What are you reading in June 2009?

Just finished Judgment Calls by Alafair Burke, James Lee Burke's daughter - very good and a nice surprise (picked it up at a local second-hand sale).

Just started on the first of the Matthew Shardlake books, Dissolution, by C. J. Sansom. I think I'm going to like it.

Enjoying The Man in the Queue very much.

Last Rituals by Yrsa Sigurðardóttir
The Eye of Jade by Diane Wei Liang (in mp3 format)
Still working The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley

I haven't read a Deborah Crombie in years so I am starting In a Dark House which is where I left off, I think.

Scarecrow by Michael Connelly. Really enjoying it.

Currently, I am trading off between reading The Templar Legacy by Steve Berry and The Cat, the Quilt, and the Corpse, a cozy by Leann Sweeney.

Full Bodied Red by Bruce Zimmerman. It's the third of four books with Quinn Parker, an outdoor phobia consultant, as the hero. I read the first two over the weekend.

Zimmerman writes Parker as though he read all the Travis McGee books and took McGee's internal philosophizing to heart; Parker questions his motives, his city (San Francisco), and life its ownself.

The only thing wrong with these books is there are only four; Zimmerman has gone on to write screenplays for Desperate Housewives, so Wikipedia tells me.

I am re-reading some old friends by Dick Francis and Bill Pronzini. Sometimes familiarity provides comfort.

Just picked up The White Priory Murders and The Judas Window both by Carter Dickson and The Twisted Root by Anne Perry

I am so behind on my magazines reading that I decided to start from somewhere and go through them. Reading Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine - Vol. 134, No. 1 (July 2009) (815) now.

#2 djay666

I'm about half way through Dissolution for a book group read. I'ts not the sort of thing i'd usually go for but i'm thoroughly enjoying it

Just started the third Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes book A Letter of Mary. These books are a comfort to read.

>13 sydamy: I'm working my way through the series via audio books, in honor of the new one. It's a nice ride.

Still working on The Return of the Dancing Master by Henning Mankell.

I just finished Silks, which was really fun.

Starting Harlen Coben's new one Long Lost.

Just finished Partner in Crime by J. A. Jance, my first of hers. It combines two protagonists that she has used separately. I think I'll try another one or two.

Jim53, I own all the Joanna Brady ones (I used to live in Arizona, so I had fun reading about the locations). I strongly recommend you start at the beginning of each series if you can. Jance draws her characters' life paths within the books, which is half the fun (for me, anyway).

Thanks, Linkmeister, I'll try to do that. I've found it valuable with other series, such as Julia Spencer-Fleming's Clare Fergusson books. I read Partner in Crime because my library's book club chose it--I think it was the one of which we had the most copies. It was good enough that I'll go back to the beginning.

I'm reading Phil Rickman's The Cure of Souls and hoping that Charles Todd will publish a new novel soon.

I just finished a romantic suspense book called Royal Target - Traci Hunter Abramson. Not really my genre, but my friends have loved it, so I gave it a try. Too predictable and too saccharine for my taste.

Farthing by Jo Walton which is an alternate history mystery set in post WWII Britain where England was forced to a truce with Germany and Fascism has slowly crept in. Only a couple of chapters in, but so far, so good!

ninjapenguin, I hope you realize that's the first in a trilogy. (Oh No! Commitment!)

Reading Still Life by Louise Penny. really enjoy her books.

25 - I think that one's on my list for my challenge.

Really enjoyed cut to the quick by Kate Ross, a country house mystery set during the Regency period. Followed that with Aunt Dimity's Death by Nancy Atherton. Bit sugary, but I might try the next one in the series.

Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear. The first book in the series. Winspear spends considerable time building the story of Maisie's life. Not your typical genre detective story (and I mean that in a good way!).

I am enjoying The Body in the Library.

I'll try The Act of Roger Murgatroyd by Gilbert Adair - sounds like a totally Agathian experience...

I've discovered I really like Elmore Leonare. Read Out of Sight, watched the movie with George Clooney, then found Road Dogs which is a continuation of Out of Sight.

I am reading The Last Child by John Hart. This is a new author to me and I enjoying this story.

I loved Maisie Dobbs and the Kate Ross series.

I'm reading Murder Every Monday, which is a follow up to The Wooden Overcoat which I read earlier this year. They are by Pamela Branch, who has a very wicked sense of humor. I'm really enjoying this one.

I'm partway through Devil Bones by Kathy Reichs. I just this evening picked up and started reading Cooking up Murder which seems to be a fairly light piece of fluff - just perfect for a Friday night on the couch. Assuming I get off the computer and make it to the couch!

So far, in June:

Shinju - Laura Joh Rowland - 6/1/09
Persuader - Lee Child - 6/2/09
Riptide - Douglas Preston / Lincoln Child - 6/4/09
Cold Truth - Mariah Stewart 6/5/09
The Wolf Whispered Death - Barbara Moore - 6/6/09

Next in line (though it can/will change)
Brimstone - Douglas Preston / Lincoln Child
Road Rage - Ruth Rendell
The Unlikely Spy - Daniel Silva

I think I will try and catch up on Deborah Crombie next.

I am not reading a mystery at the moment, but will soon be reading Full Dark House by Christopher Fowler the start of the Bryant & May or Peculiar Crimes Unit series. It is for a RL mystery group.

