Nominations open -- May 2019 group reads: Native American Mysteries

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

This month I'm asking you to nominate any mystery/crime/thriller book either written about or written by Native Americans. Don't forget Alaska, and true crime is also okay.

Here's a link to a long list of possibilities:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/b/book...

The usual:
As always,

1. do NOT nominate your own book
2. do NOT have your publicist nominate your book
3. if you nominate the winning book, you are the moderator for the discussion. If you don't want to lead the discussion, don't nominate a book.

Happy nominating!!

[Carol]

I nominate Shaman Pass by Stan Jones.

[Lena]

Finding Moon - this book was recommended to me by a friend here on Goodreads!

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

Carol wrote: "I nominate Shaman Pass by Stan Jones."

Is it okay that it's book #2 in the series? I mean, do you think it will hurt anyone by not having read book #1?

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

Recap:
1. Shaman Pass, by Stan Jones (Carol)
2. Finding Moon, by Tony Hillerman (Lena)
3. Murder on the Red River, by Marcie Rendon (Suzy)
4. Cry Dance, by Kirk Mitchell (Chris)

[Gisela]

Seven Graves One Winter Would this count?

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

Since it's Greenland, probably not, but I just bought a copy, so thanks! :)

Pick another book, Gisela!

[Carol]

Nancy wrote: "Carol wrote: "I nominate Shaman Pass by Stan Jones."

Is it okay that it's book #2 in the series? I mean, do you think it will hurt anyone by not having read book #1?"

I don’t, although series completists will object and vote for another selection, I imagine. Reviews for book two are much stronger than book 1, and I’d rather nominate the better read.

[Gisela]

Nancy wrote: "Since it's Greenland, probably not, but I just bought a copy, so thanks! :)

Pick another book, Gisela!"

I am so rubbish at this. I'm not sure if I have another one on my to-read list which would fit, but this is an interesting, so I will definitely try and read the chosen book.

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

Gisela wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Since it's Greenland, probably not, but I just bought a copy, so thanks! :)

Pick another book, Gisela!"

I am so rubbish at this. I'm not sure if I have another one on my to-read lis..."

no worries.

[MissLemon]

Is it OK to nominate a different Tony Hillerman please ?

I have A Thief of Time on my TBR list because it's on a CWA list (and possibly because it shares a name with a Terry Pratchett book!) It is number 8 a series though, so I've been a bit dubious about reading it before the others. So if it's not OK to nominate it that's fine.

Thanks for this months theme Nancy, I'm very interested to read whatever gets voted in

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

Carolyn wrote: "Is it OK to nominate a different Tony Hillerman please ?

I have A Thief of Time on my TBR list because it's on a CWA list (and possibly because it shares a name with ..."

Well, we normally take only one book by a given author during nominations, so it might be better to think of another title. Sorry, Carolyn.

I'm surprised, actually that there are only two books so far, but if two it is, two it is. We won't even need to do a poll.

[Suzy]

Carolyn wrote: "Is it OK to nominate a different Tony Hillerman please ?

I have A Thief of Time on my TBR list because it's on a CWA list (and possibly because it shares a name with ..."

That's a good book!

[Suzy]

I'll nominate Murder on the Red River, written by a member of the White Earth Nation here in Minnesota! (Thanks for the B&N list. It's interesting to see how many books there are.)

[MissLemon]

Nancy wrote: "Carolyn wrote: "Is it OK to nominate a different Tony Hillerman please ?

I have A Thief of Time on my TBR list because it's on a CWA list (and possibly because it sha..."

No problem Nancy. I didn't really want to lead a discussion again having just done it. Will probably read it anyway , it depends if I can get hold of a copy more easily than whichever book does get voted in.

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

Suzy wrote: "I'll nominate Murder on the Red River, written by a member of the White Earth Nation here in Minnesota! (Thanks for the B&N list. It's interesting to see how many books there are.)"

Thanks, Suzy. I was amazed at how many Native American authors have written mystery/crime novels.

[Chris]

I'll nominate Cry Dance by Kirk Mitchell

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

Chris wrote: "I'll nominate Cry Dance by Kirk Mitchell"

Chris wrote: "I'll nominate Cry Dance by Kirk Mitchell"

I'll add it to the list. Thanks!

[Jan C]

Chris wrote: "I'll nominate Cry Dance by Kirk Mitchell"

That was a good series.

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

The poll will go up today. Thanks to all of you who nominated a book.

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

Okay,the poll is up now. Go vote!!

[Patty]

Where can I find said poll?

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

Patty wrote: "Where can I find said poll?"

You can always get to the poll by clicking on the "polls" link at the top right hand corner of our group's page.

[Patty]

I went to the page, but on my phone. I’ll need to get on my tablet.

[Susanna - Censored by GoodReads]

Here's a link: https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/1... .

[Angelina]

These all look great, not sure I will be able to source any in my English village library :(

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

For the May group reads:

Coming in first is Murder on the Red River, by Marcie Rendon, while second place is Finding Moon, by Tony Hillerman.

Thanks everyone who nominated and who voted!! Threads will go up on the 30th of April, as I'm leaving May 1 for 10 days. Carol, Lena, I'll be contacting you.

