Mystery/Thriller Reading Friends discussion
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Oh boy! I love seeing everyone's lists each year! Thanks so much Carol! It may take me a while to narrow mine down.
Top M/TThe Wrong Side of Goodbye: Michael Connelly
Night School: Lee Child
Escape Clause: John Sanford
Razor Girl: Carl Hiaasen
Debt to Pay: Reed Coleman
NYPD Red 4 : Marshall Karp
A Time of Torment: Jphn Connolly
Slow Burn: Ace Atkins
The Fireman: Joe Hill
Blackout: David Rosenfelt
Top AuthorsMichael Connelly
Robert Crais
John Sanford
Carl Hiaasen
Top SeriesHarry Bosch 9Michael Connelly)
Davenport/Flowers (John Sanford)
Jesse Stone (Reed Coleman)
Bird Parker (John Connolly)
Monkeewrench (PJ Tracey)
The PitsNicotine: Nell Zink
Caine and Abe: James Gripando
Barry: I wish I had gotten to these two before the end of the year, I failed to request them early enough from the library. Night School awaits me on the hold shelf now. Barry wrote: "Top M/T. The Wrong Side of Goodbye: Michael Connelly; Night School: Lee Child.."
M/T's:The Promise, Robert Crais
Night School, Lee Child
Extreme Prey, John Sandford
Escape Clause, John Sandford
Blood on the Tracks, Barbara Nickless
Queen of Patpong, Timothy Hallinan
Black Widow, Daniel Silva
Big Maria, Johnny Shaw
The Killing Room, Richard Montanari
ALL GENRES
Cross Dog Blues, Richard Brock
Never Open Desert Diner, James Anderson
The Martian, Andy Weir
81 Days Below Zero, Brian Murphy
BEST AUTHORS
John Sandford
Robert Crais
Barry Eisler
Lee Child
Timothy Hallinan
BEST SERIES
Virgil Flowers
Elvis and Joe
Lucas Davenport
John Rain
Harry Bosch
NTM authors
Richard Brock
James Anderson
Barbara Nickless
Mark Wheaton
BOTTOM 0F THE BARRELL
Salt (Book 1 of the Last Flotilla Trilogy)
Narrowing this down was hard, the sorting of my list was easy and simple by sorting with the rating system I utilized all year. I read 108 books this year and could easily have listed twice as many top MT books. I could have also second guessed my rating system but decided not to. I hated to have not yet read a couple of 2016 releases of favorite series books that have already made Barry's and Dan's top 2016 list by Lee Child and Michael Connelly, oh well, there is next year.
Ann's Top Mystery/Thriller Books (1-10)
Cronin, Justin City of Mirrors
Marwood, Alex The Killer Next Door
Eskens, Allen The Life We Bury
Penny, Louise A Great Reckoning (Three Pines #15)
Stone, Nick The Verdict
Mackintosh, Clare I Let You Go
Sandford, John and Ctein Saturn Run
Hart, John Redemption Road
Harris, Charlaine Night Shift
Moriarty, Liane Big Little Lies
Ann's Top Authors (1-5)
Penny, Louise
Woodson, Jacqueline
Towles, Amor
Stiefvater, Maggie
Hill, Joe
Ann's Top Books (1-5) any genre
Woodson, Jacqueline Brown Girl Dreaming
Hicks, Robert The Orphan Mother
Towles, Amor A Gentleman in Moscow
Stiefvater, Maggie The Raven King
Sepetys, Ruta Salt to the Sea
Ann's Top Series (1-5)
Penny, Louise series - Three Pines
Harris, Charlaine series - Midnight Texas
Stewart, Amy series - Constance Kopp / The Kopp Sisters
King, Stephen series - Bill Hodges
French, Tana series - Dublin Murder Squad
-- why: Three Pines is amazing, Midnight Texas drew me right in, I read two of the Kopp Sisters books in 2016, love Bill Hodges and the Dublin Murder Squad books are highly anticipated.
Best "New to Me" Author (1)
Marwood, Alex (The Killer Next Door)
which was horrifying, hilarious and heartwarming.
Bottom of the Barrel Books (up to 5)
Girard, Danielle Exhume
(I won it and read it to review, would not have otherwise)
"Horrifying, hilarious and heartwarming." Three adjectives I wouldn't imagine being applied to the same book. Intriguing!
I encourage ALL our members to post their favorites. Not only will we find out which books are highly rated by many of our members, there are always some gems that only a couple of people have read. New To Me authors also add a wealth of choices to expand our reading choices. The larger the sample, the more representative the results. Take a few minutes to compile your lists and submit them. Not only will you be contributing to the value of our group, you'll be making a lot more work for Carol.
I was about to type "nicely said, Dan." Then I saw the last line.Typical.
