Author Topic: Mystery Corner ~ 2 (Read 910221 times)

salan · « **Reply #5120 on:** May 04, 2013, 05:46:29 AM »

____

Pull up a comfortable chair and join us here to talk about mysteries and their authors.
We love hearing what YOU enjoy and recommend!

Links:
The Hound of the Baskervilles
Our Favorite Old Mystery Writers
Fantastic Fiction
Stop You're Killing Me

Discussion Leader: JoanK

I read and really enjoyed "The Devil in the White City", in spite of the fact that non-fiction is not my choice of reading. My ftf book club discussed it a couple of years ago. The majority of the club found it very interesting..
Sally

Steph · « **Reply #5121 on:** May 04, 2013, 08:25:37 AM »

Picked up a Thomas Perry.... Silence. I do like him.. His people are flawed, but human

salan · « **Reply #5122 on:** May 04, 2013, 12:39:01 PM »

Have you read his latest, "The Boyfriend", Steph? It's on my tbr list.
Sally

Steph · « **Reply #5123 on:** May 05, 2013, 09:00:52 AM »

Not yet on the new one, but I like Silence very much. He keeps you hanging.

pedln · « **Reply #5124 on:** May 05, 2013, 06:15:30 PM »

I'm also reading the first Cara Black. It's an easy read, and I'm enjoying it, but am not ready to rave about it. Now Devil in White City -- that was fantastic. And like many of you, I liked the historical parts about the World's Fair preparations the best. I always think about that when I see a ferris wheel. There were some other items that made their first appearance then, too, but I can't think what they were.

CubFan · « **Reply #5125 on:** May 05, 2013, 07:05:21 PM »

I finished the first Cara Black last night. I can't say I enjoyed the book because I have a hard time with the Holocaust/Neo Nazi issues. I have however ordered the next two books in the series because I liked the main characters. Today I started the new Edward Rutherford - Paris - so it looks like I'll be spending quite a bit of time there. I like the way it has started but because it is over 800 pages it'll get interrupted by other other lighter reads along the way. Also just read the new Carolyn Hart - Dead, White & Blue - typical of her Death on Demand titles. The new Susan Albert Widow's Tears was interesting as I had very little background on the Galveston hurricane. I usually don't care for haunted houses/ghosts etc but I didn't mind them in this book. Barbara Taylor Bradford's new title Secrets from the Past was typical for her - the world of the rich.

We seemed to have skipped spring this year and are moving from winter right into summer so there are lots of outdoor chores and spring cleaning activities that will interfere with reading time for the next few weeks. But it is so good to see tulips and hear the birds singing.

Mary

Steph · « **Reply #5126 on:** May 06, 2013, 07:51:56 AM »

I got the first Cara Black and if life will just calm down a bit, am looking forward to it. First however I really need to get Bright House back to straighten out my tv, computer, phone. Every thing is slow beyond belief and should not be.. Half the time I cannot get on line..Sigh.

Tomereader1 · « **Reply #5127 on:** May 06, 2013, 12:51:21 PM »

For a fantastic book on the Galveston Hurricane, read "Isaac's Storm".

JoanK · « **Reply #5128 on:** May 06, 2013, 03:51:27 PM »

CUBFAN: you've done a lot of good reading. I'll get one of the hurricane books: I'm fascinated by storms. And I just read another Hart (Why can I never get her painting clues, even when I know the book?)

Steph · « **Reply #5129 on:** May 07, 2013, 08:52:06 AM »

I am nearing the end on Silence, The Thomas Perry book. Interesting in so many different ways.. I am sure there is at least one more secret revealed at the end.

MaryPage · « **Reply #5130 on:** May 14, 2013, 05:57:08 PM »

Well, Kate Atkinson has reached one of the pinnacles of success in having her new book reviewed in the latest The New Yorker. Even better, they liked it! The title is Life After Life.

Steph · « **Reply #5131 on:** May 15, 2013, 08:40:56 AM »

Iwish I liked her more. She is not a favorite of mine. Reading a very light mystery.. Death of a very very bad boy.. Fun.. I had read some of her later ones, but this was an early one.

mabel1015j · « **Reply #5132 on:** May 15, 2013, 12:44:13 PM »

I've just finished my first "Swift" book, thanks to your recommendations, Swift Justice. It was enjoyable. I like both of the main characters - Charlie and Gigi. I assume Gigi continues in the following books?

I'm reading on the ipad The Contessa's Vendetta- an historic suspense thriller!!! LOL it was free from somewhere, i guess amazon.........no, an historical fiction site. A contess who thinks she has an admiring, loving husband, "dies" in the plague, away from her home, is buried in the family vault, (apparently not being seen by her husband and best friend). However she is not dead and wakes up, claws her way out via a break in the vault and discovers some vile hoodlum has deposited his stash of stolen jewels in the vault. Altho a young woman, her hair has turned completely white and she is gaunt and unrecognizable due to being sick. When returning to her home she sees her husband and "best friend" embracing and hears them disparaging her. She returns to the vault, takes the jewels and comes back to the village as a very rich, seemingly "older" woman, recognized by noone but her little dog Toby and prepares to exact her revenge!! It's ludicrous, but i keep reading to see how she gets her revenge! Lol.

