Confession time. I’m reading two books right now, but can’t tell you what they are because I’m reviewing them for LJ. I can say, though, that one is a story collection, and it’s going to Jeff after I finish and review it. When I was looking it up for the library, I saw that it costs $50, no discount. Whoa! I have an ARC, but I’m guessing Jeff might not order it for himself.
I know what I’m going to read next week, though. As soon as I finish my books for the journal, I want to read two books that were released this week. One is Glen Erik Hamilton’s new Van Shaw mystery, Mercy River. The other is A Dangerous Collaboration, the latest Veronica Speedwell by Deanna Raybourn. Those books are both up soon.
I have a vacation day today, so, in between reading I’ll be checking back with you. What are you reading this week? I’d love to know!
I gave up on THE VICTORY GARDEN by Rhys Bowen on page 125.
I stayed up late to finish THE HUNTRESS by Kate Quinn last night. I could not put it down. It was really good.
Today I will start MURDER IN THE PAPERBACK PARLOR by Ellery Adams.
Enjoy your day off. My day in Central Ohio will be a warm but rainy one.
Happy Reading!
I only finished one book this week, MURDES AND METAPHORS by Amanda Flower which was OK.
I gave up on COOKIN’ THE BOOKS by Patricia Amy because I found all of the literary puns annoying.
I have an ARC of Jenn McKinlay’s next cupcake book so I’ll start that next.
I finished listening to THE SILENT PATIENT by Alex Michaelides and liked it. The interview at the end with the author was very interesting. I read (or rather listened to) two P.D. James short story collections for a book group discussion. Enjoyed those hugely and even though I often think I don't like short stories very much, it reminded me that I've read every single one that Agatha Christie wrote. It was interesting to discuss mystery short stories with a group who read very little in the mystery realm. Many didn't like the books as much as I did. And several felt like Christie 'tricked' readers and so don't like her books either. I laughed silently to myself. Right now, I'm doing a read/listen of Riley Sager's second book, THE LAST TIME I LIED. It's set at a summer camp for girls and concerns three girls who went missing 15 years before. I'm enjoying it too.
Always nice to hear what others are liking or not. 🙂
Hi everyone, I am reading books that aren’t mysteries that is why I am not listing them.
Have a wonderful week reading.
Thanks for the thought, Lesa! I have been stuck (sort of) reading mostly stories anyway. Just finished Elinor Lipman's INTO LOVE AND OUT AGAIN. It was interesting that seven of the sixteen stories are connected. A couple meets on line at the DMV and he asks her out, even though she is nine months pregnant! (The father is not in the picture.) This goes back and forth over the years, but I don't mind saying it has a happy ending.
Also reading (approaching the finish at last) Raoul Whitfield's Jo Gar stories (originally published in the early 1930s as by Ramon Decolta), WEST OF GUAM. Again, there is a six story sequence about stolen diamonds and murder.
I also need to finish BRUNO, CHIEF OF POLICE by Martin Walker so I can get to the Allen Eskens and Charlie Jane Anders books I've downloaded from the library, as well as "regular" books. I even took two books from our basement laundry room "library" – how crazy is that? It's my own fault for squandering too much time online. Maybe next week will be better.
Charlotte, the shoulder is definitely getting better. Four more weeks until I have to go back to the doctor.
Sharon, I have, and want to read, The Huntress, but it might have to go back to the library, and I'll go back on the list. There are people waiting for that one, so I"m glad to know you liked it.
Right there with you on all the literary puns, Sandy. In a month or two, when I do a giveaway for that book, I need to remember to mention them.
Oh, dear, Kay. I can see why you laughed to yourself when they talked about Agatha Christie's books.
Hi, Charlotte,
You know, you're welcome to mention other books here, not just mysteries. Even if these are your books for your church group, feel free to mention them. Someone might be interested. If you don't want to, though, that's okay. Hugs!
I don't know if your library might get this book or not, Jeff. I just know I had sticker shock when I saw the price.
I hadn't realized that Isaac Mizrahi is more than a fashion designer. He is also a stellar writer (I.M. isn't his first book), a past talk show host, a playwright, singer, writer and performer of his own one-man show, and more, having graduated from the High School of Performing Arts in NYC. More than half of this memoir covers his life through his college years, which I thoroughly enjoyed, including building a puppet theater in his basement as a child and making all the puppets and their clothes. Having recently bought a couple of his cardigans from his non-couture offerings on QVC, I was interested in what he had to say about his design career as well, and all of the luminaries who have been his friends and associates. I found I.M. to be a superior memoir.
Tosha Silver writes on spiritual topics and I enjoyed one of her previous books, Outrageous Openness. In her new book, IT'S NOT YOUR MONEY, she shares steps anyone can take to learn to let go of fears (not just financial) and "feel a new sense of freedom and abundance." Sounds New-Agey, I know, but I like her philosophy and plan to adapt it in my life.
THE BURNING ISLAND, third in Hester Young's Charlie Cates series, is just as engrossing as The Gates of Evangeline and The Shimmering Road. Charlie is a journalist who has waking dreams of children in peril. Her psychic abilities were outed recently against her will, and now her vacation trip to the Big Island of Hawaii with friend Rae has turned dangerous. The subject of her proposed article for an on outdoors-related magazine, a rpominent volcanologist who also runs triathlons, seems unaffected by the fact that his teenage daughter has been missing for week. Has she run away (again) or has she been murdered? Charlie's visions seem to be from the perspective of the one person who knows what happened and, of course, there are more than a few possible candidates. Good suspense and a quick read.
