Owlie13: Alphabetical Reading II

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Owlie13: Alphabetical Reading II

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1owlie13
Muokkaaja: elokuu 16, 2010, 10:43 am

My second time through the alphabet, with the addition of author's first name. This time, I'm going to not feel guilty about occasionally skipping a letter, freely use books that start with 'a', 'an' and 'the', and try to only use books from my TBR pile. No touchstones in this first post - those will be in the individual posts.

The order will be:
-- author first name
-- author last name
-- title

Ann Cleeves -- Raven Black
Andrews, Ilona -- Magic Strikes
Already Dead -- Charlie Huston

Beverly Connor -- Dust to Dust
Blunt, Giles -- The Delicate Storm
Broken -- Kelley Armstrong

Cody McFadyen -- The Darker Side
Caine, Rachel -- Undone
Chemistry of Death, The -- Simon Beckett

Donna Andrews -- Six Geese A-Slaying
Daniels, Casey -- Don of the Dead
Dark Tiger -- William G. Tapply

Elizabeth Gunn -- Triple Play
Elrod, P.N. -- Strange Brew (editor)
Enemy, The -- Lee Child

Faye Kellerman -- The Mercedes Coffin
Farmer, Philip Jose -- Riverworld and Other Stories
Four and Twenty Blackbirds -- Cherie Priest

Greg van Eekhout -- Norse Code
Gunn, Elizabeth -- Par Four
Gunn, Elizabeth -- Five Card Stud (bonus "G" book)
Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The -- Stieg Larsson

Harry Connolly -- Child of Fire
Harrison, Kim -- Black Magic Sanction
Hallowed Ground -- Lori G. Armstrong

Ilona Andrews -- On the Edge
Iles, Greg -- The Devil's Punchbowl
In the Dark -- Brian Freeman

Jed Rubenfeld -- The Interpretation of Murder
Jablokov, Alexander -- Brain Thief
Just Imagine: A New Life on an Old Boat -- Michelle Caffrey

Kathy Reichs -- Devil Bones
Karr, Mary -- The Liars' Club
Killer Insight -- Victoria Laurie

Louis Bayard -- The Pale Blue Eye
Lutz, Lisa -- The Spellman Files
Local Habitation, A -- Seanan McGuire

Melvin R. Starr -- The Unquiet Bones
MacAlister, Katie -- Me and My Shadow
Meaning of Night, The -- Michael Cox

Nancy Kress -- Steal Across the Sky
Norman, Lisanne -- Turning Point
Night Kills -- John Lutz

O -- nothing read
O -- nothing read
Ode to a Banker -- Lindsey Davis

P.J. Parrish -- The Little Death
Pearl, Matthew -- The Dante Club
Promises in Death -- J.D. Robb

Q
Q: nothing read for the letter "Q"
Q

Rob Thurman -- Chimera
Rusch, Kristine Kathryn -- Consequences
Reapers, The -- John Connolly

S.L. Viehl -- Shockball
Suter, Clemens P. -- Two Journeys
Snow Angels -- James Thompson

Tony Hillerman -- The Wailing Wind
Thurman, Rob -- Deathwish
Tainted Trail -- Wen Spencer

U
U
U

V
V
V

W
W
W

X
X
X

Y
Y
Y

Z
Z
Z

2owlie13
helmikuu 25, 2010, 11:14 pm

"A" Books:

Raven Black by Ann Cleeves

-- I certainly see why this is an award-winning book. Excellent character development, great sense of place (the Shetland Islands) and an engrossing mystery concerning a missing child and a murdered young woman. I will definitely be on the lookout for the other two books in this series. Highly recommended.

Magic Strikes by Ilona Andrews

-- Excellent addition to the Kate Daniels series. The bulk of the story takes place at the Midnight Games, an ultimate preternatural fighting tournament. Andrews has done a great job of creating this alternate-universe Atlanta where magic and mundane take turns in the world. I really am enjoying this series and recommend it highly to anyone looking for a good urban fantasy (with a little romance thrown in).

Already Dead by Charlie Huston

-- Wow. I've heard quite a bit about these books, but this was my first exposure to the world of Joe Pitt, Vampyres and Charlie Huston. It's a wild ride - not for the faint of heart - and a very different vampire world than that of Charlaine Harris et al. One review (Fangoria) called it "Hard-boiled horror, pulp noir vampires, decaying urban souls" which is an apt description. I'm definitely going to pick up the other books in this series.

3owlie13
maaliskuu 9, 2010, 9:17 pm

"B" Books:

Dust to Dust by Beverly Connor

-- Another "Diane Fallon Forensic Investigation". This one involves plenty of murders, ranging from 60+ years ago to present-day. Interesting facts about pottery presented along the way. This is one series that I think does get better as it goes along. Some stilted dialogue, but I can live with it. Recommended.

