Polls Open! December/January Group Read

[Donna, Co-Moderator]

Polls are now open and remember there are 2 separate polls this month. One for the open category and one for the holiday mystery category.

Voting will continue until Tuesday, Dec. 11th


We haven't had a special category for awhile so this month we will have a general mystery category and a second category - holiday reads. The holiday reads should still be a mystery/thriller and please designate in which group your nomination belongs.

General rules for Group Reads

1) If your nomination wins - you will be the discussion moderator.

2) One (1) nomination only per person. Neither self-nominations by authors nor nominations by their respective publishers or publicist will be accepted.

3) Do not cheat or manipulate results. It is not acceptable to create fake accounts to nominate books or vote in polls and it is not acceptable to invite people to the site for the sole purpose of nominating a book or voting for a book in a poll. It is not acceptable to ask for votes or influence the poll in any way. If the moderators feel that a group read poll has been manipulated, the book in question will be disqualified. If the moderators feel that the user(s) are fake accounts, these will be reported to Goodreads for further review.

4) Please do not repeat an author we have read in the last year. Check the bookshelves to see the authors we've read in the past year. http://www.goodreads.com/group/booksh...

5) For your nomination please include Title, Author and Link (Use the "add book/author" link at the top of the comment box).

Since we are an international group, please check to make sure the book is readily available in more than one format. the last thing we want is to nominate a book that no one can get.

Finally, a word about series - the joy or bane of a mystery reader's life! Please consider whether the book you are nominating would be best read by someone who has read all the previous books in the series or can be enjoyed by someone new to the series too.

Nominations will be open until Dec. 5th with voting until the 10th.

[Bill]

I would like to nonimate by Jefferson Bass. A new series for me so I'm looking forward to starting it. This is the blurb on the back of the book.

"There is a patch of ground in Tennessee dedicated to the science of death, where human remains lie exposed to be studied for their secrets. The real-life scientist who founded the "Body Farm" has broken cold cases and revolutionized forensics . . . and now he spins an astonishing tale inspired by his own experiences."

[Summer]

I nominate by William Kent Krueger. It looks like it's 10th in a series but reads well as a stand alone. Here's a description from Amazon:

Some nights, Corcoran O’Connor dreams his father’s death.

William Kent Krueger’s gripping tale of suspense begins with a recurring nightmare, a gun, and a wound in the earth so deep and horrific that it has a name: Vermilion Drift.

When the Department of Energy puts an underground iron mine on its short list of potential sites for storage of nuclear waste, a barrage of protest erupts in Tamarack County, Minnesota, and Cork is hired as a security consultant.

Deep in the mine during his first day on the job, Cork stumbles across a secret room that contains the remains of six murder victims. Five appear to be nearly half a century old—connected to what the media once dubbed "The Vanishings," a series of unsolved disappearances in the summer of 1964, when Cork’s father was sheriff in Tamarack County. But the sixth has been dead less than a week. What’s worse, two of the bodies—including the most recent victim—were killed using Cork’s own gun, one handed down to him from his father.

As Cork searches for answers, he must dig into his own past and that of his father, a well-respected man who harbored a ghastly truth. Time is running out, however. New threats surface, and unless Cork can unravel the tangled thread of clues quickly, more death is sure to come.

Vermilion Drift is a powerful novel, filled with all the mystery and suspense for which Krueger has won so many awards. A poignant portrayal of the complexities of family life, it’s also a sobering reminder that even those closest to our hearts can house the darkest—and deadliest—of secrets.

[Jan C]

Silent Night: A Raine Stockton Dog Mystery by Donna Ball.

Although this isn't the first in the series but I think it can be read as a standalone. Raine Stockton and dogs and friends are in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. She frequently serves as a Search & Rescue with Cisco, her golden retriever. Hey, it is Christmas.

[Jannene]

Bill wrote: "I would like to nonimate by Jefferson Bass. A new series for me so I'm looking forward to starting it. This is the blurb on the back of the book.

"There is a pa..."

Ohh, I have this book and haven't read it. He would be a new author for me as well.

