Books most popular in the United States●British Detectives

Release date: 2020-06-02 Genre:Mysteries & Thrillers $11.99

Comments

1. Slow burn, but good! - It has a slower start, but nonetheless still a great book. If you like action packed throughout, this won’t be the book for you. It’s more about storyline and tying all of the pieces together in the end. Her descriptive writing is phenomenal. She does an excellent job of putting you in an isolated Irish setting.
2022-10-12

2. Thriller until the end - Love this great vacation or beach read. Love how each chapter goes from the point of view from each character. I kept switching who I thought “did it”. However that end was just awful. Very dry and I would love to hear how the rest of the characters coped and their aftermath.
2022-09-11

3. Long & drawn out, until the very end . . - Where to start? Each chapter is devoted to one of the main characters, and the chapters bounce back and forth in time for each character, depending upon the time frame the author writes about. I thought the book would have been better if it was written in chronological order . . until the very end, when everything came together. But what a chore to read to the end.
2022-08-07

4. Worth the wait - I’m not going to lie, the climb to the climax is a long journey. However by the end of the novel, I appreciate Lucy’s ability to lay the foundation. She sneaks in small clues and hints throughout the story. These clues may seem minuscule in the beginning, however they are key elements to the story. By the end you are mind blown…You will be in awe of how Lucy was able to entangle so many messy lives into one great story.
2021-07-25

5. Held my breath during the whole thing - The Guest List was a book that reintroduced reading for me. It’s the first book I’ve read in years and what an amazing choice. I’ve never read such a book with as much exciting anxiety and nervousness for what was to come page to page. I found myself skimming the following words ahead because I couldn’t read fast enough! Amazing book. Will be telling my friends all about this one!
2021-07-15

6. Easy listen with some nice but slightly predictable twists - I enjoyed this book as a simple “who did it” book. The voices change in narrators was enjoyable, though the female narrators putting on the male public school boy voices was slightly irritating an stupid for me. I didn’t enjoy this book as much as “the hunting party” by Lucy Foley which was fantastic. This seemed to have a far more predictable and less complex story line.
2021-07-02

Release date: 2022-02-22 Genre:Mysteries & Thrillers $12.99

Comments

1. Mystery and twists - A good novel from many points of view. Some of the sexual tones seem completely unnecessary to the plot but are short in length and easily forgotten. The overall story was quite good. Kept me reading a few nights a week but I definitely wouldn’t say that I couldn’t put it down.
2022-09-06

2. Implausible plot, interesting dynamics - Would not say “you need to read this!” But it was on okay story. Implausible that the “wrong action(s)” would result in coverup and more violence….and the solved mystery of the dysfunctional family dynamic and the further dysfunction (intended to create mystery) was just boring….
2022-08-28

3. I wish I could do . stars - I liked this book, and I would definitely recommend it to certain people! It was engaging, and it wasn’t very slow for long. After the first couple chapters you want to know more & the plot continues to thicken up until the end. Looking past the vast grammatical errors, I did like the writing style, although sometimes hard to follow between characters & time jumps. Overall, definitely on my list of good books!
2022-08-26

4. Quite the fun read! Jaw dropping - It usually takes me forever to finish a book, but not this one. I was always excited to pick it back up, it moves rather quickly. I loved that French was sprinkled throughout the book. (If you buy it digitally, it will be easier to look up exact translations). Loved the secrets and twists, it literally had my jaw dropping a few times!
2022-07-22

5. Foley’s best yet! - I loved this book. It was a super quick read and lots of twists and turns as to be expected from her, but the characters were beautifully developed. My relationship with each evolved and changed throughout the story. They were all complex and their actions always felt genuine. A very fun read.
2022-04-10

Release date: 2020-10-06 Genre:Mysteries & Thrillers $2.99

Comments

1. Did not finish. - I’m assuming this author’s other books must be good, but % of the way through I stopped reading, wondering if this book even had an editor. Bad, awkward prose full of pointless metaphors and interminable sentences. Sloppy and sometimes confusing point of view. Rookie fiction errors.
2021-09-05

Release date: 2017-08-29 $9.99

Comments

1. I’m Not Going to Write a Review - Because if you’re this far along n the series, you already know that we are Ruth, Myrna, Clara, Reine-Marie, Armand, and Jean-Paul, and Lacoste. We lived with them for thousands of pages, and they must resonate with us or we wouldn’t have stuck around for so long. They resonate because they are us. Now, the rest of you, the new readers. If you keep saying to yourself, “Well, just be more book,” after reading any one, then welcome to the club. Meet you at the end. God bless.
2023-01-17

2. Still Life - I have read every book in Louise’s Inspector Gamache series. I can say that without a doubt every book is excellent. They can be read as stand alone books but then the reader would miss out on the richness and complexity of the characters and of life itself. Because of Louise’s stories I have grown to enjoy and appreciate poetry. I assume that the author is writing the poetry that is attributed to Ruth. Every line touches me deep within and makes me think and feel. It may seem unlikely to some but I can say that by reading Louise’s books I have become more tolerant and less judgmental of others. Although the greatest gift I come away with after reading one of the author’s books is a newfound nonjudgmental,tolerance of myself,well most of the time anyway. But the sense of self love and acceptance,faults and all, is by far the greatest gift of her stories. Merci.
2017-12-10

3. Glass Houses - Louise Penny is .... oh! What to say? She has created a place of refuge and sanctuary for all of us. I lost my partner about years ago and I will never be the same. But- she is the one who discovered "Still Life." We can be together again... snuggling together at the Bistro in front of the fireplace, reading books together again and forever.
2017-09-17

