Author Topic: Mystery Corner ~ 2 (Read 910340 times)

MaryPage · « **Reply #7760 on:** November 06, 2015, 08:21:14 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

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Oh, I am sure that is all true, and me, I favor mutts big time, BUT, this was my granddaughter's choice after much research, and Chester flew here in a crate with his name on it, just big enough to hold in one hand, and was met at BWI with great anticipation and fanfare, and that was several years ago, and now
well now
Chester Rules!
If you could be a little fly on the wall, you would be a convulsed with laughter little fly!

JoanK · « **Reply #7761 on:** November 06, 2015, 04:28:02 PM »

I always say that everything I know, I know from reading mysteries. I don't have a dog, and would know absolutely nothing about the world of dog breeders and dog shows were it not for the several mystery series on the subject. (the names escape my senior brain, but I'm sure you know them).

Judy Laird · « **Reply #7762 on:** November 06, 2015, 04:41:17 PM »

I have a shitzu and a rescue dog named Sophie talk about rules they really rule. Eddie the boy dog just mostly sleeps and strolls around the yard. He has now established a routine. At night a just throw two treets I n the sun room and close the gate.Not so
he jumps up in the chair and sits and looks at me like this is something new. So I no go over to the chair and lay his treat beside him.
Sophie has many requirements she will not get in bed unless I am laying down and the covers over me then I am allowed to bend over and pick her up. Don't try it without the covers those. She has been so badly abused and I know the story. My guess is she is part maltese and part shitzu and big barker.

Steph · « **Reply #7763 on:** November 07, 2015, 08:08:43 AM »

JoanK,, I suspect you are thinking of Susan Conant, who has a series of good mysteries that revolve around the pedigreed dog world and is quite accurate.
Reading Hush Hush by Laura Lippman.. It is the newest Tess.. and her baby is now three. The story is riveting. I do like her as an author, both the Tess series and the stand alones. She knows and loves Baltimore and shows it.. Just read a line ( Tess is stressed by a very active three year old) and she muses on another Baltimore author.. Anne Tyler and how she wrote of a woman who simply got up and left one day and how that appeals just now. I do know that feeling..

JoanK · « **Reply #7764 on:** November 07, 2015, 03:27:02 PM »

Clearly I'm way behind on Lippman. I didn't even know Tess had a baby. Is the father her long-time boy friend?

Yes, Susan Conant. It's nice to know she is accurate. I still laugh at her explanation of Michelangelo's famous painting: if you look closely, you can see that God is handing man a dog!

But there's another series as well. She shows standard poodles. Does anyone know it?

JoanK · « **Reply #7765 on:** November 07, 2015, 03:34:58 PM »

Elly Griffths, author of the series about the woman archeologist in England, has started a new series featuring old magicians doing variety in British seaside towns. I read the first, "The Zigzag Girl".

http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/g/elly-griffiths/

It's ok (too gruesome a murder for me), but I miss the archeology and the atmosphere of the other series.

Steph · « **Reply #7766 on:** November 08, 2015, 08:41:36 AM »

Conant is the only one who has a long series, but there are several who have done a few.. a dog trainer up in Maine,, that is a series that is probably three books, but they are good, but I think they are Goldens. Cannot remember a poodle.
The Lippman is interesting.. Revolving around whether someone was crazy or not..

MaryPage · « **Reply #7767 on:** November 08, 2015, 09:10:03 AM »

That's easy. The older I get the more I become convinced that EVERYone is crazy. Excepting me and thee, of course.

marjifay · « **Reply #7768 on:** November 08, 2015, 01:06:14 PM »

My favorite mystery with a dog in the story is SUSPECT by Robert Crais. About a Los Angeles cop, Scott James, who is just getting over the death of his partner. He is paired with a german sheppard, Maggie, who has survived two tours in Afghanistan sniffing explosives before losing his handler. Wonderful story of how they help each other recover as they work to identify and capture the killer of the cop's partner. If you like dogs, you'll love this story.

Marj

Steph · « **Reply #7769 on:** November 09, 2015, 08:15:14 AM »

I read that book, loved it and wish that Crais had written more about the team..
The Lippman..hmm at the end,, well if anyone else has read it, would love to figure out just what I think of her.. actually I still regard her as something of a monster..

mabel1015j · « **Reply #7770 on:** November 09, 2015, 01:35:36 PM »

Mysteries with dogs? Read David Rosenfelt's Andy Carpenter series. My favorite of five I have read is Play Dead where Andy discovers a Golden in a kill shelter which turns out to be an important piece of evidence in a five year old murder for which an innocent man has been in prison for five years.