The Delicate Storm by Giles Blunt

-- Sequel to Forty Words for Sorrow, one of the best mysteries I've ever read. I enjoyed The Delicate Storm - it's a very different novel than the first one, but good in its own right. Another eloquent portrayal of the Canadian North. Highly recommended.

Broken by Kelley Armstrong

-- One of the "Women of the Underworld" books, this entry returns to Elena Michaels, who is the werewolf featured in the first two books of the series. Elena is pregnant, and as the only living female werewolf, you can imagine how important this pregnancy is. Throw in a time portal, Jack the Ripper, zombies, a vampire, witches and sorcerers, and you've got "Broken".

Lots of action and a few twists. Overall, enjoyable and recommended.

4owlie13
maaliskuu 15, 2010, 5:34 pm

"C" Books:

The Darker Side by Cody McFadyen

-- Secrets and truth, sins and contrition. These concepts are at the heart of this thriller featuring FBI Agent Smoky Barrett. As usual for McFadyen, he presents a thought-provoking and graphic story. Recommended.

Undone by Rachel Caine

-- The first novel in her new series; this one deals primarily with the Djinn. Cassiel, one of the Old Djinn has been cast out and now has a human body. After being found by David and Joanna (from the Weather Warden novels), she is sent to stay with an Earth Warden in New Mexico and to serve as his assistant. Cassiel learns of a new frightening threat to both humans and Djinn and tries to fight it. I enjoyed this quite a bit and am looking forward to the sequel.

The Chemistry of Death by Simon Beckett

-- Dr. David Hunter, former forensic anthropologist, moves to rural Norfolk after a personal tragedy. He takes up the life of a quiet village doctor and keeps to himself for the next three years, until two boys find a decomposing body in the woods. He reveals his past, and helps the local police track down the killer. A very fast-paced thriller with a shocking ending. Recommended.

5owlie13
maaliskuu 19, 2010, 8:37 pm

"D" books

Six Geese A-Slaying by Donna Andrews

-- Enjoyable cozy, this one taking place during the annual Holiday Parade. As if camels and elephants weren't enough excitement, someone murders Santa Claus! Or at least, they murder the unpleasant individual who is playing the part. I actually figured out who the murderer was even before the murder took place, so clearly the plot wasn't the important part. But it was a quick read, with some witty dialogue and a few nice moments. Recommended, as long as you aren't looking for deep thoughts or classic literature. It does help to have read the other books in the series, since knowing the background of the players helps you enjoy the humor.

Don of the Dead by Casey Daniels

-- First in a series. Pepper Martin, former "snooty" society girl, finds herself working for minimum wage as a cemetary tour guide after her surgeon father goes to prison for Medicare fraud and her rich boyfriend dumps her. While there, she falls and hits her head on a headstone. After that, she starts seeing the ghost of a murdered Mafia don, who demands she help him find his killers. The book started slow for me, but by the end, I found myself enjoying it. Halfway through, I had already decided that this would be the only book of the series I would read, but the latter half redeemed it for me. I will probably try at least one more to see if it continues to improve.

Dark Tiger by William G. Tapply

-- A nice mystery by the late William G. Tapply that is the third and (I assume) last of the Stoney Calhoun series. A beautiful setting in the lakes of Maine, an intriguing mystery, and a small amount of resolution to puzzles presented in the first two books. All in all, a pleasing way to sum up this all-too brief series. I will miss not having any more Tapply books to look forward to (although I do have the last of his Brady Coyne series left to read).

6owlie13
maaliskuu 26, 2010, 8:31 pm

"E" books

Triple Play by Elizabeth Gunn

-- Enjoyable first novel. Detective Jake Hines is on the police force in a small Minnesota town when he comes across a mutilated corpse that's been posed on a park softball field. When a second similarly posed body is found, he realizes they are looking for a serial killer. There are clues for the reader, but nothing horribly obvious. The characters are nicely developed, and I'm looking forward to reading the other books in the series. Recommended.

Strange Brew edited by P.N. Elrod

-- Collection of short stories by authors I know and a few new ones. The Jim Butcher/Harry Dresden story is pretty good - not as impressed by the Charlaine Harris one. Overall, there were more good stories than bad, so it was a worthwhile purchase.

The Enemy by Lee Child

-- Part of the Jack Reacher series, this book takes place when he was still a Major in the Army Military Police. He investigates a series of murders and this investigation takes him to a huge conspiracy. Along the way he learns some startling facts about his family. A different take on Reacher -- it was interesting to see how he operated when he was still in the system instead of totally on the outside. Recommended.

7RidgewayGirl
maaliskuu 27, 2010, 11:46 am

Those Reacher books are addictive. Even now, as the chapters get shorter and the characterization disappears, I have to read each one. But the early ones are the best ones.

