The Mystery, Crime, and Thriller Group discussion

This month you'll be nominating mysteries/crime fiction that are set in the past. There are a number of great series and standalone novels that fall into this category, and to get you started, the link below will give you a few ideas:

http://brerfox.tripod.com/historicalm...

Authors we've read as a group before are okay to nominate, but please make sure we haven't read the particular book.

NOW -- for the usual stuff:

1. If your nomination wins the poll vote, you will become the de facto discussion leader. Do NOT nominate a book if you do not wish to do this.

2. When a book gets to the poll, please please please -- if you don't really want to read it, don't vote for it.

3. This is not the place for authors to promote their own work.

4. If the book is in a series, it might be wise to start with book #1 rather than somewhere mid-series.

Let the nominations begin!

Haha, just as well I went through my to read list earlier whilst I should have been working on an assignment. How about The Dragon Scroll

Gisela wrote: "Haha, just as well I went through my to read list earlier whilst I should have been working on an assignment. How about The Dragon Scroll"

I've read all of her novels -- that series is pretty good.

I nominate The Holy Thief by William Ryan, which takes place in 1936 Moscow, at the beginning of Stalin's Great Terror.

Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith...
Excellent.....

Dimitra,I think that was a group read last year.

I nominate The Constable's Tale: A Novel of Colonial America by Donald Smith

If it hasn't been done before, how about "The Talented Mr. Ripley"?

Craig wrote: "If it hasn't been done before, how about "The Talented Mr. Ripley"?"

2nd this!

Craig, that was a group read Jan/Feb 2015.

And it's not historical crime. It may have been written a long time ago, but historical crime usually is set in a period that points backwards from the author's present.

The list above, Nancy is quite extensive and more than amazing.

Skye wrote: "The list above, Nancy is quite extensive and more than amazing."

It was my go-to list for historical crime for a while.

For some reason, I am having a difficult time posting on GR's today; you know, I have often wondered where you discovered your vast information, authors and titles.

Nancy wrote: "Skye wrote: "The list above, Nancy is quite extensive and more than amazing."

It was my go-to list for historical crime for a while."




Nancy wrote: "Skye wrote: "The list above, Nancy is quite extensive and more than amazing."

It was my go-to list for historical crime for a while."

I nominate Morality Play

I nominate Roman Blood by Steven Saylor. It's a historical mystery about a private investigator in old Rome.

Dave wrote: "I nominate Morality Play"

Oh my gosh! I love Unworth's work!!!!

Skye wrote: "For some reason, I am having a difficult time posting on GR's today; you know, I have often wondered where you discovered your vast information, authors and titles.

Nancy wrote: "Skye wrote: "The ..."

Just one of many, Skye.

Dave wrote: "I nominate Morality Play"

Oh! And there's a movie!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rec...

I'm adding this one to the mini-vacation stack.

Nancy wrote: "Dave wrote: "I nominate Morality Play"

Oh! And there's a movie!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rec...

I'm adding this one to the mini-vacation stack."
That is so cool, cheers for the link Nancy, Paul Bettany is one of my fave actors, I will be checking this film out :)

Neat; this sounds good, and I wish I weren't buried under so many books I have and promised to review.

I'll nominate Black Out by John Lawton.

I also love William Dafoe.
Dave wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Dave wrote: "I nominate Morality Play"

Oh! And there's a movie!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rec...

I'm adding this one to the mini-vacation stack..."

Recently finished The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah would love nominations from World War II period to choose from as it's a period which really interests me.

I'm going to nominate The Fiend in Human by John MacLachlan Gray.



It's not the book I really wanted to nominate (that was Warlock Holmes - A Study in Brimstone probably has too many vampires and demons in it to be considered historical).

I'll second Roman Blood

I nominate Moriarty by Anthony Horowitz.

Nancy wrote: "Dave wrote: "I nominate Morality Play"

Oh my gosh! I love Unworth's work!!!!"

I think this is the first of his books I ever read. Of course it was a millennium ago.

Tom wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Dave wrote: "I nominate Morality Play"

Oh my gosh! I love Unworth's work!!!!"

