The Mystery, Crime, and Thriller Group discussion

Ten Favorite Names for Female Characters:

1. Adelia Aguilar from Mistress of the Art of Death series (I love alliteration, so this name really appeals to me on the basis of that)

2. Irene Adler, who outwitted Sherlock Holmes. Adler - based on addle (to confuse) - is so appropriate.

3. Precious Ramotswe, from The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency. The name rolls right off the tongue. I love it.

4. Smoky Barrett

5. Lula in the Stephanie Plum number mysteries by Janet Evanovich. She has only a first name - like Cher, Beyonce, and Oprah. Her personality takes up more than its fair share of space.

Scout wrote: "Ten Favorite Names for Female Characters:

1. Adelia Aguilar from Mistress of the Art of Death series (I love alliteration, so this name really appeals to me on the basis of that)

2. Irene Ad..."

I love alliteration too but I didn't know what it was called until I looked it up on google. Now I know... And I thought I was smart! Ha Ha. I also love, love limericks and I write some too. Thanks for the new word in my vocabulary.

Hayes wrote: "Name a murder mystery( link please) that begins with the letter :S:


1. Say Goodbye
2. Shroud for a Nightingale
3. Seven Up
4. Sail
5. Sleepyhead
6. Silks
7. Stormfront
8. Snow Blind
9. [..."
10 Shadow Man

OK, now I'm confused - have we got several lists going at once???

Charlotte (Buried in Books) wrote: "OK, now I'm confused - have we got several lists going at once???"

Looks that way, but if everyone remembers to post the title and the previous items in the list we should be able to keep it straight.

Ten Favorite Names for Female Characters:

1. Adelia Aguilar from Mistress of the Art of Death series (I love alliteration, so this name really appeals to me on the basis of that)

2. Irene Adler, who outwitted Sherlock Holmes. Adler - based on addle (to confuse) - is so appropriate.

3. Precious Ramotswe, from The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency. The name rolls right off the tongue. I love it.

4. Smoky Barrett

5. Lula in the Stephanie Plum number mysteries by Janet Evanovich. She has only a first name - like Cher, Beyonce, and Oprah. Her personality takes up more than its fair share of space.

. . . and I'll add (in the spirit of alliteration)

6. Miss Marple

Teresa in Ohio wrote: "Okay New list : )

MYSTERY BOOK that you didnt finish

1)The Bodies Left Behind A Novel
Highly recommend, Author I normally read but after 75 pages all I got from this book ..."

I tried to read "Evil,Inc" but about 50 pages into the book I realized that the author Kaplan is a Joseph Finder wanna be and failing miserably at it. The book in my opinion was silly and over the top unblelievable. The author Joseph Finder is the master of writing books about corporate evil. I owned the book and I gave it to the hospital library because the book got good reviews but it wasn't for me.

2. Black House by Stephen King. I'm a fan, but this one turned me off in the first couple of chapters.

"Okay New list :) MYSTERY BOOK that you didnt finish"
1) The Bodies Left Behind A Novel
2) Black House
3) Evil, Inc.

Sorry to say that I can't comment on the books that Teresa, Judith and Scout put on the list, haven't read them. And I won't, if I take this list serious.

This is mine:
4) The Little Friend by Donna Tartt
After reading The Secret History in 1999 I was dieing to read Tartt's next book. Maybe my expectations grew to high after waiting for it for so long. Couldn't get interested, not by the story, nor by the characters. I normally wouldn't dream of quiting - as you never know what might... - but didn't get any further than about 100 pages. A disappointment in every way.

** BTW, I would love to be convinced to finish it after all! :)

5) It's very unusual for me to not finish a book, especially a mystery, but I had a hard time getting into this one. It was a shame too because I love the time period. Maybe it was just not the time for me.

The Mosaic Crimes by Giulio Leoni

The really big doorstop with the fictional breed of dog...I blocked out the title. Anybody?

The Story of Edgar Sawtelle ?

Thank you Hayes...yes...carried that monster around for 2 months hating every minute of it, not reading anything else. Just after that I got my kindle, discovered dozens of new authors, and resolved never to stick with a book I didn't enjoy again. It is a liberating policy!

I read SIN & VENGEANCE by CJ West, an indie author. It was pretty dark, and a bit rough around the edges, but I was very interested and compelled to finish it. The next, A DEMON AWAITS, I started enthusiastically, and dropped it like a rock after the first couple of chapters. I felt like I had been tricked or manipulated and I was really ticked off. Deleted that one and the rest of the series off my kindle.

