights to Miss USA so he could get who he wanted as Miss USA and the hell with the rules--

Scrawler your story reminds me of a very popular local author in Minnesota. He writes really good books and had one adopted as a movie that Angela Landsbury stared in. After he saw the final project he said in an interview he would never sell the movie rights on another of his books. Jon Hassler's books are some of my favorite reading. Hassler says of himself, “I liked teaching and I was good at it, but I couldn’t anymore because of my voice.” BOOK: “Dear James” (Ballantine, 1993), in which Agatha McGee, a retired Catholic school teacher, discovers she’s in love with a priest. CHARACTER: Agatha McGee stars in five books. In the first, she’s teaching school, and in the next-to-be-published she moves to an apartment for the elderly."

Jon Hassler "The will to write"

Delphine, thanks for your link. It's been years since I read (only) one book by Hassler -- Staggerford, I think. Now I'm ready for more of his work. And that interview -- if only we could all achieve that grace under pressure.

DelphineAZ, thank you so much for the article about Jon Hassler. The article about Jon Hassler's life is very inspiring. I am sorry the movie wasn't made.

A few of you recommended the mysteries written by Ann Mcmillan. I am reading Chickahominy fever. I am so glad of the recommendation. The Civil War backdrop is exciting. I am learning so much. I plan, after I finish this one, to begin the series from the beginning. I love historical mysteries.

It was my great pleasure and honor to bring Jon Hassler here today. He like Jan Karon and Ann B Ross have given me many wonderful hours of living in their worlds through there wonderful books and characters.

Hats: What a fantastic resource! Thank you, thank you, thank you. So many writers I've never read, I'll be busy for years and years. What a way to start the new year. Oh, joy!

Mrs. Sherlock, I feel the same way. I am glad you like it.

Whenever I am here I have three windows open: SeniorNet, my library, and Google. Google gives me an author's bibliography; then I can go to the library site and reserve the book(s) I want. Got both Hassler and Mcmillan on reserve. Thanks, y'all. BTW, Dana Stabenow has written a standalone that features a husband/wife duo with lots of charm. He is a CIA desk man and she is a Coast Guard officer stationed in Alaska. Good reading, fast, and I hope she writes more about these two. PS: It is called Blindfold Game.

I wonder why our library doesn't have that Stabenow title, Mrs. Sherlock.

Mrs. Sherlock, thanks for the tip about the 3 windows open. I'd not thought about that--and it would be nice to see if my library has something when it's mentioned here. I do keep index cards at my desk to write new authors and titles recommended here. However, I have so many now I'll never get them all checked out and read! Sue

I like the three windows open too. Mrs. Sherlock, thank you.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

)(//()^^!!\\()^^

I finished "With no one as Witness" How depressing. Sad. I know why I had not read it before.

Reading a Miss Zukas, it is almost surely the first in the series, since I see no other books listed. Fun , but she is a bit stiffer in the first book than later.. Why would someone now eat anything purple?

Since I haven't read the book, STEPHANIE, I'm finding your question puzzling. ?? Why would someone now eat anything purple??? Well, ..why not? Grapes? Eggplant?

Babi

Stephanie: I also found her so stiff and formal and rigid that I'd have given up on the series if not for the good reviews here. I skipped the second one and went to what I think is the third one, and it's a bit better, but she's still rather rigid. Maybe this is one case where in the earlier ones the character isn't very pleasant, and one needs to meet Helma a bit later in the series????

Babi: I think one of Helma's early "rules" was that she ate nothing purple. She's a very, very rigid young person in the first book to the point of being, to me, an offensive caricature of a librarian. I find she has no personality, no human side. She reads, in that first book and a lot in the third, like a cardboard cut out of something like the old Saturday Night Live version of a librarian.

jane

Speaking of rigid young persons, anyone remember Elsie Dinsmore? When I was quite young, I thought her awesome. In retrospect, she was a self-righteous little prig. Ugh!

Babi

I stayed up reading Stephen White's "Private Practices". This is an early book of his, and I am debating whether I should have read them in order. He writes outstanding psychological thrillers. He shares a great deal about his profession as a clinical psychologist. The scene is Boulder, CO in the winter. This is the third book I have read by White, and I like each one better than the last.

I always took Miss Zukas rigidity as a parody of the typical librarian stereotype, in other words, too bad to be true therefore tongue-in-cheek. Her epic struggles with the cat have me institches!

Last night I finished reading The Camel Club by David Baldacci. I really liked it and am looking forward to his next book The Collectors.

typing is not my long suit.. The word was not eating anything purple.. Yes, I feel that Miss Zukas gets better and better as time goes on. She is definitely a parody on librarians and people who live by rigid rules.. But fun just the same. I think Stephen White is better read in sequence. He falls in love, marries, goes through his wives illness and has a child.. His relationships with neighbors and friends change.. All in all an excellent series. Not being a psychologist, I do not entirely understand his struggles with ethics and the law..

I finished Tami Hoag's "Dark Horse", and it was dark. The heroine is terribly wounded, physically and emotionally. When all the dust settles, it appears there are only 3-4 honest, non-criminal people in the whole book, and one of them is a 12-yr. old child. Welll-written, but be warned.

Babi

I am now reading an old one I came across in my shelves. It is Minette "The Sculptress". I remember her "Ice House". As one reviewer said "Creepy but compulsive". Another wrote "One of the very best mysteries I've ever read." I notice the copyright date is 1993.

The Sculptress is one I've read more than once and look forward to reading again. All you fans of reporter Irene Kelly in Jan Burke's series are in for a real treat when you read Blooklines, just out 9in PB. Irene's rocky beginnings as a reporter in Las Piernas and her mentor-to-be Conn Oconner's obsession with the past combine in a story which has twists and turns enough to keep me happy. It is an unputdownable read and I have half the book yet to go. I'll be back...

I love Minette Walters and have read every single book of hers. She truly keeps you on your toes and even at the end , you dont always know who did what to who. A fascinating author indeed.

Whoops! That's Bloodlines. Hard ti type with a car curled up in your lap. He's not a tiny baby anymore but he doesn't recognize it yet.

I'm worried about you if you have a "car" curled up in your lap. Better come back when you've finished the book - sounds like a great read!

I certainly understand about cats curling up in one's lap. My cat likes to sleep in my lap while I read until my legs go numb because she's a big cat. I tend to use her body to prop open my book until she gets annoyed and wacks the book out of my hand.

We all know that whoever invented the "qwerty" keyboard did it with malice aforethought, -- so we would always get the 'e', 'r' and 't' mixed up.

What can I say? Finished the book and it was a great read.

Our daughter just sent us a "heads-up" that a new Dana Stabenow book is coming out next week. It's a Kate Shugak story, A Deeper Sleep. We're #2 on the reserve list at the library.

Our library still doesn't have her "non-Kate" book. Odd....

I am on Danas mail list and she is going to tour for the new Kate book.. All over the west coast and she is also very excited that Bouchercon will be in Alaska this year and she is urging everyone to register early for it..

Sorry, Stephanie - what's "Bouchercon"?

Bouchercon is a once a year meeting for mystery writers and fans and attendant publishers. A lot of people go every year. I never have. I see that Janet Evanovich will be in town next week. There is a new Stephanie Plum, not numbered out. Will have to look in Amazon when I get a chance.

Thanks for the info, Stephanie. And I'll pass that tidbit about Plum on to the Evanovich readers in our family.

I finished Chickahominy Fever by Ann Mcmillan. Thanks to whomever recommended it. I love the Civil War backdrop. So many Federal and Union soldiers died in Virginia. There are spies in the mystery too as well as murdered bodies. It's a mix of history and fiction. Boy, what a mix! The first in the series is Dead March. I hope to read it soon.

I just finished Tess Gerritsen's MEPHISTO CLUB and really enjoyed it. Very entertaining. Now I'm reading Michael Crichton's NEXT. Actually, I'm listening to it. The audio is a little hard to follow because two characters have the same name. This one I'd be better off reading. Anyone else read either of these? Lynn Sholes www.lynnsholes.com

I should have wrote Confederate soldiers also.

Have any of you read The Husband by Dean Koontz? I have never read any of his books. This one looks interesting.

I have never read Koontz.. The bookstores keep him in horror and I dont like horror at all.. Except vampires.. and those that are written by women..

I don't like horror either. So, if he writes horror, I'm not going to read it. Probably why I have never read him. I'm easily spooked.

I really enjoy Dean Koontz - they are weird but not scary like Stephen Kings.

Stephanie Hochuli ~ I agree with you about the vampire/Paranormal books. Women write from a different base than men write from.

Women writers. I find that I probably read 90% female authors with a few men scattered here and there.. Even my sci-fi authors are mostly female. I would guess that I agree with you. Women simply have a different way of looking at things. The vamp writers vary a good deal.. Charlaine Harris is currently my favorite. She has such a lovely new slant on the vampire world.. I used to love Laurell Hamilton, but she got so sex ridden and violent.. Such a shame. A good writer. I love the early stuff she did. Violent, but not overwhelming.

Stephanie: I, too, seem to be reading mostly women writers these days. That bias carries over even to movies. Some are so obviously "guy" movies that they turn me completely off. It's not only violence it's that they are loud and oriented to acts.

I have the first eleven Plum books and am waiting for 12 to come out in paperback. The newest novella is about the strange character she met at Christmas last year. He seems to be otherworldly , but fun.

#12 is out, STEPHANIE. I saw it in the library this morning, among the returns. Go get it, girl! "TWELVE SHARP" is the title.

Babi

If I ever start feeling human again, will hit the bookstore for the new Plum in paperback. Amazon did not list it yesterday at all.. The cold managed to transform to a raging sinus infection, but it is finally breaking up. Still feel fairly nasty with no energy. Have not been to the gym since Christmas, which is unheard of for me.

My sympathies, STEPHANIE. Been there many times; never did like it. Glad to hear it's breaking up. Get your rest and eat strengthening stuff. Plum is waiting.

Babi

That "bug" seems to be everywhere, Stephanie. Get well soon!!!

jane

Mine started Dec. 24 and I'm still coughing my fool head off. Add to that the weather: still have snow on the ground from Tues, temp today is 24. For newbies from SF Bay Area, well, you can just imagine.

Oh, Mrs. Sherlock, I couldn't find you. Thought you might have gotten a bug. I hope you keep improving. Twenty-four is awfully cold.

I am feeling more and more human.. Thank heaven.. I had heard from Lorraine in the Florida postings tha she had had the cold before me and it lasted forever and I tend to agree now. Just finished Sue Grafton S book and hated it. Wow. I love Kinsey, but this book was just too back and forth weird.. And Kinsey acted unlike herself at the end.. Hmm..

So that's why my daughter Sally is still coughing. She must have the same bug. She started about the same time Mrs. Sherlock did. She is getting better, thank goodness.

24 deg. is unusually cold for the Bay Area. It's that horrific ice front, of course. We're expecting it here soon. The last couple of days have been a high for January on the Gulf Coast--in the sixties. Shirt sleeves with door and windows open. Within the next two days, we will have what is expected to be an all-time low. That's Texas for you. A drop of 10 degrees in an hour can happen around here. A 30 degree drop will probably take 3-4 hours.

Babi

I've been coughing for months more or less only I think it's the dust in my house and allergy. the cleaners stopped coming and I don['t see dust very well. I need new cleaners but 'am lazy. mystery solved. . .Claire

about the Ute Indians in Colorado are very good. I just finished three of them and am not reading at the moment subject to eyes getting better. I shouldn't be doing this either. . .Claire

Oh, Elizabeth George, how could you do this to your fans? When I finished With No One As Witness I was limp. I eagerly reserved What Came Before He Shot Her until I learned that it was about the 12-year-old boy so I cancelled it. Then, I had to cope with picking up another book (any book) and going through that familiar sense of why bother. Other books, after George, seem so shallow and petty. Oh, Helen (sigh)

they are direct and imaginative and sometimes find directions adults would never pursue. Elizabeth George didn't catch me in the past maybe she will with these two. . .claire

Claire

The child in this book is a vehicle for George to delve intently into the plight of the "Throwaway" children in London. The Lynley and Havers characters, based on a review I read, have mere walk-ons in this story. If you wish to read George, please, please read her books in order. These are really about the lives of the principals and you would be terribly confused if you started anywhere other than the beginning. She is a superb writer and it is important for your full enjoyment to allow her to tell the story of these people in her own way and at her own pace. But do try her. Here is the George books list, in order, from the Stop You're Killing Me site:

LINK

Boy I agree with how could you do this to your fans. I was so depressed -

you sure messed with the formating with that long link. I have to scroll to read anything because of it. use the tiny url thing or the proper code with the a href. . .claire

Claire:

I only have a 15 inch screen on this laptop and Mrs Sherlock's url is not causing me any scrolling. It may be that you have your font set quite high and that's what's causing it, not her relatively short url. I'll go fix it to just a LINK, though, for you.

jane

anyhow I don't need it now it's only on for the one page and I'm past it. thanks though claire

Just placed an order with Amazon for five more mysteries. Since I order their used books, I got 5 for $20. I then donate the books to the Senior library after I have read them. I also borrow books from this library, often choosing an author I have not read before. This time it is "24" by Greg Iles.

I am still mad about Lady Helen and have not picked up the book on her murderer.. I will eventually since I like Elizabeth George very much, but darn it all, I can think of a lot of characters of hers, that I would have killed off before Helen.

Stephanie Hillier would be tops on my list. Havers needs a good shaking; although I suspect that she is chronically depressed and shaking won't do much to help with that condition. Who else needs killing? Hmmmm...

I don't remember a Stephanie Hillier in the Lynley mysteries. I'm sorry that Lady Helen was killed, but to me, she was expendable. I never liked her, and never felt any compassion in her. I'm glad that Deborah and Simon are so happy together, but it is too bad that Lynley lost out. I thought Deborah would have been better for him than Helen ever was. I do like Havers, rough edges and prickliness notwithstanding. She is a product of her upbringing, just as Lynley is. Also, I find that the softer Havers in Mystery! carries over onto the one in the books!

I have fallen behind on Dana Stabenow. I haven't even read "Taint in the Blood" which came out in 2004! I look forward to the standalone, also, and will check on it after my library finally comes back online.

We still haven't found the "stand alone", but I just finished Stabenow's latest. This one seemed more about Jim than Kate, but that was okay. It was a good read.

Perkie, I left out the punctuation mark in my earlier post. There should have been a colon after "Stephanie". Hillier is the nasty AC who has it in for Lynley and makes his professional life miserable.

I tried Stabenows stand alone and could not finish it.. And I love her. Cannot believe it.. But just did not like the characters or the plot.. See. I dont like Deborah at all. I think Simon is great, but Deborah is a royal pain with her whininess..( is this a word). Lady Helen seemed to make Lynley more human. I like Havers except she is her own worst enemy sometimes.

Deborah is the weakest character. The explanation for her barrenness made her more human to me; maybe that condition makes her more deficient in character. Simon, inspite of his handicap, seems able to continue on his path but Deborah is too tentative to be more substantial than a shadow.

Way back I read some stories about Simon and Deborah - I think they were on there honeymoon. They solved mysteries - I just loved those but then we went back to Lynley & Havers.

One can't but keep wondering WHY George killed off Helen. Was it because she already felt compelled to write the sequel, about the Throwaway child? Did someone challenge her to kill off a well-liked character? Does she want a new romantic element for Lynley? Curiouser and curiouser.

I wasn't happy when Colin Dexter had Inspector Morse die, either, but that wasn't totally unexpected. I think MOrse was having health problems. I wonder if JOhn Thaw had anything to do with it -- the actor who played MOrse. Didn't he die shortly after the last Morse book came out?

It's easier to understand in TV, when an actor leaves the show for some reason. I remember when Lynn Thigpen died -- she was the administratve asst. (?) to the police chief in that show about the DC police. Can't remember the name of the show or the characters -- Ella? The show had an episode with Ella's death and funeral, and the final credits said, Goodbye Lynn.

Don't despair yet... at the end of What Came Before He Shot Her, I sense that Lady Helen is not yet dead. Anyone else see that or am I dreaming? Don't want to give anything away but also I think we'll find her murderer is not whom we now think...

I believe George will be writing more on this turn of events!

Jeryn: So, I'm going to have to read What Came Before He Shot Her after all? Helen's status at the end of With No Witness was only spoken of in the sense that Tommie told them to turn off the machines.

Good heavens, I think youre right. I think he left and did not go back?? I will have to read the next book.. George is a good good writer who has interesting things to say, so possibly there is something I am missing.

JERYN, I do hope you're right. I haven't reached that point in my chronol. reading of the series, and I wasn't happy about the developments coming up. Tho' I never liked Helen in the TV series, the Helen I'm finding in the books is very different. I really like her.

Babi

yo've all given me good reason to SKIP E. George. I couldn't get into her before either. . .Claire

I heard about a new David Baldacci book here, The Camel Club. I gave up yesterday, about half-way through. It's not one of his courtroom mysteries, which would be okay. But it's all about the in-fighting between the various US intelligence agencies, and I couldn't keep track of who were the good guys and who were the bad guys. I finally decided I really didn't care, and passed it on to John. He'll give it a try when he finishes the one he's working on now.

You are right, BaBi. It was the TV Lady Helen that I didn't like. I am re-reading "With No One As Witness" and paying close attention to the scenes with Helen, and I like her quirkiness and humor. I loved the array of christening outfits she chose. I'll pay close attention to what happens to Helen in the hospital.

has written a very boring book about his father. He's also written some goof ones. too bad. . .claire

Don't change a word. I like it just the way you wrote it.

Me, too, CLAIRE. It's priceless!

MARY Z, if you couldn't tell the good guys from the bad guys, that may simply be the sad truth. The infighting between our various intelligence agencies is doing the country much harm, IMO. Please let me know your husband's opinion of it. If it's too confusing to follow, I don't want to bother with it either. But if he finds it informative, I'd like to give it a try.

