And, today, it’s what are you reading. I haven’t read one more word than when I posted yesterday. I did go to a concert in St. Louis on Tuesday night, and then on Wednesday I went to the zoo. What a wonderful zoo!
Since I didn’t read any more of Billy Jensen’s Chase Darkness with Me, I’ll share a video instead of discussing it again. This is from The Poisoned Pen Bookstore in Scottsdale, Arizona. I write the blogs for them. Billy Jensen recently appeared at The Pen, along with Hank Phillippi Ryan, author of The Murder List, another book I reviewed here. So, I’m reading one of the books, and I reviewed the other.
What are you reading this week? (You don’t have to post a video of it.)
Whew. That's a relief.
I thought I'd finish my book this morning, but I raced through the last half yesterday. It was BITTER WASH ROAD, the second standalone I've read by Garry Disher, this one very different. Cop Paul (Hirsch) Hirschhausen is thought to be a corrupt guy who saved his skin by turning on other crooked cops (spoiler: not true) and is sent (exiled?) to a small town several hours north of Adelaide in South Australia. There he finds brutal, suspicious cops and – possibly – murder. I preferred UNDER THE COLD BRIGHT LIGHTS, but this was another well written mystery that moved right along. I need to get through these faster, as I just got an email that I have two more library ebooks available to download. (I have one already, plus several actual books.)
This week I also read the previously mentioned SOME DIE NAMELESS (Wallace Stroby) and THE CASES OF LIEUTENANT TIMOTHY TRANT (Q. Patrick), as well as AM I ALONE HERE?, Peter Orner's book of short pieces about short story writers he likes, plus bits about his bad relationship with his father. I have to say that I like Orner's short stories but didn't care too much for this one.
Up next (started yesterday): Adrian McKinty's tense THE CHAIN.
I didn’t get much reading time this week. I read STORM CURSED by Patricia Briggs. It’s the latest book in her Mercy Thompson urban fantasy series. The werewolf pack has to broker a meeting between the human government and the fae. I really enjoyed it and am kicking myself for not reading it sooner since it’s been in my TBR pile for a couple of months.
I also read an ARC of VIABLE HOSTAGE by Audrey J Cole. A pregnant med student goes missing. When the dismembered remains of another missing student wash up, the police realize they may have a serial killer in town. I liked this book more than I thought I would.
Not much time for reading this week. I finished Terns of Endearment by Donna Andrews. I think I enjoyed this one more than you Lesa. I liked the cruise storyline and the less frantic pacce. It might be my favorite non Christmas Meg Lagslow book in a while.
Now I am reading Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes. So far it is wonderful. The cereal box race at the Baseball game still has me chuckling.
Happy Reading!
I am reading two ebooks:
Authors
Wendy Backlund
Greg Mohr
Have a great day everyone.
Reading books in the Cat in the Stacks Mystery series by Miranda James is like spending leisure time with friends and their pets. THE PAWFUL TRUTH moves a bit slower than the others I have read, but it is equally pleasant. Charlie decides to audit a medieval history course at the local university, and just two classes in, his popular professor is murdered. The professor's wife is also a professor, and both have been seen with "friends" of the opposite sex. And then there's the "mature" female student who has an argument with Charlie's professor after class,not to mention a third professor who is renting a room from Charlie while his house is renovated. Charlie tries to figure it all out, and his huge Maine coon cat, Diesel, is a constant and welcome presence.
I finally got around to reading Christina Lauren's THE UNHONEYMOONERS, which was recommended by Lesa and Sharon. At the wedding reception of Olive's identical twin, the bride, groom, and most of the guests are afflicted with food poisoning, and Ami and Dane are unable to go on their nonrefundable 10-day honeymoon to Maui. So Olive and the best man, Dane's brother Ethan, agree to take the trip in their place. The problem is that they can't stand each other. You can probably see what's coming–Olive and Ethan find out their travel partner is not as awful as they expected. But there are complications related to Olive's new job, Ethan's recent ex, and Dane's relationship history. I'm not a lover of romance novels, but I found this one delightful, due mainly to the personalities of the two protagonists.