[Bill]

Nancy wrote: "For the May group reads:

Coming in first is Murder on the Red River, by Marcie Rendon, while second place is Finding Moon, by Tony Hillerman.

Thanks everyone who nomi..."

Where are you headed off to?

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

Bill wrote: "Nancy wrote: "For the May group reads:

Coming in first is Murder on the Red River, by Marcie Rendon, while second place is Finding Moon, by Tony Hillerman.

Puerto Vallarta. First order of business: mezcal and posole.

[Bill]

Nancy wrote: "Bill wrote: "Nancy wrote: "For the May group reads:

Coming in first is Murder on the Red River, by Marcie Rendon, while second place is Finding Moon, by Tony Hillerman..."

Enjoy!

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

Bill wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Bill wrote: "Nancy wrote: "For the May group reads:

Coming in first is Murder on the Red River, by Marcie Rendon, while second place is Finding Moon, by ..."

Thanks. I'll still be available online but sporadically. I have to figure out how many books to take. That could be difficult.

[Susanna - Censored by GoodReads]

Have a great time!

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

Susanna - Censored by GoodReads wrote: "Have a great time!"

I will, thanks!! But I'm still around for two weeks before I go.

[Bill]

Nancy wrote: "Bill wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Bill wrote: "Nancy wrote: "For the May group reads:

Coming in first is Murder on the Red River, by Marcie Rendon, while second place is [book:Finding Moo..."

We'll keep things moving along.. Not to worry. Focus on your book selections and your vacation.. :)

[Lena]

My second time modding a Read here, fingers crossed it goes better than last time.

[Bill]

Lena wrote: "My second time modding a Read here, fingers crossed it goes better than last time."

Thanks for nominating the book and moderating the thread. I hope response is good too. They can be hit or miss.

[J.R.]

Bill wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Bill wrote: "Nancy wrote: "For the May group reads:

Coming in first is Murder on the Red River, by Marcie Rendon, while second place is Finding Moon, by ..."

I was surprised to see Finding Moon among the nominations. It's not part of Hillerman's Navajo police series. It's a standalone set in Cambodia, Vietnam and other Asian areas. A good book, but not Native American.

[Lena]

I thought the MC was Native American.

[Bill]

It's not set in North America it seems. But the book is listed in the link Nancy provided referring to books about / with Native Americans.. I guess the story will tell eh?

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

I don't read those books, so I assumed Hillerman was Native American because of the content of his novels. Oh well. A bit late now to make a change -- it would be helpful, maybe, if errors are caught earlier. Maybe as Lena said, the main character is Native American.

[Hayley]

Hello. I nominate The Visitant

[Suzy]

A thought - earlier in the nomination process, Carolyn nominated A Thief of Time, which is one of Hillerman's best that takes place on the Navajo reservation. Could that be substituted for Finding Moon, which in looking at the book blurb is definitely not a Native American mystery?

Hillerman is not Native American but he (and now his daughter) wrote one of the great Navajo mystery series. Most authors on the list provided are not Native American; they just write about them.

[J.R.]

Lena wrote: "I thought the MC was Native American."

Not that I recall. I've decided to re-read it.

[J.R.]

Suzy wrote: "A thought - earlier in the nomination process, Carolyn nominated A Thief of Time, which is one of Hillerman's best that takes place on the Navajo reservation. Could that be substitute..."

A Thief of Time is my favorite of the series, and I've read all of them.

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

Well, people, I'm sending out the message to all members tomorrow, so please help me out here. What would you like me to do?

[Bill]

I guess if most people think that the story doesn't fit the category, I'd suggest moving on to the 3rd selection....

[MissLemon]

Probably shouldn't comment as I didn't vote this time (I decided I'm going to read Thief Of Time.) But for once I disagree with Bill. The people who voted, I assume, have looked at the book discriptions and decided they want to read and discuss them, they should be 'allowed' to if they still want.

Or we could do what many people would like to do here in the UK and have another vote! 😉

[Suzy]

Carolyn wrote: "Probably shouldn't comment as I didn't vote this time (I decided I'm going to read Thief Of Time.) But for once I disagree with Bill. The people who voted, I assume, have looked at the book discrip..."

:)

[Bill]

Carolyn wrote: "Probably shouldn't comment as I didn't vote this time (I decided I'm going to read Thief Of Time.) But for once I disagree with Bill. The people who voted, I assume, have looked at the book discrip..."

I don't disagree with you Carolyn. I'd been thinking the same thing as I was turning on my computer this morning. A large number of people voted to discuss the book. Let them... I think my comment would have been more appropriate if those people no longer wanted to discuss.

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

I've been puzzling over this one for a while now, and have decided to let it go as is.

First, it was my error for not doing some vetting and for making an assumption without checking.

Second, I don't really want to explain what happened when the chances are that of all that people who voted for this book, maybe at the most ten will actually read it and participate, so the fact that it's not settled in the heart of Native America or written by a Native American author can be a talking point started by the moderator when it comes to the discussion.

All I can do is apologize for my error and let the chips fall. Message going out later today.