What are you reading for a New Year(decade)? I am starting Tripwire by Lee Child. Just realised I had a lot of his books that I have not read!

Haven't started a mystery yet this month/new year. I have to read books from the Aurora Tea Garden series by Charlaine Harris for a RL book group this month.

I'm reading Remembered Death it's good even without Miss Marple or Poirot.

I finished Man of Two Tribes yesterday (first read of the year) and now I'll be looking for more from the Inspector Bonaparte series.

Managed to finish two yesterday:
Cover Her Face by P. D. James- the first Dalgliesh mystery (decided that it's about time to read them in order and pick up on the day the ones I had not read before and Latte Trouble by Cleo Coyle. No real surprises in either - James is the usual class, Coyle's is what I expect from the series (although the second was a bit better or at least worked better for me)

Message edited by its author, Jan 3, 2010, 6:01pm.

#4 Glad you enjoyed Man of Two Tribes. I remember reading Upfield's Bony mysteries back in the 70s or 80s and absolutely loving them! It's definitely time to search out more books in the series. Thanks for reminding me of this wonderful detective series!

I'm in the middle of Dark Fire by C.J. Sansom and am enjoying it almost as much as Dissolution which I read last year. What an amazing portrayal of what life in 16th century England must have really been like!

Almost finished with Why Shoot a Butler? by Georgette Heyer. Delightful--really great characters, solid murder in the country plot.

>1 bertyboy I'm envious! I wish I had a lot of Lee Child's books I hadn't read. I love that Jack Reacher series. It is a classic example of one of my favorite things - finding a new (for me) series that I like that already has a lot of books written. I burned through them at high speed when I found them!

>7 BeckyJG I just read and enjoyed my first Georgette Heyer mystery, Death in the Stocks. Glad to hear there's another good one.

I haven't gotten into mysteries yet for 2010. I'm reading My Jim for my in-person book club and taking a trip down memory lane with Mrs. Mike, a book I loved about 45 years ago!

Starting Blood Royal by Dornford Yates.

Finished reading The Innocence of Father Brown which I had begun last year. My review here,

http://www.librarything.com/work/34429/reviews/51714800

Or on my 50 Book Challenge thread,

http://www.librarything.com/topic/80925

Message edited by its author, Jan 3, 2010, 7:10am.

To combat the environmental hostility of high plains winter, I've already read one and a half mysteries in the new year: Blood Memory by Margaret Coel, whose well-written representation of Arapaho culture I appreciate, and a C.J. Box, Savage Run; I enjoyed being in the wilderness without physical exertion.

I'm currently reading An Expert in Murder by Nicola Upson, and am planning on reading The Private Patient by P D James and The Vows of Silence by Susan Hill soon. Why Shoot a Butler? is also on my TBR pile, so I'm pleased to see a favouarble comment.

I've started in on Night Passage by Robert B. Parker while I was in work last night. Didn't get very far along though as I was a little too tired to read. Hopefully won't be the case when I go back in tonight as it's going to be my main source of surviving an otherwise boring 12 hours.

My hubs is continuing with the Jack Reacher series, while I am working my way through the In Death series (I love Eve Dallas!) - both on audio.

I enjoy seeing what other detectives are out there, for when our series runs out.

After a short break for another book I couldn't put down, I'm back to The Tenderness of Wolves.

I just finished The Broken Shore by Australian author Peter Temple. It's gritty crime, which I do like, and I especially liked the Australian setting - I think it's the first of this genre I've read set in Australia (which is probably My Bad, not a fault of local writers/publishers).

Currently reading non-crime, in the form of classic horror The Mountains of Madness. (I borrowed it *last* Christmas from a friend, and was at her place the other day and noticed the gap on her shelves in her Lovecraft collection... Whoopsie.)

Loving The Saddlemaker's Wife by Earlene Fowler. Very different in tone from the Benni Harper mysteries --- this isn't a cut-and-dried whodunnit, but it's peaking my can't-put-it-down meter!

I've reading my first mystery of the new year, a Myron Bolitar mystery from Harlan Coben, Fade Away.

I finished The Gold Coast by Nelson DeMille and have just started When The Bough Breaks by Jonathan Kellerman.

