Messages

31

Welcome and General Discussion / Re: Interesting article about bookplates

« on: January 23, 2021, 10:32:21 pm »

In author Vicki Delany's most recent newsletter, she mentioned sending bookplates and bookmarks to anyone who requested them. I sent off my request and just the other day I got an envelope in the mail with the signed bookplate and a few bookmarks to share with my fellow book fans and eventually some of the mystery book club members if we ever get back to having meetings.

32

What I'm Reading / Re: MARION LANE AND THE MIDNIGHT MURDER: AN INQUIRERS MYSTERY by T.A. Willberg

« on: January 22, 2021, 03:50:10 am »

I haven't read anything from this author before. Let me know how the book turns out.

33

What I'm Reading / Re: My latest read is...

« on: January 20, 2021, 02:35:20 pm »

I'm glad you are liking THE NIGHT AGENT.

And yeah, it was weird that I did no reading the other night.

That book should come with a warning. I finished it at 3:30 a.m. WOW! He's the new Robert Ludlum.

Only thing - I woke up at 5 a.m. with the name of one character flashing in my head like it was on a movie marquee. I don't want to give any spoilers but this is going to drive me nuts. This morning I went through all the scenes with this character and my question still stands. Maybe this character is being saved for another book? Aauugghhhh!!!

The only reason I didn't finish the book in one go is that I actually passed out in exhaustion. But I love the warning label idea for the book. You should check out his book from last year called THE HOUR OF THE ASSASSIN.

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What I'm Reading / Re: My latest read is...

« on: January 20, 2021, 03:49:31 am »

I'm glad you are liking THE NIGHT AGENT.

And yeah, it was weird that I did no reading the other night.

35

What I'm Reading / Re: My latest read is...

« on: January 19, 2021, 03:25:59 pm »

I'm just starting COLD WIND by Paige Shelton. I meant to start it yesterday but I got a headache and I decided to pass on reading at all last night.

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What I'm Reading / Re: My latest read is...

« on: January 19, 2021, 03:51:15 am »

You will love the Matthew Quirk book.

37

What I'm Reading / Re: My latest read is...

« on: January 17, 2021, 10:32:55 am »

I finished the James Grippando legal thriller TWENTY last night. I'll be submitting a review of the book to the magazine later today.

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What I'm Reading / Re: DEADLINE by John Dunning

« on: January 15, 2021, 04:25:37 am »

I'm not sure if I've ever read this book but it does seem familiar to me for some reason.

39

What I'm Reading / Re: BATS IN THE BELFRY, A London Mystery by E.C.R. Lorac

« on: January 14, 2021, 04:00:28 am »

I've found that when reading books that are set in the past, it is best to accept the fact that there are going to be lots of things that would offend how one thinks these days. You have to make the decision to either read it and move on or not read it at all. Simply because you know you are going to be upset with what was commonplace when the book was originally published and there is really nothing you can do to change that.

I know when I read Thomas Mullen's DARKTOWN I was constantly battling the urge to throw the book against the wall for all the racism that it was describing. This even as I knew that the author was simply telling a story set in a time when said racism was part and parcel of daily life. In the end, the captivating story won out and I ended up loving the book despite the aggravation.

40

What I'm Reading / Re: My latest read is...

« on: January 11, 2021, 03:50:24 am »

I'm still trying to finish the Donna Leon book. I've got about 50 pages to go.

41

What I'm Reading / Re: My latest read is...

« on: January 04, 2021, 03:40:04 pm »

I'm looking forward to reading your review!

If only I can figure out how to write it. I submitted one review today and I'll work on that one tomorrow. Oh, and I've started reading the third of four books I got advance copies of. It's Donna Leon's Transient Desires. It should prove interesting because I've never read her books before.

42

Top Ten Lists / Re: My Top 10 Mysteries & Thrillers of 2020!

« on: January 04, 2021, 03:37:28 pm »

How exciting! Authors are my kind of celebrities. I get very excited when an author friends me on Facebook!

Oh, and I discovered the attached on Leonard Goldberg's Facebook page. It is the banner photo on the page and that's a line from my review.

43

What I'm Reading / Re: My latest read is...

« on: January 03, 2021, 08:09:58 pm »

It took me a good long while, too long really, but I finished DEEP INTO THE DARK by P.J. Tracy today. Hopefully I can write a review and submit it to the magazine.

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Top Ten Lists / Re: My Top 10 Mysteries & Thrillers of 2020!

« on: January 03, 2021, 08:08:54 pm »

And today I read Matthew Quirk's HOUR OF THE ASSASSIN. I agree with you - it's a knock out! I want to read more of his books but I'm torn whether to read THE NIGHT AGENT or a book from one of his other series, maybe COLD BARREL ZERO or one of the Mike Ford books (The 500 and THE DIRECTIVE). I know you liked THE NIGHT AGENT. Is that the one you'd recommend?

I would absolutely recommend THE NIGHT AGENT. It was my favorite book of 2019.

By the way, of the 13 authors that I spotlighted in my article for this year, I've heard from 11 of them either on Facebook or Twitter. They've said thanks, retweeted and/or shared the article and some have started following me on Twitter. One even said that I was going to be at the top of their list for an advance copy when their next book came out. So that was kind of cool.

I don't go looking for that kind of stuff but it is nice to be appreciated enough that they share an article that is clearly not from an established website or anything.

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Top Ten Lists / Re: My Top 10 Mysteries & Thrillers of 2020!

« on: January 01, 2021, 08:00:45 am »

Well, I knew before I clicked on your post that it would be expensive for me. I've ordered a couple of your recommendations, and preordered another. I think I have Carlene O'Connor's book in my to-be-read pile, and, after reading your review of Matthew Quirk's book(s), I thought his name rang a bell. No wonder- I bought HOUR OF THE ASSASSIN when you mentioned earlier in the year, and it's been buried in a bin of waiting-to-be-read books that I just upended this morning to see what I was missing. The only books on your list I've read were the ones by Maddie Day and Margaret Dumas.


Now I have a question for any of you - I'm interested in a 2019 book called THE GHOST MANUSCRIPT by Kris Frieswick. It's a mystery with paranormal elements. The reviews I've read are so varied, I can't get a good feel for the book. I have so many books already in my waiting-to-be-read pile, it's not like I NEED to add another book to it. But I like King Arthur stories, I'm not averse to ghosts, and I like puzzles and quests. Have any of you read this book? I'd value your opinions. Thanks!

Well that's some high praise from you Becke, to order three books because I recommended them. Thanks...and I'm sorry to your wallet. 

As for the Kris Frieswick book, you are going to find this funny. I own the book. I haven't read it yet but I met the author at a store signing when the book was released and got my copy signed. It sounds great and if I can ever get through my pile of books I'm hoping to actually get to reading it someday. But her talk was excellent and I'd say go for it!