Mystery Summer

By noon yesterday, I had a little list of recommendations based on your comments — thanks!!! What a great bunch of suggestions. We rode our bikes down to our local mystery bookstore (don'tcha love those). We took a few recommendations from the ladies there, after warning them that we were lightweights when it came to mysteries — we loved them, but they could not be too scary. I really wish that mysteries didn't always have to do with, you know, dead bodies. But mysteries are, by definition, plot-driven, and I really like that. After many years of reading mostly contemporary "literary" fiction, my tastes in leisure reading have changed considerably. I'm going for stay-awake whodunnit rather than self-awareness and enlightenment lately. I'm sure that's not fair to mysteries. I'll let you know after I get through this pile. The lady at the bookstore said she reads three to four books a week! (Last week she was on vacation so she read five!) Awesome.

I have a bunch of others that you mentioned on my future to-read list, but yesterday I got:

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley. Started this yesterday and am on page 74 already (I am a slow reader, but this is going fast). Loving it so far.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows. Lost count of how many people have recommended this book to me! Not sure what's going on with the "pie" theme and me. Perhaps should stop reading to bake pie to eat while reading.

The Unfinished Clue by Georgette Heyer. Bought entirely for the cover. I do that.

Hostile Makeover: A Crime of Fashion Mystery by Ellen Byerrum. It's on Lifetime this weekend. Don't judge me. Or, you can. It's okay

Andy got Fer-de-Lance by Rex Stout, the first Nero Wolfe mystery. We used to really like the Nero Wolfe series when it was on A&E (except that he was always screaming about something, which was sort of annoying, and worrisome. But Archie was cool). We like TV mystery. And I am still hoping to run into Timothy Hutton around town (we saw them filming an episode of Leverage by the baseball stadium a few weeks ago). I was also REALLY hoping to run into Keri Russell, too, because I love her. It would be cool to run into Harrison Ford, but not as cool as Keri Russell. (HF and KR were here in town filming a movie recently, though I don't know if they're still here.) And I would tell her how much I loved Felicity. Because I did.

Comments

[Zanna]

12 books on my last holiday - as an english teacher though you'd probably be worried to send kids to me if I didn't read!!!

[erica]

I love, love, love the Nero Wolfe books, and the A&E series too. I finally bought the entire DVD of the series, and eventually gathered copies of all of the books. Obsessive, yes? I think you would like the Nero Wolfe books too...they are not at all scary, or truly suspenseful when it comes to violence or dead bodies, but the the who-dun-it plot moves quickly. Then there's the wonderful imagery from the 30's through 60's that Rex Stout lets shine through the stories. Andy should know that Stout refines his writing and characters over the first few novels. For example: Nero Wolfe is much wordier in Fer de Lance than in later stories. Enjoy!

[bee]

you're going to LOVE 'guernsey'. it's one of the best, guaranteed-to-make-you-smile books i've ever read.

[JudyC]

Okay, so I have to tell you that I "offically" refer to your backyard and hammock as my perfect dream backyard, so whenever I mention our soon to be a reality new backyard hubby knows what to envision because I've showed him all the pictures you posted.

I don't know if you like mystery series, but I love to read Joanne Fluke and her cookie shop mysteries, that begin with the Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder. They are lighter fare, but good. I used to read all the time, then got so into quilting that I feel guilty if I don't have handwork whenever I sit down. Maybe I need to sneek in a few books here and there along with all the stitching.

[Lori]

I saw Keri Russell in April at Blossoming Lotus Cafe in the Pearl. I would hang out there...all the stars love it there and eat there when they are in town.

She was super cute and didn't want to be noticed.

Also, just have to comment on Mari's comment......um, Ben was hotter.

[RJ]

Hi, I am reading the potatoe peel pie book....not really my nornal style but I am loving it...keep going if you get stuck..think you will enjoy it.

[Jerusalem]

My dad is a huge Nero Wolf fan and I grew up reading all in the Rex Stout series. My whole family loved the A&E series and were sad to see it go. I watch Leverage now - glad to have TH back. The Inn at Lake Devine was a great page turner I read recently. And all the Mary Kay Andrews books are just pure southern fun. Light & fun with lots of thrifting and decorating mixed in the plots.