I admit that the only thing I knew about musician and songwriter Ben Folds was his astute judging for 5 seasons of The Sing-Off (the a cappella competition that launched Pentatonix). But I was curious, so I picked up his memoir, A DREAM ABOUT LIGHTNING BUGS. I thought the first half of the book, which covered his childhood, education, and early career, was mesmerizing and well told. Folds came from an offbeat family and revealed himself early as a brilliant musical mind, if a rather strange individual. The second half of the book, which covered mainly his successive bands and tours, not to mention his ever more unconventional music, his misbehavior at some of his shows, and his four failed marriages, became tedious after a while. I would recommend the book if you are already a Ben Folds fan.
I guess I'm on a Dave Barry kick right now. His humor is a perfect blend of day-to-day life and absurdity (or maybe they're the same thing, only a bit exaggerated), and it often makes me laugh out loud. My favorite chapter of LIVE RIGHT AND FIND HAPPINESS is "Cable News is On It," followed closely by the one about football/soccer called "In Which We Learn to Love Brazil, and Try to Hate Belgium." He ends the book with a heartfelt "Letter to My [baby] Grandson."
I’m reading and enjoying FATAL CAJUN FESTIVAL by Ellen Byron.
Jeff, A relief that today is What Are You Reading day? I've read some of Garry Disher's series books, other than The Cold Bright Lights. I liked the series.
Sandy, Sharon – Sounds like none of us got an adequate amount of reading time this week. Maybe this weekend. Some of us are lucky enough to get a 3 day weekend. I hope it works for you!
Charlotte! It's always good to see what you're reading. Hugs! Have a nice weekend.
Margie, You're so right about Miranda James' Cat in the Stacks books. I pick them up, and, even though I know there will be a murder, I sort of relax. It is like returning home to friends and family.
The Unhoneymooners was just right for what it is, a fun romance with fun characters.
Mark, I always enjoy Ellen Byron's books. I just don't seem to pick them up often with everything else I read.
I just finished the ARC of A Single Thread by Tracy Chevalier. It's very good — embroidery and bell-ringing at Winchester Cathedral. The book will be published September 17. (Now the song (which was recorded in 1966; I looked it up) is an earworm….) I'm listening to Kingdom of the Blind by Louise Penny — while waiting for her new book to arrive. (The hardcover is an anniversary gift for my husband. Delivery supposedly tomorrow.)
I read:
The Year of Confusion by John Maddox Roberts; An astronomer is killed during Julius Caesar's dictatorship, and Decius is assigned to investigate. I can't believe this series is out of print.
I gotta Tell You; Speeches from Lee Iaccoca. I never knew why he was so popular in the 80s, and I still don't know.
Mount Dragon by Preston and Child; Medical thriller that throws together the desert, buried treasure, computer hacking, and gene therapy.
A biography of Richard Nixon; I'm not sure I learned anything new, but it is veddy British.
Dead Assassin; Arthur Conan Doyle and Oscar Wilde investigate murder that appear to be carried out by dead men. A bit outre.
The Confederate Cherokee; A history of the Civilized Tribe's contributions to the Civil War.
I was just "whew"-ing that I didn't have to post a video.
Thanks, Nann, for the comments about A Single Thread. I know a couple people who enjoy Tracy Chevalier's books, and I think they'll like if from what you said. Thank you!
Glen, Don't you hate it when authors who are good writers with good plots and characters end up out of print? The Confederate Cherokee actually sounds like the most interesting book to me.
Ah, I missed that, Jeff. When you explained it, though, I laughed out loud.
I started Filthy Rich vy James Patterson – about Jeffrey Epstein's Florida life and criminal investigation, but had to stop as it/he was too sick I am rereading all the Mrs. Pollifax books by Dorothy Gilman as a respite.
I just started reading The Drowning Game by L.S. Hawker. The characters are wonderful!
In print I am reading the Perfect Wife by JP Delaney, on audio it's The Whisper Man by Alex North.