Play Book Tag discussion
December 2024: Mystery-Suspense
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Announcing the Tag for December
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Yay! My favorite genre! I just have to close my eyes and pull from any TBR Tower to meet this one. AND I don't have to consider letters or number of tags!That said, I'll likely mostly read those with Christmas/New Years holiday settings. Because those are my absolute favorites to read this time of year. Right in front of me are:
Crime at Christmas by C.H.B. Kitchin
The Christmas Card Crime and Other Stories - classic short stories by the writers of the British Golden Age of Detective Fiction
Also some rereads:
Rest You Merry by Charlotte MacLeod - very cozy, funny and an annual re-read for me as it is my favorite Christmas mystery.
The Twelve Deaths Of Christmas by Marian Babson - another annual read, another cozy but with a dark edge. Still humorous in the way only the British Babson can deliver.
This year I'm also planning a re-read of Not a Creature was Stirring in which Jane Haddam introduced her series character retired FBI agent Gregor Demarkian and the Armenian community of Philadelphia. Most of her titles revolve around holidays and there are multiples for the Christmas season. I've been meaning to reread this for a while. These are detective stories rather than pure cozy mysteries but often still considered a cozy.
I'm also reading Winter Witness by Tina deBellegarde which is the 1st in a series that I've read the 2nd and am currently reading the 3rd. I don't usually read series out of order but it does happen, and this one it worked fine.
A few non-Christmas are likely to slip in - I have a couple from another group's trim challenge to read before end of December and they have nothing to do with the season. One is part of a series set in Paris and I highly recommend the series - first is:
Murder in the Marais by Cara Black - set in the old Jewish quarter of Paris in the 1990s, revolves around WWII secrets and betrayals coming to light, Aimee LeDuc is a computer forensic detective who finds herself caught up actual murder detection, reluctantly. There's a thriller aspect to these as well as detective story.
One last recommendation - a collection of holiday short stories from my favorite crime fiction publisher, Soho Crime: The Usual Santas: A Collection of Soho Crime Christmas Capers. These are not your usual collection of holiday shorts as Soho Crime's author roster boasts many international authors in translation, as well as authors like Cara Black and Sujata Massey.
I was surprised this won because we already had Historical Mystery and Crime this year. I am finishing my 4th mystery in a row at the moment, all read for other purposes. But I still have plenty in my TBR.
Well that’s a fun note to finish on. And I bet we can find some holiday-based mystery suspense books, or non-fiction!
I just finished a Non-fiction book for my F2F book club that is tagged "mystery-suspense" - Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson Great book!
I was thinking the same thing, Judith!! A Bruno-fest!
YAY! This is the one I was hoping for. (Although I'd have been ok with any of them. My second choice would have been nonfiction.)When I saw it was one of the choices, I thought it was one we had done recently, but we haven't done it at all. We did do "Mystery-thriller", but that was way back in ... 2016 or something - I'd have to double check. I think we did "Mystery" or something similar more recently, though.
ETA: We did "Detective" in 2022. "Suspense" in 2020. Also "Thriller" in 2020. "Mystery Thriller" in 2016. I didn't look further back than that (that was pre-GR), and I don't actually see "Mystery" all by itself at all.
We did "Historical Mystery" in January 2024 and "Crime" in May 2024.
I was hoping for non-fiction because I seem to be able to focus on that better than fiction atm but I'm sure there are some non-fiction books to fit this tag.....right?
Jen wrote: "I was hoping for non-fiction because I seem to be able to focus on that better than fiction atm but I'm sure there are some non-fiction books to fit this tag.....right?"I have The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder lined up, Jen - definitely a mystery to unravel and a survival tale has to be pretty suspenseful!
Jen, Another non-fiction that would qualify for this tag is: Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland
KateNZ wrote: "Jen wrote: "I was hoping for non-fiction because I seem to be able to focus on that better than fiction atm but I'm sure there are some non-fiction books to fit this tag.....right?"I have [book:T..."
Excellent Suggestion. I have that on my physical TBR stacks. The Wager it is.
KateNZ wrote: "I was thinking the same thing, Judith!! A Bruno-fest!"Going to join in on that!
Joy D wrote: "Jen, Another non-fiction that would qualify for this tag is: Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland"Did you know that made a series of that on Neflix? I was just reading about it yesterday!
Jen-really great book!
I did not know, but I'm not surprised.I thought of another non-fiction that definitely fits this tag (I really enjoyed this one):
The Spy and the Traitor: The Greatest Espionage Story of the Cold War
Oh, I second The Spy and the Traitor: The Greatest Espionage Story of the Cold War - just read it and gave it 5 stars
What I love about this tag, is that I have tons of this on my TBR that I just never get to. And like four of them on my top 20 of the secret TBR. I am excited simply to have significant change in the composition of my Secret (not at all secret) phone TBR.
LoL-I have not heard about your "secret tbrs" in a while Amy-this made me smile that they are still around. Are there still books in the truck of your car? 😅
KateNZ wrote: ".The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder."This book was so good! And it definitely fits the tag. Can't wait to hear what you think.
Joanne wrote: "LoL-I have not heard about your "secret tbrs" in a while Amy-this made me smile that they are still around. Are there still books in the truck of your car? 😅"I was about to say the same thing!
