Author Topic: Mystery Corner ~ 2 (Read 910471 times)

pedln · « **Reply #6520 on:** June 22, 2014, 08:34:09 PM »

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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

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MaryPage, were there some Zen mysteries (Dibdin) on PBS? That name is very familiar.

Steph · « **Reply #6521 on:** June 23, 2014, 09:20:19 AM »

I noticed that with Grimes.Her book used to be fairly serious police work, but now are much lighter.

MaryPage · « **Reply #6522 on:** June 23, 2014, 03:28:45 PM »

YES, Pedln! PBS showed 3 BBC made Zen books in films. They did a pretty good job of following the books, too. But the books are really and truly superior writing. Try one! Michael Dibdin. I loved them all. I think it was Rufus Sewell who played Aurelio Zen. I adored him!

Steph · « **Reply #6523 on:** June 25, 2014, 09:07:03 AM »

I picked up a light mystery. Not exactly a cozy.. I note that she does J.D. Robb for the sex part.. Things go around normal and then boom,, way too much rough type sex.. then back to the story.. book is Rumble on the Bayou by Jana Deleon.. I think a new author. It was given to me by a friend, but I would not buy any.. Too many twists to a plot and too much stupid behavior.

marjifay · « **Reply #6524 on:** June 25, 2014, 12:39:03 PM »

Just finished Martha Grimes' latest Supt. Richard Jury mystery, VERTIGO 42. I like her writing and her humor. Especially enjoy Jury's friend, Melrose Plant. The book was a bit slow for my taste. Too many characters that Jury had to interview and ask pretty much the same questions over and over to try and find who might be the killer.

I've read only one J.D. Robb book, Naked in Death, and I'm afraid that was enough.

Marj

JoanK · « **Reply #6525 on:** June 25, 2014, 05:17:35 PM »

Turns out Deleon is far from a new author: she has a zillion books out.

http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/d/jana-deleon/

I'm going to try the "ghost-in-law series! (clearly a cozy: the covers are pastels). And it's classified as a romance, so that must be her background.

Steph · « **Reply #6526 on:** June 26, 2014, 09:29:37 AM »

I thought she had overcomplicated the plot, so probably will try one more to see if the ghost thing is better.

mabel1015j · « **Reply #6527 on:** June 26, 2014, 12:08:09 PM »

I just read a Jana Deleon - Louisiana Longshot. I found it on my Overdrive ebooks library. It was a fun read, an outed CIA agent has to hide out as the granddgt of a deceased La woman. It was easy, non-complicated, just what i needed in a down period in my life at the moment. I'll read more of hers.

I'm also reading from Overdrive a Linda Fairstein - Lethal Legacy. Lots of interesting info about the develpoment of the NYC Pub Library. Fortunately its more good mystery then the interacting/socializing of characters that some new cozy mysteries seem to have become.

I'm also reading the Richard Castle "Heat" series on line, but the third one got a little boring which is why i went to Fairstein.

Jean

Steph · « **Reply #6528 on:** June 27, 2014, 12:47:58 PM »

I am reading a Linda Fairstien, but mine is all about Central Park. I love the history details. This one is good.

maryz · « **Reply #6529 on:** June 27, 2014, 02:06:12 PM »

Linda Fairstein writes a good yarn.

JoanK · « **Reply #6530 on:** June 28, 2014, 01:31:12 AM »

I'm trying to get a friend interested in mysteries. She says she doesn't like sex, gore, or anything depressing. I leant her Aunt Dimity's Death" by Nancy Atherton (yes, a cozy) and "The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax" by Doroyhy Gilman. What would you have chosen?

rosemarykaye · « **Reply #6531 on:** June 28, 2014, 06:17:00 AM »

Dorothy L Sayers? Edmund Crispin? Agatha Christie? Hazel Holt?

Frybabe · « **Reply #6532 on:** June 28, 2014, 06:40:40 AM »

JoanK, if your friend likes cats, I recommend the Cat Who series by Lillian Jackson Braun. They are light, fast reads without sex and gore. The main human character comes into an inheritance with which he sets up a philanthropic foundation. Like Rosemarykaye, I think Dorothy Sayers and Agatha Christie fit the bill. What about Alexander McCall Smith's #1 Lady's Detective Agency series? I haven't read the books yet, but I don't recall much, if any, sex or gore in the TV series. What about Rumpole of the Bailey (John Mortimer) or Sherlock Holmes?

rosemarykaye · « **Reply #6533 on:** June 28, 2014, 12:31:33 PM »

Oh yes Frybabe - Alexander McCall Smith and Rumpole are both great suggestions

marjifay · « **Reply #6534 on:** June 28, 2014, 12:56:03 PM »

Re mysteries without gore, sex, etc.,:

THE SNOWMAN by Jo Nesbo (JUST KIDDING!!)

