What we thought: The Good Girl by Mary Kubica

Mystery Readers Book Blog May 2016

The Good Girl by Mary Kubica

“I know how betrayal and disillusionment feel, when someone who could give you the world refuses even a tiny piece of it.”  Mary Kubica

An unexpected turn of events in a kidnapping thwarts the plans of criminals and victim alike and leads to this twisted tale for readers of Mary Kubica’s first novel. All is not as it seems to be and readers switch sympathies and alliances back and forth as characters change from good to bad and back again. This mystery is truly a puzzle and when the big reveal comes at the end of the book there are more questions than answers. Readers had a difficult time predicting where the story was going with characters emotional involvement and motives. Different perspectives of the characters jumping back and forth in time demanded the reader’s attention.

Mia Dennett’s relationship with her parents and sister influenced her actions in unpredictable ways. Is Mia the good girl she appears to be?  Were Mia’s feelings about her father deserved? Did her mother really take her sister’s side against her? What about the Stockholm syndrome that Mia suffers from? Does her kidnapper Colin have it in reverse? Readers were unsure if they wanted to find out more about Mia and her story.

Have you read the Good Girl? What did you think? Please share your thoughts in comments.

What we thought; Back of Beyond by C.J. Box

Mystery Readers Book Club April 2016

Back of Beyond by C.J. Box

“I know you were a hot shot detective in Colorado and I also know your rep as a drunk and a screw up. I’ve heard about some of the things you used to do when you grew up here, and your crazy homicidal white-trash family. I’ve personally arrested two of your uncles and I sent one to Deer Lodge Prison.” Larry Olsen to Cody Hoyt

Author C.J. Box is a Wyoming native and his experience in the outdoors, ranching and the tourism industry adds realistic touches to the story. Readers agreed that this was a great story and first class mystery that kept them guessing until the very end. Although some of the characters were likeable, readers did say that they felt there were too many secondary characters to identify with. Gracie, the youngest was by far their favorite. 

Readers cut a lot of slack for Cody Hoyt, detective and Justin’s father. They made allowances for his relapses and police procedural short cuts. Bull Mitchell, retired wilderness horseback trail riding outfitter was another favorite. His gruff exterior was counter balanced by tenderness for his ailing wife and his storytelling prowess in the children’s room of the local library. The Original Adventures of Hank the Cowdog told the terrible news, “There’s been a murder on the ranch.” 

Some said the beginning of the book was slow and were glad when the trail ride began and the plot picked up speed. There was plenty of murder and mayhem and the details graphic but short enough to satisfy experienced mystery readers. Previous book club selections were compared to this one and all of them were judged excellent.

Have you read Back of Beyond?  What did you think? Please share your thoughts in the comments.

What we thought; TripTych by Karen Slaughter

Mystery Readers Book Club March 2016

TripTych by Karen Slaughter

“Will had found out the hard way that it’s nearly impossible to go to sleep with a flatulent Chihuahua sharing your pillow.” Special Agent Will Trent, Criminal Apprehension Team

This was one of the few lighter moments in the book. Readers agreed that Slaughter’s book (her real name) was an excellent story with all the elements of compelling mystery writing. The discussion focused on the twists and turns the character driven story led them. Her skillful character descriptions surprised readers with sympathetic identification with first one character and then a turn of events to change opinions. The author used different voices to tell the story and impressed readers with how the author set up the plot with early and complicated clues.

Some readers said that the theme of the book was the enduring love of a mother for her child and her protection and support for them. Others thought that jealousy and psychopathology was a driving force for certain characters. Readers also discussed issues of drug addiction, family relationships, morality and unlikely friendships. The significance of the title TripTych was discussed and readers had different opinions. There was a religious aspect, a decorative aspect and the representation of the layered descriptions of characters and plot. There was also romance but not enough to detract from the gritty details of police work. 

 

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

What We Thought: Wicked Appetite by Janet Evanovich

Wicked Appetite

Janet Evanovich

Mystery Readers

February 2016

Readers said that Evanovich’s book was a light read but an enjoyable change from more serious mystery selections. They loved the humor throughout the book as well as the quirks of all the characters even the devious ones and decided to categorize Wicked Appetite as a lite cozy paranormal mystery.

The eccentricities of the relatives who inherited the stones of power generated a lot of discussion. There was a great deal of activity in the story and some readers had a hard time keeping up with the action but did enjoy it and are looking forward to reading the other books in the Unmentionabe Series; Wicked Business and Wicked Charms. Setting the story in Marblehead and Salem was a plus for many. Lizzy’s talent for baking the most delicious cupcakes and a mischievous monkey kept readers interested in the story. They had quite a time figuring out the relationship between Lizzy and her “friend” Diesel. They decided that more will be revealed in following books. A lively discussion ensured about the differences in the authors books and how she writes under other names. Readers were familiar with her Stephanie Plum series and compared it to Lizzy and Diesel. They also liked her J.D. Robb books.

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

What we thought: The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith

Mystery Readers Book Blog

January, 2016

“Women are the ones who know what’s going on,’ she said quietly. ‘They are the ones with eyes. Have you not heard of Agatha Christie?”  Mma Ramotswe

McCall Smith’s first in a series of sixteen books is a delightful and heartwarming introduction to the charming lady detective, Mma Precious Ramotswe. Readers thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and were interested in the easy going society of Botswana compared to fast pace of life in the United States. Everyone had positive things to say about Mma Ramotswe’s intuitive nature and the unconventional ways she interacted with everyone in order to solve her cases. She was fearless, determined and creative in her investigations. 

Members spent a lot of time discussing the character of the lady detective and how the circumstances of her life affected her. The discussion was low key and reflected the pace of the novel which seemed more like a series of short stories rather than one long involved story. No one had a problem with this. It gave them the opportunity for detailed discussions.

Readers related personal and local incidents inspired by the book. Although no one had visited Africa readers talked about people they knew who had been there. There was also a discussion about the government and economy of Botswana. It was decided that Mma Ramostwe’s home was a pretty nice place. A cup of bush tea would have been a nice compliment to the discussion about Botswana. Readers appreciated the non-violent tone of the book and pronounced it a perfect summer read. 

Have you read The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency?  What did you think? Please share your thoughts in comments.