What Are We Reading and Reviewing in December?

This is the place to let everyone know the books you are reading during December, and then to leave reviews of these books. You can put up a list of the books you are reading for the month or put a post about a book as you start it, or even both.

Don't worry we are not back at school a review can be something as simple as a sentence about the book or as comprehensive as you want to make it - whatever is good for you. This then allows people to discuss the book with you, and after all that is one of the main reasons we are all on here - to discuss books and our love of them.

Carol's December Reads

Group Reads
✔The Moth Catcher by Ann Cleeves - 12/13/16 - 4★'s
✔ The Venetian Betrayal by Steve Berry - 12/22/16 - 4★'s
✔ Seeking the Dead by Kate Ellis - 12/31/16 - 4.5★'s

Blind Date With A Book
✔ Winter Solstice by Rosamunde Pilcher - Treasure Trove - 12/15/16 - 4.5★'s

A Book Is Born (new releases)

Sub-genre challenge Cozy Mystery
✔ Miss Dimple Rallies To The Cause by Mignon F. Ballard - 12/8/16 - 3★'s
✔ If Books Could Kill by Kate Carlisle - 12/9/16 - 3.5★'s

Others
✔ The Wrong Side of Goodbye by Michael Connelly - 12/5/16 - 4.5★'s
✔ Bad Wolf by Nele Neuhaus - 12/1/16 - 4★'s
✔ The Graveyard Apartment by Mariko Koike - 12/2/16 - 4★'s
✔ In the Dark of the Night by John Saul - 12/6/16 - 4.5★'s
✔ Those We left Behind by Stuart Nevill - 12/7/16 - 3.5★'s
✔ The Good Cop by Brad Parks - 12/8/16 - 4★'s
✔ All The Colors of Darkness by Peter Robinson - 12/14/16 - 4★'s
✔ That Darkness by Lisa Black - 12/11/16 4∝'s
✔ In the Cold, Cold Ground by Stuart MacBride - 12/16/16 - 4★'s
✔ Love You Dead by Peter James - 12/31/16 - 5★'s

December 2016
✔★ ☊ ☞

Finished Reading
138. ✔Conclave by Robert Harris by Robert Harris -★★★★ - 12/2/2016
139. ✔Turning Angel by Greg Iles - ★★★★.5 - 12/6/2016
140. ✔☊Long Lost by Harlan Coben - ★★★★ - 12/7/2016
141. ✔Blacklight Blue #3 The Enzo Files by Peter May - ★★★★★ - 12/9/16
142. ✔The Moth Catcher by Ann Cleeves - ★★★★.5 - 12/14/2016
143. ✔The Fifth Petal by Brunonia Barry - Early Reviewer - ★★★★.5 - 12/16/2016
144. ✔Live Wire by Harlan Coben - ★★★★.5 - 12/17/2016
145. ✔The Venetian Betrayal by Steve Berry - ★★★★.5 - 12/22/2016
146. ✔Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris - ★★★★ - 12/25/2016
147. ✔Freeze Frame by Peter May - ★★★★.5 - 12/28/2016
148. ✔Seeking The Dead by Kate Ellis - ★★★★.5 - 12/30/2016
149. ✔Thursday's Children by Nicci French - ★★★★.5 - 12/31/2016
150. ✔ ☊ The Chameleon's Shadow by Minette Walters - ★★★★ - 12/31/2016

At this point, quite unusually for me don't really have plans for any books to read in December other than the three Group Reads, and even one of those books hasn't been chosen yet.

>2 Carol420: Loved Winter Solstice.

>3 EadieB: Another great list.

Somehow I've still got way too many books going:
➡ ✔ ★ ♥

📚 Library books
🐾 Graphic Novels
☊ Audio books

Group Reads
✔ The Moth Catcher by Ann Cleeves - 3.6 stars
I'll sit out The Venetian Betrayal by Steve
✔ Seeking the Dead by Kate Ellis - 4.0 stars

Other Mysteries
✔ By Book or by Crook by Eva Gates - for sub-genre challenge cozy - 3.6 stars
✔ ☊ 📚 Nebelmord by Yrsa Sigurdardottir - 4 stars
✔ ☊ 📚 In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware - 3.5 stars
➡ Defending Jacob by William Landay - for sub-genre challenge lawyer
A Clean Kill in Tokyo by Barry Eisler - for sub-genre challenge hitman
A Furnace Far Too Hot by Keith McCarthy
Gelignite by William Marshall
☊ 📚 Le Passager by Jean-Christophe Grangé
☊ 📚 The Nature of the Beast by Louise Penny

Other Reading
✔ ☊ Wyrd Sisters by Terry Pratchett - 4 stars
✔ ☊ Death's End by Cixin Liu - 4.6 stars - last of the trilogy - great scifi
✔ 🐾 Lumberjanes 1: Beware the Kitten Holy by Noelle Stevenson - 3.6 stars
✔ 📚 Dark Matter by Blake Crouch - 5 stars
✔ The Horror At Red Hook by H.P. Lovecraft (for pbt: short stories) - 2 stars
✔ The Ballad of Black Tom by Victor Lavalle (for pbt: short stories) - 4 stars
✔ 🐾 Mezolith 1 by Ben Haggarty - 4.6 stars
✔ 🐾 Mezolith 2 by Ben Haggarty - 4.6 stars
✔ 📚 Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi - 4.4 stars
➡ 📚 The Association of Small Bombs by Karan Mahajan
➡ Barkskins by Annie Proulx
The Crow Girl by Erik Axl Sund
Marked by Sue Tingey
Azanian Bridges by Nick Wood

The third Group Read we do next month will be :
Seeking the Dead by Kate Ellis
Then we will be reading The Girl in the Ice by Robert Bryndza in January

With an incredibly busy time at work, doing the Group Read and trying to finish When the Music's Over before the end of the month I haven't had time to publish the results of the vote. Apologies everyone about that!

I haven't even had time to think about reads for November!

>7 Andrew-theQM: For those in the USA that are planning to read it in January, I notice that Amazon.com is currently offering the kindle version of The Girl in the Ice for $0.99.

>8 ScoLgo: Thanks for letting us know ScoLgo.

Bad Wolf by Nele Neuhaus
4★'s

From The Book:
She looked at herself in the mirror, touched her fingertips to the little red hood on her head, and laughed. The dress was a real dirndl, with a short skirt and apron. Papa had plaited her hair into two braids, and she really looked exactly like Little Red Riding Hood in her fairy-tale book.
He always brought presents―it was a secret that she and Papa shared, because he never brought anything for the others. Only for her. She was his favorite.
The door opened, and she uttered a frightened cry when she saw the wolf. But then she had to laugh. It wasn't a real wolf after all; it was only Papa, who had put on a costume. How lovely it was that she was the only one to share this secret with Papa. Too bad she could never remember anything afterward.

On a hot June day, the body of a sixteen-year-old girl washes up on a riverbank outside of Frankfurt. She has been brutally murdered and shows signs of long-term abuse, but no one comes forward with any information as to her identity. Even weeks later, the local police have not been able to find out who she is. Then a new case comes in: A popular television host is attacked, raped, and locked in the trunk of her own car. She survives, barely, and is able to supply only vague hints to the police, having to do with her recent investigations into an organization whose members are from the highest echelons of society, and the potential uncovering of a shocking history they'd prefer to keep from the public eye. As the two cases collide, Inspectors Pia Kirchhoff and Oliver von Bodenstein dig deep into the past and underneath the veneer of bourgeois society to come up against a terrible secret that is about to impact their personal lives as well. It is almost too late for a person very close to Pia before she and Oliver finally track down the big bad wolf.

My Thoughts:
A word of warning: This book deals with one of the most disgusting of crimes, child molestation, and how frequently it occurs.

The book has a slow beginning but it's not too far into it that it really picks up speed and you find that you just can't put it down. Combining police procedural and a favorite Grimm’s fairy tale is a winning combination. It begins with the discovery of a girl's body on a river bank in Frankfurt and evolves from there into a masterfully told tale of crime and evil.

Much of the first few chapters was devoted to setting up the situation...but from there it was non-stop action once the story was in place. Be prepared for false clues and betrayals, along with genuine leads. The novel leads to a satisfactory but not necessarily believable conclusion I think the author's main purpose of this novel was to show how child abuse can affect everyone...victims...families and many, many others.

