Just finished Badlands and back up to The Tumbler.

Are these mysteries? Police procedurals? Badlands sounds kind of Western. Just curious.

Gabriel DuPre is a brand inspector who is very good at solving problems and tracking.

Stories focus on the culture of the Metis. Lots of Coyote French in dialogue. Wonderful series! Check it out!

Started "The Day She Died" by Catriona McPherson.

Inquiring minds here. Good, bad, so-so? Always looking for new titles to put on my list.

Not bad. I'd give it a B+. Worth reading if you like Hayder's other stuff, which is also scary and sometimes resembles horror more than mystery.

Also, I am reading "Midwinter Blood" by Mons Kallentoft. It's a little slow going, but not bad. It's set in Sweden. The plot starts when a man's body is found in a tree. The detective tries to figure out who the victim is. At first she thinks it's neo-pagans, but then it gets more complicated. Don't want to ruin it for you, in case you get it out of the library.

That sounds like my kind of reading. Thanks.

I like Mo Hayder. Freaks me out sometimes.

I thought it was probably about time I checked in - although I've been faithfully reading all the weekly threads since I took my break.

Anyway, I'm still very slowly making my way through Eliot Pattison's Inspector Shan series - those are the books that all take place in Tibet. I've finally made it to #5 of the series - there are 8 books in all. It's sort of embarrassing though - it's been taking me 2 or 3 weeks to make it through each book. This, after all my years of reading 2 or 3 books a week!

Mostly it's just because I haven't really had the kind of down time at home to sit down and read in big chunks. I've been reading these books in small bites during my lunch breaks at work, and they're so dense with detail that I'm constantly backtracking in order to keep track of what's happening. But I love them, and I'm determined to read the entire series, no matter how long it takes me. Meanwhile, I've let other books I've had on order at the library for months just come in and go back - I'm totally wrapped up in Tibet and I don't regret it one bit.

Eventually, when I've finally made my way through the whole series, I imagine I'll start getting back in the groove of reading all the other stuff I've let slip to the side. But it might be a difficult transition to make, because I think these Inspector Shan books will haunt me for a very long time.

Since my library doesn't carry those, I think I will visit Abe's Books and buy one. I'm guessing I should get the first one, unless you have a better recommendation.

The Skull Mantra - I think the backstory is extremely important, and the way that the first book gives you the feel of the time and place and the people (especially the main character). Warning, it's about 500 pages long, and it's not easy reading - both emotionally, and how densely packed it is with detail. If you make it through the first one, you'll be able to better decide if you want to take on more.

It's honestly become like a project for me to get through the series - I want to mentally stay in Tibet for as long as I can, and just absorb all the things about the culture the author delves into in each book. I really can't compare these books to any other fiction I've read. They are mysteries - but very out of the ordinary mysteries.

This past week I have been reading Gathering Prey by John Sandford. It was action packed with plenty of gratuitous violence.

I loved Gathering Prey. I'm now reading The Lost Island by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. The Lost Island is another rip roaring adventure by the Preston-Child writing duo.

Mrs. Enthusiast is reading The Codex by Douglas Preston. She is loving this one.

Thanks for telling us about The Girl in the Spider’s Web, hermetic.

Nice to see you, scarletwoman. I hope your father is doing well.

Based on a series of plane crashes that actually occurred in Elizabeth, NJ in 1951/52. Really good. I had no idea how good a writer she is.

Stephen King - Finders Keepers.

No where one of his best - but still keeping me interested.

I can't remember Mr. Mercedes very well. Maybe I should read it again before I read Finders Keepers.

not a best, but pretty good - and a nice follow up to The Talisman (which was really fun!)

some time ago. But I think I will check out The Talisman. I like "fun" books.

The ending really unraveled a bit but for the most part it was a really enjoyable read.

Sweet book. Fun read. But something happened at the end that just made me

Our heroes end up outside of a huge gate, behind which lie all the answers to the universe. On this gate is the number 216. That's my house number!! Freaked me right out. Turns out that's the number of a few other things, as well. But still....

page 550 I just put it down. I'd had the book for about a year before I finally dug in but I just couldn't stay with the story line any longer. Tartt's a good writer and all but I just wonder if a little or a lot of editing wouldn't have saved this book. Maybe not, too much going on and maybe there was supposed to be some point about the longevity and beauty of art but it was sure lost on me.

with one of my sisters-in-law who monopolizes the conversation. Congrats on you for getting that far into it.

that it certainly was stylish, but there wasn't a lot of depth to the story, and it seemed to be much ado about nothing. Sorry if I am offending anyone who enjoyed it. This is just how I felt after reading it.

I couldn't make it to the end of that one either.