The Violin Conspiracy by Brenda Slocumb

 For February, our Mystery Book Club (MCB) read The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb. Very appropriate for Black History Month.

About: "Ray McMillian loves playing the violin more than anything, and nothing will stop him from pursuing his dream of becoming a professional musician. Not his mother, who thinks he should get a real job, not the fact that he can't afford a high-caliber violin, not the racism inherent in the classical music world. And when he makes the startling discovery that his great-grandfather's fiddle is actually a priceless Stradivarius, his star begins to rise. Then with the international Tchaikovsky Competition—the Olympics of classical music—fast approaching, his prized family heirloom is stolen. Ray is determined to get it back. But now his family and the descendants of the man who once enslaved Ray's great-grandfather are each claiming that the violin belongs to them. With the odds stacked against him and the pressure mounting, will Ray ever see his beloved violin again?"

I really liked this book. It was a good mystery, well written, lots of twists and turns. But it also addressed many current issues of racism that continue to this day. I will share a link at the end, but the author shares that many of the same incidents of racism actually happened to him. 

Everyone in the MBC really liked this book also. We had a very animated discussion and actually ran out of time! Several people shared their background in playing the violin or other instruments which was interesting. A few people said this book was actually an eye opener for them, that they were not aware that these things were still happening. (The group did challenge those people about that.) One person said she never would have read this book if it wasn't our selection since she is not musical or black, but was very glad she read it and has a new appreciation of several things. Some former teachers said they felt this book should be required reading in school. 

Well done Brendan Slocumb!

About the author: Brendan Nicholaus Slocumb was born in Yuba City, California and was raised in Fayetteville, North Carolina. He holds a degree in music education (with concentrations in violin and viola) from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. For more than twenty years he has been a public and private school music educator and has performed with orchestras throughout Northern Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, DC.

Interview with the author: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/violinist-and-author-brendan-slocumb-on-his-riveting-page-turning-debut-novel

Goodreads Most Anticipated Thrillers and Mysteries February 2023

 I like that Goodreads is putting these lists out. (Maybe they always have, but I didn't catch them until this year). If you are interested in another genre, you can do a search on "Goodreads Most Anticipate i.e. romance" and should come back with some books.

Looking at February, I see one right away I am interested in. 

The House Guest by Hank Phillip Ryan -2/7/23

About: "The House Guest is another diabolical cat-and-mouse thriller from Hank Phillippi Ryan—but which character is the cat, and which character is the mouse?

After every divorce, one spouse gets all the friends. What does the other one get? If they’re smart, they get the benefits. Alyssa Macallan is terrified when she’s dumped by her wealthy and powerful husband. With a devastating divorce looming, she begins to suspect her toxic and manipulative soon-to-be-ex is scheming to ruin her—leaving her alone and penniless. And when the FBI shows up at her door, Alyssa knows she really needs a friend.

And then she gets one. A seductive new friend, one who’s running from a dangerous relationship of her own. Alyssa offers Bree Lorrance the safety of her guest house, and the two become confidantes. Then Bree makes a heart-stoppingly tempting offer. Maybe Alyssa and Bree can solve each others’ problems.

But no one is what they seem. And the fates and fortunes of these two women twist and turn until the shocking truth emerges: You can’t always get what you want. But sometimes you get what you deserve."

I have read a couple other thrillers by Hank Phillipi Ryan and really liked them. Our Mystery Book Club also had a video chat with her a few years ago. It was very interesting and fun. 

I am not familiar with any of the remaining authors of the recommended February books, so I will pick out a few to highlight. Why have I picked these? I first read the title, then I look at the cover if the title grabs me, then I read what the book is about and go from there. True. I occasionally see authors on social media, polling readers about what grabs readers, what makes them want to read a book. That is my "process".

Of Manners and Murders: Dear Miss Hermione #1 by Anastasia Hastings - 2/7/23

About: "Of Manners and Murder is the first in the delightful new Dear Miss Hermione mystery series from Anastasia Hastings.