Group Reads for December :

The Moth Catcher by Ann Cleeves : #6 (Series finished up to date) - Starts Friday 9th December

The Venetian Betrayal by Steve Berry : #3 in the Cotton Malone Series - Starts Saturday 17th December

Seeking the Dead by Kate Ellis : #1 in the Joe Plantagenet Series - starts Monday 26th December

Provisional list for December

Group Reads
✔️The Moth Catcher by Ann Cleeves : #6 (Series finished up to date) - Starts Friday 9th December⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
👉The Venetian Betrayal by Steve Berry : #3 in the Cotton Malone Series - Starts Saturday 17th December
Seeking the Dead by Kate Ellis : #1 in the Joe Plantagenet Series - starts Monday 26th December

Other Reads
✔️The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/12/16
✔️Tea Time for the Traditionally Built by Alexander McCall Smith ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 6/12/16
✔️Turning Angel by Greg Iles ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2 3/12/16
Something Borrowed, Someone Dead by M C Beaton
👉The Light Behind the Window by Lucinda Riley
✔️Paths of Glory by Jeffrey Archer ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 10/12/16
✔️Behind Closed Doors by B A Paris⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 16/12/16
✔️A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2 17/12/16
✔️Birds of a Feather by Jacqueline Winspear ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 18/12/16
The Village Vet by Cathy Woodman
London by Edward Rutherfurd
Devil's Brood by Sharon Kay Penman
Love Over Scotland by Alexander McCall Smith
66 Degrees Northby Michael Ridpath
The Emperor's Treasure by Daniel Leston

The Graveyard Apartment by Mariko Koiki
4★'s

From The Book:
This tale of a young married couple who harbor a dark secret is packed with dread and terror, as they and their daughter move into a brand new apartment building built next to a graveyard. As strange and terrifying occurrences begin to pile up, people in the building start to move out one by one, until the young family is left alone with someone... or something... lurking in the basement. The psychological horror builds moment after moment, scene after scene, culminating with a conclusion that will make you think twice before ever going into a basement again.

My Thoughts:
Talk about creepy...this is it! The things that this family and the other apartment residents encountered were unrelenting and down right terrifying. It shows what a typical family...no matter what the nationality...experiences when faced with supernatural forces. It will also make you think twice about venturing into the basement alone and especially in the dark. I was a little disappointed with the ending. I wanted some more concrete answers to the why of the things that were happening and more information about the entity... but overall it was an excellent, atmospheric horror story.

Conclave by Robert Harris - 4 stars - 12/2/2016
Book Description
The best-selling author of Enigma and Fatherland turns to today's Vatican in a ripped-from-the-headlines novel, and gives us his most ambitious, page-turning thriller yet--where the power of God is nearly equaled by the ambition of men.

The pope is dead. Behind the locked doors of the Sistine Chapel, one hundred and eighteen cardinals from all over the globe will cast their votes in the world's most secretive election. They are holy men. But they have ambition. And they have rivals. Over the next seventy-two hours one of them will become the most powerful spiritual figure on Earth.

My Review
I enjoyed this book very much but I would not consider it to be a thrilling story. I would say more of a power-control type of novel. I enjoyed Harris' writing and the characters were well-developed. His research was amazing and gave much insight on the workings of a conclave behind the scenes. I learned a lot that I didn't know before and found the cardinals' struggle to become the next pope very intriguing. I now need to go back and read some more of Harris' novels and I would highly recommend this book to those who enjoy historical religious novels.

>14 EadieB: Definitely on my radar, I love Robert Harris's writing. Don't know which ones you've read but I did love the first one I read The Ghost and gave this 5 stars and a ❤️. Also loved Fatherland and Archangel, both got 5 stars. Enigma and Pompeii got 4 1/2 stars. Pompeii is the intriguing one as it is set in Roman times.

>15 Andrew-theQM:
I've read The Ghost and Fatherland and loved them both. I think I'll try Archangel or Pompeii next.

>15 Andrew-theQM: I would go for Archangel for a bit of Stalin and Russia. Couldn't put that one down.

>17 Andrew-theQM:
Ok thanks for the suggestion.

December Reading List

Mystery

✔ Ape Who Guards the Balance - 3 Stars - 12/18/16
✔ Betrayal in Death by J. D. Robb - 4 Stars - 12/7/16
✔ Beyond Reach by Karin Slaughter - 4.5 Stars - 12/2/16
✔ Killer Look by Linda Fairstein - 2 Stars - 12/22/16
✔ Moth Catcher by Ann Cleeves - 4 Stars - 12/12/16
✔ Murder in Murray Hill by Victoria Thompson - 4 Stars - 12/11/16
✔ Nearly Departed in Deadwood by Ann Charles - 3 Stars - 12/5/16
✔ Rest Ye Murdered Gentlemen by Vicki Delaney - 3 Stars - 12/4/16
Seeking the Dead by Kate Ellis
✔ Strangers on a Train by Patricia Highsmith - 4 Stars - 12/14/16
✔ Thrice the Brinded Cat Hath Mewed by Alan Bradley - 4 Stars - 12/17/16
✔ Track of the Cat by Nevada Barr - 4 Stars - 12/16/16
✔ Venetian Betrayal by Steve Berry - 4 Stars - 12/21/16

Non-Mystery

✔ 39 Clues: Double Cross Book 1: Mission Titanic by Jude Watson - 12/24/16
✔ Beside a Burning Sea by John Shors - 3.5 Stars - 12/9/16
Just One Damned Thing After Another by Jodi Taylor
✔ Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeiffer - 3.5 Stars - 12/8/16
✔ Man Called Ove by Frexrik Backman - 5 Stars - 12/15/16
✔ Mata Hari's Last Dance by Michelle Moran - 4 Stars - 12/13/16
✔ The Other Wes Moore by Wes Moore - 4 Stars - 12/23/16
✔ Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey - 5 Stars - 12/20/16
✔ The Tea-Olive Bird-Watching Society by Augusta Trobaugh - 4 Stars - 12/24/16
✔ Taming of the Queen by Philippa Gregory - 4 Stars - 12/3/16
✔ Underground Airlines by Ben H. Winters - 4.5 Stars - 12/10/16

>19 Olivermagnus: You seem to be enjoying Karin Slaughter! This is an author I need to get back to.

>20 Andrew-theQM: - I'm finishing up the last one. I started rereading the series in audio earlier this summer when I started a walking program. I listened to the Will Trent series first since I already knew some of the spoilers and then started the Grant County series. I'm really going to miss the characters after all the miles we've put in together. I know you'll enjoy them once you get a chance to get back to them.

>21 Olivermagnus: I've got two left in the Grant County series until I move onto the next series. I do enjoy them and not sure why they dropped off the recent series I've been reading. I haven't read one in over a year and have read 4 in 3 1/2 years! Must get back to them. I wonder who your new walking partner will be!

Turning Angel by Greg Iles
#2 in the Penn Cage Series
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

This was an excellent follow-up to the first book in the Penn Cage Series, The Quiet Game. The events in this book take place five years after the first book and revolve around the murder of a girl two weeks before her 18th Birthday and the affair she was having with a married Doctor. Was he responsible for her murder or was there something else going on in her life that led to her murder? Call in Penn Cage, the doctor's best friend, to investigate.

This is quite an in-depth story with many layers that have to be unpeeled. This held my interest from the very beginning and was difficult to put down the further I got into the book. I like the character of Penn Cage and the link he had with his baby sitter, Mia, who helped him throughout this case. The further the story goes on the more ramifications that it has on the town of Natchez and Kate's murder isn't the only casualty of the period. It lost half a star for me for the indepth description of the effect of taking heroin, I didn't feel this was called for, otherwise I would have given it five stars. I would certainly recommend this series based on the first 2 books in the series.

The Wrong Side of Goodbye by Michael Connelly
Harry Bosch series Book #21
4,5★'s

From The Book:
Harry Bosch is California's newest private investigator. He doesn't advertise, he doesn't have an office, and he's picky about who he works for, but it doesn't matter. His chops from thirty years with the LAPD speak for themselves.

Soon one of Southern California's biggest moguls comes calling. The reclusive billionaire is nearing the end of his life and is haunted by one regret. When he was young, he had a relationship with a Mexican girl, his great love. But soon after becoming pregnant, she disappeared. Did she have the baby? And if so, what happened to it?

Desperate to know whether he has an heir, the dying magnate hires Bosch, the only person he can trust. With such a vast fortune at stake, Harry realizes that his mission could be risky not only for himself but for the one he's seeking. But as he begins to uncover the haunting story--and finds uncanny links to his own past--he knows he cannot rest until he finds the truth.

At the same time, unable to leave cop work behind completely, he volunteers as an investigator for a tiny cash-strapped police department and finds himself tracking a serial rapist who is one of the most baffling and dangerous foes he has ever faced.

My Thoughts:
Back in 1992 I read the first of Michael Connelly's new series about a take-charge, by the book, no holds barred police detective...Harry Bosch. I was hooked after the the last page of that book was turned and I can say that absolutely nothing has changed.

After the book before this one...The Crossing...we saw some big changes coming for Harry including his leaving the San Francisco Police Department after throwing his commanding officer through a plate glass window. We as fans thought that perhaps Harry was going to ride off into the sunset. I was really glad to see this book appear to take it's place as #21 and bring Harry back.

Harry is working for a smaller department investigating cold cases as well as doing some private investigating work on his own. The difference is he doesn't get paid for his police work because of a new program that the department is working to allow detectives that aren't quiet ready to throw in the towel to continue to work and feel productive while lending their many years of expertise. At first it seemed the police case and the private case were not going to exist too well in the same story line but as usual Michael Connelly brought both to a glorious conclusion. Mickey Haller...the Lincoln Lawyer from another of Connelly's series and Harry half brother...has a major role in the story also. So what more could Michael Connelly's fan ask for?

