Nominations for the March/April 2017 group read are now open, and it's all about spies.

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

A very popular category in the mystery/crime/thriller genre centers around spies, so this month I thought we'd take nominations for your favorite spy/espionage novel.

Authors we've read as a group before are okay to nominate, but please make sure we haven't read the particular book. You can always check out the group bookshelf if you're not sure:

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

I've added a few websites where you can pick up ideas:

SYKM - here,

Best Spy Novels by Real Life Spies, and

The top 10 Classic Spy Novels

NOW -- for the usual stuff:

1. If your nomination wins the poll vote, you will become the de facto discussion leader. Do NOT nominate a book if you do not wish to do this.

2. When a book gets to the poll, please please please -- if you don't really want to read it, don't vote for it.

3. This is not the place for authors to promote their own work.

4. If the book is in a series, it might be wise to start with book #1 rather than somewhere mid-series.

Let the nominations begin!

[David]

I nominate a classic:
Judgement on Deltchev by the great Eric Ambler

[Kelly]

I nominate "The Wanderer".

[William]

I nominate The Tresspasser, Tana French

[Carol]

I nominate Snow Wolf by Glenn Meade. 4.24 average GR rating.

1953 Cold War Russia. Our MC is sent to assassinate Stalin, then must stop the mission he set in motion.

[Harper]

I nominate The Soul of Viktor Tronko. It's about a Soviet agent who comes to the CIA to defect. His only two pieces of information are: that the USSR did not participate in the assassination of Kennedy, and that there is not a Soviet mole inside the CIA. Is Tronko for real; why doesn't he reveal more? An admittedly complexly told story, but fascinating.

If this is a vote of confidence, Nancy Pearl recommends this book in one of her collections.

[Roo]

Here's two I read last year Moskva by Jack Grimwood and A quiet Life by Natasha Walter. Both are Cold War Spy novels, one set in Russia and the second novel seen from the woman's perspective after her husband defects to the Soviets. Great Reads.

[Ron]

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy

[Mark]

I nominate John le Carre's The Secret Pilgrim, in which a 'Circus' spy by the name of Ned invites his old mentor George Smiley to address a dinner for new entrants at 'Sarratt'-Le Carre's fictionalised version of the MI6 training camp (Near to Portsmouth.)

Over the course of the evening, Smiley recounts various tales from his own time in the Service, while Ned recalls his own adventures internally. A wonderfully fitting swansong for the Smiley character, this book stands on its own merit; head and shoulders above many 'later' Le Carre works.

[Mark]

Ron wrote: "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy"

A fantastic choice!.

[Cassia]

I nominate Firefox by Craig Thomas.

THE MACHINE: The Soviet Mig-31, codenamed Firefox.
THE MAN: His name is Gant, an obsessed renegade American pilot. His job: steal Firefox.

[Carol]

Ron wrote: "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy"

Tinker, Tailor is on the group bookshelf , e.g., it's been read by the group previously.

[Tim]

I nominate THE LIES OF SPIES, and will supply free eBook copies.

This contemporary US-Russia espionage thriller has 4.8 Stars on Amazon w 186 reviews, 4.46 w 310 on GR. The audiobook is read by Dick Hill (4.6 stars w 226 reviews)

More here: getBook.at/TheLiesOfSpies

[Mohamed Zimnaan]

The Black Widow by Daniel Silva

[Patrick]

The Dance of Dimitrios by Patrick Brigham - starts as a murder mystery and end up as a present day spystory

[Tony]

I nominate Epitaph for a Spy by Eric Ambler.

[Autumn]

What about
The Thousand Coffins Affair (The Man from U.N.C.L.E. #1)
by Michael Avallone

An oldie, but a goodie.

[G.J.]

Codename Lazarus: The Spy Who Came Back From The Dead ?
This is a traditional WW2 spy novel

[Jamie]

The Furies by Bill Napier

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

Kelly wrote: "I nominate "The Wanderer"."

The Wanderer -- by who? Can you use the add book/author link, please? Thanks!!

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

William wrote: "I nominate The Tresspasser, Tana French"

I looked at this one, and it seems much more of a police procedural type thing rather than a spy novel. But thanks.

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

Roo wrote: "Here's two I read last year Moskva by Jack Grimwood and A quiet Life by Natasha Walter. Both are Cold War Spy novels, one set in Russia and the second novel seen from the woman's perspective after ..."

