About Me

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Melfort, Saskatchewan, Canada
I am a lawyer in Melfort, Saskatchewan, Canada who enjoys reading, especially mysteries. Since 2000 I have been writing personal book reviews. This blog includes my reviews, information on and interviews with authors and descriptions of mystery bookstores I have visited. I strive to review all Saskatchewan mysteries. Other Canadian mysteries are listed under the Rest of Canada. As a lawyer I am always interested in legal mysteries. I have a separate page for legal mysteries. Occasionally my reviews of legal mysteries comment on the legal reality of the mystery. You can follow the progression of my favourite authors with up to 15 reviews. Each year I select my favourites in "Bill's Best of ----". As well as current reviews I am posting reviews from 2000 to 2011. Below my most recent couple of posts are the posts of Saskatchewan mysteries I have reviewed alphabetically by author. If you only want a sentence or two description of the book and my recommendation when deciding whether to read the book look at the bold portion of the review. If you would like to email me the link to my email is on the profile page.

Saturday, October 26, 2013

Recommendations for Sharon for a Christmas book for Me

Each year for Christmas my wife, Sharon, likes to give me 1-2 books as a part of my Christmas presents. She finds it impossible to keep up with all the books I buy so she asks me to give her recommendations.


I have been thinking about what I would like to get for a book this year. The first book I thought of is Scott Turow’s new book, Identical. I have consistently enjoyed his books, especially the legal mysteries involving Rusty Sabich.

I was then reading the October of 2013 issue of The Merchant of Menace published by the wonderful Sleuth of Baker Street bookstore in Toronto. Marian highlighted Lineup by the Israeli writer Liad Shoham. She describes it as “a combination legal thriller and police procedural, compelling and complex”. The combination sounded good to me. I have found the recommendations in the newsletter to be reliable guides to good mysteries.

Sitting at my computer today set me to thinking maybe fellow bloggers and readers of this blog could help in the Christmas book cause.

I would invite readers to provide in a comment the name of a book, please one rather than a dozen, they would recommend Sharon buy for me for this Christmas.

It can be newly published or a classic.

I would request that it be a book published in paper as she will be looking for the book in bookstores.

Thank you for helping Sharon. (I do appreciate that you are really benefiting me!)
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15 comments:

  1. col2910October 27, 2013 at 12:35 AM

    Defending Jacob - William Landay (apologies if you have already read it - I don't think it's NEW!)

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  2. AnonymousOctober 27, 2013 at 12:45 AM

    Besides my own wish list of ten books at http://jiescribano.wordpress.com/2013/10/24/10-crime-fiction-books-to-finish-2013/
    From the books I've read so far this year I would suggest Peter May's Lewis Trilogy, alternatively The Laidlaw trilogy and/or Norwegian by Night by Derek B Miller.

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  3. Prashant C. TrikannadOctober 27, 2013 at 3:01 AM

    Bill, the Scott Turow book and a classic seem like a good choice. I personally enjoy reading classics, an ideal Christmas present. Good luck with your selection.

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  4. Clothes In BooksOctober 27, 2013 at 3:42 AM

    A Killing at Cotton Hill by Terry Shames - Col recommended/sent on this one, and I thought it was one of the best debut crime novels I'd read. Texas setting, not much of a trial content, but I think you would enjoy it.

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  5. TracyKOctober 27, 2013 at 9:43 AM

    What an interesting question. Assuming you haven't already read these: I recommend Mayhem, the first book in a series by J. Robert Janes, a Canadian author. Set in December 1942, in Nazi occupied Paris. Jean-Louis St Cyr of the Surete and Herman Kohler of the Gestapo are forced to work together to investigate crimes.

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  6. AnonymousOctober 27, 2013 at 12:24 PM

    Bill - Hmmm.... may I suggest M.J. McGrath's White Heat? It's got a vivid and interesting Ellesmere Island setting, some well-developed characters and a strong plot in my opinion. I'm not sure if you've read it, but if you haven't, you might be interested.

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  7. Bill SelnesOctober 27, 2013 at 11:33 PM

    Thanks to everyone for the excellent recommendations. Sharon is happy and I know I will be happier on Christmas Day.

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  8. AnonymousNovember 1, 2013 at 2:39 AM

    And to add to this, John Grisham has a new book out called Sycamore Row, full of legal wranglings, courtroom drama, and a couple of inheritances to fight over. And racism is in the mix -- it's Mississippi, don't forget.

    This book brings up the lawyer from A Time to Kill, his inebriated lawyer friend, the same judge and others. This is my cup of tea.

    Can't wait for this and Scott Turow's as well as Sara Paretsky's new one, and Michael Connelly's if it's a Mickey Haller legal mystery.

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  9. Bill SelnesNovember 1, 2013 at 11:18 PM

    Kathy D.: Thanks for the suggestions. I was glad to hear from you.

    I hope you had a chance to read my post reviewing Havana Requiem. I expressed my appreciation for your encouragement to read the book

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  10. AnonymousNovember 10, 2013 at 5:39 AM

    The New York Times Book Review of Nov. 10 has a review of Grisham's new book Sycamore Row.

    I can tell with this book, the new Turow and a coming Michael Connelly, that I will be retreating back to the legal mystery genre where I began as a teenager with Perry Mason over the holiday season.

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  11. Bill SelnesNovember 10, 2013 at 1:19 PM

    Kathy D.: Your mention of Perry Mason has made me think it is time I read some of the books. I think I have only seen the T.V. series.

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  12. AnonymousNovember 12, 2013 at 5:41 AM

    The NYT review of Sycamore Row by John Grisham was stellar. Reviewer raved about it.

    I may even buy it so others can borrow it.

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  13. Bill SelnesNovember 12, 2013 at 11:45 PM

    Kathy D.: I am not telling Sharon but if I don't get the book for Christmas I expect I will buy it as a New Year's present to myself.

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  14. AnonymousNovember 17, 2013 at 6:13 PM

    Absolutely!

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  15. AnonymousDecember 1, 2013 at 12:19 AM

    An interesting 3-minute interview with Grisham by NPR.

    http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2013-11-13/john-grisham-sycamore-row

    ReplyDelete

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