Mystery/Thriller Reading Friends discussion
Monthly "Reads"
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Post Your Top Reads for 2014 Here!
from Barry:MT
The Wolf in Winter: John Connolly
The Burning Room: Michael Connelly
Deadline: John Sanford
Personal: Lee Child
Wayfaring Stranger: James Lee Burke
Those Who Wish Me Dead: Michael Koryta
Author
Steven King
John Sanford
John Connolly
Michael Connelly
James Lee Burke
David Housewright
Book
Ordinary Grace: William Kent Krueger
Revival: Steven King
Grey Mountain: John Grisham
Series
Carson Ryder series: Jack Kerley
Charlie Parker by John Connolly
Flowers and the Preys: John Sanford
Harry Bosch: Michael Connelly
Robecheaux: James Lee Burke
You move this for me every year Carol. Saves me the trouble of actually reading your posts.
I am not sure who is smarter, Carol or Barry :)
Top MT BooksSUSPECT by Robert Crais
SYCAMORE ROW by John Grisham
THE QUIET GAME by Greg Iles
Top Authors
Grisham
Iles
Crais
J.D. Robb
Top Books any genre
THE HUSBAND'S SECRET by Liane Moriarty
LOST LAKE by Sarah Addison Allen
THE INVENTION OF WINGS by Sue Monk Kidd
Top Series
looking for some new series to enjoy...
Dan's 2014 List, 90 total books readBest M/T's:
In The Bleak Midwinter
The Purification Ceremony
Bone Deep
Field of Prey
Gone Baby Gone
Sniper's Honor
The Barkeep
The Heist
Shining Girls
The Jerusalem diamond
Best of Any Genre:
Skin Game
Sons of Wichita
Strangers on the Beach
Edge of Eternity
The Surgeon
Favorite Authors:
Julia Spencer-Fleming
Noah Gordon
John Sandford
Dennis Lehane
Daniel Silva
Favorite Series:
Clare and Russ
Prey
Patrick and Angie
Virgil Flowers
Gabriel Allon
Bottom of the Barrel:
Haunted (only because RWW sucks at female POV)
Top MT Books:Life or Death: Michael Robotham
Bombproof: Michael Robotham
Black List: Brad Thor
The Racketeer: John Grisham
The Fallen Angel: Daniel Silva
The Jefferson Key: Steve Berry
King and Maxwell: David Baldacci
Top Authors:
Michael Robotham
Gayle Lynds
Daniel Silva
Steve Berry
David Baldacci
Top Books/Any Genre:
Black Diamonds: Catherine Bailey
Bottom of Barrel:
Kind of Cruel: Sophie Hannah
The Martian: Andy Weir
Until the Night: Giles Blunt
Frances wrote: "Top MT Books:Life or Death: Michael Robotham
Bombproof: Michael Robotham
Black List: Brad Thor
The Racketeer: John Grisham
The Fallen Angel: Daniel Silva
The Jefferson Key: Steve Berry
King and Ma..."
I liked THE JEFFERSON KEY a lot when I read it a few years ago. Was a bit disappointed with 2014's THE LINCOLN MYTH.
top m/t books:1. Cop Town- karin slaughter
2. Natchez Burning- greg iles
3. The Drop- dennis lehane
4. Field of Prey- john sandford
5. That Night- chevy stevens
top of the rest:
1. Shotgun Lovesongs- nickolas butler
2. The Art of Hearing Heartbeats- han-phillip sendiker
3. Leaving Time- jodi picoult (first time in a long time a jodi book has been on any of my top read lists)
4. Me Before You- jojo moyes
5. the clifton chronicles- jeffrey archer
6. Me Before You jo jo moyes
7. The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry- gabrielle zevin
top series-
1. bosch
2. clare and russ
3. virgil
4. lucas
5. reacher
top authors
1. sandford
2. crais
3. lehane
4. alice hoffman (not m/t)
5. elizabeth berg (not m/t)
6. sj. rozan
7. julia spencer-fleming
8. greg iles
Melodie wrote: "Frances wrote: "Top MT Books:Life or Death: Michael Robotham
Bombproof: Michael Robotham
Black List: Brad Thor
The Racketeer: John Grisham
The Fallen Angel: Daniel Silva
The Jefferson Key: Steve B..."
