What are you reading April 2009 ?

Finnished The Cherry Blossom Corpse by Robert Barnard. I have quite a few of his books, this is the first one that I have read. It was short not too intense more like a cozy mystery. Nice for between long books.

Don't really know why, but I've really taken a shine to Quintin Jardine's series featurin
ACC Bob Skinner of the Edinburgh police. I'm on my third in a week, Skinner's Trail

I just finished Sworn to Silence (wrong touchstone) by Linda Castillo. Good read if you like the serial killer/cop with baggage type story. It was a February ER book. I am very glad I got it.

Now I am reading Privileged Information by Stephen White. It's pretty good, not as gripping as I had hoped. This is the first time I have read him.

Revenge of the Spellmans by Lisa Lutz, a new Izzy Spellman comedy-mystery, Shakespeare's Secret by Elise Broach, a YA title, and Mystery of the Blue Train by Agatha Christie, a Hercules Poirot.

>2 dihiba: I really like Quintin Jardine. I like his character development as the staff move into new positions and expand their skills and personalities. I find his short chapters keep the action moving and whiz me through the book. I like that there is a personal side to the characters, its not all police. I have read them all, more than once and am now waiting for the next one.
Enjoy!!!

Just finished The Kiss Murder, a Turkish mystery by Mehmet Murat Somer.

Next up is Josephine Tey's A Shilling for Candles. I haven't read anything by Tey in years.

Just finishing up The Manual of Detection by Jedediah Berry

I love Josephine's books. One of my great griefs is that she only wrote 7. I'm particulary fond of Miss Pym Disposes.

I am about to start Clash of Civilizations over an Elevator in Piazza Vittoria. A murdered tenant in a contemporary Rome apartment building is exactly what I am in the mood for on this wet, rainy night.

I am reading Pitch Black by Alex Gray. A new author for me and I am enjoying it.

I am still reading The Art Thief by Noah Charney. Its gotten a bit better.

I've just finished Exposed by Alex Kava and really really liked it. I am an old school Patricia C fan and for me Maggie O'Dell is the first character I've found that captured me as the early Kay Scarpetta used to. Highly recommend it and I was really suprised. Am going to read more of Kava's now.

#9 - I have completed 2 of the Bob Skinner books and am still reading #3, Skinner's Trail. Have you read his other series?

I got Full Dark House at the library today. I've heard good things about the series. I've already started it, even though I have a big stack of books I ought to read first.

Reading Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories, and A man for All Seasons by Robert Bolt.

#18> cmbohn, you are in for a very good read!

In the middle of The Mark of the Lion by Suzanne Arruda, the first of the Jade Del Cameron mysteries. Wasn't thrilled with it at first, but it's gotten better and I'm enjoying it now.

#10 What did you think of The Kiss Murder?

I love Tey and reread Daughter of Time last year. Think it may be time for another reread of one of hers.

Black Orchids by Rex Stout Just started but so far so good.

> 17

dihiba yes I have read most of the Oz Blackstone books but they don't grab me in the same way as the Skinner books do. The characters don't reach out and touch me.

I've started Deal Breaker which is the first in the Myron Bolitar series. I'm also trying to finish Sympathy for the Devil by Jerrilynn Farmer.

I read The Doorbell Rang by Rex Stout. Brought back fond memories of the A&E series with Timothy Hutton. The script really stuck to the book, with only a couple changes in the location a scene took place in.

Currently reading How Like an Angel by Margaret Millar. I've only read one of her books before, Fire Will Freeze, and that was kinda quirky, not the hardboiled read I was expecting. The protagonist of Angel is a P.I. with a gambling problem, so I think it will be more in line with the hardboiled P.I. genre.

I'm reading Norman Berrow's It Howls at Night--a 1937 mystery with a werewolf theme and a Spanish setting.

I've just finished The Postman Always Rings Twice by James M. Cain. It's amazing how much criminal activity he could fit into a book that's just over 100 pages.

