Author Topic: Mystery Corner (Read 160452 times)

Steph · « **Reply #720 on:** July 03, 2009, 11:56:33 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
Our Favorite Old Mystery Writers
Fantastic Fiction
Stop You're Killing Me

Discussion Leaders: BillH and JoanK

Most of us are old senior net people.. They deserted us is the way I look at it. Am reading the upstate New York series.. missed one by Julia Spencer Fleming. I do love her writing. However I missed the one where the police chiefs wife died..Hmm. back to my swap club..
Also reading the latest paper back j.d. robb.. They are silly and fun.

JoanK · « **Reply #721 on:** July 03, 2009, 03:04:08 PM »

HI, JOHANZ: glad to see you again. I'm sorry that the home page doesn't make it easier to get into discussions. I'll report it.

This is the same mystery discussion we had on the old Seniornet.

Steph · « **Reply #722 on:** July 04, 2009, 10:38:15 AM »

Almost finished the J.D. Robb. Quite an intricate idea this time. Being able to tell old tattoos and old knife wounds on a body is interesting.

Golden State Poppy · « **Reply #723 on:** July 04, 2009, 02:33:35 PM »

I am another former member of Seniornet's mystery group. I find that I like recent stories and look for ones where they use cell phones and search on computers. I am currently reading one by Jeffery Deaver, "The Devil's Teardrop". It was published in 1999. He had a more recent on which was about computers and hackers. I enjoyed it since I teach computers. I was amazed at how much computers have changed since 2001.

JoanK · « **Reply #724 on:** July 04, 2009, 06:07:06 PM »

A fascinating real life mystery about computers is "The Cuckoo's Egg" by Clifford Stoll. It is a non-fiction book written by a graduate student: he had a job in the universities computer lab, and to keep him busy (I suspect to get them out of their hair), he was asked to track down a 50 cent discrepancy in the computer account. The trail eventually led him to expose a German hacker who had broken into not only the University's computer, but the computers of most of our top secret agencies. The computer technology is outdated, but if you like to follow technical stuff, you'll like this.

Steph · « **Reply #725 on:** July 05, 2009, 08:33:58 AM »

Amazing how much computers have changed. Our oldest son was in graduate school in the early 80's.. He made money by learning the psychological language in the computer world ( at that time, all of the disciplines seem to have had special languages). He learned the math and then the psychology and actually made quite a good extra income.. I would assume that windows changed all that.

Babi · « **Reply #726 on:** July 05, 2009, 09:26:19 AM »

POPPY!! How good to see you again! So glad you found this site. It's always
such fun to hear from an old SN bookie.

I just read my first 'Beatrix Potter' mystery, and fanciful and fun combination
of her animal stories with a light mystery. I was surprised and delighted, tho', to find the background of the book was factual. Beatrice Potter did buy a farm
in Nearer Sawrey and make it her home. She was engaged to her editor, over
the objections of her snobbish parents, and he did die shortly thereafter of leukemia. So we not only have whimsy and mystery, there is biography thrown into the mix as well!

Steph · « **Reply #727 on:** July 06, 2009, 05:04:51 PM »

I have a note to look up the Beatrice Potter stuff..

mrssherlock · « **Reply #728 on:** July 06, 2009, 05:35:39 PM »

I've enjoyed the Beatrix Potter stories. Seems to be a blend of fact and fantasy, i.e., imagination put to use creating characters and conversations.

FlaJean · « **Reply #729 on:** July 06, 2009, 05:37:09 PM »

I've also enjoyed the Beatrice Potter series.

Johanz4 · « **Reply #730 on:** July 06, 2009, 11:23:12 PM »

good to see all the familiar names and faces from Seniornet. hope i am doing this right. don't see 'Post' box so went down to end of the page and hit reply and this box came up. is there a page where I can add my picture. think I have one to fit. right now I am reading Cathy Pickens 'Can't Never Tell' - her Southern Fried Mystery series. they take place in Charleston, Va. and since I spent a little time in that area loved all the references to Blue Ridge Mountain. loved it.

