Author Topic: Mystery Corner ~ 2 (Read 910450 times)

Steph · « **Reply #7520 on:** July 27, 2015, 08:44:54 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
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Discussion Leader: JoanK

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Finished the April Smith.. A good book with a close look at obsession in the name of love.

mabel1015j · « **Reply #7521 on:** July 27, 2015, 12:06:32 PM »

I'm reading my first Robt Parker mystery, Valedictiion. At first I was enjoying his wit, but it has gotten to be continuous, monotonous, and is not adding to the story. I'm not sure I will finish it. Are any of you Parker fans? Are all his protagonists like this?

Jean

Tomereader1 · « **Reply #7522 on:** July 27, 2015, 03:00:35 PM »

Always loved Parker's books. The main character, Spencer, was funny, he could cook, he was sort of a "robin hood of Boston", with Spencer and Hawk taking care of the bad guys. I surely miss Robt. Parker. However, I think he was beginning to get like most of the detective writers, who follow one character, until the fun, newness, goes away, and then you find monotony and boredom.

Steph · « **Reply #7523 on:** July 28, 2015, 08:01:07 AM »

I loved all three of Parkers heros.. Spencer was a knight errant. His early stuff was quite good, later, it slowed, like a good many fans, Susan Silverman drove me nuts. Supposedly she was patterned after his wife, who he adored, but he made her so very quirky.. The dogs in the later books were his.. Sunny was his female detective. Very good, but he did not write that many about her and then his last detective was the Paradise series. Tom Selleck made this guy very well known, quite a few tv movies about him

Frybabe · « **Reply #7524 on:** July 28, 2015, 08:48:08 AM »

I haven't read any of Parker's books. Steph, regarding his Paradise series, the only Parker I can think of that had Tom Selleck in the TV version was the Jesse Stone character. I liked the TV movies and would have liked to see more. And it looks like we might get more according to Variety. http://variety.com/2015/tv/news/tom-selleck-collars-more-jesse-stone-pics-in-hallmark-pact-1201447403/ Selleck is wrapping up Blue Bloods, which I never watched.

Steph · « **Reply #7525 on:** July 29, 2015, 09:07:19 AM »

Yes Jesse Stone was a late invention of Parkers.. Good but flawed in the books.. I think they cleaned him up a bit for the tv series, but Parker did say publicly that he did think Selleck looked like his vision of Jesse.

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #7526 on:** July 29, 2015, 11:10:30 PM »

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FlaJean · « **Reply #7527 on:** July 31, 2015, 10:25:35 PM »

Just finished a Billy Boyle World War II mystery The Rest is Silence. I enjoyed it. The plot was interesting and it moved right along. Author is James R. benn.

Someone mentioned sometime ago about the new Hercule Poirot book(s) by Sophie Hannah. I saw The Monogram murders in the new book section of the library and checked it out. So far I'm enjoying it. I happen to like that little Belgian, but not quite as much as Miss Marple.

marjifay · « **Reply #7528 on:** August 01, 2015, 12:22:16 AM »

Thanks, FlaJean, for mentioning the Billy Boyle WW2 mystery The Rest is Silence by James Benn. Sounds good. I put it on hold at my library.

Marj

marjifay · « **Reply #7529 on:** August 01, 2015, 12:46:05 AM »

The only Spenser mystery by Robert Parker I've read was some time ago, his first, The Godwulf Manuscript. I liked it very much and have always meant to read more of them, but never got around to doing that.

Got a kick out of his humor. His description of the 1970s' university (unnamed) is interesting. Reminded me of when I started back to California State University in the early 1970s. First day there I came upon a big dude with a huge Afro hairdo dressed in bib overalls whose appearance scared the s--t out of me. But soon got used to seeing these crazies. Also brought back memories of authors I was reading then -- Herbert Marcuse, Germaine Greer, Helen Gurley Brown.
Hadn't known that Parker was really Doctor Parker with a PhD in English Lit from Boston Univ. 1971, and taught English at Northeastern University. I was impressed. You can see his educational background in the book, ie re a medeival manuscript about (or by?) Richard Rolle. Read about Rolle in Wikipedia. The author named his character Spenser (first name never mentioned) after the English poet Edmund Spenser. But Parker's Spenser is not a poet, but a wisecracking hard drinking P.I., on the order of Chandler's Philip Marlowe. A short book, 204 pages that kept me turning pages.

