October 2010 What We Are Reading

I've finished and reviewed the second Inspector Montalbano mystery, The Terra-Cotta Dog, in my thread...post #58.

Delicious, and so very true even though it's fiction. I believe each character would do exactly what they're written to do, were they real. And it's a pity they're not.

and do you like the notes by the translator at the end of the book? Sartarelli explains some of the references, and the history, and the choices he made for translation. I think they add to the experience so much.

*drumming fingers* waiting for the next book

I just started Room, which might fit in the genre of Crime, Thriller & Mystery.

Oh yes! The notes are great! I find myself second-guessing most translators, and this one just goes on and gives me all his reasoning and good night.

*sigh* I'm halfway through the first read of The Snack Thief. Oh the joy! But the Jindo is promoting me to take her out. Needs must when the bladder drives, I suppose.

The California Roll, a hilarious tale of grift, cross and double cross and double cross again.

Hello October, thread. Back later when I have a book to talk about. :)

I've just started The Redbreast by Jo Nesbo - my first by this author. It seems promising - it remains to be seen if I'll get attached to the characters as I did in the Wallander novels.

Destination Unknown was a different kind of Agatha Christie book, sort of a spy thriller with scientists, and for me was only so-so. Now I'm going to re-read her Cat Among the Pigeons. I'm also reading Barry Eisler's thriller, Fault Line.

I'm almost halfway through Ann Cleeves's Raven Black situated on UK's Shetland Islands and the first winner of the prestigious Duncan Lawrie Dagger Award for the best crime novel of the year. Finding myself really liking the characters so far - especially lonely old daft Magnus Tait. I hope he doesn't turn out to be the killer...

>8 CindyBytes: Cindy - I love the Shetland Island series and am looking forward to reading the 4th and final when my library gets its copies!

I'm reading an arc of Dennis Lehane's Moonlight Mile.

#9 coppers, I don't know why it took me a long time to buy Raven Black. I resisted for eons, however, now I'm planning on adding the second in the series to my bookshelf... I hope they are all as good as the first one seems to be.

*Update: Couldn't wait - went ahead and purchased White Nights (Shetland Quartet 2) on Amazon...

>9 Copperskye: I'm a big fan of Lahane's Kenzie & Gennaro books. Can't wait to get a copy of the latest.

I'm trying to figure out The Name of the Rose.

I read The Name of the Rose twice. Difficult to keep track of everything the first time through. Slightly easier the second time. But still a chore.

#12 & 13 Read The Name of the Rose earlier this year. Although I wrote an extensive review the truth is I'm still trying to figure it out. A mind boggling experience.

Edited to fix typo.

12, 13, 14 -- The Name of the Rose is one of my all-time favorite books, however, it reads easier if you skim thru the many monologues on religious philosophy.

Read the second book in Louise Penny's Inspector Gamadge series, A Fatal Grace aka Dead Cold. (Why do they change the title's of books?) I've really enjoyed the first two books EXCEPT the business with the boss who seems to hate him, the best friend who seems to be involved in a conspiracy against him, and the unfinished business with a previous case that now after two books has still not been explained. What was "the Arnot case"? Will we ever find out any details?

Now reading short stories from The Mysterious West edited by Tony Hillerman. Based on her short story in this book, I've decided I'm not interested in the Kate Shugak Alaska series. Could not get into the character, and hated the ending. It was like the first Nevada Barr book, where the main character leaves the injured criminal to be killed and eaten by wild animals. Hard-boiled is one thing, but that is definitely cruel and unusual punishment. I can't relate to a "hero" who would do something like that.

I'm reading Emma Lathen's East is East Her later books (from Something in the Air on) don't have quite the same flavor as the earlier ones; still, this seems to be holding my attention.

Just picked up the latest Penny, Bury Your Dead. So far, of course, so good.

>15 CD1am: The Arnot case gets explained in the 3rd book, so keep going!

Finished and reviewed The Snack Thief, and despite a serious withdrawal, have to wait for the next one (Voice of the Violin) because I owe an author a review. *aaargh*

For all you Kurt Wallender fans out there: Masterpiece Theater is premiering Faceless Killers on PBS tonight. Unfortunately, I missed the 1st installment, I will not miss this one.

