Mystery/Thriller Reading Friends discussion

Happy New Year 2023! Welcome to a new year, and new books - join us here throughout 2023 with posts about the books you are NR 'Now reading', and JF 'Just finished' reading! We all love hearing about books to add to our own lists.

A tip - if you use the insert book cover feature, the text you type 'after the inserted cover' won't display on the Goodreads app. Inserting just the link of the title or an author link works great on the app. If you want to avoid parts of your post not showing on the app, insert book covers at the end and nothing is lost.

JF: Back to the Garden by Laurie R. King
NR: Good Man Friday by Barbara Hambly

Edit: I decided not to keep reading Good Man Friday and am now currently reading Land of Careful Shadows by Suzanne Chazin

Happy New Year everyone.
Thank you for posting that Ann, I notice that a lot of the time happening. I sometimes doing laptop and sometimes on the iPad. The iPad a lot of the times I don't get the book on the post also at times if I post something and go back to check I sometimes get someone else's post on top of mine which I find strange.
I'm will try and keep up posting my JF/NR lists more often than I have in past. I'll come back later on today and post the current list.

I just want to remind everyone to come on over to the 2023 Determination Challenge Thread and join us. We have 3 options you can pick between if you want to do the whole challenge you can or do them separate. If you finish one before the end of the year you can pick another one to do. It's all up to you. So please come over and join in. It's a lot of fun.

Thanks Ann and Happy New Year everyone! I stopped inserting covers in my monthly reads posts when you told me that about the app. Less work for me!

NR The Old Woman with the Knife by Gu Byeong-mo. Audio and the January group read, it's compelling.
Last days of 2022:
JF A World of Curiosities by Louise Penny audio
JF Gangstalking by Dena Crawford-Nibler Kindle

Queen Elizabeth never expected to be Queen, but she sure did the job well and was much loved for her common touch and dedication. Children's book author Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara shows her as a child, a teen, and an adult in this great introduction for kids. (Not a bad refresher for grown-ups!]
5★ My review of Queen Elizabeth with several illustrations

I had a lot of fun with The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, which is as quirky as the title suggests. There are orphans and a manor house, deadly threats, romance (bit sexy) and some quite naughty language. Something for the LGBT+ community as well. Oh yes - and magic spells! A most entertaining read.
4★ My review of ...Irregular Witches

JF- Wickedly Trapped - A. E. Nalle (netgalley). First finished book of year.

NR- Going Rogue-Janet Evanovich (left library book at my sister’s yesterday so she can read it . I’m going to continue with ebook)
The Birthmark-Nathaniel Hawthorne (my January’s short story for library short story group I joined)
Shooting at Midnight -Greg Rucka (oct’s CFM)
Lighting up Christmas-Sinclair Jayne (print owned from giveaway)

For time being this is tentative list there might be a netgalley live for February getting started (Stars in an Italian Sky by Jill Santopolo) and a arc for Tule this week depending what the ones that get sent.
Already I’m breaking one of my new rules with having too many books going at once. But I’m just listing them as a starting point. For books I’m concentrating on it will be The Birthright (started last night but only two pages read so far), Going Rogue (hopefully will finish in next day or two), Lighting up Christmas (started before holiday and put to side at half way point I’m kind of over Xmas books so want to get this finished). I think I’ll be reading between any of those to try to finish them up.

Carol/Bonadie wrote: "Thanks Ann and Happy New Year everyone! I stopped inserting covers in my monthly reads posts when you told me that about the app. Less work for me!"

oh good to know! i stopped doing it awhile ago because sometimes when others do that, I can't quite tell what book it is! lol
happy new year everyone!

JF- The Family Upstairs- Lisa Jewell
NR- Someone We Know - Shari Lapena

JF- The Birthmark by Hawthorne (finished last night)

NR- Going Rogue by Evanovich and Lighting up Christmas by Jayne (going to try and finish both today then decide new current list)

JF: Lighting up Christmas by Sinclair Jayne (finished last night)

NR: Going Rogue by Evanovich
Escaping Valentine Day by Christi Barth (Tule Arc live Feb)
Audio Hoopla- Uncaged by Harper Sloan

Hopefully will finish up Going Rogue and start Escaping Valentine Day will concentrate on reading that one until finished.

