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This is the place to share your thoughts about recent reads?

Did you love it? Hate it? Was it an old favorite author or a new discovery? Tell us more! and don't forget the link!

Just started Death by Chocolate for the mEastery Challenge. I was chuckling from page one.

Not long ago I finished "The Charlemagne Pursuit" and enjoyed it, but not as much as I enjoyed some of his others.

I also read "Farewell, My Lovely" and liked it enough to seek out other Marlowe stories.

I just finished re-reading "The Devil Knows Your dead," by Lawrence Block. In many ways, of course, Block's protagonist, Matthew Scudder, is a direct descendant of Philip Marlowe. For anyone who might be interested, I've posted an essay on the Matthew Scudder series on my blog at

@ Luci: I have had the first of that series, The Templar Legacy: A Novel , on my TBR for ever... may get to it one of these centuries. And Chandler is always good.

@ James, why don't you post your blog in the blog folder too, where people are more likely to find it. I haven't read anything by Block.

@ Everyone (not just you two, honest ;-) ): Can we all learn how to use the links, please? I don't know a lot of the titles, so if you use the "add book/author" link (at the top of the comment box), not only do the titles of the books show up underlined, when you click on them you get taken instantly to the book! And/Or you can put the cover of the book in your post. Thanks!

If anyone needs more help, you can PM me.

I didn't exactly finish A Secret Rage. I listened to the beginning and then the last hour. I didn't like the subject as an entire story line.

I finished Bone by Bone. I like the book. It was an easy read and well written. Too many bodies, but I guess the bodies logically fit into the story.

Hi Paula, I've heard good things about Bone by Bone. The basic premise of lost children in the woods with one surviving reminds me of In the Woods by Tana French which was also very good.

I just finished Bloody Mary by J.A. Konrath. This is the second book in the "Jack Daniels" series and is a little better than the first book in the series Whiskey Sour. The plots in this series tend to be simplistic and the behavior of the characters is pretty unrealistic. Still, the books are easy reads and entertaining. I might read the third book in the series after awhile.

:P Sorry, Hayes, having to manipulate the mouse to "add book/author" slows me down more than simply typing out the name(which is why I use quotation marks instead of underlining, even though it's incorrect format) but I shall try to do better in future.

Incidentally, that first Cotton Malone book you have on your "to be read" list is one of my two favorites by him.

I'm starting Winter Prey today.

Reading Empire of the Sunwhich left a big impression on me when I saw the movie as a kid.

I just finished Blood Alone: A Billy Boyle World War II Mystery by James R. Benn. This is a historical mystery featuring former Boston cop, Billy Boyle. Now attached to General Dwight 'Uncle Ike' Eisenhower. I started the series reluctantly, war, soldiers, aren't what I enjoy in a mystery but this series has me hooked. Good characters and an insight into a soldier's mind, with a bit of WW II history.Blood Alone

I just finishedBlood Alone: A World War II Mystery by James R. Benn. It's a historical mystery featuring Billy Boyle, former Boston cop, now attached to General Dwight 'Uncle Ike' Eisenhower's headquarters. Interesting characters, good story, and a little WW II history about the Italian campaign in Sicily.

I just finished The Temple of the Muses (SPQR IV) by John Maddox Roberts. Great as usual! I also finished the non-fiction book The Monster of Florence by Douglas Preston and Mario Spezi. Fascinating account of true crime in Italy.

I just finished reading The Dollmaker. Many parts of the story were interesting, many parts I merely scanned.

I'm readingInvisible Prey by John Sandford. It's pretty good so far.

The last book I finished was All Together Dead. I'm currently trying to finish The Tea Rose, which has a bit of mystery in it and highly recommend and Empress Orchid.

I finished Winter Prey last night. It was better than the 3rd and 4th in this series.

Joyce wrote: "I just finishedBlood Alone: A World War II Mystery by James R. Benn. It's a historical mystery featuring Billy Boyle, former Boston cop, now attached to General Dwight 'Uncle Ike' E..."

Hi Joyce, I read and really enjoyed the first one in this series, Billy Boyle. I am glad to hear the series continues to be good.

Just started Beat the Reaper by Josh Bazell. While this book is certainly not for everyone it is a hoot. As other reviews have said it is darkly comic but you still have to laugh out loud at parts. Ex-Mafia hitman turned physician hiding in plain sight suddenly faces his past when he pulls back the curtain to meet his new patient.

I started I'm Watching You.

Just finished Ask the Parrot, by Richard Stark. I really like this series a lot and I thought this was a good entry. I'm really anxious to see the three earlier books that have just finally come back into print.

I'm reading The Bone Thief by Jefferson Bass. I always enjoy his writing, although it's forensic so parts of it are really gross. Don't be eating while you read these books, LOL!

It is also not always good to be commuting when reading Jefferson Bass. The other week I was reading Bones of Betrayal: A Body Farm Novel and they were talking about everybody getting radiation poisoning and I started feeling a little creepy. Luckily, we were just coming to my stop. I had to put the book down for a week or so.

But I don't have that much trouble while I am eating.

Jan wrote: "It is also not always good to be commuting when reading Jefferson Bass. The other week I was reading Bones of Betrayal: A Body Farm Novel and they were talking about everybody gettin..."

