Votes are In - Aug 2021 Group Read - Mysteries / Thrillers / Spy Stories set Down Under

[Bill]

Hi folks. This is the 3rd Group Read in the Around the World Challenge. We tried Southern Europe last time. I hope you all enjoyed reading and discussing the two selections. For August we're looking at mysteries / thrillers / spy stories set in the Southern hemisphere, specifically in Australia and New Zealand.

To help you along, here are some examples of authors who set their books in these areas for you to consider (but not limited too)

- Ngaio Marsh - 4 of her Roderick Alleyn mysteries were set in New Zealand
- Vanda Symon (Sam Shepherd series), one I've not tried yet
- Katherine Hayton (Ngaire Blake series), another new one on me
- Fiona Sussman
- Jonothan Cullinane
- Kerry Greenwood (Phryne Fisher and Corinna Chapman)
- Garry Disher (various series)
- Arthur W. Upfield (Inspector Bonaparte)
- Peter Temple (Jack Irish and others)
- Candace Fox (Crystal Lake)

etc etc....

Don't these names limit you, there are many others. It was provided to give you some ideas and to whet your appetite for books set in the region.

The usual rules apply:
1. don't nominate your own book
2. if you nominate a book and it wins the poll vote, you are de facto discussion leader
3. please don't nominate a book we've read in the last 3 to 4 years (if you're not sure, I've added the link to the group's bookshelf).

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

I look forward to seeing what might be nominated.

[Bill]

I'll keep track of nominations here.

1. Resurrection Bay by Emma Viskic (nominated by CBRetriever)
2. Bad Debts by Peter Temple (nominated by Bill)
3. Crimson Lake by Candice Fox (nominated by Tom)
4. Under the Cold Bright Lights by Garry Disher (nominated by Susanna)
5. Not the Faintest Trace by Wendy M. Wilson (nominated by Jan)
6. The Cleaner by Paul Cleave (nominated by Lynn)
7. The Night Whistler by Greg Woodland (nominated by Monique)
8. Scrublands by Chris Hammer (nominated by Mike)
9. A Few Right Thinking Men by Sulari Gentill (nominated by icewineanne)
10. Cocaine Blues by Kerry Greenwood (nominated by Suzy)

[CBRetriever]

I'll recommend Resurrection Bay by Emma Viskic. It's set in Australia, the main character is a private investigator and he's deaf. Should be interesting.

[Bill]

CBRetriever wrote: "I'll recommend Resurrection Bay by Emma Viskic. It's set in Australia, the main character is a private investigator and he's deaf. Should be interesting."

I always like to see authors with whom I'm unfamiliar. Thanks. It sounds interesting.

[Bill]

I'll nominate the first Jack Irish mystery, Bad Debts by Peter Temple

[Blaise]

Looking forward to seeing what the group picks!

[Tom]

I nominate Crimson Lake.

12:46: Claire Bingley stands alone at a bus stop
12:47: Ted Conkaffey parks his car beside her
12:52: The girl is missing . . .

Six minutes in the wrong place at the wrong time―that’s all it took to ruin Sydney detective Ted Conkaffey’s life. Accused but not convicted of a brutal abduction, Ted is now a free man―and public enemy number one. Maintaining his innocence, he flees north to keep a low profile amidst the steamy, croc-infested wetlands of Crimson Lake.

So begins the first book in Australian author Candice Fox's Crimson Lake series.

[Susanna - Censored by GoodReads]

I'll nominate Under the Cold Bright Lights by Garry Disher.

"The young detectives call Alan Auhl a retread, but that doesn’t faze him. He does things his own way—and gets results.

He still lives with his ex-wife, off and on, in a big house full of random boarders and hard-luck stories. And he’s still a cop, even though he retired from Homicide some years ago.

He works cold cases now. Like the death of John Elphick—his daughters still convinced he was murdered, the coroner not so sure. Or the skeleton that’s just been found under a concrete slab. Or the doctor who killed two wives and a girlfriend, and left no evidence at all.

Auhl will stick with these cases until justice is done. One way or another."

It's a stand alone.

[Jan Mc]

I nominate Not the Faintest Trace by Wendy M. Wilson, the first of the Sergeant Frank Hardy historical crime fiction series, set in 1877 New Zealand. Fascinating characters and a new-to-me setting.

[Benoit]

Any Jane Harper books

[Bill]

Lynne wrote: "I nominate The Cleaner by Paul Cleave"

The Cleaner by Paul Cleave

[Bill]

Benoit wrote: "Any Jane Harper books"

Let me know if you want to pick a specific one that you're prepared to discuss if it's chosen, Benoit. Thanks.

[Monique]

The Night Whistler by Greg Woodland

[Mike]

As a aussie crime noir aficionado it has to be Chris Hammer's SCRUBLANDS!!!!

