Author Topic: Mystery Corner ~ 2  (Read 905932 times)

Steph

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Re: Mystery Corner ~ 2
« Reply #6760 on: September 18, 2014, 09:28:04 AM »

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Discussion Leader:    JoanK   

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Oh yes, I loved both of the Carr books.. and that is author I was groping for.
Stephanie and assorted corgi

mabel1015j

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Re: Mystery Corner ~ 2
« Reply #6761 on: September 18, 2014, 02:56:36 PM »
I picked up an ebook from Bookpub, The Gauguin Connection by Estelle Ryan. I knew nothing about the book or the author but the description was intriguing.

The protagonist is (perhaps, she hasn't labeled herself yet) a high-functioning autustic who works for an insurance company in Europe. She is very good at reading body language so the company films their interviews of clients who say they have been robbed, she then views the video in her own, private, "safe" space and determines if the clients are lying. She is also very good at analyzing information and putting pieces of it together to solve problems.

A Deputy of a NATO-like organization comes to the CEO of the insurance company to help with an investigation of stolen guns from their warehouses and Genevieve is asked to help solve the mystery. It's much more complicated than the stolen guns, of course. I'm just a quarter of the way into it, but am liking it very much, so far. It's the first of a series.

Jean

FlaJean

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  • FlaJean 2011
Re: Mystery Corner ~ 2
« Reply #6762 on: September 18, 2014, 05:01:37 PM »
That sounds really interesting.

Steph

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Re: Mystery Corner ~ 2
« Reply #6763 on: September 19, 2014, 08:39:08 AM »
Yes, will look for that.. Having an asburgers grandson, I know how much he treasures his privacy
Stephanie and assorted corgi

mabel1015j

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Re: Mystery Corner ~ 2
« Reply #6764 on: September 19, 2014, 01:46:53 PM »
I think someone here mentioned The Art Forger by Shapiro. The library got it for me yesterday. I read about 40 pgs last night. The story has a nice flow. I just got the setup, it sounds like it might be good. Has anyone read it?

Jean

JoanK

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Re: Mystery Corner ~ 2
« Reply #6765 on: September 19, 2014, 04:40:48 PM »
Now I'm confused. I know I read "The Alienist", but cant remember if it was the book I was thinking of. I'll have to get it and see.

I've been reading Buffa's legal thrillers. I like them, bun not sure if anyone else would. Full of characters who spout philosophy and quote Aristotle (makes me feel like I'm a sophomore in college again, just discovering the joys of thinking!) And he really doesn't like women. But good suspenseful plots.

Steph

  • Posts: 7952
Re: Mystery Corner ~ 2
« Reply #6766 on: September 20, 2014, 08:48:40 AM »
Yesterday Jean mentioned a book by Estelle Ryan, went on Amazon and it was free on Kindle. Hooray..
Stephanie and assorted corgi

marjifay

  • Posts: 2658
Re: Mystery Corner ~ 2
« Reply #6767 on: September 20, 2014, 01:09:56 PM »
Thanks, JoanK, for your recommendation of Dudley W. Buffa's legal thrillers.  They sound good to me!  I've put his first of the series, The Defense, on hold at the library.

Odd, when I was at university, I deliberately avoided any books on philosophy, but now I find the subject fascinating.

Marj
"Without books, history is silent, literature dumb, science crippled, thought and speculation at a standstill."  Barbara Tuchman

JoanK

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Re: Mystery Corner ~ 2
« Reply #6768 on: September 20, 2014, 04:04:22 PM »
Usually, I make a rule not to read two books by the same author in a row. But I read the first two by Buffa, and started a third later in the series, ("Breach of Trust")and can't stand it! Little plot, but endless analysis of characters and relationships in a way that seems to have little relationship to reality.

http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/b/d-w-buffa/

MaryPage

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Re: Mystery Corner ~ 2
« Reply #6769 on: September 20, 2014, 04:40:49 PM »
Jean, I am one who recommended THE ART FORGER.  I adored it.

mabel1015j

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Re: Mystery Corner ~ 2
« Reply #6770 on: September 20, 2014, 06:41:56 PM »
Thankyou MaryPage.  :)

Steph - i'm about half-way thru The Gauguin Connection and still liking it a lot. It says it's the first of a series. I certainly will look for more. I don 't know if she's published any more yet. I'll have to look.

