Monday, August 10, 2020

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Loved but Never Reviewed




Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.

This week's Top Ten Tuesday topic is Books I Loved but Never Reviewed.


Vanishing Act (1995) by Thomas Perry

I have loved every book I have read by Thomas Perry (I have only read three so far). But I have a hard time reviewing them. Vanishing Act is the first in a series about Jane Whitefield, a Native American guide, who helps people in trouble find new identities and disappear. 


Magpie Murders (2016) by Anthony Horowitz

This is a book within a book, and in this case we get two mysteries for the price of one. The first book starts with Susan Ryeland, an editor, reading a mystery by one of her clients for the first time. That story is set in the late 1950s in a small town in England, and features a private detective somewhat like Hercule Poirot. This book was a page turner and both parts of the story were entertaining on many levels.

Not All Tarts Are Apples (2002) by Pip Granger

This book was nominated for the 2002 Agatha award for Best First Mystery Novel. There is a mystery to the story but I would not categorize it that way. The central character is Rosie, seven years old, who has been taken in by friends of her mother. The couple live over a Soho café that they run during the day. It is 1953, the year of the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, and that was fun to read about. I enjoyed all of it, the story, the characters, the narration by Rosie.

The Silkworm (2014) by Robert Galbraith (AKA J.K. Rowling)

The second book in the  Cormoran Strike series. Strike is an ex-Army private detective, and his young secretary Robin wants to learn to be an investigator also. This book focuses on the publishing industry. A woman asks Strike's help in finding her husband, an author who has been missing for several days. There is a lot to like about this series and the main characters.


Skull Mantra (1999) by Eliot Pattison

Shan Tao Yun  is a Chinese investigator from Beijing who was denounced and sentenced to hard labor because he criticized the regime. Assigned to a prison work gang in the mountains of Tibet, he is called upon to investigate when a headless corpse is found on a mountainside. I enjoyed this book as much for the view of Tibet under Chinese occupation as for the mystery. 



The Last Voice You Hear (2004) by Mick Herron

The second book in Mick Herron's series starring Private Investigator Zoë Boehm, set in Oxford, England. I loved the first book, and this one was just as good. Zoë is a strong female character, intelligent and resourceful. 


Metzger's Dog (1983) by Thomas Perry

The second book in this list by Thomas Perry. Chinese Gordon and his friends Immerman and Kepler break into a lab at the University of Los Angeles to steal some pharmaceutical cocaine, worth a lot of money. But Chinese also takes some papers a professor has compiled for the CIA, which include a blueprint for throwing a large city into chaos. The CIA decides that a band of terrorists has stolen the papers... and go overboard in their attempts to rectify the situation. Very funny at times, entertaining, with a wonderful ending.

Crooked Heart (2014) by Lissa Evan

Historical fiction set during World War II. This is a dark comedy, beautifully told, very moving. Noel Bostock, aged 10, is evacuated from London to escape the Nazi bombardment, shortly after the death of his godmother, with whom he had been living. He is assigned to Vera Sedge, a small time con artist, mostly unsuccessful. 



All the Old Knives (2015) by Olen Steinhauer

A standalone book by one of my favorite authors of spy fiction. This book has an unusual format, taking place during a dinner between two people who used to work together at the CIA station in Vienna. Henry is following up on an investigation into the hijacking of an airliner that occurred when he and Carol worked together. During the dinner they both think back to that event and we gradually learn how it turned out. 

Joe Country (2019) by Mick Herron

The second book in this list by Mick Herron, another author that has never disappointed me. This is the 6th book in Herron's Slough House series about spies who have been demoted due to some disgrace or screw up in their jobs, and are now working under Jackson Lamb. Amazingly, this is one series I have kept current with. I love the writing, the characters, and the plots get better and better. 







38 comments:

Elza Reads said...

Hi there! I love allll your books. So glad I've stumbled across your blog. I've read all the Galbraiths, but also didn't review any of them. I haven't done a lot of reviews in comparison to what I read. Will try to work on that now that I'm blogging!

Great list, here's my <a href="https://elzareads.blogspot.com/2020/08/top-ten-tuesday-10-books-thats-been-all.html'>TTT</a>

Anne@HeadFullofBooks said...

I just read THE SILKWORM and haven't reviewed it either. Sometimes I just can't seem to make myself write a review about a book that I love. I wonder now if it is that I am afraid that my review won't live up to the book itself. Here is my TTT list

Marg said...

I'm not sure if I have reviewed any of the Galbraith books!

Heather @ Random Redheaded Ramblings said...

I’ve not read any of these books, I’d quite like to try Galbraith one day.

pattinase (abbott) said...

Lots of books are hard to review because they are so strongly about plot and you hate to give much of that away. I have not read any of these either. I had a Herron on my iphone to listen to but I found it was a book better read so I returned it. Will try again.

Lydia said...

The Silkworm does sound good!

My TTT .

Kate said...

Only read one title from your list - The Magpie Murders, but like you I really enjoyed it and I am looking forward to reading the sequel in a week.

Margot Kinberg said...

I thought Magpie Murders was very good, too, Tracy, so I'm glad you enjoyed it so well. And you're now the second person I trust who's mentioned Lissa Evans. I really need to read some of her work!

Astilbe said...

I'm intrigued by Joe Country.

Here is our Top Ten Tuesday.

TracyK said...

