Author Topic: Mystery Corner ~ 2 (Read 897590 times)

Steph · « **Reply #5880 on:** October 31, 2013, 08:49:51 AM »

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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
Fantastic Fiction
Stop You're Killing Me

Discussion Leader: JoanK

Swain is interesting in that his specialty is cheating at gambling .. mostly the casinos and the many ways to do it. He also gives you a very clear picture of how many ways you are watched in any casino. I love them for the details involved..

pedln · « **Reply #5881 on:** October 31, 2013, 02:42:38 PM »

Annie, the Ellen Crosby series looks good. And I'll have to pass that on to Son and DIL, too. They love to visit wineries, and like it even better if they can bike to them. So it was nice for them, after our Ozark family get-together a week or so ago, to take their tandem up to the KATY Bike trail which has a fine wineries along side it. Missouri is developing quite a wine business throughout the state, as is southern Illinois. Are all the Crosbies set in Virginia?

I've only read two of LOuise Penney's Three Pines series, but today, Book Gorilla was offering three of them for less than $2, so I bought them for the Kindle, along with Tom Perotta's Little Children, which was also a bargain book. Now, to find time to read them.

Steph · « **Reply #5882 on:** November 01, 2013, 03:02:18 PM »

Pedlin, I splurged on Wednesday at Barnes and Noble and bought one of several series that have been mentioned in the past six months and that I could not find in my swap club, so I m knee deep in books..But then I know I will never catch up and think I dont want to actually.

JoanK · « **Reply #5883 on:** November 01, 2013, 04:53:33 PM »

Don't you love those splurges! I always cap one off with coffee and chocolate cheesecake in their café. Books and chocolate. Ahhh.

(although I may have reached my chocolate limit last night, trick or treating with my grandkids).

Steph · « **Reply #5884 on:** November 02, 2013, 09:21:26 AM »

Ah JoanK,, I can just see you on the trick or treat circuit.. I grew up in the country so never had any tricks or treats until my own children were little. Unfortunately in the country, the tricks are what prevailed. that and the always present.. That must be a witch ( actually our algebra teachers houses) and haunted houses. anything old and empty..

MaryPage · « **Reply #5885 on:** November 06, 2013, 02:43:38 PM »

Lucky, lucky me! I just got home with the latest Reverend Clare Fergusson murder mystery by Julia Spencer-Fleming!
Gonna be holed up with this for a while! Thrilled!

JoanK · « **Reply #5886 on:** November 06, 2013, 04:35:16 PM »

nd I just got it delivered on my kindle. I was going to go to the library today, but I'm too busy reading.

I'm in some sort of weather zone. The last four mysteries I've read involve some sort of storm: rain, snow, or ice (including the Spencer-Fleming). Before that, I read a fun cozy, "Mayhem at the Orient Express" with an interesting premise. Three neighbors cant get along and are always suing each other. Sick of them, the judge court-orders them to join a book group (his wife is town librarian, and looking for members) so they can learn to work together. Agatha Christie, murder at a Chinese takeout, a snowstorm stranding thirteen suspects ... you get the picture.

The next in series is "Tale of Two Biddies".

salan · « **Reply #5887 on:** November 06, 2013, 05:48:58 PM »

What is the name of the latest Julia Spencer Fleming book?
Sally

marjifay · « **Reply #5888 on:** November 06, 2013, 06:30:44 PM »

Just tossed out the latest Daniel Silva book, THE ENGLISH GIRL. 482 pp. Gabriel Allon, the main character, an Israeli spy/assassin has been asked to find a girl, the mistress of the British PM. The kidnappers have said they will kill the girl in a week, but don't say what they are asking for. Money, apparently. I dropped the book after Allon and a friend went to a psychic woman and asked her if the girl was still alive and whether they would be able to find her. That did it. Couldn't see another 400 page of this nonsense.

Marj

MaryPage · « **Reply #5889 on:** November 06, 2013, 08:35:54 PM »

Sally, it is THROUGH THE EVIL DAYS and was just released (published) yesterday.

Steph · « **Reply #5890 on:** November 07, 2013, 08:41:49 AM »

I love Silva, but dont understand Gabriel who is incredibly hard headed going to a psychic.

mabel1015j · « **Reply #5891 on:** November 08, 2013, 01:09:10 PM »

This was my review on Goodreads of Fern Michael's Sisterhood series after trying to read a third in the series:

I read the second in the series of The Sisterhood first and thought it was a great premise for a series of women getting justice for themselves. Unfortunately after that first moderately good read, the next two i tried to read were terrible. There are too many characters that if you haven't read the series in order, the reader sometimes has no idea who they are. In both of the next two books i read, including Free Fall, it took much too long to get into the mystery and the revenge story, especially in such short books. I didn't finish either of them and will not get any more of this series.