JoanK · « **Reply #5133 on:** May 15, 2013, 03:31:00 PM »

Sometimes we need the ludicrous.

I'm reading a McCall Smith Philosophy Club book. I was three fourths of the way through before I realized I'd read it before. They do all sound alike!

Gigi does indeed stick around.

Steph · « **Reply #5134 on:** May 16, 2013, 08:48:17 AM »

Had a minor traffic accident yesterday. Not serious at all, but the lady was Indian.. Patel.. common last name in that part of the world.She was a screamer and shrieker, called out the troops in the form of relatives, all screaming and yelling. I am not sure who was more upset, the policeman or me.. He finally said, it happened on private land, not up to me, no tickets, just exchange information. which we did, but I have been upset ever since.. Noone was hurt at all, she just conducted life at the top of her lungs. Whew.

jane · « **Reply #5135 on:** May 16, 2013, 08:53:21 AM »

Stephanie....I hate it when people act as if what is obviously an accident was something intentional and personal and life altering. It was an ACCIDENT. That's why they have auto accident insurance. These things happen. Of course, it's upsetting...to you and to her...but it doesn't need to be played out at 1000 decibels with accompanying audience.

Report it to your insurance company and let them deal with her.

mabel1015j · « **Reply #5136 on:** May 16, 2013, 11:46:35 AM »

Oh Steph, so sorry, you've had such a stressful month. I can understand how getting shrieked at can be stunning to your psyche. ((((hugs)))))

Jean

JoanK · « **Reply #5137 on:** May 16, 2013, 03:41:40 PM »

Yes, you need all the {{{{{{{{{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}}}}}}}}} you can get.

Steph · « **Reply #5138 on:** May 17, 2013, 08:55:23 AM »

After a nice talk with my insurer, I am calm now and away from all of the commotion. My adjuster says that he wants to know immediately if they get in touch with me. They will handle it all and I am to simply hang up or report it to the police if they call. They say it is somewhat common for them to try to shake you down, so I should beware, so I will. I have a lovely lunch today that our womens club is sponsoring for the Canine Companions for Independence.. We do a buffet for them on their last day of classes. I love it, since they show off their dogs and are all so very happy.

jane · « **Reply #5139 on:** May 17, 2013, 09:31:00 AM »

Good advice from your Insurer, Steph! That's why we have accident insurance.

jane

maryz · « **Reply #5140 on:** May 17, 2013, 10:20:10 AM »

Good for your insurer, Steph. And be sure to take his advice.

MaryPage · « **Reply #5141 on:** May 17, 2013, 10:20:33 AM »

Steph, I am so very sorry you have had this unnerving experience.

Tomereader1 · « **Reply #5142 on:** May 17, 2013, 10:33:58 AM »

Steph, I worked many years for an insurance company. You would be surprised at the number of claims (automobile and otherwise) filed by Patel. And yes, they would try to "shake down" our insureds. Also bad were "slip and fall in the grocery store".

I hope your insurance carrier takes really good care of you in this matter.

JeanneP · « **Reply #5143 on:** May 17, 2013, 11:55:59 AM »

One tried to sue me last year. We were not even moving when waiting to pay at the booth. She went to move and my car just touched her bumper. All was checked by security now said o.k. I even took her to have car sales check. Two days later I was being sued for her neck damage. I had reported it to my insurance the day it happened. They said ,we will be handling it. Don't worry. They didn't collect I dime.

Steph · « **Reply #5144 on:** May 18, 2013, 08:26:09 AM »

Thanks for all the support. I hated to be negative by the whole thing, but the appearance rapidly of so many adult males all yelling really unnerved me. I am now officially not paying any attention to any of it. Just looking forward to next Wednesday, when I leave to spend the summer in Franklin.. MaryZ... we promised to get together. Tell me what your schedule is like. I am free most of July after the week of the 4th and all of August and September. Anyone else in Georgia,Tn,SC,NC fell free to email.. Maybe we could all get together for a festive lunch somewhere in the middle of things.

maryz · « **Reply #5145 on:** May 18, 2013, 09:10:42 AM »

Steph, we WILL get together this year, I promise! Our beach week is the week beginning 29 June, but nothing scheduled before or after that...so far.

JoanK · « **Reply #5146 on:** May 18, 2013, 12:53:46 PM »

I'm glad we can put this scary episode behind us. I'm sure we want everyone to feel comfortable here and that they are welcome on this public web site, and don't want any race or ethnic group to feel that they have been singled out by name.

Steph · « **Reply #5147 on:** May 19, 2013, 09:50:47 AM »

Everyone is certainly welcome to come in here. Never any question on that.. But a fact is a fact about certain insurance frauds..

JoanK · « **Reply #5148 on:** May 19, 2013, 02:49:43 PM »

I'm reading "When the Devil Drives" by Caro Black. London in 1839 (Albert is just courting Victoria). The detective is a woman who has just set up a detective agency. So far, it's good.