#36> FicusFan, I love love love Bryant & May!!!!! Full Dark House is an excellent read, enjoy!

Good to know, thanks.

The Judge by Steve Martini. Don't really understand the negative reviews on the works page.

Just finished The Language of Bees by Laurie R. King. Loved it!! The Mary Russel series are a joy to read. Next up: Prior Bad Acts by Tami Hoag.

Free Reign by Rosemary Aubert

I'm doing a mystery-thon over on http://mysteryreadathon.blogspot.com/ so today I'm starting Hotel Paradise and Blessed is the Busybody. If I have time leftover, then I'll move on to Invitation to Murder. I've sent my husband off to the golf course, and have the entire house to myself. Got my pitcher of lemonade ready and my lounge chair on the porch. See you all later - now on to 12 hours of reading!
ETA- typos

I'm reading The Chicago Way by Michael Harvey. So far it's very good. It keeps my attention. Now and then it makes me chuckle. No big surprises or twists in the plot but it's a good read.

I'm also reading Dreams From The Monster Factory by Sunny Schwartz, which is nonfiction and definitely keeps my attention. It's about a woman who works inside the prison system. She fights to make our system of "reform" more humane so that criminals may actually come out better instead of worse.

Started my first book by P.D. James, A Taste for Murder. I've seen a couple of the Dagleish stories on PBS, but had never read any. Am enjoying it so far, Except I could do without the chapters spent on the personal life of the other cops.

Also reading Dead Man's Shoes by Michael Innes. It's a collection of cases of Inspector Appleby. Enjoying it a lot.

Just started The Scarecrow by Michael Connelly, which began well and I expect will continue to be an excellent read, like all his prior mysteries.

Well, I just started - and couldn't finish - Grave Doubts by Elizabeth Corley. Looked interesting, but was truly awful - the plot probably was okay (although was starting to get a little far-fetched), but the reason I couldn't finish it was that it had not been proof-read or edited. Not. At. All. References to a "knife bloc" (Russian knives, perhaps?!), "confidant" instead of "confident" - and a complete moratorium on commas so that the sentences all just run along as the the author's in a terrible hurry and just cannot be bothered to pause for a second because let's face it even she's bored by the characters ...

Absolutely dreadful. The publishers and the author should be ashamed of wasting paper and resources on this tosh.

I just finished reading Final Target by Iris Johansen, which had some interesting elements in the story. It was a quick read but one I enjoyed, I will probably read more of her books in the future.

Just started Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier, which seems to have the qualities of a mystery.

I've just finished The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley and loved it.

#49, I did, too! Hope to see more of Flavia in the future.

Also thoroughly enjoying Good Night, Mr. Holmes by Carole Nelson Douglas ... I had started one later in the series and there was obviously so much backstory I had missed, I dug it up from my favorite used bookstore.

Interesting to see Ms. Douglas' writing credits in the front of the book -- sci-fi, semi-cozy Midnight Louie (I read one of those years back and didn't care for it much) plus these wonderful historical mysteries. Talk about versatile!

I just finished Say Goodbye by Lisa Gardner. It was a really quick read, and I really liked it (although not for the overly sensitive--graphic scenes of abuse here). It haunted me so much, I bought 7 more of Gardner's books Sunday at a local flea market.

Just started the abduction by James Grippando. So far very good.

I am reading The Vicious Circle: Mystery and Crime Stories by Members of the Algonquin Round Table by Otto Penzler. Some very amusing, others less, but all quite good.

I have started Full Dark House by Christopher Fowler. Book 1 in the Peculiar Crimes Unit series. It is for a RL book group. Seems good.

Just finished the unfinished clue by Georgette Heyer, 1930's country house murder mystery. Great fun.

Like Puddleshark above, I am also reading a Georgette Heyer mystery, Behold, Here's Poison. I just started reading Georgette Heyer this year. So far I am enjoying this mystery, but not as much as her Regency Romances and Historicals.

>48 jnwelch: jnwelch..let me know what you think of Rebecca...I too, just started it! :}

I'm halfway through The 6 Messiahs by Mark Frost. A great follow up to The List of 7.

I'm reading Mistress of the Art of Death by Ariana Franklin. Very good.

I started on the 1st Jack Parlabane books, Quite Ugly One Morning by Christopher Brookmyre. Some very funny moments in the early going and I don't think it's going to take long to finish this one.

I'm reading The Keepsake by Tess Gerritsen
It's very good.

I'm listening to Justice Hall by Laurie R. King. Very good, with an excellent reader.

#57 lindasbooks will do re Rebecca. So far I'm really enjoying it. They've arrived at Manderley and what a "character" the house is! The atmosphere is fraught with tension and foreboding . . .

#60 - you lucky thing - Christopher Brookmyre is wonderful! Wish I could be reading them for the first time too ... :-)

#51 - I love Lisa Gardner my mother in law got me startedon those.
#61 - she also got me started on Lisa Gerritsen too

good thing I got her started on the genre and off of her Harelquin Romances

I just finished The Broken Window by Jeffrey Deaver - great book, sorry that I'm caught up with the Lincoln Rhyme's series now and I have to wait for a new one.

