Julia Spencer-Flemming's "Clare Fergusson/Russ Van Alstyne" crime series

0 Kudo

Author	Comment
jnol74	Julia Spencer-Flemming's "Clare Fergusson/Russ Van Alstyne" crime series		Lead	[-]
Posts: 655 05/08/09 05:24 PM	Tags : None I'm reading the first 3 in the series, and plan on reading all 6 eventually, back-to-back, with the 7th not due out till October of this year. If anyone cares to join me, the first 3 titles are: "In the Bleak Mid-Winter" (I've read this one), "A Fountain Filled with Blood" (I'm just beginning this one), and the third is "Out of the Deep I Cry". If we get a discussion going from these 3 and anyone would like the titles of the next ones for continuing on, I'll post those after we've run out of things to say about these first 3 at that point. Sound good? My idea is for us to read the first 3, and then start chatting about them after that. And if anyone doesn't think they want to continue past the first one right from the start, no problemo! It could still be part of our "3-fer" discussion later! I'll check in off and on to ask where each of us stands as we read these first 3 before we dive in to actually talking about them! Last Edited By: jnol74 05/08/09 05:32 PM. Edited 1 time.
Interact My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Invite Blocking Ignore User's Posts	Reply Quote
jnol74		#1	[url]	[-]
Posts: 655 05/10/09 12:01 PM	Just wondering who's thinking they might want to chat about these 3 books eventually? I know Candy said she was going to try to get them at the library, and Lee and Anne have read some of the series, but I'm not sure how many they've read and if they're even planning to "buddy read" the first 3? I'm probably going to finish book 2 by Tuesday or Wednesday night, then will start book 3 most likely Thursday night, but I probably won't finish that one till the end of next week, or so that's my plan! I know Genre Stew is starting the "Out Stealing Horses" discussion starting today, so that will most likely keep you busy with book chatting, but I don't want to speed through book 3 then have forgotten what happens by the time we get to talking about the JSF ones, if we do, so I'm just wondering what your plans might be for that, if any at this point? I can always hold off a bit with book 3, and I doubt I'll have too much trouble remembering the plots of these first 3 even if we wait a while to chat about them. The first one in the series was waaaaay different than this 2nd one I'm reading, so facts are more likely to "stick" since the stories are quite different from each other. Anyway, just touching bases here!
Interact My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Invite Blocking Ignore User's Posts	Reply Quote
booksalot		#2	[url]	[-]
Posts: 1385 05/10/09 02:34 PM	Jackie, I've read 1 and 2 and Lee has also. I don't know when I might get to book three as I have several backed up from the library at this time. I also have other book groups to keep up with so I can't make any promises at this time. I do have book 3 on my Challenge list though so that is good incentive. Anne in Austin "Let us dare to read, think, speak and write."--John Adams
Interact My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Invite Blocking Ignore User's Posts	Reply Quote
jnol74		#3	[url]	[-]
Posts: 655 05/10/09 07:50 PM	booksalot wrote: Jackie, I've read 1 and 2 and Lee has also. I don't know when I might get to book three as I have several backed up from the library at this time. I also have other book groups to keep up with so I can't make any promises at this time. I do have book 3 on my Challenge list though so that is good incentive. It'll be a little while till I get book 3 read, but if you, Lee, and Candy wanted to just start a chat by talking about the first two, it would be fine with me, so you guys let me know if you want to and we can get started after I finish the 2nd one around Wednesday or Thursday? And if Candy was just now able to get the library books she mentioned she thought she'd be able to, we can even just start in with the first one and go from there. Nothing is etched in stone! The reason I thought of reading 3 of the books and then discussing them is that, IMO, a series doesn't really get going till more than one or two have been read. But I do want to be flexible enough to get some "action" if possible! I'll wait to hear what everyone has in mind before I start gabbing about even the first one at this point. I don't want to make Candy feel like she's afraid to participate at all for fear of learning too many details. And if the Julia Spencer-Flemming series thread doesn't get any action whatsoever over the next couple of weeks, I'll just post my opinions of what I thought of them without talking about important plot details. Then I'll move on to listing some of the TBR's I plan on getting into in the near future in the thread you created for that and see if anyone "bites" on any of those. I'd read posts from Lee and Candy saying they might be interested in chatting about the series (or part of it anyway), and since I knew you liked the ones you've read, I thought maybe you might want to participate, too. Soooo, I'll just keep reading and wait patiently to see what transpires!