#20

I have read that book plus 4 others by Kellerman (Blood Test, Over the Edge, Silent Partner, and Time Bomb) before drifting away from the basic mystery. Also, if you gives you some idea how far back this was, The Web was in hardcover (mid-90s I think).

The only thing I will say (don't want to spoil any of it) is that you really have to read his stuff in order. I see you are reading his first. Again, won't tell you what happens, but you'll see what I mean if you read "Blood Test". First 2 chapters would be an absolute spoiler to the book you are reading.

I am juggling two short story collections Paris Noir and Miss Marple: The Complete Stories

Just abandoned Medieval mystery Hangman Blind by Cassandra Clark, midway through. I just couldn't engage with the characters. Lots of favourable reviews around for this one, but not my cup of tea...

Working on my fourth Dexter, Dexter by Design. I like his humor.

Just starting The Concrete Blonde by Michael Connelly. The 3rd book in his Harry Bosch series.

Into The Talisman by Stephen King and Peter Straub for the group read over in the King's Dear Constant Readers group. Good stuff.

And my Dorothy Sayers (The Five Red Herrings and Strong Poison) finally came in through interlibrary loan. Can't wait--yay!

Message edited by its author, Jan 5, 2010, 11:49pm.

>26 Love The Talisman — enjoy!

I haven't posted on one of my favorite threads in awhile, but I'm back with a dandy, I started Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith. It's been excellent, a potent mix of Gorky Park & City of Thieves!

Message edited by its author, Jan 6, 2010, 6:47am.

Black Ice, White Sky by Stan Jones set in northern Alaska.

Started Fever of the Bone by Val McDermid last night. Pretty nice so far even if there is a gruesome murder before page 20 - it's the newest Tony Hill/Carol Jordan story :)

In the meantime read Cleanskin by Val McDermid - which was not half bad.

>21
I have only read Obsession and The Devil's Waltz,
but now I will read the series in order as I am enjoying the first one.

>31

Out of the 5 I read, I'd say When the Bough Breaks would rank 2nd (to Silent Partner), but that's just my opinion.

Again, won't spoil anything on you, but assuming you are maybe 30 pages into the book, I assume you are aware of the major cliffhanger early on. That's one thing about Jonathan Kellerman, he'll put a cliffhanger early on so as to make you not put the book down, but doesn't leave annoying cliff hangers at the end as an economical ploy.

So, did the young girl see 2? Or 1 and a shadow?

Message edited by its author, Jan 6, 2010, 9:13am.

I just started listening to The Concrete Blonde the other day. KB and I are enjoying working our way through the series.

# 30 - A Val McDermid I never heard of???
Apparently Cleanskin wasn't published here in the US, I just ordered a used copy from a UK bookseller. Thanks for mentioning it!
I'm trying to read The Murdered House and having a hard time getting into it.

>34

It is a novella in the Quick Reads series that UK are publishing - small books from popular authors to get people to read :) It's a fast read and has its flaws but it is a fun one especially if you like her. See my review in the work page if you want(spoiler free). And I have Val Mcdermid's Stranded waiting for me so I have some quality time with McDermid this month :)

Ibiza Surprise - I'm not really getting into it so far. It's not bad, but somehow I just don't feel motivated to pick it up and end up reading a medieval history book instead.

#33...let me know what you think of it! ;)

#37 I'll keep you posted. I have another book checked out for my MP3 player, so I have to crank through Harry.

I am reading Death Of a Red Heroine by Qiu Xiaolong and although I am only at chapter 4, I am finding it really interesting. The mystery is developing nicely and the author gives us tidbits of day-to-day life in China which I find fascinating.

Later this evening I will begin Build My Gallows High the name of this book was changed for the movie Out of the Past, which I think is an incredible movie!

Finished The Skeleton in the Grass by Robert Barnard. I enjoyed reading the book it was a quick mystery. Used it for my emergency book in my car.

>quartzite- I just read Black Ice, White Sky a couple weeks ago! Very good! Nice kick-off to a promising series! Enjoy!

> DeltaQueen50, I really enjoyed Death of a Red Heroine and the other Inspector Chen Cao mysteries by Qiu Xialong for the reasons you give and others. The tidbits of life in China and good plots are a big part of it. I also find the Inspector an appealing character and pull for him as he struggles to do his job in a repressive and dangerous system.

