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Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter
Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter | Tom Franklin
62 posts | 107 read | 69 to read
Silas Jones is the sole law enforcement officer in Amos, Mississippi, is a quiet town. Silas Jones is its sole law enforcement officer. The last excitement here was nearly twenty years ago, when a teenage girl disappeared on a date with Larry Ott, Silas one-time boyhood friend. The law couldn't prove Larry guilty, but the whole town has shunned him ever since.Then the town's peace is shattered when someone tries to kill the reclusive Ott, another young woman goes missing, and the town's drug dealer is murdered. Woven through the tautly written murder story is the unspoken secret that hangs over the lives of two men one black, one white.Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter is a masterful crime novel, sizzling with deep Southern menace, and distinguished by brilliant plotting and unforgettable characters.
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CSeydel
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My #bookchain so far!
‘A‘ or ‘The‘ in title - The Sentence
Colors complement the previous cover - Quackery (black, yellow, red)
Title starts with next letter - Razorblade Tears
Different genre - Born Standing Up (memoir/humor vs crime/noir)
Has more pages - Assumption (225 vs 207)
Title has 1/2 the letters - Horse
Set in different country - Mystery of the Blue Train (UK & France vs USA)
Same genre - Crooked Letter (mystery/crime)

Fun!!

TheAromaofBooks Oooo nice!!! And I love your graphic!!! I haven't been planning this challenge at all, just seeing if the book I read works, so I've been stranded on link 13 for quite some time 😂 11mo
CSeydel @TheAromaofBooks yeah, same - as you can see I‘m only up to link 8, haha 11mo
51 likes2 comments
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CSeydel
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#awesomeapril
I had a hard time tracking page counts because I read Dragon Reborn and Crooked Letter on my kindle. I didn‘t do a ton of reading because we went on a mini road trip Wed-Fri. And Tuesday I was in a book hangover from Ill Will, so I just wandered around the library and read a couple chapters of Little Women. Anyway, finished 2 books 📚

Andrew65 That‘s excellent, well done 👏👏👏🙌🥳🎉🍾🥂 (edited) 11mo
CSeydel @Andrew65 Thanks for hosting! 11mo
Andrew65 @CSeydel 🥰 11mo
42 likes3 comments
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CSeydel
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#trappedonanisland #awesomeapril

This book was a sad and beautiful story of life in a southern small town. Two 41-year-old men, one white, one black, confront the accumulated consequences of choices made at age 16.

Tamra I loved this novel!!! 11mo
CSeydel @Tamra It really was good! 11mo
Tamra I‘ve read a couple others I believe, but they weren‘t as good if I am recalling correctly. This one has such a distinctive flavor to it! 11mo
KathyWheeler I loved this book. I‘ve bought some of his others but can‘t bring myself to read them because I liked this one so much. He got his BA from the university where I work, but that was before I got there. 11mo
CSeydel @KathyWheeler that‘s so cool! Yeah I went into it not really knowing what to expect, kind of thinking it would be a standard police/crime thriller, and I found it incredibly poignant 11mo
41 likes5 comments
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TheSpineView
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#Movie2BookRecs @Klou
Prompt: The Hurricane

Klou Perfect!! 2y
TheSpineView @Klou 👍🌞 2y
39 likes2 comments
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Christyco125
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Pickpick

This is a soft pick for me. The story revolves around 2 missing girls and estranged friends. The disappearances are resolved as expected. However, despite the predictably, it was a good story.

The #audio narrator was excellent. He gave each character a distinct voice.

#Booked2022 Repeated title
#Pantone2022 #PerfectlyPale #GlacierLake
#christyread #2022book8

Cinfhen Those two colors are stunning together!! Pretty much my ideal palette!!! Screen shot for the Pantones 😍also I thought this book was good but I had expected/ wanted just a little bit more🤷🏼‍♀️ 2y
BarbaraTheBibliophage Perfect for those colors and prompts. 2y
Clwojick Such a pretty cover! 2y
Christyco125 @Cinfhen @Clwojick - I‘m thinking this pairing of colors may make it into one of my unpainted rooms. #coverinspiration (edited) 2y
54 likes5 comments
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Butterfinger
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Mehso-so

There were some unexpected twists. I want to read another #AppalachianNoir before I make a definitive opinion about the genre. #Booked2021 @4thhouseontheleft @BarbaraTheBibliophage @Cinfhen

BarbaraTheBibliophage Good pick! 3y
Cinfhen I liked your tagged book and I read this one for the prompt if you want to try another - audio was fantastic 👉🏽 3y
37 likes2 comments
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FelinesAndFelonies
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Mehso-so

This one was just meh for me. Not great, not terrible. The story is about two boys, one black & one white. When a popular white teenage girl goes missing their friendship falls apart. Years pass & when another young girl goes missing, the past begins to haunt both men. In the course of solving the mystery, secrets will be revealed that change the lives of all involved. ⭐⭐⭐
Hallow obviously thinks it is a solid pick but we agree to disagree.

