The Mystery, Crime, and Thriller Group discussion

There is a LOT of good crime fiction either from Japanese authors or set in Japan -- so let's read a couple. I've found a goodreads list that shows several Japanese titles that have been translated into English:

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


We've read
The Devotion of Suspect X, by Keigo Higashino, so that will be off the list.


As always, please follow the simple rules below when making your nominations.

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.

I nominate Innocent Journey by Shizuko Natsuki since it was on my late father's bookshelf. So it must be good!!

Kirsten wrote: "I nominate Innocent Journey by Shizuko Natsuki since it was on my late father's bookshelf. So it must be good!!"

That one's completely out of print, not available in e-reader format. Another title?

*so sad*

Will try again...

Okay, how about Six Four which my library has a copy of?

The Salaryman's Wife by Sujata Massey

This mystery is set in Tokyo, though it's not on the list.

Nell wrote: "The Salaryman's Wife by Sujata Massey

This mystery is set in Tokyo, though it's not on the list."

I've been meaning to start that series as I'm thoroughly enjoying her new series set in 1920's Bombay.

I have had Six Four on my TBR for awhile; unclear whether the message above relate to this book or the other boo.

I nominate A Clean Kill in Tokyo by Barry Eisler.

EDITED to add links. :)

Randy wrote: "I nominate A Clean Kill in Tokyo by Barry Eisler

Sorry I'm on the mobile app so I can't add links :("

When on Earth will they fix that??

Kirsten wrote: "Randy wrote: "I nominate A Clean Kill in Tokyo by Barry Eisler

Sorry I'm on the mobile app so I can't add links :("

When on Earth will they fix that??"

No idea. :(

How about Out

I nominate The Tokyo Zodiac Murders by Soji Shimada.

I second The Tokyo Zodiac Murders

I'll start a recap post later this evening -- I'm in WA with my family at the moment so for the next few days I'll have sporadic attendance. But keep the nominations coming. I'll check in when I can.

Kirsten wrote: "Okay, how about Six Four which my library has a copy of?"

works for me!

Nell wrote: "The Salaryman's Wife by Sujata Massey

This mystery is set in Tokyo, though it's not on the list."

It's fine.

That helps!

Can I nominate Salvation of a Saint, same author as The Devotion of Suspect X? I've been wanting to read this for a while.

That really looks good!

1. Six Four, by Hideo Yokoyama -- Kirsten
2. The Salaryman's Wife, by Sujata Massey -- Nell
3. A Clean Kill in Tokyo, by Barry Eisler -- Randy
4. Out, by Natsuo Kirino -- Gisela
5. The Tokyo Zodiac Murders, by Soji Shimada -- Carol
6. Salvation of a Saint, by Keigo Higashino -- Suzy
7. Shinju, by Laura Joh Rowland -- Chris
8. Confessions, by Kanae Minato -- Britney

who's next?

I'd like to nominate Shinju by Laura Joh Rowland. First in a series, set in 17th C Japan.

I nominate Confessions by Kanae Minato

Nancy, I'm curious, did you know that the Everyone Has Read this but me group (the catch up book club) is also picking two Japanese books this month? I feel like I should find some Japanese music to listen to in May too.

NancyJ wrote: "Nancy, I'm curious, did you know that the Everyone Has Read this but me group (the catch up book club) is also picking two Japanese books this month? I feel like I should find some Japanese music t..."

That's a group? Please post a link! Sounds interesting!!

NancyJ wrote: "Nancy, I'm curious, did you know that the Everyone Has Read this but me group (the catch up book club) is also picking two Japanese books this month? I feel like I should find some Japanese music t..."

No, I did not know that. I love Japanese fiction so that's why I chose the topic.

Kirsten wrote: "That's a group? Please post a link!"

https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...

I don't think any of the nominated books are mysteries, though one choice is The Oxford Book of Japanese Short Stories which includes the story that inspired the classic Japanese movie Rashomon. If you'd be willing to have a short story as one of the mysteries in May, that would be a good one. The terms 'Rashomon effect' and 'Rashomon style' are quite relevant to crime investigation and mystery writing. The short story title was In a Grove, by Ryūnosuke Akutagawa. In a Grove. It can be found alone, or in anthologies with other stories.

NancyJ wrote: "Nancy, I'm curious, did you know that the Everyone Has Read this but me group (the catch up book club) is also picking two Japanese books this month? I feel like I should find some Japanese music t..."

I'm in that group - if the voting continues the way it's going it looks like the group will be reading 1Q84 and I Am a Cat. I'm not sure when I will get round to reading either, I'm so behind with my reading. Really looking forward to reading several books set in Japan as soon as I can but I'm not sure I will get round to any of them in May, sadly, so I won't vote here this time.