Interact My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Invite Blocking Ignore User's Posts	Reply Quote
Aisling52		#4	[url]	[-]
Posts: 1063 05/10/09 09:54 PM	Hi Jackie, I was able to get all the first three books when I went on Friday. I started the first one last night. I will see how long it takes me to read the first one then I might be able to get a better timeline for when I will finish the second one. So far I am loving Clare! Candy Hope you had a nice Mother's day!
Interact My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Invite Blocking Ignore User's Posts	Reply Quote
jnol74		#5	[url]	[-]
Posts: 655 05/11/09 06:13 PM	Aisling52 wrote: Hi Jackie, I was able to get all the first three books when I went on Friday. I started the first one last night. I will see how long it takes me to read the first one then I might be able to get a better timeline for when I will finish the second one. So far I am loving Clare! Candy Hope you had a nice Mother's day! I'm glad you're enjoying the first one! Clare's a great character, isn't she? As I said in the previous post, I'm not "stuck" with us having to read all 3 before we start chatting about the books if and when we do, but I'm really not all that keen about talking about them one at a time either since it's a series. I think you've read some of the other crime series around, too, (?) and probably know what I meant when I said the reason I originally had the idea of us reading the first 3 and then talking about the books is that sometimes it takes more than one or two books to really form a true opinion of most series, at least that's been my experience. I didn't read at all last night, so I probably won't be finished with this second one till more towards Friday now, so keep me posted on your progress! I haven't seen any feed-back posts from Lee, but she did say a few posts back she might like to get into a buddy read. But I haven't forgotten she has two kids now...one of which is an infant! However, if you decide you don't want to go on and only want to talk about the first 2 instead, just let me know, and I won't "nag" you about reading the 3rd! Anne said she and Lee had only read the first 2, so rather than scrap the whole thing, if everyone just wants to talk about the first 2 when you and I finish those, I won't cry too hard! Either way, I'd like to have something going by the end of this month if possible, and by that time, maybe everyone will able to be more specific about their plans for joining or not joining my proposed buddy read. I know the buddy read feature is one Anne is interested in using more, judging from what she posted in her "going forward" plan, so I'm hoping to get something going here ladies! I'll be reading the entire series anyway, so whatever comes about, it won't affect my plans for the reading of it in any case.
Interact My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Invite Blocking Ignore User's Posts	Reply Quote
LeeLee333		#6	[url]	[-]
Posts: 1316 05/11/09 06:49 PM	Hey Jackie, I don't mind picking up the third book once I'm done my current book!! It will be a nice, fun read. I'm also happy to talk about first two..I don't usually forget details but we'll see if I have "plancenta" brain. lol
Interact My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Invite Blocking Ignore User's Posts	Reply Quote
jnol74		#7	[url]	[-]
Posts: 655 05/12/09 12:21 PM	LeeLee333 wrote: Hey Jackie, I don't mind picking up the third book once I'm done my current book!! It will be a nice, fun read. I'm also happy to talk about first two..I don't usually forget details but we'll see if I have "plancenta" brain. lol How about I check back here a week from today and see where we all stand, then maybe aim for the week after that (Tuesday May 27) to start? Since Candy is starting from the beginning, and I'm only half way through the 2nd, that will maybe give us a chance to get that third one and who knows? Maybe we'll all be ready for a 3-fer in a couple of weeks! But a 2-fer would definitely be a way to start in any case, so when I check in next Tuesday, we'll see where everyone stands and take it from there. Does this sound like a plan? To one and all...let me know if it's not to your liking! Thanks for checking in, Lee! I'm glad you're still interested!