Leftcoastzen So cute!😻 3y
CoverToCoverGirl 😻😻😻 3y
TheAromaofBooks Great progress!! 3y
71 likes4 comments
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Magpiegem
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Pickpick

Book 12 - 2021 I fell in love with this dual timeline mystery which I read for #booked2021 #appalachiannoir. The story was beautifully constructed, the characters had real depth and the descriptions took me right into the small town it is set in despite never having been to this part of America. I highly recommend and will definitely read more Tom Franklin ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Cinfhen I really loved this one too when I read it ... I think there might be a sequel 3y
BarbaraTheBibliophage So glad to hear someone loved a pick for this prompt! Lots of people have found 👎🏻 choices. 3y
Magpiegem @Cinfhen a sequel you say *frantically starts googling* 😁 3y
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Magpiegem @BarbaraTheBibliophage that‘s a shame. It‘s actually inspired me to look for more from the genre - but now I‘m going to look up the # and see which ones haven‘t gone down well 😊 3y
CarolynM Sounds like you made a better choice than I did for this prompt! 3y
Cinfhen I looked but I think I may have misspoken 😬I could‘ve find it!! 3y
Butterfinger @BarbaraTheBibliophage @Magpiegem I was looking through the hashtag for ideas and read the conversation. I appreciate that you included this as a prompt. Not only did I learn a new genre, but it is a genre around my neck of the woods. 3y
Magpiegem @Butterfinger if you need a book for this prompt, this is a good one 😊 if you read it let me know what you think xx 3y
22 likes3 stack adds8 comments
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Magpiegem
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Today restrictions on the UK were slightly lifted and small outdoors parent and baby groups are now allowed to meet. So I organised one for the mums like me who haven‘t had a chance to socialize since becoming mums! It went great and now I‘m having a cuppa in the garden and reading the above book for #booked2021. Another one I wouldn‘t of picked up that I‘m so glad I did. It is written in a voice that draws me in so deeply I can feel the humidity

Cinfhen Hurray for a mum meetup!!!!!!! So glad you can be outside with the babies & your friends💓💓💓I really liked the tagged book 3y
BarbaraTheBibliophage What a lovely way to socialize! 🎉🎉 3y
Magpiegem @Cinfhen @BarbaraTheBibliophage it was so good to see other adult humans!! 😁 3y
19 likes1 stack add3 comments
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Susanita
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This year I read seven books for my slow roll of progress on #50states of mystery, and I have more of them as potential reads next year. This atmospheric and bittersweet coming-of-age story/mystery is told in dual timelines and set in a small town in Mississippi.

Day 4 of #12booksof2020 and my favorite book from April.

Andrew65 Thanks for this one, I need to continue my journey of the states. 3y
38 likes1 comment
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S3V3N
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Pickpick

I spent most of the day listening to this one.

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SilversReviews
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Thanks to:

#BoundTogetherJune
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
@OriginalCyn620

Today‘s Prompt: REPEAT A WORD

I haven‘t read this book, but it sounds quite good.

Have you read it?

#tomfranklin
@williammorrowbooks

Lcsmcat I listened to it on audio and loved it. 4y
OriginalCyn620 📚👍🏻📚 4y
SilversReviews @Lcsmcat Thanks for the info. It sounds interesting. 4y
PaperbackPirate I love this book! 4y
42 likes5 comments
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Susanita
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I‘ve finished a couple more #50states #mysteries lately. Tagged book is an interesting story of two men, one black and one white, who were briefly friends as children but whose lives took different turns as they got older when one was accused of murder but never convicted. It‘s a very small town in Mississippi, and you can feel the bugs in the woods and the tension in the air thanks to the author‘s lyrical but not flowery writing. More ⬇️

Susanita I also accomplished Wyoming with 4y
Andrew65 Well done. What are the different colours for? 4y
Susanita @Andrew65 Green means read. Blue means TBR. Red means I‘m still looking for a book. 4y
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Susanita Texas is a boo boo. I‘m still reading it, but I‘m not changing the picture! 4y
Andrew65 Thanks, that‘s great progress 👏👏👏 4y
marleed Ohh, here‘s a NF mystery for Oklahoma. 4y
Susanita @marleed That sounds very interesting! I‘ve already got a Grisham for Arkansas, but I‘ll put this on my TBR. Thanks! 4y
37 likes7 comments
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abookishbutterfly
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Don‘t miss your chance for an entry to win a $25 gift card from your choice of Amazon or Barnes and Noble! A new poll is up on A Bookish Butterfly! Check it out now for giveaway details! https://www.facebook.com/262384764521804/posts/268210220605925?sfns=mo

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Book_Fairy_Mary
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Pickpick

Absolutely loved this southern masterpiece by Tom Franklin!