I've enjoyed most of Steve Berry's books, but haven't read The Lincoln Myth. Wasn't enamored with 'The Columbus Affair" which was the last one read by this author.
Top M/T BooksDark Times in the City-Gene Kerrigan
Devil's Peak-Deon Meyer
Faithful Place-Tana French
(audio-read by Tim Gerard Reynolds)
The Dawn Patrol-Don Winslow
(audio-read by Ray Porter)
Last Voice You Hear-Mick Herron
Blood Moon: An Inspector Hal Challis and Sergeant Ellen Destry Investigation-Garry Disher
Into the Blue-Robert Goddard
Ammunition-Ken Bruen
The Cruelest Month-Louise Penny
(audio-read by Ralph Cosham)
Top Book-Other
Remnant Population-Elizabeth Moon
(audio-read by Vanessa Hart)
I've been kind of busy, but hope to post tomorrow.
Here goes! I always enjoy reviewing my books list again at the end of the year, so many memories tickled again by reading the blurbs I wrote. In no particular order...Top MT Books (1-10)
Hill, Joe Horns
Connelly, Michael The Gods of Guilt
King, Stephen Mr. Mercedes
Slaughter, Karin Cop Town
Galbraith, Robert The Silkworm
Penny, Louise Bury Your Dead
French, Tana The Secret Place
Connelly, Michael The Burning Room
King, Stephen Revival
Lockhart, E We Were Liars
Top Authors (1-5)
Tana French
Louise Penny
Stephen King
Michael Connelly
Mira Grant
Top Books (1-5) any genre
Tartt, Donna The Goldfinch
Fowler, Karen Joy We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves
Kingsolver, Barbara The Poisonwood Bible
King, Lily Euphoria
Winspear, Jacqueline The Care and Management of Lies
Top Series (1-5)
The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater
https://www.goodreads.com/series/7367...
The Newsflesh Trilogy by Mira Grant
https://www.goodreads.com/series/4774...
Armand Gamache by Louise Penny
https://www.goodreads.com/series/4215...
Mickey Haller by Michael Connelly
https://www.goodreads.com/series/4430...
Cormoran Strike by Robert Gailbraith
https://www.goodreads.com/series/1080...
Frances wrote: "Top MT Books:Life or Death: Michael Robotham
Bombproof: Michael Robotham
"
I really like Michael Robotham too. Lost was one of my top audios in 2009.
Thanks, Frances! Looks like another author to add to the list! Sandi wrote: "Frances wrote: "Top MT Books:
Life or Death: Michael Robotham
Bombproof: Michael Robotham"
I really like Michael Robotham too. Lost was one of my top audios in 2009."
Sandi wrote: "Frances wrote: "Top MT Books:Life or Death: Michael Robotham
Bombproof: Michael Robotham
"
I really like Michael Robotham too. Lost was one of my top audios in 2009."
Michael Robotham became my No. 1 author recently. Really like his style of writing. Especially Life or Death - posted a review on this one.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Great lists! I think for the first time in many years I won't post a list, because it seems I'm one of just a few who read cozy books. I think my only non cozy was Suspect by Robert Crais. But I'll continue to enjoy your lists.
Susie: if you would like to share your list, I would love to see it. It can be a bit of work to compile a list so no pressure. Susie in KS wrote: "Great lists! I think for the first time in many years I won't post a list, because it seems I'm one of just a few who read cozy books. I think my only non cozy was Suspect by Robert Crais. But I..."
Susie in KS wrote: "Great lists! I think for the first time in many years I won't post a list, because it seems I'm one of just a few who read cozy books. I think my only non cozy was Suspect by Robert Crais. But I..."Susie, I'm going to post my list and it's not going to be anything like what anyone else in the group is posting. My top M/Ts are all indies.
As stated in my post above, here are my picks.Top M/T Novels
The Seven Perfumes of Sacrifice by Amy Logan
Last Stop Klindenspielby Marta Tandori
Amazon Burningby Victoria Griffith
Non-M/T Top Reads
Rhinoceros Summer by Jamie Thornton (YA contemporary fiction)
Suffragette Autumn Women's Spring by Ian Porter (historical fiction)
The Last Runaway by Tracy Chevalier (historical fiction)
The Fool's Girlby Celia Rees (YA Shakespearean Fiction)
Girl on a Wireby Gwenda Bond (YA paranormal circus romance)
Bottom of the Barrel
Death Come Quickly by Susan Wittig Albert
Artist by Eric Drouant
Death at Victoria Dock by Kerry Greenwood
I don't have any top authors or series. I've been finding that authors/series with great reads can also have mediocre and bottom of the barrel reads. Please note the Phryne Fisher in my bottom of the barrel reads. I've read some very good Phryne Fishers and some mediocre Phryne Fishers as well.
