It’s Thursday! That means it’s time for What Are You Reading. I look forward to this day every week. I’m just about to start the August release, Continental Crimes, edited by Martin Edwards. That means I can’t tell you anything about it other than it includes stories from the Golden Age of Mysteries, ones by Agatha Christie, Arthur Conan Doyle and G.K. Chesterton, among others.
More important than what I’m reading, what are you reading or listening to right now? Let’s kick off this week’s discussion of books. And, thank you for dropping by to participate.
I'm reading and listening to a couple of books that I'm not all that enthusiastic about – though I'll finish them. Because of that, I think it's taking me forever to finish. I keep finding other things to do. LOL
On my Kindle is Mary Kubica's new book that comes out in late June – EVERY LAST LIE. First book I've read by this author and I've heard a lot of praise for her previous books. Sigh. The main characters are on my last nerve. Don't like them a bit.
I'm listening to QUICKSAND by Malin Persson Giolito. And it's long……about a teenage girl who is accused of participating in a school shooting, I'm not sure if it's the translation or what. I past halfway, so I want to know what happens, but I'm finding it rather tiresome. Thought it would be more about the courtroom drama and it's more about the past.
How's that for 'recommendations'? Ha! I need something cheerful or maybe a 'nice' serial killer. 😉
Good. I really enjoyed the last Edwards anthology (CRIMSON SNOW), and I've put this on my list. I suddenly got a bunch of anthologies from the library. Currently reading CRIME PLUS MUSIC: Twenty Stories of Music-Themed Noir, ed. by Jim Fusilli, which I missed when it came out last year. Authors include Craig Johnson, Reed Farrel Coleman, Brendan DuBois, and Val McDermid. My favorite so far is the dark but hilarious (to me, anyway) "Played to Death" by Bill Fitzhugh. I also have THE HIGHWAY KIND: Tales of Fast Cars, Desperate Drivers and Dark Roads (Patrick Millikin, ed.), which sounds up my alley, with Michael Connelly, James Sallis, and George Pelecanos among the authors. And I have collections yet to start by Peter O'Donnell and Penelope Lively. Also, I'm still reading a Saki story a day.
I gave up on that SF book I was reading at 50% (I just wasn't having fun, and I have too much else to read) and instead found two books I am really liking:
On the Kindle is the second Chronicle of St. Mary's book by Jodie Taylor, A SYMPHONY OF ECHOES. Like the first, the action never flags in this one, and just as you think things are settling down, they're not.
Also reading the third Rebekah Roberts book by Julia Dahl, CONVICTION, as the reporter tries to see if a 1-year old boy was really wrongly convicted of killing his foster family 22 years earlier. I wish there was more with Rebekah's family, and I'm not enjoying the 1992 flashback scenes as much as those in the present, but it is a fast read, which I appreciate these days.
I have MY LIFE WITH BOB waiting at the library, so I need to finish these.
Finished Craig Rice's THE SUNDAY PIGEON MURDERS last night. Had never read that one. Started LOST HORIZON. Have never read that one, either.
I am reading A Bridge Across the Ocean by Susan Meissner. My daughter told me it is a must read but I am not finding it so. I am not partial to books with ghosts (or drifters which she refers to them as).
Kay, I'd say quit, but it sounds as if you're determined to finish them. When I can't stand the characters, I quit.
Jeff, It doesn't surprise me one bit to hear that Bill Fitzhugh's story was so funny. Quite entertaining, isn't he?
Well, there's one I have read, Bill, Lost Horizon, but it has been years.
Sharon, I liked the book & recommended it to my mother, too. Funny, I haven't heard anything from her about it. She must not have liked the drifters either.
I read LOST HORIZON in high school, as I recall.
I am reading The Old Buzzard Had It Coming by Donis Casey. This book has been in my TBR group for quite awhile. I have heard many good things about this series. I started it last night and am enjoying it.
Lynn! I hope you enjoy the book, and the ongoing series. I like Alafair Tucker. I read the books for the characters and the family as much as for the mystery.
I can't believe it, I didn't finish any books in a week.
Still reading Hide and Seek by M J Arlidge and Imminent Peril by Melissa F Miller.
I am enjoying both of these books.
My son gave me the new book by Paula Hawkins, Into the Water for Mother's Day. Looking forward to reading it.
Till next week.
Then, Charlotte, I hope you had a busy, enjoyable week that kept you from finishing a book. And, a son that gives you books – priceless.
I have two books going at the moment. I'm still reading the advance of Shirley Rousseau Murphy's CAT SHINING BRIGHT which will be out in August. Joe Grey and his lady love Dulcie have had their litter of three kittens. All their humans waited with baited breath to see if the kittens would talk like their parents. Sure enough, all three do. Plus they are just as curious as their parents and begin their own mystery investigation. Quite a lot of fun, but then I always enjoy her books.
