Mystery/Thriller Reading Friends discussion
Nominations for Group Reads
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Group Read Books - 2019

Chikako wrote: "Yay! I've got The Silent Patient and am here to look for group read or somebody to read together.
If you plan the group read for this book, I'll join!"

Ooh, now this is an enticing comment!!!

I saw another Goodreads friend reading Scrublands which caught my eye. It was compared to Jane Harper's The Dry and is a debut novel set in Australia.

Russ wrote: "I noticed The Moroccan Girl if anybody is up for a spy thriller later this spring/summer."


thanks, jan!

Oho, when I went back this morning to see if that really happened, Amazon says I’ve borrowed the book for a month. Still, that will work (barely) for our July 1 group read.

I just checked and I'll Never Tell is free for Kindle Unlimited. Thanks!
Prime members must be able to read it free too but for a shorter timeframe. DonnaJo and I were talking about the confusion of the differences the other day.
I haven't gotten a copy of The Silent Patient yet. I'm hoping for a library loan to come through.
OMalleycat wrote: "OMalleycat wrote: "I just found the Kindle edition of I'll Never Tell free for prime members..."
Oho, when I went back this morning to see if that really happened, Amazon says I’ve..."

Ann, I agree with you and Donnajo that “Prime” at Amazon has become a big mystery. Not only is it difficult to discern the difference between Prime and Unlimited offers, but they’ve changed other features so much I find them hard to navigate.
Amazon First emails used to arrive each month and with a click or two I could peruse and find a book. Now the emails are either unrecognizable or possibly going to spam and when I search the site I have mixed results finding the selections.
Selections for the Prime Lending Library used to be clearly marked on book information pages and I had a wishlist of them. Now they aren’t marked and once my wishlist runs out I’m not sure how I’ll find them (I find the Library pages too monstrously huge to browse comfortably).
The language of the “you’ve already got this” banner on the I'll Never Tell page was that I’ve “borrowed” the book, so apparently I stumbled on a Lending Library book all unknowing.
Still, the best benefit of Prime membership is the free shipping, so I’m not really complaining or mourning the loss of free books too much. Twenty years ago I would have never foreseen the amount of non-book merchandise I buy through Amazon nor that it would arrive at my door (or PO Box) fast and free.

Jan, your First Read e-mails must be going to your spam folder because I find them to be clearly marked. I also look at anything that goes into the spam folder immediately because I don't trust the judgement of e-mail providers. I often don't find any Amazon First Reads that I want. Then there are the months when I want more than one. Unfortunately, I have an over-supply of free books from a variety of sources and I almost never have time to read them.

Did you get the June Prime free book email? I can try to see if i still have it... like Shomeret I sometimes see a couple of interest, but often don't think any of the offered books are something I would read.
I have more luck with the two free audible originals offered each month. They are usually shorter listens but nice fillers.
OMalleycat wrote: "Ann, I agree with you and Donnajo that “Prime” at Amazon has become a big mystery. Not only is it difficult to discern the difference between Prime and Unlimited offers, but they’ve changed other features so much I find them hard to navigate. ......... (I find the Library pages too monstrously huge to browse comfortably).
Ann wrote: "Jan O'Cat: ah, the mysteries of Amazon prime and Kindle Unlimited...."

Ann, I’m with you and Shomeret: While I used to find First books that were at least worth a try but any more I seldom see anything I want. I’m not up in arms about any of this, just confused by the changes they’ve made that have made it harder—for me, anyway—to access some of the perks of Prime membership.

I am not anywhere near getting my turn at the library for The Silent Patient so I was wondering if we should push it out a few weeks?
Carol, you mentioned having the audio on hold a few weeks ago. Are you planning on reading it soon?
Current Group Read list for 2019
Jan-2019 The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle
Feb-2019 The Lost Man
Feb-2019 The Hiding Place
Mar-2019 Before She Knew Him
Mar-2019 Cemetery Road
Apr-2019 Redemption Point
May-2019 Furious Hours: Murder, Fraud, and the Last Trial of Harper Lee
Jun-2019 Crown Jewel
Jun-2019 The Silent Patient
Jul-2019 I'll Never Tell

I saw another Goodreads friend reading Scrublands which caught my eye. It was compared to Jane Harper's The Dry and is a d..."
I loved "Scrublands" and the more I contemplate the talent involved to write the depth involved, I actually like it more than "The Dry".