1885: London, England. When Violet's Aunt Adelia decides to abscond with her newest paramour, she leaves behind her role as the most popular Agony Aunt in London, "Miss Hermione," in Violet's hands.

And of course, the first letter Violet receives is full, not of prissy pondering, but of portent. Ivy Armstrong is in need of help and fears for her life. But when Violet visits the village where the letters were posted, she finds that Ivy is already dead.

She'll quickly discover that when you represent the best-loved Agony Aunt in Britain, both marauding husbands and murder are par for the course."

I like historical mysteries. :)

The Housemaid's Secret - The Housemaid #2 by Frieda McFadden - 2/20/23

About: "“Don’t go in the guest bedroom.” A shadow falls on Douglas Garrick’s face as he touches the door with his fingertips. “My wife… she’s very ill.” As he continues showing me their incredible penthouse apartment, I have a terrible feeling about the woman behind closed doors. But I can’t risk losing this job—not if I want to keep my darkest secret safe…

It’s hard to find an employer who doesn’t ask too many questions about my past. So I thank my lucky stars that the Garricks miraculously give me a job, cleaning their stunning penthouse with views across the city and preparing fancy meals in their shiny kitchen. I can work here for a while, stay quiet until I get what I want.

It’s almost perfect. But I still haven’t met Mrs Garrick, or seen inside the guest bedroom. I’m sure I hear her crying. I notice spots of blood around the neck of her white nightgowns when I’m doing laundry. And one day I can’t help but knock on the door. When it gently swings open, what I see inside changes everything…

That’s when I make a promise. After all, I’ve done this before. I can protect Mrs Garrick while keeping my own secrets locked up safe.

Douglas Garrick has done wrong. He is going to pay. It’s simply a question of how far I’m willing to go…"

This is book two. I have not read book one: The Housemaid. The cover and first line in the blurb caught my attention.


Murder Your Employer: The Master's Guide to Homicide by Rupert Holmes - 2/21/23

About: "From the diabolical imagination of Edgar Award–winning novelist, playwright, and story-songwriter Rupert Holmes comes a devilish thriller with a killer concept: The McMasters Conservatory for the Applied Arts, a luxurious, clandestine college dedicated to the fine art of murder where earnest students study how best to “delete” their most deserving victim.

Who hasn’t wondered for a split second what the world would be like if a person who is the object of your affliction ceased to exist? But then you’ve probably never heard of The McMasters Conservatory, dedicated to the consummate execution of the homicidal arts. To gain admission, a student must have an ethical reason for erasing someone who deeply deserves a fate no worse (nor better) than death. The campus of this “Poison Ivy League” college—its location unknown to even those who study there—is where you might find yourself the practice target of a classmate…and where one’s mandatory graduation thesis is getting away with the perfect murder of someone whose death will make the world a much better place to live.

Prepare for an education you’ll never forget. A delightful mix of witty wordplay, breathtaking twists and genuine intrigue, Murder Your Employer will gain you admission into a wholly original world, cocooned within the most entertaining book about well-intentioned would-be murderers you’ll ever read." 

Well, I of course read the title and thought "What in the world..." The cover is different and read the blurb. The author's resume is interesting and I think it is a tongue in cheek/comical mystery.

It's One of Us by J.T. Ellison - 2/28/23

About: "Everybody lies. Even the ones you think you know best of all . . .
 
Olivia Bender designs exquisite home interiors that satisfy the most demanding clients. But her own deepest desire can’t be fulfilled by marble counters or the perfect rug. She desperately  wants to be a mother. Fertility treatments and IVF keep failing. And just when she feels she’s at her lowest point, the police deliver shocking news to Olivia and her husband, Park.
 
