Messages

391

Favorites / Re: Favorite Settings for Mysteries

« on: December 29, 2019, 06:52:52 pm »

My Dad was originally from Vermont so when he found a Vermont based mystery series (among his many genres read), he always picked them up.

Archer Mayor was a particular favorite. When my dad passed away, I had bought him the latest Mayor book but he never got to read it. So I read it and I've been hooked ever since. Even got to meet the author once.

I've read cozy mysteries by Sarah Graves and Jennie Bentley that are set in Maine, and of course Robert Parker's Spencer books that are set in Boston. New England seems to be a popular setting for murders.

Do any of the rest of you have favorites that are set in your area?

The Spenser series is definitely a favorite of mine. I'll have to think about what other New England based series I really enjoy before I can give a complete answer to your question.

392

Favorites / Re: Favorite Settings for Mysteries

« on: December 23, 2019, 03:45:18 am »

My Dad was originally from Vermont so when he found a Vermont based mystery series (among his many genres read), he always picked them up.

Archer Mayor was a particular favorite. When my dad passed away, I had bought him the latest Mayor book but he never got to read it. So I read it and I've been hooked ever since. Even got to meet the author once.

393

What I'm Writing / Re: A Bad Hair Day Cookbook

« on: December 23, 2019, 03:43:06 am »

Nancy, while I haven't read your books previously, I will add it my list to check out.

394

Favorites / Re: Favorite Settings for Mysteries

« on: December 22, 2019, 02:33:13 pm »

I don't have a particular favorite place for mysteries or thrillers to be set. If the story is good, the place it occurs tends to not matter that much to me.

That said, I do like reading cozy series that are set in Ireland or Scotland. But again, not a requirement.

One book that I reviewed for mystery scene was set in a town that is 20 minutes from me by car and some of the places mentioned in the book I had actually been there myself, so that was kind of cool thing.

395

Welcome and General Discussion / Re: POLL: Married Detectives

« on: December 19, 2019, 06:28:46 pm »

Going just from the available poll options, I'm definitely choosing Peter Decker and Rina Lazarus/Decker!

396

Favorites / Re: What are some of your favorite blogs or Facebook pages for mystery lovers?

« on: December 18, 2019, 03:52:25 am »

Becke, if you ever go to Crimebake, you'll have to let me know! I live very close to Woburn, so we could get together! I checked out their website, and it seems to really be for authors, so I don't think it's for me.

Denise,

I've talked with some of the people who run the event and while it is geared towards authors, fans are welcome as well. It's a capped attendance event so you do have to get in early when registration opens, in May I think. Plus if you've ever had an inkling of writing a story/book, the classes they do are probably well worth it.

397

Bouchercon 50! / Re: Past Anthony Winners to be honored

« on: December 17, 2019, 02:39:47 pm »

It was SO much fun!

From everything that I've read from a variety of sources, yes I'm sure it was a lot of fun for those who attended!

398

Favorites / Re: What are some of your favorite blogs or Facebook pages for mystery lovers?

« on: December 16, 2019, 05:07:46 pm »

In the Northeast, there's Crimebake which is held in Woburn, MA. It's sponsored by MWA ands Sisters in Crime and has lots of interest for writers, but also for fans. They tend to sell out so check the website when registration opens in May.

Yep, Crimebake is one that I'm trying to go to if I can.

399

Favorites / Re: What are some of your favorite blogs or Facebook pages for mystery lovers?

« on: December 15, 2019, 07:39:31 pm »

Have you ever gone to Bouchercon? I've only been once and I found it a little intimidating but also thrilling to meet so many wonderful authors in real life!

I've never been to Bouchercon. It's just not financially possible for me. Maybe if they ever brought it to Boston I could think about going otherwise it isn't in the cards for me.

400

Favorites / Re: What are some of your favorite blogs or Facebook pages for mystery lovers?

« on: December 15, 2019, 09:58:52 am »

I've met Hank, Julia, Hallie, Lucy and Rhys from the current membership plus Ingrid Thoft who isn't a member of the blog now.

401

What I'm Reading / Re: Book Signings anyone?

« on: December 14, 2019, 09:10:17 pm »

Wow, that was a memorable book signing for you - quite an adventure! How cool that he remembered you, and good for the bookstore for stocking a hard-to-find book. Do you find out about the signings from author newsletters or from book store announcements?

I find out about them in a variety of ways. Author announcements on their Facebook pages or their events page on their websites. Store announcements, library announcements, etc.

402

Favorites / Re: What are some of your favorite blogs or Facebook pages for mystery lovers?

« on: December 14, 2019, 09:06:54 pm »

I subscribe to a few author newsletters, most particularly Edith Maxwell's.

I read Jungle Red Writers on a daily basis and I read Bolo Books regularly as well.

It's not that I wouldn't like to read more, but I have only so much time and I also avoid most reviews in case I end up reading a book for review purposes since I don't want one of their reviews to affect what I end up writing.

403

What I'm Reading / Re: Book Signings anyone?

« on: December 14, 2019, 11:20:02 am »

I drove up to Barrington Books Retold Friday night for the official launch of the 50th Murder, She Wrote novel 'A Time For Murder' with author Jon Land.

For anyone that doesn't know, he's one of my favorite authors with his many and varied thriller series. And he's done a wonderful job building upon the Murder, She Wrote canon with the four books he's written so far in the series.

I brought a few of his books that I hadn't yet had signed and talked with Jon for a little bit as he inscribed them. Learned some interesting news about the plans for the next couple of books in the series. I even managed to find a copy of his horror thriller 'Dark Light Dawn' on the store shelves. (It's a book I hadn't been able to get until tonight.) And I asked my traditional "Are you ever going to write another book in the Ben Kamal / Danielle Barnea series?" question.

Jon even inquired as to whether or not I was still writing for Mystery Scene. When someone else asked a question about his writing process, his answer to that question prompted him to ask me how I go about writing my reviews. I'd be lying if I said I didn't think that was kind of cool of him to do.

All in all, it was another great book signing event and once again reconfirmed why Jon is at the top of my Must-Read list.

404

Welcome and General Discussion / Re: Agatha Christie on the Big Screen and on TV

« on: December 14, 2019, 11:17:23 am »

I never saw any of the David Suchet Poirot mysteries.

I liked the Albert Finney Death on the Nile movie though.

Actually, that was Peter Ustinov in Death on the Nile. Finney only portrayed Poirot in Murder on the Orient Express. Ustinov made three or four movies. Finney resembled Poirot very well, and did a good job. Ustinov didn't look anything like Poirot, but his performances were wonderful.

The David Suchet series, which covered ALL of the Poirot novels and short stories, was the definitive portrayal. He looked and acted so much like Poirot in the books. I find it jarring to see him in anything else, with his normal English accent! I would put this series on a par with the Jeremy Brett Sherlock Holmes series; they were both fantastic.

Oops, sorry for my mistake on that Denise. I did see both of those movies though and loved them. Completely forgot about Ustinov though.

And I agree about Jeremy Brett as Sherlock Holmes. His is the definitive portrayal for me.

405

Welcome and General Discussion / Re: Welcome to the B&N Mystery Forum Refugees group on Facebook!

« on: December 14, 2019, 11:14:49 am »

Just adding my two cents here even without being a B&N MF Refugee...I haven't read any of the Agatha Raisin books but I did watch the two seasons of episodes that streamed on Acorn TV. I quite enjoyed those even though the feedback from others that did read the books is that they usually didn't like the actress cast as Agatha.