Mystery/Thriller Reading Friends discussion
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Monthly "Reads"
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Post Your Top Reads for 2018 Here!!
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OK, I'm going to try a link to the 2017 results for those who want to look at how the results will be presented (or need inspiration, or reading material, or.....).https://www.goodreads.com/topic/group...
The link worked! Thanks Carol! I am not sure what I will select yet, but definitely have some good candidates!Carol/Bonadie wrote: "OK, I'm going to try a link to the 2017 results for those who want to look at how the results will be presented (or need inspiration, or reading material, or.....).
https://www.goodreads.com/topic..."
Top M/TThe Man Who Came Uptown: Pelecanos
Colorblind: Reed Coleman
Woman in the Woods: John Connolly
Bum Rap: Paul Levine
Breaking Silence: Linda Castillo
Old Black Magic: Ace Atkins
The Disappeared:CJ Box
A Game of Ghosts: John Connolly
Twisted Prey: John Sanford
Robicheaux: James Lee Burke
5 Authors
Michael Connelly
Laurence Shames
George Pelecanos
John Sanford
Reed Coleman
5 Series
Jesse Stone
Linda Castillo (author)
Spenser
Joe Pickett (CJ Box)
Ace Atkins Spenser
NTMA
Jay Russell (Greed and Stuff)
Bottom of the barrel
The Trap: Melanie Raabe
5 books
The Reckoning: John Grisham
The Country I lived in :Boston Terran
The Fallen: David Baldacci
Agent in Place: Mark Greaney
The Outsider: Stephen King
I didn't think i'd read many really good books this year, but when i had to narrow down my list, it was harder than i thought.top m/t:
The Mother-In-Law- sally hepworth
Holy Ghost- sandford
The Disappeared- cj box
The Man Who Came Uptown- pelecanos
Dark Sacred Night- connelly
Past Tense- child
series
Flowers
Davenport
Pickett
will Trent/ Sara Linton
Bosch
(you can take my wish list off ,carol..lol) and wishing they'd write more- Clare and Russ, Lydia and Bill, Myron and Win, and Patrick and Angie
top 5 others
The Daughter's Tale- armando lucas correa
Where the Crawdads Sing- delia owens
Night of Miracles- elizabeth berg
The Collector’s Apprentice- b.a. shapirop
The Hate U Give- angie thomas
bottom of the barrel (DNF)
The Weight of Ink- rachel kadish
Sherry, will you go back in and edit your post to clarify which Slaughter series? Doesn't she have a couple or am I mistaken?Also narrow your list of 6 others to 5, unless you want me to leave off The Hate U Give
Thanks!
Carol/Bonadie wrote: "Sherry, will you go back in and edit your post to clarify which Slaughter series? Doesn't she have a couple or am I mistaken?Also narrow your list of 6 others to 5, unless you want me to leave of..."
oh the pressure, the pressure..lol
Top Mystery/Thriller Books (1-10)Kingdom of the Blind by Louise Penny
Lethal White by Robert Galbraith
The Girl Who Takes an Eye for an Eye by Lagercrantz
Hellbent by Gregg Hurwitz
End Game by David Baldacci
Past Tense by Lee Child
Top Authors (1-5)
Louise Penny
David Lagercrantz
David Baldacci
Gregg Hurwitz
John Sandford
Top Books (1-5) any genre
All We Ever Wanted by Emily Griffin
Top Series (1-5)
Virgil Flowers
Cormoran Strike
Reacher
Bosch
Three Pines
Best "New to Me" Author (1)
Candice Fox - Crimson Lake
Bottom of the Barrel Books (up to 5)
The American Heiress by Daisy Goodwin
Surprise Me by Sophie Kinsella DNF
These aren't Mysteries...I should know better
Top Mystery/Thriller Books (1-10)The Long and Faraway Gone by Lou Berney
November Road by Lou Berney
The Last Coyote by Michael Connelly
Suspect by Robert Crais
Dreamland Burning by Jennifer Latham
Sunburn by Laura Lippman
The Widows of Malabar Hill by Sujata Massey
Darktown by Thomas Mullen
The Man Who Came Uptown by George Pelecanos
Bannerless by Carrie Vaughn
Top Authors (1-5)
Lou Berney
Tana French
Laura Lippman
Jacqueline Winspear
Top Books (1-5) any genre
In the Wings: Behind the Scenes at the New York City Ballet by Kyle Froman. Nonfiction.