Mary/Quite Contrary wrote: "Thank you Hayes...yes...carried that monster around for 2 months hating every minute of it, not reading anything else. Just after that I got my kindle, discovered dozens of new authors, and resolv..."

I loved the first third of it and then it got bogged down in those stupid dogs... I gave up on it and am not sorry I did. It too pushed me to buy my ebook!

To recap "The 10 Books We Just Couldn't Finish"

1) The Bodies Left Behind byJeffery Deaver
2)Black House by Stephen King
3) Evil, Inc.by Glenn Kaplan
4) The Little Friend by Donna Tartt
5)The Mosaic Crimes by Giulio Leoni
6)The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski
7)A Demon Awaits by C.J. West

"The 10 Books We Just Couldn't Finish"

1) The Bodies Left Behind byJeffery Deaver
2) Black House by Stephen King
3) Evil, Inc.by Glenn Kaplan
4) The Little Friend by Donna Tartt
5) The Mosaic Crimes by Giulio Leoni
6) The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski
7) A Demon Awaits by C.J. West
8) The New York Trilogy by Paul Auster

"The 10 Books We Just Couldn't Finish"

1) The Bodies Left Behind byJeffery Deaver
2) Black House by Stephen King
3) Evil, Inc.by Glenn Kaplan
4) The Little Friend by Donna Tartt
5) The Mosaic Crimes by Giulio Leoni
6) The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski
7) A Demon Awaits by C.J. West
8) The New York Trilogy by Paul Auster

9) The Brothers Karamazov

The 10 Books We Just Couldn't Finish"

1) The Bodies Left Behind byJeffery Deaver
2) Black House by Stephen King
3) Evil, Inc.by Glenn Kaplan
4) The Little Friend by Donna Tartt
5) The Mosaic Crimes by Giulio Leoni
6) The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski
7) A Demon Awaits by C.J. West
8) The New York Trilogy by Paul Auster

9) The Brothers Karamazov
10) One Hundred Years of Solitude

10 favorite book genre

All right! List complete. I don't have a good idea for the next one. Sarah didn't specify a ten-item list, so I guess anything goes. Anyone have an idea for the next one?

Scout wrote: "All right! List complete. I don't have a good idea for the next one. Sarah didn't specify a ten-item list, so I guess anything goes. Anyone have an idea for the next one?"

I did put one there, honey. but since this is the mystery crime thriller group, I guess it won't work. So get your imagination going, people. Mine is on vacation.

Big Ooops there, Rosemary. I didn't see it.

Ten Favorite Book Genre:

1) Southern Literature

Ten Favorite Book Genres:

1) Southern Literature
2) Mystery

Scout wrote: "Ten Favorite Book Genres:

1) Southern Literature
2) Mystery"
3) Essays

1) Southern Literature
2) Mystery
3) Essays
4) Thriller

Ten Favorite Book Genres:

1) Southern Literature
2) Mystery
3) Essays
4) Thriller
5) Scandinavian Crime Fiction

Ten Favorite Book Genres:

1) Southern Literature
2) Mystery
3) Essays
4) Thriller
5) Scandinavian Crime Fiction
6) Short Stories

Scout wrote: "Ten Favorite Book Genres:

1) Southern Literature
2) Mystery
3) Essays
4) Thriller
5) Scandinavian Crime Fiction
6) Short Stories"
7) Historical Fiction

Ten Favorite Book Genres:

1) Southern Literature
2) Mystery
3) Essays
4) Thriller
5) Scandinavian Crime Fiction
6) Short Stories"
7) Historical Fiction
8) Science Fiction

Ten Favorite Book Genres:

1) Southern Literature
2) Mystery
3) Essays
4) Thriller
5) Scandinavian Crime Fiction
6) Short Stories
7) Historical Fiction
8) Science Fiction
9) Theatre Plays

Scout wrote: "Ten Favorite Names for Female Characters:

1. Adelia Aguilar from Mistress of the Art of Death series (I love alliteration, so this name really appeals to me on the basis of that)

2. Irene A..."

7.Clarice Starling

Laura wrote: "Ten Favorite Book Genres:

1) Southern Literature
2) Mystery
3) Essays
4) Thriller
5) Scandinavian Crime Fiction
6) Short Stories
7) Historical Fiction
8) Science Fiction
9) Theatre Plays"
10)History

Ten Favorite Names for Female Characters:

1. Adelia Aguilar from Mistress of the Art of Death series (I love alliteration, so this name really appeals to me on the basis of that)

2. Irene Adler, who outwitted Sherlock Holmes. Adler - based on addle (to confuse) - is so appropriate.

3. Precious Ramotswe, from The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency. The name rolls right off the tongue. I love it.