Just started Family Affair by Mignon Good Eberhart. So far, it's ok. I hope it improves as it goes on.

#64 - I thoroughly enjoyed my first exposure to the works of Mr. Brookmyre. Would you recommend continuing with the Jack Parlabane series or picking up in published order?

I apologize if I've already mentioned this, but I'm reading Mistress of the Art of Death, which kept me up way too late last night.

I am reading Dorothy Sayers from the beginning, her first Lord Peter Whimsey mystery book written in 1923, Whose Body?. So far, it is clever and funny.

#67 - I don't think it is crucial to read them all in published order; however, the Parlabane ones probably should be. His character develops nicely and there's enough back story to make it worthwhile. Happy reading!

Reading All the Pretty Girls by J.T. Ellison. Liking it so far.

>71 luv2read97:
uv2read97, I've read all three of the books she has out so far & love this series.

I'm currently reading Evil Without A Face by Jordan Dane.

#70 - Thanks, order placed for Country of the Blind.

#69 janetaileen: you're in for a treat with the Lord Peter Wimsey books. They're among my favorites.

I'm reading Agatha Christie's Endless Night. This is an unusual one from her, and I understand it was a favorite of hers.

"The Oxford Murders" is very good, by Guillermo Martinez

I am reading Asking for the Moon by Reginald Hill. Hill is a favourite author of my mother and sister-in-law but I was put off, on the very first page of the one I tried, by Dalziel's bigotry and attitude. This is a book of four short stories so I decided to give Dalziel and Pascoe another chance... Time will tell

#79 - persevere with Dalziel - yes, he's a great big lump of prejudices, but he's written to be a grotesquely comic character and I find him hilarious in that respect. And when he does let the Fat Andy persona drop (occasionally), behind all that bluster you will find an extremely wise and rather kind character - I think he's extremely well-written, and Pascoe provides a perfect PC foil for him ...

And I've just looked at Mt. TBR and lo and behold, I have Asking for the Moon waiting for me! I may bring it to the top of the heap ...

#79 and 80.

I second the recommendation to persevere with Dalziel, especially in the very first book A Clubbable Woman he is pretty hard to take, but believe me he grows on you as you get to know him better. The level of character development over the course of this series is one of the things that makes it really outstanding.

I just finished Family Affair by Mignon Good Eberhart. What a disappointment! I had to literally drag my feet to finish it, and I only did it because I wanted to see if my suspects were justified (and they were). Bad writing, cardboard characters, boring plot. A far cry from Agatha Christie and the other classic mystery writers.

It has been some time since I last sat down with a mystery. I did that this week, quickly devouring Grave Goods by Ariana Franklin, her third book in the Mistress of the Art of Death series. I loved all three books and the third one ended with a nice tie-in to a possible fourth book!

>83 lkernagh: Ariana Franklin has written City of Shadows which is placed in Berlin in the 1920's. It is very good.

Getting into Nightwalkers by P.T. Duetermann. Love his character Cam Richter. Can't believe no one has reviewed his novel Cat Dancers on LT.

>84 pmarshall: - Most excellent! I have tracked down a copy of City of Shadows for my TBR pile. Thank You!

I finally finished Full Dark House by Christopher Fowler. It is the first book in the Bryant & May or Peculiar Crimes Unit series. I say finally because it was a bit dense, and of course I have been distracted by collections.

It was very good, it is a mystery that alternates between WWII London and the modern day. Bryant and May are police detectives and partners. Bryant is very odd, and May is more grounded. The story is about a case from WWII in a theatre with a mysterious killer who picks off the cast in gruesome ways, reaching into the modern day, when Brant & May are elderly.

Last night I started The Great Impersonation by E. Phillips Oppenheim. So far it is excellent, a mix of espionage, mystery, ghost story. I am really enjoying it.

I just started Full Dark House last night, on the recommendation from folks here. It's certainly evocative and atmospheric. I'm only up to about p. 100, but I'm liking it so far.

I read Defend and Betray, a Monk and Latterly Victorian mystery by Anne Perry. I enjoyed it, except the middle part was tedious because they were totally off the track. They were trying to find the motive for why their client had murdered her husband. She wouldn't tell them and they didn't have a clue, but I had figured out the motive and the real villians about a quarter way thru the book, yet neither Monk nor Latterly figured it out until the last quarter of the book. The clues were there but they didn't see them. I don't recall that being an issue in the first two Monk & Lattery mystereies, tho it's been a few years since I read them. However, in Perry's other Victorian series, the only Thomas and Charlotte Pitt mystery I read or ever will read, Paragon Walk, the murderer was obvious from the beginning but the idiot cop, (Thomas Pitt) couldn't figure it out. Totally stupid.

I just started The Flower Master by Sujata Massey. Interesting so far.

I just a few minutes ago finished Cross Country and I think I will start A Sight for Sore Eyes

Recently completed The Winter Queen by Boris Akunin - I've seen the hero of this series, Erast Fandorin, described as a Russian James Bond. Well, he may eventually evolve as one, but he's a long way to go! It could be said, however, that there are elements of "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" in the ending!

Will finish The Shape of Water by Andrea Camilleri, today. Compared to The Winter Queen, this is coming across as a far more mature and realistic work (no international conspiracies here). Fantastic, and complex, character in Inspector Montalbano. Camilleri's dry wit that runs through the book, and his passion for Italian food and wine, helps make this one a delightful read.

