Suggestions for Improving the Group

[Lauren]

Let us know what you would like to see in the group. All ideas and suggestions are welcome.

[M.]

Could you please add a bookshelf category for mysteries set in the 1940s? Some excellent mysteries by leading authors were published then, and a goodly number of recent ones are set then. Thanks.

[Lauren]

M. wrote: "Could you please add a bookshelf category for mysteries set in the 1940s? Some excellent mysteries by leading authors were published then, and a goodly number of recent ones are set then. Thanks."

Sure thing, M.

[Lauren]

Monica wrote: "May I nag again for recommendations and turn the discussion further back in time? I’m in dire (!!) need of reading material. I’m not sure what thread I should post this under. I'm really into the m..."

Thanks for the suggestion Monica. I'll open a recommendations folder right now.

[Marsha]

Monica wrote: "May I nag again for recommendations and turn the discussion further back in time? I’m in dire (!!) need of reading material. I’m not sure what thread I should post this under. I'm really into the m..."

Monica, have you read the Crispin Guest Medieval Noir series by Jeri Westerson? It's about a banished knight who turns "detective" and sells his services. Very well written I think. Marsha

[Michelle]

Another series is the Crowner John series by Bernard Knight. They are set in the 1100's. I read the first few and liked them, though they are not page-turners. After those, though, I got bored. My husband, on the other hand, loved them and read them all.

Also, what about Ken Follett's Pillars of the Earth? It was a great plot, but a lot of violence. Also, Bernard Cornwell has several great series set in different periods.

Good Luck!

[Lauren]

Marsha and Michelle, can you repost your recommendations in the thread so that others can find them more easily.

Here's the link Medieval Period Recommendations

Thanks.

[Michelle]

Lauren wrote: "Marsha and Michelle, can you repost your recommendations in the thread so that others can find them more easily.

Here's the link Medieval Period Recommendations

Thanks."

Sure!

[Natalie]

Stephanie Barron Jane Austen Series are really great

[Lauren]

Natalie wrote: "Stephanie Barron Jane Austen Series are really great"

Thanks Natalie. I'll add her to the featured authors list, which can be found HERE. Feel free to suggest other authors if they aren't on the list.

[Sandy]

Has anyone tried the Cragg & Fidelis Mystery series? the first one is A Dark Anatomy and third, The Hidden Man, was reviewed in this week's NYT Book Review. The series has mixed reviews on Goodreads. I like characters, plot, some humor, reasonable historical accuracy and don't care for too much gore, violence or tension. There are only three books, so its not much of a commitment, but my TBR list is so long and I add at least one book for each NYT! (This week it was The Triumph of Seeds: How Grains, Nuts, Kernels, Pulses, and Pips Conquered the Plant Kingdom and Shaped Human History - neither mystery nor historical.)

[Lauren]

Sandy, this thread is for suggestions for improving the group.
Can you repost your comment in the Historical Mystery Reads of 2015 thread so that other members can find it more easily. Thanks.

[Michelle]

Sandy wrote: "Has anyone tried the Cragg & Fidelis Mystery series? the first one is A Dark Anatomy and third, The Hidden Man, was reviewed in this week's NYT Book Review. The series has mixed revi..."

The Cragg & Fidelis sound good! Thanks for the recommendation, Sandy!

[Gretchen]

Can we start folders for authors/series? Or do we need to wait until an author is featured for the month? I was thinking a folder for the Maisie Dobbs series and/or the Medieval Mysteries by Priscilla Royal would be interesting. I understand if you are concerned about too many folders and conversations being started. Thanks :)

[Lauren]

Gretchen wrote: "Can we start folders for authors/series? Or do we need to wait until an author is featured for the month? I was thinking a folder for the Maisie Dobbs series and/or the Medieval Mysteries by [autho..."

Absolutely!
Feel free to start a thread for any author or series. For the sake of organization, please put the thread for a series in the series folder HERE

I've also opened a new folder for authors - HERE

[Lauren]

Richard, we have a section for self promotion. I am deleting your post, but please feel free to repost the information in the appropriate folder. Thanks.

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

[Kerstin]

Maybe We could categorise the centuries. For example, I like to read mysteries that set in the Victorian and the Edwardian era. Also novels that are set in the late 1920’s-late 1940’s and early 1960’s (Mad men era)

[Lauren]

Kerstin wrote: "Maybe We could categorise the centuries. For example, I like to read mysteries that set in the Victorian and the Edwardian era. Also novels that are set in the late 1920’s-late 1940’s and early 196..."

The bookshelf is already categorized according to time period. Feel free to add books to it.

[Sandy]

Lauren wrote: "Kerstin wrote: "Maybe We could categorise the centuries. For example, I like to read mysteries that set in the Victorian and the Edwardian era. Also novels that are set in the late 1920’s-late 1940..."

I've never used the bookshelf feature of any group - off to explore! Thanks.

[Lauren]

Sandy wrote: "I've never used the bookshelf feature of any group - off to explore! Thanks"

It might need some organizing . . .

[Kerstin]

I own three mystery novels by Rennie Airth (that are translated to Swedish that is), Since his books are Written about different years in history should you read them in order, Since they are stand alones? Thanks in advance for tip.

[Lauren]

Kerstin wrote: "I own three mystery novels by Rennie Airth (that are translated to Swedish that is), Since his books are Written about different years in history should you read them in order, Since they are stand..."

Hi Kerstin,
Are all of the books in the John Madden series? If so, then you should follow the series list here on Goodreads. The first books is River of Darkness.

If the books are stand alone, then I don't think it matters what order you read them in.

Hope this helps.

[Cynthia]

I not sure this is proper place for it but just wanted to say how much I appreciate the work Lauren and others do to maintain this group. I am a recent convert and it is nice to have a group which is welcoming, has some structure but is able to handle those of various reading volumes, and offers new possibilities on top of all that. I love it!

[Lauren]

Cynthia wrote: "I not sure this is proper place for it but just wanted to say how much I appreciate the work Lauren and others do to maintain this group. I am a recent convert and it is nice to have a group which ..."

Thank you Cynthia!
I am so glad that you are enjoying the group.

[Liz H]

Hi. I'm new to the group, but have been a member of another group for a year. One feature I like there is a Promotion thread. Members post books in the genre that are on sale or even free. I don't know if this group is active enough for this, but want to mention it anyway.

[RachelG.]

Liz H wrote: "Hi. I'm new to the group, but have been a member of another group for a year. One feature I like there is a Promotion thread. Members post books in the genre that are on sale or even free. I don't ..."

Hi Liz, Welcome to the group! Here is the link to the Deals and Freebies thread located in the Books and Reading discussion.

[Lauren]

Hi Liz!
Welcome to the group.
Please feel free to post any sales or freebies in the thread that Rachel posted

Thanks for that, Rachel!

[Lindsey]

Could we add a bookshelf for mysteries set in India? I haven't really read anything set in historical India before but I've seen several series that look interesting on Goodreads (a few of which this group has read), and I thought it might be nice to have a shelf to help identify that setting. I always enjoy a different perspective, and so many of the popular historical mysteries (available in English) are set in England that it's nice to branch out.