Heaven’s Oasis by Jeff W. Horton.
4.5 stars.
Amazon Description.
Claire is dead. She’s been the love of Kevin Foster’s life for as long as he can remember; his soulmate, and his best friend. Before she dies, Claire, an archaeologist, goes on an expedition to the Middle East and comes across evidence supporting the existence of a biblical, antediluvian site the ancients called Heaven’s Oasis, and that certain ancient artefacts can lead her to it. Claire believes that finding this site will help prove the Bible's veracity, and provide indisputable evidence of God's existence.
Following her unexpected death Claire's expeditions become public knowledge, and the subsequent assaults against her reputation from the scientific community and the media are both brutal and relentless. Furious at the public ridicule and to prove she was right, Kevin decides to pick up where Claire left off in her search and to finish what she started. He’s willing to sacrifice everything, even his life, to restore her reputation and to honour her memory. A billionaire arms dealer named Kain Masterson has also been searching for the Oasis, however, intending to keep what he finds for himself. The deadly competition soon becomes a struggle just to stay alive in the race to find the artefacts, follow the clues, and ultimately to find Heaven’s Oasis.

Review.
Having recently read another book given to me for an honest review, also with an archaeological theme, I was expecting a somewhat similar book. I couldn’t have been more wrong because the only similarity lies in the involvement of archaeology and a young man’s desire to prove his wife right. Beyond that it is totally different.
Jeff Horton weaves a picture of a very dedicated young man in Kevin – nothing will stop him in his efforts to justify his dead wife’s assertions. The manner of the telling of his story is interesting, even though in the early stages it can be a little confusing. Horton uses various points along the timeline to develop the plot, and must have spent quite a time developing the complexity of the unfolding of events because the timeline is not used chronologically – this can challenge the reader a little in keeping up with what is happening.
That being said the story is quite a gripping one – not one with a series of clues that have to be unravelled, although there is need for understanding of Claire’s notes. I would not wish to say any more about the plot because that would create spoilers. I would say, though, that the book is resolved in a very much unexpected way, and one that gave me a great deal of pleasure as well as giving bright hope for the future – in fact it is quite stunning, and eminently desirable!
Well done, Mr. Horton, I thoroughly enjoyed this creation.

In the Dark of the Night by John Saul
4.5★'s

From The Book:
Summer vacation becomes a season in hell for an ordinary family who unwittingly stir something invisible, insidious, and insatiable from its secret slumber–unleashing a wave of horror only the darkest evil could create, that only a master of spine-tingling terror like John Saul could orchestrate. For deep in the shadows in the dark of the night lurks something as big as life . . . and as real as death.

It has waited seven years for someone to come back to the rambling lakeside house called Pinecrest, which has stood empty since its last owner went missing. For upscale Chicago couple Dan and Merrill Brewster, the old midwestern manse is an ideal retreat, and for their kids, Eric and Marci, it’s the perfect place to spend a lazy summer exploring. Which is how Eric and his teenage friends discover the curious cache of discarded objects stowed in a hidden room of Pinecrest’s carriage house. The bladeless hacksaws, shadeless lamps, tables with missing legs, headless axe handle, and other unremarkable items add up to a pile of junk. Yet someone took the trouble to inventory each worthless relic in a cryptic ledger. It has all the makings of a great mystery–whispering, coaxing, demanding to be solved.

But the more the boys devote themselves to restoring the forgotten possessions and piecing together the puzzle behind them, the more their fascination deepens into obsession. Soon their days are consumed with tending the strange, secret collection–while their nights become plagued by ever more ghastly dreams, nightmares that soon seep into reality. And when a horrifying discovery surfaces, so does the chilling truth–about the terrifying events that rocked the town seven years before, the mysterious disappearance of Pinecrest’s last resident, and a twisted legacy with a malevolent life of its own . . . and a bottomless hunger for new victims.

My Thoughts:
This is a reread for me but several years have past since I read it the first time. I discovered John Saul's books almost forty years ago and eagerly read every book he wrote from that time on. It's more than just a horror story. It's seemingly impossible things happening to real families that could be your next door neighbors...your friends... or Heaven forbid...even your own family.

The plot is not especially unique...at least not to ghost story and horror story regulars but there are plenty of twists and turns. Overall just good creepy fun along the way as John Saul is famous for his creepy things happening to ordinary people type of writing. If you like that type of book then this authors writings will never disappoint.

>24 Carol420: I've only got up to book 4 - 2 in 2015 and 2 in 2016!

>27 Andrew-theQM: Keep plugging, Andrew. You may not ever catch up but you'll have a great time trying.

>28 Carol420: At this rate with the speed that he is writing and them and speed I am reading them at I should have read them all by about 2031!

Tea Time for the Traditionally Built by Alexander McCall Smith
#10 in the No.1 Ladies Detective Agency
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A very entertaining book in this cozy and comfortable series. These books are so easy going that you can't help enjoying them, it is like being back with long lost friends. The main mystery in this one is very light revolving around why a football team is always losing and whether there is a traitor in amongst the team. The mysteries in these books are almost secondary to life in Botswana as told by Mma Ramotswe. This book is worth reading alone for the reaction she had to her dying little van. Can't wait to be back with the characters in the next book.

Turning Angel by Greg Iles - 4.5 stars
Book Description
After winning the most dangerous case of his career, prosecutor Penn Cage decides to remain in his Southern hometown to raise his young daughter in a safe haven. But nowhere is truly safe―not from long-buried secrets, or murder.… When the nude body of prep school student Kate Townsend is found near the Mississippi River, Penn’s best friend, Drew Elliott, is desperate for his counsel. An esteemed family physician, Drew makes a shocking confession that could put him on death row. Penn will do all he can to exonerate Drew, but in a town where the gaze of a landmark cemetery statue―the Turning Angel―never looks away, Penn finds himself caught on the jagged edge of blackmail, betrayal, and deadly violence.

My Review
This is a story that will grab your attention right from the start. It was hard to put down and the plot had many twists and turns. The ending was a surprise that I didn't see coming. The subject matter was disturbing but the characters are very realistic. I loved the setting of the book - the South in Natchez Mississippi, a historic civil war city. I now look forward to reading the 3rd book of the Penn Cage series and highly recommend this author to those who love page-turning mystery novels.

Long Lost by Harlan Coben - 4 stars
Book Description
Myron Bolitar hasn’t heard from Terese Collins since their torrid affair ended ten years ago, so her desperate phone call from Paris catches him completely off guard. In a shattering admission, Terese reveals the tragic story behind her disappearance―her struggles to get pregnant, the greatest moment of her life when her baby was born…and the fatal accident that robbed her of it all: her marriage, her happiness, and her beloved only daughter.

Now a suspect in the murder of her ex-husband in Paris, Terese has nowhere else to turn for help. Myron heeds the call. But then a startling piece of evidence turns the entire case upside down, laying bare Terese’s long-buried family secrets…and the very real possibility that her daughter may still be alive.

In grave danger from unknown assailants in a country where nothing is as it seems, Myron and Terese race to stay a step ahead of Homeland Security, Interpol, and Mossad. Soon they are working at breakneck pace not only to learn what really happened to Terese’s long-lost little girl―but to uncover a sinister plot with shocking global implications.

My Review
This book was more action-packed than other Myron Bolitar books, and it also took place in Europe. The pacing was fast and furious resulting in a hard-to-put-down read. Coben definitely makes you laugh out loud with Myron and Win's antics and as usual he keeps you wondering how it will end. I now looking forward to reading the next book in the Bolitar series and highly recommend Coben's books to those who love stories that are fast-paced with unexpected twists.

Celt and Pepper by Ralph McInerny
1 ⭐️

Too many characters with too many in depth conversations concerning university/educational politics for my taste. I didn't warm up to any of the characters. I didn't care about the murder, the budding love interests, the intrigue of grad students and the acedemic pipeline of gossip. Dialogue driven and a complete yawner. I only made it to page 69 before I gave up on it. How on earth can a book be so lackluster?

Those We Left Behind by Stuart Neville
Serena Flanagan series Book #1
3.5★'s

From The Book:
Ciaran Devine, who made Belfast headlines seven years ago as the “schoolboy killer,” is about to walk free. At the age of twelve, he confessed to the brutal murder of his foster father; his testimony mitigated the sentence of his older brother, Thomas, who was also found at the crime scene, covered in blood. But DCI Serena Flanagan, the only officer who could convince a young, frightened Ciaran to speak, has silently harbored doubts about his confession all this time.

Ciaran’s release means several things: a long-anticipated reunion with Thomas, who still wields a dangerous influence over his younger brother; the call-to-action of a man bent on revenge for his father’s death; and major trouble for Ciaran’s assigned probation officer. Meanwhile, Serena Flanagan has just returned to the force from her battle with breast cancer, only to endure the pitying looks of her coworkers and a mountain of open case files. She will soon discover that even closed cases can unleash terror on the streets of Belfast.

My Thoughts:
Not a bad book or a bad story plot but not much investigation taking place since that was pretty much done years ago. Anyone that reads this type of book figured out what had actually happened and who had done it shortly after the first few chapters. Still a fairly well done story when you consider that there was constant going back and forth from seven years ago to the present.

