A reader review blog { of genre fiction }
Mystery
Mystery reviews
The Three Evangelists, Fred Vargas
May 29th
The Three Evangelists (Vintage 2007) written by Fred Vargas and translated by Sian Reynolds. The Three Evangelists takes place in Paris, during the mid-1990’s. The story introduces three historians turned amateur sleuths. The author’s background in history and archeology are evidenced in the story.
This was a good read that started off well enough. The first mystery that’s
The Darkest Room: A Novel, Johan Theorin
Apr 1st
THE DARKEST ROOM: A NOVEL (Delta 2009) written by Johan Theorin and translated by Marlaine Delargy is the second crime fiction novel that is apart of a loosely connected quartet of books set on the island of Öland. The Swedish title is Nattfåk which translates to “night blizzard.”
Theorin’s first novel, ECHOES FROM THE DEAD (Delta 2008), Swedish
The Little Death, P.J. Parrish
Mar 2nd
The Little Death [2010] by PJ Parrish is apart of an ongoing mystery series featuring private detective Louis Kincaid and the story is set in Florida. Out of maybe 8 or 9 titles by the writing team that make up the PJ Parrish pseudonym of Kristy Montee and Kelly Nichol there are only three titles available digitally.
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, Stieg Larsson [Millennium Trilogy]
Feb 2nd
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (Vintage 2009) by Stieg Larsson (author) and Reg Keeland (translator) is the first book in the Millennium Trilogy, set in Sweden.
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo was the biggest bestseller last year. The original, Swedish title was “Män som hatar kvinnor” which translates to “Men That Hate
Mission Flats, William Landay {Guest Review}
Jan 29th
Mission Flats (Dell 2003) by William Landay is a crime fiction novel that I read and enjoyed several years ago. I recommended this book to Maili some time back and asked her if she read it, would she mind doing a review for me? So, here we are…enjoy.
Missions Flats opens with the narrator’s vivid description of a pregnant woman
The Devil’s Star, Jo Nesbø (Harry Hole Series)
Jan 6th
The Devil’s Star (Random House UK) by Jo Nesbø and translated by Don Bartlett, is the third book in the Harry Hole series set in Oslo, Norway.
What can I say? I love this series. For crime fiction fans looking for something new, this series serves up more than just your typical police procedural.
“The Devil’s Star”
‘The Ghosts of Belfast,’ Stuart Neville
Dec 21st
The Ghosts of Belfast (Soho Crime 2009) by Stuart Neville which is also known as “The Twelve” in the UK, is the first in a brand new series set post-Troubles.
Mr. Neville’s Irish crime novel debut has been praised all over the place and there’s a reason for that. The novel is well plotted, taut with tension
Ken Bruen, “The Dramatist,” Jack Taylor No.4
Dec 4th
The Dramatist by Ken Bruen (St. Martin’s Press 2007) is the fourth mystery featuring ex-Garda Síochána Jack Taylor. The stories are told through first person narrative and are set in Galway, Ireland.
Jack Taylor is your typical alcoholic PI with all the usual hang-ups that go with that label. Low self-esteem (check), very arrogant (check), had
Christa Faust, “Money Shot”
Nov 27th
Money Shot by Christa Faust (Hard Case Crime 2008). Ex-porn star, Angel Dare is having a really bad day. She arrives at a phony shoot and finds herself beat up, shot at and then left for dead in the trunk of a car.
To make matters worse, she doesn’t even know what the hell’s going on when she later
REVIEW: I’ll Bury My Dead by James Hadley Chase
Oct 8th
Harlequin has decided to re-release their Vintage collection of crime novels with the original cover art. I had no idea that Harlequin, which is synonymous with romance, published hard boiled mysteries.
Anyway, the covers are all quite arresting to look at and made me salivate to read one. I didn’t know who to start with first so
REVIEW: Evil At Heart (Beauty Killer Series No.3) by Chelsea Cain
Sep 1st
Evil at Heart by Chelsea Cain is the third book in the New York Times bestselling series featuring “the beauty killer” aka Gretchen Lowell and the damaged cop who is obsessed with her, Archie Sheridan. The series is set in Portland, Oregon and the narrative is told in third person present tense.
I know, serial killers aren’t
REVIEW: The Redeemer (Harry Hole No.4) by Jo Nesbø and Translated by Don Bartlett
Aug 11th
THE REDEEMER (Harry Hole No.4) by Jo Nesbø and translated by Don Bartlett is apart of a series and is published by Random House (UK).
Norwegian crime novelist Jo Nesbø has penned another page-turner. This man is simply brilliant when it comes to plotting and characterizations.
There’s not one boring scene in his books. None. Nada. Nesbø‘s
REVIEW of ‘Undone (Grant County Series No.7)’ by Karin Slaughter
Jul 27th
UNDONE (Grant County) by Karin Slaughter is the follow-up to BEYOND REACH published by Bantam Dell. UNDONE marks the merging of two series by Slaughter — Grant County series and the Will Trent series. Is this the end for the Grant County series?
WARNING: The following review contains spoilers for the Grant County series so if
REVIEW: The Pusher (87th Precinct) by Ed McBain
Jun 29th
The Pusher by Ed McBain (who also wrote as Evan Hunter) is the third book in the 87th Precinct series. The series is told in third person and has a large cast and diverse set of characters. In the afterword, the author sums up the premise of the series saying it is about the “conglomerate hero
Nemesis (Harry Hole No.2), Jo Nesbø and Don Bartlett (Translator)
May 27th
Norwegian crime novelist, Jo Nesbø is a bestselling author who has a varied and interesting background. His vast array of experience is evidenced in this story which is large in scope and depth as far as police procedurals go.
In the US, there are currently only four of his books translated to English in the Harry Hole
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