What Are We Reading and Reviewing in July?

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What Are We Reading and Reviewing in July?

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1Carol420
jun 26, 2017, 10:56 am

This is the place to let everyone know the books you are reading during July, and then to leave reviews of these books. You can put up a list of the books you are reading for the month or put a post about a book as you start it, or even both.

Don't worry...we are not back at school. A review can be something as simple as a sentence about the book or as comprehensive as you want to make it - whatever is good for you. Our love of books is the reason we are all here.

2Carol420
Redigeret: jul 31, 2017, 6:33 am

Carol's July Reads

Group Read
The Night Stalker by Chris Carter -7/6/17 - 4.5★'s
Kissing the Demons by Kate Ellis - 7/25/17 - 4★'s

Mini Challenges
Nine Coaches Waiting by Mary Stewart - ATW - 7/10/17 - 3★'s
I Let You Go by Clare MacKintosh - ATW - 7/1/17 - 4 ★'s
The Other Side of Midnight by Simone St. James - ATW - 7/26/17 - 4.5★'s
Wait For Dark by Kay Hooper - M&S Extra
Loose Ends by Terri Reid - M&S Extra
Princess Decomposia & Count Spatula by Andi Watson - 7/17/17 - 3★'s

Blind Date With A Book - Treasure Trove
Shadow Man by Cody McFadyen - June's date - 7/4/17 - 5
Quartet in August by Barbara Pym - July date - 7/16/17 - 4 ★'s

Others That Followed Me home & Won't Leave
The Prisoner's Gold by Chris Kuzneski - group read from June - 7/21/17 - 5★'s
The Book of Souls by James Oswald - group read for June - 7/15/17 - 5★'s
Most Dangerous Place by James Grippando - Bookie Jar - 7/24/17 - 4.5★'s
The Skeleton Box by Brian Gruley - Bookie Jar - 7/3/17 - 3★'s
I See You by Clare MacKintosh - Bookie Jar - 7/5/17 - 4 ★'s
The Ex by Alafair Burke - Bookie Jar - 7/15/17 - 4★'s
The Hanging Tree by Ben Aaronovitch - 7/13/17 - 4★'s
Requiem Mass by Elizabeth Corley - 7/1/17 - 3.5★'s
Every Dead Thing by John Connolly - 7/8/17 - 4★'s
A Game of Ghosts by John Connolly - 7/11/17 - 4.5★'s
A Time of Torment by John Connolly - 7/27/17 - 4★'s
Yesternight by Cat Winters - 7/30/17 - 5★'s
Tell the Wolves I'm Home by Carol Rifka Brunt - 7/22/17 - 4.5★'s
The Silent Corner by Dean Koontz - 7/18/17 - 4.5★'s
Down A Dark Road by Linda Castillo - 7/20/17 - 4.5★'s
The Late Show by Michael Connelly - 7/25/17 - 4.5★'s
This is Our Story by Ashley Elston - reread - 7/27/17 - 5★'s

3EadieB
Redigeret: jul 29, 2017, 9:24 pm

July 2017 Reads
✔★ ☊ ☞

Finished Reads
✔93. MysterySub-Genre - Strangers on a Train by Patricia Highsmith - 281 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 7/1/2017
✔94. Falkland Islands - Little Black Lies by Sharon Bolton - 365 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 7/3/2017
✔95. ☊ Bookie Jar The Second Life of Nick Mason by Steve Hamilton - 288 pgs. - ★★★★ - 7/4/2017
✔96. Colombia - No One Writes to the Colonel by Gabriel Garcia Marquez - 62 pgs. - ★★★ - 7/5/2017
✔97. ☊ New Author - Finding Nouf by Zoë Ferraris - 305 Pages - ★★★★ - 7/1/2017
✔98. Group Read The Night Stalker by Chris Carter - 454 pgs. - ★★★★ - 7/7/2017
✔99. ☊ Blood On Snow by Jo Nesbo - 224 pages - ★★★ - 7/8/2017
✔100. Suriname - Monkey Love and Murder by Edith McClintock - 255 pgs. - ★★★★ - 7/9/2017
✔101. Black Dog by Stephen Booth - 351 pgs. - ★★★★ - 7/11/2017
✔102. Last In Series - Down A Dark Road by Linda Castillo - 292 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 7/15/2017
✔103. Early Reviewer - White Sand Blues by Vicki Delany - 144 pgs. - ★★★★ - 7/15/2017
✔104. Environmentally Friendly by Elias Zanbaka - 29 pgs. - ★★★★ - 7/17/2017
✔105. ☊ Exit strategy sound recording by Steve Hamilton - 304 pgs. ★★★★★ - 7/17/2017
✔106. Mystery Sub-Genre - The Alchemy of Murder by Carol McCleary - ★★★★★ - 7/20/2017
✔107. The Boy Who Saw by Simon Toyne - 499 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 7/20/2017
✔108. Planned Group Read #2 - Kissing the Demons by Kate Ellis - 216 pgs. - ★★★★ - 7/25/2017
✔109. Manderley Forever by Tatiana De Rosnay - 340 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 7/25/2017
✔110. Paraguay - Wild About Harry by Paul Pickering - 212 pgs. ★★★ - 7/26/2017
✔111. Guyana - Company Orders by David J. Walker - 365 pgs. - ★★★★ - 7/29/2017

Currently Reading
French Guiana - The Dain Curse by Dashiell Hammet - 256 pgs.
An Officer and a Spy by Robert Harris - Historical Thriller - 373 pgs.
Brazil - The Partner by John Grisham - 468 pgs.

4sushicat
Redigeret: jul 28, 2017, 7:23 am

July plan

M&S group reads
The Night Stalker by Chirs Carter - 3.4 stars
Kissing the Demons by Kate Ellis

✔ M&S sub genres - paranormal mystery - The Hanging Tree by Ben Aaronovitch - 5 stars

Mysteries
A Clean Kill in Tokyo by Barry Eisler - 4 stars

Other reading:
Mind of the Raven by Bernd Heinrich - 5 stars
The Color Purple by Alice Walker - 5 stars
Exit West by Mohsin Hamid - 4.4 stars
A Memory of Light by Robert Jordan - 4 stars - finally finished the series!
Binti by Nnedi Okorafor - 4 stars
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee - 5 stars + ♥♥♥♥♥
Columbine by Dave Cullen - 4.6 stars
Kindred by Octavia Butler

5Andrew-theQM
Redigeret: jun 27, 2017, 2:30 pm

I am trying to sort out what books we will read as a Group Read in July and August. Obviously we are planning to read The Night Stalker by Chris Carter starting on 30th June, which will go into the first week of July.

We had planned to read The Chalk Pit by Elly Griffiths, but given the difficulties getting hold of Cold Earth by Anne Cleeves I am assuming this won't be possible as not everyone will get hold of it. Let me know if you can get hold of it.

From 20th July my wife and I are also away from home until the end of August (whilst our son house sits) So I am suggesting we repeat what we did last year and I will put a few books down as possible Group Reads that I either own or can get out from the library as an ebook. If they are the next in one of the series we are reading I'm sure this will be fine, otherwise we will vote to choose them. Once I know whether we can read The Chalk Pit or not I will post the titles.

6EadieB
jun 27, 2017, 3:00 pm

I can get both the Elly Griffiths book and Ann Cleeves book.

7gaylebutz
jun 27, 2017, 4:29 pm

The books I'm planning to read in July are:

Dead Water by Ann Cleeves - Shetland Island Mystery series (current)
The Fear Index by Robert Harris - Technology thriller
The Preacher by Camilla Lackberg - Swedish Noir
Fall of Giants by Ken Follett - Historical family epic

8Andrew-theQM
jun 27, 2017, 4:39 pm

>7 gaylebutz: All favourite authors of mine. :) Although not read The Fear Index yet. Loved Fall of Giants.

9sushicat
jun 28, 2017, 1:23 am

The Chalk Pit is even more pricey than Cold Earth. From past experience it takes about a year until the kindle edition is at the price level of a mass market paperback. As there are so many good books out there, I would rather wait until that is the case. But if you all prefer to go ahead, that's no problem.

10Andrew-theQM
jul 1, 2017, 5:38 am

Schedule for Group Read of The Night Stalker by Chris Carter :

Saturday 1st July : Chapter One to Twenty
Sunday 2nd July : Chapter Twenty-One to Thirty-Nine
Monday 3rd July : Chapter Forty to Fifty-Seven
Tuesday 4th July : Chapter Fifty-Eight to Seventy-Four
Wednesday 5th July : Chapter Seventy-Five to Ninety-Five
Thursday 6th July : Chapter Ninety-Six to One Hundred and Fifteen

11Andrew-theQM
Redigeret: jul 1, 2017, 5:49 am

I'm suggesting the second book we read as a Group Read in July is Kissing the Demons by Kate Ellis, which is book 3 in the Joe Plantagenet Series, and that we start it on Saturday 22nd July, by which date the term and school year will be finished. 😊

I would suggest we read two books in July, then happy to do either two or three books in August, no pressure for me in August as not at school during August - instead will find me comatose overlooking a beach in Scotland! Let me know whether you want to read two or three books in August, we will go with the majority. If you just post the word two or three in the planned Group Reads 2017 thread.

http://www.librarything.com/topic/245578

12Andrew-theQM
Redigeret: jul 1, 2017, 5:59 am

Now finally got a provisional list pulled together for July!

Group Reads
The Night Stalker by Chris Carter : starts Saturday 1st July
Kissing the Demons by Kate Ellis: Starts Saturday 22nd July

Other Reads
16th Seduction by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
The Amorous Nightingale by Edward Marston
Mrs Jeffries on the Ball by Emily Brightwell
As The Pig Turns by M C Beaton
Private Berlin by James Patterson and Mark Sullivan
Relentless by Simon Kernick
Storm Front by Jim Butcher
The Two Towers by J R R Tolkien
Need You Dead by Peter James
Among the Mad by Jacqueline Winspear
Path of the Assassin by Brad Thor
Pachinko Min Jin Lee
Consent to Kill by Vince Flynn
Scared to Live by Stephen Booth
Soft Target by Stephen Leather
The Ambivalent Corpse by Jerold Last
Ice Station by Matthew Reilly
Temple by Matthew Reilly
Little Black Lies by Sharon Bolton

13Carol420
jul 1, 2017, 1:46 pm

Requiem Mass by Elizabrth Corley
Andrew Fenwick series Book #1
3.5 ★'s

What's It About?
When young mother Debbie Fearnside goes missing, police interest is minimal. Then DCI Andrew Fenwick notices a curious set of coincidences with the case of murder victim Kate Johnstone. It becomes clear they have both been murdered, revenge for a long-forgotten death.

What I Think?
It doesn't carry much of a surprise. It is the first book in the series and I know they can sometimes be a bit awkward but there was just some points that were a bit fuzzy and not cleared up very well. I have read the second book and found that it's plot was more tightly construed. I still need to post the review for it but I will give this series the chance that I feel it deserves.

14Carol420
jul 1, 2017, 2:24 pm

I Let You Go by Clare MacKintosh
4★'s

What's It About?
In a split second, Jenna Gray's world descends into a nightmare. Her only hope of moving on is to walk away from everything she knows to start afresh. Desperate to escape, Jenna moves to a remote cottage on the Welsh coast, but she is haunted by her fears, her grief and her memories of a cruel November night that changed her life forever.

Slowly, Jenna begins to glimpse the potential for happiness in her future. But her past is about to catch up with her, and the consequences will be devastating .

