THE LAST DEVIL TO DIE (Mys-The Thursday Murder Club-Kent, England-Contemp) – 4th in series – Richard Osman
It's rarely a quiet day for the Thursday Murder Club. Shocking news reaches them—an old friend has been killed, and a dangerous package he was protecting has gone missing. The gang's search leads them into the antiques business, where the tricks of the trade are as old as the objects themselves. As they encounter drug dealers, art forgers, and online fraudsters—as well as heartache close to home—Elizabeth, Joyce, Ron, and Ibrahim have no idea whom to trust. With the body count rising, the clock ticking down, and trouble firmly on their tail, has their luck finally run out?
Gabriel - G+ - Protagonists as engaging as ever. The mystery was fairly interesting. The scene with Connie and her husband was poignant. I liked the scammer's comeuppance. Helen – G+ - It’s a solid, believable cozy/genre mystery. The subject of Alzheimer’s is really well handled and done with dignity. Liked that there were several mysteries. Kathleen – Ex – Really liked it. It can be read as a standalone. The characters were very well drawn. She especially loved the delicate way in which Alzheimer’s was handled. There was so much depth to the characters, it really doesn’t qualify as a cozy. Nancy – VG - “The Last Devil to Die” read like a cozy mystery given depth by its well done depiction and dialogue about death, grief and Alzheimer’s. Elizabeth’s own sometimes violent past, Stephen’s realistically portrayed dissent into illness and Elizabeth and Stephen as a couple, all rang true. And in spite of how silly it was for each of the book’s characters to speak with complete frankness to some very violent individuals, this element did move the plot along and provided some good comedic moments. I was charmed by every character in The Thursday Murder Club because each one was described as a complete individual in addition to their part in solving the book’s multiple mysteries. And finally, except in the interest of plot development, it was refreshing that none of the characters were simply stereotyped as doddering old seniors playing detective. Ron – Ex — Reading this book is like reuniting with old friends, each one unique and interesting with a bevy of other characters who are also well-drawn. The plot is interesting and this is by far the most poignant entry in the series, with a tender debate of longevity vs. a good death. I love the humor of these books and the interaction of the characters
GROUP RATING AVERAGE: VG
THE LOST VAN GOGH (Thriller-Luke Perrone-Contemp) – Standalone – Jonathan Santlofer
For years, there have been whispers that, before his death, Van Gogh completed a final self-portrait. When Luke Perrone, artist and great-grandson of the man who stole the Mona Lisa, and Alexis Verde, daughter of a notorious art thief, discover what may be the missing portrait, they are drawn into a most epic art puzzles. When only days later the painting disappears again, they are reunited with INTERPOL agent John Washington Smith in a dangerous and deadly search that will not only expose secrets of the artist's last days but draws them into one of history's darkest eras. Beneath the paint and canvas, beneath the beauty and the legend, the artwork has become linked with something evil, something that continues to flourish on the dark web and on the shadiest corridors of the underground art world.
Helen – Okay – the author knew his stuff and really told you about it. Too many characters, multiple person voices in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd voice. You didn’t learn the protagonist’s name until page 52. Joni – VG - Overall, I liked the book. I did find it a bit of a challenge to follow all the characters and who they were actually working for. I was especially interested in all the references to the “Degenerate Art” show that the Nazis had put on. I read about it some years ago and found it amusing that it was so much more popular than they planned. It is tragic that so much of that work was destroyed. I probably would not read more by the same author but I gave the book a Very Good. Kathleen – Good – A diagram of the characters would have been nice as she found it hard to keep track of them. It was not the best book, but she would have liked the depth of knowledge the author had about the art. She couldn’t identify with the characters, and the book read as though it was a second draft. Linda – VG - This is a dual period standalone crime novel. The crime is the theft of a painting. I thought it was well written and well researched, but I didn't find it original or unusual in any aspect. Nancy – VG - I continued to read this book, it really grew on me. The sections about the Nazi’s and the relationship between Perrone and Alexis were especially interesting and well done. I also learned lot about how the art world works. I enjoyed the convoluted plot where everyone was double crossing everyone else, but had put in some work keeping all the interesting characters straight. But it was the well written (and historically documented) sections about the Nazi’s and how they conducted their art robberies and mass murders was what really drew me in. Ron – Okay - For me, the book started out well but continued to devolve into what I felt was a weak, scattershot, and unbelievable ending. None of the characters held my interest, with the possible exception of Anika.
