Mystery/Thriller Reading Friends discussion

1. Bone Dry, Ben Rehder. Texas game warden squares off against transplanted mafia guy. 4
2. The Fourth Watcher, Timothy Hallinan. Poke gets involved with counterfeiting ring and crazy Chinese colonel in Thailand. 4
3. Who Let the Dog Out, David Rosenfelt. Entire investigation is put forth in last 15 pages and depended on a convenient epiphany by Andy. (I hate these non-investigations). 3Plus
4. Rusty Nail, JA Konrath. Graphic violence is only surpassed by a multitude of errors in police procedure, auto parts, guns etc. 3Minus
5. Moonlight Downs, Adrian Hyland. Emily Tempest, aboriginal Australian, tries to solve the murder of an aboriginal community leader in the outback. 4Plus
6. Cottonwood, Scott Phillips. Cottonwood, Kansas, gets the railroad in 1873, Unfortunately the story drifts off course and into a soap opera finish. 3Plus
7. Rock With Wings, Anne Hillerman. Her second attempt at continuing for Tony Hillerman was disappointing. Too much tell, not enough show; most Native American references were perfunctory; and way too much "Does He/She still love me?" between Bernie and Chee. Cameo by Joe Leaphorn. 3Plus
8. Gunshot Row, Adrian Hyland. Emily Tempest returns as aboriginal Community police officer in outback Australia and investigates the death of a geologist. His death hid a secret which Emily uncovers. 4Plus

I liked the Emily Tempest books. I wish there were more of them.

Shomeret wrote: "I liked the Emily Tempest books. I wish there were more of them."


Me too. I thought both books were excellent.

I was a big fan of the first two books by Scott Phillips, The Ice Harvest and The Walkaway, but never got around to reading Cottonwood.

Good month Dan.

Pretty good month!

Good list Dan! Too bad that one went off the rails (Cottonwood) and one shortchanged the investigation (Rosenfelt), and one botched up the procedures (Konrath). I'll have to look up the Emily Tempest books, they sound good.

The social conditions of the aboriginal people are certainly not sugar coated by Hyland. At least some of them retain a high level of spiritual connection to the land.