What Did I Think?
I thought it was an outstanding plot, well written and genuinely shocking. A hit-and-run accident (???) kills a 5-year-old Jacob. The driver of the car drives away without stopping as his horror stricken mother watches. “It happened so quickly. . . . I only let go for a second.” Every parents worse nightmare is what Jenna is forced to live over and over even after escaping to Wales.

MacKintosh shifts the point of view throughout the book. Was she a bad mother? Why didn't any other witnesses come forward? Why aren't the police finding any leads? These and many other questions combine to make a chilling story that is well worth the reading time.

15EadieB
Redigeret: jul 2, 2017, 6:47 am

Strangers on a Train by Patricia Highsmith - 5 stars
Strangers on a Train was an excellent 1950's debut for 29 year old Patricia Highsmith. It is a tour de force of social satire and psychological drama. Charles Bruno and Guy Haines meet on a train and Bruno manipulates Guy into swapping murders with him. "Some people are better off dead," Bruno remarks, "like your wife and my father, for instance." Bruno's plan shows Guy that anyone can become a murderer. This novel was an inspiration for a classic Alfred Hitchcock film and provides a thorough examination of guilt and obsession of murder. The reader gets a good taste of Highsmith's remarkable range of psychological insight. It is a tangled web of murder, desperation and manipulation and should not be missed if you like psychological thrillers. I look forward to reading more of Patricia Highsmith's novels in the near future.

16gaylebutz
Redigeret: jul 2, 2017, 9:48 pm

Dead Water by Ann Cleeves
4 stars

Book Description:
A journalist investigating a story on Shetland’s local green energy gets murdered and detective Inspector Willow Reeves gets recruited from outside to lead the investigation, since inspector Jimmy Perez hasn’t been himself since the death of his fiancee. But it doesn't take a long time before Jimmy joins the investigation

I liked all the characters and their personal struggles, e.g., Perez depressed and angry, Willow pushing to prove herself being in charge on her first big case. The storyline was interesting as they tried to figure out if the murder was due to new energy development or for personal reasons. In the end, I wasn’t convinced of the killer’s motive for what he did but overall I found this a very enjoyable read.

I know this was a group read a quite a while back. I was disappointed that the questions and answers weren’t available. I wanted to check them out to see what everyone thought.

17Carol420
Redigeret: jul 3, 2017, 6:35 am

>16 gaylebutz: I keep the book discussion stats on the Mystery & Suspense group site. Dead Water has some comments under it's post but unfortunately the discussions that took place on Shelfari or Leafmarks don't all have a link to the actual discussion and it wouldn't help even if there was as those sites no longer exist...just fond memories. I had a really hard time finding anything at all about even these and had to rely on the regular members that participated in the discussions to provide rating and some comments. I only did these historical reads because they are series that we intend to continue and wanted some references to the past ones. Here's the link to the book discussion stats. https://www.librarything.com/topic/227836. Please look thru them if you like. I just ask that since the list at the top corresponds to the post below by number to make it easy to find what the person is looking for...that you not post comments on the site. You might like the Shetland Island series on DVD. There are two seasons out now.

18Carol420
jul 3, 2017, 7:05 am

The Skeleton Box by Brian Gruley
Starvation Lake Series Book #3
3★'s

What's It About?
Mysterious break-ins are plaguing the small town of Starvation Lake. While elderly residents enjoy their weekly bingo night at St. Valentine’s Catholic Church, someone is slipping into their homes to rifle through financial and personal files. Oddly, the intruder takes nothing—yet the “Bingo Night Burglaries” leave the entire town uneasy.

Worry turns into panic when a break-in escalates to murder. Suddenly, Gus Carpenter, editor of the Pine County Pilot, is forced to investigate the most difficult story of his life. Not only is the victim his ex-girlfriend Darlene’s mother, but her body was found in the home of Bea Carpenter—Gus’s own mother. Suffering from worsening dementia and under the influence of sleeping pills, Bea remembers little of the break-in.

With the help of Luke Whistler, a former Detroit Free Press reporter who came north looking for slower days and some old-fashioned newspaper work, Gus sets out to uncover the truth behind the murder.

What Did I Think?
One reason for the 3 star rating is that this is not an edge-of-your-seat thriller. I have to admit that it is suspenseful...it's a good detective story filled with local color and interesting characters.... but it is simply too easy going. It will diffidently appeal to those that like something a little more than a cozy mystery but not so much on the gritty side.

19gaylebutz
jul 3, 2017, 12:44 pm

>17 Carol420: Thanks Carol for the info on the book discussion stats. Also I think I'll take a look at the DVD series. I didn't know that was available.

20EadieB
jul 4, 2017, 8:27 pm

Little Black Lies by Sharon Bolton - 5 stars
Little Black Lies is a story about the Falkland Islands and the children who are suddenly disappearing. It is a intensely plotted story with fascinating characters. The three main characters, Catrin, Rachel and Callum have alternating chapters with their viewpoint of what is happening on the island. These three characters are linked because of the tragedy. The story is all about secrets and lies and is a real page-turner until the very surprise ending. The book is well-researched and I enjoyed learning all the interesting facts about the Falkland Islands and it's history. I'm looking forward to reading more of Bolton's books and I highly recommend this book to those who love psychological thrillers.

21EadieB
Redigeret: jul 8, 2017, 11:53 am

This book is from Carol's Bookie Jar:
The Second Life of Nick Mason by Steve Hamilton - 4 stars
The Second Life of Nick Mason is an adventurous and action-packed noir crime thriller. It is well-written with interesting characters especially Nick Mason. I like Nick's character and enjoyed his dialogue and the suburban Chicago setting. Crime and punishment is the central theme that runs throughout the novel. We get to follow Nick through his harrowing experiences as he follows orders from the man who helped him get out of prison early but with a very large cost. We soon find out that Nick will finally have to risk everything before he is finally about to break free. I look forward to the next book in the series in order to see what Nick is up to. I highly recommend this book to those who love noir crime thrillers.

22Carol420
jul 5, 2017, 7:46 am

I See You by Clare MacKintosh
4★'s

What's It About?
Every morning and evening, Zoe Walker takes the same route to the train station, waits at a certain place on the platform, finds her favorite spot in the car, never suspecting that someone is watching her. It all starts with a classified ad. During her commute home one night, while glancing through her local paper, Zoe sees her own face staring back at her; a grainy photo along with a phone number and a listing for a website called FindTheOne.com. Other women begin appearing in the same ad, a different one every day, and Zoe realizes they’ve become the victims of increasingly violent crimes—including murder. With the help of a determined cop, she uncovers the ad’s twisted purpose...A discovery that turns her paranoia into full-blown panic. Zoe is sure that someone close to her has set her up as the next target. And now that man on the train—the one smiling at Zoe from across the car—could be more than just a friendly stranger. He could be someone who has deliberately chosen her and is ready to make his next move.

What Did I Think?
There were so many possibilities offered up to the reader. Every male in Zoe's life could be a suspect. The story is filled with twists and turns and delivers a wallop of a surprising ending. I don't think it's quite as good as the first one..."I Let You Go"...but it has enough of a plot and enough strong content to hold it's own.

23EadieB
jul 5, 2017, 7:42 pm

No One Writes To The Colonel by Gabriel Garcia Marquez - 3 stars
Marquez considered No One Writes to the Colonel as his best book, saying that he had to write One Hundred Years of Solitude so that people would read No One Writes to the Colonel. The story is about an impoverished, retired colonel, a veteran of the Thousand Days' War, who still hopes to receive the pension he was promised some fifteen years earlier. The colonel lives with his asthmatic wife in a small village under martial law. The action opens with the colonel preparing to go to the funeral of a town musician whose death is notable because he was the first to die from natural causes in many years. The novel is set during the years of "La Violencia" in Colombia, when martial law and censorship prevail.
Because the book is actually the length of a short story, it is hard to really get to the characters. The book does give insight into what was really going on in Colombia at the time and uses references to censorship and the impact of government on society. Marquez explained that the novel was inspired by his grandfather, who was also a colonel and who never received the pension he was promised. However, there is also speculation that Marrquez took inspiration from his experience of unemployment in 1956 after the newspaper he had been working for shut down. The daily lives he witnessed during this time are said to be one of his inspirations for this novel.
I enjoyed reading this short story and found the characters interesting. I just wish it was a bit longer in order to get to know the characters better. I would recommend this short novel to those who are interested in the conditions in Colombia around the 1950's.

24EadieB
Redigeret: jul 8, 2017, 11:52 am

This book is from Linda's Bookie Jar:
Finding Nouf by Zoe Ferraris - 4 stars
Zoe Ferraris's debut of Finding Nouf offers an unprecedented window into Saudi Arabia and the lives of men and women there. Nouf is a rich, protected teenage girl in one of the most rigidly gender-segregated of Middle Eastern societies. Nouf goes missing, along with a truck and her favorite camel and Nayir al-Sharqi, a desert guide is hired to lead a search party. Nouf's body is discovered by anonymous desert travelers and the coroner's office determines that Nouf died not of dehydration but from drowning, and her family seems suspiciously uninterested in getting at the truth. Nayir takes it upon himself to find out what really happened to her.
I found this book to be a page-turner and very well written. The characters were unforgettable and I look forward to reading the next book in the series. There were lots of twists and turns and the ending was a complete surprise. I highly recommend this book to those who like psychological suspense.

25Darth-Heather
Redigeret: jul 6, 2017, 2:26 pm

>24 EadieB: I like the idea that this is such a different setting than a lot of suspense novels. I hope there are some interesting background bits about the culture and lifestyle?

26Carol420
jul 7, 2017, 9:50 am

The Night Stalker by Chris Carter
Robert Hunter series Book #3
4.5★'s

What's It About?
When an unidentified female body is discovered laid out on a slab in an abandoned butcher's shop, the cause of death is unclear. Her body bares no marks; except for the fact that her lips have been carefully stitched shut. It is only when the full autopsy gets underway at the Los Angeles County morgue that the pathologist will reveal the true horror of the situation - a discovery so devastating that Detective Robert Hunter of the Los Angeles Homicide Special Section has to be pulled off a different case to take over the investigation But when his inquiry collides with a missing persons' case being investigated by the razor-sharp Whitney Meyers, Hunter suspects the killer might be keeping several women hostage. Soon Robert finds himself on the hunt for a murderer with a warped obsession, a stalker for whom love has become hate.

What Did I Think?
If you don't like gritty murder mysteries than leave this book...in fact the entire series...on the shelf. If this type of book is right up your alley then buckle up and get ready for a wild ride. Start with the first book in the series...The Crucifix Killer. Even though I am notorious for ROO, this series is better understood and enjoyed if RIO.

Mr. Carter...you did it again. Wrote a story that just begged to not be put down. Unfortunately I had to since it was being read for a book discussion and we do it over several days reading a few chapters at a time. So many twists and turns...so many ways to die. How does he conjure up these ideas and put them on paper? It's suspenseful, gruesome and very dark, not for everyone but those that go for this type of book will love it.

27Carol420
Redigeret: jul 7, 2017, 1:17 pm

My June Blind Date finally showed up and we've been having an absolutely wonderful time. Thank you Lynda & Oliver for sending him my way. Since it was the last Blind Date With A Book we're doing on this site I'm glad it ended with a bang.

Shadow Man by Cody McFadyen
Smokey Barrett series Book #1
5★'s

What's It About?
Once, Special Agent Smoky Barrett hunted serial killers for the FBI. She was one of the best–until a madman terrorized her family, killed her husband and daughter, and left her face scarred and her soul brutalized. Turning the tables on the killer, Smoky shot him dead–but her life was shattered forever.

Now Smoky dreams about picking up her weapon again. She dreams about placing the cold steel between her lips and pulling the trigger one last time. Because for a woman who’s lost everything, what is there left to lose? She’s about to find out.

