I also took Deb’s older book, NOW MAY YOU WEEP because it too was set in Scotland. As it turned out, the tour was so busy that I didn't do as much reading as I'd expected. So I'm enjoying Gemma's journey to Scotland now.
And as always, I love finding great foodie books. I recommend two memoirs, one by food writer and novelist Ann Hood, KITCHEN YARNS, and SAVE ME THE PLUMS, Ruth Reichl’s newest memoir about her time at the helm of Gourmet magazine.
DEBORAH CROMBIE: I've got Ruth Reichl's SAVE ME THE PLUMS, too, Lucy, and so far I'm really enjoying it. Also, I treated myself to the new Kate Atkinson, Jackson Brodie novel, BIG SKY, so I'm sort of switching back and forth between these two. I've just finished the first two books by British writer Roz Watkins, which I highly recommend. The first, THE DEVIL'S DICE, was short-listed for the Gold Dagger in the UK. The second is DEAD MAN'S DAUGHTER. They are set in the Peak District and the protagonist is a female DI named Meg Dalton. Fans of Vera and Elly Griffith's Ruth Galloway will love these.
And, one of my big summer projects is rereading quite a few of my own books. In the Kincaid/James WIP, I'll be dealing with some characters and situations from earlier books, and I need to get in the zone!
JENN McKINLAY: I've been on a women's fiction bender since I'll be rolling into that genre next summer with the book that has yet to be named (you can picture my agonized face here). There is some fantastic writing happening in female centric fiction these days. Notably, I enjoyed Sonali Dev's Pride, Prejudice, and Other Flavors, multicultural and a gender twist on Austen, and debut author Evie Dunmore's Bringing Down the Duke, a historical about suffragettes that is so smart and fun. On audio, I've been listening to Everything Is F*cked by Mark Manson. I'm not sure how I feel about it yet, other than it is fascinating and he has a nice reading voice. We need to do a few hundred more miles on the treadmill together.
RHYS BOWEN: I’m writing this from a river boat in Europe so I haven’t had too much time for reading lately. However I also read Debs’ A Bitter Feast and thought it was one of her best with such a feel for the Cotswolds and lots of lovely food. I’ve been in Venice so on a Donna Leon binge and currently re-reading Rebecca as it will come into my next Georgie book.
What about you? What have you read and loved, and what are you looking forward to?
What have I read lately? Three books I particularly enjoyed were Hank’s THE MURDER LIST, Kim Michele Richardon’s THE BOOK WOMAN OF TROUBLESOME CREEK, and Cathy Cash Spellman’s A MURDER ON JANE STREET. Right now, I am reading by THE PASSENGERS John Marrs . . . .
ReplyDeletegreat list, thanks Joan!
DeleteYAY! Thank you! SO lovely of you..so excited about THE MURDER LIST--and Joan, you are such good pal. You got the free sneak peek excerpt, right? xoxoo. (Everyone else? Here's the link: https://www.amazon.com/Murder-List-Sneak-Peek-ebook/dp/B07S8K7C5L
DeleteI love that there's a sneak peek, Hank, but I read an ARC of your definitely-unputdownable book . . . .
DeleteI was lucky enough to score an ARC of A Bitter Feast, too, and adored it. Thanks, Debs! I'm reading Sheila Connolly's new Museum mystery, Digging up History, now, and will be picking up Barb Ross and Liz Mugavero's latests this afternoon: Mrs. Darrowfield, Professional Busybody, and Tell Tail Heart. You can hear all about them (plus my latest) right here tomorrow. ;^)
ReplyDeleteOMG, I'm so far behind! Looking forward to hearing all about your new books tomorrow!
DeleteI'm reading Girl Most Likely by Max Allan Collins. It's the first in a new series featuring a female police chief. I picked that up at the library. I haven't quite gotten into the story as yet though.
ReplyDeleteAs for what's waiting, I have four new ARCs to read and potentially review: The Bitterroots by C.J. Box, Twisted at the Root by Ellen Hart, One Good Deed by David Baldacci and The Perfect Son by Lauren North.