Dorie wrote: "I'm reading The Bone Thief by Jefferson Bass. I always enjoy his writing, although it's forensic so parts of it are really gross. Don't be eating while you read these books, LOL!"

Thanks for the warnings!

Jan, that was a horrific storyline. Good book though. They refer to that case a lot in this new book.

Donna wrote: "Joyce wrote: "I just finishedBlood Alone: A World War II Mystery by James R. Benn. It's a historical mystery featuring Billy Boyle, former Boston cop, now attached to General Dwight..."

Donna wrote: "Joyce wrote: "I just finishedBlood Alone: A World War II Mystery by James R. Benn. It's a historical mystery featuring Billy Boyle, former Boston cop, now attached to General Dwight..."

I've just requested Benn's most recent Billy Boyle: "Evil for Evil" and am looking forward to reading it.

i think it was just such a shock to find that they were working next to the hot material. and thus became infected. i am only 100 pp in so i am not giving much away. i became interested in the series because i went to school in the area. but i have stuck around because i enjoy the series.

I am about to start The Spellman Files.

Paula wrote: "I am about to start The Spellman Files."

Hi Paula, I have mixed feelings about this book. I liked some aspects but some parts kind of bothered me. Let us know your thoughts when you finish.

Donna

Just finished Val Mcdermid The Distant Echo which I enjoyed. I have read a couple of her books in the past and have started to read her again. I have moved to something non mystery related now.

My husband will find an author and read a couple of that authors books at one time, I tend to spread them out.

Donna wrote: "Paula wrote: "I am about to start The Spellman Files."

Hi Paula, I have mixed feelings about this book. I liked some aspects but some parts kind of bothered me. Let us know your th..."

Apparently Donna's family is too normal ;-)

I really liked the first one, although I thought it was 100 pages too long... but there were moments of it that had me laughing out loud. It is pretty weird at times, though.

I'm reading Torpedo Juice by Tim Dorsey. It's a sort of comical crime novel.

Hayes, most books seem 100 pages too long to me! I think 'just get on with it' too many times. Must be my advanced age. I don't have time for long, drawn out descripitons. I like the Spellman Files so far, but I'm only on page 10.

Donna, I'll let you know my thoughts about the Spellman Files when I finish.

I am in the middle of The Last Pope by Luis Miguel Rocha. It is woeful. Awful. Dreadful. It's about Pope John Paul I who was elected Pope in 1978 and died 33 days later - the premise here being he was murdered by...well everyone it seems. Interesting premise. Appallingly bad realisation. Writing is all over the place, most characters don't have names (The Italian Man or The Subject) and those that do have several. The author claims it's all true too.

I would normally give up long before this but the book is a selection from my book club and I've DNFd the last couple so I feel obliged.

At least I'm getting a laugh (where none were intended).

Paula wrote: "Donna, I'll let you know my thoughts about the Spellman Files when I finish."

Hi Paula, I just got the Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ April newsletter and it looks like there is a Questions/Answers group with Lisa Lutz. http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/1...

Paula wrote: "Hayes, most books seem 100 pages too long to me! I think 'just get on with it' too many times. "

Hear Hear. I seem to say this more and more often lately. 20 years ago it would have been ridiculous to publish a 500 page book in this genre - these days it's the norm.

Bernadette wrote: "Paula wrote: "Hayes, most books seem 100 pages too long to me! I think 'just get on with it' too many times. "

Hear Hear. I seem to say this more and more often lately. 20 years ago it would have ..."

I'll add my vote to the "100 pages too long" too and not just in mysteries. Doesn't anyone have an editor any more?

Some authors get "too big" for editors, often to their detriment.

I have not posted on here for a long time but have just finished The Secret of Chimneys by Agatha Christie, very enjoyable this one was first published in 1925!!!Now I am going to read The Vows of Silence by Susan Hill, I always enjoy her books.

Welcome back Chris. I haven't read anything by Susan Hill but this one looks interesting. I'll have to check our her books.

I've started The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag. Loved the first one and the character of Flavia.

I've looked at reviews for 'The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag' and the story looks very interesting. Another series to add to my TBR pile! The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie looks like the first book of the series.

That's it, Paula. We'll be reading it together starting on the 15 of April; Donna will be leading the discussion. (I hope my copy comes in time.) Why don't you read along with us!

Dorie wrote: "I've started The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag. Loved the first one and the character of Flavia."

I've got that one out of the library and will be reading it soon. Flavia is a hoot isn't she? I wish I had her pluck as a kid (or even now!) :)

Barbara wrote: "I've got that one out of the library and will be reading it soon. Flavia is a hoot isn't she? I wish I had her pluck as a kid (or even now!) :)"

She also makes me wish I had been more interested in Chemistry when I was younger!

I look forward to reading the comments on the group read for 'Sweetness'. You guys are in for a treat!

Marjorie wrote: "I'm reading Denise Mina's "Garnethill." She's a Scottish writer and her books are based in Glasgow.
"

i read "the dead hour" ( The Dead Hour: A Novel ) by her some time back and was deeply drawn in by the grittiness you found too. this one is of another series about a journalist paddy meehan. if you like that kind of crime novels you could also try martyn waites (Bone Machine).

I'm about to start The Killing Edge by Heather Graham. I just love her.
I have to agree about the pages being to long and not just in this genre.

I'm listening to The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie. So far, so good.