What Fiction are you reading this week, October 15, 2023?

[hermetic]

Abandon All Despair...


Due to being insanely busy this past week I'm sslowly working through the same two novels: The Twist of a Knife by Anthony Horowitz and Dark Angel by John Sandford. I should be able to start reading Mystic River by Dennis Lehane tonight, though. An award-winning tale of psychological suspense.

What tales will you be starting this week?

[cbabe]

1. I enjoyed Dark Angel. Twisty complicated. Letty

is grown up, engages my readerly interest although I liked her better in her first outing.

Current read is an early Robert Crais ‘Two minute warning’. Stand alone with trademark fast twisty plot, deeply developed characters.

Next up Thomas Perry ‘Fidelity,

(Ok. I typed letty three times and got ‘corrected’ to lettuce. Grrrr.)

[hermetic]

6. "lettuce" LOL

Damned autocorrect.

I love Crais' books. Always enjoyable. I think that one might be The Two-Minute Rule, though. Haven't read that one but can't find any with 'warning' in the title. No biggy.

Thanks for posting. I always enjoy seeing you here.

[cbabe]

11. Yes, you're correct, two minute rule. Autocorrect isn't the only goof.

[Ponietz]

2. Not Even the Dead

[link:https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/11/books/review/juan-gomez-barcena-not-even-the-dead.html]

[hermetic]

7. Not everyone can see NYT here.

The Fiction Database tells me that it's the "story of a pursuit that transcends territories and centuries; a hallucinatory journey from 1500s colonial Mexico to Trump’s Border Wall." Sounds quite fascinating. Just came out this year in July. All the reviews are in Spanish so I'm thinking the book may be, as well.

[Ponietz]

15. In translation by Katie Whittemore

It’s a tale in the Heart of Darkness and Apocalypse Now sub genre. The protagonist and Kurtz may be indistinguishable.

[Jilly_in_VA]

3. I've been on a reading tear this week

Finished Longsword's Lady, by J.P. Reedman, a long but fascinating recounting of the life of Ela, Countess of Salisbury, who was betrothed at the age of 9 to William Longespee, baseborn half-brother of Richard the Lionheart and John Lackland, two royal sons of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine (she also figures prominently in the early part of the book). I was not familiar with her at all, but what an amazing woman! The author has done his research well. Then it was on to The Secrets That Shape Us, by Diane Winger, which deals with some interesting concepts--suicide, end of life issues, overprotective parents, and gay teens--from dual viewpoints, those of a grandmother and the teenager sent to spend five weeks with her while her father (her custodial parent) is on a business trip to Europe. Also fascinating, but in a very different way. I got up early yesterday to finish it.

[hermetic]

8. Sounds like good choices

Thanks for sharing.

[northoftheborder]

4. The Violin Conspiracy, by Brendan Slocum

[hermetic]

10. Highly rated, 5 stars all around

"A riveting page-turner about a Black classical musician's desperate quest to recover his lost violin on the eve of the most prestigious musical competition in the world. [A] galvanizing blend of thriller, coming-of-age drama, and probing portrait of racism."

[japple]

5. Thanks for the weekly thread, hermetic. Love the book grotto/vault/cave. Very clever.

I thoroughly enjoyed Mystic River. Dennis Lehane is a wonderful writer--always does his research.

Tonight, I plan to start Ron Rash's latest book, The Caretaker.

[hermetic]

12. Ooooh, brand new

"Told against the backdrop of the Korean War as a small Appalachian town sends its sons to battle. A breathtaking love story and a searing examination of the acts we seek to justify in the name of duty, family, honor, and love." Sounds great!

[The King of Prussia]

9. Got my reading mojo back

Currently reading "The Dartmoor Murders" by Stephanie Austin - the fourth in her Juno Browne series of cosy mysteries, set in and around Ashburton in Devon before that.

Before that it was "The Case of Mr Smith" by Patricia Wentworth. A golden age mystery starring Miss Silver - an elderly spinster working as an enquiry agent. Recommended.

Simultaneously with that I read "The Satsuma Complex" by Bob Mortimer. I don't usually read celebrity authors, but this was pretty good.

[hermetic]

13. Welcome back, mojo!

This sounds like fun: "A page-turning story with a cast of unforgettable characters, The Satsuma Complex is the brilliantly funny first novel by bestselling author and comedian Bob Mortimer."

