I just started Bill Pronzini’s new standalone, The Violated. I’m not reviewing it until I finish, but I’m sailing through it. It’s obvious why he’s a Grand Master. In the opening scene, a man is found murdered, a sex offender whose presence and discovery in a California town has upset everyone. He was suspected of four rapes before his death, but none of the women identified him. Pronzini tells the story from the viewpoints of the police chief, the mayor, the wife of the victim, the rape victims, the investigating detective. It moves quickly, and as skillfully between perspectives as you would expect from Pronzini. Terrific book so far.
So, what are you reading? A mystery? Story collection? Fiction? Nonfiction? Tell us what book is your escape this week. We’d love to know!
Yes, yes, and yes. Well, except for the non fiction that is.
My friend Rick Robinson is doing a Short Story February thing on his blog (https://tipthewink.net/), so I'm reading collections by F. Scott Fitzgerald (his COMPLETE STORIES, which could take a while as there are well over 100 of them), William Humphrey (COLLECTED STORIES), and Saki (COMPLETE SAKI), as well as the occasional short short found online.
I finished the newest Insp. Salvo Montalbano book by Andrea Camilleri, A BEAM OF LIGHT, and I'm reading James Swain's prequel to the Tony Valentine series, WILD CARD, set in 1979 when Tony was still on the Atlantic City police force.
I enjoyed reading the ARC of Edith Maxwell's second Quaker Midwife mystery, CALLED TO JUSTICE. Lesa, I remember you liked her first book, DELIVERING THE TRUTH, and will add that one to my TBR pile.
I am now reading two very different books nominated for the Lefty Best Mystery award: DARK FISSURES by Matt Coyle and MICHELANGELO'S GHOST by Gigi Pandian. I have enjoyed the earlier books from both of these series.
Will be interested to see your review about THE VIOLATED. I like Pronzini's NAMELESS detective series, and but am glad to see him writing a stand-alone.
I'm about 100 pages into THE SPOOK LIGHTS AFFAIR by Pronzini and Muller. Good stuff.
I'm reading IN THE COMPANY OF OGRES by A. Lee Martinez. Makes me smile. 🙂
Jeff, Do you use a public library in Florida, or read online from your home library? Just curious.
I did like the first Midwife book, Grace. I'm looking forward to the second one! I read another fifty pages in The Violated last night after blogging. Still liking it. Then, I had to quit because the chapter I read bothered me. Not good reading before bed.
I like that series, Bill. I've read that one. I have the latest sitting on the table at home.
Karen, I've brought A. Lee Martinez' books home from the library a couple times. One of these days, I am going to read one. I think I'd like them.
I'm about halfway finished with Blake Crouch's DARK MATTER. Wow. What an odd story. Think it would make a great movie or TV event. That being said, it's a little out of my wheelhouse – what I'd consider sci fi.
And I'm listening to THE GIRL BEFORE by J.P. Delaney. Hmmm…I'm about halfway through there too and it's proving to be a little icky, as in 50 shades icky. I guess I'll finish it, but I'm not very enthused right at this point. Maybe it will improve for me. Happily, my next listen will be the new Crombie book! Yay!
Lesa, I brought only half a dozen books with me. Other than the Camilleri, which I bought, I've been reading either books from the 400+ I already had on the Kindle or downloads I'm borrowing from the Brooklyn Public Library. We haven't joined a library down here.
I'm re reading a fantasy book, Urban Shaman by C.E. Murphy.
Just finished reading Ripe for Murder by Carlene O'Neil. Irreparable Harm and Inadvertent Disclosure both written by Melissa F Miller.
Reading two books at this one a paper back from the library. Liar, Liar the fourth book by M J Arlidge. Irretrievably Broken by Melissa F Miller on Kindle. Having to buy all the Miller books, library does not have any of these books by Miller.
Happy reading to everyone.
OK, I got a little further along with THE GIRL BEFORE and just went – no, no, no! I returned it to Audible and got my credit back. Definitely not for me. Ha!
Kay, Yes, Blake Crouch's Dark Matter is sci fi, and I think I read somewhere that it has been optioned for something or other. Good idea to get rid of a fifty shades ick. Not my type either.
Sounds like you have enough to keep you out of trouble, Jeff. 😉
Sounds like urban fantasy, Sandy. My kind of fantasy.
A multiple book reader like I am, Charlotte. Always interesting to see what you're reading.
Reading an ARC of No Easy Prey by Iris Johansen. Not liking it much at all.
Quit, Glen. No reason to read something that you don't like.
I just finished Joanne Harris' DIFFERENT CLASS. As the blurb on the cover says, it's a masterpiece of misdirection. I need something lighter now, so I was delighted to discover that Marshall Karp came out with the fifth in his Lomax & Biggs humorous police procedural series, titled TERMINAL, last May–how did I miss it? It has 100+ 5-star reviews! I just downloaded it on my Kindle and can't wait to start.
I requested and received and older book from the library Michael Gilbert's Mr. Calder and Mr. Behrens – short stories. Also from the library are Kay Hooper's The First Prophet – re reading all the Bishops series in anticipation of the new one releasing in March…a new to me author Kaya McLaren's Church of the Dog I like it so far – and I am finishing Margaret Atwood's trilogy MaddAdam.
This past week I've read The Light in the Garden by Heather Burch. I thought it was okay. Then I read Shadows over Paradise by Isabel Wolff which was outstanding. It is about a ghost writer writing the memoir of a Dutch women interned on Java during WWII when she was a girl. Yesterday I finished The Fifth Letter by Nicola Moriarty. I don't think I was the target audience being 60. I could not figure out why these women stayed friends all these years but I liked the confessional aspect with the priest and was invested in how it would end. Now I am reading It Happened in Scotland by Patience Griffin.
Yay! Due to a new hard drive my computer is working again. I am listening to Memory Man by David Baldacci and reading The Weight of Him by Ethel Rothan. Both of good but the last one is outstanding. This author can really tell the woes of being of overweight and the soothing qualities of food plus, she is also handling a father's grief for his son in a very perceptive way.
Side note. I have taken my opthmalogist advice about not spending so much page time by listening to audio books. My eyes are much better. I checked out our local library's group of audiobooks and they have a very scant supply, Any suggestions?
Thank you!!
I'm reading What Lies Beyond the Fence, a Harry Bronson mystery by L.C. Hayden. Interesting plot — I'm enjoying it a lot.
So happy to see what you're reading, and to see how many of you are reading from the public library. Thank you!
Grace, Does your library have either OverDrive or Hoopla? Our library system has all kinds of audiobooks on both those platforms, and we continue to add them. If they don't, I'd talk to them about audiobooks, and how much you would like them.
Shoot, That should have said, Carol, does your library have either OverDrive or Hoopla. I apologize to both you and Grace.
Thank you so much, Lesa. I wrote them down and will ask!!!