The story dealt with a topic that every cop wants to believe is impossible...children that kill. This not only dealt with that subject but also with children who convincingly lie and makes finding the truth a thankless job. I can't say that I particularly developed any like or dislike for DCI Serena Flanagan. More development may take place in later books but at this time she seems rather bland and not particularly interesting. Not a bad effort for a first book so I'll give it 3.5 stars.

Schedule for Group Read of The Moth Catcher by Ann Cleeves, Book 7 in the Vera Stanhope Series.

Friday 9th December : Chapters 1 to 9
Saturday 10th December : Chapters 10 to 18
Sunday 11th December : Chapters 19 to 27
Monday 12th December : Chapters 28 to 35
Tuesday 13th December : Chapters 36 to 47

The Good Cop by Brad Parks
4★'s

From The Book:
As long as Newark Eagle-Examiner reporter Carter Ross turns in his stories on deadline, no one bats an eye if he doesn't wander into the newsroom until 10 or 11 in the morning. So it's an unpleasant surprise when he's awakened at 8:38 a.m. by a phone call from his boss, telling him a local policeman was killed and to get the story. Shaking himself awake, Carter heads off to interview the cop's widow. And then he gets another call: the story's off, the cop committed suicide.

But Carter can't understand why a man with a job he loved, a beautiful wife, and plans to take his adorable children to Disney World would suddenly kill himself. And when Carter's attempts to learn more are repeatedly blocked, it's clear someone knows more than he's saying about the cop's death. The question is, who? And what does he have to hide? Carter, with his usual single-minded devotion to a good story―and to the memory of a Newark policeman―will do whatever it takes to uncover the truth.

My Thoughts:
A good story with a believable plot and characters that even though they are not especially over-the -top exciting...they are people you can like and feel some empathy for. Carter Ross has a real sense of humor which is evident through out the story. The widow is a strong willed woman...maybe a bit too strong for having just lost her husband and finding herself alone with a 7 year old and a 5 month old...but never the less she adds a lot to the story. Her pastor however is straight out of the "make me rich at any cost" camp. I don't see how people fall for this dribble. The widow is absolutely certain that her cop husband was murdered and not a suicide as almost the entire police department wants her to believe. Carter Ross is also convinced that there is much more going on than is being said. Who will profit the most from this is just one of the questions he finds himself facing to try and find justice for this "Good Cop".

>36 Carol420: Not an author I know!

Hex on the Beach by Gina Lamanna
3 ⭐️s

A bit of a light silly book with absolutely no depth in characterization, plot or setting description. Lilly Locke is an only child raised by a single father, her mother is mysteriously absent. She is in her late 20's and is fired from a marketing firm in the Twin Cities, due to a mishap not of her making. Two mysterious, heretofore unknown, Aunts stop at a bar where Lily was drowning her sorrows. Lily loves to make mixed drinks at the bar just for fun. Through a bit of magic Lily is whisked to The Isle, a magical island in the middle of Lake Superior, home of her Aunts. Upon arrival Lily learns that she is a witch and soon to be Mixologist, maker of potions, for the magical inhabitants. A male dies soon after Lily makes a tonic for his stomach troubles. All eyes are cast upon Lily. The plot and everything else about this book is very very thin. It is a setup for a series of books. I probably will read more in hopes that things become a bit more fleshed out.

>37 Andrew-theQM: I knew of him but had never read anything that he wrote.

Not a mystery and Suspense book but thought I'd still leave a review here as it is still a real life mystery as to whether George Mallory did get to the Summit of Everest in 1924.

Paths of Glory by Jeffrey Archer
Standalone
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is a very enjoyable telling of George Mallory's story. Throughout it all you are left with a sad feeling knowing that the outcome of his last attempt to conquer Mount Everest would be his death (his body was finally found in 1999). This is a work of fiction based on a lot of historical facts, but obviously no one knows if he did actually conquer Everest - I won't leave a spoiler by revealing whether or not he gets to the Summit in this book. Something in me though says I believe he did make it to the summit. Whatever is the truth there is no doubting what a remarkable man George Mallory was. This book left me wanting to read more about George Mallory. A very interesting element of the story was the whole discussion of an amateur expedition as opposed to a professional one, and whether they should use oxygen in their pursuit. One is left wondering whether Mallory would have survived if George Finch (father of the actor Peter Finch) had been on this last expedition and hadn't fallen out with the Royal Geographical Society.

I would certainly recommend this book which is a light easy read!

That Darkness by Lisa Black
A Gardiner & Renner novel
4★'s

From The Book:
Lisa Black draws from her experience as a forensic investigator to create two of the most fascinating characters in crime fiction: a killer with a unique sense of justice and a woman in a lifelong relationship with death.

My Thoughts:
This book certainly takes a 360 degree turn with the killer's identification. It took another 360 degree turn at the end. I don't think I have ever seen this in any of the thousands of books I have read over the years. I had to go back and reread the first few chapters to make sure I was reading it right and hadn't missed something along the way. Very clever turn of events Ms. Black.

I won't say anything else...you'll just have to read it for yourself and be prepared to be amaze

Blacklight Blue by Peter May - 5 stars
Book Description
Enzo MacLeod, a Scot teaching on a faculty at Cahors in southwest France, confidently bet that he could use his expertise to crack seven notorious murders described in a book on cold cases by Parisian journalist Roger Raffin. Enzo has in fact solved the first two crimes.

But the third is far from his mind right now: he's just been diagnosed with a terminal illness, and he's become the victim of someone who seems intent on destroying his credit and his relationships--and getting him arrested for murder. This is one instance where his Scottish stubbornness might pay off.

Having established a safe house to protect his loved ones, besieged now as it were, he sets to work. Are his personal woes somehow connected to the digging he's done into the brutal murder of a rent boy in a Paris apartment sixteen years ago, as Raffin has described? What further remnants of evidence can he review--and can he stay alive long enough to catch the long-hidden killer? This is the third installment in the Enzo MacLeod series.

My Review
Peter May's writing is always so descriptive and makes you feel as if you are right there in France or Spain along with his characters. In this book, Enzo is busy trying to solve the unsolved crime of a brutal murder in Paris 16 years ago from Roger Rafin's book. The twists and turns in this novel keep you riveted to the book right to the very surprising ending. The characters are very believable and Peter May excellently switches from the past to the present expertly with great ease. I look forward to the next book in the series and highly recommend this series to those who love mystery books with lots of intrigue.

Eggnog Murder by Leslie Meier
3 1/2 ⭐️s

I'm not usually a short story reader, but these were fun. The first was a Lucy Stone story. It mixed a Santa beard club with Veterans , PTSD and alive triangle. I found it rather dry and preachy. Not to my liking. The second story by Lee Hollis also took place in Maine, featuring Hayley Powell. A cute story with. Scrooge-like town librarian who is allergic to eggnog. The final story by Barbara Ross, was my favorite. Julia Snowden was moving from NYC back to her hometown in Maine. She rather unwittingly invites the subtenant of her apartment to share the holidays with her family in Maine. Murder and mayhem ensue. I might check into reading this last series, as I enjoyed the character of Julia. All in all a cute quick holiday read.

The Man Who Went Up in Smoke by Maj Sjowall and Per Wahloo
2.5 stars

from my library's catalog: Martin Beck's holiday has just begun with his family on a small island off the coast of Sweden. But when a neighbor gets a phone call, Martin Beck finds himself packed off to Budapest, where a boorish journalist has vanished without a trace. Instead of passing leisurely sun-filled days with his children, Beck must troll about in the Eastern Europe underworld for a man nobody knows.

my thoughts: I'm starting to get used to the audio narration on this series, but I wish I could read the print versions. I really think I'd like them better. A lot was lost in translation for me in this book in the series, and it was important stuff apparently. I understood the ending of the story and the wrap up, but I have no earthly clue how Martin Beck ended up at the killer's house. I mean, what made the light bulb go on and say, "That's who did it!" But, I still like the characters of Martin Beck and his cohorts in the Swedish police department so I'll try again.

The Moth Catcher by Ann Cleeves - 4.5 stars
Book Description
Life seems perfect in the quiet community of Valley Farm. Then a shocking discovery shatters the silence. The owners of a big country house have employed a house-sitter, a young ecologist, to look after the place while they’re away. But his dead body is found by the side of the lane―a lonely place to die.

When DI Vera Stanhope arrives on the scene, she finds the body of a second man. What the two victims seem to have in common is a fascination with studying moths―and with catching these beautiful, intriguing creatures.

The others who live in Valley Farm have secrets too: Lorraine’s calm demeanor belies a more complex personality; Annie and Sam’s daughter, Lizzie, is due to be released from prison; and Nigel watches, silently, every day, from his window. As Vera is drawn into the claustrophobic world of this increasingly strange community, she realizes that there may be many deadly secrets trapped there . . .

My Review
Another great Ann Cleeves read! I look forward to reading one of her Vera Stanhope mysteries but you already know from the beginning that you will never solve the murder until the reveal at the end. I've read that Ann Cleeves writes her books without knowing who the murderer will be either so that makes me feel better. Practically every character ends up as suspects but Vera has a way of putting things together and she cleverly knows before the reveal. All of Ann's characters are well-developed and the plots have many twists and turns and keeps everyone guessing throughout. I look forward to the next installment which won't be released until 2017 and I highly recommend this series for those who love British mysteries with lots of intrigue.