Oh, Mark ~ this is one of the only times I miss having a TV! I've got Faceless Killers on my iPod to listen to ~ it will be my first Wallender and I'm really looking forward to it.

Maybe I'll be able to get the DVD of the PBS production from the library sometime and watch it.

Just started The Hollow Man by John Dickson Carr. Vintage Stuff!

Unorna

Mary- How is the audio for the Faceless Killers? I've only read the first 2 Wallender books but I do have the 3rd on the shelf. I hope to get to it by the end of the year.

Haven't started it yet, Mark. I'll let you know.

I've finished and reviewed Voice of the Violin, the fourth of Camilleri's Inspector Montalbano Sicilian police procedurals. It's in my thread...post #117.

I've also introduced a new format for my reviews, so I'd really appreciate y'all taking a minute to read it and comment on it.

Started my first Sarah Waters, Fingersmith. I'm already loving the language and terminology and feel happily immersed in the Victorian era.

I'm almost finished with Wicked Witch Murder by Leslie Meier. It's the first Lucy Stone mystery that I've read; it's a fun book.

Mark,
Watched Faceless Killers last night. I wonder when they played the first installment. Our PBS station showed an Inspector Lewis last week. Faceless was good.

>26 KAzevedo: I loved Fingersmith. Enjoy!

>28 cindysprocket: I don't know when it was broadcast, but I have the dvd on hold at the library.

Cindy- I'm glad you liked it! I have it recorded and hope to get to it later in the week! I'm not sure why they filmed them out of order.

Joanne- Faceless Killers just aired this past Sunday on PBS. There might be repeats!

Barry Eisler's Fault Line was a pretty good thriller. For me the brothers' psychodrama was a bit tedious, but the rest was a good read.

I liked the premise and was enjoying Fault Line until I got to the brothers bickering. It bothered me so much, I stopped reading. Can you recommend something else by Eisler?

Yes! I've really enjoyed his John Rain books, starting with Rain Fall. No bickering brothers, and a fast, intense pace.

I'm currently reading Crush : a Karen Vail novel by Alan Jacobson.

About half-way through Never End by Ake Edwardson and the tension is building nicely.... Who is concealing what from the investigating team? It's so hot in Gothenburg and I wish Erik Winter would stop smoking.

Just finished A Study in Terror by Ellery Queen. A Sherlock Holmes meets Jack the Ripper novel.
A waste of time imho.

I just started The Hot Pink Farmhouse by David Handler

I am three chapters into Iain Banks Wasp Factory and all I can say is WOW! This book puts you into the mind of a very disturbed young person, you experience his shifting realities and strange imagery, It's black humor and strange twists have totally caught me, and I am loving it so far but I can see this is not a book for everyone - just weirdos like me!

I finished White Sky, Black Ice recently. It reminded me of Tony Hillerman's books. I liked the setting, but wasn't crazy about the rest.

I just finished an ebook: Loose Ends by Terri Reid

Finished While the Light Lasts by the wonderful Agatha Christie. Every book makes me love her more! My review is here,

http://www.librarything.com/review/65132826

Or my 75 Books Challenge thread 2010,

http://www.librarything.com/topic/98949

I've just started Ashes to Dust by Yrsa Sigurdardottir. Only 1 chapter in, but already promising.

Finished East is East and liked it o.k. Not the grandly funny Emma Lathen of her earlier career but fine. Next up is Serpent on the Crown by Elizabeth Peters. I love the Amelia Peabody series.

I've just finished and reviewed the fifth Inspecror Montalbano mystery, Excursion to Tindari, in my thread...post #205.

Most series mysteries sag a little about this point, the author seeming to run out of new and fresh things to do with the characters. Not this series, not yet anyway. Truly wonderful stuff, and from all signs only getting better!

I've just started Wicked Prey by John Sandford. It's a little creepy in the beginning, but I'm staying with it, of course. His Lucas Davenport books are always great.

I am starting The Salaryman's Wife by Sujata Massey.

It is the first in the Rei Shimura series. It is set in modern Japan.

It is for a RL book group.

Just started The Darkest Room by Johan Theorin.

Getting the characters and background set up for this
Swedish thriller.

