Messages

391

What I'm Reading / Re: Just added to my waiting-to-be-read pile.

« on: January 06, 2020, 03:50:10 am »

What issue was your review in?

It was printed in the magazine but it was also posted online here: https://www.mysteryscenemag.com/26-reviews/books/5782-the-vinyl-detective-the-run-out-groove

392

Welcome and General Discussion / Re: Sherlock Holmes' 166th Birthday - January 6, 2020 - It's a Party!

« on: January 04, 2020, 11:38:17 am »

The first time I discovered Sherlock Holmes was when my parents gave me an illustrated digest sized edition of "The Hound of the Baskervilles". The rest is history.

My friend throws a Halloween/Christmas party mashup the first or 2nd weekend of December each year. There's a theme for the party and costumes. It was Alice in Wonderland this past year and I didn't dress up. But the theme for this year is British Invasion so you can go as any famous Brit. My current plan is to go as Sherlock Holmes.

393

Welcome and General Discussion / Re: Best Mysteries of the Decade

« on: January 04, 2020, 11:32:51 am »

Before I ever submitted to Mystery Scene, I published a Top Ten Mysteries and Thrillers list on a pop culture site I used to write for years ago.

That list got seen by a PR guy named David Brown at Atria Books. He tracked me down (I didn't have a Twitter account at that point) and asked it I'd be interested in reading and reviewing a book he had. I'd never been asked this before so I said yes. The book was I Am Pilgrim and it was the best book I'd read since RULES OF PREY by John Sandford.

It took me 2 1/2 weeks to write a review that I was happy with before I posted it on the website and sent the link to David Brown. He was surprised that it was the first time I'd ever done a book review before and over the next year or so he sent me 3 or four more books to review. He's also the one who suggested I send a review I did of Thomas Mullen's Darktown to Mystery Scene and that's what got me started as a reviewer with the magazine.

So I guess I have to say I owe it all to I AM PILGRIM!

394

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

« on: January 04, 2020, 11:27:58 am »

AgathaC,

In my case, you probably won't see me reading a lot of old books. I might a golden age novel if the mystery book club at my library selects one but I'm usually reading stuff that is being published now instead.


Meanwhile, I finished reading the Kyle Mills thriller LETHAL AGENT. I wrote up a review on Goodreads and shared it on Twitter. The author saw it and thanked me for the review AND A.J. Tata liked the review too, which considering he's a retired Brigadier General, I thought was pretty cool.

395

What I'm Reading / Re: Just added to my waiting-to-be-read pile.

« on: January 04, 2020, 11:21:03 am »

Whoa - I hardly ever start at the beginning of a series, so it looks like I chose well with WRITTEN IN DEAD WAX. Two others were at B&N, but I can't remember which ones. I'll look up your review - thanks for the tip!

Lucky you getting a  mystery for Christmas!

Hope you enjoy the book and like my review enough to pick up the 2nd one.

As for the mystery for Christmas, my mom gave books to all the children in the extended family. I have continued that tradition in a small way as a cousin's two kids get books from me. The cousin seems to think that she needs to send me a gift in return despite me saying I don't want anything. So this year, I told her that I didn't need anything but if she insisted then I'd appreciate getting the Archer Mayor book.

396

What I'm Reading / Re: Happy New Year! Are you doing any reading tonight?

« on: January 04, 2020, 11:17:56 am »

Glad to see so many Midsomer Murders fans on the forum. We're putting together an articles on the show for the upcoming Spring Issue #163 in February!

Kate, that article will be an interesting read. My mom loved that show. I only saw a few episodes. I didn't hate it or anything but I didn't feel compelled to sit down and watch it all either. But maybe the article will fuel a fire in me to do so.

397

Welcome and General Discussion / Re: Best Mysteries of the Decade

« on: January 03, 2020, 03:07:44 pm »

"I Am Pilgrim" by Terry Hayes.

398

What I'm Reading / Re: Just added to my waiting-to-be-read pile.

« on: January 03, 2020, 03:04:28 pm »

Written in Dead Wax is the first book in the Vinyl Detective series. I reviewed the 2nd one ("The Run-Out Groove") for the magazine. There's been 2 more published since then: "Victory Disc" and "Flip Back".

I recently picked up "Dead In Dublin" by Catie Murphy from the bookstore and got "The Ninja Daughter" by Tori Eldridge and "Read and Buried" by Eva Gates from the library.

Oh and I was given Archer Mayor's "Bomber's Moon" as a Christmas gift.

399

Welcome and General Discussion / Re: Bookmarks?

« on: January 02, 2020, 03:50:58 am »

I'm using the card I was sent from the publisher to accompany the advance copy of the Kyle Mills/Vince Flynn thriller Lethal Agent. It's the card that acknowledges that I was selected as a Mitch Rapp ambassador in order to get the advance copy.

400

Welcome and General Discussion / Re: R.I.P. M.C. Beaton

« on: January 02, 2020, 03:49:08 am »

I was sorry to see that news yesterday. From the same article you linked here.

One of the members of the Mystery Book Club that I belong to was a big fan of her books so she was saddened when I messaged her to let her know the news.

401

What I'm Reading / Re: Happy New Year! Are you doing any reading tonight?

« on: January 01, 2020, 01:58:55 pm »

I didn't do a whole lot in terms of partying. I worked all day, then ate dinner at my favorite local restaurant, flirted with the cute waitress, and came home. I read during the course of the day (Lethal Agent by Kyle Mills) but starting at 8:30 pm until midnight I took part in Facebook party for a bunch of Kensington authors.

402

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

« on: December 30, 2019, 03:42:35 am »

Eva Gates also writes as Vicki Delany. I met her at Malice Domestic several years ago. I have some of her Eva Gates titles in my to-be-read hoard, but I've read several of her Christmas mysteries (written as Vicki Delany).

https://www.cozy-mystery.com/eva-gates.html

Yes, I read her Year Round Christmas and Sherlock Holmes Bookshop series.

403

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

« on: December 29, 2019, 06:57:57 pm »

They weren't mysteries but I finished three graphic novels that I wanted to read before the year was out.

Star Power and The Mystery of the Zel Gux Dynasty
Star Power and The Lonely War
Firefly: The Sting

Before that I finished the 2nd of three ARCs sent to me by Mystery Scene for review purposes. That one was by S.L. McInnis and it was entitled Framed.

Currently, I'm reading Lethal Agent by Kyle Mills, the latest Mitch Rapp novel which I hope to finish by the end of 2019.

404

Favorites / Re: First Mystery You Ever Read?

« on: December 29, 2019, 06:54:14 pm »

I can't really be sure but it was either Encyclopedia Brown, The Hardy Boys, The Three Investigators or The Hound of the Baskervilles illustrated digest sized version that my parents gave me.

405

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.