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Tag Archives: book discussion group

Just Desserts — Culinary Crime and Reading Recommendations from August 2020

Hey, mystery fans! Looking for something good to read?

At the August 2020 Just Desserts meeting that took place online using Zoom meeting software, 14 members participated in a discussion of “Culinary Crime” mysteries, in which attendees were encouraged to read ANY entry in a food/drink-themed mystery novel, and share their thoughts in a “round-robin” format. Here’s a list of the novels/series that were mentioned by group members. We asked all attendees to also give a “Thumbs Up” or “Thumbs Down” for whatever series they sampled – the majority of participants had a lukewarm attitude towards Culinary Crime mysteries, ranging from not enjoying them, to finding them a fun escape between more serious novels.

Culinary Crime Novels/Series:

The Hannah Swensen series by Joanne Fluke, starting with The Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder (two members read volumes in this series, including volume 10, The Carrot Cake Murder)

The Goldy Schulz series by Diane Mott Davidson (three group members reading in this series, all selecting either the first volume Catering to Nobody, or the second, Dying for Chocolate)

The Lucy Stone mystery series by Leslie Meier, starting with Mail Order Murder

The Country Store Mystery series by Maddie Day; she read volume 5, Death Over Easy

The Country Cooking School Mystery series by Paige Shelton; she read volume 3, If Bread Could Rise to the Occasion

The Nero Wolfe mystery series by Rex Stout, specifically volume 5, Too Many Cooks

The Henny Penny Farmette series by Meera Lester, specifically volume 3, A Hive of Homicides

The Biscuit Bowl Food Truck mystery series by J.J. Cook, specifically volume 3, Fat Tuesday Fricassee

The Sloan Krause brewery series by Ellie Alexander, starting with Death on Tap

The Alaskan Diner Mystery series by Elizabeth Logan, starting with Mousse and Murder

The Noodle Shop Mystery series by Vivien Chien, starting with Death by Dumpling

Following the “Series Share” portion of the meeting, we held our monthly round robin in which all 14 attendees were able to share recommendations of what other books they’ve been reading recently.

Here’s the list of mystery, thriller and suspense books recommended by Just Desserts members in August 2020:

And here were some non-mystery titles some group members also recommended in August 2020:

What mysteries have you been reading lately that you’d recommend?

 

Just Desserts: Underappreciated Mystery Authors and/or Series

The July 30th 2020 Just Desserts meeting that took place online, using Zoom meeting software, had a unique theme – “Underappreciated Mystery Authors or Series”. All participants were encouraged to share their recommendation of a mystery/suspense/thriller author and/or series that is not a “blockbuster” success, but that they think other readers should sample.

Here’s the list of “Underappreciated Mystery Authors/Series” recommended by Just Desserts members in July 2020:

Join us next month, on August 27th, on Zoom for a discussion of Culinary Crimes!

Just Desserts, September 26, 2019: Memorable Stand-Alone Mysteries

Just Desserts Mystery Discussion GroupParticipants in the Just Desserts Mystery Discussion Group share comments about memorable stand-alone mysteries they have read.



 

Reading Recommendations from Just Desserts members for June 2020

Hey, mystery fans! Looking for something good to read?

At the June 2020 Just Desserts meeting that took place online using Zoom meeting software, following the discussion of our monthly assigned reading, we held our monthly round robin in which all 10 attendees were able to share recommendations of what other books they’ve been reading recently.

Here’s the list of mystery, thriller and suspense books recommended by Just Desserts members in June 2020:

And here were some non-mystery titles some group members also recommended in June 2020:

What mysteries have you been reading lately that you’d recommend?

 

Just Desserts: Join the discussion of Robert Harris’ “The Second Sleep”

The Just Desserts mystery fiction discussion group met online using Zoom meeting software, on June 25th, 2020, due to the libraries suspending all public meetings (starting March 20th) as a safety precaution during the Coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic. Attendees discussed The Second Sleep, a stand-alone mystery/suspense novel by Robert Harris. If you read this book, and would like to contribute your comments about it, please do so as a reply comment to this blog post, below.

For additional reminders about upcoming Just Desserts meetings (once they resume) and/or other announcements of interest to mystery fans, don’t forget to sign up for the Just Desserts e-mail list. Or, once in-person meetings are possible again, if you’re logged into your account on Facebook, you can visit the Events page for the Lincoln City Libraries, and mark whether or not you plan to attend upcoming sessions of Just Desserts – this is a great way for you to help us promote this engaging discussion group!

So…What did you think of Robert Harris’ The Second Sleep?

We hope to return to public meetings, including Just Desserts, by this Fall, although watch the libraries’ website and social media accounts (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) for the latest updates!