I'm also looking forward to Hank's "The Murder List", The Shameless by Ace Atkins and The New Girl by Daniel Silva.
You have a wonderful stack to look forward to Jay!
DeleteI somehow managed to forget mentioning the Maddie Day novel Strangled Eggs and Ham!
Deletehurray! Love that, Jay...thank you!
DeleteSummer time is beach time for me and that means lots of reading. In June, I was in a thriller mood, so I zipped through the latest by Ruth Ware and Lori Rader-Day. Tomorrow, I am leaving for Jersey for the 4th, and I am in a Deep South mood so I'm packing Where the Crawdads Sing and Bring Your Daughter Home.
ReplyDeleteBut, my #1 most beloved recent read is The Seven or Eights Deaths of Stella Fortuna by Juliet Grames. So, so good, and beautifully written. And Juliet is a hoot--met her at Crime Bake a few years ago!
Oops--it's Call Your Daughter Home by Deb Spera.
DeleteWhat I'm looking forward to reading: the new Chet and Bernie, HEART OF BARKNESS, will finally be here tomorrow. Then THE MURDER LIST of course, Louise Penny's A BETTER MAN, and the latest Tahoe book by Todd Borg, TAHOE DEEP. Plus I can't wait to read a ton of other new books I have on my list.
ReplyDeleteSo wonderful! Thank you! Xxx so excited about THE MURDER LIST! X
DeleteI just finished The Satapur Moonstone by Sujata Massey and really enjoyed it. I'm now reading The Department of Sensitive Crimes, which Alexander McCall Smith describes as "Swedish Blanc". It's accurate as I can't imagine him writing Swedish Noir! It's a fun, light book but doesn't compare to the #1 Ladies Detective Series. Next up, which I've already jumped ahead and stated, is The Stone Circle by Elly Griffiths. Loving it so far!
ReplyDeleteLucy, I have to thank you for your recommendation of Laura Lee Smith's The Ice House. I adored it. Such great characters!
So glad you enjoyed that one Mary! I don't think it's as well known as it should be. I have Sujata's book on my towering pile...
DeleteI need to read Satapur Moonstone, too!
DeleteYes, I have Sujata's book on my pile, too!
DeleteRhys, it's interesting that you mentioned Rebecca. I recently read Jamaica Inn, and then researched other books by Daphne du Maurier. She was a prolific writer! I had no idea she had written so many books, and not all in the gothic/thriller/psychological/whatever Rebecca was, either. I had no idea.
ReplyDeleteJess Lourey's May Day is now the first book in a 10-volume bundle, and I recently read all of them in a binge. Which was fun, watching how her Jess's craft improved, as well as the characters developed over time.
Last night I stayed up way too late, something I haven't done in a long time, finishing Crazy Rich Asians. I bought the trilogy for my Nook, so have the next two to read.
Before this, though, I read The Book of Salt, by Monica Truong. Which I'd love to discuss with someone. It's written in a challenging style, popping forward and back in time, and without much dialogue other than the internal one going on with the main character and narrator. Really different, and not a mystery, except in the sense that Rhys says all fiction is mystery.
I own the Book of Salt, Karen, but I can't think when I'll get to it. Save your thoughts!
DeleteI read The Book of Salt when it was first published. It was amazing and a great read. Maybe I need to resurrect it to read again.
DeleteThere are so many fascinating facets to that novel, but it was not a fast read. The narrative makes you work.
DeleteJRW's book discussion "Book of Salt"????
DeleteJust finished Krueger's Desolation Mountain and re-read Iron Lake to admire his 14 year character arc. Great suggestions!
ReplyDeleteI think he has a new one coming in September right? It would be interesting to reread Iron Lake. Also a good topic for another day--how much characters change in a long series, and how much of that change the writers really planned!
DeleteWaiting for "A Bitter Feast", I just finished rereading "Where Memories Lie" because it was the first Deborah Crombie I read years ago and the one that brought me to read all the series.