Marj

Steph · « **Reply #7530 on:** August 01, 2015, 08:33:56 AM »

One of the most fascinating characters in the Spenser books is Hawk.. Now he seemed scary at best. Parker had some wonderful characters in the Spenser books and brought back favorites from older books as he grew older.

marjifay · « **Reply #7531 on:** August 01, 2015, 10:18:34 AM »

Do you have the name of one of Robert Parker's Hawk novels, Steph? I asked Amazon, but they would only give me the names of his Spenser books.

Marj

maryz · « **Reply #7532 on:** August 01, 2015, 10:55:49 AM »

Marjifay, Hawk is a character IN the Spenser novels. I've not read the books, but remember the TV show. Spenser was played by Robert Urich, Hawk by Avery Brooks. You can look it up on IMDb.

mabel1015j · « **Reply #7533 on:** August 01, 2015, 01:59:23 PM »

O.K., I finished Valediction, and I would give it 3 stars out of five. (Hawk is in it, but not too often). I will go back and read some earlier ones. The Godwulf Manuscript sounds like a good one.

Jean

Steph · « **Reply #7534 on:** August 02, 2015, 09:01:19 AM »

yes, Hawk is Spensers best friend and ally.. Parker as he gets older did start to push his books toward morality tales. Susan often refers to Spenser and Hawk as Knight Errants..

MaryPage · « **Reply #7535 on:** August 03, 2015, 08:50:49 AM »

Woke this morning to find an email from Margaret Maron saying that this last Deborah Knott book, published this month, IS to be the very last in the series. I have had it on my preorder list at Barnes & Noble for simply ages now. I subscribe to Maron's emails to her fans; I do not know her personally.

JoanK · « **Reply #7536 on:** August 03, 2015, 05:04:12 PM »

Mary Page: what a shame. I guess all good things must come to an end.

Here is a list of the Spencer books in order: helpful if his early books are the best. I notice "The Godwulf Manuscript is the first, written in 1973.

http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/p/robert-b-parker/

I've managed never to read his books or see the TV show. Have to change that!

FlaJean · « **Reply #7537 on:** August 03, 2015, 05:53:54 PM »

I also got the email about the last Deborah Knott book, but I am glad to hear she has started another Sigrid Herald book. I know I'm in the minority, but I liked the Sigrid series best.

nlhome · « **Reply #7538 on:** August 03, 2015, 11:19:16 PM »

Does anyone here get the Strand magazine? If I knew about it once, I certainly forgot. What brought it up was a piece on public radio that I heard on Saturday, about an unpublished F. Scott Fitzgerald short story that would be in the Strand.

Steph · « **Reply #7539 on:** August 04, 2015, 07:58:03 AM »

Oh dear to say Goodbye to Deborah will be hard. I like Sigrid, just not quite as much.

Frybabe · « **Reply #7540 on:** August 04, 2015, 08:18:32 AM »

Gosh, Nlhome, I didn't know they resurrected the rag. Project Gutenberg as a bunch of the old The Strand magazines posted on their site. You can find old copies of the original Strand on Internet Archive too, as well as from the University of Pennsylvania. http://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/webbin/serial?id=strandmag Here is the history of the magazine https://www.strandmag.com/the-magazine/history/

nlhome · « **Reply #7541 on:** August 04, 2015, 01:35:17 PM »

Thanks, Frybabe. I have done some reading on the website. It looks as though the reincarnated magazine has been around for 18 years, but the original had quite a history.

Someone from the magazine was being interviewed on public radio, I don't know whether national or one of Wisconsin's programs, but the discussion was about this unpublished Fitzgerald short story. I just wondered if anyone in our group subscribed. I am a short story reader, and the magazine looks interesting.

JoanK · « **Reply #7542 on:** August 04, 2015, 03:25:02 PM »

Got two books on my kindle that I had pre=ordered and forgotten about: the new Rhys Bowen "Malice at the Palace" about the young Royal who is trying to survive with no money but not allowed to take a job (heaven forbid!) and doesn't want to marry the horrible European prince they're trying to foist on her (he's gay). And the latest Donna Anderson.

