Let's use this topic to discuss our February books

I will start us off. I am reading for the challenge  One Blood: A Sergeant Kella and Sister Conchita Mystery :: Graeme Kent. This book is second in the series. It is very good, set in Solomon Islands (never seen books set there before), in 1960. Good mysteries and characters. Mix of police investigation, island folklore and Sister Conchita. The first book is Devil Devil. I recommend reading them in order.

Alice

Starting Buffalo West Wing by Julie Hyzy, so I can get that series finished up.  I have Affairs of Steak and Fonduing Fathers on the TBR pile.   These are going to be my "three of a kind" for the Contemporary Fiction challenge.

I read, and liked "Devil Devil"...waiting form the second one to come off my WL.  Hope there will be more!

Marla - I've read both Devil-Devil and One Blood and really enjoyed them both! Like you, I'm hoping for more.

Marla, quick grab your cup of coffee!  We have another murder to solve!!!

The very first murder in Detroit took place a bit after midnight on New Year Day and involved a case of road rage.  Driving on the freeway, shot the driver and whoops there were witnesses who gave the police not only a description of the shooter but the license number of the car!  All right, get that sucker!  Wednesday it was reported that the witness that was supposed to appear in court was found shot in a friends driveway.  He had reported to the police that he was being stalked and the police said, sorry, nothing we can do for you!  The media has posed the question do you think this is related to the case of road rage and the police say there's no evidence to support that theory!  We've got to handle this! 

Got In the Blood on my Kindle as a free copy to read and return.  Wish they'd let me have more than one a month.

I'm reading the second Liz Lipperman, Beef Stolen-Off.  I liked the first Liver or Let Die and so far this is holding my attention.  Though I must admit a couple of times I've wanted to smack MC upside the head and say don't be so dense!  I do have my others going but the books are difficult for me to hold so it'll take a bit for me to read them. 

Of course they are related...duh!!!!  Maybe we should offer our services as consultants!  Sounds like the perfect plot for a mystery, don'tcha think!  You would have thought that, given he was a witness in a murder trial, the police might have taken the stalking report a bit more seriously!!! 

A lot of years ago there was a gal in Denver whose ex-husband was stalking her plus calling her upteen times a day (no matter how many times she changed the number, he found it).  Police said, sorry...unless he actually does something, there is nothing we can do.  Well, he did...caught her coming out of a restaurant and shot and killed her.  Supposedly, Colorado has  a stringent stalking law...but, never having been stalked, no idea if it works or not!

The laws in our country really tie the hands of the investigators and prosecutors. I'm beginning to think we need a whole new set of legislation - or legislators - to review what is on  the books cause this stuff is getting us nowhere! It's like the old "blue laws" which are still in existence in some places - used to be that spitting on the street was an offense and that was because in the days of TB you could pass the disease on to others by spitting on the street! Sheesh- we need to see what the problems really are and address them. I mean that issue in Detroit is soooo obvious! This just ticks me off!

I'm starting "Hearse and Buggy" by Laura Bradford, as my gnu to you category in the mystery challenge.  The place setting is in a small Amish community in Lancaster County, PA.  There alot of folks there who are Amish, and alot who are not (referred to as English.)   The main character, Claire Weatherly has come to this town after her marriage failed while she was in New York, and her Aunt Dianne offers her a room in her inn.  She is opening an Amish specialty shop.  She has met the "handsome new detective" so far and already there are "tingles" between the two of them.  I haven't run across a corpse yet, but I'm sure one will show up soon.  :)

Joy I loved Hearse and Buggy I hope you like it too. The characters are very well writting.

Alice

Hello All --- Checking in from Tulsa.  All goes pretty well here.  Mother is slowly gaining some strength after her norovirus, but is SLOW.  Am hoping to be able to head home on Tuesday as planned, but we will see how tihngs go.

Reading "To Protect the Queen" by Fiona Buckley.  It is the first in a series about a female sleuth in Queen Elizabeth's court.  Actually an enjoyable read.

Wow February already.

Last night I started The Black Ice by Michael Connelly  and it sucked me right in.  I have some evening plans but looking forward to reading more when I get home.

Read Easy/Phillip DePoy tonight.  The first in his Flap Tucker series.  I loved his Fever Develin series.  Didn't think this one was as good, but it was his first novel, so will not be too judgemental.  Will continue with the series.  His books and characters are just weird enough to appeal to me!

I swear when I first ran thru the last few posts, there was only ONE of the above.  Posted another reply and suddenly there are TWO!  I think this computer enjoys playing with my mind!!!!!  LOL

Joy - I enjoyed Hearse and Buggy also.  I think the next one in the series comes out in March.

I started reading Iron Lake  by William Kent Krueger.  Withholding judgment on it for now.  Few things I don't like but some I do.

I am read  Mama Sees Stars (Mace Bauer, Bk 4) :: Deborah Sharp. It is a fun light hearted series. I don't know if she plans on writing anymore. The mother is the series would drive you crazy.

