The Next Best Book Club discussion

I'm currently in a bit of a funk trying to find a new author as all of the ones that usually follow I've read out or I'm waiting for them to pubish again. I love a good mystery and I don't mind getting involved in a bit of supernatural as well. If the two are mixed together that is even better.

Can anyone give me one suggestions?

Hmmm. I don't see Jim Butcher's series in your list of books. Have you heard of him? The first is Storm Front.

Have you read any of the Dresden series by Jim Butcher? I think they are fantastic, and there are currently 11 or so books in the series, so it would keep you busy for awhile.

Great minds, Lyn!

Dorie wrote: "Great minds, Lyn!"

have you read them all. He is my top pick right now.

No, I've only read the first 2-3. The next 4-5 in the series is sitting on my bookshelf. I need to pick them back up. I have so many books I want to read, and not enough time.

I hear that!!

No I haven't read him. I might give him a go!

I would like to point out the book Communions With Christ. Click my photo to read more.

Sophie, it looks like you enjoy reading series, so I would have to suggest Charlaine Harris's Sookie series. It's really addicting.

As for other authors to dive into, I would like to recommend Cormac McCarthy, David Maine, Glen Duncan, Jose Saramago.... all great authors that I think everyone should get to know and love :)

The Spellman Files, Curse of the Spellmans, Revenge of the Spellmans by Lisa Lutz, Katrina Kittle esp... the Kindness of Strangers

Laurell K. Hamilton's Meredith Gentry series. I think you might like these since you like Sookie Stackhouse. Then there is Brandilyn Collins Kanner Lake and Hidden Faces series. I think they are Christian rather than supernatural though.

I'd recommend Robertson Davies as an author to get to know. His Deptford trilogy is really good. It starts with Fifth Business. The Manticore is next and World of Wonders completes the trilogy. Fifth Business begins with the mystery of who killed Boy Staunton? But there is so much more - magic, the study of saints, WWI. Fifth Business is an excellent stand alone novel (and the best of the series in my opinion),so you should start there.

WOW! Thanks everyone for your suggestions. Lori, I've actally started to read the Sookie Stackhouse series and I have to agree, it is addicting!

Sophie, if you love a good mystery , try Donna Leon's books. An e-acquaintance had me totally hooked on her books and now I cannot stop reading about Detective Brunetti , his family and friends. Donna Leon is American, but she has lived in Venice, Italy, for over 20 years, and Brunetti walks a lot all through Venice, so you get to know the city through his eyes... They are not special books, but you definetely get used to Brunetti and most of them are good mysteries ! Her first book was Death at La Fenice , but I liked her Fatal Remedies and A Noble Radiance much better...

Caroldenise2002, this is not proper posting etiquitte within my group. This could be construed as spamming, since you are self promoting and have not posted as an actual member anywhere in the group.

I recommend you check out the groups rules and guidelines before posting again.

Not only that, but it has nothing to do with the original poster's request for "mysteries". =\

Carol, on the group homepage, right at the forefront, there is a big section entitled "Rules/Important Announcements", which contains the thread called "Please Read Before Posting About Your Book, Site, Blog, etc".

Also, I'm not sure how a misspelled word means that you'd not know what was proper.

Lori simply asks for group members to be active members before advertising to us. And, generally, we like to have recommendations have something to do with what was requested as well.

Edit: Speaking of "subjective", spam is. In this group, we consider authors who have never posted anything other than advertisements for their own product to be spam. You may not see it that way, but we are here because we enjoy reading and discussing and finding new books that others have enjoyed, not because we're looking to be sold something.

Really you just called me a racist? Really? You don't know anything about me, Caroldenise. Nothing I've said had anything at all to do with you personally or race at all. I have no idea who you are, nor do I really care, I was simply giving you information about THIS GROUP.

But I can tell you that now, because of YOUR OWN ACTIONS, nobody in this group will take you seriously, and considering the size of the group, you've just lost yourself a good number of potential readers.

Just an FYI, I've also flagged your comment Caroldenise. Completely inappropriate.

Caroldenise2002 wrote: "You don't have to be racist.

Is this jealousy I am getting here or racism? "

I am embarrassed for you.

Racist??? Since when is it racist to ask someone not to spam this site. I will comment that in addition to her spamming she is RUDE - pointing out spelling errors? Get over yourself Caroledenise2002 - i will certainly never read a book authored by you.

Back to the original poster's request.

Sophie, you might enjoy the Amelia Peabody series. They are not only mysteries, but they are fun and hilarious too. Amelia is a great character.

Umm, wow Caroldenise. Message #32, coupled with #22 and the junk you offer in between, are totally uncalled for and way, way out of line. Please stop talking now Caroldenise.