Babi

I dont read Baldacci, but my husband does and he was really disappointed in the Camel Club.. Does anyone else read Carolyn Haines.. Very light mysteries in the south. The main character is laid back funny and has a family ghost as a familiar to help or hinder her. Fun..All have Bones in the titles.

I am a Caroline Haines fan. I find her books witty and charming. It surprised me since I don't normally care for the paranormal in mysteries.

Babi, et al - I agree that sometimes we can't tell the good guys from the bad guys. I'll let you know what John thinks.

I read three light books and am now still plowing through STaTE OF DENIAL which actually is pretty light reading with dialogue and constant referral to the particular NAMED person involved as in GARNER. . who was supposed to plan for the post war and got dumped after he's done a lot for a political appointee who was military retired and incompetent. This is exciting because it is REAL and IMPORTANT and has resulted in great losses for us.

Claire

Both my husband, Ray, and I read an enjoyed The Camel Club. Ray has already read its sequel The Collectors. He enjoyed it. We both know that the bickering between the different alphabet bureaus is real.

I am reading Path of the Assassin by Brad Thor. It is his sequel to The Lions of Lucerne.

Stephanie, I love Carolyn Haines' mysteries. I have only read one of her books. I just fell in love with the ghost in that southern setting. You have made me pull around and find another one I own by her. Then, off to the library for more of her books.

I am reading Dead March by Ann Mcmillan. This is my second one. I love Narcissa and Judah Daniels. I can't remember who recommended this series. I am very grateful.

I have been looking for Ann McMillan and have not found any just yet.. Except for some new ones, that is.. However while I was looking, ran on some Philip R. Craig stuff. I had read one of his years ago and loved it. Seems he wrote a whole series and still is, I suspect. I finished a second one and have three more coming from the paperback swap.. They do manage to have some lovely older stuff.

Thankfully, my library owns Ann Mcmillan's books. I love Phillip R. Craig too. I have only read about two or three. I need to start at the beginning.

Are you familiar with Cynthia Riggs? I haven't read one of hers yet. I bought it because she is an elder sleuth. Plus, the mysteries take place on Martha Vineyard.

STEPHANIE, I'm reading my first Carolyn Haines right now.."Dem Bones". The ghost of great-grandmother's nanny is an unexpected note, but on the whole it is so 'light' I find myself not really caring what happens. I have two other books waiting, incl. an Elizabeth George, and I may not have the patience to finish the Haines book.

Babi

I have just given up on Richard North Patterson's "Balance of Power". It is about gun control and obviously something the author felt strongly about. However, somehow, I couldn't get interrested in President Kilcannon and his new wife, Lara, as real people. I will try to finish it another time.

Babi,, I agree that Carolyn Haines is light indeed, but I love to balance off stuff and she gives me a necessary light moment. On a not a detective note.. I am reading Burn...It is a non fiction account of a man who managed to convince Mario Battali to let him learn cooking at the restaurant. Bill is a professional writer, but spent a whole year, first as a prep cook , then a line cook and then exploring the places where Mario learned to cook.. Fascinating thus far.. I love to cook, but reading this realize I could never ever work in a commercial kitchen.. Whew..

I guess it depends on which side of the aisle yu support but I loved "Balance of Power" and proptly went for previous books in the series.

what went on this week in real life had more drama than anything that has been conceived by a novelist what with libby and cheney and obama and hillary and the resolution which I watched on C-span last night all happening at once.

whew. . .

claire

re: Balance of Power. I support the premise of gun control. I just didn't find this book interesting. Quite often when someone has a passion for something, it turns people away rather than encouraging them to support the issue. That's what happened to me here.

Oh darn.. the book I am reading is Heat.. I knew I would mess up.. I love it..

I am reading a book by Greg Iles, "24 Hours". It is engrossing. I had not read anything by him before, but certainly will in the future. As one reviewer said "The seemingly perfect American family is targeted by a madman who has refined the art of kidnap, and roars into their lives like an avenging angel."

I just posted my review of Margaret Frazer's The Sempster's Tale in Fiction cause I thought I was here. I love her stories and this was, as usual, totally engrossing.

Mrs. Sherlock, I would like to read one of her mysteries. Should I read in order?

HATS, I just read a Margaret Frazer whenever I find one, and enjoy them all. I suppose there are developments in relationships which would be easier to follow if taken in sequence, but that has never prevented me from enjoying whichever book I'm reading. Mrs. Sherlock is probably more familiar with them than I am; we'll see what she says.

Babi

Frazer's books are not necessarily written in any order but there are threads which continue. Since they are minor elements in her plots they will not hinder your enjoyment. I will be, when you come across a character again, you will say Aha! So just dive in.

Babi and Mrs. Sherlock thank you for the extra information. I am going to look at the library catalogue.

Just finished Miss Zukas Shelves the Evidence.. Wow.. Hilma softens.. does unexpected things.. gets in an ELEVATOR. Wow.. She is in love for sure.

I have been reading some Miss Seaton mysteries I bought at our recent "Friends of the Library" sale. After the original author died (Heron Carvic, I believe) two other authors have continued the series. James Melville wrote three of them under the name of Hampton Charles and those three have many of those "laugh-out-loud" situations. All of the series are a nice, light read. The latest paperbacks were written by Sarah J. Mason as Hamilton Crane.

I have read some of the Miss Seaton, but I did not realize it was three different authors.. They are light and sometimes fun.

I've read several of the 'Miss Seaton' books, but I didn't keep track of them. I've probably missed some. They make a pleasant break from heavier stuff.

Babi

What author do i look for in the mystery section for the "miss seaton" series - any of the three you mentioned?......jean

i'm in the winter doldrums, anybody got some other suggestions for light, fun, easy reading??......jean

I'm thinking...

MABEL, since they were written by at least three different authors, I'd ask the librarian if they are shelved together anywhere. He/she will know where to find them.

Babi

I have just finished Greg Iles "24". It is a wonderful book with a bangup ending. I recommend it, but not when you need sleep.

One of the books i picked up at the library was "Girl at the end of the Line" by Charles Mathes.....seems it is one of a series of "Girl......." I liked it....good mystery story to the end of the book, easy and obviously quick-reading.

Also got another Elliot Roosevelt mystery, like reading them on ocassion, but too much alike to read often. In this one he says FDR and Missy LeHand "'slept together' but no one knows if they were intimate!!!!" O.K.! What does he mean by "slept together"???? He says Missy put on her night gown and went to FDR's bedroom??? ER knocked on the door and Missy responded in her nightgown! He gives no indication that that disturbed ER.....What is Elliot saying to us? This is a mystery within the mystery, uh?..........jean

I think it shows that Elliot would do anything to make his books sell.. Poor Eleanor and Franklin..

The Joseph Lash biographies of Eleanor and Franklin have a frank discussion of the affairs FDR had during his White House years. I say biographies as I think there were 2 volumes, but could be mistaken. Fascinating look into the family life and political lives of both. Sue

Yes, i liked the Lash bios.....when i read the mysteries, i always wonder how much true info Elliot is giving us. In the first one i read Chruchill was at the White HOuse and he gave a description that sounded like the things i've read about WC.....but it's especially intriquing when he talks about his mother and father....would he say something that wasn't really true about them?.....i'm not sure.....jean

Based on the recommendations here, I am now reading "Missing Joseph" by Elizabeth George. So far, I find it fascinating. She is a terrific writer.

GoldenStatePoppy: Isn't she? Her talent far exceeds the usual standard one expects when a book is categorized as Mystery.

Elizabeth George.. I do really think that she writes novels, not mysteries. The interchange in the people and the settings are just as important as the mystery. In some ways, they are more important. I like her so much and am still putting off reading the most current. Sooner or later, I will be able to deal with what happened. I am reading a really really light thing.. Brenda Midnight.. is a milliner in Greenwich Village.. Sort of a crime solver, but it is fun in a frothy sort of way.

I am reading Thunderstruck by Erik Larson. It is the story of how the wireless telegraph invented by Marconi helped in the capture of serial killer Dr. Crippen. Larson always presents the pcture with lots of interesting details, in this case revealing that Crippen's hometown is known for its unique victorian architecture. Also, Marconi's mother was Irish and he was not fluent in his native Italian. Little things but they make the characters come to life.

I liked Cynthia Riggs, Hats, although not as much as Philip R. Craig. With Craig, I feel like I am a part of Martha's Vineyard, but did not get that feeling with Riggs.

I have read several of Margaret Frazer's tales and don't feel that order is very important. Each one seems to stand along without the continuity of, for instance, Kate Sedley's stories of Roger the Chapman (which is much lighter reading).

I finished "With No One As Witness" by Elizabeth George. Unfortunately, Helen Lynley will not be reappearing. Her brain was without oxygen for 20 minutes, and her body was kept functioning until they decided whether the baby would be healthy enough to live. The doctors wanted to keep her going for two months so they could see, but Lynley was appalled by that idea and decided to have the machines turned off, then sat with her and felt strongly that she was no longer there.

I am partway through "What Came Before He Shot Her". It is not a direct part of the Lynley/Havers series, but is a companion book to "With No One As Witness." It is the story of the boy Joel and his family who live in a violent section of London. No one should have to live in the fear and helplessness of that poor boy. I had to get away from it and read something else for awhile, it is so painful to read. I know it is just a story, but it is so real and I'm sure that there are many boys and girls who lead such lives.

Perkie: Reading about the violence in What Came Before He Shot Her makes me feel depressed/helpless. That the conditions so vividly recounted in this book of fiction are still true, and that they occur over and over again in all parts of the Western World overwhelm me. I think I will have to give this one a pass and hope George gets back on track with her saga.

I find that Elizabeth George has a lot of true things to say. Here in central Florida, several days ago, three boys hooded and armed robbed a IHOP on a main street in late afternoon. Just a few customers, but in full view of a street.. They pistol whipped , shot an older man in the chest ( he survived) and generally acted as if someone had told them they could do what they wanted. I am still so puzzled about what causes people to decide noone counts except them and what they want. Truly scary..

On the books What came before he shot her, and No one as Witness.... I still can not figure out what "Blade"(?) had to do with Helen: actuly it would be Lynley he would of had a grudge against. So I am thinking it was just his and her home being shown in the paper gave him the opportunity.

FrancyLou: Aha! Another thread George left dangling! I had forgotten about that.

Is Rick Mofina familiar to any of you? His book Every Fear was in a bunch of books from Candi and I tell you I was up half the night trying to figure out who was who. Anyone who loves a good thriller I would recomend Every Fear

FEB 4TH HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDMA GINNY HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT DAY.

There is no question that the entry in the newspaper caused Lady Helens death. But of course noone will ever be punished for that sort of intrusion in their private life. Newspapers have so much to answer for in that line. I remember when all of the m arines were killed in that bombing years ago. We lived in New England and every day you would find pictures in the Boston Globe and pictures on the tv of grieving parents and intrusive reporters .. One reporter actually was following the chaplain and officers who were notifying parents and they would go to the door after the Chaplain left. I swore that if it had been my child, I would have hunted them down like the dogs they were.

You are right, FrancyLou. I was so caught up in The Blade's dedication to wreak revenge on Joel's family, because he was "dissed" by Joel's sister, that the reason for picking Helen Lynley never crossed my mind. Perhaps it was because the serial killings were such a high profile case and Thomas Lynley's was smeared across the tabloids that The Blade felt there was no way Joel would not be caught. Now that I have finished "What Came Before He Shot Her", I am torn between wondering what happens to Joel's family after his arrest and not really wanting to know any more bad news.

Speaking of "What Came Before He Shot Her", I was unwilling to wait my turn at the library to read it, so I did what I seldom do. I bought a hard-back copy. I plan to put it on the Book Exchange, but want mystery lovers to have a first crack at it. If any of you would like to have it, contact me at mannygordon@comcast.net and I will just notify the Book Exchange to add it to their statistics. I hope this is okay to do.

According to the Fantastic Fiction bibliography of Rick Mofina, "Every Fear" is the second in the Jason Wade series. The first was "The Dying Hour". Mofina has also written several books in the Tom Reed series. My library has a couple of the latter, which I plan to try. Thanks, Judy Laird.

Just finished the Ann Purser book. It is an english set book of a cleaning lady and a murder. That was the Monday book and I also have the Tuesday.. I am still trying to make up my mind how I feel about the book.. I think Ginny discovered her. I like Lily Bard.. who is also a cleaning lady in the Shakespeare series by Charlaine Harris. Lily is a tough tough lady with good reason. This lady is a Mom and wife and has sort of a complicated arrangement with the police. Still she is interesting.

I have just finished Elizabeth George's "Missing Joseph". Her writing & characterization is outstanding. The conclusion is a surprise. I find her least likeable character is Helen. However the primary characters in this story are Deborah & Simon St. James. It is my hope they appear in other of her books. She writes wonderful descriptions of the English countryside, although I notice she lives in Huntington Beach, CA.

JUst finished Nancy Martin's Blackberry sisters mystery "Have your cake and kill him too," a good antidote for my cold winter blues! LOL.....jean

aaahhh, that's the BlackBIRD sisters - as you all know......lol....jean

I love Nancy Martin's books. They are indeed an antidote to the gloom of winter.

I agree Nancy Martin hits just the right note in the mysteries. A little mystery, a lot of fun and a sexy man with a past for the heroine to consider.

Does anyone remember the name of the Eliot Roosevelt mystery that features the Roosevelts at Hyde Park? It came up in the discussion of the Dutch settlement of Manhattan:

ISLAND AT THE CENTER OF THE WORLD

There is one titled "Murder at Hyde Park" don't know if that's the one you are thinking of, but most of the others are in the White HOuse....jean

Duh (head-slap)! Of course! Thanks, Jean.

Next week Carolyn Haines will be here in Auburn for an Arts Association fundraiser. She'll be speaking at a dinner on Saturday evening and conducting a fiction-writing workshop on Friday afternoon. She will also be signing her books at the Hastings book store near me.

I think some of you mystery readers have enjoyed her "bones" mysteries. I'm hoping to attend the dinner, but am not sure yet. Sue

How exciting, Sue! I always enjoy getting to hear an author talk about their work. I love Book TV on CSpan2 on the weekends. I hope you get to go hear her.

I like the bones series.. Light and fun in many ways. Who killed who is not particularly important.

I do hope you will be able to hear Carolyn Haines. I am one who enjoys her bones series. I wish I could hear her. Perhaps you can report back to us.

I just picked up my first Amanda Quick mystery at the library this morning. The jacket blurb described her as the "Dorothy Parker" of mystery writers. With a come-on like that, how could I resist?

Babi

Amanda Quick is Jayne Ann Krentz She has also written as Jayne Castle

I dont believe the blurb.. Dorothy was a one of a kind author. Amanda Quick is primarily a romance writer. A good romance writer, but still I suspect all of the primaries will be too too handsome for words. And desperately in love at some point in the books. Dorothy did not consider her romance as the heart of her books.

Several 'Amanda Quick' books came across my desk yesterday, Stephanie. Some were mystery and some were romance, so I gathered she wrote in both genres. I'm not interested in the romance books, so I am hoping her mystery books are just that. Nora Roberts/J.D. Robb manages it quite well; maybe Amanda does, too.

Babi

I believe she also wrote under which name I am not sure but some like paranormal or science fiction type things.

I like those and j.d. robb is a good example too except her EVE is so bad tempered. claire

This is the ninth in the Jane Austen series by Stephanie Barron. It is placed in London, where Jane is working on the publication of her first novel, "Sense and Sensibility" while solving a crime. This is my least favorite in the series. Somehow it just didn't ring true. In fact, I did a fair amount of skimming.

After the heavy seriousness of "Jane and the Barque of Frailty", it was fun to turn to Lilian Jackson Braun's "The Cat Who Had 60 Whiskers". It ended leaving me rather puzzled. The bad guys were never revealed, leaving the reader with the conjecture that it was probably the bad boys from Bixby, a 'nebulous group of ill-doers". Polly moves to Paris. The apple barn is burned down, but Qwill doesn't seem to care because the cats were safely in the condo and he is tired of showing it to people anyway. It makes me wonder where they will go from here!

Perkie: Say it isn't so! Polly moves away to Paris? THe apple barn burns down? I won't want to read this one. Or is it an early April's Fool joke?

Judy ~ Jayne Ann Krentz "Writing as Jayne Castle I plan to explore more stories that mix love, the paranormal, and the futuristic..." she wrote in a Letter from the Author in Amaryllis.

This is a link to the listing of all her books.
http://www.krentz-quick.com/books.html

Yes as Jayne Castle, she wrote paranormal, but they are still romance.. Dont know about the mysteries, but I suspect they will be heavy on romance.. I like and read J.D. Robb and also read Nora Roberts vampire trilogy, but in the end, she has to stick in the very very graphic love scenes.. I just skip them..

Movie on last night was MONTANA SKY a romantic mystery. Had some twists that were pretty predictable but I found myself involved. This was on LIFE channel. another coming up monday night Carolina Moon. They do a good job with the film, beautiful country and people and animals as visuals.

That's basically why I've stoped reading J.D. Robb, STEPHANIE. She insisted on telling me far more than I needed, or wanted, to know. So the heroine and her husband were great in the sex department...so what? I have no voyeuristic tendencies whatsoever. Close the door, please, Eve!

Babi

if graphic sex bothers you skip it. I find it boring after a few paragraphs and do just that. On with the story.

claire

I think the publishers are pushing authors for graphic sex in their stories. Sex sells. Erotica is porn for women, IMO. Nora and many other authors were milder in the bedroom department.

I was reading an author that had been a favorite but when she described a gang rape to vividly I stopped reading her. I know she was doing it to show the evil the leads were working to stop, it just upset me and still does as I am getting upset all over again

Yes, Romance authors are pressured to include usually two graphic scenes per novel and in their conventions, it is actually a teaching seminar on how and what words to use. In many cases, they strike me as close to physical abuse.. So.. like some of you, I skip them in the Robb novels. Dont really read any other romance writers. Many of them have gotten into the romantic mystery division or paranormal since they are selling better than the straight romance stuff.