4. Profound - I've read several of Louise Penny's books and admit to being a fan. Her ability to bring place and character to life is profound. This story seems to delve deeper in moral/ethical paradox than her previous work, but never to the detriment of the narrative. In "Glass Houses", I found myself both wanting to read faster to learn what happened next and yet trying to slow down to savor the beauty of the story. In the end, I am even more convinced of her artistry than ever. Louise Penny is a gift.
2017-09-15

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2017-09-15

6. Worth the wait - I waited for this with such anticipation and hard as I tried to stretch it out I could not - I ate it all in one glorious gulp. One caveat - you can't skim this one. It requires real focus to keep the timeline straight and the characters in line. Little things mean a lot. A great read.
2017-08-31

7. A wondrous addition to the series - I read hundreds of books each year and enjoy or are at least interested in most of them. Louise Penny's books, however, have drawn me into the tiny town in Quebec and never released me. Most of the characters have flaws, but their essential goodness shines through. This book was wondrous, but I suggest that you start with the first in the series.
2017-08-30

Release date: 2022-11-29 $14.99

Comments

1. A World o Curiosities, by Louise Penny - I have been a huge fan of Penny’s Inspector Gamache books until this one. It is very graphic in its description of pedophilia, and very disturbing. In addition, Ms. Penny has. Finally. Gone. Over. The. Top. With. Her. Sentence. Fragments. I am very sorry I purchased this book. If it was in paper form, I would throw it in the trash. Shame on you, Ms. Penny.
2022-12-21

2. Never Fails to stir the imagination - The subtle nuances brought forward in this book and anything Louise Penny touches are beyond masterful. She never leaves anything unfinished, she ties all the strings together throughout her continued masterpieces. She leaves nothing, not smudges or unclear trails to the central plot. Not even a dangling participle. Brava Madame.
2022-12-13

3. Stressful and Satisfying - As a reader of the entire series, this book makes tremendous sense, tying together people and incidents that have made the books so wonderful along the way. The story is excellent. That said, it was darker and heavier that its most of its predecessors because in those books, for the most part, the place the reader goes for respite (Three Pines) is now the place at greatest risk. I enjoyed it a lot, but hoping the next one does not put everyone and everything at risk all at once. I love visiting Three Pines because it is not real life; because itself is the respite.
2022-12-04

Release date: 2014-12-12 $4.99

Comments

1. stars - Excellent reading kept you guessing up to the end. Loved the information about the village and surrounding countryside. I was born on the Isle of Wight and now live in Honolulu for the last years or so. I will be coming to England sometime in June to see my family in Brading. Looking forward to reading your third book. Aloha Maureen Lau
2022-01-02

Release date: 2018-11-27 $9.99

Comments

1. I love this series - I have read every book in this series, somehow I missed this one and read it last. Each one has interesting cultural, historical and or geographic narratives besides great characters. I’m sad because now I’ve finished the series and feel like I will miss my friends in Three Pines. I sense a trip to Canada in my future….
2022-04-09

2. Thank you - Louise, we’re so deeply sorry for your loss but so thankful you’ve shared Armand Gamache and Three Pines with us all these years. Kingdom of the Blind was a wonderful multi story story, as usual, and Three Pines, again, gave us a magical place to dream of visiting or living. While we hope there will be another Gamache story we end by saying “thank you Louise”.
2018-12-20

3. Kingdom of the Blind - Another comforting story by a wonderful storyteller. Yes, it involves murder and deceit. It also involves family and cozy evenings by a roaring fire. Indeed a wonderful read! Thank you Louise Penny for another story that shares all the characters of Three Pines with the literary world.
2018-12-06

4. Kingdom of the blind, Louise Penny - I was never able to download this pre-ordered book on my iPhone X. Hours of tech support eliminated all the possible hardware & software issues with my device. I was able to download another title. The Apple Store support person concluded there is a problem with this particular title & refunded by purchase price. It’s a development issue, she told me.
2018-11-27

Release date: 2021-03-29 Genre:Mysteries & Thrillers $3.99

Comments

1. Satisfying true crime read - I love true crime and have always had a personal interest in religion and psychology, and you can certainly imagine what's behind all that happens. Such a different society and way of life that most of us can't imagine. Very intriguing series, well written and kept me interested.
2022-08-08

Release date: 2020-10-02 Genre:Mysteries & Thrillers $3.99

Release date: 2015-08-25 $11.99

Comments

1. The Nature of the Beast - Louise Penny's prior Gamache books have been well written, suspenseful, and also charming. There has been a well wrought dichotomy between Three Pines , with its wonderful characters, and the Gamache city life. At the end of the book we learn that the events are based on a true story. Somehow this plot feels forced into the Three Pines landscape I fell asleep constantly while reading this book. This is not much of a recommendation as a page turner.
2015-09-11

Release date: 2013-08-27 $11.99

Comments

1. How the Light Gets In - My husband and I loved the first few books in this series: Wonderful characters, cozy village, mystery to solve. The most recent books have slowly become dark and sad, and not fun any more. I skipped through the last half of this book. Such a skilled author, but she got off the track, at least my track.
2015-04-16

2. Absolutely riveting. Wonderful book. - This is the latest in the series and brings together many of the plot points from previous novels. The action was intense and suspenseful. Gamache is an endearing, and well written character, although all the characters are interesting. I loved this book. I can't wait for the next one, I miss Gamache already!
2013-09-24

3. How the Light Gets In - Louise Penny paints such lovely pictures with words. This is the best one so far, but then I have said that about all of her books. I tried not to read it too fast, like a kid trying to make a sundae last. If you have not discovered this great series, I envy you the treat you have waiting for you.
2013-09-07