Hamilton: The Revolution by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Jeremy McCarter. Nonfiction.
I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer by Michelle McNamara. True Crime.
The Buddha in the Attic by Julie Otsuka. Historical Fiction.
The Care and Management of Lies by Jacqueline Winspear. Historical Fiction.
Love, Fiercely: A Gilded Age Romance by Jean Zimmerman. Biography.
Top Series (1-5)
DCI Tom Douglas by Rachel Abbott
The Murder Squad by Tana French
Victorian San Francisco by Louisa M. Locke
Will Trent by Karen Slaughter
Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear
Best "New to Me" Author (1)
Lou Berney
Bottom of the Barrel Books (up to 5)
Did You Read That Review? A Compilation of Amazon's Funniest Reviews. Amazon needed some more money so they decided to compile customers’ writing and sell it. And I bought it. And read it. But at least I didn’t like it. I have dignity.
Trick of the Dark by Val McDermid. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller. Yes, I read a beloved classic and hated it. So sue me.
Testimony: A Memoir by Robbie Robertson. Autobiography in which one of my favorite musicians revealed himself as such an arrogant prick that I can no longer stand him.
yes, that's our Cat. Dignity personified. or cat-ified. or something.
Top M/Ts1. The Widows of Malabar Hill by Sujata Massey (historical mystery)
2.The White Mirror by Elsa Hart (historical mystery)
3. Elevation by Stephen King (suspense/fantasy)
4.The Astronaut's Son by Tom Siegel (NASA thriller)
5.Illegal Holdings by Michael Niemann (UN investigator thriller)
6. Island of the Mad by Laurie R. King (historical mystery)
7.Bum Luck by Paul Levine (legal thriller)
Top Books Any Genre
1.Black Tudors: The Untold Story by Miranda Kaufmann (history)
2. Wonder Woman: Warbringer by Leigh Bardugo (YA fantasy/media tie-in)
3.The Black God's Drums by P. Djeli Clark (steampunk science fiction)
4. Pantomime by Laura Lam (YA circus fantasy)
5.Nyira and the Invisible Boy by K. M. Harrell (historical fantasy)
For more information about my top reads of 2018 see https://shomeretmasked.blogspot.com/2...
Note: I decided to put Elevation in M/Ts even though I think it's a fantasy to simplify Carol's statistics. It also gave me a chance to add a really amazing indie fantasy novel from my top ten.
I don't think I participated in 2017 and I'll probably skip this year too. I just read too many cozy books to play anymore :) But I love reading everyone's favorites!
Carol/Bonadie wrote: "yes, that's our Cat. Dignity personified. or cat-ified. or something.":::twitching tail dismissively at Carol:::
Top Mystery/Thriller BooksThe Last Supper by Charles McCarry (audio read by Stefan Rudnicki)
The Facts of Life and Death by Belinda Bauer
Slow Horses by Mick Herron
If You Can't Be Good by Ross Thomas
She Rides Shotgun by Jordan Harper
November Road by Lou Berney
Winter's Bone by Daniel Woodrell
Top Books any genre
Sting-Ray Afternoons by Steve Rushin (audio read by Greg Baglia)
Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI by David Grann (audio read by Ann Marie Lee, Will Patton, and Danny Campbell)
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles (audio read by Nicholas Guy Smith)
The Tie That Binds by Kent Haruf
This is HARD to whittle down! Top 10 MT
Bauer, Belinda Snap
Latham, Jennifer Dreamland Burning
Fox, Candice Crimson Lake
Galbraith, Robert Lethal White
King, Stephen Elevation
Connelly, Michael Two Kinds of Truth
Stabenow, Dana Less Than A Treason (Kate Shugak, # 21)
Luna, Louisa Two Girls Down
Tudor, C.J. The Chalk Man
King, Stephen Sleeping Beauties
Top 5 Any Genre
Erpenbeck, Jenny Go, Went, Gone
Rooney, Kathleen Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk
Mundy, Liza Code Girls: The Untold Story of the American Women Code Breakers Who Helped Win World War II
Owens, Delia Where the Crawdads Sing
Stone, Nic Dear Martin
Top Series:
Connelly, Michael series: Harry Bosch Renee Ballard
Galbraith, Robert series: Cormoran Strike
Stabenow, Dana series: Kate Shugak
Harper, Jane series: Aaron Falk
Boyce, Trudy Nan series: Sarah Alt
Top Authors
Berney, Lou November Road
King, Stephen Elevation
Hoffman, Alice The Rules of Magic
Obama, Michelle Becoming
Sweterlitsch, Tom The Gone World
New to me Author
Jones, Tayari An American Marriage
Susie wrote: "I don't think I participated in 2017 and I'll probably skip this year too. I just read too many cozy books to play anymore :) But I love reading everyone's favorites!"Ah, c’mon, Susie. I read a lot that’s off track for the board, but I still play. I think of the Best lists as a way to record what I had the most pleasure in reading this year. I’ll bet you liked some of your cozies better than others. I also enjoy the chance to go back through the year and remember the all the books I read, not just the best and the awful.
