Aussie Lovers of Crime/Mystery/Thriller/Suspense discussion

For our Winter Seasonal Challenge we are going to be searching for some literary animals.



How it works:
You will need to choose six books to read, each of which has some significant reference to an animal. It could be that the animal is depicted on the cover, is mentioned in the title or plays a major role in the story.

* When you have chosen your books, list and link them in this thread
* Rate your books and update your progress regularly
* Remember all your books must come from one of the genres relevant to this group Crime/Mystery/Thriller or Suspense.

Links:

https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/4...

https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2...

https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/3...

Participants - click on your name - it will take you to your original post :)


Anastasia
Brenda
Calzean
Carolyn
Chloe
Jane
Kerri
Lucinda
Mary
Odette
Phrynne
Sally906
Tien
Zoey

:-) hopefully I'm not going to get a reputation as a trouble maker for this - do birds and insects count?

Technically no as they are not animals Mary. But the dove in Diamond Dove plays a significant part in the story (and I've read it)

Check the links above and you'll find lots of books which match the criteria:)

I've found a couple to start with and will fill in the rest later when I've checked out what else I have in my book stash (seem to have a lot of crime/mysteries involving dogs):

1. Suspect by Robert Crais 4★ (police dogs)
2. The Search by Nora Roberts 4★ (search dogs)
3. Breaking Creed by Alex Kava 4★ (K9 dogs)
4. Lost Dog by Alan Russell 3★ (police dog)
5. Sing Fox to Me by Sarah Kanake 3★ (Tasmanian tigers)
6. Dark Horse by Honey Brown 4★ (horse)

Took me a while to find a selection but here's mine:
1. The Wolf by Lorenzo Carcaterra
2. A Murder of Magpies by Judith Flanders
3. The Funeral Owl by Jim Kelly
4. Murder With the Lot by Sue Williams (shark on the cover)
5. Crocodile Tears by Mark O'Sullivan
6. The Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle

This is a tough one. I'm trying so hard not to add to my TBR for challenges this year and none of the books on the lists are on it. I have been meaning to re-read some Stephen King novels I read when I was younger, so maybe Pet Sematary and Cujo for a start.

They'd definitely fit Kerri!

ok I think I've got them

✔1. Cujo by Stephen King
✔2. Pet Sematary by Stephen King
✔3. The 5th Horseman by James Patterson
✔4. Ape House by Sara Gruen this one might be a bit of a stretch for genre, but several people shelved it as mystery.
✔5. Suspect by Robert Crais
only added one book to my TBR.

#4 is a stretch Kerri, but you're right - it's been shelved as mystery as well as other things, so go right ahead :) And a great list of choices too!

What do the mods think of The Lightkeepers by Abby Geni?

It's about a nature photographer on an isolated island to photograph the birds and the landscape. There are also scientists on the island studying fish populations and someone is murdered. Nature plays a major role, but maybe not specifically a single animal.

Not sure Carolyn - I think it would be ok but I'll confer with Phrynne and see what she thinks...

Don't worry - I've found another dog one I can use. I was just looking for something different :)

We'll still get back to you - it's nice to have choices ;)

Another great challenge idea.
My choices are:
Eavesdropper by John Francome (Horse) 3*
Bear Island by Alistair MacLean (Bear) 3*
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon (Dog) 5*
The Girl in the Spider's Web by David Lagercrantz 3*
Death by a Honeybee by Abigail Keam (Bee)
The Iron Tiger by Jack Higgins (Tiger) 3*




Made a slight change and added 'The Girl in the Spider's Web' as I got it from the library. I assumed as my Honey Bee was OK, a Spider would be too!

Carolyn wrote: "Don't worry - I've found another dog one I can use. I was just looking for something different :)"

I guess when we planned it we were really thinking of animals. I didn't even imagine birds or insects! However looking at your ideas I think I was rather short sighted so go for it! Animal, insect, feathered friend - as long as it plays a significant role:)

Going to give this a try seeing as I have finished the annual challenge now.

So here is my list - they all have a cat or cats on the cover:

A Hiss-tory of Magic by Harper Lin - 2★s
A Scone To Die For by H.Y. Hanna (Aussie author) – 4★s
Miss Frost Solves A Cold Case : A Nocturne Falls Mystery by Kristen Painter - 5★s
Ghostly Paws by Leighann Dobbs - 4★s
Black Cat Crossing by Kay Finch - 3★s
Brownies and Broomsticks by Bailey Cates – 4★s

I think you will have fun with that lot Sally:)

Some really good choices coming through...fun to check out everyone's lists!

This took ages... I hope they all fit ok!

1. Cat Under Fire (Joe Grey #2) by Shirley Rousseau Murphy -Read 06/30
2. The Dogs of War by Frederick Forsyth -Read 08/23
3. Elegy for Eddie (Maisie Dobbs #9) by Jacqueline Winspear -Read 07/19
4. The Pale Horse by Agatha Christie -Read 11/16
5. The Lions of Lucerne by Brad Thor -Read 10/07
6. Fox Hunt (Lachlan Fox #1) by James Phelan -Read 25/06

They're fine Tien - the only problem I can see is your last cover pic has gone to On the Footsteps of Buddha for some strange reason!

Phrynne wrote: "Carolyn wrote: "Don't worry - I've found another dog one I can use. I was just looking for something different :)"

I guess when we planned it we were really thinking of animals. I didn't even imag..."

Thanks Phrynne - I might keep looking (and checking out everyone else's list) as I have too many dogs atm. Need a good cat, horse or elephant mystery! I was going to be cheeky and ask if dragons counted, but I guess not.