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amb
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Pickpick

I enjoyed this book so much.set in Mississippi it is a study of race and guilt by public opinion. The mystery involves two missing women, one gone 20 years and one more recently. The best part was that the book was written in a way that has the reader hearing that Mississippi accent which made it somewhat immersive. It was 9 degrees at my house this morning but I could feel the heat of a Mississippi summer through this book. Also #TheBug joined in

debthmpsn Adorable 5y
28 likes1 comment
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Tamra
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If you haven‘t read this, it‘s a deal on Amazon! $1.99

I really enjoyed Franklin‘s story telling in this novel; firmly in the southern tradition.

IamIamIam Oh my goodness, I loved this book!!!! 6y
Tamra @IamIamIam me too! I was somewhat disappointed by the novel he wrote with his wife, but that could be because I read Crooked Letter and had HIGH expectations. This was absorbing. 😁 I need to check to see what he has out currently. 6y
Reviewsbylola LOVE this one!!! 6y
Mamashep Oh my gosh yes!!! 6y
68 likes2 stack adds4 comments
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ms.spaetzle
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This is going to be my first read for the #24in48 readathon! Can't wait to spend the weekend reading as much as I can. ❤️

Also: I've just joined litsy. Still not 100% sure how it works. Bear with me please. 😉

Sace Welcome to Litsy! I love your handle! I'm doing my first 24in48 this weekend. I'm so excited! 6y
ms.spaetzle @RestlessFickleBookHoarder It's my first time, too - and I'm so excited! Still haven't decided which time zone I'll adhere to. 6y
Sace @ms.spaetzle I think I'm going to stick to the official times but adjust for where I live (CST. ) I'm hoping I can stay up late enough (11:01) to get at least an hour in on Friday night before going to bed. I'll be asleep by 10:59 Sunday. 😂 6y
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Sace Gonna add the #litsywelcomewagon tag. Litsy is tins more fun with friends 😁 6y
Sace But I can delete if that's too public for your tastes. 6y
ms.spaetzle @RestlessFickleBookHoarder Sticking to the official time would mean staying up till 6am on Monday for me. 🙈 Living in Europe can be hard... 😄 6y
Sace @ms.spaetzle oh that would be! 6y
ms.spaetzle @RestlessFickleBookHoarder Cool! Thank you! 🙂 6y
Mollyanna Welcome to Litsy! It was a 24in48 that brought me here too. You‘ll love both! Check out @RaimeyGallant page. She has some great tips for new Litsy users. 6y
ms.spaetzle @Mollyanna Thank you so much for the warm welcome! 6y
Eggs Welcome to Litsy 👋🏻🌸😊 6y
ms.spaetzle @Eggs Thank you! 🤗 6y
RaimeyGallant Welcome! #litsywelcomewagon @litsywelcomewagon The list of Litsy tips is linked in my bio, and there are Litsy how-to videos linked in @chelleo's bio. :) 6y
Purpleness It‘s my first #24in48 as well! I‘m pretty excited 6y
ms.spaetzle @Purpleness It's exciting, isn't it? I'm really curious to see how many hours I will manage. Signing up was a spur of the moment thing for me, so my weekend is not entirely free. Well, coffee should do the trick, I think. 😄🙈 6y
Bronte_Chintz Welcome to litsy! I hope you love it here! 6y
Wife Welcome to Litsy!🌹 6y
20 likes2 stack adds17 comments
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SassyPants617
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Relaxing on the patio while I finish this one. Needed a book that starts with the letter C for my #LitsyAtoZ reading challenge. Anyone read it?

7 likes1 stack add
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SassyPants617
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Newest babies from the library 🤓👌🏻

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Aloisi_tribe
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I listened to this on audio in one day. I have a tough time with audiobooks. I like to multitask when I listen to them and my mind tends to drift and lose the thread of the story. Oddly enough, I don‘t have the same problem with podcasts. But this book held my attention no matter what other activities I was doing. Very close to being a five star book. The writing was so spare and gorgeous, not an extra word used in the whole book.

