Mystery/Thriller Reading Friends discussion
Monthly "Reads"
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Post Your Top Reads of 2021 Here!
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Here's a link to last year's results:https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
And a list to last year's request thread if you want to see how others posted their picks last year:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Thanks Carol! I look forward to seeing everyone else's top books!
Top Mystery/Thriller Books (list up to 10)Who Killed Miss Finch?: A quirky whodunnit with a heart
The Thursday Murder Club
The Guest List
Murder in the Valleys
The Crossing Places
The Long Call
State of Terror
The Man Who Died Twice
The Snow Day Murders
Top M/T Authors (list up to 5)
Richard Osman
Peter Boon
Elly Griffiths
Ann Cleeves
Top Books any genre (list up to 5)
The House in the Cerulean Sea
The Island of Sea Women
The Year of the Witching
Lights on the Sea
Top Series (list up to 5)
The Thursday Murder Club (Osman)
Edward Crisp (Boon)
Two Rivers (Cleeves)
Ruth Galloway (Griffiths)
Best "New to Me" Author (list one)
Peter Boon
Bottom of the Barrel Books (list up to 5)
Son of Rosemary
Anxious People
The Witch's Heart
The Midnight Library
Top Mystery/Thriller Books (list up to 10)Family Business: SJ Rozan
The Revelators: Ace Atkins
House On Fire: Joseph Finder
The Dark Hours: Michael Connelly
The Nameless Ones: John Connolly
Enemy at the Gates: Vince Flynn (Kyle Mills)
The Chaos Kind: Barry Eisler
Blacktop Wasteland: SA Cosby
Outsider: Linda Castillo
Ocean Prey: John Sanford
CJ Box: Dark Sky
Natchez Burning: Greg Isles
Relentless: Mark Greaney
Top M/T Authors (list up to 5)
Michael Connelly
John Sanford
John Connolly
Ace Atkins
Mark Greaney
Top Books any genre (list up to 5)
Peril: Bob Woodword
One Second After: Forstchen, William R
Trial by Fire: PT Deuterman
Top Series (list up to 5)
Spenser- Ace Atkins
Natchez Burning- Greg Isles
Bosch/Ballard- Micheal Connelly
Charlie Parker-John Connolly
Davenport- John Sanford
Best "New to Me" Author (list one)
The Midnight Plan of the Repo Man: W Bruce Cameron
Bottom of the Barrel Books (list up to 5)
The Last Houseguest: Megan Miranda
The Relic Hunters: David Leadbetter
Edge of Danger: Jack Higgins
The First Council: Brad Meltzer
The Eighth Detective: Alex Pavisi
Top Mystery/Thriller Books (list up to 10)Family Business sj rozan
Nine Lives- peter swanson
The Investigator- john sandford
My Darling Husband- Kimberly belle
Local Woman Missing- mary kubica
The Next Wife- kaira rouda
False Witness- karin slaughter
Ocean Prey- john sandford
When Ghosts Come Homewiley cash
You Will Remember Me- hannah mary mckinnon
Top M/T Authors (list up to 5)
as well as the "usual suspects" that most of us have on our lists every year (Crais, Coben, Slaughter, Sandford..)
Kimberly Belle
Peter Swanson
Kaira Rouda
Top Books any genre (list up to 5)
first 4 are 2022 releases
Sister Stardust- jane green
Gilt- jamie brenner
This Time Tomorrow- emma straub
The Fashion Orphans randy susan meters
Golden Girl- elin hilderbrand
Top Series (list up to 5)
Lydia and Bill- SJ Rozan
Davenport/Flowers- John Sandford
Linton/Trent- Karin Slaughter
Jamie and Claire- Diana Gabaldon (ok, not m/t but one of my favorites)
Best "New to Me" Author (list one)
Mary Kubica
Bottom of the Barrel Books (list up to 5)
(both not m/t)
Monogamy- Sue Miller
The Good Son- jacqueline Mitchard
Dan’s Best ListM/T’s
The Bone Polisher, Timothy Hallinan
The Law of Innocence, Michael Connelly
Spoils of the Dead, Dana Stabenow
The Art of Violence, SJ Rozan
Dark Sky, CJ Box
The Cellist, Daniel Silva
Sacred, Dennis Lebanese
Tundra Kill, Stan Jones
Tear It Down, Nick Petrie
Facets of Death, Michael Stanley
M/T Author
Timothy Hallinan
Michael Connelly
Dana Stabenow
SJ Rozan
Dennis Zlehane
Top Any Genre
Welcome to Hard Times, EL Doctorow
Whiteout, Ken Follett
The Mosquito Coast, Paul Thoreau
Day Zero, C Robert Cargill
Battleground, Jim Butcher
Top Series
Bill/Lydia
Gabriel Allon
Detective Kubu
Nathan Active
Patrick/Angie
Best NTM Author
Alice Sabo
Ann's 2021 top picks - it was really hard to narrow my top books this year to fit the numbers per each category (but I did!) Top Mystery/Thriller Books (list up to 10)
So hard to pick just ten! My determination challenge and group reads led me to a few of these very good books!