All great, except I'm trying to save money, and had promised myself I'd stick to the "free" kindle unlimited books and get the others at the library. As a golf fan, I'm reading an interesting series by Charlotte and Aaron Elkins. The main character is a golf pro on the women's circuit, and you learn a lot about the life of a young golfer trying to make it on tour.

http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/e/charlotte-elkins/

Their other series is good, too. About modern art.

Steph · « **Reply #7543 on:** August 05, 2015, 08:50:24 AM »

I love Rhys Bowens young Royal. She is such fun, have read all but the newest one. Today is my f2f book club, must try so hard to stay quiet. I hated the book read maybe 50 pages and went,,NOOOOO. so I need to be quiet.

MaryPage · « **Reply #7544 on:** August 05, 2015, 12:34:00 PM »

I am getting itchy jumpy whumpy about the stacks of books I have to get through, without achieving any diminishing of the numbers, as I tend to add on new ones faster than my rheumy old eyes will allow me to devour them. Oh, for the days when I could read at the rate of a book or more a day! Actually, I don't think I have managed more than one a day since my Nancy Drew days, and it has been quite a long time since my one a day days.

Right now I am reading a Peter Robinson, and it is the second in a row. I got so into my prior book that I had to ignore the next book on my "read next in this order" stack and head for the shelf that stores my Robinsons and take out the next of his. There is just something so peaceful and orderly about the way he writes; I find it quite soothing to my senses. Ann Cleeves Shetland series affects me this way, as well.

Winchesterlady · « **Reply #7545 on:** August 05, 2015, 05:55:23 PM »

MaryPage -- I really like Peter Robinson and have read several of his books. I have all of the Shetland series, but haven't read them yet. Will have to give them a try. Have you ever read any of the Simon Serrailer series by Susan Hill? This is one of my favorites.

JoanK · « **Reply #7546 on:** August 05, 2015, 07:56:29 PM »

Peter Robinson writes the Inspector banks mysteries? I've just started to read them.
http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/r/peter-robinson/

FF compares Susan Hill to Louise (I guess in her creation of a place. Is that fair?

http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/h/susan-hill/

JoanK · « **Reply #7547 on:** August 05, 2015, 08:03:05 PM »

The latest young Royal is fun so far. She is given the task of showing a visiting princess around London, while keeping from her the knowledge that the royal she is there to marry has probably slept with all of the people she is meeting (men and women). Then she finds one of his mistresses dead. and has to solve the crime while keeping both the princess and the press ignorant of what's going on.

Winchesterlady · « **Reply #7548 on:** August 06, 2015, 01:27:00 AM »

JoanK -- Yes, Peter Robinson writes the Inspector Banks novels. I have read a few of them and really like them.

I suppose Susan Hill’s Simon Serrailler series could be compared to that of Louise Penny’s Inspector Gamache. Both series usually take place around the same location in each book – Serrailler in the town of Lafferton and Gamache in Three Pines. And Susan Hill provides a lot of background stories for Serrailer’s family, co-workers, and some townspeople. They really are good books, but I would suggest the series be read in order just so you know the history of everyone.

Susan Hill has written many books aside from the Serrailler series. One of my favorites is, “Howard’s End is on the Landing,” which is a wonderful book about books, the love and power of books, and how important they are to all of us. I think any bibliophile would love it.

Steph · « **Reply #7549 on:** August 06, 2015, 08:57:11 AM »

I have a second Susan Hill book on my tbr pile, but have been dodging it. No idea why.

MaryPage · « **Reply #7550 on:** August 06, 2015, 12:06:25 PM »

No, WinchesterLady, I have never read her books. Will give it a try. THANKS!

Steph · « **Reply #7551 on:** August 07, 2015, 08:48:03 AM »

I did get Book type magazine at the local library. Definite mistake, found six things I want... Boo

MaryPage · « **Reply #7552 on:** August 07, 2015, 11:27:11 AM »

Oh, I SO know that feeling. And that is EXACTLY why I keep adding books to my library faster than I can get them read! Ridiculous situation! Here I am 86 years old with one foot, maybe more, in the grave and I should be DIMINISHING the stacks, but instead I am adding to them.