The Moth Catcher by Ann Cleeves
Vera Stanhope series Book #7
4★'s

From The Book:
Life seems perfect in the quiet community of Valley Farm. Then a shocking discovery shatters the silence. The owners of a big country house have employed a house-sitter, a young ecologist, to look after the place while they’re away. But his dead body is found by the side of the lane―a lonely place to die.

When DI Vera Stanhope arrives on the scene, she finds the body of a second man. What the two victims seem to have in common is a fascination with studying moths―and with catching these beautiful, intriguing creatures.

The others who live in Valley Farm have secrets too: Lorraine’s calm demeanor belies a more complex personality; Annie and Sam’s daughter, Lizzie, is due to be released from prison; and Nigel watches, silently, every day, from his window. As Vera is drawn into the claustrophobic world of this increasingly strange community, she realizes that there may be many deadly secrets trapped there .

My Thoughts:
You can't be in a hurry when indulging yourself in an Ann Cleeves book. This is a writer that keeps many "secrets" close and only throws them out occasionally. Separating the facts from the red herrings does require the expertise of one such as DI Vera Stanhope. Lucky for the reader that she always shows up.

The title of this book, The Moth Catcher can be interpenetrated to indicate the trap itself or the one catching in the trap. Throughout this book the reader will feel "caught". In her usual manner Vera Stanhope cleverly works her way through the many entanglements and like the Mounties..."gets her man".

It was an enjoyable read and the only problem I had with the book was the complete lack of enough information to let the reader figure out who the killer was. This is evident in most of Ann Cleeve's books. One thing that she is excellent at is "layering" each of her characters so that the reader has a multitude of suspects to choose from. I had to give this one 4 stars because I just happened to pick the correct suspect. This was accomplished through no talent of my own...just blind good luck.

>46 Carol420: By the process of elimination you have to be lucky at some point. There was no way you could have worked the killer out on this one. I don't like how information we have never been told is suddenly revealed in the reveal section. Don't get me wrong these are very enjoyable reads but as crime books this information should not be revealed AFTER the killer has been revealed. So therefore that means the best I can give this book is 4 stars.

The Moth Catcher by Ann Cleeves
#7 in the Vera Stanhope Series
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is an overall excellent series, and this is another very good helping in that series. I do like Ann's books but I do wish she would give you a little more chance to work out who the killer is. In this one I felt even more was hidden until after we found out who the killer was than in other books in the series - hence only giving it four stars. I do like the locations of the books, they also have an intriguing set of characters. The plotting and storyline was good overall, and with just a few more details spread throughout the book this could have easily been a five star rating. I do recommend this series despite this for anyone that likes high quality crime fiction.

All The Colors of Darkness by Peter Robinson
Alan Banks series Book #18
4 ★'s

From The Book:
In a world of terror and uncertainty, what does one small death matter?

The body hanging from a tree in a peaceful wood appears to Detective Inspector Annie Cabbot to be a suicide. Further investigation into the sad demise of Mark Hardcastle, the set designer for the local amateur theater company, leads to the corpse of Mark's older, wealthier lover, brutally bludgeoned to death.

Suddenly the case demands the attention of Chief Inspector Alan Banks, called back from his vacation even though nothing suggests this wasn't a crime of passion followed by remorse and self-destruction. But machinations within the shadow world of secret government only add to the colors of darkness already shading this troubling affair. And a stubborn policeman who will not be frightened away could lose everything in one terrifying, explosive instant.

My Thoughts:
This book draws on elements of espionage and Cold War treachery, yet it is another solid installment in the Inspector Alan Banks series.

Boys playing in the woods find a body hanging from one of the trees. Alan Banks is away with playing house with his much younger girl friend, Sophie... so Annie Cabot is own her own until she is ordered to call Banks and bring him back. It looks like a domestic quarrel where one partner bludgeoned the other and then hanged himself in grief so Annie thinks she hardly needed assistance with this case. Banks returns and all of a sudden no one wants the case investigated...they want it closed. Of course that raises red flags to Alan and Annie who continue to investigate on their own.

There are many subplots to the main story and investigation, so at times, the whole thing becomes confusing...and in the end it still leaves you wondering if any of the motives for the murder were ever really believable. There are personal developments with our main detective that fans of the series will want to see but I have to say I've read better Alan Banks novels.

Strangers on a Train by Patricia Highsmith - 4 Stars

The premise of this classic 1950 noir mystery is that two strangers meet on a train. Both are dissatisfied with someone in their lives. Guy Haines desperately wants to divorce his unfaithful wife and Charles Bruno wants to be rid of his controlling father. Bruno suggests that the should kill Guy's wife, Miriam, and that Guy, in return, should murder his father. Because they are strangers and have never been linked to one another means that they will be able to get away with murder.

Even though Guy declines the plan, Bruno decides to kill Miriam while Guy is away in Mexico. Guy begins to suspect Bruno is Miriam's murderer and tries to avoid him. Bruno hounds Guy, even making an uninvited appearance at Guy's wedding. After Bruno starts writing anonymous letters to Guy's friends and colleagues, the pressure becomes too much for Guy and he eventually murders Bruno's father.

This novel is a literary classic and an amazing psychological thriller. It's incredible that this was the author's first novel. It's well written and the plot was very original at the time it was written in 1950. Alfred Hitchcock turned it into a wonderful movie but the book provides so much more depth and tension. If you enjoy noir mysteries and haven't read Strangers on a Train, you definitely should find a copy of this tense and gripping story.

This had several mystery/suspense elements so I'm including it here. It's a book I'm still thinking about five days after reading it.

Underground Airlines by Ben Winters - 4.5 Stars

The author has imagined a United States in which the Civil War never occurred and four Southern states continue to support the ownership of human beings, or “Persons Bound to Labor.” Abraham Lincoln was assassinated before he had the chance to serve as president. Japanese cars are difficult to obtain because Japan, like the developed nations of Europe, has imposed sanctions on the United States in order to pressure the remaining slave states, known as the Hard Four, to abolish slavery.

Victor works for the U.S. Marshals, specifically for Mr. Bridge, a man he has never met but only communicates with on the phone. He tracks down runaway slaves and has already found and returned 209 escapees. He can easily go into areas where escapees might be hiding because he is black himself, and an escaped slave. Currently he's in pursuit of an escapee named Jackdaw, who was enslaved in a textile plantation in Alabama owned by a vast corporation called Garments of the Greater South, Inc.

This book is essentially a thriller, and Victor is a detective in a classic noir approach. He's damaged, extremely good at his job, and torn between following orders and doing the right thing. The story often strains credibility, but it is always fascinating. I would recommend it to anyone interested in alternative history/dystopian fiction or to anyone interested in a good thriller. I listened to the audio version, narrated by William DeMeritt, who did a fantastic job.

>51 Olivermagnus: Always a good sign if thinking about it 5 days after reading it. It was the same for me after reading Paths of Glory.

Beyond Reach by Karin Slaughter - 4.5 Stars

Beyond Reach is the sixth book in the Grant County series. It begins with one of the most self destructive characters ever conceived, Lena Adams, once again in some sort of trouble she's made for herself. She's found, sitting by the bleachers of her former high school, near a smoldering van with the burned remains of an unknown victim. She's been badly beaten but refuses to say a word. She's immediately arrested and taken to the hospital. The local sheriff calls her boss, Police Chief Jeffrey Tolliver, and he and his wife Sara Linton come running. After they show up at the hospital, Lena tricks Sara into helping her escape police custody.

The story then changes to a dual narrative where we follow Sara and Jeffrey in present time, while going back three days with Lena, where she chronicles the events that led up to her arrest. For the first time in this six book series, we get to hear much more about Lena and some shocking revelations about her troublesome past.

I have been completely captivated by the Grant County series, as well as the newer Will Trent series, and have been listening to the audio versions for the past four months. The pacing of the plot and narrative is mesmerizing. The author has a talent for exposing humanity’s very dark side. I'm going to miss these characters, even Lena, after spending so much time with them this year. If you are a fan of the series, you absolutely cannot miss this book.

Betrayal in Death by J. D. Robb - 4.5 Stars

This is the twelfth book in J. D. Robb's popular “In Death” series. It begins with Eve and her husband, the wealthy and handsome Roarke, hosting a party at one of Roarke's hotels. During the party, one of the hotel maids is found brutally murdered. The next day, a friend and colleague of Roarke's is found murdered too, and Eve begins to think an assassin is after her husband.

Soon the FBI is trying to take over her case, but the reader knows there is no way Eve will put Roarke's life in danger by not finding the killer herself. She soon discovers the assassin is Sly Yost, and he's a master of disguise. Finding him will be almost impossible. Adding to Eve's stress is the sudden appearance of Mick Connelly, an old friend from Roarke's shady past.

This was one of my favorite books in the series. The Sly Yost character was very well written, and the secondary characters, especially Peabody and McNab, are always interesting. Roarke and Eve have a great relationship and in this book we see a bit of Eve's softer side. Each book deepens the relationship between Roarke and Eve, which I think is one a fiction's great romances, and I'm not even a fan of romances. I'm a novice to the series, currently at 44 books, but I'm going to make it a priority next year to read many more.

