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Tag Archives: suspense
Join the discussion on the first three novels of S.A. Cosby
Hey, mystery fans! Looking for something good to read?
At the February 2023 Just Desserts meeting, 13 group members participated in a discussion of the first three novels by American mystery/suspense author S.A. (Sean) Cosby — My Darkest Prayer (2019), Blacktop Wasteland (2020) and Razorblade Tears (2021).
Absolutely no-one in the Just Desserts group disliked whichever of the novels they had read — and the entire group agreed that Cosby is an incredibly good writer. However, several group members indicated that the levels of violence and coarse language in Cosby’s novels would preclude them from reading anything further by this author. On the other hand, several group members look forward to tracking down all of his works, not to mention future books by this author.
So…What did you think of the works of S.A. Cosby? Which have you read?
Just Desserts returns on March 30th, with another grab bag theme — “Science Fiction & Fantasy Murder Mysteries”. We hope to see you there!
What was your favorite Mystery/Thriller/Suspense novel you read in 2022?
Hey, mystery fans and members of the libraries’ Just Desserts mystery fiction discussion group…
We’re in the final few days of 2022, and we’re curious — what was your favorite Mystery/Suspense/Thriller read in 2022?
It doesn’t have to have been a “new” release this year, it could just be an older comfort read. But what Mystery or Suspense or Thriller stood out the most for you among all the books you read (or listened to) this past year?
Bonus points if it was one of our Just Desserts reading selections!
Leave a comment here, in response to this Just Desserts Blog post, with your favorite genre read in 2022. Who knows — your selection may be considered for one of our Just Desserts group reads in 2023?
NOTE: The Just Desserts Blog is a moderated blog — there will be a delay before your comment may appear.
Join the discussion of John Grisham’s “Camino Island” and “Camino Winds”
The Just Desserts mystery fiction discussion group held its August 2022 meeting in person, this past Thursday evening. Nineteen attendees discussed John Grisham’s two connected novels, Camino Island (2017) and Camino Winds (2020). If you have read either of these novels, and would like to contribute your comments about it, please do so as a reply comment to this blog post, below.
For reminders about upcoming Just Desserts meetings and/or other announcements of interest to mystery fans, don’t forget to sign up for the Just Desserts e-mail list. Or, now that in-person meetings are possible again, if you’re logged into your account on Facebook, you can visit the Events page for the Lincoln City Libraries, and mark whether or not you plan to attend upcoming sessions of Just Desserts – this is a great way for you to help us promote this engaging discussion group!
So…What did you think of Camino Island and Camino Winds? How do they compare to other Grisham works? Are you a Grisham fan?
On September 29th, the members of Just Desserts will be discussing Nita Prose’s 2022 debut novel, The Maid, at the downtown library. We hope to see many of you then!
Just Desserts – Series Share 2022 Results
Hey, mystery fans! Looking for something good to read?
At the May 26th, 2022 Just Desserts meeting that took place in person at the Bennett Martin Public Library, 14 members participated in our 10th annual “Series Share” discussion, in which attendees were encouraged to read the first or second volume in any new mystery/thriller/suspense series that’s started within the past few years, and share their thoughts in a “round-robin” format; two more group members shared their selections via e-mail. Here’s a list of the novels/series that were mentioned by group members. We asked all attendees to also give a “Thumbs Up” or “Thumbs Down” for whatever series they sampled – and all participants this month gave a “Thumbs Up” to whatever they read:
- The Pentecost & Parker series by Stephen Spotswood, including the first two volumes Fortune Favors the Dead, and Murder Under Her Skin
- The Frankie Elkin series by Lisa Gardner, starting with Before She Disappeared and A Step Too Far – past author selection for Just Desserts
- The Secret Scone and Book Society mystery series by Ellery Adams, starting with The Secret Scone and Book Society and The Vanishing Type
- The Roxanne Weary series by Kristen Lepionka, starting with The Last Place You Look, What You Want to See, The Stories You Tell and Once You Go This Far
- The Colter Shaw mystery series by Jeffery Deaver, staring with The Never Game and The Goodbye Man – past author selection for Just Desserts
- The Goddess of Green Street series by Kate Collins, starting with Statue of Limitations
- The Riley Fisher series by Erin Young, starting with The Fields (two readers chose this series)
- The Korner and Werner series by Katrine Engberg, the reader actually read #3, The Harbor.
- The Perveen Mistry series by Sujata Massey, starting with The Widows of Malabar Hill, The Satapur Moonstone, and The Bombay Prince
- The Laetitia Rodd series by Kate Saunders, in this case #3 The Mystery of the Sorrowful Maiden – past author selection for Just Desserts
- The Eye of Isis series by Dana Stabenow, starting with Death of an Eye – past author selection for Just Desserts
- The Alex Carter series by Alice Henderson, starting with A Solitude of Wolverines and A Blizzard of Polar Bears
- The Recovery Agent series by Janet Evanovich, starting with The Recovery Agent – past author selection for Just Desserts
- The Verifiers series by Jane Pek, starting with The Verifiers
Our main discussion took up so much time, we didn’t have time left for our traditional “Round Robin” of whatever else the group members have been reading. But a few readers tossed out four things they really wanted to mention.
Here’s a short list of mystery, thriller and suspense books recommended by Just Desserts members in May 2021:
- The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz – past author selection for Just Desserts
- The Christie Affair by Nina de Gramont
- A Dark and Stormy Murder by Julia Buckley
- The Marlow Murder Club by Robert Thorogood
- The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams (as an audiobook adaptation) (not a mystery)
What mysteries have you been reading lately that you’d recommend?
John the discussion of Jean Hanff Korelitz’ novel “The Plot”
The Just Desserts mystery fiction discussion group held its April 2022 meeting in person, this past Thursday evening. Sixteen attendees discussed the 2021 stand-alone suspense novel The Plot by author Jean Hanff Korelitz. If you have read The Plot, and would like to contribute your comments about it, please do so as a reply comment to this blog post, below.
For reminders about upcoming Just Desserts meetings and/or other announcements of interest to mystery fans, don’t forget to sign up for the Just Desserts e-mail list. Or, now that in-person meetings are possible again, if you’re logged into your account on Facebook, you can visit the Events page for the Lincoln City Libraries, and mark whether or not you plan to attend upcoming sessions of Just Desserts – this is a great way for you to help us promote this engaging discussion group!
So…What did you think of The Plot? Have you also read any of Jean Hanff Korelitz’ previous six novels, or are you looking forward to her novel, due out this Fall?
In May, we indulge in our annual “Series Share” tradition — all attendees wishing to participate in next month’s Just Desserts discussion are asked to read the first or second volume in any NEW mystery/thriller/suspense series that has launched in 2020, 2021 or 2022. All participants will be given time to describe the basics about whatever series they selected — setting, time period, characters, writing style, etc. — and whether or not they’d recommend their series or whether they plan to continue with it themselves.