[yvonne]

You can never have too many books...couple of books I have in my hands now are Julie & Julia by Julie Powell; The Tenth Gift by J.Johnson; and I have requested from my wonderful library: Handle with Care by Jodi Picoult; The lacemakers of Glenmara; and Shanghai girls by Lisa See. Happy reading!

[Shelagh]

Oh!...if you want light, try any Mrs. Pollifax book by Dorothy Gilman. Introduced to me by my gran at about 10 years old - Mrs. Pollifax is a NJ grandmother who becomes a CIA operative ( a life-long dream, and just so much better than her karate lessons - brown belt, thank you - and her gardening club.) I still read the few I have over and over again, many times every year. She's a tough cookie and always comes out on top. She also has a major thing for big flowery hats...what's not to love?

[Jill]

This is a day late and maybe a buck too short but if you're looking for a plot driven fiction novel (that's not a mystery)...Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen is EXCELLENT. I repeat....excellent! If you end up reading it, blog your critique! :)

[Auntie Doris]

I loved The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. For me part of the charm is that I was born and brought up in Guernsey so I can hear the accents and I swear I know some of the characters in the book. The familiarity of the landscape was part of the pleasure for me.

My family lived through the Occupation, so to be able to read fiction about it is a joy. Their courage in surviving with such humour gives me hope. A great book and I really hope you enjoy it.

I blogged about it here if you are interested... http://auntiedoris.wibsite.com/?s=literary&x=17&y=16

[glittermom]

I just finished "the sweetness at the bottom of the pie" and LOVED it, I can hardly wait for the next book, Flavia is a hoot!!

[Laura]

Oh, I used to read Georgette Heyer's Regency romances when I was a teenager--I still pick them up for beach reading. She's just a clever and pleasant author to read--I'll have to pick up one of her mysteries!

[Colleen]

Noel! No, Ben! No, Noel! I loved Felicity too and still think about her, "I'm an emotional person" speech to Ben.

I just read Sweetness too and loved it! Flavia is one-of-a-kind and I can't wait for more.

You would love Dog On It. It's a detective story but from the point of view of Chet the dog. The author captures "dogness" so well (when they see a truck painting lines down the road, Chet wants to get out and lick them!).

[Alexis]

I miss Felicity!

I just thought of "Smoothase" the other day and it cracked me up!

[Julie Loeschke]

Rex Stout is an amazing writer! It took ten years, but I finally collected all 43 of his Nero Wolfe books! Time well spent!The set of the A&E series is exactly the way I pictured it in the books. Enjoy! Also, yay, Fiona!

[T2]

Brenda Dayne of Cast-On recently recommended the Best Female Detective Agency series. I haven't read them myself, but she said she was going through them really quickly and loving them.

[Margot K of Va]

I am reading mysteries stories that evolve in Italy that I think you might enjoy. The current book is A Long Finish by Michael Dibdin. The Roman dectective Zen is sent to Alba to make sure the son of a murdered grower of wine grapes is released to produce this years harvest. Story is full of grapes, vines, tasting wines, truffles and truffle dogs.I enjoy a return to Italy via a fascinating story. A chance to walk the streets, rided the trains, taste the foods. Venice glows under the pen of Donna Leon who has a wonderfully warm character as her Commisario. Both authors have written an amazing number of books in their series.

[Lisa Clarke]

I've read every Nero Wolfe book out there. Love them.

[koralee]

Thanks so much for the list...school is out and i have the whole summer to read read read...oh don't you love the Summertime!

[Elizabeth]

Okay...I think mysteries with pie in the title have to be the perfect choice for you. (at least the you we know through the pgc);)

[Karen]

I'm requesting a hammock for my birthday into which I'll place a quilt, a pillow and my summer reading!

[Leslie Hayes]

You will love the Nero Wolfe books. I prefer them to the TV series, though I loved them too. My all time favorite mystery writer is Martha Grimes- her Richard Jury series. They are very witty, with recurring characters that you will fall in love with. The murder takes second stage to Jury, Melrose Plant and Marshall Trueblood. I hope you'll try them.

[Kari]

Guernsey is so charming and I just saw the (co)author on her book tour. She was charming too. Charming charming charming.

[JC]

Try Diane Mott Davidson's Goldie mystery series! The main character is a caterer who solves mysteries while she cooks, and there are yummy recipes at the back of each book. You will become addicted!