[Linda B.D.]

Mississippi Mud: A True Story form the Corners of the Deep SouthMississippi Mud: Southern Justice and the Dixie Mafia

[Suzzette]

I would like to nominate A Mission to Paris by Alan Furst. Furst is such a great writer, with his thrillers set in
World War II Europe. His books read like a Graham Greene or John le Carre novel.

[Bernie]

I would like to nominate an oldie. An absolute classic written in a unique style.

[Jenny]

Bernie wrote: "
I would like to nominate an oldie. An absolute classic written in a unique style."

I've always wanted to read this since I adore the movie! Good choice!

[Dipanjan]

I would like to nominate by Tom Rob Smith. It's one of the most explosive debuts of our times. It's been picked up by Ridley Scott to be brought to life on the silver screen. A fantastic read.

[Laurie]

Dipanjan wrote: "I would like to nominate by Tom Rob Smith. It's one of the most explosive debuts of our times. It's been picked up by Ridley Scott to be brought to life on the silver sc..."

This book is on my to read list and sounds good.

[David]

Never Look Away: A Thriller

[Bernie]

Jenny wrote: "Bernie wrote: "
I would like to nominate an oldie. An absolute classic written in a unique style."

I've always wanted to read this since I adore the movie! Good..."

Screenwriter (and director) John Huston used most of the dialogue exactly as it was written in the novel.
Reading the book, the voices of Humphrey Bogart (Sam Spade) Peter Lorre (Joel Cairo) and Sidney Greenstreet (Gutman) play in your head.

[Max F]

For the general category, I suggest The Drowning Pool by Ross Macdonald. I recently read The Ivory Grin and thought it felt like being transported back in time. At the very least, it gives the Maltese Falcon a run for its money...

[Brian]

I'd like to recommend False Impressions by Sandra Nikolai

For Holiday reads Death On A Thin Horse by Candace Hughes

[Diana]

I would like to recommend a new book in the Frank Renzi detective series, Natalie's Revenge by Susan Fleet, published a week or so ago.

This is a thriller which poses an interesting moral question: is Natalie justified in her actions? Who is the real villain? Or villains?

[Richard]

I'd like to nominate The Midnight Man , the latest in Paul Doherty's series of mysteries based around the Canterbury Tales

[Tyrone]

Bernie wrote: "Screenwriter (and director) John Huston used most of the dialogue exactly as it was written in the novel.
Reading the book, the voices of Humphrey Bogart (Sam Spade) Peter Lorre (Joel Cairo) and Sidney Greenstreet (Gutman) play in your head. "

I had exactly the same experience...an absolute classic. I third/fourth it...

[Margaret]

Bernie wrote: "
I would like to nominate an oldie. An absolute classic written in a unique style."

WOW. I was just thinking of that title as I scrolled through the nominations, and presto! here it is. It would be fun to re-visit something so old and wonderful, a true classic.

[Cathy]

Tyrone wrote: "Bernie wrote: "Screenwriter (and director) John Huston used most of the dialogue exactly as it was written in the novel.
Reading the book, the voices of Humphrey Bogart (Sam Spade) Peter Lorre (Joe..."

I fifth or sixth it!

[Tracy]

Dipanjan wrote: "I would like to nominate by Tom Rob Smith. It's one of the most explosive debuts of our times. It's been picked up by Ridley Scott to be brought to life on the silver sc..."

I just picked this up. For a $1!

[Laurie]

Tracy wrote: "Dipanjan wrote: "I would like to nominate by Tom Rob Smith. It's one of the most explosive debuts of our times. It's been picked up by Ridley Scott to be brought to life..."

that's a great deal!!!I'll have to order mine from a bookstore if it wins lol.

[Kristen]

LOVED that book!

Bill wrote: "I would like to nonimate by Jefferson Bass. A new series for me so I'm looking forward to starting it. This is the blurb on the back of the book.

"There is a pa..."

[Brian]

Mungboy wrote: "For the general category, I suggest The Drowning Pool by Ross Macdonald. I recently read The Ivory Grin and thought it felt like being transported back in time. At the very least, it gives the Ma..."