What Did I Think?
By page 10 I knew this book was going to be special. It is a masterpiece of a thriller with characters that you can really care about and feel their suffering. The thriller aspects to the story are intense, dark and depraved with a special degree of evil and debasement. The plot was complex and suspenseful as well as being intriguing to watch the FBI team go from nearly no leads at all to cracking the case. The clues are there if you are smart enough to follow them. This will not be for all readers but those that like a little extra spicy kick in their books will devour it.

28Alan1946
jul 8, 2017, 4:23 am

The Chief by Roger J Blakely Jr.
#1 in The Artemus Newton Thrillers
4 stars.

Amazon Description

All Artemus Newton wanted after thirty-two years in the Army was a nice, quiet retirement.
That's not going to happen.
Fifty-year-old Army Chief Warrant Officer Artemus Newton has just retired after a long and mostly lacklustre career sitting behind desks at different assignments around the world. Now Artemus Newton and his cat Gus have moved to a comfortable apartment at a far north western suburb of Chicago and he is looking forward to a peaceful retirement living off his Army pension, supplemented by a less stressful part time job.
Newton's quiet life doesn't stay quiet for long, though.
Sinister forces are planning the largest terror attack on American soil in history and they are converging on a target nearby.
Guess who has to stop them.

Review
Whoever gives their son the name of Artemus? Apparently it means “a follower of the goddess Artemis”. It is very unusual, however, and that applies to the man himself. He decides to revisit one of his former posting stations in Germany. This lasts only three days as he finds himself in the wrong place at the wrong time – it is only a restaurant, but there is a meeting there between conspirators, a conversation being listened to by Alexis Lee, an American agent, who, as things begin to unravel, finds Newton coming to her aid. Both of them become targeted by Henry Sharp because his plans have been foiled, as he also tries to resurrect his desire to damage America. The plot is quite complex, but never dull. There are numerous typos, but these do not distract from what is a readable and exciting first novel. Artemus is very likeable as is his cat, Gus, and I look forward to following his adventures.

29Alan1946
jul 8, 2017, 9:46 am

The Fix by David Baldacci
#3 in The Amos Decker Series
4.5 stars.

Amazon Description
Amos Decker, David Baldacci's unique special agent, who suffered a head injury that resulted in giving him the gift of a remarkable memory takes on another case in The Fix. Walter Dabney is a family man. A loving husband and the father of four grown daughters, he’s built a life many would be proud of.
But then the unthinkable happens.
Standing outside the FBI Headquarters in Washington, D C, Dabney shoots school teacher Anne Berkshire in cold blood before turning the gun on himself. One of the many witnesses is Amos Decker; a man who forgets nothing and sees what most miss. Baffled by what appears to be a seemingly senseless and random killing, Decker is thrust into the investigation to determine what drove this family man to pull the trigger.
As part of an FBI special task force, Decker and the team delve into the lives of Dabney and Berkshire to find a connection that doesn’t seem to exist. What they do find are secrets that stretch back a lifetime and reveal a current plot of impending destruction that will send the world reeling, placing Decker and his team squarely in the crosshairs.

Review
You have to like Amos Decker even though his behaviour is boorish at times to say the least. His abilities, however, make for fascinating reading. His near perfect recall means that very little escapes his attention, but his withdrawing within himself must be so frustrating, particularly Alex Jamison who works so hard to understand him, and who clearly cares for him, something to which he continues to remain oblivious. His other working partners, Milligan and Bogart, also struggle to keep up with him, but readily appreciate his deductive qualities.
An attractive agent comes on the scene, playing a very important part in the development of the plot, as does Melvin Mars, the subject of the previous book in the series. Amos’ intriguing way of posing questions that others may not have considered is what leads them through a plot which, with 20/20 hindsight is quite obvious, but which the author veils behind the difficulties that they all find in pursuing Amos’ theories.
It all makes for very good reading – excellently paced with an intriguing plot that also has some quite heart-tugging moments to it.

30Carol420
jul 8, 2017, 11:25 am

>29 Alan1946: I totally agree with your great review. This has become one of my favorite series. Glad to see that you enjoyed it.

31Olivermagnus
jul 8, 2017, 6:12 pm

>27 Carol420: - I knew you would love it. I'm getting the next couple for my vacation reading later this month.

32Carol420
Redigeret: jul 9, 2017, 8:30 am

Every Dead Thing by John Connolly
Charlie Parker series Book #1
4 stars

What's It About?
Former NYPD detective Charlie "Bird" Parker is on the verge of madness. Tortured by the unsolved slayings of his wife and young daughter, he is a man consumed by guilt, regret, and the desire for revenge. When his former partner asks him to track down a missing girl, Parker finds himself drawn into a world beyond his imagining: a world where thirty-year-old killings remain shrouded in fear and lies, a world where the ghosts of the dead torment the living, a world haunted by the murderer responsible for the deaths in his family—a serial killer who uses the human body to create works of art and takes faces as his prize. But the search awakens buried instincts in Parker: instincts for survival, for compassion, for love, and, ultimately, for killing.

Aided by a beautiful young psychologist and a pair of bickering career criminals, Parker becomes the bait in a trap set in the humid bayous of Louisiana, a trap that threatens the lives of everyone in its reach. Driven by visions of the dead and the voice of an old black psychic who met a terrible end, Parker must seek a final, brutal confrontation with a murderer who has moved beyond all notions of humanity, who has set out to create a hell on earth: the serial killer known only as the Traveling Man.

What Did I Think?
Go figure. I managed to read every other book in this series and somehow missed this one...the first . I really liked Every Dead Thing but it lacked that certain "zing" that the ones after it had...which is often true of first books.

There is an extremely large cast of unusual and interesting characters that Connolly brings to life, Some will follow along through the next 12 books in the series. Two characters that frequent the stories and we meet for the first time in Every Dead Thing, are Angel And Louis who have remained a personal favorite of mine. They are the bad guys that you just have to root for. There is a paranormal overtone throughout all the books as well as just enough of a dose of mystery to make the series well worth the reading time. Believe me when I tell you that these books just keep getting better and better.

33EadieB
jul 9, 2017, 8:11 pm

Monkey Love and Murder by Edith McClintock - 4 stars
This was Edith McClintock's first novel and it was a very surprising debut. Set in the rainforest of Suriname, this romantic mystery was a real page-turner. This exotic setting also added to the mystique of the story.
Emma Parks joined a spider monkey research project with the International Wildlife Conservation group then the director drowns during a party celebrating the group's controversial takeover of the park. Next another researcher dies of a machete attack and soon Emma is in the middle of a murder investigation which threaten's her primatology career, her romance with an Australian zoologist and more importantly - her life.
Even though, Emma believes she knows who committed the murders, politics among the group keeps her guessing until the very end when Emma comes close to dying herself. McClintock's writing allows the reader to easily visualize the challenges of the rainforest setting. The story reminded me of when I visited a rainforest in Costa Rica a few years back. I look forward to reading the next in the series and I highly recommend this book to those who like mysteries mixed with adventure.

34EadieB
jul 9, 2017, 8:49 pm

The Night Stalker by Chris Carter - 4 stars
When an unidentified female body is discovered laid out on a slab in an abandoned butcher's shop, the cause of death is unclear. Her body bares no marks; except for the fact that her lips have been carefully stitched shut. It is only when the full autopsy gets underway at the Los Angeles County morgue that the pathologist will reveal the true horror of the situation - a discovery so devastating that Detective Robert Hunter of the Los Angeles Homicide Special Section has to be pulled off a different case to take over the investigation But when his inquiry collides with a missing persons' case being investigated by the razor-sharp Whitney Meyers, Hunter suspects the killer might be keeping several women hostage. Soon Robert finds himself on the hunt for a murderer with a warped obsession, a stalker for whom love has become hate.
This was a definite gripping page-turner and not for the squeamish but I actually liked the first two books of the series better. As Hunter made discoveries, it was held back from the reader and made it extra difficult to solve who the murderer was until it was revealed at the end of the book.The reader did receive back information about Hunter when he was a child which was very interesting. I especially like the relationship between Hunter and his partner, Garcia, and how they watch each other's back. I also enjoyed the ending of the book and all the information about the murderer and why he committed the murders. I do look forward to reading the next book in the series and I highly recommend this series to those who like gritty thrillers.

35EadieB
jul 9, 2017, 9:12 pm

Blood On Snow by Jo Nesbo - 3 stars
Olav Johansen is a walking contradiction: He's a cold-blooded killer with a heart of gold. Normally this is not a problem. . . .

Olav is a fixer for a high-profile crime kingpin in 1970s Oslo. He easily takes care of anyone who causes trouble for his boss. But he is more complicated than he seems. Olav's latest job puts him at the pinnacle of his trade, but it may become his greatest mistake: It turns out that the more you know about your boss's business, the more your boss might want you fixed yourself—especially if you're falling for his wife.

I listened to this book on audio and found it to be quite different. I think I like his Harry Hole novels better though. This one was more or less a short story and I didn't particularly like the reader whose voice was very monotone. Nesbo's writing is good and the translation went well but the main character was not too likable. It is a reminder, though, that I do have to get back to the Harry Hole books as I have really enjoyed those.

36Carol420
jul 11, 2017, 8:16 am

Nine Coaches Waiting by Mary Stewart
3★'s

What's It About?
A governess in a French château encounters an apparent plot against her young charge's life in this unforgettably haunting and beautifully written suspense novel. When lovely Linda Martin first arrives at Château Valmy as an English governess to the nine-year-old Count Philippe de Valmy, the opulence and history surrounding her seems like a wondrous, ecstatic dream. But a palpable terror is crouching in the shadows. Philippe's uncle, Leon de Valmy, is the epitome of charm, yet dynamic and arrogant—his paralysis little hindrance as he moves noiselessly in his wheelchair from room to room. Only his son Raoul, a handsome, sardonic man who drives himself and his car with equally reckless abandon, seems able to stand up to him. To Linda, Raoul is an enigma—though irresistibly attracted to him, she senses some dark twist in his nature. When an accident deep in the woods nearly kills Linda's innocent charge, she begins to wonder if someone has deadly plans for the young count.

What Did I Think?
I probably would never have read the book if not for a challenge that I was trying to complete. It was better than I had anticipated since this is not my usual type of book. It was a good combination of mystery and romance although I wished it had been a little heavier on the mystery side. The atmosphere of the story reminded me a lot of Rebecca. Those that like Gothic romance/mysteries will redoubtably love this book.

37Carol420
Redigeret: jul 11, 2017, 4:08 pm

A Boy Called Christmas by Matt Haig
5★'s

What’s It About?
Eleven-year-old Nikolas—nicknamed “Christmas”—has received only one toy in his life: a doll carved out of a turnip. But he’s happy with his turnip doll, because it came from his parents, who love him. Then one day his father goes missing, and Nikolas must travel to the North Pole to save him.

Along the way, Nikolas befriends a surly reindeer, bests a troublesome troll, and discovers a hidden world of enchantment in the frozen village of Elfhelm. But the elves of Elfhelm have troubles of their own: Christmas spirit and goodwill are at an all-time low, and Nikolas may be the only person who can fix things—if only he can reach his father before it’s too late.

What Did I Think?
Hello…my name is Brian and Aunt Carol says that I should write and tell you how I liked this book. Thank you, Mr. Sergierocks for telling Aunt Carol about it so she could tell me.

Nicholas lived in Finland with his father who worked as a woodcutter. He had a mouse and a doll made out of a turnip for friends. Nicholas’s father wanted to prove that there were really elves so he went looking for them at the North Pole. When his father didn’t come back Nicholas went to look for him and had some very funny adventures. He met some elves, trolls, pixies and reindeer that were magic. When Nicholas finds the elves he is sad because they are so different. I learned that it is okay to not be like everyone else and that people can make the world a better place by how they act.