I am into another Elizabeth George book, "A Traitor to Memory". I find it fascinating. Much of it is told in a diary from the point of view of a famous violinist who is suddenly unable to perform.

I am such an idiot!! My mind slipped a cog. I wrote about 'Amanda Quick', when the book was one featuring 'Amanda Pepper'. The book was written by Gillian Roberts, and she is the one described as the Dorothy Parker of mysteries.

My apologies to all. Is anyone familiar with Gillian Roberts, and do you agree with the assessment of her writing style? (I wonder if I could put in a red face?)

Babi

(Nope, apparently not.)

Poppy: Fascinating is the word. I still can't forget that book, though its been many, many books ago. It was hard to put down.

No April Fool's joke, Mrs. Sherlock. I'm sorry I gave so much away, but I was upset. It is strange how easy it is to become involved in fictional lives, or perhaps after 29 books, not so strange! I have cousins I don't feel I know as well as I think I know Qwill.

For a light-hearted, chaotic mystery, Donna Andrews fills the bill with "We'll Always Have Parrots", the fifth in her Meg Langslow series. This takes place at a convention of the fans of the TV show in which her boyfriend is a star player, and comes complete with parrots, monkeys and a tiger named Salome. Meg and her lovable father, one of my favorite characters, rush after false leads until stumbling on the correct one. It is not often that a mystery leaves me with a smile on my face.

I have read Gillian Roberts, but again No Dorothy.. I am still enthralled with Philip R. Craig and slowly hunting down what he wrote .. Fifteen is thenumber quoted in this book for the series. In this one, JR and Zee are still courting and she has become interested in another man.. Oh horrors.

Too bad, Stephanie. I have always appreciated Dorothy Parkers razor wit, even when I was appalled to think she actually said some of those things. I remind myself that her targets were equally savage wits, well able to protect themselves.

Well, I will simply read the Gillian Roberts book when I get to it, w/o drawing comparisons, and doubtless enjoy it more.

Babi

Babi: I have always wished I could have been a fly on the wall at the Algonquin. I make a good audience although I am not witty myself. Parker is one I like to read when in the right mood. Somehwere in my vast store of books (approx. 100 boxes) in a Dorothy Parker Collected Works. Great fun.

I confess I love Gillian Roberts, but have never read Dorathy Parker. But Roberts is worth reading for her own sake.

(I take it back. I've never read Dorothy Parker, except for this ditty, which I saw somewhere:

"The older I get

The further I roam,

The less I care about

Who sleeps with whom").

So much for romance writers!

She also said: "Candy is dandy but liquor is quicker."

Sorry, Mrs. Sherlock, but the "candy" quote is from Ogden Nash.

http://www.quotationspage.com/quote/21914.html

I have the Collected works of Parker.. Some are funny, some acerbic, some truly sad and some just plain mean.. But oh me, I would love to have been able to sit and hear the discussions. They must have been pips.. But they did drink way past normal in that group.

My favorite Dorothy Parker come-back (the other gal started it) was when a group was exiting together. One woman allowed Parker to go first, murmuring "Age before beauty". Parker strode past, replying, "Pearls before swine." \ Babi

Whoops!

Was she the one who said, "Men don't make passes at girls who wear glasses"? I had a really stupid complex about wearing glasses when a teen--and thought about this one a lot. She had a quick mind and evidently thought in rhymes. Sue

I thought that was Ogden Nash. Maybe I got them mixed up.

Not sure who did the glasses bit, but I have worn glasses since first grade and I know I was always convinced that my glasses made me way funny.. Then I got contacts in my 20's, but realized that noone but me ever cared. Back to glasses for years now.

That one is Dorothy Parker. Here's a page of her quotes.

http://womenshistory.about.com/od/quotes/a/dorothy_parker.htm

I just put the quote, in quotation marks, in google, and it tells me right away who said it.

Those Parker quotes are priceless! Now I've had a good chortle to start the day.

Babi

I went to get a library card in mmy new town, and found that they have a mystery discussion group that meets once a month. Unfortunately, they seem to read mostly "tough guy", not my preferred genre. The one for the next meeting is "Chinaman's Chance" by Ross Thomas.The librarian gave me a copy. Has anyone read it? So far, it's a bit of a slog. I can't decide whether it's a spoof on the "tough guys" or whether the author doesn't mean to be funny.

how you doing in your new place. all settled or at least enough to enjoy the local benefits. I hope you found a good place to light etc.

I haven't heard of this author. At least you can meet some local reader people if you go.

take care, Claire

CLAIRE: we're still wall to wall boxes, but are getting settled. Now I have my library card and a book discussion to go to, I'm beginning to feel I belong. I met the only other Senior in this apartment complex: she is legally blind, but listens to mystery stories on tape. I wish there was some way to get her into Seniornet.

I always thought Ross Thomas was very funny. There are several book he wrote, I think, which had some of the same characters. I just couldn't take him seriously. If he was not intending to be funny, too bad. He tickled me.

On its way from Netflix is the first disc of the set of BBC episodes of M. C. Beaton's Hamish MacBeth stories. We do hope they're good. One of the towns we stopped in last year in Scotland was the one where this series was filmed.

Mary, we had a satellite dish and BBC America reception and did watch the Hamish McBeth series. However, we found it difficult to understand--don't know if it was the sound or the accents. We also watched BallykissAngel, which was an Irish community and although they all had accents foreign to us, we understood them better than Hamish. I love reading the mysteries about Hamish, though.

I went to a writer's workshop today which featured Carolyn Haines. I was the only person in the room who wasn't working on something to be published. She was entertaining and informative. I think the would be writers got some good tips about writing, genre, theme, plot, character, choosing an agent--etc. It was a 3 hour workshop and time passed quickly. Sue

Ross Thomas is a favorite author of mine. I often thought he was poking fun at the DC establishment. I was sad when he died. http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/t/ross-thomas/"Before he began writing novels in 1965, Ross Thomas was a reporter, foreign correspondent and public relations executive in the United States, Europe and Africa. He was the author of over twenty novels including the award-winning COLD WAR SWAP. He died in 1995.

Yes, he died too young with too many books unwritten.

Sue, since we'll have it on DVD, we can at least replay parts if we don't understand them. Or we can use the closed captioning. Some of the folks we talked to in Scotland last year had brogues that we could hardly understand. Sometimes, we just had to get the gist of the conversation.

Our local PBS broadcasts episodes of "Ballykissangel", and I watch it occasionally. I can understand about a third of what they are saying.

I always use captioning when watching anything British. But the BBC shows don't always have it available.

I'm glad to hear about Thomas. I'll let you know as I read more.

I saw a couple of the Hamish McBeth series on local PBS, and enjoyed them very much. The BBC version of Hamish did not look at all as I pictured him from the artist's description, but the actor made the character far more believable for me. One of the rare instances where I liked the film version better than the book.

Babi

Humor? Well, I guess. And not a little satire thrown in here and there. But his stories were right out of real life, as lived by movers and shakers (both big and small-time) in the overt and covert world. It was always a big event in my life when a new Ross Thomas came out. He only lived 6 months or so after his house in Malibu burned to the ground in one of those big California fires they had back in 1995. He and his wife managed to save the backup copy of his most recent unpublished book--they had 20 minutes to flee--and that's about all. The loss of everything might have contributed to him having that heart attack. I miss him like crazy.

According to my library's annotations for Philip R. Craig's Vineyard series: J.W. and Zee were married in v.6, A Case of Vineyard Poison Son Joshua is born in v.9, A Shoot on Martha's Vineyard. Daughter Diana is born in v.10, A Fatal Vineyard Season. It has been fun to watch the kids grow up in through the next 7 volumes.

I just finished the fourth in the Molly Murphy series by Rhys Bowen. I have mixed feelings about this one, "In Like Flynn". I'm getting a bit tired of her vacillation about being a private investigator. Once the story was well under way, however, I enjoyed it very much. This series is much more complex than the Evan Evans series.

"War and Peas" is the eighth in the Jane Jeffry series by Jill Churchill. The first 7 are not in my library, and I have read others out of context and found that they each stand alone, so don't worry about trying to read them in order. They are light-hearted and fun to read when I need a respite from some of the ones that are heavier going. I like the friendship between Jane and and her neighbor, Shelley. They complement each other nicely in bouncing ideas around.

Perkie: The first in Jill Churchill's Jane Jeffries series is "Grime and Punishment" for those who like to read in order. But you're right: it's not necessary, although the early ones are the best.

I like them a lot. I keep trying to make my daughter read them -- she has a similar relationship with her neighbor. My daughter's house is always cluttered (guess who she got that from, sigh) and her neighbor's never has a pin out of place. Whenever neighbor comes over, I've seen her wait till daughter is out of the room and start straightening. I roar every time I see it, and think "Yep, Jane and Shelley".

Perkie, I am reading the Philip R. Craig out of sequence, since finding the older ones is a bit difficult sometimes. But they are fun and I do enjoy each one as a single as well as a series. An interesting writer. I just finished Charlaine Harris's Shakespeare's Champion.. Finally reprinted.. Hooray. That is the last one I wanted in the small series. It was out of sequence, but worth while since Lily is falling in love and fighting it.. I like Lily so much but Chalaine has moved on with Sookie, etc. and doing mostly paranormal stuff now.

The plot of "Mangrove Squeeze" by Laurence Shames is serious enough, what with the Russian Mafia, casual murders, and kidnappings, but the tone is rather light-hearted. It takes place on Key West, on warm and sunny days with plants in bloom everywhere and sunburned tourists eating ice cream. Shames is excellent in portraying his characters. I listened to the book on an audio tape, and the people and places were vivid for me. Most enjoyable.

I am a fan of Laurence Shames, having learned about him here. He is so witty.

I continue with Elizabeth George's "A Memoir to Memory". It is gripping and I have difficulty putting it down.

Just finished Kathy Reichs Broken Bones. I really like her books. She apparently is almost a hack, having been hired by the publisher to write about forensics to cash in on the Patricia Cornwell publicity. Her books aren't controversial like Cornwell's and I like the analysis of the skeletons. No blood!

I like Kathy Reichs much much more than Cornwall. She writes quite well, so someone does well with her. Lawrence Shames does wonderfully funny Key West stuff. A lovely read to relax. Just finished the Death Dance by Linda Fairstein..She is padding her books now with long involved descriptions. I liked this one since it concerned the theatre world in NYC and described to many theatres. etc. But my husband says he is giving her up. He prefers more mystery and less digressions.

I will have to try Kathy Reichs.

I finished the Gillian Roberts book, "Death in Summer". Her Amanda Pepper does take a sometimes acerbic look at people and issues, but the plot itself was somewhat thin. I had no problem at all spotting the bad guy early on. I probably won't bother to pick up another one,

Babi

What do you think of mysteries set in New Orleans? New Orleans Mourning by Julie Smith is being offered at the Book Exchange. I know I read it. There are so many books set in New Orleans before Katrina. Are there any books set in the current New Orleans?

I think New Orleans had become sort of mythical. That is a bit like San Francisco. They had become surrounded with a mystic. Some reporter wrote recently that San Francisco is like a theme park.

I cant think of any mysteries that have been written since Katrina set in New Orleans, but it would certainly be a good subject. I like Julie Smith and read most of her work. But for Louisiana in general.. James Lee Burke.. my man.. violent, profane, all the things I hate wrapped up in one and my favorite author .. I always marvel.

Thanks for the recommendation of Jill Churchill. I got Fear of Frying at the library yesterday. It had a good build up of the mystery, but was a let-down at the end....but i enjoyed it. I also got a Gillian Roberts book, Caught Dead in Phila - that's next on my reading list.

Has any one read the new Evanovich book "Plum.....(something)? I signed up for it yesterday at the library. Apparently it's a Stephanie Plum story, but not numbered? The librarian said it's not as funny as the previous ones, but a good read........what did you think?......jean

I have the new Plum, but my son is reading it first. I'll let you know.

I just finished the new Plum book Pum Lovin' by Janet Evanovich It was an okay read. More like an expanded short story than a full novel. No Morelli (well there was phone call), Ranger had a walk on role. Grandma Masuer had more attention than Stefanie's Mom & Dad, but it wasn't that much. It was a marshmallow book, sweet an not substantial.

I love Stephanie, but am sort of wary of what is happening. Janet Evanovich seems to be doing sort of novellas.. Maybe has run out of ideas/ And all of the other non Plum stuff. Just flat out bad.. Hmm.Please dont do a meltdown like Cornwall, Patterson, etc.

Stephanie: I agree completely!

Just finished on of J.A. Jance, non series books. although I think this one had a previous book.. Day of the Dead.. Very difficult read in many ways. Monsters in our midst is a hard topic actually. Plus there was a lot of Indian mixed in, so I sort of struggled occasionally. Still liked it so much.

I am reading Robert B. Parker's High Profile. It is a Jesse Stone novel. Like all of Parker's books, I find myself saying just one more chapter over and over. lol

The news from Stop You're Killing Me has some very interesting new authors. Wilder Perkins writes about the 1940's. A British navy officer, wounded in the throat, becomes a spy. Colin Cotterill has the 70+ year old national coroner of Sri Lanka as his lead character. Brian Kavanaugh stars a youn Australian girl who inherits a cottage near Bath. If you want to check out this site:

http://www.stopyourekillingme.com/new.htm

I get the SYKM news letter. It is fun to see what is happening in the world of mystery writers.

I remember reading a book featuring the Sri Lanka 70+ coroner, but I don't remember anything about it. It didn't impress me enough to stick, nor did I look for another. Light pastime reading, I would say.

Babi

I really enjoyed the Sri Lanka Mystery with the 70+ coroner, I'll look for the new book. I enjoy light mysteries.

Please, what's the title of the Sri Lankan mystery?

The Coroner's Lunch (2004) is the first in the series.

Thanks, Mrs. Sherlock.

Just finished Zen Attitude by Sujata Massey. Another Rei story, the second ( I think) in the series. I have been jumping around in the series since I can only find one book at a time. This one was much more fun than the first one in the series.

I like Sujata Massey. I am still reading the series, not finished yet. Her first one wasn't the best. I agree with you, Stephanie.

I just finished Echo Park by Michael Connelly. It's his latest Harry Bosch, I think. It is a page turner for sure. Sue

I need to try him. I will write Echo Park down.

Hats: I suggest you start with the first Harry Bosch, The Black Echo. This series follows his life and there are many changes along the way.

Mrs. Sherlock, thank you.

Connelly needs to be read in sequence or you will get a bit lost. I love his stuff, but it is strong and sometimes really really violent.

I have just discovered Laurie R. King and am buried in her books at the moment. Would anyone here like to discuss her book entitled "O Jerusalem". About that area and most of the Holy Land, King takes us along on a journey with Sherlock Holmes, retired and his new confidant, Mary Russel. Its like revisiting "Walking the Bible" with a mystery thrown in. What say all of you?? or just some of you?? Post here and let me know.

I finished Elizabeth George's "A Traitor to Memory" yesterday. It is a powerful book with a stunner of an ending. I have another of her books to read, but think I will take a break first. I can't think how I missed her books all of these years.

Elizabeth George is one of my favorite authors. Her books are also on PBS with the two detectives. Not bad, not the best, but not bad.

Welcome to the writings of Elizabeth George, GoldenStatePoppy. I love her books, and you have lots to keep you busy. There are 14 books in her Lynley/Havers series plus a collection of short stories titled "I, Richard".

The second book in the Joe Pickett series by C.J. Box is "Savage Run", the name of a deep canyon in Wyoming's Bighorn Mountains. Joe is a game warden in the midst of a range war fought by absentee ranch owners and ecoterrorists. It gets quite intense and doesn't shy from descriptions of exploding cows and other acts mayhem perpetrated by the hired gun of the absentee ranch owners. The characters are strong people and the descriptions of the area are excellent. In one scene, Joe sees an Elk cow trotting away across a meadow and glances down from his horse to spot a new calf with big eyes and moisture on its nose. The peaceful moments gave me time to take a breath.

Don't you feel as if you were there? Box is really good with his descriptions of that beautiful countryside and his characters, even the children, are fully diminsioned.

ANN: I read "O Jeruselem" some time ago. It would make a good discussion book.

I l ove Lauri King, but the book of hers I wanted to discuss was Folly. It just flat out picked me up and changed my ideas about depression, life and survival.. What a book. I have already reread it just to go through the adventure again.

Ann, I'll join you in a discussion about the "O JERUSALEM" book. History and mystery - everything you need for a good conversation

Stephanie: Folly deserves a discussion. Ella and JoanK: I loved O Jerusalem. But then I love all the Russell books. I'm playing the audio of Beekeeper's Apprentice while I knit and the stiches just pile up it goes so fast.

First of all, please bear with me, I'm new here. I am an avid reader and book seller, and I love mysteries. I just completed Elizabeth George's What Came Before He Shot Her. I was very disappointed. I thought the story line was too detailed and moved very slowly. I also was disappointed in the lack of character development...and the end...whew..it was just not at all what I expected.

Are there any Kellerman readers out there? He is one of my very favorites.

IRISHMOM: WELCOME, WELCOME!! Lots of Kellerman readers here. I've read his wife, Faye. So many people have told me that Jonathan is better that I have to start him!

Joan, thank you for the very warm welcome. I read both Faye and Jonathan, and one of their sons writes as well. I haven't read his yet, tho. He has just published his second. You will find, I believe, with Faye, there is always something about Judaism while Jonathan is more of a CSI kind story. Lots of evidence, details, etc. Some of the stories they've done together are good as well. I just read, today, in Publishers Weekly, a review of his new book, Obsession, which is due out at the end of this month. It didn't get raves, but then I read what I want anyway. lol I've been reading him for years and years and I don't plan to stop based on PW's review, that's for sure. Thanks again for the welcome.

