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

[HarryT]

Just finished "Overture to Death", the 8th book in Ngaio Marsh's "Inspector Alleyn" series. A murder takes place during the performance of a village play. Inspector Alleyn from Scotland Yard is called in to investigate. The only suspects are the cast of the play: the village squire, his son, and elderly female cousin, the rector and his daughter, and the village doctor and his lady-friend.

I have to say that I didn't enjoy this as much as the previous two books in the series, "Artists in Crime" and "Death in a White Tie". It's still a very good book, but I didn't find the characters as interesting as those in the earlier books.

Recommended, but I'd read the earlier books first.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Marsbound by Joe Haldeman. I bought this back in December 2009 along with a pre-order for the sequel. I'd forgotten about the sequel! Now downloaded and added to my TBR pile. It seems that there's a third one too, but not available in ebook format in the UK yet. Hmm... hopefully the novels will be fairly self-contained!

I enjoyed Marsbound. I might have read it back in December 2009, or maybe it's just that in many ways it's reminiscent of some Heinlein books.

Heroine (18 going on 19) goes to Mars with family (Dad, Mum, younger brother) as part of the first groups going to the Mars base.

The characters aren't as fully formed as one might like, but there's certainly a lot of things going on. It is a complete story in itself, so a sequel is welcome, but not essential.

In fact, moving on to the sequel now: Starbound by Joe Haldeman.

[MickeyC]

Just finished Alien Chicks in Citrus Bras and Stalkers from Beyond the Stars by Andrew Miline and it was a real sci fi giggle in the Douglas Adams style.

Next up Heat Rises by Richard Castle

[tecweston]

Currently reading:

- Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill (84%)

- The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien (82%) [third time]

- The House of Silk: The New Sherlock Holmes Novel by Anthony Horowitz (40%)

- A Study in Sherlock by Laurie R. King, et al (0%)

- A Feast for Crows by George R.R. Martin (31%) [on hold]

- A Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin (20%) [on hold]

Man, I added a bunch of books to my hold list at the library because everything was taking forever to show up, and then everything started showing up at once. Skeleton Crew by Stephen King, Raylan by Elmore Leonard, and Son of a Witch by Gregory Maguire just showed up in my inbox as well, but I'm going to have to return those unread, I think.

[Dr. Drib]

Originally Posted by cassidym

Just finished Alien Chicks in Citrus Bras and Stalkers from Beyond the Stars by Andrew Miline and it was a real sci fi giggle in the Douglas Adams style.

Next up Heat Rises by Richard Castle

I think you mean Barry Barroldson. He's also the talented illustrator.


He also has a new book out, located here:

http://www.amazon.com/Nemesis-Cactus...tt_at_ep_dpi_1



Don

[Fbone]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I have to say that I didn't enjoy this as much as the previous two books in the series, "Artists in Crime" and "Death in a White Tie". It's still a very good book, but I didn't find the characters as interesting as those in the earlier books.

Recommended, but I'd read the earlier books first.

I have Artists in Crime on my TBR list. My library has a copy. I'll move it up the list to read this year.

[Fbone]

Originally Posted by Fbone

Started Still Life. The debut mystery novel by Canadian Louise Penny. Initial impressions not promising. It may be too "cozy" for me. So far there are too many characters for me to keep track. Will try a few more pages.

Well, it was OK. Ms Penny has skill and wit but her story was somewhat poor and immature. The killer's motive was weak and his "air-tight" alibi proved not to be so. I did enjoy her character development and word skill. For this I gave it a C- [3 stars]. Perhaps, there is more maturity in her later novels.

Next I'm going back to a 1946 published mystery. The Moving Toyshop by Edmund Crispin.

[MickeyC]

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

I think you mean Barry Barroldson.

Actually, I think his name is Andrew Milne. Barry was one of the characters in the book. He emailed me the book in PDA format and the eMail was from Andrew Milne. But who knows?

Meanwhile, I read that book based on your analysis of his writing style. Thanks for doing that

[The Terminator]

I just started War Of The Worlds last night, Wells always seems to make the first few chapters a little tedious.

[CRussel]

Just finished The Quiet Gentleman, by Georgette Heyer. At most this was a 3 out 5. Definitely not one of her best. Trying to combine a mystery into her Regency style and it just doesn't work for me.

Next up: The Tattooed Girl: The enigma of Steig Larsen

[tecweston]

Just Finished:

- Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill: I read The Woman in Black hoping for a scary ghost story and didn't get it, so I read Heart-Shaped Box; and while it didn't satisfy my scary-ghost-story craving, it was a very enjoyable novel. It's more of a slasher type of thriller, with the two characters being chased all over the country by someone trying to murder them, but in this story it's a ghost. Not scary, but it is intense at times. Joe Hill seems to be trying to channel his father (Stephen King) in this story, but he did a great job. I think I'll be checking out his other two books.

[coderserdar]

jack higgins - the judas gate

the last book of the sean dillon series

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Starbound by Joe Haldeman.

There's a constant switching of narrator/viewpoint which can be confusing, but it's a good second novel in the series and again, complete in itself.

Which is good, as the third book, Earthbound, doesn't seem to be available in the UK in ebook form. Oh, and I see it was only published in hardback in the US in December 2011, which explains the high US ebook price of $11.99. I can wait.


Next: The Dispossessed by Ursula K Le Guin

Wow — I bought this one way back in August 2008 in a massive splurge in a 100% rebate sale at Fictionwise. It's about time I read it.

[caleb72]

Originally Posted by tecweston

Just Finished:

- Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill: I read The Woman in Black hoping for a scary ghost story and didn't get it, so I read Heart-Shaped Box; and while it didn't satisfy my scary-ghost-story craving, it was a very enjoyable novel. It's more of a slasher type of thriller, with the two characters being chased all over the country by someone trying to murder them, but in this story it's a ghost. Not scary, but it is intense at times. Joe Hill seems to be trying to channel his father (Stephen King) in this story, but he did a great job. I think I'll be checking out his other two books.

I liked this one as well. I thought there were some pretty chilling moments at the start that got me going, but after that it stopped being even remotely scary. I did like the book though and I own his other two books as well so I certainly wasn't put off.

[xg4bx]

going to start A Clash of Kings. i really don't like reading series books one after another but i can't get into anything else.