Mystery Crime Books

I'm a fan of the Agatha Raisin and Hamish MacBeth series. I enjoy light mysteries with as little violence/blood/gore as possible. This book fit the bill. While I enjoyed the characters I would have liked the author to give them a bit more depth. I got tired of reading about the main characters "C Cups." It got a bit repetitive at times. This is a combo mystery and just plain old light weight fiction. It was funny at times too! Perfect beach reading or just when you want to escape for a few hours. I'm looking forward to reading the next in the series.

I just finished reading "On What Grounds" today!! It is an absolutely lovely, fun and fast read... and has everything one would love in a mystery novel for the following reasons:

* Great Female Amateur Sleuth Named Clare Cosi, whom manages The Village Blend
* A Great Cast of Characters
* Witty Dialogue
* Nice Storyline That Keeps You Intrigued
* Love the Whole Coffeehouse Theme In This Novel
* And lastly as an added side note, I look forward to trying the coffee themed recipes found at the end of the novel!!

Being a tea drinker I picked this book up with some trepidation because I feared that it would focus so much on coffee that I would never be able to get into the story. In one regard I was correct because there is a heavy focus on coffee and even a bit of an attitude when it comes to us tea drinkers but despite the attitude I found that I really did get into the story, especially as things really perked up toward the end.

Clare Cosi is the lead character in this series and the stories revolve around the coffeehouse that she manages for her ex mother-in-law. She dearly loves her ex mother-in-law despite the fact that the old girl is determined to get her rakish son back together with Claire. The son in question functions as the coffee buyer for the Village Blend that Clare manages and ends up being a major part of this story. He is such a major factor in fact that this book reads almost as much like a romance as it does a mystery. Sometimes the romance almost overwhelms the mystery at times but in any cozy mystery one can always expect some side plot to compete with the mystery for supremacy.

For a cozy, and especially for the first book in a cozy series this book gets to the mystery in a hurry and the reader is hardly past the first page before Clare discovers one of her employees crumpled at the bottom of a flight of stairs. The police think that it is an accident but Clare isn't at all sure about that and begins to dig around for clues as to what might really have happened. As the reader follows Clare around in her investigation more characters are introduced and pretty soon the world of Clare Cosi is fleshed out and very interesting.

This author does rely a bit heavily on her coffee theme and sometimes gets bogged down in details but on the other hand she does a superb job of making the coffeehouse atmosphere seem so very real that it is easy to picture yourself sitting at the counter ordering up some exotic blend. Even though I don't like coffee I could almost actually smell the stuff brewing and when my wife read this book her coffee consumption doubled. If this were a painting instead of a book it would be very bright, vivid and realistic and despite the occasional flaw I found that I enjoyed it very much. The writing is well done and the mystery is clever with plenty of suspense and with a few red herrings tossed in for good measure. While reading this book you will find that you don't really need any caffeine to keep you on the edge of your seat.

Romance would better describe this than mystery. There's more attention paid to descriptions of the rugged, Mediterranean good looks of lead character's ex-husband and the rugged, Nordic good looks of the lead detective than there is paid to the little details, like, oh, the actual crime.

What saves this book for me are the vivid descriptions of the coffee shop and the so-real-you-can-smell-it atmosphere she creates. This is obviously a writer who loves coffee and you will finish the book salivating for a good cup of french roast. I'd really like to read a culinary book by this author, something in the style of Bill Buford of Anthony Bourdaine, where she does a coffee tour or a guide to the coffees of the world. She's got a real gift for the descriptions of food, and I would love to see more of it. I'd rather see that than see her try to shoehorn a lukewarm mystery plot in between the coffee shop interludes.

This is a little too "cozy" for my tastes, but your mileage may vary.