M/TFear Nothing - Lisa Gardner
Field of Prey - John Sandford
Mr Mercedes - Stephen King
Terminal City - Linda Fairstein
Cop Town - Karin Slaughter
Revival - Stephen King
Deadline - John Sandford
NON M/T
Midnight Crossroads - Charlaine Harris
Dark Wolf - Christine Feehan
The Undead Pool - Kim Harrison
Skin Game - Jim Butcher
The King - J R Ward
Bottom of the Barrel
Prince Lestat - Anne Rice
Jason - Laurell Hamilton
Sorry forgot the authors lolSandford
Crais
Connelly
Butcher
King
Frances wrote: "Sandi wrote: "Frances wrote: "Top MT Books:
Life or Death: Michael Robotham
Bombproof: Michael Robotham
"
I really like Michael Robotham too. Lost was one of my top..."
Ok Frances...your book review sealed it! I'm adding this one to my TBR (to be read) list. I'm going to check out this author's other works as well. :-)
Life or Death: Michael Robotham
Bombproof: Michael Robotham
"
I really like Michael Robotham too. Lost was one of my top..."
Ok Frances...your book review sealed it! I'm adding this one to my TBR (to be read) list. I'm going to check out this author's other works as well. :-)
FrankieReads wrote: "Frances wrote: "Sandi wrote: "Frances wrote: "Top MT Books:Life or Death: Michael Robotham
Bombproof: Michael Robotham
"
Frankie, I really hope you enjoy Life or Death. I also found his book Bombproof to be fast paced and entertaining as well. I have one more to read “The Suspect” along with five more books I purchased during the Black Friday sales. Must get through my H/F as quick as I can.
Reminder: you have until tomorrow (Saturday Jan. 10) to post your year's best. After tomorrow I will start compiling.Guess I'd better put my own up soon also!
OK I'll post for the few cozy lovers :)Top M/T
Suspect/Robert Crais
Playing with Fire/J.J. Cook
Second Watch/J.A. Jance
The Goodbye Witch/Heather Blake
Aunt Dimity and the Wishing Well/Nancy Atherton
Top Authors
Robert Crais
J.A. Jance
Tess Gerritsen
Lee Goldberg
Heather Blake
Top Series
Wishcraft/Heather Blake
Monk/Lee Goldberg
Granny Apples/Sue Ann Jaffarian
Paranormal Detective/Nancy Atherton
Duds
First Degree Fudge/Christine DeSmet
Blackberry Pie Murder/Joanne Fluke
Double Booked for Death/Ali Brandon
Murder in the Mystery Suite/Ellery Adams
Malice in Miniature/Nancy Grace
Susie in KS wrote: "Great lists! I think for the first time in many years I won't post a list, because it seems I'm one of just a few who read cozy books. I think my only non cozy was Suspect by Robert Crais. But I..."I read mostly cozies, too, but I did a list. Need to get it posted!
Susie in KS wrote: "OK I'll post for the few cozy lovers :)Top M/T
Suspect/Robert Crais
Playing with Fire/J.J. Cook
Second Watch/J.A. Jance
The Goodbye Witch/Heather Blake
Aunt Dimity and the Wishing Well/Nancy Athe..."
You're a better woman than me! I didn't even give BLACKBERRY PIE MURDER a shot! Sue Ann Jaffarian turned up today on both the cozy boards I'm on. She mentioned a cozy by Naomi Hirahara that came out last year as one of her favorites for the year. I've got it in The Pile so need to dig it out.