Alice

I think the stalking laws suck.  I've heard more than once and in different places how an ex whatever has stalked and killed their ex and the police "can't do anything until".  Or how about the good old restraining order?  Now that's a winner.  I had a friend that had one against an ex boyfriend.  I can't tel you how many times that guy was in jail becausw he'd get drunk and come to the house and bang on the sides yelling he was gonna get her.  The only person he was terrifying was her mother and daughter since she was living elsewhere.  She finally managed to get money together, grab her daughter and moved to another city.  And the police could do nothing about this guy.

I finished Beef Stolen-off by Liz Lipperman.  The beginning was slow, almost didn't grab me.  There was one small part that kept me reading and suddenly it took off.  I couldn't read fast enough.  Though there were many, many times I wanted to smack the MC upside the head.  Gee, 3 in the morning, you hear pounding so you hop on a bicycle to see what's making the noise.  You don't tell anyone where you're going or what you're doing???  You get to where the pounding (which is never really explained) is happening you see the guy you suspect is the bad guy and you move closer to see what he's doing???  All is well at the end, wiping the sweat off the brow! 

Picked up an old romance On the Way to Dianh's Wedding.  So far I'd swear it's a comedy.  MC was stood up at the alter, she wants revenge, grooms cousin loaned him money and the two are off in pursuit.  In a black pickup from Florida to Spokane and they've only hit Louisiana.  It's had some laugh out loud moments.

I'm going to finish Mud, Muck and Dead things and then start The Devil Amongst the Lawyers by Sharyn McCrumb, a challenge book. 

Good Morning from Tulsa --- Still reading the same book.  Not making much progress.  Hopefully will really depart here on Tuesday and will have time on the two flights for reading.  That is if I do not sleep.  Mother and I are getting along quite well really --- no trying to bring me back to the Jehovah's Witnesses, thankfully.  But there is a certain stress of trying to make her happy, etc.  Anyway, we will get the final report on the culture from the urologist tomorrow.  If the news is not good, I may have to stay until I can get her in to the doc.  Her memory issue is an aggravation when it comes to going to the docs.  Sometimes she does not remember exactly what they say --- she is going to begin to take notes if I am not with her and hopefully that will help.  Sorry to go on and on, but you all are about my best pals these days when I need someone to talk to.  I should do my moaning in a PM --- will try to do better.  Speaking of PMs --- is there any way to send a PM to more than one person????  Obviously one can copy, paste and send, etc. but was just wondering if there is a possibility for multiple addressees.

Becky...If the people are on your "Friends" list, you can do it.  You just check the ones you want to send the PM to and then check PM.  At least it worked for me once!!  No guarantees!

Becky, you don't have to apologize, you should feel free to "talk" to us.  I know I don't mind at all.  Of course as one of your "mothers" I want to be there for you! :)

Alice & Cynthia; I did enjoy Hearse and Buggy.  I'm looking forward to the next book.  Did either of you pick up on the fact that Claire's ex-husband apparently underwent a name change somewhere in the middle?  He was Peter at the beginning of the book and Paul at the end.  Too funny.  My husband is named Peter and my son is named Paul, so maybe that's why I picked it up. 

Geri- that is exactly how I felt about Beef Stolen Off!  Hard to get into but good once you did.  I also was yelling at the MC during that whole bike ride in the middle of the night. 

I've started "The Body in the Boudoir" by Katherine Hall Page.  This is one of my challenge books in the religion category.  I figure since Faith's husband Tom is a minister that should work.  It is better than I had thought.  I had read a review somewhere that it wasn't as good as her others because the mystery part takes place before she and Tom get married.  I love the mystery and it is interesting how the two meet in the first place.  Good background.

Becky, like Marla sais, go to your Friends page in th eblue bar at the top you'll see Mark and then Actions  Delete  PM.  You click on the people you want to send the message to and then click PM.

Finished Cotterill's Love Songs from a Shallow Grave...man that one had me on the edge of my seat...wasn't sure how Dr. Siri was going to get out of this one. One more to go of his and I am all caught up with Dr. Siri. I haz a sad. :-(

Keri - after Slash and Burn, he has another one coming up - The Woman Who Wouldn't Die. So, this series isn't over yet!

Right Jeanne, but I don't have it in hand burning a hole in my pocket. :-)

I started reading my second Andy Carpenter book by David Rosenfelt - title New Tricks. I'm only up to about page 40 and I'm laughing out loud at almost every other line. In spite of the humor, the mysteries seem to be great - what a combination. Why haven't I discovered this author and this series sooner?????

Read No Corners for the Devil/Olive Etchells last night.  The first in her DCI Channon series.  I guess it is a Brit village police procedural.  Not grim and bloody like other Brit PP (MacBride, Robotham, McCrery, Mina, etc.), but definitely not a cozy village mystery.  I liked it and will look for the others.

Since it is a new month, will start on the next round of the various series I have going.  First up willl be the next Karin Slaughter!  Stopped at the library today on a whim and, naturally, came out with six books!!  A low number for me...usually it's 12-15!!  I was in a hurry!

Becky...Of course you have to keep "talking" to us!  Otherwise, I will have to bother you with a PM to find out what is happening!!!!