Release date: 2010-06-01 Genre:Mysteries & Thrillers $9.99

Comments

1. Despite the changes it helps make sense of the tv show - Meaning this — the story as told in the book is pretty much the same as the tv show of the same name. Reading the book fills in a lot that couldn’t fit in the series probably because the endings are so different. I’m not going to spoil the story for anyone planning to view the show but I think it’s best to view first and then read the book. The book adds a lot to the story.
2023-01-22

Release date: 2020-09-01 $9.99

Comments

1. Louise Penny at the Top of her Game! - I’ve them all and enjoyed each very much, but this book is her crowning achievement! Definitely I can see this particular novel turned into a major motion picture. She has culled all the characters we’ve come to know and love to a pivotal moment in each of their lives and brought them to the historical center of Francophile hearts and souls to play out a drama of love and hate and death and new life. Who could ask for more!? Bravo Louise Penny!
2021-04-29

2. The love of a father - I recently lost my father in a tragic accident. I did not get to say goodbye. I could not even see him again. I had started to read this novel, but had to stop to try to piece my shattered life back together. When I was able to start reading again, it was a balm that o desperately needed. The relationship between father and child in this novel, touched the emptiness in my heart. It comforted my aching soul. It sent light to my brokenness. This is an amazing story of a father’s love. Thank you Louise Penny.
2021-04-09

3. A must read. - I have completely enjoyed the entire series of Louise Penney’s Chief Inspector Armando Gamache! Just finished this last book. Gamache and family are personally involved in a murder investigation and corruption in high places. Add that to the location of Paris and you have an exciting, riveting tale. I highly recommend reading this th book in the series. Of course, read all of the others first and in order. Loved it!!!
2021-02-02

4. Fantastic - She is back to the top level of her wonderful writing ability. This is the second best she ever wrote...her first book is still . I even cried at one point. She has captured how a man can be tough and caring, strong and sensitive, loving and understanding...WOW. The role of Reine Marie in this book shows how smart and invincible she is. Daniel’s issue with his dad is heartbreaking but believable. The mystery itself is genius, tantalizing and downright entertaining to last second! Thank you!
2021-01-19

5. Another wonderful book - The only thing I hate about her books is that I read them too fast because they are just so good. This one proved to be just as good as the rest. She has a way of making the reader feel they are part of the characters. I always feel as if I’m right there with them. This time I traveled to Paris!
2020-09-18

6. She delivers again! - Finished last night and want to start the series over again. Love how Penny brings the reader into the setting making me want to sit in the gardens of Paris or walk the streets in the rain with her characters - because you are sure you would be friends with Marie and Armand! - while the plot twists and surprises making you feel that you almost figured it out!
2020-09-06

7. I wish I had stars to rate - I love these books. I retreat to Three Pines to read them over and again. This book is the culmination of stories in which characters grow, make mistakes, argue, hold grudges, forgive and love. Not enough superlatives for this series. I do think one could read this book as a stand-alone and be more than satisfied, but for me, who has read each of the previous books numerous times, this was a GIFT to the fans without the loss of a step. It is an overused word, but Louise Penny is a MASTER story teller. Thank you, for Gamache and his entire universe. Thank you.
2020-09-06

Release date: 2015-10-30 $4.99

Release date: 2022-08-11 Genre:Mysteries & Thrillers $4.99

Release date: 2014-08-26 $11.99

Comments

1. The Long Way Home - Louise Penny has a great way of holding your attention as she unfolds another mystery with Armand Gamache leading the way. An artist leaves a small town in Quebec. After not returning the search for Peter Morrow is lead by Gamache. There are some interesting twists along the way. I loved the way she involved an environmental problem in this story. Being from northern VT, I could relate to the area as well as the environmental impact this product has had to people.
2018-06-04

2. No no no - I've enjoyed this whole series, and this one for the most part. But to drag us so long through the mire and so clearly change character's developed personalities . . . No. (Almost spoiler alert) Myrna wouldn't have let her go. Neither Gamache nor Beauvoir would have allowed that ending either. Disappointed . . .
2015-09-06

3. the Long Way Home - This is the first book in this series that I found boring and ridiculous. The Chief Inspector has also become boring and uninteresting. The character of Clara is annoying and very unlikable. Hopefully, if there is another book in this series, the author will return to the original tender of the mystery series.
2015-07-17

4. Disappointing - I've read a couple other books by Louise Penny that I rather enjoyed. Didn't love them but rather enjoyed them. Sometimes that's enough. With this one I gave up / of the way through. Such a lot of repetitious rot. The Tenth Muse indeed. A long boring search for Peter, a character not that interesting to start with. I see this is on the best seller list and the NYT gave it a favorable review. This is good. I wish it well. I must have missed something.
2014-09-22

5. My favorite series - Louise Penny once again beautifully captures the beauty and heartache of life through masterful storytelling. I have grown attached to her characters. I feel their pain, love their relationships with each other, and can picture exactly what their lovingly snarky comments would sound like. Definitely my favorite series.
2014-09-16

6. Amazing - This series is beautiful. Here, Ms. Penny creates word pictures that rival the imagined great paintings that are integrated into the story. This is about artists, artistic effort, human failings, and what makes us whole. A place, a person, a memory, a sensation: for each of the characters we learn what they care about at the deepest levels. Yes, there is a mystery to unravel, but the real focus is on the journeys of discovery that each character makes. Some may decide that there isn't enough action or that some of the writing is a bit flowery. I think it's all just right, and am breathless with the beauty of many of the passages.
2014-08-27

Release date: 2008-09-30 $9.99

Comments

1. Great book! - I am new to Louise Penny, and this book made me realize I have been missing out on a truly wonderful writer. Her characters are people you want to know or know someone just like them. This wasn’t a mystery at breakneck speed. This was a book about relationships and real people I want to know. The plot was clever, and while I cared who did it and why, it was a good journey getting from A to Z.
2021-10-17

