The Mystery, Crime, and Thriller Group discussion

Hi folks. This is the 2nd Group Read in the Around the World Challenge. We tried Canada last time. Unfortunately not all that successful when it came to discussing the two selections. Hoping this category might be more successful. We're looking at mysteries / thrillers / spy stories set in Southern Europe.

According to wikipedia, Southern Europe is also known as Meditteranean Europe and includes these countries.

Albania, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Gibraltar, Greece, Italy, Kosovo, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Slovenia, Southern France (and especially Corsica), Spain, Turkey (East Thrace) and Vatican City.

So we're looking for books set in these countries.

Some examples of authors who set their books in these areas for you to consider (but not limited too)

1. Andrea Camilleri (Italy)
2. Gary Corby (Greece)
3. Michael Dibdin (Italy)
4. Jonathan Gash (I think one or two of his Lovejoy mysteries may have been set in this region)
5. Philippe Georget (southern France)
6. Lyn Hamilton (one for sure set in Malta)
7. Donna Leon (Italy)
8. Rebecca Pawel (Spain)

A few examples of series anyway. There are many standalones and other series set in these regions. Feel free to add some other lists for people to check out. I was thinking of authors like Barry Unsworth, Alan Furst, Helen MacInnis, etc who also have some books that are set in this region.

Anyway, looking forward to seeing what you nominate.

The usual rules apply:
1. don't nominate your own book
2. if you nominate a book and it wins the poll vote, you are de facto discussion leader
3. please don't nominate a book we've read in the last 3 to 4 years (if you're not sure, I've added the link to the group's bookshelf).

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

Have fun

I'll use this space to keep track of the nominations.

1. Death on a Galician Shore by Domingo Villar (nominated by Nancy)
2. Death in a Strange Country by Donna Leon (nominated by Icewineanne)
3. The Shape of Water by Andrea Camilleri (nominated by Chris)
4. The Angst-Ridden Executive by Manuel Vázquez Montalbán (nominated by Bill)
5. Murder in Mykonos by Jeffrey Siger (nominated by Carolien)
6. Athenian Blues by Pol Koutsakis (nominated by Carol)

I've got a few ideas but will wait a bit to see if this category attracts any attention at all.

It's a bit wide, but there are a number of really good books that fit into this category. I'll nominate Death on a Galician Shore, by Domingo Villar.

Nancy wrote: "It's a bit wide, but there are a number of really good books that fit into this category. I'll nominate Death on a Galician Shore, by Domingo Villar."

I didn't know if I should pick a specific country like just Italy or use a region.. went for a region.. I can always pick specific countries in later Group reads..

Can i nominate the 2nd book in Donna Leon’s series or does it have to be the 1st book?
Thanks

That second book sounds great! I wouldn’t mind jumping over the first one....:

The first nominee is also the second.... maybe it’s to be the seconds for June! But then I’m weird like that.

Icewineanne wrote: "Can i nominate the 2nd book in Donna Leon’s series or does it have to be the 1st book?
Thanks"

Sure you can.. Which is it?

Terrific, thanks Bill

Death in a Strange Country by Donna Leon

I'll nominate Andrea Camilleri 's The Shape of Water.
I've been wanting to read this for quite some time.

I'll nominate The Angst-Ridden Executive by Manuel Vázquez Montalbán

Chris wrote: "I'll nominate Andrea Camilleri 's The Shape of Water.
I've been wanting to read this for quite some time."

I love this series! My favorite is book #10, August Heat, which made me laugh out loud but was pretty serious all at the same time.

and by the way, and in a strange coincidence given this thread, Camilleri's character Montalbano is so named because Camilleri was a fan of the books by Manuel Vázquez Montalbán.

I'll nominate Murder in Mykonos by Jeffrey Siger.

Nancy wrote: "Chris wrote: "I'll nominate Andrea Camilleri 's The Shape of Water.
I've been wanting to read this for quite some time."

I love this series! My favorite is book #10, [book:August Hea..."

Now that's an interesting factoid

Bill wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Chris wrote: "I'll nominate Andrea Camilleri 's The Shape of Water.
I've been wanting to read this for quite some time."