Just finished The Body Farm by Patricia Cornwell. Another fast moving and clever Kay Scarpetta. I'm reading them in order don't think I've gotten to the ones that everyone says are below par.

I'm starting Jack and Jill by James Patterson. A little murder to end the evening.

I have started New Amsterdam by Elizabeth Bear. An interesting mystery with a twist: the book is set in 1899 where a passenger is missing from the dirgible (airship) traveling from Calais to New Amsterdam, without a trace. I am only 30 pages in so far, but I already have the impression there is a lot more going on in this book.

Message edited for typos.

I have finally finished The Art Thief by Noah Charney. It did get better, but was still pretty bad.

I have started The Janissary Tree by Jason Goodwin. An historical mystery set in 1836 Istanbul in the dying Ottoman empire with eunuch investigator Yashim.

I'm reading Agatha Christie's second book THE SECRET ADVERSARY, which is a Tommy and Tuppence series.

I am just starting The Judas Window by Carter Dickson (John Dickson Carr). This has been called the best locked room mystery of all time.

Just finished Life Support by Tess Gerritsen - A really good medical thriller.
Starting Two Little Girls in Blue by Mary Higgins Clark- I'm not a fan of books about children getting hurt, abducted but so far i 've been able to stay with it.

Voices by Arnaldur indridason. This is the third in the series. I am so sad that my library only has the fourth one (there are six total). I am trying not to buy too many books this year -- but just might have to make an exception!

I finished the book The Janissary Tree and enjoyed it very much. The only problem I had was with part of the ending. They are on the roof and then its over, and I am not really clear on why the plan for revolution didn't work.

I liked the characters and the setting was very well done.

i am reading "flesh and bone" by jefferson bass and i love it.

i really love the books of tess gerritsen - all of them are very exciting till the end.

#40 - just finished the first two Jefferson Bass books, and my only complaint is - what does he have against dogs? Both books involve dogs dying unpleasantly, with no discernible relevance to the plot - makes me reluctant to read any more!

#37 - Don't forget about interlibrary loan! Your library can probably get the rest for you.

I've just started Murder for Peacocks and am having a lovely time with it.

I just started Garnethill and I am enjoying it so far.

I brought home from the library yesterday the book A MAN LAY DEAD by Ngaio Marsh. Boy, do I need a dictionary for some of the words she uses. That tells me that I need to work on learning the meaning of words.

#38 Ficusfan -- Yes, I recall I didn't quite like the ending either. However, at the time, I figured out the why (the reason rthe evolution failed) and explained it at our reading group. But, of course, now I don't recall the explanation, and I don't own the book, so can't look it up.

Finished How Like an Angel and enjoyed it except for one issue I have with it. I can't understand why Millar made two of her villains go psychotic. One maybe, but not two of them.

Just finished Carved in Bone by Jefferson Bass. I enjoyed it. Didn't flesh out the main character enough for me. The southern aspect was interesting, taking place in Tennessee.

Currently reading Ransom for an Angel. I'm liking it so far, except for the cop is a bit too preoccupied with himself.

Also reading short stories in Historical Whodunits.

Edited again because of touchstone problems.

Just read Flipping Out by Marshall Karp - really enjoyed it - read my review of it here...

http://www.madnessabides.com/2009/04/flipping-out-by-marshall-karp.html

I am giving away a signed copy on my blog...

http://www.madnessabides.com/2009/04/flipping-out-giveaway.html

An oldie The Bannerman Solution

I've just started The Maltese Falcon, my first Hammett.

I just finished Daniel Silva's Moscow Rules. If you like espionage mixed in with a bit of art, then it's hard to go wrong with the Gabriel Allon series from Silva.

I am just starting Winter Study by Nevada Barr. I have been off in the world of non-fiction and so look to this for a touch of lightness.

Since I am writing a mystery series, I think it's good to read some mysteries to study. I've read some before, but I just started picking them up again since I started writing.