GROUP RATING AVERAGE: Good
DOG WILL HAVE HIS DAY (Mys-The Three Evangelists-Paris-Contemp) – 2nd in series – Fred Vargas
Keeping watch under the windows of the Paris flat belonging to a politician's nephew, ex-special investigator Louis Kehlweiler catches sight of something odd on the pavement. A tiny piece of bone. Human bone, in fact. When Kehlweiler takes his find to the nearest police station, he faces ridicule. Obsessed by the fragment, he follows the trail to the tiny Breton fishing village of Port-Nicolas—in search of a dog. But when he recruits "evangelists" Marc and Mathias to help, they find themselves facing even bigger game.
Gabriel – DNF – It didn’t hold his interest. Mart was the most interesting character. LJ – VG+ - The book was mercurial and wise; wonderfully weird and French. It made me stop and think. Vargas work is hard to qualify, but it find it wonderful. Nancy - G+ - Although it did take the book a good 100 pages to get there, its interesting & convoluted plot as well as its many quirky and entertaining characters drew me in. Also grew to appreciate Louis’s style of thinking and speaking. The plot tied up loose ends enough and was made better without a cloying ending to Louis’ relationship with Pauline as well as by not needing punish all the bad guys into oblivion (even though one of them happened to be an old Nazi). Exposing all guilty parties and leaving some of their fates up to the law and some ultimately up to the town made the ending much more clear and satisfying. Ron – VG+ - Well written, with unique and interesting characters and a good dose of humor. The author is one of the best I’ve come across in her description of the inner workings of her characters’ minds.
It's rarely a quiet day for the Thursday Murder Club. Shocking news reaches them—an old friend has been killed, and a dangerous package he was protecting has gone missing. The gang's search leads them into the antiques business, where the tricks of the trade are as old as the objects themselves. As they encounter drug dealers, art forgers, and online fraudsters—as well as heartache close to home—Elizabeth, Joyce, Ron, and Ibrahim have no idea whom to trust. With the body count rising, the clock ticking down, and trouble firmly on their tail, has their luck finally run out?
Gabriel - G+ - Protagonists as engaging as ever. The mystery was fairly interesting.
The scene with Connie and her husband was poignant. I liked the
scammer's comeuppance.
Helen – G+ - It’s a solid, believable cozy/genre mystery. The subject of Alzheimer’s is really well handled and done with dignity. Liked that there were several mysteries.
Kathleen – Ex – Really liked it. It can be read as a standalone. The characters were very well drawn. She especially loved the delicate way in which Alzheimer’s was handled. There was so much depth to the characters, it really doesn’t qualify as a cozy.
Nancy – VG - “The Last Devil to Die” read like a cozy mystery given depth by its well done depiction and dialogue about death, grief and Alzheimer’s. Elizabeth’s own sometimes violent past, Stephen’s realistically portrayed dissent into illness and Elizabeth and Stephen as a couple, all rang true. And in spite of how silly it was for each of the book’s characters to speak with complete frankness to some very violent individuals, this element did move the plot along and provided some good comedic moments. I was charmed by every character in The Thursday Murder Club because each one was described as a complete individual in addition to their part in solving the book’s multiple mysteries. And finally, except in the interest of plot development, it was refreshing that none of the characters were simply stereotyped as doddering old seniors playing detective.