ReplyDeleteI recently discovered Catherine McKenzie with "The Good Liar" and proceeded to read her other books.
Looking forward Louise Penny's "A Better Man" and for the Reds' releases. And after tomorrow post, it seems that I'll have a new Edith Maxwell to read too.
Thanks! It's my (as Maddie Day) sixth Country Store mystery. ;^)
DeleteI've been reading a lot lately even for me, and have been enjoying many good books, but not many that have stood out as extraordinary. Well, I did consider Andrew Sean Greer's LESS truly a cut above, but I gather most other readers found and enjoyed it when it came out in 2017. (I don't know how I missed it back then!) The two books I am eagerly anticipating are Deb's A BITTER FEAST and Louise Penny's A BETTER MAN.
ReplyDeleteThank you for doing this feature. While I love you all and generally enjoy the dialogue every day, I particularly value these opportunities to see what other Reds and their readers are recommending. I have stumbled across many wonderful titles this way!
Yes I am late to LESS too! But still enjoying it…
DeleteWasn't LESS more!
DeleteSusan, one of my favorite features here is seeing what everyone's read and reading, too.
DeleteI'm at the tail end of my yearly read-through of Harry Potter (just picked up book 7 last night). After that, Lou Berney's NOVEMBER ROAD is calling my name.
ReplyDeleteI would adore to read through Harry Potter. Sadly, too many books, not enough time. Although I did reread Deb Harkness's All Soul's trilogy right after I turned in the manuscript for A BITTER FEAST. That was such a treat.
DeleteMy reading habits don’t change during the summer, except that I read even more of the same on vacation. My vacation will be late this summer. I know I won’t run out of things to read! Before I had to start taking the train for part of my trip, I used to take an extra suitcase filled with nothing but books. Now I have my Kindle, and I also pack a couple of print books, and leave room for the books I expect to buy at local bookstores.
ReplyDeleteOn Saturday I returned books to the library, and vowed not to borrow any again until I get caught up on print and Kindle books. (I left the library with two books. So much for the vow!)
For the past couple of months I have been binge-reading Jenn McKinlay’s Hatshop Mysteries (caught up!) and am halfway through the Cupcake mysteries!
I don’t have time to list the books in my TBR pile! I’ve decided to add some of the books mentioned here today!
Off to read!
DebRo
I've been fortunate enough to read CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR, and Hallie's done it again! Then THE BITTER FEAST, and Deb's done it again! And then THE MURDER LIST, and Hank's done it again. That's a triple bagger for the Reds!
ReplyDeleteMy current read is HUNTING CHARLES MANSON by Lis Wiehl. Wow.
June books include:
MIRACLE CREEK by Angie Kim.
THROW ME TO THE WOLVES by Patrick McGuiness (outstanding)
BEYOND ALL REASONABLE DOUBT by Malin Persson Giolito
CONVICTION by Denise Mina
ASK AGAIN, YES by Mary Beth Keane
These are just the new ones. I've also been dipping into my library, doing some rereading, both for pleasure and for saving a few pennies. My mind is such a sieve that I rarely remember whodunit anyway.
Happy Canada Day today to my Canadian friends, and happy Jth of 4ly to the rest of us.
Next on the list is the new Jackson Brodie, which I've been saving so Julie could read it first, but she is deep into one of Catriona's stand alones, so tonight's the night for Kate Atkinson.
I'm enjoying it the Kate Atkinson so far, Ann.
DeleteI really like Jackson Brodie.
DeleteOh where to begin with my reading update. So many books, but like Hank, many of them are ARCs that are not yet available. Because I hate to tease you all, I'll start with a few books that are currently available:
ReplyDeleteNEVER LOOK BACK by Alison Gaylin
STONE COLD HEART by Caz Frear (you all read the amazing SWEET LITTLE LIES right?