Years ago, back when I was a full time working accountant and raising (with the help of a husband) a family, I would keep up with what was being published with the help of newspapers and magazines and their reviews. Radio and television came into that a little, as well. So I made a habit of writing down the names of books and authors I developed a yen to read yet knew I had no time for. I would then purchase the book, and in some cases all of the books, by that author, and up on the appropriate shelves they would go. I had to add and add and add yet again to the bookshelves I had. I had them made specially by the Amish. A place in Ann Arbor, Michigan. And shipped to me. I not only love and admire the solid workmanship, but they are also carefully built at the BACK, where even the fanciest furniture stores will sell much more expensive pieces with only the flimsiest of plywood or even heavy cardboard on the back. This has never worked for me, as I have to cram two rows of books on every shelf, and this makes the back bulge out when it is not actually solid wood. So the thing is, I have wound up with as many as 25 or more books by an author, sometimes a series of books, that I have never even read ONE of! Thank heavens Peter Robinson was one of these, because when the DCI BANKS series was first broadcast by our PBS channels straight from the BBC, I was able to run to the shelf and begin to read, to my great pleasure! I also have other authors on hand that I have never read, Robert K. Tanenbaum being one. I mean, the reviews were just SO good! So I have over twenty of his!

Oh well. Knowing I have them is like having a comfort wrapped around me on a cold winter's night. I am reassured.

JoanK · « **Reply #7553 on:** August 07, 2015, 03:48:41 PM »

I know exactly what you mean. I wouldn't feel at home in a room without some of my books in it.

JoanK · « **Reply #7554 on:** August 07, 2015, 03:56:50 PM »

I checked and my library has the first Susan Hill (the Various haunts of Man). Now all I have to do is get there.

mabel1015j · « **Reply #7555 on:** August 08, 2015, 01:26:59 AM »

Thanks for the new suggestions for mysteries. I'm in need of some new blood - pun intended.

My libraryhas many of Bowen and Robinson, so i should be good for a while. I'm almost totally caught up on some of my favorites - Evanovich, Maron, Albert, Roberts, especially. Of course, i've got lists of others, but it's so much fun to add new names to my loooonnng lists.

Jean

Steph · « **Reply #7556 on:** August 08, 2015, 08:38:21 AM »

Used to read Tannenbaum, but he got way gory, so gave him up.. I need to read a Nadine Gordimer for my f2f book club up here. Got it on my Kindle, now for some time of my own.

MaryPage · « **Reply #7557 on:** August 08, 2015, 01:20:32 PM »

Oh dear. Well, I have him, but will put him last on my plan.

I had read rave reviews for Denise Mina, so I asked for her books on my Wish List to the family a couple of years ago at Christmas. They like to have a good long list of books I crave, but do not yet have. The deal is, I won't buy from the time I submit the list to them in early November until after I see which have been given me. That way there is still a certain element of surprise and excitement involved, as they know it is very difficult to buy a book for me that I do not either own or have not already read. So I got 6 of Mina's books that Christmas. And last year I read that the BBC had put them into a mini-series for TV. So I figured they would eventually come to our PBS, and I began to read. Well, I gagged horribly at the first book, and tried another. Same thing. You know what I had to do? I thought they were so ghastly there was not a single family member, and I have a huge family, who would like them. So I tossed all six into the dumpster.

The thing is, they were so relentlessly GRIM. A totally dreadful culture of drink, smoking, drugs, nasty language and sex. They are set in Glasgow, a city I have visited and loved, so I felt so confident that those would be books I would relish. WRONG! There was not one single soul, including the female detective, I could relate to. Bummer!

JoanK · « **Reply #7558 on:** August 08, 2015, 04:29:47 PM »

Bummer is right! It just goes to show (something or other. I guess that there are all kinds of tastes).

JEAN: the bowen books I was talking about are her Royal Spyness series. She has two others: one has Evans in the title. It's about a young Welsh policeman in a small town where everyone is named Evans. Light but good. The other is about an Irish immigrant to America who sets herself up as a woman private investigator. The early ones are good, but we're all tired of her sexist boyfriend-then-husband and their endless arguments.

http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/b/rhys-bowen/

FlaJean · « **Reply #7559 on:** August 08, 2015, 07:17:55 PM »

I read one Denise Mina several years ago from a recommendation but found it depressing. Never read another.

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Author Topic: Mystery Corner ~ 2 (Read 910450 times)