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Please Pass the Poison by Frederick C. Davis, pulp mystery, first in Bill Brent series. Brent is a tough reporter who has been forced into the role of love columnist for The Recorder newspaper. Published between 1941 and 1946, these novels appeared in Dime Detective. In this, the first novel in the series, Brent gets mixed up in a poisoning case, against the wishes of both his editor and a rival reporter. Not bad.
Fear by Bob Woodward, non-fiction. What to say about this? A thick book full of often surprising, though on second thought not really that surprising, behind-the-scenes looks at the inner workings of the Trump White House. I shuddered a lot, exclaimed often, shook my head in disgust many times. Read it if you have the stomach.
So how about you?
What have you been reading?
Tip the Wink 
Not sure I have the courage to read Fear.
I darn near quit a half dozen times.
I can imagine. You have my admiration.
Get enough of Trump without reading Fear. It would only reinforce what I already believe. Reading the New Val McDermind – Insidious Intent. Just finished In the Galway Silence by Ken Bruen-a fast read. Probably too dark for your taste. Reread Aye and Gomorrah a collection of the best of Samuel Delany’s short fiction. One of the best sf writers of the 60’s and 70’s. Tried the 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle but couldn’t get into it. Gave up after about 30 pages.
I understand about FEAR, but decided I wanted to see the train wreck, and it’s worse than I had imagined. Barbara is on the hold list for that McDermid, one of her favorite authors. I have read a few and liked them too. I know I read some Delany at some point, but have no specific memory of it.
Rick – For the last several weeks, I have been catching up on new crime fiction, like Paul Bishop’s LIE CATCHERS. I’ve just started Dana King’s WORST ENEMIES.
I haven’t read anything by Bishop since TEQUILA MOCKINGBIRD, and that was a long time ago. Not sure why.
Slow week. The only book I finished was THE RED SPIDER, a Doc Savage story by Lester Dent writing as Kenneth Robeson and my FFB this week. More of a spy-guy than a fantastic adventure, the book took Doc into Stalin’s Russia.
I am working my way through E. E. Smith’s SKYLARK THREE but it is ever so clunky. Masochist that I am I am determined to finish it. To help cleanse my palate between chapters in the Smith book, I started HECTOR SERVADAC, an early (1877) SF disaster novel by Jules Verne — also published as OFF ON A COMET. I’m enjoying it greatly; it’s far less clunky than SKYLARK THREE and is interspersed with humor. I’m also reading a chapter or so of Basil Copper’s PI novel THE CALIGARI COMPLEX each night just before I zonk off.
I’m still looking for the perfect Christmas gift for my perfect lady but I’m not sweating it. I have a WHOLE week to do it. While I’m racking my brain for a present, I hope your week will be fantastic.
Thanks, Jerry. I occasionally have two books going, but rarely three. The only Copper I’ve read is his Solar Pons. The best Christmas present is often just an expression of love…or a sweater.
Richard, I’m about to dig into BOURBON & A GOOD CIGAR, 52 Western short stories by Scott Harris, Paul Bishop and others. Each story is no more than two or three pages. I enjoy reading short/flash fiction. I bought the anthology off Amazon for Kindle.
That sounds like a good, and fun, one, Prashant. I’ll be interested in how you like it as you progress through it.
After several starts and stops (FLORIDA by Lauren Groff and DARK SECRETS by Marwood) I am reading THE BARTENDER’S TALE by Ivan Doig. Sometimes a linear story is such a relief.
I’ve read quite a few books by Doig, The Sea Runners, English Creek and Prairie Nocturne though not that one. Yes, I like a linear story too, so many authors want to jump around between times, POV, story lines, often it seems just for the hell of it.
I wish I could read. (See Patti’s blog for the sad details.) The pulp collection sounds good. I have a bunch of library books but I am finding it hard to concentrate on reading other than short stories. I did finish another early O. Henry collection. I am in the middle of the Ken Bruen and a Margaret Misushima book too.
Jeff, would books on tape help you through your recuperation? Or would it still be difficult to concentrate?
In either case, heal fast and well.
Ditto, and ebook too.
I’ve read some Frederick C. Davis and want to read more. I’ll order this right now!
I’m sorry to hear about Jeff Meyerson’s shattered shoulder. Our health is so fragile! We’re still taking meals to Diane’s friend who suffered a stroke just before Thanksgiving. Another friend is suffering from pneumonia! We’re learning not to take good health for granted!
Patrick and Katie will be flying to Buffalo at the end of this week. Reading time will evaporate. Fortunately, I’ve worked ahead on my blog so I’m covered until New Year’s Day. You’ll see more movie reviews than usual, too. This is the season!
So, did you read FEAR?
There’s better Davis available, but these are fun. Yes, health is a real concern, especially as we age. I see my Urologist in a couple of days, 3 month check, my PSA was still good. Thank goodness for books and reading!
FEAR is way down on READ REAL SOON stack. And, like Steve, I feel overloaded by TRUMP and his corrupt Administration. It can’t end soon enough for me. I did buy two ALTUS PRESS books during their SALE: THE SHERIFF OF TONTO TOWN by W. C. Tuttle (one of my favorite Western writers) and THE COMPLETE CASES OF KEN CARTER by Norvell W. Page. Would you rather read FEAR or one of these books?
One of those, probably the Page. But I wanted to see what Woodward had to say and reveal and it was enlightening, even worse than I expected.
For some reason, my reading is not going so fast lately. My husband is having cataract surgery near the end of December and we have had lots of preparatory appointments, etc. I finished AT EASE WITH THE DEAD by Walter Satterthwait this week. I really like the Joshua Croft series. I am currently reading SALAMANDER by J. Robert Janes, a historical mystery set in World War II in occupied France.