I wanted to like this book a lot. I am desperately seeking a good, cozy or not, mystery series. But this was not it. The plot sounds pretty good, a single emply nester moves back home again to live near and work for her ex-mother in law. Clare's is given the immense job of restoring the coffee shop back to its glory days. Previous management has left the coffeehouse failing. Unfortunately, Clare also has to deal with her ex-husband popping back up and wanting to play house, literally. Adding even more drama, Clare finds her favorite barista lying crumpled at the bottom of the stairwell. Clare is sure that it was attempted murderer but she needs to convince the police of that. Sounds pretty good, huh? Its in the actual detail of the story that "On What Grounds" becomes so dry its nearly unconsumable. The author gives far too much detail about what makes for perfect coffee, or expresso, or 500 different coffee variations. As she is doing so, she comes across as snooty instead of sincere. I am not a coffee drinker, but I don't think even the most faithful drinker of the stuff could possible want this much detail about the size and shape of beans or how the cup percolates. Even putting coffee aside, the author goes off on these long discriptive tangents about paintings, or siding, or watching grass grow, whatever. As I read, I kept wondering if this stuff would later come up to be important in solving the crime, but nope. I just don't understand why the huge deviances from the story line and why the editors allowed this. Part of me wants to know if and when the writing in this series becomes better stream-lined because then it may be worth trying to jump into the series again.

the story line and characters are incredible. Great new writer, BUT i really did find the sex a bit much, way to much F*** in the story and some of the sexual acts were a bit course. if these 2 things were toned down, and not even by much , just a little bit, i think the reading would be so much better. Some of it was way over the top and at times focused on too much.

I found this book at a book sale and I'm glad I did. From beginning to end I couldn't put it down!!! Now I need to start from the beginning.

I just finished this book and it took me longer than usual to read through it b/c I didn't feel it was good as her first one. To me, the characters seemed fake. It was hard for me to feel connected to them and it wasn't very believable. There were a few parts where I felt wrapped up in it but they didn't seem to last very long...

This book, in my opinion, was too raunchy to be believed. I read lots of romances and mysteries with plenty of detailed sexual encounters. This book, however, was pure trash and spent the better part of the story in the sack. The story itself could have been written in 1/3 as many pages....and i can't tell you how many times the author reapeated the exact same senteces, paragraphs, themes - as if the reader isn't able to recall pertinent information from chapter to chapter. I gave it two stars because I figure there are definitely worse books and worse writers - I just haven't read any of them lately.

I have read MANY Romance and Adventure Novels in my time ... and never have I read one with som much F-ing in it. Not making love, not sex, but just straight F-ing. There is no tenderness in this book that I could find ... so I had a very hard time connecting with and seeing how the main Characters, Copper & Tiernan, could have possibly fell in love? If you like to read Porn, this book is great ... if you are looking for romace, love and all that implies ... skip it. As for creating another world ... the authors imagination is passible, I was able to "see" the "worlds", I just wished that not all of the "romanticly" linked characters were so VULGAR and base! It is one thing to lust for someone, but when there are feelings involved ... I am sorry, it is not always lustful, angry and hard ... definately more porn than anything else.

Sure, Play Dead has some cutesy elements. The book opens with a heart-tugging story of a golden retriever, creating a huge "awwww...." factor.

But the book actually goes way beyond cute. It's got a solid plot. I didn't find myself peeking ahead or wishing I could edit out a few paragraphs here and there.

The hero Andy maintains a consistent voice with a strong personality. He's got the typical amateur sleuth toolkit: the friendly cop, the computer genius, the helpful sidekick and of course the romantic interest.

The plot seems straightforward. Andy gets hired to prove the innocence of a man who has been in prison for five years. The key witness seems to be a dog; a dog who was supposed to be dead.

Poking around the Mafia and the government, and risking his own life, Andy uncovers the truth. It's a mystery lover's dream: tidy, plausible and ultimately satisfying.

For someone who has an innate distrust of the legal system, this book demonstrates how the "OJ effect" works. When you have enough money, you can dig deep and question the police case.

Early mysteries (think Perry Mason) showed the victorious defense attorney gaining immediate release for his client. The DA would admit defeat, acknowledging the need to serve justice.

Rosenfelt doesn't sugar-coat. District attorneys will fight to keep evidence out of court that suggests the defendant is innocent. It's not about guilt or innocence; it's a contest, as if the stakes were no higher than a football game.

Play Dead is worth reading on many levels. It's much more than a cute dog book. If you're called to jury duty, take it along. When they ask if you have questions, you just might have a few.

This is my first David Rosenfelt book, to be honest I went for it because of the dog involved in the plot (not to mention the cover shot...what can i say...i'm a dog person). Anyway, great book; a wonderfully entertaining read. I am now looking forward to reading his previous works.