2. Still Life. - While reading this book, the author introduces us to the villagers @ Three Pines. They are all believable, caring people with flaws as we all have. they are a tight community which accepts each one’s flaws and idiosyncrasies and still cares for them. Good story line, characters, and plot. Have read several of Louise Penny’s novels in the series and like them all.
2021-04-22

3. The best. - Louise Penny writes with humor, compassion, intelligence and elegance. Her novels are to be savored but one usually devours them instead as they are so well done. The settings are divine and one is totally drawn into the characters lives, homes and settings. By far the best mysteries available today.
2020-04-17

4. Well done - This was the first book by Louise Penny I have ever read, but now I will read all Imcan find. The writing is beautiful and the humor, when it comes, is in character and delightful. The humanity in the book! The characters are real and the evil is real. The plotting and suspense are original. Nothing about this book is formula. This is not just a good read. It is a fine book.
2014-09-26

5. Well-written! - Louise Penny is one of the best contemporary mystery writers in North America. Her characters are well-drawn and complicated- new layers ( or is it depths?) are revealed under subsequent titles in this wonderful series. I was completely in love with Three Pines and its residents by the end of the first book and couldn't wait to find another so I could visit this village again.
2012-05-14

6. Still Life - Beautifully written. Not so much a mystery as a sensitive and seductive portrait of humanity. Characters finely drawn. The kind of book that not only holds one's interest from first to last but forces one to stop every now and again to chew over the deeper significance of the author's insights.
2011-11-24

7. Still life - Another wonderful Louise Penny.The richness of characters-the character of characters is so terrific that I regret finishing the last page. The author has another gift I love; a turn of phrase and metaphor that leads me to stop, find a notebook and capture the picture. always an enjoyable experience. Hurry and write some more!
2011-03-18

Release date: 2010-08-24 Genre:Mysteries & Thrillers $10.99

Comments

1. A Share in Death - A well plotted mystery with enough suspense to keep the tale rolling along... This is Duncan's case, but it becomes clear that he functions best with Gemma beside him - and it is also clear, to the readers, if not to the participants, that there will be more to the relationship between the two detectives in subsequent novels. This was a thoroughly satisfying read!
2012-02-26

Release date: 2011-08-30 $11.99

Comments

1. Layered - Louise Penny does a great job of interplay of interpersonal mystery with inner-personal mystery as an undercurrent to the nominal mystery- the “main” murder mystery around which the story is organized. Her characters are interesting, often funny and complex, and if guessing who-done-it is your goal, it’s a challenge. I really enjoyed this book- as I have her previous “Gamashe” mysteries.
2021-01-18

2. A Trick of the Light - Such a satisfying book, from an author with the uncanny knack of combining a murder mystery with truly compelling characters, an understanding of the human psyche in its best and worst light, and the same element of hope and faith shown as a glimmer of light in a brilliant painting by central character, Clara. I very highly recommend it.
2013-09-11

3. Absolutely Wonderful - I have spent much time reading perhaps too many mysteries but have been intrigued and entertained by many of them. This book too is highly entertaining and intriguing yet much more. There is a subtlety and grace to this that I found to be wonderful. Each of the characters are fascinating and you are gently introduced to each one as if meeting them at a social event. Most murder mysteries today seem to need to include dramatic, violent, and even gruesome scenes. This book does not need such extremes and theatrics in order to be dramatc and absorbing. In this book you are drawn into its murder mystery in a way as if you were right there talking with each of the characters. This is written along the classic lines of agatha christie and sir Arthur Conan Doyle and I loved it.
2011-10-18

4. A Trick of Light - I have had the deep please of reading Louis Penny's earlier works. Her talent and voice grows with each novel. This novel, illuminating the truth of the human spirit and it's capacity for change is both inspiring and realistic. Hope is just that - hope. The human spirit is exposed with all is potential and all is resistance. It strikes the reader's soul with the uncomfortable truth that growth and change can proceed in positive and negative directions. The light of hope is fleeting and must be sought, challenged and ultimately desired for positive change to occur. It is a marvelous, thoughtful and deeply satisfying novel.
2011-10-15

5. So much more than a mystery - I hope anyone not familiar with Ms Penny's novels goes back and reads from the beginning, It is only then that I believe you can truly love this journey we are on. On it's own, Trick of the Light is still brilliant, but having the privilege of understanding all the nuances of the characters makes it oh so much better.
2011-09-04

Release date: 2009-01-20 $11.99

Comments

1. Rule of Murder - What graceful words are used to unroll this fabulous story. I never quite figure out "who dun It", but the more I read of Ms. Penny's books, the harder I read and concentrate on the clues, trying to figure out the ending before I get there. Intriguing, suspenseful, romantic and every character a story of their own. Looking to the next book to begin another adventure.
2018-03-26

Release date: 2008-03-04 $11.99

Release date: 2014-09-30 Genre:Mysteries & Thrillers $11.99

Release date: 2012-08-28 $11.99

Comments

1. Still Life is too still - Unless you have internet access to this writer’s brain and pencil and pad at hand, you will not be able to follow what this woman is trying to do or tell you or to peak your sense of the mystery. It is a hodgepodge collection of names and events and sidetracks that make no sense to anyone but, hopefully, the writer. Her style is disjointed and, when attempts are made to connect the curve balls she throws in, presumably as a technique, you are so far past the event and exhausted from trying to remember all the different names she has thrown into the pot, it’s not worth the effort.
2018-05-05