I am reading a book by William J. Coughlin, "The Judgment". It is my first by him and I think it is very good. The blurb says he was a defense attorney and judge in Detroit for 20 years. This book is set in Detroit and its suburbs. I look forward to more books by him in the future.

Welcome irishmom. What kind of book store do you run -- used or new? I am like a kid in a candy store when I am in a book store.
GinnyAnn

Irishmom.. Before we retired, I owned a used book store and loved it. Just wanted more time to travel, so sold it.. But I still read everything. Read both of the Kellermans as well. Although I am reading a joint short story ( each wrote one) and not liking it at all..I love Lauri King and have read every single book.. The Holmes, the detective in San Francisco and the stand alones..

Irishmom (Jeneane) ..which shall we call you? Welcome to SN. When you have time to read some of the earlier posts here, you will find a lot of space was given to reactions to "With No One As Witness", and it's following "What Came Before He Shot Her". Most comments agreed with you. Readers were upset about Helen's death and didn't like the idea of the child shooting her. It seemed pointless.

I haven't read that far in the series, and I am seriously considering skipping that section entirely. ...Babi

Ginny, I am an asst. manager in a store aptly named "The Bookstore". We sell new books only as well as a variety of stationary and other "stuff". It's a lovely store and owned by a good friend of mine. She has been in business for about 18 years and is the only independent book store in Michigan City. A neighboring town has a Barnes & Noble and there are Borders stores about an hour in each direction, so we work really, really hard to hold it together. We have a good client base and they're also very faithful. If any of you are ever in Northwest Indiana, please come and see us. Of course, unless you have family there or you want to see Lake Michigan, I can't imagine why you'd come to Michigan City. hahahahaha

BaBi..I'll answer to either..whichever is easiest for you.Probably Irishmom as Jeneane is a pretty complicated spelling. lol Anyway, I didn't realize What Came Before He Shot Her was part of a series. I thought the killing was totally senseless..and not to worry about skipping it as it's at the very tail end. You can enjoy the rest of the book Maybe I'll go back and read With No One As Witness. Maybe it would make more sense that way. Noting like putting the horse after the cart. lol

Stephanie, I read that jointly written Kellerman book..the title escapes me...but I didn't care for it either. I think I'll have to try one of the titles written by their son, Jesse. I really am looking forward, tho, to Jonathon's new one, Obsession, which will be out the end of this month. Have you read Gone? It was good, too.

Irishmom, I am curious. Do you work with Amazon or Barnes & Noble? I know when I order used books from them, they come from bookstores all over the country.

GoldenState, we are totally independently owned and run. We have nothing to do with any of the big box stores. And I might add, indie stores are becoming more and more scarce because of the big stores. We are not able to match them with discounts because of the volume of business they do compared to ours. Rather like small mom and pop clothing stores put on the chopping blocks by the likes of Walmart, etc.

I left you a message in the Romance discussion--but I also like mysteries. My sister lives in Goshen/Elkhart area. Is that close to Michigan City?

I'm thinking of taking my grandchildren up there this summer to meet her grandchildren. My son will be doing a gem/mineral show in Bloomington and may take the boys with him. I could pick them up there and go on to my sister's home. I'd also like to take them into Chicago to see the museums while we're there. Sue

IrishMom46, when I started "What Came Before He Shot Her", I expected it to be more like the Lynley/Havers series. Once I was into it, I realized that it is a companion volume to "With No One As Witness" and also a sociological study of a dysfunctional family in one of the poorer, more violent sections of London. Once I viewed it in those lights, I began to appreciate, if not enjoy, the book. It will be interesting to see if there are any more volumes in the series. If Elizabeth George doesn't bring Lynley back, then the series is dead because I don't feel that Havers can carry it alone. Nkata and Havers? Maybe, but a doubtful maybe.

I didn't think "The Breaker" by Minette Walters was as much of a psychological thriller as some of her other works. It is well written, and a good story line, but seemed to jump around a bit. The others carried me along at a steadier and more rapid pace and I felt more invested in the characters.

If you are interested in Elizabeth George's rationale regarding the death of Helen and her approach to this series of books you can check out her web site where she goes into detail regarding her philosophy of writing novels.

www.elizabethgeorgeonline.com/

She also says that the book she is currently working on does involve Lyndley as he recovers from Helen's death. If you ever get an opportunity to hear her speak on a book tour you will find her very interesting. She talks about how she as an American became interested in writing books set in England.

Spring, Goshen & Elkhart are about 30-45 minutes from Michigan City. They are near South Bend. If you're in the area, and have the time and inclination, please do stop in our store in MC. It's located in a large outlet mall, Lighthouse Place. Everyone in the general vicinity of Indiana (Northwest, anyway) and Illinois are familiar with it.

Well, thank you for all the Elizabeth George information. I think my biggest problem is I started this book without knowing any background on the author's writings. Looks like I started in the middle of the paragraph, so to speak, lol, and I shall have to go back and start over with the prior title. Thanks, as always, for the info.

There is so much to choose from at Seniornet. I know you will have a wonderful, wonderful time.

Oh IrishMom,, you h ave missed the very best part of Elizabeth George then. Go back to the beginning. This is a series that deserves careful reading. They can be read out of order, but are more interesting in character development if you follow the line. Just finished Murder on Nob Hill by Shirley Tallman. A new series and a brand new author. She does a nice job for a woman Lawyer in the mid 1800's in San Francisco.. A bit scattered in parts, but still quite nicely. Will try to find her next one.

Hats, thanks for the welcome, and Stephanie, thank you as well. Stephanie, if I were to start with Elizabeth George, what title would you recommend?

Have any of your ever read any of the Margaret Truman mysteries? I haven't read her for years, but I thought she did a decent job.

Yes, I've enjoyed Margaret Truman's mysteries. I haven't read one recently, so need to perhaps look her up again.

jane

Someone once posted here a web site for the first book in any author's series. Perhaps they will post it again.

GSP: This is in the header here as First in the Series:

http://www.cphlibrary.org/advisory/bookmarks/mysterybegin.shtml

I just printed that list out for research. so far I've checked on two new authors with excepts and reviews and written them off. There are so many new ones here as well as my old favorites and a few missing. Oh well I can ask google

Claire

Thanks, Jane. Shows how observant I am. I knew I had read it here, but didn't realize it was in the heading. Thwak to me!

Glad the link was helpful. It's easy to overlook links...I know, 'cause I've done it too many times myself!

I found "The Russian Hill Murders", by Shirley Tallman, on the new book shelf and enjoyed it. Now I need to go back to fill in with the first in the series, "The Murder on Nob Hill". The setting is just a little earlier than Dianne Day's series about Fremont Jones, which I like a lot.

For a list of the whole Lynley/Havers series, don't forget the Fantastic Fiction website:

http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/g/elizabeth-george/

I think it is interesting that First In Series lists Anne Perry's first William Monk and ignores her first Thomas Pitt, which I like much better. It also lists J. A. Jance's first Joanna Brady and not her first J. P. Beaumont, which I don't like as well but which has been going on for a longer period. There were very few names that I did not recognize. No wonder my list of mysteries is so long, 22 pages, double columns. It includes books read and waiting to be read.

"A Murder in Thebes" is the second in the Alexander the Great series by Anna Apostolou (Pen name of P. C. Doherty). It is fairly short and an easy read, but gives a lot of flavor to the early period of Alexander's conquest of Greece. The most interesting character is an Israelite woman named Miriam, who figures out the identity of the killer through logic taught to her by Aristotle. That part seemed a bit weak, but overall it was I enjoyed it.

Perkie, thank you for the reminder about Fremont Jones by Dianne Day. That is a series I have been meaning to read. I also like the one, Murder in Thebes with a Greek setting.

Here's another good site for lists of fiction. www.fantasticfiction.com

We use it a lot in the store.

I am going to get back to Elizabeth George as soon as possible. I haven't finished the first one yet.

Finally, I finished The Amber Room by Steve Berry. It's a fast moving story. It's about a secret party of nine people who retrieve, by any means, works of art. For decades the disappearance, theft of the Amber Room, is what everybody wants. The story is set in Russia and Germany mainly. I can't wait to read more books by Steve Berry. In the meantime, I want to learn about amber. It's a great book.

Perkie, I just finished the first book.. Murder on Nob Hill and now must look for the Russian Hill one. She is a little tentative in the first one, but going in the right direction. Funny. I used to read Margaret Truman and liked her , but have not read anything in quite a long time. Must go digging, pretty sure I have at least one in my not read yet mess.

Hats, Steve Berry has a new best seller..Alexandria Links. I've not read it, but reviews are high and it's on the NYT best seller list.

Irishmom, thank you for mentioning it. I have really fallen in love with his writing. Do you have a mystery author you would recommend?

Michael Connoly, Jonathon Kellerman, David Baldachi. Those are my favorites. I don't know if Baldachi is classified as mystery, but he's pretty close. I love all of them mentioned. I think I've read about everything Kellerman has written.

Hats, we saw the rebuilt Amber Room at the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg in 2005. It is amazing - and even more so is that it is an exact rebuilding, based on original black-and-white photographs of the first room. It still is a mystery what happened to the original room.

Mary Z, I can't believe it! What a great trip! I can't imagine what it looks like. You sure have been a lot of places. Want to trade places????

Irishmom, I will write down those authors. Thank you.

A couple of us chose Baldacci as our favorite as noted in the list of favorite authors above. I look forward to his latest. For humor, I would now have to choose Nancy Martin. I love the Blackberry sisters.

Poppy, I love the Blackberry sisters too. I want to read the whole series. I hope the author keeps writing more books.

The Blackberry sisters are such fun, but I must admit my favorite mystery comedy writer is Janet Evanovich. I do love Stephanie Plum

If you'd like to have a look at the fabulous Amber Room:

AMBER ROOM

Babi

Babi, what an interesting link to a bit of history that I didn't know. Thanks for posting it.

I'm looking for an author for a friend. This is her description of the books.

The characters were a husband and wife team living, I think, on an island--at least on a coast. She owns a book store that carries only mystery books and has a cat named Agatha(named for Agatha Christy) in the book store. She sponsors book contests which are usually won by the same woman. The husband sits in an office, supposedly to solve crimes and/or help others with legal problems but he so seldom has an assignment. The wife seems to get all the mysteries to solve in their little town. they have no children.

I have no idea what series she's talking about. Mary

BaBi, thanks for the link to the Amber Room. The reconstructed room is much smaller than the original appears to be in the photograph. I know that it can be deceptive due to the angle of any photograph. I was surprised at how small it seemed to be. That could be my perception, though, based on the scale of the entire building. In any case, it was a thrill to have seen the room, with its mysterious history.

Sorry, CubFan - I can't help you out with your question.

CubFan

I think maybe she means the Carolyn G. Hart series..."death on demand" that features Annie Darling as the Death on Demand mystery bookstore owner and her husband is a lawyer or PI or something but doesn't work much since his mother is VERY rich. They're on an island/peninsula called Broward's Rock somewhere SE..perhaps South Carolina or Georgia?

Here's a link to one of the books in the series:

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbninquiry.asp?ean=9780060004774&z=y

Thanks much Jane - I will forward the information. I'm sure that as soon as she gets ahold of some of the titles I will too will be reading them. Mary

Thanks for the info on the book. I knew I had read it but couldn't quite place it.
GinnyAnn

Babi, thank you for the link.

JANE: thanks. It was driving me crazy -- I knew I knew it, but couldn't think. For some reason, I've never been able to get into Hart.

I love Stephanie Plum, too. I have the new "Plum Loving", but my son says it's not good. I'm afraid Evanovitch is getting lazy, now that she's (I assume) rich.

I thought Plum Lovin a good read... that is a 3 on a scale of 5 as best... 1 forget it. GinnyAnn

I am disappointed. I am reading a book written by Susan Conant and her daughter. Her books are dog books and I adored them. This is probably mostly her daughter is about a character that I would walk across the street to avoid and mostly romance. Such a waste..

The latest lee Charles Kelley, Dogged Pursuit, is in PB so I grabbed it. I just love the way he cares about dogs. His training methods seem so logical. The mysteries are always good, too.

do you folks follow THE DOG WHISPERER on the NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC CHANNEL. IT'S CATCHING . . .I'M ADDICTED.

CLAIRE

Cub Fan, I used to just trade books with people so did not keep track of the author or title of book. Then started when joined SN - at least 2 computer crashes I lost the info. I am getting it back together. When you named the cat, Agatha, I knew I knew the book! So glad you were looking for that because I only read one of those and loved it. Now I can read the whole series!

Claire, me too!

Francylou - If you like the animal mysteries are you reading the Rita Mae Brown, Mrs Murphy mysteries? The newest one - Puss n' Cahoots is out. My copy is in the mail and should be here tomorrow - which means nothing else gets done after UPS arrives. I'm looking forward to the "Agatha" books in the very near future. Mary

I just finished Puss 'n Cahoots. I really like the background material she includes in the stories. Lots of red herrings, a good solid read. Shirley Rousseau Murphy writes mysteries that take place in Carmel, California. The stars are some super special cats who can speak. Trust me, these are interesting cats; the humans are not bad, either. Joe Grey is the talented feline detective. Cat on the Edge is the title of the first one.

I like Rita Mae and read all of her books.. The cat ones as well as the other fiction. She is quite a good writer. I am a minority.. Dont like the Dog Whisperer... but then I grew up in a show and obedience world, since my parents had a large kennel.

I grew up with a toy poodle, an easy going little dog whose only problems were matted curls and hot spots. we never trimmed her into a lion cut. I fell in love with Albert Payson Terhune's books and collies and had to wait until full married maturity before I could have one. Kampi came from a good kennel and had six pups. long story but in all I got to have my collies . . .six of them and obedience trained them all. I guess I'm a natural pack leader because it was so easy although they wanted to please. Collies are like that.

A rescue collie and old girl snarled at me while grooming and almost automatically I flipped her over on her back and snarled back. She never tried that again.

It's all in the energy as Cezar said. I've thwarted a charging collie in mid rush by turning and yelling oust at him pointing and moving forward. He looked offended and gave up. I guess I'm half dog. My daughter is too they have a collie for her a golden retriever for her husband and a black cat rescue.

I don't like cats, I think because their affection isn't real it's domination. They dig in with their claws when sitting on my lap. I push them off, they come right back I keep pushing until they leave me alone then reach down by my side and scratch under their jaw and between their ears.

As Cezar dictates discipline and THEN affection. I'm the Pack Leader here too. we get along better that way. I think the people who love cats love the experience of smoothing the soft fur and the surging energy under their hands. Cats surge against your hands when you pet. Dogs don't do that as much unless you happen to hit the RIGHT SPOT then they freeze. I'm emancipated now and down have pets any more because of limited energy and the inability to get down low enough to cleanup their leavings. I often wonder why people would want to live with animals which have loose toilet training, require the attention one would have to give a two-year-old and are frequently noisy and disturbing to the neighbors. Collies are noisy barkers and there was a problem with a neighbor who purposely incited him and suggested that the law be used to punish me. He was an attorney. long story there too.

Claire

For those who like a mystery with an animal involved, do read Carol Lea Benjamin. Her protagonist is Rachel Alexander, with her service dog, Dash (short for Dashiell). I just accidently came across one in the library a few weeks ago, and have probably driven them crazy with my on-line requests for the rest of the series. There are 8 books in all, but the older ones are harder to come by. I think I have three more to go. They are good, sensible mysteries, without a lot of gore. The latest one in the series is "The Hard Way", which is the one that got me started on this quest! And it is "very good".

MrsSherlock, you mentioned Shirley Rousseau Murphy's delightful talking-cat mysteries. I love that series and have just finished the latest, "Cat Pay the Devil." The characters are so vividly portrayed, and the cats, though they're intelligent and can speak, definitely act like cats, not humans. I love all the characters, human and feline (except for the villains, of course).

joegreyfan: Love your name!!!

Cub Fan, I love the Rita Mae Brown, Mrs Murphy series. I have not read the newest one.

I am disappointed, Mrs. Sherlock, that our library system does not carry any of Lee Charles Kelley's books. I will have to check the used books stores.

Have any of you tried Virginia Lanier's series centered around bloodhounds? The first was "Death in Bloodhound Red". I got off on other authors and never got back to the other five. I liked the first one, but I guess I wasn't thrilled by it.

Virginia Lanier and bloodhounds. I read them all but I think she had cancer and died? anyone know for sure. claire

Virginia Lanier died in 2003 according to
www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/l/virginia-lanier/

Virginia Lanier's first book got me from the first sentence. I've read them all and was so sad when she died. Jackie

I loved the Blood hound series and was so sorry she died. She did not come to writing until later in life and did such a nice job of making you learn about tracking and bloodhounds and abusive ex husbands.. What a shame to lose her.

Have any of you read "The Ice Man" or "The Night Stalker"????? A friend has recommended them to me and I would like to know more. JOY

I like both cat and dog mysteries. I really enjoyed Virginia Lanier's bloodhound mysteries and wish there were more of them. My favorite dog mysteries are by Susan Conant, who has also written one cat mystery, "Scratch the Surface," which I thought was a lot of fun. In addition to Shirley Rousseau Murphy's Joe Grey mysteries (my favorite cat series!), I also enjoy Rita Mae Brown's and Lilian Jackson Braun's cat mysteries. I have on hand the first in Lee Charles Kelley's dog series, and will make a point of reading it soon.

I checked: the main branch of my library has 5 Virginia Lanier books.

Our local branch is half a block away. It is very friendly, and has a good mystery discussion group. But a few more trips will exhaust their mysteries. (Well, not the Johnathan Kellerman -- they have a lot of those, and I mean to try them. What's a good one to start on?

Check the inside page and start with the first of the Alex Delaware series. He has written several others that are not in the series and may be read any time.. Billy Straight is a non series and the one about Jerusalem.

I thought I'dread all his books and Fayes as well? but maybe not. there weren't all that many. Right now I'm swamped with too many books to explore. A new book shop opening was to be hardbacks only and the owner gave me all her paperback myseries for two dollars. this was about five years ago and I'm still catching up. Most are good. that's the trouble.