His humor is in the same dry witty genre as Janet Evonovich and Harlan Coben.

If you've read one of his books and enjoyed it, you'll love this one. To me, Rosenfelt's Andy Carpenter stories are the most consistently enjoyable of the various "lawyer" novels. "Presumed Innocent" it ain't, but smooth, wisecracking Andy can usually pull a surprise out of the hat to clear his client, whether he's defending a dog or a felonious character. Rarely a dull moment, lovable characters, the good guy always wins. What more do you want? Sloppy sex? Sorry, not here.

"Refreshing" is the word that comes to mind when I think of this series.

Another solid book by David Rosenfelt! As always with Rosenfelt, he provides a quick and enjoyable read. He did a pretty good job of keeping me guessing. Play Dead is a page turner. Anyone who likes a good murder mystery with some dry wit and man's best friend thrown into the mix should pick up a copy of Play Dead. You won't regret the few hours of escape you get!

No matter what limitations David Rosenfelt might have in his life, the ability to tell a consistently good, suspenseful and humorous story isn't one of them. With Play Dead, his sixth book, Rosenfelt continues to be one of the freshest voices among today's mystery writers. This stems from his ability to provide interesting plots, credible courtroom drama, lots of humor and well-developed major and minor characters. Andy Carpenter, the main character who is a wise-cracking suburban New Jersey defense attorney, is one that stays in your mind even after you finish the book and is one that I'm looking forward to 'hang out' with in his future legal adventures. Plus, his dog, Tara, is one I wish I had. In Play Dead, Carpenter's devotion to dogs and legal skills merge when he must not only rescue a dog but bring him to the witness stand to reopen a five-year old murder case which sent the dog's owner to prison. I highly recommend Play Dead if you're in the mood for a fast-paced, easy read. However, you might want to first consider reading Open And Shut and First Degree and/or some of the other books in this series, which I think will further your appreciation of Play Dead.

Book arrived promptly and in great condition. Price could not be beat! Would purchase from Amazon again. Avoid the expensive and crowded campus bookstore.

The book arrived in excellent condition, it was brand new. I was very satisfied with my purchase.

This is a great book to have especially if you are a student struggling with theories. It is very clear and gives accurate definitions and descriptions of the theories utilized in the field of Social Work. I recommend all Social Work students to purchase the book.

I love the Swedish mystery writers, ie: Henning Mankell, Åsa Larson, Hakan Nesser. etc...I don't speak Swedish so I depend on really good translation to keep the story flowing with a definable rhythm. I've found this book to have a great premise and a good story but I had a difficult time with the narrative flow.

Uppsala, Sweden Police Detective Ann Lindell works a difficult homicide case as she struggles to identify the victim found floating in a river. The corpse is eventually identified as Armas, a co-owner of the upscale restaurant Dakar. Ann visits the other partner, Slobodan Andersson who also owns Alhambra and has questionable financing connections and plenty of enemies.

However the suspect list remains long besides Slobodan and his adversaries. Ann considers recently hired waitress Eva Willman and her two teen boys, chef Johnny Kvarnheden, homeless Konrad Rosenberg and Mexican peasant Manuel Alavez seeking to free his incarcerated brother.

The fascination with this superior third Swedish police procedural (see THE CRUEL STARS OF THE NIGHT and THE PRINCESS OF BURUNDI) is the cast as perspective is told from various participants so that the same incident is seen differently and their political viewpoints especially anti Bush runs strong. The investigation led by Ann is wonderful to follow as she, like the readers, meet the restaurant's players who all have motive to kill the victim. A slight adjustment is needed to Swedish nomenclature as delineating the names of people and places require full concentration, but THE DEMON OF DAKAR is worth the time.

Harriet Klausner

J. A. Konrath's first book within his series that details the career of one of Chicago's finest, Lt. Jack Daniels is an intoxicating read. Serial killer, The Gingerbread Man, becomes fixated on Jack when she starts tracking him. Despite the erroneous character profiling of the FBI, trying to keep from becoming a victim herself, and painstakingly nursing a bum leg, Lt. Daniels puts a stop to the killer.

Jack's ex-partner, limelight stealing, Harry McGlade and her current partner, the always ready for something to eat, Herb Benedict help Jack along the wild trail of the heinous murderer.

