Mystery/Thriller Reading Friends discussion
Monthly "Reads"
>
Post Your Top Reads for 2015 Here!
date
newest »
newest »
No books we threw against the wall? No authors who should have their keyboards taken away? Maybe a 1 book category for best humor, best New To Me?
I look forward to seeing the lists! Thanks, Carol! And I could use a few suggestions for humorous books!
Barry wrote: "No books we threw against the wall? No authors who should have their keyboards taken away? Maybe a 1 book category for best humor, best New To Me?"
Barry, I think "bottom of the barrel" covers "throwacrosstheroomable."
Don't know about best humor, that seems to be straying a bit, and don't want to make the list too long for those who, despite my instructions, will think they have to list in each category. What do others think? Couldn't that fit into the best book/any genre category?
Best New to Me resonates, and we've had it before. It often winds up just being a duplicate of something listed in the other categories, but I will add it.
Top M/TI am Pilgrim: Terry Hayes
A Song of Shadows: John Connelly
World Gone By: Dennis Lehane
Gathering Prey: John Sanford
Bum Rap: Paul Levine
Last Ragged Breath: Julia Keller
Canary: Duane Swierczynski
NYPD Red 3: Marshall Karp
The Apostle: Jack Kerley
Black Light: Steve Hunter
honerable mention goes to Ace Atkins for Kick Back
Top AuthorsMichael Connolly
John Connolly
Robert Crais
John Sanford
Dennis Lehane
Top non M/TThe Martian: Andy Weir
Dove Season: Johnny Shaw
Ghosts of Bungo Suido: PT Deuterman
Exit Plan: Larry Bond
New to me authorTerry Hayes (I am Pilgrim)
Top SeriesBosch
Cole/Pike
Davenport
Charlie Parker
Robicheaux
Dregs:Such Men are Dangerous: Lawrence Block
Red Rain: RL Stine
Crimson Shore: Preston/Child
Hush: Laura Lippman
Keep Quiet: Lisa Scottoline
There were some superb books released this year.
Top M/T'sI Am Pilgrim
The Whites
40 Days Without Shadow
The Neon Lawyer
Life or Death
World Gone By
Gunshot Road
The Burning Room
The Crossing
Make Me
Top Books
The Survivor
Brilliance
Top Authors
Connelly
Child
Box
Sandford
Silva
Top Series
Bosch
Reacher
Picket
Davenport
Allon
Best NTM Authors
Terry Hayes
Oliver Truc
Marcus Sakey
Harry Brandt
Adrian Hyland
Bottom
Crossing Savage
Hello! I'm new to the group, but here are my choices for best M/T:Broken Promises, Linwood Barclay
The Crossing, Michael Connelly
The Promise, Robert Crais
Last Words, Michael Koryta
Finders Keepers, Stephen King
Gathering Prey, John Sandford
Make Me, Lee Child
The Bones of You, Debbie Howells
World Gone By, Dennis Lehane
The Stranger, Harlan Coben
Thank you, Barry! I like yours very much as well. Your list had a few books that I haven't read yet, but I will definitely add them to my to read list for 2016!
So hard to narrow these down! Here you go, Thanks Carol!! **Top Mystery/Thriller Books (1-10)**
Weir, Andy The Martian
Hawkins, Paula The Girl on the Train
Hannah, Kristin The Nightingale
Atkinson, Kate A God In Ruins
Connelly, Michael The Crossing
Mandel, Emily St John Station Eleven
Slaughter, Karin Pretty Girls
Galbraith, Robert Career of Evil(Cormoran Strike, #3)
Scottoline, Lisa Corrupted
King, Stephen Finders Keepers(Bill Hodges Trilogy, #2)
**Top Books (1-5) any genre**
Gillman, David R City of Women
Rowell, Rainbow Fangirl
Stevenson, Bryan Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption
Elwes, Cary As You Wish Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride
Scalzi, John Lock In
Top Authors (1-5)
Louise Penny
Michael Connelly
Stephen King
Kate Atkinson
Robert Galbraith
Best "New to Me" Author (1)
Andy Weir
Best Series
Cormoran Strike
Bill Hodges
Three Pines
Dept Q
Harry Bosch/ Mickey Haller
no bottom of the barrel for me, those don't get finished or listed.
