The day that has become my favorite day of the week! I love Thursdays. I love to find out what you’re reading each week.
I’m reading way ahead. Martin Edwards’ next collection comes out at the beginning of January. It’s The Long Arm of the Law: Classic Police Stories. I love police procedurals, and I always enjoy reading Edwards’ introductions to each story in which he discusses the author’s background. This one is a paperback, and only 234 pages. It’s an enjoyable collection.
What are you reading this week? We’d all like to know.
I just finished “A Rising Man” by Abir Mukherjee. It was a terrific mystery set in Calcutta, India just after the end of the Great War. I highly recommend it.
This week I read Sleep Like a Baby by Charlaine Harris. Ugh. That is the nicest word I can use for my opinion. I liked the last one well enough so despite your review, I decided to read it. Even with all the breastfeeding, cutest baby ever, needing "me time" I found the mystery part interesting enough to continue. When I got to the end, I wish I had skipped it altogether. UGH!
Now I am reading How the Finch Stole Christmas by Donna Andrews and enjoying it much more.
Have a great Weekend!
Getting ready for the World Fantasy Convention by rereading the stories in THE BEST OF ROBERT BLOCH and an anthology of stories from BEYOND, a fine fantasy digest of the '50s.
Nice. I will put that Edwards on my radar. I'm reading his THE STORY OF CLASSIC CRIME IN 100 BOOKS, easily read a few at a time. Also the Otto Penzler edited collection (commissioned by the Mysterious Bookshop), BIBLIOMYSTERIES: Stories of Crime in the World of Books and Bookstores, which I am enjoying a lot so far. But you can't go far wrong with Ken Bruen, Reed Farrel Coleman, Jeffery Deaver, C. J. Box, etc. In fiction, I'm reading the latest Leo Waterman book by G.M. Ford, the exciting FAMILY VALUES. For once it isn't Leo in trouble, but his girlfriend Rebecca.
I also have the new Allen Eskens on the shelf, and the new Bosch by Michael Connelly is in transit.
This week I read: THE FORGOTTEN ONES (aka PRESERVE THE DEAD), the third DS Lucy Black book by Brian McGilloway.
OUT OF THE BRONX: THE JOEL SACHS STORIES by Jerome Kass, a series of clearly autobiographically based stories.
THE DISPATCHER, a short futuristic tale by John Scalzi.
Have fun, Bill!
I just finished DEATH ON TAP by Ellie Alexander which I enjoyed. I also read a book LIGHTS OF WASHINGTON PARK about stained glass windows in the historic district of North Plainfield, NJ.
Finished the following books this week:
Holiday Cream Cupcake & Murder by Ann S Marie
The Western Star by Craig Johnson
A View to Die For by Richard Houston
I am reading:
A Book to Die For by Richard Houston
Slow on reading Into the Water by Paula Hawkins
Hope you have time for reading this week.
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Jeff, Your story collections look like the pile beside the couch. I have those as well. Sharon, I had to laugh at your reaction to Harris' book. Ugh. Enjoy the convention, Bill! Sandy, I'm glad you liked Death on Tap. Susan, Thank you for your recommendation. That's a different setting and time period. I'm off tomorrow, Charlotte, so I'll have reading time. I hope others do as well!
Last night I finished Alice Hoffman's The Rules of Magic, which was very enjoyable. I've just started Mrs. Jeffries and the Three Wise Women, a Christmas-themed entry into Emily Brightwell's charming series. I think this is about number 35 in the series, if you can believe it! And Cheryl Arguile, the real Emily Brightwell, is just as charming. She is a fellow Sisters in Crime member (Norcal chapter), but unfortunately she has moved out of the area so we haven't seen her in a while. I guess I liked Charlaine Harris's latest Aurora Teagarden better than everyone else, enough to keep reading the series.
Margie, I have a copy of The Rules of Magic, which I need to get to. My friend, Kaye, thought it may have been her best yet. It's hard to imagine anyone writing 35 books in a series. Good for her!
I read The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest. I found it ridiculous.
The Earth Game Option by H. Leigh, a sort of cosmic romance.
Daughter of Zion by Bodie Thoene, second part of an epic about the founding of Israel.
I decided I needed some adventure after all that, so I read Charg, a reprint of The Shadow.
Now I'm reading Morocco Jones in The Case of the Golden Angel, a good old fashioned bare knuckled PI novel.
Glen, I just love your comments – I found it ridiculous. Good for you for your honesty.
I finished Crash and Burn by Fern Michaels and started Jessica Ellicott's Murder in An English Village, Miss D and Me by Kathryn Sermak – a book about the time she was Betty Davis' assistant/companion. The Pickle Queen by Deborah Smith, 15 Minutes by Larissa Reinhart and a reread Stealing Shadows by Kay Hooper.
I am listening to Yellow Crocus by Laila Ibrahim. The voices are done so well, sometimes I feel that I am watching a movie. I am really enjoying the story.
Also reading Robert Whitlow's A Time to Stand. It is in smaller print than I like but the story is compelling forward.
I am reading The Man From the Train by Bill James and finding it utterly fascinating. It's about a possible serial killer loose in the U.S. in the early 1900s. James' daughter combed databases of old newspapers to find a number of crimes that seemed to fit the same M.O.
Just finished Cat About Town by Cate Conte, first in Cat Cafe series. It was slow, in part because the publisher's information gives away far too much.
Jeannne
Gram, I hope you enjoy Murder in an English Village. I liked the characters, especially the American.
Carol, You often come up with titles I've never heard of. I enjoy that.
Jeanne, Don't you hate it when the book blurb gives away too much?
I became a fan of Gregg Hurwitz's "Orphan X" series after I was lucky enough to meet him at the last RF. Since the next installment isn't due out until end of January, I'm reading his stand alone titles. I also just watched the DVD of "The Book of Henry." He wrote the screenplay.
Jessica, It sounds like Gregg Hurwitz made quite an impression on you.