@39 & 43, good to heat more praise being heaped on that book. My copy just arrived today in readiness for my Q read. Having heard good things previously and now re-iterated makes me happy with my choice.

Currently reading Red Storm Rising. There's a lot to follow, and so I've had to read this book a little slower than most others I've read. Combine that with it being a small print, 725-page novel (currently 232 pages into it), and you probably have the majority of my January occupied.

I'll be spending the final week in Tunica, MS, at the World Series of Poker Circuit event, so my goal is to finish this before January 24th. Then you're looking at airplane time mostly for the rest of January.

I finished listening to Echo Park by Michael Connelly over the New Year's weekend. I have The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie checked out from the library, but I haven't started it yet. It will be my next book in this genre.

While in my car waiting to pick up my Grandson Body in the Library by Agatha Christie. This is a Miss Marple mystery. Miss Marple really makes me chuckle.

I just re-read Dead and Gone by Dorothy Simpson.

#25 Oh, Linda! Concrete Blonde is one of my favorite Michael Connelly's! It was the first I'd ever read of his, and then I had to start at the beginning and read the rest in order. Have you read his first two?

#39 I just started Death of a Red Heroine yesterday, Delta. I found it a little difficult to get into, and at page 47 was considering putting it down. Then I decided to apply the Pearl Rule, and I am so glad I did! Within the next couple of pages, it got so good I didn't want to put it down to sleep!

Started Carnage on the Committee by Ruth Dudley Edwards and read a good ways in, but then gave up. It wasn't bad, just not my style. Reading it felt like watching one of those cable news shows where everyone shouts at each other.

Message edited by its author, Jan 8, 2010, 10:41am.

# 47 Body in the Library was my second Miss Marple. This is the one that turned me in to a die hard Miss Marple fan. Hope you're enjoying it!

#49 Storeetllr....Yes, I read the first 2 books and enjoyed them very much. I'm looking forward to digging into this one. I just started it the other day but haven't really had a whole lot of time to read until today. Home from work very early and snowed in! lol Perfect reading time! I'm excited about this one because it explains the event touched on in the 1st two books as to why Harry was downgraded from homicide special unit to Robbery Homicide.
Now if I can just get off this 'puter and read lol.

The Valley of Fear by A. Conan Doyle. Digging into Sherlock Holmes for the first time in a long time and having a lot of fun.

#50 Storeetlir, I am finding Death of A Red Heroine a slow read, but I am still loving it. The mystery is pretty straight forward, but all the information about living in China is fascinating. I am sure I will be on the lookout for the next book in this series.

The Price of Malice by Archer Mayor

Count me in as another fan of Qiu Xiaolong's Inspector Chen books. The most recent one I read was A Case of Two Cities. As with so many other readers here, I like the books better for the characters and the depiction of life in China at a transitional time than for the mysteries (which are pretty weak).

As to my current reading, I just finished C.S. Harris's When Gods Die, her second Sebastian St. Cyr mystery. Fluff, but entertaining fluff.

The Fourth Bear by Jasper Fforde.

#52 Porua- I am taking The Body in the Library from my car. it is too good to let sit for the next time I have to wait in my car.

I have Death of a Red Heroine here somewhere. Glad to hear it is a meaty read. I am more interested in the story, setting and characters in the mysteries I read anyway.

#53 Linda ~ Snowed in with nothing to do but read! Sounds heaven (tho the reality is probably less than). Enjoy Concrete Blonde. It's really a good one!

#55 DeltaQueen ~ Thanks for the encouragement. I'm finding it slow too, and in addition to the reading slump I seem to be in, it's making it hard for me to get through.

#57 webgeekstress ~ I had forgotten until you mentioned it that I've already read A Case of Two Cities! I enjoyed it though I found it, too, a bit slow. Still, I remember being very interested in the cultural aspects of it more than the mystery.

Message edited by its author, Jan 9, 2010, 1:00pm.

I seem to be in a real slump. Started The Dead Hand of History, set it aside, started Evidence, set that aside, now trying My Lady Judge. I don't think these are bad books, I'm just in a bad mood.

Finished Fever of the Bone last night - it has some slow moments but overall a good one.

Starting Murder on the Eiffel Tower by Claude Izner.