Johanz - kept my seniornet name just in case we had the same group. so happy someone mentioned this web site on a different forum. when I read it, said I have to check it out. Happy i did so.

JoanK · « **Reply #731 on:** July 07, 2009, 06:03:23 PM »

JOHANZ WELCOME BACK. We're glad you did too.

I'm not familiar with the "Southern Fried" mysteries: they sound great. I'll put them om my list.

Steph · « **Reply #732 on:** July 08, 2009, 08:09:39 AM »

Cathy Pickens writes a really funny small series.. I love it and am always looking for more of hers.

Tomereader1 · « **Reply #733 on:** July 08, 2009, 10:32:44 AM »

It shouldn't surprise any of you that SeniorNet is still sending me letters that say my subscription has expired! LOL, as if I would be interested in giving them money when they just cut us off. Bah, humbug!

Johanz4 · « **Reply #734 on:** July 08, 2009, 09:38:06 PM »

I am now reading a good book by Carolyn Hart 'Ghost at Work'. I like to believe what the Ghost reports Heaven to be. I always hope that my family are together.

I also enjoy her Death on Demand and Henry 'O' series

mrssherlock · « **Reply #735 on:** July 08, 2009, 10:27:30 PM »

After a while I can find a series suddenly boring; that happened with Death on Demand. I like this new series, hope she keeps writing them.

Steph · « **Reply #736 on:** July 09, 2009, 02:20:48 PM »

I will have to retry her. I got tired of Death on Demand. Some writers never tire me of their series, but others do. Almost finished with the Julia Spencer Fleming. I do like her. She has the most interesting characters and the new woman is a hoot.

JoanK · « **Reply #737 on:** July 09, 2009, 02:24:10 PM »

JACKIE and STEPH: I agree with you on Death on Demand. I liked the quizzes (once in a while I even knew the answer) but somehow the "Nick and Nora Charles" imitation didn't come off.

Babi · « **Reply #738 on:** July 10, 2009, 08:10:43 AM »

Re-reading the old Agatha Christie books for the Masterpiece Theatre series,
I am re-discovering just what made Christie so great. For one thing, the marvelous little touches that made her characters come alive.

Steph · « **Reply #739 on:** July 10, 2009, 08:13:01 AM »

Its funny. I love Miss Marple,, the individual ones, Tuppence and Tommy , but am not overfond of Poiret.. I can read one at a time, but not a whole bunch of him.. But I loved her Autobiography.. Wonderful book.

mrssherlock · « **Reply #740 on:** July 10, 2009, 05:26:06 PM »

Steph: It's not Poirot I love but David Suchet. His skill is to bring the stiff, carboard character Christie created to living, breathing, three-dimmensional reality. Just as Jeremy Brett re-created Sherlock Holmes. IMHO.

And now for something completely different: Has anyone read the series by Susan Hill about Chief Inspector Simon Serrailler? Starts with The Various Haunts of Men and continues with the one I'm reading now, The Pure in Heart. These stories affect me as Susan George's Inspector Linley and the series about the woman who is a Presbyterian minister and a National Guard helicopter pilot, whose author's name escapes me. These are the ones that get into my soul, where when the character weeps I reach for a tissue. Very compelling.

Tomereader1 · « **Reply #741 on:** July 10, 2009, 05:28:24 PM »

Julia Spencer-Fleming and her character, Clare Fergusson.

mrssherlock · « **Reply #742 on:** July 10, 2009, 05:38:22 PM »

Yes! That's the one, thank you, tomereader.

Babi · « **Reply #743 on:** July 11, 2009, 08:13:40 AM »

Sold!, Steph. I'm adding Susan Hill to my list of authors to look for.

