Your monthly mystery book recommendations that you all have been telling us about have been terrific! So terrific, in fact, that I have now got a TBR list accumulating on my Kindle!
When I first got my Kindle for Christmas, I decided that I wouldn’t have a TBR “bookshelf” like I do for my “real” books. I have so many books in my bedroom’s bookshelf, that I decided I’d prefer to buy my Kindle mysteries after I finish reading one, rather than accumulate them.
Well, after reading your March recommendations, I bought six new Kindle books, to add to the five I bought after reading your February recommendations. Good grief! Here I go again, accumulating more books!
I just finished a Cozy Mystery book that one of you recommended, but I don’t think this author is going to be making my “favorite authors” list. I’m just not sure I like the main sleuth enough to follow her through several more books in this particular Cozy Mystery series. (I’m not trying to be “coy”>>> but you know how I feel about posting negative remarks.) There is just nothing that makes me want to spend more time with the sleuth. I have to admit that the only reason I finished (by “finished” I mean “skimmed through to the end”) the book is because I didn’t absolutely “hate” the sleuth, just didN’T like her.
Anyway, next month, when I accumulate the Monthly Cozy Mystery Book Recommendations for April, I am going to absolutely refuse to get any more Kindle books, and will simply make a list of the authors who look really interesting to me. At least, that will be my good intention…
Dru says
I say that all the time and the next thing I know, I have 3-4 new e-books on my kindle.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Dru, my husband and I actually talked about our good intentions. The good thing is that he has almost as long of a queue on his Kindle as I do. At least I don’t feel guilty!
Deahna says
I really had to smile when I read your post, because the same thing has happened to me. I was absolutely convinced I would not start a TBR list under any circumstances. Then amazon began to sell some books for 0.99ct over Christmas. I wouldn’t get them that cheap again, would I? I follow recommendations here. Some I put on my wishlist. Others I got at once, being sure I’d find the time over a long weekend etc. I never did. So now, those are on the TBR list, too. It’s already long enough to keep me entertained for the rest of the year…
Let’s see if we can manage not to buy a single book out of the April recommendations.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Deahna, my Kindle’s TBR list of books sounds like it is as long as yours. Good grief! I just knew that I was NOT going to start adding books until I finished the previous ones. Hmmph!
Petie says
I did that very same thing … I found a new author and thought the idea of the mystery sounded good and ‘bought’ both of her books for my Kindle (I believe there were 2 or 3 more in the series but I just wanted to get a taste). ANYWAY I started the first one and about 2 chapters into it, I had had a gut full and deleted both of the books! I figured a lesson learned for sure!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
I would agree with you, Petie, about a “lesson learned” except that I have actually added authors who I already had tried years ago, and had decided not to read again. So, here I go again, trying those same (three) authors because of some of the great comments posted here. (I have to admit that I was previously on the fence about dropping all three of those authors.)
Karen says
Good Luck on your goal of not buying books for your Kindle. I have not done so well. I have about 15 books on the Kindle TBR. Then I just went to the library and checked out 14 Carola Dunn books. Am I crazy or what? But I am having surgery next week and wanted to be prepared for a few days of staying in. At least that was my excuse.
Kathryn says
Karen, good luck with your surgery. I think you will enjoy Daisy Dalrymple. You’ll fly through the books and be distracted for days. I love that series. All you will need is a box or two of bon bons.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Kathryn, and to go with the box of bonbons, a dressing gown…
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Karen, good luck on your surgery!
Between all of your Carola Dunn mysteries and your 15 Kindle books, you should be covered for “a few days of staying in.”!!!
Maria (BearMountainBooks) says
My TBR on my kindle is larger than the ones I’ve read. And I’ve read a LOT even though I have only had the kindle less than a year. I keep picking up freebies and sales…and then there’s the recommendations…
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Maria, I have to admit that I am not trying a lot of the “freebies” on my Kindle. I can only imagine how long my TBR list would be if I did! (So far, I am basically getting authors who I follow, and new ones you all recommend. Although, some of the authors who I do follow have books at reduced prices, which is always very nice.)