I really liked the book and think that everybody should read it.

Note: Brian is almost 10 years old and he thought that Sergei recommended this book just for him. He’s almost as fascinated with Sergei being a “meerkat” as he was with his recommendation:) I told Brian that when we finish with a book we write something about it s others will know if they would like to read it or not. He would have told you the entire story if I had let him. I typed it for him but the words are all his.

38Sergeirocks
jul 11, 2017, 5:00 pm

Hi, Brian,
I'm glad you liked this story. I really liked it too, even though I'm a grownup!
I felt a little bit sorry for Nicholas because his only toy was a doll made from a turnip which became a bit smelly as it got older, but Nicholas did not seem to mind, he loved that doll.
Best wishes, from Sergeirocks.

39Andrew-theQM
jul 11, 2017, 6:22 pm

Summer Schedule of Group Reads

July
Kissing the Demons by Kate Ellis - #3 in the Joe Plantagenet Series : Start date Saturday 22nd July

August
The Silent Sea by Clive Cussler and Jack Du Brul - #7 in the Oregon Files Series : Start Date Tuesday 1st August

Take No Farewell by Robert Goddard - Standalone : Start Date Friday 11th August (Also published as Debt of Dishonour )

The Innocent by David Baldacci - #1 in the Will Robie Series : Start Date Wednesday 23rd August

Hope this organisation helps people.

40EadieB
jul 11, 2017, 6:33 pm

>39 Andrew-theQM: Thanks for the schedule. Helps a lot!

41Carol420
jul 12, 2017, 7:15 am

>38 Sergeirocks: Thank you so much for taking time to write to Brian. He read it this morning...several times... in fact, before he left for his swim camp. You have become his BFF for sure:)

42Carol420
Redigeret: jul 12, 2017, 7:18 am

A Game of Ghosts by John Connolly
Charlie Parker series Book #15
4.5 ★'s

What's it About?
It is deep winter and the darkness is unending. A private detective named Jaycob Eklund has vanished and Charlie Parker is assigned to track him down. Parker’s employer, Edgar Ross, an agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, has his own reasons for wanting Eklund found. Eklund is no ordinary investigator—he is obsessively tracking a series of homicides and disappearances, each linked to reports of hauntings. Now Parker is drawn into Eklund’s world: a realm in which the monstrous Mother rules a crumbling criminal empire, in which men strike bargains with angels, and in which the innocent and guilty alike are pawns in a game of ghosts.

What Did I Think?
Another great addition to this long running series. I believe I may read this series more for Louis and Angel than Charlie but they all have their individual personalities to provide such entertainment value. The combined cast makes them unique. Connolly blends mystery with the unconventional, doused with supernatural overtones. The books are dark but oh so yummy. Can't wait for the next one.

43EadieB
Redigeret: jul 13, 2017, 7:27 pm

Black Dog by Stephen Booth - 4 stars
Book Description
Fifteen-year-old Laura, daughter of the wealthy Vernon family, is missing. When retired miner Harry Dickinson reports that he's found the body lying in the woods, his strangely obstinate refusal to cooperate with the investigation raises more than a few eyebrows. Whatever Harry knows about what has happened up in those woods, he's certainly not telling. Cooper teams up with Detective Constable Diane Fry, an ambitious rookie with a few secrets of her own. As they work to unravel the baffling crime, the young detectives find themselves in a complicated two-step of suspicion and sexual tension. Set against the atmospheric backdrop of Northern England's Peak District, Black Dog is an evocative, gorgeously written work of psychological suspense.

My Review
I found this book to be an excellent debut by Stephen Booth. I enjoyed his writing right from the start. His descriptions allow you to visualize the setting and you feel like you are right there. This is not your typical crime novel. The two main characters, DC Ben Cooper and DC Diane Fry are what drive the story. They are competing to become a sergeant. They seem to be doing a dance of suspicion, attraction and frustration. Can't wait to read the next book in the series to see how this relationship pans out.
The plot and storyline are excellent and the reason and person behind the killing was a complete surprise to me. I would highly recommend this book to those who like psychological suspense.

44Andrew-theQM
jul 12, 2017, 12:08 pm

>43 EadieB: It is a series I enjoy.

45EadieB
jul 12, 2017, 1:30 pm

>44 Andrew-theQM: Looking forward to reading Dancing with the Virgins.

46Olivermagnus
jul 12, 2017, 2:15 pm

Death at La Fenice by Donna Leon - 4.5 Stars

Maestro Helmut Wellauer, considered the world's greatest living conductor, is found dead of cyanide poisoning between Acts 2 and 3 of La Traviata at Venice's La Fenice Opera House. Commissario Guido Brunetti of the Venice police is called in to investigate. There are plenty of suspects since Wellauer made a lot of enemies on his way to the top.

An engaging and professional man in his forties, Brunetti is one of the three highest detectives working under Vice-Questore Giuseppi Patta, a pretentious man of limited intelligence who holds his position because of politics. It's a pleasure to join Brunetti as he picks his way through the investigation, and the somewhat surprising conclusion. One of the things I really liked about this book is that the reader is involved in Brunetti’s thought processes as he works the investigation. By the end of the story readers are intimately acquainted with him, as well as his family, and he seems like a friend.

This is the first mystery in a hugely popular series by Donna Leon that currently has 24 books . It's been on my TBR forever. Now that I've read one I can definitely agree. Leon's Venice is incredibly atmospheric, filled with beautiful buildings, bridges, and, of course, food. The story moves along with leisurely speed over the more interesting parts and briskly over the necessarily drier parts, like autopsy results. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good murder mystery/police procedural. I can't wait to get the next book in the series, Death in a Strange Country.

47Olivermagnus
Redigeret: jul 12, 2017, 2:19 pm

Mercy Falls - William Kent Krueger - 5 Stars

Tamarack County Sheriff Cork O'Connor and his deputy, Marsha Dross, are answering a domestic disturbance call on the Ojibwe reservation. When they arrive, they find the occupants of the house gone, their dogs dead, and then Marsha is seriously wounded by an unknown sniper. The investigation seems to indicate that the bullet was actually meant for Cork.

At the same time, Eddie Jacoby, a Chicago businessman trying to negotiate a contract with the local Indian casino, is murdered. Now Cork, already a man down, has to deal with Jacoby's murder and find the person who shot Marsha. What makes it worse is that Jacoby is from a wealthy Chicago family reputed to be associated with organized crime and Jacoby's brother used to be Cork's wife, Jo's, college boyfriend. Add into the mix one more element.....a beautiful private investigator hired by the Jacoby family who seems to have an attraction to Cork.

I listed to the audio of this book, narrated by David Chandler, who did a phenomenal job. One of the things I love about this series is the rural Minnesota setting. The characters are very believable and the author does a good job of detailing Cork's relationship with the Ojibwe, as he himself is part Anishinaabeg. I have never read a bad Kruger book and I was completely hooked by this compelling story.

Mercy Falls is the fifth book in the Cork O'Connor series and it received the Anthony Award for Best Mystery Book of 2006. I usually prefer to read a series in order, but this can easily be read as a standalone. Actually, if you commit to reading this book, you will also have to read the next book in the series, Copper River, because several threads of the story are not cleared up until then.

48Olivermagnus
jul 12, 2017, 2:22 pm

Girl in Disguise - Greer Macallister - 3.5 Stars

Girl in Disguise is the historical fiction story of Kate Warne who was hired by Allan Pinkerton and became the first female detective in America. When the story opens, Kate is a widow with no work experience. There aren't many options for women in that position in the 1850s, so she answers a Pinkerton Detective Agency advertisement in the local paper. Of course, Pinkerton refuses to hire her but she persuades him to give her a chance and goes on to have a long and successful career.

I'm not sure what I expected when I first started the book, probably more of a straightforward telling of her story. It turned out to be more of an episodic collection of several of her cases. Some of the cases are years apart so that was a bit disconcerting at first. I did feel like some of the characters were less developed than I would have liked, but by the time I was a third of the way through, I was really enjoying it.

The author's note at the end of the book was quite interesting and gave me a real appreciation for what an extraordinary woman Kate was. Even though it has some flaws, it's still a book I would recommend to fans of American historical fiction. Because many of the records that detailed her career at Pinkerton were lost in the Great Chicago fire, I did feel like the author created a believable story about Kate.

49Andrew-theQM
jul 12, 2017, 2:59 pm

>45 EadieB: Just checked, next up for me is Scared to Live, book 7, which I hope to get to next month.

50Sergeirocks
jul 12, 2017, 3:17 pm

51Carol420
jul 13, 2017, 7:33 am

The Hanging Tree by Ben Aaronovitch
PC Peter Grant series Book # 6
4 ★'s

What's It About?
Suspicious deaths are not usually the concern of Police Constable Peter Grant or the Folly—London’s police department for supernatural cases—even when they happen at an exclusive party in one of the flats of the most expensive apartment blocks in London. But the daughter of Lady Ty, influential goddess of the Tyburn river, was there, and Peter owes Lady Ty a favor. Plunged into the alien world of the super-rich, where the basements are bigger than the houses, where the law is something bought and sold on the open market, a sensible young copper would keep his head down and his nose clean. But this is Peter Grant we’re talking about. He’s been given an unparalleled opportunity to alienate old friends and create new enemies at the point where the world of magic and that of privilege intersect. Assuming he survives the week.

What Did I Think?
This was my first Peter Grant book so I tried to get a sense of the Grant character. I found him to be funny, and despite what higher-ups seem to think - a good cop. He seems to try very hard to do the right thing...even when it gets him in trouble or puts his life in danger. Some of the other characters were just unbelievably naive...thus making the story somewhat disjointed. I found the humor... the magic... and supernatural element to be something I would like to investigate further so will give this series another try.

52Alan1946
jul 13, 2017, 12:00 pm

The Eye of Shiva by Alex Lukeman
#8 in The Project Series.
4.5tars.

Amazon Description
On a mission to the Philippines Nick Carter of the Project finds ancient gold coins in a terrorist stronghold. The terrorists have been using the gold to buy weapons. Where did the coins come from? The discovery sets the Project team on a collision course with a ruthless terrorist who dreams of an Islamic Caliphate in India and a dying spy from India's CIA seeking revenge for the murder of his wife and son. All the while, a secret global conspiracy is manipulating events from behind the scenes. The conspirators want to provoke war between Pakistan and India and launch a nuclear missile at China.
The Eye of Shiva is a fast moving story of love, revenge and intrigue,

Review
A much more plausible plot then the previous novel. There is nothing more dangerous than a powerful intelligence agent fuelled by the loss of his wife and child in a bombing, and also living on borrowed time and wanting his revenge before he dies. Add to this the fact that he is easily manipulated by very strong forces looking to wreak havoc in the Far East, and you have a powerful reason for The Project Team to become involved in retrieving the situation.
Nick and Selena are still puzzling over their relationship, but they still show just how much they rely on each other and, in this episode, Lamont Cameron, now recovered from serious illness, as well as a former Huey helicopter pilot with Vietnam experience. Stephanie, techno wizard, is the one who has tracked down a character they call Cobra, and it is their pursuit of him that forms the body of the story, although there is a side issue relating to lost Moghul treasure which includes The Eye of Shiva that forms the title of the book.
Plenty of action as usual, so the plot hurtles across the globe as the threat of nuclear war needs to be addressed. Well done, Mr Lukeman, on maintaining the standard.