Finished Serpent on the Crown and The Spy who came in from the Cold Next up: Pleading Guilty by Scott Turow, whom I haven't read in years. I may decide to tackle his his new one, too.

I am reading Relic by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child, it is so good so far, I am impressed.

I finished The Salaryman's Wife and Zen Attitude by both by Sujata Massey. Mysteries for a RL book group.

It is set in modern Japan, and I am enjoying them, mostly. They are interesting and well written, but I don't much like the main character.

Rei is half Japanese and half American, and living in Japan. She seems to go out of her way to be offended by the innocuous.

The author also is annoying in that she introduces supporting characters, and then sends them off stage. Happened in the first book, is set up at the end of the 2nd book. Will see if she carries it out in book 3.

I am about to start The Flower Master.

Finally finished The President Vanishes. Enough said.

I'm reading Harlan Coben's re-release of his 1st book Play Dead, so far very good! After I've read this then I've read his complete works.

And on the Ipod I've got going Tom Rob Smith's The Secret Speech, also good so far.

Just started Cold Granite by Stuart MacBride.

I recently read Hawksmoor by Peter Ackroyd which I absolutely hated. Have any of you read it and liked it?

>55 Carrotlady: I tried to listen to Hawksmoor on audio awhile back. Not even the compelling voice of Derek Jacobi could coax me to continue on with it after about the second disk. Bored the heck out of me. I thought it was just me.

#56 I try never to abandon a book midway through, but I have to say I did come close with that one. If that had been the very first book I had ever read in my life, I wouldn't have read a second!

Finished As Husbands Go by Susan Isaacs.

Read Pleading Guilty by Scott Turow quite avidly, but decided at the end that I didn't like any of the characters much.

Just bought The Reversal audio book - my first audio book. The first disk will not play! Pfui!

I recently began Death of a Salesperson, a collection of short stories by mystery writer Robert Barnard.

>55 Carrotlady: Carrotlady.... I read Hawksmoor many years ago and enjoyed it. It certainly wasn't an easy read and I seem to remember it was the feeling of place (particularly 18th Century London) that impressed me most about the book, plus Ackroyd's take on the connection between past and present.

I'd like to read Hawksmoor again: Thanks for reminding me about it.

Certainly not an 'ordinary' book.

#61--rocketjk--Let us know what you think of Barnard. I read a lot of his books in the 80's and thought he was funny as all get out.

#63> Bjace, Will do! I read the first story in the collection and enjoyed it.

As is usual for me with collections and anthologies, I won't be reading this straight through, but will be reading one story at a time between the full-length novels and histories I read. I usually have a stack of such books and call them my "between books." It's a funny system, but it works for me. At any rate, I'll be reading another of the stories today or tomorrow, as I'm currently working my way though the "between book" stack!

I finished The Flower Master by Sujata Massey, and she did flush another set of characters. Still it was interesting.

Now reading The Floating Girl the next book in the series.

Halfway through Pandaemonium by Christopher Brookmyre - it's not the book I was expecting, but it's certainly holding my attention.

I finished Worst Nightmares, about a serial killer who finds victims through his online therapy site. Didn't do it for me, but it looks like plenty of other readers loved it.

I finished Revelation by C. J. Sansom.

I'm reading The Case of the Missing Servant and I'm really enjoying it. If you're looking for a traditional detective story, but with something different, this is it.

I am 3/4 of the way through The Capitol Game by Brian Haig. A stand alone novel that I am enjoying. I liked his Sean Drummond books also. I just finished The Lion by Nelson Demill. I like the John Corey books a lot. Good character.

Started Valley of Bones by Michael Gruber

The Darkest Room was a very scary book, really good haunted house story.

Now I'm reading Fear the Worst by Linwood Barclay. I've enjoyed several Barclay thrillers before, so I have great expectations.

Finished the creepy The Haunting of Hill House and have just started The Pure in Heart by Susan Hill, the second book in the Simon Serrailler series.

I'll be starting Sharp Objects, by Gillian Flynn. I'm also reading a graphic based on Richard Stark's Parker: The Hunter. It's an interesting update. Any Westlake fans out there?

I started Sweetheart by Chelsea Cain, the second in the series.

Just started reading "Wicked Witch Murder" by Leslie Meier. Quite appropriate for this time of year.