Patricia Wentworth, wow, she's got books older than me. And probably in better shape.

Good to see you. Thanks for the tips.

[ExWhoDoesntCare]

14. I'm in the middle of Planet of Clay

By Syrian author Samar Yazbek. Very strange, thus far. Narrator is the main character and has an unhealthy obsession with walking--in a country that has a violent and oppressive government. The combination has already cost the girl's mother her life. I have a feeling that it won't get any better for her from here.

Later this week, I have another darkish read, Nancy Farmer's The House of the Scorpion.

If I have time, I'll try to get to Sharyn McCrumb's Ballad series mystery, If Ever I Return, Pretty Peggy-O.

I'll be staying away from ovens again this week.

[mentalsolstice]

16. Lady Tan's Circle of Women by Lisa See

I finished The Dutch House by Ann Patchett, and have acquired a new favorite author. Speaking of favorite authors, Dennis Lehane is another one. I’ve read many times that a writer should write what they know, and he definitely does just that.

Thanks for hosting this group, it keeps me inspired and motivated.

[Bayard]

17. "Seize the Night,"

An older Dean Koontz, I think? 1999. So far, so good, although it gets a little preachy sometimes.

On another note, I have 3 deaths to report. Our slow-to-mature Great Pyrenees decided to eat several books early one morning before I was up. Bad Gracie!

[yellowdogintexas]

18. Mind if I Come In? by K.L. Phelps

First in a series. I am about half through and am enjoying it. Lots of humor woven into the dialogue.
Book 1 supplies very little of Katrina's backstory; it's hard not to think something is missing. However, we will find out how Katrina got into her situation in a future book.

On a recent trip to Vegas, Katrina Parker really crapped out. Married, widowed, and with no memory of either event, Kat suddenly develops the ability to communicate with comatose people. But what happens in Vegas doesn't always stay there — especially when it comes to the supernatural. Even back in Houston, trouble still haunts her.

After agreeing to try to help the coma-stricken daughter of a mob boss, Kat discovers the assault that placed the poor girl in the hospital was only the beginning. Aided by her amnesic vampire housemate, a former Vegas detective, a spunky turtle, and a man who may or may not have a neck, Kat vows to discover who is behind it all … before she becomes the next victim.

I have books 2 and 3 and will probably dive into them next.

[Paper Roses]

19. I just finished "Damage Control" by John Gilstrap. Great book.

This is the first book I have read by this author and I enjoyed every page. Will be searching for more by this author.

[ExWhoDoesntCare]

21. John and I go way back

We belonged to a writers group when his first book was coming out. I recommend it to everyone--and still do. It's called Nathan's Run. Sort of like Grisham's The Client, only with much better writing.

[mainer]

25. so do i!

I belonged to an online writer's chat group with John (and that was way back, I mean AOL- way back, when online groups were new) and I loved Nathan's Run as well. John Ramsay Miller (The Last Family) and Steve Martini (The List) was part of our group, too. Geez, so many years have passed since then...

[txwhitedove]

20. Hi there. Last week finished the non-fiction and jumped

into 2nd book of the Dixie Hemingway series by Blaize Clement, Duplicity Dogged the Dauchsund, and 3rd Even Cat Sitters get the Blues which had a big iguana named Ziggy.
Goofy titles, but great read, funny, thoughtful, beautiful descriptions of Florida fauna and flora. Again, next book on order from my little library. Currently reading Run by Ann Patchett, getting interesting.

Side note on author Blaize Clement: Just when I decided she sounds like a Democrat and someone I could be friends with, my research showed sadly that she died a few years ago and the last 3 books in the series was co-written by her son. Book #3 makes a reference in passing about, "...well that's several things that would be illegal in a Republican state!" SCORE!

[ExWhoDoesntCare]

22. Michael Connelly's Darkness More Than Night

Got in a double-sucker-punch by having the bad guy condemning the female sheriff's detective with, "Who's ever heard of a cop who's a Democrat?"

Given Connelly's ties to local LEOs, I'm pretty sure he knows that some cops are Democrats.

His legendary hero, Harry Bosch, also demonstrates some leftist tendencies. In one of the books (Concrete Blonde?), a scene has his boss whining that he doesn't understand why "those people" burned down their own neighbourhoods. Bosch's interior response was, "That you don't understand it is why they did it--and why they'll do it again someday."