Interact My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Invite Blocking Ignore User's Posts	Reply Quote
Aisling52		#8	[url]	[-]
Posts: 1063 05/13/09 12:21 PM	LeeLee333 wrote: Hey Jackie, I don't mind picking up the third book once I'm done my current book!! It will be a nice, fun read. I'm also happy to talk about first two..I don't usually forget details but we'll see if I have "plancenta" brain. lol Oh Lee, I got a big kick out of your "placenta" brain comment. Lol. Candy
Interact My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Invite Blocking Ignore User's Posts	Reply Quote
Aisling52		#9	[url]	[-]
Posts: 1063 05/13/09 12:25 PM	Jackie, I am a little more than halfway through the first one. I am loving the main characters which is a plus if you want to continue the series! Right now I don't see a problem finishing the three by the 27th but I will give a progress report again next week. Candy
Interact My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Invite Blocking Ignore User's Posts	Reply Quote
jnol74		#10	[url]	[-]
Posts: 655 05/13/09 05:13 PM	Aisling52 wrote: Jackie, I am a little more than halfway through the first one. I am loving the main characters which is a plus if you want to continue the series! Right now I don't see a problem finishing the three by the 27th but I will give a progress report again next week. Candy Great, Candy! I am so glad you're enjoying the two main characters. I myself think they're one of the better pairings in crime novels I've read. I'm still only half-way through the second, but I plan on reading tonight and for the next several nights since for the past 3 nights I've done no reading at all. I'm knitting a little summer top for Olivia, but I overdid it big time again and my darn, ongoing neck and shoulder problems are over the top today. I'm getting an MRI on Saturday to let the doctor get a more detailed look than what the x-rays showed. I hate having limitations! GAK! But at least I'm still able to get up and get dressed, so I'm definitely not as bad off as some people, that's for sure! It's throwing off my ability to walk something terrible since I can't hold my head up well due to this painful situation, though. It's even hard to lift my arms up past my waist. So it'll be lots of reading for me for awhile! Anyway! Onward and forward to what I think will be a fun buddy read!
Interact My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Invite Blocking Ignore User's Posts	Reply Quote
jnol74		#11	[url]	[-]
Posts: 655 05/13/09 05:17 PM	Aisling52 wrote: Oh Lee, I got a big kick out of your "placenta" brain comment. Lol. Candy I haven't had a baby and I'm still going to have to haul out the first book since I've already forgotten "who done it" in that one I just recently finished! I guess I'd have to call mine "baby boomer" brain!
Interact My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Invite Blocking Ignore User's Posts	Reply Quote
LeeLee333		#12	[url]	[-]
Posts: 1316 05/14/09 08:07 PM	LOL! It's true though. I am a bit spaced out lately...my husband notices it a lot! I am almost finished the Tana French book (really great book) and will start the Julia Fleming one pronto!! It will probably take me a couple of weeks to finish it but you never know - I read while I'm nursing Emerson and I nurse A LOT!! Lee
Interact My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Invite Blocking Ignore User's Posts	Reply Quote
Aisling52		#13	[url]	[-]
Posts: 1063 05/15/09 12:59 PM	jnol74 wrote: Great, Candy! I am so glad you're enjoying the two main characters. I myself think they're one of the better pairings in crime novels I've read. I'm still only half-way through the second, but I plan on reading tonight and for the next several nights since for the past 3 nights I've done no reading at all. I'm knitting a little summer top for Olivia, but I overdid it big time again and my darn, ongoing neck and shoulder problems are over the top today. I'm getting an MRI on Saturday to let the doctor get a more detailed look than what the x-rays showed. I hate having limitations! GAK! But at least I'm still able to get up and get dressed, so I'm definitely not as bad off as some people, that's for sure! It's throwing off my ability to walk something terrible since I can't hold my head up well due to this painful situation, though. It's even hard to lift my arms up past my waist. So it'll be lots of reading for me for awhile! Anyway! Onward and forward to what I think will be a fun buddy read! I finished the first one yesterday! I didn't write notes because that would have slowed me down so instead I wrote a card book report when I finished reading. I started the second one last night. So I think it is safe to say that I should be done with all three by the end of the month. I meant to answer you about your series comment but I forgot to earlier. You are right. In a series it sometimes takes 2 or 3 books in to get a real feel for the series. And I also find it to be very common for the second one to be a little flat in comparrison to the first. Kind of like the author is trying to work out any kinks. I don't think this will be the case with this one though because I didn't find any kinks in the first one. I can't wait to find out and will put my comments in my report. Candy
Interact My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Invite Blocking Ignore User's Posts	Reply Quote
Aisling52		#14	[url]	[-]
Posts: 1063 05/15/09 01:07 PM	LeeLee333 wrote: LOL! It's true though. I am a bit spaced out lately...my husband notices it a lot! I am almost finished the Tana French book (really great book) and will start the Julia Fleming one pronto!! It will probably take me a couple of weeks to finish it but you never know - I read while I'm nursing Emerson and I nurse A LOT!! Lee Lee, I don't think I could read and feed the baby! It would have put me to sleep. Just like if I sit up and read I can read all night. But if I read in bed after a few pages my eyes start to close. Lol. Candy
Interact My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Invite Blocking Ignore User's Posts	Reply Quote
jnol74		#15	[url]	[-]
Posts: 655 05/15/09 02:29 PM	LeeLee333 wrote: I am almost finished the Tana French book (really great book) and will start the Julia Fleming one pronto!! It will probably take me a couple of weeks to finish it but you never know - I read while I'm nursing Emerson and I nurse A LOT!! Lee I have a little under 100 pages to go in the 2nd one and will most likely be starting "Out of the Deep I Cry" over the weekend. Yippeeeee! This seems to be working out so far for you, me, and Candy very nicely as far as the pacing of our reading goes! Regarding the Tana French ones, I have "In the Woods" and "The Likeness" as Audible audio books. Now that I've seen how much you liked In the Woods and are liking The Likeness, I'm kind of wishing I'd gotten the books themselves and maybe we could have "buddy read" those at some point later. As it is, I'm sooooooooo slow at getting through the audio books, you'd probably be waiting for me till next year! LOL!
