Author Topic: Mystery Corner ~ 2 (Read 1176828 times)

JoanK · « **Reply #520 on:** February 28, 2010, 02:17:10 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
Our Favorite Old Mystery Writers
Fantastic Fiction
Stop You're Killing Me

Discussion Leaders: BillH and JoanK

JoanK · « **Reply #521 on:** February 28, 2010, 02:19:15 PM »

AAACK: I forgot my f2f mystery group is tomorrow, and I haven't read the book. Reread, actually. It's a Laura Lippman that I've read before -- the one with the orthodox Jewish family. Didn't care much for it the first time, and put off reading it again.

FlaJean · « **Reply #522 on:** February 28, 2010, 04:57:58 PM »

Quote from: Steph on February 28, 2010, 06:09:02 AM

Living in Florida, this constant cold is just too much.

Steph, I agree wholeheartedly!!

Someone here suggested Kerry Greenwood. I'm reading Devil's Food and enjoying it. So thanks to the person who suggested her. Lost interest in Mary Higgins Clark after reading a couple of them.

mrssherlock · « **Reply #523 on:** February 28, 2010, 06:47:38 PM »

Flajean: Kerry Greenwood's other series is pretty good, too. It is about the 20's with lots of ambiance. Her "bio" on Fantastic Fiction is a hoot: http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/g/kerry-greenwood/

I'd love to read her SF but, alas, my library doesn't list it.

Steph · « **Reply #524 on:** March 01, 2010, 06:04:27 AM »

Oh me,, yes Ann Bridge brings back old memories when I loved to read spy stories and she was good at them.

Babi · « **Reply #525 on:** March 01, 2010, 09:01:17 AM »

Amazing, isn't it, ANNA. This long, harsh winter coming in a time when
we are supposed to be threatened with global warming? This is warming??

Ah, JACKIE, you've intrigued me again. I'll check out Ann Bridge; I
hope my library has her. I am currently reading Fairstein's "Lethal
Legacy" and find the murder is taking a back seat. So far, most of the
book has explored the history of various places of interest in New York
or discussed valuable maps.

LOL!! I loved the Greenwood bio! I'm still grinning. Definitely have
to check her out. I do hope my library has her SF.

mrssherlock · « **Reply #526 on:** March 01, 2010, 11:43:18 AM »

Stop You're Killing Me's newsletter website has a book giveaway (see here:) http://www.stopyourekillingme.com/Giveaway.html

mrssherlock · « **Reply #527 on:** March 01, 2010, 11:51:14 AM »

PS: SYKM (see above) has a list of newly added authors; looks like enough reading for me for several lifetimes! Too much of a good thing

Steph · « **Reply #528 on:** March 02, 2010, 06:04:21 AM »

I am reading a new Harlan Coben.. Long Lost or some such.. Its new in paper anyway. I read all of him, but this one is veering in a very very odd direction. Good, but different.

mrssherlock · « **Reply #529 on:** March 02, 2010, 10:53:43 AM »

I love Moe (Moses) Prager. He's Reed Farrell Coleman's lead character in his series. Redemption Street is Moe's second appearance as this ex-cop is once again called on to solve a disappearance though this one was due to a tragic fire in a Catskills resort 16 years ago. Seems Moe knew two of the victims, they were high school classmates. His compulsion to solve this problem during the high-volume Thanksgiving weekend at the profitable wine shop in downtown Manhattan he owns with his brother Aaron stresses his and his wife's family. Moe has a smart mouth; this is his version of quip trading:

Quote

John Lennon, for instance, bought a case of Perrier-Jouet for a friend's birthday gift. He was kind enough to take a picture with me. Emboldened by his generosity I asked him if Paul McCartney was really the selfish self-centered prick the press made him out to be.
"Nah", he said, "The real Paul's dead, you know, He was a great mate, a generous sort, but the sod actor we got to replace him is a genuine shite. We'd have gotten rid of him, too, but he was a better bass player than the real Paul. Not as good a songwriter though. Do you suppose the Paul who wrote 'Yesterday' would write rubbish like 'Silly Love Songs'?" John winked at me, stuck out his tongue and left.

Moe's investigation takes him to the faded Borscht Belt where his host at the decrepit hotel is a former entertainer who was a staff member of the burned resort so the jokes fly thick and fast.

JoanK · « **Reply #530 on:** March 02, 2010, 02:38:22 PM »

That sounds great!

In my f2f book group last night was a new person who asked what mysteries we would recommend for someonewho was starting to read mysteries. What would you-all have said?

mrssherlock · « **Reply #531 on:** March 02, 2010, 03:57:59 PM »

joank; i would like to know what type of fiction this person reads. Danielle Steel and Barbara Delinsky fans would like Elizabeth Adler's There's Something About San Tropez. I liked it a lot. If she likes quilting, Earlene Fowler; knitting, etc., Monica Ferris. If shes like historical novels I'd recommend my all-time favorite, Laurie R King's The Beekeeper's Apprentice.. Wait, wait, I forgot Julia Spencer-Fleming. Margaret Maron. Those are all novels with strong female characters. Giles Blunt. Agatha Christie. C J Box. Reed Farrel Coleman. John MacDnald. B&N's website has several categories in the mystery genre to suit special interests. This is barely scratching the surface.