> #63 ctpete, I was in a slump too, but I think its over (knock wood). Good luck on getting over yours. Seems quite a few people are slumping around LT, based on their postings..

I just finished Real Murders by Charlaine Harris. It is a cozy and the first book in the Aurora Teagarden series. I read it for a RL book group. I didn't care for it at the start, but it grew on me by the end. Still rather light.

Message edited by its author, Jan 10, 2010, 12:07am.

for the people reading concrete blonde i would say, having read all of his books ,it is one of the best

however if you enjoy this i would strongly recommend reading the connelly books in order.even the non-bosch books have a lot a commom threads runing through them which become evident as you progress

i feel that you will get even more enjoyment this way

Started The Oxford Murders and so far I enjoy it a lot (it's a bit strange with all the logic and maths talk but Maths used to be my life for a while so I actually enjoy it). Meanwhile posted a review for Fever of the Bone if someone is interested.

I'm starting linda Johnston's pet-sitting series and the third Booktown Mystery series by Lorna Barrett

I'm reading Carter Dickson's-SO ON TO MURDER. A wonderful mystery from the Golden Age of Mystery, written under John Dickson Carr's pen name. Carr's mysteries should be reprinted for readers who love a good locked room or impossible crime story.

I'm about halfway through A Study in Scarlet, the first Sherlock Holmes mystery. (Yes, I did go and see the movie, and mostly enjoyed it.) It's fun starting at the beginning of such an iconic character!

I just got Living Witness from the library. It's the newest Gregor Demarkian novel by Jane Haddam. This one's using the Dover Intelligent Design court case of a couple of years ago as its inspiration.

#67 On Michael Connelly's website, the books are listed in terms of appearances by major characters. I've only read the first three Harry Bosch novels, but I intend to make use of this list.
http://www.michaelconnelly.com/Book_Collection/Series/series.html

An Incomplete Revenge by Jacqueline Winspear. Cashed in a Christmas gift card on that and Among the Mad thinking this caught me up on Maisie Dobbs, then discovered there's another one (The Mapping of Love and Death) due to be released shortly. Phooey.

Message edited by its author, Jan 12, 2010, 8:59am.

Did not finish Murder on the Eiffel Tower by Claude Izner. It was taking to long to go anywhere. I don't even care how it ended.

The Darkest Room by Johan Theorin.

75 - I got an ER copy of that, but found it only so-so. You didn't miss much by not finishing.

I am reading The Winter Queen by Boris Akunin - not great so far - and Lemon Tart by Josi Kilpack. It was fun until it just got silly. I hate it when the main character does really stupid things, like HIDE UNDER SOMEONE'S BED. Honestly.

I finished Stef Penney's The Tenderness of Wolves. Good mystery, great setting, and complex characters!

A day for dying by Dorothy Simpson.

Just finished reading Deveil's Punchbowl by Greg Iles. Really awesome page turner.

The Five Red Herrings by Dorothy Sayers.

68: AnnieMod - Excellent review!

I finished Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith. It is an excellent crime thriller. It takes place in Russia during the early 1950s and involves a child serial killer. Gripping and action-packed!

#83> Oooh, that just turned up on my shelves the other day! I'm looking forward to reading it!

Last night I started Blind Submission, which is currently reading more like chick-lit than anything else, but the back assures me it'll turn into a mystery any moment now...

I have a question for anybody who's a fan of Charles Todd's Ian Rutledge series. I have The Red Door waiting for me at the library but I haven't read any of the others yet. Should I read the earlier books in the series first?

@83 msf59, you know there's a sequel to that already out? It's called The Secret Speech. Personally, I'm waiting for the cheaper paperback version to be released before I pick it up though.

Thanks Wolfy! It's on the list!!

I'm reading Last Lullaby by Denise Hamilton. I'm only putting it down quite reluctantly.

I have already read Betsy Tobin's Ice Land and Cleo Coyle's Latte Trouble.

Finished re-reading Cards on the Table by Agatha Christie. One of my all time favorites. My review here,

http://www.librarything.com/work/29915/reviews/50339813

Just finished Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane, before that Skin by Mo Hayder, and currently reading Flesh Island by Stuart Macbride. Can recommend all of them as a thumping good read.

Glad to hear your reaction to Cards on the Table, Porua. Also one of my favorites. Now you've got me thinking about re-reading it!

