NEWS FLASH: Meg is the winner of Peg’s book for commenting yesterday. Congratulations, Meg! Peg will be contacting you by email.
It’s full summer in New England – sun-kissed tomatoes, sun-pinked skin from the beach, sunny yellow flowers abloom. So what are we reading, Wickeds and friends? Share your favorite kick-back-and-lose-yourself-in-a-story choices.
Edith: I have the great honor of being nominated for a Macavity Award, the Sue FederMemorial Award for Best Historical Novel, along with Catriona McPherson, Ann Parker, James Ziskin, Lyndsay Faye, and Susanna Calkins (in no particular order). I’m reading each of their nominated books before I head to Toronto for Bouchercon in October. So far I’ve loved Catriona’s The Reek of Red Herrings and Lynsday’s Jane Steele. Next up is Ann’s What Gold Buys, which I’m eagerly anticipating.
Sherry: I’ve read a lot of great books over the 
past few weeks. First up was Identity by Ingrid Thoft. I love this series and have to keep myself from binge reading it. Second I was delighted to read my friend Kim Stockley’s YA fantasy A Shattered Moon the first in a trilogy with the concept: There is still an Eden but it’s no longer paradise. I read an early version and loved it even more now. Then I read Razor Girl by Carl Hiaasen. What a plot and full of his usual quirks. I just started Murder with Chicken and Waffles by A.L. Herbert who I met at an event on Saturday. When a book starts with cornbread you know it’s going to be good.
Liz: I have so many books on my list! I just finished World Gone By by Dennis Lehane, and Spirit Junkie by Gabrielle Bernstein. Next on my list is Reservation Road by John Burnham Schwartz.
Julie: Diane Vallere and I were on a panel together at Malice. She mentioned that she will read through an entire series at a time–both to enjoy and to learn from. With that as an inspiration, and with a vacation coming up, I’ve decided to read Louise Penny’s series. She is a favorite of so many, and I am already glad I’m diving in.
Barb: I feel like a broken record, because I think every time we do this I’m reading William Kent Krueger. However, I am almost caught up to the present. Currently reading Manitou Canyon. Like Julie, I have vacation coming up. I’m planning to bring Paul Doiron’s latest, Knife Creek, and Bruce Robert Coffin’s second novel, Beneath the Depths. And, like every year, the last week in August, I’ll be at Sherman’s in Boothbay Harbor, picking up a copy of Louise Penny’s latest, Glass Houses this year, for my Labor Day weekend reading pleasure.
Jessie: I am currently reading Radha Vatsal’s A Front Page Affair and am enjoying it immensely! I recently finished Cold Comfort by Quentin Bates and Herbie’s Game by Timothy Hallinan. For non-fiction I am savoring Naturalists in Paradise: Wallace, Bates and Spruce in the Amazon by John Hemming.
Readers: Share your summer reads!
I’m currently reading Allison Brennan’s Compulsion, a Max Revere book. I love the series. I found some new reads from all of your read summers. Sherry, I’m ordering one of Ingrid Thoft’s books to try. When I’m done with Compulsion I’ll read a cozy, I just have decided which one yet. Happy summer reading!
I’ve read all of Ingrid Thoft and loved them!
I love Ingrid’s books. Start with the first one! I like to switch back and forth too!
Thanks for all the recommendations…I went to the library website and put Ingrid Thoft on my list.
Great!
You won’t regret it!
I’m reading Good Grief by Lolly Winston. It is very witty considering the topic (widowhood), and my pleasure reading always includes books that make me cry, otherwise it doesn’t seem worth it! The writing is lovely with a dash of snark, so that always helps.
Weeping and snark? Perfect.
Jessie, I just finished A FRONT PAGE AFFAIR – it was very enjoyable. I just started MORTAL CAUSES, Rebus I-forget-which-number by Ian Rankin.
My book pile was getting low, then I found all the books I brought back from Malice. Score!
Big score!
Mary: I just finished listening to Rankin’s Resurrection Men, (Rebus #110, I think.) I listen to the ones read by James Macpherson because he is Scottish and I love the way he enhances the humor. I wouldn’t get half of it if I read it instead.
I’m currently drinking up the prose in Benjamin Black’s A Death in Summer. Gorgeous writing.
I’ll have to take a look at that.
Read The Light in Summer, one of Mary McNear’s wonderful Butternut Lake novels. Read it in one day. A real “couldn’t put it down” story. Now reading Cheryl Hollon’s Pane and Suffering. (I’ve read Cheryl’s books all out of order, but it doesn’t seem to matter. Each one is complete.) Next on the list–I’m going to re-read The Peabody Sisters of Salem by Louise Hall Tharp.
I love Cheryl’s series!
I’m on vacation right now. On the plane ride out yesterday, I read Meet Your Baker by Ellie Alexander. As soon as I saw that title, I knew I had to read it. It had my name on it. 🙂
Just started Dressed to Confess by Diane Vallere. As in I’m on page 3. After that will be Chime and Punishment by Julianne Holmes.
I’ll be reading Chime and Punishment as soon as it comes out. And Liz’s new Cat About Town (written as Cate Conte), too!
Cat About Town will be after Rhys Bowen’s new book (which will be after Chime).
I loved Meet Your Baker.
I just started Sowed to Death by Peg Cochran. I have two Ingrid Thoft books on my TBR shelf (trying to catch up). I am anxiously awaiting the new Louise Penny next month and William Kent Krueger’s new book. Lots of my favorite cozy authors have books releasing soon. I love going back and forth between traditional mysteries and cozies.
Isn’t it great to have so much choice, Christi?
My list of what I am reading changes constantly. I am reading The Identicals by Elin Hildenbrand, then Look Behind You by Iris Johansen, after that I have several cozies to go such as Tightening The Threads by Lea Wait, When the Grits Hit The Fan by Maddie Day and All Murders Final by Sherry (I missed this one somehow). After that, I have Lying Game by Ruth Ware and Glass Houses by Louise Penny up. Who knows how well I will stick to this though. I also have a few Middle Grade novels that I want to read as well. Too many book, too little time.
I love your lists. Lots of books for me to check out now. That TBR keeps growing.
I read through Charmaine Harris’ Aurora Teagarden series in June. In July, I started on Amanda Lee’s Embroidery Mystery series. I love both series. And in between those two series I read Believe My by Eddie Izard, which is a wonderful touching and funny memoir. After watching the BBC Scotland’s television production, I am reading MC Beaton’s Hamish Macbeth series.
I love Hamish!
Catching up on my book club reading! Nine Women, One Dress is wonderful fun!! Also, the Inspector Gamache books by Lucille Penny. Then, lots of mysteries and lots of history of Philadelphia.