October 2012 - What are you reading?

New thread!

I finished The Devil's Hearth yesterday, but couldn't stay up to review it. First October review! Eventually.

Read Alisa Craig's (i.e. Charlotte MacLeod's) A pint of murder, the first Madoc Rhys book. Also Why Johnny died, which I read because the author is from my home state of Indiana.

Resurrection Row by Anne Perry

The Calling by Inger Ash Wolf.

The Beautiful Mystery by Louise Penny

Still working on Murder in the Marais by Cara Black, carried over from September (books go more slowly when the school year starts, sadly).

Finished A Room Full of Bones by Elly Griffiths. It's the fourth in her excellent Ruth Galloway series.

#7
I work at a university and I know that when each semester starts that my reading slows down. I am sure that reading follows the same pattern with others who are involved in education. I am still reading 1Q84 and since one of the main characters is an assassin I am including it in this list.

I am reading A Capital Crime by Laura Wilson, my first foray into e-book reading! Having resisted valiantly, lack of space has forced capitulation. Conclusion is that my Kobo reader offers good print size, a reasonable facsimile of normal reading experience but drawbacks as well, notably the lack of ease in referring to previous sections of the book. The novel itself is excellent on period atmosphere, set as it is in London of the early 1950's. I like the solid character of Inspector Stratton and I will be looking out for other titles in this series.

Reading Ask a Policeman, a joint effort by the Detection Club. The 'gimmick' is the contributors are writing each other's detectives' parts - so Gladys Mitchell and Helen Simpson swapped detectives, as did Dorothy Sayers and Anthony Berkeley (though IMO Berkely didn't keep up his end of the stick as well as the others did.) Fun.

I fell behind on most of my auto-read authors, so just finished up A Trick of the Light by Louise Penny. But it left off in such a way that I don't know that I can wait before starting The Beautiful Mystery -- I've got to know what happens!

The Dovekeepers by Alice Hoffman

i'm reading Shiver by Lisa Jackson- a romantic supense novel. So far it's pretty good.

I finished listening to Red Herring Without Mustard the third in the Flavia DeLuce mysteries by Alan Bradley. Thank goodness Flavia grows up a little in this story. I was beginning to think that the author was going to keep the heroine a snotty little child forever and I honestly was puzzled as to why these books were so popular. However, I am not sure that this character growth is enough to make me want to read another of these mysteries. But I'll have to see what happens in the future. I started listening to Treasure Island and so right now don't have any mystery going. That is strange as I almost always am actively reading some kind of mystery.

Just picked up the latest Chet & Bernie mystery ~ A Fistful of Collars. *yuck yuck* (I just love this series. Spencer Quinn is SUCH a punster.) Also have One Step Behind, a Kurt Wallender mystery, on audio.

I've posted my mega-~meh~ review of The Devil's Hearth in my thread...post #208.

Just finished Watching the Dark by Peter Robinson

Putting aside Sleep No More by Greg Iles, 4th book in the Mississippi series. Not a big fan of psychothrillers, will put in the pass on stack.

I did follow up A Trick of the Light immediately with The Beautiful Mystery in the hopes of some resolution of certain things going on, but it was left less resolved than before, lol. And now I have to wait a year to find out what happens next. Ah well.

I've now started Cogan's Trade by George V. Higgins, which is definitely a different sort of mystery--it reads kind of a play, almost 100% dialogue so far--but pretty good up to this point. As some of you probably know, this one has been adapted into the upcoming film "Killing Them Softly" with Brad Pitt.

I just started listening to Portrait of a Spy by Daniel Silva.

The best cellar, the third in the series of books set at the Werner-Bok library. (People who like books which have murders set in libraries should hunt up Dewey Decimated, the first book in the series, which is excellent.

There are plenty of mysteries in Cloud Atlas: what's going on; will the human race survive; will the movie live up to the book? But I finally finished reading it, and certainly recommend reading the book before seeing the movie (opening Oct. 26).

#7&9 I have the same problem once the the school year begins again.

The First Rule of Ten, chosen on the basis of enthusiastic comments on LT.

Started One for Sorrow on my Kindle on this morning's commute. Pretty good so far. Thanks Richard D. for recommending it.