>54 Olivermagnus: I love this series...especially Peabody and McNab. What a pair! That hunky Irishman isn't bad either:) Jonetta has a group devoted to this series on Goodreads. I belonged to it when it was on Shelfari but haven't joined it on Goodreads. With it being the only thing it's devoted to there isn't much happening on it after the new book is out.

>55 Carol420: - I always enjoy them when I pick one up and wonder why I don't read them more often. So many books.......

Schedule for Group Read of The Venetian Betrayal by Steve Berry.
#3 in the Cotton Malone Series.

Saturday 17th December : Prologue and 1 to 17
Sunday 18th December : 18 to 32
Monday 19th December : 33 to 48
Tuesday 20th December : 49 to 62
Wednesday 21st December : 63 to 79
Thursday 22nd December : 80 to 95

Miss Dimple Rallies to the Cause by Mignon F. Ballard
3★'s

From the Book:
life in small-town America during World War II springs vividly to life as schoolteacher Miss Dimple and her fellow townspeople battle valiantly against worry, rationing, and crime at home as well as abroad.

It's September 1943, and the town of Elderberry, Georgia, including their beloved first-grade teacher, Miss Dimple Kilpatrick, has exciting plans for the Bond Rally to support the troops fighting the war abroad. Miss Dimple's friend, Virginia Balliew, has agreed to chair the big event, with the help of Buddy Oglesby. But when children discover a skeleton at the edge of a field, and Buddy disappears along with the war bond money, it's clear that something is amiss in the little town; and Miss Dimple, along with her fellow teachers, is soon on the case.

My Thoughts:
First I need to say that "Cozy" Mysteries are NOT my cuppa tea...at all. I read this one for two reasons...my mother loves "Miss Dimple" and it was for a sub-genre challenge on another group.

I guess I just don't get how these non-professionals without any training that would even classify them as private investigators, can insert themselves into crime solving situations...and manage to not only catch the bad-guy but live to tell the story. Not just once, mind you, but through 20 or more books.

It does have some historical value however. A small Georgia town during WWII is the setting and Miss Dimple, the heroine is a teacher. Soon she is joined by some fellow teachers and several locals. She's not very grateful for the extra help as she considers them to be in the way. I wondered how the local police viewed her. Even though I will never go out of my way to read this genre I do have to say that Mignon Ballard has managed to produce a pretty good period piece and will appeal to those that 1. love this slant on history and 2. don't care for lots of blood, guts and violence in their reading.

The Fifth Petal by Brunonia Barry - 4.5 stars
Book Description
When a teenage boy dies suspiciously on Halloween night, Salem's chief of police, John Rafferty, now married to gifted lace reader Towner Whitney, wonders if there is a connection between his death and Salem's most notorious cold case, a triple homicide dubbed "The Goddess Murders," in which three young women, all descended from accused Salem witches, were slashed on Halloween night in 1989. He finds unexpected help in Callie Cahill, the daughter of one of the victims newly returned to town. Neither believes that the main suspect, Rose Whelan, respected local historian, is guilty of murder or witchcraft.

But exonerating Rose might mean crossing paths with a dangerous force. Were the women victims of an all-too-human vengeance, or was the devil raised in Salem that night? And if they cannot discover what truly happened, will evil rise again?

This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.
I enjoyed reading this novel very much for two reasons: 1. I've read The Lace Reader and 2. I've been to Salem Massachusetts and always liked the area and the rich history of the witch trails that I first learned about by reading Nathanial Hawthorne's novel, The House of Seven Gables. The author, Brunonia Barry, does an excellent job of switching between the three time periods of 1692, the Salem witch trial period, Halloween night 1989, "The Goddess Murders" when three young descendants of accused Salem witches from 1692 were slashed and murdered, and Halloween 2014 in Salem where this story takes place. The book is full with information about mythology, Celtic paganism, sound therapy, visions, intuition, and lots of research which makes for an interesting read if you like those subject matters. The characters were well-developed and the plot was intriguing. I look forward to reading the author's other book, The Map of True Places, and I highly recommend this book to those who like reading about the Salem witch trails.

In The Cold, Cold Ground by Stuart MacBride
Logan McRae series Book #10
4★'s

From The Book:
Trouble is coming…Sergeant Logan McRae’s team find a body dumped in the woods – but is it the missing businessman they’ve been searching for, or something far more sinister? It doesn’t help that his ex-boss is taking over the case, a new Superintendent has it in for him, and Professional Standards are looming.

Even worse: Aberdeen’s criminal overlord, Wee Hamish Mowat, is dying and rival gangs all over the UK are eyeing his territory. There’s a war brewing and Logan’s trapped right in the middle, whether he likes it or not.

My Thoughts:
Stuart MacBride is one of my many favorite authors and Logan McRae is one of my many favorite series. Usually the series and the book would rate much higher with me than a mere 4 stars...but this book was on again-off again with me. Logan has always had problems with his boss, Chief Inspector Steel...but she is really over the top with undeserved attitude in this one. It became boring reading the back and forth bickering between not only her and Logan but the entire team. The story started off with an unidentified body that Logan and his team were investigating and that was interesting but then the story just went off in so many different directions that it lost the entire story line. Whenever it would pick up again with the investigation... I would begin to think that it had hope of being the great stories that this series has always been. A little more than half the book was very good and for that it gets the 4 stars. Better luck with the next one.

Behind Closed Doors by B A Paris
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is a very difficult book to review as a result of the theme of the book. It is very strongly psychological and emitted very strong emotive reactions from me so in this sense it was a successful book. It was just a very uncomfortable read as a result of this and I wanted what could only be described as Grace's torture to come to an end and for Jack to get his just desserts! What an evil and calculating man Jack was and how successful was he at being seen as the exact opposite. That makes this book very frightening in the extreme and you do wonder how much of this really goes on in real life. The book was well written, in fact sometimes too well written and this made it uncomfortable to listen to, perhaps it might have been better as a physical book! I like the ending and there was a good twist at the very end, really enjoyed the character of Millie, Grace's sister, who has Down's Syndrome and saw through Jack. This could have well been a five star read given the reactions it caused in me but the very difficult subject matter of psychological abuse and imprisonment cannot allow me to rate it any higher than four stars.

>61 Andrew-theQM: I totally agree with your review. I read page after page just waiting for her to kill him..or for anyone to kill him for that matter. I wonder how many times something like this is really going on behind closed doors.

>62 Carol420: He got off too lightly in the end! Horrific to think this goes on!

Birds of a Feather by Jacqueline Winspear
#2 in the Maisie Dobbs Series
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is a very good second outing for Maisie Dobbs. There is a much bigger mystery element than in the first book, where a lot of space is taken up on telling Maisie's back story. This book does give a good feel for life after the First World War, and the ramifications this still had. The murders that form the core of the book have their cause rooted in events that happened during the war. Maisie still comes off as quite aloof in this book, but there is evidence as the book progresses of her thawing out and being ready to move on with her life. It will be interesting to see how that develops in the next few books in the series. If you enjoy historical mysteries I would certainly recommend this series.

If Books Could Kill by Kate Carlisle
Bibliophile Mystery series Book #2
3.5★'s

From The Book:
Murder is easy-on paper. Book restoration expert Brooklyn Wainwright is attending the world- renowned Book Fair when her ex Kyle shows up with a bombshell. He has an original copy of a scandalous text that could change history-and humiliate the beloved British monarchy.

When Kyle turns up dead, the police are convinced Brooklyn's the culprit. But with an entire convention of suspects, Brooklyn's conducting her own investigation to find out if the motive for murder was a 200-year-old secret-or something much more personal.

My Thoughts:
In spite of my continued avoidance of the cozy mystery genre I found that I did rather enjoy this one. Again I have to confess if it had not been for the sub-genre challenge on the Mystery & Suspense Extra group on LibraryThing I would never have picked the book up and would have missed this well written mystery that is populated with lots of devious suspects, daunting detectives, and a few humerus Scots. I even learned some very interesting information about book restoration.

Shadow of the Hangman by Edward Marston
#1 in the Bow Street Rivals Series
⭐⭐⭐⭐

This was a good introduction to the series, and especially the Skilleen brothers - Peter and Paul. This book gives quite a nice flavour of the period at the end of the Battle of Waterloo. It also shows the underlying repercussions following this war and also the American War of 1812, with a connection to both these events. A rather convoluted assassination attempt is in the making and the Skilleen brothers set about trying to prevent the outcome, aided or rather at times hindered by their fierce rivals, the Bow Street Runners. It was a very enjoyable, light and quick read that held my attention throughout. I will look to continue the series although likely to leave a gap between each one.

Live Wire by Harlan Coben - 4.5 stars
Book Description
When Myron Bolitar gets involved in the family drama of his former tennis star client and her rock star husband, he discovers secrets about his own family, specifically his brother, who abandoned the Bolitars long ago. As Myron races to locate his missing brother while their father clings to life, he must face the lies that led to their estrangement-including the ones told by Myron himself.

