The Mystery, Crime, and Thriller Group discussion

lol...for some reason when I saw this thread I got that song in my head...the one Robin Williams sings in Mrs. Doubtfire "Matchmaker matchmaker make me a match, find me a find, catch me a catch..."

anyway, sure thats not where it is from originally :P but thats what popped into my head.

Allison wrote: "lol...for some reason when I saw this thread I got that song in my head...the one Robin Williams sings in Mrs. Doubtfire "Matchmaker matchmaker make me a match, find me a find, catch me a catch..."..."

It's from Fiddler on the Roof. :)

Takeoveris a book about a bank robbery gone wrong, it has some unusual twists on a story done many times before, and I LOVE the location, my hometown.


Don't Tell a Soulfast pace read, Man is set up for a very big takedown, it has blackmail, murder and more. This is what a call a book that reads itself, you just read it and it will figure the mystery out along the way, you don't have to think hard to read this book reach is great for summer

Look AgainThis book poses a question what would you do? The main character adopts a son and many months later gets one of those HAVE YOU SEEN THIS KID? and it is a dead ringer for her child. She has to first determine does she want to check out her adoption and really make sure it is legal, should she check out the missing kid? Since she is a journalist she MUST answer these questions and more so she can be sure of her son background and her right to keep him, this book will have you asking yourself the same questions she does.

Allison wrote: "lol...for some reason when I saw this thread I got that song in my head...the one Robin Williams sings in Mrs. Doubtfire "Matchmaker matchmaker make me a match, find me a find, catch me a catch..."..."

Me too, me too!!

I am recommending Author Ken McCoy , he was recommended to me and really pleased he was as i love his books. The ones i enjoyed are the Sam Carew Series : Only read the first 2 but have the 3rd & 4th to read

Mad Carew
Tripper
Hammerhead
Loser

Teresa in Ohio wrote: "Takeoveris a book about a bank robbery gone wrong, it has some unusual twists on a story done many times before, and I LOVE the location, my hometown.


[book:Don't Tell a Soul|2..."

I am glad you like look again as that is on my TBR

Hi, first post on here, love what you guys have to say about good books to read at the moment. I would like some help in choosing a modern take on agatha christie's who dunnits. ive been searching for a book far and beyond that has a similar premise, whereby there is a selection of people and one of which is the murderer. Recently i watched harpers island, tv series set on island, and in each episode someone is killed. And amongst them lies the murderer. I loved the modernity, the mystery and the built up suspense. So any book like this would be super. If anyone can recommend a book that is modern yet on a traditonal idea of whodunnit and is of course a great read, please let me know.

Thanks,
Happy reading!

Have you ever tried Aline Templeton

Her books are regarding a crime that happens in small rural villages in scotland and there is a set of suspects and they have to find the killer-always difficult as there is small village mentality and secrets.

The maine character is a female detective called big marge (She is Very Tall)

I just finished a book I loved.. Still Life by Louise Penny.

It is the start of a series featuring Chief Inspector Armand Gamache of the Sûreté du Québec, and takes place in a small village in Quebec. Interesting characters, bursts of unexpected humor, and some tight plotting. I can't wait to read the next one.

Hey, haven't heard of either, both sound intriguing, village settings always creep me out, like it already! Definately will check them both out.

Thanks!

let us know what you thought

Hi,
which book of Aline Templeton did you enjoy the most, have been looking at her book list but seems quite overwhelming, hard to choose. if you could recommend one, which would it be. Also, are her books in a set order? would it best to read the one that was released first in order to understand the rest? for example is there a continuing storyline that starts from the first book?

Thanks,

Lema wrote: "Hi,
which book of Aline Templeton did you enjoy the most, have been looking at her book list but seems quite overwhelming, hard to choose. if you could recommend one, which would it be. Also, are ..."

All of them are good. some I read years back and some more recentley

If you like series start with the Majory Fleming character-first being Cold in the Earth. Though its not neccessary to read in order as they start new case each I think going in order would help see the development of character and there is an odd mention of issues in prev books

Also her stand alones are good (these are good) and based in villages and crimes that happens and how inbreeding and village mentality makes invstigation hard and secrets kept

Read the stand alones years back so I remeber really enjoyed but not specifically in which ones were the best.

Marjory flemming books read receently and thought great

Dare I say my book is getting all 5 star reviews! ;-)

If you like thriller or mystery genre - a must read is The Perfect Canvas by Kevin Adkisson. That's the genre I seem to be currently reading the most of.

Hi Deanna. I tried to look up The Painted Canvas but it didnt show up. There were other books with Canvas in their names but not this one. Help plz.

A Perfect Canvas, I think.