A NEARLY NORMAL FAMILY by M. T. Edvardsson
TEMPER by Layne Fargo
GONE TOO LONG by Lori Roy
And just a few for later this summer. Don't miss:
THE CHAIN by Adrain McKinty
GOOD GIRL, BAD GIRL by Michael Robotham
NEVER HAVE I EVER by Joshilyn Jackson
THE BIRTHDAY GIRL by Melissa de la Cruz
THIRTEEN by Steven Cavenaugh
I have Never have I ever in my TBR pile along wtCarol Goodman’s ... also Laura lippman’s Sunburn
ReplyDeleteI get my ideas for new books from you all right now. I had not read Deb's books before this year and was plowing through them at an alarming rate. Because I didn't want to come to the end of the line and have to wait for the next one, I put in the brakes and am now reading Sally Goldenbaum's A Patchwork of Clues. After my family leaves, I'm off to purchase Kingdom of the Blind and then I'll wander the store for titles and authors you all have been talking about. I get into a rut and read the same authors but reading this blog is giving me more titles and authors to search for and enjoy. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteRight now I'm finishing Jennifer Weiner's Mrs. Everything for the Barnes & Noble Book Club and trying to guess what their next book will be. I also enjoyed The Night Visitors, Miracle Creek, Save Me the Plums, The Stranger Diaries, and The Satapur Moonstone. Other particular favorites include: Matt Goldman's PI series--Lesa Holstine introduced me to them and I have devoured the first two, Gone to Dust and Broken Ice, before tackling the newest, The Shallows; Moloka'i by Alan Brennert--this is an old one but I'm just catching up; Murder in the Reading Room by Ellery Adams; The Summer Cottage by Viola Shipman; Nanaville by Anna Quindlen; Chronicles of a Radical Hag by Lorna Landvik; Finding Dorothy by Elizabeth Letts; and Bluff by Jane Stanton Hitchcock (to name a few!).
ReplyDeleteI'm really looking forward to reading an ARC of Hank's The Murder List when it arrives--I recently won it from Hank! Other "can't waits" include the newest by Meg Mitchell Moore, Louise Penny, Rhys Bowen, Jenny Colgan, Jean Kwok, David Rosenfelt, Spencer Quinn, Fiona Davis, Joshilyn Jackson, Hallie Ephron, and some debuts. I could go on and on . . . but that's the thrill of it!
Let me know when it arrives!! xoxooo
DeleteI highly recommend JANE DARROWFIELD, PROFESSIONAL BUSYBODY by Barbara Ross. It's the first in a new series and currently a Barnes & Nobel exclusive. So much fun. I've also recently enjoyed STRANGLED EGGS AND HAM by Maddie Day, aka Edith Maxwell.
ReplyDeleteComing up? I've got RISKY BISCUITS by Mary Lee Ashford and THE PAWFUL TRUTH by Miranda James. In August, I'm looking forward to Rhy's next book, LOVE AND DEATH AMONG THE CHEETAHS.
I'm on the road in Syracuse and missed this! My reading for the past couple weeks has been all things Michael Koryta - I'm interviewing him in Portland on the 5th, and I've been catching up with his work since his spectacular debut back in '06.
ReplyDeleteHe does TERRIFIC thrillers; I can highly commend them to you all. Super suspenseful but not so gory that it makes me flinch, and his characters are wonderful.
He is one of my favorite authors of all time. LUCKY YOU!!
DeleteJulia, I bought his new one, If She Wakes, while I was out of town. I'm looking forward to reading it. It will be my first one by him.
DeleteI love these posts! So many great ideas for books. None of us ever have to worry about running out of things to read, thank goodness. And thanks everyone for all the nice comments on A BITTER FEAST! So excited!
ReplyDeleteI just finished The Great Good Thing by Andrew Klavan, it's an autobiography and I can't stop thinking about it. Reading Tiny Hot Dogs by Mary Giuliani now - it's a quick read and would be good beach material
ReplyDeleteTrying to vary my reading. I just finished The Tenth Muse, which I loved.I also enjoyed the new Ruth Galloway, The Stone Circle. The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek was fascinating.
ReplyDeleteRhys: "...currently re-reading Rebecca as it will come into my next Georgie book."