And then there is the current excitement in congress. as a liberal I'm enjoying the process of ACTUALLY getting something done. There have been 97 committee meeatings since Jan. first and C-span is showing them "in the flesh". fascinating. . .

claire

some of my typos are puns so I'll leave them.

Here's a link to "The Ice Man" The Ice Man

And, this might be "The NIght Stalker" that you are looking for: The Night Stalker

These are both non-fiction.

A big hello to all of you. My first post in this very very interesting section. Absolutely enjoy old-fashioned murder mysteries. Any recommendations?

Hi, Sonya... Welcome to this Mystery Corner.

There are lots of favorites listed in the heading here that you might want to look at.

I'm sure others will be in to offer suggestions, but it seems often that the good old-fashioned mysteries are only done by the good old writers...and there are lots of those in that list.

jane

Welcome.. What kind of Old fashioned Mysteries.. Those taking place years ago or just the straightforward detective type..

Welcome, Sonya. Currently, I am reading a mystery by Elizabeth George, "With No One as Witness". She is an outstanding writer. It seems to me that mysteries could be divided into categories: cozy, historical, contemporary hard-hitting, humorous. Perhaps others can come up with other categories.

And of course there are the police procedure and courtroom centered genres. Tho' many of the courtroom dramas are not actually mysteries, in the sense of needing to find out whodunit. And some of the mysteries roam over into 'thrillers'. Lots of room for choice, here.

Babi

I have a soft spot in my heart for the Cozies. To me, this is the Old Fashioned mystery. Jeanne Dams writes a cozy series about an Anerican widow who is probably in her 60s, lives in small English town near the Cathedral, etc. I can't remember if she has a cat. Of course there is the requisite (older) handsome police officer... The first one is Body in the Transept. Great fun.

I guess I'm not very old-fashioned. Claire

I am a fan of hard-hitting detective mysteries such as those by Lee Child or Robert Crais. However, I very much enjoy humorous writers such as Laurence Shames and Nancy Martin. I don't read the cozies or the animal mysteries, but I enjoy reading posts from those who do.

Hey, I'm omnivorous, I read 'em all. Right now I'm alternating the Liss book, The Paper Conspiracy, with the Cotterill book, The Coroner's Lunch. Liss is deep into the beginnings of the trade in stocks; very enlightening. Cotterill's Coroner is a 72-year-old Laotian who is appointed to be Coroner for the entire country shortly after the take0over by the Pathet Lao. Fascinating look at the society. He knows nothing about post mortems, has to teach himself from a book.

Mrs. Sherlock, I love Jeanne Dams. I think on her covers there is always a lady wearing a spectacular hat.

Which brings a nosy question to mind, HATS. Are you called HATS because you love hats, by any chance? If so, I can see where a book cover featuring a spectacular hat would catch the eye.

I can't wear hats at all; they give me a headache. I have no idea why. Probably a link to my mother, who couldn't stand anything around her neck. No chokers, not even a scarf. Go figure...

Babi

Babi, my whole name is Hattie. My father called me hat. So, I just added an "s" for some reason as a computer name. My mother loved hats. When I was young, I hated hats. Now, I could get into big floppy hats with flowers, sounds kind of fun and eccentric. I haven't tried my idea yet. My husband would have the last word. I mentioned it. He looked at me like where did that idea stem from.

I'm grinning.

Women don't wear hats as much anymore, at least down in this overly warm part of the world. I suppose everyone wears them up North in cold weather, and maybe in other parts of the country hats are still worn routinely by the ladies. Boston, maybe?

If you decide to try a hat, start with a sexy one. Maybe that will win your husband over.

Babi

Babi, I started to write what you wrote. Women don't wear hats like they did in the past. I remember never going to church without a hat. Now you look unusual with a hat.

Sexy???? He's soooo old, he wouldn't know if sexy hit him in the eye. He would have to go find his glasses first.

Not grinning, HATS. LOL!

Babi

Jeanne Dams

Maybe she is still working one her homepage. It doesn't work well for me.

It is funny, but we went to a wedding in England a few years back and boom.. everyone wears hats and very elaborate hats to weddings. We were told if you did not want to buy a hat, you could rent one.. Seems it is big business in Scotland at least. I was amazed.. Rent a Hat>> But our friends who were the parents and sibs of the groom, all rented hats at the brides request.

Speaking of Jeanne Dams--I love her Dorothy Martin series of a widow from the mid-west who has moved to England. Best to start at the beginning as her life progresses from book to book. Jeanne Dams also has another series about a young Swedish girl in the early 1900s, I believe.

The Jeanne Dams series about Hilda Johansson all have a color in the title: Death in Lacquer Red; Red, White, and Blue Murder; Green Grow the Victims; Silence is Golden; Crimson Snow. I read the first one, and enjoyed the descriptions of South Bend, Indiana, in 1900, and the network of servants who help Hilda, herself a servant, to solve the mystery.

I would class Donna Andrews series about Meg Winslow as cozies. There is a light-heartedness about them that I enjoy. I know her family drives her crazy, but they are all such strong individuals that I just laugh at their antics. The murders seem to be the reason for the book, the glue that holds it together, but not the focal point somehow. The personalities are more important. The one I just finished is "No Nest for the Wicket", and yes, I spelled it correctly.

The Inspector Wexford series by Ruth Rendell has never had the dark psychological tone that I like so much in her single works, but the latest one, 20th in the series, seems to flow even more gently. It is well written and easy to read, it is just that Wexford seemed to muse more that he used to do, and comes up with the solution almost apart from the work being done by his team and Burden's efforts to pull his attention in a different direction. I almost forgot the add the title. It is "End in Tears".

Cotterill's Coroner is a delight. The setting is bleak, as the Pathet Lao try to set up a country; the government has all the inherent evils one would expect. But our 72-year-old is quite a guy and so are his friends. I'm looking forward to the next one.

are often set in England which is always a strange place to me. I like the Robert B. Parker-- Spencer books because They are set right here in southern california and even southern Orange county and I can follow along easily.

Besides I like the action to be fairly swift.

Claire

CLAIRE: there are a ton of American cozies. Can't think of a Southern California one offhand, but I'm sure there are some.

SONYA: WELCOME, WELCOME!! Let us know if you're still here. If you are, you've gotten plenty of ideas already.

Are you familiar with the "classifications we're using? Crude, but helpful in recommending books. "Cozies" are the lightest of the detective stories: Agatha Christie's are cozies. They have some humor, sometimes a love interest, sometimes a happy ending for some characters. Donna Andrews mentioned above writes very funny "cozies".

Then there are "tough guy" (Dashell Hammett), "tough gal" (Sue Grafton). They take place in the mean streets of cities. The detective is a loner PI(think Humphrey Bogart -- Maltese Falcon) -- although the tough gals usually have a surrogate family urging them to stop this PI nonsense and find a husband. I admit to sexism here, I like the "tough gals, but not the guys. The rest later.

Evanovich and J.D.Robb have woven mysteries around their livly heroines. I like the touch of sci-fi in the Robb books.

another pet of mine are the Native american Indian settings a la Hillerman and J.D. Doss for their mysteries.

Claire

Then there are police procedurals. The emphasis here is on the procedures the police use to solve the crime. The policeman/woman/s personal life may be developed, but not so much the other characters. "Prime Suspect" on TV started out as a PP, but developed. Tony Hillerman's series on the Navaho reservation is a PP (also an exotic below).

The darkest of the books are the psychologicals. Many of Dorothy Sayers, Elizabeth George mentioned above, P.D. James (the Dagliesh series on TV), the later Prime Suspects . In them, all the characters are suffering! These include the best writers in the genre. They demand an emotional commitment from the reader.

Crossing all these are the "exotics", those set in an unusual setting. Tony Hillerman's Navahos, Sue Henry's Iditerod racers in Alaska. those set in other time periods, like the Victorian mysteries of Anne Perry. I often say that everything I know, I know from reading detective storie.

I don't think of thrillers and spy stories as in the same area as detective stories. But I think I'm in the minority there.

Have I lost you, or is this helpful? Let me know which you like. Does everyone agree with my classifications, or have I goofed?

JoanK: How would you classify the spy genre?

don't forget the legal beagles . . .grissham etc.

claire

I can't keep track of all the niceties of catagories but I do agree with what you, Joank, have specified. I like the lawyer focused ones too. have learned alot about abour legal and judicial system through them but they could fit within the PP or police procedure also???

claire

Claire ~ Robert B. Parker's Spencer books are set in Boston.

I think you may have been thinking of Jefferson T. Parker
http://www.tjeffersonparker.com/

Iris Johansen's "Fatal Tide" takes place, for the most part, in and around the sea and on islands in the Lesser Antilles and the Canary Islands. A fragile marine researcher, who was badly abused as a young girl, is studying dolphins, especially a young pair. Three men, one a manipulator, one a vicious thug, and our hero, all want her to use the dolphins to help them find a lost city which was submerged by a tidal wave several thousand years ago. It is called Marinth and is fabled to have countless riches, of course. Reviews of the book are not favorable, but I was totally caught up in the story, and the romance was just a part of it and didn't overwhelm the cat and mouse game between the thug and the researcher.

I'm another reader who loves Jeanne M. Dams' Dorothy Martin series.

And I'm fairly omnivorous when it comes to mysteries. I tend a bit toward the cozy end of the spectrum, but range from Nancy Atherton's Aunt Dimity and Donna Andrews' Meg Langslow to Robert Crais' Elvis Cole and Lee Child's Jack Reacher. I also like paranormal/supernatural mysteries, such as those by Charlaine Harris. And cat and dog mysteries, like Shirley Rousseau Murphy's, Rita Mae Brown's and Susan Conant's.

I probably went overboard, classifying!! Spy novels and Thrillers would be separate. Maybe legal mysteries should be too, there are enough of them. Like all classification systems, this one only sorta kinda works.

HA! I thought of a Southern California cozy for Claire! Corrine Holt Sawyer. Her detectives are two seniors living in a retirement community near the sea, and near San Diego (could it be the one where you live, Claire?). I've only read one, then forgot about it somehow -- I have to get more.

Another possibility is the Earlene Fowler series. It takes place up near Paso Robles/San Luis Obispo. The series' titles are quilt pattern names. The location is a small Central California town which is near Moro Bay, has a college, and an interesting set of regulars including the kooky family of our heroine, Benni Harper. Book #13, Tumbling Blocks, is due in May. I love 'em.

I love 'em too!

Thanks to all of you for such a warm welcome. Thank you, Joan K for that classification. Things have become clearer. I think what I called the old-fashioned murder mystery can be classified as Cozies. Just finished reading one: New Graves at Great Norne by Henry Wade. picked it up randomly and thank god it turned out pretty interesting. Have started one by Lawrence Sanders featuring Archy McNally. Again a random pick. Hope it turns out to be nice.

Loved your "classification". I love 'em all. Not so much cozies anymore, read about all of those back in the 70's and they've kind of lost their intrigue for me. If I had to specify what type books I prefer, I have a stack of 5 books from the library: Four of them are mysteries!

I wish some talented Computer Graphics person would design an attractive header for this discussion, sort of like the one for the "Fiction" discussion. Don't get me wrong, I like the "Master Mystery Writer" header, but it seems nothing has been added to it for a long, long time. Just a suggestion, and I don't want anyone to get their feathers ruffled by my suggesting a change.

Hmmm.. You know, Tomereader, you are right. That list has been up there, unchanged, for years. Come to think of it, I don't think I've seen a post from Jeryn for ages, either. JERYN, are you still there?

Babi

There seem to be several names that I haven't seen in here for quite awhile. Maybe they are posting in other Discussions.

Tomereader, I just finished the first in the Rachel and Dash series by Carol Lea Benjamin, "This Dog For Hire", and I completely agree with you. A serious story but told with a light touch and a lot of humor. After lying to get information, Rachel wonders what a handbasket is, anyway! It is full of comments that make me laugh. And I love her interaction with dogs. Being a dog trainer, Benjamin showed the Westminster County Kennel Club Show from the inside. I am ready to search out the rest of the series, also.

My name was added recently to the list above when we were discussing Baldacci. So the list has been changed. However, I do not recognize most of the names as having been posting in the last couple of years.

My sister gave me a book: There Lies a Hidden Scorpion by Takis & Judy Lakovou. Anybody here read it?

Mrs. Sherlock, Have not read that one, but have read two others that they wrote. Just finished a Sarah Graves.. "Wicked Fix". I do like her Jacobia. The idea of a woman in Maine who is slowly slowly fixing up her old house on her own is fun. She gives me a nice picture of the far north of Maine in a small town. Like the characters, even the ex husband.

Perkie, I am glad you enjoyed "This Dog for Hire". I only have 2 left to find, but the library is working on it.Do be sure to read her very latest one, "The Hard Way". That's what got me started on her books in the first place!

brothers by William Goldman who also wrote Marathon Man which was made into a movie.

He's a fine writer, makes you meet and understand and care about even his peripheral characters and then he kills them

He even punishes he hero at the end.

But I couldn't stop reading and I finished it in two days and I will never ever read another of this authors novels.

Claire

Thanks for the warning, CLAIRE. Goldman sounds precisely like the kind of author I want to avoid.

Babi

Goldman is a truly interesting writer. He is also a talented and busy screenwriter. He did The Princess Bride.. great fun.. I read his first which was Brothers and Sisters ... years and years ago. Very long, complicated and intertwining people. Not a success, but worth it to watch the process developing. This is a new one for him. Must take a look at it.

Brothers is 1985 I think. . ,where I got it and in hardback , I've no idea. I od't like to have to hold hard backs, theyre heavy. NO ONE had cell phones then. . .a different age.

claire

I finished Elizabeth George's "With No One as Witness". It is a powerful book and leaves me wondering, what next?

I began the "A Crossworder's Holiday". It seems to me to be more of a "cozy" than anything else. Perhaps it will become more interesting as I read.

I'm reading Hitched by Carol Higgins Clark. It's really good. Four wedding dresses have been stolen. The fifth one is slashed with dots of blook all over it. I might like to read more mysteries by this author.

BaBi, Tomereader... I am here! I am here at least occasionally! I too, am thoroughly sick of the heading and will happily remove it if no one voices any objections in the next few postings.

I'm not a graphics person, more of a list taker-chart maker! Obviously. Perhaps Jane could suggest something?

Let me check/think/see what we can come up with, Jeryn.

jane

Sounds good. Thanks, jane.

I think that some of the book discussion headings are too much and too long. scrolling by them takes so much time I sometimes go to the bottom and work backwards.

We graphics people have a saying KISS or keep it simple stupid.

Claire

Hi!, JERYN. Sorry, ..didn't mean to hassle you; just worried we'd lost you somewhere.

I think a change in the heading would be refreshing. It doesn't have be one of those 'too much' and 'too long' things that Claire quite reasonably objects to. I'm sure our wiz, JANE, can come up with something we would enjoy.

I'm reading a V.I. Warshawski at present, always an enjoyable experience. I don't think I read before what the "I." in her name stands for. I was amused to learn it is "Iphiginia".

Babi

Patwest [she did the fiction heading that tomereader likes] is working on something for here, so we'll have something in the not too distant future, if everything goes according to plan...but you all know how that is!!

Wow. Thank you, Patwest, for whenever you get us a new heading. Hey I don't mind long headings, but whatever you come up with. Glad to see Jeryn posting again. I, personally, get kind of antsy when I don't see someone's name posting for awhile. I have seen this happen on other boards I visit, and then, poof, someone sends a message that so-and-so has passed away. I don't want to see that happen here.

Reading two mysteries at once.. One is Malice Domestic, which is a short story collection and fun.. The second is my second go at a wedding planner mystery. A bit intricate in plotting but still interesting.

Thanks, GinnyAnn...

I ended up doing it after all. Patwest is so swamped with other jobs around here that I did the above, and we can always change it and add a graphic later.

jane

jane, the new heading is WONDERFUL!!!!!

A few small murder weapons might be fun (knife dripping blood, smoking gun, etc.). Just kidding, of course.

THAT'S GREAT!

Good idea, Mary...

I'll look for some...

hey Jane that's really cute. good for you and . . . us

claire

JANE TO THE RESCUE!!!

Thanks a million, Jane! Definitely a change for the better. I love the headings short and to the point... and that is exactly what you have done.

Thanx thanx thanx

Thanks also to those who actually MISSED me! Please rest assured I check in here and read through the posts at least weekly but don't always have anything intelligent to add. So I don't!

Thanks for the kind words...

Now...back to our favorite genre...MYSTERIES!!

jane

Jane, wonderful heading. I like the change. I think MaryZ's ideas about the weapons is really good.

Jane,, I am so envious.. Changing things on the web is nowhere in my list of things I can try.

I can't either. When it comes to the computer, I know a straight path. Sometimes the straight path is unclear.

Oh, we've all been there...love the "straight path isn't always clear"......

I'm in one of those reading "funks" when nothing appeals. I've gotten hooked on knitting and socks, specifically, and somehow reading is taking a fourth place to the computer, knitting, and the tournament basketball games. The weather is also improving, tulips and daffs are popping up, and so the appeal of the out of doors. I did pick up a couple cozies at the Library and if the predicted rains come this week I'm set.

Do you get into reading "funks"???

jane

I love audio books while I knit. Somewhere Brilliant by Marne David Kellogg was mentioned. (Was it here?) What a fun read. Bad girl of a certain age...

JANE, just got back in, and the new heading is really neat. I like the idea about the murder! weapons; hope you can find some.

On your question, I never get into moods where I don't want to read anything, but I do find I want a change of pace. Much as I love mysteries and fantasy/sci-fi, sometimes I want a well-written history or a beloved classic. I guess the 'romance' genre and the teenage 'angst' theme are the only ones that do not appeal to me at all.

Babi

I very much like the new heading. I am wondering if there could be a link to the chart of favorite authors that was at the top before?

