Messages

46

Welcome and General Discussion / Re: Sports-Related Mystery Novels - Feature for May

« on: May 19, 2020, 05:35:03 pm »

I went through some boxes of old paperbacks and found Going for the Gold by Emma Lathen. I was nervous to read it again in case it felt really dated, but I still liked it. Of course there were no cell phones (not as we know them) when this was written in 1981, and being a travel agent was considered a nice, safe career in those pre-internet times but I still found it an entertaining read.

The book is about a couple mysteries at the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York and the chaos that ensues when a massive blizzard engulfs the area in several feet of snow. We meet several of the Olympic athletes. The book mentions ski-jumps, luge, ice skating and a couple that I'm forgetting.

In addition to the Olympic games and the blizzard, there are all kinds of things going on, from murder to counterfeiting and bank fraud. I read this book when it first came out but I had forgotten who did it. I don't know if I have any other Emma Lathen books around, but now I'd like to reread some of her others.

I'm glad to see the book held up for you Hannah. Did the author mention the US Hockey Team in the book? It would seem strange that the biggest story to come out of that particular Olympiad didn't rate a mention.

I think that there was a mention of the U.S. Hockey Team but it was brief. If I had an ereader I could search for it, but I just have an old paperback. I'm curious now, so maybe I'll search for it later.

47

Welcome and General Discussion / Re: Sports-Related Mystery Novels - Feature for May

« on: May 18, 2020, 10:10:43 pm »

I went through some boxes of old paperbacks and found Going for the Gold by Emma Lathen. I was nervous to read it again in case it felt really dated, but I still liked it. Of course there were no cell phones (not as we know them) when this was written in 1981, and being a travel agent was considered a nice, safe career in those pre-internet times but I still found it an entertaining read.

The book is about a couple mysteries at the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York and the chaos that ensues when a massive blizzard engulfs the area in several feet of snow. We meet several of the Olympic athletes. The book mentions ski-jumps, luge, ice skating and a couple that I'm forgetting.

In addition to the Olympic games and the blizzard, there are all kinds of things going on, from murder to counterfeiting and bank fraud. I read this book when it first came out but I had forgotten who did it. I don't know if I have any other Emma Lathen books around, but now I'd like to reread some of her others.

48

What I'm Reading / Re: What I am Reading

« on: May 04, 2020, 01:45:25 am »

I really loved THE LAST ACT OF HATTIE HOFFMAN by Mindy Mejia (her first crime novel) - I think that was sold as EVERYTHING YOU WANT ME TO BE, and had a different cover in the USA. To be honest, I think the UK & Commonwealth cover & title better suited the book - an outstanding rural crime thriller.

A couple of years ago, I really enjoyed LEAVE NO TRACE, and I'm looking forward to reading STRIKE ME DOWN, which is on my shelf right now.

It confuses me why publishers use different covers and titles for British and American markets. I wouldn't think they'd be all that different. I'd love to know how they decide which suits which market best. (Not sure I worded that very clearly.)

49

Welcome and General Discussion / Re: Random: Agatha Christie hotel room on the Pacific Coast

« on: May 04, 2020, 01:40:58 am »

Pretty interesting. I don't know that I'd ever be able to go there or anything but it would be a cool little thing to do.

Well, life can spring surprises on us - I never thought I'd be living in this neck of the woods.

I hope we'll be able to check out some of the other author rooms, too. J.K. Rowling, Mark Twain, Dr. Seuss, Amy Tan and Ken Kesey, just for a start. I'd heard there was an Edgar Allen Poe room, but I don't see it on the list.

I found some other interesting places, too: https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/91226/11-amazing-hotels-book-lovers

I love Harry Potter. I would pick the J.K. Rowling room, or maybe the Jane Austen room.

50

What I'm Reading / Re: Doris Miles Disney - Holy Cow!

« on: May 04, 2020, 01:39:13 am »

I just finished Who Rides a Tiger by Doris Miles Disney. Her Wikipedia entry:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doris_Miles_Disney

This was definitely a "Wow!" book. The structure is that of a young woman discovering and reading the diary of her recently deceased aunt and unraveling the mystery of her life.

(Kate and I both loved it and that doesn't always happen.)

I have read some of her books but that title doesn't sound familiar. Maybe my library will have it. (I miss my library.)

He who rides a tiger is afraid to dismount
- Chinese Proverb

51

Welcome and General Discussion / Re: Sports-Related Mystery Novels - Feature for May

« on: May 04, 2020, 01:35:38 am »

I think I have that book by Emma Lathen, Going for the Gold. I also have some Dick Francis books. Since my library is closed and I haven't won the lottery, I'm going to read some sports mysteries that I already have. They might be re-reads, or maybe my bookshelves will have surprises in store.

