I’m almost embarrassed to post about the new books that I’ve added to my bookshelf because didn’t I just post about some new purchases recently? Ah well, you guys are all bookworms and can understand.

Actually not all of these have been purchases. I was lucky to receive two books from bloggy friends. I got American Priestess by Jane Fletcher Geniesse from a drawing Danielle recently had. And, from Literary Feline I got The Servants by Michael Marshall Smith. (Thank you Danielle & Wendy!) Both of these books sound so good… if you are curious go check out their reviews. I bet you, you’ll add the books to your lists.

A few ARCs have also made it to my mailbox and I’m very excited about these:

• Note to Self by Samara O’Shea. You know I love to journal so this book will probably be one I turn to when I need a bit of inspiration.
• The Glimmer Palace by Beatrice Colin. A book set in cabaret-era Berlin. Berlin is one of my favorite cities so the book already has that going for it.
• Occupational Hazards by Jonathan Segura. A book of shady politics and hardboiled crime.
• Mistress of the Sun by Sandra Gulland. Meet Louise de la Valliere, an early mistress of Louis XIV. I do love historical fiction.

And, now for my purchases. I told you I was going back to Half Price Books with my coupons right? I did and I found a wonderful HPB store. This one is not too far from me either and they even have a rare book room! I didn’t go in there because I was afraid to fall in love with something I couldn’t afford but I’ll go back another day. For now I just walked away with these purchases:

• London Noir edited by Cathi Unsworth. I noticed that this book includes a story by Joolz Denby whose books I’ve greatly enjoyed so that’s all I needed to know.
• Love by Angela Carter. I’ve not read anything by her but some of you in blogland have mentioned her books and I’m very intrigued.
• The Millstone by Margaret Drabble.
• Hide & Seek by Clare Sambrook.

Hope everyone has a great weekend. I’ll try to come back for a Sunday Salon post and tell you how my reading is going.

Finally, I get to tell you about two books I’ve recently finished. First up is The Collaborator of Bethlehem by Matt Beynon Rees.

This was a book I read for my new mystery book group and we had our meeting to discuss the book earlier this week. While some of the members didn’t think the mystery itself was that strong we all agreed that the setting made this a very readable book. We couldn’t think of another mystery sleuth who not only has to deal with the issue of solving the murder but also keeping his family safe in a very unsafe place.

The book sparked a great discussion so I’m excited that my first official meeting (the last one I went to I hadn’t read the book) was such a promising one. In the coming months we’ll be reading books by James Lee Burke, Elmore Leonard and Dashiell Hammett… All new to me! Anyway, for more of my thoughts on this book click here. Also, did you know that this book just won the 2008 New Blood Dagger? I will definitely be looking for the second in the series. And, speaking of series, I’m counting this one as a read for my First in the Series challenge.

My other read was Die With Me by Elena Forbes. I hadn’t heard anything about this book when I saw it on the bookshelves at the library but I do enjoy British police procedurals so I checked it out. I must say I was surprised at how quickly I guessed the whodunit and was hoping it was going to turn out a bit differently in the end, but perhaps the next book will be a bit more complex. You can read more about it here. Interestingly enough this was also a nominee for the 2008 Daggers.

And, on the subject of mysteries have you guys caught the Crime in the City series on NPR? Good stuff there so check it out. In the meantime I’m off in Assisi with the handsome Commissario Cenni from Grace Brophy’s debut The Last Enemy.

What good mystery are you reading now?