Sunday's media madness...

I have a love for reading, its something I grew up with, and am thrilled with the advent of e-books.  It means my book shelves can be cleared of the books I won't read again.  Books I look at kind of like the 1/2 hour sitcom on TV; a lot of fun but not a lot of substance.  I do however have a few authors I will only buy as real books, one being James Patterson.  A big part of that is the large collection of his books built up over the years by my parents and passed on to me after my mom was gone.  Today's book is Private by James Patterson.

"The police can't help you Former Marine helicopter pilot Jack Morgan runs Private, a renowned investigation company with branches around the globe. It is where you go when you need maximum force and maximum discretion. The secrets of the most influential men and women on the planet come to Jack daily--and his staff of investigators uses the world's most advanced forensic tools to make and break their cases. The press will destroy you Jack is already deep into the investigation of a multi-million dollar NFL gambling scandal and the unsolved slayings of 18 schoolgirls when he learns of a horrific murder close to home: his best friend's wife, Jack's former lover, has been killed. It nearly pushes him over the edge. Instead, Jack pushes back and devotes all of Private's resources to tracking down her killer. Only one place to turn: Private But Jack doesn't have to play by the rules. As he closes in on the killer and chooses between revenge and justice, Morgan has to navigate a workplace love affair that threatens to blow the roof off his plans. With a plot that moves at death-defying speeds, Private is James Patterson sleekest, most exciting thriller ever."

For those of you who like the feel of a book in your hand, you can find the hard cover version at Buy.com used for $1.01 plus $3.99 shipping, or new at Bobbis Bookstore for $5.00 plus $4.49 for shipping.  In paperback you can find it used at Thriftbooks.com for $3.95 with free shipping, or new at eCrater for $6.20 with $1.99 for shipping.  You can download a digital audio copy of the book for $18.89 at We Read For You or you can find it on CD at the Barns and Noble Marketplace for $9.50 with $3.99 shipping.  It can also download it to your Nook for $14.99 or you Kindle for $9.99.

I hope you are all having a wonderful weekend!

C.Q.

Sunday's media madness...

One of my favorite fun authors to read is Jess Lourey, and she has a new book out called October Fest.  This is the newest book in her Murder-by-Month series; previous titles are May Day, June Bug, Knee High by the Fourth of July, August Moon, and September Fair. All the books are a great read and the newest is no exception.

From Jess' own web site: "Beer and polka music reign supreme at Octoberfest, Battle Lake's premier fall festival. To kick off the celebrations, the town hosts a public debate between congressional candidates Arnold Swydecker and the slippery incumbent, Sarah Glokkmann. But the festive mood sours as soon as a well-known Glokkmann-bashing blogger is found dead. When Mira's best friend's fiancé becomes a top suspect, she wades through mudslinging and murderous threats to find the political party crasher."

All of the books in the series are fun and full of wry quick wit, and while you don't have to start at the beginning of the series it does help give you more insight to the characters.  I was able to find October Fest for the lowest price at Bookdepository for $11.10with free shipping, if you are a member of Amazon Prime or order more than $25.00 you can get it for $10.17 at Amazon with free shipping.  The Kindle version is available for $9.66.

Have a wonderful and safe Memorial weekend everyone!  Be sure to check out our swap and join in the fun.

C.Q.

Sunday's media madness...

I am currently working through a wonderful book challenge at Book Chick City and my February read was called Heat Wave by Richard Castle.  Some of you may recognize the authors name from the television show Castle.  The book is based on the characters of the show so if you are a fan it adds an extra dimension to the book, if you don't watch the show it won't matter when reading the book.  Heat Wave is the story of Nikki Heat, a tough as nails female detective in New York City.  Her current case takes place during one of the cities hottest heat waves, making everything she does just that much more difficult.  On top of the heat and cities rolling blackouts, she has been saddled with a civilian ride along, Jameson Rook.  Jameson is a well known, extremely handsome, magazine journalist with friends and poker buddies most people only dream of knowing, and a knack for playing just outside of the rules.  The story opens with Detective Heat and her team investigating the probable murder of a wealthy real estate mogul who, as it turns out isn't as wealthy as everyone thought.  The ever changing list of suspects will keep you guessing through the whole book, was it the wife, the nanny, the business manager, the Russian, or the ex mistress?  Every twist and turn brings Nikki closer to the truth and the reader more and more eager to find out if their hunch is right.  This is a fast paced and fun read for anyone that likes mysteries or enjoys the weekly television series.  So, you may ask, just who is the ghost writer for this book since Richard Castle is a fictitious TV character?  Well it seems this is the best kept secret since we all wondered who shot JR on Dallas.  If I had to wager a guess myself I would say look at the guest stars on the show, Stephen J. Cannell, James Patterson, and Michael Connelly.

