Messages

76

Welcome and General Discussion / Re: Nancy Drew's 90th Anniversary

« on: December 03, 2020, 03:52:18 am »

I recently finished a 6 issue comic book miniseries featuring Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys. It's called The Death of Nancy Drew.

The trade paperback collection isn't due out until March 30th, 2021 but you can get an idea about the story via this Amazon link.

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

« on: November 30, 2020, 04:29:38 pm »

Sounds interesting, I will add it to my list to check out the first book to see if I like it.

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What I'm Reading / Re: Elly Griffiths

« on: November 30, 2020, 04:28:17 pm »

Thanks for the recommendation. I like Paige Shelton and haven't read that series. I'll check it out, although I shouldn't really add more books to the every-growing TBR pile until I make a dent in it.

My review of the first book, THIN ICE, can be read HERE!

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What I'm Reading / Re: Elly Griffiths

« on: November 29, 2020, 07:00:48 pm »

I have not read Elly Griffiths before so I can't offer much in the way of an opinion.

I did just start reading THE CIPHER by Isabella Maldonado. It's the first book in a new series from the author.

As for Christmas list books, a friend of mine asked if there was a book I was looking to get so I told her Paige Shelton's COLD WIND. It's the 2nd book in her Alaska Wild series and it is due out December 1st. Beyond that, I really don't get many people getting me gifts anymore so I don't really have any kind of list.

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

« on: November 29, 2020, 06:57:51 pm »

I finished reading the new Michael Connelly book The Law Of Innocence. I haven't written my Goodreads review but I will say that I liked the book. However, there's a part of the plot tying it into the real world that kind of draws you out of the legal thriller aspect of the story.

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What I'm Reading / Re: Happy Thanksgiving!

« on: November 27, 2020, 08:05:29 am »

That CHRISTMAS COCOA MURDER collection of novellas was really good. I have my copy signed by Maddie Day.

You must have quite a collection of autographed books! I am enjoying this book - perfect to read in front of the fire.

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What I'm Reading / Re: Michael Stanley, the Kubu books

« on: November 27, 2020, 08:03:29 am »

Sure - Here's the link to the review.

Well, duh. I didn't realize FACETS OF DEATH was the prequel. That was the first Kubu book I read - and I think I got it at your recommendation. I've been reading them out of order so I didn't realize that one was the prequel you were referring to.

One thing I liked about A DEATH IN THE FAMILY (maybe the others have this feature, too) is the pronunciation guide at the front of the book and the glossary at the back. I always find it easier to read a book if I have some idea how the names are pronounced.

Thanks for sharing your review!

83

What I'm Reading / Re: Happy Thanksgiving!

« on: November 25, 2020, 03:52:33 am »

The Bengals? Wow, talk about being a masochist. 

After my dad died, my mom taught me how to cook and I started doing the vast majority of cooking on Thanksgiving too. After she died, I really don't do much cooking at all anymore.

I've been invited to a family friend's place the last three years but thanks to the pandemic, I won't be able to sit down to dinner with them this year. However, they are making up a plate for me that I will pick up and bring home to eat. It's not bad since I spend a lot of time alone anyway. At least I'll have a nice meal, because they make a huge amount of food. I'm picking up an apple pie from a place this afternoon and I have most of the other stuff (meaning everything except turkey and potatoes) already here at the house.

I'll be watching some football but I'll also be taking advantage of Xfinity's free TV week. Starz, Epix and AcornTV are all free from yesterday through Nov. 30th. I've found two movies to watch, plus season 2 of Mystery Road.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and everyone else!

84

What I'm Reading / Re: Michael Stanley, the Kubu books

« on: November 25, 2020, 03:46:24 am »

I really enjoyed the prequel that I read. I hope that someday I'll be able to pick up more in the series.

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What I'm Reading / Re: Michael Stanley, the Kubu books

« on: November 24, 2020, 03:40:44 am »

I read and reviewed the most recent book published, which is a prequel to the series. It goes back to the first day Kubu was on the job. I really quite enjoyed that book.

86

Welcome and General Discussion / Re: Sherlock Holmes Pastiches

« on: November 22, 2020, 05:43:31 am »

I don't see Barnes and Noble ever selling used books. And I don't think that would be a good idea for them anyway.

But I do wish they'd do a better job of keeping stuff in stock. I've gone looking for a number of books to start reading when I discover a new-to-me author and they rarely have the first book in the series available on the shelf.

I have the Sherry Thomas books on my want list as well.

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What I'm Reading / Re: MURDER AT THE PALACE by Margaret Dumas

« on: November 22, 2020, 05:41:17 am »

I've read all three books in the series. Sadly, I'm not sure there will be any more books. The author's Facebook page hasn't been updated in a long time, there's been no activity on her website and I'm pretty sure I remember a book friend who is far more knowledgeable than me told me that she was one of the authors that got dropped by the publisher putting out this series.

It's too bad because this is just a brilliantly fun series.

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Welcome and General Discussion / Sherlock Holmes Pastiches

« on: November 21, 2020, 07:35:01 am »

I know that there is no shortage of non-Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Sherlock Holmes stories on the bookshelves these days. Do you have any particular favorites?

I've always loved the Laurie R. King stories that focus on Mary Russell and an older Sherlock. But there's so many series that it is impossible to keep up with everything.

I know that Nicholas Meyer has written a couple of books in this particular field. I've heard they are pretty good but haven't gotten a chance to read them yet. Leonard Goldberg has a Daughter of Sherlock Holmes series that is doing well. I recently reviewed one.

Yesterday I picked up a couple of books by James Lovegrove. He's written a number of books but SHERLOCK HOLMES & THE CHRISTMAS DEMON came out in paperback recently while SHERLOCK HOLMES & THE BEAST OF THE STAPLETONS came out in hardcover. I got both of them and I'm going to look forward to reading them.

My local comic shop has been getting prose novels in recently and there's another Sherlock Book that came in last week by Sam Siciliano that seems pretty interesting. I put that on hold for next week.

I've noticed that the local B&N's shelves for all these Holmesian books are seemingly all filed with the Doyle books, regardless of author alphabetical order.  I can't imagine the hell that must play for people that don't know that in advance.

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

« on: November 12, 2020, 04:22:31 pm »

Had a great week of reading thusfar - started with CONSOLATION, the new one from Garry Disher, on the weekend. Then read THE SURVIVORS by Jane Harper (out in USA early 2021) then today and yesterday read STILL LIFE by Val McDermid

Craig, is that new Jane Harper book part of her series or a standalone?

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

« on: November 11, 2020, 05:39:29 pm »

I read BEYOND A REASONABLE STOUT by Ellie Alexander. It's the third book in the Sloan Krause series. I loved the book and here's my Goodreads.com review.

The fourth book in the series just came out in hardcover yesterday. It's called WITHOUT A BREW. I want to read it but I'm probably going to have to wait until it comes out in paperback.