Flowers Over the Inferno Tuti, Ilaria
The Guest List Foley, Lucy
Billy Summers King, Stephen
State of Terror Clinton, Hillary Rodham, Penny, Louise
Where All Light Tends to Go Joy, David
The Survivors Harper, Jane
The Unwilling Hart, John
Dream Girl Lippman, Laura
Razorblade Tears Cosby, S.A.
The Man Who Died Twice (Thursday Murder Club, #2) Osman, Richard
Top M/T Authors (list up to 5)
listing a few "off the beaten path" - I still love the regulars too
Cosby, S.A.
Harper, Jane
Penny, Louise
McTiernan, Dervla
Slaughter, Karin
Top Books any genre (list up to 5)
These lean towards sci fi this year:
A Song for a New Day Pinsker, Sarah
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue Schwab, V.E.
The City Where We Once Lived Barnes, Eric
Project Hail Mary Weir, Andy
Good Morning, Midnight Brooks-Dalton, Lily
Top Series (list up to 5)
the books I read this year (and the series)
The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet (Wayfarers, #1) Chambers, Becky
The Art of Violence: (A Lydia Chin/Bill Smith Novel) Rozan, S.J.
Cold Wind (Alaska Wild Mysteries, #2) Shelton, Paige
The Madness of Crowds (Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, #17) Penny, Louise
Miss Kopp Investigates (Kopp Sisters, #7) Stewart, Amy
Best "New to Me" Author (list one)
I read two books by David Joy this year and both were stellar!
When These Mountains Burn Joy, David
Bottom of the Barrel Books (list up to 5)
This one was a real disappointment; I rarely have bottom of the barrel books since I usually drop them like a hot potato. I was curious enough about this one to skim it to the end. painful.
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (The Hunger Games, #0) Collins, Suzanne
Top New To Me AuthorGenevieve Gornichec
Top M/T Books
The Bombay Prince by Sujata Massey
(Perveen Mistry series)
A Good Kill by John McMahon
(P.T. Marsh series)
Crimson Angel by Barbara Hambly
Top Any Genre
The Witch's Heart by Genevieve Gornichec
Do Better: Spiritual Activism for Fighting and Healing from White Supremacy by Rachel Ricketts
The Organ Thieves: The Shocking Story of the First Heart Transplant in the Segregated South by Chip Jones
The System: Who Rigged It, How We Fix It by Robert B. Reich
Freedomville: The Story of a 21st-Century Slave Revolt by Laura T. Murphy
Top M/T Gone for Good Joanna Schaffhausen
Last See Alive Joanna Schaffhausen
The Heathens Ace Atkins
The Last Time She Died Zoe Sharp
Wrong Alibi Christina Dodd
Tell Me Anne Frasier
A Stranger in Town Kelley Armstrong
Beneath Devil's Bridge Loreth Anne White
Deep in the Dark PJ Tracy
An Irish Hostage Charles Todd
Top M/T Authors
Joanna Schaffhausen
Loreth Anne White
Kelley Armstrong
Ace Atkins
Christina Dodd
Top Books any Genre
The Black Hawk Joanna Bourne (historical)
Natural Born Charmer Susan Elizabeth Phillips (romcom)
The Dark Archive Genevieve Cogman (fantasy)
Lord of Scoundrels Loretta Chase (historical romance)
The Gypsy Queen Anne Cleeland (historical romance)
Top Series
Hathaway and Markham by Joanna Schaffhausen
Duncan and Dalton by Kelley Armstrong
Inspector Gamache by Louise Penney
Sheriff Quinn Colson by Ace Atkins
Doyle and Acton by Anne Cleeland (
I have not included books by favorite authors if it is only the first book of the series or a duology.
Best new to Me Authors
Joanna Bourne
Bottom of the Barrel
The Last Protector by Simon Gervais
Top Mystery/Thriller Books (list up to 10)One Minute Out by Mark Greaney, featuring Court Gentry (Gray Man)
False Witness by Karin Slaughter
We Begin at the End by Chris Whitaker
The Unwilling by John Hart
Natchez Burning by Greg Iles
The Madness of Crowds by Louise Penny
The Guest List by Lucy Foley
Top M/T Authors (list up to 5)
Louise Penny
Michael Connelly
Karin Slaughter
Mark Greaney
Gregg Hurwitz
Top Books any genre (list up to 5)
The Guncle by Steven Rowley
Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Four Winds by Kristin Hannah
Wish You Were Here by Jodi Picoult
Better Believe It by Fern Ronay
Top Series (list up to 5)
Gray Man by Mark Greaney
Orphan X by Gregg Hurwitz
Three Pines by Louise Penny
Linton/Trent by Karin Slaughter
Bosch by Michael Connelly
Best "New to Me" Author (list one)
Christopher Whitaker
Bottom of the Barrel Books (list up to 5)
I didn't really have any this year
Thanks to all who posted so far! I will be working on this next weekend so if you haven't posted yet and want to (like me) please post by Friday Jan. 15. Thanks all!
How many times can I vote? Or should I resort to aliases?
Barry: more books, or same books? I had a few I wished I could have listed. LolBarry wrote: "How many times can I vote? Or should I resort to aliases?"