2. Simply Beautiful! - This is the first book I read by Louise Penny. Could not put it down. I know I started with the latest of her series, but I did not feel I missed anything. Since then I have started from the beginning with Still Life and I just finished Fatal Grace. She is an amazing writer. Just the right dose of mystery, humor, well developed characters, and a great story line. So far I have not figured out any of the endings before Inspector Gamache. This is what makes for a wonderful mystery. The clues are cleverly laid out so that I should be able to figure it out, but alas, hind sight is /.
2014-01-06

3. A Beautiful Mystery - I had such hopes for this book. Louise Penny is without a doubt a superb writer with the gift for creating a relationship between the reader and her characters. Most of the time, I procrastinate doing chores because I can't wait to get back to these fictional people. A Beautiful Mystery lacked, for me, the relational invitation, the desire to sit across from her creations and interact with them, at the expense of other things. I was content to observe and merely read. I felt at points that the author was trying too hard to increase her page numbers by drawing out and repeating information; I thought that she did not keep Gamache as sharp as he has always been and that Beauvois was drawn closer to than . The Arnot Case has got to conclude. . Y
2013-09-29

4. Disappointing - I have read this series in chronological order since that is the best way to enjoy character development. This latest one was so very disappointing on so many levels. The two main characters have become caricatures and even unlikable, especially in Beauvoir's case. Their behavior toward each other is unappealing in the extreme, duplicitous, and quite unbelievable. This was highlighted in this book as much by Gamache's patronizing behavior toward Beauvoir as Beauvoir's treacherous turn regarding Gamache and Annie. Not a satisfying effort since almost all of the continuity for this book rested on the shoulders of Gamache and Beauvoir, who seem unequal to the task. Perhaps Ms. Penny should study Donna Leon's books to see how real characters are developed and real relationships are depicted.
2012-10-01

5. Beautiful Mystery - This novel was a real disappointment. I have read all of Penny's novels all of which I enjoyed until this latest one. In a quick summary it was very boring until the last or so pages. You really could skip the first percent of this novel and still get the total plot. Very disappointed. The way she revealed the murderer seemed like she couldn't come up with anything clever. It was such a short cut. All of the details about the monks, the singing details, and the monetary details just seemed to be total filler so that the novel had more than pages.
2012-09-16

6. A mystery that will break your heart - Is it a mystery? Yes, but it is so very much more. Only one character in this book is truly evil, and it is not the murderer. Louise Penny does not write about New York City or Los Angeles or Montréal. Instead she places her stories in very small communities, so the reader can get to know everyone -- in this case, the monks who live in an isolated abbey. We learn that everyone has secrets, and that everyone has sorrows. And we learn that everyone is haunted by the past. Yet we are also touched by the beautiful mystery and by joy. I recommend this book without reservation to anyone who has read and enjoyed Louise Penny's earlier books.
2012-08-31

Release date: 2017-02-21 Genre:Mysteries & Thrillers $9.99

Release date: 2013-05-07 Genre:Mysteries & Thrillers $9.99

Release date: 2018-02-20 $9.99

Comments

1. Below the Underbelly of the City - Way, way down, at levels you wouldn’t want to experience first-hand, but are fascinating in print. The story of a disgraced ex-cop who finds himself on the borderline of doing good or evil. The story is gritty, the characterizations alive and the detail is always precise, down to the clothes and even the “chipped” name tag on a diner waitress’ blouse. Who are the bad guys and who are the good ones runs along a murky line that you wish didn’t exist, but it’s just the way it is.
2023-03-08

Release date: 2021-02-09 Genre:Mysteries & Thrillers $9.99

Release date: 2020-12-05 $9.99

Release date: 2016-08-30 $9.99

Comments

1. Snore - This is not a thriller or even a suspenseful murder mystery. This is a story about a police academy and a small Canadian community. Be prepared to yawn through endless pages of pointless details and dialogue with side characters that have little to do with the root of the mystery. As a reader the narrative bounces inside the head of one character to the next, yet still you don’t see what’s clearly going on in their POV. You never learn their secrets or what motivated their actions, so it seems like a waste of time. Ended up feeling like pages of “huh?” how would that character know that? As an avid mystery reader this annoyed me. When you finically reached the end and learned what happened, it was very lackluster and no surprise. YAWNNN. Pass on this one.
2019-04-21

2. If there was a th star - I would certainly give this dear book a . And the afterword is so real and touching. The characters in this are amazing and so beautifully developed. A page turner-but you don't want to because the prose is so beautiful and endearing. Someday I would love to meet Louise. I can't imagine that she would be anything less than interesting, caring, insightful, and "kind".
2016-09-15

3. A Great Reckoning - I love this writer and most of her stories. Armand should be a model for all males -- he is almost too good to be true. I believe there are good people out there, and hope they will continue to prevail over evil and corruption. The map seemed like a distraction at times, but still enjoyed the cast of wild and crazy -- talented, brilliant poets and artists -- and would probably enjoy retirement in this lovely village! I loved the way Armand gave the Goth girl admission -- wish everyone was so forgiving and non judgmental! Wow!
2016-09-15

4. Another gift - I eagerly await the next book the moment after I finish the current book. I feel a sense of loss knowing I will not be with the Gamache family and all their friends in Three Pines for another year. I sometimes reread a book in the series when I need connection to "my" friends. I love the message that Louise whispers in Michael's ear each night at bedtime. I am going to borrow it and whisper my own version into the ears of my husband and my grandson at bedtime. The stories she tells, and the real life she lives, are filled with love and connection. A beauty of living in fact and in fiction. I so admire and desire it for myself. Thank you, Louise Penny, for your gift!
2016-09-10