53Andrew-theQM
jul 13, 2017, 5:07 pm

>52 Alan1946: I love this series.

54Hope_H
jul 14, 2017, 4:55 pm

The Couple Next Door by Sheri Lepena
★ ★ ★ ★ 1/2 - 308 pages

Anne and Marco Conti have, to all appearances, a good life. They have a nice house, an Audi, and an adorable new baby. But when you look below the surface, you see post-partum depression, a failing business, and distrust. After the sitter cancels, Anne and Marco leave the baby in her crib and take the monitor to their next-door neighbors' house for a dinner party. They check her every half hour. By the time they leave around 1:30, the baby is missing. As Detective Rasbach digs into the events of the night and the Contis' lives, more secrets threaten to surface and keep the frantic parents from finding their baby.

Very suspenseful, full of plot twists. I really didn't like any of the characters except the detective. Usually, when I don't like the characters, I don't care for the book, but this is an exception. I think part of this is because the characters are so well-drawn.

55Carol420
jul 14, 2017, 6:01 pm

>54 Hope_H: Glad that you liked it. I agree about the characters not being likable. They were rather on the "snarky" side and they just got "snarkier" as the story progressed. It did have some good and unexpected twists.

56sushicat
jul 15, 2017, 7:00 am

>51 Carol420: Glad you liked it. This one is on my list for this month.

57Carol420
Redigeret: jul 15, 2017, 8:18 am

>56 sushicat: You will have so many mixed reactions as the story goes along. Enjoy.

58Carol420
jul 15, 2017, 8:48 am

The Ex by Alafair Burke
4★'s

What's It About?
Twenty years ago she ruined his life. Now she has the chance to save it. Widower Jack Harris has resisted the dating scene ever since the shooting of his wife Molly by a fifteen-year-old boy three years ago. An early morning run along the Hudson River changes that when he spots a woman in last night’s party dress, barefoot, enjoying a champagne picnic alone, reading his favorite novel. Everything about her reminds him of what he used to have with Molly. Eager to help Jack find love again, his best friend posts a message on a popular website after he mentions the encounter. Days later, that same beautiful stranger responds and invites Jack to meet her in person at the waterfront. That’s when Jack’s world falls apart.

What Did I Think?
I really enjoyed this book. The characters that Burke has created are so much like real people...not always likable but ever changing...sometimes for the good and sometimes not. The story itself is rather complicated but not to the point of loosing the reader. We learn about past history and how and if it affected current situations.

The Ex will appeal to those that like crime novels mixed with mysteries and legal thrillers. I highly recommend it.

59EadieB
Redigeret: jul 15, 2017, 9:46 pm

Down A Dark Road by Linda Castillo - 5 stars
The Kate Burkholder series is one of my favorite series and this 9th installment did not disappoint. It's always fun to visit Painter's Mill through her books each year. I found this one to be well-written about a childhood friend of Kate's who is accused of murdering his wife and Kate is bound and determined to prove his innocence. More about Kate's childhood and past is revealed and we are told that Joseph, the man accused of murdering his wife, was Kate's teenage love interest. In order to prove Joseph's innocence, Kate finds her life is also in danger and she has a close brush with death. There are lots of twists and turns which added to the suspense and kept the pages turning until the very surprise ending. Her relationship with Tomasetti continues to move forward as he is always there to help her through her rough moments. These books should be read in order as one builds upon the other. I now look forward to the next in the series and I would highly recommend this book to those who like mystery suspense.

60EadieB
jul 15, 2017, 10:20 pm

White Sand Blues by Vicki Delany - 4 stars
This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.
White Sand Blues by Vicki Delany is an excellent debut to the Ashley Grant Mystery series. Ashley Grant is a paramedic from Canada who takes a job on the Victoria and Albert Islands in the Caribbean. She is picked up at the airport by Simon, the driver, in a red ambulance and is taken to the beach where a man is found floating in the waters at the Club Louisa Hotel. Sally, the daughter of the dead man, recognizes Ashley from high school. She is convinced that her stepmother killed her father and begs Ashley to help her prove it. Ashley has suddenly become involved in a murder investigation before she even has time to unpack her bags.
I found this book to be a very humorous, fast and easy read. I could picture all the unique characters from Vicki Delany's colorful descriptions. Her sense of place allowed me to feel the warm ocean breezes of the island on which everyone knows everything about everybody who lives there. The storyline was interesting and the killer was a surprise to me. I look forward to reading the next installment and I would highly recommend this book to those who like cozy mysteries with a bit of humor and romance.

61Carol420
jul 16, 2017, 8:20 am

The Book of Souls by James Oswald
Detective Inspector McLean series Book #2
5★'s

What's It About?
Each year for ten years, a young woman’s body was found in Edinburgh at Christmastime: naked, throat slit, body washed clean. The final victim, Kirsty Summers, was Detective Constable Tony McLean's fiancée. But the Christmas Killer made a mistake, and McLean put an end to the brutal killing spree.
It’s now twelve years later. A fellow prisoner has just murdered the incarcerated Christmas Killer. But with the arrival of the festive season comes a body. A young woman: naked, washed, her throat cut. Is this a copycat killer? Was the wrong man behind bars all this time? Or is there a more frightening explanation? McLean must revisit the most disturbing case of his life and discover what he missed before the killer strikes again .

What Did I Think?
I love the supernatural overtones of this series. I do get rather frustrated with the bullying that is allowed by the higher ups in the police department. If this a true reenactment of all police headquarters in Edinburgh then there is a strong need for major counselling and anger control sessions.

What the book actually was and what it was capable of was not revealed until almost the very last and it let the reader form their own opinion of what it was and how it fit in with the story. I will say the ending was not a total surprise but it did leave a major string dangling. Perhaps it will be answered in the third book. Looking forward to it.

62Carol420
jul 16, 2017, 11:28 am

Quartet in August by Barbara Pym
4★'s

What's It About?
This is the story of four people in late middle-age - Edwin, Norman, Letty and Marcia - whose chief point of contact is that they work in the same office and they suffer the same problem - loneliness. Lovingly, poignantly, satirically and with much humor, Pym conducts us through their small lives and the facade they erect to defend themselves against the outside world. There is nevertheless an obstinate optimism in her characters, allowing them in their different ways to win through to a kind of hope.

What Did I Think?
I think that sneaky Barbara Pym has been hiding behind the door and then wrote a book...that in many ways... is about a few of my friends:)

One of the things that I really liked about this book is that the author didn't waste one single word more than she needed to in order to tell these people's story. Each character has a private set of personal quirks, but remain unable to connect in a meaningful way with any of the others that they have worked beside for years. My friend who is from Scotland tells me that "it's due to British emotional reserve." I'll take her word for it. I started out early in the story feeling very sorry for them but in the end I found that they just followed personal... quiet and generally unheralded journeys. Barbara Pym summed it up very well when she said ...."There was something to be said for tea and a comfortable chat about."

63EadieB
jul 16, 2017, 7:02 pm

>62 Carol420: Only 1000 more books to go as this one is on the list.

64Andrew-theQM
jul 16, 2017, 7:33 pm

For those of you who like tough men Series, e.g. Mitch Rapp, Gabriel Allon, Jack Reacher, Scot Horvath, John Puller etc, I strongly recommend the Spider Shepherd Series by Stephen Leather, have read the first two books in the series and one from later in the series and loved them all. He is a former SAS operative who is now an undercover cop. I have just finished Soft Target which was hard to put down. My only complaint is there are no chapters, just 528 pages of text!

65EadieB
jul 17, 2017, 8:38 am

Environmentally Friendly by Elias Zanbaka - 4 stars
I really enjoyed this short but intense and fast-paced psychological thriller. Elias Zanbaka has a talent for writing very descriptive scenes that make you feel a part of the action. I was drawn into the story from the very beginning and it held my attention until the very end. This short story has a message packed with a punch with a creative way to help those suffering from PTSD and need to fight their demons. I found the characters to be unique but very believable in their attempt to help Sgt. Major Bushnell. I look forward to reading more from Elias Zanbaka and wish him great success on his road to becoming a well-known author as I believe he does have the talent to accomplish his goal. I thank him for contacting me and allowing me to sample his writing for an honest review. I would highly recommend this short story to those who like action-packed psychological thrillers.

If you would like to read his short story, you can get a free Kindle copy:

https://www.amazon.com/Environmentally-Friendly-Elias-Zanbaka-ebook/dp/B01CMK5YA...

66Carol420
jul 17, 2017, 1:11 pm

Princess Decomposia and Count Spatula by Andi Watson
3★'s my rating
5∝'s Brian's rating - He'd give them all 5's:)

What's it About?
Princess Decomposia is overworked and underappreciated. This princess of the underworld has plenty of her own work to do but always seems to find herself doing her layabout father's job, as well. The king doesn't feel quite well, you see. Ever. So the princess is left scurrying through the halls, dodging her mummy, werewolf, and ghost subjects, always running behind and always buried under a ton of paperwork. Oh, and her father just fired the chef, so now she has to hire a new cook as well. Luckily for Princess Decomposia, she makes a good hire in Count Spatula, the vampire chef with a sweet tooth. He's a charming go-getter of a blood-sucker, and pretty soon the two young ghouls become friends. And then...more than friends? Maybe eventually, but first Princess Decomposia has to sort out her life. And with Count Spatula at her side, you can be sure she'll succeed.

What Did I Think?
My little reading pal, Brian, brought this one home from the library a few weeks ago and said I want you to read this one with me...which he is asking me to do less and less now that he feels more confident....and that's a good thing:) I needed a book with a household item in the title or on the cover and "Count Splatula" fit the bill. I'll let Brian take it from here. Be aware if you are over 10 years old that it will take you about 45 minutes to read this from cover to cover...but it's a cute story.

Hi I'm Brian
It was a fun book because it had funny people in it. The king ate too much and got really fat and Princess Decomposia wanted him to not spend all his time being King and eat things that were good for him so she hired Count Spatula to be the cook. Princess Decomposia has to do all the work because the King just wants to eat. Count Spatula was in love with the Princess and just wanted her to be happy and nor so tired all the time. Another thing that I really liked about the book was that Count Spatula was really a vampire and his friend was a zombie. Aunt Carol read it with me so I know that grownups will like it too.

67EadieB
jul 17, 2017, 6:31 pm

Exit Strategy by Steve Hamilton - 5 stars
This is the follow-up book to The Second Life of Nick Mason where he is trying to take back control of his life from the crime lord who owns it.
I found this book to be action-packed from the first page to the last page. I liked it better than the first book and the ending was a complete surprise. The good characters are starting to grow on me and the bad ones I hate even more. I was glad to see that Cole got what he deserves and I am now looking forward to reading the third book in the series.
I find Steve Hamilton to be an excellent writer and I need to check out his Alex McNight novels. I would highly recommend this book to those who like action-packed thrillers. It's best to read them in order so start with The Second Life of Nick Mason.

68Alan1946
jul 18, 2017, 10:41 am

>64 Andrew-theQM:: Have wondered about this series, thanks for the heads up.

69Alan1946
Redigeret: jul 18, 2017, 10:44 am

The Escape by David Baldacci
#3 in The John Puller Deries.
4.5 stars.

Amazon Description
CID investigator, John Puller, has returned from his latest case in Florida to learn that his brother, Bobby, on death row at Leavenworth Prison for national security crimes, has escaped. Preliminary investigations show that he may have had help in his breakout. Now he's on the run, and in disguise, and he's the US government's number one target.
John Puller has a dilemma. Which comes first, loyalty to his country or to his brother? Bobby has state secrets that certain people will literally kill for. But blood is thicker than water, and the brothers are close although even John does not know for sure what Bobby really did for the government, nor if he's even guilty of his crimes. It becomes swiftly apparent, however, that Bobby's role was powerful and far-reaching.
With the help of John's long-time friend and colleague, General Julie Carson, both brothers move closer to the truth from their opposing directions. And this case puts John Puller in a place he thought he'd never be, on the other side of the law, where even his skills as an investigator, and his strength as a fighter, might not be enough to save him. And his brother.