Ann wrote: "Barry: more books, or same books? I had a few I wished I could have listed. LolBarry wrote: "How many times can I vote? Or should I resort to aliases?""
There are just so many worthy authors!
Top Mystery/Thriller Books (list up to 10)Deacon King Kong - James McBride (read by Dominic Hoffman)
The Survivors - Jane Harper
Snap - Belinda Bauer
The Thursday Murder Club - Richard Osman (read by Lesley Manville)
A Killing Frost - R.D. Wingfield (read by Stephen Thorne)
Top Books any genre (list up to 5)
Boom Town - Sam Anderson (read by the author)
Artemis - Andy Weir (read by Rosario Dawson)
Best "New to Me" Author (list one)
Richard Osman
Here we go:Top Mystery/Thriller Books (list up to 10)
Moonflower Murders Anthony Horowitz
The Survivors Jane Harper
Ocean Prey John Sandford
White River Burning John Verdon
On Harrow Hill John Verdon
The Madness of Crowds Louise Penny
Dog on It Spencer Quinn
The Man Who Died Twice Richard Osman
Dark Sacred Night Michael Connelly
A Kiss Before Dying Ira Levin
Top M/T Authors (list up to 5)
John Sandford
Louise Penny
Michael Connelly
John Verdon
Peter Swanson
Top Books any genre (list up to 5)
Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics
A Promised Land Barack Obama
Catch and Kill: Lies, Spies, and a Conspiracy to Protect Predators Ronan Farrow
Peril Bob Woodward/Robert Costas
Girl, Woman, Other Bernardine Evaristo
Top Series (list up to 5)
Dave Guerney by John Verdon
Inspector Gamauche by Louise Penny
Harry Bosch by Michael Connelly
Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
Lucas Davenport by John Sandford
Best "New to Me" Author (list one)
Richard Osman
Bottom of the Barrel Books (list up to 5)
none. there were a few I rated 3 out of 5 (my lowest rating for the year) but none were so bad as to be "bottom of the barrel"
Ira Levin! Carol, I was surprised and delighted to see A Kiss Before Dying on your list. It is so scary.
Sherry wrote: "Carol- i just love that Dog on It made your top 10!"I was impressed too. And happy we finally got together again.
Barry wrote: "Sherry wrote: "Carol- i just love that Dog on It made your top 10!"I was impressed too. And happy we finally got together again."
ditto!
Sherry wrote: "Carol- i just love that Dog on It made your top 10!"I know, Sherry. I could barely believe it myself! Not my usual thing, but it was such a surprise and kept me chuckling throughout.
Sherry wrote: "Barry wrote: "Sherry wrote: "Carol- i just love that Dog on It made your top 10!"I was impressed too. And happy we finally got together again."
ditto!"
Me too Barry and Sherry! Let's not wait so long next time!
Mary Jo wrote: "Ira Levin! Carol, I was surprised and delighted to see A Kiss Before Dying on your list. It is so scary."Very scary, Mary Jo! Almost as scary as Rosemary's Baby, another that sent chills through me.
I had a mixed bag this month from romance to mystery for my March reads:Meg and Jo
Unforgettable In LoveSummer Rental
A Good Day for Chardonnay
Stargazing on the Orient Express: Once Again, Book 5
Kathy wrote: "I had a mixed bag this month from romance to mystery for my March reads:Meg and Jo
Unforgettable In LoveSummer Rental
[book:A Good Day for Chardonnay..."
you might want to move this to the monthly reads topic Kathy, so everyone will see it :)
Mystery/Thriller Reading Friends
Books mentioned in this topic
Summer Rental (other topics)Unforgettable In Love (other topics)
Meg and Jo (other topics)
Stargazing on the Orient Express (other topics)
A Good Day for Chardonnay (other topics)
More...
The Categories
Top Mystery/Thriller Books (list up to 10)
Top M/T Authors (list up to 5)
Top Books any genre (list up to 5)
Top Series (list up to 5)
Best "New to Me" Author (list one)
Bottom of the Barrel Books (list up to 5)
Instructions
Please put all your picks in one post, and please put them in this topic so I don't miss them. If you forget something you can come back and edit your original post, just put EDITED before your addition so I know to go back and add it.
Please list the full book title and author's name. Likewise the full character name if it's a series. This will save me time having to google full names of books/authors with which I'm not familiar in order to match up everyone’s picks.
e.g. Troubled Blood by Robert Galbraith, or
Troubled Blood by Robert Galbraith, featuring Cormoran Strike.
You don't have to list in all categories, and you don't have to post the maximum in each categories. Just please don't go over the max. Otherwise I will leave off the ones listed over the max indicated.
Final Thoughts
After Jan. 15 (or so) I will begin compiling everyone's lists and will aim to post the top picks in each category by the end of the month.
If you want inspiration, you can see our Best of 2020 results. I've posted the link below. I've included the link for last year's responses if you want to see how others formatted their posts.
I can't wait to see what everyone selects! Questions? You can post them here, and either Ann or I (or another longtime poster) will answer.
Let the posting begin!