Tamra This was such a fun read! (edited) 6y
25 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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Jess_MSW
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Pretty good so far

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Bookworm54
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My goodreads challenge was the only one I hit this year, with 43 out of 40 books read. I struggled to stick to a set tbr and just read what I fancied!

I‘m going with 40 again this year as I am hoping to join #YearOfTheChunkster so will have much longer books on my tbr than this year ☺️

Cortg WooHoo! 🙌🏼 6y
EchoLogical 🎊🥂🎉 6y
Ashley_Nicoletto 🎉🎉🎉 6y
92 likes3 comments
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ErikasMindfulShelf
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I really need to stop going to library sales!!

Cinfhen You got some good ones 💗💗💗 6y
AmyG No you don't. ;) 6y
ClairesReads Good score 6y
Reviewsbylola Loved Crooked Letter and The Engagements is great too! 6y
64 likes1 stack add5 comments
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Lcsmcat
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Pickpick

This was my first Tom Franklin, but not my last. I guessed one of the twists (not that that's a problem) but I liked how realistic he was in the end, with no easy reconciliation.

Tamra Super read! 7y
36 likes4 stack adds1 comment
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Lcsmcat
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I started this on audio this morning. So far it's holding my interest during my commute.

Tamra I LOVED this novel! 7y
27 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Rcoco
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Pickpick

Enjoyed this one. One of the plot twists I predicted but not the climax :)

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Brie
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Silas, a black police officer, returns to the Mississippi town he grew up in just as old wounds resurface. 20 years before, his white boyhood friend Larry was the number one suspect in a girl's disappearance. Now, another girl has disappeared and Larry is again suspected. But did he commit both crimes or is he being #framed for being the town recluse? I loved this taut, well-paced mystery about race, childhood, and innocence. #anditsaugust

68 likes3 stack adds
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Ehbooklover
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Mehso-so

This is a mystery that also touches on themes of racism, friendship, and family. While the premise did sound interesting, I never really felt invested in this book. I liked some parts yet found others pretty boring. Plus, one of the characters gave me the creeps. So much so that I actually wanted to stop reading it. Overall, I wasn't a big fan of this title but I do look forward to discussing it during my book club meeting.

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Bookworm54
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Twenty years ago, a girl disappeared. This happened to be after a date with Larry Ott. She was never found, he was never convicted, and yet the whole town turned against him. Now another girl has gone missing, and Larry is the number 1 suspect. But did he commit either crime?

#Scapegoat #Characters2017

Penny_LiteraryHoarders I thought this was a great book! Great characters! 7y
Bookworm54 @Penny_LiteraryHoarders I really enjoyed it! It was from my first #SecretSantaGoesPostal :) 7y
LibrarianRyan 👍🏻🤓 7y
Dogearedcopy Oh! I listened to this in audio (narrated by Kevin Kenerly) and *loved* it! Solving the mystery was like peeling back the layers of an onion: interconnected and revealing; and the audiobook narrator was amazing in his facility with characters voices & attitudes! 🎧 7y
65 likes9 stack adds5 comments
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Sheenah684
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Started this one on my commute this morning.

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Kangaj1
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Listened to most of this today while I braided my daughter's hair...

Suzze Adored this book! 7y
24 likes1 comment
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Nic_Schuck
Pickpick

Franklin's best yet.

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AmyAgentBor
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Pickpick

Loved, loved, loved this book. Larry is much like me, an avid reader, not athletic. He is not liked by anyone and his struggles with social awkwardness make him such an endearing character. The struggle with race relations also made this book better than your average mystery.

2 likes1 stack add
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Jillsandypants
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Pickpick

A mystery set in the Deep South that showcases a sweet, yet strained friendship between two unlikely people over the course of about 30 years. I agree with the other reviewers that the writing took awhile to get used to, but once this story grabbed me, it did not let go. I ❤️ Larry. This is my "C" book for #LitsyAtoZ.

Bookworm54 Yay! I'm glad you liked it too ☺ 7y
BookishMarginalia 👍🏼 7y
27 likes2 comments
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Bookworm54
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Pickpick

After a rocky start (I struggled with the writing for the first couple of chapters... and is used A LOT) I got into the story and wow!

The way the stories of Larry and Silas intertwine is perfect. The main plot twists and turns, and covers a variety of topics such as race and discrimination, family and friendships. I really felt for Larry!