The book is available new in paper back from Go Hastings for $5.66, hard cover from Overstock for $12.80 and the unabridged MP3 audiobook read by Johnny Heller also at Overstock for $15.28, Overstock has free shipping through February 28, 2011.  The Kindle edition is available from Amazon for $5.00 as is the Nook version from Barnes and Noble.

 

If you are a fan of the TV show Castle on ABC you will see the similarities between the characters in the book and the characters in the series, the obvious two being Richard Castle/Jameson Rook and Detective Kate Beckett/Detective Nikki Heat.  If you haven't seen the shows they are a great mix of drama and humor with a good mystery to keep you in suspense until the end.  If you would like to check out the show you can purchase seasons one from Buy.com for $19.98 with free shipping and season two from DVDs Direct for $21.95.  If you would like to watch on line or find out more about the show, actors, books check out the Castle website.

I hope everyone is enjoying the last day of the weekend.

C.Q.

Sunday's media madness...

Yesterday I mentioned that I am taking a Mystery & Suspense book challenge over on Book Chick City's blog.  Well today I would like to let you know about the first book I choose to read.  Its called Deadly Reunion by Ron Handberg.  Mr. Handberg went to the University of Minnesota and my mom remembered him from when she was going there.  When she found out he had made the leap from broadcast journalism to mystery author she was thrilled and read his first book, Savage Justice in a weekend.  While he was in broadcast journalism in Minnesota he started the I-team or Investigative Team which now is prevalent in almost all markets doing in-depth pieces on everything from tainted food at grocery stores to bad politicians.  For his outstanding work he was inducted to the Museum of Broadcasting on October 11, 2008.

His most recent book in the News Room series, Deadly Reunion, is the story of a young girl who was raped and murdered on her way home in 1992.  Believed to be one of three girls killed by a serial killer, the case was never solved.  Now, over 15 years later at his class reunion News Director George Barclay finds out about her death and starts asking questions and dredging up the past.  This book has a great news room sub context with the possible sale of the the TV station to a huge corporation that is threatening to remake the station in the image they want.  Drawing on his past experience in the field Mr. Handberg really makes you really feel like you are in the studio with the characters.  This book will leave you guessing until the end.  If you enjoy reading John Sandford's "Prey" books or are a fan of Brian Freeman you will enjoy this and all the books in this series.

Here is the Synopsis from Fantastic Fiction: "George Barclay would be the first to tell you that he is an unlikely hero, that he has never done anything remotely courageous in his entire life. A talented, respected television journalist, yes, but in most other ways an ordinary man, something of a social misfit at that: overweight, single, shy, ill-at-ease almost everywhere except in his newsroom.

So how does he become the center of an intriguing mystery surrounding the rape and murder of a high school classmate almost twenty years before?

A mystery that puts Barclay and those around him in the sights of a psychotic killer who has been hiding in the shadows of time. It is a story of teenage obsession, of a long-lost first love, and of Barclay's efforts to find justice for a woman he hardly knew, justice that has eluded police for decades. All in the face of a professional crisis that could cost him and his colleagues their jobs, and their city the loss of a great television station."

I was able to find the book through DeepDiscount for $13.45 with free shipping. Remember to order through Ebates to get an additional 2.5% cash back on your purchase.  If you have a Borders near you and would like to pick it up today for an even better price you can find it for $14.95, but with the Borders in store coupon for 1/2 off any one item your total cost would be $7.48 plus your local tax.

If you decide to read this I would be interested to know what you think.  If you are interested in taking the reading challenge just click the button along the side of my blog.

Have a great Sunday everyone!

C.Q.

Sunday's media madness...

I had no blog yesterday because I was personal attendant to a dear friend who just got married.  Sorry for the delay today as well but I was invited to her parents house for gift opening.  Thanks for your patients everyone.

