The Mystery, Crime, and Thriller Group discussion

OK, Mystery Group members. The Nomination thread is now open for the February / March 2016 Group Read. We've been trying to make things a bit different in 2016 and we Moderators hope you've enjoyed so far. For the next Group Read, I'm asking for books by mystery/ thriller/ spy writers whose last name begins with the letter 'A'. All that I ask is that if you nominate a book it not be one by a particular author that we've read before. To assist you in your thinking, below are the books by authors, with the last name starting with A that we have read before...

Rennie Airth - River of Darkness;
Jussi Adler-Olsen - The Keeper of Lost Causes;
Kate Atkinson - Case Histories

So those are the only books I ask you not to nominate, so otherwise the field is quite wide open. The standard rule of not nominating a book you're written still applies.

I won't set a firm deadline for nominations. When we get about 20 - 25, I'll set up the poll.

Good luck and enjoy! I look forward to seeing which authors and books get nominated.

Remember - Only books by Authors whose last name starts with the letter 'A'

Letter A it is! I'll nominate Eric Ambler. Great writer.

Nancy wrote: "Letter A it is! I'll nominate Eric Ambler. Great writer."

Are we supposed to nominate an author or a particular book by that author? Nancy's post suggests the former, but Bill's post led me to believe the latter.

That is a bit confusing, isn't it!

If it's a book I'll say Journey Into Fear, by Eric Ambler.

Deborah wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Letter A it is! I'll nominate Eric Ambler. Great writer."

Are we supposed to nominate an author or a particular book by that author? Nancy's post suggests the former, ..."

It's me, I'm sure. I once again failed to thoroughly read the directions.

Famous in a Small Town by Diana Anderson book 1 in a series.
I bought it almost 2 years ago on an Amazon flash sale. I haven't read it yet. I looked at the "A" authors in my kindle and picked this one. It takes place in Mississippi.

Special Assignments by Boris Akunin

Denise wrote: "Special Assignments by Boris Akunin"

I love Boris Akunin!

Deborah wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Letter A it is! I'll nominate Eric Ambler. Great writer."

Are we supposed to nominate an author or a particular book by that author? Nancy's post suggests the former, ..."

Nominate a book but the author's last name has to start with the letter A... Does that make more sense?

And one book per author. I'll just list the first one nominated if more than one book per author is suggested.

So far -

1. Eric Ambler - Journey Into Fear
2. Diana Anderson - Famous in a Small Town
3. Boris Akunin - Special Assignments
4. Kingsley Amis - The Riverside Villas Murder
5. Ace Atkins - Robert B. Parker's Lullaby
6. Avery Aames - For Cheddar or Worse
7. Tasha Alexander - And Only to Deceive
8. Paul Auster - The New York Trilogy
9. Rachel Amphlett - Three Lives Down
10. James Aura - When Saigon Surrendered: A Kentucky Mystery
11. Gillian Anderson - A Vision of Fire
12. M.J. Arlidge - Eeny Meeny
13. Lori G. Armstrong - Blood Ties
14. Jussi Adler-Olsen - The Alphabet House
15. Albert Ashforth - The Rendition
16. Susan Wittig Albert - Thyme of Death

I'll nominate The Riverside Villas Murder by Kingsley Amis.

Let me nominate Robert B. Parker's Lullaby by Ace Atkins. It was the first of the "Spenser" novels not written by the late mystery author Parker, and I would not have believed how Atkins managed to capture all the little nuances of the "Spenser" universe, including the characters and dialogue. In addition, the plot was equal to or better than any of Parker's.

Nancy wrote: "That is a bit confusing, isn't it!

If it's a book I'll say Journey Into Fear, by Eric Ambler."

That's not fair! I just got Bill's message and I instantly knew that the perfect book would be one by Ian Fleming's inspiration, Eric Ambler, and the book I wanted to nominate was Journey Into Fear.

I like this way of setting parameters for nominations. I'll have to go look through my bookshelf as none come right to mind.

I nominate The Keeper of Lost Causes byJussi Adler-Olsen. This looks like a good series, and this is the first one.

Judy wrote: "I nominate The Keeper of Lost Causes byJussi Adler-Olsen. This looks like a good series, and this is the first one."

It is. I know this because the group did this book last March.

not a single author in my bookcase or audible that has a last name starting with A. I'll visit the public library tomorrow. :-)

Tom wrote: "Judy wrote: "I nominate The Keeper of Lost Causes byJussi Adler-Olsen. This looks like a good series, and this is the..."

Sorry, I wasn't in the group then.

I met this author and have meant to read her work. It's not our normal fare, but she is an Agatha Award winner or nominee... Her recent has terrific reviews. - #7 of the Cheese Shop Mysteries by Avery Aames entitled "For Cheese or Worse" I still have the marketing spatula she gave me.

Behind the Shattered Glass by Tasha Alexander

The New York Trilogy by Paul Auster

The New York Trilogy by Paul Auster is good.

Gosh! My memory is not that good, I can hardly remember a authors name after I read a book! - Much less catorize by Last Name First Initial! :>(. I will have to go look at my book shelves.

Paige

Aakriti wrote: "The New York Trilogy by Paul Auster"

Another excellent choice!

Paige wrote: "Gosh! My memory is not that good, I can hardly remember a authors name after I read a book! - Much less catorize by Last Name First Initial! :>(. I will have to go look at my book shelves.

Paige"

Try http://www.stopyourekillingme.com
There's an entire A list

June wrote: "I like this way of setting parameters for nominations. I'll have to go look through my bookshelf as none come right to mind."

