Mystery/Thriller Reading Friends discussion

Happy New Year!!!

Here are my December reads:

Top Reads

Hypothermia
Arnaldur Indriðason
Inspector Erlendur is investigating a suicide and a couple of cold cases in this entry in the series. The focus of this book is all on Erlendur and how his past still affects him and his work. Well written, though very dark at times, this was another great read by the author.

Lord Emsworth and Others
P.G. Wodehouse
Collection of short stories including the extremely funny "The Crime Wave at Blandings". I also enjoyed the three golf stories and the three featuring Ukridge and found even the Mulliner and the Drones stories to be well worth reading.

Good Reads

Pyramids
Terry Pratchett
Not my favorite in the series. I had tried to actually read this years ago but could never get very far so tried on audio and found it diverting enough. The audio was narrated by Nigel Planer who is always good.

Heretic
Bernard Cornwell
After the battle of Calais the French and English agree to a truce which leaves Thomas of Hookton free to finish his quest for the Holy Grail. Lots of action, blood, gore, and a touch of the plague made this an exciting listen. The audio was narrated by Sean Barrett who helped add to the entertainment.

George, Being George: George Plimpton's Life as Told, Admired, Deplored, and Envied by 200 Friends, Relatives, Lovers, Acquaintances, Rivals--and a Few Unappreciative ...
Nelson W. Aldrich Jr.
I find oral histories/biographies fascinating and while I'm not sure I learned that much new about George Plimpton this was, for the most part, a fairly interesting account.

The Suicide Murders
Howard Engel
PI Benny Cooperman plies his trade in a small Canadian city near Niagara Falls and depends on divorce work to keep his head above the water. When the subject of his latest case though commits suicide he decides to look a bit closer. Benny is a pretty likable character and the plot was reasonably well done. A good series debut.

The Shadow Patrol
Alex Berenson
This is one of my favorite contemporary spy thriller series and this entry does not disappoint. I love John Wells, though at times he does get a bit too introspective, and the plots seem to be very realistic. Listened to the audio version which was read by George Guidall.

Game for Five
Marco Malvaldi
This was a short quirky mystery set in a small Italian sea side town featuring a bar owner and four elderly men who frequent the bar. When a young woman's body is found in the garbage they get sucked into speculating about what may have happened. The plot was a bit spare but I enjoyed the characters, the atmosphere, and humor.

Kicking and Dreaming: A Story of Heart, Soul, and Rock and Roll
Ann & Nancy Wilson and Charles R. Cross
I grew up listening to AOR radio stations and Heart was always played from their early seventies hits to the more bombastic eighties songs so I found this an interesting look into their lives from following their Marine father to various bases to becoming rock legends.

The Girl with the Long Back: A Harpur & Iles Mystery
Bill James
This series specializes in the slow build-up but it finally appears, after many books, that the status quo between the police and the drug firms may be evolving. I keep reading these books for the highly unrealistic but entertaining dialogue and the interactions between the extremely unique characters that populate the series.

Revival
Stephen King
While this will not rank among my favorites by the author there were many moments of great writing and characterizations. The plotting though was a bit too drawn out for my tastes. Listened to the audio version read by David Morse who did a commendable job.

Echo Park
Michael Connelly
Another solid entry in the Harry Bosch series. The author's writing is always so smooth and I love reading about Harry. This book did have the dreaded serial killer subplot but luckily it was not really the focus.

Scribe: My Journey As a Sportswriter
Bob Ryan
Always introduced as "The Quintessential American Sportswriter" on the Tony Kornheiser radio show, Bob Ryan's memoir conveys his great love of sports and chronicles his nearly 50 years covering the Boston and National sport scenes.

I think I'm going to get the Heart book for Ed!

In Hypothermia he's investigating "cold cases?" Very interesting month.

Bob Ryan is a favorite Boston sportswriter, I'll have to pick that up.

The George Plympton book must have the longest title in history!

There was a time when every other book I listened to seemed to be narrated by George Guidall, whose reading I love. I think it's been years since I've listened to one from him. I'm almost tempted to pick up The Shadow Patrol just to hear his voice again!

Good month, as usual, Sandi! HNY to you too! (and Jeff)

Good month Sandy, I like reading about cold cases.

Very punny! I love your lists Sandi and always enjoy your comments. I need to get to more Arnaldur Indriðason books. I have enjoyed two of them very much. I also enjoyed The book on Heart by Ann and Nancy Wilson, they were in my seventies vinyl collection and were a big part of my music listening for many years.
Daniel wrote: "In Hypothermia he's investigating "cold cases?" Very interesting month."

Looks like some good books! Cornwell even! :)

Christina wrote: "Looks like some good books! Cornwell even! :)"

Yes, one of my favorites historical fiction writers.

He was guest of honor at the Toronto Bouchercon, even though I would not consider him a mystery or crime writer really, but his panel was really interesting. He thought he could be considered a suspense writer since he was always putting his characters into impossible situations and peril.