ReplyDeleteOh oh oh! What excellent joy THAT will bring.
Just finished gobbling up Flynn Berry's A Double Life, based on the Lord Lucan case.
ReplyDeleteWaiting in the wings: Big Sky, Quintland Sisters and Ursula K LeGuin`s No Time to Spare. Decisions decisions.
Susan, I gave my daughter Quintland Sisters and plan on reading it, too. I'd love to hear if you like it or not.
DeleteMark- I just picked up JANE DARROWFIELD, PROFESSIONAL BUSYBODY. Delighted to hear you enjoyed it! I love Barbara's books - excited for this new one!
ReplyDeleteI’m finishing up all the Ruth Galloway books by Elly Griffiths and am thinking about buying her new standalone novel The Stranger Diaries. I’m switching between those and Katherine Howe’s The Daughters of Temperance Hobbs, of course, I have to refresh my memory by flipping through The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane. I’m waiting impatiently for A Bitter Feast by Deborah Crombie. I’m also rereading Time’s Convert by Deborah Harkness. Appropriate since the 4th of July is this week.
ReplyDeleteTeri, I'm so happy that you have read Elly Griffiths' Ruth Galloway series. I promote it every chance I get. I hope you do read The Stranger Diaries. It's such an amazing book. I also enjoy her Magic Men or otherwise named Stephens and Mephisto series, too. Set in the 1950s, it's got some great historical aspects to it. Oh, and I need to get back to Katherine Howe, too, and I don't know why I haven't gotten to Time's Convert yet. You've been doing some great reading!
DeleteLate to the party, as per usual. Ah well. I love the Ruth Galloway series! And I'm well into the audio version of The Blood Card, which is in the Magic Men series. Definitely check these out--I love the historical aspect of them. And the narrator, James Langton, is just perfect for the series. Such fun! - Melanie
DeleteMelanie, I'll have to try one in audio.
DeleteAnd now for June: ARC reads: Strangled Eggs & Ham + Judge Thee Not,(really really good) by Edith, Fiddling with Fate Kathryn Ernst, Dancing with the Lion: Becoming Jeanne Reames, The Two Lila Bennetts, Liz Felton and Lisa Steinke (really good)Recursion Blake Crouch. I am rereading A bitter Feast prior to reviewing. so good.
ReplyDeleteAlso just read, Chai Another Day, Budewitz, If looks could kill, all the Noodle Shop mysteries, & I finally found book 1 of the Ella Clah series (so happy). Finally Reading All the light we cannot see as if it were a treasured meal, savoring tiny bites of it at a time.
Coralee, I have to add Strangled Eggs & Ham, too. I just received a copy from Edith in the mail today. My mother's recipe for Jam Cake and Carmel Icing is in the back of the book, and Edith so sweetly mentioned that it was from me. I'm going to be buying multiple copies of it, too, to send to family.
DeleteMy reading is so far behind, but I'm trying not to stress about it. June was busy with me out of town for a wonderful visit to my hometown, but I have managed to get in some amazing catch-up books. First, I found Lisa Jewel back the end of December with her spectacular book Watching You, so I fit in another of her older books, Then She Was Gone, and I loved it, too. The next two books I'm especially happy to have fit in, The Detective's Daughter by Lesley Thomson and Gallows Court by Martin Edwards (finishing Martin's now). All three of these authors are British, not unusual for me. I met Lesley at Bouchercon last year. She traveled over the pond with my great friend and favorite author Elly Griffiths/Domenica de Rosa, and I fell head over heels for her. She's so funny and warm. She sent me a copy of her latest book, out in June, The Playground Murders, the seventh in her Detective's Daughter series, but I wanted to start at the beginning and so read The Detective's Daughter, #1, first. It was an amazing read, and I can't wait to fit in the rest of the books. The third book, which I'm finishing up today, is Martin Edward's Gallows Court, out last September. I feel so guilty about not reading it sooner. Martin and I had a great time walking around St. Pete last September, and he is yet another Brit I'm in love with. He and Lesley both publish with Head of Zeus, too. Gallows Court is set in the 1930s in London, and seeing as how Martin is the King of Golden Age Mystery, he has nailed it with this thrilling story.