Closely Akin to Murder by Joan Hess

Finished Deadlocked and started The Poisoner's Handbook by Deborah Blum.

Just listened to the audio version of The Brothers of Baker Street by Michael Robertson, sequel to The Baker Street Letters. I borrowed it from the library for something to listen to on a long drive - I'd listened to the first on another long drive this summer. I enjoyed both of these.

# 9 "I work at a university and I know that when each semester starts that my reading slows down. I am sure that reading follows the same pattern with others who are involved in education...."

benitastrnad, you've said it! Same thing happens to me. A new semester starts and my reading goes into slow motion mode.

Read and reviewed The Day of the Jackal by Frederick Forsyth. A good vintage thriller. My review is here,

http://www.librarything.com/review/81426368

Playback by Raymond Chandler

The Prisoner of Heaven by Carlos Zafon

The Dovekeepers by Alice Hoffman. Excellent book!

The Weed that Strings the Hangman's Bag by Alan Bradley

The Perfect Crime by Les Edgerton

Look Again by LIsa Scottoline

After two books in a row by new authors (to me, at least), I went back to something familiar. I'm back in Florida with Travis McGee in The Quick Red Fox by John D. MacDonald.

Blue Monday by Nicci French

Currently, I'm reading Killing Floor, by Lee Child. I never read the Jack Reacher novels, but heard good things. So I thought I'd give it a go and I'm liking it so far.
I just finished Learning to Swim by Sara Henry.I gave it 4/5 stars - I read mixed reviews on it. Some people hated it, but it won the Agatha, so when it became available at the library I decided to grab it. Glad I did.

ALTAR OF EDEN by James Rollins.

I've never read this author before. I won this book from sciencethrillers.com and doubted that I'd like it. But I'm really liking it.

Detection Unlimited by Georgette Heyer

Murder in Mesopotamia by Agatha Christie.

Vulture Peak by John Burdett

Reading Say You're Sorry by Michael Robotham. This is my second book by him and I think he's going on the favorite authors list.

I am reading And Justice There is None by Deborah Crombie.

Reading Bryant and May #5, White Corridor. It's set during a blizzard, which is somewhat appropriate given that we had a few flurries in the area yesterday!

Night of 400 rabbits by Elizabeth Peters, set in Mexico City.

I finished The Quick Red Fox, another good one in the Travis McGee series, and have just started The Withdrawing Room by Charlotte MacLeod, the second in the Sarah Kelling series.

Purely trivial footnote--I had a classmate in high school named Charlotte MacLeod (obviously not the same person as the author, but it used to make me do a double-take when I saw the author's books in the library or store :) )

Did I mention that I'm reading Fistful of Collars? Well, I am, and I'm loving it. I have "read" all the prior Chet & Bernie mysteries as audiobooks, and I LOVE the reader who does a perfect Chet, but though this is a print version I'm finding I'm able to hear Chet's voice in my head just fine.

I just finished Maureen Jennings' Does Your Mother Know?Very enjoyable, set in the Outer Hebrides.
Thank you littlemissbashful.

Just finished and reviewed my Early Reviewer win of Falling into Green: an Eco-mystery. The main character is an eco-psychologist for those of you interested in that area, as I am. I really enjoyed it and intend to follow the series. Does anyone know of another mystery series with an ecological theme?

Reading Side-Tracked by Henning Mankell.

#53, Carl Hiaassen writes about the environment in South Florida but with a great deal of humor.
Nevada Barr's mysteries often deal with environmental issues. There are a bunch of others as well.

Several years after I first read and loved In the Woods, I finally started The Likeness by Tana French.

Second the Nevada Barr series. They are good mysteries that incorporate lots of different threads and serve as a good introduction to various National Parks, Historic Sites, Monuments, etc. And they don't have to be read in order to be enjoyed. But be careful as you may find yourself planning a trip to one of those locations in the future.

@56
I hope you'll like 'The Likeness'. I really loved it. Happy reading :-)

Thanks! I have read all of Barr - she is right up there in my top 5. I'll have to try some Hiaassen. I've picked up a couple but haven't read them yet.

A Place of Hiding by Elizabeth George.