I am not anywhere near getting..."
I haven't participated in most reads of this year due to my inability to get the copies selected from my library. I was fortunate enough to just get "The Silent Patient". I just got "Furious Hours".
Have others had similar issues?

Kathryn in FL wrote: "loved "Scrublands" and the more I contemplate the talent involved to write the depth involved, I actually like it more than "The Dry".
Ann wrote: "Possible group read book for late summer?
I saw another Goodreads friend reading ] which caught my eye. It was compared to Jane Harper's [book:The Dry|27824826..."

Luckily we are able to enjoy participation for different timelines and getting a book later is ok, you are always welcome to jump right into the discussion.
Kathryn in FL wrote: "I haven't participated in most reads of this year due to my inability to get the copies selected from my library. I was fortunate enough to just get "The Silent Patient". I just got "Furious Hours".
Have others had similar issues?"

Thanks Jan. I was able to get the book and then buy the audio for $ 1.99, so that saved me the audible credit that I was planning on using for the book.
I am still at least 3 weeks out for either the kindle or audio version of The Silent Patient on Overdrive.

Since many of us are having delays getting our copies of The Silent Patient we can start the segment posting of it later and anyone who has already read it please feel free to jump to the final comments thread to discuss. 😀

Sandi wrote: “Thanks Jan. I was able to get the book and then buy the audio for $ 1.99, so that saved me the audible credit..
"OMalleycat wrote: "I just found the Kindle edition of I'll Never Tell free for prime members. "

Conviction

Carol/Bonadie wrote: "I know we try to avoid new releases, but this book by Denise Mina caught my eye. It seems a bit different from her usual fare, which have all been excellent.
Conviction"

Carol/Bonadie wrote: "I know we try to avoid new releases, but t..."
Wait time for me is approx. 10 weeks on Overdrive but if I put the actual book on hold maybe I could get it by August. I do agree it looks interesting and would make a good discussion book.

Conviction"
I've been meaning to get back to Denise Mina so I'd enjoy this one. It sounds something like that Karen Slaughter book we read a few months ago with the woman with a hidden past. I've been considering the world's fascination lately with true crime. The podcasts are proliferating and it seems there's a true crime TV show every night of the week, not to mention the endless Dateline reruns during off-hours on some of the NBC channels.
All that is a digression to say that Mina is an insightful writer and I'd be interested to see her take on a true-crime obsessive!

I’ve added Conviction to our Group Reads shelf for mid August; I hope we can all get a copy by then!


true crime is one of the few things i can't read- i can read mysteries and thrillers, but true crime just creeps me out. that, and silence of the lambs. even the cover gave me the heebie-jeebies.

I don't read too much true crime--maybe a couple a year, if I see a book about a crime that truly fascinates me. But I agree that the "truth" of true crime is disturbing and I also don't like that the reader doesn't often get a resolution. I'm happier with my crimes neatly tied up with no loose ends. In fact, as I'm writing this I realize that often one of my criticisms of fictional crime is the author leaving too many loose ends or unresolved threads.

[book:Conviction..."
I just read a review of this and I’m looking forward to reading it!

We've just finished the promoted timelines for The Silent Patient and Crown Jewel. Discussions of course can continue as long as we have readers.
Next up is Conviction on August 1 and Scrublands on September 1.
Current Group Read list for 2019
Jan-2019 The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle
Feb-2019 The Lost Man
Feb-2019 The Hiding Place
Mar-2019 Before She Knew Him
Mar-2019 Cemetery Road
Apr-2019 Redemption Point
May-2019 Furious Hours: Murder, Fraud, and the Last Trial of Harper Lee
Jun-2019 Crown Jewel
Jun-2019 The Silent Patient
Jul-2019 I'll Never Tell
Aug-2019 Conviction
Sep-2019 Scrublands

Ann, I think I’ve already got Lippmann’s LITL. I generally acquire her books as soon as they’re issued (but not always so prompt about actually reading them!). So I’m ready to go whenever all y’all are.

