The Mystery, Crime, and Thriller Group discussion

Happy New Years Mystery, Crime and Thriller Group Members!! Best wishes for this exciting new year of 2018. I hope those of you participating in the January Group Reads are enjoying your books. This is the thread for nominations for the February Group reads. The theme is Mystery writers whose last name starts with the letters N or O.

I checked back on our bookshelf for the past few years' group reads and only two books turned up -
1. Jo Nesbo - The Redbreast
2. Nele Neuhaus - Snow White Must Die

So those are the only books you can't nominate. Of course before you start nominating please be aware of our normal rules for Group Reads.

1. do NOT nominate your own book
2. do NOT have your publicist nominate your book
3. if you nominate the winning book, you are the moderator for the discussion. If you don't want to lead the discussion, don't nominate a book.

So there you go. I'm looking forward to seeing what is nominated.

Book Nominations

1. The Pharmacist by Ingrid Noll (nominated by Gisela)
2. Mind's Eye by Håkan Nesser (nominated by Bill)
3. The Bat by Jo Nesbø (nominated by Carolyn)
4. Motion to Suppress by Perri O'Shaughnessy (nominated by Bonnie
5. Cut Like Wound by Anita Nair (nominated by Nancy)
6. The Chosen by Kristina Ohlsson (nominated by Carol)

I will have to give this some thought, Bill; Names beginning with N and/or O don't come to mind.

Howe about The Pharmacist

How about The Pharmacist. There is an English version on Amazon.

I'll nominate one...

Mind's Eye by Håkan Nesser

Are we allowed to nominate a different Jo Nesbøbook? I haven't read any of his books so I'd like to start with The Bat as it's the first in the Harry Hole series.

Bill wrote: "I'll nominate one...

Mind's Eye by Håkan Nesser"

That looks good!

I found one- the first in a series that sounds good anyway. by Perri O'Shaughnessy but it's not a single author. It's 2 sisters.

I'm going to nominate A Cut-Like Wound, by Anita Nair. She's an author from India, and it might be an interesting change of pace.

If people have to start digging through the back of your heads to squeeze out an N or O authors, there's a long list of them at stopyourekillingme

http://www.stopyourekillingme.com

Save that link for future reference!

Carolyn wrote: "Are we allowed to nominate a different Jo Nesbøbook? I haven't read any of his books so I'd like to start with The Bat as it's the first in the Harry Hole series."

Sure, I'll add your Nesbo book. Thanks.

Nancy wrote: "If people have to start digging through the back of your heads to squeeze out an N or O authors, there's a long list of them at stopyourekillingme

http://www.stopyourekillingme.com

Save that link..."
Thanks, Nancy!!!!

Nancy wrote: "I'm going to nominate A Cut-Like Wound, by Anita Nair. She's an author from India, and it might be an interesting change of pace."

That does look like another good one Nancy!

Carolyn wrote: "Nancy wrote: "I'm going to nominate A Cut-Like Wound, by Anita Nair. She's an author from India, and it might be an interesting change of pace."

That does look like another good on..."

It's just been sitting on my shelf for a while so I thought "why not!"

I'll keep this nomination thread open over the weekend and then set up the poll.

I nominate The Chosen by Kristina Ohlsson.

*Note: this is book 5. For purists, Book 1 is Unwanted. I nominated The Chosen because all reviews I've seen from friends have been strong and it appears to be the best one to select for a first read, IMO.

Don't know if you would categorize this as crime, but how about The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien?

Sally wrote: "Don't know if you would categorize this as crime, but how about The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien?"

That book actually made me cry.

Sally wrote: "Don't know if you would categorize this as crime, but how about The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien?"

As you say, Sally, it's not listed as mystery or crime so I don't think I can add it for this challenge. Thanks for nominating it though.

Nancy wrote: "Sally wrote: "Don't know if you would categorize this as crime, but how about The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien?"

That book actually made me cry."

I have that in my plan to read soon for my around the world challenge. Been looking forward to it for a long time but *have* to read in country order, I didn't think it was a book that fit in this group from its synopsis, but always good to get a recommendation, Nancy.

A small list but I think excellent looking. I'll set the poll up today...

Okie Dokey, the poll is up. It should be at the top of the poll page or you can just try this link...

https://www.goodreads.com/poll/list/1...