8sjmccreary
maaliskuu 31, 2010, 9:22 am

Love the new thread - added several books to the wishlist based on your comments here!

9owlie13
maaliskuu 31, 2010, 8:22 pm

#8 - thanks for the comment. I've had some good luck lately picking out things to read, that's for sure.

10owlie13
huhtikuu 6, 2010, 8:46 am

"F" books

The Mercedes Coffin by Faye Kellerman

--A Decker and Lazarus novel. Two murders - fifteen years apart. Both killed execution-style and left in the trunk of a Mercedes. Finding the connection (if there even is one) will take lots of leg-work and some lucky breaks. Recommended.

Riverworld and Other Stories by Philip Jose Farmer

--Short stories written by the Hugo Award winner. I enjoyed the Riverworld story; I had read the novels many years ago, but not this short story starring Tom Mix. The rest of the stories in the book weren't really my cup of tea.

Four and Twenty Blackbirds by Cherie Priest

--A Southern gothic ghost story and voodoo mystery, this is Priest's debut effort. Highly recommended.

11sjmccreary
huhtikuu 6, 2010, 11:34 am

I've seen the Faye Kellerman series, but have never read any of them. A couple of weeks ago I browsed my "series" list, and discovered that there are only a little over 100 series that I've either started or have on my wishlist. Since I can conceivably finish those in a relatively short time, I feel the need to keep freely adding to it! I'm pretty particular about taking them in order, so I won't be adding Mercedes Coffin yet, but I'm going to put the first book on the wishlist. Thanks for the recommendation.

12owlie13
huhtikuu 6, 2010, 7:21 pm

#11 -- that series is one that REALLY has to be read in order. Glad to see I'm adding to your wishlist!!

13owlie13
huhtikuu 14, 2010, 11:01 pm

"G" books:

Norse Code by Greg van Eekhout

-- A stand-alone book combining modern-day San Francisco and Norse mythology. The NorseCODE referred to by the title is a means of using genetics to find descendants of Odin, but this piece of the story quickly gives way to the more important tale of finding a way to stop Ragnarok (the end of the world). Humor, action, gods and monsters combine to make this an enjoyable story. Recommended.

Par Four by Elizabeth Gunn

-- Police procedural set in the town of Rutherford, Minnesota (think Rochester). Drug dealers, burglaries, kidnapping and murder all come into play during Jake Hines' first week as Chief of Detectives. How Jake and his team put the puzzle pieces together make for an interesting story. Recommended.

Five Card Stud by Elizabeth Gunn

--I'm liking this series more with each book. There is real character development - you get to know about the personal lives of the detectives as well as there being interesting cases. I'm curious to see what happens next, which for me, is the sign of a good book. Recommended.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

--I had put off buying this because I didn't think it could live up to its reputation. But then my SantaThing got it for me, and since it fit perfectly into both my alpha challenge and this one, I finally dove in. I'm so glad I did. It's not a perfect book -- other people have mentioned how the first 50 pages are boring, and some of the corporate description goes on for too long. But overall, it's an amazing book. Family secrets, a "locked room" murder mystery, financial corruption, and bureaucratic abuse of power come together in an explosive thriller. I just ordered the sequel. Highly Recommended.

15owlie13
toukokuu 18, 2010, 11:48 pm

"I" books:

On the Edge by Ilona Andrews

-- First in a new series. Enjoyable - I'm looking forward to the second.

The Devil's Punchbowl by Greg Iles

In the Dark by Brian Freeman

-- Latest in the Jonathan Stride series. Much of the book takes place in the past, and I would have liked more of the present-day, but it was a fairly good installment of a good series.

16owlie13
toukokuu 25, 2010, 12:29 am

"J" books:

The Interpretation of Murder by Jed Rosenfeld
-- Historical mystery where Freud's only visit to America plays a role. Entertaining and educational.

Brain Thief by Alexander Jablokov
-- Science fiction with fascinating characters and an interesting plot. Unusual and I'm glad I read it.

Just Imagine: A New Life on an Old Boat by Michelle Caffrey
-- Memoir detailing the first year adventures of an American couple who buy a barge and take passengers on the rivers of France. A quick read with some humorous stories. More pictures would have been nice - while the descriptions of the locks and towns were good, I would have liked to follow along in pictures.

17owlie13
toukokuu 26, 2010, 10:58 pm

"K" books

Devil Bones by Kathy Reichs
Fairly typical entry in this forensic science series, but that's a good thing. This installment takes place entirely in North Carolina and deals with Satanism and voodoo as well as a possible new love interest for Brennan. A little preachy in parts, but tolerable.

The Liars' Club by Mary Karr
Award-winning memoir detailing a very painful childhood with humor and understanding. Some horrific scenes told with a level of dispassion that makes them more horrific. Moving and well-written.