5. A wondrous addition to the Armand Gamache series - If you have not yet read any of the books in this series, written by Louise Penny, I urge you to start with the first book. Then you will have the pleasure of reading one book a week for many weeks, entering into the heart of the community and the souls of the residents. After reading this marvelous addition, I must sadly wait another year to see what will happen next to Armand Gamache and the residents of Three Pines.
2016-09-02

Release date: 2018-06-05 Genre:Mysteries & Thrillers $14.99

Comments

1. Entertaining, funny, gripping - Incredibly entertaining from start to finish. The author’s love of Sherlock Holmes stories was evident in the dynamics of the main characters. The author does an inventive take on the traditional “who done it” by writing himself into the story; a move which could have fallen flat but it’s pulled off in a self deprecating and often laugh inducing fashion. I highly recommend the audio version- one of the best narrations I have ever heard.
2018-11-26

Release date: 2000-05-25 $9.99

Release date: 2022-05-10 Genre:Mysteries & Thrillers $14.99

Comments

1. in three weeks! - Once starting the Slow Horse series in early January, I just couldn’t stop! The characters, their dialog, the exciting espionage scenarios all make for a wonderful ride around London “secret” world of MI. You want to read quickly because of the action, but you actually read slower to savor the humor, sarcasm, and Britishness. Can’t wait til the ninth book is out.
2023-02-06

2. Underwhelming - Compared to previous sloughouse novels, this seemed hurriedly fleshed out, poorly paced, jarring back and forth storylines. Herron didn’t have his heart in this one. And to leave us wanting to see the final confrontation between Sparrow and Taverner, and getting instead unsatisfying vignettes of the main characters…….well some might say minimalism is better than a wallop over the head, and that’s Herron’s glib style, but this novel needed a bang somewhere in those chapters and it never delivered. And how the Russian secret service would deal with the Russian first desk’s disappearance? It’s consequences?completely not explained or thought out. Almost an aside. Silly actually. No drama. I’m sorry but I was expecting more from this long awaited addition to the series.
2022-05-26

Release date: 2011-08-02 $9.99

Comments

1. Poor treatment of main plot points - The angst of the warehouse attack for Gamache is a main theme you live thru with him (and Beauvias) for the entire book but in the last few pages when the attack is revealed, the chronology is confusing leading you to ask (spoiler alert here) how can they be doing that if he was already shot? So I had to go back thru the book and piece together how/why the timeline details had been presented and it was still confusing. Also was disappointed there was not more "meat" on the explanation around Old's father's death. Except for this book I have thoroughly enjoyed the books in this series I have read.
2016-09-04

2. Inspired and Insightful - I have read, and thoroughly enjoyed, all of Ms. Penny's novels but this one is such a special creation. In the most subtle and graceful of ways she explores the long journey that is grief, the great burden that is surviving when others don't, and the miracle of loved ones who give us time to find a way through. The characters, as ever, are rich and relatable- so human. The story line is brilliantly constructed and elegantly fleshed out. I can't imagine anyone not enjoying, and learning from, this novel.
2012-03-19

3. A wonderful discovery! - French-English, city-village, past-present -- simultaneous mysteries abound around! Masterful, beautiful, sensitive writing by Canadian author Louise Penny. As you can tell, I am very impressed. I downloaded the book because of its consistently top ratings, and it more than met my expectations. This work must be listened to with brain actively engaged. A treat. 'Bury Your Dead' is the first of Penny's books I've read, but I certainly will be hunting up the previous books in the series. My download included an interview with the author. Warning, there are many flash-backs and fast scene changes, with which the reader could be more helpful to the listener.
2011-09-10

Release date: 2018-06-05 Genre:Mysteries & Thrillers $9.99

Release date: 2019-08-27 $9.99

Comments

1. And on to the next - I can’t get enough of Penny’s inspector Gamache series. I’ve read all but the last two now but want to savor these last two. Each one as good or better than the next. The murder mysteries are only second to the character development that I love so much. I’ll be so sad to see this series come to an end- come on Louise, keep writing!
2022-02-16

2. A Better Man Review - I just finished reading Louise Penny's new novel, A Better Man, and as always I found it delightful and engaging. I am concerned though that Jean Guy might not be in the next novel, fighting crime and identifying murderers. It would not be the same without him by Gamache's side!!
2019-09-04

3. Love Inspector Gamache - Have read and re-read Louise Penny’s novels about Three Pines and Inspector Gamache. It’s a wonderful world to be taken into - the twists and turns of each murder and the characters are so well written. I really enjoyed reading The Better Man and that Inspector Gamache has solved the crime and rescued another dog, lucky Fred.
2019-09-01

Release date: 1988-03-04 $7.99

Release date: 2019-06-11 Genre:Mysteries & Thrillers $9.99

Release date: 2020-12-09 Genre:Mysteries & Thrillers $4.99

Comments

1. Can’t put it down - I have never left a review for any book I’ve read but I read - of Josie Quinn series with a week and half. I love this series please don’t stop writing them. I cannot put them down they just draw you in. Also I have never cried like a baby reading a book before as I did at the ending of this book!! Can’t wait for !
2021-01-20

2. Run out and buy this! - Breathe Your Last is the latest Josie Quinn book. I’m really drawn to this series. Josie is a no nonsense police detective. And Lisa Regan writes Josie with balance in her home life, family, friends, and work. I really connect with Josie and her team. And while Josie isn’t perfect, you root for her. From book to book you get to watch Josie grow and evolve. While there is always a little storyline floating from book to book, in this one Josie and her team are investigating why the top swimmer at the local university has drowned. Hitting a dead end with little evidence, other strange things start to happen. This book is both suspenseful and thrilling. I am not easily fooled and I was guessing up to the end. And to take this up a notch, there are chapters told from the killer’s point of view. You get a chill reading their words. You didn’t think I’d slip and spoil it did you? As with this genre you get action, thrills and twists in addition to connecting with Josie and the group of family and friends that surround her. I always look forward to a new installment and I know no matter my reading mood, I know I’ll enjoy the book. I highly recommend this for anyone who likes a good mystery.
2020-12-09

