Mystery/Thriller Reading Friends discussion

SEP

☀ Umami by Laia Jufresa -4, translated from Spanish (Mexico), part of my personal North America challenge to read at least one book from every state or provence in US/Canada/Mexico.

☀ Foster by Claire Keegan -5, Irish author
A young girl is dropped off at the home of possibly an aunt and uncle, neither of whom she knows, to be kept for an indeterminate amount of time. The story became quite a point of discussion for one of my groups, which I firmly believe is the author's goal.

☀ The Last Murder at the End of the World by Stuart Turton -4

☀ A Disappearance in Fiji by Nilima Rao -4
First book in the Akal Singh historical mystery series set in Fiji in 1914. Akal is a policeman from India who has been put "on-loan" to Fiji for an indeterminate period of time due to a policy transgression. The story begins with a missing Indian woman in a country that treats Indians as slaves and ruled by white colonialists. An appreciative relationship, possibly friendship, is developed during the investigation between Akal, one of his Fijian colleagues, and a white doctor from the town. All three work on the investigation, the doctor being needed for parts of it because none of the white plantation owners will talk to an Indian, even if he is with the police. Their relationship brings a bit of levity to the story, and I'm hoping all three characters will be in the next one.

☀ All Systems Red by Martha Wells -4.5
The first in the Murderbot series. Did not think I would like this - but really did!

☀ Bailey's Café by Gloria Naylor -4.5
First published in 1992, this is the story of a cafe set in a neighborhood that "moves" to wherever it is needed. It is a set of short stories, each about a different cafe customer. Another relevant business is the "house" next door, which may or may not be a brothel.

☀ Blind Sight by Tanya R. Taylor -2

☀ Tales from the Café by Toshikazu Kawaguchi -4, translated from the Japanese.
A continuation of the first book in the series with new customers who wish to time travel to resolve an unfinished issue with someone who has passed, but cannot change what originally happened.

☀ Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri -4.5

☀ A Quiet Life by William Cooper and Michael McKinley -3.5
Set in a world where the US President is a billionaire business man, who starts a war with Iran, using a clicked phishing email as the excuse, making life almost unbearable for the young man they blame for the clicking and his Iranian-American wife. I took off half a star because of the incessant description of the wife's eyes. Once, maybe twice would have been more than enough. Liked the storyline other than that. Ten years ago I would have said it was a dystopia, but now?

☀ Cherringham - In Good Faith: A Cosy Crime Series by Matthew Costello and Neil Richards -4
#46 in a delightful series set in the Cotswold with a retired NYPD detective and a female web designer as PI's. This is one of my "go-to" series when I just need a comfy, thoughtful read.

☀ The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz -5
Had to start this three times since I bought it but finally broke through this time to finish so that I could be prepared for the Sequel. Enjoyed it once I got going!

☀ Islandborn by Junot Díaz -5
Delightful children's book set in an elementary school in the US where everyone in the class is from a different country. Lola's class is tasked with drawing a picture to show what they remember of the country from which they emigrated. Lola was a baby and remembers nothing. She talks with her teacher who asks her if there is anyone she knows who can tell her. Lola thinks the whole neighborhood can tell her! The stories range from beautiful flowers to dolphins in the water to colorful houses/clothes/people to the bad storm that occurred right after Lola was born to the "monster" who took over the country until some brave people stopped "it". The monster, most assuredly, is Rafael Trujillo’s dictatorship from 1930–1961. The bad storm was likely a hurricane, but I couldn't pinpoint a specific one. (of course I had to do a little research on the DR to get my questions answered. And then 2 days after I read it I flew to the DR for a destination wedding. And, no, NOT mine!)

I love stories like this, that depending on the age of the child, the reader can delve into as much history as seems appropriate. The "monster" can be something as relatively tame as a monster in the closet or under the bed to a watered-down version of the man labeled the monster. Children need to know their backstories at some point, I believe. Of course, the book has been banned in the US by at least one school district in Florida.

☀ The Wind That Lays Waste by Selva Almada -4, translated from the Spanish (Argentina)
A thought-provoking story that takes place in one day when a preacher and his daughter are stranded in a tiny town in Argentina when the car breaks down during a storm with an auto mechanic and his teenage ward. Religion, politics, family dramas are discussed as they wait out the storm.

Good looking month Gail, and I love the Murderbot books!

nice month, gail. my book club also read Foster and had a great discussion about it. we also read Small Things Like These at the same time since both books were quick reads

Wow, Gail, quite a list!

I'm glad you read, and appear to have liked, Interpreter of Maladies. I've probably said, this is one of my favorite book titles of all time.

#46 in a series! Yikes! You've lured me in, though, I'll search for #1. Hope it's still in print.

I had to do some sleuthing for detailed plot summaries of The Plot while beginning The Sequel because I had forgotten too much, even after re-reading our own Group Read discussion. Now I'm on track, though, and can't wait to find out where the plot (no pun intended) leads us!

edit: I just looked up the Cherringham series and the books are made up of 3 or so "episodes." Are these short stories, or novellas?

Carol/Bonadie wrote: "Wow, Gail, quite a list!

I'm glad you read, and appear to have liked, Interpreter of Maladies. I've probably said, this is one of my favorite book titles of all time.

#46 in a series!..."

They are novellas. The audios (read by Neal Dudgeon of Midsomer Murders fame) are about 3.5 hours each. When I started out with these i was doing the backlist as the 3 but now that I"m caught up I do them singly. This latest one isn't even out on audio yet, so I did kindle.