It's the last month of 2011!  What's on your dance...er...reading card?

I couldn't sleep last night so I rummaged through the ol' library bag and pulled out Vermilion Drift, by William Kent Krueger. I'm not quite sure why I'm continuing with this series but...I am.

Happy December all --- hard to believe it is here.

My two thrillers are continuing "Pick a Number" by John Verdon and "The Lock Artist" by Steve Hamilton.  My first instinct with both is that I can heartily recommend them.  Actually I think I am a little behind in reading them, so chances are many of you already have done so.

Becky, I read Pick a Number a few months ago--be sure to report back when you're done, I'm interested to know what you thought of it.

Diane

Finished up the Flavia book in audio (it was great! my review will be up on the PBS mystery blog sometime this month since it was a holiday-themed book) and I started The Dog Who Knew Too Much by Spencer Quinn (latest Chet & Bernie) last night. Still reading Children of the Street on my Kindle and a non-mystery in print.

Cheryl

I have Booth's Blood on the Tongue and Brad Thor's The Athena Project, but finishing up Heather Graham's Deadly Night. That would have been a good book to read before Halloween.  

Diane --- I have such a mental block about the Verdon book.  It is "Think of a Number" and I have now called it "Pick a Number" two times.  I may be getting dangerous to myself!!!!  When I finish I will let you know how it went.  I think I already have the second book on the shelf to read as well.

I had a 20% off coupon for Barnes and Noble that I just had to spend. so I bought Janet Evanovich's Explosive Eighteen. I didn't expect a lot from it so I was not disappointed. I think it was better than the last two. There were a couple of seens that will make you laugh.   Maybe she needs a cookbook for her mother's recipes that would be the best at this point.

Alice

Finished up Children of the Street (it was quite good, better than the first one, I thought) on my kindle and have started By A Spider's Thread by Laura Lippman, #8 Tess Monaghan series set in Baltimore. Was glad it was available for Kindle from the library--I had started the audio CD of it from the library awhile back but it was so badly scratched and skippy I had to quit it and return it...having it available for kindle means it's one less book I need to order from PBS. :)

Am about halfway done with the Chet & Bernie audiobook, not sure if I will start the Denise Mina book I have in audio when I am done or not...only a short time left on my checkout of it with no renewals, and I never have as much time to listen during the week when I'm working. Probably will find something else for now.

Cheryl

Does the Cody McFadden books need to be read in order? Is there alot of character development from one book to the next?

Keri, they should definitely be read in order. There is a lot of character developement and they are not for the faint of heart. They are about the most gruesome books I've ever read. While reading the first one I stopped to wonder several times what kind of sick person writes this stuff, and what kind of sick person reads it. Me obviously, since it's one of the series I'm caught up on.

Thanks Ellie! I will wait then until I get Shadow Man before I start.

Ellie --- Funnily enough, I too wonder sometimes when I am reading something so gruesome or scary --- is there something wrong with me???  Given how popular some of these "gruesome" authors are, we must not be the only ones with the problem!!!

Still working thru "The Lock Artist" by Steve Hamilton.  Guess I am about half way thru it now.  Just having a tough time staying awake at night!!!  It is a really good book.

I finished Ashely Gardner's A Death In Norfolk. I love these Captain Lacey mysteries and this one was partcularly good, as get some more of Lacey's history and a more rounding of his character. I am so glad that AG found another publisher for these gems and glad the series continues. We even get a glimpse of the next one in the series.

Started Wash This Blood Clean From My Hands by Fred Vargas, the fourth Chief Inspector Adamsberg mystery set in Paris. So far it's very good, had a hard time putting it down at bedtime last night!

Cheryl

After having trouble finding a book that intersted me this weekend I started

Alice--Sounds like a good book!  And it'll satisfy the allliteration part of the mystery challenge.  I've put it on my wish list...I'm #11 for the hardcover and #12 for the paperback, so we'll see if the lists move at all.

Ellie and Becky--I enjoy the more gruesome books too!  Can't read very many of them in a row though.  I've read all but the last Cody McFayden books--and enjoyed them very much.  But, have been reluctant to start the last one...I have to be in the right mood.

I finished "Silent Mercy" by Linda Fairstein.  I enjoyed the story--it would have been a good one for the New York part of the mystery challenge.  One thing I like about Linda Fairstein's novels is the significant amount of history she always adds to her stories.

Now, I've started reading "Blood Hollow" the fourth book in William Kent Krueger's Cork O'Connor series.  I've just started it, but am enjoying it so far.

Finishing up my list for the challenge.  Just read Death of a Doxy by Rex Stout, 3 star read, for WE'RE PRACTICALLY TWINS.  A young woman is murdered and one of Nero Wolfe's associates is accused of the murder.  He has indeed been having an affair with the young woman.  However, he has decided to marry someone else but the first young woman threatens to tell the fiance.  In anger, is it possible that he did kill the young woman?  Nero Wolfe and his other associates are not sure but at a vote decide that it is highly unlikely that he committed the murder.  If he didn't who did?  They decide to investigate to prove his innocence.  However, all leads peter come to a dead end.  When the young woman's benefactor, a wealthy man who wishes to keep his name out of the murder investigation, reveals some interesting information, Wolfe realizes who the murderer must be.  The question is how to uncover the culprit and protect the wealthy man.  Just one more to go!!!!

