Mystery/Thriller Reading Friends discussion

Had another good month of reading. I am back to a part time schedule at work so had plenty of time to read.

Top Reads


Shoot to Thrill
P.J. Tracy
Finally, another Monkeewrench book and it did not disappoint. Very intriguing ending. Hopefully there won't be such a time gap between this book and the next.


Kickback/a Wyatt Novel
Garry Disher
Like Richard Stark's Parker only based in Australia.


Running Blind
Desmond Bagley
Nifty Cold War thriller set in Iceland. Lots of action and a nicely done ending.

Good Reads


The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Robert Louis Stevenson
Classic tale of terror. Probably would have enjoyed it more if I had not been exposed to so many other variations of the story previously. Audio read by Scott Brick.


See Them Die
Ed McBain
Another 87th Precinct novel from the 1960's.


This Body of Death: An Inspector Lynley Novel
Elizabeth George
While not as good as some of the previous books in the series, a decent read though way too long. I see no reason why a mystery needs to be almost 700 pages.


Shiver
Maggie Stiefvater
A young adult fantasy. I liked the characters and storyline but there was a bit too much romance for my taste. Listened to the audio version read by Jenna Lamia (who sounds much younger than she is which was a bit disturbing) and David Ledoux.

Head First: A Yellowthread Street Mystery
William Marshall
One of my favorite police procedural series, set in Hong Kong a few years before the Chinese takeover.


Fables: Storybook Love
Bill Willingham
One of the few comic series I actually like. All of the fairy tale characters have been driven from their worlds and are now living in New York City.


Pay Days: A Harpur & Iles Mystery
Bill James
Another great entry in this English police series.


Bonecrack
Dick Francis
Entertaining racing mystery which focuses on father/son relationships.


The Other Side of Midnight
Sidney Sheldon
Typical Sheldon potboiler ably read by Steven Pacey.


Road Rage: Two Novellas: "Duel" and "Throttle"
Joe Hill
Stephen King
Richard Matheson
Special audio only version with Matheson's classic story "Duel" (which was made into a TV movie by Stephen Spielberg) and "Throttle" by Joe Hill and Stephen King. Both stories were very good though "Duel" was a bit less graphic. Read by Stephen Lang.

Enemies Within
Michael Z. Lewin
PI series set in Indianapolis. This book was published in 1974 so it was fun seeing how much the city has changed.


Running from the Law
Lisa Scottoline
Legal thriller set in Philadelphia. Audio read by Barbara Rosenblat


Man in the Middle
Brian Haig
Another fun thriller with JAG lawyer Sean Drummond who is working with the CIA in this book.

Not so Good


Made in Detroit
Paul Clemens
Boring memoir of a young man growing up in Detroit in the seventies/eighties.


My Life as a Man
Frederic Lindsay
Strange thriller set in Scotland.

Sandi: Nice month! I am getting closer on the hold list to get Shoot to Thrill - glad to hear you liked it; and it has been way too long between the last two Monkeewrench books. I wonder why this one was delayed. I keep meaning to get to Road Rage: Two Novellas: "Duel" and "Throttle"

Glad you gave a shot! I wasn't sure you'd like it at all due to the romantic angle, but looks like you did like it okay!

Melodie wrote: "Glad you gave a shot! I wasn't sure you'd like it at all due to the romantic angle, but looks like you did like it okay!"

I did like the author's take on the werewolf legend and will look into the next book in the series. The romance probably would have bothered me less if I had read the book due to the female narrator sounding like she was about twelve.

Great month, Sandi! Lots of new-to-me series. I do love Sean Drummond, though. Do you know if Brian Haig's next one is part of this series?

This Body of Death: An Inspector Lynley Novel
Elizabeth George
While not as good as some of the previous books in the series, a decent read though way too long. I see no reason why a mystery needs to be almost 700 pages.

I agree with you on this Sandi; although I'm a big fan of her books, they do sometimes bog down due to excess length.

>>I do love Sean Drummond, though. Do you know if Brian Haig's next one is part of this series?<<

From the info on his website it appears to another standalone. Did the first standalone The Hunted have much humor or any light moments like the Sean books? He will be at ThrillerFest in July. Maybe we can get Cheryl to ask him if he is planning on any more Sean books.

The Hunted was very different in tone with little humor. Based on a true story, it was nonetheless fascinating. I enjoy his work.

RE: Brian Haig Maybe we can get Cheryl to ask him if he is planning on any more Sean books.

I will see what I can find out.

>>The Hunted was very different in tone with little humor. Based on a true story, it was nonetheless fascinating. I enjoy his work.<<

Thats kind of what I thought from reading the descriptions but, like you, I really like his writing so I am sure I will read it eventually.

>>RE: Brian Haig Maybe we can get Cheryl to ask him if he is planning on any more Sean books.

I will see what I can find out. <<

Thanks Cheryl. Does he usually go to Thrillerfest? I can't remember him at any Bouchercons I attended.

Thanks Cheryl. Does he usually go to Thrillerfest? I can't remember him at any Bouchercons I attended.

I don't remember seeing him before.