Carolyn wrote: "Phrynne wrote: "Carolyn wrote: "Don't worry - I've found another dog one I can use. I was just looking for something different :)"

I guess when we planned it we were really thinking of animals. I ..."

I've got lots of dogs too - some of them the same as yours! As for the dragons I suppose I didn't say REAL animals in the rules did I? Though I can't think of a good mystery/thriller etc. with a dragon in it at the moment ........

Just wondering whether I can use a book from annual challenge list. I still have Karma's a Killer to read and it features dog yoga as well as a dog on the cover or do I have to have different books for the two challenges?

My list: 5/6

The Darkest Evening of the Year by Dean Koontz (dog) 4 stars

Guardian Angel by Sara Paretsky (dog)4 stars

Suspect by Robert Crais (police dog)4stars

The Search by Nora Roberts (canine rescue) 4 stars

Crocodile on the Sandbank by Elizabeth Peters (crocodile)

Dick Francis's Bloodline by Felix Francis (horse)4 stars

'Dragon Man' by Garry Disher has dragon in the title - I wasn't going to push the limits by asking for it. I'm glad birds are ok though because I had three bird titles lined up. :-)

Yeah - it may be pushing the limits a little:)

Here is my list


A Cotswold Ordeal by Rebecca Tope 4.5★
Cozy series with house-sitter Thea Osborne & her faithful dog Hepzibah
Animal Cracker by Andi Brown 2★
Dog Collar Crime by Adrienne Giordano 3.5★
Meows, Magic & Murder by Madison Johns 3.5★
Death in the Cotswolds by Rebecca Tope 3.5★
The Bear Pit by Jon Cleary 1.5★

Anastasia wrote: "Just wondering whether I can use a book from annual challenge list. I still have Karma's a Killer to read and it features dog yoga as well as a ..."

Perfectly fine Anastasia:) We all do challenge cross over when we can :)

Some great lists:)

Thanks Brenda

My list:
1. Karma's a Killer- finished 14/06/2016 5 stars
2. Sleight of Paw -finished 08/06/2016 4 stars
3. Murder Past Due- finished 14/07/2016 3 stars
4. Cat on the Edge finished 25/06/2016 4 stars
5. Unleashed- finished 10/06/2016 5 stars
6. Chicken Caccia-Killer -finished 14/08/2016 4 stars.

Nice choices there Anastasia!

Zoey wrote: "Here is my list


A Cotswold Ordeal by Rebecca Tope - Cozy series with house-sitter Thea Osborne & her faithful dog Hepzibah
Animal Cracker by [author..."

I'd forgotten about the Cotswold series Zoey - they're quite good cozy mysteries with pets involved :)

It has been fun making the choices and looking forward to reading the books - a great idea for a challenge.

1. Mew Is for Murder by Clea Simon (cats/cat lover) - 3★
2. Kickback by Damien Boyd (horse racing) - 4★
3. Gordonston Ladies Dog Walking Club, The by Duncan Whitehead (pet dogs and their owners) - 4★
4. Tears Of The Cheetah by T.M. Clark (cheetahs and other African animals) - 4★
5. Dark Horse by Honey Brown (horse in title) - 4★
6. Sunset Ridge by Nicole Alexander (Roland the rescue dog) - 5★

Great choices Odette. I agree it was fun searching them out :)

Thanks. I found three on my kindle tbr list - I must have purchased them as daily deals some time ago.

6/6

1. Beware Of The Dog by Peter Corris 4.5★s
2. Flare Up by Felicity Young 5★s (sheep/shearing)
3. Dumb Witness by Agatha Christie 5★s (dog on cover)
4. Opal Fire by Barbra Annino 5★s (dog on cover)
5. A Shot in the Bark: A Dog Park Mystery by C.A. Newsome 4★s
6. Murder is a Family Business by Heather Haven 5★s (cat)

All of our participants have their names listed in post #2 - click on your name and it'll take you directly to your original post :)

1. Follow the Crow by B.B. Griffith
2. CATch a Killer by Nancy C. Davis
3. The Escapee and the Case of the Cat-Napper by Nancy C. Davis
4. Sector C by Phoenix Sullivan
5. , Breakthrough by Michael C. Grumley
6. Figment by Cameron Jace

A nice selection of animals Lucinda!

Phrynne wrote: "A nice selection of animals Lucinda!" Thanks! I tried to get a selection of different types of animals & books - cozy, medical/science thriller, crime - should be a fun month of reading :)

That's three months Lucinda:) Even better!

Brenda wrote: "That's three months Lucinda:) Even better!"Oh, of course it is! *blonde moment alert*

LOL!

Phrynne wrote: "Carolyn wrote: "Phrynne wrote: "Carolyn wrote: "Don't worry - I've found another dog one I can use. I was just looking for something different :)"

I guess when we planned it we were really thinking of animals. I...

I've got lots of dogs too - some of them the same as yours! As for the dragons I suppose I didn't say REAL animals in the rules did I? Though I can't think of a good mystery/thriller etc. with a dragon in it at the moment ........ "

I'm sure there is a mystery involving a dragon out there somewhere... :)

I bet there is Carolyn:)

Girl with a Dragon Tattoo?

Haha! But that one isn't live Mary - not much help to you there ;)

:-) I wasn't intending to read it - too grim for me.
However, I read aloud to my son (9 yo) each night, and we've just finished 'The mystery of the vanishing skeleton' by Helen Moss, which is a great series for kids that has a dog, Drift, who, er which (?) played a significant role in getting the kids out of trouble. A bit like Famous Five, but modern.