Up Next:
1. Shooting at Midnight by Greg Rucka (book was put aside but will be back on current list when I finish one book.
2. Stars in an Italian Sky by Jill Santopolo (Netgalley live feb will be added into current list soon).

My Netgalley currently has for lives: 1 for Feb, 2 for March, 1 for april, 2 for June, and 1 for july. (the book above is feb, march is Ann Napolitano and Lisa Scottoline, april is Janet Dailey, june is Kristin Harmel, july is Katherine Center. Some I can read fast some take me longer so I'll stick them in when I can).
My Tule ones I have the one above and there is none I'm taking until monday.

JF: One by One by Ruth Ware
NR: The death of Mrs Westaway by Ruth Ware

New member here! Hi! Hooked on Ruth Ware- just can’t put her books down.

j/f: Wedding of the Season- lauren edmonson- pub. 2/21/23
and
This Is How I Roll: A Wish Novel- debbi michiko florence- YA fiction
n/r: Less- andrew sean greer (for my F2F book group)

Welcome, Anjili!

JF: Finding Me by Viola Davis

NL: Gone Missing by Linda Castillo. Thanks to whomever on this board reminded me of this series.

Welcome to the group, Anjili - it's fun to find a favorite author!

Anjili wrote: "JF: One by One by Ruth Ware
NR: The death of Mrs Westaway by Ruth Ware

New member here! Hi! Hooked on Ruth Ware- just can’t put her books down."

JF-Going Rogue by evanovich

Carol/Bonadie wrote: "Welcome, Anjili!

JF: Finding Me by Viola Davis

NL: Gone Missing by Linda Castillo. Thanks to whomever on this board reminded me of this series."

again, might have been me, I have been reading this series pretty regularly.

NR: Escaping Valentine's Day by Christi Barth (Tule arc)
Shooting at Midnight by Greg Rucka (CFM pick october/print owned)
Uncaged by Harper Sloan (hoopla audio novella)

Library book waiting for me I think picking up monday (book club meeting) Miss Benson's Beetle by Rachel Joyce (for Feb meeting. Not too sure about this one the storyline doesn't jump out at me).
Started Escaping Valentine's Day earlier this morning. Hopefully will be getting it read today/tomorrow. Continuing with reading Shooting at midnight.

JF-Uncaged by Sloan (novella-audio)

Thank you!

Carol/Bonadie wrote: "Welcome, Anjili!

JF: Finding Me by Viola Davis

NL: Gone Missing by Linda Castillo. Thanks to whomever on this board reminded me of this series."

Thank You!

Ann wrote: "Welcome to the group, Anjili - it's fun to find a favorite author!

Anjili wrote: "JF: One by One by Ruth Ware
NR: The death of Mrs Westaway by Ruth Ware

New member here! Hi! Hooked on Ruth Ware-..."

Carol/Bonadie wrote: "Welcome, Anjili!

JF: Finding Me by Viola Davis

NL: Gone Missing by Linda Castillo. Thanks to whomever on this board reminded me of this series."

NR Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six by Lisa Unger audio and at the 50% mark, starting to reveal secrets.
My first books for 2023
JF The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times lovely on audio read by Michelle Obama

JF The Old Woman with the Knife by Gu Byeong-mo also audio, very compelling and our current group read book.

JF Hide by Tracy Clark Amazon first read on Kindle. I liked the main character in this homicide detective series book one.

NR-Beautiful Oblivion by Jamie McGuire
Shooting at Midnight-Greg Rucka
Miss Benson’s Beetle by Rachel Joyce (feb library book club) jump started ebook.

Netgalley Stars in an Italian Sky by Jill Santopola

Library has above book club book and Kelly Ripa’s book wait for me to pick up. Will go Monday book club meeting plus library has their winter reading event starting then so will pick up log with prompts to do.

Finished reading Blue Heaven

by C.J. Box

My Review

JF: Gone Missing by Linda Castilllo

NL: A Kiss of Shadows by Laurell K Hamilton. This is a re-read; I am going to reread this series in 2023. I wonder if I can find some slots on my DL for these!

I’m reading a book called The Patient by Jane Shemilt

If you think the British royal family is in disarray now, just be thankful they aren't burning 'heretics' at the stake. 🔥 You didn't dare be out of favour with King Henry VIII.