I've started another book on my Kindle (iPad with Kindle app). I haven't read too much this way, but I recently read a PDF file of Tammy Kaehler's new book and found I enjoyed the format with its variable sizes on the screen to help with my vision problems. Now I'm reading Paige Sleuth's first book in her Cherry Hill series, MURDER IN CHERRY HILLS. the first in her cozy cat caper series. The cat and mystery combination drew me in. She's written something like a book every other month for the past two years bringing the series to 15 books in that time. So far, what I've read is a nice story, but it's no brain teaser. A simple story is exactly what I was looking for tho, so it fits the bill through half the book. It's only 121 pages, so I'll have it done shortly.
Jeffery – I love Bill Fitzhugh's wacky stories. Glad to know he's still writing good ones. If you ever read FENDER BENDERS, you'll find the character of "Big Bill Herron" playing an important role. I won that part for my husband at Milwaukie's Bouchercon auction. It was quite an exciting bidding war between me and another woman, so Bill, who was there, finally halted the bidding and promised both of us would be characters if we both contributed the same amounts. However, Big Bill definitely had the larger role.
Cool. I haven't read that one yet.
This morning I am reading SHOOT TO THRILL by P.J. Tracy, and later this afternoon I am headed to the library to pick up CLAIRE DEWITT AND THE BOHEMIAN HIGHWAY by Sara Gran. I liked the first book in this series so I am expecting to like this book as well. My daughter took me book shopping for Mother's Day. As if I need more books! But we had so much fun. One of the books I picked up is THE GLASS KEY by Dashiell Hammett. I had never read it, and at $.75 I couldn't pass it up. I'm pretty sure The Glass Key is next up.
See, Sandie! We're all still here to see the cat mysteries you're sharing. And, I love that story about Bill Fitzhugh and "Big Bill Herron."
I'm looking forward to Shoot to Thrill, Karen. Of course you need more books! And, sharing the time with your daughter sounds fun. Good for both of you!
I'm re-reading Rosemary and Rue by Seanan MCGuire. It's been six or seven years since I read it and I'm enjoying it.
I'm finally reading The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena. It's a thriller with zero character development–not a genre I usually enjoy–but this one is keeping me going, wanting to find out what happens in the end.
Sandie, I'm not familiar with Rosemary and Rue at all. I'll have to look it up.
I'm with you, Margie. Usually not a reader of thrillers with no character development, but sometimes it hits the spot.
Just finished Torn and Restored by Austin Williams, a magician detective novel, the last part of a trilogy, but it may continue. I hope so.
Murder Has Nine Lives, Laura Levine's latest.
And the Heat Islands by Randy Wayne White.
I won a novel in each of these series in a goodreads drawing, and then picked up a lot of others.
Now reading Ivy Get Your Guns, by Cindy Brown, a cozy I can't say I like all that much, but it worth reading, barely.
Those Goodreads drawings paid off, Glen. You found some series you liked, and the authors found a new reader. I'll have to look into the books by Austin Williams. I'm not familiar with him, and magician detective sounds good.
I'm reading The More of Less by Joshua Becker
Live Happy by Deborah Heisz
Patriot Threat by Steve Berry
A Curious Beginning by Deanna Raybourn
Sorry I a day late but I was travelling to Montreal and did not have good wifi access.
A slow reading week for me too since I am back doing long walks several times a week.
But I just finished the excellent ELUSIVE ELIXIR by Gigi Pandian. Several of you mentioned reading THE DRY a few weeks ago and that is next on my shorter TBR pile followed by an ARC of MURDER IS THE MAIN COURSE by Shawn Reilly Simmons.
I have not anything by Bill Fitzhugh in a while so thanks for putting his name back on my radar.
I have started The Yard Dog by Sheldon Russell, a mystery set in the Deprssion in Oklahoma and involves a Americab POW camp where many Nazis were held. He is one of my favorite authors so this a real treat. Also listening to an audio book of The Hit by David Baldacci. A little confused so how that confusion goes away with the third disc!
Page, I hope you like A Curious Beginning. You'll have to let us know.
Good for you, Grace! I have a copy of The Dry as well. Someday, I'll get to it. (sigh)
Interesting, Carol. I don't know Sheldon Russell's books. That's one reason I love these days for What Are You Reading. Discovery!
Hmm, I wonder if I would be in or at Farleigh Field? Enjoying it thus far!
Oh, that's great, Holdenj. My family members who read it really liked it. It's another one on my TBR pile.
I've just started TO HELVETICA AND BACK by Paige Shelton and I'm really enjoying it. It may be my first book that is set in Utah, so a nice, fresh setting. I'm enjoying getting to know the characters and I'm thinking I'm glad that I already purchased the second book in the series! I hope to find a nice block of reading time this weekend.