Friday, July 31, 2015

Book Beginnings: High Country Nocturne


High Country Nocturne, by Jon Talton (Poisoned Pen Press, June 2015) -- the 8th book in the "David Mapstone" series of mystery novels. Opening line from Chapter One:
In the end, the truth was almost beside the point.

Description (from the publisher's website):
A cache of diamonds is stolen in Phoenix. The prime suspect is former Maricopa County Sheriff Mike Peralta, now a private investigator. Disappearing into Arizona’s mountainous High Country, Peralta leaves his business partner and longtime friend David Mapstone with a stark choice. He can cooperate with the FBI, or strike out on his own to find Peralta and what really happened.  
Mapstone knows he can count on his wife Lindsey, one of the top “good hackers” in law enforcement. But what if they’ve both been betrayed? Mapstone is tested further when the new sheriff wants him back as a deputy, putting to use his historian’s expertise to solve a very special cold case. The stakes turn deadly when David and Lindsey are stalked by a trained killer whose specialty is “suiciding” her targets.
In depressed, post-recession Phoenix, every certainty has become scrambled, from the short hustle of the powerful real-estate industry to the loyalties Mapstone once took for granted. Could Peralta really be a jewel thief or worse? The deeper Mapstone digs into the world of sun-baked hustlers, corrupt cops, moneyed retirees, and mobsters, the more things are not what they seem. Ultimately, Mapstone must risk everything to find the truth.

Initial Thoughts:

Actually, that's not just the first sentence of Chapter One, it's the entire content of Chapter One. And it doesn't tell me much. So, I'm not sure I really have any thoughts at this point. But after all the spooky stuff I've been reading lately, I'm ready for something a little more realistic and I've heard some good things about this one. But I haven't read any of the earlier books in the series, and I suppose that could be a problem. So.... we'll see.



Rose City Reader hosts Book Beginnings on Fridays. As she says, the idea is to post the first sentence (or so) of the book you're currently reading, along with any first impressions or thoughts you have about the book, the author, etc.  It's a wonderful way of adding new books to your must-read list, and a chance to connect with other readers and bloggers.


Tuesday, July 28, 2015

Teaser Tuesdays: The Silence of Ghosts


This week my teaser lines come from The Silence of Ghosts, by Jonathan Aycliffe -- one of several spooky books I've read lately.
We opened the door and made for the hallway. The sound was louder here, and when I looked up the staircase I could make out a shape, large and inhuman, as it thumped and slithered its way down. (p.94 / loc. 1490)
Ah, yes -- slithering on the stairs. Sounds like Lovecraft, yes? I actually enjoyed this one quite a lot, but I've really got to get away from all these nameless horrors for a while.



Teaser Tuesdays is hosted by Jenn at A Daily Rhythm. If you'd like to read more teasers, or take part yourself, just head on over to her blog.

And please feel free to leave me a link to your Teaser Tuesday post in your comment here.


Friday, July 24, 2015

Book Beginnings: Jack of Spades


Jack of Spades, by Joyce Carol Oates (Mysterious Press, May 2015). First lines of the book:
Out of the air, the ax. Somehow there was an ax and it rose and fell in a wild swath aimed at my head even as I tried to rise from my squatting position and lost my balance desperate to escape as my legs faltered beneath me and there came a hoarse pleading voice -- "No! No please! No" --
My Thoughts:

Well, why not just jump right into the mayhem? I love Joyce Carol Oates, especially her thrillers. But I have to admit, that opening seemed a little extreme -- even for JCO. Not that there's anything wrong with that. This one grabbed me right away. You?



Rose City Reader hosts Book Beginnings on Fridays. As she says, the idea is to post the first sentence (or so) of the book you're currently reading, along with any first impressions or thoughts you have about the book, the author, etc.  It's a wonderful way of adding new books to your must-read list, and a chance to connect with other readers and bloggers.


Tuesday, July 21, 2015

Teaser Tuesdays: The Book of Speculation


This week my teaser lines come from The Book of Speculation, the debut novel by Erika Swyler (St. Martin's Press, June 2015). Please note that they come from an advance reader's copy of the book, and might be slightly different in the published version.
They die on the twenty-fourth, all the women, Mom's relatives. They all drowned and they drowned on July twenty-fourth.
These really were the first lines that caught my eye as I skimmed through my copy of the book -- and they definitely had me immediately interested. Hoping to get a review of this one posted very soon.



Teaser Tuesdays is hosted by Jenn at A Daily Rhythm. If you'd like to read more teasers, or take part yourself, just head on over to her blog.

And please feel free to leave me a link to your Teaser Tuesday post in your comment here.


Tuesday, July 14, 2015

Teaser Tuesdays: The Truth and Other Lies


This week my teaser lines come from The Truth and Other Lies, the debut novel by German screenwriter Sascha Arango (Atria Books, June 2015).
The liars among us will know that every lie must contain a certain amount of truth if it's to be convincing. A dash of truth is often enough, but it's indispensable, like the olive in the martini. (p.73)
Of course, I wouldn't know anything about that because I obviously ALWAYS tell the absolute truth. Well, don't you?

Oh, and I never drink martinis, either.

Really.



Teaser Tuesdays is hosted by Jenn at A Daily Rhythm. If you'd like to read more teasers, or take part yourself, just head on over to her blog.

And please feel free to leave me a link to your Teaser Tuesday post in your comment here.


Tuesday, July 07, 2015

Teaser Tuesdays: A Head Full of Ghosts


This week my teaser lines come from A Head Full of Ghosts (William Morrow, June 2015), Paul Tremblay's chiller about a teenaged girl's apparent descent into madness, as remembered years later by her younger sister. This quote is from page 52 (Loc. 839 of the Kindle edition):
That night, standing in Marjorie's doorway, when I knew nothing of night terrors and old plaster, I saw Marjorie clinging to the wall like a spider.... Her arms and legs were spread-eagled, with her hands, wrists, feet, and ankles sunk into the wall as though it were slowly absorbing her. 
Just hangin' around, Sis?

For some reason, I've been reading a ton of ghostly and gothic tales this year. I didn't set out to do that, so I'm not really sure how it happened. This book seems to be made up of bits from just about every horror film/novel/TV-show I've ever read or seen. But I think that's deliberate. So far, I'm enjoying it just enough to keep on reading.

So, what do you think? Sound like something you'd continue with? Do you read spooky books, or do you prefer something a little more "down to earth"?



Teaser Tuesdays is hosted by Jenn at A Daily Rhythm. If you'd like to read more teasers, or take part yourself, just head on over to her blog.

And please feel free to leave me a link to your Teaser Tuesday post in your comment here.