Not all that long ago a friend got me interested in scrapbooking and I love it, so of course when I found the set of books by Laura Childs I was in my version of heaven, mystery and scrapbooking theme, its like all my favorite cooking mysteries!  So far the series consists of 7 books:

Scrapbooking Mysteries

1. Keepsake Crimes (2003)

2. Photo Finished (2004)

3. Bound for Murder (2004)

4. Motif for Murder (2006)

5. Frill Kill (2007)
6. Death Swatch (2008)
7. Tragic Magic (2009)
8. Fiber & Brimstone (2010)

I have just purchased a set of the first 4 books so these are the ones I have focused my blog on today.  I was able to find Keepsake Crimes at The Book Depository for $6.07 with free shipping for a new copy, if you would like a used copy the lowest price I found was at Sea Shell Books for $1.99 plus $1.99 shipping that brought the whole total to $3.98.  They were a few cents higher than the next competitor but they have a 5 star rating vs the others rating of 1 star.  If you have a kindle you can download the book from Amazon for $6.99.
 
The second book in the series, Photo Finished is available new from The Book Depository for $5.88 with free shipping, a used copy can be found for only $1.99 from Sea Shell Books, add the $1.99 shipping for a total cost of $3.98.  The Kindle version available from Amazon is $6.99 for the download.
 
The third book, Bound for Murder can be found new from Deep Discount for $6.29 with free shipping.  If a used copy will work just as well the look at Blue Cloud Books, the cost is only $3.95 with free shipping.  The Kindle version available through Amazon is $5.99 for the download.
 
Finally the forth book in the series, Motif for Murder is available new from Buy.com for $1.01, even with $3.25 for shipping it is still the lowest cost at $4.26 for a new copy.  If you would like a used copy its again lowest with the best rated seller at Sea Shell Books at $1.99 plus shipping of $1.99 for a total of $3.98.  Unfortunately there is no Kindle version of this book.
 
I hope you all have a great safe Halloween tonight!!
 
C.Q.

Sunday's media madness...

I love to read, many of you know that, you probably also know that like everything else in my life I have very eclectic taste in my books, old or new, fact or fiction, love story or murder mystery I adore them all. What some of you may not know is that I really do have a favorite genera, it combines my love for reading with the foodie in me, making me a sucker for the "culinary mystery". These books typically revolve around great food as well as a succulent mystery. A couple of years ago when I got my new Kindle and was looking for books to download to it I found an author named Cleo Coyle and fell in love with her very strong female character Clare who runs a coffee house with her ex-husband. The characters are as rich and robust as the coffee that is served up in these books. The author has written these books so well that I feel I know these people and I can almost hear the little bell on the coffee shop door jingle and smell the fresh coffee every time I open the cover of one of her books. I read all the books in the series in a month and could hardly wait for more, now the newest installment in the series, Roast Mortem, is set to be released August 3rd, 2010. If you own a Kindle and want to download it the cost of the book through Amazon is $11.99, for those of you with a Sony e-Reader you can download it for $11.99 at Barns & Noble, if you would prefer to have a hardcover copy for your bookshelf then Barns & Noble should have it in store for $16.83 and Amazon will deliver it to your door for $16.47 with free shipping if you meet the $25.00 minimum purchase requirement.

Here is the product description from Amazon to give you a little information about the book: "After local firefighters pull Clare out of a blazing café, she happily comes to their rescue by teaching them the finer points of operating their newly donated espresso machine. But matters really heat up when somebody is torching cafes around the city and firefighters begin to die in suspicious ways...

Believing the two events are related, Clare investigates, staking out a five-borough bake sale and sniffing out clues in the pizza ovens of Brooklyn. When her detective boyfriend, Mike Quinn, is pulled into the fire of a false accusation, Clare is desperate to put out the flames. But will she be able to come to Mike's rescue before someone tries to extinguish her?"

Cleo Coyle also has a great web site of her own where you can find anything from information on her books (she writes two series, the Coffee House books as well as the Haunted Bookshop novels), to where to find the best cup of coffee almost anywhere, and for those of you who love having a little "extra" with your mysteries check out the Mystery Lovers' Blog for a ton of information with different authors, including Cleo Coyle.

I hope you all are having a nice relaxing weekend.

C.Q.