Steph · « **Reply #744 on:** July 11, 2009, 04:08:38 PM »

I love Claire Fergusan, but have not yet read Susan Hill. Will put her on my list.
Spent today at the FDR house and library. What a beautiful setting and lovely lovely house. It made me have great sympathy for Eleanor. What a mother in law.. All of the family pictures.. have... Franklin, Momma and then Eleanor ( and she generally has her head down in the pictures.) We had an excellent guide in the park ranger. He knew his stuff and we had a delightful time listening to him.

JoanK · « **Reply #745 on:** July 11, 2009, 06:07:05 PM »

STEPH: was this the house at Hyde Park? One of the mysteries by Elliot Roosevelt with his mother Eleanor as the detective has that house as a backdrop, with FDR's mother as a character. I can't remember the name of the book.

JoanK · « **Reply #746 on:** July 11, 2009, 06:09:36 PM »

Well, it's The Hyde Park Murder:

http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/r/elliott-roosevelt/hyde-park-murder.htm

Steph · « **Reply #747 on:** July 12, 2009, 10:15:37 AM »

Yes, we are in Plattekill at a campground and have gone to West Point one day and then FDR the next. Both were splendid.The settings are really wonderful.. West Point is now only seen on a tour.. No wandering. Sort of sad. Hyde Park was fun.. We did both the house and the library. Enjoyed them enormously.. We are trying to visit all of the presidential libraries, although truthfully, not Nixon.. I just could not bear the man. But otherwise, we have done Truman, Eisenhauer,Roosevelt and Clinton.. I actually lived 10 years just north of Boston and never got to Kennedy's, but will try to see it next year.. LBJ is in Texas, so we may be able to see that this fall if we decide to rv again in Texas.

Rainbow · « **Reply #748 on:** July 12, 2009, 02:06:54 PM »

Hi Again,

It's been a while since my last post, I've been up north (that's Mass.) for a family visit.
I've also been busy reading some of the great books I heard about here, the last Elizabeth George, Careless in Red, Wally Lamb's The Hour I First Believed, another Louise Penny mystery, Mortenson's Three Cups of Tea,and The Story of Edgar Sawtelle.
Now I'm back to add some more to my reading list. I didn't know that HBO was showing The #1 Ladies Detective Agency series. I've read lots of them, just the right thing after a serious read. Lots of fun. Has anyone read Nicholos Evan's The Smoke Jumpers? I read it after the Horse Whispererand thought it was great. Learned a lot about fire fighting out in the western mountain areas.

I also use the library for most of my books except a few I want to keep and reread. Also hunt yard sales and library sales. I will check into paperbackbookswap.com. We do pass books around between friends and also have a lending library (honor system) where I live. I've found lots of good books there and donate to them.

Thanks for all the great information.

Steph · « **Reply #749 on:** July 13, 2009, 08:03:38 AM »

New author to me.. Ellen Elizabeth Hunter.. book is Murder at Wrightsvlle Beach.. All about that section of North Carolina.. Thus far I love the descriptions, but the murder is a bit murky. Very much a cozy. Still it isnt bad.

mrssherlock · « **Reply #750 on:** July 13, 2009, 10:49:41 AM »

Izzy (Isabel) Spellman continues on her murky path to adulthood (she's 31), dragging her family and friends in her calamitous wake. http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/l/lisa-lutz/ I've read all three now and the laughs continue. These aren't mysteries in the usual sense since Izzy and her family are PIs. Still, investigations crop up and answers must be sought given Izzy's mild case of OCD (think Monk). I hope Lisa Lutz writes faster.

mabel1015j · « **Reply #751 on:** July 13, 2009, 03:45:14 PM »

Just read 2 of Charlaine Harris "grave" series books. I like the querkiness of her protagonist who was struck by lightning and now finds dead bodies. She has an interesting relationship w/ her stepbrother who works w/ her and is attuned to the other problems she has from the lightening strike - wonder what will come of that relatonship? ....................jean

Babi · « **Reply #752 on:** July 14, 2009, 07:51:09 AM »

I got 'The Spellman Files' from the library. And as soon as my daughter lets
me have it back, I'm going to read it!