MaryPage · « **Reply #5149 on:** May 19, 2013, 04:09:32 PM »

I am so gratified to hear that, Joan, because I have not myself read any of Black's books, but I purchased every single one of them from Thriftbooks and had them sent directly to my daughter Debi who teaches French and did her Junior Year of college at the Sorbonne and like totally believes Paris belongs to her more than any other mortal being, including all of the French citizens who dwell there!

Tomereader1 · « **Reply #5150 on:** May 19, 2013, 04:48:07 PM »

Marypage, could you possibly take a digital photo of your bookcases, with all your books, and post it here? I'd love to see them, and I'm sure the rest of our group would also. (no need to show any of your other furnishings or household layout, to keep it safe).

I have run out of room for other bookcases (and books too), and am thinking of having some built-in, from floor to ceiling. I like seeing other folks' book cases.

MaryPage · « **Reply #5151 on:** May 20, 2013, 07:10:49 AM »

I am not a photographer. Ir has never been one of my talents or interests. I do have an iPad which takes photos, but then again, I do not have the ability to post from there. I can email pictures to someone if someone can.
Most of my bookcases were made by the Amish in Ann Arbor, Michigan. They were made to my specifications.

jane · « **Reply #5152 on:** May 20, 2013, 07:19:41 AM »

You can email the photos to me and I'll post them for you, MaryPage.

Steph · « **Reply #5153 on:** May 20, 2013, 08:30:43 AM »

MaryPage, I agree with you. I simply do not even think of taking pictures.. Not a talent and I learned years ago when traveling that if I love something , look for a postcard of it and keep that.. Much better than any picture I would take.

MaryPage · « **Reply #5154 on:** May 20, 2013, 10:06:10 AM »

Yes, Steph; I have always preferred to look about me at everything I can possibly take in, and have felt rather sorry for the many tourists about me whose main focus abroad seemed to be on how many pictures they could take to look at LATER! Scheesch!
I want to see everything for myself, first hand, with my very own eyes. Don't clutter up my day with the burden of a camera and all its film and parts and gadgets, etc.
So I do not carry a camera. I buy, or used to, that is, as I no longer travel, the 35mm pictures you could buy everywhere of the best things to see. Now that 35mm is gone forever, I am wondering what they offer instead. Those little plastic thingies my daughter Becky carries around and then puts in her computer? I don't know. Don't care anymore, either.
Jane, I'll put your email address on my iPad and when I get a chance this week, I'll take some pictures and send you. First I am off to work this morning and back Wednesday. Then a houseful of company coming from Oklahoma City on Saturday, and in between it is Commissioning Week here in Annapolis at the Naval Academy. Life is just a constant rush of busy.

JoanK · « **Reply #5155 on:** May 20, 2013, 04:34:35 PM »

The last camera I owned, I threw into the Seine in Paris in a fit of pique. I hope i'm forgiven for that littering, but I realized just what you said: that I was spending all my time and effort fussing with the camera, and not really SEEING anything.

maryz · « **Reply #5156 on:** May 20, 2013, 05:09:16 PM »

I have to speak up for some of us camera-toting folks. We carry those big cameras and take lots of pictures. But we take great care to spend most of our time really looking at things, not just through the lens of the camera.

pedln · « **Reply #5157 on:** May 20, 2013, 09:14:46 PM »

MaryZ, I was just going to respond, and you beat me to it. I'm not a good photographer, but I take lots of pictures, and when I travel, taking pictures is part of the trip for me. I don't do anything with them except email a few and put the rest on the computer.

But every once in a while I'll click on a folder and bring up a lot of memories.

But one of the best camera stories isn't even mine. It was 2005 and there were about almost 20 of us staying at this fabulous house on Isle of Palms. You were there, Steph. Mary Alice Monroe came with her photographer and talked with us about her book The Beach House which featured a lot about loggerhead turtles. The next day we went to the Charleston Aquarium where the photographer gave us a tour of the turtle rehab facilities. Out came the cameras. Judy Laird was leaning over a tank, aiming for a special shot, when a small battery fell out of her camera and was swallowed by the turtle. He was immediately named Dewey, and he survived. Judy did not get any more pictures that day.

Has anyone heard from Callie? I know she lives in Oklahoma, but I don't know where. What a devastating business.

Steph · « **Reply #5158 on:** May 21, 2013, 09:02:46 AM »

Ah Pedlin, that was the very nicest of our bookies trip. Isle of Palms.. Ginny did a spectacular job on getting our house.. I thought Callie was in Oklahoma, but don't know where. I take a small camera, but mostly so that I can get a picture or two of me somewhere that I liked.. Otherwise,, postcards work for me. Reading another Alafair Burke.. She is a worthy daughter of her Dad.

Tomereader1 · « **Reply #5159 on:** May 21, 2013, 11:18:43 AM »

I heard from Callie, she is fine. She is North of OK City. She posted over on S&F

News:

Author Topic: Mystery Corner ~ 2 (Read 910221 times)