Dug Cloud Atlas off my shelf so I could read it before the movie comes out and gets discussed all over the place. So far, I like it a lot.

Fatherland by Robert Harris

Next up Saints of New York by R.J Ellory who never disappoints.

I've now started The Informationist by Taylor Stevens.

EEvery mystery/thriller reader needs a set of these for holiday gifting!

>66 richardderus: my Daddy would love this bookend! He has a lamp that is similar. I kinda feel like the cowboy version of the kids in a Christmas Story when I see his lamp. LOL

Love the revolver bookend! I just picked up Full Dark House from the library.

#66 Totally awesome!

LOL

Today I'm going to start The Flight of the Falcon by Daphne DuMaurier. It gets mixed reviews, but I usually enjoy her work so am giving it a go.

Just finished a re-read of Desolate Angel by Katy Munger writing as Chaz McGee, for my library's mystery group. Starting Strip by Thomas Perry, which was one of a large batch of books I threw into my bag at the library book sale. I've never heard of this author before. So far it's easy reading and somewhat entertaining.

Just started ThevSnow White Christmas Cookie by David Handler

#72 If you are unfamiliar with Thomas Perry you should know he is the author of the Jane Whitefield series--I think I've got the name correct. She is a native American woman who hides people for a living. She develops new identities, etc. Best to read books about her in order. I think the first one is Vanishing Act She is one of the most Bad --ss women on the planet--thoroughly splendid books--I just wish Perry would write more of them.

Today I started reading Outrage, by Arnaldur Indridason.

I am reading Now May You Weep by Deborah Crombie.

Turn of Mind by Alice LaPlante

Donald Ray Pollock's novel The Devil All the Time has won the Best Foreign Crime Novel prize in France!

Headhunters by Jo Nesbo

I'm about a third of the way through Stuart Neville's The Ghosts of Belfast. It's excellent!

I have a copy of Ghosts of Belfast and the sequel so might have to move it up on my list of books to read soon.

The Vanishing Point by Val McDermid

Blood Count by Robert Goddard

After spending time in Reykjavik with the crew in Arnaldur Indridason's Outrage, I'm now in London At Bertram's Hotel.

I just finished reading a Canadian mystery by an author that was new to me. Lake on the Mountain is rather dark but it reminded me a lot of Ian Rankin's Rebus books.

Anybody else read The Vanishing Point by Val McDermid? What did you think of the ending?

I started listening to Hard Truth by Nevada Barr for my commute book. Somehow I think I got an abridged copy instead of the whole thing, but it will do for the time being.

Loved "The Beautiful Mystery" which I both read and listened to on audio. However...be prepared, it's sad!

Just posted review of A Place of Hiding by Elizabeth George.

I gave up on the abridged version of Hard Truth. It simply made no sense. Why do publishers continue to do abridged versions? And do readers ever notice that these books don't make sense when they are reading or listening to them? Who is buying this stuff? My copy came from the public library and I can't believe that they wasted the money on purchasing this bastardized version.

I have never understood what the point of abridged books are. So irritating!

I'm enjoying Dead Meat, the fifth of William Tapply's Brady Coyne mysteries from the 1980s. Like the first four, this one's quite likeable.

91 - I know! If it's good I want to read the whole thing. If it's not, I don't want to read any of it!

>93 by @mkboylan, Exactly! I read Count of Monte Cristo a bunch of years ago, only to discover after that it was abridged. It was like 1100pgs, so I had just assumed it was whole! Now I have to reread this hugely massive book so that I can have read it all! Like, really?! Not that I disliked it, quite the opposite; but I nearly never reread, as there's so much else out there! AGH! I want to beat whoever made that edition, with the book!! >_<

I just finished The Beautiful Mystery by Louise Penny. Really liked this one, though the ending is very dark. I found myself glad to be free of the Three Pines residents for once.

Judge Dee at work by Robert van Gulik.

Poison by Ed McBain

Reading The Innocent by Taylor Stevens, the second in her Vanessa Michael Munroe series.

Still working on The Angry Woman Suite. and have started, and almost finished John Sandford's Wicked Prey.

Has the November "What are you reading" been started?

New thread up!

http://www.librarything.com/topic/144240

Thank you, Bjace.