Elza, when I first started blogging I reviewed all the books I read, but gradually found I could not keep up with that. Even now that I am retired, I cannot review all books I read. I have only read the first two Galbraith books, and do plan to read more of them.

Thanks so much for visiting my blog.

TracyK said...

Anne, I have also found that it is sometimes hard to review a book I loved. In some cases it seems like I liked the whole experience and am reluctant to break it down.

Thanks for visiting.

Rick Robinson said...

Interesting list, I'll have to consider trying some of them. Right now I'm reading some old YA ebooks because nothing else appeals.

TracyK said...

Marg, thanks for stopping by. I will be over to check out your Top Ten later. I have read five Jack Reacher books, and the one I just finished is the first I will review.

TracyK said...

Heather, Galbraith is definitely worth trying. The characters are interesting.

TracyK said...

Patti, I do hate to reveal much about plot in a book. A large part of my enjoyment of a book is the surprises in a plot, and I don't want to spoil that for anyone.

I love the way Herron writes but I do love espionage. Even the Zoe Boehm books are sort of espionage, or feel like it.

TracyK said...

Rick, my problem is too much appeals. For some reason I have never gotten into YA books, especially newer ones.

TracyK said...

Kate, I won't be able to read the sequel to Magpie Murders until November at the earliest, if I can afford it then. But I am looking forward to it. I have a couple of his other books to read in the meantime.

TracyK said...

Margot, Lissa Evans books are very good, at least the two I have read. I plan to read more of her books, and there is a new one coming out that follows up on Crooked Heart.

TracyK said...

Lydia, The Silkworm is very good, and I especially liked it because it was about people in the publishing industry. Always an interesting topic for me.

TracyK said...

Astilbe, you should try the early books in the Slough House series, Joe Country is the latest one. They are all good. I like the way you approached the Top Ten list at your blog, all books for children.

Lectrice Vorace said...

Interesting list! :) Here is my Top Ten Tuesday list this week.

Cath said...

Magpie Murders was good. I haven't read the Cormoran Strike books but have really enjoyed the BBC series. It's well cast in my opinion. New series starting soon I believe.

Christophe said...

Thanks for all those suggestions. "Not All Tarts Are Apple" looks especially intriguing to me.

TracyK said...

Cath, I have considered watching the series but I may want to read more of the books first. Right now it looks like I would have to add another "channel" to get it.

TracyK said...

Thanks, Lectrice. I checked out your list. Most are new to me but I Work at a Public Library sounds really good.

TracyK said...

Christophe, Not All Tarts Are Apple was very good. It is one of those books I regret not reviewing, because I can't remember the details. Guess that means I could reread it some day.

Susan said...

I've heard great things about Anthony Horowitz, but I've yet to actually read any of his books. I really need to. THE MAGPIE MURDERS looks like a good place to start!

Happy TTT!

Susan
www.blogginboutbooks.com

Brooke Lorren said...

These books are all new to me, although I love the cover to The Skull Mantra. I love to hear about new books that people loved!

Laurie C said...

Another great list! I'm enjoying everyone's take on this TTT topic. I love the Anthony Horowitz and Robert Galbraith books on audio. (Mostly I listen to mysteries, rather than reading them.) I had listened to several of Horowitz's YA books and was happy when he crossed over to adult fiction! The Thomas Perry series you mention is one I've been meaning to try for a long time. I read the Elliot Pattison book in print for a mystery book club at the library years ago and was very impressed with it, but never got back to read more in the series.

TracyK said...

Susan, I think you would like Magpie Murders if you try it. I have a couple more of his adult books to try.

TracyK said...

Brooke, I loved The Skull Mantra, but I haven't read more in the series, even though I have the next two books in the series.

TracyK said...

Laurie, I have never tried an audio book. I have a hard enough time with ebooks.

I have several books (unread) by Thomas Perry, both standalone and more in the Jane Whitefield series. And a couple by Anthony Horowitz. I am looking forward to the sequel to Magpie Murders, Moonflower Murders. I don't usually buy books as soon as they come out but I probably will with that one.

Kay said...

I've read 4 of the books on your list above. A long time since I read the Perry book. I vaguely remember it. Actually, I think I saw him at a book event a few years ago. I loved Magpie Murders, The Silkworm, and also The Skull Mantra. I encourage you to try the Strike TV adaptation at some point. It's really good. And I'm glad to hear that they will be adapting The Magpie Murders too.

TracyK said...

Kay, I think I would like Strike but would like to find it on a streaming service that I already pay for. Maybe someday. I cannot imagine how they will adapt Magpie Murders but I will certainly give it a watch if possible.

Clothes in Books said...

What a great idea for a list! I thought that was fascinating, and was trying to work out if they had anything in common, if there was a reason you hadn't reviewed them..

And now I am thinking about what would be on my list. I think the main author would be Phil Rickman - I LOVE his Merrily Watkins books, but for some reason never feature them on the blog. Have you come across them at all - you might like them.

TracyK said...

Moira, this one was very fun to do. I have way too many books I don't get to reviewing, although I am trying to do a bit better since I am retired.

I have read a couple of the Merrily Watkins books and reviewed one of them (the first one I think). I thought the 2nd was a bit too supernatural for me, but I liked the characters a lot.

col2910 said...

Some great books there, Tracy. Mick Herron has a new one next year! I particularly like the sound of the one set in Tibet.

TracyK said...

Skull Mantra is very good and I need to move on to the next book in the series. I am looking forward to the next Mick Herron book too and maybe I will review that one.