My Review
This book revealed a lot about Myron's past, his brother and sister-in-law and nephew, Mickey, and has a feeling of the series coming to an end. But, we now know that after 4-1/2 years we have another Myron Bolitar novel to look forward to by the name of Home. I would be truly sad if I knew for sure that Live Wire was the last book as I have really enjoyed the ride with Myron and friends. I love the humor in Coben's books and the plot twists keep you turning the pages until the very last page. This one is a definite must read as you learn things about Myron that you never knew before. I am really looking forward to reading the next book in the series and honestly hope it's not the last one for sure!

Venetian Betrayal by Steve Berry - 4.5 stars
Book Description
In 323 B.C.E, having conquered Persia, Alexander the Great set his sights on Arabia, then suddenly succumbed to a strange fever. Locating his final resting place–unknown to this day–remains a tantalizing goal for both archaeologists and treasure hunters. Now the quest for this coveted prize is about to heat up. And Cotton Malone–former U.S. Justice Department agent turned rare-book dealer–will be drawn into an intense geopolitical chess game.

After narrowly escaping incineration in a devastating fire that consumes a Danish museum, Cotton learns from his friend, the beguiling adventurer Cassiopeia Vitt, that the blaze was neither an accident nor an isolated incident. As part of campaign of arson intended to mask a far more diabolical design, buildings across Europe are being devoured by infernos of unnatural strength.

And from the ashes of the U.S.S.R., a new nation has arisen: Former Soviet republics have consolidated into the Central Asian Federation. At its helm is Supreme Minister Irina Zovastina, a cunning despot with a talent for politics, a taste for blood sport, and the single-minded desire to surpass Alexander the Great as history’s ultimate conqueror.
Backed by a secret cabal of powerbrokers, the Federation has amassed a harrowing arsenal of biological weapons. Equipped with the hellish power to decimate other nations at will, only one thing keeps Zovastina from setting in motion her death march of domination: a miraculous healing serum, kept secret by an ancient puzzle and buried with the mummified remains of Alexander the Great–in a tomb lost to the ages for more than 1,500 years.

Together, Cotton and Cassiopeia must outrun and outthink the forces allied against them. Their perilous quest will take them to the shores of Denmark, deep into the venerated monuments of Venice, and finally high inside the desolate Pamir mountains of Central Asia to unravel a riddle whose solution could destroy or save millions of people–depending on who finds the lost tomb first.

My Review
I loved learning about Alexander the Great and enjoyed Berry's writing and research. I found Irina Zovastina a fascinating character even though she was so wicked. It helps if you read the first two books of the series so you will be a bit familiar with the major characters but it's not too difficult of a read if you haven't read the other books as character descriptions reveal some of things that happened in the past. There are plenty of riddles to solve and lots of adventure which holds your interest until the very end. I can't wait to read the next book in the series and continue the adventures with Cotton Malone, Stephanie, Thorvaldsen and Cassiopeia. If you love history with your adventure reads, you will definitely enjoy this series.

Group Read of Seeking the Dead by Kate Ellis, book 1 in the Detective Inpsector Joe Plantagenet Series.

Monday 26th December : Chapter One to Chapter Four
Tuesday 27th December : Chapter Five to Chapter Nine
Wednesday 28th December : Chapter Ten to Chapter Chapter Thirteen
Thursday 29th December : Chapter Fourteen to Chapter Chapter Seventeen
Friday 30th December : Chapter Eighteen to Chapter Twenty-Two

Some sections are shorter / longer than others due to the length of chapters, but much shorter sections than we normally have.

The Venetian Betrayal by Steve Berry
#3 in the Cotton Malone Series
⭐⭐⭐⭐

I thoroughly enjoyed the feel of this book, and as usual Steve Berry's writing style. The book is centred around Alexander the Great's history, and particularly his death and the location of his body - this was a very interesting facet of the book and left me wanting to find more out about Alexander. Within the modern day context we have Irina Zovastina, Supreme Minster of the Central Asian Federation, who has dreams of Empire Building. What can this have to do with Alexander's body and the chemists Irina has working for her? Amongst all this mix we have Cotton Malone and Henrik Thorvaldsen helping Cassiopeia avenge the death of her friend and treasure hunters searching for medallions and destroying museums by fire as they go.

This is quite an epic adventure taking place across Europe and Asia, with sub-plots aplenty. It does keep you wanting to read on and find out what the next twist is, and there are plenty. I have to say Steve Berry pulled out a few surprises on this one that I didn't see coming. It was also good to have a book where us mere mortal readers had a chance of solving the clues, it always gets you more involved in the book. I really enjoyed this book and the only thing that let it down for me was a few inconsistencies in a couple of the characters, and the ending which I felt stretched credibility a bit too much. That said though I can't wait to launch onto the next book in the series as I do love Steve Berry's writing, plotting and the incorporation of historical facts within the book.

>71 EadieB:
I can't wait to read the next one as I want to find out more about Cassiopeia and Cotton.

>72 Andrew-theQM: Me either and the good news is we still have another 8 to get to (with a ninth published next year).

>73 EadieB:
That's great news!

Faithless by Karin Slaughter
#5 in the Grant County Series
⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2

This was a very enjoyable book in the series, and definitely took Sara and Jeffrey's story forward from the last book. There were certainly interesting and challenging times ahead for them in this book as well as for Lena. This book had me captivated and it was most definitely a very interesting murder, with quite some background to it! Although this book isn't for those that suffer from shortness of breath in tunnels or enclosed spaces.

The backstory to the murders was very interesting, although there is a strong religious background to the book and at times it was hard to keep a handle on who the different characters were as there were so many of them. The book had me hooked however and had to keep reading! Quite an interesting end and I am keen to read the last book in the series as it seems to have been set up quite well by this book.

Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris - 4 stars
Book Description
Everyone knows a couple like Jack and Grace. He has looks and wealth; she has charm and elegance. He’s a dedicated attorney who has never lost a case; she is a flawless homemaker, a masterful gardener and cook, and dotes on her disabled younger sister. Though they are still newlyweds, they seem to have it all. You might not want to like them, but you do. You’re hopelessly charmed by the ease and comfort of their home, by the graciousness of the dinner parties they throw. You’d like to get to know Grace better.

But it’s difficult, because you realize Jack and Grace are inseparable.

Some might call this true love. Others might wonder why Grace never answers the phone. Or why she can never meet for coffee, even though she doesn’t work. How she can cook such elaborate meals but remain so slim. Or why she never seems to take anything with her when she leaves the house, not even a pen. Or why there are such high-security metal shutters on all the downstairs windows.

Some might wonder what’s really going on once the dinner party is over, and the front door has closed.

My Review
This is a disturbingly horrid book but one you have keep reading in order to find out what happens. I don't want to say that the characters were believable because I hope nobody lives under these conditions. I suppose the author deserves credit for great writing though if she can make you hate the main character so much. She does a great job switching from the past to the present and I look forward to reading more from this author in the future. I would highly recommend this twisted psychological thriller to those who love books that grip you from the beginning and does not let go until the very last page.

>75 EadieB: Your views on this book were almost identical to mine, rather like watching a train crash and not comfortable reading,

>76 Andrew-theQM:
He was so crazy and scary. Can't believe she lived like that. I would have gotten away sooner but he kept holding her sister over her head. So nasty!

>77 EadieB: He got away too easily in the end!

>78 Andrew-theQM:
He deserved some bloody torture like a slide of razor blades. lol

The Venetian Betrayal by Steve Berry
Cotton Malone series Book # 3
4★'s

From The Book:
n 323 B.C.E, having conquered Persia, Alexander the Great set his sights on Arabia, then suddenly succumbed to a strange fever. Locating his final resting place–unknown to this day–remains a tantalizing goal for both archaeologists and treasure hunters. Now the quest for this coveted prize is about to heat up. And Cotton Malone–former U.S. Justice Department agent turned rare-book dealer–will be drawn into an intense geopolitical chess game.

After narrowly escaping incineration in a devastating fire that consumes a Danish museum, Cotton learns from his friend, the beguiling adventurer Cassiopeia Vitt, that the blaze was neither an accident nor an isolated incident. As part of campaign of arson intended to mask a far more diabolical design, buildings across Europe are being devoured by infernos of unnatural strength.

And from the ashes of the U.S.S.R., a new nation has arisen: Former Soviet republics have consolidated into the Central Asian Federation. At its helm is Supreme Minister Irina Zovastina, a cunning despot with a talent for politics, a taste for blood sport, and the single-minded desire to surpass Alexander the Great as history’s ultimate conqueror.

Backed by a secret cabal of power-brokers, the Federation has amassed a harrowing arsenal of biological weapons. Equipped with the hellish power to decimate other nations at will, only one thing keeps Zovastina from setting in motion her death march of domination: a miraculous healing serum, kept secret by an ancient puzzle and buried with the mummified remains of Alexander the Great–in a tomb lost to the ages for more than 1,500 years.

Together, Cotton and Cassiopeia must outrun and out think the forces allied against them. Their perilous quest will take them to the shores of Denmark, deep into the venerated monuments of Venice, and finally high inside the desolate Pamir mountains of Central Asia to unravel a riddle whose solution could destroy or save millions of people–depending on who finds the lost tomb first.