As per normal, please vote for a book only if you plan to take part in the group read, should that book win. Thanks very much!

Bill, I'm not going to vote this month.

Skye wrote: "Bill, I'm not going to vote this month."

OK, Skye. The choices don't always appeal. Better luck next month.

Yes, yes!

The Sympathizer
by Viet Thanh Nguyen (Goodreads Author)
4.0 · Rating details · 34,938 Ratings · 4,588 Reviews
The winner of the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, as well as five other awards The Sympathizer

I'm new to the board so if someone else wants to nominate it, that's fine with me.

Is P next month? Louise Penny is my new favorite mystery writer. I love the Armande Gamache series.

Oh, it looks like I'm too late anyway.

Sorry NancyJ. Not sure what next month will be. Nancy runs the alternate book group polls and she has her own categories. 'P' will be in April.

NancyJ wrote: "The Sympathizer
by Viet Thanh Nguyen (Goodreads Author)
4.0 · Rating details · 34,938 Ratings · 4,588 Reviews
The winner of the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, as well as five other awards [book:..."

I am reading the first one in the series.

Skye wrote: "NancyJ wrote: "The Sympathizer
by Viet Thanh Nguyen (Goodreads Author)
4.0 · Rating details · 34,938 Ratings · 4,588 Reviews
The winner of the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, as well as five othe..."

I enjoyed the Sympathizer very much, especially because it is not a black and white book if you know what I mean. One of the most complicated characters if read about in a long while. Recommend it to anyone.

I just put it on my TBR list; his last name is the same as my daughter-in-law's before she married my son.

I'll nominate A Lady in the Smoke: A Victorian Mystery by Karen Odden.

Susanna - Censored by GoodReads wrote: "I'll nominate A Lady in the Smoke: A Victorian Mystery by Karen Odden."

Sorry, Susanna we're on to voting now. Nominations were closed Monday.

Gisela wrote: "Skye wrote: "NancyJ wrote: "The Sympathizer
by Viet Thanh Nguyen (Goodreads Author)
4.0 · Rating details · 34,938 Ratings · 4,588 Reviews
The winner of the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, as well..."

Thanks. I like complex characters. I don't know any person (or group, party or country) that is all good/right or all bad/wrong.

Skye wrote: "NancyJ wrote: "The Sympathizer
by Viet Thanh Nguyen (Goodreads Author)
4.0 · Rating details · 34,938 Ratings · 4,588 Reviews
The winner of the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, as well as five othe..."

I didn't know it was a series. Good to know.

Bill wrote: "Okie Dokey, the poll is up. It should be at the top of the poll page or you can just try this link...

https://www.goodreads.com/poll/list/1...

As..."

All of you who are voting for The Pharmacist should be aware that a used Amazon copy starts at like $100 something. You might want to start looking for library copies like right now.

Nancy wrote: "Bill wrote: "Okie Dokey, the poll is up. It should be at the top of the poll page or you can just try this link...

https://www.goodreads.com/poll/list/1......"

Wow.

I also posted a comment in the comments area of the poll, but the votes continue to roll in.

https://www.amazon.com/Pharmacist-Ing...

Holy cow. Used paperback editions are *starting* at $823 on Amazon! (Used hardcovers are "only" $143, a real bargain in comparison.)

Susanna - Censored by GoodReads wrote: "Holy cow. Used paperback editions are *starting* at $823 on Amazon! (Used hardcovers are "only" $143, a real bargain in comparison.)"

:)

Think carefully if you vote for The Pharmacist. I didn't realize it was so hard to get a copy.

It's in second place on the poll. Oy.

So, what's the plan, Stan?

I could send out a broadcast message asking those that voted for it to indicate if they have a copy of the book???

Bill wrote: "I could send out a broadcast message asking those that voted for it to indicate if they have a copy of the book???"

I would send a message saying exactly what's going on. I know a lot of people get their books from the library, but chances are that there won't be a large number of copies floating around so they might wish to change their vote.

If I were fluent in German, I could get a paperback for $2.71. I saw another title that had some reasonably priced copies. But I would suggest holding off on Noll until books are more readily available.

More votes were added since I went to bed last night. But nice message, Bill!!

I didn't vote for the Pharmasist but I've found several copies aparently available on Bookfinder at a few pounds (mostly from Abe Books) https://www.bookfinder.com/book/00064...