Deb says
Okay, Danna, I won’t tell you how much I liked Plunder, a Faye Longchamp Mystery by Mary Anna Evans, about an archeologist and her sexy Native American husband who get involved in a huge archeological survey as the Deepwater Horizon oil disaster threatens the sites they’re looking at. There are possible pirates, murders, and an enchanting teen who needs Faye’s help. It’s the 7th book in the series, so a person might like to get the previous books if she didn’t already have them. I’m just saying….
Danna - cozy mystery list says
There you go, Deb, dangling the carrot in front of all of our noses!
Marisa says
You are evil…..
Margaret says
I agree with you about not wanting to be negative. I worry about insulting others’ tastes. It has been done to me, I really love an author or series and want to share, then someone will be so critical, it is almost insulting. Our book club recently read a book by a very popular author I had never tried. I tried to read it but just did not like it. I tried to be very diplomatic and just say it was not to my taste (no one else liked the book). Just because it is not for me doesn’t mean it is not for some one else.
I too have found some great authors through the recommendations, I just hope I can keep up.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Margaret, the example you gave about (as you so aptly say) “insulting” other people’s reading tastes is a big reason I don’t like negative posts. There’s no reason to make one person who loves an author feel “ashamed” about telling us.
Another is that I don’t want this site to become a “bashing” type of place, where one person starts with a negative opinion, and then another pops in with more negativity, until everyone is bashing an author. And, of course, all of this can then lead to (verbal) personal attacks on different posters. [I’ve seen places like that on the internet!]
Also, I don’t think it’s fair for an author to be bashed by people on the internet. Let’s face it, the internet is so anonymous that people tend to think they can get by with anything.
Julia says
I don’t find ‘negative’ reviews particularly helpful, but honestly I don’t find ‘positive’ ones any better. I don’t need to know what someone else thinks of a book so much as why they think it – something factual like the setting, the time period, are there a lot of characters or just a few, what does the main character do for a living…stuff like that. I’m sure I’ve been guilty of it myself on occasion, but to just say you love a book without giving some specifics as to why means no more and no less in terms of a review than saying you didn’t like a book. So I really don’t worry about whether a review is positive or negative…just the amount of detail.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Julia, I agree that knowing the reason someone likes a book is a whole lot more helpful. If the person likes it for, let’s say, its New York City setting with all of the hubbub that involves, I probably wouldn’t find that particular Cozy Mystery Series interesting. Of course, if the setting is, let’s say, a New York City needlecraft store and the community that frequents the shop, then I would probably be attracted enough to the site that I would take a look at it, and probably try the first book in the series.
MJ says
I agree with you, Danna. I have stopped reading several cozy mysteries because I didn’t like the sleuth. The main thing this blog has taught me is that our tastes are very divergent. There is one well known author whose books are so popular readers CAN’T WAIT for the next one and always pre-order to get it immediately when it’s published. Holds at the libraries are lengthy. However, I don’t like this sleuth (I tried, but just couldn’t finish it). I’m probably the only person that doesn’t read this series. There are some authors often recommended by several people on this site, that I don’t like at all. HOWEVER, I find the recommendations on this site VALUABLE because there are several authors mentioned that I never heard of and are worth exploring/discovering.
I usually get the first book of a series from the library. This way I can determine whether I like the characters or not and it hasn’t ‘cost’ me anything. Also important is whether the author is a good ‘story teller’. I’m fortunate to be in a community that has a library with a huge circulation. If for some reason they don’t have a book, they are willing to get it through interlibrary loan. Our library also has ebooks for Kindle and Nook users. You can’t ‘store’ them, though. They go ‘poof’ in 3 weeks – although, you most likely can renew them.
