What we thought: Fool Me Once by Harlan Coben

                                                                    

Mystery Readers Book Club 

October 2016                                             

Fool Me Once by Harlan Coben 

“You think you know the truth. The truth is you know nothing.”   Harlan Coben,

Mystery Book Club readers all agreed that this book was a good read as well as a satisfying mystery. Most of them were first time readers of a Coben novel and said they wanted to read more books by this author. All said they were totally surprised by the ending and remarked that it was the first time a main character ended up the way she did. The ending was sad but later on there was a happy ending.

Readers said that Maya Stern, a former special-ops helicopter pilot was a likeable character despite major flaws. She was a good mother and great friend and worked hard to solve the murder of her sister and husband while coping with the devasting effects of post-traumatic stress disorder. Readers worked along with Maya to solve the mystery, come to terms with secrets in her past and find justice for everyone. They liked the relationship between Maya and her ex-military buddy, Shane. They were loyal and strongly protective of each other.

Once again readers discussed Fool Me Once and Agatha Christie’s classic mystery structure: a murder is committed, there are multiple suspects who are all concealing secrets, and the detective gradually uncovers these secrets over the course of the story, discovering the most shocking twists towards the end.  They did say that thinking back after the fact that there were clues, but the plot was so engaging that they kept on reading without guessing what direction the action was leading them.

The emphasis on Maya’s military career and her P.T.S.D. elicited a conversation about women’s place in war and combat roles. The discussion about the fitness of women and their metal state was positive and compared them to that of women in the Israeli military.

Readers recommended mystery books by Donna Leon and Dick Francis which can be borrowed from the SAILS Library Network.

“The provocative question at the heart of the mystery: Can you believe everything you see with your own eyes, even when you desperately want to?”  Fool Me Once, book cover.

Have you read Fool Me Once?  What did you think?

Please share your thoughts in comments.

What we thought: Along Came a Spider by James Patterson

Mystery Readers Book Club

September 2016                                                       Along Came a Spider by James Patterson 

“They come in all shapes and sizes, all races and creeds and genders. That’s the scariest thing of all.”  James Patterson, Along Came a Spider.

 Mystery Book Club readers are all devoted fans of James Patterson and most enthusiastically read the September selection a second time. Most of them have read all of Patterson’s books and eagerly await availability of his latest books. They said they like all of his novels even the books that are collaborations with other authors and those that are published under his name but written by different authors because they are written in the same style with short chapters. Even though the book was quite long readers said they found the book engaging and easily read it to the end and were satisfied with the conclusion. Readers liked the Alex Cross Series and wondered what the last one in this series would bring.

Readers commented on the titles of the first few books in the Alex Cross series which are lines from popular kids nursery rhymes. At some point, however, he started giving the book titles names based on the main character of the series, Alex Cross. After Mary, Mary, the next book, Cross, is the first that adopts the new title style. From then on every single new novel has his name somewhere within the title.

Patterson has a great following and his books consistently are best sellers. The books are easy to read and very entertaining with great characters. Readers compared Along Came a Spider to those written by Agatha Christie and her classic mystery structure: a murder is committed, there are multiple suspects who are all concealing secrets, and the detective gradually uncovers these secrets over the course of the story, discovering the most shocking twists towards the end. Patterson brings the plot to a certain point and then changes from one red herring to another keeping readers guessing and focused on the story.

Readers discussed the character Gary Soneji and why he became a serial killer. Some were not convinced that he suffered from multiple personality disorder. They also said that Soneji appears in another of Patterson’s books, perhaps as Alex Cross’s nemesis. Other favorite characters in addition to Alex Cross were his Nana Mama and his very well behaved children Janelle and Damon. They liked his girlfriend Jezzy Flanagan until they didn’t.

The consensus was that even though the book was written from the 1990’s point of view it was still relevant. There were questions about his treatment of race relations with police and inter-racial relationships but it was decided he was true to that time period. The discussion ended with a request for reader’s favorite mystery book for the October Book Club.

“Maybe you’ll learn something about life beyond Batman.”  James Patterson, Along Came a Spider.                                                                                                                         

Have you read Along Came a Spider?  What did you think?

Please share your thoughts in comments.

What we thought: Flawless by Heather Graham

Mystery Readers Book Club August 2016                        Flawless by Heather Graham 

 “I want to be able to fly like a superhero. I won’t be happy until I can fly across oceans and cities, saving people from being murdered.” Heather Graham 

The discussion focused on the characters and how they fit into the story. Readers were not convinced about the instant attraction between Kieran Finnegan who shares ownership of a family pub and Craig Frasier the FBI agent assigned to solve a case of diamond robbery and murder. They said the romance was too quick and were surprised that they acted on it after only a week. Some said that they both had secrets that they did not reveal to each other and maybe that was part of the attraction. Also it seemed unrealistic that all of the characters were connected to this one pub, Finnegan’s in New York City.

Some readers didn’t consider this a true mystery because the author more or less followed along with a story about the pub and the people connected to it. There was a puzzle to be solved but it wasn’t very compelling and they were confused about how New Jersey fit into the story. The suspense was minimal but all agreed that the book was a page turner and that the characters were likeable, except the bad guys of course. 

 

Halifax readers revealed themselves as prolific and sophisticated fans of mystery as they turned their attention to their own preferred authors. James Patterson was the favorite. Lindsay Boxer, Cindy Thomas, Claire Washburn and Jill Bernhardt, the stars of 1st to Die and 2nd Chance, are the founding members of The Women's Murder Club. Later, in The 4th of July, Yuki Castellano joins the Club. Together, they solve crimes in their home city of San Francisco, and often meet up to talk about clues and life over Mexican food and drinks at Susie's. The latest Women's Murder Club novel, 15th Affair, is on sale now! 

They liked Tami Hoag’s, Deeper than the Dead, a previous club selection and one reader suggested a vampire mystery series by J.R. Ward, Dark Lover: The First Novel of the Black Dagger Brotherhood. David Baldacci’s, The Camel Club series was recommended along with the alphabet series by Sue Grafton who was named a Grand Master by the Mystery Writers of America (2009). Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series was popular beginning with her first book, One for the Money and others with numbers in the titles and Rita Mae Brown’s MRS. MURPHY Series: Deep South Cozy mysteries with talking pets (Sneaky Pie).

Have you read Flawless? What did you think? Please share your thoughts in comments.