The Mystery, Crime, and Thriller Group discussion

Every year the Crime Writers Association rewards the best in crime writing with different "Dagger" awards. This year's shortlist for the International Dagger Award, honoring the best in international crime, is as follows:

1. Arnaldur Indridason- Iceland - Strange Shores, translated by Victoria Cribb

2. Pierre Lemaitre – France - Irene, translated by Frank Wynne

3. Arturo Perez-Reverte – Spain - The Siege, translated by Frank Wynne

4. Olivier Truc – France - Forty Days Without Shadow: An Arctic Thriller,
translated by Louise Rogers LaLaurie

5. Simon Urban Germany – Plan D, translated by Katy Derbyshire

6. Fred Vargas - France - Dog Will Have His Day, translated by Sian Reynolds

Has anyone read any of these books?

nice list, Nancy... no I haven't read any of them. Look forward to comments from the group (no spoilers please!)

Hayes wrote: "nice list, Nancy... no I haven't read any of them. Look forward to comments from the group (no spoilers please!)"

I've read Strange Shores; not a spoiler, but I believe before anyone reads this they should read the other books in this series. I've ordered Plan D, the Vargas book, and Forty Days Without Shadow: An Arctic Thriller. I won't get them done before the award is given, but they should be good summer reads.

I haven't read these particular books but I have enjoyed others by Indridason, Perez-Reverte, and Vargas so this now puts more authors on my TBR list!

Donna wrote: "I haven't read these particular books but I have enjoyed others by Indridason, Perez-Reverte, and Vargas so this now puts more authors on my TBR list!"

Isn't that the way it always works? Whenever someone posts a recommendation right up my alley, the books go on to the tbr pile. Sigh.

Haven't read these books but am working on earlier works by Indridason and Vargas.

Jan C wrote: "Haven't read these books but am working on earlier works by Indridason and Vargas."

Just a heads up -- the Vargas book is the second in her Three Evangelists series, rather than her Commissaire Adamsberg series.

Nancy wrote: "Jan C wrote: "Haven't read these books but am working on earlier works by Indridason and Vargas."

Just a heads up -- the Vargas book is the second in her Three Evangelists series, rather than her ..."

I didn't realize that she had more than one series.

Jan C wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Jan C wrote: "Haven't read these books but am working on earlier works by Indridason and Vargas."

Just a heads up -- the Vargas book is the second in her Three Evangelists series, ra..."

I haven't read any of the Three Evangelists series -- I had to get the first one before reading the current one listed above. I hate reading series books out of order!

I read the first Adamsberg book a few years ago, which I liked... The Chalk Circle Man.

It was translated into English after the later ones in the series. You can now read them in order! I hate reading series out of order too. Especially the first ones where the characters and personalities are getting set up.

Hayes wrote: "I read the first Adamsberg book a few years ago, which I liked... The Chalk Circle Man.

It was translated into English after the later ones in the series. You can now read them in ..."

and sometimes it kills it for the reader when the author mentions things from the past that you have no clue about.

I haven't read any of the books, Nancy. I do have a couple of Indriadson's to read; I'd better get cracking, I guess

Bill wrote: "I haven't read any of the books, Nancy. I do have a couple of Indriadson's to read; I'd better get cracking, I guess"

He's one of my favorite Scandinavian writers.

I read Irene and it was fantastic its in my top 5 books I've read, the next in the trilogy is Alex which was also very good I'm anxiously awaiting the 3rd book to be translated now

p.s. read irene 1st or it will ruin your experience as I've seen so many people started with Alex because it was translated 1st

Rhian wrote: "p.s. read irene 1st or it will ruin your experience as I've seen so many people started with Alex because it was translated 1st"

Thanks! I was going to read them all when the last one is published before reading ... I really hate having to wait.

I know what you mean I'm constantly checking on when the 3rd will be published here but still no idea

Nancy wrote: "Donna wrote: "I haven't read these particular books but I have enjoyed others by Indridason, Perez-Reverte, and Vargas so this now puts more authors on my TBR list!"

Isn't that the way it always w..."

Exactly.

Karen wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Donna wrote: "I haven't read these particular books but I have enjoyed others by Indridason, Perez-Reverte, and Vargas so this now puts more authors on my TBR list!"

Isn't that the w..."

lol -- and then I start running out of shelf space ...

Great list, Nancy!

As someone who always trolls your shelves, I am always looking for great nuggets from you. :-)

Daniel wrote: "Great list, Nancy!

As someone who always trolls your shelves, I am always looking for great nuggets from you. :-)"

#s 3 through 6 should be here next week -- guess what I'll be reading??

Troll away, Daniel! Books are always coming in here! My husband works from home when he's not traveling, and I think he cringes whenever the UPS guy pulls up at our house.

First name basis with the UPS is a tell-tale sign, Nancy.

I have read several of Reverte's books and always look forward to the next.

And I have Indrioason's Draining Lake.

However, I am not familiar with the work of the others but will certainly look for them.

Finished Dog Will Have His Day, by Fred Vargas. That's two gone. I liked it but it was not nearly as good as its predecessor, The Three Evangelists.

Winners to be announced June 30th.

and the winner of this year's Duncan Lawrie International Dagger is

Arturo Perez-Reverte – Spain - The Siege, translated by Frank Wynne.

I've read several of Reverte's books but not this one.

Daniel wrote: "I've read several of Reverte's books but not this one."

me neither. I suppose now we'll have to read this one, Daniel!

...and list gets longer and longer.

Daniel wrote: "...and list gets longer and longer."

It's the nature of the reading game. I won't live long enough to read all of my books, yet I keep buying them.

I'm reading, by coincidence, The Nautical Chart this week.

Billys wrote: "I'm reading, by coincidence, The Nautical Chart this week."

A good one! I also liked The Flanders Panel and The Club Dumas.