Living Witness by Jane Haddam

#92 petermc - I'm a big Inspector Montalbano and Andrea Camilleri fan. Hope you enjoy The Shape of Water; the series is filled with great reading. My kids say I like Montalbano so much because he's a curmudgeon. As you say, if so, he's a fantastic and complex one.

Liked Good Night, Mr. Holmes so much I ran to favorite used bookstore to find more. Started Irene At Large and it's promising to be equally good.

Started Find Me A Villain by Margaret Yorke last night. I can see this is going to be a quick read, holding my attention with it's suspense, but not exactly "Book of the Year" material.

Just picked up The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley, which has been getting a lot of good buzz on LT and good reviews. Also dug out Elephants Can Remember by Agatha Christie from our attic bookshelf.

#94 - The Shape of Water was indeed great. Have now started the second book in the Montalbano series, with The Terracotta Dog.

About six chapters in, and we already have the 'staged' arrest of mafioso Tano the Greek, a mysterious supermarket robbery, and the equally mysterious and suspicious death of an 80-year old eye-witness! Already your mind is doing somersaults looking for links, and, having read a few reviews, there is a lot stranger to come. Loving it!

I started Have Mercy On Us All by Fred Vargas. I've been sitting on this one for awhile and was in the mood for a crime novel. I've heard very positive feedback about this gifted French novelist.Based on reading just a few pages, this is going to be a keeper! Has anyone here read her? Yes, I also did not know Fred was female.

I'm working on 2 books at the minute - Sweet Revenge by Diane Mott Davidson and The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch.

Been a fan of Goldy Schultz from just about the beginning, probably because she can whip up a meal for 50 people at the drop of a hat and I can barely fix one for the two of us!!

My husband picked up The Last Lecture and recommends it. Not a mystery but the writings of a professor diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and how he was managing his last months. Fascinating read and, at this point in the book, not downbeat at all.

Then back to the next books by Karen Rose. With her books, I can look forward to some late nights.

About to start The Red Dahlia by Lynda La Plante.

reading the hannah swensen series; great for the summer relaxation.

#99 - msf59 - I haven't read any Fred Vargas yet, but I am planning on it, as I too have heard great things about her. Let us know what you think.

I loved The Red Dahlia and hope you do too. The mystery I have at the moment is...how did I accumulate so many books?

No, I'm still puzzling over why I don't like Laurie R. King's new book about Sherlock Holmes and her San Francisco detective. Cant' think of the name, storry.

I have started reading the Agatha Raisin stories by M.C.Beaton. Have found them a good read, not too taxing, just light who-dun-it

>59 jennieg:, 86: I couldn't agree more. Mistress of the Art of Death is IMHO the best historical mystery to date!

#99 I have read several by Fred Vargas and they are really great. I also started with Have Mercy on Us All but it is is midway in the series and some of the others were set before that.

> DeltaQueen50- I read a nice chunk of Have Mercy On Us All today and all I can say is WOW! She is an incredible writer and if you have access to this book, pick it up now!
>quartzite- Thanks for the info on Vargas. I really thought this was the 1st in the series, ( I always try to read 'em in order) but regardless, it' soooo good so far!

I am reading Louise Penny's A Rule Against Murder.

I was pleased to hear that Penny's new one, The Brutal Telling, will be out this October. I love this series.

#108

Original French publication dates on Fred Vargas' Commissaire Adamsberg novels (English titles given where available), are:

The Chalk Circle Man (1991)
Seeking Whom He May Devour (1999)
Four Rivers (2000) Graphic novel
Have Mercy on Us All (2001)
Coule la Seine (2002) Collection of three novellas
Wash This Blood Clean from My Hand (2004)
This Night's Foul Work (2006)
A Dubious Place (2008)

And, the order of publication of English translations (to date):

Have Mercy on Us All (2003)
Seeking Whom He May Devour (2004)
Wash This Blood Clean from My Hand (2007)
This Night's Foul Work (2008)
The Chalk Circle Man (2009)

Peter- Thanks for the list! I didn't realize the 1st one goes back to '91. Which ones have you read?

#111 - Short Answer: NONE! I have this list because I'm one of those strange creatures that hates starting a series in the middle :) So, I've been biding my time, waiting for the publication of The Chalk Circle Man. Now that I have it, I will be starting very soon! Plan on finishing the Inspector Montalbano series first.

#112 I'm glad I'm not the only one who has to read the first in a series. I will stop reading a book if I realize it isn't the first in the series!!

>>113 luv2read97: I, too, hate to start a series in the middle, that's why I always consult http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/ when I start a new series or if I hear about a new series, I'LL check here to make sure that I get the first one.

Me too - have to read a series in order!

Thanks msf59 - I will definitely be looking for Fred Vargas - just what I need - another mystery series - I can hardly keep track of the ones I am reading now!

>114 cyderry: Oh yes! I love Fanatastic Fiction. It is such a great site. I use them all the time to check out authors/works that I hear about.

Not only do I have to to start at the beginning of a series, I prefer to read any fiction author in order of publication.

Also in English translation by Fred Vargas is The Three Evangelists it doesn't have Adamsberg, but it does have some the characters from Have Mercy on Us All.