I've just started Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane. I have high hopes.

Bury Your Dead was one of the best in Louise Penny's Three Pines series. Chief Inspector Gamache continues to be an exceptionally appealing and moving character.

Now I'm back at the girls' school in Cat Among the Pigeons. I've figured out where the important whatjamajig is hidden, but now someone's been murdered and the game is afoot.

If it counts, I'm listening to Native Tongue by Carl Hiaasen. Just love how he gives props to his buddy Warren Zevon whenever possible. RIP, Warren.

Historical true crime title: The Fall of the House of Walworth by O'Brien. Set during the Gilded Age period of American history, when Saratoga Springs was a destination for the wealthy.

i just wrapped up Mischief in Maggody

I've finished and reviewed Camilleri's fifth Montalbano mystery, The Smell of the Night, in my thread...#64.

Thirteen Hours by Deon Meyer
Just finished The Killer's Art by Mari Jungstgedt which I enjoyed.

Halfway through Ask For Me Tomorrow by Margaret Millar. Um, why have I never read anything by this author before? It's tremendous--elegantly constructed, with snappy dialog and fully realized characters. She writes just as well as Mr. Millar.

I started In The Woods. So far, fantastic.

And on to the sixth Montalbano mystery, this one about the Sicilian institution of smuggling, brought to a whole new depth of depravity...post #112. It's called Rounding the Mark, a title I think is just flat awful in its flat, unevocative blahness.

Just finished Hard Girls by Martina Cole set in Londons east end Kate Burrows come out of retirement to investigate the killing of prostitutes A really good read Martina Cole is extremely popular in the Uk Some of her books have gone to TV About to start a PD James Inspector Dalgliesh novel A Certain Justice. Have not done as much reading as i would have liked. Life has been rather busy. Hope to remedy this now as i think things are calming down

I just finished listening to The Reversal - my first audio book in many years, since they were on cassette tapes! Connelly will be a book signing near me tomorrow. I'll try to drop by and meet one of my favorite authors.

I've just read 'The Shadows in the street' by susan hill. As good as ever, but as with previous, i guessed the murderer early on. Her characters are so believable.

I just finished Dead Jitterbug

Never Let Me Go will be a hard act to follow, but Peter Robinson's Bad Boy (thanks, Early Reviewer program) may do the trick. Only a few of pages of setup and we're in the thick of the mystery already. I'm really liking this.

About halfway through Cold Granite by Stuart Macbride. Quite enjoying it and quite glad I don't live in constantly raining Aberdeen (with apols to anyone who does!).

Having finished Shutter Island I have to admit that I trawled the net to make sure I'd got the ending 'right' as wasn't too sure. It appears others had to check as well.

>43 dannybrown76: I've been trying to get a copy of her 3rd, with no luck. Always out of stock at the BD (even with repeated notification). Figured I'd just buy in when I'm in the UK next month... Let me know how it is!

I'm halfway through The Complaints by Ian Rankin. First Rankin novel I've been interested in since Rebus retired. It's fab thus far!

I just finished up The Man Who Smiled, now I'm reading The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest, and I'm waiting to borrow Sidetracked next.

My goal is to read the Wallander series in order of publication.

Reading some Armand Gamauche - The Murder Stone by Louise Penny.

>95 dharmalita: Saw The Man Who Smiled on Masterpiece Mystery last week. How was the book? I've only read a couple Wallanders - not that one.

ETA a left out word.

Just started Ancestor by Scott Sigler. Seems good so far.

Am almost finished with and just loving Persona Non Grata by Ruth Downie, my ER for, I think, July. I read the first two in the series (set in Roman Britain in around the time of Hadrian) and liked them all right, but I think this one is much much more enjoyable.

I'm enjoying The Lost City of Z right now. These Amazon explorers strike me as nuts! What a harsh place to try and survive.

>97 etrainer: I thought The Man Who Smiled was a decent edition to the series. Not one of my favorites, but I did enjoy reading it. I recorded the Masterpiece movie because I wanted to watch it after I finished reading the novel.

If you haven't read them yet, I recommend Faceless Killers and One Step Behind. Those are my favorites so far, but I still have a few more to go.

>101 dharmalita: I did read Faceless Killers and enjoyed it. Also read Firewall. I don't remember much about it.

