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

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by cc_in_oh

Just finished the latest Rebus Song for the Dark Times. OK but didn't change my view that the Rebus series is past its prime. It must be tough when, as in some other series like Bosch, your main protagonist is well past retirement age. Daughter Samantha is now in her forties, which I think makes Clarke going on 50 and still stuck as a passed-over DI despite her role in many high-profile solves. OTOH, as a DI, Clarke could take over the lead role from Rebus and still plausibly spend her time on detective work rather than the administrative drudgery a higher rank would involve. I hope that's where we're headed...

In your opinion, which Rebus from the television series (if you've seen it) more closely resembles the Rebus character in the books? I've thought about checking out the books after the fact, but I much preferred John Hannah's television portrayal to Ken Stott's. I just fear I'd be hearing/seeing the LoTR's Balin character in my head the whole time I was reading it!

[ReadingManiac]

Read a prequel to a Fantasy series with dragons, Of Dragons and Men by Guy Donovan. It was really good! Now reading the first book of the series that follows, The Lost Princess of Mona is book 1. A real find!

[Luffy]

My 4 star review of Red Velvet Revenge (Cupcake Bakery Mystery, #4) by Jenn McKinlay :-

Spoiler:

My first review of the year. This was as usual a different book from its predecessors. It looked liked I would be bored senseless by reading about the rodeo in the story, but things took a different turn.

Mel's resourcefulness was tested to the max here. She is the POV from which we view the events unfolding in the book. It's an advantage here, since everything worth telling is witnessed by Mel.

The denouement was surprising. The murder seemed almost like an act of benevolence. Whether the reader buys it or not is up to the preference of each reader. I loved this book, though personally I wanted more. So 4 stars.

[cc_in_oh]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

In your opinion, which Rebus from the television series (if you've seen it) more closely resembles the Rebus character in the books? I've thought about checking out the books after the fact, but I much preferred John Hannah's television portrayal to Ken Stott's. I just fear I'd be hearing/seeing the LoTR's Balin character in my head the whole time I was reading it!

I generally love almost all of the British detective series but IMO Rebus was not one of the better ones, and IIRC Hannah underwent some harsh criticism for the role. I especially disliked the portrayal of Clarke. I also was lukewarm about the early Rebus books but I thought the middle 10 or so books were very good and would recommend reading the series just based on that. I'd agree though that Hannah was a better fit for the part.

Lynley was another TV adaptation that IMO didn't live up to potential though I like Parker. That one's worth watching though for Sharon Small as his long-suffering and underappreciated DS.

[DiapDealer]

The fact that there are ten "middle" books might keep me from the series altogether (especially if there's a wind-up period comprised of multiple books before things get good). I rarely have the patience for more than about four books with the same characters these days. And backstory that comes in the form of whole novels that are ultimately less interesting than those that come later has never been my cup of tea.

But thanks for the feedback just the same! Quite helpful.

[cc_in_oh]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

The fact that are ten "middle" books might keep me from the series altogether (especially if there's a wind-up period comprised of multiple books before things get good). I rarely have the patience for more than about four books with the same characters these days. And backstory that comes in the form of whole novels that are ultimately less interesting than those that come later has never been my cup of tea.

But thanks for the feedback just the same! Quite helpful.

The early books aren't bad and did start showing enough improvement to keep me interested. Having some Scottish ancestry probably factored in for me too...

[Luffy]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

The fact that there are ten "middle" books might keep me from the series altogether (especially if there's a wind-up period comprised of multiple books before things get good). I rarely have the patience for more than about four books with the same characters these days. And backstory that comes in the form of whole novels that are ultimately less interesting than those that come later has never been my cup of tea.

But thanks for the feedback just the same! Quite helpful.

I don't ask you to read even 4 books. Read only Fleshmarket Close. In fact I'm going to sideload my copy for a reread right now.

[WT Sharpe]

2021 opens with four books on my Kindle that I’m currently reading:
• The TaNaKh (JPS 1985)
• Tidewater by Libbie Hawker (historical fiction)
• The New Oxford Annotated Bible with the Apocrypha
• Death’s Collector by Bill McCurry (fantasy humor)
In hardcover I’m reading:
• The Oxford Bible Commentary edited by John Barton and John Muddiman
And in my iPad’s GoodReader app I’m reading
• Great Minds of the Western Intellectual Tradition (the 400+ page syllabus for that offering from The Great Courses)

[Luffy]

Originally Posted by WT Sharpe

2021 opens with four books on my Kindle that I’m currently reading:
• The TaNaKh (JPS 1985)
• Tidewater by Libbie Hawker (historical fiction)
• The New Oxford Annotated Bible with the Apocrypha
• Death’s Collector by Bill McCurry (fantasy humor)
In hardcover I’m reading:
• The Oxford Bible Commentary edited by John Barton and John Muddiman
And in my iPad’s GoodReader app I’m reading
• Great Minds of the Western Intellectual Tradition (the 400+ page syllabus for that offering from The Great Courses)

HEY WT Sharpe! Long time no see! Good to see you posting after such a hiatus. But you're probably going to disappear from Mobileread again, and that makes me sad. Your commitment was what made me be a regular here. Happy New Year, dear acquaintance!

[Uncle Robin]

After enjoying Laura Tunbridges' Beethoven: A Life in Nine Pieces, I'm currently reading Treasure Preserved the sixth book in David Williams' Mark Treasure series. If I finish it, I'll have 3 of my 130 books for the year done. Not a bad start.

[Luffy]

My 4 star mini review of Going, Going, Ganache (Cupcake Bakery Mystery, #5) by Jenn McKinlay:-

Spoiler:

This particular book had one or three very, very good ideas, and a bunch of okay ideas to fill the pages with a coherent story. As soon as the murder occurs, there is no upping of the tempo. I reckon I was happy to know more about the trio of best friends who are the main characters.

[Luffy]

My 1 star review of Chocolate Surprise & Murder (An Oceanside Cozy Mystery #41) by Susan Gillard :-

Spoiler:

The first dud of the year didn't take long in coming. It helps if you're reading a lot. Well, well, well, that was a waste of time. Atrociously written, with a lot of poor grammar.

But that was not the reason for the 1 star. The story was dumb and boring. There are stories that are dumb but not boring, mysteries such as The Big Four, but there was no creativity from the writer for this book.

I would ditch any story I'd write if they were as bad as this. Its high rating does indicate that the writer got away scot free. That's a bummer but what's good news is that the series will never enter mainstream consciousness.

[WT Sharpe]

Originally Posted by Luffy

HEY WT Sharpe! Long time no see! Good to see you posting after such a hiatus. But you're probably going to disappear from Mobileread again, and that makes me sad. Your commitment was what made me be a regular here. Happy New Year, dear acquaintance!

I hope to stick around. Had some things going on but now I'm back. Missed the international community.

[Tarana]

I'm reading two books. Main one is Edit to Death by Elizabeth Spann Craig. This is book 14 of the Myrtle Clover Cozy mysteries. An elderly sleuth and her sidekick in small town southern town. Her son is the chief of police and during the series, garden gnomes are sometimes harmed.

The other is an intro novella for the Hal Spacejock series called Zero by Simon Haynes. I'm hoping I like this series. Got it on discount. A bit in the vein of Bill The Galactic Hero by Harry Harrison.

[Uncle Robin]

Just started Piccadilly Jim for when I want a break from working my way through the 4845 pages of Delphi's Maurice LeBlanc edition.