DNA results show that the prime suspect in a murder investigation is Park’s son. Olivia is relieved, knowing this is a mistake. Despite their desire, the Benders don’t have any children. Then comes the confession. Many years ago, Park donated sperm to a clinic. He has no idea how many times it was sold—or how many children he has sired.
 
As the murder investigation goes deeper, more terrible truths come to light. With every revelation, Olivia must face the unthinkable. The man she married has fathered a killer. But can she hold that against him when she keeps such dark secrets of her own?
 
This twisting, emotionally layered thriller explores the lies we tell to keep a marriage together--or break each other apart . . ."

This book  interests me because of the DNA component. I am fascinated by all the thing that can be found out these days, particularly solving cold cases.

Here is the list of the other mysteries that Goodreads is "recommending" coming out in February? Maybe you know some of these authors.

The Angel Maker by Alex North: thriller

The Writing Retreat by Julia Bartz: psychological suspense

Device Free Weekend by Sean Doolittle: thriller

Stone Cold Fox by Rachel Koller Croft: thriller, debut novel

I Have Some Questions For You by Rebecca Makkai: "Named a Most Anticipated Book of 2023 by TIME, NPR, The Seattle Times, Good Housekeeping, Today, Southern Living, and CrimeReads"

Scorched Grace by Margot Douaihy: "An exciting start to Margot Douaihy's bold series for Gillian Flynn Books that breathes new life into the hard-boiled genre,.

They all sound intriguing and! 

The Cloisters and Texas Winter Storm

 Happy February! We don't need a ground hog to tell us there is going to be six more weeks of winter here in Central Texas. Yet another ice storm. People are still without power, I have not internet, trees down everywhere. So this will be quick!

First: I was upset to get a notice that one of my posts (from a couple of years ago?) was recently deleted because it was against Blogger guidelines. Whaaat? I know I did not write anything questionable or distasteful. All I can think is that there was a hacker or troll that made a really bad comment. I debated on deleting this blog. But decided I will just need to approve any comments for now.

I just finished listening to The Cloisters by Katy Hays.

About: 

"When Ann Stilwell arrives in New York City, she expects to spend her summer working as a curatorial associate at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Instead, she finds herself assigned to The Cloisters, a gothic museum and garden renowned for its medieval art collection and its group of enigmatic researchers studying the history of divination.

Desperate to escape her painful past, Ann is happy to indulge the researchers’ more outlandish theories about the history of fortune telling. But what begins as academic curiosity quickly turns into obsession when Ann discovers a hidden 15th-century deck of tarot cards that might hold the key to predicting the future. When the dangerous game of power, seduction, and ambition at The Cloisters turns deadly, Ann becomes locked in a race for answers as the line between the arcane and the modern blurs.

A haunting and magical blend of genres, The Cloisters is a gripping debut that will keep you on the edge of your seat."

Since the power is flickering as I write, let me just say I am still waiting to be gripped to the edge of my seat. The writing is good in that if flows well, moves at a pretty good pace. It woulda/coulda/shoulda been interesting to me. Ann is working at The Cloisters as sort of an internship at this branch of a museum with antiquities, research etc. I like things about those. Ann is from a small town in Washington State. Small town girl goes to the big city and makes bad choices. And surrounds herself with people who also make bad choices and are bad people. 

Should have the Mystery Book Club's take on The Violin Conspiracy for you next week!

Goodreads Most Anticipated Mysteries and Thrillers January 2023

I am currently reading The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb for our February Mystery Book Club and listening to The Cloisters by Kay Hays. I am liking The Violin Conspiracy and will give  a "full report" on it after the MBC meets. I am not that far into The Cloisters yet. Waiting for that "jumpy" feeling I am expecting from this book. Will let you know when I finish it.

I am always looking ahead for upcoming mysteries for the MBC now that I took the torch from our "leader" of at least 10 years. So I decided I would start watching Goodreads for their lists of upcoming books for each month.

Let's see what has or is coming out this month, January 2023. Since there are 15 books on Goodreads list I will first share the ones by authors I am familiar with or look like a book I would enjoy. Then I will list the remaining titles. 