Right now I'm reading Kiss the Girls by James Patterson. And Deja Dead by Kathy Reichs.

I've decided to start James Patterson's novel first and so far, I like the pace of it. He captures inner dialouge really well. And I think Kathy Reichs's novel will be interesting too. I read the first chapter of it and noticed that she uses a lot of description in terms of how someone looks and how they act. It's very different the James Patterson. I look forward to finishing both of them.

mstrust, pmarshall

I have both The Maltese Falcon and Winter Study on my list in the next few months...I'll be interested to see your reactions.

#s 51 mstrust & 55 cyderry
I love most of Dashiell Hammett's books. However, I didn't care for The Maltese Falcon as a book because it read like a screen play, not a novel. As a film (I've seen all three versions) it works great, but I didn't think it read well. Obviously a lot of people disagree with me. But anyway, if you react like I did, don't give up on Hammett, try one of his other books.

Currently reading Sacred Clowns by Tony Hillerman. Excellent as always.

Out by natsuo kirino, very good!

# 57 - ERice I read Out earlier this year, it is excellent!

I haven't read a mystery/crime book for awhile so to make up for it I am reading two right now, first The Body Box by Lynn Abercrombie - I'd say it's just ok. Then I also started Fellowship of Fear by Aaron Elkins, and I think I will like this one better. It's the first in a series.

The Silver Swan by Benjamin Black--ER copy
"Missing" by Karin Alvtegen
The Wooden Leg of Inspector Anders by Marshall Browne

All excellent crime/mystery novels.

Plan on reading Havanna Red by Leonard Padulra and Buried Strangers by Leonard Gage.

(Touchstones won't load for any of above--not sure why.)

I have requested Out but am not sure when it will arrive.

I also finished The Inner Circle by Mari Jungstedt which I really enjoyed.

The Silver Swan by Benjamin Black--ER copy
"Missing" by Karin Alvtegen
The Wooden Leg of Inspector Anders by Marshall Browne

All excellent crime/mystery novels.

I am reading Dorothy L. Sayers first book WHOSE BODY? I have read this book before. I remember parts of it as I read it, but fortunately, I can still enjoy it as I don't remember whodunit!

I am reading The Prophet Murders by Mehmet Murat Somer.

It is the first in the Turkish Delight series. Set in modern day Istanbul, Turkey. It is a mystery series following a group of transvestites. The main character runs a club where they work, and she has to investigate the murders, because the police don't care. Its translated into English, and so far seem pretty good.

Cureently reading The Fallen Man by Tony Hillerman.

Just started The Pale Criminal the second in the Hitler series by Philip Kerr.

I am still reading Full Dark House and I started The Body in the Billiard Room on tape. And I just finished John Adams. The Inspector Ghote book is pretty funny. I was really enjoying it in the car today.

Just started Amberville by Tim Davis. No touchstones for title or author? Well...it's a gang-land mystery starring stuffed animals.

Just started The Barrakee Mystery by Arthur William Upfield. Part way into Buried Strangers by Leighton Gage; So far an intriguing police procedural set in Brazil.

I finished The Prophet Murders by Mehmet Murat Somer.

It was good, interesting, and edgy. Also not for the faint of heart. The translation was good even if the story was a bit uneven. There was lots of information about the transvestites in Istanbul. Didn't really like the main character, but that may just be me. It was a worthwhile read, and I will read the next one in the series.

I started Bangkok 8 by John Burdett today and I am having a hard time putting it down. I've never been to Thailand, but this books really seems to have the ability to place me there. That, together with a interesting plot makes for a good read.

Just finished "The Diva Runs Out of Thyme" and "Though a Glass, Darkly." Both were awarded an "Agatha Award" for best first novel. I really enjoyed "The Diva..", the "Glass" book a little less. The characters in "Diva" seemed more real to me. The "Diva" is about a cook while "Glass" is centers around glass blowing. I preferred the "Diva" since the character seemed more "real" plus I liked the strong sense of place. "Diva" takes place in Old Town Alexandria, VA and, the author really gets into the location. "Glass" takes place in Tucson, AZ, and very little of that area is really illuminated.