4. Smoky Barrett

5. Lula in the Stephanie Plum number mysteries by Janet Evanovich. She has only a first name - like Cher, Beyonce, and Oprah. Her personality takes up more than its fair share of space.

. . . and I'll add (in the spirit of alliteration)

6. Miss Marple

7. Clarice Starling

Ten Favorite Names for Female Characters:

1. Adelia Aguilar from Mistress of the Art of Death series
2. Irene Adler, who outwitted Sherlock Holmes.
3. Precious Ramotswe, from The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency.
4. Smoky Barrett
5. Lula in the Stephanie Plum number mysteries by Janet Evanovich.
6. Miss Marple
7. Clarice Starling
8. Eve Dallas from the In Death Series (Gotta love how they named her.)

Ten Favorite Names for Female Characters:


1. Adelia Aguilar from Mistress of the Art of Death series
2. Irene Adler, who outwitted Sherlock Holmes
3. Precious Ramotswe, from The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency
4. Smoky Barrett
5. Lula in the Stephanie Plum number mysteries by Janet Evanovich
6. Miss Marple
7. Clarice Starling
8. Eve Dallas from the In Death Series (Gotta love how they named her)
9. Mrs. Emily Pollifax (Dorothy Gilman) - because of the sophisticated sound to it

1. Adelia Aguilar from Mistress of the Art of Death series
2. Irene Adler, who outwitted Sherlock Holmes
3. Precious Ramotswe, from The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency
4. Smoky Barrett
5. Lula in the Stephanie Plum number mysteries by Janet Evanovich
6. Miss Marple
7. Clarice Starling
8. Eve Dallas from the In Death Series (Gotta love how they named her)
9. Mrs. Emily Pollifax (Dorothy Gilman) - because of the sophisticated sound to it
10. Libby Day from Dark Places

Ten Favorite Female Villains/Antagonists:

1. Gretchen Lowell from Heartsick, Sweetheart and Evil at Heart

Dont know her Keri... what book/series is she from?

Ten Favorite Female Villains/Antagonists:

1. Gretchen Lowell

She's from a series of three books by Chelsea Cain, featuring Detective Archie Sheridan. Not read yet, but supposedly good...


Ten Favorite Female Villains/Antagonists:

1. Gretchen Lowell
2. Ingrid Magnussen (in White Oleander)

Hayes wrote: "Dont know her Keri... what book/series is she from?"

Sorry about that! I added more description to the list above.

I LOVE THIS GAME! (sorry for shouting)


Ten Favorite Female Villains/Antagonists:

1. Gretchen Lowell
2. Ingrid Magnussen (in White Oleander)
3. Clara Rinker (Certain Prey and Mortal Prey)

Ten Favorite Female Villains/Antagonists:

1. Gretchen Lowell from Heartsick, Sweetheart and Evil at Heart
2. Ingrid Magnussen (in White Oleander)
3. Clara Rinker (Certain Prey and Mortal Prey)
4. Jilly Delaney from Killjoy

Ten Favorite Female Villains/Antagonists:

1. Gretchen Lowell from Heartsick, Sweetheart and Evil at Heart
2. Ingrid Magnussen (in White Oleander)
3. Clara Rinker (Certain Prey and Mortal Prey)
4. Jilly Delaney from Killjoy
5. Lila Hoth (Gone Tomorrow by Lee Child)

This list seems to be dying on the vine. Are there really that few female villains?

6)Annie Wilkes fromMisery

7. Rhoda Penmark (The Bad Seed)

Yes Carol, I think there are few - men are still dominant in the villain department. However, 10 badgirls in world literature must be possible!

8. Miss Agatha Trunchbull (in Dahl's Matilda, the principal of Crunchem Hall )

How about Madame Medusa, from



The Rescuers

Is my mind tricking me, or is it much easier to find female villains in childrens books? I can think of a whole bunch of malicious stepmothers, whitches and tormentresses - I wonder if that has a deeper meaning... :)

Laura, I was just thinking the same thing. Very interesting.