THE THIN WOMAN by Dorothy Cannell (funny)
WHY SHOOT A BUTLER by Georgette Heyer
THE FAMILY VAULT by Charlotte McLeod
MURDER MUST ADVERTISE by Dorothy Sayers
THE SINNISTER PIG by Tony Hillerman
THE CAMEL CLUB by David Baldacci
THE MAN IN THE BROWN SUIT by Agatha Christie (stand-alone)
THE FRANCHISE AFFAIR by Josephine Tey
MIAMI BLUES by Charles Willeford (funny)

marj

mrssherlock · « **Reply #6535 on:** June 28, 2014, 03:13:51 PM »

Mrs. Pollifax is a good choice; Jo Dereske's Miss Zukas comes to mind, I missed the 2008 Farewell Miss Zukas. This site has handy suggestions for cozies: http://cozy-mystery.com/ What are your friend's interests? General mysteries by genre can be found here: http://www.mysterynet.com/genres/ I like feisty females, pets, recipes, books/library, archeology, forensics, etc. Also what used to be described as police procedurals; geographics, seniors. My sister introduced me to Georgette Heyer's Regency romances (love her sense of humor) resulting in interest in historicals. Some good stories are peppered with too graphic sex but I just skip over these. Robyn Carr's books are fun except for the sex.

Steph · « **Reply #6536 on:** June 28, 2014, 04:34:54 PM »

There are so many funny writers I could not begin to give advice.. The suggestions sound good though.

rosemarykaye · « **Reply #6537 on:** June 29, 2014, 09:14:53 AM »

I am reading Falling Fast by Neil Broadfoot, a new writer and former journalist. The book is set here in Edinburgh and opens with a young girl throwing herself off the Scott Monument in Princes Street. So far it is excellent, well written, fast-paced and gripping. I suppose it is inevitable that it will be compared with Ian Rankin's Rebus books, but so far it can definitely hold its own.

The main character is a journalist investigating both the girl's death and the whereabouts of a man who committed a terrible crime years earlier. It's published in the UK by Saraband Books. I don't know if you can get it in the US yet, but it's certainly worth reading. There is some violence but only where it fits the story, and it's nothing like as graphic as Stuart McBride, for example.

Rosemary

maryz · « **Reply #6538 on:** June 29, 2014, 10:42:18 AM »

M.C. Beaton would be another choice - Hamish MacBeth stories are best.

salan · « **Reply #6539 on:** June 29, 2014, 06:52:50 PM »

I just finished the latest Aunt Dimity book, Aunt Dimity and the Wishing Well. So far, I have enjoyed all the Aunt Dimity books for quick, light reads.

Sally

Steph · « **Reply #6540 on:** June 30, 2014, 08:40:09 AM »

One of those days yesterday, where reading anything of interest was out.. My internet wentout, took hours to get it back to some sort of normal, then I started to bathe my old dog (16) and found a huge lump attached to a breast. I will call the vet this morning and make an appointment.. Just upset me enough and then it rained off and on yesterday afternoon. I sat on my sunporch and watched the storms come rolling over the mountains. Whew..

mrssherlock · « **Reply #6541 on:** June 30, 2014, 11:43:11 AM »

Steph: What a day you had yesterday. Let us know about your senior doggy, you both will be in our thoughts.

JoanK · « **Reply #6542 on:** June 30, 2014, 03:16:26 PM »

Oh, Steph. At least you had the mountains!

Steph · « **Reply #6543 on:** July 01, 2014, 11:13:06 AM »

The mountains with the rolling storms were beautiful.. Incredible watching the storms coming over the mountain tops, stopping as they came to a lower area and then picking up speed again. Appointment is 4:15 today.. I am making sure she gets lots of cuddles even though she is not a cuddly dog. Corgis seldom are. They are herd dogs and want to work. work. work.

mrssherlock · « **Reply #6544 on:** July 01, 2014, 04:12:22 PM »

Steph: The cuddling is as much for you as for your 'baby'.

Stop You're Killing Me publishes two emails each month; first of the month reviews a handful of books and mid-month is for updating database of authors. Today Nicola Upson's fourth book in a series about Josephine Tey's world. I can't resist.

http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/u/nicola-upson/

JoanK · « **Reply #6545 on:** July 01, 2014, 07:48:57 PM »

JACKIE: I had no idea! Josephine Tey is the detective? I'm all over it: ordered the first of the series on Kindle (only $1.99!)

Steph · « **Reply #6546 on:** July 02, 2014, 09:06:13 AM »

Interesting discussion on the Danamaniacs in Facebok.. Who was the author who killed off your favorite character and how do you feel about them.. I voted for Elizabeth George killing Helen.

MaryPage · « **Reply #6547 on:** July 02, 2014, 09:49:23 AM »

If I did Facebook, I would do the same!