Review
Slick, well-paced, complicated plotting, and John Puller – what more could you want?
Baldacci had me hooked from the very first page, with so much of the book relating to trusting others. Can Puller understand why and how his brother has escaped? Who can he trust? Perhaps the three high ranking officers who ask him to try and trace his brother? An investigator from another department, Victoria Knox? Either of the two witnesses who spoke out about his brother at his court-martial?
Knowing who is telling the truth and who is not doing so is very difficult to determine. In fact there are so many incidences of what appears to be the truth, and then prove to be deceptions that it reminded me of Alistair MacLean at his very best in such books as "Where Eagles Dare" and "Bear Island". The truth when it does come out, shows a great deal of skilful plotting and writing.
It is all so believable and plausible that I was consistently unable to put the book down until I discovered what was really going on. In this book we see so much more of John Puller’s nature and character, and I hope that this continues in the next book, which just happens to be next up for me.

70Carol420
jul 18, 2017, 1:24 pm

>69 Alan1946: Great review, Alan. So glad this series has yet another fan.

71Carol420
jul 18, 2017, 1:24 pm

The Silent Corner by Dean Koontz
Jane Hawk series Book#1
4.5★'s

What's It About?

“I very much need to be dead.”

These are the chilling words left behind by a man who had everything to live for—but took his own life. In the aftermath, his widow, Jane Hawk, does what all her grief, fear, and fury demand: find the truth, no matter what. People of talent and accomplishment, people admired and happy and sound of mind, have been committing suicide in surprising numbers. When Jane seeks to learn why, she becomes the most-wanted fugitive in America. Her powerful enemies are protecting a secret so important—so terrifying—that they will exterminate anyone in their way.

But all their power and viciousness may not be enough to stop a woman as clever as they are cold-blooded, as relentless as they are ruthless—and who is driven by a righteous rage they can never comprehend. Because it is born of love.

What Did I Think?
I loved Dean Koontz in his early years of writing, but it seemed that in the past few years he had started to write what I would call "tamer" stuff. The stories just didn't have the same feeling that all of his earlier works did. They were still good...just not AS good. It was with some hesitation that I picked up "The Silent Corner'...the first book in his new Jane Hawk series. If all the rest of the books are like this one then Mr. Koontz has a diffident winner.

Jane is not your usual FBI agent. In this opening book she's fighting a huge bio-tech corporation that plants the idea of suicide and murder into previously innocent, happy, well adjusted individuals...one that just happened to be Jane's Marine Corp husband. The plot is scary but very believable...the character of Jane Hawk is a likable everyday mother and wife that just happens to be able to out think and out shoot the bad guys while remaining smart and appealing. I can't wait to see where Dean Koontz takes Jane next.

72Andrew-theQM
jul 18, 2017, 2:27 pm

>68 Alan1946: I hope to listen to book 3 as I drive up to Scotland on Friday. 2 days of term to go!

73EadieB
jul 20, 2017, 4:39 pm

The Alchemy of Murder by Carol McCleary - 5 stars
Book Description
The world’s most famous reporter, the intrepid Nellie Bly, teams up with science fiction genius Jules Verne, the notorious wit and outrageous rogue Oscar Wilde, and the greatest microbe-hunter in history, Louis Pasteur. Together, they must solve the crime of the century.
They are all in Paris—the capital of Europe and center of world culture—for the 1889 World’s Fair. A spectacular extravaganza dedicated to new industries, scientific discoveries, and global exploration, its gateway is the soaring Eiffel Tower. But an enigmatic killer stalks the streets and a virulent plague is striking down Parisians by the thousands. Convinced that the killings are connected to the pandemic, Nellie is determined to stop them both... no matter what the risks.

My Review
This was an interesting historical fiction account of Nellie Bly, feminist newspaper reporter, who was in search of a killer similar to Jack the Ripper who killed prostitutes. I enjoyed reading about the historical characters that Nellie met in Paris, such as; Louis Pasteur, Oscar Wilde and Jules Verne. Louis Pasteur was hunting microbes in order to help with a cure for the Black Plague. Oscar Wilde became of friend of Nellie and helped her in the search of the killer of the prostitutes. In the book, she had a relationship with Jules Verne which was rather interesting. She decided to prove to Jules Verne that woman can do whatever men can do and took up the challenge to do a record-breaking trip around the world in 72 days and beat Phileas Fogg's time from the infamous book by Verne, Around the World in 80 days. She was a pioneer in her field, and launched a new kind of investigative journalism and wrote an exposé in which she faked insanity to study a mental institution from within. I look forward to reading the next book in the Nellie Bly series in order to see what Nellie is up to as I really enjoyed her adventures in the first book. I would highly recommend this book to those who like historical fiction about famous people.

74Carol420
jul 21, 2017, 6:43 am

Down Dark Road by Linda Castillo
Kate Bunkholder series Book #9
4.5★'s

What's It About?
Two years ago, Joseph King was convicted of murdering his wife and sentenced to life in prison. He was a “fallen” Amish man and a known drug user with a violent temper. Now King has escaped, and he’s headed for Painters Mill.

What Did I Think?
I really liked the personal connection that Kate had in this one. From the start you knew that things were not going to end well...but the reader had no idea how many different twists events were going to take before it concluded. Not only did Kate have to come to gripes with events from her childhood but she had to face something that every cop dreads and finds so hard to comprehend...betrayal by their own.

This is a great series with a likable, believable character in Kate Bunkholder. The entire series will appeal to all that love a mystery that doesn't have a lot of blood and guts but yet is not a cozy

75Carol420
jul 21, 2017, 10:07 am

The Prisoner's Gold by Chris Kuzneski
The Hunters series Book #3
5★'s

What's It About?
At the end of the 13th century, Chinese Emperor Kublai Khan gave an Italian merchant unfettered access to his kingdom. The traveler was Marco Polo, and his journey would become legendary. Aided by a special passport that protected him throughout the land, Polo amassed unbelievable wealth and hid it before his return to Italy. To this day, the location of his treasure remains a mystery.

The Hunters—an elite group assembled by an enigmatic billionaire to locate the world’s greatest treasures—are tasked with finding the missing fortune. Guided by firsthand accounts of Polo’s travels, they quickly discover there are hostile forces willing to do anything to stop them from taking the riches from Chinese soil. Before long, the treasure hunt becomes a deadly game of cat-and-mouse that will rewrite history while taking the lives of many.

What Did I Think?
This is an exceptional series written by a very talented writer. The excitement is high level... going from a car chase to an air chase to fights to shooting and everything imaginable in between. This one had a twist that I didn't see coming, but it was a good thing. Glad it wasn't like the twist in the book before this one. You really must read this series in order or you will never figure out what is happening or why. This series will appeal to all that like a good thriller with plenty of action and a large dose of history.

76gaylebutz
jul 21, 2017, 12:14 pm

>59 EadieB: >74 Carol420: - I've read Castillo's Sworn to Silence and Breaking Silence (books 1 and 2?). Sworn to Silence really kept me on the edge of my seat and I really liked it except for some very graphic torture scenes. Breaking Silence was not so gripping and I felt a bit disappointed. But, both of your reviews make me want to try her out again. >74 Carol420: you mention that there's not a lot of blood and guts which is good for me. It sounds like Castillo has toned that down from the first book, at least from what I remember.

77EadieB
jul 21, 2017, 12:27 pm

>76 gaylebutz: I like all her books but then blood and guts doesn't bother me except on TV or in my nightmares. lol

78Darth-Heather
jul 21, 2017, 12:35 pm

>73 EadieB: This one sounds really interesting! Thanks for sharing!

79EadieB
jul 21, 2017, 12:56 pm

>74 Carol420: You're welcome! Hope you enjoy it!

80Andrew-theQM
jul 21, 2017, 3:42 pm

Schedule for the Group Read of Kissing the Demons by Kate Ellis, which is book 3 of the Joe Plantagenet Series:

Saturday 22nd July : Chapters 1 to 6
Sunday 23rd July: Chapters 7 to 12
Monday 24th July : Chapters 13 to 18
Tuesday 25th July : Chapters 19 to 24

81Carol420
jul 22, 2017, 8:22 am

Tell The Wolves I'm Home by Carol Rifka Brunt
4.5★'s

What's It About?
1987. There’s only one person who has ever truly understood fourteen-year-old June Elbus, and that’s her uncle, the renowned painter Finn Weiss. Shy at school and distant from her older sister, June can only be herself in Finn’s company; he is her godfather, confidant, and best friend. So when he dies, far too young, of a mysterious illness her mother can barely speak about, June’s world is turned upside down. But Finn’s death brings a surprise acquaintance into June’s life—someone who will help her to heal, and to question what she thinks she knows about Finn, her family, and even her own heart.

At Finn’s funeral, June notices a strange man lingering just beyond the crowd. A few days later, she receives a package in the mail. Inside is a beautiful teapot she recognizes from Finn’s apartment, and a note from Toby, the stranger, asking for an opportunity to meet. As the two begin to spend time together, June realizes she’s not the only one who misses Finn, and if she can bring herself to trust this unexpected friend, he just might be the one she needs the most.

What Did I Think?
Fourteen year old June knows that her Godfather is dying of AIDS. It's the 1980's and the AIDS epidemic is a big part of the life scene. There is also an entire nation offering various opinions on the subject. We soon see that June's family is diffidently divided on the issue. You had to feel compassion for June when finding out she did not know everything about her Uncle...such as his being bullied by her sister and further alienated by a mother who wanted her brother, Finn, to suffer for the life choices he made. She succeeded in making not only Finn, but everyone suffer, most especially Toby, Finn's love who June had no idea even existed before the funeral. This brought more guilt and questions to June. Brunt managed to depict the public's conception and reaction to the emergence of this disease without being overly dramatic or sensational. The characters had a story to tell and it was so well woven throughout the whole book.

82gaylebutz
jul 22, 2017, 12:58 pm

The Given Day by Dennis Lehane
4 stars

Description
Boston beat cop Danny Coughlin longs to step out of the shadow of his father, a legendary police captain. But his resolve is put to the test when he attempts to infiltrate the bands of anarchists and radicals threatening the city. Caught up in a vortex of change, Danny becomes entangled with an Irish immigrant maid and makes the acquaintance of Luther Laurence, a black man on the lam after a murder in Tulsa. Historic events touched on are the Spanish Influenza pandemic and the Boston Police Strike of 1919.

This was a little slow to start for me as it wasn't what I expected. But I was soon drawn into the lives of Danny and Luther, their conflicts with their families and employers, and the unfairness and toughness of some of the situations they got into. It was a good story and I enjoyed it.

83EadieB
jul 22, 2017, 1:37 pm

The Boy Who Saw by Simon Toyne - 5 stars
I highly enjoyed this follow-up book to The Searcher and the second book in the Solomon Creed Trilogy. The plot is excellent and the writing is superb. There are lots of characters; some are nice and some not so nice. The character of Solomon Creed is the most original character that I have ever read about. I find him to be rather magical and mysterious at the same time. A sort of 'superhero' and searcher for the truth. In this book, Solomon is racing to find out who he really is while he is trying to stop a killer from fulfilling a bloody legacy with origins stretching back to World War II. We did receive some more background information about Solomon but there will be more to come in the last book of the trilogy. I would suggest to read The Searcher first so you can be introduced properly to Solomon Creed, although the second book can stand alone, as there is enough information about what happened in the past where you will not feel lost in the story. I would highly recommend this trilogy to those who like thrillers that hook you and do not let go until the end of the book. But the ending will leave you even wanting more. If you find you do love Simon Toyne's writing as much as I do, then you need to read his Sanctus trilogy which I would consider just as fascinating as Solomon Creed.

