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hermetic

(8,636 posts)
Sun Mar 12, 2023, 11:09 AM Mar 2023

What Fiction are you reading this week, March 12, 2023?



Got the time?

Reading Unwanted by Kristina Ohlsson..."keeping readers captivated with suspense until its powerful conclusion." That's for sure. A little girl goes missing in Sweden and we are introduced to the team of federal investigators assigned to what, at first, seems to be a typical custody dispute. These investigators are not your typical detectives found in American and British novels. They seem somewhat inept, self-centered and sexist. We get to learn a great deal about their private lives, and thoughts.
Then the story turns extremely dark.

Listening to Agatha Raisin and the Deadly Dance by M. C. Beaton. Agatha decides to open up her own detective agency and finds the only cases she can get are lost cats and an errant teenager. There's finally a murder, though, and Agatha is once again in trouble with French and British police; on the outs with old friends--and in the sights of a murderer.

Moving forward, what books will you find time for this week?

Hmm, don't know what's going on with the photo. It's not blurry in the original.
27 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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What Fiction are you reading this week, March 12, 2023? (Original Post) hermetic Mar 2023 OP
Just finished Michael Connelly's "Desert Star" SheltieLover Mar 2023 #1
Loves me some Bosch hermetic Mar 2023 #2
Have you read "Desert Star?" SheltieLover Mar 2023 #3
Not yet but hermetic Mar 2023 #5
Thx! SheltieLover Mar 2023 #6
Castle is currently streaming on HULU. Midnight Writer Mar 2023 #8
Thx! SheltieLover Mar 2023 #9
This message was self-deleted by its author SheltieLover Mar 2023 #4
Back to Patterson, can't afford to buy new books. Little Free Libraries are great. Paper Roses Mar 2023 #7
Looks like a great read! SheltieLover Mar 2023 #11
Library put up a mystery display. Picked out cbabe Mar 2023 #10
Thx SheltieLover Mar 2023 #12
If you haven't seen it, cbabe Mar 2023 #14
Tyvm! SheltieLover Mar 2023 #15
Yep. What's for 'dinner' tonight. Haha. Yum. cbabe Mar 2023 #16
Chasing Darkness, Crais - a Cole & Pike story SheltieLover Mar 2023 #19
Lost ticket? Author? And all Crais titles are delish. Pol: cbabe Mar 2023 #21
Freya Sampson SheltieLover Mar 2023 #22
Pike. Elvis being cute is fine for a book but would cbabe Mar 2023 #23
I hear you! SheltieLover Mar 2023 #24
Both wounded warriors. Two sides of the ptsd coin. Love how cbabe Mar 2023 #25
Ellery Adams, too SheltieLover Mar 2023 #26
Great hermetic Mar 2023 #13
I've not read Plan b either & library has every format except ebooks SheltieLover Mar 2023 #17
That worked out hermetic Mar 2023 #18
R. Castle put on tbr list SheltieLover Mar 2023 #20
I just started The War Pianist by Mandy Robothan yellowdogintexas Mar 2023 #27

SheltieLover

(59,723 posts)
1. Just finished Michael Connelly's "Desert Star"
Sun Mar 12, 2023, 11:38 AM
Mar 2023

Exemplary! The ending left me wanting more Bosch! Masterfully crafted!

Now reading The Lost Ticket, by Freya Sampson. Just started it this morning, so no opinion yet, but it's supposed to be funny & engaging, with great reviews!

Others I've inhaled over the past week:

Dead Giveaway, Leanne Sweeney. Great read, as are all her other books.

This is one of her Yellow Rose in her cozy series.

Abby Rose a Houston PI, her cop boyfriend, her  psychologist sister Kate,  get busy immediaty solving a murder related to an adoption records case Abby has taken on.

A wedding to die for, Sweeney.

(Mirt has severely cramped my reading style. )

Ty for the thread!

Enjoy!

hermetic

(8,636 posts)
2. Loves me some Bosch
Sun Mar 12, 2023, 12:06 PM
Mar 2023

And Connelly. Never met a book of his I didn't enjoy. I used to love the TV series Castle. He used to show up there along with fellow crime authors James Patterson, Dennis Lehane, and Stephen J. Cannell, at Castle's poker games. While other people get excited about seeing certain movie stars, I am star-struck by certain authors.