Ron – Ex — Reading this book is like reuniting with old friends, each one unique and interesting with a bevy of other characters who are also well-drawn. The plot is interesting and this is by far the most poignant entry in the series, with a tender debate of longevity vs. a good death. I love the humor of these books and the interaction of the characters
GROUP RATING AVERAGE: VG
THE LOST VAN GOGH (Thriller-Luke Perrone-Contemp) – Standalone – Jonathan Santlofer
For years, there have been whispers that, before his death, Van Gogh completed a final self-portrait. When Luke Perrone, artist and great-grandson of the man who stole the Mona Lisa, and Alexis Verde, daughter of a notorious art thief, discover what may be the missing portrait, they are drawn into a most epic art puzzles. When only days later the painting disappears again, they are reunited with INTERPOL agent John Washington Smith in a dangerous and deadly search that will not only expose secrets of the artist's last days but draws them into one of history's darkest eras. Beneath the paint and canvas, beneath the beauty and the legend, the artwork has become linked with something evil, something that continues to flourish on the dark web and on the shadiest corridors of the underground art world.
Helen – Okay – the author knew his stuff and really told you about it. Too many characters, multiple person voices in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd voice. You didn’t learn the protagonist’s name until page 52.
Joni – VG - Overall, I liked the book. I did find it a bit of a challenge to follow all the characters and who they were actually working for. I was especially interested in all the references to the “Degenerate Art” show that the Nazis had put on. I read about it some years ago and found it amusing that it was so much more popular than they planned. It is tragic that so much of that work was destroyed. I probably would not read more by the same author but I gave the book a Very Good.
Kathleen – Good – A diagram of the characters would have been nice as she found it hard to keep track of them. It was not the best book, but she would have liked the depth of knowledge the author had about the art. She couldn’t identify with the characters, and the book read as though it was a second draft.
Linda – VG - This is a dual period standalone crime novel. The crime is the theft of a painting. I thought it was well written and well researched, but I didn't find it original or unusual in any aspect.
Nancy – VG - I continued to read this book, it really grew on me. The sections about the Nazi’s and the relationship between Perrone and Alexis were especially interesting and well done. I also learned lot about how the art world works. I enjoyed the convoluted plot where everyone was double crossing everyone else, but had put in some work keeping all the interesting characters straight. But it was the well written (and historically documented) sections about the Nazi’s and how they conducted their art robberies and mass murders was what really drew me in.
Ron – Okay - For me, the book started out well but continued to devolve into what I felt was a weak, scattershot, and unbelievable ending. None of the characters held my interest, with the possible exception of Anika.
GROUP RATING AVERAGE: Good
DOG WILL HAVE HIS DAY (Mys-The Three Evangelists-Paris-Contemp) – 2nd in series – Fred Vargas
Keeping watch under the windows of the Paris flat belonging to a politician's nephew, ex-special investigator Louis Kehlweiler catches sight of something odd on the pavement. A tiny piece of bone. Human bone, in fact. When Kehlweiler takes his find to the nearest police station, he faces ridicule. Obsessed by the fragment, he follows the trail to the tiny Breton fishing village of Port-Nicolas—in search of a dog. But when he recruits "evangelists" Marc and Mathias to help, they find themselves facing even bigger game.
Gabriel – DNF – It didn’t hold his interest. Mart was the most interesting character.
LJ – VG+ - The book was mercurial and wise; wonderfully weird and French. It made me stop and think. Vargas work is hard to qualify, but it find it wonderful.
Nancy - G+ - Although it did take the book a good 100 pages to get there, its interesting & convoluted plot as well as its many quirky and entertaining characters drew me in. Also grew to appreciate Louis’s style of thinking and speaking. The plot tied up loose ends enough and was made better without a cloying ending to Louis’ relationship with Pauline as well as by not needing punish all the bad guys into oblivion (even though one of them happened to be an old Nazi). Exposing all guilty parties and leaving some of their fates up to the law and some ultimately up to the town made the ending much more clear and satisfying.
Ron – VG+ - Well written, with unique and interesting characters and a good dose of humor. The author is one of the best I’ve come across in her description of the inner workings of her characters’ minds.
GROUP RATING AVERAGE: Good