#70 DeltaQueen50,

I loved Bangkok 8 very much. Thought the second one was not as good, and have yet to read the third one.

I just finished a couple by Julie Smith, which I picked up at my library book sale. They're set in New Orleans and feature a female cop named Skip Langdon, who has a variety of family and other issues. Not fabulous, but a step up from a few other things I've read. We read Banking on Death for my library's mystery group and I was thoroughly unimpressed.

#68 - I love Arthur Upfield. My favorites in his series are Death of a Lake and The Bone is Pointed.

I had a long commute today and didn't want to take my Kindle along so I brought Death at La Fenice by Donna Leon. I am loving it.

I am back with Henning Mankell and The Man Who Smiled. I discovered this author through LT and I am really enjoying each one. He is so human.

Reading one of the ur-detective stories The Leavenworth Case by Anna Katharine Green.

#74
Finished The Barrakee Murder--hard to put down. I did rather skim over the fight scenes toward the end but found will definitely be reading more Upfield.

Next up at the plate is Out by Natsuo Kirino and Unseen by Mari Jungstedt.

I am finishing Shoot the Piano Player it has been laying around since February and needs to go back to the library. It's good, but I got distracted by other books.

I'm reading Point Blank by Catherine Coulter, which I thought I'd already read when my mother-in-law passed it on to me, but turns out I hadn't. Not too bad, I'm getting a little confused with the second story, but all in all I'm enjoying it.

The best two I have read so far in April are
A Grave in Gaza by Matt Beynon Rees and Nemesis, by Jo Nesbø. I recommend both authors very highly. Rees's Palestinian detective is Omar Yussef; Jo Nesbø's Harry Hole works in Oslo, Norway.

I don't post here for all the mystery novels I read, but I'm now using one of the new LT widgets on my website to display the covers and some additional links for these and a few other books each month - see http://www.mysteryplaces.net/books/2009-04.php

I'm brand-spanking-new to reading thrillers, but April has definitely been dedicated to them.

Love of the month: Karin Slaughter.
I picked up Fractured and found it a speedy, suspenseful and thoroughly entertaining read. Her characters are vivid (if a little over-the-top), the plot is tightly strung together. Immediately had a go at Triptych.

Indelible was the only Slaughter book the bookstore had left after that, and while I didn't care much for the characters in this series, still, it was a fast-paced read.

"Meh" of the month:
Dead Man's Footsteps by Peter James. It's ok, but after being introduced to the genre by way of Slaughter, it kind of drags in comparison. I haven't finished reading yet, but I find the chapters repetitive, the cliffhangers a bit cliche and lazy, and the characters haven't gelled for me yet.

Any veterans up for giving me recommendations for high-quality, fast-paced, character-driven thrillers? I'm in the mood for an absorbing but easily absorbed read.

I just finished Shelf Life by Louise Penny. It was the first one of her books that I've picked up and I enjoyed it enough to want to check out some more of them.

I am starting the 2nd book in the Yashim Togalu series set in Istanbul, Turkey at the end of the Ottoman Empire, The Snake Stone by Jason Goodwin. Yashim is an investigator and a eunuch. It is set in 1838, 2 years after the first book.

FYI Page 352 - Looks like your touchstone link goes to a book by Gary Paulson named Shelf Life.

I am currently reading Mistress of the Art of Death by Ariana Franklin, which I am really enjoying!

While on vacation, I polished off Sidetracked, One Step Behind, and Firewall, and I'm currently reading The Dogs of Riga. All are by Henning Mankell.

I just finished Death at La Fenice which was wonderful! It seems to have gone viral on LT to read that recently.

I started Farthing by Jo Walton this morning and it is intriguing thus far.

