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John Berendt recommended Collected Stories in Books (curated)

 
Collected Stories
Collected Stories
Gore Vidal, Tennessee Williams | 2012 | Fiction & Poetry
(0 Ratings)
Book Favorite

"Tennessee Williams’s short stories are eclipsed by his plays, but they are by no means outclassed. His ear for dialogue, his eye for character and his dramatic gifts are as powerful in his stories as they are in his plays. Like the plays, the stories are flavored with a connoisseur’s taste for the strange and bizarre, including cannibalism, incest, rape, castration, nymphomania, alcoholism and murder. My favorite among the stories is the fiendish “Desire and the Black Masseur,” but there are many, many runners-up."

Source
  
Cream Puff Murder (Hannah Swensen, #11)
Cream Puff Murder (Hannah Swensen, #11)
Joanne Fluke | 2009 | Fiction & Poetry, Mystery
8
7.3 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
Hannah needs to lose weight, so she has joined Heavenly Bodies, the new gym at the mall. But one morning, she finds universally hated fitness instructor Ronnie Ward floating face down in the spa. It really is cruel to talk about losing weight in the middle of all the delicious recipes in the book. Not the strongest plot in the series, but fans will love spending time with their favorite characters.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/03/book-review-cream-puff-murder-by-joanne.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
  
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
J.K. Rowling | 2016 | Children
9
9.1 (229 Ratings)
Book Rating
The issues that arise in the story (revenge, grief, friendship, search for thr truth etc) Buckbeak! Introduction of Sirius. (0 more)
By far my favorite Harry potter book.
Contains spoilers, click to show
Ive always found this book to be my favorite out of the whole series purely because Harry finds some family...his godfather, whom after a convoluted storyline he realises isnt set out to murder him. Its the only book where I feel he actually has a few happy moments in his life and is discovering who he is and achieves a bit of character stability. I love how the story handles the introduction of Sirius and displays the political and media spin that happens in the background (between the bad reporting on the daily prophet and ministry of magic). Also the trio (Harry, Ron and hermoine) seem to have solid bonds of friendship grow tighter in this storyline.
  
Stone Cold (Camel Club, #3)
Stone Cold (Camel Club, #3)
David Baldacci | 2007 | Fiction & Poetry
10
10.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
This book is my favorite in the Camel Club series by far! The story was filled with so many twists & turns that is was quite the breathless ride. I couldn't put it down for the last half & felt like I held my breath the entire time I was reading!
It tells the story of Soviet & American spies during the Cold War. Without giving too much away there is a great deal of murder & treason involved...along with a great con. I am in love with the character of Annabelle Conroy & so glad that Baldacci decided to bring her along for the ride in this installment too. Looking forward to the next chapter in the Camel Club saga!!!!
  
A Soldier&#039;s Story (1984)
A Soldier's Story (1984)
1984 | Drama, Mystery
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Movie Favorite

"Another one of my favorite movies in the whole world is A Soldier’s Story. It was originally a play but this one stars Denzel Washington and David Allen Grier and Howard E. Rollins. [It’s set] in World War II, it’s about the racial divide in the army, but it’s also about a murder mystery, but then it also dealt with the social class differences, and so that was another one that — [Norman] Jewison directed that; he really hit the nail on the head. Very well written, very well acted, another movie I could quote from top to bottom."

Source
  
GO
Girl on the Run
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I love Daryl Wood Gerber's cozy mysteries, and was both curious and excited to get my hands on this, her first novel in the suspense genre. I was not disappointed!

At first glance, it appears to be a standard setup - woman found with her dead husband and accused of murder - but it quickly takes off in its own direction and never stops. Once Chessa decides that she is going to have to find the truth on her own and takes off running, the suspense doesn't stop. She doesn't know what is going on or who she can trust, and seems to encounter more questions than answers in her search for the truth. I was completely sucked in and had a hard time putting the book down.

Chessa is my favorite type of female heroine - strong and smart, but not perfect by any means. She's just too stubborn to give up.

I really enjoyed this new venture from a favorite author, and hope there will be more to come!

NOTE: I received a free advanced copy from the author in exchange for my honest review.
  
Kiss the Girls (Alex Cross, #2)
Kiss the Girls (Alex Cross, #2)
James Patterson | 2012 | Crime, Fiction & Poetry, Thriller
4
8.0 (30 Ratings)
Book Rating
This wasn't Patterson's best novel.

it was obvious to me from the beginning that the killers were hiding underground. i knew Samson was going to get hurt, but honestly i think the blood-lust would have been better if he died. (even though Samson is one of my favorite characters.) some of the scenes were just a bit too... descriptive... for me. both in the murder details and that of the rapes. i skipped a few pages. and he was incredibly repeditive with Nana-- she always had to have the last word. (dude. you said it five times. we've got it.)

i'm hoping the next one is better.
  
TC
8
8.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Dr. Bree Mayfield-Watson is most comfortable solving chemistry problems and logically looking at things. She never signed up to find her boss murdered in a secured building and is considered the number one suspect. Who wanted him dead and why are they framing Bree?

Unlike most cozy mysteries, Bree is not your average amateur detective doing illogical and impulsive things to solve the mystery. Refreshingly, she uses her brain, keen sense of observation, and trusty notebook to analyze the facts and formulate who is the real murderer.

My favorite part was being caught up in who the potential murder was and then finding out I was so wrong!
  
TC
8
8.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Dr. Bree Mayfield-Watson is most comfortable solving chemistry problems and logically looking at things. She never signed up to find her boss murdered in a secured building and is considered the number one suspect. Who wanted him dead and why are they framing Bree?

Unlike most cozy mysteries, Bree is not your average amateur detective doing illogical and impulsive things to solve the mystery. Refreshingly, she uses her brain, keen sense of observation, and trusty notebook to analyze the facts and formulate who is the real murderer.

My favorite part was being caught up in who the potential murder was and then finding out I was so wrong!
  
MB
Midlife Blues ( Not too Late 2)
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
100 of 220
Kindle
Midlife Blues (Not Too Late 2)
By Victoria Danann
⭐️⭐️⭐️

Begins with the formerly reclusive, gentleman vampire hosting a murder mystery dinner you'll never forget, and ends with the case of the captured kelpie. From Hallow Hill to northern Ireland, don't miss your favorite judge's magical adventures.


I liked it but it didn’t have the punch the first one had. It was interesting hearing the court trials and meeting so many different creatures. Felt a little rushed to me but I it still made me smile. Worth a read! To be honest who would want this job and to live in this village? My dream!