ReplyDeleteNow, back to this side of the pond, July is my month for the Jungle Reds. I will be reading the ARCs of the books coming out in August. I have been looking forward to this month of reading for some time because I know every book I read will be a favorite read. First up will be Hallie's Careful What You Wish For. I'm all a tingle with anticipation for it. Then, The Murder List by Hank will at last be in my greedy little hands who have been wanting it there for quite a while. And, I'm going to go ahead and let myself read Debs' The Bitter Feast, even though it's not out until October. I simply can't wait any longer for Duncan and Gemma. Also, I have an ARC for The Hidden Things by Jamie Mason that comes out in August. I wonder if Kate Atkinson's Big Sky can be included in my July reading, too. I do miss Jackson Brodie.
And, oh, Hank. Carol Goodman is a new love of mine, too. I loved The Night Visitors and was able to fit in River Road, too. Lucy, the Outlander books are some of my favorite ever books. And, now I have to check out Roz Watkins due to you comparing her to Elly Griffiths, Debs. Lord have mercy, another Brit to love.
Summer by the Tides Denise Hunter, The Sometimes Sisters Carolyn Brown, The Cliff House RaeAnne Thayne, Yesterday's Tears Sam Cheever and City of Girls Elizabeth Gilbert are books I just read. Donakutska7@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteMany wonderful book recommendations! I am writing a list of books from your recommendations. Yes, I read Outlander, though I did not finish the series.
ReplyDeleteWhile I am waiting for Deborah Crombie's new book, I plan to reread the Gemma and Duncan series.
Rhys, I loved the Donna Leon series. I think I read them all!
What am I reading this summer? I just finished a reread of Elegy for Eddie by Jacqueline Winspear. I am doing a buddy read of Anne of the Island (Anne of Green Gables #3) with an Anne Read A Long on bookstagram. I plan to read Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie for #ayearwithagathachristie readalong on Instagram. I am currently reading the #1 and #2 Singapore in the 1930s series by Ovidia Yu. I met her at Left Coast Crime. I just finished all of the Max Tudor books by G.M. Malliet. I requested Death on the Menu by Lucy Burdette from my library. I am going to try to read something related to the 4th of July like a novel about Eliza Hamilton. In August, I plan to read Rhys Bowen's new Lady Georgie novel.
I would like to try to continue my reread of the Harry Potter series this summer. I have so many books on my #unread shelves from the Left Coast Crime conference. I finally finished the novel by Dianne Freeman. And I read an ARC of Bodies in the Library by Marty Wingate.
Among the library books that I read was the novel Spies of Shilling Lane by Jennifer Ryan. Because I do not always find the books I want from bookstores or used bookstores, I requested so many books from my library.
Diana
And I am reserving Hank's book for Halloween reading.
ReplyDeleteAnd I have an ARC of Ann Cleeves' new book at NetGalley so I plan to read it before posting my review.
ReplyDeleteDiana
I'm so envious. But holding out for a paper copy to have her sign at Crimebake!
DeleteLucy, I was really lucky! I saw Marty at Left Coast Crime and we talked about books. I asked her if she could send me an ARC and she said yes :-) . My ARC is a paperback.
DeleteI'm currently reading The Dry by Jane Harper for a book discussion. I just finished Jenn's Better Late Than Never. For fun, I read Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston - such a delight! And I'm waiting for The Murder List.
ReplyDeleteI'm off topic here. The Kealoha criminal trial in Hawaii has wrapped up. Mr. is former chief of police. Mrs. a high ranking state prosecutor. Need more book ideas? Look to this ridiculous set of crimes. I can hardly believe it myself. Missing mailbox; weeping grandmother; a special in-house police squad; matching outfits as they enter court each day! Groan. & there are at least 2 more cases to come.
ReplyDelete