This thriller is sprinkled with giggle inducting one-liners from beginning to end.

If you want to be thoroughly entertained, check out Whiskey Sour.

I ran across one of the books in this series and decided that if I was going to read the series I should start from the top. I certainly wasn't disappointed. This book was more graphic than most movies I've seen when it comes to violent crimes, but I appreciated that the gore was there to push the story along - not to be super-sensational. I really enjoyed reading about the main character and her vulnerability was definitely refreshing.

I think that the hardest thing to do when you have a book where you know that the hero lives in the end is to keep the reader's interest, that was done superbly in my opinion. The book has the right mix (no pun intended) of action, suspense, character development, humor and story telling and its all done in a quick-reading form.

Definitely a fan of the book and I hope to be a fan of the series if the next book is as good as this one!

If you enjoy the characters of Myron Bolitar, Stephanie Plum, and Andy Carpenter...you will love this series.

Whiskey Sour is another 5* addition to the Jack Daniels series. A must read.

On a rainy Chicago night, a mutilated female corpse is discovered in a garbage can outside a 7-Eleven. And this pretty much sets the tone for J.A. Konrath's grisly police procedural, Whiskey Sour.

I've often wondered if there's a handbook for creating fictional psycho-killers. If so, lots of writers are using it. Many times I've come across smug egotistical villains who are convinced they're smarter than everyone else. Also, they're greatly amused by their power over life and death. The Gingerbread Man, as this villain calls himself, fits the stereotype so well that he's far more annoying than frightening. Maybe he would have been more threatening if the author hadn't put us in the killer's head so often, but he did. Too bad.

Less annoying is Lieutenant Jacqueline (Jack) Daniels, a tough, smart insomniac with an abysmal love life. Daniels might be another stereotype, but at least plenty of readers can relate to her sleep and relationship issues. Another stereotype is her partner who never met a donut, or a meal, he didn't like.

Two inept FBI agents assigned to create the killer's profile provide lighter moments, as does an old P.I. nemesis of Daniels. But these characters are such blatant stereotypes that they become caricatures. Maybe this was Konrath's intention - humor through caricature. If so, it didn't quite work for me.

On the upside, the clever dialogue and pacing are great. Konrath does a good job of depicting the methodical and exhausting job of hunting down lead after lead to catch a killer. The last seventy pages are exciting and the ending satisfying. If you don't mind graphic violence and a delusional cocky villain, make yourself a Whiskey Sour and spend some time with Jack.

There are enough reviews here telling you about the plot etc. I will keep this brief and to the point. J.A Konrath's books are similar to cocaine, once you get a taste you can't get enough. Pure and simple. A great series to get hooked on! You won't be disappointed. Happy Reading!

Everything was as promised. Got it VERY fast. Good service. Will do business with again.

Tony Hillerman paints a real picture. This book is a very good one.

The plot had interesting twists and turns. It was a little hard to follow. I liked learning about Navajo culture and the local conditions. The characters were very human.

The Thief of time is a beautifully written and observed piece, it is thriller, mystery, life, saga and page turner. Jim Chee is set on detecting just who has stolen the flat bed truck from the police depot - a theft that seems to be more about buck passing within the force rather than detection. While he is supposed to be watching a back hoe is stolen from the depot.

Meantime Joe Leaphorn, only days away from retirement after the death of his beloved, Emma, is put on to a case of Grave Robbing. A respected archaeologist, Eleanor Double-barrelled-surname, has been accused of stealing pots from Anasazi grave sites. Only when Leaphorn turns up at the accommodation it seems she is actually missing.

Leaphorn's second senses are aroused when it turns out the backhoe and flatbed truck appear to be related to whatever has happened to the missing woman too.

The ensuing novel is a wonderful crossing over of crimes, of lives intertwined, of coincidences which turn out to be significant later on, and nicely observed human foibles. Beaneath all of this Leaphorn is mourning for his lost wife and trying to come to terms with his life without her. It is a nice intertwining of his life prior to meeting her and his life how, and reflected in the lives of the two archaeologists who are left at the site.

Jim Chee, meanwhile, the more traditional of the two policemen, is struggling with his own personal life - the teacher he loved has gone back to her life away from the reservation, and he is left wondering if the lawyer, Janet Pete, could be the one for him. Their personal lives are anything but straightforward. While the personal lives does not play at centre stage, as the reader, you are aware of what underlies the personal lives of the detectives.