52

Welcome and General Discussion / Re: Mystery Movies for Self-Quarantine

« on: May 04, 2020, 01:28:10 am »

I'm a huge fan of the MISS FISHER MYSTERIES starring Essie Davis. I've seen all the previous shows but there's a new movie coming out called MISS  FISHER AND THE CRYPT OF TEARS on Acorn. Has anyone seen this yet? I'm mulling over whether to subscribe to Acorn to watch it. I already have Netflix so I'm not sure it's worth it.

I saw the Miss Fisher movie. I thought it was pretty good but I like the show better.

I've read a couple of the books, and I thought they were even better than the TV show.

53

Welcome and General Discussion / Re: Edgar Award Winners

« on: May 04, 2020, 01:08:40 am »

A couple of these author sounded familiar. I don't have the book that won, but I do have a different book by Tracy Clark, and it's in the same series. The book I have is called Broken Places. I guess maybe I should stop buying books until I actually read the ones I have. Does anyone really do that?

54

What I'm Reading / Re: Where Dead Men Meet by Mark Mills

« on: May 04, 2020, 01:00:45 am »

I found my copy of The Savage Garden, so I think I'll read that next. Either that or another cozy mystery.

55

Welcome and General Discussion / Re: Agatha Award Winners/Malice Domestic - thanks to Janet Rudolph

« on: May 04, 2020, 12:58:43 am »

Edith's book is the only one of the winners that I've read. I'm psyched to see her getting the award which I hope will bring even more attention to her work.

I don't think I've read any of these. I wish my library was open.

56

What I'm Reading / A Vicky Hill Exclusive! by Hannah Dennison

« on: May 04, 2020, 12:57:25 am »

I read a cozy mystery about a reporter over the weekend. I was a little confused by the title at first. The cover shows a graveyard and a veiled woman dressed in black but the title A Vicky Hill Exclusive! didn't sound like the title of a mystery. It turns out the amateur detective has hopes of a front page feature with a by-line and throughout the book she imagines various headlines.

This is the first book of a new series, and I think it's the author's first book. Her name is Hannah Dennison (her name might have drawn me to this book).

I didn't realize this book was written in 2008 and the author has written lots of books and a couple of series since this came out. Now I don't know what to read next. Her website gives me a lot of choices.

https://www.hannahdennison.com/

57

Welcome and General Discussion / Re: Calling all Edith Maxwell cozy readers

« on: May 04, 2020, 12:48:40 am »

I didn't realize Maddie Day is the same person as Edith Maxwell. I have a Maddie Day book called Murder on Cape Cod. I liked the idea of a book club solving mysteries. I've had this for awhile but hadn't been in the mood for cozies.

I just finished one called A Vicky Hill Exclusive! by an author who is new to me, Hannah Dennison. I think this is her first book. Some reviews make it sound like this is a barrel of laughs. I didn't think it was funny, but it was sort of lighthearted, and the plot did keep me guessing. I will look for the second book in this series.

58

Welcome and General Discussion / Re: Jokes, Quotes and Anecdotes

« on: April 21, 2020, 02:25:54 am »

Brilliant!

Found this on Goodreads:

“A good friend will help you move, but a true friend will help you move a body.”
― Steven J. Daniels, Weeds in The Garden of Love

Oh, I am so stealing this one.

I found another couple of good quotes, and these are by mystery authors. I found them here: https://www.azquotes.com/quotes/topics/mystery-novels.html

Detective stories keep alive a view of the world which ought to be true. Of course people read them for fun ... But underneath they feed a hunger for justice ... you offer to divert them, and you show them by stealth the orderly world in which we should all try to be living.

Dorothy L. Sayers

The mystery story is two stories in one: the story of what happened and the story of what appeared to happen.

Mary Roberts Rinehart

59

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

« on: April 21, 2020, 02:21:23 am »

I finished the James R. Benn novel THE FIRST WAVE, the 2nd book in his Billy Boyle World War II mystery series. As with the first one, I really enjoyed the story.

I had this one checked out from the library before it was closed so I had plenty of time to read it since the library has yet to reopen.

I'll look for this when my library opens again. I'm in the mood for another novel set in this era. Have you read anything by Mark Mills? You might like Where Dead Men Meet.

60

What I'm Reading / Where Dead Men Meet by Mark Mills

« on: April 21, 2020, 02:19:20 am »

I finished reading Where Dead Men Meet by Mark Mills a few hours ago and now I'm too wired to sleep. I know I read at least one other book by Mark Mills. It was called The Information Officer and it came out several years ago. In between these two books were several others I completely missed and one, The Savage Garden, that I think has been sitting, unread, on my book shelves for a long time. If I can find it, I'll read that next.

I don't usually give books ratings but this was excellent. I'd give it five stars.