June 2024 - What are you reading?

New thread for the new month

Finishing up The Last Party by Claire Macintosh. A bit prolonged, but fun. The "everyone loved the victim in public, but hated him in private" thing is very Agatha Christie so there are a lot of suspects and a victim we are happy is in the ground.

Not much at all. Had a rough month in May and it is continuing to be rough through June. The last book I actually finished was Homeland. Maybe I’ll try My Father's Brain which seems to be getting a bit of attention. I gave up on A Place of Greater Safety as it was too hard to follow in audio. The Art Thief is ok but I can’t seem to get engrossed.

Described as a literary thriller on the book jacket, so think this book fits into this category. I really enjoyed How a Woman Becomes a Lake by Marjorie Celona. Original, lovely writing, and great character depiction.

I finished Knots and Crosses by Ian Rankin where we are introduced to DI Rebus. There is a fun introduction by Rankin where he assesses his own work and shakes his head at some of the vocabulary and exaggerated passages. Apparently he had even contemplated killing Rebus - and where would we be today? A short and entertaining read.

>5 Cecilturtle: Killing Rebus?! Poor John Hannah, where would he be now?!

Just finished Lisa Scottoline's The truth about the Devlins. Fairly well written, as LS knows what's she's doing. About a white family of lawyers who encounter some troubles and how they handle said troubles. I have mixed feelings about the characters' motivations for behaving badly, but I won't go into details because spoilers. Alcoholic protagonist in recovery, which gets at least some things right (IANAA but I know a tiny bit about AA/12-step programs).

>5 Cecilturtle: That would be a fun introduction to read!

Currently reading Menace in Malmö, by Torquil MacLeod. This is the fifth book in the Anita Sundström series but the first one I've read.

I’ve finished The Madwomen of Paris by Jennifer Cody Epstein. I found the author’s version of the historical events regarding the torture and experiments on French women. Renouned characters in early neuroscience are featured particularly, Dr Jean-Martin Charcot.

I also finished The Bitter Past by Bruce Burgos. He has a follow up book Shades of Mercy due July 16, 2024.

I’m currently reading:
Love, Just In
The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels
The Other Lola

I finished The Cat Who Wasn't There by Lilian Jackson Braun. It was fun reuniting with the familiar cast of characters. Koko, however, is getting preternaturally smart... even my willing suspended disbelief was challenged.

Working towards the end of The Hunter by Tana French, which takes place on and near a mountain in Ireland. Most of the characters are locals, with one recent transplant being a retired cop from Chicago. Characters of various generations, too, which I appreciate.

Have just begun reading West Heart Kill by Dann McDorman. This is outstanding!