The climax of the novel draws all the seeming loose strings in together beautifully. There is redemption where it is needed and loss is muted.

I have really enjoyed these novels, the places, the people, the culture and characters. I would highly recommend this series, in fact it has my hightest recommendation!

'A Thief of Time' was Hillerman's 'breakout' book and led to numerous awards, although by the time the book was first printed in 1988 Hillerman had been writing his Leaphorn and Chee Navajo adventure mystery novels for some 18 years.

This tale takes Leaphorn and Chee into the field work of anthropology and archaeology, as well as the shadowy world of 'pot' collectors. The desire to make a breakthrough and the wide availability of off-limits ruins can be too much for some experts to resist.

Hillerman's stories are just a very comfortable read. An interesting mix of history and Indian culture with a good msytery and a bit of adventure. Some of Hillerman's other award-winning books are 'Skinwalkers'(1986) winner of the Western Writers of America Spur Award, 'Dance Hall of the Dead' (1973) winner of the Edgar Award for the Best Mystery Novel of the West, and 'The Blessing Way' (1970)a finalist for the Best First Novel Edgar Award.

Highly recommended for fans of mystery, adventure, and Westerns.

Having read a lot of "serious" books lately, I found this to be a light and easy read. Being an avid scrapbooker myself, I was enthralled that a new series was based on scrapbooking. The beginning of the book was slow, as mentioned by other reviewers. And sometimes I felt like I was reading the script for a Hallmark Channel or TV Movie. But, it was enjoyable nonetheless. I wasn't expecting a literary masterpiece. The ending could have been a little more creative, but as other reviewers said, perhaps it was the fact that it was her first story in the series or that she was writing too many at one time. I learned a little more about New Orleans and Mardi Gras, so the author is well versed in that area. I'm hoping that next time the plot will be a little more interesting and the ending a little more creative. I will be reading the 2nd title soon - maybe on vacation at the beach.

There were more references to the foods of New Orleans than to scrapbooking. And, the author spent more time on red herrings than the actual crime. However, the book was still a pleasure to read. The heroine's friends are very interesting and I look to spending more time with them in future books.

I was pleasantly surprised with this book. I feared it would be a little too "cutesy," especially with that awful cover. But I found Carmela, Childs' scrapbook store-owning protaganist, to have more of an edge to her than I expected.

Still, the mystery was a little light, as other reviewers have mentioned, and there were some extraneous occurrences and absolutely strange goings-on, including characters (like Carmela's ex) who pop in for no apparent reason and then disappear again. But overall, Childs is a smooth writer who can, apparently, make a book from the slimmest of plots.

I love reading theme books as well as mystery. I am a "new" scrapbooker so enjoyed her tips. This is a "light" read. I go to these books after I have read heavy classics or history books. I took it camping and was happy to escape into the world of murder, scrapbooking and New Orleans. Never having been there I don't know how historically accurate it is but this book made me want to visit New Orleans. I hope to try some of the recipes. Laura Child made them sound quite yummy. The depth of the characters are a little weak and somewhat inconsistant but it doesnt' necessarily detract from an entertaining story line.

I enjoy the entire series. I do enjoy scrapbooking, which is a fairly new experience, but I am a long-time mystery buff. I enjoy the scrapbooking scenes, since they remind me of comfortable sessions I have scrapbooking with friends.

The mystery part is pretty good. I picked out the murderer, but only slightly before the reveal, so I enjoyed that area as well.

The author has an easy, comfortable style of writing. It is an easy read. I enjoy her characters. They are clear and very interesting in their own right. I hope many more of these books are going to be written.

Casino Boogie collects Scalped issues #6-11 and serves as the volume two trade paperback. The much talked about casino opening from volume one (Indian Country) is the larger focus of this volume as each story part takes place on opening night of the Crazy Horse Casino on The Prairie Rose Reservation. Jason Aaron handles the scripts with a deft hand as he uses this event as the backdrop for supplying the reader with back-story for a number of characters including Dash, Lincoln Red Crow, Diesel, Catcher, Gina Bad Horse, Lawrence Belcourt and Dino Poor Bear.

