Why you might buy used books When the library doesn’t have enough copies When you want to keep a copy of the book with your own notes and scribbles When a new book is not affordable Considerations when buying used books The fastest two ways to find used copies are using Amazon.com or Ebay.com. The reason I use those two sites for used books only as a last resort is … Continue reading
My annoyance, followed by curiosity, all began with the announcement of a panel of “acclaimed mystery authors” which I promoted in the December 1, 2022 Mystery Book Club “events” email. See below. I thought, well, if I am promoting it, perhaps I should attend the online event. Then I thought, it might be best to read at least one of the author’s books so I could form my reaction based on … Continue reading
As of this weekend (Dec 2, 2022), the new Inspector Gamache and Three Pines videos are streaming exclusively on Amazon Prime. All based on the novels of Louise Penny. Continue to cartoon just below. For full details about the new Three Pines streaming videos, click to the earlier post on Nov 5, 2022.
by Michael O’Connor Franklin Delano Roosevelt was not assassinated on the South Portico of the White House in 1941. That is a historical fact and this is not a mystery. But, it can be read as a mystery if you go along with William Martin and willingly suspend your disbelief. What if? What if, indeed? That is Martin’s premise to a masterful tale of suspense in December ’41! He weaves … Continue reading
A successful book club is where people continue to participate because after each meeting, they go home having enjoyed themselves, even if they might not have enjoyed the monthly book. Or as I always say, our goal is to have fun. I happened across an article in The New York Times by Joanne Kaufman entitled: “Fought Over Any Good Books Lately?” She writes about the perils of joining book groups … Continue reading
I started eighth grade in 1959; during the year I started a new club at Westwood Junior High – a lawyer’s club. I doubt any other school had such a club, but it was due in part to my fascination with the TV show, Perry Mason. The show motivated me to read the actual books by Erle Stanley Gardner. I have been fascinated by books with courtroom drama or legal … Continue reading
A steadfast group of mystery book fans in our book club read all 17 of the existing Inspector Gamache books. This is not the only indication of the popularity of Louise Penny and her famous book series set in the fictional town of Three Pines, Quebec. Last year’s book, The Madness of Crowds, was at the top of the NY Times best selling hardcover fiction list for 5 weeks straight. … Continue reading
I am heading to New England’s main mystery book conference next week; it’s known as the New England Crime Bake. This is my fourth time going to the “Crime Bake.” In 2018, I also went to the largest national mystery book conference known as Bouchercon. These are just two of 15 different mystery book conferences scheduled annually here and in Northern Europe. Why go to a mystery book conference? Like … Continue reading
This is a follow up to the previous post about the live Zoom interview of mystery-thriller writer Lynne Reeves on the evening of Wednesday November 9. I discovered today that she is also the subject of a written interview in The Big Thrill online magazine. It is called an UP CLOSE (with an author) feature. I would say it is more like an introduction to Reeves, useful to read, but … Continue reading
A “Heartfelt” Mystery Thriller is my way of describing what happens when a mystery-suspense thriller is written by a family counselor, not a cop, journalist, lawyer, politician, medical doctor, or retired spy. Nor is it simply a “psychological thriller” with a new plot twist to keep you turning the pages. The closest I can come to that idea (for those who read it) is Ordinary Grace, by William Kent Krueger) … Continue reading
LET'S PLAY CLUE: Was it MBC member Dick Goutal, in the garden, using the poisonous plant, Black Henbane?