JoanK · « **Reply #532 on:** March 02, 2010, 09:51:04 PM »

I know: I tried to find out what she liked and finally suggested Evanovitch (sp), McCall Smith, Hillerman, and others suggested others.

Steph · « **Reply #533 on:** March 03, 2010, 06:03:59 AM »

Jackie, wow. we must be soul mates. You listed a lot of my favorites..
Finished the Coben.. Long Lost. What an odd book.. Myron was out of character.. Anyone else read it?? Not sure , guess it is his answer to 9/11

marjifay · « **Reply #534 on:** March 03, 2010, 08:27:55 AM »

I'm about half way thru WINE OF VIOLENCE, a debut historical mystery by Priscilla Royal and finding it very interesting. Set in medieval England in an unusual religious community that houses both nuns and monks (separately, of course!) Very good atmosphere, and the characters are ones you really get to know. I love the gutsy intelligent young nun whose just been appointed prioress, in charge of the place. The mystery is keeping me turning pages.

I haven't read Coben's Long Lost, Steph, and probably won't after your review LOL. I've read about five of Coben's and got kind of tired of him.

Marj

Babi · « **Reply #535 on:** March 03, 2010, 09:09:13 AM »

Now that one, MARJ, hits several strings on my violin. Mystery, medieval England, strong and
likable characters. I definitely want to read that one.

Phyll · « **Reply #536 on:** March 03, 2010, 11:04:21 AM »

It sounded so good to me, too, Marjifay, so I just put a request for it into my library. Since no one else is waiting for it I should get it within a couple of days or so. I'm looking forward to it. Thanks for mentioning it.

I'm half-way through an Earlene Fowler. TUMBLING BLOCKS. It's been awhile since I've read her so I'm enjoying it.

Also, thanks Jackie for linking to the Stop You're Killing Me. I've had fun checking through their site and I've subscribed to their newsletter.

mrssherlock · « **Reply #537 on:** March 03, 2010, 11:19:26 AM »

Marj: You've hooked me; it's on my reserve list. Phyll: SYKM is the first one I open when it appears in my email.

JoanK · « **Reply #538 on:** March 03, 2010, 03:37:58 PM »

It's been awhile since I read Fowler too, and can't remember whether I've read that one (Often come happily home from the library with a "new" mystery, and find I've read it!). I assume "Tumbling Blocks" is one of her quilting patterns. Fowler almost makes me wish I liked to quilt.

Steph · « **Reply #539 on:** March 04, 2010, 06:10:37 AM »

I am checking our the paperback swap for the Royal book. Sounds good.

Babi · « **Reply #540 on:** March 04, 2010, 08:19:43 AM »

I see that Priscilla Royal has written quite a few books. "Wine of Violence" was the first of
a series, apparently. My elder daughter's library has it and I'm going to ask her to check a
copy out for me.
Meanwhile, I've started my first Jan Burke, and I think I'm going to like it. Finished "Lethal
Legacy" and found the bits about odd corners of New York as interesting as the story line, if
not more so.

FlaJean · « **Reply #541 on:** March 04, 2010, 12:03:41 PM »

Finished Devil's Food, A Corinna Chapman Mystery by Kerry Greenwood. Enjoyed it and it had a satisfying (to me) conclusion. Left me feeling good. Now I'm starting one of her Phryne Fisher mysteries Blood and Circuses and interested to see what differences are in her characters.

mabel1015j · « **Reply #542 on:** March 04, 2010, 01:52:52 PM »

Babi - i liked Lethal Legacy also and the "bits" of knowledge were interesting............jean

salan · « **Reply #543 on:** March 04, 2010, 05:06:58 PM »

Babi, thank you for mentioning Jan Burke. I used to read/enjoy her books, but had forgotten all about her. I'll have to check her out again. Sometimes when I take a break from an author; I get caught up in other books and forget to return.
Sally

mabel1015j · « **Reply #544 on:** March 04, 2010, 11:46:44 PM »

I think i'm giving up on Westlake, I'm 80pgs in and it just hasn't grabbed me..........jean

Steph · « **Reply #545 on:** March 05, 2010, 06:05:31 AM »

I loved the library informaton on Lethal Legacy.. So neat and supposed to be true. Can you imagine the storage area? Whew. Picked up a J.D. Robb the other day and I will be darned. She had already published it as a double with one of her Norah stories and she simply changed the title and a few minor details and republished. What greed from a very popular author.