Interact My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Invite Blocking Ignore User's Posts	Reply Quote
jnol74		#16	[url]	[-]
Posts: 655 05/15/09 02:43 PM	Aisling52 wrote: I finished the first one yesterday! I didn't write notes because that would have slowed me down so instead I wrote a card book report when I finished reading. I started the second one last night. So I think it is safe to say that I should be done with all three by the end of the month. I meant to answer you about your series comment but I forgot to earlier. You are right. In a series it sometimes takes 2 or 3 books in to get a real feel for the series. And I also find it to be very common for the second one to be a little flat in comparrison to the first. Kind of like the author is trying to work out any kinks. I don't think this will be the case with this one though because I didn't find any kinks in the first one. I can't wait to find out and will put my comments in my report. Candy Nice going, Candy! I think this is going to work out just perfectly as far as us all winding up at the finish line at the same time. As far as what you said about 2nd's in series sometimes falling a bit flat, I, too, have found that to be the case, especially with crime fiction! In fact, I think I read somewhere there's an actual writer's term for it. I'm very close to finishing this second one and am anxious to move along to the third. I'll be interested to see what we all have to say about the "2nd in a series" thing when all is said and done with our reading of these! I didn't write notes either. I plan on just having the 3 books out and by my side when we start talking about them so I can refresh my memory that way. I've already gotten the first one out to re-read the ending of it again since my one tiny brain cell seems to have failed me regarding who it was there on the bridge with Clare!!!!!!! I can remember every detail about that scene, except for how the "bad guy" fit! Heavens to Mergatroid!
Interact My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Invite Blocking Ignore User's Posts	Reply Quote
jnol74		#17	[url]	[-]
Posts: 655 05/15/09 02:48 PM	LeeLee333 wrote: LOL! It's true though. I am a bit spaced out lately...my husband notices it a lot! I am almost finished the Tana French book (really great book) and will start the Julia Fleming one pronto!! It will probably take me a couple of weeks to finish it but you never know - I read while I'm nursing Emerson and I nurse A LOT!! Lee I don't know how you manage it all, Lee! Yowza! I'm like Candy in that I have to be sitting up in a chair when I read. And I don't get into my jammies till I'm ready to crawl under the covers! Reading in bed has never worked for me.
Interact My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Invite Blocking Ignore User's Posts	Reply Quote
LeeLee333		#18	[url]	[-]
Posts: 1316 05/16/09 01:09 PM	I sit myself in a chair with a pillow under Emerson's head and I can read with one hand! It's pretty easy. It helps me to get through more books so it's good. I didn't especially enjoy the 2nd Clare/Russ book but I have high hopes for the 3rd one as the first was so fun.
Interact My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Invite Blocking Ignore User's Posts	Reply Quote
jnol74		#19	[url]	[-]
Posts: 655 05/16/09 01:26 PM	LeeLee333 wrote: I sit myself in a chair with a pillow under Emerson's head and I can read with one hand! It's pretty easy. It helps me to get through more books so it's good. I didn't especially enjoy the 2nd Clare/Russ book but I have high hopes for the 3rd one as the first was so fun I finished the 2nd one last night and shall reserve my comments on that one till Candy's reads it. Now...on to the 3rd!
Interact My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Invite Blocking Ignore User's Posts	Reply Quote
jnol74	Lee and Candy - Just checking in	#20	[url]	[-]
Posts: 655 05/19/09 01:20 PM	As promised, I'm just checking in to see where we all are in our reading of the Julia Spencer-Fleming books for the buddy read. I'm about 40 pages into the third and am really, really liking it so far! This one looks like it'll have lots of juicy twists and turns. How're you two doing at this point?
Interact My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Invite Blocking Ignore User's Posts	Reply Quote