57 review for The Best Mystery & Thriller Books: Excerpts

1. 

   5 out of 5

   Benjamin – Mar 31, 2013

   I didn't bother reading the sampler of excerpts included here; I got this book purely for the three Laura Lippman short stories in the back, three stories about the femme fatale (of a sort), Heloise Lewis, an ex-prostitute who now lives in a nice suburb with her son and her business as a madam, her two worlds that can never meet. The stories are presented somewhat backwards, chronologically: we meet her in "Scratch a Woman" as an established madam dealing with her dangerous half-sister who can d I didn't bother reading the sampler of excerpts included here; I got this book purely for the three Laura Lippman short stories in the back, three stories about the femme fatale (of a sort), Heloise Lewis, an ex-prostitute who now lives in a nice suburb with her son and her business as a madam, her two worlds that can never meet. The stories are presented somewhat backwards, chronologically: we meet her in "Scratch a Woman" as an established madam dealing with her dangerous half-sister who can destroy the careful compartmentalization of her lives; then we see her in "One True Love," when her lifestyle system isn't quite perfected; then we see her from a cop's POV in "Form 95" when she's still working for the dangerous pimp who is also--unbeknownst to him--the father of her child. All the stories are fun and smoothly written; there are lots of little digressions and asides, but Lippman always brings them back into the flow of the story. Curiously, while mysteries are usually very plot driven, Lippman's focus tends to be on the characters: Heloise who will do anything for her son, her tightly wound half-sister Meghan, the love-lorn detective who is willing to fudge facts to help her escape her pimp, etc. In fact, plot and mystery here are pretty thin; for instance, "One True Love"'s plot: man discovers who Heloise is, he blackmails her, she thinks about getting her cop friend involved, she thinks about getting her ex-pimp involved, she learns about a convenient body and makes the blackmailer enough of a suspect to give herself leverage over him. There's so much chance involved in her solution that it feels a bit like a cheat--or it would if we didn't see how she reacts to all this. Curiously (again), while Lippman seems very interested in character, there's very little here of character growth or change: smart-ass detective with a crush remains smart-ass detective with a crush, tightly wound sister remains rightly wound, and Heloise remains Heloise.

2. 

   4 out of 5

   Chris – Oct 19, 2013

   There are some weird stories out there! Some of the ones included in this book made my skin crawl (I'm not sure how my skin would crawl, but it is an applicable statement) However, not to be included in the above is Peter Robinson's DCI Banks. I thoroughly enjoyed this excerpt and plan on reading on with this series. Otherwise, thanks for the warning on the others...creepy! There are some weird stories out there! Some of the ones included in this book made my skin crawl (I'm not sure how my skin would crawl, but it is an applicable statement) However, not to be included in the above is Peter Robinson's DCI Banks. I thoroughly enjoyed this excerpt and plan on reading on with this series. Otherwise, thanks for the warning on the others...creepy!

3. 

   4 out of 5

   Sharon – Jan 20, 2018

   There were only a couple of excerpts that inspired me to want to look for the book, one being by Charles Todd. The rest I could not get into and some I couldn't finish the excerpt. I guess I'm not a big fan of Lippman. There were only a couple of excerpts that inspired me to want to look for the book, one being by Charles Todd. The rest I could not get into and some I couldn't finish the excerpt. I guess I'm not a big fan of Lippman.

4. 

   5 out of 5

   Mystic Miraflores – Mar 18, 2020

   I don't know if this book should actually be rated or reviewed because it just contains introductions to new mystery books. So I am neutral. I did note which introductions I liked and later obtained the entire book. I don't know if this book should actually be rated or reviewed because it just contains introductions to new mystery books. So I am neutral. I did note which introductions I liked and later obtained the entire book.

5. 

   5 out of 5

   Barb VanderWel – Jun 05, 2018

   I love this & I can't wait for more. I will be also leaving a review on Goodreads @ Amazon. And letting everyone know about it. So i gave it a 5 Stars. I love this & I can't wait for more. I will be also leaving a review on Goodreads @ Amazon. And letting everyone know about it. So i gave it a 5 Stars.

6. 

   5 out of 5

   Kayla –

7. 

   5 out of 5

   Barbara –

8. 

   5 out of 5

   Dian Ekawati –

9. 

   4 out of 5

   Laura Denise Mcintosh –

10. 

    4 out of 5

    Nancy Wolter –

11. 

    4 out of 5

    melanie adams –

12. 

    5 out of 5

    m graham –

13. 

    4 out of 5

    Dave –

14. 

    4 out of 5

    Susan Addleman-Kavula –

15. 

    4 out of 5

    Larrie Ladd –

16. 

    5 out of 5

    edithe walker –

17. 

    4 out of 5

    Kelly –

18. 

    4 out of 5

    Robbie Lane –

19. 

    4 out of 5

    Eugene J –

20. 

    5 out of 5

    Jillane –

21. 

    4 out of 5

    Jeannette –

22. 

    4 out of 5

    Jazdog –

23. 

    5 out of 5

    Janet Long –

24. 

    4 out of 5

    Lee –

25. 

    4 out of 5

    Chinmayi Patel –

26. 

    4 out of 5

    Bob Phillips –

27. 

    4 out of 5

    Deidre Drake –

28. 

    4 out of 5

    Tina Brossow –

29. 

    4 out of 5

    Lori –

30. 

    4 out of 5

    Elizabeth –

31. 

    5 out of 5

    Dixie –

32. 

    5 out of 5

    Carlissa –

33. 

    5 out of 5

    Kathe –

34. 

    5 out of 5

    Kirsti –

35. 

    4 out of 5

    Doris Hixon –

36. 

    4 out of 5

    Valerie Doherty –

37. 

    4 out of 5

    Jo Ann –

38. 

    5 out of 5

    Pat –

39. 

    5 out of 5

    Lakshmi Devadas –

40. 

    4 out of 5

    Andréa –

41. 

    5 out of 5

    Igraine –

42. 

    4 out of 5

    Laura –

43. 

    5 out of 5

    Patricia –

44. 

    5 out of 5

    Emma –

45. 

    4 out of 5

    Surf Faulkner –

46. 

    5 out of 5

    stephanie –

47. 

    4 out of 5

    Barbara Pavier –

48. 

    5 out of 5

    Cinette Santangelo –

49. 

    4 out of 5

    Jeanne –

50. 

    5 out of 5

    Chris –

51. 

    5 out of 5

    Darla –

52. 

    5 out of 5

    Emily –

53. 

    5 out of 5

    Jill Gadus –

54. 

    4 out of 5

    Ty Rade –

55. 

    4 out of 5

    Pamela –

56. 

    4 out of 5

    R Infusino –

57. 

    5 out of 5

    Sharon Pratt –