Right now I’m reading the 2nd book in a series. It is slow going because in many ways I find the sleuth somewhat ‘wimpy’ because she is too easily manipulated by friends/relatives. I don’t ‘dislike’ her, but don’t really like her either. I happen to like the mystery story line and the setting since I once lived in the area. I got this book (and the previous one) from the library, so I don’t feel like I’ve wasted any money on it. I won’t recommend this one on the April list of recommendations! I do plan on sending an email to the author and suggest she give her sleuth some ‘backbone’.
Another author I read has many books in her series. I’ve read them all. She publishes in hard cover, so I imagine she is popular. I really, really like all the characters. However when I read her latest book last year I found the story line so convoluted that when it was done, I actually asked myself, “huh? what happened? I don’t understand it!” I could NOT figure out the whys and wherefores of the mystery and its solution. And, I think I’m a reasonably intelligent person.
Kathryn says
MJ, it is amazing how different we all are on this blog. I had never considered buying an e-reader because I enjoy having a book in my hand. It is just that simple. Oh and that I get them for free at my fabulous library. When Danna asked last year about whether people on this blog use Kindles or Nooks, I was sure because there are so many serious readers here that the majority of the responses would opt for books but I was wrong. Because the e-reader readers were so positive about their experience, I seriously thought about getting the new Nook Tablet for Christmas but I just really didn’t want one.
I think I know which author you are referring to just by your few comments. I took the glowing recommendations and got the first two books in the series from the library. I hung in there through the first book because I was sure that any minute, our much harried heroine would explode and read the riot act to all her manipulative and abusive friends and “wacky” relatives. Well, it never happened. I forged on through the first two chapters of book two and it was clear that this poor dear was a dyed in the wool doormat for all and sundry and I couldn’t take it anymore. If I’m right about the author, I guess we are birds of a feather.
I appreciate the feedback, which often turns out to be a gem that I would have never found on my own and it has save me hours of wasted reading time.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
MJ, you would probably be surprised at how many people might just agree with you about that author. I have three I am thinking about right now who are LOVED by MANY Cozy Mystery readers, who I absolutely cannot abide. (Yes, I know “abide” is rather strong >>> but I really cannot tolerate their books!) In the case of two of them, I find the sleuths “snarky” (Is that even a word?), and in the other, I just want the sleuth to grow up already!
I wondered how libraries made you “turn in” a Kindle book. I guess you would learn to pace your reading time with this “poof” method.
As for your “convoluted” hard cover mystery. I’m guess that the fact that the author has many books in her series is the reason this last book was so convoluted. I mean, how many mysteries can you write for the same sleuth before you have to start stretching all your boundaries?
linda says
MJ, I have often wondered how well a series would sell if the sleuth was someone that none of us could stand but was still very good at solving the case? There is one sleuth (won’t mention that here) that to me, is just another smart mouth. I have enough of those people in my real life, I don’t want these people in my books. But none the less, this woman sleuth tends to get the job done. But you know what, I only read one of her books, and there are several on the book shelves. I just can’t seem to pick her books up again. I guess we have to like our sleuths.
linda says
MJ, Often times I have found that the second book in a series isn’t nearly as good as the first. But because I have liked the first book so much I continue to read the series. Most often, for me anyway, the next books get to be just as good as the first. With saying this though, sometimes maybe a 7th or 8th book in a series can be rather boring but then later books go right back to be like I want . Maybe sometimes the writer just doesn’t have the same temperment or feelings while writing later books. I hate to miss these books like this though because if something happens to certain characters in one of these books, I am lost for the next books. I hope this makes some kind of sense.
Ann Philipp says
So many books. So little time.
Sigh.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Ain’t that the truth, Ann!?!
linda says
You are so right about that Ann, and I am retired, I have plenty of time to read. But the hubby still thinks he has to eat. My dogs think they have to eat. Me I could just get a sandwich and a cup of coffee.!! The house has to be cleaned, doesn’t it?
One of the main problems (??) I have is that when I go to the libraries I will pick up several books at a time, then I don’t know which one to read first. Oh what a terrible problem to have huh?!!