3. Loved!!!!! - My Review: Wow, wow, wow this is a series you definitely don’t want to miss out on. This is the tenth book in the series and it was by far the best yet. I can’t tell you how much I love this author and this series. I do want to let you know you can read this book along with the others as a stand alone. I’ve done it and have had no problems following what is going on. This book of course featured the fabulous Detective Josie Quinn solving yet another case. This time is was a swimmer found dead in the pool. But that’s not all. As the case further progresses there are more deaths along the way. Can Josie and her team solve these cases before there are even more murders? Are all these cases linked together and how? Who would commit such a crime? You find out this and so much more by the end of the book. I want to start out by saying that I love Lisa Regans books and hope she writes so many more especially in the Josie Quinn Series. I love the way she writes every character in this series. I truly feel like I know them and I’m there with them trying to solve the crime. I’ve read quite a few books in this series and have gotten to know all of them like they were family to them. I just love that in a book where you get all invested and root for their ups and are sad for their downs. Ok, so who doesn’t love a good who done it murder case. I loved this storyline. Who doesn’t like a good mystery to solve? That ending blew me away. Not only did the author throw me for a loop on who did it but there was also so much nail biting action. I really thought I was going to have no nails left by the end of this book. There was a really special moment at the end that I loved as well. A little romance to satisfy my hunger. I was wondering what was going on with the disappearing act the whole book but it definitely came full circle in the end. Just loved it so much. Between the plot, characters and all the twists in this book it made it an easy and fast read. I would definitely recommend it and happily give it Hearts
2020-12-09

Release date: 2016-04-30 Genre:Mysteries & Thrillers $4.99

Release date: 2021-10-19 Genre:Mysteries & Thrillers $14.99

Release date: 2011-03-21 Genre:Mysteries & Thrillers $9.99

Comments

1. Boring - I'm a fan of Kate Atkinson, but this one really Felt like she was phoning it in. There was no real tension or surprises, the big reveal was quite obvious, and the book itself was pretty slow and boring the whole way through. Didn't even know who to root for. Hope her next one brings back the usual Jackson Brodie excitement.
2011-06-04

2. Hard to put down - Is it difficult to write such a complex novel that is so thoroughly enjoyable to read? Perhaps not for Kate Atkinson, but I couldn't help but stop and mutter "wow" as different characters in different timelines slowly converge into a heartbreaking story about the vulnerability of saviors who save the vulnerable. Jackson rescues a dog, a retired police officer rescues a child, a murder destroys some lives while giving others hope. I couldn't put this book down, and I'm quite sure I'll be picking it up again soon for another read.
2011-03-29

Release date: 2022-05-03 Genre:Mysteries & Thrillers $9.99

Comments

1. Revenge Tour - The new Sunny Randall book Revenge Tour is outstanding. The characters are unique and still remain so. A lot of twist and turns throughout the story. Even though I work I started and finished this book in one day. I couldn’t put the book down until I found out you the mysterious person was and that was exciting. All of Robert B. Parker’s series are an excellent read! I look forward to the next book. I am very glad the Parker family lets his stories continue. They are sophisticated, suspenseful, and humorous.
2022-05-04

Release date: 2014-02-18 $11.99

Release date: 2010-09-28 $11.99

Release date: 2021-08-24 $9.99

Comments

1. Hopefully…not too late - Even those who love and cherish all the Three Pines characters, with their personalities and foibles, this book hits heart and intellect in so many ways. Our globally shared recent past with the pandemic has bonded or estranged so many. Families torn apart by an sickness far more viral than the treacherous and unpredictable Covid. Even a person I consider a friend mentioned the death of a grandfather with the dismissive: “Well he was old and frail”. Louise Penny always reveals the virtues and flaws we all have and never shies away from revealing the darkness that scurries away from the light.
2021-10-23

2. Disappointing - I have loved the Inspector Gramache books. But the last two books were so hard to get into. Now this one is just the worst. Too political. Too critical of the US - just little snide remarks. The characters were blah - just not interesting. I am so disappointed in this series. The plot dragged. In the earlier books I have loved how the characters and the plot all came together at the end. But this book was not an enjoyable read. I had so looked forward to reading it but found myself forcing myself to finish it. Goodbye Inspector. I will remember you and the Three Pines community from your your earlier books. Where was the character development? Where was the descriptions of the food? The weather? Lots of snowflakes in this book but not the feeling of being in Three Pines. I’ll miss everyone.
2021-10-10

3. Why???? - As a Quebecois living in the US, this series has been like a Godsend. Beautifully written books, bringing me back to my childhood. Until. Until Ms. Penny decided to quietly toss in some anti Trump theatrics...why?? Why go political? Then it becomes obvious from the thank you pages, where the Clintons are mentioned. Then you get it. Then it makes sense. Then you understand that she is shilling for them. Now it’s not about the purity of the story, now it’s about appeasing her friend. Her criminal friend. Now I won’t give her another dollar. I will never buy another of her books. Which makes me sad. Au revoire Ms. Penny. It was a fun ride, and you ruined it.
2021-10-03

4. Madness of Crowds - Amazing as always! The delightful characters continue on their journey and connection to the readers. The insight into some of our troubling issues and concerns that we are presently dealing with in our lives is very important. Kindness is always an overall theme in these wonderful books and does make a difference to so many. Like many others, I want to live in Tree Pines.
2021-10-02