Plus it’s fun to read everyone’s lists and see how all of our tastes and preferences differ, not to mention the wide range of reading this group does.
OMalleycat wrote: "Susie wrote: "I don't think I participated in 2017 and I'll probably skip this year too. I just read too many cozy books to play anymore :) But I love reading everyone's favorites!"Ah, c’mon, Sus..."
Let me check last years list and see if there were any good ones :)
Top Mystery/Thriller (1-10)
In This Grave Hour by Jacqueline Winspear
Color Me Murder by Krista Davis
Dreamland Burning by Jennifer Latham
To Die but Once by Jacqueline Winspear
To Catch a Witch by Heather Blake
Dark Sacred Night by Michael Connelly
Deep Freeze by John Sandford
The President Is Missing by Bill Clinton & James Patterson
The Man Who Came Uptown by George Pelecanos
An Easy Death by Charlaine HarrisTop Books Any Genre (1-5)
I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer by Michelle McNamara
Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate
Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI by David Grann
The Girl on the Balcony: Olivia Hussey Finds Life after Romeo and Juliet by Olivia Hussey
Night Comes To The Cumberlands: A Biography Of A Depressed Area by Harry M. CaudillTop 5 Authors
Jacquelie Winspear
Krista Davis
Michael Connelly
Heather Blake
John Sandford
Top Series (1-5)
Maisie Dobbs
Harry Bosch
Virgil Flowers
Wishcraft
Kate Burkholder
Best New To Me Author
Lisa Wingate
Bottom of the Barrel
In Pieces by Sally Field (what a freakin' bust!!)
Look Alive Twenty-Five by Janet Evanovich
All the Crooked Saints by Maggie Stiefvater (she's usually at the top of my list!)
The Names Of Dead Girls by Eric Rickstad
Melodie: I usually don't finish any books I don't like so don't list bottom of the barrel books in case I missed something by not finishing. However I concur about All the Crooked Saints. I tried three times and couldn't get into it (and wasted an Audible credit on it) I've always loved Maggie Stiefvater's other books. She was until that book a must buy author. Her Opal was one of my top book candidates in 2018. I thought it was just the narration.
Melodie, It’s good to see that two of my 2019 Determination List books, the Jacqueline Winspear ones, made your Top List.I’m surprised by the Bill Clinton book being a Best. I knew at least a couple of people here read it but, not having heard much about it, I’d assumed it was a gimmick.
I wish I’d read Killers of the Flower Moon in 2018 so I could join in the votes it’s going to get here. I must have read it in 2017. It would have been a top read for me if I’d been hanging around here a year ago. I’ve been thinking about rereading it and driving up to Pawnee to see . . . I don’t know quite what. Catch some atmosphere, I guess.
OMalleycat wrote: "Melodie, It’s good to see that two of my 2019 Determination List books, the Jacqueline Winspear ones, made your Top List.I’m surprised by the Bill Clinton book being a Best. I knew at least a cou..."