Also in English translation by Fred Vargas is The Three Evangelists it doesn't have Adamsberg, but it does have some the characters from Have Mercy on Us All.

just finished Richard Price's LUSH LIFE. good read. good NYC ambience.

Reading The Mystic Arts of Erasing All Signs of Death by Charlie Huston, which is not about vampires but is really very good, and The Night Gardener by George Pelecanos, which reminds me a lot of Lush Life and is, likewise, very good.

Finished The Terracotta Dog by Andrea Camilleri. Now starting the 3rd in the Montalbano series, The Snack Thief - can't stop, such fantastic reads!

#121> I am glad (but not surprised) you like them, petermc. Camilleri's books are fantastic, and not only the Montalbano series. Too bad that, to my knowledge, only the Montalbano books have been translated into English.

> Storeetllr- I also really enjoyed The Mystic Arts of Erasing All Signs of Death. He is easily one of the best crime writers working right now, IMHO, of course. Have you read his others?

I too read series in order, though if by mistake I start on the wrong one, I do finish it.

I have just started Quiet Teacher by Arthur Rosenfeld. It is a martial arts mystery thriller. Second in the Dr. Xenon (Zee) Pearl series. So far it is very good.

I have just started The Serpent's Daughter by Suzanne Arruda. This is the third in the series, set in Africa during the 1920's.

#123 Yes, his vampire detective series. Loved them too.

#122 - You are right, that of Camilleri's extensive bibliography only the Montalbano series has been translated into English. The others exist only in Italian or German. Let's hope that as he grows more popular, publishers will find it economically viable to translate these other novels and short stories.

I second the kudos for Andrea Camilleri and his Inspector Montalbano series. What a wonderful crank Montalbano is! I hope other Camilleri books get translated into English.

8th Confession byJames Patterson. It's ok nothing more!

I finished Quiet Teacher by Arthur Rosenfeld, book 2 in the Dr. Xenon Pearl series. I enjoyed it very much, the writing was good, and the main character was still so vibrant (I read book 1 last month). The story seemed a bit in search of a reason at first. It was mostly about the POV and trying to deal with his problems and life, after the mess that happened to it in book 1.

The focus developed eventually and the story took off. It had one of the most wrenching endings I have read in years, probably because the POV was so vibrant and the author spent so much time in the book developing him. I didn't see it coming and felt like running away screaming. Not sure if there will be more in the series, but if so it will be very interesting.

I am about to start The Empire of the Wolves by Jean-Christophe Grange. It is for a RL book group. It is a mystery -thriller set in modern day France and had to so with Turkish immigrants.

I started last night a Lisa Jackson novel. I plan on finishing it this weekend since I have some time away from my studies.

I am anxiously awaiting the release of her novel Malice, I think it is out next week.

Finished The Serpent's Daughter by Suzanne Arruda. Have now picked up In The Bleak Midwinter by Julia Spencer-Fleming - I think I am going to like this one alot!

I just read The Spirit Woman by Margaret Coel. It's smack dab in the middle of a series and I didn't realize it when I borrowed it from the library.

It was pretty good. Southwestern mystery (on an Arapaho reservation; main characters are a female lawyer who's a member of the tribe and a Jesuit pastor who (in this book) is being called back to Marquette to teach and finish a doctorate). I liked it enough to want to hunt up the first several books in the series.

I wrapped up Have Mercy On Us all by Fred Vargas and I cannot recommend it higher. She's like a breath of fresh air in the crime field and she has created some unforgettable characters. I know how strong series-readers feel about reading their books in order, I'm one of the legions, but once in awhile I end up with a book, (I actually thought this was the first!) and it really kick-starts it for me. This happened to me with Harlan Coben & James Lee Burke too and then I went on to start those respective series from the beginning! Please enjoy!

Just count me in with msf59 on Have Mercy on Us All.
Finished it on Friday evening.

Finished Judas Kiss by J.T. Ellison, the third in her Taylor Jackson series. Another excellent story, but a bit confused by the ending and her job situation. Have to wait until September for the next installment.
Starting an early release mystery, Trust No One by Gregg Hurwitz.

I have been having fun in June re-reading some of my favourite Dick Francis: 10-lb Penalty about the father/son's political campaining, Banker, a stockbroker invests in a stallion, Comeback has Peter Darwin returning to the village he lived in as a child, The Danger is about rescuing kidnapped victims. Dead Cert has a jockey killed going over a jump, why? Decider, one of Francis' best. An architect, with 6 sons, tries to save a racetrack. Driving Force is about transporting horses and more, Flying Finish, Henry enjoys flying and horses and his job involves both. For Kicks has an Australian going undercover to solve a doping case. Forfeit, a journalist follows a fraud case and endangers his polio-stricken wife. If you like mechanical toys High Stakes is for you. The Kit Fielding Omnibus : Break in & Bolt, Kit comes to the rescur of his twin sister and the princess. Rat Race has a pilot flying horse people around England. The Sid Halley Omnibus: "Odds Against", "Whip Hand", "Come to Grief", Sid encounters people who threaten the use of his hands as he tracks the bad guys Smokescreen takes place in South Africa, Straight, a jockey's brother dies and leaves him his gemstones business, To the Hilt has an artist coming to his step-father's aid in saving his brewery.

