Author Topic: Mystery Corner ~ 2 (Read 910224 times)

JoanK · « **Reply #7960 on:** February 09, 2016, 05:20:58 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!

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Discussion Leader: JoanK

JoanK · « **Reply #7961 on:** February 09, 2016, 05:25:23 PM »

MaryPage: I agree with you about gentler stories.

I'm trying Faye Kellerman again. I read the first ones in the series, and stopped reading her when she got to bloody for me.

http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/k/faye-kellerman/

But this one (the Theory of Death) interests me, because it involves a graduate student in math who is murdered. Of course, it perpetuates the myth that all mathematicians are nerds with no social skills. As a former math student, whose father and husband were mathematicians, I can tell you that's not true.

Also, I'm irritated that the woman who was the main character in the early books, appears rarely as the loving wife who cooks for the male detectives when they have time to drop by.

Frybabe · « **Reply #7962 on:** February 10, 2016, 07:18:58 AM »

I see from the Fantastic Fiction list that the book I am reading is not the first Arsene Lupin. I have at least one other downloaded, but I'll go back and pick up the rest. Each chapter of "Adventures" is written as a complete escapade in inself. Lupin, in fact, did start out as serialized short stories in a French magazine.

Steph · « **Reply #7963 on:** February 10, 2016, 09:56:20 AM »

Connelly is sometimes harsh, but some of his later stuff is excellent since Harry gets to have more of a life..
I am reading the newest in paper Kathy Reichs.. I am always not exactly sure how I feel about her. Some I love, others not so much

JoanK · « **Reply #7964 on:** February 10, 2016, 04:57:44 PM »

STEPH: I agree. This is one case where IMO the TV series (Bones) is better than the books.

Tomereader1 · « **Reply #7965 on:** February 10, 2016, 05:08:19 PM »

And on the reverse side of that coin, JoanK, I like the books much better than the TV series. It just seems they went so far off the script,
(Bones' work in Montreal(?) and although she had this "thing" going with either FBI man or Cop (it's been so long since I've read the first ones) and seemed to concentrate more on her forensic work than the romance. Plus we didn't have to see so much gore, just read about it, or skip those descriptions!

JoanK · « **Reply #7966 on:** February 10, 2016, 05:26:09 PM »

TOMEREADER: good point about the gore. It's so scripted in the TV, I know when to close my eyes.

Steph · « **Reply #7967 on:** February 11, 2016, 08:00:10 AM »

Her boyfriend in the books is a Canadian policeman and she also has an ex husband who seems to come and go.. The thing about the books and the tv.. In the books she is older,goes back and forth, has a cat that is her companion, a complicated mother,etc. In the tv she is younger and her life seems centered on her work friends.

FlaJean · « **Reply #7968 on:** February 11, 2016, 08:48:18 AM »

A very accomplished and interesting person. I really enjoyed the earlier books. Got this from Wikipedia. She does still work part time in Canada.

Kathleen Joan Toelle "Kathy" Reichs born July 7, 1948[2]) is an American crime writer, forensic anthropologist and academic.[1] She is a professor of anthropology at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte; as of 2013 she is on indefinite leave.[3] She divides her work time between the Laboratoire des Sciences Judiciaires et de Médecine Légale for the province of Quebec and her professorship at UNC Charlotte. She is one of the eighty-two forensic anthropologists certified by the American Board of Forensic Anthropology[4] and is on the Board of Directors of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences. Her schedule also involves a number of speaking engagements around the world. Reichs has been a producer for the TV series Bones, which is loosely based on her novels, which in turn, are inspired by her life.[1] She has two daughters, Kerry and Courtney, and one son, Brendan.[5]

Tomereader1 · « **Reply #7969 on:** February 11, 2016, 11:05:40 AM »

It seems like when I sleep, things come to me that I couldn't think of during the day. i.e., I believe the Bones books are set in Quebec, not Montreal. But, lo, had FlaJean posted the above last night, I would've known Quebec was the setting.

I did a bad, bad thing late last night. I have a Kindle Fire, and just for kicks, clicked on my Prime Movies. Gosh, "The Man in the HIgh Castle" is on there, "Mozart in the Jungle" and several others. I put on some headphones and watched Episode 1 of the Mozart in the Jungle. I understand the program won a few awards Golden Globe? or something. The Episode didn't get very far into the story setup, but I presume it will. Now to find time to watch these! I have so many things DVR'd that I can't see my way clear to just sitting and watching.
Oh, well. (And when will I find time to READ?)

rosemarykaye · « **Reply #7970 on:** February 11, 2016, 01:57:15 PM »

Tomereader - I feel exactly the same! So much stuff recorded and so many books unread! I read somewhere that we buy more books - even though we haven't read the ones we've got - because we subconsciously think we are also buying more time to read them. If only!

I've got Amazon Prime and I haven't even looked at the videos, but at the same time am irked by the fact that I'm paying for them and not watching them...