Just started The Sleeping Doll by Jeffery Deaver, so glad it's not a Lincoln Rhyme as I'm a bit bored with him and Amelia now.

finished Aunt Dimity's Death calling it a mystery is a stretch, whimsy is closer to the truth.

>102 etrainer: Did you watch Faceless Killers on Masterpiece Mystery? I think it's a bit sad how much of the novel the writers take out to make the movie fit into 90 minutes. They even changed the outcome somewhat to modernize the story and there were a few scenes added.

The oddest difference is that in the novels Wallander is adamant about not carrying a gun which is weird because he's a cop, but in the series he always seems to have a gun with him.

Now reading a thriller/mystery. Set in Siberia when the USSR is still a going concern. Red Snow by Edward Topol

I just finished Dissolution, by C. J. Sansom, which I whipped through in two days. I found Shardlake's naivete annoying and rather implausible; I was glad to see him disillusioned. But I enjoyed the book, and I'm forcibly restraining myself from immediately getting the other books in the series.

Instead, for now I'm moving on to Beautiful Ghosts, by Eliot Pattison, one of his Inspector Shan Tao Yun books set in Tibet.

I'm nearly finished with The Damage Done by Hilary Davidson. It's her first novel and it's terrific.

I'm reading my third Yashim the Eunuch historical crime mystery, The Snake Stone, by Jason Goodwin. Like his others it is intelligent and evocative.

Starting the Rex Stout mystery, Plot It Yourself for my Monthly Author Reads Group. This will be my first Nero Wolfe.

I just started Angel Interrupted after enjoying the first dead detective book, Desolate Angel.

>110 Porua: I really enjoy Nero Wolfe. I hope you like the book(s) as much as I do! There's a dormant Nero Wolfe group (you may already know this) at http://www.librarything.com/groups/theblackorchidanero.

Just started The Kingsbridge Plot by Maan Meyers which takes place on the eve of the Revolutionary War. The new coroner for New York has just finished an autopsy on a headless body.

Have picked up The Poet by Michael Connelly after it was highly recommended to me. Rather good so far.

The Nero Wolfe group isn't dormant - it's just resting.

# 112 Thank you, etrainer. Yes, I do know of the group. I’ve only just begun Plot It Yourself. It’s too early to say whether I like it or not. It's okay so far.

I started The Dramatist by Ken Bruen, the 4th featuring Jack Taylor and it felt like running into an old friend. He is one of my top crime writers and I'm surprised I don't see his name mentioned here, more often. Please check him out!

I finished Red Snow by Edward Topol. It was thriller set in the USSR in the 80s in Siberia. Its the type of book I usually like, but it was badly written.

Characters were lifeless, 'newspaper ' story inserts, and lots of official titles and memos in place of actual story.

Had some interesting parts about the natives in Siberia, but too little.

American Assassin by Vince Flynn starts out great. I'm a quarter way through it. Great for Mitch Rapp fans.

I'm enjoying the new Jack Reacher thriller, Worth Dying For. They've got him in a real pickle at the moment.

Finished The Man with a Load of Mischief by Martha Grimes her first Richard Jury. I am now reading The Old Fox Deceiv'd. I so enjoyed the characters, decided to read another.

Jack Reacher got out of the pickle in Worth Dying For, thanks to misjudgment by the pickle-imposers, and finished out another good one in the series.

I also finished Cat Among the Pigeons, a solid Agatha Christie mystery, with Hercule Poirot popping up in the last part to solve it.

I'm waiting for Ken Bruen's The Guards to arrive, a recommendation of an LTer.

Just started The Thieves of Manhattan. Not sure yet, but I'm only about 20 pages in.

Finished my first Nero Wolfe mystery, Plot It Yourself. It was good but not wholly satisfying. My review is here,

http://www.librarything.com/review/65626650

Or my 75 Books Challenge thread,

http://www.librarything.com/topic/98949

Read my first Kate Atkinson, Case Histories, which I thought was fantastic. Loved the separate plotlines, the way she doesn't spell everything out, and the interesting, detailed characters. Have the second in the series, but trying to hold off for now.

>126 KAzevedo: I love Atkinson's Jackson Brodie books, too. I'm planning on rereading them sometime. The 4th book is coming out next spring sometime (March maybe?).

