Hey!! Let's get some action going! What are we reading?

[speakingtohe]

Originally Posted by CRussel

Fortunately, it's been long enough that I can read them again. Though I admit, the hard drinking of the early Matt Scudder books is a bit much. But still, enjoying this first one. I'll likely pace them out - they don't lend themselves to binge reading this second time around.

Meanwhile, listening to A Symphony of Echos, #2 in the Chronicles of St. Mary series, and Foxglove Summer, #5 in Ben Aaronovitch's Rivers of London series. I'm stretching out Foxglove Summer by only listening when I swim, giving me a strong incentive to hit the pool.

Way to go with the fitness motivation

Helen

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Next up: 1636: The Barbie Consortium by Gorg Huff et al. I'm 99% sure I'll enjoy this, a collection of stories covering one group of youngsters in the 1632 universe. Bought yesterday, thanks to a Kobo coupon.

And it was very enjoyable indeed. Although there was no overall story arc, and the book just ends when we get 'up to date' in the 1632 universe. But there was enough new stuff and rearrangements to make it an interesting read even for someone who's read all the Grantville Gazettes.


Next up: Friday the Rabbi Slept Late by Harry Kemelman. A straight mystery story. I read it some years ago in paper, and I think I'll enjoy reading it again.

[Luffy]

Death Of A Gossip (Hamish Macbeth #1)
by M.C. Beaton - 5/5

Fantastic! What a story, so intelligently told! The difference between Death Of A Gossip and the first Agatha Raisin book is that the former doesn't concentrate on the main character's details. That only helped to improve on what was a nice murder case. The gathering of suspects in a library was something of a throwback to Christie books. The final showdown with the suspects was very well presented. Hamish is such a decent chap. His traits are realistically displayed, and you believe him, his upbringing, his motives. He is the most alive detective I've come across since Sleeping Murder's Jane Marple. I enjoyed reading about things that moved me. Yet despite the fact that I could have been swept away emotionally, I wasn't. The book gave me control of my thoughts. I was aloof and impartial, while still cared very much for Alice, Charlie et al. I was very surprised by the quality of this book. And it seems, and I hope, that I have a lot of good things to discover of the Hamish Macbeth series.

[Stitchawl]

Originally Posted by Luffy

Death Of A Gossip (Hamish Macbeth #1)
by M.C. Beaton - 5/5

Fantastic! What a story, so intelligently told! The difference between Death Of A Gossip and the first Agatha Raisin book is that the former doesn't concentrate on the main character's details. That only helped to improve on what was a nice murder case. The gathering of suspects in a library was something of a throwback to Christie books. The final showdown with the suspects was very well presented. Hamish is such a decent chap. His traits are realistically displayed, and you believe him, his upbringing, his motives. He is the most alive detective I've come across since Sleeping Murder's Jane Marple. I enjoyed reading about things that moved me. Yet despite the fact that I could have been swept away emotionally, I wasn't. The book gave me control of my thoughts. I was aloof and impartial, while still cared very much for Alice, Charlie et al. I was very surprised by the quality of this book. And it seems, and I hope, that I have a lot of good things to discover of the Hamish Macbeth series.

I liked the books, but I REALLY enjoyed the TV series! Lots of fun!

I've discovered a John Sandford 'Virgil Flowers' book that I somehow overlooked. Must have been one of the very early ones. "Dark of the Moon," and it's another Sandford great!

Stitchawl

[HarryT]

Just finished "March to the Sea", the second book in the "Empire of Man" series by David Weber and John Ringo. Extremely good military SF which I originally bought from Baen in 2001.

[CRussel]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Just finished "March to the Sea", the second book in the "Empire of Man" series by David Weber and John Ringo. Extremely good military SF which I originally bought from Baen in 2001.

I'm assuming this is a re-read? And I totally agree that it is excellent MilSF. As are the other three. Supposedly the authors are working on a fifth book in the series. Except that they apparently had a disagreement about plot direction, and who knows when the book will get written.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by CRussel

I'm assuming this is a re-read? And I totally agree that it is excellent MilSF. As are the other three. Supposedly the authors are working on a fifth book in the series. Except that they apparently had a disagreement about plot direction, and who knows when the book will get written.

Yes, a re-read, but the first since I originally bought (and read) the series when it first came out, so that's almost 15 years ago.

[MickeyC]

Just finished One Rough Man by Brad Taylor and it was a very good thriller and a very fast read. Next up Seize the Night by Dean Koontz
__________________

[Stitchawl]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Just finished "March to the Sea", the second book in the "Empire of Man" series by David Weber and John Ringo. Extremely good military SF which I originally bought from Baen in 2001.

I was a third of the way into this when I discovered the old Sandford 'Virgil Flowers' book and had to put it down. I was enjoying 'March to the Sea' but there is very little that can beat out a Sandford novel. I'll get back to it tomorrow when I finish reading how Virgil saves the day.


Stitchawl

[Nyssa]

I am currently reading The Rook. Its fantastic, so far! I wish I had started it yesterday morning. Now I'll have to sneak in 5 minutes of reading enjoyment, whenever I can, during the workweek.

[Dngrsone]

Just finished Digital Divide by K. B. Spangler

Now starting The True History of the Elephant Man 3rd edition, by Michael Howell & Peter Ford

[samhy]

I've just finished One & Only by Viv Daniels (also known as Diana Peterfreund).
This is a very nice New Adult story which avoids many traps other stories in this genre usually fall into. If you like this genre, go for it

Originally Posted by CRussel

Meanwhile, listening to A Symphony of Echos, #2 in the Chronicles of St. Mary series, and Foxglove Summer, #5 in Ben Aaronovitch's Rivers of London series.

Please let me know what you think of A Symphony of Echos when you're done. Thanks to wrong shelving at Kobo, I haven't been able to read it yet.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Next up: Friday the Rabbi Slept Late by Harry Kemelman. A straight mystery story. I read it some years ago in paper, and I think I'll enjoy reading it again.

And I did. A most enjoyable murder mystery, although a very quick conclusion. And this time I spotted the clues and remembered whodunnit!

Next up: Sly Mongoose by Tobias Buckell. Another recent purchase, third in a series of which I'd read the first two and already had the fourth!

[WT Sharpe]

Originally Posted by WT Sharpe

I'm currently reading Cheat Mountain by K.P. Hayden; the story of a young couple who buy a home here in my native Virginia that's haunted by the ghost of a Confederate soldier. So far it's a rip roaring tale with plenty of action and interesting characters.

Just finished this one and loved it. Keeping all the players straight was a bit of a chore as there were many of them, but the book had plenty of action and mystery. Interesting aside: Cheat Mountain was originally named Breastworks, which is a reference to the trenches used by Civil War soldiers. They were deep enough so that from a standing position they came up to a man's chest, hence the name. The author's wife told me he changed the title because people doing an internet search on the word "breastworks" were getting results that were not at all what they desired.

[Rev. Bob]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Next up: Sly Mongoose by Tobias Buckell. Another recent purchase, third in a series of which I'd read the first two and already had the fourth!

Funny you mention this; I was just at a convention with him (As in, the weekend that ended yesterday) and got him to sign my ebooks.