84Carol420
jul 24, 2017, 7:40 am

Most Dangerous Place by James Grippando
Jack Swyteck series Book #13
4.5 ★'s

What's It About?
Defending a woman accused of murdering the man who sexually assaulted her, Miami lawyer Jack Swyteck must uncover where the truth lies between innocence, vengeance, and justice in this spellbinding tale of suspense—based on shocking true-life events.
According to the FBI, the most dangerous place for a woman between the ages of twenty and thirty is in a relationship with a man. Those statistics become all too personal when Jack Swyteck takes on a new client tied to his past. It begins at the airport, where Jack is waiting to meet his old high school buddy, Keith Ingraham, a high-powered banker based in Hong Kong, coming to Miami for his young daughter’s surgery. But their long-awaited reunion is abruptly derailed when the police arrest Keith’s wife, Isabelle, in the terminal, accusing her of conspiring to kill the man who raped her in college. Jack quickly agrees to represent Isa, but soon discovers that to see justice done, he must separate truth from lies—an undertaking that proves more complicated than the seasoned attorney expects.

Inspired by an actual case involving a victim of sexual assault sent to prison for the death of her attacker, James Grippando’s twisty thriller brilliantly explores the fine line between victim and perpetrator, innocence and guilt, and cold-blooded revenge and rightful retribution.

What Did I Think?
I have been a long time fan of this series. It seems that it just gets better and better with each additional episode. You are eager to find out more from the very first page. Rape has more than one victim...entire families, marriages and relationships suffer often irreparable damage that can lead to revenge that often sets off a disastrous chain of events. Thus is the case of this young woman....but is she truly only a victim or is she as much a predator as her attacker? A complex plot with so many twists and turns that Grippando pulls off beautifully.

85gaylebutz
jul 24, 2017, 4:28 pm

The Fear Index by Robert Harris
3.5 stars

Description
A visionary scientist, Alex Hoffmann, creates a revolutionary form of artificial intelligence that predicts movements in the financial markets with uncanny accuracy. His hedge fund, based in Geneva, makes billions. But after an intruder breaks into his home, he has to try to discover who is trying to destroy him.

This was an interesting story of psychological suspense. When strange things start happening to Alex, his wife and business partner think he’s having a breakdown as he had 8 years earlier due to stress on the job. The author did a good job of explaining financial and computer operations as needed without going on too long. Sometimes I did wonder whether it was Alex having a problem or it was the computer but sometimes I thought the story needed to be a bit more clear. It was still a decent story.

86Carol420
Redigeret: jul 25, 2017, 7:25 am

The Late Show by Michael Connelly
Renee'Ballard series Book #1
4.5★'s

What's It About?
Renee' Ballard works the night shift in Hollywood--also known as the Late Show--beginning many investigations but finishing none, as each morning she turns everything over to the day shift. A once up-and-coming detective, she's been given this beat as punishment after filing a sexual harassment complaint against a supervisor.

But one night she catches two assignments she doesn't want to part with: the brutal beating of a prostitute left for dead in a parking lot and the killing of a young woman in a nightclub shooting. Ballard is determined not to give up at dawn. Against orders and her partner's wishes, she works both cases by day while maintaining her shift by night. As the investigations entwine, they pull her closer to her own demons and the reason she won't give up her job, no matter what the department throws at her.

What Did I Think?
I hope Harry Bosch is not retired but just taking a long over-due vacation. Where ever he is he should be aware that a new star has risen on the police horizons...Detective Renee' Ballard. Ballard is in her own way as complicated and scared as Harry...and like Harry this woman is driven to succeed..to leave no stone unturned in her pursuit to solve the case. When the piece fall into place for Renee'Ballard the reader shares her adrenaline jolt. When her demons come to haunt her, the reader shares her sorrow.

The book is fast paced and the character of Renee' Ballard is everything this series needs to become as big a hit...perhaps even bigger than Harry Bosch....although that's hard to imagine right now. Thank you Mr. Connelly... and please take good care of Harry.

87gaylebutz
jul 25, 2017, 4:31 pm

>86 Carol420: I had just recently read that Connelly started this new series. Glad to hear it's a good one. I love the Bosch series and need to read more of those. I've read one of the lawyer Micky Haller series and liked it. Next I'm going to try the crime reporter Jack McEvoy series. But I will eventually get to Renee Ballard too.

88Andrew-theQM
jul 25, 2017, 5:29 pm

>87 gaylebutz: >86 Carol420: I think I even preferred the Mickey Halley books to the Harry Bosch ones. Hoping to catch up with Harry Bosch soon.

89bluebird_
jul 25, 2017, 9:04 pm

>83 EadieB: I'm looking forward to the Simon Toyne book! I'm on the hold list at the library. Hopefully it won't come in at the same time as a few others I'm waiting for.

>86 Carol420:. I can't believe I'm yet to read a Michael Connelly book! I heard him speak at an event not too long ago and placed the first Harry Bosch book on my TBR pile. One of the many books I hope to get to soon.

Hmmm, I wonder what I define as "soon". One month, six months, one year?
With a TBR mountain > 500 books, soon seems to be just a figure of speech.

90bluebird_
jul 25, 2017, 9:17 pm

I finished Strangers on a Train. 3½ stars. Not sure why, but it didn't hold my interest as I anticipated.
I enjoyed the writing of the psychological thriller and certainly felt the tension build throughout the book, but I didn't really care enough about Guy to become invested in his situation.

I also finished the 3rd book in the Peter Grant/Rivers of London series: Whispers Under Ground via audio with Kobna Holbrook-Smith. 4½ stars. I think this series just gets better and better! I love Peter Grant and Co. The narrator is amazing and I'd swear Ben Aaronovitch writes the book with his performance in mind. I love it when a book and narrator are a perfect match. I can't imagine anyone else narrating this work, and I don't think I'd enjoy it nearly as much if I read it via print or ebook.

91EadieB
jul 25, 2017, 10:29 pm

Kissing The Demons by Kate Ellis - 4 stars
This is the 3rd Joe Plantagenet Murder Mystery book by Kate Ellis. Although it was a decent mystery story, I actually enjoyed the first 2 books more than this one. For one thing, there were entirely too many murder victims from different time periods and it was too hard to figure out which ones were connected to the present murder victim. There were also too many characters who were surprisingly not who we thought they were. Too impossible to figure out the murderer where the plot is too complicated and every person is made to look like the guilty person. As you're reading the book, you head starts spinning and you end up totally confused. I'm still sticking with this series though, as I'm bound to get it right sooner or later. I would recommend this series for those who like hard to figure out murder mysteries.

92EadieB
jul 25, 2017, 11:10 pm

Manderley Forever by Tatiana De Rosnay - 5 stars
I loved this biography of Daphne du Maurier. Tatiana de Rosnay did excellent job researching this interesting author. I found Daphne to be a fascinating and complicated person. I learned a lot of information about her family including her French grandfather and sister who were writers, her father who was an actor, and her other sister who was an artist. Daphne was blond and beautiful and had many suitors, including other females, an uncle and lots of males. She was married to Frederick 'Boy' Browning who was a military leader at Arnhem against the Germans and mentioned in the book and movie, A Bridge Too Far. They had 3 children and many grandchildren. Daphne wrote her most famous books while living at Manabilly Mansion in Cornwell which became her Manderley in her well-known novel, Rebecca. If you love biographies about famous people, you should read this one. I have included some of her history in my review but the book has lots more information that will interest you for sure. I look forward to reading more of her novels in the future.

93Carol420
jul 26, 2017, 7:11 am

The Other Side of Midnight by Simone St. James
4.5★'s

What's It About?
London, 1925. Glamorous medium Gloria Sutter made her fortune helping the bereaved contact loved ones killed during the Great War. Now she's been murdered at one of her own séances, after leaving a message requesting the help of her former friend and sole rival, Ellie Winter.

Ellie doesn't contact the dead—at least, not anymore. She specializes in miraculously finding lost items. Still, she can't refuse the final request of the only other true psychic she has known. Now Ellie must delve into Gloria's secrets and plunge back into the world of hucksters, lowlifes, and fakes. Worse, she cannot shake the attentions of handsome James Hawley, a damaged war veteran who has dedicated himself to debunking psychics.

As Ellie and James uncover the sinister mysteries of Gloria's life and death, Ellie is tormented by nightmarish visions that herald the grisly murders of those in Gloria's circle. And as Ellie’s uneasy partnership with James turns dangerously intimate, an insidious evil force begins to undermine their quest for clues, a force determined to bury the truth, and whoever seeks to expose it.

What Did I Think?
Another great read by this very talented author. I believe that this was the most original and interesting of her books thus far...and I think I've read almost all of them and gave them very high ratings. The characters of Ellie, the physic and James, the shell-shock vet, were simply made for one another. The information about mediums and seances seemed to be well researched. I didn't realize that these seance "parties" were so popular in England and the U.S. after WWI. Overall the supernatural aspects were well written and the main plot is a solid "who done it" mystery. We have a good cop...an old adversary who becomes an ally... and several more interesting characters who add to the story line. This book will appeal to everyone that loves a good mystery even if they are skeptical about the supernatural.

94Carol420
jul 26, 2017, 8:03 am

Kissing the Demons by Kate Ellis
Joe Plantagenet Series Book #3
4 ★'s

What's It About?
Thirteen Torland Place is a house with a disturbing past. When a student living there is found murdered, DI Joe Plantagenet wonders whether her death has anything to do with its grim history. Then other, similar deaths come to light and he fears that a ruthless serial killer is at work. Could the deaths be connected to Obediah Shrowton, an executed murderer whose presence still seems to linger in the house? Or is there a yet more sinister and dangerous explanation?

What Did I Think?
If you enjoy a good, solid police procedural with strong supernatural overtones, you will diffidently like the Joe Plantagenet series. Kate Ellis has skillfully blended history with present-day crime to produce an outstanding series with excellent characters.

The story is complex...perhaps a bit too complex, which lost it the 5th star...and suspenseful. This is due partly to the fact that there are so many people who have a great deal to lose if their secrets are revealed. It's the third book in the series but it can very well be read as a standalone. However, something tells me that you'll want to go back to read the others. The atmosphere of the town of Eborby along with a strong story line and believable characters make this one a winner.

95sushicat
jul 26, 2017, 5:29 pm

The Deep Blue Good-Bye by John D. MacDonald - 4.4 stars
First in the Travis McGee series

Travis McGee calls himself a retriever: when something special is stolen, he will find ways to get it back to the owner for half its value. But he is very picky with his jobs. When a friend asks him to listen to a young woman's story he has no intention of getting involved. But the story goes way beyond theft and it's resolution will cost him much more than he expects.

I very much liked the laid back and self critical Travis McGee, who is a curious mixture of ruthlessness and chivalry.

96sushicat
jul 26, 2017, 5:32 pm

I completely missed the group read 😐 I only realized after a couple of chapters I was reading the wrong book...

97Andrew-theQM
jul 26, 2017, 7:50 pm

>96 sushicat: That was unfortunate, we'll see you next time. 😊

98Andrew-theQM
jul 26, 2017, 7:58 pm

>93 Carol420: That does sound interesting. I am currently enjoying the Maisie Dobbs Series which focus on the long-term after effects of the First World War.