Jane: That is the beauty and peril of these lists - more books to read for all of us! I like the authors on your list, I need to get back to Koryta and try The Bones of You. Since you mentioned that one, have you read Reconstructing Amelia?Jane wrote: "Thank you, Barry! I like yours very much as well. Your list had a few books that I haven't read yet, but I will definitely add them to my to read list for 2016!"
Thanks for all your work in compiling the year end lists Carol.Here are my picks for 2015:
Top Mysteries & Thrillers
Cry Father - Benjamin Whitmer
Amagansett - Mark Mills
The Kind Worth Killing - Peter Swanson
A Walk in the Dark -Gianrico Carofiglio (audio read by Sean Barrett)
The Whites - Richard Price writing as Harry Brandt
Ordinary Grace - William Kent Krueger
Gunshot Road - Adrian Hyland
The Long and Faraway Gone - Lou Berney
The Rage - Gene Kerrigan
Bombproof - Michael Robotham (audio read by Sean Barrett)
Top Books - Other
The Leisure Seeker - Michael Zadoorian
True Grit - Charles Portis (audio read by Donna Tartt)
top M/T reads:The Promise- Crais
Corrupted- Scottoline
The Crossing- Connelly
Pretty Girls- Slaughter
Badlands- CJ Box
Gathering Prey- Sandford
The Girl on the Train- Paula Hawkins
top "others"
The Nightingale- Kristin Hannah
Written in my own Heart's Blood- Gabaldon
Georgia- Dawn Tripp
Eternal on the Water- Joseph Monninger
Midwife of Hope River- Patricia Harman
Ann wrote: "Jane: That is the beauty and peril of these lists - more books to read for all of us! I like the authors on your list, I need to get back to Koryta and try The Bones of You. Since y..."Hello, Ann, and thank you for suggesting Reconstructing Amelia. I've added it to my growing to-read list! I would recommend Last Words by Michael Koryta. It included a chapter of his next book in the series, Echoes (although I'm not sure when that one is coming out). It looked quite good as well.
Thanks Barry and Jane! I need more books for the tbr "piles"! Barry wrote: "Ann- Koryta is definitely worth it!"
Jane wrote: "I would recommend Last Words by Michael Koryta. It included a chapter of his next book in the series, Echoes (although I'm not sure when that one is coming out). It looked quite good as well."
Top M/T (I realize they are all cozies, but I know there are a few cozy lurkers in our group, so maybe they will post)Some Like it Witchy by Heather Blake
Arsenic & Old Lace by Miranda James
Writing All Wrongs by Ellery Adams
Torch Ginger by Toby Neal
In Hot Water by J.J. Cook
V is for Vengeance by Sue Grafton
Ghost in the Guacamole by Sue Ann Jaffarian
Aunt Dimity and the Summer King by Nancy Atherton
New Author
Diane Kelly (Paw Enforcement)
Bottom
Bittersweet by Susan Wittig Albert
Susie wrote: "Top M/T (I realize they are all cozies, but I know there are a few cozy lurkers in our group, so maybe they will post)Some Like it Witchy by Heather Blake
Arsenic & Old Lace by Miranda James
Writ..."
I like Diane Kelly's Death & Taxes series. The Paw Enforcement books aren't bad, but I like the other series better.
Melodie wrote: "Susie wrote: "Top M/T (I realize they are all cozies, but I know there are a few cozy lurkers in our group, so maybe they will post)Some Like it Witchy by Heather Blake
Arsenic & Old Lace by Mira..."