I think this is the first of his books I ever read. Of course it was a millennium ago."

His Sacred Hunger is one of my favorites. I couldn't bring myself to read the sequel since Sacred Hunger was so good.

I nominate Murder as a Fine Art by David Morrell (author of First Blood).

Excellent thriller based on true events and characters in London pre-dating Jack the Ripper.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

Since my last nominee was already done, I would like to suggest The Black Dahlia by James Ellroy

Craig wrote: "Since my last nominee was already done, I would like to suggest The Black Dahlia by James Ellroy"

So cool!

I would like to nominate The Novice's Tale

Also would like to do The Black Dahlia!

I second that - Black Out by John Lawton, as suggested by Bill.

I nominate The Alphabet House. Takes place during WWII - a stand-alone by the author of one of my favorite mystery series, Dept Q. (thanks for the link, Nancy - I would not have known this otherwise.)

Suzy wrote: "I nominate The Alphabet House. Takes place during WWII - a stand-alone by the author of one of my favorite mystery series, Dept Q. (thanks for the link, Nancy - I would not have kno..."

You're very welcome, Suzy!

Suzy wrote: "I nominate The Alphabet House. Takes place during WWII - a stand-alone by the author of one of my favorite mystery series, Dept Q. (thanks for the link, Nancy - I would not have kno..."

I second your choice Suzy, looks a great read

I'll nominate The Hangman's Daughter by Oliver Pötzsch

Germany, 1660: When a dying boy is pulled from the river with a mark crudely tattooed on his shoulder, hangman Jakob Kuisl is called upon to investigate whether witchcraft is at play. So begins The Hangman's Daughter--the chillingly detailed, fast-paced historical thriller from German television screenwriter, Oliver Pötzsch--a descendent of the Kuisls, a famous Bavarian executioner clan.

I would like to nominate Fall Irmgard: Operation Irmgard by Rand Charles. I see that it is strongly recommended by Steve Donoghue US Editor Historical Novel Society.

M.L. wrote: "I'll nominate The Hangman's Daughter by Oliver Pötzsch

Germany, 1660: When a dying boy is pulled from the river with a mark crudely tattooed on his shoulder, hangma..."

Good choice. I have enjoyed that series so far.

Tom said, " I nominate Moriarty by Anthony Horowitz.

Oh yes, good choice. I really enjoyed The House of Silk - the first in the Sherlock comeback.

Okay, after day one we have the following:

1. The Dragon Scroll, by IJ Parker
2. The Holy Thief, by William Ryan
3. The Constable's Tale: A Novel of Colonial America, by Donald Smith
4. Morality Play, by Barry Unsworth
5. Roman Blood, by Steven Saylor
6. Moriarty, by Anthony Horowitz
7. Black Out, by John Lawton
8. The Fiend in Human, by John MacLachlan Gray
9. Murder as a Fine Art, by David Morrell
10. The Black Dahlia, by James Ellroy
11. The Novice's Tale, by Margaret Frazer
12. The Alphabet House, by Jussi Adler-Olsen
13. The Hangman's Daughter, by Oliver Pötzsch
14. Fall Irmgard: Operation Irmgard, by Rand Charles


If I've missed anything, please holler at me!!

What an amazing list!

Love Oliver Pötzsch

A nice group of selections so far.

Are nominations closed? Can someone nominate more than one book?

Craig wrote: "Are nominations closed? Can someone nominate more than one book?"

We can take a couple more nominations, but generally once you've nominated a book, you've nominated.

WW2, more thriller than mystery, I guess, but Geoffrey Household's Rogue Male is astonishing. There were two movies of it, the later with, I think, Peter O'Toole really captured the book.

Josephine Tey's The Daughter of Time. A 1950's detective, recovering from being wounded in action, probes the mystery of Richard The 3rd.

Charlie wrote: "I nominate Murder as a Fine Art by David Morrell (author of First Blood).

Excellent thriller based on true events and characters in London pre-dating Jack the Ripper.

https://www.goodreads.com/bo..."

I'll second that nominations, FWIW.