“You’re really going out on a limb here, aren’t you?” she asked.
He shook his head and gazed balefully at the clippings. “This case has never made any sense, and we’ve never had any real leads, Something about it just … stuck in my craw, as they say.”
“Who says that?”
“My late wife’s family, in North Carolina. They have a wide selection of colorful expressions in circulation out there.” He used his index finger to move a few of the paper scraps around. “Consensus is that the murders were part of an interrupted robbery … but that explanation never felt right. This isn’t that kind of hotel, you know what I mean? We’re in the wrong part of town for a cheap shakedown, and this isn’t the kind of place that a tech CEO would choose for legitimate business activities.”
The restaurant manager sauntered by with a plate of pungent chicken wings and a lifted eyebrow.
His eyes rolled from side to side, trying to lock on me, but I made a point of standing directly behind him.
“What now?” he asked.
I scanned the empty corridor. “Where’s your partner?”
“What?”
“The guy you’re on shift with.” He shook his head. “Had to leave.”
I would choose to believe that for the moment. “Where’s that FBI guy?”
“He had to leave, too.” Another swallow. “Somebody called something in. Something big.”
What was bigger than me wiping out most of this county’s police force, along with its corrupt sheriff and probably a few townies? Suddenly I understood how Elvis must have felt when he heard about the Beatles for the first time, overshadowed by something far bigger. I was tempted to ask about the nature of the emergency, but my soul would have been crushed if he’d said my infamy was eclipsed by a shootout at the local meth lab.
There are numerous first novels in a series on my shelves—many of which I’ve talked about at length, or at least about the series. I haven’t said too much about the Gideon Oliver books, so let’s use this as an opportunity to talk about them a bit. I started these novels thanks to the ABC Mystery Movie series. As charming as Louis Gosset, Jr.’s Oliver was, he wasn’t the forensic anthropologist I got to know in these pages. Lousy adaptations that lead me to good books are still a win in my book. Oliver is no stuffy scholar (although he can be when he gets carried away), he’s a fun character who is seriously into his field of study.
Two or more copies of the same book
I have too many books that could fit here, but let’s go with:
So there’s the original e-book version and cover; the “plain brown wrapper” paperback Fahrenheit put out anniversary edition commemorating them selling the book initially w/o cover image, title, or author; and a nice, new cover that came out a couple of years ago. (I actually ordered a hardcover edition, too, at one point, but that seems to have never materialized—so I appear to be more restrained than I am)
Funnily enough, a couple of hours after I drafted this, I picked up my third copy of Raskin’s The Westing Game. It’s a nice paperback with a crisp cover image that appealed to me. There’s no real reason for me to have grabbed it, the last thing I need is another copy, I just couldn’t help it. Just one more option that could’ve been put here
This ended up being harder than I thought—I can find any number of two-colored covers, and even more with a dozen colors. But three? That proved pretty difficult. So, I ended up going back to my old-reliable Don Winslow. I seem to use one of his books on just about every tag (at least it feels that way).
I thought about trying to go outside Fantasy for this one—it seems too easy to name a Fantasy novel for a multi-perspective approach. But the way that Hearne delivers these multiple perspectives is probably my favorite. So, it’s the one I’m going with.
It’s been a hot minute since I’ve mentioned this one, so let me take this opportunity to since its praises again. Humor, heart, action, mind-bendy time travel science…one of the best SF novels I’ve ever read.
I’ve talked about a decent number of short story collections here, but if you ask me to name one, this is always the first one that comes to mind. Every time. I can’t explain it, but I’m sure not going to argue with my subconscious. Can I tell you anything about any of the stories without grabbing it off of my shelf? Nope. But I can tell you that the collection really impressed me, and that I’d do well to pick it up again.
Going back to when I hadn’t grown frustrated with the Stephanie Plum books and could just enjoy them without reservation or qualification. Joe proposes marriage, Ranger proposes something far more temporary, Grandma Mazur is dating a mobster, and…well, there are plenty of antics.