The Last Child by John Hart is an excellent mystery/thriller read.  It begins as a simple story when a boy's twin sister disappears.  Cast into grief,, his mother depressed and addicted to drugs.   Johnny Merrimon hates the man who introduced drugs to her and wishes that man were gone.  His heart's desire is to find his missing sister and return her to his mother.  In addition, his father has vanished.  The mother believes that he has abandoned them.  As Johnny searches for his sister, the detective who worked the case of his missing twin, fears for his safety.  The story is complex as the police, under the direction of Clyde Hunt who fears that Johnny's search will lead to his death.  Hunt is obsessed by his failure to help Johnny and his mother so much so that his colleagues and his supervisor believe he is losing it.  As body after body is uncovered, Hunt and Johnny discover that there are two murderers.  One killed Johnny's father and the other killed his sister.  Can Johnny survive with Hunt's help?  Read this exciting book and discover the ending for yourself.

Started on Brad Thor's The Athena Project and the weird thing is, I felt like I was reading a James Rollins there for a second. I know they are good buddies, but geesh.

Cheryl, I was strolling through the Blog and saw your review of I Am Half-Sick of Shadows by Alan Bradley.  You caught me!  I'll have to try Flavia!

I have been reading just haven't been here.  Nothing major, just finishing up a couple of series.  Though I did read a Mary Higgins Clark and was sorely disappointed!  At one time I devoured her books.  When I started to read Where Are You Now? if I didn't know better I would have swore I was rereading a book I had just recently read!  I knew what happened almost immediately.  I just couldn't quite remember why but thought I knew.  Turns out, I knew.  Not giving anything away because someone might want to read it.  Let's face it sheis the Queen of Suspense but for some reason this juwt wasn't her usual caliber.

I have Rumble on the Bayou by Jana Deleon half mystery half romance going.  Still have my car book with Ghost a la Mode going.  About half done so maybe I'll finishit by Sunday.  I had to put book three of the Mudbug series aside.  Getting a bit of burnout from the series.  I like it I'm just not someone who can read a series book after book.  I might read two but then have to set the series aside for a spell..

Polished off The Prairies Grass Murder by Patricia Stoltey and keeping the second book for the challenge.  Also Do Not Murder Before Christmas by Jack Iams.  Published in 1949!  I actually have the paperback and it's in decent shape.  Someone must have had it put away in a safe spot all this time.  A bit yellowed but still in good shape!  I've also read some none mystery (gasp) books in between decorating the house for Christmas.

I've finished the basic 12 categories for the challenge, but may not finish either of the bonus challenges this year. It's December - and I'm a minister. Need I say more? It's the craziest time of the year... and doesn't leave much time for recreational reading.

I have read the first two Richard Castle books - and am really curious about who is ghostwriting these! My spouse suggested that it could be one of the authors who occasionally show up on the series to play poker. I think it's either one of the TV writers, or someone completely different.

Becky - The Lock Artist was one of the books I read for the award winner category. It blew me away! I had read Steve Hamilton's series set in the UP, so I knew he was good - but this was outstanding.

Right now I'm reading a non-mystery - Widdershins by Charles deLint, urban fantasy, which has been languishing on my TBR shelf for some time. I may follow it up with The City/The City by China Mieville (SF/mystery).

Happy Holidays!

Lori, I think it is one of the writers of the tv series. To me, the books are almost like listening to an episode without the visual. Not going to win a Pulitzer but entertaining just the same.

I picked up the audio version of The Dog Who Knew Too Much by Spencer Quinn (latest Chet & Bernie)   from CALS (Central Arkansas Library System)  tonight. I will try to finish quickly, so the next person in line (TWILL) will have before the holidays. It is already funny. The very beginning of the book is repeating the end of the last in the series.

Cheryl,

I see that you just finished the Quinn book. I need a funny book.

Mary

Today, I finished THE SILENT HOUR by Michael Koryta. It was audio. I liked the 2 characters, Lincoln Perry and Joe Pritchard, PIs in Cleveland, OH.

Jeanne, I enjoyed it more than THE CYPRESS HOUSE, which is also by Koryta.  I am "picky" about  supernatural/fantasy books. THE SILENT HOUSE had no fantasy and was 2 regular dudes who are ex-cops, turned Pri Investigators. BOTH KORYTA BOOKS WERE EXCELLENT STORIES AND I THANK YOU FOR THE RECOMMENDATIONS.  I am reserving the first Perry/Pritchard from the library, since I "messed up"  and started with the last one in the series.

Also Jeanne, I completed SPEAKS THE NIGHT BIRD this weekend. I have the next in the 2 book volume reserved at the library. I could be happy with a little less of the blacksmith and his favorite horse  in the next one. But, I am intrigued with the "witch's" outcome/demise.

Mary

Oh! that blacksmith!!! YIKES! Isn't that something Mary??? With McCammon, that was probably kind of mild though. No more of that stuff in the remainder of the story, as I recall.

NOW, I'm probably going to have to search out the Perry series by Koryta. Geez, I hope I live long enough to put a DENT in my books!