[Mike]

Chris Hammer's Scrublands

[Icewineanne]

A Few Right Thinking Men by Sulari Gentill

[Suzy]

Thanks for the reminder, Bill! I had forgotten to pop in to see the theme.
Since no one has yet nominated Miss Fisher, I'll go with Cocaine Blues by Kerry Greenwood,

[Bill]

Suzy wrote: "Thanks for the reminder, Bill! I had forgotten to pop in to see the theme.
Since no one has yet nominated Miss Fisher, I'll go with Cocaine Blues by Kerry Greenwood,"

One of my wife's and my favorite crime series, the one with Phryne Fisher. It got me into Greenwood's books. Her Corinne Chapman series is also very good.

[Bill]

Lots of excellent nominations so far. I'll leave the thread open until tomorrow then put up the poll. Thanks everyone who has nominated such a great mix of books.

[Suzy]

Bill wrote: "Suzy wrote: "Thanks for the reminder, Bill! I had forgotten to pop in to see the theme.
Since no one has yet nominated Miss Fisher, I'll go with Cocaine Blues by Kerry Greenwood,"

..."

We love the tv series too! This could have been a good nomination for the July book to screen theme . . . if I had thought of it. :)

[Bill]

Suzy wrote: "Bill wrote: "Suzy wrote: "Thanks for the reminder, Bill! I had forgotten to pop in to see the theme.
Since no one has yet nominated Miss Fisher, I'll go with Cocaine Blues by Kerry ..."

Indeed it would have. lol

[Ellen]

Bill wrote: "Lynne wrote: "I nominate The Cleaner by Paul Cleave"

The Cleaner by Paul Cleave"

I'm going to request the cleaner at my library.

[MissLemon]

Interesting nominations, I look forward to the vote. And thank you for your list, Bill, some more interesting ideas there.

I'm not going to nominate Ngaio Marsh for reason I will explain in a moment, but she is one of my favourite authors and I recommend her Inspector Alleyn books to everyone.

The reason I'm not nominating is that, having just read one of the four of the series that is set in NZ , Vintage Murder, I don't think they will be the best examples or a good place to start the series. And I'm reading in order so my next is Artists in Crime where Alleyn is back in the UK with his usual supporting cast, I believe.

[Bill]

MissLemon wrote: "Interesting nominations, I look forward to the vote. And thank you for your list, Bill, some more interesting ideas there.

I'm not going to nominate Ngaio Marsh for reason I will e..."

Excellent reason. We have ten excellent nominations already. Keep enjoying Alleyn. I'm not really reading in order but I've enjoyed the series so much.

[Bill]

The poll is up until July 15. Ten interesting looking books to vote on. Good luck.

https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/2...

[Danny]

I nominate The Noise by James Patterson and J.D. Barker

If you hear it, it’s too late. Can two sisters save us all?

In the shadow of Mount Hood, sixteen-year-old Tennant is checking rabbit traps with her eight-year-old sister Sophie when the girls are suddenly overcome by a strange vibration rising out of the forest, building in intensity until it sounds like a deafening crescendo of screams. From out of nowhere, their father sweeps them up and drops them through a trapdoor into a storm cellar. But the sound only gets worse . . .

“This is a really entertaining thriller; the authors pull the reader in with a series of intriguing questions, and, as they answer one of them, they pose new ones. The pacing is very good, too: like Michael Crichton (who might have written something very like this), Patterson and Barker keep ratcheting up the suspense and the sense of impending doom, until, by the end, we wish we could read faster just so we can find out what happens next.”

[Bill]

Danny wrote: "I nominate The Noise by James Patterson and J.D. Barker

If you hear it, it’s too late. Can two sisters save us all?

I..."

Sorry Danny, the poll is already up. Is this book set in Australia or NZ by the way?

[Bill]

And the final votes have these books chosen

1. Resurrection Bay by Emma Viskic (Nominated by CBRetriever)

2. Crimson Lake by Candice Fox (nominated by Tom).

Thanks everyone who voted. Congrats to CBRetriever and Tom for nominating the two winners). Can you confirm your willingness to moderate the threads. I'll set them up for you 1 Aug.

[CBRetriever]

yep, I'll be there but I have to purchase the book yet

[Bill]

CBRetriever wrote: "yep, I'll be there but I have to purchase the book yet"

lol.. that's ok

[Monique]

Just read Resurrection Bay so I’m looking forward to the discussion. It’s a good choice. 👍🏻

[RJ - Slayer of Trolls]

I'm in for Crimson Lake.

[Bill]

I hope the discussions are great. 2 weeks until the thread is set up.. :)

[MissLemon]

I think I can get Resurrection Bay from my library online so hoping to join in on this one

[Sharlene]

She's snazzy, smart, sensual and knows how to get herself into trouble, while somehow solving a murder along with the charming and slightly awkward Detective Jack Robinson. Miss Fisher Murder Mysteries by Kerry Greenwood will certainly entertain.

Her character is rather risque compared to other murder mystery protagonists.

[Bill]

RJ - Slayer of Trolls wrote: "I'm in for Crimson Lake."

I'm starting it today.

[Bill]

Sharlene wrote: "She's snazzy, smart, sensual and knows how to get herself into trouble, while somehow solving a murder along with the charming and slightly awkward Detective Jack Robinson. Miss Fisher Murder Myste..."

It's a great book and TV series, Sharlene. Maybe I'll come back to Australia again for a future group read.