Exiles by Jane Harper (Aaron Falk #3) 1/31/23

This will be the last Aaron Falk book.

About: "At a busy festival site on a warm spring night, a baby lies alone in her pram, her mother vanishing into the crowds.

A year on, Kim Gillespie’s absence casts a long shadow as her friends and loved ones gather deep in the heart of South Australian wine country to welcome a new addition to the family.

Joining the celebrations is federal investigator Aaron Falk. But as he soaks up life in the lush valley, he begins to suspect this tight-knit group may be more fractured than it seems.

Between Falk’s closest friend, a missing mother, and a woman he’s drawn to, dark questions linger as long-ago truths begin to emerge.

An outstanding novel, a brilliant mystery and a heart-pounding read from the author of The Dry, Force of Nature, The Lost Man and The Survivors."

I have read two other books in addition to The Dry by Jane Harper and really liked them: The Lost Man and Survivors.

All The Dangerous Things by Stacy Willingham 1/10/23

About: "One year ago, Isabelle Drake's life changed forever: her toddler son, Mason, was taken out of his crib in the middle of the night while she and her husband were asleep in the next room. With little evidence and few leads for the police to chase, the case quickly went cold. However, Isabelle cannot rest until Mason is returned to her—literally.

Except for the occasional catnap or small blackout where she loses track of time, she hasn’t slept in a year.

Isabelle's entire existence now revolves around finding him, but she knows she can’t go on this way forever. In hopes of jarring loose a new witness or buried clue, she agrees to be interviewed by a true-crime podcaster—but his interest in Isabelle's past makes her nervous. His incessant questioning paired with her severe insomnia has brought up uncomfortable memories from her own childhood, making Isabelle start to doubt her recollection of the night of Mason’s disappearance, as well as second-guess who she can trust... including herself. But she is determined to figure out the truth no matter where it leads. "

I haven't read other books by this author but sounds like a fast paced thriller.

The Villa by Rachel Hawkins 1/3/23

About:  "As kids, Emily and Chess were inseparable. But by their 30s, their bond has been strained by the demands of their adult lives. So when Chess suggests a girls trip to Italy, Emily jumps at the chance to reconnect with her best friend.

Villa Aestas in Orvieto is a high-end holiday home now, but in 1974, it was known as Villa Rosato, and rented for the summer by a notorious rock star, Noel Gordon. In an attempt to reignite his creative spark, Noel invites up-and-coming musician, Pierce Sheldon to join him, as well as Pierce’s girlfriend, Mari, and her stepsister, Lara. But he also sets in motion a chain of events that leads to Mari writing one of the greatest horror novels of all time, Lara composing a platinum album––and ends in Pierce’s brutal murder.

As Emily digs into the villa’s complicated history, she begins to think there might be more to the story of that fateful summer in 1974. That perhaps Pierce’s murder wasn’t just a tale of sex, drugs, and rock & roll gone wrong, but that something more sinister might have occurred––and that there might be clues hidden in the now-iconic works that Mari and Lara left behind.

Yet the closer that Emily gets to the truth, the more tension she feels developing between her and Chess. As secrets from the past come to light, equally dangerous betrayals from the present also emerge––and it begins to look like the villa will claim another victim before the summer ends."

The travel to Italy and 1974 intrigue me. I may or may not connect with 1974. :)

Reef Road by Deborah Goodrich Royce 1/20/23

About: "When a severed hand washes ashore in the wealthy enclave of Palm Beach, Florida, the lives of two women—a lonely writer obsessed with the unsolved murder of her mother’s best friend and a panicked wife whose husband has disappeared with their children—collide as the world shutters in the pandemic lockdown of 2020.

A young woman’s life seems perfect until her family goes missing. A writer lives alone with her dog and collects arcane murder statistics. What each of them stands to lose as they sneak around the do-not-enter tape blocking Reef Road beach is exposed by the steady tightening of the cincture encircling them.