SheltieLover

(59,723 posts)
3. Have you read "Desert Star?"
Sun Mar 12, 2023, 12:10 PM
Mar 2023

Superb!!!

I've never heard of the Castle TV show! I wonder if it's on netflix?

I've never been into celebrities, but authors of tge caliber you mention, that's a different story...

He's releasing a new Lincoln Lawyer in Nov & Bosch is in it!

Can't wait! Lol



On edit: net search said there are 8 seasons on Netflix. Wrong. Not there. 😓

hermetic

(8,636 posts)
5. Not yet but
Sun Mar 12, 2023, 12:22 PM
Mar 2023

I hope to get it soon.

Castle was a crime mystery/comedy-drama that aired on ABC for eight seasons from 2009 to 2016. It starred Nathan Fillion as a best-selling mystery novelist, and his girlfriend Stana Katic, a homicide detective. They solved various unusual crimes in New York City.

You might find it in your library's DVD section.

SheltieLover

(59,723 posts)
6. Thx!
Sun Mar 12, 2023, 12:24 PM
Mar 2023

Not sure about library. Oddly, I think they charge to borrow DVDs. Never imagined a 3rd world country inside tge US, but here I am. 😏

Thx for suggestion!

Response to hermetic (Original post)

Paper Roses

(7,506 posts)
7. Back to Patterson, can't afford to buy new books. Little Free Libraries are great.
Sun Mar 12, 2023, 01:38 PM
Mar 2023

Reading Juror #3. Good so far.

cbabe

(4,202 posts)
10. Library put up a mystery display. Picked out
Sun Mar 12, 2023, 02:02 PM
Mar 2023

a couple Tony Hillerman titles for old times sake.

Also revisiting a couple John Sandford titles.

Starting No Plan B/Lee Child writing with brother Andrew. Wondering if the magic still holds with brother as co-author.

Thanks for Castle series tip. New to me and now on my library hold list.


SheltieLover

(59,723 posts)
12. Thx
Sun Mar 12, 2023, 02:14 PM
Mar 2023

I've not read any Hillman or Sanford that I can recall.

Checked out a Hillman & Sanford is on tbr list.

Ps - someone above said The Castle is streaming on Hulu! (Ty!)

Ty!

cbabe

(4,202 posts)
14. If you haven't seen it,
Sun Mar 12, 2023, 02:21 PM
Mar 2023

DU post from yesterday about Sandford.
Best to read in order but don’t wait til all the stars align. Worth jumping in.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1193&pid=20679

Same with Hillerman’s Joe Leaphorn series.
(Didn’t care for daughter Anne Hillerman titles. Felt like she’s piggybacking on dad’s talent and fame.)

https://www.bookseriesinorder.com › tony-hillerman

Tony Hillerman - Book Series In Order

Tony Hillerman was a critically acclaimed American author of a series of detective novels. The Navajo series was his most notable work. The series focuses on the adventures of Detectives Leaphorn and Chee of the Navajo Tribal police force.

SheltieLover

(59,723 posts)
19. Chasing Darkness, Crais - a Cole & Pike story
Sun Mar 12, 2023, 02:31 PM
Mar 2023

Got a bit bored with The Lost Ticket. It was due at midnight, so I returned it & checked back out (ebook).

I'll read it...

What's on your dinner menu?

SheltieLover

(59,723 posts)
22. Freya Sampson
Sun Mar 12, 2023, 02:48 PM
Mar 2023

Also authored "The Last Chance Library."

Enjoy!

Elvis is a much more dimensional character, but Pike is no bs 100%, which I love about him.

Have you read the brief "Elvis Cole & Joe Pike" by Crais, wherein he explains how & why he created tgese characters? Exemplary! Truly mlade me apprecilate his work all the more.

This is also a section in mysterious Bookshop owner, Otto Penzler's "The Lineup." Great read!

