Mystery/Thriller Reading Friends discussion

Best Books

The Girl From Devil’s Lake : JA Jance
A JoAnna Brady novel. I did not think the most of this series when it started, but over time, it did get better. Now the local sheriff, Brady is faced with a prolific serial killer who has been very good at leaving no clues behind.

No Small Thing: Harold Coyle
Historical Fiction, spanning the American Revolution. Coyle seeds some of his own characters among the real figures, and follows the high points of Washington’s campaign.

The Deepest Cut: PJ Tracy
Traci (the author) goes back a few years and brings the Monkeewrench crew back to life.I’m thinking htis is the best work she has done since her mother passed. The mystery is suitably complex, the characters interesting, and just a hint of humor makes it all go down just fine.

Rusty Puppy: Joe Lansdale
A well done and sometimes amusing mystery featuring two tough red neck southerners who sort of started a detective agency. They seem to spend more money than they make, and risk their life going after some murderers.



Average Books

Keep Running: Molly Black
Black writes around a half dozen books each year. They are quick reading, and mostly entertaining, but not really great literature. This is somewhat of a psychological thriller, a search for a serial killer.

Gone before Goodbye: Coben/Witherspoon
Of course you had to wonder who wrote, who conspired, how the two did all this. Much of that was answered in the afterward, and the interview they did for the news. Reading the book, a disgraced surgeon with a dead husband and many questions, I felt in the beginning that ti was all Witherspoon, and maybe Coben lent his name. The first hint that was not true was when the name “Kasselton Institute was used. Kaselton is something that appears frequently in Coben;s writing. As the tale wore on, it became clear that many of the plot cues later in the book were coming from Coben, since another of his devices is the “is he really dead” schtick. Add the use of characters that have just the right skill at just the right time along with uncanny knowledge of plot elements we know nothing about.

Blood will have Blood: Linda Barnes
Early 80s book and not Carlotta Carlysle. I knew I read all of those. This is the Spraggue series, 4 books. I had one recorded as read, but familiarity as I read this made me realize I likely read it well before I had my first palm pilot and started my book list. (I did use 3 by 5 cards prior to the palm pilot). Our lone detective, Spraggue, attempts to find out who in his theater group was playing dirty tricks, and ultimately committing murder.

Sin City: Harold Robbins
Sometimes you just need a bit of spice in your reading, and Harold Robbins will always provide that. Sin City is, of course, Las Vegas, and this is the tale of a go getter, born poor, but intent on getting what he wants out of life, as soon as he figures out just what that is.

Jimmy the Kid: Donald Westlake
Perhaps there is a fine line between a farce and a caper, I think this tale crosses off both boxes. One of Dortmunder’s crew reads a book about kidnapping a rich kid, and convinces the others it would be a great idea, and the book could be their template. The kid they kidnap is a genius, but their troubles started long before they ever got their hands on him.

The Writer: Patterson/Barker
A friend insisted I read this, so I humored him. If you want a mystery with plenty of twists, right up to the last page, this would be the one. A true crime writer is accused of murder, but the story does nothing but get more complicated, especially with her accusing the lead detective of fabricating evidence in a different case. This is, of course, a co-authored book from Patterson;s stable. I generally steer clear of these, except if the author is somebody I otherwise know.

Reaper/Ghost Target: Irving/Tata
A sniper techno thriller. Stephen Hunter has nothing to worry about. While generally entertaining, one can only suspend disbelief so far. I’m happy the book finished with only one nuclear explosion.

Fluke: Christopher Moore
Stars as a tale of whale researchers, but morphs into something that combines the story of Jonah with 20,000 leagues beneath the sea.

Nice month Barry! I agree with your assertion that the new PJ Tracy book is very good and showcases the Monkeewrench gang well. The surviving author daughter has hit her stride as a solo author.
I’ll have to look out for the Lansdale.

1. I miss my Palm Pilot. I miss my Blackberry more. SIGH.

2. Off to look up the American Revolution HF as soon as I post this.

3. Jimmy the Kid sounds like a hoot. I will look that one up too.

4. Laughed at the nuclear explosion comment.

Great reviews!

another good month, barry. i have the pj tracy on the kindle and will get to it eventually lol

Nice month Barry! I love J.A. Jance, and need to get caught up soon. I also have the P.J. Tracy book in my pile. Way back when, I even read the Linda Barnes books!