Roo, if you want to nominate one of these, that's awesome. But just one, please. Thanks!!

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

Ron wrote: "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy"

We've done that one, Ron. Would you like to replace it with another? Thanks!

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

Tim wrote: "I nominate THE LIES OF SPIES, and will supply free eBook copies.

This contemporary US-Russia espionage thriller has 4.8 Stars on Amazon w 186 reviews, 4.46 w 310 on GR. The audiobook is read by Di..."

Very generous, and I thank you, Tim, but I refer you to #3 in my original post. Sorry.

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

Patrick wrote: "The Dance of Dimitrios by Patrick Brigham - starts as a murder mystery and end up as a present day spystory"

With apologies, Patrick, not the spot for recommending your book. Thanks, though!

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

Tony wrote: "I nominate Epitaph for a Spy by Eric Ambler."

We already have an Ambler nomination; can you choose someone else? Thanks!

[Barbara]

The Kill Artist by Daniel Silva

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

updated:

1. Judgment on Deltchev, by Eric Ambler
2. Snow Wolf, by Glenn Meade
3. The Soul of Viktor Tronko, by David Quammen
4. The Secret Pilgrim, by John LeCarre
5. The Black Widow, by Daniel Silva
6. The Thousand Coffins Affair, by Michael Avallone
7. Codename Lazarus: The Spy Who Came Back From The Dead, by AP Martin
8. The Furies, by Bill Napier
9. The Ministry of Fear, by Graham Greene
10. Jack of Spies, by David Downing
The Ipcress File, by Len Deighton
11. Night Soldiers, by Alan Furst
12. Rogue Male, by Geoffrey Household
13. A Quiet Life, by Natasha Walter

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

Barbara wrote: "The Kill Artist by Daniel Silva"

Someone beat you to Daniel Silva -- how about another choice?

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

I'm going to nominate Graham Greene's The Ministry of Fear. It was on last month's list & didn't make it so I'd like to try again.

[Bill]

I'll nominate Jack of Spies by David Downing.

[Barbara]

The Ipcress File. By. Len Deighton

[Susanna - Censored by GoodReads]

Night Soldiers, by Alan Furst.

[Walt]

The Spy Who Came in From The Cold, Le Carre. True classic

If it counts as spy, Geoffrey Household's Rogue Male

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

Walt wrote: "The Spy Who Came in From The Cold, Le Carre. True classic

If it counts as spy, Geoffrey Household's Rogue Male"

Since we have one LeCarre nomination, I used Rogue Male here. And yes, it can definitely count. I love that book.

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

I'll take three more and then we're done.

[Bethany]

The spy who came in from the cold.

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

Bethany wrote: "The spy who came in from the cold."

Sorry -- that's another of John Le Carre's novels, and we have one on the list already.

[Roo]

Nancy wrote: "Roo wrote: "Here's two I read last year Moskva by Jack Grimwood and A quiet Life by Natasha Walter. Both are Cold War Spy novels, one set in Russia and the second novel seen from the woman's perspe..."
Fair do's. A quiet Life by Natasha Walter is a cracking read. Current with a great female protagonist.

[Bill]

A nice mix of the classics and some newer writers.. Looks interesting.

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

Roo wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Roo wrote: "Here's two I read last year Moskva by Jack Grimwood and A quiet Life by Natasha Walter. Both are Cold War Spy novels, one set in Russia and the second novel seen from the ..."

thanks!

[Gram]

Susanna - Censored by GoodReads wrote: "Night Soldiers, by Alan Furst."

SECONDED! (The World's best espionage writer!)

[Cassia]

The Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum

[Susan]

I have to commend the moderator in getting all the nominations tidied up. I am new to the group but was shocked to see the number of nominations without the add book/author feature. Come on, make it easy on people and take a few moments and use it. It makes it easier for the moderator and for people trying to get a feel for what's been nominated.

I was also shocked to seeing people using this as self promotion. Come on, people. Breaking the rules doesn't make me want to read your book.

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

Susan wrote: "I have to commend the moderator in getting all the nominations tidied up. I am new to the group but was shocked to see the number of nominations without the add book/author feature. Come on, make i..."

No big deal, but thank you!

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

With the addition of Ludlum's book, I think I'll close nominations for now. Poll will be up tomorrow. Thank you, everyone!

[Skye]

Great Job, Nancy~

[Bill]

Thanks, Nancy.

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

Bill wrote: "Thanks, Nancy."

No problem at all.

[Skye]

:)