Hello

[kasmyra]

My name is Lesley and I am new to this forum. I just finished my first LRK book The Art of Detection last week. I have picked up The Grave Talent and Locked Room also. I love mysteries and am an avid reader with me completing a book or more a week. I enjoy Tess Gerritsen, Karin Slaughter, Linda Fairstein, Kathy Reichs. I especially enjoy Val McDermid's Tony and Carol books as well as her Lindsay Gordon series. I am getting ready to start a Julia Spencer Fleming book.

When I am not reading mysteries I enjoy history, reading about old Hollywood and biographies. I am an avid fan of the Discovery show "Deadliest Catch" and enjoy "CSI".

I am married and have 2 wonderful furbaby cats named Lily and Victor.

[Bachi]

Hi Lesley,
Welcome to the VBC, you may want to get the first Russell/Holmes book "The Beekeepers Apprentice". It give a nice foundation for the series, and A Grave Talent is the first of the Martinelli series. You will find a bunch of like minded readers here!

[Strawberry Curls]

My name is Lesley and I am new to this forum. I just finished my first LRK book The Art of Detection last week. I have picked up The Grave Talent and Locked Room also. Welcome, Lesley, you are amongst other avid mystery readers. I'm with Bachi, get thee to "The Beekeeper's Apprentice" and set "Locked Rooms" aside until you have read all the others. The character of Mary Russell ages from 15 to 19 in BEEK and is 24 in LOCK, so there is so much to learn about her and her relationship with Sherlock Holmes before you read LOCK. Actually, the "Holmes" manuscript in "The Art of Detection" starts up with Holmes in San Francisco at the end of LOCK, but it can stand alone quite nicely without the support of the other Mary Russell books.

There are a good number of threads here for you to poke around in and let everyone know what interests you, and for that matter what doesn't. When you have read all the Russell books, check out the "Guess the Quote" thread and give it a try. Also, if you have any interest in Russell/Holmes FanFiction check out Letters Of Mary (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Letters_Of_Mary) (LOM). If you have any questions shoot me an email or PM on this site, I'll be happy to provide answers. Welcome, again. --Alice

[jtb1951]

Greetings, Lesley, and welcome to our little cyber club house! You have probably noticed that this place is teeming with book lovers who also happen to be BIG fans of the works of Laurie; very nice folks who love to share and discuss their thoughts and ideas concerning LRK's novels as well as a plethora of other things. I noticed you read Kathy Reichs; I'm in the midst of a Temperance Brennan reading blitz, having read 8 of the books in the last few weeks. Only 2 more (Deadly Decisions and Cross Bones) left and then eager anticipation of the next one!! Anyway, I'm glad you have joined us and hope you have a pleasant and long-lasting stay!

John.

[Carlina]

Welcome to the party *throws confetti* !!!

Oooo...I love CSI Miami...There's something so Holmes about Horiatio...mmmmm. May I ask what topic of history you prefer? I tend to dabble in history myself....preferable the 19th and early 20th centuries. Reading documents from the Early Republic era is a big headache so I try to avoid it as much as possible...meh...

I do recommend reading The Beekeeper's Apprentice too! Art of Detection is also intertwined with Locked Rooms...

[Carlina]

I own all the mass, market paperbacks from all 3 series'. Not the comic versions.
Ooo...yay! Another CSI Miami fan! How are the paperbacks? You know I love the film they use and the colour effects for CSI Miami.

I haven't really gotten into the other CSI's either...well except the one with Gary Sinise. I watched it like once because I like Sinise. I think he's an alright actor, although I tend to scream Lt. Dan at the screen...

[LindaE]

Welcome, Leslie, to the LRK Express. I'm very much looking forward to getting to know you. I'm a new person, relatively, also, and have LRK books to catch up on.

Best Regards,

Linda

[kasmyra]

Thank you all for the welcome! I just ordered Beekeeper's Apprentice and will read it as soon as it arrives. I actually picked up Art of Detection in the hopes to be introduced to both Mary and Kate and even though Mary is elusive in this one the writing style was enough to pull me into the center of the vortex and know that I had to read the other books!

Carlina, as for what history I like, I am enjoy reading WWII and Nazi era items. I am especially interested in the Pacific Theater (my grandfather served on a B-29) and like reading books on women and the war.

[Millie]

Welcome, Kasmyra! Glad to see you're another Val McD fan! This is a great community, so enjoy!

Camilla

[vicki]

Hi, Lesley! <Waves> Hi also to Mr. Lesley and the furbabies!

You have some great reading ahead--I envy you all the LRK books you have before you as first reads. It sounds like you're very well-read in the mystery genre, as well. Have you ever been to the big annual mystery convention, Bouchercon? You should try and get to one sometime. We have a group going to the one this October in Baltimore for an LRK-meetup and other fun. And we'll likely be going to the one in Indianapolis next year, as well.

Re: WWII books--have you read William Manchester's biography of Winston Churchill? That's a particular favorite of mine. I boohooed fiercely when he died before finishing the third volume. His WWI memoir is on my TBR stack (or mountain, rather).

My granddad was in the Pacific theater, too--he went island-hopping toward the end of the war with the second Marine division. He was also among the first soldiers who arrived in Nagasaki after the bomb dropped, and boy did he ever have some stories about that!

