Mystery Read-A-Thon #1

Mystery Read-A-Thon

Started this morning at 10:15 AM, after a 2 mile walk on the treadmill and a shower:

Baring Arms by Jo-Ann Powers
I really like the main character in this 2-book (so far) series by Jo-Ann Power. Congresswoman Carly Wagner is from Texas and is strong, feisty, funny, and doesn't take crap from anyone. As she recently solved a murder committed in her own office, she has no doubts about her own investigative skills, and also knows how to use the networks available to her throughout Washington.

Carly's daughter Jordan is nearly arrested in a raid on a gaming party, but is scooped away from trouble by Carly's friend, Mr. Jones, who helped her in the murder that occured in her office. Mr. Jones works for "a company" that provides very expensive and high tech investigative work for "clients he doesn't know". The gaming party ends up being a source from which many questions arise, and one murder--that of the father of 2 of Jordan's friends. How the gaming party comes together with a case the Mr. Jones is working on, along with missing government information makes for a very good read.

I like the characterizations in this book, and in the first one, especially those of Carly and her daughter Jordan.
Mystery Read-a-thon info: started at 10:15 AM on p. 206, finished at 10:50 AM, 260 pp total.

Gilda Joyce Psychic Investigator by Jennifer Allison
Started at 10:55-ish, read about 35 pp, didn't like enough to continue reading.

Bury Me Deep by Megan Abbott
Megan Abbott is such an amazing writer! She always takes you directly to the time period she's writing in, and you feel you are there as the story unfolds.

This title, due out in July, takes place in Arizona, in 1931, as Mrs. Marion Seeley is left behind there by her husband so that the dry air can heal her consumption. Her husband, a doctor with licensing problems due to drug addiction, goes to work in Mexico for a mining company as their doctor.

Marion befriends a coworker, Louise, and Louise's roommate, Ginny, and the three soon spend several evenings a week together, cooking and listening to the radio. It evolves that Louise and Ginny run with something of a wild crowd, having parties at their home frequently. One of their men friends is Joe Lanigan, and Marion is soon seduced into an affair with him, which becomes an obsession for her.

Where this obsession will lead, and what Marion finds herself doing is the heart of this book. Megan Abbott writes these dark tales better than anyone. From reading other works by her, thise is at least the third title she's based on a true story. For those who like the darker, seamier side of life, this is the book for you.
Started at 11:15 AM, finished at 1:35 PM 270 pp including Author's Note

I feel a nap coming on, so I'm not sure I'll get my full 12 hours in today. I do feel I'm getting good reading done though, which will continue after the nap!

Happy Reading!
Patti