Thanks Melodie! I didn't know about the other series...so I'll check it out :)
I wrote this up the other day, so if I posted it somewhere obscure don't think I'm crazy! I'm redoing...Top Mystery/Thriller Books (1-10)
The Crossing by Michael Connelly
Career of Evil by Robert Galbraith
The Whites by Richard Price
The Girl in the Spider's Web by David Lagercrantz
Nature of the Beast by Louise Penny
The Night Crew by Brian Haig
Gathering Prey by John Sandford
Hide by Lisa Gardner
Escape by David Baldacci
Black Fridays by Michael Sears
Top Authors (1-5)
Baldacci
Connelly
Child
Sandford
Penny
Top Books (1-5) any genre - Other
Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
Written in My Own Hearts Blood by Diana Galdabon
In the Unlikely Event by Judy Blume
Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee (I did like reading it)
How to Start a Fire by Lisa Lutz
Top Series (1-5)
Cormoran Strike
Harry Bosch
Lucas Davenport
Three Pines
Sean Drummond
Best "New to Me" Author (1)
Michael Sears
Bottom of the Barrel Books (up to 5)
Least favorite, but none were "throw at the wall":
The Ultimatum by Dick Wolf
Solitude Creek by Jeffrey Deaver
The Scam by Evanovich
Top M/T booksHurricane by Jewell Parker Rhodes
Forty Days Without Shadow by Olivier Truc
Soul of the Fire by Eliot Pattison
Wild Boy by Rob Lloyd Jones
Top Books Other Genres
Alice Takes Back Wonderland by David D. Hammons (YA fantasy)
The Lightning Queen by Laura Resau (children's historical/contemporary fiction)
Jam on the Vine by La Shonda Katrice Barnett
(African-American historical fiction)
The Translator by Nina Schuyler (contemporary fiction)
Voltaire's Calligrapher by Pablo de Santis (alternate universe historical fantasy)
Top M/T NMTA
Olivier Truc
Please note: Dan also voted for Olivier Truc in this category, but he spelled his first name as Oliver.
Sharp Objects Gillian FlynnDark Places Gillian Flynn
Really went nuts(in a good way!)over these books. I plan to read "Gone Girl". I saw the movie, but we all know that the book is always better lol.
Also, reading Tess Gerritsen books again, particularly The Bone Garden, which is my favorite TG book. I will read anything she writes. I have to get cracking on reading Playing with Fire Tess Gerritsen
Oh! And we can't forget The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins. I really enjoyed that one.
Erica
Top M/TMortal Arts by Anna Lee Huber
The Promise by Robert Crais
Horse of a Different Killer by Laura Morrigan
Some Like It Witchy by Heather Blake
Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger
The Purity of Vengeance by Jussi Adler-Olson
Finders Keepers by Stephen King
In Hot Water by J.J. Cook
The Anatomist's Wife by Anna Lee Huber
Day Shift by Charlaine Harris
TOP AUTHORS
Robert Crais
Heather Blake
Anna Lee Huber
Stephen King
Laura Morrigan
TOP ANY GENRE
I Was Here by Gayle Forman
Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania by Erik Larson
Dead Heat by Patricia Briggs
Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
I Fired God: My Life Inside---and Escape from---the Secret World of the Independent Fundamental Baptist Cult by Jocelyn Zichterman
TOP SERIES
Elvis & Joe
Lady Darby
Spenser
Wishcraft
Call of the Wilde
TOP NTMA
Anna Lee Huber
BOTTOM OF THE BARREL
Prince Lestat by Anne Rice
The Taken by Vicki Pettersson
Cinder by Marissa Meyer
and this last one REALLY pains me: The Martini Shot: A Novella and Stories by George Pelecanos (I thought Pelecanos could do no wrong...I was mistaken!)
Melodie:I agree with you on so many of your top books, several of them on or near to be on my own top lists; and as you said, painfully agree on a couple of the bottom of the barrel books you mentioned
I was unable to get into Prince Lestat after loving most of the Vampire Chronicles books I keep telling myself to try again but I haven't been motivated) and didn't get Cinder at all. I was so disappointed in the first Spero Lucas book, I haven't tried George Pelecanos since.