I’m sure I looked funny standing in front of my shelves counting to eight over and over again for this one. This is the second of the John Ceepak/Danny Boyle books, and it proved that the concept was going to work for more than a stand-alone. Someone’s coming for revenge against Danny and his friends for something they did years ago. Thankfully, super-cop Ceepak is there to help.
Had to go diving through the logs for this one, to make sure I found a book I don’t talk about a lot, I wanted to go for something older, so I wouldn’t have brought it up a lot recently. This is the penultimate Carter Ross mystery—there’s something causing people in one area of Newark to get sick, and Ross smells a cover-up involving pollutants. When he gets sick himself, it becomes more than just a story.
I had the hardest time with this one—I found a couple of 9 book series, an 11/12 or two…and several that were far past 10. At a certain point, I was just going down my shelves counting…The only reason this one qualifies is that 6 years after concluding the series, Stein wrote one more (which I should probably get around to reading). But hey…I’ll take it.
So the Anna Strong books are about a Bounty Hunter who gets assaulted and turned by a vampire, thrusting her into a supernatural world she’s been previously unaware of. She finds herself dealing with supernatural baddies as well as the human criminals that she and her partner (who isn’t aware of the changes in her life) deal with. There’s a strange balancing act that she has to pull off in addition to a newly complicated love life and family.
As is my custom, I’m not tagging anyone in this—but I’d like to see what you all have to come up with.
The sense of relief Hubert felt when he saw Joyce walking toward him as he waited outside the entrance to the Regal was enormous. Her desire to go to the pictures with him hadn’t been an elaborate dream, a figment of his imagination, or a practical joke. She was here, she was really here, and the sight of her made him grin from ear to ear. She was, he thought, even more beautiful freed from the confines of her Hamilton’s uniform of demure black dress with dainty white bow and lacy collar. Sporting a navy-blue duster coat over a flowery lemon dress with green heels, she was a vision of spring and Hubert told her so.
“Thank you,” she replied. “The dress is new. I made it myself from a pattern in Vogue. Mum wasn’t sure about the color but I think it’s cheerful, don’t you?”
Hubert smiled.
“It’s like a piece of sunshine on a dull gray day.”
I’ve seen this on a few blogs, but it was on Bookstooge’s Reviews on the Road that I decided to do it myself. I don’t know where this originated, so I can’t credit them.
I really tried not to let recency bias rear its ugly head on these responses, but I ended up listing two books I read this year. Whoops.
1. Bread- What book is purely fluff, and has no real plot line?
I’m left scratching my head here–what doesn’t have a plotline?
It is Zorro–the swashbuckling, womanizing, swordsman who’s a proto-Batman figure. How do you make him dull? I still don’t know how you do it, but Isabelle Allende must, because she nailed it. The only reason I finished this was because I had to see if it ever got exciting. According to my logs, I read this in 2010–but at the time, I felt like I spent more than a decade reading it. So, I guess I might still be reading it.
3. Gravy- What book makes the whole series worth reading?
I’m struggling to answer this one–it seems to suggest that the others aren’t up to snuff, or aren’t even worth the time, “but this one book…” I’m sure there are some, but I can’t think of any. I’m tempted to say Red Dragon or The Silence of the Lambs are so good that it makes Hannibal worth it–but it’s easier to just skip the others.
I have problems with The Wise Man’s Fear. And, sure, I’d love to read The Doors of Stone. But you know what? I loved The Name of the Wind enough that I can live with what ever’s lacking in the others (including, but not limited to, not being published).
4. Stuffing- What book is stuffed full of action scenes?
The first Ben Bracken novel is as non-stop as you could ask for. Pound-for-pound there’s more action in this book than any other I can remember. Sure, Parker can go whole paragraphs without much in the way of action–but he doesn’t do that often here.
5. Mashed Potatoes- What book looked good, and then wasn’t?
A Killer hook. A lot of hype. Some compelling writing. And an ending that made me want to hurl it across the room and into a shredder. It was a library book, however, so I really couldn’t indulge the impulse.
Also…really? l;ike Bookstooge said, what’s up with this slander against Mashed Potatoes? (not just saying this as a reflexive defense of the crop Idaho’s best known for)
6. Cranberries- What book has the sweetest romance?
The first romance that jumped to mind was Nick and Alli from Hanover’s first book. (sure, most of the sweetness came from Alli, but Nick’s not bad, either).