There were parts of the Clinton book that were over the top, but on the whole, the main plot was all too plausible to me. Kept me up past my bedtime a couple of nights finishing it!
Jan O'Cat: I predict you'll love the Maisie Dobbs books! Please report in if you do drive up to Pawnee to visit locations from Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI. That book and its true story are so haunting.
OMalleycat wrote: "Melodie, It’s good to see that two of my 2019 Determination List books, the Jacqueline Winspear ones, made your Top List.
I’m surprised by the Bill Clinton book being a Best. I knew at least a cou..."
Jan made me do it :)Top M/T (mostly cozy)
Stowed Away by Barbara Ross
Aunt Dimity and the Widow's Curse by Nancy Atherton (not sure if this is M/T or "other")
Betrayal of Trust by J.A. Jance
Dead, to Begin With by Bill Crider
Twelve Slays of Christmas by Jacqueline Frost
Potions and Pastries by Bailey Cates
Misty Point by Linda Rawlins
Horse of a Different Killer by Laura Morrigan
Top Authors
Nancy Atherton
Heather Blake
Robert Crais
Krista Davis
Sue Ann Jaffarian
Best "New to Me" Author
Stephanie Blackmoore
Bottom of the Barrel
Agatha Raisin and the Witches' Tree by M.C. Beaton
Hiss and Tell by Claire Donally
The Readaholics and the Gothic Gala by Laura DiSilverio
Susie wrote: "Jan made me do it :)Top M/T (mostly cozy)
Stowed Away by Barbara Ross
Aunt Dimity and the Widow's Curse by Nancy Atherton (not sure if this is M/T or "other")
[boo..."
Good to see your list! I loved Laura Morrigan's Call of the Wilde series.
Susie wrote: "Jan made me do it :)"Heheh! I’m going to look into the Laura Morrigan series.
Yay! More cozy books to try!! Thank you Susie!Susie wrote: "Jan made me do it :)
Top M/T (mostly cozy)
Stowed Away by Barbara Ross
Aunt Dimity and the Widow's Curse by Nancy Atherton (not sure if this is M/T or "other")
[boo..."
Dan's 2018 Best ListM/T's
The Wanted, Robert Crais
Hell Bent, Greg Hurwitz
The Disappeared, C.J.Box
Twisted Prey, John Sandford
Dark Room, Jonathan Moore
The Other Woman, Daniel Silva
The Force, Don Winslow
The Girl From Venice, Martin Cruz Smith
Authors
Robert Crais
John Sandford
Barry Eisler
Don Winslow
Martin Cruz Smith
Series
Elvis Costello and Joe Pike
Lucas Davenport
Gabriel Allon
Joe Pickett
Evan Smoat
NTM Author
C. Robert Cargill
Okay, gang, here are my picks, which mean I am about to compile. Sorry for the delay.Top Mystery/Thriller Books (1-10)
The Magpie Murders. Anthony Horowitz. Read by Samantha Bond and Allan Corduner.
The House of Silk. Anthony Horowitz. Read by Derek Jacobi.
Lightening Men, Thomas Mullen. Read by: Yahya Abdul-Mateen.
Red Sparrow. Jason Matthews. Read by Jeremy Bobb.
Lethal White. Robert Galbraith. Read by Robert Glenister.
Sunburn. Laura Lippman. Read by Susan Bennett.
Crimson Lake. Candice Fox. Read by Euan Morton.
All the Beautiful Lies. Peter Swanson.
Force of Nature. Jane Harper. Read by Stephen Shanahan.
The Flight Attendant. Chris Bohjalian. Read by Erin Spencer et al.
Top Authors (1-5)
Anthony Horowitz
Jason Matthews
Peter Swanson
John Sandford
Stephen King
Top Books (1-5) any genre
Tom Hanks. Uncommon Type. Read by author.
Between the World and Me. Ta-Nahesi Coates. Read by the author.
Just the Funny Parts... Nell Scovell. Read by Amy Hohn.
Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking. Susan Cain. Read by Kathe Mazur.
Blowing the Bloody Doors Off, etc. Michael Caine. Read by the author.