In a nod to the true crime that inspired it, Deborah Goodrich Royce’s Reef Road probes unhealed generational scars in a wrenching and original work of fiction. It is both stunning and sexy and, like a bystander surprised by a curtain left open, you won’t be able to look away."

I am wondering what true crime event inspired this now. I lived in Palm Beach County for several years. Tales of the "rich and famous."

The Blackhouse by Carole Johnstone 1/3/23

About: "A remote village. A deadly secret. An outsider who knows the truth.

Robert Reid moved his family to Scotland’s Outer Hebrides in the 1990s, driven by hope, craving safety and community, and hiding a terrible secret. But despite his best efforts to fit in, Robert is always seen as an outsider. And as the legendary and violent Hebridean storms rage around him, he begins to unravel, believing his fate on the remote island of Kilmeray cannot be escaped.

For her entire life, Maggie MacKay has sensed something was wrong with her. When Maggie was five years old, she announced that a man on Kilmeray—a place she’d never visited—had been murdered. Her unfounded claim drew media attention and turned the locals against each other, creating rifts that never mended.

Nearly twenty years later, Maggie is determined to find out what really happened, and what the islanders are hiding. But when she begins to receive ominous threats, Maggie is forced to consider how much she is willing to risk to discover the horrifying truth.

If the title sounds familiar, there is a book called The Blackhouse by Peter May. It is book one of the Lewis Trilogy. We read that several years ago and it was very good. That is why this book caught my attention. I do love gothic mysteries set in Scotland!

Here are other books coming out in January. Any favorite authors there?

Just the Nicest Couple: Mary Kubica 

What Lies in the Woods: Kate Alice Marshall 

 

Age of Vice: Deepti Kappoor

Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone: Benjamin Stevenson

The Blue Bar: Damyanti Biswas (Blue Mumbai #1)

The Drift: C.J. Tudor

Locust Lane: Stephen Amidon

City Under One Roof: Iris Yamashita

The Things We Do To Our Friends: Heather Darwent

Liar, Dreamer, Thief: Maria 

Looks at the details of the books here:

https://www.goodreads.com/blog/show/2440-2023-s-most-anticipated-mysteries-thrillers

The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz

 Hi all!

For our January Mystery Book Club meeting, we read The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz.

About the book: 

"Jacob Finch Bonner was once a promising young novelist with a respectably published first book. Today, he’s teaching in a third-rate MFA program and struggling to maintain what’s left of his self-respect; he hasn’t written—let alone published—anything decent in years. When Evan Parker, his most arrogant student, announces he doesn’t need Jake’s help because the plot of his book in progress is a sure thing, Jake is prepared to dismiss the boast as typical amateur narcissism. But then . . . he hears the plot.

Jake returns to the downward trajectory of his own career and braces himself for the supernova publication of Evan Parker’s first novel: but it never comes. When he discovers that his former student has died, presumably without ever completing his book, Jake does what any self-respecting writer would do with a story like that—a story that absolutely needs to be told.

In a few short years, all of Evan Parker’s predictions have come true, but Jake is the author enjoying the wave. He is wealthy, famous, praised and read all over the world. But at the height of his glorious new life, an e-mail arrives, the first salvo in a terrifying, anonymous campaign: You are a thief, it says.

As Jake struggles to understand his antagonist and hide the truth from his readers and his publishers, he begins to learn more about his late student, and what he discovers both amazes and terrifies him. Who was Evan Parker, and how did he get the idea for his “sure thing” of a novel? What is the real story behind the plot, and who stole it from whom? "

Did you read it? What did you think?

I liked it once the story got going. I would say it started a bit slow for me. Once Jake received the first email "You are a thief", that is when the book too off for me.  We have the story of Jake and then we have the book that he writes, in alternating chapters. The two styles of writing are different.