I just finished Nine Lords of the Night by E. C. Gibson and really enjoyed it.

As a practicing archaeologist, I know quite a few professional archaeologists who found Nine Lords of the Night to be one of the most authentic depictions of what the profession is really like.

The ending completely surprised me.

Just started Lincoln Lawyer by Michael Connelly which I will need to read very quickly because I just found out that True Detectives, Johnathan Kellerman's new one is waiting for me at the library.

#91, 92 Oh, good to know! Nine Lords of the Night is on my TBR pile and now I can't wait to jump into it! I may have to bump it up to the top.

#93 I don't usually care for books about lawyers (I work for lawyers; that is quite enough to do with lawyers for me!), but Lincoln Lawyer was excellent, as was The Brass Verdict. Enjoy!

Storeetllr - That's very interesting, as I'm a paralegal but still enjoy books about lawyers - I do mostly family law (and before that immigration) and nothing as exciting as what happens in these fictional accounts ever happens in my work lilfe.

That would probably be a good post discussion as to who does and doesn't like to read books related to their field. My mother in law is a nurse and likes to read medical thriller/mysteries.

I have been a legal secretary for many years (I now work from home typing digital dictation over the internet), and I really enjoy legal thrillers. However, apart from the wonderful Rumpole books by the late lamented John Mortimer, I hardly ever see UK-set books - they always seem to be about US lawyers. Plainly life in the Probate and Wills Department of Bloggs, Bloggs & Throgmorton in Skegness isn't quite glamorous enough ;-)

I am a stay at home mom, and all those books where moms solve crimes while juggling PTA meetings and kids with chicken pox and changing diapers - they always make me laugh. Who has the time?

I literally just devoured To Love and Be Wise, I did not see the ending coming in this one!

I love Josephine Tey. It's one of my great griefs that she wrote only seven mysteries.

I'm on a bit of a crime (reading) spree at the moment - just finished Circle of the Dead by Ingrid Black, which I found pacy and with one and a half twists at the end (I didn't guess the half!). Now I've moved on to The Overlook by Michael Connelly, one of the Harry Bosch series which I usually enjoy.

The Overlook is great. There has never been a bad Harry Bosch book!

I love Harry Bosch!

Just finished Absolution by Caro Ramsay - very odd, and not like most other crime thrillers I've read, but extremely gripping!

Not surprised I'm not the only Michael Connelly fan - I started by picking up The Poet some years ago and was delighted to find that there was a back catalogue to explore. I finished The Overlook in two days and enjoyed it very much - half guessed the conclusion, but I like the characters so that didn't detract from my enjoyment.

I finally finished the audiobook of The Body in the Billiard Room. It was great! Poor Inspector Ghote gets roped into investigating a murder and the man responsible for having him on the case keeps comparing him to Hercule Poirot and quoting Agatha Christie at him.

I'm reading Lie in the Dark by Dan Fesperman. It's definitely living up to all the positive reviews its gotten here on LT.

Definitely Michael Connelly's Harry Bosch. But all his books are fabulous. Enjoy!

I just finished Michael Palmer's Second Opinion and Dean Koontz's Your Heart Belongs to Me. Mary Higgins Clark's new book is next. It's called Just Take My Heart.

I am almost in the middle of Appointment with Death by the great Dame Agatha, and enjoying it immensely.

I am in modern day Istanbul, Turkey with the 2nd book in the Turkish Delight mystery series about transvestites who are being murdered, and the transvestite who investigates, since the police won't. The Kiss Murder by Mehmet Murat Somer.

I finished Mistress of the Art of Death and enjoyed it so much I have already started hunting for the Ariana Franklin's next book in the series, The Serpent's Tale. In the meantime, I am about to start Breaking Lorca by Giles Blunt.

I am about nine chapters into The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde and enjoying it very much.

I have finished The Kiss Murder by Mehmet Murat Somer. I enjoyed it. It is more focused than the first book, with fewer characters and a tighter plot. The main character is also more polished, but still not all that likable. I will read the next one when it comes out.