Rosemary

Tomereader1 · « **Reply #7971 on:** February 11, 2016, 03:03:09 PM »

Rosemary, being as you are from across the pond, you probably are acquainted with Nick Hornby. I am reading his book titled "Ten Years in the Tub" which is an amalgam of the books he's bought, the books he's read for ten years. He writes also for some magazine (don't know if it's still in publication) called "Believers". Anyway, he keeps buying books, although he says he has too many already, and he comments on the books he's actually read. Some of this is hilarious. His scope of reading runs the gamut: Classics, "Letters of ________ (whoever), modern fiction, non-fiction, etc. He writes other books, his brother-in-law is Robert Harris.
I keep trying not to buy "actual" books, but my ebook habit is killing me! And my bookshelves don't even have room for a kiddie's board book!

JoanK · « **Reply #7972 on:** February 11, 2016, 03:48:56 PM »

" And my bookshelves don't even have room for a kiddie's board book!"

That's one of the joys of e-books. I've run out of wall space to put more bookcases. I could go up: some of them are short. I could get taller ones, but in earthquake country that's a problem.

the other joy of e-books is that they are easy to organize! I dream of getting my book books organized, but the physical labor involved is too much for me. But my e-books are in collections by subject, and within that by author. (Unfortunately, you can't put the archives into collections, as far as I know).

mabel1015j · « **Reply #7973 on:** February 12, 2016, 01:59:18 PM »

I just read a Stuart Woods "Stone Barrington" mystery, Bel-air Dead from my library ebooks. It was quite enjoyable, not heavy.

Until I read some of the freebies I've gotten from BookGorilla, etc. i just delete the newsletter without looking at potential new books to add to my library. There are just toooooo many potential books available to me these days. ....... I never thot I would ever write that sentence!

....... My library is just 3 blocks up the street, I can get ebooks from them and our regional library, and all these free online books......aaarrgghh! LOVE IT!

Now our library has added all the journal articles available to them to their online catalogue, ohhhhh my, i'm either in heaven, or overwhelmed. What a wonderful problem to have.

Jean

Steph · « **Reply #7974 on:** February 12, 2016, 02:19:10 PM »

I have watched three episodes of Mozart and am hooked big time. The music alone is worth it, plus I suspect that young musicians have a lot of those problems and I did read somewhere the big orchestras are unionized. Fascinating show.

maryz · « **Reply #7975 on:** February 12, 2016, 03:41:10 PM »

I like Mozart, too. Has anybody watched Grace & Johnnie (with Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda) on Netflix? Guess this isn't right forum for this, though.

JoanK · « **Reply #7976 on:** February 12, 2016, 04:23:55 PM »

Where do you get the Mozart show?

maryz · « **Reply #7977 on:** February 12, 2016, 04:37:36 PM »

JoanK, it's on Amazon. That's not the full name of the show, but it's where to start looking.

Frybabe · « **Reply #7978 on:** February 12, 2016, 04:52:22 PM »

Mozart in the Jungle is an original series made for Amazon.

Tomereader1 · « **Reply #7979 on:** February 12, 2016, 05:12:41 PM »

It is also (heaven forbid!) a Book! fancy that!

Frybabe · « **Reply #7980 on:** February 12, 2016, 05:32:44 PM »

Did not know that. Interesting.

mabel1015j · « **Reply #7981 on:** February 13, 2016, 01:08:50 PM »

Yes Mary, I've watched Grace and Frankie. It is very good - obviously good acting with Tomlin, Fonda, Martin Sheen and Sam Waterston, but also good writing. It's funny, but produces some good questions of thought.

Jean

Steph · « **Reply #7982 on:** February 13, 2016, 03:01:17 PM »

The Lily Tomlin is netflix and only on streaming,not on disc.. I tried to get it on disc. I have yet to look for Mozart in the Jungle as a book and really must look. The show is really fun for me.

JoanK · « **Reply #7983 on:** February 13, 2016, 04:14:59 PM »

Checked Amazon. Has the book, but is temporarily out of stock.

Steph · « **Reply #7984 on:** February 14, 2016, 09:22:28 AM »

May check my book swap club and thrift books.. They sometimes have surprising books.

Judy Laird · « **Reply #7985 on:** February 17, 2016, 04:47:58 PM »

Mary I watched Grace and Frankie two times at least ans then I watched Longmire. I love this smart TV I get Netflix Amazon and Amazon Prime that's about all I do now a days.

JoanK · « **Reply #7986 on:** February 17, 2016, 04:51:52 PM »

Read a good first book: "Ice Shear"

http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/c/m-p-cooley/ice-shear.htm

About a woman cop (ex-FBI agent) in a small struggling upstate new York town.

Steph · « **Reply #7987 on:** February 18, 2016, 09:03:06 AM »

Mozart and the Jungle was published some years ago. The only copy I find is on Thriftbooks and is 42.00... whew.. so it is seriously out of print.