I do like some other books of Fern Michaels, this series just didn't work for me. Maybe i was especially disappointed because after reading the first one i thought it had such promise.

JoanK · « **Reply #5892 on:** November 08, 2013, 04:33:20 PM »

I was a little disappointed in "Through the Evil days." Maybe I looked forward to it too much. But it seems as if Spencer-Fleming is just creating problems for her main characters so she can keep the angst going. It doesn't ring true any more.

Maybe because it's all about children and parents relationships with children, but the one actual child in the book isn't realistically portrayed, nor do we see actual face-to-face relationships with children.

But still worth reading.

MaryPage · « **Reply #5893 on:** November 09, 2013, 09:21:08 AM »

I share some of your feelings, but on the whole I am still bonded with her priest and policeman and love her characters and attitudes. She is a fabulous writer. I am devastated re some of the last bits (and yes, there will HAVE to be a follow-up), but honestly, these things do exist and townships are facing these choices. Quite a dramatic story, and all taking place in One Week!

Steph · « **Reply #5894 on:** November 09, 2013, 09:38:03 AM »

I am anticipating reading the book. Just later..Went to a glorious small library sale yesterday. Actually found two hard covers that have been out about three weeks in print. Amazing.

FlaJean · « **Reply #5895 on:** November 11, 2013, 12:51:05 PM »

Mary Page, our PBS never showed the Phryne (spelling?) Fisher series but I found it on Netflix. I've already watched the first couple of episodes and it is every bit as good as you said. My husband and I are both enjoying it.

jeriron · « **Reply #5896 on:** November 12, 2013, 08:38:37 AM »

I found it on Netflix and have watched the whole series. I liked it a lot. I didn't realize it was new, only from last year.

Our PBS hasn't shown it. Right now they're showing "Father Brown". Which is OK but Miss Fisher is much better.

Steph · « **Reply #5897 on:** November 12, 2013, 08:41:27 AM »

Someone mentioned Charles Finch a bit ago and I finally broke down and bought the first one.. I am h aving fun "A beautiful Blue Death " is his first book in the series. Charles is interesting and and the interaction between him and Lady Jane fascinating.. Good book. No idea who to thank, but I am enjoying him

MaryPage · « **Reply #5898 on:** November 12, 2013, 12:24:53 PM »

About Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries, don't you find the women's clothing absolutely delicious? I hate today's fashions so very much, and adore those from the twenties. The episodes are silly fun, but the dresses and hats are to drool over!

Tomereader1 · « **Reply #5899 on:** November 12, 2013, 01:39:56 PM »

Was it back in the late 50's (57-58) that there was a tiny resurgence of the drop-waist dresses, and shoes with little bitty spool type heels. I know I had both! I took the spool-heel shoes to the shop repair shop and they got lost! Darn. They were green with three-hole laces. Cutest darn shoes, and I don't know who could have wanted them from the shoe shop, as they were size 4.

MaryPage · « **Reply #5900 on:** November 12, 2013, 01:41:16 PM »

Well, you hooked me, Steph. For one thing, I usually like the books you like. For another, my great grandmother on my father's side was Lady Jane! What fun!
So I went quickly to ThriftBooks and ordered 3 paperbacks:
A Beautiful Blue Death
A Stranger In Mayfair
The September Society

Total cost to me of $11.71. I love that place!

nlhome · « **Reply #5901 on:** November 12, 2013, 07:24:03 PM »

I've read a couple of those by Charles Finch and enjoyed them.

JeanneP · « **Reply #5902 on:** November 12, 2013, 07:24:51 PM »

I went on amazon today and ordered 3 books that were on sale. Just realized I paid more for postage than I paid for the books.

mabel1015j · « **Reply #5903 on:** November 12, 2013, 11:37:27 PM »

I started Ellen Crosby's The Merlot Murders, someone, i think it was Annie, recommended her. So far i'm enjoying it. Thanks for a new mystery author Annie.

Jean

jeriron · « **Reply #5904 on:** November 13, 2013, 08:21:30 AM »

MaryPage

I never cared much for the "look" of the twenties. There were a few outfits I liked but I didn't like her hats. I liked the pants outfits and coats. I didn't like the hair style.

I read on a board that people that read the books weren't happy with the fact that she was supposed to be 27-28 and she is played by a actress that is forty and to them she looks it. Which is one reason why I never like to compare the books to the films. I try to take them as to separate things and find I enjoy them better that way.

MaryPage · « **Reply #5905 on:** November 13, 2013, 10:47:04 AM »

Me too!

Thrift Books does not charge shipping. I got 3 books I wanted for that total of $11.71. The shipping was free.

