Messages

61

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

« on: December 27, 2020, 05:33:55 pm »

My plan to dig in and read a lot of books over the holidays isn't notably making tracks. I've been reading Ann Purser's THE HANGMAN'S ROW INQUIRY for several days. I like the book but it's very rowdy around here at the moment and it's hard to focus. Still, I'm almost finished. Wish me luck!

62

Welcome and General Discussion / Re: Giving Books as Gifts?

« on: December 27, 2020, 05:30:56 pm »

I received a non-book gift that I'm excited about - a card game called DEATH ON THE CARDS. The box says it is "A card game inspired by the works of Agatha Christie." I'm not sure how well this will work, since I'm the only one in this household who reads her books.

63

Welcome and General Discussion / Re: Giving Books as Gifts?

« on: December 27, 2020, 05:28:36 pm »

Here's the pic of me after unwrapping the surprise gift!

Great picture! Will you actually use the mug or will you save it for display?

64

Welcome and General Discussion / Re: Giving Books as Gifts?

« on: December 26, 2020, 12:17:41 pm »

What a great surprise! I gave my grandkids books, and they received two boxed sets - Amelia Bedelia and Humphrey the Hamster. Both my husband and son received the new Obama book, and my daughter-in-law received the new Tana French book and several books related to her job. My son had requested a couple economics related books which I got him, and my daughter had requested a couple books including PICNIC AT HANGING ROCK and a manga, VENUS IN THE BLIND SPOT by Junji Ito.

I received the Barnes & Noble book of the year: WORLD OF WONDERS, which looks really interesting
www.barnesandnoble.com/b/book-of-the-year/_/N-2tny

I also got a couple mysteries - I'll tell you about them as I get to them. :-)

65

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

« on: December 25, 2020, 01:18:31 am »

I read P.J. Tracy's MONKEEWRENCH when it first came out, and I loved it. I've read every book in the series. I didn't like them all as well as I liked the first one, but I liked them enough to keep coming back for more. I'm sure I'll pick up the new book eventually, too. (I say eventually because I'm barely making a dent in my to-be-read pile, despite my concerted effort to read the books I already own.

I hope you all find time to read over the holidays. Stay safe!

66

Welcome and General Discussion / Re: Happy Holiday Wishes to the authors we love

« on: December 25, 2020, 01:13:55 am »

67

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

« on: December 23, 2020, 01:51:55 am »

I haven't had any ghostly encounters, at least that I know of.

Oh, and on Sunday I finished reading ROBERT B. PARKER'S ANGEL EYES by Ace Atkins.

I've read a couple of the Ace Atkins Robert B. Parker books, and was surprised to find that I liked them a lot. I've read all of Robert B. Parker's originals and loved them. I liked the SPENCER TV show, too.

68

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

« on: December 21, 2020, 10:27:28 pm »

I've been on a reading binge. Having trouble finding the Christmas spirit right now - I didn't put up a tree, but I did finally put up some Christmas decorations. In the meantime, I'm working on my waiting-to-be-read pile. I just finish book 8 in Nancy Warren's Vampire Knitting Club mysteries - unusual to find a vampire series that is cozyish. I like this one a lot.

I also just read Tess Gerritsen's THE SHAPE OF NIGHT. It's a ghost story and a mystery with a touch of FIFTY SHADES OF GREY. I've read Gerritsen's Rizzoli and Isles books, and none of them prepared me for this. It's dark and parts of it are scary. I love the descriptions of the heroine's hefty Maine Coon cat (29 pounds). When she moves in to the summer rental, she describes opening his cat carrier as "releasing the kraken." The erotic scenes weren't especially graphic, just unexpected.

I've read a couple books this year that featured ghosts. I've never come across any kind of apparition but I'd say I'm open to the possibility of ghosts. Certainly I've visited places that gave me the creeps. In particular, this one: https://hockinghills.com/members/The_Ridges.html

Have any of you had close encounters of the ghostly kind?

69

What I'm Reading / Not That Kind of Place by Frances Fyfield

« on: December 19, 2020, 08:43:25 pm »

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3616386-not-that-kind-of-place



I've read other books by this author, but not for some time. The cover drew me to this one. I'm about halfway through it and so far I'm liking it a lot. It's kind of Agatha Christie style, slightly more gruesome (a body buried in the woods) but it has the flavor of a Christie mystery.

70

What I'm Reading / Re: The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman

« on: December 18, 2020, 03:25:35 pm »

I finished this last night, in the wee hours. I hope there are more books in this series because I liked the characters a lot. The mystery (mysteries, actually) had several twists but overall I would say the book is more character driven than plot driven. I can't say I loved it, but I did enjoy reading it.

71

Welcome and General Discussion / Re: R.I.P. Parnell Hall

« on: December 18, 2020, 03:22:27 pm »

I think his most popular - or best known, anyway - books are the "Puzzle Lady" series. http://parnellhall.com/puzzle-lady/

He also co-authored a couple books with Stuart Woods:

http://parnellhall.com/herbie-fisher/

http://parnellhall.com/teddy-fay-thriller-book/

He also wrote a Stanley Hastings mystery series: http://parnellhall.com/stanley-hastings/

72

Welcome and General Discussion / R.I.P. Parnell Hall

« on: December 17, 2020, 03:14:57 pm »

https://mysteryreadersinc.blogspot.com/2020/12/parnell-hall-rip_17.html?fbclid=IwAR0hu7DjWW4aHvDYfsknsoPwM6kqo_XaJGqonxM9c9ItlT9KBs-5R8LkzyA

I was sad to see this. I've read a few of Parnell Hall's books and I met him once or twice at Magna Cum Murder, a cozy little conference. It used to be held in Indiana, not sure if it still is. Probably not this year, I guess.

73

What I'm Reading / The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman

« on: December 17, 2020, 02:50:58 pm »

Yay - I've been looking forward to reading this book. It's getting fabulous reviews. I'm only a few chapters into it but I love the premise and I'm excited to see where this goes. My daughter wants to read it once I've finished it. December is a month for mysteries at our house!

74

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

« on: December 17, 2020, 12:36:56 am »

I read that and liked it. I think I've all of hers except the Quaker midwife series now.

Have you got her two Lauren Rousseau books? They were originally published under the name Tace Baker but this past summer they were republished (with new editing and cover art under Edith's own name. I have both versions.

I knew I was forgetting something. No, I haven't read these, and I want to. So the new releases are available now? I'll tell my husband to add them to my "wish list."

75

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

« on: December 15, 2020, 05:56:20 pm »

I read that and liked it. I think I've all of hers except the Quaker midwife series now.