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Messages - Becke Davis

256
What I'm Reading / Re: My latest read is...
« on: July 08, 2020, 12:07:12 pm »
I finished reading two books for review purposes. They were Jennifer Greer's debut thriller A DESPERATE PLACE and Ellen Hart's IN A MIDNIGHT WOOD.

Will those reviews appear in Mystery Scene or some other publication? I received an advance copy of Sara Paretsky's short story collection, LOVE AND OTHER CRIMES. I've been in the mood for short stories so I want to dig into that one next.

257
I have a copy of MURDER AT THE TAFFY SHOP! I decided to get this one because I already read the other Cozy Capers Book Club Mystery. I'm not a speed reader and I don't have a hope of reading all the books in the other series. They do sound good so I'll probably get a couple of them.

Hannah,

You could always sample each of Edith's other series by getting the first book in the series and seeing how you like them to decide whether you want to continue on with them. (You will, they are great!)

But if I'm pushing one series over the rest, I'm thinking the first book in her Maddie Day written Country Store series FLIPPED FOR MURDER is the one you should start with.

I started reading the books out of order but I agree FLIPPED FOR MURDER is a good place to start. I liked GRILLED FOR MURDER a lot, too - I think that was the second book in the series.

258
FAQ and Forum rules / Re: Forum Rules
« on: July 08, 2020, 11:57:39 am »
They are definitely spam accounts but it's hard for bots to post comments here because you have to become a member in order to comment. I remove them as fast as I spot them but there have been more than usual this week.

259
This title doesn't ring a bell, but I thought I had read all of these. I think I have a couple of these buried on my keeper shelves.

260
What I'm Reading / Re: What I am Reading
« on: July 07, 2020, 11:23:52 pm »
I've been on a reading binge lately. I've been focusing on reading Edith Maxwell (aka Maddie Day)'s books, and I've made a lot of progress there. I think I still have four of her books waiting to be read.

I've been alternating between her books and others (new, old and very old) in my waiting-to-be-read pile.

I've come across a lot of good books, some by authors who were new to me. I've listed all the Maddie Day/Edith Maxwell books on separate threads for her books. Other books in my summer reading binge include:

PORTRAIT OF A MURDERER - A Christmas Crime Story by Anne Meredith. This is a British Crime Club Classic and it is now on one of my Keeper shelves. Be sure to read the introduction - it was fascinating, especially the source of the author's name (a pen name).

HOUSE OF THE HUNTED by Mark Mills. Another thriller by one of my favorite authors.

MURDER AT HAWTHORN COTTAGE by Betty Rowlands - I've already picked up another book in this cosy series.

OUT OF THE BLACKOUT by Robert Barnard - A vintage classic.

DISTANT BLOOD by Jeff Abbott - I've read all of Jeff's current thrillers, but I've only just started reading his early books starring Jordan Poteet. His recent books are the best sellers, but I like these, too.

MURDER IN THE MANUSCRIPT ROOM by Con Lehane - I've already ordered the other two books in this series. I'm hooked!

261
Yay! I received a couple of the short story collections I ordered this week, so I was able to read Edith's short story, "The Stonecutter" and "The Unfortunate Death of Mrs. Edna Fogg." I enjoyed them both, although the latter story was very sad. I'm hoping to get my hands on more of Edith's short stories, now that I know where to look for them!

262
FAQ and Forum rules / Re: Forum Rules
« on: July 07, 2020, 10:07:26 pm »
One additional reminder. This forum is not the place to advertise products or services. This is a place to discuss mystery books and authors. Inappropriate comments will be removed.

263


Here is the real Birdy - I hope the image comes through!

264
Welcome and General Discussion / Re: RIP Sheila Connolly
« on: July 01, 2020, 11:55:04 pm »
Becke, I don't read all that fast anymore either. I used to read a lot during down time at work but since I'm so busy right now there, the only reading I do is on my lunch break.

And when I get home from work, I'm usually so beat that I don't want to read a lot because I'm so tired. I power through sometimes but I find I do a lot of my extended reading on the weekends right now.

I did the most reading when I commuted to work by bus and train. Train was the best, except when I got too engrossed in whatever I was reading and missed my stop!

265
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Huh - I have no idea how to insert a pic, or I would give you the real Birdy! I tried dragging one in, but that didn't work. If you can tell me how, I will try.

Anyway, I so much appreciate the support and cheers from both Jay and Becke this month. I'm delighted you love my stories and are willing to share them with others.

All my best, and much gratitude,

Edith/Maddie

Edith - Is there a photo of your original Birdy online someplace? If not, send me an image on Facebook Messenger and I'll share it here for you.

Also, thank you so much for being our very first FEATURED AUTHOR!


266
[/img][/img]

Huh - I have no idea how to insert a pic, or I would give you the real Birdy! I tried dragging one in, but that didn't work. If you can tell me how, I will try.

Anyway, I so much appreciate the support and cheers from both Jay and Becke this month. I'm delighted you love my stories and are willing to share them with others.

All my best, and much gratitude,

Edith/Maddie

I'm sorry I couldn't persuade more people to join the conversation. Hopefully we've made some of the people who viewed these threads curious enough to check out your books!

267
Quote
Edith, this is from your website: "“The Stonecutter,” possibly Edith’s favorite piece of short fiction, is a murder story of middle-aged romance gone wrong in an increasingly dark New England fall. The story first appeared in Fish Nets: the Second Guppy Anthology, an anthology of crime stories (Wildside Press, April, 2013)." 

What was it about "The Stonecutter" that made it a favorite of yours?


I guess I liked the way the language flowed in that story, and how it got darker with the daylight diminishing through the fall. Thanks for asking!

I have always been a big fan of mystery short stories, so I'm very much looking forward to adding yours to my collection!

268
I was at my B&N today and MURDER AT THE TAFFY SHOP was on the shelves there.

Yay! Hopefully they will still have it at my B&N by the time I get there!

They had it and now I've got it! I was disappointed they didn't have any of the Edith Maxwell titles, though.

I hope you requested that they stock them, Becke! Maybe they are out because they've been closed for so long.

That could be. I did ask for help finding your books - they had rearranged the mystery shelves so now there is a whole section for cozies! I'll check again next time I go there.

269
Welcome and General Discussion / Re: RIP Sheila Connolly
« on: June 30, 2020, 05:48:04 pm »
My copy of MANY A TWIST came in the mail today and I now have the entire County Cork series with four books to read in order to finish the series.

I used to be a super fast reader, but I seem to be slowing down with old age. My granddaughter and I are reading the whole Boxcar Children series (we're almost through with Book 6). Those are mysteries so I should count those, but reading those means I still have a stack of Sheila's books to read and I have three or four more of Edith/Maddie's books. I'm already a night owl so I'll just have to find a way to read while I'm in the kitchen and in the shower!

270
Meanwhile, my co-worker texted me after work and she was practically squealing with delight as she told me she'd gotten her copy of NACHO AVERAGE MURDER.

My copy hasn't arrived yet. But I still have a couple books left to read and it's already June 30. Where did this month go???