I just finished Susan Hill's The Pure in Heart and it is shaping up to be a wonderful series!

Recently read Connelly's latest, The Reversal. Typically terrific.

Now reading more vintage crime, Ross Thomas's The Fools in Town Are on Our Side and John D. McDonald's first Travis McGee, The Deep Blue Good-by. Both so good I'm a little spoiled for contemporary stuff. Next up will be another Margaret Millar, Beast in View. Can't wait!

edited to adjust my boneheaded misnaming of Ross Thomas as Ross Thompson. Doh!

>128 BeckyJG: Ooooh, Becky ~ I can't wait to get my hands on the new Connelly!

Right now I'm in the middle of Palace of Justice, the latest Aristide Ravel mystery. It is so good, I read about half of it in one sitting last night, staying up way past my bedtime to do it, and I can't wait to get back to it tonight.

Lost Girls by Andrew Pyper
False Mermaid by Erin Hart in audio

Thirteen Hours is a dynamite read.

Reviews: http://www.librarything.com/work/6937992/reviews/65971794

Decided to ditch The Thieves of Manhattan in favor of Murder in Grub Street the second in this series. I really loved the first one.

Reading Thirteen Hours by Deon Meyer. Really good so far - about at hour 7.

I am reading Killer Weekend by Ridley Pearson. It's not bad - not great either - somewhere in the middle.

Sorry - got the Touchstones all wrong. Here goes again.

I just read some P.D James and Jonathan Kellerman. Reading Patricia Cornwell's Predator now. So far, I'm not too impressed with this one.

Picked up Agatha Christie's Dumb Witness, aka Poirot Loses a Client, which looks good, and I'm a ways into the first Jack Taylor book, The Guards, and enjoying it.

I am about to start Charm City, the second Tess Monaghan book by Laura Lippman.

#139 Judy that is just too funny! I was without a book and in a rush one day this week and readCharm City and then I finished Butcher's Hill last night.

Want to guess what I am reading now? Yep, In Big Trouble. Hopefully I will stop soon and finish my 1010 Challenge lol!

#140 Lisa - I am liking Tess Monaghan more and more as I read. I can see that I will be on the lookout for the next one soon. As often happens, I am following in your footsteps!

Just finishing The girl who played with fire by Stieg Larsson .

Reading the James Lee Burke series with Dave Robicheaux,Burning Angel and A Stained White Radiance.Just began the Amos Walker series by Loren D Estleman.Borrowing up to four library books weekly and reading most or all before the two weeks have ended.

Halfway through Hypothermia
Just finished Part 1 of audiobook False Mermaid

Bought today for TBR pile "Memory Book" by Howard Engel (Does not seem to be a touchstone for title)

I should come on here more often because due to richardderus (et al) I've started my first Andrea Camilleri with Inspetor Montalbano in The Snack Thief. This might turn out to be an addiction.

Just finished the audio book of THE GLASS RAINBOW by James Lee Burke. His best yet, I think.

#143 I love Loren D. Estleman and his Amos Walker series. Have you tried any of his Detroit series? A book for each decade begining during prohibition. Jitterbug, which takes place during WWII, is one of the best books I've read.

Currently I'm reading and searching for those private detective series that have been fictionalized both on TV and in movies.Charlie Chan is on my top five list right now...

I'm down to just two Daniel Silva books, and already feeling withdrawal.

Can anyone recommend a series or author that is similar to his stuff? I have to add that I've listened to them on audio, and have been blown away by the narration, dialects, and accents the readers (John Lee does many of the Silva books, but not all) of the readers which has only added to the experience.

I collect Daniel Silva so I know what you are talking about. I can highly recommend the following authors: Vince Flynn, Lee Child, Christopher Reich, Robert Crais, Joseph Finder, Thomas Perry, and David Baldacci.

Having finished (and loved) Murder in Grub Street, I am now reading The Untouchables and, so far, very glad I took the chance on it.

My second Inspector Montalbano - The Terracotta Dog by Andrea Camilleri

Hi! The November thread of What We Are Reading is here,

http://www.librarything.com/topic/101618

Edited to fix typo.

Thanks, dyarington for the suggestions. I'll start checking them out.