I love the Matthew Shardlake historical mystery series by C.J. Sansom. Lamentation is #6.
4.5~5★ My review

Brighten your day with a starry night! Look Up at the Stars by Katie Cotton is a children's picture book where a little bear who wants a star finds his own light.
4★ My review with lots of illustrations

NR Joan Is Okay by Weike Wang audio, one third in and very good

NR A Grave Roast by Alexis N. Sage ARC Kindle cozy paranormal - publish date Jan 23, 2023

JR and so good, Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six by Lisa Unger audio

JF:A Kiss of Shadows by Laurell K. Hamilton

NL: Robert B. Parker's Fallout by Mike Lupica

NR: The Old Woman with the Knife by Pyong-Mo Ku

Sean Wilson's Gemini Falls is a small coal-mining town in 1930s Australia where a murder is being investigated near the shacks of depression-era homeless families, camped by the river. Obvious suspects, of course.
3★ My review of Gemini Falls

Ernest Hemingway was known for deceptively simple storytelling that can be surprisingly thought-provoking. This short story takes place late night in a Spanish cafe that is A Clean Well-Lighted Place.
5★ My review with a link to the story online

I’m reading a book called Drown Her Sorrows by Melinda Leigh

j/f: The House Guest- hank philippi ryan- pub 2/7/23
n/r: The Summer of Songbirds- kristy woodson harvey- pub.7/11/23

JF Fox Creek
NR Hemlock

j/f: The Summer of Songbirds- kristy woodson harvey- pub. date 7/11/23- a perfect beach book
n/r: The Only Survivors- megan miranda- pub. date 4/11/23

Marseydoates, I haven't read a Susan Wittig Albert book in a while, thanks for the reminder with Hemlock

JF City on Fire by Don Winslow, excellent audio
NR Mister Impossible by Maggie Stiefvater

Marseydoats wrote: "JF Fox Creek
NR Hemlock"

Daniella Mestyanek Young has written a much-discussed story of her life in 'cults' - first a supposedly religious one, and then the US Army. The colourful cover art of Uncultured: A Memoir should be reflected in the print title as "UnCULTured". Quite a story.
4★ My review of UnCULTured (my spelling)

Finished reading A World of Curiosities

by Louise Penny

My Review

JF: Last First Kiss by Stella Holt (arc Tule)
Mountain Rescue by Sandra Owens

NR: Miss Benson's Beetle by Rachel Joyce (library book club for Feb)
Live Wire by Kelly Ripa (library book)

I'll be getting another Tule book later today to add.
There is also Oct's CFM pick
Shooting At midnight by Greg Rucka that is still at bottom of current list.
Plus I still need to start Stars in an Italian Sky by Jill Santopolo which is Netgalley and goes live beginning of Feb.

Ann wrote: "Marseydoates, I haven't read a Susan Wittig Albert book in a while, thanks for the reminder with Hemlock

JF City on Fire by Don Winslow, excellent au..."


I'm a big Susan Wittig Albert fan. I love the China Bayles series and the Beatrix Potter Cottage tales. Also the Victorian mysteries she writes as Robin Paige. For some reason I just can't get into The Darling Dahlias though...

JF Hemlock

NR Dewey Decimated

I’m reading a book called Right Behind Her by Melinda Leigh

Still reading/listening to the below but just started another listen: The Kind Worth Killing by Peter Swanson in anticipation of the release of the sequel, The Kind Worth Saving.


Carol/Bonadie wrote: "

NL: Robert B. Parker's Fallout by Mike Lupica

NR: The Old Woman with the Knife by Pyong-Mo Ku"

Sherry, how was The House Guest? I'm going to a reading of hers on Feb. 7 at the Coolidge Corner where this book will be featured I'm sure.

Sherry wrote: "j/f: The House Guest- hank philippi ryan- pub 2/7/23
n/r: The Summer of Songbirds- kristy woodson harvey- pub.7/11/23"

JF Dewey Decimated

NR Mrs. Claus and the Evil Elves

If anybody wants something that's just light hearted and fun to read, this series is great!

J/F: Miss Benson’s Beetle by Rachel Joyce
Live Wire by Kelly Ripa

Will update current reads tomorrow.

Oh, how I love finding a new favourite book! Norwegian by Night by Derek B. Miller is a compassionate thriller, if there even is such a thing. Great read!
5★ My review of Norwegian by Night>