Author Topic: Mystery Corner (Read 160525 times)

Steph · « **Reply #440 on:** April 05, 2009, 09:25:46 AM »

I read the Jeanne Dams book a while back. It was OK, not a favorite , but not bad at all.

mrssherlock · « **Reply #441 on:** April 05, 2009, 01:55:25 PM »

Babi: I really enjoyed the Dams books. Dorothy is an American who lives in Britain in a charming house in the cathedral close (?). Nice mix of Yank + Brit. I've read them all. Seems like I read one of the Hilda books and liked it; don't know why I stopped at one.

JoanK · « **Reply #442 on:** April 05, 2009, 04:06:31 PM »

____

Pull up a comfortable chair and join us here to talk about mysteries and their authors.
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Discussion Leaders: BillH and JoanK

I haven't. Let us know if it's good.

JoanK · « **Reply #443 on:** April 05, 2009, 04:11:04 PM »

I haven't. Let us know if it's good.

I keep forgetting to watch for new pages to put in headings. If you catch one and post "save for heading", thanks.

CubFan · « **Reply #444 on:** April 05, 2009, 05:02:17 PM »

Greetings -

Just finished Susan Albert's new book - Wormwood. Change of place - setting a Shaker village. Two story lines - the present day and the past. Continues her emphasis on herbs. Well written. Enjoyable.

Have just started Carolyn Hart's new title Dare to Die. A continuation of her series, Death on Demand. Appears to be routine. Same characters and setting. Agatha the cat is still misbehaving.

Mary

JoanK · « **Reply #445 on:** April 05, 2009, 06:00:11 PM »

The Albert sounds very interesting.

Steph · « **Reply #446 on:** April 06, 2009, 07:37:12 AM »

I like the Alpert books. She is quite good.. Learned a bunch about herbs as well from them. She and her husband write another series, but I tried one and really did not like amazing.. Totally different from when she writes alone.

Babi · « **Reply #447 on:** April 06, 2009, 09:10:57 AM »

JACKIE, what is it about a cathedral close that draws me? From Trollope to Elizabeth Gouge's imaginative "The Blue Hills", I love the cathedral cleric settings. My kids actually gathered round and wanted to hear me read 'The Blue Hills'. Imagine!

mrssherlock · « **Reply #448 on:** April 06, 2009, 09:59:57 AM »

Sounds like The BLue Hillls should be on my list. Want a book that keeps you LOL all night? That's what I did as I read Dog On It by Spencer Quinn. Chet, the title dog, narrates and it is stream-of-consciousness dawg. As Chet and Bernie, his human, seek answers in the disappearance of 14-yr-old Madison, the laughs keep on coming. This is not your typical serial killer, or blood-and-gore, although there are off-stage acts of violence and several cliff-hangers (LOL) in the rich plot. Kept me guessing and laughing all the way through; though the bad guys' identity wasn't hidden, how it all comes out kept me hooked.

peace42 · « **Reply #449 on:** April 07, 2009, 12:03:21 AM »

Just finished Heat Lightning by John Sandford - his usual main character is Lucas Davenport and I love those books - now he has a new main man..well new to me, think this might be the 2nd or 3rd with Virgil Flowers who works with Lucas and who does appear infrequently throughout the book - excellent story line with plots going back to Vietnam in the mid 70's - liked this one a lot - will always read another of Sandfords book in a minute - off to the library tomorrow to get a few more - wish our library would let us take books out for a month but we can take them out for 2 weeks and the renew if we want - would be interested in what other libraries do

nite all and don't stay up too late reading...ah, well, go ahead and stay up!!

Steph · « **Reply #450 on:** April 07, 2009, 07:53:32 AM »

Spencer Quinn sounds interesting. Have to look himup.
Yes, both my husband and I are John Sandford fans.. I like his new character as well.. We dont read or like the Kidd series however.

Babi · « **Reply #451 on:** April 07, 2009, 09:15:12 AM »

A book that keeps me laughing....I'm all for that! I'll definitely look up Spencer Quinn, JACKIE. Thanks for the post.