I’m not convinced that cranberries are really all that “sweet,” however. Tart? Sour? Sure. Sweet? Eh, only with anough sugar added. Unlike everything Hanover’s written.
7. Corn- What’s the corniest book you’ve ever read?
Part of the reason that I haven’t jumped on Troubled Blood is that this one was just too long. At the time (or since), I couldn’t figure out what needed to be cut, but something sure needed to.
Unlike any green bean dish I’ve ever had, however, I enjoyed Lethal White in the end.
9. Pumpkin Pie- What book do you read to get out of a reading slump?
It’s been a while–a very long while–since I’ve been in a slump. But I could always count on some of my favorite Nero Wolfe/Archie Goodwin novels. They’re pure comfort food–tasty and sweet.
10. Dog/Cat- What’s your favorite Thanksgiving food that you would steal from the table?
This varies a lot from year to year, but more often than not, I’d say stuffing.
Yes, I’m posting two separate Top X Lists today—just the way it worked out. I haven’t done either a Top 5 Tuesday or a Top Ten Tuesday in a long time, but today’s prompt from both sounded fun…so, why not?)
This week’s topic is, “What are some of the books you wanted to read this year, but just haven’t quite gotten to yet? And tell us if you think you’ll be able to cram them into your December TBR!!” There are many more than five that qualify for this list, but I think these are the five that are bugging me the most that I haven’t read yet. When 2022 starts, at least four will likely still be on this list (don’t ask me which four, though).
There is no good reason at all that I haven’t read this yet. None. Even if it’s not as good as Kings of the Wyld, it’s still probably better than a lot of what I have read this year—and sure to be a lot of fun regardless.
I really liked the first three books in The Blackwood Saga (and am pretty sure I pre-ordered this fourth book), but a full 2+ years later, haven’t managed to get around to this (nor, the fifth and final book). Shame on me.
Sure, it’s not going to live up to the film version, but there’s enough different material (just based on the length of the book), that it’s going to give me something to chew on. No reason for me to have not at least started it.
The age of this book is probably what’s keeping me from it, it’s been a long time since I read something new to me that’s from pre-20th Century. I’m feeling intimidated, as good as it looks. I just need to get over it.
The Power of the Dog and The Cartel both blew me away, and I anticipated diving into The Border as soon as I could. But the size and likely emotional weight of it has kept me from even opening it. I need to get over that.
The world is quiet except for the slosh of waves against the hull and my captor’s ragged breathing in my ear. It must be hard work pulling me along, using me as a human shield while swimming backward toward his pontoon. I hope he drowns.
Above us, Gem says grimly, “I’ve got the shot, sir.”
I don’t think he meant for us to hear this comment, but voices carry at sea. The idea of him firing makes my stomach twist. With the ocean swells, and the movements of the ship and my captor, it would be a tough shot even for Gem. Besides, I assume my captor still has his little hypodermic needle somewhere at hand. I hope he sticks himself with it.
“Stand down, Mr. Twain,” Hewett orders.
Really? I think. That’s all you’ve got, Hewett?
“That’s right,” my captor mocks, “stand down, Mr. Twain.”
“So,” she finally said. “On the Albert Lee case, who was the factor?”
“It was a doctor,” Bosch said. “A dentist, actually. His name was John William James. His offices were down in the Marina and I guess he made so much money capping teeth that he started factoring.”
“You said ‘was.’ His name ‘was’ John William James.”
“Yeah, that’s going to be a problem with your case. John William James is dead. A couple years after Albert Lee got murdered, James got himself whacked as well. He was sitting in his Mercedes in the parking lot outside his office when somebody put a twenty-two in his head too.”
I’ve seen this on various blogs, but can’t seem to find the creator, so I can’t credit them. I’d like to if anyone knows who did it. I saw this first at Read to Ramble, put it on my “do this tag list,” and promptly forgot about it. Then I was reminded of it on Witty and Sarcastic Book Blog—and it took me over a year to get around to it. I liked the category she added so I used it, and seconds before hitting “Publish” decided to add one of my own.