Jean

Judy Laird · « **Reply #7771 on:** November 09, 2015, 03:13:35 PM »

Shoule have mentioned a long time ago. I read the Mostwonderful BOOK EVER
WORTHY. If you don't have it please get it. Mine is on my kindle and I bought one for a friend.
I have read it twice already

JoanK · « **Reply #7772 on:** November 09, 2015, 03:47:31 PM »

JUDY: is that the name of it? "Mostwonderful BOOK EVER
WORTHY"

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #7773 on:** November 09, 2015, 06:42:44 PM »

I'm butting in but need to let you know what we are doing for the month of December -

On December 1 through Friday, December 18 we will read and discuss - the real Adventures of Pinocchio by ‎Carlo Collodi -

Lots of discussion material, including comparing the original to what Walt Disney did to the story - there is the topic of school, a boys relationship with his father, children lying versus adults lying - on and on -

Many of us will not want to be as engrossed in a discussion starting that weekend before Christmas - some of us will be around but for most, it will be quick post with a 'Hi' and I'm off to visit family or my neighbors or the church this or that.

And so... rather than any one book we will leave it open for us to share our thoughts on a Holiday story preferably published within the last 2 or maximum 3 years. To help with our sharing I will have some generic questions that can apply to any story - so that when you give your synopsis of your story you have earmarks to hit.

Also, during this almost 2 week Holiday discussion we can share the names of the books we gave as gifts and how our favorite book store decorated and prepared for the Holiday season. Starting on Saturday December 19 we will have a new discussion called, "Holiday Books and Book Stores".
- lots of new holiday books that we can talk about - I've listed some in the message in the Library.

With many of the larger bookstores housing a coffee shop we could even share what they had on the menu - in fact we may even decide to share what we fix for ourselves as a special tea or coffee or glass of wine when we settle down for an hour or so with a holiday story.

And so this year we join the English tradition of reading and play-acting a traditional children's story during the holiday season - Be sure to put on your "todo" list to pick up your copy of the original Adventures of Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi - I believe there is a free copy available to kindle users and it may even be online - I like having a book in my hand and I've ordered my copy for a few dollars - yes, at Amazon.

Steph · « **Reply #7774 on:** November 10, 2015, 07:47:19 AM »

Yes, Judy,, Maybe if I google it..?? am Reading Lisa Scottoline.. Betrayed,which is the second in series of the all female law firm in Philadelphia and is intriguing at this point.

marjifay · « **Reply #7775 on:** November 10, 2015, 10:08:11 AM »

Steph, Robert Crais did bring them back in his latest book, PROMISE. In it Elvis Cole and Joe Pike are joined by LAPD K-9 Officer, Scott James, and his German Shepherd, Maggie. I've had this on my library hold list for what seems like forever, as it's so popular.

Marge

Judy Laird · « **Reply #7776 on:** November 10, 2015, 02:39:14 PM »

sorry about that I get carried away . It is Worthy. Just one word

JoanK · « **Reply #7777 on:** November 10, 2015, 03:53:22 PM »

Is this it?

http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/h/catherine-ryan-hyde/worthy.htm

JoanK · « **Reply #7778 on:** November 10, 2015, 04:02:34 PM »

Read an interesting mystery: :Scandal in the Secret city". by Diane Fanning.

http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/f/diane-fanning/scandal-in-the-secret-city.htm

t takes place in Oak Ridge, Tennessee during WWII. The narrator is a woman chemist in charge of the workers who are extracting and purifying the U235 for the atomic bomb. A lot about what it's like to be the only woman scientist (boy, do I relate to that!) and the process. I want to get my-sister-the-chemist to read it to see if the chemistry makes sense.

Steph · « **Reply #7779 on:** November 11, 2015, 08:23:26 AM »

Oh Marjifae... I will check out the Crais, since I love all three people..

marjifay · « **Reply #7780 on:** November 11, 2015, 09:49:45 AM »

Thanks, JoanK. I put Scandal in the Secret City on hold at my library. I really like mysteries with an historical background.

I'm reading and enjoying such an historical mystery -- The Birth of Blue Satan. Loving the story and its backgound in 1700s England. The book's review says: "It is 1715, many decades before a police force in Britain, and less than a year after George of Hanover’s controversial accession to the English throne. A conspiracy to restore the Crown to the Pretender, James Stuart, is about to erupt in rebellion. The Whigs are in power again and eager to take revenge on the Tories in the days when arguments were solved with swords. Falsely accused of murdering his own father, Gideon Fitzsimmons, Viscount St. Mars, must hide from the men who want to hang him, while trying to unmask his father’s killer. An outlaw, he must detect under cover of night to avoid being caught.

JoanK · « **Reply #7781 on:** November 11, 2015, 03:35:51 PM »

MARJ: that sounds exciting! I don't know as much about that period of history as I should.

Judy Laird · « **Reply #7782 on:** November 11, 2015, 04:22:02 PM »

Yes Joan that's it

Steph · « **Reply #7783 on:** November 12, 2015, 08:12:19 AM »

Decided not to wait, so ordered the Crais, since it just came out..

