It’s all up to you today. I’m in the middle of reading this month’s pile of mysteries for the June 1 issue of Library Journal, so I can’t really talk about my current book. You’ll see all the books reviewed here sooner or later, though. So, just think, ten mystery reviews!
What are you reading? I’ll jump in between meetings today, but I know I can count on some of you to get involved in the conversation. I love to see those titles. Thanks for reading with us!
Lesa, wow, 10 mystery reviews is a lot!
I am reading two debut mysteries for fun (instead of reviewing for once). IQ by Joe Ide has a unique protagonist "working" as an unlicensed PI in Long Beach, CA. TERROR IN TAFFETA by Marla Cooper is a destination wedding series with the first book set in Mexico. I met Marla at Left Coast Crime this year and she is multi-talented…she serenaded us with her ukelele-playing during happy hour!
Finished MULLINER NIGHTS, a P.G. Wodehouse short story collection last night. Plenty of good stuff to choose from to begin today.
Thank you, Grace. I've heard very good things about IQ, and I know John Sandford loved the book, and actually asked if Joe Ide could appear with him at The Poisoned Pen. Terror in Taffeta is a fun debut mystery.
Like you, Bill, there are so many good things on my TBR pile.
Lesa, yes I had been seeing a lot of rave reviews and debut mystery nominations for IQ and have been wanting to read it for a while. That would be cool if Joe Ide could appear with John at the PPB. I'm glad you also found TERROR IN TAFFETA a fun read and I know it also has been nominated for best debut mystery at several conventions.
Oh, he did appear with Sandford. That's how I know about it. And, they had Joe Ide back. He came to interview another author, so they really liked him at the Pen.
Finally got the second Great Library (of Alexandria) book by Rachel Caine – for some reason my library didn't get it last year when it came out – not too long before the third is going to be published. PAPER AND FIRE follows INK AND BONE and the adventures of Jess Brightwell and his friends, in a world where books are forbidden to be owned and the Library tries to control all knowledge, ruthlessly. Some very nasty but exciting stuff.
Also reading musician Steve Earle's collection of stories, DOGHOUSE ROSES, and still dipping into the Saki short shorts (mostly), one or two a day.
I've got only 5 on my library hold list, but have another 5 on the ebook holds plus 6 already at hand, including Bill Pronzini's THE VIOLATED, which I'll be reading next.
Looking forward to the mystery reviews.
I need to check out that Rachel Caine series. You make it sound terrific, Jeff. Really liked Bill Pronzini's The Violated. I'll be interested to see if you liked it or not. You'll have to let us know here.
I finished I Liked My Life by Abby Fabiaschi and thought it was terrific. The ending concerning Maddie was just wow. Now I am reading The Hideaway by Lauren K. Denton.
On my TBR pile is GIRL IN DISGUISE by Greer Macallister and THE TWELVE LIVES OF SAMUEL HAWLEY by Hannah Tinti. One of these is next for me.
I just finished Sarah Pinborough’s BEHIND HER EYES, a psychological suspense novel about a love triangle. It has one of the most “wow–did not see that coming” twist endings I’ve read in a long time, but it felt like too much of a gimmick; I think the book could have developed organically in one of several other directions to better effect. Plus (mild spoiler) there’s an implication on the last page that a child’s life is in danger–and that is one plot element I just can’t handle. If anyone else has read it, I'd love to know your feelings about the ending (spoiler-free, of course).
I just finished a pre-release copy of Sweet Tea and Spirits by Angie Fox. It's a light read. The mystery wasn't very complicated but I liked the characters, especially the ghosts.
I am reading an advance copy of the new Georgie mystery by Rhys Bowen, which I won on Goodreads. It is just what I needed!
Lesa, thanks I misread your comment about John/Joe at PPB being a future event. I found the Livestream interview in the archives and will check it out!
Just finished the 4th in Ingrid Thoft's series, Duplicity. Now I have to wait for #5. Aargh!
Kaye: Nice to know that Duplicity was a good read. It is in the pile of 21 library books to read this month!
I just finished reading a memoir by Rupinder Singh from a few years back, called On the Outside Looking Indian. Now I've started on Kate White's The Secrets We Keep, and I'm looking forward to picking up Marla Cooper's new book, Dying on the Vine, which is waiting for me at the library. I loved Terror in Taffeta, and Marla is a terrific person to boot!
Sorry, Kate White's novel is The Secrets YOU Keep.
I'm reading an ARC of Dream Fall by Amy Plum, a YA horror novel about teens with sleep disorders who get stuck in their nightmares.
Grace, I'm glad you stepped in to comment. Thank you! I've been in meetings all morning, and have another one in an hour. But, I sneak in to see what you're all reading when I have a chance.
Kaye, I interviewed Ingrid Thoft, and I want to read those books. I just haven't had a chance yet. So happy to know you liked them!
I finished So Help me Gold by Larry D Thompson, good book had a ending I never expected.
Still reading Thyme to Live by Melissa F Miller need to finish this one. Her new book is out that I can't wait to read. It is about the lawyer series that I really, really like.
Reading Little Boy Blue by MJ Arlidge. This is the fifth book I have read by this author. All the books are about Helen Grace
a detective in England. The author lives in England.
Trust everyone has great books to read this week
Looking forward to reading about them next week.
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚 ☕️☕️
It sounds as if everyone has some good books this week, Charlotte. I'm looking forward to reading about them, too.
I was lucky enough to win an audio book, The Nearness of You by Amanda Eyre Ward which is very interesting so far. Also have started The Shoemaker's Wife by Adriana Trigiani. It has been sitting on my TBR shelf for a long time (because of the small print). Trying to balance it with the audio and books with bigger print. Also reading A Patient-Expect Walks You Through Everything You Need to Learn and Do: Rheumatoid Arthritis". The chapter on medications is great but a lot of the other stuff is repetition from what I have read about my other autoimmune diseases. Hoping to make it through the small print book with balancing. The story is very interesting.
I just finished Finding Safehaven by Bev Marquart. It's historical fiction based on the author's father's experience during WWII and the finding of the Nazi treasure horde in a salt mine near Merkers, Germany. It's a fine novel.
I finished Thyme to Live by Melissa F Miller and Little Boy Blue by M J Arlidge.
I am reading The Trial by Larry D Thompson, the kind you do not won't to put down.
Also reading The 7th Canon by Robert Dugoni and The Scarecrow by Michael Connelly.
📚📚📚📚📚📚