What are you reading now?

Yes another here who loves reading about Queen Victoria, I have her biography by A N Wilson, which contains lots of photographs of her, amazing how she just did the one face , well more miserabe, a look that she seemed to expect her children to emulate, at least in her company. Louise, being quite feisty, was also an interesting character as was her eldest daughter, Vicky mother of The Kaiser.

Thanks Trisher. I fancy that Princess Louise one. Will check it out asap. I'm currently re reading Catriona McPherson's Dandy Gilver books. What a refreshing sort of 1920s mystery novels they are. Very entertaining. I can't remember if I've recommended them before. If so. Sorry! They're worth it though.

My favourite Kate Atkinson will always be Behind the Scenes at the Museum. A fabulous read.

I'm reading 'The Dressmaker' by Rosalie Ham, and loving it, don't want to get to the end. There is a film with Kate Winslet, might try and find it on Netflix.

Can't beat a good Mills & Boon for intrigue, nail biting suspense and cliff hanger endings.

Mansfield Park by Jane Austen on Kindle in larger print than in the old penguin edition. Costs nothing.

'Shoes for Anthony' by Emma Kennedy. A delightful book - brilliant and evocative. The story, set in a Welsh mining village towards the end of WW2 where life is tough for Anthony and his family. When a war plane carrying Polish POW's crashes into their mountain, life changes for Anthony and the whole of the community. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and would highly recommend it.

Maggiemaybe, I can`t STAND Lucy! I`ve read a few other Patricia Cornwell books, but can`t remember if I read the Jack the Ripper one, will have to check. I`m just about to start on The Simple Truth, by David Baldacci, I`ve enjoyed all I`ve read by him so far.

The Ripper one is called Portrait of a Killer, numberplease, and is a genuine attempt by Cornwell to identify Jack the Ripper, using modern forensic techniques. She spent an awful lot of money on her research, appaarently. Unfortunately the original evidence available is so scant that she doesn't come up with any compelling proof that her suspect was the killer, and to be fair a lot of it is circumstantial. The book was universally panned by the critics and the public, but I found it an interesting read (easily pleased, obviously!).

Maggiemaybe, I looked the book up on Amazon, and as soon as I read the name Walter Sickert, I knew that I`d read it. I agree with you, it did keep me interested. Made a change from one of Queen Victoria`s sons being suspected.

I have just finished reading 'I see you' by Claire Mackintosh. I saw it reviewed in the Sunday Times this weekend and was tempted! I read it almost in one session, if you like a thriller with an unexpected twist at the end I would highly recommend it!( As a bonus the author is British, and the setting chillingly familiar)

I`m still reading The Simple Truth, by David Baldacci. I`m not reading quite as much lately, due to the Olympics.

I'm currently reading C.L. Taylor 'The Lie'. I really enjoy her books!

Someone here recommended Susan Hill's Simon Serailler mystery series. The insidious thing about these is that they aren't free-standing, but have a thread running through them about the relationships of the principal characters and each novel leaves the reader wanting to know what happens next. And I am now on number 6, 'A Betrayal of Trust'.

I've just finished a book called "The Floating Brothel" - it wasn't an easy read, stylewise, but you have to admire the author for the work she put into it. It was about the first boats that went out to Australia in the 1780s with the first convicts. Every sentence contained a piece of information that she had painstakingly researched.

No historical novel that - just fact after fact after fact, and still really fascinating.

I'm reading Girl on a Train, and enjoying it.

I liked the Serrailler series but could cheerfully have strangled Simon's saintly sister. .

Just finished "Spectacles" by Sue Perkins. I can't remember the last time a book made me laugh out loud ( talking about her lovely mum) then reduce me to tears when reading her letter to her beloved dog. Interesting read if you are a fan of "Bake Off" .

I love the Serrailler books, it seems ages since the last one. I`m afraid Girl on a Train didn`t do it for me, I felt more or less the same about Gone Girl, both books seem very popular, but just didn`t get my interest.
I finished The Simple Truth, it was very good. After that I read The Beekeeper`s Daughter, by Santa Montefiore. I liked it, but not as much as the other 3 books of hers that I`ve read. I`m now reading Through the Storm, by Maureen Lee, set in 1941/2 in Liverpool, enjoying it up to now.

Unfortunately I am the sort of person that nice hooked on an author or series has to read them all. One after the other. So I have read all the Serailler, Rebus, Banks, Dazeil and Pascoe , Wexford and any other detective/ mystery books out there.
I dislike American authors on the whole , mostly for the odd grammar and close way of writing.
Clearing out the loft I found a set of Minette Walters, So am reading and enjoying those again

Once hooked

I did my best with Gone Girl. Got right to the end, and gave up.

I get hooked, too, on an author. Haven't got one at the moment.

For those of you who like detective novels Tim Weaver is very good. His hero is more of a PI who specialises in missing person cases. I am currently reading his latest, Broken Heart, and it is just as good as his others. The series can be read randomly but there is a thread running through them. Like many of you I like to read everything an author has written if I enjoy their books. Now when I run out of reading material I have started re-reading my old favourites. I can feel the need to have another go at Robert Goddard, his earlier novels were brilliant.

I don't tend to read books that are a series, but I started reading the Shetland novels and couldn't wait to start the next one. However, having got to number five, I am completely hung up with it about a third of the way in and I'm struggling to pick it up again. Currently reading the third book in the Game of Thrones series instead ?. Waiting for Kate Atkinson's A God in Ruins to come back into the library.

I don't set out to read books that are part of series but often if I find an author I like I try to find their other books too.
You'll love A God in Ruins btw!

Greduster I think the fifth Shetland novel was the fifth of four, and it doesn't fit with the others, as though the author had been persuaded to add another to a set, but his heart wasn't in it. Difficult to pick up again after the end of number four anyway.