I've added Our Favorite Mystery Writers

Thank you, Jane! Talk about fast!

Love the heading! Reading mysteries is an outlet for me in the evenings when there is so little on TV I care to watch. My son bought me "Foyle's War" DVD Series I with Michael Kitchen (terrific actor) for Christmas. My husband and I enjoyed it immensely. Ended up buying Series II and III. It was a mystery series set in England in early World War II on PBS a couple of years ago which I had missed. We have looked at the series twice already.

jane, I'm so sorry. I've been in a reading funk for quite a while now, and find myself doing the same things you are doing. I hate it. It does go away, though. Our girls have had them, too, and were shocked and scared the first time it happened. I had to reassure them that it would get better and they would be able to read again. Even so, though, I always have at least two books at hand - just in case!

Thanks a million, Jane! Love the heading. And am glad someone mentioned putting a link to the old Favorite Mystery Writers. You would have thought of it anyway!! How about NO knives dripping blood? Maybe just the knife. Magnifying glass, deerstalker hat! Oh, excuse me, I'm just doing a stream of consciousness thing here! LOL. All you folks here at S/N are wonderfully creative with graphics and other computer conundrums! My many thanks to all who are Discussion Leaders and who contribute their "artistry" to this Senior Net site.

JANE: I do get into reading funks -- I'll pick up books, read a few pages, and put them down. I'm in a bit of one just now -- I just manage to keep ahead in "Island", and nothing else. I have two mysteries due at the library that I haven't even opened.

But I know it will pass. Since my team lost early in the NCAA (the Maryland women -- the defending champions humiliated in the second round -- sob!) there's not much on TV I want to see. All the PBS stations here are fundraising.

I love the "Foyle's War episodes. The people are interesting, the period information is interesting, the stories are good. The kids gave me a bunch of Agatha Christie DVDs. Maybe I'll watch them.

Jane: Above and beyond, my dear. Good show!

having health problems that are uncomfortable so I think too much about me. but I did start a painting today. beenn back at it four times for short spells. You can't read a book like that.

Claire

Winsum: Does your painting allow you to lose yourself, as my knitting does for me? Such solace I find as the needles click and the yarn slides off the ball. The growing knitting is almost a surprise since it is frequently the act of knitting I'm seeking, although there must be excitement in the stitches or the yarn colors and textures, or both.

yes painting takes hold of me and I just go along with it. I used to knit and pretty much the same thing although I could think during the process which isn't what happens when I paint. I used to sit in colleg classes working on one arglye sock. never got around to the other because I'd already solved all the problems. Some folks knit in the movies and sailors used to do it on long voyages. great stuff.

claire

Joan K - sorry about your teams - but since we're major Lady Vols fans, and secondarily SEC fans, we're having a good March Madness. Our local Univ. of TN Chattanooga Lady Mocs were even in the first round. Just one more week of basketball.

jane, I love the graphics. I think my favorite is the chalk body outline.

Mrs. Sherlock, come join us in the Needles, Hooks, etc. Discussion. I'm also one of those who knits as something to do with my hands while I'm watching TV, riding in the car, etc., etc. Some folks, including our daughter, have talked about listening to books on disc while knitting. Haven't been able to do that yet.

I get out the basket stuff and weave away when I get into a not reading funk.. I also can generally find something I have not read before.. Worse comes to worse.. I pull out an old favorite and reread it. There are some books that are just plain comforting to me and I have read them so many times. Not necessarily good books, so to speak, just books that speak to me.

I used to enjoy doing cross-stitch, until the holes got too small and my thumb joints began to complain. My older daughter is now a devotee, and can stitch away beautifully even while following a show on TV. When I want diversion, I now grab a crossword puzzle. I don't have anything creative to show for it, but at least it keeps my brain working.

Babi

Babi: I think that's the most important thing...keeping the little gray cells snapping away...be it reading, hand work of whatever kind...painting, knitting, cross stitch, needlepoint, sculpturing.

jane

I saw in you PBS Web Link that a Series IV of Foyle's War is coming on Mystery June 17th. I hope it is shown on our local PBS. Looking forward to it. Used to crochet while watching TV but pain in the right hand put a stop to that. Hardly ever get into a reading funk, but when I do I usually go back to some old books I have enjoyed in years past. I've read the Rabbi books (Monday the Rabbi..., Tuesday the Rabbi...) several times.

Jeryn and Jane, I love the new heading! Thank you for the change, it is refreshing.

Don't let not having anything intelligent to say stop you from posting, Jeryn. It has never stopped me! I just try to keep it short. Well, sort of short.

I like the Jake Tiptree mystery series, also, Stephanie. My library doesn't have all of them, but I am having fun with the ones they do have. I spent the summer after my sophomore year in college as a counselor at a girls' camp just east of Portland, Maine, and loved the area.

I picked up "The Hummingbird Wizard" by Meredith Blevins because it was on the same shelf as another title I wanted. It had a Native American feel, but instead I found that it was peopled with gypsies. It takes place in San Francisco and Sonoma County, north of SF. Since I live in the middle county of Marin, I felt right at home. It is fairly long, but it held my interest all the way through and I hope she will write more mysteries.

Jon Carroll is a columnist for the San Francisco Chronicle. Other mystery fans might enjoy today's column as much as I did, so here is the link:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2007/03/27/DDGRJN7HTH1.DTL

Thanks for that Jon Carroll link. He is a delightful writer and this article speaks to me.

Jon Carroll always has a very funny "Quiz" at the end of the year. No falling down funny, but funny as in this column. I miss reading him. He also like cats a lot.

I never knew all those writers were American! Some of them, yes.

And what does he mean: "Torrance: City of Contrasts?" I just moved there, and I don't see all those contrasts. It ranges from working class to upper-middle, but so do most towns.

Jane and Jeryn, I love the new heading. I feel like digging out another mystery. I am almost finished Hitched by Carol Higgins Clark.

Thanks, PERKIE. I really enjoyed the Jon Carroll column. ...Babi

New Author for me.. Her protagonists is a rabbi's widow.. In Eternal, Texas. Fun and quick.. Will remember the title , right after I sign off of course.

I've read her; she's a hoot.

I hope you recall the author...sounds like someone I'd enjoy.

jane

The author is Sharon Kahn. The first book in the series is called "Fax Me a Bagel". Very funny!

Thanks, Joan.

I finished Hitched by Carol Higgins Clark. I am looking forward to reading more mysteries by her. I love that title Fax Me a Bagel. It takes a creative writer to think of that one.

I loved Fax me a Bagel and will look for more of her stuff. She is really laid back funny..

I thought that the idea of a rabbi from Texas was funny in itself. Everything from Texas seems funny except for Enron, Shrub, etc. etc.

I'm sure there are lots of rabbis in Texas. And lots of wonderful Seniornetters, too.

JoanK: Of course Seniornetters are always the exception. Sorry for my faux pas. Sometimes I don't know when to shut up.

I know the feeling.LOL

I've never been to Texas, but my son lived there briefly, and really liked it. There are a number of excellent mystery series set there, and they really make me want to visit. I always say that everything I know, I know from reading mysteries, and that is how I get my knowledge of different parts of this vast country of ours. I don't think any of us really know the whole country well -- how could we.

Texas certainly offers some contrasting backgrounds, from the green, moist gulf coast country, to the pine forests, to the dry prairies of West Texas.

Actually, I was a bit surprised also at the 'widow of the Rabbi in a small Texas town'. Tho' I don't doubt there may be Jewish people resident anywhere in Texas, most small towns don't have a large enough Jewish population for a synagogue,..and therefore a Rabbi. The big cities, of course, may have several. Maybe our widow retired to Eternity. That seems more probable.

Babi

No, she's a young widow who still helps at the synagogue -- sometimes more than she wants! (I'm tempted to say more, but won't. get the book).

I have just finished Lisa Gardner's "The Survivors Club". She is an excellent writer and the ending is dramatic to say the least. She was unrealistic with the love story. I had already read "The Perfect Husband" and "The Other Daughter" by Gardner and certainly will read more by her.

Have just finished reading Robert Traver's Anatomy of Murder. It is supposed to be an all-time mystery classic. Can you believe it the last pages of the book were missing???!!! It is the worst that can happen to a person reading a thriller. Those of you who have read it could you ans. just one thing: Was Laura really raped or not?

Too many years ago for me to remember in Anatomy of a Murder. Actually I think there are some small towns in Texas, very German who have a sizable population of jews..I know in Hill town area that there are Germans and Czechs, etc. You can buy wonderful knockwurst and other sausages.. We were out there several years ago in our motorcoach and loved the area aroundSan Antonio and Austin and then down to Corpus Christie.. Not the eternal plains that you think of at all. Eternal, Texas, where Ruby the rabbis widow lives is mentioned as sort of a suburb of Austin and Austin is very very metropolitan indeed.

You may be right, STEPHANIE. The German towns are mostly heavily Lutheran, but there could well be a sizable Jewish population as well. I need to do some research on that.

I'll try one of the Kahn books, JOANK. "Fax Me a Bagel" sounds like fun.

Babi

Does anyone remember the movie "Anatomy of a Murder" with James Stewart as the attorney, Lee Remick as the wife who was raped (?), Ben Gazzara as her husband, George C. Scott as the Asst. State Attorney, and Orson Bean as the doctor? In the movie, Stewart got the husband off only to find out that he had been guilty after all. Don't remember if the wife were actually raped or it was mutual consent.

I enjoy Donna Andrews series with Meg Lanslow, the blacksmith, but not as much as I did the first of her series with A. I. Turing Hopper, "You've Got Murder". A.I. stands for Artificial Intelligence, Turing from pioneer of artificial intelligence Alan Turing, and Hopper from an early computer programmer Grace Hopper. She is a computer program who is become sentient. Attendees at a mystery convention were challenged to develop a detective who had a profession, characteristic or personality that had not been used in any mystery series before and A. I. Turing sprang full-grown into Andrews mind. I am so glad it did. Those of you who like computers might like the series as well, and I encourage you to start with the first one, as it lays the background for later titles.

The second in the Carol Lea Benjamin series about Rachel Alexander and her partner, American Stratfordshire Terrier Dash, also includes a black Akita. I have never seen a black one, but think they are elegant dogs. This mystery is titled "The Dog Who Knew Too Much" and included enough T'ai Chi to make me tired. Otherwise, it was a good story and I look forward to the next one in the series.

Sonya, Anatomy of a Murder is one of our favorites - and the movie made from it was incredibly faithful to the book - even some of the dialog is the same. It's been a long time since I've read it, but as I remember, the ending was left in a puzzle. You are not really sure exactly what happens. It's a very powerful book, IMHO.

Edit: Thanks Perkie for listing the tremendous cast. There was always the wondering if she had consensual sex with the bar owner and was beaten up by her husband. But we never really know for sure.

OKAY, did a research and found the smallest cities in Texas supporting a synagogue are Richardson and Odessa, both with populations over 90,000.

(I love digging out information without leaving my chair! Oh, Brave New World!)

Babi

BaBi, Odessa is pretty much a free-standing city, but Richardson is a suburb of Dallas. Computers are wonderful, aren't they.

John just came in and I asked him about Anatomy of a Murder. At the end of the book, she leaves with the husband and you never really know what actually happened. Here's the link for the whole cast in IMDb. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0052561/

Thanks, MARYZ. In the listing of Texas synagogues, there were some listed as being in Dallas. The one in Richardson gave that city as it's address. The way cities turn into mega-metropolis (how do you pluralize that?), a lot of former cities/towns are now 'suburbs'.

Babi

Perkie, I loved everyone of Donna Andrews books about Turing. I am just disappointed there is not a new one out, or upcoming. Glad you are enjoying the Carol Lea Benjamin books. I only have "A Hell of a Dog" left to check out. (If the library can find a copy for me)

We mystery readers get kind of crazy when we can't locate one of the books in a series! At least, I do. LOL.

Read Iris Johansen On The Run and it was a real page turner

The towns in Texas that have wonderful sausages are still going strong and very popular with tourists. Here is the link to New Braunfels It is still a showcase for German culture and of course, German foods. One of the people who comes to the Texas discussion and the chatterbox talk about the great foods there.

Disco for the Departed is the third book documenting the exploits of Dr. Siri, the 70+ State Coroner of Laos. Author Cotterill has a way with his wry digs at the communist thinking. One place he describes a municipal "square" in Vientianne "which is, of course, a circle". Doesn't that say it all?

All kudos go to Jane! The heading is really cute and certainly appropriate. I love the little crime scene!

I enjoy reading all the comments about what everyone is reading, liking and not liking. We get so many great ideas here!

I haven't read a good mystery in a while... reading other things, actually. But I have the latest John Lescroart near by... just as soon as my husband finishes it, I will have a new mystery to read! Oh boy!

Hi. Just caught up with all the new posts. I like the new Header. My wife took pity on me and got me "Dragon" by Clive Cussler. I truly enjoyed it. Reminds of 'Doc Savage' and all the old pulp magazines, such as Blue Book and Argosy. I got two more the books and finished them. Looks like I have a new favorite to catch up with. Cheers. Ray

Well, there is at least one small town in Texas that has a rabbi. Now we have to find out if it has a bagel shop run by an Arab-American and a rabbi's wife. If so, we've found our author.

I liked the first I. Turing Hopper book too (though not as much as the Meg Renslow ones), and didn't realize there were more. I was an early programmer too, and met Grace Hopper. I think she may have been the one who discovered the first computer bug. It was a cockroach! The very early computers were programmed by throwing switches, and a cockroach had gotten stuck under one of the switches and changed the program. (I was shown the switch, which had become famous). From then on, any mistake in a computer program was called a "bug".

Thanks to whoever recommended "The Coroner's Lunch". I've started it, and really enjoy it.

Aunt Dimity stars in a dozen books now, and I love them all. The latest is "Aunt Dimity Goes West", to the Rocky Mountains and a fancy cabin built by one of Bill's friends. Bill sends Lori and the twins with Annalise to help Lori recover from a gunshot wound she received in the proceeding book. Lori, of course, was thrown into the middle of a mystery and by the time it was solved, she was healed. An interesting development was the writing of another person from the 'other side' in the blue journal! He was very helpful in supplying much needed background.

I've got to get that Aunt Dimity; sounds neat. I found a new Kate Wilhelm at the lirary: Sleight of Hand. As usual, I can't put it down. Also, here's the site of the latest newsletter from Stop You're Killing Me: <newsletter@stopyourekillingme.com> So many new authors! My library has several, but not the one with an Oregon setting. Go figure.

One of the German Texas towns has an annual Oktoberfest. I'm thinking it is Fredericksburg, but I'm by no means sure of that. I've never been. (Since I don't care for beer, it seemed rather pointless.)

Babi

I have Aunt Dimity Goes West on hold. I love the Aunt Dimity books.

I am working on WEdnesday in the Ann Purser books. Slow to start this time.. I am sure it will pick up though. REad the second Giles Blunt this weekend. He is Canadian and really a good intense read.. He invokes the extreme northern weather almost like a character in the book..His first one all sorts of awards.. Forty words for Sorrow? At least I think that was it. The second has the same detectives in it.

I am reading another Elizabeth George book, "A Place of Hiding". She is such a terrific writer that it is difficult to put the book down. Her characters are so real and interesting. I have no idea of the English countryside as she is describes it is real or not, but it is intriguing. This story is set on the Channel Island, Guernsey.

Poppy: Is that part of her Lynley Havers series? When was it published?

A WILL TO MURDER by WALTER SORRELLS. a tightly plotted thing except I could figure it out because he stayed away from what I would consider to be the principle suspects, which defined them for me. Mae-mae is good with numbers which leads her to become a tax lawyer. Her dissatisfaction with her life sends her into looking for the murderer of the victim whose estate she is handling. It gets quite complicated. she's a little like stephanie plum but not as cutsie. claire

Mrs Sherlock, the only two familiar characters in this book are St. Simon and his wife, Deborah. Neither Lyndley nor Havers are in this book. Publication date, 2003.

Elizabeth George goes back and forth with her main characters. There is even one where Havers is the principal character. Makes it interesting, although I am not a Deborah fan. She is soooo whiny.

POPPY, I saw only a small sector of England on my one trip there, but where George has a story located in the part I saw, it is very true to life. I remember with pleasure touring Oxford, and "For Love of Elena" brought back that setting quite clearly.

Babi

There are a number of German towns in N. Texas that have wonderfullll food and ambience. One of these towns is Muenster. I have heard of othes, but I have had the food that they brought into Plano at the farmers market and the blankets and arts and crafts are phenomenal. It is just about 35 miles from Gainesville and further from Dallas, that is south of Muenster. Cherokee Bandit

Muenster is a cheese. Do they make it there?

The latest Charlie Moon mystery, "Stone Butterfly", by James D. Doss, got off to a rather slow, jerky start. Unusual for Doss. Fortunately, he settled into the story after a couple of chapters, and it was engrossing from then on. I was sorry that the pitukupf only made a brief appearance. I love the interaction between the dwarf and Aunt Daisy, and her visionary travels into the underworld. At one point, I thought Charlie had been killed, but it turned out that there were two people in the house and it was the other one, who had not been mentioned previously. What a relief. One bad guy gone and Charlie just slightly battered!

I love Doss to and had to stop reading your review for fear you would give away too much of the plot. Stone Butterfly is one I have yet to enjoy.

claire

I have always loved Laura Lippman, but am struggling with the current one. For one thing, I am not overfond of Crow, her boyfriend and this seems to be a lot about him,, maybe it will grow on me. Finished a John Sandford yesterday.. Quick read.. Love Lucas, Hate the other ones he wrote, but this is not either. Sort of a political who dunit and why and being a sly sly writer, he has reversed politics, making the republicans liberal and the dems the conservative gun lovers.. Weird, but I really enjoyed it.

Muenster is an American cheese, tho' with origins in France and Germany. The name came from the german 'monastery', where it was made, according to Wickipedia. Muenster, Texas, probably took its name from Muenster, or Munster, Germany. Just speculating.