 We discussed in out meeting that it may have written in two different styles to clearly separate the two stories. We all agreed we liked Jake's book better in some ways than the main story. A real psychological thriller. But the two merge at the end with a pretty good twist. I did pick out the culprit halfway through. That may also have been intentional to create more tension. At the end of the discussion and from our members that follow by email, half liked it and half did not with some that "loved it" .

By the way, this book is slotted to be made into a movie for Hulu.

About the author from Goodreads:

"Native New Yorker! Graduated from Dartmouth College and Clare College, Cambridge. I'm the author of eight novels: THE PLOT (The Tonight Show's "Summer Reads" pick for 2021), THE LATECOMER (to be published in May, 2022), THE UNDOING, originally published as YOU SHOULD HAVE KNOWN (adapted by David E. Kelley for HBO and starring Nicole Kidman, Hugh Grant and Donald Sutherland), ADMISSION (adapted as the 2013 film of the same name, starring Tina Fey, Lily Tomlin and Paul Rudd), THE DEVIL AND WEBSTER, THE WHITE ROSE, THE SABBATHDAY RIVER and A JURY OF HER PEERS, as well as a middle-grade reader, INTERFERENCE POWDER, and a collection of poetry, THE PROPERTIES OF BREATH. If you've become aware of my work via THE UNDOING, you should know that my novel differs significantly from the adaptation -- and that's fine with me! Just know that the twists you might be expecting will likely not be there on the page. Other twists, yes, but you'll have to read the book to find them."

The Late Comer is also listed to be made into a movie.

I would recommend it. It was worth the read.

January 2023 PBS and Hallmark mysteries

 Hallmark Movies and Mysteries

Several of their actors for the mysteries left Hallmark this past year. Unfortunate. I see three mysteries coming up January 2023. There was an Emma Fielding mystery a few years ago and it is pretty good. I can't say I know anything about the other two. I will give them a try.

Note: The first new mystery is on MONDAY 1/2/23. Hallmark usually has their new mysteries on Sunday nights. The next two are on Sunday.

January 2, 2023 (Monday)

8 p.m. CST

Emma Fielding Mysteries: More Bitter Than Death

About: "While hosting the annual gathering of the Association for the Study of American Archaeology at Kenzer College, Emma Fielding is thrust into the midst of a murder mystery when the President of her organization is poisoned on the eve of announcing her successor. With many of the leading archaeologists present having expressed their entitlement to the presidency prior to the murder, Emma and FBI pal Jim Conner have plenty of likely suspects from which to choose. Starring Courtney Thorne-Smith, James Tupper, and Mark Valley."

January 8, 2023 

6 p.m. CST

Family History Mysteries: Buried Past

About: "Genealogist Sophie McClaren is an expert at bringing families together. When her close friend Jonathan urgently needs to find a bone marrow donor, the case becomes personal. Starring Janel Parrish and Niall Matter."

This looks interesting to me since my other hobby is genealogy.

January 8, 2023

8 p.m. CST

The Secrets of Bella Vista

About: "When Tess inherits an apple orchard along with a half-sister she never met, she unravels the mystery of the family who abandoned her, ultimately finding a new understanding of herself. Starring Rachelle Lefevre and Niall Matter."

May be more of a drama than a mystery. Sounds like it covers both.

Masterpiece Mystery on PBS is back with a bang for the New Year.

January 8, 2023 starts with the return of:

Miss Scarlet and the Duke 7 p.m. CST Season 3, 6 episodes

{Let me just say I hated how Season 2 ended. If you have been watching the series, you know what I mean. If you haven't been watching it, I really recommend this series. 

About: "Kate Phillips (Peaky Blinders) stars as the headstrong, first-ever female detective in Victorian London, who won’t let any naysayers stop her from keeping her father’s business running. Stuart Martin (Jamestown) stars as her childhood friend, professional colleague, and potential love interest, Scotland Yard Detective Inspector William Wellington, a.k.a., The Duke."