[Whatthe_Firetruck]

23. I read online...

On Kindle I reread "Delphi Mediation" by Bob Blanton, 17th in a space opera series.

On Tapas I caught up on the webcomic "Steven *AU*universe - Ask White Pearl and Steven". If anyone is familiar with Steven Universe, this is an alternate time line where Steven's mother wasn't Pink Diamond, but instead was _White_ Diamond. It follows the rough time line of the show, but explores the differences of that single change. After a slow start, the writing is fantastic, with the creator staying faithful to the show's art style.

On Royal Road, I follow several fictions, mainly these three:
"Peculiar Soul" by Tmarkos, which is almost finished and afterwards will be available on Kindle. In an industrial world mired in war, not everyone gets a Soul. Speculative fiction, that will be left on the site after the migration.

"Burning Witch" by Delemhach. Third light fantasy series all set in the same world. The first two are "The House Witch", and "Princess of Potential". Those aren't on site anymore, nor the first part of Burning Witch as the author has pulled them to publish on Kindle. Updated three times a week.

"The Journeys of Seraphiel (lit-rpg)" by Vihyungrang. This author has written 4 or so long speculative fiction novels updated on Sundays, with this being the first lit rpg. They can all be found on Royal Road. The author favors female, overpowered protagonists, but the stories are worth the ride.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

24. 2 novels at present.

Anything You Say by Gillian McAllister. It's her third novel, and I plan to read them all in order. They are various murder mysteries. This one, a woman thinks she's being followed from a bar by a man who'd groped her, pushes the guy. Two different versions happen. One where she quickly calls 999 (the English version of our 911) and helps rescue the man, the other where she does nothing, walks away, and he dies. The rest of the novel is in alternating chapters, "Conceal" and "Reveal". So far fascinating.

The other is the most recent novel by Jack McDevitt, Village in the Sky which involves a faster than light star ship looking for habitable planets finds a village, one village only, on a planet somewhere in the Orion Nebula. When a follow-up ship goes there a couple of months later, the village is gone. Hmmm.

McDevitt has two incredibly good series, and this is the latest of the Alex Benedict series. The other, is The Academy series. Both are excellent, and not as well known as they should be. I have also met McDevitt twice, once at World Con in 2016, and again at Mile Hi Con in Denver in 2018. He's wonderful. I hope he lives forever and continues writing his books.

[cilla4progress]

26. Song of Achilles

Loan from a friend.

Sadly...violent...need a respite...

[flying_wahini]

28. Achilles was beautifully written tho. I enjoyed it.

[cilla4progress]

29. VERY beautifully written -

otherworldly. Agree!

Have you read any other of her books?

[flying_wahini]

27. Demon Copperhead

Demon Copperhead by Kingsolver. Good read about Oxy in the South, among other topics.
Good page turner.

[flying_wahini]

30. I finished Magpie Murders by Horowitz. Good but weird perspective transition about half way thru.

And before that the Covenant of Water byA Verghese. I loved this book.
Almost as good his Cutting for Stone (one of my very favorites.)

[NoRethugFriends]

31. The fiction I am reading is that DU4 is the end of the world

[Laurelin]

32. The Witch King

Fantasy by my favorite writer, Martha Wells. Actually I have a lot of favorite writers but she tops the list.

She has a new book in her Murderbot series too. I pre-ordered it.

[yellowdogintexas]

33. Talking With The Dead, K.L. Phelps second in the Kat Parker series

Last week I read book 1 (Mind If I Come In?) and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Volumes 2 & 3 were available at huge discount on Kindle so I got them. I'll go straight to #3 when I finish #2.

Having recently come to terms with her psychic gift of communicating with the comatose, all Kat Parker wanted was a bit of relaxation and to replace her broken cell phone. But her uncle's death reveals a new and potentially dangerous wrinkle to her abilities — she can see and talk with the dead.

Phoneless, fed up, and fearful for her sanity, Kat is still determined to help her uncle. Discovering he had more than a few secrets, she embarks on a treasure hunt for the one object she believes will help him rest in peace. Standing in her way is the CIA, a Mexican drug cartel kill squad, a group of mask-wearing gang members, and a wild alligator determined to eat her pet turtle.

As things spiral out of control, the absurdity of it all has Kat wondering if she hasn’t already gone insane, if she’ll be forever saddled with babysitting her uncle’s spirit, and if she should even bother to replace her phone.