I'm nothing if not consistent, and consistency is important in relationships...and in mixing cement...especially if the relationships don't turn out so well.
I had a number of really good Mystery Thriller Reads this year so it was quite hard to pick just 10. I read or listened to 126 books this year.Top Mystery/Thriller Books:
The Wicked Girls - Alex Marwood (audio read by Anna Bentinck)
Bleed for Me - Michael Robotham (audio read by Sean Barrett)
Reasonable Doubts - Gianrico Carofiglio (audio read by Sean Barrett)
Thirteen Hours - Deon Meyer
An Iron Rose - Peter Temple (audio read by Marco Chiappi)
Darkside - Belinda Bauer
The Old School - P. M. Newton
The Warlord's Son - Dan Fesperman
The Skeleton Box - Bryan Gruley
Why We Die - Mick Herron
Top Authors:
Tana French
Belinda Bauer
Mick Herron
Michael Robotham
Deon Meyer
Gianrico Carofiglio
Ken Bruen
Peter Temple
Top Books any genre:
Mad World: An Oral History of New Wave Artists and Songs that defined the 1980s - Lori Majewski & Jonathan Bernstein
Lords and Ladies - Terry Pratchett (audio read by Nigel Planer)
1356 - Bernard Cornwell (audio read by Jack Hawkins)
Boys Among Men: How the Prep-to-Pro Generation Redefined the NBA and Sparked a Basketball Revolution - Jonathan Abrams
Sharpe's Sword - Bernard Cornwell (audio read by William Gaminara)
Top Series:
Lucas Davenport/Virgil Flowers - John Sandford
Joseph O’Loughlin/Vincent Ruiz - Michael Robotham
Zoë Boehm/Sarah Tucker - Mick Herron
Dublin Murder Squad - Tana French
Guido Guerrieri - Gianrico Carofiglio
Best "New to Me" Authors:
P. M. Newton
Alex Marwood
William J. Coughlin
Neely Tucker
William Deverell
Gerald Seymour
Bottom of the Barrel Books:
Heaven's Reach - David Brin (audio read by George Wilson)
Festering Lilies - Natasha Cooper
Carol: I also found those three qualities in the same book rather unusual and compelling. I see Sandi also listed Alex Marwood as a new author she enjoyed with The Wicked Girls which I also read and enjoyed. I read The Killer Next Door first and was very happy I found this new to me author. Now I need to get to The Darkest Secret soon!
Carol/Bonadie wrote: ""Horrifying, hilarious and heartwarming." Three adjectives I wouldn't imagine being applied to the same book. Intriguing!"
Sandi wrote: "I had a number of really good Mystery Thriller Reads this year so it was quite hard to pick just 10. I read or listened to 126 books this year.Top Mystery/Thriller Books:
The Wicked Girls - Alex..."
Wow, Sandi, 126! That's amazing. I just noticed my total and it's 50. I'm in awe!
Re: your top authors, can you pick your top 5? Otherwise I'll take the top 5 on your list.
Carol/Bonadie wrote: " Re: your top authors, can you pick your top 5? Otherwise I'll take the top 5 on your list. "The top five are fine. Those were my first picks but I just kept having to add authors.
So many books to add to my TBR already.
Sandi wrote: "I had a number of really good Mystery Thriller Reads this year so it was quite hard to pick just 10. I read or listened to 126 books this year.Top Mystery/Thriller Books:
The Wicked Girls - Alex..."
I keep hoping Bryan Gruley will write another Starvation Lake book. Maybe one of these days.
What is a "bottom of the barrel" book?
Christine: a "bottom of the barrel" book in this context is a place to list a book that you didn't enjoy. It might be a perfectly fine book for someone else but one that you probably don't recommend. Sometimes also known as a "throw-across-the-room-able" book; one that might incite the feeling to toss it instead of reading it.
Christine wrote: "What is a "bottom of the barrel" book?"
Mystery/Thriller: 5 starThe Amazing Mrs. Pollifax - Dorothy Gilman
The Elusive Mrs. Pollifax - Dorothy Gilman
We Have Always Lived in the Castle - Shirley Jackson
Hell is Empty - Craig Johson
Windingo Island William Kent Krueger
Rebecca - Daphne du Maurier
Top Books All Genres 5 star
Miracle on 34th Street Valentine Davies
The Sliver Linings Playbook - Matthew Quick
The Day I Killed James - Catherine Ryan Hyde
Kitchens of the Great Midwest - J. Ryan Stradal
Reclaiming the "E" Word - Kelly A. Fryer
The Secret Wisdom of the Earth - Cristopher Scotton
The Further Adventures of Ebenezer Scrooge - Charlie Lovett
Best Authors
Matthew Quick
Carl Hiaasen
Craig Johnson
William Kent Krueger
Shirley Jackson
Best Series
Outlander - Diana Gabaldon
Mrs. Pollifax - Dorothy Gilman
Elvis Pike/Joe Pike/Scott James & Maggie - Robert Crais
Walt Longmire - Craig Johnson
Cork O'Connor - William Kent Krueger
New to Me authors
Craig Johnson
Matthew Quick
Bottom of the Barrel (Is this books I hated?)