Yes, I actually just got it and Conviction from Overdrive today so would be ready to read soon.

OMalleycat wrote: "Ann, I think I’ve already got Lippmann’s LITL. I generally acquire her books as soon as they’re issued (but not always so prompt about actually reading them!). So I’m ready to go whenever all y’all are."
Sandi wrote: "Yes, I actually just got it and Conviction from Overdrive today so would be ready to read soon."

Wow! That’s some news, Melodie!
But I’m not entirely sure I’m caught up on the series. When Crais branched off into Joe-as-the-lead books, I got confused.

I thought of it as a possible counterpoint to Furious Hours: Murder, Fraud, and the Last Trial of Harper Lee which we group read a few months ago and Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI which we read and discussed last year.

Barbara wrote: "Ghosts of Eden Park is already on my list b"

Sounds good to me. Due to fear of spoilers I don’t usually read reviews before I read the book but when I saw that the ratings were mostly 5’s and 4’s I dropped down to read a couple. The first review intrigued me: the reviewer said there were many events that would have stretched belief in fiction, but this is nonfiction. Gotta find out what that’s about!
The review after that wasn’t so good but with nonfiction I always figure there are some people who just don’t enjoy it much.

OMalleycat wrote: " The first review intrigued me: the reviewer said there were many events that would have stretched belief in fiction, but this is nonfiction. Gotta find out what that’s about!
The review after that wasn’t so good but with nonfiction I always figure there are some people who just don’t enjoy it much."

While we have had mixed reactions to his recent books, we usually select "the new John Grisham". If we do select it, perhaps there is time to get on the library's hold list early for a good spot.
Any other suggestions?
Current Group Read list for 2019
Jan-2019 The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle
Feb-2019 The Lost Man
Feb-2019 The Hiding Place
Mar-2019 Before She Knew Him
Mar-2019 Cemetery Road
Apr-2019 Redemption Point
May-2019 Furious Hours: Murder, Fraud, and the Last Trial of Harper Lee
Jun-2019 Crown Jewel
Jun-2019 The Silent Patient
Jul-2019 I'll Never Tell
Aug-2019 Conviction
Aug-2019 Lady in the Lake (edited to include!)
Sep-2019 Scrublands
Oct-2019 The Ghosts of Eden Park: The Bootleg King, the Women Who Pursued Him, and the Murder That Shocked Jazz-Age America
Nov-2019
Dec-2019

Thanks Carol!!
Carol/Bonadie wrote: "wait..,, isn't Lady in the Lake one of our group reads?"
Hi! As it's September 1st how do I get involved in this month's group read? I can pick up the book today and then do I just head over to the existing Scrublands discussion thread and start working my way through the sections? Thanks!

Yes, that is pretty much it: you may grab a copy of the book when you can, read at your own pace and we’ll comment with spoilers exposed on the specific chapter grouped topics as we go.
The first person to post is asked to do a brief summary of that set of chapters to guide the discussion and corral any spoilers for future segments into the right thread.
As others read we add comments and it can be a lot of fun to explore a book we read a bit more deeply as others chime in their thoughts.
Timing is fluid. There may be weeks between comments when different readers join in. (Helped by the summaries we are able to recall and keep discussions going)
I got a copy of the audio yesterday so I hope to start it later this week! 😀😀
Hi Ann! That's great and works very well for me. Scrublands has come up for me as a Kindle Monthly Deal for .99 so I'm going to start it this week. Thanks for the tips to get me started!
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Carol/Bonadie wrote: "A friend of Sherry's and mine suggested The Silent Patient. I've reserved the audio from the library."