This, I absolutely loved The Chill and would love to read another Roos Macdonald book and discuss it with this group.

[Ken]

I'll toss into the ring.
The dialog in Leonard's books keep his stories like no one else's.

[Tracy]

I love Elmore Leonard.

[Cathy]

Ken wrote: "I'll toss into the ring.
The dialog in Leonard's books keep his stories like no one else's."

Great toss!

[Quartknee]

I would like to nominate - Unleashing Colter's Hell: A National Park Thriller by Sean Smith because it has such an interesting ecological twist on the conspiracy/thriller story arc. I've never seen such a griping work of fiction that features Park Rangers and I think others will enjoy experiencing Park Rangers as more than the folks in the hats smiling and waving as we hike through a National Park. Other government agencies always seem to grab the spotlight in thrillers - it's about time the National Park Service got a chance to save the world too.

[Kassandra]

Hi, I just finished reading this mystery and thought it was good. Lost and Found by Amy Shojai



An autistic child is lost in a snowstorm with his young service dog. His aunt is trying desperately to find him, but others are looking too, and are leaving a trail of bodies in their wake.

[Barbara]

Dipanjan wrote: "I would like to nominate by Tom Rob Smith. It's one of the most explosive debuts of our times. It's been picked up by Ridley Scott to be brought to life on the silver sc..."

I third or fourth this nomination; excellent book.

[Ed]

I'd like to nominate "The Black Box" by Michael Connolly.

[JJ]

For holiday reads, I'd like to nominate Don't Look Down
Set in wintry Nuremburg, it's contemporary, surprising, and a real insight into a European city, complete with Christmas markets and cultural curiosities.

[Donna, Co-Moderator]

We seem to be lagging in the "holiday" category so I'll add a few Holly Blues by Susan Wittig Albert, Mrs. Jeffries and the Yuletide Weddings by Emily Brightwell, and
Jerusalem Inn by Martha Grimes.

[Janinie Beanie]

I've been wanting to read this one.

[Janinie Beanie]

One for the holiday category

[Loren]

I would like to nominate I AM HALF SICK OF SHADOWS by Alan Bradley

[Bill]

Another for the Xmas entries; by Charlaine Harris.

[Susanna - Censored by GoodReads]

Loren wrote: "I would like to nominate I AM HALF SICK OF SHADOWS by Alan Bradley"

That's the fourth volume in the series, and although we've read the first and second volumes as a group, we haven't read the third. Something to consider.

[Danielle]

Child 44 sounds the best to me.

[Gary]

I'd like to nominate by James Patterson.

[Garbageman]

I would nominate "The Firefly" by P.T. Deutermann. A suspenseful thriller that keeps the reader how it finished even after the conclusion of the last sentence.

[Penny]

I have to go with as just reading the snippet makes me want to go out and get it and you just need a really gripping story for the very middle of winter!! so I second Esse's selection!

[Shawn]

Imbroglio by Alana Woods, for the general category.

[Cathy]

Tracy wrote: "Dipanjan wrote: "I would like to nominate by Tom Rob Smith. It's one of the most explosive debuts of our times. It's been picked up by Ridley Scott to be brought to life..."

I can recommend this book - it is very gripping, but quite grim!

[Britney]

Snowed Inn by Heather Horrocks for holiday read.

[Elisabeth]

I want to nominate The Taste of Fear by Jeremy Bates.
The last book he wrote was very good, and I am anticipating an even better story this time... I hope there are other fans of this new author too.

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15...

[Tommy]

I would like to nominate:

Unwanted by Kristina Ohlsson

[Joel]

I would like to nominate The Affair
by Lee Child.

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10...

A Terrific Jack Reacher. Vintage action and adventure.

[Carol]

In the holiday category:
It is available as a Kindle book for only $2.99, or as a paperback for a few dollars more. I've not read this, but I do love Agatha Christie, Hercule Poirot AND Christmas!

[Nadia]

Blacklands by Belinda Bauer would me my choice