We finished off our year of mystery fiction discussions in October 2009 by discussing the late Donald Westlake's 2009 Dortmunder novel Get Real; not true "mystery" novels, the Dortmunder books are more amusing thrillers or "caper" novels, featuring a bumbling group of master thieves whose grand schemes for the next big score inevitably collide with Murphy's Law.

This book was discussed at the Just Desserts meeting on October 29, 2009. Whether or not you attended the actual meeting, you are welcome to share your own thoughts and opinions about this book in a reply comment to this blog post, below.

This was the final Just Desserts meeting for 2009 -- we'll take our traditional November/December hiatus before (hopefully) returning in January with all new authors and titles. Watch for a posting in November encouraging mystery fans to discuss the works of Leslie Charteris here on the blog during our "off" months!

Dortmunder fans -- check out the Dortmunder booklist now on BookGuide!

During our September 2009 meeting, we discussed Michael Mcgarrity's 2006 Santa Fe-set mystery/thriller novel Under the Color of Law; part of his Kevin Kerney series. This particular featured newly appointed Police Chief Kerney settling into his job when the murder of a socialite brings an intelligence taskforce to town and stinks of cover-up.

This book was discussed at the Just Desserts meeting on September 24, 2009. Whether or not you attended the actual meeting, you are welcome to share your own thoughts and opinions about this book in a reply comment to this blog post, below.

Join us on October 29th at South Branch Library (6:45 p.m.), as we discuss Donald Westlake's final Dortmunder mystery/caper novel, Get Real. This will be final Just Desserts meeting for 2009 -- we'll take our traditional November/December hiatus before returning in January with all new authors and titles.

During our August 2009 meeting, we discussed Margaret Truman's Washington D.C.-set 1999 mystery novel Murder at the Library of Congress; part of her popular Capital Crimes series. This particular mystery features recurring characters Annabel and Mac, with Annabel doing research in the venerated halls of the Library of Congress when a murder takes place there...at the desk next to hers.

This book was discussed at the Just Desserts meeting on August 27, 2009. Whether or not you attended the actual meeting, you are welcome to share your own thoughts and opinions about this book in a reply comment to this blog post, below.

Join us on September 24th at South Branch Library (6:45 p.m.), as we discuss Michael McGarrity's mystery, Under the Color of Law, featuring Kevin Kerney.

During our July 2009 meeting, we discussed Sarah Strohmeyer's light-hearted 2005 mystery novel Bubbles Betrothed, featuring former hairdresser and now journalist, Bubbles Yablonsky, as the sleuth. This particular mystery features Bubbles investigating the mystery behind the dispatching of a murder witness, and turmoil on the home front as Bubbles and her boyfriend Steve Stiletto pretend to be engaged.

This book was discussed at the Just Desserts meeting on July 30, 2009. Whether or not you attended the actual meeting, you are welcome to share your own thoughts and opinions about this book in a reply comment to this blog post, below.

Join us on August 27th at South Branch Library (6:45 p.m.), as we discuss Margaret Truman's mystery, Murder in the Library of Congress, part of her Capitol Crimes mystery series.

This book was discussed at the Just Desserts meeting on June 25, 2009. Whether or not you attended the actual meeting, you are welcome to share your own thoughts and opinions about this book in a reply comment to this blog post, below.

Join us on July 30th at South Branch Library (6:45 p.m.), as we discuss Sarah Strohmeyer's mystery, Bubbles Betrothed, featuring former hairstylist and now investigative reporter, Bubbles Yablonsky.