Top Series (1-5)
Lucas Davenport by John Sandford
Virgil Flowers by John Sandford
Thomas Lynley by Elizabeth George
Cormoran Strike by Robert Galbraith
Sarah Alt by Trudy Nan Boyce
Best "New to Me" Author (1)
Anthony Horowitz
Bottom of the Barrel Books (up to 5)
Promise Not to Tell. Jayne Ann Krentz. Read by Susan Bennett.
Nice list Carol! Thanks for taking the time to compile the group’s picks and letting us know the group top books when you have time between Super Bowl prep and festivities! 😀
As I perused your list I was reminded of how much I enjoyed Uncommon Type by Tom Hanks which was my first book read in 2018, and what a treat listening to an author, who has the requisite skills, read their work can be. (And saw several I may have to check out!)
Carol/Bonadie wrote: "Okay, gang, here are my picks, which mean I am about to compile.."Woohoo!
Delay all you need, Carol. Long ago I did top lists for another board and it’s not an easy job! Thank you for doing it for us.
Ann wrote: "Nice list Carol! Thanks for taking the time to compile the group’s picks and letting us know the group top books when you have time between Super Bowl prep and festivities! 😀
As I perused your lis..."
You got that right, Ann! The Patriots rely on my fanaticism, LOL!
Tom Hanks books was wonderful. What a talent.
OMalleycat wrote: "Delay all you need, Carol. Long ago I did top lists for another board and it’s not an easy job! Th..."
Thanks for making me feel less guilty, OComfortCat! Off I go.....
Dan in AZ wrote: "Dan's 2018 Best ListSeries
Elvis Costello and Joe Pike
Lucas Davenport
Gabriel Allon
Joe Pickett
Evan Smoat ..."
Dan, I can't seem to find the series author for Evan Smoat. Can you clarify?
Melodie wrote: "Top Mystery/Thriller (1-10)In This Grave Hour by Jacqueline WinspearColor Me Murder by K..."Mel, is the Wishcraft series by Heather Blake?
Carol: Yes, Heather Blake is the author of the Wishcraft series! I'm reading one of them now!
Carol/Bonadie wrote: "Mel, is the Wishcraft series by Heather Blake? ..."
Carol: Evan Smoak is a series by Gregg HurwitzCarol/Bonadie wrote: "Dan in AZ wrote: "Dan's 2018 Best List
Series
Elvis Costello and Joe Pike
Lucas Davenport
Gabriel Allon
Joe Pickett
Evan Smoat ..."
Dan, I can't seem to find the series author for Evan Smoat. Ca..."
Ann wrote: "Carol: Evan Smoak is a series by Gregg Hurwitz..."
Thanks Ann. I thought so but for some reason my searches on Hurwitz were coming up empty. Thanks. Closing in on the year-end summaries!
I've just posted the results so will close this topic for discussion. Happy reading and thanks to all who participated!
This topic has been frozen by the moderator. No new comments can be posted.
Mystery/Thriller Reading Friends
Books mentioned in this topic
Color Me Murder (other topics)In This Grave Hour (other topics)
Stowed Away (other topics)
Aunt Dimity and the Widow's Curse (other topics)
Aunt Dimity and the Widow's Curse (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Gregg Hurwitz (other topics)Gregg Hurwitz (other topics)
The Categories.
Top Mystery/Thriller Books (1-10)
Top Authors (1-5)
Top Books (1-5) any genre
Top Series (1-5)
Best "New to Me" Author (1)
Bottom of the Barrel Books (up to 5)
Instructions
Please put all your picks in one post, and please put them in this topic so I don't miss them. If you forget something you can edit your original post, just put EDITED before your addition so I know to go back and add it.
Please list the full name, be it book title, author name, or series character. This will save me time having to google names in order to match up everyone’s picks.
You don't have to list in all categories, and you don't have to post the maximum in each categories. Just please don't go over the max. Otherwise I will leave off the ones listed over the max indicated.
After Jan. 9 (or so) I will begin compiling everyone's lists and will aim to post the top picks in each category by the 16th.
If you want inspiration, you can see our Best of 2017 results (best bet is to do a search for the topic).
I can't wait to see what everyone selects! Questions? You can post them here, and either Ann or I (or another longtime poster) will answer.
Let the posting begin!