Thanks Hayes. I just realized that if I had read Deanna's message right I could have looked the book up by author. (silly me)

I suggest any book by William Kent Krueger. A three-time winner of the Anthony, his protagonist Cork O'Connor, half Irish half Native American, is a treasure.
Also, immodestly mention my latest novel, Smudge.

Karendenice wrote: "Hi Deanna. I tried to look up The Painted Canvas but it didnt show up. There were other books with Canvas in their names but not this one. Help plz."

Look like Hayes answered for me. It is written by Kevin Adkisson and I hope you will put it on your "to read" list. Everyone that has read it - loved it!

Hayes wrote: "A Perfect Canvas, I think."

Thanks Hayes for answering her question for me. I can only get on here in the evenings! I love the glasses photo/tag! Cute!

Deanna wrote: "I love the glasses photo/tag! Cute!"

Yes, that's me... blind without my glasses! I used to have 4 pairs spread around the house until I was able to get the multi-focus ones that go on in the morning and come off when I go to bed. I sometimes find myself in the shower with them still on my nose, LOL!

Just finished Dan Simmons' DROOD. (POSSIBLE SPOILER) It was a great read, but it also showed me something about mystery writing.

In short, this bestselling novel does what mysteries should do, what agents want mystery manuscripts to do: it poses the mysteries immediately. It advances very interesting questions that readers would want answered: Did Dickens kill someone? What was that Drood business? It sets Dickens up as the focus of the novel, despite Collins being the narrator--which astute readers will realize as another point. Collins should be the main character of Collins' narration/memoir; he is, perhaps, but Dickens is definitely the focus. This establishes another huge theme: Dickens overshadowing Collins in life, as in this "memoir." Again, this is established immediately and solidly by page 11.

Main characters; main themes; main settings; main mysteries; main questions--in short, everything, established in the first few pages, and then springboarded tremendously well using the train accident Dickens was in--with his young mistress and her mother, by the way, and not with his wife. By page 11, the reader wonders a ton of interesting things and has no choice but to read on.

If you're interested, I went into much more detail on my blog. DROOD is highly recommended as a good read and as a good primer for writing historical fiction/mystery.

I have just finished reading this. If you like France you will like this book. The suspense was created in the first page and sustained throughout. I found the characters convincing and enjoyed this read. I recommend you take a look.
Its part of a trilogy- Impeding Justice is the first of the Lorne Simpkins series - but it also good on its own. Try it.

Has anyone read anythibg by T. Jefferson Parker? I ran across his Charlie Hood Series. It looks interesting, just wanted some feedback regarding this author.

If you are a Stephen King fan and would like to see what books he has liked and recommends, please check out my bookshelf sai-king-recommends. I have many more to add to the list. If you know of some, forward them on to me!

Here's the link to my shelf:

http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/481...

Feel free to add me as a friend, too!

I just finished The Hunger Games and really liked it. I like to dip into YA books from time to time. Sometimes, I have found, they can be better written than adult books.


The Hunger Games

Just picked up a couple Laura Lippman's books Butcher Boy and I'd Know You Anywhere. Never read her books.
Any comments?

Love her! She's an author who keeps getting better with each book! Her Tess Monahagn series is fantastic! Good call!

Raymond wrote: "Love her! She's an author who keeps getting better with each book! Her Tess Monahagn series is fantastic! Good call!"

I remember reading one of hers a while back and enjoying it. I'll have to pick up a few more from this series.

Try one of her stand-alones. The Tess books are great but a series can be daunting for some. A Stand-Alone can be a good way to try an author before jumping with both feet!

Should you read the Tess ones in a particular order?

It's probably not that big a deal if you read them out of order. Although I think I have tried to read them in order.

If you read the first one first, it kind of explains the set-up a little bit - why she is doing what she is doing and sets up the regular cast of characters. But it's not that big a deal. She does, like most series writers do, a little re-cap throughout the book.

Although reading them in order helps keep her relationships straight - especially with Crow.

I like her standalones, too.

I lived for a little while in Baltimore so it was fun to see what neighborhoods she was using. Not that I remembered them all.

Theft: A Love Story by Peter Carey is good, and also Blissis very good too. Very weird, but wonderful world is found in Carey's books. Carey's collection of short stories is brilliant too- it's called: War Crimesor The Fat Man in History.

The Blue Edge Of Midnight by Jonathon King was a great read. Very good mystery/thriller takes place in a very cool setting (FL Everglades). Highly recommended.

Mungboy wrote: "The Blue Edge Of Midnight by Jonathon King was a great read. Very good mystery/thriller takes place in a very cool setting (FL Everglades). Highly recommended."

That was a very good book.

Gatorman wrote: "Mungboy wrote: "The Blue Edge Of Midnight by Jonathon King was a great read. Very good mystery/thriller takes place in a very cool setting (FL Everglades). Highly recommended."