Jean

Tomereader1

  • Posts: 1868
Re: Mystery Corner ~ 2
« Reply #6771 on: September 20, 2014, 10:57:11 PM »
She has several, all are on Kindle but not Free.  I was trying to find what you had gotten "free" and discovered I had already ordered it way back (not read it yet).
The reading of a fine book is an uninterrupted dialogue in which the book speaks and our soul replies.


André Maurois

Steph

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Re: Mystery Corner ~ 2
« Reply #6772 on: September 21, 2014, 09:17:00 AM »
yes, I made a note that  the others were not free.. at least not now. Possibly you get sucked in with the first one and then spend money to get the rest. 
Stephanie and assorted corgi

ursamajor

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Re: Mystery Corner ~ 2
« Reply #6773 on: September 21, 2014, 09:47:59 AM »
I enjoyed The Art Forger very much.  A little disapointed in the ending, though.

mabel1015j

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Re: Mystery Corner ~ 2
« Reply #6774 on: September 21, 2014, 11:11:50 AM »
I've recommended to my library to get the rest of the series in their ebook collection.

Jean

JoanK

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Re: Mystery Corner ~ 2
« Reply #6775 on: September 21, 2014, 04:32:25 PM »
I ordered "The Gauguin collection" the next one is "The Dante Connection" and is $5.99.

MaryPage

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Re: Mystery Corner ~ 2
« Reply #6776 on: September 22, 2014, 07:34:08 AM »
Curious to have one of you explain to me how it works that a public library has and loans out an ebook collection.  Cannot quite figure out how that would work.
I have an iPad, and there are about a dozen books on its bookshelves, bought in a frenzy of enthusiasm when I first got it.  Then I discovered I MUCH prefer a real book, so those books languish in there against the day I might need them.  That day does not seem to come.  In the meantime, all those iTunes gift cards family members showered on me, and my son loaded into the iPad store account for me, sit in there as a fairly hefty sum, waiting to be spent.  Have purchased about 30 pieces of favorite music, and 3 movies, but just don't go there very often.  It is sort of a been there, done that kind of thing.  Much prefer my real books, magazines, and newspapers, followed when it suits me by real movies on the television by way of my DVD player or cable.  Have Newsweek and Time electronically on my iPad, but again, have pretty much given up on Newsweek and still read Time on paper.

Steph

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Re: Mystery Corner ~ 2
« Reply #6777 on: September 22, 2014, 08:42:39 AM »
I have the New York Times and the Washington Post on my IPAD and read them every day. Also have the CNN site and browse that. I am reading an odd mystery that am not quite sure how I feel about it. Someone recommended Kelli Stanley.. and I got her first City of Dragons.. It is good, but I must confess that I feel like sitting down and writing to her that her heroine does not have to chain smoke and constantly refer to it. It does not move the plot along and makes me impatient with her.
Stephanie and assorted corgi

MaryPage

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Re: Mystery Corner ~ 2
« Reply #6778 on: September 22, 2014, 09:18:35 AM »
I have ABC and NBC and CBS and BBC and PBS and MSNBC on my iPad.  About the only place I really constantly check is the CBS RADAR for the weather, though.

maryz

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    • Z's World
Re: Mystery Corner ~ 2
« Reply #6779 on: September 22, 2014, 11:12:12 AM »
MaryPage, I rarely read a "traditional book" at all any more.  It's so much easier for me to read on my iPad.  I do read the "real" newspaper that's delivered to our door every morning.  Different strokes (as they say).  :D
"When someone you love dies, you never quite get over it.  You just learn how to go on without them. But always keep them safely tucked in your heart."

mabel1015j

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Re: Mystery Corner ~ 2
« Reply #6780 on: September 22, 2014, 11:13:46 AM »
MaryPage - re: ebook borrowing...... Go to your library home page ( or catalogue), they may have a link to ebooks. In the catalogue you may be able to request "mode/type" of material and can input "ebooks". When you choose a "book" you will be asked to register. We have to designate an umbrella library, ours is linked to the South Jersey Regional Library - that allows for a larger collection of ebooks, and audio books, to be available. You may be linked to Overdrive, an app that allows you to access Kindle/Amazon ebooks. Once you register you use it like any other app, or any other catalogue search. The Kindle books are available to you for two weeks and can be renewed. Your library may have a different time frame.