I think he's an alright actor, although I tend to scream Lt. Dan at the screen...

Hehehehe--I want to do the same thing when I see him. Loo-tennant Day-un!

[kasmyra]

Vicki,

I would love to go to Boucheron but alas there is the money thing and the needing time off from work thing so not this year, but there is always next year! I only live a 3.5-4 hr drive from Indy so maybe...

I have loved mysteries since I was a child. There was one mystery my mom read to me from a Childcraft book and at the end my mom asked me whodunit and I replied immediately "the butler". My mom looks at the back and asks me if grandma already read this story to me that afternoon and I reply no. She asked how I knew it was the butler and I replied back with all the innocence of a child. "The butler always does it!" LOL! I also read all the Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys, Dana Girld and Bobsey Twins mysteries as my grandma has original 1930s of the Nancy Drews! I read mysteries to escape the realities of life.

[vicki]

Hehehehe--that's funny! I started reading mysteries later in life, but I'm trying to make up for lost time. :)

We'll miss you in Baltimore, but maybe we'll see you in Indianapolis (http://www.bouchercon2009.com/)--put it on the calendar!

[jeweledfrog]

My name is Edie and I am new. I have just started reading the Beekeepers Apprentice. I love Sherlock Holmes and this is so good I can't put it down. I don't easly find an author that I enjoy every word like a sweet ,but I find that there is a candy dish here. :p I look forward to reading more and finding out what others are saying and discovering. ;)

[jtb1951]

I don't easly find an author that I enjoy every word like a sweet ,but I find that there is a candy dish here.

Well said, Edie, and welcome to the VBC!! I think you will find lots of like-minded folks (at least when it comes to Laurie's works), voracious readers, interesting and varied viewpoints, and lots of fun! Feel free to sample all the threads and we look forward to your joining in. Welcome, again!!

John.

[Bachi]

Welcom Edie!


And if you wish, go and add your opinion in any of the previous book discussion.

Sheri took the words right out of my mouth! Even if the book was discussed months ago, people still add posts as they discover the books!

Across the top there is this nifty "new posts" button... it will be found and read and probably commented upon.

This works well after you've looked around and gone thru the rooms and treads. Sometimes when your new this takes a bit of time, since some of us (like yours truly) tend to share (nicer way to say -talk) a lot.

Anyway you are among a whole bunch of new friends here!

Wanda :)

[Strawberry Curls]

Welcome, Edie, you have some really good reading ahead of you. The Kanon (all the Mary Russell novels) are so great!! There is so much to read, comment on and share on this site, you are going to love becoming involved here. Pull up your virtual chair and enjoy walking through all the threads. Let us know what you think, and share with us what interests you. Enjoy!!
--Alice

[vicki]

Hi, Edie--welcome to our bookish hangout! It's great to have you here. :)

One thing I like to ask--as we're all looking for good reads to fill the gaps between LRK books--which other authors do you like to read?

[LindaE]

Hi Edie,

It's my turn to say welcome to you. Welcome to you! :) I'm still pretty much new here myself. You are going to like it here. I look forward to chatting with you and picking your brains about what you like to read.

Best,

Linda

[Pat Floyd]

I'm another new member. Welcome Leslie and Edie, and strokes to the furrbabies Lily and Victor.

Leslie, I also like Linda Fairstein and Val McDermid. Like LRK books, I think Julia Spencer-Fleming's are best read in order. As a lover of old Hollywood, do you know and like Stuart Kaminsky's Toby Peters mysteries? I confess that neither they nor old Hollywood interest me, but I love Kaminsky's Abe Lieberman series. He's a good writer.

My first love was a fighter pilot in the Pacific in WWII. He was shot down three times, the last time smuggled out by the Chinese underground through Viet Nam. When we were going together in 1951-53, the war was still very present with him, and his stories were a revelation to me, a relatively sheltered young woman.

[vicki]

My first love was a fighter pilot in the Pacific in WWII. He was shot down three times, the last time smuggled out by the Chinese underground through Viet Nam. When we were going together in 1951-53, the war was still very present with him, and his stories were a revelation to me, a relatively sheltered young woman.

Wow--I'd love to read his story sometime! That sounds like several lifetimes' worth of adventure/suspense in a few short years. He'd make a terrific model for a fictional character, at any rate. <Hint, hint :D> In fact, it's on my to-do list to start a little writing group or two in a corner of the forum for original fiction (the excellent Letters of Mary (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Letters_Of_Mary/) community covers the fan-fiction bases). Might be a good place to develop such a story....

[kasmyra]

Welcome to Edie and Pat! I finally got Beekeepers Apprentice in the mail yesterday and now only missing Russell #4, so am taking 1-3 on vacation with me along with Martinilli 1 (which starts tomorrow). I also have a JSF but might save that one for later based on your comment Pat.

[vicki]

You have some *seriously* wonderful reading ahead of you, Lesley! Enjoy!

[Bachi]

Welcome to Edie and Pat! I finally got Beekeepers Apprentice in the mail yesterday and now only missing Russell #4, so am taking 1-3 on vacation with me along with Martinilli 1 (which starts tomorrow). I also have a JSF but might save that one for later based on your comment Pat.

Looks like you're all set to ENJOY your vacation!!!