Tomereader1 · « **Reply #452 on:** April 07, 2009, 11:21:58 AM »

Our library system previously had a 2 week system, with one week for the books on the "New" shelf. A good while back they went to three (3) weeks for all books, I was thrilled with that. Last year they changed their on-line Operating Software, so when you reserve books, most of them can be renewed up to 99 times (I think this excludes some titles) DVD's can be kept for one week (I think). Their old on line system was good, but the new one is better! I can't thnk of the program name, but when I do I will let you all know, to mention to your library. (you may even have it already)

mrssherlock · « **Reply #453 on:** April 07, 2009, 04:08:43 PM »

99 times!

JoanK · « **Reply #454 on:** April 07, 2009, 05:54:21 PM »

My library lets you keep for three weeks, with one renewal. But paperbacks are on the honor system: take them, keep as long as want, and return, they don't log them. Perhaps they figure it costs more to keep track of them than replace them.

Went to the library yesterday, and there was Alpert's Wormwood amoung the new books. I'll start it as soon as I've finished "Team of Rivals".

peace42 · « **Reply #455 on:** April 08, 2009, 01:48:09 AM »

Picked up Nelson DeMille's The Gate House from the new book section today. lHuge book...one of those that's hard to hold up when reading in bed

but, I'll manage. They also had Wally Lamb's new one which was equally as large...I'll let that one wait for a bit.

DVD's at our library can be kept for a week; don't know about paperbacks. Our library also has a book store run by the Friends of the Library; they have a great collection at wonderful prices; new hard covers for $1.00-$2.00...paperbacks usually 50 cents.

Our little town of less than 3,000 population has a wonderful library and it is truly appreciated by this community

Nite everyone...sleep well

Steph · « **Reply #456 on:** April 08, 2009, 07:45:46 AM »

Sometimes small town libraries are the best. I remember one in New Hampshire that I loved.. However I quickly ran out of books to read there, since they really had best sellers and did not seem to get many mysteries at all. Thats when I started looking for used book stores.

Babi · « **Reply #457 on:** April 08, 2009, 09:31:17 AM »

I always considered our library especially good for a small town. In the past year, tho', I have been saddened to see the increasing amount of empty shelf space. It is evident the library is not getting the strong support from the city that it once enjoyed. Another sign of the times, I suppose, but I was surprised at how many good books were in the 'Friends' book sale instead of on the library shelves.

mrssherlock · « **Reply #458 on:** April 08, 2009, 11:54:41 AM »

When I was paying for a book my cat ate, I asked if the library took donations. Not any longer was the reply. I can udnerstand the need to apply objective standards to what is lent in the name of the city/county but it is too bad that that a source has been cut off. Maybe libraries could have a fund drive, like PBS. I would be happy to pay a small annual fee. Very small.

jane · « **Reply #459 on:** April 08, 2009, 05:01:08 PM »

Jackie...do you mean $$ donations? Our little local library set up a Foundation so money can be donated there. Money just given to the Library cannot be put into the current budget, so it ends up going back to the city. Now people can leave money to the Library through the Foundation and we also have a "gifts and trust" account through the city that we can put donations into and that the city can't touch.

Book donations are either added to the collection or go to the Friends book sale which then buys stuff the Library needs and is also outside the city/county's hands.

jane

Steph · « **Reply #460 on:** April 09, 2009, 08:21:39 AM »

We have moved often enough that I have seen a variety of ways that libraries are allowed to use donated books. The small town put them on the shelves if hardback and had racks for the paperback. They never put the paperbacks into the system, so you could return or not as you wanted.
In Massachusetts, all donations went to the used book area. We had a used book store in the basement of the library. I ran it for a while and when I was there, I made lists of things that sounded interesting and sent it up to the chief librarian. Occasionally he would come down and take a few to put in the permanent collection. We were a very high tech town and had some wonderful donations of high tech material.

mabel1015j · « **Reply #461 on:** April 09, 2009, 02:22:58 PM »

Reading my first Laura Childs book - Shades of Earl Grey. Enjoying, i'll read more of hers............jean

JoanK · « **Reply #462 on:** April 09, 2009, 02:34:10 PM »

Shades of Earl Grey is a great title. Tell us how you like it. Read one of Anne Perry's "quickie" Christmas mysteries last night, "Christmas Guest". Perfect when you want a short break from what you're reading. She takes one of her continueing characters from her long books, and makes them a detective in a novella. They assume you know the characters from the other books, though. This one had Emily and Charlotte's nasty "grandmama" as the main character.

nlhome · « **Reply #463 on:** April 09, 2009, 08:53:13 PM »

