Book Club

Book Club Read: The Moonstone

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For our March book club, we’ll read Wilkie Collin’s 1871 classic, The Moonstone.  We are meeting on Thursday, March 26, 6 p.m. at Seva, which is at Westgate shopping center.  This book is Victorian so the writing is more flowery and detailed than you might be used to but the story it fantastic and the basis for so many other detective stories throughout history.  From a review on NPR by Chitra Divakaruni in 2013:

“I was struck by how masterfully Collins pulls together the different strands of a complicated plot. T.S. Eliot called The Moonstone “the first, the longest, and the best of the modern English detective novel.” I could see why. Reading the book was a little like seeing the Wright brothers maneuvering their first aircraft, except there was no awkward bucking, no crashes. read more

February Book Club: Allen Eskens

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Join us at Seva (Westgate shopping center) on Thursday, February 20, at 6 p.m. to discuss The Life We Bury by Allen Eskens.  All are welcome!  In March we’ll be discussing The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins.

The publisher’s description:  College student Joe Talbert has the modest goal of completing a writing assignment for an English class. His task is to interview a stranger and write a brief biography of the person. With deadlines looming, Joe heads to a nearby nursing home to find a willing subject. There he meets Carl Iverson, and soon nothing in Joe’s life is ever the same. read more

Book Club read: The Stranger Diaries

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Our next book club will meet on Thursday, January 16, 6 p.m. at the Grand Traverse Pie Company, 291 N. Zeeb Rd.  We’ll be disussing Elly Griffiths’ stand alone, The Stranger Diaries, a gothic style ghost story set in present day Britain on the grounds of a slightly creepy old school.  Griffiths introduces three strong female characters who share narrative duties.  Clever, hard to put down & beautifully written.  Purchase a copy on the website here. In February, we’ll be reading The Life We Bury by Alan Eskens, date to be announced.  All are welcome at book club! read more

November Book Club: A Borrowing of Bones

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Join us on Thursday, November 21, 6 p.m. at the Session Room to discuss Paula Munier’s debut, A Borrowing of Bones.  This well written novel focuses on Mercy (human) and Elvis (canine), both back from Afghanistan and both suffering from PTSD.  Together they form a good team.  Setting, character and plot are all excellent – all are welcome to join our discussion! Read my review here

Book Club: City of Ink

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Our September book club will meet Thursday, September 19, 6 p.m at the Classic Cup Cafe.  We’ll be reading Elsa Hart’s City of Ink.  It’s available on our store page at a discount. The publisher’s description:

Following the 18th century Chinese mysteries Jade Dragon Mountain and White Mirror, comes the next Li Du adventure in City of Ink.

Li Du was prepared to travel anywhere in the world except for one place: home. But to unravel the mystery that surrounds his mentor’s execution, that’s exactly where he must go. read more

August Book Club: A Double Life

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Our August book club will meet Thursday, August 15, 6 p.m at the Classic Cup Cafe.  We’ll be reading Flynn Berry’s A Double Life.  It’s available on our store page at a discount. The publisher’s description:

A gripping, intense, stunningly written novel of psychological suspense from the award-winning author of Under the Harrow

Claire is a hardworking doctor leading a simple, quiet life in London. She is also the daughter of the most notorious murder suspect in the country, though no one knows it. read more

Titles Read in Aunt Agatha’s Book Club

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This is list of books we’ve read in our book club (updated in June of 2019), and it might be a good reading journey if you are looking for a new one.  Titles with an asterisk indicate a book the group was especially passionate about.  Fun trivia:  we’ve read 4 books by one author who writes under several different names and there are two father & daughter pairs, as well as one husband & wife pair. Happy reading!

Abbott, Megan (author appearance) The Song is You
Abbott, Megan You Will Know Me
*Adler-Olsen, Jussi The Keeper of Lost Causes
Ahmad, A.X. (author Skype call in) The Caretaker (Tori B. asked great questions)
Airth, Rennie River of Darkness
Akunin, Boris The Winter Queen
Alexander, Tasha And Only to Deceive
Alexander, Tasha Death in the Floating City
Allingham, Margery Sweet Danger
Allyn, Doug (author appearance) A Dance in Deep Water
Andrews, Donna (author appearance) Murder with Puffins
Arruda, Suzanne Mark of the Lion
Atkinson, Kate Case Histories
Ballantyne, Lisa The Guilty One
Bannister, Jo No Birds Sing
Beinhart, Larry The Librarian
Bell, David (author call in) Somebody I Used to Know
Black, Cara (author appearance) Murder in the Marais
*Bolton, Sharon (S.J.) Sacrifice (Linda A. brought in a book of Shetland Island Photos)
Bowen, Rhys Murphy’s Law
Box, C.J. Open Season
Branch, Pamela The Wooden Overcoat
Brand, Christianna Fog of Doubt (very small turnout, great discussion)
Brogan, Jan A Confidential Source read more

David Downing: The Dark Clouds Shining

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Our June book club read is David Downing’s The Dark Clouds Shining, set in 1921 London.  Ex-secret service spy Jack McColl is in prison, but his ex boss offers him an assignment in Russia to get out of jail time.  Join us on Thursday, June 27 at 6 p.m. at the Classic Cup Cafe. 4389 Jackson Rd. for dinner & discussion.  All are welcome.  Purchase a copy at our online store here    See you in June!

Terry Shames: A Risky Undertaking for Loretta Singletary

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Terry Shames A Risky Undertaking for Loretta Singletary is our book club selection for May.  We’ll meet Thursday, May 30, 6 p.m. at the Classic Cup Cafe.

This book is the eighth in a series featuring small town police chief Samuel Craddock, where he follows up on the case of an online dating meet up gone very wrong.   All are welcome to join the discussion!  This book can be purchased at a discount on our online store page.