What are you currently reading?

[QualityBookReviews]

An open discussion on what everyone is currently reading. Make recommendations to others, discuss what is new, hot, bestsellers, anything and everything related to books and the authors.

[Joy Calderwood]

PATHS OF EXILE, Carla Naylund's historical novel set in 7th century Britain. I read past my busstop while following king's son Eadwine's attempts to protect his family's kingdom.

But the big excitement lately was twofold:
THRONES, DOMINATIONS, a Dorothy Sayers idea developed by Jill Paton Walsh. Either Sayers did a lot of the writing, or Paton Walsh did a much better job of replicating Harriet and Peter's lives in London society than she did for their country life in A PRESUMPTION OF DEATH, which is mostly Harriet and family, minus Peter, settled in Talboys for the duration of WWII. In THRONES, DOMINATIONS, I loved the dialogue and the character studies.

AMONG THE MAD, Jacqueline Winspear. Reading a Maisie Dobbs mystery always makes me happy. I love the tone of the series. In this one, Maisie has been pre-empted by various government agencies to find a madmad whose threats to kill large segments of London population are all too credible. Maisie uncovers some secrets that reflect poorly on the government, and makes her contribution to remedying the situation.

[Mack Lundy]

I just finished Roger Smith's Mixed Blood, an excellent thriller set in Cape Town.

FI'm not about halfway through Stieg Larsson's The Girl who Played with Fire. I like the first, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo but I think the second book is better.

[Dana Stabenow]

The Phryne Fisher series by Kerry Greenwood (Aussie flapper post WWI solves crime, witty, light-hearted, and just plain fun), the Joe Sandilands series by Barbara Cleverly (again, post WWI but this time the British Raj in India, not too much "what what" to turn you off and a you-are-there setting), Alexandria by Lindsey Davis (latest in the Falco series), and S is for Silence by Sue Grafton. Reading other stuff, too, these are just the mysteries. There's an advantage to not having broadcast or cable tv.

She said smugly...

[HappyRuby]

Finished Cape Disappointment by Earl Emerson and then read Illegal by Paul Levine which was very good. Just started Afraid by Jack Kilburn and I don't think I want to be reading much of this after dark.

[Joy Calderwood]

Dana, what do you think of ALEXANDRIA? Has Davis made an effort to rejuvenate her series, do you think?

[Margot Renne Payne]

Don't you just love the cover art on all the Phyrne Fisher series book jackets?!

[Andrew Kent]

I just finished "Dog On It." Not the greatest mystery under the sun, but the execution of the protagonist's world was spot on (joke intended). My only concern is that it might be a one-hit wonder. I don't think a second one in the same voice would be nearly as endearing or appealing.

[Toni Osborne]

The latest books I read included quite a variety of genre as always:

"Cold Blood", by Daniel Kalla : an exciting medical thriller that brings to light not only the delicate balance between economic interest and health interest it also highlights the questionable morals of marketing and the dedication in the health care profession.

"The Boleyn Inheritance", by Philippa Gregory:an enjoyable read one that captures the imagination with its strong atmosphere

"Death du Jour", by Kathy Reichs:We are once again taken into the world of anthropological forensics with an intriguing new angle looking into murder investigations.

"In Cold Pursuit", by Sarah Andrews : wonderful descriptive imagery of Antarctica, a carefully plotted murder mystery, plenty of technological and geographical details and an intrepid new heroine.

"A Prisoner of Birth", by Jeffrey Archer: a modern version of Alexander Dumas’, “The Count of Monte Cristo”.

I am now reading " Mistress in the Art Of Death" by Ariana Franklin This one for unknown reasons I find hard to get into but again I am at the beginning of the story....hopefully things will change in time....

[Joy Calderwood]

Started John Maddox Roberts' ORACLE OF THE DEAD last night when I was ready to fall asleep. It looks like it will be a cheerful read, like the rest of the series, but I have a busy weekend ahead of me.

[Juri Nummelin]

Just started Norah Lofts's THE OLD PRIORY from 1981. Quite interesting so far. (I'm reading this only because I'm one of the writers in a reference book on historical writers, and I got Lofts.)

[Dana Stabenow]

I just finished The Cold Dish by Craig Johnson, the first of the Walt Longmire cowboy noir series set in present day Wyoming. Man, was it good, great characterization, wonderful setting, solid plot, and Longmire has this wonderful internal dialogue that continues through the novel about all things great and small in his life. I'm really looking forward to the rest of the series.

[Naomi Johnson]

I know, I know just what you mean. I was so hooked on this book, right from the get-go. I've read the next two in the series and the man is just a terrific writer. I hate him.

(And no, far as I know, Craig and I are not related.)