Yeah, Cards on the Table is my favorite Poirot book and one of my top five Christie books. I personally have re-read it more than half a dozen times. Glad to hear you like it too.

I re-read Untimely Death by Cyril Hare last night. I'd forgotten how much I like his stuff.

#90 Porua, great review. Thanks to your review and others comments I will have to track down a copy of Cards On the Table for my 1010 Challenge.

Edited to add: I just checked and my library has a copy and I already have it on my wishlist. Now I just have to order it.

Message edited by its author, Jan 15, 2010, 5:22pm.

I also have Cards on the Table in my 1010 Challenge. I am looking forward to reading it.

# 95 Thank you, DeltaQueen50! I'm glad you liked my review.

# 96 Hope you enjoy the book as much as I did.

It's quite different from Cards on the Table, but so far I'm enjoying Daemon by Daniel Suarez, a cyberthriller in which two people so far have been knocked off by traps conveyed via the Internet.

Murder on the Ol' Bunions, which is starting out cheerfully, quirkily, funny. Love cozies full of small-town eccentrics.

I gave up on Good Night, Mr. Holmes. It's the story of Irene Adler from the Sherlock Holmes canon. More of a romance than a mystery and very disappointing.

I am getting stuck into Val Mcdermid The Mermaid Sings .Her Character is Tony Hill a profiler . Igo through phases where i concentrate on one author Recently Peter Robinson and DI Banks These are set in yorkshire and there are usually two plots I intend to read the Stieg Larson Triology

For the record, most do not consider Good Night, Mr. Holmes as part of the Canon, but rather a romance novel pastiche. The Sherlock Holmes Canon is pretty well defined. If you enjoyed the idea of the story, try the books of Laurie King.

I'm reading In A Lonely Place by Dorothy L. Hughes.

I polished off Cinnamon Kiss by Walter Mosley.

#103 - mstrust - there is a very good movie of that book starring Hunphrey Bogart that sometimes shows on Turner Classics. I haven't read the book so I don't know how closely the movie follows the plot, but it's well worth a watch.

Devil in a Blue Dress by Walter Mosley.

# 104 and 106 ~ Just wanted to say that I love Mosley's Easy Rawlins mysteries!

Am reading A Drink Before the War by Lehane, which is (halfway in) phenomenal.

#105 DeltaQueen- Thank you. I didn't know about that movie until I saw that it was playing on t.v. a week or two ago. Unfortunately I always want to read the book before seeing the movie so I'll have to get it from Netflix when I'm done. Bogart's in it so it has to be good.

Another fan here of Mosley's Easy Rawlins mysteries. Glad to see people are reading them.

And to #107, I am a huge fan of Dennis Lehane's Kenzie and Gennaro novels.

Boulevard, a nasty, gritty, dirty first novel by Stephen Jay Schwartz. The dark side of L.A. (although, when reading crime fiction, it sometimes seems as if it's all dark, actually...)

#44 jonesli -- I, also, love the film, "Out of the Past." How did you like the book, Build my Gallow High?

#s 103, 105, 108 mstrust & DeltaQueen -- If you like Dorothy B. Hughes, have you read The Fallen Sparrow? It's excellent, and it also was made into a film, tho I've never seen it.

#s 71, 100, 102 -- Have any of you read Holmes and Watson by June Thompson? It's a biography of the two characters, pulling together all the facts and tidbits given in the canon. An interesting read.

I'm only on my third book so far this month. Read A Deceptive Clarity, one of the art mysteries by Aaron Elkins. I really enjoy both this series and his Gideon Oliver series.
Also read Ngaio Marsh's Singing in the Shrouds, and am currently reading The Oxford Murders by Argentinian author Guillermo Martinez.

#112 I loved Build My Gallows High, I think it's one of those rare exceptions where the book and the movie are top notch.

I am reading the new Hamish MacBeth book by M.C. Beaton, Death of a Valentine.

In some ways, it's more romance than mystery, this time. Still a nice, fluffy, enjoyable read though.

#114 I am also reading Death of a Valentine along with Dark Passage.

The Hamish MacBeth series are always fun reads aren't they?

Message edited by its author, Jan 18, 2010, 6:23pm.