I'm halfway through A Corpse in the Koryo, which is set in North Korea. I'm not quite sure what I think of it so far. Certain things about it, like its slow pace, are annoying me, but I'm not sure if that's due to the writing style or to the efforts of the author to illustrate what life is like in North Korea.

Just finished "Blood Oath" by David Morrell. Written in 1982, it shows his development as a writer.

If you visit the website of the Kent District library (www.kdl.org) they have a link called "What's Next."
You can enter in Deborah Crombie and get a complete chronological list so you can see if you missed any before In a Dark House and the titles of the three or four that come next.

I just finished The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo and really enjoyed it--I'm looking forward to the next one. Now I'm reading Louise Penny's A Fatal Grace.

Just finished Don't Look Back by Karin Fossum - excellent, but very gloomy. Now reading Officer Down by Teresa Schwegel - absolutely brilliant and can't wait to read more of hers!

and my TBR list keeps growing after checking out all of these books!!!

I've just finished the 2nd of the Jack Parlabane books, Country of the Blind, by Christopher Brookmyre. Another excellent read but now have to wait for the next couple in the series to arrive.

Halfway into The Night Gardener by George Pelecanos. Lots of tension, interesting characters, great writing. Yeah, I am enjoying it.

ETA thanks to Sophie 236 for bringing Officer Down by Teresa Schwegel to my attention. Never heard of it or her but now it's going on my TBR list.

I read the first in the V.I. Warshawski series, Indemnity Only by Sara Paretsky. Good read.

And just finished Murder at Government House by Elspeth Huxley, which I really enjoyed. It's set in Africa with a copyright date of 1937. It's interesting to compare elements of it to the 1st Suzanne Arruda mystery, Mark of the Lion which takes place post WW1, so just a few years earlier. Both address African beliefs in witchcraft, but the Huxley book explains it away, showing the reality basis that led to what seemed to be uncanny knowledge on the part of a witchdoctor, whereas the Arruda book makes the superstition into reality. Both books are similar in conveying the British settlers and their lifestyle, and their patronizing relationships with the natives. Huxley, of course, grew up in Africa, so was writing from experience.

Just finished The Snack Thief by Andrea Camilleri. This is the 3rd book in the Inspector Montalbano series, and they just keep on getting better. This installment is a master class in character development. I've honestly never enjoyed reading a series (mystery or otherwise) quite so much.

Was planning on tackling something different with my next book, but couldn't resist..... Now 5 chapters into book number four, The Voice of the Violin.

Finished "Tumbling Blocks" by Earlene Fowler; a very satisfying read.
I'm about halfway through J'A. Jance's "Damage Control" #13 in her 'Sheriff Joanna Brady' series.

139 - I love Dick Francis! I don't really know why, because I'm not a horse person and I don't watch racing, but I still really enjoy his books.

I am also reading The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. I've heard so many good things about this one, but after the first chapter, I was not so sure. I really don't like political thrillers and that's what it looked like. But now I'm not so sure, so I'm still reading.

And I also started Mrs. Pargeter's Plot. Mrs. Pargeter is the widow of a, well, businessman. His associates are always helping her out of tough spots. This one has her builder, a man with the nickname of Concrete Jacket, framed for murder.

Hi! This is my first message -- I recently joined LT and found your group. I just finished reading Find Me by Carol O'Connell. Its part of her Mallory mystery series. I loved it! However, for those who haven't already read any of the series, I would think that it's NOT a good starting place.

The Mallory books can stand alone OK -- I actually first tried the series with Winter House (not realizing at first that it was part of a series) and then went back and read earlier ones. But I think that Find Me, especially, is probably confusing and a bit of a spoiler for other books in the series if you haven't read the earlier books first.

I began The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo last night, and I'm up to page 329. It seems like a family murder rather than a political one, with cutthroat business practices thrown in. I like it so far, and I've got a reserve request in at my library (#74!) for the second book when it arrives later this summer.

>141 margespl:--thanks for the info about the "what's next" feature. I read a lot of series and that's a useful link!

#151 Hi, tymfos, and welcome! You'll be adding a lot of new books to your TBR list if you hang around with these bookaholics very long. Okay, I admit it, I'm a bookaholic too. No will power at all when it comes to reading.

Anyway, about the Mallory mysteries ~ I love that series! Winter House is one of my favorites, but Find Me is probably the best of all. I cried so hard at the end, and I NEVER cry anymore over books. I also loved Judas Child, which is not part of the series but nonetheless wonderful.

#147 Interesting comparison, CD1am. I recently read Arruda's Mark of the Lion and, though I enjoyed it while I was reading it, I don't feel a burning need to run out and read the next in the series. I'll have to give Huxley a try.

>#151 Thanks for the greeting! I'm already seeing that this group and others on LT are causing my "wish list" to grow very long.

I haven't read Judas Child yet, but I've read all the Mallory series, I think. I see Carol O'Connell has another stand-alone book out now, Bone by Bone. I'm thinking of tackling that one next, if I can get my hands on it.

I've never heard of the Kathleen Mallory series, but reading the description of the first book Mallory's Oracle makes me think Mallory was modelled on Eve Dallas, Nora Roberts's heroine of the "in Death" series. Street urchin taken in by cop and mentored?

