Wednesday, June 14, 2017

Two good mysteries and a really interesting non-fiction

Mark Billingham, reading his latest 2017 Tom Thorne mystery, the 14th in the seriesLove Like Blood. Very well written with timely and true topic of honour killing. His characters are good, plot good and he reads very well.

Sharon Bolton is another good mystery writer, Dead Woman Walking, 2017. Don't think I'll ever try a hot air balloon now. Complex plot, but interesting read.

Word by Word; the secret lives of dictionaires, by Kory Stamper 2017, is a great book. Who would think that reading about how dictionaries are created and maintained would be interesting but it really is. A lexicographer's life is not easy!

Monday, June 5, 2017

many mysteries

Three not so good mysteries
1. The Unexpected Inheritance of Inspector Chopra by Vaseem Khan ...not a bad book but a bit too cute. Not going to seek out any more by him. A cute baby elephant plays a key role.
2. Forty Thieves by Thomas Perry, not a bad book but way to much violence, too many guns.
3. Cannot even remember the title....

But then some good mysteries
In This Grave Hour by Jacqueline Winspear, 2017. Maisie saves the day again, interesting and well written, book 13 in the series. Missed one so must backtrack to fill in the gap. WW II is now starting.

The Chalk Pit by Elly Griffiths. 2017. Always enjoy reading about Ruth and archiology and her detective adventrures in Norwhich. "even her secondary characters feel like memorable old friends" as a review on Amazon says.

A Cast of Vultures by Judith Flanders. Main character, Samantha Clair, is in publishing, which is very interesting to read about. This is the third of a series, must find the first two. Good characters and a good mystery. Funny and well written.

He Said, She said by Erin Kelly, 2017. Way too long, good plot but it does go on and on...interesting to read about eclispses and people who chase them, but characters get a bit irritating.