Just finished The Private Patient by P.D. James. It was a gift from my SantaThing Santa and had been on my wishlist for quite awhile. I was not disappointed and I know that I will always enjoy taking the thrilling journey with AD and his crew. I have a Jacqueline Winspear in my TBR pile. Her books are also wonderful.

Picked up P.D. James new book Talking About Detective Fiction. Been looking forward to it. Will let you know how it goes. Anyone else see the verbal beating she gave that slick feller from the BBC? Delightful.

I am reading Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith and boy, is it good. Can't hardly put it down. This author must have really done some extensive research, I'm no expert but it sure feels like 1950's Russia to me.

Delta I really enjoyed that book. I loved reading about Russia during that time. The sequel is on my TBR list too!

Just whipped through Footsteps in the dark by Georgette Heyer. Light, fluffy fun.

Just finished Red Storm Rising late yesterday.

Am now starting on the 6th book of the Mitch Rapp series, Consent to Kill by Vince Flynn.

Message edited by its author, Jan 21, 2010, 11:30am.

Just finished The Last Child by John Hart to follow the recently completed The Way Home by George Pelencanos and will now start into Small Crimes by Dave Zeltserman. After that will probably be Dirty Martini by JA Konrath and Lights Out by Jason Starr

The First Rule by Robert Crais--it's a Joe Pike, a different take on the Elvis Cole universe.

Since so many LTers were raving about Child 44. I went to the library. It popped off the shelf into my hands.

You won't be disappointed, cindysprocket, it's everybit as good as everyone has been saying.

Message edited by its author, Jan 21, 2010, 10:12pm.

January reading to date - mostly mysteries:

1. The second objective Mark Frost
2. The world at night Alan Furst
3. The creation of eve Lynn Cullen
4. Burn out Marcia Muller
5. Locked in Marcia Muller
6. A Day for Dying Dorothy Simpson
7. Dead and Gone Dorothy Simpson
8. Once Too Often Dorothy Simpson
9. Fresh-Air Fiend : Travel Writings, 1985-2000 Paul Theroux

Just started The Broken Window by Jeffery Deaver, the new-ish Lincoln Rhyme novel

Just finished Play of Lords by Margaret Frazer. Now I will start Deep Waters by Kate Charles, part of the Callie Anson series.

So far this year I have read two of Donna Leon's Death In a Strange Country and Death and Judgment. Both are very interesting but I find too many in a row depressing because of the hopelessness of the political situation. I have read Dorothy L. Sayers The Documents In the Case which is a very unusual presentation of a mystery and I am reading Mary Roberts Rinehart's The Window at the White Cat which is lots of fun.

Just finishing up Death at the Bar, by Ngiao Marsh. I read her books many years ago and thought it was time for a return visit.

Margaret Frazer's A Play of Treachery the latest title in the Joliffe Player Mysteries.

I've started Malice Aforethought and love it so far.

I read 3 more in the Aurora Teagarden cozy series. Not a fan. The main character is too wishy-washy and boringly beige. I got into the series because it was for a RL book group. Very light and fluffy and quick reads: A Bone to Pick, Three Bedrooms, One Corpse and The Julius House all by Charlaine Harris. I am done with this series now.

I just finished and reviewed my Early Reviewer book, the thriller Never Look Away by Linwood Barclay. I found it very disappoining, though apparently I am the only one. I had not read any of his books and he is well published. Also has rave blurbs. Oh well.

http://www.librarything.com/review/54790661

I just polished off Thrones, Dominations by Dorothy L. Sayers and someone else. Not up to snuff. Started Running from the Law by Lisa Scottoline and am enjoying it very much.

I am delighted so far with A Beautiful Blue Death.

Started Child 44 yesterday. It is holding my interest so far.

I'm listening to Dance Hall of the Dead, the 2nd Joe Leaphorn book. It's good so far.

I have just discovered the Doc Osborne series set in Wisconsin by Victoria Houston. I know nothing about fishing but am thoroughly enjoying the books

I am reading The Mousetrap and Selected Plays by Agatha Christie. Mystery and plays. Two of my favorite things! That too by my favorite Christie. It doesn’t get any better than this.