All Creatures Great and Small: Season 3, 6 episodes

8 p.m. CST

Ok it's not a mystery but soooo good. Watch it. The scenery is great and the story line is fantastic.Seems like everyone in our Mystery Book Club is a fan also.

About: Transport yourself back to the Yorkshire Dales once again with James, Siegfried Farnon, Tristan Farnon, Helen Alderson, Mrs. Hall, and more. The acclaimed ensemble includes Nicholas Ralph, Samuel West, Callum Woodhouse, Anna Madeley and Rachel Shenton, Patricia Hodge and others.

Season 3 begins in spring 1939 as James and Helen prepare to walk down the aisle. Should their wedding go off without a hitch—and what are the chances of that?—James will have a new wife and a new stake in the business to think of. The pressure is on, and while his scheme to participate in the government’s practice to test for tuberculosis in cattle will expand the veterinary practice, it could put James on the outs with local farmers. Meanwhile, war with Germany looms on the horizon, leaving everyone wondering what the future holds."

Vienna Blood: Season 3, 3 episodes

9 p.m. CST

This series didn.t catch my eye until the second season. I really like it. Very interesting commentaries about the filming of the series and Vienna after each episode. You will know Matthew Beard from the recent Magpie Murders. 

About: "Working together in a crime-solving partnership, brilliant young English doctor Max Liebermann and tenacious Detective Inspector Oskar Rheinhardt investigate a series of unusual and disturbing murders. Max’s extraordinary skills of psychological perception and Oskar’s forceful determination lead them to solve some of Vienna’s most mysterious and deadly cases.

From acclaimed screenwriter Steve Thompson ("Deep State," "Leonardo," "Sherlock"), based on the best-selling novels by Frank Tallis, "Vienna Blood" is directed by Academy Award and Emmy nominee Robert Dornhelm ("Anne Frank: The Whole Story") and Umut Dag ("Cracks in Concrete").

Filmed in English and on location in Vienna and Budapest, "Vienna Blood" stars Matthew Beard ("The Imitation Game," "Dracula") as Max Liebermann, and Juergen Maurer ("Vorstadtweiber," "Tatort") as Detective Inspector Oskar Rheinhardt."

Gotta go set up my DVR.

Yay Happy Mystery New Year!

Reading List for 2023

As promised, I am sharing our Mystery Book Club reading list for the first six months of 2023. 

January:

The Plot – Jean Hanff Korelitz

Jean Hanff Korelitz’s The Plot is a psychologically suspenseful novel about a story too good not to steal, and the writer who steals it.

February: The Violin Conspiracy – Brendan N.  Slocumb

A mystery about a Black classical musician whose family heirloom violin is stolen on the eve of the most prestigious classical music competition in the world.

March: The Lost Apothecary – Sarah Penner

A female apothecary secretly dispenses poisons to liberate women from the men who have wronged them - setting three lives across centuries on a dangerous collision course.

April: Conviction – Denise Mina (Anna and Fin book #1)

Conviction is the compelling and unique new thriller from multiple award-winner and author of The Long Drop, Denise Mina.

May: Northern Spy – Flynn Berry

The acclaimed author of Under the Harrow and A Double Life returns with her most thrilling novel to date: the story of two sisters who become entangled with the IRA.

June: Award Nominated/Winning Books of 2023

It's a tradition of the Mystery Book Club to choose a book or two or three that have either won an award in 2023 or is nominated for an award. That gives everyone a chance to choose a book they are excited about and we walk away with a great list of books for us mystery lovers.

We find out books at the website Stop You/re Killing Me. Check it out sooner if you are not familiar with it, It's a great source for all books mystery.

Stop, You're Killing Me! (stopyourekillingme.com)

I will post what the members of the MBC thought about each book after each meeting. Let me know what you think of the books too,

Merry Christmas 

&
Happy New Year all!