Shomeret: As always your lists give me several gems to look for and try for myself. Thank you! Shomeret wrote: "Top M/T books
Hurricane by Jewell Parker Rhodes
Forty Days Without Shadow by Olivier Truc
Soul of the Fire by Eliot Pattison
[book:Wild Boy|17262294..."
Erica: Gillian Flynn is well worth going nuts over! Hope you lkike Gone Girl. I am torn between the three books as to which I liked best. The Bone Garden is a favorite of mine too!Erica wrote: "Sharp Objects Gillian Flynn
Dark Places Gillian Flynn
Really went nuts(in a good way!)over these books. I plan to read "Gone Girl". I saw the movie, but we all know ..."
Good job, folks! Last call for best of lists!I am not sure I will likely not make the 15th deadline, but promise by the 18th. Long weekend will help!
top mystery/thrillers: too many!top authors: king, koontz, preston/child, de mille
top books: girl on train, deadwake, kind worth killing, saint odd, radiant angel
top series: scot harvath series, odd books
best new to me author: brad thor
bottom of the barrel books: go set a watchman, double fudge brownie murder
Top series: Cormoran Strike, Lucas Davenport, Joe Pike/Elvis Cole, John Corey, Harry BoschTop authors: Nelson DeMille, John Connelly, John Sandford, Robert Galbraith
Thanks, Carol! I'm looking forward to the rankings, the lists have all looked great, and so tempting! Take your time, let it be a fun process, not a chore!Carol/Bonadie wrote: "Good job, folks! Last call for best of lists!
I am not sure I will likely not make the 15th deadline, but promise by the 18th. Long weekend will help!"
John Sandford's Lucas Davenport is number 1 for me. Also love Dave Robicheaux from James Lee Burke and Mitch Rapp from Vince Flynn
Here's a sign that I'm making progress: MY PICKSTOP TEN M/T:
The Kind Worth Killing, Peter Swanson
The Girl on the Train, Paula Hawkins
The Book of Life, Deborah Harkness
The Bone Tree, Greg Iles
Gathering Prey, John Sandford
World Gone by, Dennis Lehane
The Whites, Harry Brandt
Peter Pan Must Die, John Verdon
And Sometimes I Wonder About You, Walter Mosley
Career of Evil, Robert Galbraith
TOP BOOKS
The Kind Worth Killing
The Bone Tree
TOP AUTHORS
Peter Swanson
Greg Iles
Walter Mosley
John Sandford
Robert Galbraith
TOP SERIES
Penn Cage by Greg Iles
Harry Bosch by Michael Connelly
Lucas Davenport by John Sandford
Cormoran Strike by Robert Galbraith
Department Q Squad by Jussi Adler-Olsen
NTM Authors
David Lagrecrantz (continuing The Girl series by Stieg Larssen)
Paula Hawkins
BOTTOM OF THE BARREL
The Stranger by Harlen Coben
River Road by Jayne Ann Krentz
Tough narrowing it down. I focused on what I read this year, for the most part, for the authors and series.
It is tough, Carol! Good to see your list! It would be hard to tally without your own picks! Carol/Bonadie wrote: "Tough narrowing it down. I focused on what I read this year, for the most part, for the authors and series."
Mystery/Thriller Reading Friends
Books mentioned in this topic
Sharp Objects (other topics)Dark Places (other topics)
The Bone Garden (other topics)
Soul of the Fire (other topics)
Forty Days Without Shadow (other topics)
More...
Top Authors (1-5)
Top Books (1-5) any genre
Top Series (1-5)
Best "New to Me" Author (1)
Bottom of the Barrel Books (up to 5)
(updated 12/28/15)
Let the posting begin!
Please put all your picks in one post, and please put them in this topic so I don't miss them. If you forget something you can edit your original post, just put EDITED before your addition so I know to go back and add it.
You don't have to list in all categories, and you don't have to post the maximum in each categories. Just please don't go over the max.
After Jan. 10 I will compile everyone's lists and post the top picks in each category by the 15th.
If you want inspiration, you can see our Best of 2014 results in this folder in January.
Can't wait to see what everyone selects!