Babi

seniornet is akin to google. can't speculate without getting another. such fun.

claire

Am reading my second in a series about an Archeologist in New England. Interesting book, but the writer does tend to fumble now and then.

An archeologist who fumbles?!! Gads. Don't let the man work on-site.

..Babi

the archeologist in new england sounds like my cuppa coffee. what and who puleeze

claire

MaryZ - i've been breezin' thru the postings, cause i haven't had time to read and talk much - you mentioned your Lady Vols - I'll say congrats, altho it's thru tight jaws since we wanted our Rutgers REds to beat your Lady Vols....... ........i also have to add that i alternate my reading w/ my knitting and crocheting, the rythmn of the actions is soothing to me........jean

Jean, if anybody had beaten the Lady Vols, I would've wanted it to be Rutgers. Vivian Stringer is one of the really great ladies of basketball - or anything else, for that matter.

Yes! She is! I left you a msg on "Needles and hooks." I was reading other sites when you posted here........jean

Dana Cameron is the author of the series and the heroion is Emma.. She is an archeologist specializing in New England.. A sort of unusual area actually. The clunkers are from the author not the heroine..But they are fun. The author is sort of a loose plotter and keeps dangling loose ends..

Spy fiction has always attracted me; I guess it is the seat of your pants air. A retired US intelligence agent has written a novel about North Korea, his area of expertise, under the nom de plume of James Church, titled A Corpse in the Koryo. He was interviewed on NPR and sounds like he will be interesting to read. He said that he has been accused of writting fiction all during his career but explained that there is little hard data in North Korea so one must glean from little bits here and there.

I believe that New Braunfels is where the Oktoberfest you mentioned is held. I'd love to go to it some year - haven't yet tho. isak

I was attracted to Laura Lippman because of the setting in Baltimore. I went to the 2nd and 5th grades in Annapolis and learned to swim in South River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Is "No Good Deeds" the one you are reading, Stephanie? The review mentions Crow as being a weak character.

Body of Lies is about a CIA attempt to infiltrate al-Quaida, according to author David Ignatius. This is the second of the two spy novels on Friday's All Things Considered.

Has anyone read "Christine Falls" by Benjamin Black, a pseudonym for Jon Banville, who won the Booker prize for The Sea a couple years ago. I loved it. It is one of those in which the characters and the writing in general are more interesting than the "whodunit" part, per se. He says it is the first in a series featuring the protagonist of this one, a sad, rather defeated coroner. I highly recommend this one.

I saw a couple of posts about Colin Cotterill and his 70 year old Sri Lankaan coroner. There ar now 3 in the series, I've read them all and can't wait for the next, which is due out in October, I think. the second one is "33 teeth", which I enjoyed even more than "the coroner's lunch." Can't recall the title of the 3th, but I have it on my bookshelves downstairs, if anyone wants to know. I agree it is "light, pastime" reading, as someone here said, but it is among the best of that genre I've found.

Thanks. Its on my list.

Fans of Laurie R King's Mary Russell series may know that she has a blog which is well worth reading. Today she speaks about independent booksellers. Her favorite, not counting her neighborhood Watsonville store, is Seattle Mystery Bookstore and they have a new blog which is fun to read, lots of mystery gossip. Here is the site: http://seattlemysteryblog.typepad.com/seattle_mystery/2007/04/authors_passing.html

I have put "Christine Falls" by Benjamin Black on my list. It sounds interesting.

Currently, I am reading "Incendiary Designs" by Michael Allen Dymmoch. So far, I find it quite good. I can't tell from the jacket picture whether he/she is a man or woman, which I suppose is deliberate but he/she is president of the Midwest chapter of Mystery Writers of America.

Yes, No Good Deeds is indeed the Laura Lippman that I keep picking up and putting down.Darn it all,, I like Tess

MrsSherlock, thanks for the link to the Seattle Mystery blog. You're right, it is fun to read. I'm a big fan of Laurie R. King, especially her Mary Russell series, but hadn't yet checked her blog this week.

"After All These Years", by Susan Isaacs, definitely needs some suspension of disbelief, as the main character blithely escapes arrest while sneaking around to interview many people involved in the life of her murdered husband. I almost never guess who done it, but this time I did, about 2/3 of the way through. In spite of all my negative comments, I still enjoyed the people and the story and sat up one night to finish it.

I remember After All These Years by Susan Isaacs. I have never read it. Probably, I had forgotten the title. Perkie, thanks for the reminder.

Finished my secondRuby the Rabbis widow last night. The plotting still needs some help. I do like the characters, but wish she would tighten up the writing a bit. Oh well. it is fun

I remember reading After All These Years and being disappointed in it.

I am reading Lee Child's "The Enemy". It is a Jack Reacher story. He is the modern hero...born and raised in a military family with a French mother and an American father. As one review says, "Reacher is the thinking reader's action hero, a surprisingly tender combination of chess master and G.I.Joe, a guy who always thinks six or eight steps ahead before making a move."

I have been reading Lee Child's work since he wrote his first book. His work is engrossing it is hard to put his books down once you start reading them.

MaryZ - you commented that Vivian Stringer was one of the great ladies of our society - she certainly proved you're opinion in yesterday's press conference, didn't she.......what a wonderful example of humanity all those team members gave us yesterday, did you have tears in your eyes? i certainly did.......Imus made me nauseous yrs ago and i have refused to have him on in our house since then.....a proud woman and mother of a wonderful woman of color, jean

Lee Childs sounds great, POPPY. If I've read any of his, it's been too long ago. I need to look him up.

JEAN, this is one of the reasons I keep telling myself I need to be more diligent in watching the news. Look at what I miss by switching of the TV too quick when my show is over!

Babi

"44 Scotland Street", by Alexander McCall Smith, is a stand-alone novel, and just an enjoyable as both of his series. It is placed in Edinburgh, and is the story of the people who live at that address and their interactions with others. There is Pat who works in a gallery and may have discovered a Peplo painting. There is a pushy mother and her gifted 5 year old son who just wants to be a real boy. There is the man who works as an inspector of property for sale and dreams of being a wine merchant. Each life is a mini-drama and I was sorry when it ended, since I won't know how their lives continued to develop.

I finished the Camel Club - I really enjoyed it.

Then I started a new series (to me) "Edwin of the Iron shoes":Sharon McCone is a PI in San Francisco, the author is Marcia Muller. I really enjoyed it, even if it was written in 1977. Sure hope the rest of the series is as good.

44 scotland Street was fun to read and there are two more: Espresso Tales and Love Over Scotland.

FrancyLou: Marcia Muller's early books are very good: the last few are not IMO. She is credited with starting the "Tough Gal" mysteries (even before Sue Grafton. Edwin is probably my favorite.

I have always loved Marcia Muller. Her PI is interesting and she develops a really complicated back story over the years. Edwin is a real favorite of mine. But I have read probably 2/3 of all of her books.

Just finished Magaret Truman's Murder at Ford's Theater. It's the first of hers that i have read. It was pretty good, suspenseful, kept me reading; well-written. I tho't it was better than the Roosevelt mysteries, altho' i like those too - just for fun......jean

Jean, we're at a location without television for a week, and limited internet access. So I only saw replays of part of the press conference. And I noticed that the idiot got fired yesterday.

Keep reading, folks. Love all the recommendations.

Mary Z, which idiot are you talking about? Imus? or someone else?

Imus, this time (but there ARE so many out there, aren't there?).

Home and with my high speed service again. The wi fi in the two rv parks was awful.. Just too many people on line at the same time, I suspect.

I'm so glad the 44 Scotland Street series is continuing. Thank you, Mrs. Sherlock.

I finally got around to trying Kathy Hogan Trocheck, but I am afraid she is not for me. I struggled through the first chapter and she just threw too many minor, irritating problems at me too fast. I don't handle angst very well.

"Death of a Writer", by Michael Collins, on the other hand, is a well written novel that happens to also be a mystery story. It is set in the Midwest, I think Indiana, but I kept feeling like it was British until people drove to Chicago or east to Ohio and I was snapped back. I think there was something about the style of writing. It concerns an English professor who never really made it as an author until after he tried to commit suicide and a graduate student came across a novel self-published and never released while using his writings as her thesis. It is slow-paced because the characters and the story are so well developed.

I had missed one of the Harlan Cobens.. The one where Esmerelda is being charged with murder. Just found it and am digging in. I do like Myron.

What is the title of the Harlan Cobens, Stephanie? I'm a fan, too, and will look in the library for it. I've read most they have, but will check again for this one. Sue

Will check downstairs on the Harlen Coben.. Put it on my husbands stack since he is one of the few authors we both read. Excellent and I have no idea why I missed it the first time. He must have a new book out, since he is scheduled for Today on Tuesday.. Must try to remember to tune in.

I stayed up late finishing Lee Child's "The Enemy". It is a terrific read as are all of his Jack Reacher stories. I recommend it for an exciting story.

Francie Lou, I don't think you will be disappointed with ANY of the Sharon McCone mysteries. I have read them all. I also love Harlen Coben's books. Don't let me forget the Lee Child books, love them too.

There is a new book by Lee Child. Can't remember the title.

gaj: Is it The Hard Way? I'm reading it now. One of the best I've read about Reacher.

The new Lee Child book is "Bad Luck and Trouble." The latest by Harlan Coben is "The Woods" (not a Myron Bolitar mystery).

I am just beginning another Reacher story, "Without Fail". I have not read Child's books in the order that they were written in. But, I don't believe it matters so much with his books. Each one is complete within itself.

The Coben about Esmerelda is "The Final Detail" . I loved the complicated in and outs of this one and am racking my brain as to who was Brenda.. Was she the tennis player.

Reading Nora Roberts Black Rose, the second in the In The Garden trilogy. Mary you would probably like these, set in Tenn...... a lot in them about gardening and plants of various kinds.....good reads.....jean

Still struggling with Tess, Hawk and the kid.. I am about to toss it and I do so like Laura Lippman.

Steve Hockensmith's debut, Holmes on the Range, is a really fun read. Two brothers who are cowboys in 1880's Idaho become rabid fans of Sherlock Holmes stories. One brother decides he can detect clues when they are confronted with a messy death. Mysteries abound as the English absentee owners of the ranch arrive and complicate their lives. Did I read about this book here? If so, thanks for the recommendation.

Hockensmith is a new author for me.. Sounds like fun. Just finished Rita Mae Browns "Sour Puss". A good romp and the animals were the heroes in the end.. She has such fun with the Sneaky Pie mysteries and since I have two corgi, I love reading about Tee Tucker.

"Close to Home" is an Inspector Allan Banks mystery by Peter Robinson, set in Yorkshire. There are two murders of 14-15 year old boys, one recent and one the mate of Banks when he was 14. Banks goes back and forth between the two murders, the recent one in his current district is handled by an old girlfriend, and the old one in his home town by a now current girlfriend. The two stories are interwoven in such a way that I was convinced that there would be a connection at the end. I won't tell if there was or wasn't. Very intriguing. I think Robinson is a good writer.

I listened to the story on audio cassettes, and was bothered by the reader, Ron Keith. He would get a suppressed mirthful, almost coy, tone in his voice at the most inappropriate moments.

Isnt it amazing in the audio books how you can be affected by the reader. There are some authors that I like that I will not listen to, because I dislike the readers. There are also a few authors whose egos are so large, they refuse to let anyone but themselves read the books.. Generally not a good idea. I love audio books, but love the tapes and that is getting to be difficult to find.

Indeed, STEPHANIE. We succumbed to the inevitable and bought a DVD player when it became obvious the tape renting chains were switching over to all DVD. Even the library now buys primarily DVD's. We must go with the times or be left behind. (Now that's news, isn't it? )

Babi

It's time I learned to use them since my eyes are hating this screen and even have trouble reading print. so . . .I remember using tapes in a small tape player on the seat beside me in the car and that's alal I know.

My daughter bought me a DVD but I don't have any and as it can't be attached to my TV at the same time as the VCR is not working right now. Can it stand alone as an audio player or must it have speakers etc. hmmm.

Life is just one big learning curve after another these days. Claire

Claire, my son gave me a DVD player for Christmas and somehow used a connection to my TV that works with my very old VHS. Maybe your daughter can help you hook it up. Sue

My problem with the audio tapes is that I use them in the gym.. Hence the DVDs do not work well.. Need the tape player, since it straps on a belt and/or can be hooked to my workout clothes. I have a player for the car, but hate it since when you stop it, it reverts to the beginning and unless you make a note of exactly where you are by number, you cannot find the spot again.. Need to find out if this is true of all of them or if you can stop and start at the same point in some of them. I also keep hearing about books to load in the MP3 player and that would be so neat, but I suspect more than my tech less brain can handle. Took weeks to learn how to download music.

CLAIRE, there should be a way to connect both. We have both a VCR and a DVD connected to our TV.

Babi

a tv salesman told me that if you have a converter box for cable digital TV the separate item can be connected to it, but so far I can't figure out all the little ins and outs on the back of everything or even get at them. It's more trouble than I want to take for now, but I'm glad to know that it is possible.

Claire

Winsum: That's why I watch my DVDs on my MAC. Never could get the DVD player to to work right but the MAC plays them perfectly.

Did someone here mention Giles Blunt? I'm reading his Forty Words for Sorrow. A very complex man is our detective, Sargeant John Cardinal of the Algonquin Bay PD. The focus of his attention, and ours, is the disappearance of several juveniles. Cardinal fears they are dead but his boss disagrees and has switched John to investigating burglaries. Until the first body is found. This is strong stuff. Blunt doesn't make us "watch" the crimes as they are committed, but we learn about them through the stomach-churning autopsy details. A ploy and my question: Is it worse to read how the victim is hurt or to imagine how the blows resulted in defensive wounds, etc. I can't stop reading, that's for sure. I like John Cardinal and I'm eager to learn more about him, his life, his little town.

I have a Mini Mac with the latest operating system. It has a slot for CD's is that where you slide in a DVD? I didn't know it could play them.

claire

JACKIE: I admit I'm squeamish. I don't like descriptions of autopsies in detail, and can't watch the shows that feature them.

I think my pc can play DVDs, but I don't have the software. My tv, if you stop a DVD, will start again where you stopped.

Winsum: I have a MAC Mini too. That slot takes DVDs as well as CDs. When you put the disk in you should get a screen that announces the DVD Player software. I use headphones which plug into the back. You can stop, go back, etc. To adjust the sound there is a little icon of a speaker on the top right of the menubar (my sound is always turned off). Let me know how it goes.

I don't have any DVDs but it sounds easy. Are the audio books on DVD now They used to be on tape and I imagine are now on CD's. The library is probably the best resource these days. I'm not abut to buy them.

our library has a service for money that will down load a book to your computer which is active for twenty four hours. so I guess they expect you to copy it? My daughter mentioned it and she's in NY with their system. I think ours may be somewhat different. It will only let you have ten a month. She logged into it using my card. no problem. Except that it won't work with MACS.

I use two speakers to play music on my computer. Wouldn't they do for the sound portion of a DVD?

claire

Thanks to many of you I have been reading "The Cat Who" series and am now on "The Cat Who Had 60 Whiskers" It has been a great read and I am ready to start the first book again.

Claire: Yes, I'm Jackie. I don't have external speakers but they will work fine; I had speakers for my old MAC Classic. I listen to audio books on my boom box while I knit; they are CDs. My library has a free download program but I haven't been able tomake it work on my lap top which is Windows and it isn't compatble with MAC OS. What I wanted to do was load it from the puter to the iPod so I can carry it around while I clean and putter. Another gap in my entertainment electronics: I have satellite TV and a Video Recorder which is like a computer hard drive. BUT I can't keep things I record (the memory fills up) since I don't have a DVD recorder. I like to keep Novas and some Masterpiece Theater; also some science shows, National Geographic, etc. Oh well. 10 years from now I'll have somehing else to worry about.

I am on my third Giles Blunt. He is a wonderful writer. Very complex,, very good with police work and Canada and the weather, which is always a major player in his books.. Good author..Grim...

I enjoy the various CSI series, but I have to look away when they get too gruesome. Apparently there are a lot of people out there who like the 'grue', as there seems to be more of it..and worse...all the time. It's a fact of life...the things like the 'reality' (hah!) shows and the gore, wouldn't be proliferating the way they do if the majority of the viewing public didn't like them. Now that worries me!

Babi

Stephanie: Did you mention Giles Blunt here? I really do like the people; almost as compelling as Elizabeth George's. Glad to hear that there are more of Blunt to read.

Yes, I originally mentioned Giles Blunt. The first one I read? Forty words for Sorrow?? was magnificent. So I have been looking and have read a second one and now have the third one on hand.

It is my understanding that DVDs are for films and CDs are for audio books. I don't think they are interchangeable, but will stand corrected if I am wrong. My library is not buying anymore audio books on cassette, but still has a large collection so I am going through them first.

I have not found a way to go to the exact location where I stopped on a CD, so I made a cardboard wheel with numbers around it and use a paper clip to mark the track I stopped on. I have to start at the beginning of the track, but they are usually only 3 minutes each, so I don't have to listen to too much text over again.

The second AI Turing Hopper, by Donna Andrews, was just as interesting as the first. This one got into a violent on-line game that cruised the mean streets and then moved into a larp, live action role playing. AT the end of both books, I felt like I was viewing a serial from the old days of movies and the endings were cliff hangers. Turing is discovering the downside of sentience, the fears and worries when someone important to you is in danger.

PERKIE: what is the name of the second Turing book?

(I love your saying!)

Since you're all so knowledgable on DVD's and I see a few of you use Macs, perhaps you can help with a different issue. I belong to paperbackswap.com and I'm having the time of my life. However, I cannot post to the forums. Since I use a mac I made sure to use Firefox. When I try to post the header comes up but it looks like I didn't type a message. Totally blank. The administrator can't help me and a few of the members tried suggestions but nothing worked. Have any of you mac users had this problem there or elsewhere? Here's my info: Mac OS X version 10.4.7, Firefox version 1.5 Mozilla/5.0, Macintosh;U; PPC Mac OS X Mach-0 en-US; rv:12.,Gecko/20051111

I have no idea what all this means but there can't be much wrong if there's a gecko involved!