My Thoughts:
Anyone that is a history fan will surely find that this series is well worth your time to pursue. Steve Berry admits that he does take literary license with some of the facts but for the most part he does well planned research and stays as close to actual historical recollection as the story line allows.

The twists and turns in this book are truly amazing. I will have to confess that following the plot line from one place to another sometimes became truly exhausting. Also there is so much going on that it makes it nearly impossible for the reader to possibly solve the riddle. The characters however are extremely interesting and very diversified in personality. Overall it was a very good read but I believe I was more interested in the previous two books dealing with The Templar treasure and the lost library of Alexandria.

Freeze Frame by Peter May - 4.5 stars
Book Description
A promise made to a dying man leads forensics ace Enzo Macleod, a Scot who's been teaching in France for many years, to the study which the man's heir has preserved for nearly twenty years. The dead man left several clues there designed to reveal the killer's identity to the man's son, but ironically the son died soon after the father. So begins the fourth of seven cold cases written up in a bestselling book by Parisian journalist Roger Raffin that Enzo rashly boasted he could solve (he's been successful with the first three). It takes Enzo to a tiny island off the coast of Brittany in France, where he must confront the hostility of locals who have no desire to see the infamous murder back in the headlines. An attractive widow, a man charged but acquitted of the murder--but still the viable suspect, a crime scene frozen in time, a dangerous hell hole by the cliffs, and a collection of impenetrable messages, make this one of Enzo's most difficult cases.

My Review
This was another great installment in Peter May's Enzo Files. Loved reading about the Ile de Groix off the coast of Brittany, France and Agadir, Morocco. The characters were interesting and the suspects were plenty. Thought I knew who the murderer was only to be surprised with an added twist in the end. The plot was fascinating and with Peter May's descriptive talent you feel like you are right where he is describing. I'm now looking forward to reading the 5th book of the series and highly recommend this series to those who love mystery thrillers.

Seeking The Dead by Kate Ellis - 4.5 stars
Book Description
When Carmel Hennessy begins a new job in North Yorkshire, she finds the historic city of Eborby gripped by fear. A killer is on the prowl - a killer who binds and asphyxiates his victims before leaving their naked bodies in isolated country churchyards. The press are calling him the Resurrection Man.

Tragic events from the past link Carmel with new-kid-on-the-block DI Joe Plantagenet, who, with his new boss, DCI Emily Thwaite, faces the unenviable task of identifying the killer before he claims another victim. The victims appear to have nothing in common but the manner of their deaths, but as Joe's investigations lead him to a pub with a sinister history, he is forced to consider that the case may have occult connections. Then Carmel becomes aware of a malevolent presence in her new flat and, when she starts to receive mysterious threats, it is Joe she turns to first. And that is when Joe is forced to get into the mind of a cunning - and scarily ruthless - killer.

My Review
This was my first Kate Ellis book but it won't be my last. I found her writing to be very enjoyable and I loved her research about the city of York. Sounds like a very unique place to visit in the future. Her characters were very well-drawn and interesting. The plot was good with unexpected twists that kept the pages flying. I will definitely be reading more from this author in the future and highly recommend her books to those who love historical mysteries.

Thursday's Children by Nicci French - 4.5 stars
Book Description
Frieda Klein is uninterested in catching up on old times when her former classmate, Maddie Capel, shows up at her door--until she hears about Maddie's troubled daughter, Becky. The teenager claims she was raped in her own bed one night while her mother was downstairs. Her assailant left her with a warning: "Don't think of telling anyone, sweetheart. Nobody will believe you." And no one does--except Frieda.

Becky's story awakens dark memories of an eerily similar incident in Frieda's own past that she's been avoiding for decades. When Becky is found hanging from a beam in her bedroom, Frieda returns home, seeking out her old high school friends to ask what they remember about the night that prompted Frieda to leave town for good. But confronting the ghosts of the past turns out to be more dangerous than she ever expected.

My Review
This is the 4th Frieda Klein book that I have read and it is the best so far. It was a tough subject matter and a very personal one for Frieda in which we learned a lot about her past. I found it to be a very gripping read with lots of twists and turns. I found the characters to be developed in-depth and the plot suspenseful which held my interest to the very end. I look forward to reading the Friday book which was just published recently. I highly recommend this series to those who love psychological thrillers.

Seeking The Dead by Kate Ellis
Joe Plantagenet Series Book #1
4.5★'s

From The Book:
When Carmel Hennessy begins a new job in North Yorkshire, she finds the historic city of Eborby gripped by fear. A killer is on the prowl - a killer who binds and asphyxiates his victims before leaving their naked bodies in isolated country churchyards. The press are calling him the Resurrection Man.

Tragic events from the past link Carmel with new-kid-on-the-block DI Joe Plantagenet, who, with his new boss, DCI Emily Thwaite, faces the unenviable task of identifying the killer before he claims another victim. The victims appear to have nothing in common but the manner of their deaths, but as Joe's investigations lead him to a pub with a sinister history, he is forced to consider that the case may have occult connections. Then Carmel becomes aware of a malevolent presence in her new flat and, when she starts to receive mysterious threats, it is Joe she turns to first. And that is when Joe is forced to get into the mind of a cunning and scarily ruthless killer.

My Thoughts:
I've been a long time fan of Ellis's Wesley Peterson series and had only read one or two from this one. I do believe that I have enjoyed this series as much or more than the Peterson series....which came as a bit of a surprise to me. The characters seem to have more substance and the plots moves along at a quicker pace. The structure of the plot is interesting and we learn of events from a number of different characters, including the killer. We are taken along parallel paths until events slowly start to merge and the killer is more easily identified. Great series and I would recommend it to all Kate Ellis fans or just someone that enjoys a good who-done-it.

The Chameleon's Shadow by Minette Walters - 4 stars
Book Description
When British lieutenant Charles Acland returns home from Iraq, his serious head injuries are the outward manifestation of a profound inner change: he may be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, or it may be, as his psychiatrist suggests, “the prolonged destruction of a personality.”

Though previously well adjusted and known as an extrovert, Acland now withdraws into himself. As he begins his recovery in a dismal provincial hospital, crippled by migraines and suspicious of his doctors, he grows uncharacteristically aggressive—particularly against women, and most particularly against his ex-fiancée. Finally, rejecting medical advice to undergo cosmetic surgery—opting, instead, to accept his disfigurement—and cutting all ties to his former life, he moves to London. There, alone and unmonitored, he sinks into a quagmire of guilt and paranoia—until an outburst of irrational, vicious anger brings him to the attention of the local police: they are investigating three recent murders, all of them apparently motivated by the kind of extreme rage that Acland has exhibited.

Now under suspicion, Acland is forced to confront the issues behind his desperate existence before it’s too late: Has he always been the duplicitous chameleon that his ex-fiancée accuses him of being? Can he control this newly apparent sinister side of his personality? And why, if he truly hates women, does he in the end seek help from a woman—someone as straightforward and self-disciplined as he is unsure and seemingly out of control—to repair the damage to his mind?

In its timeliness, its psychological complexity, and its unstoppable suspense, The Chameleon’s Shadow is a thriller of the first order.

My Review
Minette Walters is one of the best psychological criminal writers and this book is a great example of that genre. She has a way of getting in to the heads of very disturbing people and is able to show us their capabilities. Acland is a very complex and fascinating character study and Walters has us riveted to this dark story from start to finish. I look forward to reading another of her books and I highly recommend this book to those who enjoy psychological mysteries.

>85 EadieB: This reflects my view and rating for the book.

>86 Andrew-theQM:
It was very interesting!

Love You Dead by Peter James
Roy Grace series Book #12
5 ★'s

From The Book:
An ugly duckling as a child, Jodie Bentley had two dreams in life - to be beautiful and rich. She's achieved the first, with a little help from a plastic surgeon, and now she's working hard on the second. Her philosophy on money is simple: you can either earn it or marry it. Marrying is easy, it's getting rid of the husband afterwards that's harder, that takes real skill. But hey, practice makes perfect . . .

Detective Superintendent Roy Grace is feeling the pressure from his superiors, his previous case is still giving him sleepless nights, there have been major developments with his missing wife Sandy, and an old adversary is back. But worse than all of this, he now believes a Black Widow is operating in his city. One with a venomous mind . . . and venomous skills. Soon Grace comes to the frightening realization that he may have underestimated just how dangerous this lady is.

My Thoughts:
Another great read in this series featuring DS Roy grace and his "Serious Crimes" team. The characters have so much depth and are so incredible in their dealings with their investigative abilities and their vulnerabilities in their everyday lives that you can't help but love and admire them.

Grace and Chloe have almost more on their plates than they can handle with Roy and his team investigating a series of murders that a highly unlikable character is perpetrating on rich, older men and the resurfacing of Roy's first wife, Sandy... who he had previously had declared dead. Along with Sandy comes more trouble that I'm sure will be the subject of a future book.

I would highly recommend this series to all mystery & suspense fans and have to say that it is just an all round compelling read...as is most everything this author writes.

>88 Carol420: - This was one of my very favorite books of 2016. Glad you loved it too.