*Susan says
Tee hee! 🙂
Best of luck to everyone on not accumulating more books! I don’t have a Kindle, but I can never resist a new mystery!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Susan, I just thought that PERHAPS I could control my “have to have that book” impulses with my Kindle!
*Susan says
Unfortunately, Danna, I don’t think it works that way.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Susan, there’s always hope!
Andie says
I have good intention to maintain the discipline of limiting my books but there are just so many intriguing titles…
I don’t know how many “samples” I have on my Kindle, but there are at least three “pages” and almost invariably when I read the sample I find myself clicking on “Buy Now” and reading on to the end.
I only wish the book would open up to the point where the sample ended. Hopefully the software will be upgraded to offer this in the near future.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Andie, thanks for the “warning” about the samples! I hadn’t thought about that.
I chose to get the most stripped-down version of the Kindle that was available at the time, so I’m used to not having a lot of bells and whistles. (I was quite surprised that I could play Sudoku and Mahjong Solitaire on it.) Either way, your idea for the upgraded software sounds like a great idea.
missy says
I have had my kindle for a week and already have over 30 books in my TBR collection. I can’t resist the freebies!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Missy, you’re right, the freebies are great! I was able to pick up two books by my favorite author (E. F. Benson – Cozies, but not mysteries) as freebies and three for less than $5. I have all of the “real” books in the Lucia series, but I am pretty sure that I will prefer the Kindle’s font size the next time I decide to read them again.
Sheila says
Hi Danna. I just stumbled across this author but she isn’t on your site. You may want to add her. I’m going to order her books.
J. W. Becton (Jennifer Becton)
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Thank you, Sheila, for telling us about J. W. Becton!
Regina S. says
I have three or four pages of books in a notebook of books I want to read and the ones that are crossed out are the ones I am reading. LOL its hard not to make lists. I haven’t even read the books on my Nook yet. Oy! I love being a bookworm! lol
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Three or four pages of books you want to read sounds like a tremendous amount of books. Good thing you are a bookworm, Regina S.
Lexie says
I have the same TBR only its an ever growing pile on both sides of my bed. LOL I do not use a Kindle as I prefer the feel of a real book so my piles from our recommendations here have grown considerably in March!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Lexie, it’s crazy, isn’t it? We all sound like we have the same feelings about not wanting to make our TBR piles any bigger, but not being able to pass up on good mystery books!
ginger says
i have not bought a kindle or nook. i want a book in hand, to turn pages, feel the way the cover feels. i have heard about things that don’t work correctly and mess up things. i would rather a book in hand than kindle or nook. now that said probably i will get one in the future, not because of want but of need. there are several authors that i read whose new books are only e-books. as for now i still carry at least 2 books with me at all times. in fact i have to the gate at my school’s softball tomorrow, you guessed it, i will take up money and read. they know me as the resident reader. i just finished lee hollis’ new book and am ready to start another tonight. i just love to read and i love your site.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Ginger, I felt the same way you do about Kindles, until my husband talked me into getting one.
Hope you got plenty of reading done while working your softball’s entrance gate!
ginger says
I did, Danna. I am on page 110 of the book I started at the game. I have sb game Monday, bb game and sb game Tues, a bb game Fri, and bb game on Sat. I will be working my way through my basket of books this week, so I can get the April books I do not have yet.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Ginger, good grief your school keeps you busy taking care of the sports’ events gates!
ginger says
Danna, that is just the Spring sports. That list is just this week. I have not even looked at next week’s full schedule. I now have at least 2 bb games and a sb playoff game(maybe 2) and the prom is that Saturday. In fall I plan our fall carnival and kept the scorebook for basketball home and away. It is all volunteer of my time to support kids. I slow down when school is out and I read a book at every event I can.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Ginger, it sounds like you work full time at your school’s sports events!
