Mystery/Thriller Reading Friends discussion

Boomsday: Christopher Buckley
For all that I miss Fitzhugh and his manic wit, I can be somewhat consoled that there is a body of work by Buckley that I have not read, and is every bit as good. I guess I wold have to characterize this as biting political satire, though biting satire seems more the intent than any politics, the use of positions and campaigns was just an available foil. This is wonderful stuff!! (A-)

Vanished : Joseph Finder
Firstly, this is a great novel t read, probably great for the beach or pool, as it ends every chapter with a cliff hanger that spurs you to read on. (So...a high score for entertainment value). But the end left me a bit disquieted. I had the feeling that since everybody lied to everybody else, Finder figured that whatever bones he tossed us would suffice for an explanation of what transpired. Nope. Didn't buy that. The book ended and I felt that too much went unexplained, or poorly explained. To give some back handed praise though, Finder always has a main character that is too stupid to live. At least in this book, it was the person who was kidnapped early in the book and did not reappear till the end. (B)

The Wrecker: Clive Cussler
A different series, and it certainly feel different than the seagoing tales. This series features private detectives of the VanDorn Agency in the early 1900s. They hunt a saboteur across the US using the tools available in that time, and their wits. As with all of Cussler's books, this is an adventure. (B)

Divine Justice: David Baldacci
Probably the end of the Camel Club series. A first rate thriller where the bad guys are very bad, the good guys are very good, the bad guys get the drop on the good guys, and just when it all looks hopeless...... (B+)

Judging Time: Leslie Glass
This is my first exposure to April Woo, Chinese detective, and though I still prefer Rozan's Lydia Chin as a character, I have to give real points to April's mother (Skinny Dragon to her Worm Daughter) The story did not fully measure up to what Rozan has to offer though. (B)

Flashback: Nevada Barr
Almost 2 books in one. While Anna tries to solve murder and other mayhem in an old Civil War prison, she reads the letters of a woman written during the War seeking to solve a disappearance then related to Dr Mudd. (B)

First Family: David Baldacci
This is the man who started with Absolute Power, a tale of criminal behavior in the Oval Office, so why not stick with success and make the tale start at the top again? This is hardly the same story, and he reserves many details deep into the book to keep up the level of suspense. A good "buddy" book, with male/female PIs. (B+)

The Maze of Bones: Rick Riordan
Children's serial. I do;t think I'll play. (B-)

The Axeman's Jazz: Julie Smith
I'm feeling sorry for Skip Langdon, here she is, a new police officer, and each case she solves tales an emotional toll that one wonders how she can go on. Yet she does, for several more books. The series is set in New Orleans, and generate enough heat to warm a New England winter. What I liked best about this book in particular is the subtle humor of investigating suspects that belong to a co-dependency self help group. The are all so willing to help and nurture. (B+)

Cape Perdido: Marsha Muller
A stand alone, but the style is very much like the Muller series. In this case, a water company is about to steal the water form a northern California community to feed southern California. A battle is shaping up between an environmental law group and the local "friends of the community" group. Nothing is ever quite so simple though, old loves, old crimes, even old murders intrude on the battle. (B+)

Jazz Funeral: Julie Smith
The Sequel to Axeman's Jazz, and another Skip Langdon novel. The New Orleans setting remains fresh as ever, and the mystery as mysterious. I think smith withholds just that grain we need till late, so you can go on gut, but less so on facts. (B)

The Only Good Yankee: Jeff Abbott
Texas small town sort of humorous mystery. Julia Spencer Fleming has nothing to worry about, neither does Janet Evanovitch. (B)

The Disciple: Stephen Coonts
One of the original "big iron" techno writers, Coonts still has not found a world problem that cannot be solved with a large bomber. He has grown over the years though, now he uses spies to find the targets for the big bombers. (B)

The Disciple: Stephen Coonts
One of the original "big iron" techno writers, Coonts still has not found a world problem that cannot be solved with a large bomber.

And you have a problem with that? Unless you'd prefer drones....

A couple tomahawks off a submarine can do wonders when you need an attitude change.

Great month Barry!
I loved Flashback too! The two stories really worked well together and I didn't mind the alternating chapters.

Barry wrote: " Flashback: Nevada Barr
Almost 2 books in one. While Anna tries to solve murder and other mayhem in an old Civil War prison, she reads the letters of a woman written during the War seeking to solve a disappearance then related to Dr Mudd. (B) "

>>Boomsday: Christopher Buckley
For all that I miss Fitzhugh and his manic wit, I can be somewhat consoled that there is a body of work by Buckley that I have not read, and is every bit as good.<<

I guess I need to give Bill Fitzhugh another chance since you are comparing him to Christopher Buckley . I read his first Pest Control back when it was first published and liked it well enough but did not continue on. Do you have any particular favorites to recommend?

Pest Control was my favorite, my second fave was probably cross dressing, though when I quote a Fitzhugh line, it is most often from Radioactivity.

Boomsday looks very good. I love good satire!