If this is confusing, i'm sure your library has a help page or flyer to tell you how they do it specifically and much mire understandable then what i said.  :)

 I still prefer a hardcopy book too, but having the ebooks available is very convenient and they have books that my library doesn't have, or are on long hold lists. I got The Invention of Wings months before the hard copy was available.

Jean

JoanK

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Re: Mystery Corner ~ 2
« Reply #6781 on: September 22, 2014, 04:45:06 PM »
I love love love my kindle -- have over 600 books in my archives. Unfortunately, it's too old to use my library e-book app. But I also go to the library every three weeks and bring home about a dozen books (not all of which I read -- since I have someone waiting for me, I pretty much grab books off the shelf. And my memory is getting so bad: this time I found that four of the books I'd already read!)

I counted once for fun, and I read about 20 books a month. (That's what happens when you're in a wheelchair and have a perfect excuse not to do your own housework. heh, heh heh). Of course many of them are mysteries, which are quick reads.

JoanK

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Re: Mystery Corner ~ 2
« Reply #6782 on: September 22, 2014, 04:52:05 PM »
Here's Kelli Stanley.
 http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/s/kelli-stanley/

Sounds interesting. I'll bet she's connected to Gary Corby who writes the mysteries with Socrates' older brother as the detective (note the books she recommends. And her detective is named Corbie).

MaryPage

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Re: Mystery Corner ~ 2
« Reply #6783 on: September 22, 2014, 05:00:41 PM »
Thanks for explaining to me how it works, Jean.  I do not plan to make any attempt to get ebooks from my library, as I would run out of time allotted before even starting one, most likely, so I prefer to stick to owning the books myself, but I was curious.

JoanK

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Re: Mystery Corner ~ 2
« Reply #6784 on: September 22, 2014, 05:04:03 PM »
I'm reading Donna Leon's new book "By It's Cover". Someone is cutting pages out of priceless old books at a research library. Very interesting so far. (And our detective has eaten several meals at home without mentioning what his wife cooked. I'll bet Leon is on a diet. ;)

Steph

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Re: Mystery Corner ~ 2
« Reply #6785 on: September 23, 2014, 08:07:23 AM »
I am struggling with the book. She overwrites and I may give it up.. I don't like books, that tell you each step someone takes and every thing they eat and the smoke smoke smoke and all the police are automatically bad to the heroine..
Stephanie and assorted corgi

FlaJean

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  • FlaJean 2011
Re: Mystery Corner ~ 2
« Reply #6786 on: September 23, 2014, 01:54:44 PM »
I love Donna Leon's books and have read By Its Cover, Joank.  I always go on the library reserve list as soon as I find out she has a new one.  Right now I am rereading Jane Austin's Persuasion.

JoanK

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Re: Mystery Corner ~ 2
« Reply #6787 on: September 23, 2014, 03:47:28 PM »
Jean: great choices! I'm with you.

Steph

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Re: Mystery Corner ~ 2
« Reply #6788 on: September 24, 2014, 08:55:40 AM »
Gave up on City of Dragons.. Just not something I was enjoying. Has anyone noted that the promos for Gone Girl are out and they make it sound like a horror movie?? I was amazed..
Stephanie and assorted corgi

FlaJean

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  • FlaJean 2011
Re: Mystery Corner ~ 2
« Reply #6789 on: October 07, 2014, 11:45:24 AM »
Am reading The Darling Dahlias and the Silver Dollar Bush.  This is Albert's 5th book in the series.  The story is a little slow in the beginning but soon picks up.  Just a light read but Albert does portray a small southern town in the 1930s correctly IMO.  A good reminder that we have been in bad times before.  I didn't realize scrip money was used during the great depression so the book started me on a history lesson.