Great! We're planning on mixing things up this year.

Tom wrote: "Nancy wrote: "That is a bit confusing, isn't it!

If it's a book I'll say Journey Into Fear, by Eric Ambler."

That's not fair! I just got Bill's message and I instantly knew that the..."

Well, the good news is that now there will be at least two votes for this book!

1. Fate of the Union - Max Allan Collins
2. Supreme Justice - Max Allan Collins
3. A Dark Lure - Loreth Anne White
4. The Back Road - Rachel Abbott
5. The Losing RoleThe Losing Role

Here are some I wanted to read and they are bestsellers too...

Rachel Abbott would work -- this month it's all about authors whose last names begin with A.

Nancy wrote: "Paige wrote: "Gosh! My memory is not that good, I can hardly remember a authors name after I read a book! - Much less catorize by Last Name First Initial! :>(. I will have to go look at my book she..."

Great! Thanks so much!! And I thought you all were just pulling this off the top of your head! :>)

I like the alphabetical parameter and would certainly read Ambler's "Journey Into Fear"

I'm also interested in exploring the books of Jeffey Archer, but I wouldn't know which book to nominate, as I would be new to this author.

Three Lives Down Rachel Amphlett

I'll nominate James Aura and his book,
When Saigon Surrendered: A Kentucky Mystery,
definitely enjoyed this one. Absorbing, suspenseful and unusual.

A Vision of Fire by Gillian Anderson. A Vision of Fire

Nancy wrote: "Tom wrote: "Nancy wrote: "That is a bit confusing, isn't it!

If it's a book I'll say Journey Into Fear, by Eric Ambler."

That's not fair! I just got Bill's message and I instantly k..."

LOL

Journey into Fear by Eric Ambler gets my vote!

I'll nominate Eeny Meeny by M.J. Arlidge

I'd like to nominate Blood Ties by Lori G. Armstrong. It's the start of the Julie Collins series.

Judy wrote: "Tom wrote: "Judy wrote: "I nominate The Keeper of Lost Causes byJussi Adler-Olsen. This looks like a good series, and..."

You could nominate the next book in the series if you want, Judy. :) Or you could keep commenting on the thread for the group read for The Keeper of Lost Causes if you wish.

June wrote: "I like this way of setting parameters for nominations. I'll have to go look through my bookshelf as none come right to mind."

Nice to hear, Judy. We thought it might provide an opportunity to explore authors you might not normally think of, either by region, sub-genre, alphabetical listing.. Thanks for the feedback.

Check out post 10 if you want to see what's been nominated so far. Many authors I'm unfamiliar with which is great.

Keshav - please let me know if you want to nominate the Rachel Abbott book

David - Let me know if you come up with a possible Jeffrey Archer choice to nominate.

Jean wrote: "Eeny Meeny by MJ Arlidge"

It was already nominated, Jean.

M. wrote: "I met this author and have meant to read her work. It's not our normal fare, but she is an Agatha Award winner or nominee... Her recent has terrific reviews. - #7 of the Cheese Shop Mysteries by Av..."

This is the 7th book in the Avery Aames series. I thought group reads were the 1st in a series. For Aames that would be The Long Quiche Goodbye. It won the Agatha Award for best first novel.

The Tasha Alexander book is #8 in the series. The first is And Only to Deceive.

Nell wrote: "M. wrote: "I met this author and have meant to read her work. It's not our normal fare, but she is an Agatha Award winner or nominee... Her recent has terrific reviews. - #7 of the Cheese Shop Myst..."

Totally understand, Nell. I was trying to loosen the rules somewhat.

For Tracey - Would you like to switch to the first book in Tasha Alexander's series as your nomination or can Behind the Shattered Glass be read without having to read the first 7 books in the series?

For M. - Same as above comment to Tracey. Is it better to start with the first book in Aames' series or can For Cheddar or Worse be read without having to read the first 6 books?

Bill wrote: "Judy wrote: "Tom wrote: "Judy wrote: "I nominate The Keeper of Lost Causes byJussi Adler-Olsen. This looks like a goo..."

Thanks, Bill, when I get a chance to read Keeper, it will be fun to see what others have said. I won't nominate a succeeding book in the series, simply because if I'm going with a series, I like to read them in order. Just one of my compulsions!

Judy wrote: "Thanks, Bill, when I get a chance to read Keeper, it will be fun to see what others have said. I won't nominate a succeeding book in the series, simply because if I'm going with a series, I like to read them in order. Just one of my compulsions! ."

The Alphabet House is a standalone book by the same author. You could nominate that.

I have to say that I agree with some of the others that this is a good approach to the nominations.

Tom wrote: "Judy wrote: "Thanks, Bill, when I get a chance to read Keeper, it will be fun to see what others have said. I won't nominate a succeeding book in the series, simply because if I'm going with a seri..."

Tom wrote: "Judy wrote: "Thanks, Bill, when I get a chance
Ooo, The Alphabet House byJussi Adler-Olsen looks very good. I'll nominate it. Thanks, Tom. Adler-Olsen is a new author to me and he looks like a good one.

I like this new approach, but my OCD misses the series rule. I couldn't cope with skipping forward to book 8 of Lady Emily!

Charlotte (Buried in Books) wrote: "I like this new approach, but my OCD misses the series rule. I couldn't cope with skipping forward to book 8 of Lady Emily!"

I agree with you. Just can't read a series without starting on first book!