Had a bit of a historic mystery binge over the last week - Jester Leaps in by Alan Gordon, the second book in the very entertaining Fools' Guild mysteries (Medieval), followed by A broken vessel and whom the gods love, the second and third books in Kate Ross's excellent Julian Kestrel mysteries (Regency).

#146 - it's a pleasure! I'd never come across her either, but I have a BookMooch friend who seems to be turning into my personal recommendation machine - she's also got me into the CSU Investigation books by D H Dublin, which are really enjoyable for forensic fans ...

> 150
I enjoyed Mrs. Pargeter. She appears so sweet and innocent but her husband's friends are something else. A great combination. Simon Brett has interesting characters, like Charlie Paris, a mostly resting actor.

#156 Just my opinion, but read Judas Child first. I wasn't so impressed with Bone by Bone. OTOH, I'd be interested to know your opinion after you've read both.

#157 I've read both series, and, other than that and the fact they are both set in NYC, there's no resemblance.

Just finished Turn Coat by Jim Butcher, which is urban fantasy (not to everyone's taste) but also a whodunnit, with wizard detective Harry Dresden trying to get to the bottom of who framed one high profile wizard as the apparent killer of another. Like the others in the series, it's a page-turner, and kept me up late last night to finish it. Good characters and humor, twists and turns.

I'm enjoying One Ranger by Joaquin Jackson. It's a true story written by a retired Texas Ranger and has mystery, humor and police procedural characteristics.

I also read The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - and why won't this touchstone? I almost gave up on it because it looked like being mostly political, and I had political thrillers. But I'm glad I stayed in there. I stayed up too late last night because I couldn't put it down.

Just finished "Shadow of Betrayal" by Brett Battles. The follow up to "The Deceived" and "The Cleaner."
Battles does a wonderful job with the plotting and dialogue of this book.
Jonathan Quinn is back with his girlfriend Orlando and protege Nate.
Their goal is to stop a terrorist plot and they have to find out what it is and then stop the terrorists from performing their terrorism.
The author tells us that he was influenced by Alistair MacLean and Jack Higgins. This is easy to see from the constant action, drama and characterization.
Read this one, you'll be glad you did.

I'm just finishing 'When Will There Be Good News?' by Kate Atkinson. It's the third of her literary crime novels featuring Jackson Brodie, and it's brilliant as her books always are.

Going to start Jeffrey Deaver's new one Roadside Crosses. It features Kathryn Dance from a previous novel.

>161 Storeetllr: OK, thanks for the suggestion -- I'll read Judas Child first.

Reading The Dogs of Riga by Henning Mankell.About a Swedish police detective. There were 3 of his books featured on PBS Masterpiece Theater about a month ago, I am really enjoying the books.

#168 tymfos ~ Oh the pressure! I really HOPE you like it! :)

I am reading The Water Room, book 2 in the Peculiar Crimes Unit series. I'm almost done. I'm enjoying it - I still haven't figured out how it was done.

I loved Judas Child!

Just starting Silks by Dick Francis and his son Felix. I re-read a lot of Francis in June so now I look forward to a new one!

#171. It's intriguing isn't it. I love the description of the mural. If you like Bryant and May, you may enjoy Seventy-seven Clocks, The Ten-Second Staircase, White Corridors and The Victoria Vanishes. And I think Christopher Fowler has a new hard-back out in July.

Finished J.A. Jance's "Damage Control" ('Joanna Brady' series). Now, reading "Dust" by Martha Grimes (#21 'Richard Jury' series), as always, an enjoyable read.
One of Martha Grimes stand-alone mysteries "Foul Matter", which I read some time ago, is interesting in part because it's 'behind the scenes' look at the book publishing business.

Just starting in on the 3rd of the Jack Parlabane books, Boiling a Frog, by Christopher Brookmyre.

cmbohn, I'm halfway through The Water Room myself. I'm glad I found these books; Bryant's eccentricities are too charming to pass up. And the mysteries themselves are tricksy.

#172 Thanks, lindasbooks! I didn't like being alone out there on that limb. :)

It was an amazing book, wasn't it!

I'm starting a new series for me Jefferson Bass's Carved in Bone. I love starting new series - the excitement of a chance for new love.

For anyone who was also surprised to discover that French writer Fred Vargas is a woman, her first name is short for Frédérique.

>170 Storeetllr:, 172, 178 Now I really want to read Judas Child!

But it looks like I'll have to wait till I can get it through Interlibrary Loan. In the meantime, The Odds by Kathleen George is waiting for me on the library's hold shelf, so I'm going to try that next. I read a review of it in the newspaper, and it sounded interesting -- though I gather I'm coming in on the middle of a series with it.

I just finished Dead Cert by Dick Francis and started The Man in the Brown Suit by Agatha Christie

Broken Heartland by J.M. Hayes latest of the Mad Dog and Englishman mysteries set in Kansas.

I've just found this group and am shuddering at what you're all going to do to the book mountain in my house!

Like cindysprocket, I've just finished The Dogs of Riga, and couldn't stop reading till I was done, at 4 a.m. I loved the bleak Swedish/Latvian winter setting and am now trying to find all the Wallander books as fast as I can. Any opinions on whether I should go backwards and read Faceless Killers first? I've found a few of the others already and have a long plane trip tomorrow...