Regina says
I think I can understand your feelings about negative comments, but when I finish a book, I want to share my thoughts about it. I will respect your policy and will make my ideas anonymous, that way I can express them but not disturb other readers. I am addicted to buying books for my Nook, but I have not read them all. I will read most of them when I go on vacation. Some books are old favorites and others are “flyers”. Yes, I have had some lemons, but over all I have been very pleased with my choices. Recently all of James Herriott’s books became available while I know he is not a mystery author, I do love his books and enjoy rereading them. Happy Easter and Passover to all.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Regina, by saying the internet is anonymous, I mean that it seems like absolutely anyone can say absolutely anything on the internet… even if it’s just to troll up the “airwaves.” I have had a few people who have tried to post mean/idiotic/hurtful/pornographic things on this site just to “pull it down” to their level.
My daughter actually had to explain what a “troll” is.>>> Turns out a “troll” is someone who enjoys going to sites just to disrupt everything. Luckily, between my spam-catcher and … (excuse me for sounding like a show-off!) my common sense, I’ve been able to spot ’em.
As for hurting people’s feelings after they have written glowing reviews of authors or books, here’s an example: I have been reading a mystery by a new-to-me author who I decided to try after reading several people’s comments about what a good author/book this was. While I enjoyed the author at the very beginning of the mystery, last night I got to a scene that rang totally “forced” and idiotic. Had I written a blog this morning, naming the author and the book, there’s a chance that I would have offended (or at least drawn attention to) several people who recommended this book/author. I just don’t see any reason to do that.
We all have different tastes in what we like. Believe me, every time one particular author on my site writes a new mystery (and that is several times a year!) I know people will be absolutely loving that new mystery, which I can predict will include a lot of “forced” and idiotic events!!! (I can predict this because I tried at least the first two mysteries in her series years ago, and I “had” to add her to my “*****YUCK” list of authors.)
linda says
Danna, years ago when I first got a computer then got the internet I was a regular in a geneaolgy chat room. This was a very good chat room. I had developed some very good chatroom friends. I became friends with people all over this country as well as other countries. But then some people started to come in to the room just to make trouble. So I got out of it. I love genealogy and I loved this site but of course someone always has to spoil things for others. My hubby used to get in on an On Line, no money, poker site until of course some people had to get on that and ruin that for him.
I would really like to feel sorry for these people but sometimes it is hard to!! What is the attraction for people to be so mean and nasty! I would like one time for someone to explain what good they get out of doing this.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Oh, Linda, that is a terrible shame! Years ago, I remember attending a mystery book club “live” discussion where somehow, someone came in and started messing up the group. But, as I recall, there was a way we could all “ignore” that person’s comments.
I wouldn’t even “like to feel sorry for these people” since I think they are really jerks for ruining everyone else’s earnest attempts.
Pamela Lee says
I love this site. I have found so many new authors and series through this site. Luckily my husband bought me an IPad otherwise our house would be even more overflowing with books.
I look forward to the monthly New Releases!!!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Pamela Lee, I look forward to the monthly new releases, also.
I have added so many authors to the site who have come recommended by site readers that I have added a lot of new-to-me authors to my list of authors who I follow. Unfortunately, that list is quite a bit longer than the time I actually devote to reading is!
Regina says
I just finished Carolyn Hart’s new book. It was up to her usual standards. I did notice that it seems as if she is having more of her mysteries revolve around her re-occuring characters. This book seem to focus on Henny and Emma’s problems. This was the same formula that Susan Albert used in her recent China Bayles’ book. Have any of the other readers noticed this?
MJ says
The change in character emphasis in Susan Albert’s latest book was mentioned a couple of times on this blog. I actually like the direction she took. Laura Childs once mentioned to an audience she can get ‘burned out’ with a character. In Albert’s case, it allows her to keep the same characters, but gives her more material to work with to keep the readers interested. As you probably noticed, she changed the character emphasis back and forth from chapter to chapter (keeping the old, adding in the new). I happen to like ‘Smart Cookie’ and enjoyed the emphasis. If I didn’t like that character, I might be upset at the direction the author took with this book.