Killer Insight by Victoria Laurie
Another "Psychic Eye" mystery. A quick read, but enjoyable. I do like this series.

18owlie13
kesäkuu 11, 2010, 11:52 am

"L" books

The Pale Blue Eye by Louis Bayard
Very interesting historical mystery about a death at West Point. One of the people investigating the mystery is a young cadet, E.A. Poe. Yes, that Poe. It's a good mystery as well as a fascinating account of that time period. Highly recommended.

The Spellman Files by Lisa Lutz
Quirky mystery about a family of private investigators (first in the series). There really isn't one story, but rather the story is the narrator's life. I found it an interesting narrative style, and will probably pick up the next in the series. This was a SantaThing gift, and one I'm glad I received.

A Local Habitation by Seanan McGuire
The worlds of Changelings, Faeries and humans all come together in this well-written and enjoyable story. I'm very intruiged by the world and society that she creates, and have already pre-ordered the next in the series.

19owlie13
kesäkuu 16, 2010, 9:54 pm

"M" books

The Unquiet Bones by Melvin Starr
Historical mystery set in medieval England. Entertaining chronical of "Hugh de Singleton, surgeon".

Me and My Shadow by Katie MacAlister
Another of the Dragon series. Her writing style is a little repetitive, but an enjoyable quick read.

The Meaning of Night by Michael Cox
Another historical mystery/thriller, this one set in the London of the 1850's. Unique writing style and a great sense of time and place. Recommended.

20owlie13
kesäkuu 20, 2010, 10:43 am

"N" books

Steal Across the Sky by Nancy Kress
Science fiction. An interesting concept - I enjoyed the first half of the book when they were on other planets. The second half, when they were back on Earth dealing with their discovery was not as good, but overall I would recommend the book.

Turning Point by Lisanne Norman
Science ficton. A human colony is under attack by a race of hostile aliens when they are discovered by a race of more friendly (or at least of a mind to band together against a common foe) aliens. Telepathy and inter-species romance play a big part. I had read this years ago, but wanted to read the rest of the books in the series, so read this again to refresh my memory.

Night Kills by John Lutz
Serial killer and ex-cops. One of a series. Some pretty gruesome scenes and somewhat typical of the genre, but a few twists that made it interesting.

21owlie13
kesäkuu 20, 2010, 10:45 am

"O" book

I didn't have any thing in my TBR pile for first/last name "O" authors, so just went with a title book.

Ode to a Banker by Lindsey Davis
Of the ancient Rome mystery series, I think I prefer the Falco series. Interesting stories, social commentary and more humor. This installment has Falco exploring the world of publishing and banking. It's always fun to see how some things change and some stay the same. Recommended.

22owlie13
heinäkuu 2, 2010, 11:32 am

"P" books

The Little Death by P.J. Parrish
I really like this series set in the 1980's and (mostly) in Florida. This installment has P.I. Louis Kincade and helping out a friend of a friend who is suspected of a brutal murder. The worlds of high society and migrant workers are both explored and play a part in the story. In addition to solving the murder, Kincade comes to some important decisions about his personal life. Should make for an interesting next book. Highly recommended (but start with the first in the series).

The Dante Club by Matthew Pearl
Historical mysteries about a series of murders based on Dante's Inferno. Some very vivid descriptions of the murders (not for the weak of stomach) and the horrors suffered by Civil War soldiers. The beginning of the book drags somewhat - lots of discussion about Harvard politics and publishing - but it soon picks up the pace. The story seems to be historically accurate, at least as far as I can tell, with the obvious exception of the murders. Recommended.

Promises in Death by J.D. Robb
More sex, murder, sex and intrigue. If you've read any of this series, you know what I mean. This one had a couple of new twists, plus brought back some old players. A pretty good installment.

23owlie13
heinäkuu 9, 2010, 8:52 am

"R" books (nothing for "Q")

Chimera by Rob Thurman
Interesting science-fiction about a man's search for his kidnapped brother. Genetic enhancement, Russian gangsters, love, loyalty and betrayal. While different in many ways from her other novels, the theme of the love between brothers is a common thread. Recommended.

Consequences by Kristine Kathryn Rusch
Part of the Retrieval Artist Series. Science fiction/mystery. Different storylines about assassinations, genocide, family reunions, diplomacy and terrorism all come together in a satisfying fashion.

The Reapers by John Connolly
While technically part of the Charlie Parker series, the Detective (as he is called in this book) is only peripherally involved. Louis and Angel take center stage in this story of revenge. Because of that, there is less of the supernatural than the more recent Parker books. We learn more about Louis's backstory and how he came to be where he is now. The theme of 'you reap what you sow' is prominent. Recommended (but start at the beginning of the series).