Libraries should be meeting the needs of the community. They are usually governed by boards - perhaps checking with the board would explain some of the policies. A good library director would be happy to have suggestions for books to add to the collection. If the library doesn't take donations, maybe the director doesn't have time or staff to sort through donated books. Library directors seem to have different perspectives about the books on their shelves - we've had one who kept culling the collection to keep only the middle, easily accessible shelves filled. She liked the neat, open look. Another uses every appropriate donation she can that fits within the goals of the collection. She has a volunteer who reviews donated books to see if, for example, they complete a series or add a seocnd copy of a popular book. Shelves are full, but circulation is up.

mrssherlock · « **Reply #464 on:** April 09, 2009, 10:23:17 PM »

Warning: Do not, I repeat, do not start to read The Jury Master by Robert Dugoni when you go to bed at night. I did and I didn't get a wink of sleep. The twists and turns in this plot went way, way beyond my imagination but were logically consistent.

Steph · « **Reply #465 on:** April 10, 2009, 07:37:35 AM »

Is it a legal thriller. My husband does so love any of the legal thrillers and is running out of authors.

Babi · « **Reply #466 on:** April 10, 2009, 09:29:36 AM »

I'm going to ask one of the librarians about their policy on donated books. There were so many good books in the recent Friends book sale, when many of the library shelves are empty. It seems a shame, and I'd like to know why they couldn't be kept.

mrssherlock · « **Reply #467 on:** April 10, 2009, 09:33:09 AM »

Steph: While it is about a lawyer it is not a courtroom drama like Kate Wilhelm's books. But it is a riproaring adventure tale.

marjifay · « **Reply #468 on:** April 10, 2009, 10:30:26 AM »

Steph, you mentioned that your husband liked legal thrillers and was running out of authors to read. Here is a list of legal thrillers from my TBR list, along with short summaries. (The abbreviation "L" means my library has them.) Maybe there are some he hasn't read:

CRUEL JUSTICE by William Bernhardt 4+, L (480 pp, 1996) Rec. in Mystery Lovers. 5th in series with Ben Kincaid, attorney in Tulsa, OK. Per Booklist, superb legal thriller. First in series is Primary Justice 3**.

KILLER HEAT by Linda Fairstein 4**, L (320 pp, March, 2008) Rec. by Ellen in Mystery Lovers. Per Pub. Wkly, her nail-biting 10th legal thriller with Alex Cooper, Manhattan ADA. Per Library Journal, a scorcher of a crime novel--her best yet.

LETHAL LEGACY by Linda Fairstein 4**, L (372 pp, 2009) Rec. by Janene in Mystery Lovers. Per PW, 11th legal thriller with Asst. DA Alexandra Cooper. An investigation leads her and her team into the dark depths of the NY Public Library in search of stolen items that certain bibliophiles and antique map enthusiasts would kill for. Full of fun info about the NY Public Library.

THE LEGAL LIMIT by Martin Clark 4+, L (352 pp, 2008) Rec. in 4MA. Per Washington Post, a compelling legal thriller -- complex story of a murder cover-up.

NO LESSER PLEA by Robert Tanenbaum. 4+, L (368 pp, 1988) First in the series with Karp and Clampi, district attorneys in 1970 New York City. Rec. in Mystery Lovers Book Club.

THE PARTNER by John Grisham 4**, L (366 pp, 1997) Rec. by an Amazon reader -- this is his favorite Grisham novel. He says Grisham's latest book, The Associate, is padded and reflects little of the talent who wrote The Partner. A young partner in a prominent Southern law firm with a beautiful wife, a new baby girl and a bright future, one winter night is trapped in his burning car. The casket they bury carries only ashes. A short distance away the young lawyer watches his own burial, then flees. A fortune was stolen from his ex-firm's offshore account. He runs, covering his tracks all the way, but now -- they've found him.

