Book Club

[GenXmuse]

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@teganslaw wrote:

Just finished "Dark Places" by Gillian Flynn. 

Libby Day was seven when her family was killed, and she said that her 15 year old brother, Ben was the murderer. 

25 years later, the Kill Club, a group interested in infamous murders, contacts Libby. They think that Ben is innocent and want Libby to give her side of the story. She agrees to do so for a price. 

This was a strange book. and not sure how to review it.  I never read anything by Flynn before, although I saw the movie "Gone Girl." (Didn't like it.) Libby is a weird person, not someone you would care to become acquainted with. It kept my interest, but none of the characters were engaging. I guess I would recommend it if one wants to read a dark mystery with unlikeable people. Despite that, I wanted to see how it would end. 

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@teganslaw wrote:

Just finished "Dark Places" by Gillian Flynn. 

Libby Day was seven when her family was killed, and she said that her 15 year old brother, Ben was the murderer. 

25 years later, the Kill Club, a group interested in infamous murders, contacts Libby. They think that Ben is innocent and want Libby to give her side of the story. She agrees to do so for a price. 

This was a strange book. and not sure how to review it.  I never read anything by Flynn before, although I saw the movie "Gone Girl." (Didn't like it.) Libby is a weird person, not someone you would care to become acquainted with. It kept my interest, but none of the characters were engaging. I guess I would recommend it if one wants to read a dark mystery with unlikeable people. Despite that, I wanted to see how it would end. 

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Her stuff is exceedingly dark, I'll agree, but I did like this book overall. 

[tobe]

The Devil in the White City: A Saga of Magic and Murder at the Fair that Changed America by Eric Larson 

This is a true story of the 1893 Chicago World's Fair.  The book is so interesting!  Besides all the obstacles facing the architechs building the fair, there is a serial killer on the loose!  I throughly enjoyed reading about the names involved in making this fair the best ever, famous names that are still famous today.  Astounding!  Plus, with the suspence of a serial killer stalking around, this book is hard to put down.  Being a true story makes the building of this fair amazing.  For instance, taking 6 train cars full of nails to put in the floor of just one building, quite a feat!  Warning: in one paragraph of describing the serial killer, the author went back to what Jack the Ripper did and this was very explicit!  I am half way through this book, and so far it is a real page turner!  Plus, I am really getting into Eric Larson as an author.

[proudlyfromNJ]

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@tobe wrote:

The Devil in the White City: A Saga of Magic and Murder at the Fair that Changed America by Eric Larson 

This is a true story of the 1893 Chicago World's Fair.  The book is so interesting!  Besides all the obstacles facing the architechs building the fair, there is a serial killer on the loose!  I throughly enjoyed reading about the names involved in making this fair the best ever, famous names that are still famous today.  Astounding!  Plus, with the suspence of a serial killer stalking around, this book is hard to put down.  Being a true story makes the building of this fair amazing.  For instance, taking 6 train cars full of nails to put in the floor of just one building, quite a feat!  Warning: in one paragraph of describing the serial killer, the author went back to what Jack the Ripper did and this was very explicit!  I am half way through this book, and so far it is a real page turner!  Plus, I am really getting into Eric Larson as an author.

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@tobe  I also read The Devil in the White City. Very good and interesting book.

[smoky22]

I just finished Confessions on the 7:45 by Lisa Unger.  It has a Strangers on a Train vibe.  And beside being a really good thriller, I thought the story itself was excellent.  It's told from multiple points of view, which is usually not my favorite, but it's done perfectly here.  Once I started it I couldn't put it down.  

[dawg lover]

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@smoky22 wrote:

I just finished Confessions on the 7:45 by Lisa Unger.  It has a Strangers on a Train vibe.  And beside being a really good thriller, I thought the story itself was excellent.  It's told from multiple points of view, which is usually not my favorite, but it's done perfectly here.  Once I started it I couldn't put it down.  

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@smoky22 - I just finished this yesterday and enjoyed it too.  Multiple characters are introduced in the beginning, which is a little confusing, but then it is all explained.  Good book.

I am half-way through the new Nicci French book, "HOUSE OF CORRECTIONS."

I usually don't like books set in prisons, but this one is pretty good, so far.  Still not as good as the Frieda Klein books, though.

[BornToShop]

@tobe  He is one of my most favorite authors!  Read Isaac's Storm; no question  one of his best!

                            

[sensibleshoppingsoothes]

I just read and enjoyed THE SEARCHER by Tana French.  I enjoyed all her books in the Dublin Murder Squad series, but not THE WITCH ELM which was a stand alone, published about a year ago.  I think she's back to form with THE SEARCHER, whose protagonist is a retired Chicago cop, who has come to rural Ireland after a divorce.  Despite intentions to just go fishing, he becomes involved in  searching for a missing teenager.

It's fast  moving, so I had no trouble reading it in the 3 weeks my library allows on kindle books.  I also read AMERICAN DIRT by Jeanine Cummins through a borrowed e-book, and found it absorbing and thought provoking.  Both my book clubs had chosen it, so I get a bit more time to read books of my own choosing. Right now I'm enjoying THE FLIGHT OF GEMMA HARDY, by Margot Livesy, an homage to JANE EYRE. 

[icezeus]

Today I wrapped up Invisible Prey (Lucas Davenport, #17) by John Sanford.  I really do enjoy this series.

Not sure what I am going to read next. I have four books home from the Library to choose from. 

[lopse]

Today I finished reading Midsummer Magic by Catherine Coulter, from 1987 and it wasn't good. Going to start Dreaming of You by Lisa Kleypas. Not a fan of hers.

[lopse]

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@smoky22 wrote:

I just finished Confessions on the 7:45 by Lisa Unger.  It has a Strangers on a Train vibe.  And beside being a really good thriller, I thought the story itself was excellent.  It's told from multiple points of view, which is usually not my favorite, but it's done perfectly here.  Once I started it I couldn't put it down.  

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Strangers on a Train is a top favorite of mine so I'll check out the book you mentioned.