Also, just for fun, I added the music videos. Might as well sample a bit of the tunes we’re talking about, right?
What’s My Age Again – Blink 182
At what age did you discover your love of reading?
I’ve talked here before about the family vacation where I was such a pain in the keister that my parents had to stop and find a place to get me a couple of books so I’d be tolerable to be in the car with (Encyclopedia Brown, Boy Detective and Sugar Creek Gang: Screams in the Night—unleashing my Mystery/Detective obsession), which is when I was 7. But I’d been reading like crazy before then, I just didn’t think about it as a thing.
All Star – Smash Mouth
What is your favorite genre?
Is anyone expecting me to say anything but Mystery/Detective/Crime? It’s no contest, really, as it’s never less than a third of what I read in any given month.
Breakfast at Tiffany’s – Deep Blue Something
What’s your go-to reading snack/drink?
I don’t think I typically snack while reading—probably occasionally, but not enough to have a go-to snack (if this were a TV Tag, on the other hand…). A go-to drink? Probably water, I guess, really just whatever is witin reach. Coffee, hot tea, even a beer or a single-malt.
I don’t know that there’s one book that I’d always recommend—not in a “one book to rule them all” sense, anyway. It varies based on who I’m talking to, their interests, and the genre we’re talking about.
But…I guess Jane Eyre, The Golden Spiders, Early Autumn, The Name of the Wind*, Ender’s Game, Red Rising, Dead Beat, The Rook, Dawn Patrol, Kings of the Wyld would likely top the list of fiction. On the non-fiction front, it’d likely be How the Irish Saved Civilization, Christianity & Liberalism, The Bruised Reed, How to Think, or The Pleasures of Reading in an Age of Distraction.
* Unless I think they’re going to be someone who whines about book 3.
I’ve never understood the appeal of RHCP—so I used “Bedrock Anthem” instead.
…Baby One More Time – Britney Spears
A book or series you have read more than once?
If I actually responded to this prompt, it’d turn this tag into the longest post I’ve ever done. Every title I listed after the last prompt would work here.
Tearin’ Up My Heart – N’Sync:
A book that broke your heart to finish?
Marley and Me: Life and Love With the World’s Worst Dog by John Grogan. Nothing else needs to be said.
Crush – Jennifer Paige
Who was your first bookish crush?
I don’t know, really. This is a topic I always stumble on in these tags. Maybe Sally Kimball? Turtle Wexler or Eilonwy, daughter of Angharad (and so on) would be likely candidates, too. Yeah…Eilonwy is probably it.
Smells Like Teen Spirit – Nirvana
A book that you read as a teen that you still love today?
Well, there are just so many. I’m not sure if that says that my tastes are adolescent. It just might. Jane Eyre again, the Gideon Oliver series, The Oathbound Wizard, Magic Kingdom For Sale-Sold!, I think I was a teen when I read the bulk of the Fletch and Flynn novels. I’m sure I could go on, but who’s paying attention at this point?
Hurt – Nine Inch Nails
What book do you love that deals with heavier subjects?
This is another question that could end up with too many answers. I’m going to limit it to Dennis Lehane’s Gone, Baby, Gone. This was my introduction to Lehane and the series and it hit me like a ton of bricks—I distinctly remember a couple of years after it was released my wife and I renting the audiobook for a road trip from a truck stop (a practice I’d all but forgotten about until I started this sentence), and both of us were on the verge of tears and laughing at each other for being self-conscious about it. There’s child abandonment, addiction, child abduction, police corruption, and while dealing with those topics (and others) honestly—it’s exciting, gripping, and frequently fun.
Superman’s Song – Crash Test Dummies
What’s your favorite superhero book?
It’s Superman! by Tom De Haven. This version of Superman’s origins, set in the 1930s, felt like the perfect modern take on the classic version of the hero. It felt 100% Golden Age Superman and completely fresh at the same time.
As usual, I’m not tagging anyone in this—but I’d like to see what you all have to come up with.
This is a weekly bloghop hosted by Freda’s Voice.
Grab a book, any book.
