The Wry Writer

5 Well-Executed Murder-Mysteries

by Alex

Everybody who reads murder-mysteries probably has their favourite books as well as their favourite go-to authors. Well, today I want to share with you 5 of my favourites. THE ART OF DETECTION by Laurie R. King — The last book in the Kate Martinelli series, this one was a fun read because King has Kate and her partner, Al Hawkin, on the trail of a killer who may have trained with the greatest detective of them all, Sherlock, yes … Sherlock Holmes! “Kate Martinelli has seen her share of peculiar things as a San Francisco cop, but never anything quite like this: an ornate Victorian sitting room straight out of a Sherlock Holmes story–complete with violin, tobacco-filled Persian slipper, and gunshots in the wallpaper that spell out the initials of the late queen. Philip Gilbert was a true Holmes fanatic, from his antiquated décor to his vintage wardrobe. And no mere fan of fiction’s great detective, but a leading expert with a collection of priceless memorabilia that some would kill for. And perhaps someone...

Sunshine Blogger Award

by Alex

The Sunshine Blogger Award has been around for ages and the truth is, I’ve done this a couple of times before but, here goes again, just for the fun of it. The rules are: • Thank the blogger who nominated you by linking to their blog • Answer their questions • Nominate a bunch of people you like! What’s the best book you’ve ever read? That’s easy, I’ve mentioned it before it’s, Serpent’s Reach by C.J. Cherryh. It really is a very simple adventure story that, at the time, when I read it, had quite the effect on me. I also reread it on a regular basis. What’s the worst book you ever read? Well, that would have to be THE CUBAN AFFAIR, which is several hours of my life I will never get back, ever! Slow, boring, predictable, and just all around bad writing made this one an absolute dud! If you could be a fictional character, who would you be? I think anyone who knows me, knows I had a passion for...

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Wish Had An Epilogue

by Alex

Bonjour tout la monde, today’s Top Ten Tuesday from Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl is Books I Wish Had An Epilogue … another tough topic today, given I read a lot of crime fiction and, well, it’s not the kind of genre that begs an epilogue. Now, most fantasy books, and even some science fiction, that’s another matter. But whether I think they should have had an epilogue? Hmm … I think any good writer will put that kind of “epilogue” information in the closing chapter of their novel, rather than as a separate and standalone commentary. Unless, of course, like in Harry Potter, there is quite a jump in the timeline that begs that HEA closure that an epilogue can offer. Which brings me right back to scratching my head. Truly, I cannot think of anything I’ve read of late that needed an epilogue in anyway shape or form. And if I haven’t enjoyed a read (for whatever reason) I doubt it would have been improved with the addition of an epilogue, either. Certainly,...

Latest Book Haul

by Alex

I kept saying I wouldn’t do it … I wouldn’t order any more books till I had made a sizeable dent in the pile on the coffee table. And … I failed. I succumbed and ordered three new books. Yes, yes I know, I broke my promise to myself and, to be fair, I did manage to read a couple of books off the pile. But you know what it’s like, someone online say “Have you read this one?” Or you read a review and think, “Oh, I like the sound of this.” And, that’s it, all the will power in the world won’t help you. So what have I ordered? MOONLIGHT AND THE PEARLER’S DAUGHTER by Lizzie Pook — As the pearling ships return to Bannin Bay after a long diving season, twenty-year-old Eliza Brightwell awaits the arrival of her father’s boat. But when his lugger finally limps in, it brings a tale of tragedy: Charles Brightwell, master pearler, has gone missing at sea. Whispers from the townsfolk point to mutiny or murder. Headstrong Eliza...

Top Ten Tuesday: Books with Units of Time in the Title

by Alex

Bonjour tout la monde, today’s Top Ten Tuesday from Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl is Books With Units of Time in the Title. Which is, again, another difficult one to fulfil if I choose only books I’ve read. But, undaunted, here’s what I’ve managed to come up with … A BAD DAY AT THE VULTURE CLUB by Vaseem Khan THE CHILL OF NIGHT by James Hayman THE CRUELLEST MONTH by Louise Penny DEATH DE JOUR by Kathy Reichs HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER by Tom Clancy JUDGEMENT DAY by Jane Jensen MONDAY MOURNING by Kathy Reichs NIGHT WORK by Laurie R. King REMEMBRANCE DAY by Henry Porter FRIDAY by Robert A. Heinlein And there, dear reader, as they say, you have it. I could have added a couple of other titles with the words “eternity” and “infinity” in them, as SF books love those words, but think I found 10 interesting choices. And you, what made it to your list today?

Book Review