I also noticed in Margaret Maron’s latest book (Three Day Town) a lot of emphasis on New York detectives. This led me to wonder if she is considering a new series with these new characters. The story line finished with the reader wanting to know more about the continuation of their lives. Her new book (Buzzard’s Table – release date 11/12) has the NY detective visiting Colleton County working with Deborah and Dwight to solve the crime.
Deb says
I agree, MJ, though it took me a bit of time to get used to the change of venue in Three Day Town. I’m looking forward already to Buzzard’s Table!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Regina, I have listed Susan Wittig Albert’s latest mystery in both the China Bayles series and Albert’s new Pecan Springs Mystery Series. I wonder if the next Pecan Springs mystery will have this format…
Laura says
Danna: People who enjoy reading really do want to turn others on to books that they love. This isn’t a review blog. There are plenty of those out there. I can appreciate your comment on the “convoluted” plot. I don’t want the mystery to be too easy, but if I can’t follow what’s going on, that’s the end of that book!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Laura, I remember (years ago) trying to watch a movie with my husband which neither of us could follow. Actually, now that I am thinking about it, we simply did’t want to follow the plot!
Monique says
I just avoid the whole TBR list by setting up collections by author. Technically if I haven’t read it, it is TBR anyway. Why else would I have gotten it? That said though, I have passed on finishing one series, (author changed her writing style) and the current one is also in jeopardy.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Monique, I have agonized over dropping authors before, and have actually tried reading them again just because I usually feel like I am “missing” out on something. (Yes, I know “agonized” is a rather strong word, but that’s exactly what I have done!) However, giving an author a second chance does not work with me, so I can certainly understand your sentiments about finishing up with a series.
I wonder if some authors simply get tired of their series, and take on a “remote control” approach in their writing. They should just wrap up their series if they’re that tired of the characters, setting, etc. Of course, as long as the public is willing to pay for their books, why stop the gravy train?
linda says
But Danna, Like someone just said there are so many authors and books to read and there is so little time. Spending that time on authors we don’t like would be counter productive. I just can’t see how some of these authors that I don’t like get published where some I do like don’t get published. I guess it isn’t always about me, huh??
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Linda, although it isn’t always about you or me, I know exactly what you mean! There are a lot of authors who are really popular, who I wonder what all the hoopla is about.
Regina says
I enjoy this blog so much and I do not want to be disruptive. I will offer comments, but constructive thoughts not destructive opinions. One thing that has disturbed me lately is the amount of mystery stories featuring heroines who lack some common sense or know too much. I try to veer away from them, but even my favorite authors sin in this regard. Keep up the good work and the reading suggestions.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Regina, I ALWAYS look forward to reading your comments. I’ve never seen any “destructive opinions” from you!
I’m glad you enjoy the blog, and am very happy you are part of it!
linda says
Danna, I guess I am just gabby today. Because of my carpal tunnel surgery I haven’t been able to post many comments. But I know a few times I have posted some comments that weren’t very flattering to some writers but that wasn’t my intention. At least, I don’t think.( make sense?)
But I have noted that those comments of mine haven’t been posted for others to read. And I am fine with that. I have a very nasty habit of shooting my mouth off at times. Because I want people to want to read what I want to say, I am very glad when you make a decision not to post my comments. The opinion of what others think of me is so very important to me.
I love this forum that you provide. I love to read but I also like to discuss what I read and this is a very good place to do that.
You are a very good person, Danna, to sponsor this site. I hope you do this for a long time to come.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Linda, I wondered how your carpal tunnel surgery went. My niece had that surgery done years ago, when she was in her early twenties.