99Carol420
jul 27, 2017, 7:29 am

>98 Andrew-theQM: I have liked all of Simone St. Jame's books. They are really good mysteries but do have a supernatural flavor...which is really why I started reading them:) I've read two of the Maisie Dobbs series and really liked them also. My mother has read them all. She needs large print books now and not all of that series was printed in large print.

100Carol420
jul 27, 2017, 7:29 am

A Time of Torment by John Connolly
Charlie Parker Series Book #14
4★'s

What Was it about?
Charlie Parker battles an old evil that haunts a strange and isolated community. Jerome Burnel was once a hero. He intervened to prevent multiple killings, and in doing so damned himself. His life was torn apart, imprisoned and brutalized.

But in his final days, with the hunters circling, he tells his story to private detective Charlie Parker. He speaks of the girl who was marked for death, but was saved; of the ones who tormented him, and an entity that hides in a ruined stockade.

Parker is not like other men. He died, and was reborn. He is ready to wage war. Now he will descend upon a strange, isolated community called the Cut, and face down a force of men who rule by terror, intimidation, and murder. All in the name of the being they serve. All in the name of the Dead King.

What Did I Think?
The story might be termed "evil vs worse than evil". But then Charlie Parker is not a normal PI. Ever since his last encounter with death he has changed and if anything he seems more deadly which is rather difficult to believe based on the past books. It's a dark and disturbing story and Connolly holds the reader's interest all the way through and builds the action, along with the story. I found it a bit of a slow start but quickly picked up...so stay with it. I was also glad to see that we learned a bit more about Charlie's daughters...one living and one dead...and certainly not your ordinary children by any means.

I've read that these books can be read as standalones...but for the life me I don't see how. Each book builds on the Parker character and carries new information building the current story on the past ones. No matter how you choose to read them be prepared for a wild ride.

101pollux
Redigeret: jul 27, 2017, 10:02 am

90 Bluebird

You just reminded me of an excellent book I read a few months ago The Kind Worth Killing by Peter Swanson.
It is along the lines of Strangers on a Train but so much more.

102Raspberrymocha
jul 28, 2017, 6:22 pm

The Xibalba Murders by Lyn Hamilton
#1 Archeological Mystery series
4 ⭐️

What a nice start to a series. I enjoy anything archeological and mysteries, so this was an interesting read. The main character, Lara McClintoch, is a recently divorced and former owner of an Antique Store in Toronto, Canada. Amidst her new university studies, she receives a call from her old friend and former antiquities buyer, Dr. Castillo in Mexico. He wants her to help him hunt for an possible Mayan artifact, which survived burning by the Franciscans back in the 17th century. Dropping her studies Lara heads to Mexico and stays with family friends who own a small hotel. Before getting to speak with Dr. Castillo, he is found dead. Lara is determined to figure out what it was that might have gotten her friend killed. The story weaves in Mayan history, especially that of Xibalba, the Mayan land of the dead. She visits museums, small towns, and archeological digs in her search. A very interesting fast moving story. I can hardly wait to read the next in this series. However, I wish it were in hardcover, as I'm not a fan of paperbacks.

103Andrew-theQM
jul 28, 2017, 7:03 pm

>102 Raspberrymocha: That sounds very interesting, will have to keep an eye out for it.

104EadieB
Redigeret: jul 29, 2017, 9:32 pm

Company Orders by David J. Walker - 4 stars
Unholy Price — Father Paul Clark is trapped in a devil's bargain. He was on the fast track to becoming a bishop. But suddenly a secret from his past comes back to haunt him -- and someone he loves is in danger. A mysterious woman claiming to be an intelligence agent offers to help...if Paul will put his morals aside to do her bidding.
Now he is falsely accused and on the run. With little money or help, he desperately searches Chicago's meanest streets and South America's most hostile regions for evidence to prove his innocence. And to protect another's life, he must play out a lethal game with no rules -- one he hasn't a prayer to survive.

My Review
I read this book to fulfill the South American country of Guyana for an around the world challenge. I enjoyed it and it held my interest throughout. The plot was very exciting and had lots of twists and turns. The characters were interesting especially Father Paul Clark. I would definitely read another book by this author and I would highly recommend this book to those who like action-packed mysteries.

105Carol420
Redigeret: jul 31, 2017, 6:34 am

Yesternight by Cat Winters
5★'s

What's It About?
A young child psychologist steps off a train, her destination a foggy seaside town. There, she begins a journey causing her to question everything she believes about life, death, memories, and reincarnation.

In 1925, Alice Lind steps off a train in the rain-soaked coastal hamlet of Gordon Bay, Oregon. There, she expects to do nothing more difficult than administer IQ tests to a group of rural schoolchildren. A trained psychologist, Alice believes mysteries of the mind can be unlocked scientifically, but now her views are about to be challenged by one curious child.

Seven-year-old Janie O’Daire is a mathematical genius, which is surprising. But what is disturbing are the stories she tells: that her name was once Violet, she grew up in Kansas decades earlier, and she drowned at age nineteen. Alice delves into these stories, at first believing they’re no more than the product of the girl’s vast imagination. But, slowly, Alice comes to the realization that Janie might indeed be telling a strange truth.

Alice knows the investigation may endanger her already shaky professional reputation, and as a woman in a field dominated by men she has no room for mistakes. But she is unprepared for the ways it will illuminate terrifying mysteries within her own past, and in the process, irrevocably change her life.

What Did I Think?
How many lives can and do we live? It was a book that you just couldn't put down. Cat Winters weaves this story of a family with a seven year old daughter that is at times old beyond her years, and a school physiologist that struggles to believe that what she suspects isn't happening. Alice Lind tells herself that what she is doing is to help Janie O'Daire and her estranged mother and father but the deeper she digs the more her own troubled past seems to be catching up to overpower her. You hoped that everything would turn out okay but you knew that at some point their world was going to collapse around their ears.

Even though there is a supernatural flavor...not of ghostly hauntings but of reincarnation.... throughout the story line it is also a story of how society viewed the roles of males and females during the flapper era and how thankful we should be that those attitudes are past...but it seems that nothing may really remain in the past. Historical and paranormal fans will love the book.

106Olivermagnus
jul 31, 2017, 10:29 am

Apparently I never put my July list on the thread.

Lynda and Oliver's July Reading List

Mystery/Suspense

Cloak of Darkness - Helen McInnes - 3.5 Stars
Death at La Fenice - Donna Leon - 5 Stars
Down a Dark Road - Linda Castillo - 4.5 Stars
Final Detail - Harlan Coben - 4.5 Stars
Gallow's View - Peter Robison - 4 Stars
Game of Ghosts - John Connolly - 4.5 Stars
Girl in Disguise - Greer Macallister - 3.5 Stars
Hat Dance - Carmen Amato - 4 Stars
Her Final Breath - Robert Dugoni - 4.5 Stars
Kissing the Demons - Kate Ellis - 4 Stars
Mercy Falls - William Kent Krueger - 4.5 Stars
Night Stalker - Chris Carter - 4 Stars
Orchid Blues - Stuart Woods - 3.5 Stars
Ringer - Steve Thayer - 3 Stars
Stolen Ones - Owen Laukkanen - 4.5 Stars
Strawberry Shortcake Murder - Joanne Fluke - 3 Stars
Your Killin' Heart - Peggy Peden - 3.5 Stars

Other.

A Curious Beginning - Deanna Raybourn - 4 Stars
Far Side of the Sky - Daniel Kalla - 5 Stars
Invention of Wings - Sue Monk Kidd - 4.5 Stars
Last Man Off - Matt Lewis - 3.5 Stars
Mendel's Dwarf - Simon Mawrer - 3 Stars
Midnight in Berlin - James MacManus - 3.5 Stars
Rules of Civility - Amor Towles - 4.5 Stars
To the Bright Edge of the World - Eowyn Ivey - 4.5 Stars
Winter Sea - Susanna Kearsley - 3.5 Stars
Wonder - RJ Palacios - 4.5 Stars

107Andrew-theQM
jul 31, 2017, 3:45 pm

>106 Olivermagnus: Another stunning month for you Lynda.

108Andrew-theQM
jul 31, 2017, 4:04 pm

My July Reading Stats:

Books Read : 19 (5 up on last year)
Pages Read : 7,389 (707 up on last year)

Books Read so far this year : 137 (up 42 on last year)
Pages Read so far this year : 54,314 (up 12,433 on last year)

⭐⭐⭐1/2 1 book
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 9 Books
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2 8 Books
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1 Book
Favourites : Mapping of Love and Death
Average : 4.24
Average Number of Pages : 388.9

Year to Date Average Number of Pages : 396.5

109gaylebutz
jul 31, 2017, 4:39 pm

>106 Olivermagnus: >108 Andrew-theQM: All I can say is WOW! You guys are reading machines! I know Carol, Eadie and maybe a few others also have huge numbers like this too and to them I also say WOW! I don't think I'll ever get anywhere near that amount of reading, which is ok. But I can admire each of your abilities to do so.

110gaylebutz
jul 31, 2017, 4:41 pm

The Preacher by Camilla Lackberg
4 stars

Description

In the fishing community of Fjallbacka, life is remote, peaceful -- and for some, tragically short. Foul play was always suspected in the disappearance twenty years ago of two young tourists in the area. Now their remains are discovered with those of a fresh victim. Local detective Patrik Hedstrom, expecting a baby with his girlfriend Erica, can only imagine what it is like to lose a child. When a second young girl goes missing, Hedstrom's attention focuses on the Hults, a feuding clan of misfits, relgious fanatics and criminals.

This story was part cozy, part police procedural, part psychological suspense with a light touch of noir and a bit of humor. I liked the combination and it kept my interest throughout. In the end, the murderer and his reasons were a little different but it made sense and fit the story. I’ll be reading more of this series in the future.

111Andrew-theQM
jul 31, 2017, 4:48 pm

>109 gaylebutz: I used to only read a small number of books but that has increased over the years due to sites like this and Shelfari, and everyone in these groups - you are all such bad influences! 😂 I have given up tv so this has increased reading time. First year I tried the 12 x12 challenge I read 75 books which was my best ever at the time and this has only gone up Year on Year. Can't explain why my totals (books read and pages read) are so much up this year. When I looked at the numbers it surprised me! The Group Reads help me keep up the reading amongst my job.

However the key thing is to enjoy your reading no matter how many or how few books you read.

112Andrew-theQM
Redigeret: jul 31, 2017, 4:50 pm

>110 gaylebutz: I've read and enjoyed the first two in this series and do need to get back to it. Too many great series, too little time!

113Hope_H
jul 31, 2017, 8:20 pm

Tell the Story to Its End by Simon P. Clark
★ ★ ★ - 198 pages

Oli's mother has whisked him from London to live in the countryside with his uncle and aunt. Oli knows something is going on with his father, but he isn't sure what. His mother only says that his father will join them later. Uncle Rob shows Oli the stairsteps to the attic; when Oli investigates, he discovers a very hungry being living there. Eren is an ancient winged creature who lives on the stories of others. He inhabits Oli's thoughts and Oli goes to greater and greater lengths to find stories for Eren, just as he goes to greater lengths to figure out what is going on with his father.

Each chapter starts with dialog between Eren and Oli - usually talking about stories and truth, something Oli desperately wants to find.

I thought I was really going to like this novel, so I'm disappointed that I only find it so-so. It's creepy, but there is no real resolution to the story, and Oli never gets the clarification from Eren that he really wants. Lines between reality, fantasy, and perception are blurred.

114Olivermagnus
aug 7, 2017, 11:40 am

>109 gaylebutz: - I'm retired so I have lots of free time. I usually have an audio book going too.

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