( If we were going to read a Keigo Higashino I've heard good things about A Midsummer's Equation (nominated for a Hugo) if someone else would like to nominate that?)

Carolyn wrote: "NancyJ wrote: "Nancy, I'm curious, did you know that the Everyone Has Read this but me group (the catch up book club) is also picking two Japanese books this month? I feel like I should find some J..."

It's too bad that some of these mysteries weren't nominated for that group. (I'll be opting out of the 1Q84 read for sure, I can't fit in a 925 page book with bad reviews.)

I'll give everyone until Sunday to add any more books to the nominations list. I'll be home Tuesday and the poll will go up Wednesday.

We're having a lovely time here in the Pacific NW; today the sun came out for the first time since Saturday.

Nancy wrote: "I'll give everyone until Sunday to add any more books to the nominations list. I'll be home Tuesday and the poll will go up Wednesday.

We're having a lovely time here in the Pacific NW; today the..."

So glad you’re enjoying it. I haven’t been yet. Who needs sun? :)

Carol wrote: "Nancy wrote: "I'll give everyone until Sunday to add any more books to the nominations list. I'll be home Tuesday and the poll will go up Wednesday.

We're having a lovely time here in the Pacific..."

Yes, sunlight and warmth can be overrated at times. On the 19th we're in SC so it will be like bing-bonging from one climate zone to another.

Nancy wrote: "I'll give everyone until Sunday to add any more books to the nominations list. I'll be home Tuesday and the poll will go up Wednesday.

We're having a lovely time here in the Pacific NW; today the..."

That sounds good. We had snow here again today.

Nancy wrote: "I'll give everyone until Sunday to add any more books to the nominations list. I'll be home Tuesday and the poll will go up Wednesday.

We're having a lovely time here in the Pacific NW; today the..."

Shhhhhh, it's a secret! :-)

T wrote: "Nancy wrote: "I'll give everyone until Sunday to add any more books to the nominations list. I'll be home Tuesday and the poll will go up Wednesday.

We're having a lovely time here in the Pacific..."

Tell me about it! Checker last night said she was glad spring was here... now it's raining again!!!

Kirsten wrote: "T wrote: "Nancy wrote: "I'll give everyone until Sunday to add any more books to the nominations list. I'll be home Tuesday and the poll will go up Wednesday.

We're having a lovely time here in t..."

MONSOOOOOONNN!!!

T wrote: "Kirsten wrote: "T wrote: "Nancy wrote: "I'll give everyone until Sunday to add any more books to the nominations list. I'll be home Tuesday and the poll will go up Wednesday.

We're having a lovel..."

Yeah, I blame that checker for this!!

It's a little chilly (for us) right now down here in SC, but we should have warmed up by the 19th.

(By "chilly" I mean 57 and on-and-off rain. We'll be about 10 degrees below normal today - we're supposed to be about 70.)

It was raining here this morning when the dogs and I went for our early morning walk. Haven't checked since.. lol

we were going to take a ferry out of Seattle, but the rain closed us down.

Nancy wrote: "we were going to take a ferry out of Seattle, but the rain closed us down."

But it stopped after the 30 min monsoon... :-)

Susanna - Censored by GoodReads wrote: "It's a little chilly (for us) right now down here in SC, but we should have warmed up by the 19th.

(By "chilly" I mean 57 and on-and-off rain. We'll be about 10 degrees below normal today - we're ..."

We returned from Charleston yesterday. Even on Wednesday when it was 64, the sun was a-blazing most pleasantly. Thursday and Friday were high '60s/low 70s. -- most hospitable. Now I'm back in North Carolina constructing an ark.

We're about 10 degrees below normal this week (about 60ish), and next week looks like we'll be about 10 degrees above (about 80ish).

Raining here, too. We could use it, though.

It's 31 now. There have been snow flurries off and on all day. Three days ago we lost power for 6 hours due to high winds(75 mph).

Thomas wrote: "It's 31 now. There have been snow flurries off and on all day. Three days ago we lost power for 6 hours due to high winds(75 mph)."

Ack! The horror. The horror.

That's hurricane force - with snow. Oy.

Okay -- we have 8 books (see Message #21 for the list) so I think that's a nice number to end with.

Poll up on Wednesday a.m. and nominations are now officially closed. Thanks everyone!

Nancy wrote: "Okay -- we have 8 books (see Message #21 for the list) so I think that's a nice number to end with.

Poll up on Wednesday a.m. and nominations are now officially closed. Thanks everyone!"

That’s an awesome and varied list. Yay!

Okay, everyone, the poll is up and running. Go vote!

Would you be so kind as to give us the link for the poll for May? Thank you !!