Mystery/Thriller Reading Friends discussion

I had a pretty good month of reading. Here are my August reads:

Top Reads

The Winter of Frankie Machine
Don Winslow
Another great book from Don Winslow. I loved the characters, thought the flashback scenes that filled out the past were well integrated, and was on the edge of my seat for the ending. Listened to the audio read by Dennis Boutsikaris who was just as good as the material.

Red, White, and Blood
Christopher Farnsworth
This series just keeps getting better with each outing. I loved the flashbacks of Cade's past dealings with previous Presidents and was highly entertained by the over the top sex and violence. Listened to the audio version narrated by Bronson Pinchot who did his usual stellar job.

Good Reads

The Empty Hours
Ed McBain
Collection of three shorter works, featuring the characters of the 87th Precinct, that were all good quick reads.

Death in the Fifth Position
Edgar Box
This was the first of three mysteries that Gore Vidal wrote under the name of Edgar Box back in the Fifties. The lead character,a PR man, was a bit too slick but the pace was quick and interplay between the ballet company members was entertaining.

Deep South
Nevada Barr
While the mystery plot in this book was not as strong as others in the series I enjoyed the Natchez Trace Parkway setting and the developments in Anna's personal life. Listened to the audio version read by Barbara Rosenblat who always brings this series to life for me.

The Beautiful Things That Heaven Bears
Dinaw Mengestu
I'll admit I picked this audio up because Dion Graham did the narration and his performance did not disappoint and really carried this slight and rather depressing narrative of an Ethiopian immigrant's experiences in Washington D.C.

Off the Grid
P.J. Tracy
While a perfectly entertaining book this was not quite as good as some of the previous entries in this series. The ending, though, was very intriguing and I look forward to finding out what is next for the Monkeewrench gang.

Mukiwa: A White Boy in Africa
Peter Godwin
An interesting memoir of the author's boyhood in pre-war Rhodesia, his service during the war, and his journalism career after the war in Zimbabwe. The best parts involved his mother's work as a doctor and I would have liked to have learned more about her.

Learning to Swim
Sara J. Henry
Nominated for many best first novel awards, including the Anthony, this had a pretty entertaining suspense plot with just a touch of romance thrown in though the writing was a bit stilted at times.

OK Reads

I Love the Sound of Breaking Glass
Paul Charles
An English Police procedural that was decently plotted with many tidbits about the business of the music industry in England but the characters were a little flat and the pacing a bit slow.

The Burglar Who Painted Like Mondrian
Lawrence Block
I am huge fan of Lawrence Block but, for some reason, have just never been able to connect with this series. In this book Bernie gets embroiled in a murder and art theft but the plot was just too convoluted for me and the humor a bit flat.

All Cry Chaos
Leonard Rosen
This was nominated for both the Edgar and Anthony awards for best first novel but it really was not my thing. The plot was a mixed bag of religion and mathematics and just seemed to meander along and ended up being pretty predictable. I listened to the audio version read by Grover Gardner who did an acceptable job but certainly did not elevate the material.

Great month, Sandi! I always get so many good tips from your lists, especially with the advice on audio books you liked!
I better check out the Don Winslow book for sure among others. I also thought the Natchez Trace setting was stellar in Nevada Barr's Deep South and could never get into the Lawrence Block, Burglar Who books.
I am finishing up Off the Grid now. The title has me intrigued as it seems to fit the story rather well one third of the way in. Love catching up with the characters. I wish there was a "summary" of the past books somewhere. It has been so long between books I am fuzzy on the previous Monkeewrench cases.

The Winter of Frankie Machine was a good one. Laid back but with the plot moving right along.

Your picks are always entertaining, Sandi. My favorite line of your August reviews: "was highly entertained by the over the top sex and violence." :-)

I'm thinking about The Winter of Frankie Machine after having read and enjoyed Savages last month.

I caught and chuckled at that too, Carol! Carol/Bonadie wrote: "Your picks are always entertaining, Sandi. My favorite line of your August reviews: "was highly entertained by the over the top sex and violence." :-)"

Ann wrote: "I caught and chuckled at that too, Carol! Carol/Bonadie wrote: "Your picks are always entertaining, Sandi. My favorite line of your August reviews: "was highly entertained by the over the top sex..."

same here. i mostly love your reviews, sandi, because i've never heard of half of the books you read! totally broadens my horizons!