A QUESTION OF GUILT by Frances Fyfield 5**, L (224 pp) Her "Blood from Stone" rec. in 4MA. First in series with Helen West, a London prosecutor. Finalist in Agatha-Award 1989 for best first novel.

mrssherlock · « **Reply #469 on:** April 10, 2009, 03:50:53 PM »

Legal thrillers are addictive. There is the same fascination to me as in spy thrillers, it is all about mental games. David Rosenfelt is now on my list with Kate Wilhelm as one I grab, I don't care what it's about I just want to read it. Found this list of writers of the genre; many names new to me: http://library.ci.manchester.ct.us/ra/readlists/legalthrillers.html

mrssherlock · « **Reply #470 on:** April 10, 2009, 03:53:40 PM »

Manchester Library (see above) has compiled a list of genres called What Do I Read Next which is going to take me years to explore. See: http://library.ci.manchester.ct.us/ra/readnext.html

mabel1015j · « **Reply #471 on:** April 10, 2009, 05:53:42 PM »

ohhhhh Jackie, what a great list! Thanks for sharing. I'm going to suggest this to my library.........jean

marjifay · « **Reply #472 on:** April 10, 2009, 07:09:41 PM »

Thanks so much for that wonderful list, Jackie! You evidently have a great library/librarian. I've bookmarked the list.

Steph · « **Reply #473 on:** April 11, 2009, 09:36:31 AM »

I did find the Robert Dugoni in my swap club so ordered it.

pedln · « **Reply #474 on:** April 11, 2009, 01:43:06 PM »

Jackie, I just put a hold on Dugoni’s The Jury Master at the library. But I doubt I’ll follow y our advice, as bedtime is when I do most of my reading.

Speaking of advice and do’s and don’t, has anyone watched the movie Memento? I’ve had it here from Netflix for a couple weeks, but the advice I get is “don’t watch it alone.” And my friends say it doesn’t sound like something they want to watch.

Marjifay, I love the Linda Fairstein books. Haven’t read too many, so still have a long way to go there. Frances Fyfield sounds very familiar, but I don’t think I’ve read any of hers. What are some other titles?

I’ve enjoyed Scott Turow’s legal novels,too, but haven’t found him to be consistent in quality.

That is a great list, Jackie, and I’ve bookmarked it too.

JoanK · « **Reply #475 on:** April 11, 2009, 02:44:51 PM »

Margifay: thanks for that list of legal thrillers: I love them too.

And Jackie, I've bookmarked your list.

I admit, I've gotten into a rut -- read8ing the same authors all the time. These lists may pull me out of it.

Haven't read Wormwood about the Shakers yet. But that reminds me, there was a series of mysteries about a shaker community that I read several years ago. I can't for the life of me remember the author or titles, although I think they included the seasons ("A Shaker Spring"?) Does anyone else know them?

Babi · « **Reply #476 on:** April 11, 2009, 03:19:25 PM »

It looks like all of us are bookmarking that site, JACKIE. I fairly drooled when
I saw it!

Thank you very, very.

marjifay · « **Reply #477 on:** April 11, 2009, 03:49:46 PM »

Pedln, Memento is a terrific movie! It's been a while since I saw it, but I still remember it. Very well done.

I saw a film last week which was a great horror film (and I never watch that kind of movie!). It was titled "Slither" and so fascinating I couldn't stop watching. Good acting and subtle humor. I might even watch more by that director, James Gunn.

As to novels by Frances Fyfield, they were referred by someone who loved her books. I just haven't had time to read them. Have a lot on my plate right now... Orwell's 1984, BIRDS WITHOUT WINGS by Louis De Bernieres (wonderful book!), THE CHILD IN TIME by Ian McEwan, and Walter Mosley's new book, THE LONG FALL.

I saw Joan Rivers recently on a talk show pushing her new mystery book MURDER AT THE ACADEMY AWARDS which I might try to peek at. She can be funny at times. They asked her what she liked to read, and she replied "At my age, anything with large print!"

Golden State Poppy · « **Reply #478 on:** April 11, 2009, 05:30:07 PM »

I am another who bookmarked the list of legal thrillers.

I am currently reading on that I can't recommend because it is so hard to follow. It is "The Body of David Hayes" by Ridley Pearson. The wife had an affair years ago with David Hayes and it comes back to haunt her when he is released from prison. "a riveting novel about big-time embezzlement, Russian Mafiosi, and a misguided love affair in the past that threatens the lives of Seattle police lieutenant Leo Boldt and his wife, Elizabeth."

marjifay · « **Reply #479 on:** April 12, 2009, 01:42:26 AM »

I haven't read that one by Ridley Pearson, Poppy (The Body of David Hayes), and from what you say it doesn't sound too good. I did read one of Pearson's stand-alones a while back -- CUT AND RUN, which I thought was very good -- a thriller with a scaaary villain.

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Author Topic: Mystery Corner (Read 160525 times)