What are you reading this week? In between college basketball and football games, I’m reading Man Found Dead in Park, an illustrated novella written by Margaret Coel and illustrated by Phil Parks. I couldn’t even find a photo online, so the poor photo you’re looking at is one I took. Ann Hillerman wrote the introduction. Keith McCafferty did the Afterword, and Craig Johnson wrote the jacket copy. Parks’ illustrations are sketches, including ones of Coel’s characters. She brings together her attorney, Vicky Holden, and her investigative reporter, Catherine McLeod.
Before I ask you what you’re reading this week, I have a question for those of you who regularly respond to “What Are You Reading”? Would you like to write a guest post about your favorites of 2017? If so, would you like to do it before the end of the year, or early in January? It will be your choice. I am limiting those posts to those of you who read this regularly and respond on Thursdays. If I don’t recognize your name, I’m sorry. I won’t include a guest post. If you’re a regular reader and answer, and would like to write a post, you can respond today and say yes, or I’ll think about it, when you mention what you’re reading. I’ll take care of jacket covers. You’d only have to write the post. My email is no secret. It’s available on the blog, so, if you say yes, you can email me at Lesa.Holstine@gmail.com for more details.
Back to the real subject here. What are you reading this week?
Lesa: yes I would be happy to do a post on my favourite reads of 2017. Preferred time would be early January.
My first priority this week is to read WHITE OUT by Ragnar Jonasson. It is the fifth book in the excellent Dark Iceland series. I bought it via UK Book Depository since only the first two books are available in hardback in North America. It is likely that one of these books will make it into my 2017 favourites list.
I have a bunch of Netgalley ARCs to choose from. Not really in the mood to read cozies this week so I may choose THE NIGHT TRADE by Barry Eisler since I have not read him for a while. Another choice could be HELLBENT by Gregg Hurwitz, book #3 in the excellent OrphanX series.
Grace, I'm sure it's easier to read those Netgalley ARCs right now than
it is to read paper books. I have some Ragnar Jonasson books on TBR piles here. I just need to get to them. SOME DAY!
And, thank you for saying you'll post your favorite reads!
Sure, why not. Like Grace, I will try and go through my list and pick out favorite reads in early January. We're leaving earlier for Florida this year – January 7! – so it will be before that, if that's OK.
This week I read Lee Child's latest Reacher, THE MIDNIGHT LINE, a very timely read. Frankly, I found the premise intriguing but the book itself a bit disappointing after the setup. Still, of course it's worth reading.
Then it was Ken Bruen's latest Jack Taylor book, THE GHOSTS OF GALWAY. As usual I raced through it in less than a day. I found this one particularly dark, even for Jack, but recommended as always.
Current read is Allen Eskens, THE DEEP DARK DESCENDING. Minneapolis Homicide cop Max Rupert discovers that his wife's death four years earlier in a hit-and-run was no accident, but a deliberate hit, and he needs to find out who did it, and why.
Short stories. THE BEST OF RICHARD MATHESON (Penguin Classics paperback). He wrote 16 Twilight Zone episodes, including the classic "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet" (with William Shatner giving a memorable performance). It's included here, along with "Duel," which I remember reading when it first came out in Playboy.
I also have Loren D. Estleman's collection, NEARLY NERO: The Adventures of Cladius yon, The Man Who Would Be Wolfe (as in Nero Wolfe), which looks like fun.
And I have downloaded a library ebook of Mick Herron's Slough House book, SPOOK STREET.
This seems to be my week for paranormal books.
I read an arc of MURDER ON THE SUGARLAND EXPRESS by Angie Fox. It’s her take on a trapped on a train mystery but with ghosts.
Then I read Bailey Cates new magical bakeshop mystery POTIONS & PASTRIES
Finally I finished a funny paranormal romance that’s set in Kristen Painter’s Nocturne Falls world. It’s ALIENS ACTUALLY by Fiona Roarke. The book consists of three stories, all of which tell the same event from the viewpoint of a different character.
I finished Murder on the Great Lake by Sandi Scott. A Cozy Mystery.
I am now reading:
A Treasure to Die For book 3 by Richard Houston
Kindness Goes Unpunished by Craig Johnson
I ended up binging on season 6 of Longmire. Enjoyed it! So sorry that this was the last season. I think they made a mistake ending this show. I decided to join a Facebook group to share about season 6 with others who enjoyed all the seasons.
Those who in this group who watched season 6 hope you liked it also.
Now I am back to reading Craig Johnson's book.
Lesa , tell Jinx and Josh thanks for their presence in the video the other day. They are cute fur babies.
Enjoy your reading time.
📚📚🎄
Great, Jeff! Thank you. I'll take that list whenever you want to send it.