I just finished Red Mandarin Dress, one of Qiu Xiaolong's Inspector Chen novels. I found this (relatively) disappointing: it could have played out so much more interestingly. In particular, if I could have taken control mid-way through, I would have framed our hero for the murders! As with the other books in the series, though, I read these more for the depiction of life in Shanghai in the early 90s and for the characters than for the mysteries.

I'm also reading one of Qiu Xiaolong's Inspector Chen novels, A Loyal Character Dancer.

Reading Land of a Hundred Wonders with a very interesting detective. On that level it reminds a bit of Caveman's Valentine

Message edited by its author, Jan 28, 2010, 9:54am.

Just finished The Torso by Helene Tursten and
Wife of the Gods by Kwei Quartey.
Currently reading A Place of Execution by Val McDermid.

Any Karin Slaughter fans out there? I just my first book by her, called Blindsighted and it looks promising!

Message edited by its author, Jan 28, 2010, 7:30pm.

Just started The Devil's Disciples by Susanna Gregory, the 14th of the Mathew Bartholomew Chronicles set in medieval Cambridge. It's an excellent series by a wonderful writer.

msf I'm a Slaughter fan! Enjoy and be ready for a wild ride!!

I'm reading An Instance of the Fingerpost. I really am enjoying it. It's a historical mystery set in 17th century Oxford, England and it's told by four different unreliable narrators. I imagine when I'm done I'll have to piece it all together to figure out what happened.

148 - I really enjoyed Fingerpost. But I wasn't sure what happened after all four versions!

I just finished the Devil's Punchbowl. I just couldn't stop reading it—missed a couple of appointments, late to others. I've read other Iles books, but this one really hooked me.

Message edited by its author, Jan 29, 2010, 12:21am.

I've decided to finish up David Baldacci's Camel Club series. I'm through The Camel Club and The Collectors and have the final two books of the series on my shelf.

Unfortunately, BookMooch isn't letting me mooch books right now for some reason, but my plan is to aquire the rest of John Sandford's Prey series and read the remaining twelve books I haven't gotten to yet.

Am nearly at the end of Careless in Red by Elizabeth George - I've enjoyed it on the whole, but she introduces far too many characters, all of whom seem to have some sort of long-held grudge against each other, but none of whom will articulate said grudges - and ... (POSSIBLE SPOILER)

... I can't believe that Lynley's mourning his wife so deeply. She sounds like the shallowest and most infuriating woman in bookdom!

I've finished a satisfying thriller, The Trudeau Vector, set in the Arctic. It's an environmental and political thriller, plus a medical thriller. Lots rolled into one. Very informative.

Message edited by its author, Jan 29, 2010, 10:01am.

I'm about to start 206 Bones, now that I've finished Tokyo Vice.

I highly recommend the latter if you're looking for some non-fiction.

Finished and it was amazing! Now I have a new author to follow. I've already added The Portrait to Mt. TBR and I'm sure more by Pears will follow.

I really enjoyed An Instance of the Fingerpost and The Trudeau Vector.

#145 msf You won't be disappointed by Karin Slaughter. I'm a great fan of her books, and read Undone in record time (for me anyway)... Presently reading The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson and thoroughly enjoying it...

Have just discovered Peter Lovesey - absolutely excellent!

I love Peter Lovesey. Some of his I've enjoyed are Invitation to a Dynamite Party, Wobble to Death, Waxwork and Mad Hatter's Party.

I'll second that, cmbohn! Those are some of my favorites, too!

After The Aelian Fragment an innocent caught up in spy games thriller, I am reading Just Another Day in Paradise by A..E. Maxwell. which I am finding not very convincing--lots of over-explaining and over-describing.

And I just realized I posted in last month's thread, but I'm too lazy to repost in February.

Message edited by its author, Feb 7, 2010, 3:29am.

Sun Storm by Åsa Larsson and Why Begins With W by Hamish De'Lamet and Chandral Ramon

I'm reading an ultra-cozy dollhouse mystery by Deb Baker, called Ding Dong Dead. Not bad, though I prefer her Youper series, set in the U.P. of Michigan.

I'm sure there's a new thread for February somewhere around here. Now, which detective shall we employ to try and find it?

The February thread is here:http://www.librarything.com/topic/83858#1786613

The link for the February thread on message # 165 is not working so I’ll try to re-post it here,

http://www.librarything.com/topic/83858#1786613