The Shipping News - Annie Proulx
The Gap of Time - Jeanette Winterson
The Lacuna - Barbara Kingsolver
Melodie wrote: "I keep hoping Bryan Gruley will write another Starvation Lake book. Maybe one of these days."Me too. All three books were excellent.
Blueberry: Yes, the bottom of the barrel is a place to list any you hated. Nice top books! I need to get to Longmire someday!Blueberry wrote: "Bottom of the Barrel (Is this books I hated?)."
Top M/TsEnd of Watch by Stephen King
Home by Harlan Coben
Night Shift by Charlaine Harris
The Witch and the Dead by Heather Blake
Blood Orange by Susan Wittig Albert
Top Any Genre
The Sound of Gravel by Ruth Wariner
Fire Touched by Patricia Briggs
Midnight Bites by Rachel Caine
Lights Out by Ted Koppel
Radiant Shadows by Melissa Marr
Top Authors (just for 2016)
Charlaine Harris
Patricia Briggs
Harlan Coben
Heather Blake
Ace Atkins
Top Series (just for 2016)
Midnight, Texas
Wishcraft
Myron Bolitar
Mercy Thompson
Bill Hodges (Mr. Mercedes)
New To Me Authors
Ellie Alexander
Deanna Raybourn
Bottom of the Barrel
The Girls by Emma Cline
The Second Life of Nick Mason by Steve Hamilton (not actually bottom of the barrel, but SO disappointing compared to what I've come to expect from him!)
Melodie: I almost edited my established ranking system to put End of Watch on my top MT list, but settled for listing Bill Hodges as a top series. I loved it and Midnight Texas and am sad that Stephen King is unlikely to continue this character (but what an ending!) and that Charlaine Harris has said she is done with Midnight Texas.
I need to get to that Susan Wittig Albert book soon (Blood Orange)
Melodie wrote: "Top M/Ts
End of Watch by Stephen King
Home by Harlan Coben
Night Shift by Charlaine Harris
The Witch and the Dead by Heather Blake
Blood Orange by Susan Wittig Albert."
Since I only had one A rated mystery, I rounded out the list with some B+ which are all quite good.Top Mysteries
1. Dog Gone by Diane Moat
2. Speakers of the Dead by J. Aaron Sanders
3.The Language of Secrets by Ausma Zehanat Khan
4. The Saints of the Lost and Found by Toni McGee Causey
5.A Study in Sable by Mercedes Lackey
All Genre
1. Everfair by Nisi Shawl (steampunk alternate Congo)
2.The Book of Esther by Emily Barton (WWII alternate history fantasy)
3.The Eagle Tree by Ned Hayes (YA contemporary eco-fiction)
4.Underground Airlines by Ben H. Winters (alternate history dystopia)
5.Honorary White by E. R. Braithwaite (memoir)
For more of my favorites see my 2016 retrospective on my blog at http://shomeretmasked.blogspot.com/20...
These lists are shaping up nicely so far! Great to see entries from new posters. I will get to mine eventually -- next stop is posting my December reads.
Top M/TThe Wrong Side of Goodbye - Michael Connelly
Night School - Lee Child
The Fireman - Joe Hill
The Promise - Robert Crais
Escape Clause - John Sanford
Night Shift - Charlaine Harris
Top Authors
Michael Connelly
Robert Crais
Lee Child
John Sandford
Top Series
Harry Bosch - Michael Connelly
Elvis and Joe - Robert Crais
Lucas Davenport/Flowers - John Sanford
New to Me Author
James Anderson
All Genres
The Charm Bracelet - Viola Shipman
Dever Open Desert Diner - James Anderson
The Angel's Share - J R Ward
Bottom of the Barrell
The Second Life of Nick Mason - Steve Hamilton
Wish I had the opportunity to read more current books, so those will probably show up on next years list. My apologies to those who don't read cozy mysteries.Top M/T
Scents and Sensibility - Spencer Quinn
Wedding Duress - Elizabeth Lynn Casey
The Promise - Robert Crais
The Witch and the Dead - Heather Blake
The Diva Serves High Tea - Krista Davis
Spells and Scones - Bailey Cates
Top Authors
Robert Crais
Michael Connelly
Heather Blake
Krista Davis
J.A. Jance
Top Series
Chet and Bernie - Spencer Quinn
Wishcraft - Heather Blake
Domestic Diva - Krista Davis
Elvis and Joe - Robert Crais
Michael Connelly - Harry Bosch
New to Me Author
Victoria Hamilton
Bottom of the Barrel
Confession is Murder - Peg Cochran
A Fatal Winter - G.M. Malliet
top m/t's:escape clause- sandford
you will know me- meg abbott
ink and bone - lisa unger
extreme prey- sandford
three truths and a lie- lisa gardner
wrong side of goodbye- connelly
home- coben
behind closed doors- b.a. parris
playing with fire- tess gerritsen
top "others"
the guest room- chris bohjalian
fractured- catherine mackenzie
faithful- alice hoffman
the marriage of opposites -alice hoffman
echoes of family -barbara claypool white
the book that matters most - ann hood
modern lovers- emma straub
where the red fern grow- wilson rawls
top series:
elvis and joe
harry bosch
claire and russ ( we need a new book!)
