What Fiction are you reading this week, July 30, 2023?

[hermetic]

I took up woodworking. I went to the library and asked, “Do you have any books on shelving?” The librarian replied, “Yes, they all are!”


I'm reading Racing the Light, an Elvis Cole, Joe Pike mystery/thriller, by Robert Crais. He used to write for Hill Street Blues and L. A. Law, two TV shows I liked so it's not surprising I quite enjoy his books. Written with heart, humor, and relentless suspense, this is Cole's most dangerous case yet. Fun coincidence: last week here we were chatting about author Charles Portis. Last night Part 4 of my Crais book started with a quote from Portis.

Listening to Raven Black by Ann Cleeves. The very first of the Shetland Series. A good mystery with lots of interesting characters, in a beautiful setting. Someday I'll get around to watching the TV series, but first I want to get through a bunch of the books.

What books are on your reading shelves this week?

[SleeplessinSoCal]

1. Truth Social

Yesterday I went into Google playstore to search for Twitter and Truth Social popped up. I looked for a way to block it because it was a paid ad. So I saw Twitter showed up second and asked to update. I didn't. Later I saw the Twitter app had changed to X. So I Uninstalled it.

The End

P.s. sorry for the hijack. I wanted to get this off my mind.

[hermetic]

3. That's good

Those are mostly fiction anyway. I never unsubscribed from Twitter; I just quit using it back when Eloon took over. Someday I may want to log back on there and say what I really think.
Get some sleep.

[cbabe]

2. Lee Goldberg/Bone Canyon

Contemporary mystery set in burnt LA. Pulled off library shelf at random.

Author is tv pro dipping into fiction. Fast moving plot. Quirky sort-of characters.

Just when you think the lead female detective is wimping out, you hear her internal thoughts. Great touch.

Quibble: She’s a novice detective but very successful. Command staff sees her as a threat to their power and belittles her and tries to psyche her out. This happens regularly as the story progresses and I wish she’d wise up. (Or the author move on.)

Review: fresh, sharp, absorbing. Lots of twists.

I agree.

[hermetic]

4. Sounds pretty good

Worth looking at.

[bahboo]

5. just finished Desert Star by the incomparable Michael Connelly....

latest in the Rene Ballard, Harry Bosch series. Incredible as always, such tight and precise writing. Never a wasted word. And the ending.....no spoilers, but....whoa!

[hermetic]

6. Yepper

That is a good one.

[viva la]

7. Kala by Colin Walsh

Set in NW Ireland. A bit slow start, but very good "voice".

[hermetic]

8. Just came out. Wow

"A MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK OF THE YEAR"

Against the backdrop of a town suffocating on its own secrets, in a story that builds from a smolder to a stunning climax, Kala brilliantly examines the sometimes brutal costs of belonging, as well as the battle in the human heart between vengeance and forgiveness, despair and redemption.

[viva la]

9. I'm just 5 chapters in

The chapters alternate in viewpoint between 3 characters. Interesting way to reveal their inner reality, but the plot is getting revealed very slowly.

[joshdawg]

10. 30 pages from finishing Odessa Sea by the Cusslers.

Next up? Have no idea, yet.

[hermetic]

11. At over 500 pages

looks like a pretty involved story.

"Filled with breathtaking suspense and remarkable imagination, Odessa Sea is further proof that when it comes to adventure writing, nobody beats Clive Cussler."

[mike_c]

12. I'm still reading Cixin Liu's Death's End

I'm about halfway through it. I've been distracted this week.

[redstatebluegirl]

13. The Hit by David Baldacci.

It has been a Baldacci marathon this summer .

[TexLaProgressive]

14. "Desert Star" Michael Connelly

Harry Bosch drawn out of retirement Renée Ballard for her new Open-Unsolved Unit. It is reminiscent of the British TV police procedural with more than a dash of comedy - “New Tricks.” Old retirees working under an official senior officer on unsolved cases. Perfect for Harry.

[hermetic]

15. Great to see you!

How you holding up down there? Good, I hope.

Always wanted to see "New Tricks". I am watching "Queens of Mystery" which is great fun. So far lots of rock music involved, which is okay by me. Helps detract from the horrible heat outside.

[TexLaProgressive]

19. I'm doing well, got my library card reactivated.

I hadn't been to the library since Covid hit. I'm able to check out ebooks online. The first was "The Twist of a Knife" by Anthony Horowitz last week. An interesting murder mystery centered around a play in London.

It's plenty hot here with everyday the temperatures are more than 100 F actual temperatures.

I've received the electric bill Thursday but will wait until Tuesday to see the damage. I always pay our bills on the first. The A/C has been running a lot.

[hermetic]

20. I like Horowitz

And that's a new one, I didn't know about anyway. Will be on the lookout now. Thanks!

Being in the great northwest here, never really needed AC before. So I just have fans. Lots of fans. We actually got over 100 a few weeks ago. Since, though, just hanging in the mid 90s. Not pleasant, but not really deadly.

Hang in there, my friend.

[TexLaProgressive]

22. Thanks

You stay hydrated 90s can be dangerous especially when not used to it. Us, well we would appreciate some nice old nineties🤩

[LearnedHand]

16. House of Cotton by Monica Brashears

Debut novel getting good reviews.

https://www.npr.org/2023/04/25/1171852627/monica-brashears-novel-house-of-cotton-book-review

Monica Brashears' House of Cotton is hard to classify.

On the surface, it's a Black southern gothic novel about a young woman learning to navigate life alone. But it's also a creepy ghost story with a sense of humor, a narrative about survival, and a strange tale of loss and grief sprinkled with sex, abuse, empathy, and a deep look at what it means to be dealt a rough hand at life from the very beginning.

[hermetic]

17. That sounds really good

Thanks!!

[LearnedHand]

18. I'm actually listening to the audiobook

The reader is terrific!

[mentalsolstice]

21. I'll Steal You Away by Niccol Ammaniti, translated by Jonathan Hunt

Last edited Sun Jul 30, 2023, 08:42 PM - Edit history (1)

The author is Italian. However, the book has a Richard Russo feel to it, small village in Italy with a lot of quirky characters. So far I’m enjoying it.

I just finished The Perfect Marriage by Jeneva Rose. She has no clue about criminal procedure, and her plot holes were big enough to drive an 18 wheeler through. Grisham, she ain’t! Thankfully, it was a freebie.

I adored the Shetland TV series, great acting and beautiful cinematography. Enjoy!