Linda, I too have wanted to “warn” people about authors who I absolutely cannot help but put on my “*****YUCK” list. Believe me, there have been quite a few who I absolutely consider stinkers, as I am sure there are quite a few authors who I say positive things about, who many people consider stinkers.
linda c says
Danna, My surgery for carpal tunnel came out really good. It has been 4 weeks since I had the surgery. I am still in physical therapy for a few more weeks. Then I will have the left hand done. I wll be glad when both hands are done!!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Linda C, I’m glad to hear your surgery went well, and that you are now in physical therapy. I think it’s a good thing that you were able to do one hand at a time. My uncle had both of his knees done at the same time, and he has told me that he’s sorry he did it that way. You know what they say about hind sight…
Mary Joy says
I have a suggestion. I hope I’m not being redundant, as I haven’t read all of the above posts. On my ipad/Kindle app, I try to just “Send a Sample” when I am able. (Most times you can at Amazon.) Usually they give you enough pages to let you know if the book has hooked you! Sometimes it is not as riveting or enjoyable as you are lead to believe from the sample, but usually is. You will still have a TBR list, but at least you don’t have to pay for all of them if you don’t like the sample.
Is anyone else finding the Kindle/ipad books seem quite pricey lately? I’m finding some of the latest books i bought are up to $12.99. I find I am beginning to resent paying even $7.99 for ipad book when I can buy paperback for same amount and share with my Mom, sister, sister-in-law and others if I want. Spending money on books has always been a pleasure for me. I also love my ipad reading. However, prices don’t seem fair to me. Am I the only one?
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Mary Joy, I hadn’t thought of sampling my Kindle books before I buy them.
As for the prices of Nook and Kindle books, I’m guessing the publishers have a lot to do with setting them. You would think they would lower them a little, since they don’t have to do any actual “paper, typing, mailing, boxing, etc” work with them.
Missy says
I’m new to Kindle, so I haven’t been tracking the prices. That being said, I figure that I can purchase some of my paperback mysteries at Target where they are 25% off. However, that defeats one of my reasons for purchasing a Kindle–bringing more books into the house. What a dilemma! 🙂
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Missy, I think that when the Kindle just hit the market, the prices of the books were one or two dollars less than the actual paperbacks. But, I’m guessing that now that there is competition (Nook) the publishers are able to get their prices. Of course, this is just speculation on my part…
I have to admit that I am still “bringing books into the house” since not all the books I want come in Kindle format. I hope the publishers are really working on getting the Kindle and Nook formats… since I am still having the same dilemma you are experiencing!
linda says
Danna, Some of the books that I have been reading the last few weeks: “Cat’s Claw” by Susan Wittig Albert. Loved this book. Loved the inter relationship with China and Sheila Dawson. Can’t hardly wait for the book where China and Sheila try to solve one of their husband’s cases!
Jennifer Chiavernini’s “Sonoma Rose” was great (I know, I know, not a mystery but still a good book. I love how this author weaves actual historical events into her books.
I just finished reading Agatha Christie’s “They Do It With Mirrors.” I got a large print copy of this book. I could read it a whole lot better. I knew who did it early on and why that person did it. But it was still a good book.
One book that I just read was a book that will stick with me a long time is again not a mystery but still a good read, especially for this time of year. “In the Land of Second Chances” by Charles Shaffner. This is a very good book but read the whole book even though it does have some bad words in it. If you don’t like these bad words just read past these. It is the story that is important in this book. I think, or I am hoping that sometimes God understands that sometimes our grief causes us to say certain things that we really shouldn’t say.
linda says
Danna, I haven’t purchased a Kindle yet, mainly because of the cost. But since I have retired going to the library or to the grocery store is about the only time I get out of the house.
With Kindle are older books available or is it just the newer releases?
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Linda, since I have had my Kindle for only a few months, I am just speculating. But, I have looked for some authors like Cyril Hare (Inspector Mallet and Francis Pettigrew series) and Stuart Palmer (Hildegarde Withers series), authors who published years ago, and have been disappointed to find out that they don’t have any Kindle editions.
ginger says
i do but i volunteer my time after i do my 8 to 3 regular school job. i enjoy it and it helps the kids and school. they know someone will be there and do not have look for help.