That was a memorable Twilight Zone episode. I still think of it when I'm on a plane, and can see the wings as we fly. Ken Bruen & Allen Eskens are both on my TBR list for someday. I've seen Eskens on a panel, but I've never read any of his books.
Sandy, Sometimes, I'm just in the mood for paranormal books.
I haven't watched Longmire since it switched to Netflix. But, I got a couple people hooked on it. And, I still read the books, Charlotte.
Sometimes, I think the videos are more about Jinx-spotting than the cozy mysteries.
I'm reading Dark Witch by Nora Roberts and Daring Genius of the Enlightenment Emilie du Chatelet by Judith Zinsser
We're doling out the episodes of the last series of LONGMIRE so they don't end too fast.
I am looking forward to seeing these. I was just thinking this morning that I don't have any standout books from 2017.
Just finished "Under the Knife" by Kelly Parsons – I do not recommend this one – I rarely don't finish a book so I did persevere but I couldn't wait til it was over. My next up is Lee Child's new one -hope I am not disappointed. We just bought the DVD'S of Longmire for season 5 & 6 and we are totally enjoying it – I was very upset when they went to Netflix as it is so much better than so many other series on now. Love to see what everyone is reading -have gotten many good ideas for my TBR pile.
Charlotte: Glad you enjoyed season 6 of Longmire. But I am like Jeffrey..I am.going to make it last as long as possible,
I finished episode 2 last week.
Trisha, Grace & Jeffrey are both going to participate, so we'll get to see their lists, as well as my annual one. I bet we don't have too many books that are the same on our lists, so you might have some good future reading!
Grace and Jeff, I started off just like both of you. Then as each episode ended I just had to know what happened and didn't won't to wait. Like reading a book. You are going to stop at the end of the chapter then you have to know what happened then it is the next chapter and you are up half of the night. Hope you can last longer than I did. I decided it is going to end so might as well enjoy it and not wait. It is ending either way you go.
Enjoy 😊😊😊
I'll give it a shot, preferably after the new year, as my holiday season is already busy.
This week I read:
Kage by John Donohue, a "martial arts thriller."
In that novel, there was a unit of the Border Patrol that were trackers. That seemed interesting, so I read Dead in their Tracks by JT Brannen, which was cliched, yet interesting.
Spider in a Cup by Barbara Cleverly is British mystery set between the wars. Cleverly doesn't really understand American history.
Hard Wired by JD Turner and Fire and Forget by Andrew Warren are fairly typical modern Men's Adventure novels.
Hit and Run by Lawrence Black is OK, but I still think Keller is too similar to his burglar, Bernie.
Hi, Lesa. I would love to write about my favorites of 2017–early January would be better for me. Recently I finished the third in Mary Feliz's mystery series featuring a professional organizer, titled Dead Storage. I have admired all three in the series. I also read Artemis, Andy Weir's follow-up to The Martian. I like his writing style, but this one had a bit too much "technical" (real or imagined) detail for my taste. I have just started The Library at the Edge of the World by Felicity Hayes-McCoy. It's a bit slow-going so far but I'm confident it will pick up soon.
Great! Thank you, Glen and Margie!
So, Jeff, Grace, Glen and Margie will all send a favorites of 2017 list for sometime in early January. That works well. Thank you. And, if you find out it doesn't work for you, we'll understand. But, I'm sure the others are as interested as I am.
Those don't have to be long posts, just a couple sentences about each title. And, as I told Grace, they don't have to be 2017 copyrights, just your favorites read during 2017. If you have any questions when you go to write them after the first of the year, feel free to email me. Thank you!
I'm looking forward to those 2017 favorites lists. I enjoyed the books I read but can't think of any stand-outs. I do get good ideas from seeing what others are reading and have put one of Allen Eskens books on my library list.
Started listening to the Japanese Lover by Isabelle Allende last might. Also reading Woman Enters Left by Jessica Brockmore. My girlfriemd loved it.
I hope you like the book as much as she did. Then you can discuss it, Carol.
Hi Lesa,
I’ve been battling Kidney Stones for the past eight months. I finally went in to find out why I’ve been feeling bad and that was the problem. I’m never sick, I thought I’d hurt my lower back but it got so bad, my family did an intervention and took me to the doctor. I do not like to go doctors but I’m sure glad I finally did. I had the surgery and would you believe I came down with the flu this past weekend! I feel like Job!
My reading is the only thing keeping me sane, I hate that I’ve gotten so far behind on my reviews though. I’m reading an interesting non-fiction book “Inside Private Prisons” it’s quite compelling. It’s not something I would recommend to someone to read while they are ill. I can barely retain the info for my review, thank goodness I can highlight on my Kindle. I’d be totally lost without that feature!