July, 2021 ~ What are you reading?

Getting the new month started.

Thanks! And pinned.

In reply to Glacierman, post 19 in the previous thread. . .

Thanks for the tip! Must admit that I'm not the biggest fan of murder mysteries, but I do enjoy original and different from the procedural, chase, egregiously violent ones that flood the genre.

To return the favor: The Eye of Jade: A Mei Wang Mystery by Diane Wei Liang contemporary mystery featuring female private detective in the post-Mao era but during a time when that profession was (still is?) illegal in China.

And a truly fascinating and atmospheric historic mystery set in 18th C. Qing Dynasty China that I can highly rec. is Jade Dragon Mountain by Elsa Hart. Looking, I see she made a 3-book series about her investigator Li Du. I haven't read the other two, but now have the ambition to!

Just finished a re-read of The Naming of the Dead, by Ian Rankin. I'd read it shortly after it came out but had forgotten most of it.

Just embarked on The Lusitania Murders--a very enjoyable start!

Next up in crime for me is Murder in the Museum, by John Rowland.

Just finished Steel Fear by Brandon Webb and John David Mann which was really good! Next up is False Witness by Karin Slaughter.

Started the month with Hjorth and Rosenfeldt's second book "The Disciple". Better than their first for me but the main character, a Psychologist, is totally flawed, not quite like Nicci Frenche's Frieda Klein who I developed a soft spot for. Second book was Cynthia Harrod-Eagles "Shadow Play", a Slider Mystery, small compact story that is part of a series and an enjoyable read. Currently reading The "Monster of Florence", a true story of a serial killer in Florence. Was attracted to it by the author, Douglas Preston. Had read a few of his joint works (with Lincoln Child) starting with "A Cabinet of Curiosities", a good read but the main character, Aloysius Pendergast (FBI agent) got a bit weird as the series progressed.

Just about to start The Cat Saw Murder, by Dolores Hitchens, recently republished by American Mystery Classics.

Picked up at a book sale at the Needles, CA public library, Castle in the Air by Donald E. Westlake; reading now with my new eye.

Really liked the first novel in a series new to me: Talking to the Dead by Harry Bingham

>11 ted74ca: Yay, a great series!

I've just finished reading We Begin at the End by Chris Whitaker. I would highly recommend it, as I found it gripping and emotionally involving. The central character, Duchess Radley, is memorable and I read to the end , ignoring all distractions, to see how her situation was resolved.

Ending the month with another American Mystery Classic: Vultures in the Sky, by Todd Downing.

Another one finished, again by an author I'd not discovered before. Liked: The Birdwatcher by William Shaw

I've created the August reading thread. Please unpin the July one and pin the August one.