Steph · « **Reply #6548 on:** July 03, 2014, 09:07:23 AM »

Reading a seriously stupid book.. "The Husband's Secret" by Liane Moriarty.. I know it was a best seller and was a gift to me when ill,, so I am plodding on, but these are people I would run from if I met them.. Ugh

nlhome · « **Reply #6549 on:** July 04, 2014, 09:29:29 AM »

I am trying to read "Night of the Living Deed" by E.J. Copperman. This is the first in the series, and I'm having trouble with it. I can suspend reality enough to accept that the house the main character is rehabbing has two resident ghosts, but the time line for that rehabbing and how she is doing it all is totally unrealistic and I keep losing interest because of that.

Does the series get better? Does anyone know?

marjifay · « **Reply #6550 on:** July 04, 2014, 11:50:26 AM »

I remember dropping THE HUSBAND'S SECRET after a couple of chapters. Boring.

Marj

JoanK · « **Reply #6551 on:** July 04, 2014, 04:39:46 PM »

I think I have a sample of "The husband's Secret" on kindle. I'll erase it -- thanks guys.

Started to read "Hostile Witness" by Rebecca Forster because it takes place near where I live. A lot of the scenes are on Redondo Beach, where I go every week. It's an interesting setting: the courthouse where the lawyer protagonist argues her murder case is right over this beach resort setting so she argues life and death, then goes downstairs to the fishing boats, bars, tourist attractions, and beachgoing families, and walks along the strand with the bikers, joggers, skateboarders, bikinis and muscleshirts etc. I had noticed the discrete signs "this elevator to the courthouse", but never really thought about the contrast.

The only problem is that sometimes the author gets a detail wrong in a way that wouldn't happen if someone was there.

When my son pushes my wheelchair along this strand, we have a problem. There are two paths, one for walkers and one for wheeled vehicles. We're too slow for the wheeled vehicle path, and the walking path has places that are too narrow or unsuitable for a wheelchair. Dan keeps going from one to the other. Minor problem, but I like to tease my mind thinking "are we walkers or a wheeled vehicle?"

MaryPage · « **Reply #6552 on:** July 05, 2014, 07:57:55 AM »

I'm having a ball reading a Mrs. Jeffries (Emily Brightwell) as much required light fluff after finishing a Harry Hole (Jo Nesbo).

rosemarykaye · « **Reply #6553 on:** July 05, 2014, 09:18:37 AM »

Joan - I've read Hostile Witness (it was free for Kindle) but I can't remember much about it - don't recall thinking it was that great, but it does make a difference when you know the locations.

Rosemary

Steph · « **Reply #6554 on:** July 05, 2014, 09:39:34 AM »

I finished The Husbands Secret, but decided they did a copout... Wont try anything by her again for sure. rummaged in my tbr stash.. found another Linda Fairstein.. Death Dance, written quite a bit ago, but I had never read it.. All about Lincoln Center and Broadway theatres. Really love discovering all sorts of facts about the various venues..

JoanK · « **Reply #6555 on:** July 05, 2014, 04:55:37 PM »

Rosemary: that's right. I'd give "Hostile Witness" a medium. I finished it, and will read the next one if something better doesn't come along. It's not really a "Legal beagle". She's a lawyer, trying a murder case, but the focus is not really on that, so much as on a dysfunctional family.

marjifay · « **Reply #6556 on:** July 06, 2014, 06:55:02 AM »

JoanK, your mention of Redondo Beach reminded me that one of our very favorite Denny's Restaurants is in Redondo Beach, on Aviation Blvd. Great service, especially the older lady who works there in the mornings. When we're in the mood for a little drive from Buena Park, we go there for breakfast.

marj

Steph · « **Reply #6557 on:** July 06, 2014, 09:36:21 AM »

Am really enjoying the backstage visits in Death Dance. I have been in front of the house of many of these places, but never seen the back stage areas. Fun

mabel1015j · « **Reply #6558 on:** July 06, 2014, 12:39:05 PM »

I'm very much enjoying the brad Meltzer and the David Rosenfelt mysteries that i just came across recently. Both are available from my digital library and from Bookbub. The Meltzer protagonist works for the White House or a recent president. The Rosenfelt protagonist is a defense atty in NJ. Rosenfelt takes a while to get into his story, but once he starts the court cases he has me hooked. There's a lot of self-deprecating humor and a labrador for you dog lovers. Apparently he also writes a series with the lab as the protagonist. I haven't read an yet, but i'm sure i will.

Jean

Steph · « **Reply #6559 on:** July 07, 2014, 08:49:26 AM »

reading a Harlan Coben was on my tbr for a while, so I think it is not that new. Just really started and it is weird. a child molester, a tv reporter...hmm.

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Author Topic: Mystery Corner ~ 2 (Read 910471 times)