Penzler is also a prolific mystery author!

Cole or Pike for you?

cbabe

(4,202 posts)
23. Pike. Elvis being cute is fine for a book but would
Sun Mar 12, 2023, 03:09 PM
Mar 2023

wear thin in real life. Straight ahead Joe is refreshing in a world of passive aggressive distorted truths et al.

SheltieLover

(59,723 posts)
24. I hear you!
Sun Mar 12, 2023, 03:21 PM
Mar 2023

But he doesn't talk, so this attractive, mysterious character could never carry the story. 😏

I think they work so well ltogether! Pike is sort of like the concept of a guardian angel, appearing when needed.

cbabe

(4,202 posts)
25. Both wounded warriors. Two sides of the ptsd coin. Love how
Sun Mar 12, 2023, 03:45 PM
Mar 2023

determined Elvis was, as a child, trying to find his human cannonball father. One of the sadest family sagas.

The pivotal Pike moment for me is when the army instructor broke his arm and Joe’s response: how did you do that? Action not talk.

Sign of a really good author when the characters truly come to life.

James Lee Burke
Louise Penny

Off to turn over some new pages!

SheltieLover

(59,723 posts)
26. Ellery Adams, too
Sun Mar 12, 2023, 03:51 PM
Mar 2023

Her Secret, Book, & Scone Society is great!

I agree with you about Cole & Pike. It's all about how we respond to trauma.

I don't recall that story about Pike's arm. Was that in one of their adventures? I don't think i've read them all yet, but quite a few inhaled.

Happy reading!

hermetic

(8,636 posts)
13. Great
Sun Mar 12, 2023, 02:19 PM
Mar 2023

Hope you enjoy it as much as I do/did. There are also Richard Castle books but I've not read any of them. I should check my library.

I also haven't read No Plan B so be sure and let us know how well it holds up.

SheltieLover

(59,723 posts)
17. I've not read Plan b either & library has every format except ebooks
Sun Mar 12, 2023, 02:25 PM
Mar 2023

For some reason, ebooks tend to show up later. Not sure why. Must be greed driven. 😏

I's on my tbr list for sure.

yellowdogintexas

(22,753 posts)
27. I just started The War Pianist by Mandy Robothan
Sun Mar 12, 2023, 06:00 PM
Mar 2023

uly, 1940
Blitz-ridden London: Marnie Fern’s life is torn apart when her grandfather is killed in an air raid. But once she discovers that he’d been working undercover as a radio operative – or pianist – for the Dutch resistance, Marnie knows she must complete his mission – no matter the cost…

Nazi-occupied Amsterdam: At the other end of the wireless, fellow pianist Corrie Bakker is caught in a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse as she desperately tries to keep her loved ones out of the line of fire – even if it means sacrificing herself…

Bound together by the invisible wires of their radios, the two women lead parallel lives in their home cities, as both are betrayed by those they trust the most. But when the Nazis close in on one of them, only the other can save her…

This is one of those "I read the sample and I had to have it" I can already tell that I ama going to like this book a lot. Bonus I have another of hers in my collection!

Last week I read Devil's Den: A Seth Armitage Thriller.
Gettysburg, June 1923.

On the eve of the 60th anniversary of the bloody battle, the corpse of a Yankee veteran is found in Devil’s Den, the battlefield’s most notorious slaughter pen.

Seth Armitage, a shell-shocked World War I veteran working for the US Bureau of Investigation is assigned to the case by the Bureau’s corrupt director, who is being undermined by an ambitious young deputy - J. Edgar Hoover.

The homicide victim leads Armitage to Peggy Stewart, daughter of another veteran with her own dark secrets.

Armitage's investigation uncovers more murdered soldiers and a dormant assassination conspiracy from the previous century that has been awakened with lethal consequences.

Aided by aviator Charles Lindbergh, Armitage races against time to unravel the mystery of who is killing the Civil War survivors.

After a climactic aerial battle, Armitage returns to the old blood-soaked battlefield believing he has closed the case.

But the sins of the past are not quite laid to rest.

This one kept me up at night! There is a sequel and I will be reading it soon.

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