Steph · « **Reply #753 on:** July 14, 2009, 08:00:40 AM »

I read the first
Spellman and loved it.. Am on the lookout for the next two..Finished the last mystery and finally decided to treat myself to Fearless Fourteen.. I need a Stephanie Plum fix.. and I always wait until they are in paperback.

peace42 · « **Reply #754 on:** July 15, 2009, 01:46:12 AM »

wow, it has been ages and ages since I've been here...was without a computer for all of May and part of June..thought I;d have to go into rehab unless I got a computer! but all is right with the world..a wonderful computer/IT friend got me a re-built Dell for a great price..also a new mouse and keyboard...health issues then took over as does life sometimes...and now I'm moving to a new apartment..downsizing from a 2 bedroom to a 1 bedroom in the same complex..have been unable to do much of the work myself but am so blessed to have awseome friends who have been coming over almost every day and packing things..it;s wonderful; I will be in my new place by August 1st...then the unpacking fun starts! haven't done a lot of readng but will list what has passed thru my hands recently:
*Run for Your Life -James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge - why do I continue to read his stuff?

his Alex Cross series was very good but his collaborations..well, maybe he phoned the stuff in
*Lost Boy Lost Girl - Peter Straub - one of my favorites and this didn't disappoint - eerie mystery - wasn't sure about it at first but after a while I was hooked
*Deadlock - Iris Johansen - typical of hers - not b ad/not good/ but...would read another down the road somewhere!
*Bones of Berayal - a Body Farm Novel - Jefferson Bass - actually 2 writers/ Dr. Bill Bass and Jon Jeferson - guess this is the third in a series - I wll definitely find the first 2 - this takes place at the Oak Ridge Facility in Tennessee - sometimes long on scientific detail but it's not overwhelming - good story, good ccharacters, unexpected ending
am now reading a Lisa Gardner mystery - am fast becoming a fan of hers - wil have more time once I'm settled
good to be back and read allof what you've been reading - saw that someone read the new Wally Lamb - anxious to hear what you thought of it
sleep well and fall asleep with a book

Steph · « **Reply #755 on:** July 15, 2009, 08:10:50 AM »

This computer hookup keeps cutting me off.. I have read the Jefferson Bass books. Quite good and very full of science..In a neat way.
James Patterson is off my reading list. Just got really awful . He seems to have turned himself into a factory.
Laughing my way through Fearless Fourteen.

Babi · « **Reply #756 on:** July 15, 2009, 09:34:36 AM »

Quote

"..well, maybe he phoned the stuff in."

LOL, Peace!

Sorry you've had such a number of stressors lately. I'm glad you had
friends close by to help out. Jefferson Bass sounds good. I'll see if
my library has him.

mrssherlock · « **Reply #757 on:** July 15, 2009, 01:39:12 PM »

I enjoyed all the Jefferson Bass novels as well as his bio. Recent story in the news is info that another body farm has sprouted in the soil of Texas where the climate is so different from Tennessee's. Seems there is a shortage of cadavers for the Texas facility, however; there have been only a few received so far.

maryz · « **Reply #758 on:** July 15, 2009, 03:13:58 PM »

I hadn't heard of a new body farm in TX. Do you know where it is, Jackie?

We've been to a program/book signing by Bill Bass and Bill Jefferson (the authors). They give a great program - are very entertaining. And we love the books, too.

mrssherlock · « **Reply #759 on:** July 15, 2009, 05:18:51 PM »

Babi: Here's some more info on the body farm: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body_farm
http://www.txstate.edu/anthropology/facts/

How far from you is San Marcos?

News:

Author Topic: Mystery Corner (Read 160452 times)