Top M/TThe Goodbye Witch by Heather Blake
A Tough Nut to Kill by Elizabeth Lee
Little Green: An Easy Rawlins Mystery by Walter Mosley
Rose Gold by Walter Mosley
Playing with Fire by J.J. Cook
Home of the Braised by Julie Hyzy
Bloom and Doom by Beverly Allen
Mr. Mercedes by Stephen King
Top Non M/T
Wild Things by Chloe Neill
Night Broken by Patricia Briggs
Red Rising by Pierce Brown
Top Authors (just for 2014)
Walter Mosley
Heather Blake
Chloe Neill
Stephen King
Bottom of the Barrel
The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon
The Young Elites by Marie Lu
The Submissive by Tara Sue Me
Missing You by Harlan Coben
Watch You Bleed: The Saga of Guns N' Roses by Stephen Davis
Stay Another Night by P.S. Meronek
Melodie wrote: "Susie in KS wrote: "OK I'll post for the few cozy lovers :)Top M/T
Suspect/Robert Crais
Playing with Fire/J.J. Cook
Second Watch/J.A. Jance
The Goodbye Witch/Heather Blake
Aunt Dimity and the Wis..."
Some 2014 favorites: Mr. Mercedes, Connelly's The Burning Room and The Gods of Guilt. non-mystery: Hannah Kent's moving historical novel about 19th century Iceland, Emma Marris's Rambunctious Garden. Disappointments were J.k. Rowling's (aka Robert Galbraith) Cuckoos Calling and Silkworm, Emma Donoghue's Frog Music, Benjamin Black's The Black-Eyed Blonde.
Happy 2015 reading to everyone! Mary Jo
My Favorites in order read:The Cold Dish - Craig Johnson
Death Spiral: A Faith Flores Science Mystery - Janie Chodosh
Ordinary Grace - William Kent Krueger
Crashed - Tim Hallinan
Blood, Ash, and Bone - Tina Whittle
Mission to Paris - Alan Furst
Thanks Melodie! I recognized most of those books :)
I have been thrilled to read everyone's lists and have added several to my wish lists / virtual tbr piles. I agree with many of the nominations from my own lists this year or prior years.
Merrilee:
Good to see you liked the latest Linda Fairstein Terminal City and Charlaine Harris' Midnight Crossroad. I saw somewhere else on Goodreads that Lily Bard shows up in that one, I will read it if only just for that. I still haven't decided if I will read the rest of Prince Lestat
As always the "your mileage may vary" adage plays out with one person's top book making another's bottom of the barrel. Mary Jo: We had different opinions on some and similar on others. Nothing wrong with that.
I loved Lily King's Euphoria and the Robert Galbraith / JK Rowling Comoran Strike books, but agreed with you on The Black-Eyed Blonde: A Philip Marlowe Novel
James: Your lists gives me some more ideas for future books read. Thanks!Please feel free to jump in on the discussion of Ordinary Grace, our current group read book. I finished it last night and enjoyed it.
James wrote: "My Favorites in order read:
The Cold Dish - Craig Johnson
Death Spiral: A Faith Flores Science Mystery - Janie Chodosh
Ordinary Grace - William Kent Kr..."
Melodie: Your "non-MT" list reminds me again I need to get to Red Rising and should catch back up with Walter Mosley!
I love reading the cozy lists, Susie! If anything the titles of the duds make us laugh, so all wasn't lost (unless you spent hard earned $$ on them) :) Here's to the library! and a list starting with Robert Crais has a lot going for it! Susie in KS wrote: "OK I'll post for the few cozy lovers :)
"
Too true, Shomeret: Some series have definite highs and lows I added three of your top books to my virtual tbr piles and still have the first Phryne Fisher lined up on audio for someday. . Shomeret wrote: "I don't have any top authors or series. I've been finding that authors/series with great reads can also have mediocre and bottom of the barrel reads. Please note the Phryne Fisher in my bottom of the barrel reads. I've read some very good Phryne Fishers and some mediocre Phryne Fishers as well. "
Ann -- I should note that that Death Spiral: A Faith Flores Science Mystery is a YA book, which I read to research what was being written for YA Mysteries.~ Jim
I love a lot of YA books Jim (and am far from being one personally) :) Thanks, that is actually a plus for me. James wrote: "Ann -- I should note that that Death Spiral: A Faith Flores Science Mystery is a YA book, which I read to research what was being written for YA Mysteries. ~ Jim"
Ann, you gotta go back and close the quotation mark in post 34. I'll never get to sleep tonight otherwise.
Just for you, Barry! (My editor)Barry wrote: "Ann, you gotta go back and close the quotation mark in post 34. I'll never get to sleep tonight otherwise."