Sounds as if it was a good reading week, Margie. Lots of variety, and all good books. Sending hugs.
Yesterday, I finished DROWNED UNDER by Wendall Thomas, which I enjoyed. Today, I need to get further into Gregg Hurwitz’s new Orphan X book, OUT OF THE DARK.
I'm looking forward to reading Drowned Under, Mark. I have to pick up a copy.
Jeff, I'm glad your shoulder is feeling better.
Lesa, I'm really looking forward to Mercy River myself.
The Chocolate Cream Pie murder by Joanne Fluke; I know, I know. I read them because my mother gets them. This one is better than the last couple of books if only because Ross is brutally murdered.
Honolulu Mysteries by Glenn Grant; A collection of PI mysteries with a supernatural bent set in Hawaii.
Tahoe Blowup by Todd Borg; A serial arsonist/killer is on the loose in Tahoe. A lot scarier after the Paradise fire.
The Kaisho by Eric Van Lustbader; This one seems like something Steven Seagal would star in.
Them Bones by Carolyn Haynes; A paranormal cozy I didn't like.
Deadfall; Mac Mcallister has to solve some murders.
Trespasser by Paul Doiron; Maine Game Warden Mike Bowditch solves a gruesome murder in a mansion.
Shell Games by Kirk Russell; California Game Warden comes up against a former Cartel hit man.
Have read two from Lesa's recommendations in the past week – Anika Aldamuy Denise Planting Stories, the Life of Librarian Pura Belpre. A children's picture book but it is just wonderful and the pictures are great.
The other from her recommendations was R. J Lee, Grand Slam Murders. An intriguing and fun book to read – I play strictly social bridge once a week. Good characters and a good story.
Read a so, so book with try the second when it comes out. Holly Quinn, A Crafter Knits a Clue which was entertaining but dragged in a few places.
Currently reading Barbara Early – the third entry into the Toyshop Series – Death of a Russian Doll. Enjoyed the first two and am enjoying this one. Good story – reading in fits and stops as I am puppy sitting my god dog. And I am listening to the second Jude Deveraux Medlar Mystery A Justified Murder. Loved the first one in the series and am liking this one as well. She does an excellent job of fleshing out her characters.
Have an excellent day off Lesa.
Glen, My motto is "Never apologize for your reading taste." Instead, remind me who Ross is. I might not know because I haven't read a Joanne Fluke in quite a while, but the name sounds familiar. I don't want to have to go back and read a few books to discover who Ross is.
Thank you, Netteanne. We made it through all the morning tornado warnings. We have another 2 1/2 hours when we might be under a threat. If we make it through that, we should be okay. My cats are sleeping. A robin has been playing in the backyard. I don't expect anything soon because the animals don't seem concerned.
Wasn't that picture book beautiful? I just had to share that one.
Lesa, Ross is the doofus Hannah married when Fluke wrote herself into a corner vis a vis the Norman/Michael triangle. He popped into existence as Hannah's former college boyfriend, and was a filmmaker. Virtually every reader hates him, and have hoped he'd get wasted somehow.
Fluke gave her audience what it wanted in that regard.
I've read 4 short books by Betty Rowlands – Murder at the Manor Hotel, Murder on a Winter Afternoon, Murder in the Orchard and Murder at Larkfield Barn. The series features Melissa Craig as a mystery writer/crime solver in her adopted town in the Cotswolds.
I listened to A Willing Murder by Jude Deveraux.
And last night, I finished The Strange Journey of Alice Pendelbury by Marc Levy.
I've just begun reading Life is Meals by James and Kay Salter and I'm listening to A Mind for Numbers by Barbara Oakley.
Thank you, Glen! I knew she married someone, but never knew his name. She should have listened to readers years ago.
I haven't read those Betty Rowlands books, but I have read and enjoyed Jude Deveraux' two books.
I was looking for some book suggestions when I came here, and I am not disappointed. Thank you all. I have requested several from my library.
I am currently reading Special Circumstances by Sheldon Siegel. I had not even heard of this author until my husband recommended this book, but this is the start of a series. It's rare that he remembers an author and title – he reads so much – so I thought I'd better check it out. It's been keeping my interest. It's a legal procedural type of book.
Ross showed up in Cherry Cheesecake Murder and possibly once a book or two after that. Then disappeared for over 10 books until he popped back up and Hannah decided to marry him.
I hated Hannah married him, although I was okay with it. It would have been fine if they had stayed married, but the soap opera that followed has made the series a train wreck. And I can't turn away either. I read the latest book a couple of weeks ago.
Finished the Traveling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa last night. I must admit that I, a 71 year-old male shed a tear on the last page. I haven't done that since the Cardinals lost the Super Bowl several years ago.
I'm reading "Magickal Mystery Lore" by Sharon Pape. It's the fourth book in the Abracadabra Mystery series. This is the first one in the series that I've read. I'm enjoying it so far, but the murder mystery is dragging on a bit too long. But with only 10 chapters left, it'll be done soon, one way or another.
Nan, I'm so glad you stopped by & found some suggestions. In the meantime, at least your husband had one for you, and the start of a series!
Mark, Thank you for the update on the Hannah Swenson series. I love your description as a train wreck, but you can't look away.
Jim, I have that book in a pile. I'll have to look for it. At least you gave me a warning about the tear.
Kim, I liked Sharon Pape's series about the marshal that was a ghost. I'm partial to those kind of books. I hope your book ended well even if it dragged a little.
The Deepest Waters by Dan Walsh for bookclub and The Secretary by Renee Knight. In the car, I am listening to Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid.