The Mystery, Crime, and Thriller Group discussion

This thread was specifically requested so that we can talk about new purchases or books we're considering buying -- and to comment on our choices.

I'll start
Bought recently:
The Whispering Swarm, by Michael Moorcock --
" a tale both fantastical and autobiographical, a celebration of London and what it meant to be young there in the years after World War II. The Whispering Swarm is the first in a trilogy that will follow a young man named Michael as he simultaneously discovers himself and a secret realm hidden deep in the heart of London."

Severed: A History of Heads Lost and Heads Found, by Frances Larson, which is basically a book about the history of weird decapitations.

I bought a couple of new (used) books last weekend at my local.

Cover Her Face by P.D. James - This is the first Inspector Dalgleish mystery. I've read a couple but want to start from the beginning.

The Blue Ice by Hammond Innes - I saw some books by Innes listed at the back of an Alistair MacLean book I finished in Jan and thought I should try his stories out. I found this one. Published in 1948, this is the synopsis "High in the snowy wastes of Norway a man had given his life to discover the wealth hidden in an ice-bound mountain. Many men wanted his secret--and would kill to get it. But the cryptic message he had smuggled out before he was murdered meant nothing to anyone except the man for whom it was intended, and for him, the only way to serve the memory of his friend was to tackle the mist-shrouded, frozen bastion of Blue Ice--alone."

Snare of the Hunter by Helen MacInnes - I looked for Helen MacInnes' books for the same reason. This is the synopsis, sounds like a good Cold War thriller.. "Irina Kusak flees Czechoslovakia to seek her Nobel-laureate father in Austria. She finds herself drawn into a political intrigue with terrifying consequences. Is she the bait in a trap to snare her father, or is she playing a part in an even more insidious scheme with incredibly high stakes?
Set against the backdrop of peaceful Austrian countryside, Irina's nightmare journey becomes a flight to evade THE SNARE OF THE HUNTER."

Nancy- that history of severed heads book looks very interesting! I look forward to seeing what you thought of it!

Ashley wrote: "Nancy- that history of severed heads book looks very interesting! I look forward to seeing what you thought of it!"

I read the strangest books, but I love offbeat, strange histories.

I recently picked up Private Vegas: by James Patterson and Insatiable Appetites by Stuart Woods. I love both authors. I noted the woods book got terrible reviews but I'll always read a Stone Barrington tale.

The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins also caught my eye. Shades of Agatha Christie? Just guessing from the title.

Just finished Russell Blake's Jet Series # 1-7. So I got JET - Ops Files 0.5 Sanctuary #8 and Survival #9 on order.

Snare of the Hunter is sensational.

Skye wrote: "Snare of the Hunter is sensational."

Good to know, I hope to read this year.. if I can squeeze it in.. :)

The Snare of the Hunter. I think I read and enjoyed this book about 25 years ago. I guess it's time for a re- read.

Today I bought 2 book from my local libary used book store:Special Topics in Calamity Physics and Shadows Still Remain

Arriving at my house today: The Strange Journeys of Colonel Polders: A Novel, by Lord Dunsany. Now -- for time to read it!

Reva wrote: "The Snare of the Hunter. I think I read and enjoyed this book about 25 years ago. I guess it's time for a re- read."

Enjoy; I hope I will as well.

Yes, it is time; in fact, I am considering not buying and reading what I have or if I do buy, it would be books I enjoyed long ago: Jennie Melville, Susan Howatch, Sydney Sheldon, Barbara Michael( Elizabeth Peters); etc.

Skye wrote: "Yes, it is time; in fact, I am considering not buying and reading what I have or if I do buy, it would be books I enjoyed long ago: Jennie Melville, Susan Howatch, Sydney Sheldon, Barbara Michael( ..."

I ALWAYS say "I'm going to read what I have and not buy any more books." Never works.

I bought Last Rituals by Yrsa Sigurdardottir on Ebay tonight. I'd read the sample of it on Kindle & it had been recommended to me by a penpal.

Nancy wrote: "Skye wrote: "Yes, it is time; in fact, I am considering not buying and reading what I have or if I do buy, it would be books I enjoyed long ago: Jennie Melville, Susan Howatch, Sydney Sheldon, Barb..."

That works fine until I step into a book store (to get out of the cold) or go to a bookstore website (totally by accident). And I bought more books for myself at Christmas than I did for anyone else. I think I went out to get two dvds and came back with the two dvds but also had five books under my arm.

Jan, you sound very like me :-)

"That works fine until I step into a book store (to get out of the cold) or go to a bookstore website (totally by accident). And I bought more books for myself at Christmas than I did for anyone else. I think I went out to get two dvds and came back with the two dvds but also had five books under my arm."

you've just described me. Last year as a present to my book group, I went to B&N and bought them each a book-themed tote bag. I told myself that was the only reason I was going into the store -- then walked out with 11 tote bags, six books, and Game of Thrones on CD for my car.

Picked these up today: & .

Detour by Martin M. Goldsmith was written in 1939 & made into a short (apparently quite famous) Noir movie in 1945.

"The book, subtitled An Extraordinary Tale, was published by the Macaulay Company. Its plot is similar to the movie to which it was later adapted, except that the main character's name was changed from "Alexander Roth" to "Al Roberts," and erotic passages were removed.
The novel ends with much the same fatalistic line used in the movie: "God or Fate or some mysterious force can put the finger on you or on me for no good reason at all." In the film version of the novel, the reference to God is removed.
The film Detour has achieved considerable acclaim as a defining movie of the film noir era, despite its low budget. However, the novel, long out of print, did not have the same fate."

The movie is available for viewing on You Tube, as it was released into the 'public arena'.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHyXW...

Ordered these from my library overnight: , , , , , & finally . The last of which i've had on order for several weeks.

re Maurizio de Giovanni: I read his first novel and I haven't gone back for another one. I hope you like his work much more than I do!

I read in the WSJ that Penguin is putting out new editions of the Inspector Maigret series. I ordered the first—I'm a freak for origin stories—and the fourth, which the WSJ writer called the first classic in the series.

Rich wrote: "I read in the WSJ that Penguin is putting out new editions of the Inspector Maigret series. I ordered the first—I'm a freak for origin stories—and the fourth, which the WSJ writer called the first ..."

They started that I think last year -- I took advantage of the new editions as well. I'm going to read them in order.

Nancy wrote: "re Maurizio de Giovanni: I read his first novel and I haven't gone back for another one. I hope you like his work much more than I do!"

I've not read Maurizio de Giovanni before Nancy, but i like to try new authors. I'm certain i'll like the others i have on order, so even if M de G is a dud, at least i can cross him off my list (or not, as the case may be).

You might enjoy it, Paul. It just didn't agree with me. But I love Chester Himes!

Nancy wrote: "You might enjoy it, Paul. It just didn't agree with me. But I love Chester Himes!"

Reading & our enjoyment of same is so subjective, isn't it?

I've recently bought "And Then There Were None" and "Dorothy Must Die," I can't wait to read either of them!!!! I really like intense books that have much action to it, just like the Marvel movies and shows which I may or may not have a mega fangirl side for! (Message me to discuss ANYTHING Marvel related) ANYWAY, Recently I've been reading "To Kill a Mockingbird" and for those of you who have read it, the, "mini catastrophes" as my friends and I have been calling it, are interesting. They are scattered throughout the book and it was a pleasant change in my normal reads. If anyone knows any more of these books, please let me know!

Mysteries are fun, but they freak me out most of the time. I think that if I could just get myself more into the genre then I could become more interested and read more of that genre.

Sorry, Kinda got off topic. I've also recently bought "delirium" and "deep blue" as these were MEGA recommendations from my friends.

and

I'm thinking of buying Revival by Stephen King. If I buy it it'll be at Walmart which is only charging $18 for it. I'm on a fixed income and can't afford to pay $30 for it at a bookstore.

Revival on kindle or iBook is only 11.99.

I just boughtI Am Pilgrim The Rosie Project The Girl on the Train andSee Them Run

I've bought 9 books off of Thriftbooks.com, I got the Phillipa Gregory TUDOR series, STAR WARS trilogy, and 3 of Stephen King's pet horror stories! I'm slightly addicted to Thriftbooks, so I'll probably end up buying more soon.

Kelly wrote: "I just boughtI Am Pilgrim The Rosie Project The Girl on the Train andSee Them Run"

Kelly, I just loved The Rosie Project. I hope you enjoy it!

The sequel, The Rosie Effect I found disappointing -- very much an unplanned sequel rather than part of a series.

Ordered from my library today. Started to read it for a group read last year, but i was reading it in eBook format, on my laptop. I gave up on it. It's only 160 pages long, just couldn't stand reading it on my laptop. It's a classic though, so am looking forward to reading.
Just received an email from my library, to tell me is ready to pick up. Good timing, as i have to return some books in the next few days.

They Shoot Horses, Don’t They? is one of my all-time favorite books. I don't say that that about many novels, but it's up there on the lifetime list. I had my real-world book group read it, and these women, who hate bleak books, absolutely loved it.

I recently bought House on Fire by Arch Oboler (an older, obscure novel resuscitated by Valancourt Books), Ingenious Pain, by Andrew Miller, and The Punt Murder, by an obscure writer named Aceituna Griffin.

Nancy wrote: "They Shoot Horses, Don’t They? is one of my all-time favorite books. I don't say that that about many novels, but it's up there on the lifetime list. I had my real-world book group..."

I'll have to find that book. I thought the movie was excellent.

I've been on the lookout for 5 books by Lisa jackson and I found Ready to die in the works book shop, all had 2 from the charity shop today, police by jo nesbo and the cutting room by jilliane hoffman, 50p each! bargain

Bill wrote: "Nancy wrote: "They Shoot Horses, Don’t They? is one of my all-time favorite books. I don't say that that about many novels, but it's up there on the lifetime list. I had my real-wo..."

I enjoyed that movie as well.

Rhian wrote: "I've been on the lookout for 5 books by Lisa jackson and I found Ready to die in the works book shop, all had 2 from the charity shop today, police by jo nesbo and the cutting room by jilliane hoff..."

bargains are my downfall!

@Nancy I just can't stop myself ha ha I promised myself last year I would make another effort to read the girl with the dragon tattoo but I never got around to it because I had bought so many "bargains"

Nancy wrote: "Bill wrote: "Nancy wrote: "They Shoot Horses, Don’t They? is one of my all-time favorite books. I don't say that that about many novels, but it's up there on the lifetime list. I h..."

I liked both the movie and the book.

Rhian wrote: "@Nancy I just can't stop myself ha ha I promised myself last year I would make another effort to read the girl with the dragon tattoo but I never got around to it because I had bought so many "barg..."

I used to do a "read your tbr" challenge here on GR -- the idea being to read books you bought before the beginning of the new year -- failed miserably twice because of book bargains.

@Nancy the bargains are too good to pass up at this time of the year with people taking in unwanted xmas gifts, well that's my reasoning

I don't have any reasoning beyond "that's on my wishlist!"

I keep gettin' books cuz they keep writin' em.

Bill wrote: "Nancy wrote: "They Shoot Horses, Don’t They? is one of my all-time favorite books. I don't say that that about many novels, but it's up there on the lifetime list. I had my real-wo..."

Just got a copy of the movie yesterday. Looking forward to watching it. Looks 'good'. I see Gig Young, the actor who played 'Rocky", the Emcee in the movie, shot his 5th wife & then shot himself. I vaguely remember him in supporting roles in the 60's, but didn't know his name.

i just bought me the Sam and Twitch: The Complete Collection, Volume 1 which is pretty good for some crime graphic novel type of stories.

I recently bought Mr. Samuel's Penny: An Elizabeth Parrot Mystery by Treva Hall Melvin. The author practiced law as a government prosecutor and defense attorney. It's set in 1972 in North Carolina. I started to read it, and the style feels authentic to the time and place.

Paul wrote: "Bill wrote: "Nancy wrote: "They Shoot Horses, Don’t They? is one of my all-time favorite books. I don't say that that about many novels, but it's up there on the lifetime list. I h..."

He was so good in that role, I swear.

Re Gig Young:

Gig Young was the host of Warner Bros. Presents, an umbrella title for three television series (Casablanca, Kings Row, and Cheyenne) that aired during the 1955-56 season on ABC Television. This show ushered the entry of the Warner Bros. Studio into television production, just as Disneyland (the TV show) had done for the Walt Disney Studios a year earlier also on ABC.

He won the Academy Award for his role as Rocky, the dance marathon emcee and promoter in They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (1969). Young is considered the ultimate victim of the Oscar curse, so-called because many Academy Award winners have seen their careers decline or reach a dead-end after winning the ultimate accolade from their peers.

According to his fourth wife, Elaine , "What he was aching for, as he walked up to collect his Oscar, was a role in his own movie -- one that they could finally call a Gig Young movie."

Young was shattered when that opportunity did not materialise. "For Gig, the Oscar was literally the kiss of death, the end of the line," according to Williams. He himself said to Louella Parsons after failing to win in 1951 that "So many people who have been nominated for an Oscar have had bad luck afterwards."

Alcoholism plagued his later years. Cast in Blazing Saddles (1974) as the Waco Kid, he was replaced by director Mel Brooks with Gene Wilder on the first day of filming because he was suffering from delirium tremens on the set.

Personal life and death

Young married his third wife, actress Elizabeth Montgomery, 20 years his junior, on 28 December 1956. They divorced in January 1963 amid rumors of domestic violence.

Young's fourth wife, Elaine Young née Williams, (married in October 1963) became a prominent Beverly Hills real estate agent in the 1970s and she brokered many transactions over the ensuing years to myriad Hollywood luminaries. Elaine Young, who died in April 2006, was also noted for overcoming disfiguring plastic surgery and for her outspoken crusade for reforms against improperly trained cosmetic surgeons.

On 27 September 1978, aged 64, he married his fifth wife, a 31 year-old German art gallery employee named Kim Schmidt. On 19 October 1978, three weeks after their marriage, they were both found dead at home with gunshot wounds to the head in their New York City apartment. Police theorize that Young first shot his wife and then turned the gun on himself in a suicide pact.

The murder/suicide occurred at The Osborne Apartments on West 57th Street between Seventh Avenue & Broadway, a co-op building. On the day he died, Gig Young taped an episode of the Joe Franklin TV show (which never aired) and then went home and committed the murder suicide.

His will, which covered a $200,000 estate, left his Academy Award to his agent, Martin Baum, and Baum's wife. The wording of the will called it "the Oscar that I won because of Martin's help." New York City police found the statuette beside the bodies of Young and his wife.

He had one daughter Jennifer Young (b. 21 April 1964); he filed a non-paternity suit claiming he wasn't her father and left her $10 in his will.

Though the case attracted considerable media attention and speculation, Young's motivation for the murder/suicide remains unknown, as he left no suicide note, and his associates could provide no explanation for his action. He was however receiving psychiatric treatment from the controversial psychologist Dr. Eugene Landy later to be vilified for his involvement with Beach Boy Brian Wilson.