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

[Luffy]

My 3 star review of Just One Look, by Harlan Coben:-

Spoiler:

Here's the thing. This is a very gripping thriller. But it's too slick. It lacks character. I enjoyed reading it thoroughly. Despite that, I'm not in love with the book.

I'm struggling to come up with a review that doesn't have spoilers. But if you put yourself in the shoes of the main female character, you'd come up with meaningful questions. Why did he have to die? Who is this someone sharing my bed?

Identity, the past, and greed play a fantastic part in the book. In many ways, the first chapter was the best one. It's hard to describe my feelings. I was entertained, but not satiated. This 2nd Harlan Coben is far better than this more modern book of his that I read, Run Away. I think I'll be fine if I stick to the author's old books.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Next up: Oathbringer by Brandon Sanderson. The third in his Stormlight Archive series.

Which was excellent. Splendid epic fantasy. I'm looking forward to the fourth volume when it's on offer, or when my TBR pile gets to zero (currently 973).

Next up: Love in Amsterdam by Nicholas Freeling. A recent £0.99 purchase, prompted by the recent new Van der Valk TV series.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Next up: Love in Amsterdam by Nicholas Freeling. A recent £0.99 purchase, prompted by the recent new Van der Valk TV series.

Abandoned at 50%. A long omniscient narrator recap of one suspect's entire history with the victim over a couple of decades was too much.

Then I bought and read The Physicians of Vilnoc by Lois McMaster Bujold. The latest (8th) in her Penric and Desdemona series of novellas.

Wonderful as expected. As usual, a complete tale in itself.

Next up: The Millers Dance by Winston Graham. The 9th in his Poldark series.

[Luffy]

My 5 star review of Just Murdered (Dead-End Job Mystery, #4), by Elaine Viets:-

Spoiler:

This title cliched its fifth star only barely. I knew, however that Just Murdered would break my run of ill rated books. There was no great twist in the murderer's identity, but the author still made it work.

I loved this entry in the series. The ups and downs of Elaine Viets's heroine, Helen Hawthorne are a joy to read. The Dead-End Job mysteries is one of those book series that languish in semi anonymity. Each time you wonder how Helen is going to lose her present job.

Losing the current job was like pulling teeth. I hope that the 15th and last book herein gives some closure to us poor fans. I really think that the heroine should have stayed put. But that would not do for the author. She became victim of her own formula.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Next up: The Millers Dance by Winston Graham. The 9th in his Poldark series.

As expected, a good continuation of the historical melodrama.

Next up: In the Empire of Shadow by Lawrence Watt-Evans. The second in a trilogy. I read the first one back in 2015, and the details are a bit hazy, but I'm sure I'll catch up with the story line shortly.

[Luffy]

My 2 star review of Rise of Empire, by Michael J Sullivan:-

Spoiler:

The Littlefingerising of Fantasy plots has now reached pox levels. I shudder to think what the landscape will look like when it will feel like the plague.

I'm sorry, but there is too much gristle in this book. It's perfect length should have been 500 pages at most. I'm not immune to the charms of an adventure on a ship, but even GoT book 5, A Dance With Dragons runs rings round this book using Tyrion's little legs.

Oh and the only death that caught me unawares was [name redacted]. The rest had Matsusaka Wagyu stamped all over them. The good bits were often worth reading, but too much is too much.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Next up: In the Empire of Shadow by Lawrence Watt-Evans. The second in a trilogy. I read the first one back in 2015, and the details are a bit hazy, but I'm sure I'll catch up with the story line shortly.

Details of the first book are still a little hazy, but I really enjoyed this one. A very good fantasy, and I'm looking forward to gettign to the third volume sometime this year, not in 2025

Next up: Watership Down by Richard Adams. I've never read this classic, so it's time to give it a go.

[SeaBookGuy]

I listened to the audiobook of Diana Athill's memoir Stet, focused on her decades in the publishing world, recently. Just started another book of hers, Letters to a Friend, as an ebook since it contains quoted poetry (the "friend" was a poet) that I'd rather skim.

[mewmartigan]

Just finished Michael J. Sullivan's Riyria Revelations. The first set of 3 (or 6) books about Hadrian and Royce. Starts with Theft of Swords.
I really enjoyed them and recommend them.

Now onto Fallen Dragon by Peter F. Hamilton.

[ReadingManiac]

Just got the final episode of a ten book time travel series I've been following, The Book of Revelations by Shanna Lauffey.

The series is The Chronicles of the Harekaiian or in the paperback omnibus editions, The Time Shifters Chronicles.

This has been an incredible series, more Mystery/Thriller than SciFi but with an interesting take on time travel. I plan to devour this last episode tonight.

[Luffy]

My 5 star review of High Fidelity, by Nick Hornby:-

Spoiler:

I still don't know why I rated High Fidelity 5 stars. Most of these books don't stand a chance against an early Agatha Christie or a modern cozy, or a book by Dawkins... but I put all of them on the same level.

I'm going to watch the movie first time later this day. Most books that have first person view make it hell for me to get into. Not here. Reading this book was like meeting an old friend.

I don't know what Nick Hornby has gone through to piece together this ode. It feels real. It's real art. It's one of the best books I've read, ever. I am far, far from being the neurotic Rob, but this bitter ending upset me in a good way. I recommend this. By the way, I too like the Beatles a lot.

[John F]

I'm a little confused by your review

Originally Posted by Luffy

Spoiler:

I still don't know why I rated High Fidelity 5 stars. Most of these books don't stand a chance against an early Agatha Christie or a modern cozy, or a book by Dawkins... but I put all of them on the same level.

I'm going to watch the movie first time later this day. Most books that have first person view make it hell for me to get into. Not here. Reading this book was like meeting an old friend.

I don't know what Nick Hornby has gone through to piece together this ode. It feels real. It's real art. It's one of the best books I've read, ever. I am far, far from being the neurotic Rob, but this bitter ending upset me in a good way. I recommend this. By the way, I too like the Beatles a lot.

IMO, I would rate a book 5 stars if it was one of the best books I've read.

Did you see that he has a new book coming out?

[Uncle Robin]

Currently reading The Body in the Castle Well, which I should finish just before the next Bruno (pre-ordered on Kobo) is released. It's a tribute to Walker that as a teetotaller I have enjoyed all his "wine-soaked" stories and am actively looking forward to the next, unlike the Louise Penny Gamache series, the last of which felt like a tedious exercise in phoning it in.

[CRussel]

Originally Posted by Uncle Robin

Currently reading The Body in the Castle Well, which I should finish just before the next Bruno (pre-ordered on Kobo) is released. It's a tribute to Walker that as a teetotaller I have enjoyed all his "wine-soaked" stories and am actively looking forward to the next, unlike the Louise Penny Gamache series, the last of which felt like a tedious exercise in phoning it in.

I just recently finished a re-read of the series, getting ready for The Shooting at Chateau Rock, due out Tuesday.

[Uncle Robin]

Originally Posted by CRussel

I just recently finished a re-read of the series, getting ready for The Shooting at Chateau Rock, due out Tuesday.

Yep, I got a calendar reminder of the upcoming charge against my card for the release, nudged me to make sure I finish this one in time