MaryPage · « **Reply #7988 on:** February 18, 2016, 12:05:44 PM »

Broke down this morning and ordered the first 4 books about Sydney Chambers and Grantchester by James Runcie in paperback. Enjoyed Season One of the series on PBS so very much, and I understand Season Two is on the way. Am a bit in love with James Norton, who plays the Church of England Vicar. He recently played Prince Andrei in War and Peace, and made me swoonish again. At the moment, I am relaxing with the second book in the series about 11 year old Flavia. I am not wild about this series, but she IS a hoot!

JoanK · « **Reply #7989 on:** February 18, 2016, 03:36:15 PM »

I enjoyed reading that series a lot. Only seen a couple of the TV shows, but I know what you mean about the actor.

I remember as a teenager swooning over Prince Andrei in the old movie. (Leslie something?)

JoanK · « **Reply #7990 on:** February 18, 2016, 03:42:23 PM »

According to Wikipedia, it was either Mel Ferrer or Henry Fonda.

MaryPage · « **Reply #7991 on:** February 18, 2016, 04:18:52 PM »

It was Mel Ferrer who played Prince Andrei. Henry Fonda played Pierre. I never swooned over Ferrer, or Fonda, for that matter. But LESLIE HOWARD, now! He played Ashley Cooper in Gone With The Wind; wasn't that his name? Hmmm. I relate that name to Charleston, South Carolina, and not Atlanta, Georgia. So I am probably wrong about the name. But he played husband to Olivia deHaviland's Melanie.

Sorry; I've wandered off the reservation, here. Back to books!

Well, Gone With The Wind WAS a book; just not a murder mystery. Same with War and Peace. Did you know War and Peace is at the top of the list of best 100 novels of all time on more expert's lists than any other book? Wouldn't be on the top of mine, but I did love it. Oh, and I'm no "expert." But you knew that.

Steph · « **Reply #7992 on:** February 19, 2016, 08:30:45 AM »

Ashley Wilkes, I think..
I love Gone with the Wind... both book and movie..
not so much War and Peace.. and Grantchester is not being shown on our PBS station.. We have the worst public tv in creation. Owned by UCF and really has more news than anything. Boo.
A funny mystery.. by Harley Jane Kozak.. A date you cant refuse.. Just flat out laughable.. and improbable . Everybody needs a laugh now and then. She is also an actress.

JoanK · « **Reply #7993 on:** February 20, 2016, 06:07:47 PM »

Here she is:

http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/k/harley-jane-kozak/

"A Date You cant Refuse" is part of a series, so you have more laughs in store for you.

JoanK · « **Reply #7994 on:** February 20, 2016, 06:17:02 PM »

my library has her books. Now I just have to remember her name long enough to get them.

The latest China Bayles mystery: "Bittersweet" by Susan Albert features illegal deer semen!?!? It seems deer semen can sell for up to $100,000 a straw. Who knew.

It seems in Texas, people breed dear who have tremendous antlers. They are kept on game farms, where they are semi-tame. People pay huge sums of money to hide in blinds and shoot them when they come to the feeders. The hunters then get to display the huge racks on their walls and brag about what great hunters they are.

Did those of you in Texas know about this?

Tomereader1 · « **Reply #7995 on:** February 20, 2016, 07:47:11 PM »

Nope, didn't know that.

jane · « **Reply #7996 on:** February 20, 2016, 09:22:48 PM »

Those kind of stocked game farms exist lots of places, apparently. Here's one in Iowa that's not too far from where I live.

http://www.scenicviewhunting.com

We've driven past "game farms" as we've driven from Iowa to S. Texas.

There's one I found by googling "game farms" that caters to the bird hunter in Kansas. Put "game farms for bird" or "game farms Kansas" in google and see the hits you'll get.

I know men who go to Oklahoma to hunt wild boar with bow and arrow on a game farm.

Jane

Steph · « **Reply #7997 on:** February 21, 2016, 09:17:54 AM »

Any place where they feed the animals and then permit shooting at them is horrible. I am glad that this sort of stuff is not on my agenda and honestly do not feel that I could love any man who thought this was a brave behavior.. Wild Boar with bow and arrow at least takes skill and some courage, those are truly nasty beasts and cause a lot of damage in
Florida.

rosemarykaye · « **Reply #7998 on:** February 21, 2016, 10:26:14 AM »

Just the same in Scotland - pheasants bred as fat and slow as possible so that rich businessmen can pay a fortune to come up for the shooting and actually hit something, no matter how drunk they are. And it's all dressed up as terribly posh, one of the things One Does to climb a certain social ladder. Yuk. They also shoot deer, so these are bred across the central highlands whilst native species like the poor wild cats are allowed to become extinct.

Rosemary

JoanK · « **Reply #7999 on:** February 21, 2016, 05:01:51 PM »

IMO: well regulated hunting of deer is fine, and kills fewer animals than letting the deer grow beyond the food supply and then die of starvation. If regulation is done right, it keeps the deer population healthy. But these are wild animals: to shoot tame animals and call it "sport" is decadent.

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Author Topic: Mystery Corner ~ 2 (Read 910224 times)