Ann wrote: "I have been thrilled to read everyone's lists and have added several to my wish lists / virtual tbr piles. I agree with many of the nominations from my own lists this year or prior years.
Merrile..."
I also liked MIDNIGHT CROSSROAD, but not as much as some others I read. Looking forward to the next in that series in May. Seems I remember something about Lily Bard. I didn't finish PRINCE LESTAT, so didn't put it on the bottom of the barrel list. But if it was so bad I wouldn't bother to finish, it was REALLY bad!
Ann wrote: "I love reading the cozy lists, Susie! If anything the titles of the duds make us laugh, so all wasn't lost (unless you spent hard earned $$ on them) :) Here's to the library! and a list starting wi..."Thank goodness for PBS Ann! I think the Ellery Adams book was the most disappointing because I usually love her books.
Sorry, I missed my own deadline ! (so what else would you expect from a library scoflaw?)I had 22 “5’s” this year (my top rating). How to choose? The top 10 wasn’t too hard, the top 5 a little dicier.
So okay, here goes...
Top Ten M/T, in no particular order
Faithful Place. Tana French. Narrated by Tim Gerrard Reynolds.
The Purity of Vengeance. Jussi Adler-Olsen. Read by Graeme Malcolm.
Broken Harbour. Tana French. Read by Tim Gerrard Reynolds.
The Face-Changers. Thomas Perry. Read by Joyce Bean.
Natchez Burning. Greg Iles. Read by David Ledoux.
Think of a Number John Verdon. Read by George Newbern.
The Nightmare. Lars Kepler. Read by Mark Bramhall.
Shadow of Night. Deborah Harkness. Read by Jennifer Ikeda.
The Marco Effect. Jussi Adler-Olsen. Read by Graeme Malcolm.
Deadline. John Sandford. Read by Eric Conger.
Top 5 Authors
Tana French
Jussi Adler-Olsen
John Verdon
John Sandford
Greg Iles
Top 5 Any Genre
The Goldfinch by Donna Tarte
The Purity of Vengeance. Jussi Adler-Olsen.
Broken Harbour. Tana French.
Natchez Burning. Greg Iles.
Shadow of Night. Deborah Harkness.
Top Series
Penn Cage/Greg Iles
Virgil Flowers/John Sandford
Jane Whitefield/Thomas Perry
Department Q/Jussi Adler-Olsen
Dave Gurney/John Verdon
Bottom of the Barrel
Death by Honeymoon. Jaden Skye.
Black-Eyed Blonde: A Phillip Marlowe Novel. Benjamin Black.
Update: Will be a few more days before I post the final tallys; I need to do some cleanup of the data (looking up authors, titles, etc.) before I do. Stay tuned!
Am I the only person who thinks Tana French's first book, In the Woods, was, by far, her best?
Interesting question, Mary Jo. For me it may be her best, but not necessarily by far. It was the best in the way that first novels of brilliant writers doing unique work are the best -- I am wowed at what is a new take on a m/t that moves me. Her subsequent novels to me were very different but also moving. I think The Secret Place was the first one where I was glad the book ended because I was tired of the story and wanted it to end.
I'm with Carol on this question Mary Jo. I was wowed by In the Woods like no other, but I think it was partly because it was first. Not all from the order in which I read the books, but in part I like it even more because it introduces and sets up in such an unusual non-serial way the following books told in a different voice. I was almost equally wowed by The Likeness and really liked all of the books. With that said I would still recommend In the Woods 100% of the time. I have "sold" it to people in a bookstore before while browsing.
No rush Carol! Take your time. We appreciate it. The rush to have "best of the year" lists out before thanksgiving at so many other places is kind of crazy. Reflection and review seems more sensible.
Mystery/Thriller Reading Friends
Books mentioned in this topic
In the Woods (other topics)The Likeness (other topics)
The Secret Place (other topics)
The Face-Changers (other topics)
Natchez Burning (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Michael Robotham (other topics)Michael Robotham (other topics)
Michael Robotham (other topics)
Michael Robotham (other topics)
Michael Connelly (other topics)
More...
Top Authors (1-5)
Top Books (1-5) any genre
Top Series (1-5)
Bottom of the Barrel Books (up to 5)
After Jan. 10 I will compile everyone's lists and post the top picks in each category by the 15th.
If you want to see what the best of books for 2013 were, I have moved that topic to the Archives folder at the very bottom of the list of discussion topics.