A great first read of 2017! Thanks @Kimzey

#LitsyAtoZ #LetterC #LitsyReadingChallenge2017 #recommendedby

Suzze Glad you loved it. This is one of those books I'd love to get everyone to read! 7y
Bookworm54 @Suzze It was amazing! And I don't think it would have been something I would normally pick up! I like crime and thrillers, but tend to buy all the fantasy books 😂 7y
See All 8 Comments
Sweettartlaura I felt the same way... Rocky at first, but then all of a sudden amazed at how perfect it was❤️ 7y
Bookzombie I just started this on audio last night. It does seem a little rocky so far. 7y
Kimzey @Bookworm54 I'm so glad you enjoyed it! 😊 7y
BookishMarginalia 👏🏼 7y
67 likes3 stack adds8 comments
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Bookworm54

I have just finished chapter 8, and oh s&@t!
I want to continue but I'm having to tear myself away 😫

LeahBergen It's compelling, isn't it?! 7y
Bookworm54 Very! 7y
TheLudicReader I read this a few years ago and really liked it. 7y
Jillsandypants How funny...I'm about to start chapter 8 of this. I'm excited now! 7y
48 likes4 comments
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Bookworm54
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I'm not posting much from this book as I don't want to spoil it for anyone. However this is spoiler free, but hints at something I have suspected since the start.

There is something going on here... I'm just not too sure what it is that these people are hiding. 🤔

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Bookworm54
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I am up ridiculously early so that I can get up for work tomorrow.
Therefore I am starting the day with my #secretsantagoespostal #wintersolsticebookexchange novel, and a mint madness drinking fudge! 😌

Kimzey And I'm going to bed ridiculously late! I hope you enjoy the book! 😊 Happy New Year! 🎉 7y
Bookworm54 @Kimzey Happy New Year 🎉 7y
Gissy Me too! I read until very late and doing the same today!!! 📚😍 7y
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Gayan I love this book. 💗 7y
tjwill I loved that book! Hope you enjoy! 7y
Reviewsbylola Such a great book! 7y
Melkyl Great book! 7y
Jillsandypants This is my next read 😁 7y
Bookworm54 @Jillsandypants It seems like everyone loves it, so I have high expectations of our reads! 🙂 7y
101 likes2 stack adds9 comments
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emilygatlin
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One of my favorite inscriptions and author meeting memories. I drove a load of 100 books over to his house for him to sign the day after Halloween, and left with this and a bag of his kids' Halloween candy.

Suzze So cool! This is an amazing book. If anyone hasn't read it yet, go get it NOW! 7y
emilygatlin @Suzze Definitely on my all-time favorite list! 7y
14 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Demanda
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Pickpick

"...how time packs new years over the old ones but how those old years are still in there, like the earliest, tightest rings centering a tree, the most hidden, enclosed in darkness and shielded from weather. But then a saw screams in and the tree topples and the circles are stricken by the sun and the sap glistens and the stump is laid open for the world to see."

21 likes1 stack add
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Cinfhen
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#AllHallowsRead #BookSwap #GiveAScaryBook My sister in law is visiting me for the weekend
along with my brother & their 4 kids...we decided instead of bringing me a house gift we would swap books! I gave her The Girl in the Spider's Web & Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter & she gifted me The Lie & Ten Green Bottles. #BooksAreBetterThanBooze 🍾💙📚

Reviewsbylola Crooked Letter is SO good. I hope she loves it! 7y
kaitlyn Such a good idea! 7y
21 likes2 comments
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Tamra

Loved every entertaining minute!

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EsquireGirl
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Pickpick

A murder mystery and family mystery rolled into one. Slightly predictable, but this book kept me engaged and I really liked the characters. A quick read (or listen).

4 likes1 stack add
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Victoriahoperose
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Pickpick

This was a good mystery. It kept me guessing for awhile. I liked the dynamic between the characters and the underlying ethics in the story. I didn't love the ending, but it was a good read!

LeahBergen I liked this one! 7y
20 likes3 stack adds1 comment
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Amandajoy
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The only place in town that sells new books, Hastings, is going out of business. I guess that means time to start stocking up. Now I have to drive an hour if I feel like roaming a bookstore.

Reviewsbylola That's so sad. 8y
mllemay That is terrible news 😢 8y
15 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Sweettartlaura
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Pickpick

This book was interesting. It took a little bit to grow on me. But once I was hooked, I couldn't put it down. A little slow in parts, so not quite 5 stars. But I would tell anyone that it's worth their time.

19 likes5 stack adds
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Sweettartlaura
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Well into Hour 7. And Jasperkitty is wondering what's going on? #24in48 #readathon

@24in48
@Litsy

Jenn1 Looks like kitty is just fine. ☺️ 8y
17 likes1 comment
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Sweettartlaura

Well into Hour 7. And Jasperkitty is wondering what's going on? #24in48

@24in48