Mystery/Thriller Reading Friends discussion

5)Steampunk II: Steampunk Reloaded ed. Ann & Jeff Vandermeer (alternate history anthology) 426 pages Source: Library Started: 5/22 Finished: 5/25

Why Read: This was a BOM for a short fiction group. I haven't read any BOMs for that group for several months because they were horror anthologies which is not to my taste. I was relieved to see a steampunk anthology selected. I love alternate history.

Comments: I absolutely loved one story, but wasn't a fan of the rest of the anthology. I read ten stories and they averaged to a B.

6)Mistress of the Ritz by Melanie Benjamin (historical fiction) Source: review copy from publicist Started: 5/25 Finished: 5/27

Why Read: Although Melanie Benjamin is a NTMA, I am interested in her focus on real women. The MC was involved in the French Resistance in WWII which is also of particular interest for me.

Comments: There was a character who I was charmed by and I wish she'd been the MC. I gave it a B. See my review at https://wwwbookbabe.blogspot.com/2019...

7)Pedra Canga by Tereza Albues (Brazilian magical realism novel) 153 pages. Source: Library Started: 5/27 Finished: 5/28

Why Read: I found it looking for Brazilian magical realism to nominate for a group on Goodreads. I hadn't read a book by a Brazilian woman previously. So this was a first.

Comments: What an unusual concept! It's a haunted house novel combined with a social protest book. It was certainly interesting, but there wasn't as much characterization as I would like. I gave it a B.

8)"Unwound" by Connie Dowell (YA historical mystery short story) Source: Free from author's newsletter Started: 5/29 Finished: 5/31

Why Read: This is a prequel to a YA historical mystery that involved suffragettes which I reviewed. The second book in the series is going to be released later this month and I'm looking forward to it. I thought the prequel would make a good appetizer.

Comments: The MCs were the mother and uncle of one of the MCs in the novels. They were investigating a case when they were teenagers. I liked them as a team but the case was routine. There were also editing problems. It was my least favorite May read. I gave it a C-
The author promised to correct the errors soon which is an advantage of self-publishing an e-book. More self-published authors should use that advantage.

So this wasn't my best month, but I was bowled over by Kya in Where The Crawdads Sing.

Shomeret: Nice month overall! Mistress of the Ritz looks interesting. The library added a hold limit of only ten digital books so I am having to juggle that queue now too as I am near or at the limit constantly and won't request it yet.
I just got a Kindle Unlimited copy of The Poison in All of Us because you mentioned the author Connie B. Dowell writes the series about the suffrage movement. Another limit of ten, sigh.
Thanks!
(of course who knows when I'll get to it in my tbr of Kindle books.) :)