Originally six issues, the story is divided into six parts. Aaron devotes many of the chapter's opening pages to flashback sequences which setup the focus of each part on a particular character. The reader is treated to scenes from Dash, Red Crow, and Diesel's childhood, for instance, before being brought back into present time to see where each character is on opening night. Red Crow's grim and murderous determination is really the center piece in my opinion, as his actions have a grand, sweeping effect on all the other characters to say nothing of the fact that it's HIS casino that's opening. That isn't to say that each of these other characters are necessarily caught blind in his wake though. Each chapter is written from the perspective of the focus character so the reader is granted a better understanding of their personal dilemmas and motivations. More is revealed on the murders of the two FBI agents from some twenty years back; Scalped's watershed moment and impetus to many of the book's current events. Read in their original, single issue format, each of the chapters succeed as stand alone stories.

The larger tapestry of the ongoing story is fleshed out as well with a few new wrinkles added to complicate matters for the residents of The Prairie Rose Reservation. Is Dash the only undercover FBI agent operating on The Rez? What is Red Crow's involvement with Hmong ganglords hailing from St. Paul, Minnesota and who is this "Mr. Brass" they've sent out to "help" him with his local troubles? What does Catcher's vision mean and what can we possibly expect from such bizarre individual as he? In the young Dino Poor Bear, do we dare admit to the similiarities between his and a young Dash's yearnings? All these personal stories are interwoven skillfully and the variety of characters and settings within really give R.M. Guéra an opportunity to shine as an artist and really define the look of the world he and Jason Aaron are masterfully depicting. The conclusion of this volume is nothing less than a visual, emotional gut punch it's so cold-blooded and callous; leaving so many character issues fatally unresolved while at the same time, serving as the lightning rod to drive the story foward to the dark days ahead.

No doubt about it. Jason Aaron is the one to watch.

I read Scalped Volume 1 and liked it. I didn't love it, but I liked it enough to purchase Volume 2. I am so glad I did because this is "Grade A" writing and beautifully "gritty" illustrations that help tell this perfect story.

Jason Aaron holds nothing back while giving us new perspectives on the characters he introduced us to in Volume 1. Written in the same fashion as "Reservoir Dogs" and "Pulp Fiction", the reader is lead through the story from all viewpoints and through a time line line that bounces around, but is in no way hard to follow.

This is the perfect comic book.

SC

This is a good read! Ms. Harris writes so well you feel that you are there and trying to help solve the crime. The story will suck you in and you will find it hard to put down. Enjoy a good read. Charlaine Harris shines again!

This second Harper Connelly mystery is another great read. I love the premise of her main characters: Harper, a young woman who was struck by lightening as a young child, attaining the ability of finding dead bodies and glimpsing their final moments; and her supportive brother, Tolliver, who has his own quirks. In Grave Surprise, they are off on another complicated adventure that neatly segues from Book 1, A Grave Sight.

Charlaine Harris' stories are especially well written, I found myself totally engrossed in the story. Once again, the villain(s) were well hidden; the reader is near the end of the book, with a number of plausible characters able to fill the role, before figuring out who has done all the murdering.

I'm looking forward to Book #3.

I found this book even more interesting than "Grave Sight", but I am not sure I like the direction future plots will be taking.

I thought the first book was interesting enough to finish, but I wasn't "WOW"ed by it. I did go ahead and pick up the second in the series, out of curiosity. I love a good paranormal mystery and I do love the author's other series! Anyway, I'm glad I did. This book was fabulous....and much more interesting than the first! (Reading the first book, though, will definately help new readers to this series understand the history of the main characters). The characters were well fleshed out, in my opinion, and the mystery not only held my attention but had me stumped for a bit. Also, the subtle direction that the relationship took with the main characters has the potential to be quite interesting. The secondary characters were all very well written and contributed well to the story. Overall, I'm excited to read the next in the series!

I love to read mysteries but was quite skeptical when I saw the cover, title, and summary of this book since I'm not into anything supernatural, but I read an excerpt and was instantly drawn in and absolutely loved it. I passed it on to my mother-in-law and got her hooked too. After reading the books in this series I was so hooked on Charlaine Harris' writing that I read almost every single one of her many others. Definitely check her out. You won't be disappointed with this book.