..."

I read the first two in the series but after that I think I lost track of him. Or they stopped selling him in Chicago. But I see now he is on the e-readers so maybe I will try and catch up. But I did enjoy the first two books.

I recently finished "A Matter of Blood"

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/71...

and I was blown away. I can strongly recommend that. If you want further information I blogged about it here

http://stefaniessammelsurium.blogspot...

Hello - Can anyone please recommend a fun, engaging, and relatively realistic suspense/thriller book involving cyber-warfare or cyber-attacks on the United States (or any country)?

Thanks

This may just be the place to ask....I have been looking all over for the right place to post. My first post on a group...

We have read almost all of the books by:
Michael Connelly [the best, the top]
Robert Crais [similar stuff, love Elvis]
Robert B Parker [worth reading, clever, dated]
Lee Child [not exactly police but a thrill]

Is there another author in this catagory that I haven't discovered yet? Any suggestions
I like something well written, snappy, likable characters but not too many unbelievable holes like some authors. Child sometimes has outrageous situations but are just so much fun!

Alexis wrote: "This may just be the place to ask....I have been looking all over for the right place to post. My first post on a group..."

Welcome, Alexis! I have read most of the books of all your authors, so I thought I'd share a few of my favorites you might like. Mark Billingham's Tom Thorne series, Jack Kerley's Carson Ryder series, and anything at all by John Hart (he doesn't write series but his standalones are terrific!) Hope you find another author you will love!

Edited to add: I almost forgot Michael Robotham's Joseph O'Loughlin series is terrific as well!

Thanks...I will check them out...how do you think they compare?

I have already read several John Hart and he is ok but "not quite". I especially like Robert Crais. We also have been reading old Raymond Chandler books. I read so many old books. Except for Kindle books all ours come from book exchanges in marinas. We have been living aboard a 40' sailboat for 7 years and are 3/4 way around the world. Because of that I have developed tastes for British and Australian authors too...like a whole new world.

Like drinking fine wine....my literary tastes have improved with amount of reading I have done in 7 years of no TV or radio and we don't like dvd's much. Books are best....we are addicted.

Hi,

I read all the author you have mentioned. Here are some others:

Harlan Coben, The Molitar series
David Rosenfelt. He's a lwayer but alot of amusing dialogues and lately dogs also.
John Sandford. The Davenport series.

If I think of more I'll let you know. Also liked William Tapply alot but he passed away last year but his series was very good also.

I like Ian Rankin's Inspector John Rebus stories. Scottish.

Sailing around the world what a life!

Jan C wrote: "I like Ian Rankin's Inspector John Rebus stories. Scottish.

Sailing around the world what a life!"

I agree I love Rebus also and Charles Todd is another very good mystery writer.

Alexis wrote: "This may just be the place to ask....I have been looking all over for the right place to post. My first post on a group...

We have read almost all of the books by:
Michael Connelly [the best, the ..."

John wrote: "Hello - Can anyone please recommend a fun, engaging, and relatively realistic suspense/thriller book involving cyber-warfare or cyber-attacks on the United States (or any country)?

Thanks"

My husband likes the Lincoln Rhyme series by [author:Jeffrey Deaver|4539834]. The first one is The Bone Collector which was made into a movie.
Although I'm afraid of water I'm jealous of you being able to see the world. Sounds wonderful!
I really like a Canadian author Louise Penny. Her Inspector Gamache series starts with Still Life. It's set in a small town in Quebec & the 7th book is just coming out so the series would keep you going for a while!

Hi Alexis, If you are interested in British authors several come to mind. P D JAMES her series featuring Adam Dalgliesh begins with Cover Her Face and continues for 14 books up to the most recent The Private Patient

There is also the great series with Thomas Lynley beginning with A Great Deliveranceby Elizabeth George

Finally, Martha Grimes's Inspector Jury series beginning with The Man With a Load of Mischief.

I too am not a great sailor but I'm jealous of the world travel. I'd have to do it by air.

My recommendations for authors who write good thrillers, are James Patterson and John Sanford, J Sanford writes the " PREY ", like Wicked Prey, most all of the Prey books are very good, fast paced reads, although i just finished Wicked Prey, that one wasn't my favorite, but you should give both of these authors a try.

The David Silva books about an artist/art restorer/Mosad assassin are marvelous! Definitely best if you read them in their proper sequence. I hope he's busy writing another one, because I've read them all so far and they're my favorites.

Jane wrote: "The David Silva books about an artist/art restorer/Mosad assassin are marvelous! Definitely best if you read them in their proper sequence. I hope he's busy writing another one, because I've read t..."


Thanks Jane... added this one to my mile long TBR list.

Daniel Silva

The Kill Artist is the first.