TIA

karalk: If no one here can help you, you might ask in the discussion in the computers folder for those using Macs. Here's a link for you to that discussion:

"Macintosh Computers and Operating Systems" click this link

Good Morning (it's morning here in Michigan): first time here and I'm looking forward to hearing/seeing what everyone is reading. Has any one read the John Dunning "bookman" series? He's wonderful and what a treat..a mystery and book information, all together in one book! I'd highly recommend them. Just finished a Linda Farstein one, The Bone Vault. Pretty good. Just "discovered" a new author, for me: David Handler - The Hot Pink Farmhouse, a Berger and Mitry Mystery. I'm loving it so far. Has anyone read anything by him? Thanks everyone and look forward to chatting about my favorite topic.

Glad you have joined us, Peace42. I have read all the Dunning books, they are special.There is currently a John Dunning book on the "Book Exchange", if it's not the one you've already read. I haven't tried any Handler yet, will put him on my list. Fairstein is consistently good too. Many places here in SeniorNet where you will feel at home: Fiction, Mystery, Non-fiction, Poetry, etc. Stay with us, we develop such a nice camaraderie.

I agree 100% about John Dunning and the bookman series. I started with the one that was set in the 40s and have enjoyed the others I have found, too. They set up such a different ambience - like you were back in the 40s. Will have to go back and reread the first one - it was riveting. isak

Isak: Was that the one about the radio station? Really riveting, wasn't it? Peace43: Welcome! So glad you're here. Lee Child's Reacher series has me hooked right now. The Visitor is the 4th in the series. Just finished Aunt Dimity Goes West; Nancy Atherton has a wicked sense of humor!

We've just been given a 2006 JAJance, Edge of Evil, that is not one of her series. Looking forward to reading it.

thanks everyone for the nice welcome! must clean the apartment today, but I'd rather be reading! Anyone a fan of Margaret Truman? I've read them all except her newest one..Murder At The Opera I think is the title. Will she ever run out of places?!!have a great day and I"ll be back later, hopefully with a clean house! but, I just may get sidetracked with a book : - )

I love the Bookman series.. Always have. Fairstein is intersting, but felt the last one was padded with other information. Hard to be consistantly interesting. Am reading a new to me author who writes about a vet and vet tech in Florida. Not sure how many she wrote and this is an old one 1995..

Hi, peace...

Yes, several of us here are also Margaret Truman fans. AACCKK..we'll have to get you straightened out on the priorities...hahahah...READING before CLEANING! People never notice when you've done the cleaning...ONLY when you don't.

Have you read Picoult's Plain Truth? I have about 1/4 to go and I still haven't figured out if there was a murder and who did it. This is an intriguing glimpse into the Amish culture in Pennsylvania. My f2f book club discussed it earlier this month, but I was still on the waiting list at the library and just got it this week. Sue

Was it here we were talking about Anatomy of a Murder? The movie is being shown this afternoon at 5:15 EDT on Turner Classic Movies.

If there is a need for an excuse, you get the vacumn out and plug it in. Then you park it in the middle of the living room.

Then proceed to the family room and read your book.

I am a Margaret Truman fan. I just finished Murder at the Opera and I'm waiting for Murder on K Street.

Sue~ I think I read a review slamming Jodi Picoult's Amish work. Trying to remember what the reviewer said and who the reviewer was.

Patwest: great idea about the vacuum! I'll definitely give it a try. Can't believe that Margaret Truman already has another one out after the opera. If she's starting on streets, as with "K" street, well, she will be writing forever! but that's ok with me. Do any of you keep lists of books you've read? I started doing this years ago but, of course, have lost many of my lists. I would type them (now use the computer) and give them to friends as gifts, along with bookmarks. Many told me that they would take my lists to the library to help them look for books. for what it's worth: some of my favorites: Marcia Muller, Ed McBain (his Let's Hear It For the Deafman is one of his best), Martha Grimes (have only read 1 but I"m hooked), Ridley Pearson, Peter Lovesey (British), Lisa Gardner (just "discovered" her), Tami Hoag, Robert Crais, David Baldacci, Robert Crais. Well, I could go on and on. Thank you folks for giving me new authors to seek out on my next trip to the library.

Peter Lovesay.. I do like him.. Very funny. The other English that I adore is Jonathon Gash. IN both cases, they are funny and there is a little mystery of one type or another. As to serious.. have you tried Elizabeth George or Minette Walters. Both are heavy duty, but interesting.

Robert Crais' Two Minute Rule is a non-series page-turner which I thoroughly enjoyed. What do you do when you are released from a ten-year prison term only to learn that your son, the cop, has been killed? Holman sees that he has only one task: Find his son's killer. But there's something fishy (pun alert) about the death; his son is one of four cops who were bushwhacked as they sat drinking beer in the concrete channel of the LA River. How could a killer, reputed to be a minor gang member, approach them and kill them before they could get to their own guns?

peace -- K Street is a major street in DC where all the lobyists hang out.

patwest - kinda scary to think that there's a whole street where lobbyists congregate!

Stephanie: thanks for the British writer tips = I will check them out in the library. Recently finished one called The Waterclock by Jim Kelly. Very British! starts slow but I ended up really liking it.

Mrssherlock: loved your synopsis of The Two Minute Rule - I'm very bad at that; I end up telling the whole book. Crais does write some exciting stuff and this one will go on my list.

my list keeps growing which is ok - hit a book sale the other day at a local library - 12 books and 2CD's, all for $5.25! I felt absolutely rich!

Happy reading!

Has anyone read And only to deceive by> Tasha Alexander? My library news letter suggested the second book in this series. A Poisoned Season.

I look it up on Fantastic Fiction first. And Only to Deceive is apparently the first novel featuring Emily. A Poisoned Season follows according to the brief descriptions on Fantastic Fiction. This sounds like an interesting new author. She also writes fiction about Elizabeth I which is scheduled for October release. An interesting feature on FF is that authors' frequently list books they like. Alexander recommends one, Catching Genius, by Kristy Kiernan, which sounds like one I want to read.

PEACE42: welcome, welcome!! How lucky a sale! Don't get so busy reading your books that you forget to come here and tell us about them. Do you live in the DC area? I just moved from there.

Thanks for all the British authors: many new to me. I'll put them on my list. Martha grimes isn't really British, just pretends to be. She lives in the DC area. Her early books are very good, but her later ones get weak IMO. Beware.

K Street is a street of office buildings which has become known as where the lobbyists hang out. It was in the news a lot with the Jack Abramoff scandal -- I imagine that's when Truman wrote the book. I still remember Margeret Truman from when father Harry (during his presidency) punched out a journalist for saying that Margeret couldn't sing -- do you all remember that?

Many other known Washingtonians have written mysteries. Senator Barbara Mackulsky has two about the Senate (quite good). William Cohen has one. And of course Elliot Roosevelt's books with his mother Eleanor as detective (not well written, but fun).

JoanK: I live in Southwest Michigan, about 1 mile from Lake Michigan, not far from the Indiana border. Small town(maybe 2500) and I like it.

So Martha Grimes is a pretend Brit?!! who knew. I read The Stargazey and thought it was fun,, tho sometimes confusing. At a yard sale, a women told me that her book titles are names of English Pubs.

I do remember the "Margaret can't sing" incident..gee, wasn't that long ago, was it?

I read one Elliott Roosevelt and didn't like it very much so have not ventured back to his stuff.

I'm reading a James Patterson one, The Beach House - pretty good. His stuff is fast reading but always fun.

don't tell anyone but I'm going to do my dishes and then watch (s-h-h-h-) American Idol! this is the first I've ever watched the whole thing..and do think it might be my last!

Made notes on all sorts of new stuff. I have read a few Margaret Truman. REally need to look up more since I do like them. I remember the singing and she is truly a good author, but a bad singer. Has four sons as I recall.

Her husband was Clifton Daniels, a noted writer/journalist. I was impressed when they married, she seemed less shallow than her father's spirited defense implied. And a mother of four sons...well, one was a handful for me, but four?

JACKIE, as the mother of one son and two daughters, I can't speak with authority, but I'm under the impression that multiple sons take a lot of their energy out on each other!

I picked up a Linda Fairstein off the shelves at the local senior center. And my compliments to the lucky gal who actually found 12 books she wanted at the library sale.

Babi

Babi: Never thought of it that way. I had one of each and the one they took it out on was good ol' Mom. Though you'd never know it today; I'm pleased to call them both friends as well as offspring.

Yeah, I think I did pretty good at the book sale. I got 11 paperbacks @25 cents each, a hard cover for $1.00 and a couple of CD's. Surprisingly they had many newer titles. I often try to pick up ones by authors I've never read. I just started one titled The Chocolate Puppy Puzzle by JoAnna Carl, a "chocoholic mystery". the cover says it comes "with tasty chocolate trivia"! put the word chocolate in it..and a mystery to boot, well sounds like a bit of heaven to me! I'll let you know what I think of it when done.

I am reading another of the Archeologist mysteries. This one is about a convention and is funny when discussing academia.

For $6 I got a hardback copy of The Leaphorn and Chee Novels which included "Skinwalkers", "A Thief of Time", and "Coyote Waits". I didn't think I had read these but started to remember them as I read each one. However, I enjoyed reading them again as I had forgotten so much about the connections between how Leaphorn and Chee got started. I had completely forgotten how Leaphorn first met Professor Bourebonette. I think I may have missed the story that had the Professor moving into his extra bedroom and sharing his expenses after he retired "again". Does anyone know which novel covers that?

I think, not know but think, that he didn't cover it in one of the books. It just happened between one book and another, maybe. She stayed there for some reason and after that need was over they both agreed for her to stay on?

Have y'all ever been in the NM/AZ area of Hillerman's novels? It's so special. We've been there numerous times; even taken an Elderhostel in Farmington which included a section on his books. We've driven up and down all those roads. Obviously, we love it - we keep going back.

Lee Child's novels don't have to be read in order; one book he's in Florida, another he's in New York. One I missed is about his time in the Army in 1990. The Enemy is a powerful indictment of an organization which is ruthless, like a tank, rolling over speed bumps and flattening opposition. It's another I can't put down.

On a CNN blog tonite, they were talking about a group of book lovers who had a book "read-in" in front of the Atlanta newspaper, protesting that the paper was eliminating the position of book reviewer. They asked folks to post comments; very interesting reading. I posted. I'm afraid I got rather windy! when it comes to books I could go on and on forever and ever! I truly cannot imagine life without books and hopefully will never have to. Check it out if you have a chance.

well, off to read more of my "chocolate" mystery. Sleep well.

Just finished another Dana Cameron. She is an archeologist and her protagonist is also. Very interesting about the world of archeology and college infighting, I like her and have been hunting down all that she wrote.. Still missing one that she action is inEngland.. Back to the hunt.

Activist book lovers! Who knew?! I got a smile from that one, PEACE.

Babi

On the CNN blog, as of last nite, there were 344 responses to the question: who reads books?! shows there an awful lot of book lovers out there. They were fun to read and nice to know that there are still a huge number of folks who know/love/appreciate a good book.

Must be. Think of all the libraries in this country that are constantly buying new books to meet the demand. And I can personally attest that as school draws to an end for the summer, the volume of books to be checked in doubles and remains that way for weeks!

Babi

Unfortunately, many libraries are having more and more trouble getting funding from their governmental bodies. We went to a meeting at our library branch (one of a series to be held at each branch) talking about the problems, and getting suggestions as to possible solutions. Hours and staff have already been cut, the budget for new book purchases is all but nonexistent.

One method that's been tried and found successful is "On Demand" - new book and DVD rentals, rather than waiting for your name to come up on the waiting list. So far, it's not only been self-supporting, but has had enough surplus to purchase more audio-books. There was an evening coffee-house type party fund-raiser a couple of months ago at the downtown library that was successful.

But there's certainly no money available for expanding or upgrading existing branches, or building in new locations. Talk now is about looking for some ways to get into public/private collaborations to benefit the library. The public/private combination has been pretty successful in other areas here.

But, at the heart of the matter, John and I both believe that, as with public schools, libraries should be free and totally funded by tax money. Oh, well........

I believe one reason libraries keep track not only of the # of books checked out, but also those used in the library, is so they can present the local government with statistics on patron use. That is the sort of thing the budgeters can use. Of course, no library would be the same w/o the aid and support of the 'Friends of the Library' and volunteers.

The evening coffee-house party sounds like a fun idea for a fund-raiser. Can you tell me more about what it included, besides coffee, of course? I might be able to suggest it to our local 'Friends'.

Babi

Just finished Unhinged. Sarah Graves is quite a good writer and her mysteries are great fun. Jacobia is a complex woman and the home repairs are spot on.. Since we used to live in New England and owned a victorian,, I remember the drill on that sort of stuff. Her ex husband is a hoot..Mr. Control..and her son is a human type..

Babi, it was called Club Lib, and they had live entertainment, etc. We didn't go, and, of course, I don't have any of the information any more. Here's the library's web site.

http://www.lib.chattanooga.gov/

On the left-side menu, the last item is Support the Library, and in that menu is something about Friends of the Library. Someone there, I'm sure could get information to you. Sorry I can't be more helpful with specifics.

I just finished "The Lincoln Lawyer" by Connolly. That had to be one of the best, if not THE best legal thriller I have read in ages! Need to get Echo Park next.

No problem, MARY Z. I'm sure if the local F.of the L. wanted to do something similar, they could come up with some good ideas.

"The Lincoln Lawyer", TOMEREADER? Why Lincoln? Is it in Lincoln's time; the lawyer reminds one of Lincoln, or it takes place in Lincoln, NB? Even the title makes me curious.

Babi

No, he is driven around in a Lincoln (Town Car). He is a "defense" lawyer. Book is set in modern day times. Main character kind of reminded me of "Shark" (TV lawyer) only for the defense. It deals with the machinations of defense efforts to get their clients' "not guilty" verdicts. A very, very good legal thriller. If you've read his other books, I think you will like this one.

I have finished all the "Cat Who" with the "The Cat Who Had 60 Whiskers" and now I am on the Blackbird Sisters series. Does anyone have any comments on that series? Thanks

I just finished Lisa Scottoline's "Moment of Truth". It was an exciting story and kept me guessing until the end. It is about Jack, a corporate lawyer, who confessed to his wife's murder. It is a complicated story about a man who confessed in order to protect his daughter who he thought had killed her.

agree with you folks about The Lincoln Lawyer as well as other Michael Connelly books; I"m a big fan of his. Any Spenser fans out there? must admit I haven't read any Parker stuff for a while so I need to catch. Robert B. Parker can say more in 20 words than many writers say in 2 or 3 pages.

Isn't it sad that libraries have to always struggle to get funding; funding for these should be a no-brainer, same as for our schools. I'm paraphrasing a favorite saying here: wouldn't it be great if the schools (and libraries) had all the money they wanted and the Air Force had to hold a bake sale to buy a bomber? So true.

Well, off to peruse the Book Section of the Chicago Tribune; am sure I'll find more to add to my list of books to read some time, some day.

Ilove Connelly, but did not like the Lincoln Lawyer, but then I dont like legal type thrillers. My husband who does, loved it. Connelly is most police, FBI, etc and love those. Robert Parker, I have the newest Jesse Stone, but have not read it yet. I do like him very much,, I have a new to me..protagonist. Aimee and David Thurlow have written about a nun in New Mexico in a cloistered monastary. She is the extern,,Interesting, although a nun riding a motorcycle is pushing the envelope.

I don't know, STEPHANIE. Now that so many nuns have discarded the traditional black or white habits and are working out in the world, it's not such a big step to a motorcycle. Cheap transportation, which is bound to be important. The cloistered nuns, no doubt, continue on their more conservative and meditative way.

I have seen SHARK a few times, TOMEREADER, but I got upset at the last show. Did you see it? Shark deliberately frames a man for murder, because he had gotten away with other murders. I'm all for catching the murderers, but for a presumed defender of the law to frame someone...that really doesn't go over with me. I will not be watching the show anymore.

Babi

Robert B. Parker is a must read for me. I started reading him when he first started the Spencer series. Robert B Parker, Jack Higgins, Dick Francis, Sue Grafton (I love the early ones where Kinsey drives around in her yellow bug, with a change of clothes, including and all purpose black dress on the back seat) are long time reading friends. Newer favorites include David Baldacci, Lee Child, Sharyn McCrumb

I just finished a Lee Child Jack Reacher mystery--and returned it to the library, so can't remember the title! It was a good one about assasination attempts on the incoming Vice President of the U.S. This was my first Lee Child's mystery--and it was a goodie. Sue

Delphine....sev'l of us have read the Blackbird sisters series.....i love them, light, fun reading and the sisters are a hoot.....jean

Babi, the interesting thing about this book is it is a cloistered monastary.. Benedictine.. Sister Agatha is the extern who has the outside duties for the cloistered part. She takes care of all outside business. This part is quite real, I have read about externs..They still wear the conventional habits incidently. It is a fun read with an interesting twist, but does describe the difficulties now with small enrollments.. There are 9 cloistered nuns and two externs..and how to get enough money to live.. This along with the mystery made it interesting indeed. They have written at least one more about her, so will look for it.. The name of the one I read is Bad Faith.. Aimee and David Thorlo

I'll see if my library has the Thorlo's, STEPH. The lives of people committed to a nunnery or monastery have always intrigued me, and there are fewer and fewer these days. Many years ago I went back to college and took my degree in Medical Records Admin. at a Catholic college associated with a convent in Houston. The convent seemed to have a high proportion of elderly nuns, Not too many years later the convent was closed and college closed.

Babi

Let's move over to a new spot to continue our Mystery Corner...

jane, "---Mystery Corner ~ New" #1, 8 May 2007 5:42 am