Just finished The devil in the music by Kate Ross. The Julian Kestrel books just got better and better as the series went on. Devastated to learn that she died in 1998 and there are no more...

cmt- I would highly suggest you backtrack and read the 1st. It's very good. I ,too have The Dogs of Riga, perched on my mount and need to get to it. (yeah,right!)

#186 Thanks msf59. Will look at the airport bookshop today.

I just finished Silks by Dick and Felix Francis. It lacked the lightness and pace of most of his titles. Now I am moving to Gail Bowen. I have her latest The Brutal Heart but I will re-read her last one in the series The Endless Knot first so things are fresh in my mind. I often do this if there are a couple of years between titles.

Touchstone is incorrect for The Endless Knot - wrong author.

Just finished Galatea and Past All Dishonor by James M. Cain. Next: maybe some Henning Mankell, after watching the excellent Kenneth Branagh televersion.

This is my first time posting in this group, as I generally only read one or two mysteries each year. Anyway, I just finished Milk and Honey by Faye Kellerman. It's the third in her Decker/Lazerus series. Normally, I wouldn't start a series in the middle like that, but the back cover description attracted me to this one. Overall, I enjoyed it quite a bit. I liked the characters as well as the mystery plot. I didn't find starting at the third book any sort of disadvantage.

I can't believe I didn't mention it earlier this week that I was reading The Night Gardener by George Pelecanos. It was very good. Reminded me of Lush Life ~ not the story or even the writing, just the way he handled the dialogue and portrayed the D.C. neighborhoods.

Just started Dead Beat by Jim Butcher, which, although a fantasy, could also be considered a mystery thriller, just one with otherworldly creatures in it.

Reading "Takeover" by Lisa Black.
A debut novel with the lead character a forensic scientist.
Listed as a work that would grab the reader with its suspense but so far, disappointing.

I finally finished the audiobook of The Blessing Way. It was good, but I found it a little disappointing. The end seemed to just sort of explain everything and tie it all up neatly without showing the reader how Leaphorn got there. It was just - "Boom! this is what happened and why, but you don't need to see it for yourself." I hear that the series gets better, so I will give it another try. I did enjoy the setting and the characters.

Having recently finished Camilleri's excellent The Voice of the Violin, I've started writing reviews, which I have now posted for The Shape of Water and The Terracotta Dog. Will tackle the rest when time allows :)

I finished The Empire of the Wolves by Jean-Christophe Grange, it was set in modern day Paris and concerned Turkish immigrants and rogue medical/scientific experiments conducted by the French government. It had such a promising premise, but the execution was very poor. It was a translation so maybe not the author's fault, but it was a chore to read and I didn't really care about the characters or events.

I am now starting Fearless Fourteen by Janet Evanovich. It is light and fluffy and funny. Hopefully it will clear me of the reading doldrums.

I'm listening to Down River by John Hart so far - very good!

I'm nothing if not consistent. Now on Be My Enemy which is the fourth Jack Parlabane book by Christopher Brookmyre. The best of the lot so far as I've only just put it down as I need to go get some shopping done if I want to eat tonight.

> 193 I found the Leaphorn mysteries get better as you go along. The earlier ones don't have the depth of the later ones.

I'm finishing State of the Onion by Julie Hyzy, the debut novel in her White House chef series. Very enjoyable.

And next up is The Fourth Bear. I can't wait.

I finished Fearless Fourteen, very funny and enjoyable. I am now in Roman Britain and Gaul with Persona Non Grata by Ruth Downie.

I discovered Karin Fossum's Inspector Sejer mysteries this month when I brought home the first 3 from our library book sale. Very good character-driven psychological mysteries...Fossum reminds me of a Norwegian Ruth Rendell. I'm getting ready to start Black Seconds next.

Oh, another favorite from this month: Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith. Just excellent and I can't wait to read the next one!

Smell: I loved that book! I didn't know there was another one?!?

#202 - The Secret Speech is the sequel to Child 44, and according to the author on the Barnes & Noble "Center Stage" forum (June 1-5, 2009), he is currently writing the third in what will be a trilogy...

"I am about forty thousand words through the third book, which is about a third in terms of content. It's the last book in the trilogy. Just as the book is about the stories of our main characters coming to an end, it is set against the backdrop of the regime which is also coming to an end. Those two things intertwine." - Source

I just started Too Close to Home by Linwood Barclay.

I finally got around to The Fourth Bear by Jasper Fforde and am enjoying it thoroughly.

Dead Angler by Victoria Houston.

Death-Watch by John Dickson Carr. Rereading some old paperbacks to decrease $$ spent on books!

201 - I loved Child 44 also. Just checked out the sequel from library yesterday. Checked out and started Bloodprint by Kitty Sewell.

I am reading Real Murders Charlaine Harris.

#208-Have you read any other books by Kitty Sewell? I just picked up Ice Trap

I plan on having a lazy day tomorrow and getting in some quality reading time, I have Sweet Dreams, Irene by Jan Burke waiting in the wings for me. This is the second book in the series about reporter Irene Kelly and her police detective boyfriend, Frank Harriman.

#201 & #208 - I got it now too - can't wait to start it! And I will be on the lookout for Book #3.