Babi · « **Reply #546 on:** March 05, 2010, 09:11:16 AM »

So easy to do, SALLY. I've noticed that some of our readers seem to
take up an author, and read all their books before going elsewhere. That
sounds like an excellent way to get to know an author well, but I prefer
a change of pace in my reading. Which sometimes results in my not getting
back to someone I really intended to.

Changing a title on re-issue isn't uncommon. Think of all the Agatha
Christie books that have two different titles. More than once I couldn't
find a book because the library had it under a different title.

mabel1015j · « **Reply #547 on:** March 05, 2010, 11:48:01 AM »

Babi - I also need variety. I presently/usually have 4 books on my nightstand and i pick up the one i "feel" like reading at the moment and then if i wake up during the night, i probably will not continue reading the one i started when i came to bed, unless it is soooo good i want to get back to it. ............... that doesn't happen a lot. Right now there are 2 fiction books, a mystery and a non-fiction............ i have very little compulsion about reading a book from start to finish w/ out switching to another. I know some people feel that way. But i'm that way w/ almost everything in my life - VARIETY IS THE SPICE OF LIFE ....... i need a variety of music, tv shows, friends ( i can't type frineds correctly anymore - that's the way my fingers type it..

) active and quiet time, etc. .....................jean

mrssherlock · « **Reply #548 on:** March 05, 2010, 12:28:24 PM »

Jean: I, too, read more than one book at a time these days unless the book is so riveting I can't put it down. Sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don't.

JoanK · « **Reply #549 on:** March 05, 2010, 03:04:42 PM »

I like to vary authors, too. If I find a new author I'm excited about, I'll usually try to get a second book. But if I go further than that without a change of pace, I begin to tire of whoever it is (after all, even a chocoholic like me can't eat chocolate from morning to night).

As usual, found myself in a bookstore without my list of your suggestions. Settled for a Box and a Reich. Haven't read them yewt, because I'm caught up in "The Book Theif" for the discussion.

salan · « **Reply #550 on:** March 06, 2010, 05:14:46 AM »

Have any of you read the "Aunt Dimity" series by Nancy Atherton? The first in this series is "Aunt Dimity's Death". They are light gentle mysteries that I find enjoyable.
Sally

Steph · « **Reply #551 on:** March 06, 2010, 05:45:26 AM »

My husband used to laugh because I always have three or four books going at once. He read just one at a time and said he couldnt figure out why I felt the need for more.. I admit that the older I get, the more I am to confuse two of the characters, but I still need the variety.
Just now I have a mystery..,, a new Maeve Binchy and the Guinivere going. My bed book , I finished last night, so will put a new one on my night stand for tonight.. I think maybe one of the fantasy ones of Sharon Shinn.. I loved the first one..

Babi · « **Reply #552 on:** March 06, 2010, 08:52:36 AM »

The 'Aunt Dimity' books have been mentioned here before and I meant to try them. Must
have gotten distracted (not hard to do). Thanks for the reminder.

mrssherlock · « **Reply #553 on:** March 06, 2010, 10:43:03 AM »

Aunt Dimity is a fine example of the cosy: small English village, eccentric elderly lady in her cottage, a handful of characters to befriend the puzzle-solving narraqtor but with a charming twist. Great fun.

mabel1015j · « **Reply #554 on:** March 06, 2010, 02:25:23 PM »

is Aunt Dimity set in contemporary times?

JoanK · « **Reply #555 on:** March 06, 2010, 02:30:14 PM »

Sounds like just my cup of tea.

salan · « **Reply #556 on:** March 06, 2010, 04:22:07 PM »

It is set in semi-modern times. This is one series that I feel is very important to start with the first. It sets the whole tone for the rest of the series. I suppose you could skip around after that, but I was like (if possible) to read in order. They are fun reads!
Sally

FlaJean · « **Reply #557 on:** March 06, 2010, 10:46:10 PM »

I've read most of the Aunt Dimity books and liked them, however, they are pretty much the same to me and got a little boring after a while.

I just finished both of books in the Sterling Glass, antique appraiser, series. They are written by a well known antiques appraiser and author Emyl Jenkins. I like the way she gives a little information about antiques at the beginning of each chapter. They are cozies but very well written. I hope she continues with this series. There's a little love interest here that has me curious.

Steph · « **Reply #558 on:** March 07, 2010, 06:24:16 AM »

I have been trying to get the antique books, but no luck just yet..

salan · « **Reply #559 on:** March 07, 2010, 06:24:24 AM »

FlaJean, Yes, they do get rather boring after a while. However, the first few are really enjoyable. I find that most series (if they continue for too long) do seem to repeat themselves. I had to take a long break from Sue Grafton and Janet Evanovich. Thanks for the info on Jenkins, I'll have to check her out.
Sally

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Author Topic: Mystery Corner ~ 2 (Read 1176828 times)