JeanneP · « **Reply #5906 on:** November 13, 2013, 02:16:40 PM »

I went into thrift books. Great price and no postage. Good choices. Now are they paper backs?. Do they ever have Large print books?

Steph · « **Reply #5907 on:** November 13, 2013, 02:52:55 PM »

I will try Thrift books since my swap club has all of the FInch books are the wish lists for a lot of people.

marjifay · « **Reply #5908 on:** November 13, 2013, 07:19:20 PM »

It was probably me who recommended Charles Finch's Charles Lenox mysteries, Steph. Glad you liked the first one which I missed but will look for. I really liked his A Burial at Sea and A Death in Small Hours. What I like about his books, beside the mysteries, is that you get so enthralled with the Lenox family and their friends and learning a lot about the Victoriant era. Very good writer.

Marj

Steph · « **Reply #5909 on:** November 14, 2013, 08:49:38 AM »

Oh Marypage, I love Thrift books and ordered four more books of Finch.. Reasonable, no postage.. Hurray.. I love the characters and since I have also been netflixing Downton Abbey.. Will start the third year next week... but Lady Mary just said.. Yes.. and I was thrilled.. and Bates is in jail for life. They must free him.. Came to Downtton late, but loving it.

MaryPage · « **Reply #5910 on:** November 14, 2013, 05:42:46 PM »

Better late than never, Steph! It is SUCH a treat!

Yes, Jeanne, Thriftbooks has everything. All used books, of course. The books, dozens of them, I have bought have all been precisely as they have said, ranging from like brand new to well read. And you can count on them. They are totally reliable. Will come to you in a sort of shrink wrapped bright orange packaging, from book stores all over this nation. I find myself blessing the person who thought up forming this alliance to sell their previously read books.

JeanneP · « **Reply #5911 on:** November 14, 2013, 07:35:57 PM »

That is a good site to buy used books. The must make money someway in order to ship free. Makes one wonder why the other places charge $ 3.99 a book

marcie · « **Reply #5912 on:** November 14, 2013, 08:26:08 PM »

Thanks very much, MaryPage, for mentioning the Thriftbooks site. I just ordered a book I had been looking for.

ANNIE · « **Reply #5913 on:** November 14, 2013, 11:13:29 PM »

Well, you all almost talked me into buying more books at Thriftbooks! Checked out the site and then looked to see if my library has the same titles and thank goodness, they do! I love the site anyway and will pass along a link to this new secret site.
Jean,
You are welcome. I'm awaiting two more of her books FROM the library! Tee Hee!

ursamajor · « **Reply #5914 on:** November 15, 2013, 08:20:48 AM »

I also ordered books from Thrift Books. I had been wanting to acquire books from the Maisie Dobbs series, and I bought several for $30. Thanks for the information.

Steph · « **Reply #5915 on:** November 15, 2013, 08:22:47 AM »

It is really a wonderful place to find older series or to fill out a series that you are missing a book from.. Hooray for MaryPage. Thrift should give her some free books since she turned on a whole new set of people.

MaryPage · « **Reply #5916 on:** November 16, 2013, 09:58:50 AM »

Sounds good to me!

And yes, Jeanne, they have paperbacks and hardbacks and everything you might want. I have not specifically checked to see if they feature Large Print; you might want to search that. But I THINK I have seen some described as that when I have been scrolling down among the results of a search for a particular book or author. Do be careful when you are doing a search in Thrift Books to check on the little list to the right of where you are typing in. They need to know whether it is a title or an author you are looking for. I think someone did really well in setting up this site, as it has served me extremely well. And as I say, they have NEVER let me down!

JeanneP · « **Reply #5917 on:** November 16, 2013, 01:18:09 PM »

Marypage.

Yes I notice running along the top. LARGE prints. Will take a look. THanks.

mabel1015j · « **Reply #5918 on:** November 16, 2013, 01:34:03 PM »

Ellen Crosby's The Merlot Murders was a good read. A thriller as well as a mystery. I learned a lot about wine making, not that that interests me, but it was interesting to read a little bit about it. This was another book where the author puts in more characters then it's easy to keep track of. Margaret Maron does the best job of having many characters and keeping the reader knowing who they are, but even she loses me sometimes.

One of the reasons i like Evanovich is she gives us that small base group of characters and then adds just a couple more in each book of the series dealing with that mystery.

Jean

JoanK · « **Reply #5919 on:** November 16, 2013, 05:12:50 PM »

Jean: too many characters is a problem for me, too. I always had trouble remembering names, and it's only getting worse with age. Nothing worse than finding out who the murderer is and thinking "Who was that again?"

But I also like mysteries that teach me about something new. I often say "everything I know, I know from reading mysteries." I'll try Crosby.

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Author Topic: Mystery Corner ~ 2 (Read 897590 times)