This is the best group, made up of smart, engaging participants. Every group on goodreads has its own protocol and if following this groups protocol is a problem, then you should seriously think about your involvement and participation here. Of course, I am sure, by now, you have been banished to that lovely warm place Lori has created and we shant be troubled by your strange and rude outbursts any further.

Going back to the original question, I would suggest The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (#1) and The Girl Who Played with Fire (#2) by Steig Larsson, if you haven't read them. I agree with Brenda's previous post ~ Roberston Davies is an amazing writer.

I'm sorry you felt the need to flag my comment. I was only trying to point out that saying one of our members reminds you of a character who has an unflattering descriptive attached to her name was out of line. I wasn't trying to weather you, disturb you or send you away, I was just reiterating that name calling is inappropriate.

Let's leave this now, shall we. I think the horse is dead and we can move on.

You mention some wonderful writers as people whose books you like and there is probably a lot of common ground for great discussions and a better chance to get to know you, instead of through this peculiar chain of messages.

I think it this is over now.
Caroldenise emailed me shortly after my original post to her... and then I guess all hell broke lose, though I cant see it anymore since her posts are gone.

I do not think she will be posting here again.

I am glad it's done. Sorry Lori. And sorry to Fiona. That was so, so bizarre.

Like I said, I wasnt here to see what took place. Let's put it to bed. I hate when things get ugly.

Oh and no need to apologise. I dont see anything wrong with the posts here.

Lori,

You're wrong if you think I am just going to go away because it gets hot in the kitchen.

Standing up means facing adversity without cowering to ill remarks. There is nothing wrong with apologizing to you Lori for what you agreed was an unintentional mistake in posting.

I posted myself as my favorite writer without capitulating the rules and regulations, and I apologized now 4 times for that.

I am a strong woman and can take healthy banter including disagreements very easily - because, it's part of my everyday job.

The book I mentioned was not an attack against a member - it was the actual name of a great selling book with an incredible message. With all due respect - I will not mention the name of the book for respect of your group. To that end, I have deleted those post.

However, don't think that because you gang up on a member you can run them away by attrition. I kept folders of all the remarks; and, mind you they were not kind.

Whereas I will not be posting again after this message; it will not be because you are a close knit team that ran me away, rather I will not post again because this is not a group that would have ever supported my vast, award winning writing and or many publications.

Those said, I wish each and every member good reading and would advise them to be more receptive to individuals who make an earnest mistake...And, not get so angry as to incite unhealthy banter.

Sincerely,

CDM

Sophie, another you might try is "The Thirteenth Tale" by Diane Setterfield. I really enjoyed that book.

One other suggestion I have is The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley. It is a first book, but he is working a the next one.

Sophie,

The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins is considered one of the first mystery novels and is a very good read.

I love that I finally saw a Goodreads fight that I didn't start.

On topic: I tend to HATE mystery (because I'm apathetic?) but Rob Thurman's Cal Leandros series is a favorite of mine. Not that the mystery isn't an important part of each book, but it is more character driven and Thurman does a GREAT job in creating fleshed out characters..

Unfortunately, she re-used those characters in her new series...But if people keep buying it, why not? Good on her.

Seconding the suggestion of the Amelia Peabody mysteries. Very funny historical mysteries, set in Victorian and early 20th century Egypt.

I second The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield - great recommendation, Becky!

Since you're into mysteries, I would suggest trying out a couple by Harlan Coben. I haven't read that many of his, but I've really liked most of the ones I read - Tell No One and Just One Look being the two that stick in my mind the most. I'm not a big fan of his Myron Bolitar series, but I know some people are. I prefer his standalone novels.

I also used to really enjoy Jonathan Kellerman's Alex Delaware books when I was in my mystery moods. I don't even know how many he has out now, but pretty much all of the ones I read I liked.

If you want something a little older, you could check out Rebecca by Daphne Du Marier - it's a gothic mystery and I loved it! It's also the TNBBC group read for October.

Good luck! Lots to choose from. :)

Mystery series? There's always Nancy Drew - classic. Noticed you read some James Patterson but why not his Alex Cross series?

I'll post more as it comes to me. Barely slept and doing the la-la-la get through workday song. *giggles*

If you do like supernatural-fantasy, try out Mercedes Lackey's different series -The Elemental Masters or Tales of the Five Hundred Kingdoms. Her Diana Tregarde series focuses on a witch investigator.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo was really good as far as mysteries go!

If you like the Amelia Peabody series, the author (Elizabeth Peters) also writes under the name Barbara Michaels, and a number of the Michaels-written books have some type of supernatural/mystery element to them.

I'd say Almada Negreiros, Luis de Camoes,Almeida Garrett , Sophia de Mello Breyner Andresen, Fernando Pessoa and, of course José Saramago