5. Meant to be shocking but reality is much worse - I haven’t read other books in this series but after reading this book I definitely don’t want to read any other books but n this series or by this author. It was a very slow read as it took many chapters just to reveal what the statistician was proposing. Then it was never revealed how she came to these conclusions. I love murder mysteries but this one just went in circles and was not very satisfying. If only the pandemic was ended by the availability of the vaccination. Who would ever believe that so many people would actually choose not to get vaccinated? Obviously the author never considered this. The elderly and infirm won’t need to be euthanized as proposed by the statistician. Instead, perhaps the unvaccinated will solve overpopulation issues.
2021-09-19

6. My first Gamache experience - I really wanted to like this. The subject intrigued me but the book was disappointing. Far fetched and way too long. Too much family drama and pages of confusing and repetitious babble. Strayed too far from what I expected the initial story to unravel. Way too many threads and extraneous characters.
2021-09-16

7. About covid??? Really? - As I tell people I know, I read to escape the madness in our current world, so to say I was a bit disappointed at the subject matter of this book, may be an understatement. I found myself surprisingly invested in those characters we love, and wandering tree pines in the snow, made me feel like home. Thank you for a visit with favorite friends and an enjoyable walk in those dark and haunted woods.
2021-09-05

8. Skip this one - Shame on the author, publisher and distributor for not including trigger warnings. I never would have gotten this book. Remember when Penny’s books in this series were cozy? Somewhere along the way, they diverted into dark, almost painful, triggering stories. This book was much too long, spent too long hashing out the same theories over and over, and went very deep into irrelevant tragedy. And the run on sentences were atrocious.
2021-08-28

Release date: 2023-03-21 Genre:Mysteries & Thrillers $13.99

Release date: 2011-09-20 Genre:Mysteries & Thrillers $7.99

Comments

1. Disappointing conclusion - It's been a while since I've read a Sandra Brown novel. I'd held off because of the excessive emphasis on sex in her prior books. This had some sex but not in mega-doses like I had feared. It was truly a thriller with a surprise villain but the conclusion was disappointing. If I felt that a sequel was on the horizon, the ending would have been more fulfilling; as it was, I finished feeling disappointed and saddened.
2016-05-26

2. What a big fat letdown! - If I hadn't read the ending I would've given this book five stars. The story was full of action, excitement, near misses, a little romance, and a few chuckles. But the ending felt oddly rushed and really made no sense whatsoever. Once the bad guy was revealed, I was left scratching my head. Then I got angry. I just finished this book minutes ago and I want to hate it. But % of it was thoroughly enjoyable, so I think I'll create my own ending!
2014-03-04

3. Lethal Rocks! - I started reading Sandra Brown novels just out of curiosity. I am hooked. She truly captures the essence of Romance Thrillers one cannot put down. I love her characters and the revelations each provide. She keeps you guessing throughout, and just when you think you've figured it out, she supplies another twist. I highly recommend you read her stories. You won't be disappointed"!!
2013-09-23

4. Lethal - Terrific book! It has you guessing throughout the entire story. So many great characters without being convoluted or confusing. A great mystery with just enough gruesome details to catch your breath but not give you nightmares. Relationships between the characters develop gradually and keep you guessing as to how they will end up.
2012-02-13

5. One of Sandra's Best - I usually only listen to audio books in the car. This one was so good, I literally carried my iphone around with me --putting my make up on in the morning, going to sleep at night, doing chores...listening. I was so intriqued with the story. She hit it out of the park with this one. The ending leaves you wanting more...but knowing it will end well...Sandra did very will with this one!!!
2011-12-14

Release date: 2022-11-15 Genre:Mysteries & Thrillers $15.99

Comments

1. More Hawthorne, less Horowitz, please - Anthony Horowitz, the person, is too talented a writer not to construct a solid whodunnit even when the material around it has problems, both of which are the case here. The central mystery here, an apparently simple murder, is nicely layered, and even if the reader probably can’t really fully solve it on their own, Horowitz does play fair with the clues. It is satisfying to see Hawthorne uncover them and fit them together in the end. Unfortunately, the book is let down, a common problem in this series, by Anthony Horowtiz, the character. This man is a chore: whiny, petulant, slow-witted, and apparently even a bad husband. The writer’s habit of weaving his actual biography into the characters narrative is especially problematic since there seems no way this dullard could have achieved what the actual man has. Finishing the book is satisfying both for the solution to the mystery and for the opportunity to get away from “Anthony Horowitz” at least until the next book. The character isn’t enough to sink the tale, which I still recommend, but he comes as close in this book to doing so as he has the entire series.
2023-02-23

Release date: 2010-08-24 Genre:Mysteries & Thrillers $7.99

Comments

1. Good read, well paced - This is another great story - a fun read that doesn’t pander. I care about the characters, and invest in them. I enjoy the way Crombie tells a modern story, inside a traditional detective novel, without mashing in thriller/horror genres. I also appreciate the way she wraps things up- no rambling retelling of the whole plot over chapters. She knows when it’s time to end the story so the next one can begin. I really enjoyed this installment of the Kincaid/James series.
2022-07-29

Release date: 2018-11-13 Genre:Mysteries & Thrillers $11.99

Comments

1. Engaging Read - A thoroughly engaging read, THE SHADOWS WE HIDE follows one man's journey for answers. This book does a great job weaving together the past and the present, and the mystery kept me guessing until the end. The characters are believable, the story is compelling, and the resolution is intensely satisfying. A worthy read for anyone looking for more than just a standard mystery novel. Disclosure: I received a free, uncorrected advance copy of this book.
2018-11-14