Staring No Trace by Barry Maitland a british police procedural from the Brock nd Kinsella series.

I have just started Faceless Killers by Henning Mankell. It has been highly recommended here on LT. It starts off with a bang and I have been immediately drawn into the story. It's always so exciting to find a new series to work your way through! I can see a trip to the bookstore for the next Mankell coming up soon.

DeltaQueen50, once you start Henning Mankell you want more and more, he draws you in!

I finished the audiobook of The Body in the Billiard Room, and now I really want to find out what books by Keating are available at my library. This one was just so much fun.

#115 - DeltaQueen50

While on vacation, I picked up 11 of his books to add to the two I already had. I've read four of the new ones already.

Just finished Tell No One by Harlan Coben - he does a good job with language. I've read a couple of his and I like him.

I've just started By The Time You Read This by Giles Blunt - first time I've ever read anything of his and it's off to a pretty good start.

I love starting a new book!

#116 pmarshall and #118 seitherin. after a couple of hours reading time this afternoon, I am totally hooked! I guess I better start saving my pennies - - you did say 12 more after the first!

>119 jepeters333:: jepeters333- I am a fan of Harlan Coben but I have not read Tell No One. I will recommend the film version, though. It's French and it was excellent!

#120 - DeltaQueen50

As far as I know (and I haven't actually done a search to find out for sure exactly) there are at least 9 books in the Wallander series and 4 stand-alones.

jennieg, there are actually 8 crime books by Josephine Tey, so you may have missed one. They are The Franchise Affair, The Daughter of Time, The Man in the Queue, A Shilling for Candles, To Love and be Wise, The Singing Sands, Brat Farrar and Miss Pym Disposes.

I just started Gaudy Night by Dorothy L. Sayers, my first Lord Peter Wimsy book, and am enjoying it a great deal so far -- only about 50 pages in, so Wimsy hasn't appeared yet, but I'm liking Harriet.

I'm nearing the end of The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith, and reading it has reminded me how eager I am to read Strangers on a Train, which is one of my top three Hitchcock films.

Also just finished The Liar by Stephen Fry, which is kind of a mystery. There is intrigue!

Gaudy Night is great, but really should read Strong Poison first and those in between in order to appreciate it.

Agree with quartzite re Gaudy Night; the build-up with Harriet and Peter is part of the fun. The second one, after Strong Poison is Have His Carcase.

A theater in Chicago (Lifeline) did a great job of adapting these as plays.

Loving the Inspector Gamache series by Louise Penny, currently on The Cruelest Month.

123 No, JonRob, I know and love them them all. I just can't type. They are among my top comfort reads, although some of the edge has gone off The Daughter of Time with more recent scholarship on Richard III.

I finished The Devil You Know by Mike Carey
Which is a urban fantasy type book, but it also turned out to be a mystery/thriller story. It was a first book and I enjoyed it.

Now starting The Cutting Season by Arthur Rosenfeld
a Martial Arts thriller with the POV also a brain surgeon who battle the Russian mafia, and dodges the cops.

>125 quartzite:, 126: Good point -- I was mostly going with the one that came into my hands first, but it would probably be a good idea to start at the beginning.

In the last part of April the books I happened to find to read were mostly set in U.S. Michael Connelly's latest Los Angeles novel The Brass Verdict (2008), is his usual top-quality writing. It features both his new character, lawyer Mickey Haller and his iconic LAPD detective, Harry Bosch. Also worth noting are Stephen Greenleaf's Blood Type (1992), featuring his PI John Marshall Tanner in early 1990s San Francisco, and John Billheimer's Dismal Mountain (2002), one of an intriguing series featuring transportation expert Owen Allison and a mix of murder and corruption in small-town West Virginia.

For links for more information on these and others read & recommended in April, see
http://mysteryplaces.net/books/2009-04.php