that I loved and recommend. (But that I don't feel like reviewing.)
Drown Her Sorrows by Melinda Leigh. Another excellent mystery centered around Sheriff Bree Taggert and Matt Flynn, two characters I like more and more with each book I read. This is the third book in this series, and it's every bit as good as Leigh's previous book, See Her Die. I liked the twists and turns in it. I just wish I didn't have to wait until September to read the next one in this entertaining series.
Her Mother's Grave by Lisa Regan. This third Josie Quinn mystery is another good one. It centers around Josie's less than stellar mother, who she hasn't seen since she was 14, and her own traumatic past. I liked it as much as I did Regan's first two books: Vanishing Girls and The Girl With No Name. I'm really loving this series.
The Monster in the Box by Ruth Rendell. Sam over at Book Chase recommended this book. It's the 22nd book in Rendell's Inspector Wexford series, but the first one I've read. And I loved it. It's a great introduction to Chief Inspector Wexford, and as good as Sam said it was! Be sure to check out his review here ... and then go check out this book.
So, there you have it, three awesome books, especially if you love interesting mysteries with well-written and very likable characters.
Happy Reading!
Ruth Rendell! It's been a long while since I last heard her name. Some readers had recommended Judgment in Stone to me, but sadly I never managed to read it. I think there's also a show based on her mystery books? See if you want to try that too if not already watched it. Might be a bit dated though.
ReplyDeleteI'm not surprised there's a TV series based on her books; she's written so many of them. I wonder if it's any good.
DeleteYears ago I watched a film adaptation of A Dark Adapted Eye by Ruth Rendell (writing as Barbara Vine) but I've never read any of her books. I should look into her.
ReplyDeleteShe's written a ton. But this is the only one I've read. Still, I'd read her again. :)
DeleteI'd like to try the second and third ones. I'm in the mood for a decent mystery.
ReplyDeleteI've really enjoyed Lisa Regan's Josie Quinn series. The books in it that I've read have all been solid mysteries.
DeleteHow funny, I too read my first Wexford at the end of the series, book 24, the last book. And then book 23. LOL! Both of them were terrific. I'll look for The Monster in the Box.
ReplyDeleteRendell's writing makes her books very easy and enjoyable to read. I know I won't be reading all 24 of the Wrexford mysteries, but I wouldn't mind trying another one. :)
DeleteI haven't read any of those but they do sound good.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed them. :D
DeleteI've read a couple of Ruth Rendell writing as Barbara Vine titles and enjoyed them all. She's good at psychological suspense. I've not yet tried her Wrexford series yet. I'm often cautious about starting a series because I usually want to be a completeist, which can get difficult!
ReplyDeleteThat's the problem with starting new series...wanting to then complete them. I totally understand your hesitation. This is a series, though, you could probably dip in and out of and not feel a need to read them all.
DeleteI'm dedicating July to reading mysteries/thrillers and I'm enjoying them a lot so far. I used to read this genre almost exclusively but I've gravitated more toward literary fiction in recent years. I'm remembering why I liked them so much. The three you mention sound like titles I might want to add to my reading list.
ReplyDeleteThey're all good reads! But if you decide to read Lisa Regan, definitely start with her first book in this series, Vanishing Girls.
DeleteNice! I like the sound of that first one a lot!
ReplyDeleteI've really been liking that Melinda Leigh series. They've been very good books.
DeleteThanks for the recs. All three of these sound great!
ReplyDeleteThey're fun reads if you're looking for a mystery.
DeleteI've heard great things about Melinda Leigh's books and this series sounds awesome. It's tough waiting for the next book in a beloved series, but September will be here before we know it. :D
ReplyDeleteI hate when I'm totally in the mood to read the next book only to find out the next book is months away! But what can you do? :)
DeleteHi Lark, all of these mysteries sound really good and I must put Monster in the Box on my list because I have never read Ruth Rendell and have always meant to but also both you and Sam have recommended this book and so that means I must give it a try.
ReplyDeleteMonster in the Box gives you a really good introduction to both Ruth Rendell and Inspector Wrexford! Definitely a good one to try.
DeleteI've read several of Melinda Leigh's books and Scarlett Falls, but mostly the Morgan Dane series. I've also enjoyed many novels by Rendell, but although Lisa Regan sounds familiar, I haven't read her books. Lots of good mysteries to contemplate!
ReplyDeleteThere are a lot of good mysteries out there! At least our TBR lists will never run out. ;D
DeleteI'm not familiar with Leigh or Regan's work, but they are tempting from what you've said about them. I'm really happy that you enjoyed the Ruth Rendell book as much as I had hoped you would. Because of all the biographical flashbacks in it, I think it's an excellent place for readers unfamiliar with Wexford to start.
ReplyDeleteI thought Monster in the Box was a very good introduction to Wexford! And now I feel like I can dip into the series whenever and wherever I want. :)
DeleteI love mysteries, but I haven't read anything by any of these authors. I need to try them all out, especially if they're recommended by you and/or Sam!
ReplyDeleteSam convinced me to give Monster in the Box a try, and I'm glad I did. Rendell is a very good writer.
DeleteThese books look so good that I want to read them
ReplyDeleteaffordable bundles
Hope you get a chance. And thanks for commenting!
DeleteAll three sound good. I've wanted to read Ruth Rendell's books for a long time.
ReplyDeleteThis is a good one to start with even though it's later in the series because it flashes back to one of Wexford's first cases, so you get to meet him when he was younger, and as he is now.
DeleteI have yet to try any of these authors, though I'm familiar with all three by name. My mom enjoyed some of Rendell's books, years ago. How dark are Melinda Leigh's books? I've been eyeing them for a year or two now.
ReplyDeleteI've read three of Melinda Leigh's books, the two I mention here and also Midnight Exposure, which I also really liked. And they're not very dark, or too intense or graphic. I haven't read the first Bree Taggert book, but these next two read like good investigative mysteries.
DeleteI've really enjoyed several Ruth Rendell novels (and some of her Barbara Vine novels too) but I'm not sure if I've read any in her Wexford series. That's a lot of books in a series!
ReplyDeleteA ton of books for one series. I know I won't be reading them all, but I enjoyed this one. :)
DeleteI don't think I've read any of these authors' books except Ruth Rendell's. Gotta check them out!
ReplyDeleteI think you'd like both Melinda Leigh and Lisa Regan. :)
DeleteI haven't read any of these, although I've read Ruth Rendell before. These all sound good!
ReplyDeleteI think you'd like the Josie Quinn series by Lisa Regan, and the Bree Taggert one by Melinda Leigh, too.
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