"Desperate to avoid disaster, several town leaders—including Alvin Duffy, the bank's new vice president—hatch a plan to print Darling Dollars on Charlie Dickens' printing press. The "funny money" can serve as temporary currency so the town can function. But when the first printing of the scrip disappears, the Darling Dahlias set out to discover who made an unauthorized withdrawal."

Steph

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Re: Mystery Corner ~ 2
« Reply #6790 on: October 08, 2014, 09:25:57 AM »
I love the herb series, but don't care for the others as much. I may catch up enough today to actually look at a book.. Thus far, just one huge race to get stuff done.
Stephanie and assorted corgi

JoanK

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Re: Mystery Corner ~ 2
« Reply #6791 on: October 08, 2014, 03:55:37 PM »
I have trouble keeping up with all the characters in the Darling Dahlias. It bogs the plot down.

Another who is getting bogged down in too many continuing characters is Deborah Crombie. I love her books, but I finally got her latest (due to a mix up, Amazon didn't send it to me) "To Dwell in Darkness." Interesting plot, but the murder plot gets left behind in developments in all the continuing character's lives.

JoanK

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Re: Mystery Corner ~ 2
« Reply #6792 on: October 08, 2014, 04:05:29 PM »
Came home from my chair yoga class yesterday, and decided it was the perfect time to read a yoga mystery I picked up in the library. "Murder strikes a pose" the first in the "Downward Dog" series (Downward Dog is a yoga pose, illustrated on the cover)

http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/w/tracy-weber/murder-strikes-a-pose.htm

The author is a yoga instructor and dog lover, and the plot involves a yoga instructor, trying to solve the murder of a homeless man while finding a forever home for his special needs dog. The book suffers from some first book problems, but I'll definitely read more.

Steph

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Re: Mystery Corner ~ 2
« Reply #6793 on: October 09, 2014, 09:22:04 AM »
Downward dog.. a favorite of mine. relieves the back and clears the head.
Stephanie and assorted corgi

MaryPage

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Re: Mystery Corner ~ 2
« Reply #6794 on: October 10, 2014, 01:58:54 PM »
Huh?

Tomereader1

  • Posts: 1868
Re: Mystery Corner ~ 2
« Reply #6795 on: October 10, 2014, 02:02:32 PM »
A Yoga position is "downward dog"
The reading of a fine book is an uninterrupted dialogue in which the book speaks and our soul replies.


André Maurois

Steph

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Re: Mystery Corner ~ 2
« Reply #6796 on: October 11, 2014, 08:48:19 AM »
Downward Dog is a favorite beginning position in Yoga, It stretches a lot of muscles at once and prepares the body for the various stretches..
Stephanie and assorted corgi

JoanK

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Re: Mystery Corner ~ 2
« Reply #6797 on: October 11, 2014, 03:17:02 PM »
Click on the link for the book, and you'll see it illustrated. (you don't need the dog to do it).

http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/w/tracy-weber/murder-strikes-a-pose.htm

In the chair yoga class we do a modified version standing behind the chair and holding on. Not as downward as the original, but a great stretch. (I do my own version my wheelchair.

Not sure the yoga teacher in the book is a good role model, as she has anger issues. At one point, she is so angry that, thinking she is alone, she throws a cup at the wall and almost hits a women who has come to ask about the "inner peace" workshop. Not good yoga, but funny.

JoanK

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Re: Mystery Corner ~ 2
« Reply #6798 on: October 11, 2014, 03:22:27 PM »
reading a new (to me) Rhys Bowen, the Molly Murphy series. I see I have missed a number of books. Molly now has a baby, and is running around Paris trying to solve a mystery while always getting back in time to breastfeed her baby.

An interesting look at Paris in 1905.

Frybabe

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Re: Mystery Corner ~ 2
« Reply #6799 on: October 12, 2014, 07:01:35 AM »
I just finished watching a two parter on Sherlock Holmes influence on Forensics and how he changed police procedure. It was a newish (it includes the newest incarnation) PBS program that I don't think my station aired. Very interesting.

During the program the book, Criminal Investigation: A Manual for Judges, Practitioners, and Students by Hans Gross, was discussed.  It was the first forensic manual. Lucky me, I found it on Project Gutenberg. http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1320