The Mystery, Crime, and Thriller Group discussion

Hello everyone! I'm so happy that this book was chosen as one of this month's group reads. I started this book a few months ago but never got to finish because I got busy with other things, but I really enjoyed what I read so far and can't wait to read the whole book this time! Hope everyone has a fun time reading this with me!

This is the book I will be reading this month. I see Karin Slaughter has left a good review so should be a good one. Need to finish a couple of books before I start.

I'd never heard of Mo Hayder, so I'm EXTREMELY excited to pick up that book. You can get the Kindle edition for $1.99 and add Audible narration for just a few bucks more. So worth it.

On another note: It reminds me of a WONDERFUL true crime book called 'People Who Eat Darkness' by Richard Lloyd Parry, so I can't wait to see how it plays out. Excellent choice for this month!

Hope I can join in on this one, just got the ebook.

T, thanks for pointing out the Kindle edition, saved me some money or a trip to the local library.

I should be on this one, but I'm finishing up a book and starting another one.

I've got four books lined up that I really, really, really want to read first so will add this to my list, looks great and here's hoping I'll get to read it before January end!

So happy you're all looking forward to reading this book with me! The holidays are approaching quickly--hope everyone has a great time and happy new year. I expect most of the discussion will happen after Christmas. I havent finished the book quite yet.

I'm a few chapters in and intrigued so far. Author has set herself a challenge. Mystery/suspense novels are usually about discovering a hidden evil. Here's there so much evil plainly in view. It will be a challenge, preventing the history from upstaging the fiction.

Now that we're past Christmas, what are everyone's thoughts so far? Even though it has a completely different plot, this book reminds me a bit of the book Night Film. I'm not done with the book yet, but they have a similar creepy tone and I like how you're not quite sure if there's something supernatural going on. I'm liking it so far but the holidays slowed me down a bit! I will try to finish soon though.

Just finished, amazing book. Definitely not one for the faint-hearted, Difficult issues with differing cultures. Think this book will haunt me for a while.

Glad you enjoyed it Wend! I've heard a lot of people have that reaction, which is why I chose this book. I'm about 100 pages further than I was in my last comment last night, so I can't wait to fully discuss it with everyone soon!

This book is going to tear your heart into pieces

Just finished, and of course I won't say anything about how it ends, except that the author pulls all the threads together for a powerful impact. I didn't see it coming.

I'm only about 50 or so pages in and I have a lot of questions that I'm coming up with, mainly why is the narrator so obsessed with unearthing this horrible atrocity. It seems like this book with are thrown into the story from the outset. I'm expecting some dark moments in this book, just from the narrative.

I'm cheating a little bit. I just got tDoN on Audible, so I'll be listening to it, but I hope to have it done ASAP for the group discussion. I loved the book description, so I hope the novel itself lives up to my expectations. I'm loving how hard the ending is hitting people, though. :-)

T. wrote: "I'm cheating a little bit. I just got tDoN on Audible, so I'll be listening to it, but I hope to have it done ASAP for the group discussion. I loved the book description, so I hope the novel itself..."

Listening to the audiobook is definitely not cheating! Hope you enjoy it as much as everyone who's read it seems to.

I'm almost at the end and I get why a lot of you are having those reactions. This book certainly is disturbing and even frightening at times!

So I finished the book yesterday. You all were right when you said the ending would be heartbreaking. I really enjoyed this book. It was very different from the typical mystery/detective novel that I’m used to reading. In fact, once I was done with the book and started reading one I had started previously I almost felt jaded. The end of this book was incredibly exciting and I was on the edge of my seat the entire time, which doesn't happen with every book for me. Grey was a captivating narrator because up until the later part of the book we barely know anything about her. The one character that really stuck out to me was Jason. (view spoiler)[He was such an interesting character and although I didn’t like him, I was sort of sad he got killed in the end because I wanted to know more about him. Why did he act the way he did and why was he so obsessed with “freaks”? Also, I wonder exactly what the Nurse had done to him when he refused to let anyone see him, though I guess it’s scarier to speculate rather than have the author spell it out to us. (hide spoiler)] Overall, I would give this book 4/5 stars and I'm curious to hear others' thoughts on this book.

Franky wrote: "I'm only about 50 or so pages in and I have a lot of questions that I'm coming up with, mainly why is the narrator so obsessed with unearthing this horrible atrocity. It seems like this book with a..."
Franky, I was wondering the same thing at that point, and you will probably continue to wonder, as I did, but as the saying goes, "all will be revealed" at the end. Grey is one of those first-person narrators who doesn't feel obliged to tell the reader everything.

I'm about 10% into the audio book and have been wondering if I should continue - seems a little dark for this dark time of year!. It hasn't grabbed me, but seeing everyone's thoughts, I'll continue and loop back when finished.

Okay, so I just finished this tonight and I'll have to think on it a bit, but over all it was an impressive (yet disturbing) read.

David, agree about tying everything together at the end. Things make sense once everything is uncovered.

Natalie, yes, very heart breaking in many ways.

I really loved the alternate story lines and perspectives that slowly get pushed together and merge. That is a great concept.

This is not really a typical book I would read (a little too graphic for my tastes), and it seems the author writes of some horrific subject matter often in her books, but I think Hayder does have a brilliant writing style and thought the slow build to the final conclusion was so intense and brilliantly effective. And, there is some definite heart in this book and speculation and reflection about the human and individual's struggle to push on despite horrific life events and tragedies.

Thanks for your comments, Franky. Do we have any participants who have been to Tokyo? I haven't, and am fascinated by the settings in the book. The giant advertising sign with the movie star that seems to light up half the town. The skyscraper-topping nightclub. Most of all, the enormous, decaying apartment building where Grey lives. The author says it survived World War II. I didn't think much of Tokyo survived the bombing.

Nice to hear everyone's opinions! Glad most of you enjoyed reading the book. I totally agree that the book was very dark and disturbing; I found it hard to read at spots too.

I'm curious about that too, David. Would love to hear someone's input who's been to (or or lived in) Tokyo. I haven't gone there, but it's always been one of those places I'm dying to visit.

I'm finally picking up a copy of this today at the library and I can't wait to read it!

Awesome! Can't wait to hear your thoughts.

I'm late to the party and am at around 1/5 of the book, but so far I'm underwhelmed and a little bored, especially at how the character Grey is being handled. The Tokyo descriptions so far are ok, not inaccurate but nothing fresh either. Some discrepancies with regard to Japanese terms but they're not glaring or consequential.

But I'll continue reading for now, will reserve further judgement for later.

sanny wrote: "I'm late to the party and am at around 1/5 of the book, but so far I'm underwhelmed and a little bored, especially at how the character Grey is being handled. The Tokyo descriptions so far are ok, ..."

Sorry for my late response. I'm curious to hear what you thought of the book if you decided to continue reading! It's definitely not for everyone.