JoanK · « **Reply #7784 on:** November 20, 2015, 04:32:07 PM »

read an interesting non-fiction book: "The Spy's Son" by Bryan Denson. About a high-ranking CIA operative who was selling secrets to the Russians and who, when he was caught and put in jail, trained his young son in spy techniques and had him sell smuggled-out information to the Russians.

I hadn't read a "true-spy story before: from the citations, apparently it's a whole genre of books.

The spying techniques in this one are much simpler than in fiction books. the main interest of the book is how his role as a spy influenced his role as a single father. He said he started as a double agent so he could provide for his children, and got his son involved so he could continue to provide for them in prison. (Instead, he nearly ruined his son's life. And the amounts of money earned were not enough to really provide) He was a very religious man, and encouraged his son with verses from the bible. The mixed-up sense of values involved, I found fascinating.

Steph · « **Reply #7785 on:** November 21, 2015, 08:09:25 AM »

Oh my, a senior moment, but I did read at least two books on real spies in the two younger males some years ago who got involved in spying..Now to remember either their names or the books.

mabel1015j · « **Reply #7786 on:** November 21, 2015, 12:41:03 PM »

I have found a new, to me, mystery author, David Bishop. His "The Blackmail Club" was a freeby on Amazon months ago. He has a little bit of the David Rosefelt wit, which I like. The story was complicated and can compelling. Another PI firm with male/female partners.

Jean

JoanK · « **Reply #7787 on:** November 21, 2015, 03:50:05 PM »

"The Blackmail club" is still free on kindle unlimited. I ordered it.

Steph · « **Reply #7788 on:** November 22, 2015, 08:36:14 AM »

Reading another Charles Todd. I do like that mother and son author..An Impartial Witness with Bess.. WWI . I am begining to wish that Bess would notice Simon as other than her parents best friend and her backup person..

FlaJean · « **Reply #7789 on:** November 22, 2015, 12:56:08 PM »

I looked for The Blackmail Club on Kindle but it was only free for limited. Maybe I tried too late?

Steph · « **Reply #7790 on:** November 23, 2015, 08:35:55 AM »

MaryPage, where are you.

MaryPage · « **Reply #7791 on:** November 24, 2015, 11:07:33 AM »

Right here, Steph. Thanks for asking.

I am reading LEOPARD by Jo Nesbo in the kitchen while I eat my meals. Also in the car while Chip runs into the stores on my errands. With this Sciatica, I don't much like going in myself. So far, I find it very good and, as usual, moving along swiftly. Leopard is book number eight in this Harry Hole series.

In the bedroom, in my easy chair (boudoir chair) I am reading SOVEREIGN by C.J. Sansom. This moves rather more slowly, and is not as much of a treat to read, but then Sansom feeds us just one whole heck of a lot of history, which I enjoy. I find myself irritated because he has the characters speaking of "the Scotch," and meaning the people. I believe the Yorkshiremen, at least, would know better. Scotch is strictly the whisky, while the people are Scots. This is book number three (3) in this series. The meds I am taking make me very drowsy, so I fall off into naps quite frequently and do not get as much read as is usual for me.

JoanK · « **Reply #7792 on:** November 24, 2015, 05:24:18 PM »

I like the Sansom series. He portrays life in Henry VIII time as it probably was, with all its warts and bad smells.

Steph · « **Reply #7793 on:** November 25, 2015, 08:36:50 AM »

Yes, English history tied into mysteries is fun.. I am really enjoying the WWI mysteries of Charles Todd. What a truly horrible war that was.

MaryPage · « **Reply #7794 on:** November 25, 2015, 05:29:09 PM »

The moon over the waters of the magnificent Chesapeake is unreal tonight. The color is unbelievable! It makes a golden path glitter all the way across from shore to shore. You have to see it to believe it, and then you feel disbelief that there can even be such beauty.

JoanK · « **Reply #7795 on:** November 25, 2015, 05:33:42 PM »

Ahhhhh!

FlaJean · « **Reply #7796 on:** November 26, 2015, 10:22:46 AM »

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

JoanK · « **Reply #7797 on:** November 26, 2015, 04:37:43 PM »

happy thanksgiving, and thanks to all of you for sharing your reading experiences here.

marjifay · « **Reply #7798 on:** November 27, 2015, 09:14:26 AM »

I put Scandal in the Secret City on hold at the library. It does sound intriguing. Thanks, JoanK.

I just finished the scariest book I've ever read - Pines by Blake Crouch. First of a trilogy about a town called Wayward Pines in Idaho. Doubt there are many here who'd want to read it unless, like me, they occasionally love a scary book. A real page turner. The author said he was inspired to write it after watching and loving as a youngster the film series Twin Peaks. Wayward Pines was a very popular film series recently, but I'd never heard of it.

Marj

JoanK · « **Reply #7799 on:** November 27, 2015, 04:14:32 PM »

II never have either. I admit to being too chicken to enjoy scary books.

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Author Topic: Mystery Corner ~ 2 (Read 910340 times)