I love this series! My favorite is book #10, [b..."

I'm one of those people with a head completely filled with useless knowledge, which is good for absolutely nothing except trivia quizzes. 🤓

I nominate Athenian Blues by Pol Koutsakis. The second book in the series was fantastic, so this is a good excuse to back up and read the first.

Chris wrote: "I'll nominate Andrea Camilleri 's The Shape of Water.
I've been wanting to read this for quite some time."

I'd be down for this one.

Some interesting options..

Carol wrote: "I nominate Athenian Blues by Pol Koutsakis. The second book in the series was fantastic, so this is a good excuse to back up and read the first."

I enjoyed the first one very much. Glad to hear the next one is good as well.

Carolien wrote: "Carol wrote: "I nominate Athenian Blues by Pol Koutsakis. The second book in the series was fantastic, so this is a good excuse to back up and read the first."

I ..."

Good to hear, and, yes!

The poll is now available and will be until 15 May. https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/2...

If you plan to discuss any of the books, please cast your ballot. Some interesting nominations I think.

Wow! I didn't know we were voting. Just discovered I have 200 unread (and unknown about) messages in my inbox. Did someone stop telling us about messages in our inboxes????

Admittedly I have been falling down on the job of even looking at my emails and checking in on GR. But I don't seem to get many popping up even in my email. Are notifications failing? Or are they just failing me?

Jan C wrote: "Wow! I didn't know we were voting. Just discovered I have 200 unread (and unknown about) messages in my inbox. Did someone stop telling us about messages in our inboxes????

Admittedly I have been ..."

It's not you. Honestly, for like the last six weeks I have been weekly complaining to support about the notifications backlogs. They seem to be trickling in a bit faster now but there are still some I get that are at least 24 hours old even though all of my email reply/notifications settings are set to automatic, meaning right away as soon as someone comments.

Support just keeps telling me that they'll let me know when the issue is fixed, but I have heard nothing. When I first complained, I was told that no one else had reported anything, so in effect, they were blaming the problem on me. Then when I complained the second week in a row, then I heard that other people were starting to report the same issue. Needless to say, they had a week's lead time to fix this thing but support didn't believe me at the time. And further needless to say, that really chapped my hide.

Nancy wrote: "...Honestly, for like the last six weeks I have been weekly complaining to support about the notifications backlogs...."

I always assumed this process was automated but I'm starting to think that Goodreads keeps a "Notifications Staff" in the basement somewhere. typing out notification messages day in and day out, until they eventually fall behind because someone failed to feed them.

RJ - Slayer of Trolls wrote: "Nancy wrote: "...Honestly, for like the last six weeks I have been weekly complaining to support about the notifications backlogs...."

I always assumed this process was automated but I'm starting ..."

My husband who is an IT security guy says it might be that they're using some sort of freeware for that function, and that if they're not paying for software support, then they have to provide any fix when it goes wrong. If this sort of down time happened anywhere else, well... let's just say that some people might be looking for other jobs.

I actually noticed the more often I check my Goodreads account the faster the notifications.... I use my phone most often to access so maybe that’s it...

I still have an indication of notifications when I log in. I also get emails (I do need to turn that off) of every notification I get in my email acct.

The two books with the most votes (I almost said Boats) are -

1. The Shape of Water by Andrea Camilleri (nominated by Chris)

2. Murder in Mykonos by Jeffrey Siger (nominated by Carolien)

Congrats Chris and Carolien. Please let me know you're willing to be moderators

Bill, I'll be happy to moderate.

Carolien wrote: "Bill, I'll be happy to moderate."

Thank you Carolien. I'll set the thread up 1st of Jun. Take care.

Bill wrote: "The two books with the most votes (I almost said Boats) are -

1. The Shape of Water by Andrea Camilleri (nominated by Chris)

2. Murder in Mykonos by [a..."

That's great! I'll be ready.

I'll use this as an excuse to dive into the Montalbano series

Chris wrote: "Bill wrote: "The two books with the most votes (I almost said Boats) are -

1. The Shape of Water by Andrea Camilleri (nominated by Chris)

2. [book:Murder in Mykonos|9..."

Thanks, Chris