The Mystery, Crime, and Thriller Group discussion

Hi all, just finished I Am Pilgrim. Two dimensional characters, no interest to the plot, bad dialogue.

Please can I have suggestions for an 'epic' thriller I should have read instead! Looking for a fun read, but with some depth.

Try The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins, Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. It's good.

Hi Phil


I see you like John Irving, le Carre and Chris Brookmyre - good man!

if you haven't read The Straw Men by Michael Marshall I can't recommend it highly enough, and also Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith

Stephanie wrote: "Try The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins, Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. It's good."

Hi Stephanie,

I read that book last summer. Thought it OK, (certainly better than I am Pilgrim), but also thought that the characters were not that well formed. Perhaps i have been spoiled by Le Carré!

Paul wrote: "Hi Phil


I see you like John Irving, le Carre and Chris Brookmyre - good man!

if you haven't read The Straw Men by Michael Marshall I can't recommend it highly enou..."

Hi Paul

I have read Child 44 some years ago, and enjoyed.

Off to take a look at The Straw Men.

EDIT,
Just seen that the Straw Man is only available as an abridged audiobook on audible, bugger! I am more inclined to get a book as an audiobook / kindle pairing at the moment, as i have been able to spend time listening to audiobooks that i would not have been able to spend reading.

You could try Mick Herron's Slow Horses - not really thriller-y, but in line with the le Carre books.

Also, I've recently discovered Michael Robotham's thrillers; they are excellent, IMO.
Suspect

Then again, I didn't think Pilgrim was too bad... ; )

Miss M wrote: "You could try Mick Herron's Slow Horses - not really thriller-y, but in line with the le Carre books.

Also, I've recently discovered Michael Robotham's thrillers; they are excellent..."

It may have been the poor narration that affected my perception. His portrayal of a Yorkshire accent is something that will live with me for some time....!

Hi Phil, I recommend Brazen Violations, British author I think.
Very well rounded characters and a thrilling, compelling plot.
Hope that helps.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/photo/...

Do you enjoy the Scandi crime / Nordic procedurals?
If so, The Dying Detective is one of my top reads of 2016.
Still has me snivelling in my soup if I think too hard about it - but it's not soppy in any conceivable way:

https://murdermayhemandmore.wordpress...

Paul wrote: "Hi Phil


I see you like John Irving, le Carre and Chris Brookmyre - good man!

if you haven't read The Straw Men by Michael Marshall I can't recommend it highly enou..."

Agree with Paul, Child 44 is a good one.

Miss M wrote: "You could try Mick Herron's Slow Horses - not really thriller-y, but in line with the le Carre books.

Also, I've recently discovered Michael Robotham's thrillers; they are excellent..."

Agree with Miss M, Robotham's is the best. Have you read also from John Case, Benjamin Black,Miss M? I love also those men

Hi Stephanie - yes, I've read all the Benjamin Black books, will check out John Case, thanks!

Thanks all.

Just downloaded Slow Horses - happy to find its £4.49 for both the Kindle and Audible versions!

Hope it works out, Phil!

PS, here’s a link to a sample of the bad accents in the I Am Pilgrim audiobook:-

https://clyp.it/bpr0cvom

if you want epic, it's hard to go wrong with The Company by Robert Littell. its a sweeping history of the CIA. one of my favorite books.

Phil wrote: "PS, here’s a link to a sample of the bad accents in the I Am Pilgrim audiobook:-

https://clyp.it/bpr0cvom"

Hahahahaha...I know audiobooks are the next Big Thing, but that certainly hasn't convinced me to give them another try...

Actually he's an Australian author Charlie, but yes, I agree - great thriller!!

Actually he's an Australian author, Charlie, but I totally agree, what a great thriller!

Scott wrote: "if you want epic, it's hard to go wrong with The Company by Robert Littell. its a sweeping history of the CIA. one of my favorite books."

This is very much the exception! I have just started Slow Horses, and the narrator is brilliant. Suits the mood of the novel perfectly.

try this trilogy if you like Bourne/Bond/McClane-esque thrillers, all have the same protagonist and are tenuously linked but each can be read as stand alones, I may not be posting them in order either, I found them quite fun to read: Hard Wired Hard Road Hard Kill

If you want something with a bit more substance, try this: The Butterfly Garden

I read the Girl on the train and I thought it was a great book.

Miss M wrote: "Hope it works out, Phil!"


Loved the book, now read the three in the Slough House. Can't wait for the next to come out in February.

Thanks for the recommendation. Now off to look at Michael Robotham.

PS The Narrator Sean Barret is amazing