lucas/that f-ing flowers
outlander
Sherry, who is the author of where the red fern grow?
Carol/Bonadie wrote: "Sherry, who is the author of where the red fern grow?"oops. forgot to add it. it's wilson rawls. i'll go edit my post.
Sherry: I see some books on your list I have been meaning to read! It's good to know you liked Ink and Bone and the two Alice Hoffman books. I also really liked The Guest Room
Susie: No need to apologize for cozies, I always like to see the top selections for when I do pick up cozies to read. And I agree with you (and Melodie) on the Wishcraft series being really good. Susie wrote: "Wish I had the opportunity to read more current books, so those will probably show up on next years list. My apologies to those who don't read cozy mysteries..."
Susie wrote: "Wish I had the opportunity to read more current books, so those will probably show up on next years list. My apologies to those who don't read cozy mysteries.Top M/T
Scents and Sensibility - Spen..."
I'm a big cozy reader, too!!
Reminder that I will begin compiling these this week so don't forget to add yours (I need to add mine also!)
I read 51 books this year. Not a remarkable number, but what's remarkable is that almost all of the were "ear-read," that is, audio books. I'm determined to read more in print in 2017.Top Mystery/Thriller Books
The Verdict. Nick Stone. Read by David Thorpe.
Out of the Blues. Judy Nan Boyce. Read by Rebecca Lowman.
Fever of the Bone. Val McDermid. Read by Gerard Doyle.
Extreme Prey. John Sandford. Read by Richard Ferrone.
Orphan X. Greg Hurwitz. Read by Scott Brick.
Surrender, New York. Caleb Carr. Read by Tom Taylorson.
A Great Reckoning. Louise Penny. Read by Robert Bathurst.
Escape Clause. John Sandford. Read by Eric Conger.
Top Authors
Val McDermid
John Sandford
Tana French
Jussi Adler-Olsen
Walter Mosley
Top Books any genre
Fingersmith. Sarah Waters. Read by Juanita McMahon
Top Series
Tony Hill/Carol Jordan -- Val McDermid
D.I. Thomas Lynley -- Elizabeth George
Jane Whitfield -- Thomas Perry
Easy Rawlins -- Walter Mosley
Inspector Armand Gamauch -- Louise Penny
Best "New to Me" Author
Judy Nan Boyce
Bottom of the Barrel Books
I didn't read anything I'd consider bottom of the barrel. Can you believe it?
Carol: I am grateful for the wide selection of audio books at the library feeding that habit, and I probably won't manage to increase my print reading this year. I too will try. ;)Good list! I think audio books tend to eliminate bottom of the barrel books, we simply don't keep listening to those since we can't easily skim.
Carol/Bonadie wrote: "I read 51 books this year. Not a remarkable number, but what's remarkable is that almost all of the were "ear-read," that is, audio books. I'm determined to read more in print in 2017."
Ann wrote: " I think audio books tend to eliminate bottom of the barrel books, we simply don't keep listening to those since we can't easily skim. ..."I think also for me it's that I read/listen to a lot by my favorite authors, and when I stray outside known authors it's top rated books or books that folks on this board have nominated for group reads, which mostly are excellent.
Mystery/Thriller Reading Friends
Books mentioned in this topic
Ink and Bone (other topics)The Guest Room (other topics)
A Study in Sable (other topics)
Dog Gone (other topics)
Speakers of the Dead (other topics)
More...
Top Mystery/Thriller Books (1-10)
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)
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.
Please list the full name, be it book title, author name, or series character. This will save me time having to google names in order to match up everyone’s picks.
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. 9 I will begin compiling everyone's lists and will aim to post the top picks in each category by the 16th.
If you want inspiration, you can see our Best of 2015 results in this folder in January.
Can't wait to see what everyone selects! Questions? You can post them here, and either Ann or I will answer.