Anita wrote: "KateNZ wrote: ".The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder."This book was so good! And it definitely fits the tag. Can't wait to hear what you think."
same for his other book - Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI
I am not sure what I should read, but I definitely am excited for some more engaging, less "hard" reading for December. I'm going on a cruise with my Dad and his girlfriend, so just want some fun reading that sucks me in.My husband has a Kindle unlimited subscription right now that is a trial with his new Kindle. I downloaded The Silent Patient and Hidden Pictures for free from there. But would definitely be up for suggestions that I can get from either Kindle unlimited or the library! I think I may own The Guest List also. I also see to have Dark Matter and The Boyfriend. Lol, help me decide!
Let me know if you think any one of these is better than the others.
If you liked Gone Girl, you will like The Silent Patient. I hated them both, but that's just me. It looks like all the ones you mentioned are very readable, which is good for vacation.
The Bruno comment reminded me that another series beloved by many and just started by some fits the tag: J.D. Robb's In Death series!
@Anita - not sure any of these authors have books currently on Kindle Unlimited, but Tana French is a favorite of mine, and she has standalones not just The Dublin Murder Squad series. The series books are vaguely connected but work as standalones. Ruth Ware writes only standalones that are a bit modern gothic. Silvia Moreno-Garcia's books fit.Personally I really disliked The Guest List and hated Gone Girl. But much of the reason was that as someone who reads a lot of mystery and suspense, starting with Nancy Drew at age 12, they just don't stand up to my critical eye. But they are fine for those who only dip into the genre.
A couple off the radar suggestions I really liked:
First Lie Wins
When No One Is Watching - this one has an inderlying theme of historical housing discrimination in Brooklyn in it based on real history.
Robin P wrote: "If you liked Gone Girl, you will like The Silent Patient. I hated them both, but that's just me. It looks like all the ones you mentioned are very readable, which is good for vacation."Lol, I did like Gone Girl, so appreciate that I might be fine with The Silent Patient! Funny how Gone Girl is so controversial - - people either loved it or hated it.
Theresa wrote: "@Anita - not sure any of these authors have books currently on Kindle Unlimited, but Tana French is a favorite of mine, and she has standalones not just The Dublin Murder Squad seri..."I actually think I may own the first book of the Dublin Murder Squad too. I didn't think of that one.
I barely read any mystery and suspense so I probably don't have the highest bar in the world. But I might not start with The Guest List now!!
Theresa wrote: "@Anita - not sure any of these authors have books currently on Kindle Unlimited, but Tana French is a favorite of mine, and she has standalones not just The Dublin Murder Squad seri..."I put a hold on First Lie Wins. We'll see if I get it before I leave for vacation.
Anita wrote: "I am not sure what I should read, but I definitely am excited for some more engaging, less "hard" reading for December. I'm going on a cruise with my Dad and his girlfriend, so just want some fun r..."I read The Silent Patient and really did not care for it. I liked Dark Matter and you may appreciate it.
For something kind of fun you may like The Thursday Murder Club just to see what all the fuss is about.
I love mysteries but have read so many this year and I'm about to finish a 25 book series which I read from 1-25 this year, so I am not quite as delighted as everyone else with this tag. Having said that I can always read another one and perhaps finish out the year with the books I wanted to read but left by the wayside with reading my series.
Anita wrote: "Theresa wrote: "@Anita - not sure any of these authors have books currently on Kindle Unlimited, but Tana French is a favorite of mine, and she has standalones not just The Dublin M..."Great! It was nominated for an Edgar this year and I read it as part of our annual Edgar reading. I was surprised how much fun it was, and different. I also do not think it dark or heavy, but definitely clever. A new author for me and one I will read again.
Anita wrote: "I am not sure what I should read, but I definitely am excited for some more engaging, less "hard" reading for December. I'm going on a cruise with my Dad and his girlfriend, so just want some fun r..."Just wanted to mention that The Marlow Murder Club is on Kindle Unlimited and also is mystery-suspense tagged. It is light reading with no deep messages, but I got a kick out of it.
Anita wrote: "I am not sure what I should read, but I definitely am excited for some more engaging, less "hard" reading for December. I'm going on a cruise with my Dad and his girlfriend, so just want some fun r..."Anita, I'd love to hear about your cruise! What cruise line, where are you going, etc? Message me, if you'd prefer. :-)
Anita wrote: "I barely read any mystery and suspense so I probably don't have the highest bar in the world. But I might not start with The Guest List now!!..."And I loved "The Guest List" (and this is also one of my favourite genres! ... but for me, that seems to mean I really like most of them - that includes "Gone Girl" and "Into the Woods" (Tana French).
Excellent. This is what I voted for; those who want holiday can easily find holiday mysteries :) And I don't even have to worry about matching letters!
Anita wrote: "I am not sure what I should read, but I definitely am excited for some more engaging, less "hard" reading for December. I'm going on a cruise with my Dad and his girlfriend, so just want some fun r..."I read both the Silent Patient and Hidden Pictures. Although I really liked Hidden Pictures, I don't think you will Anita. There is a lot of paranormal/ghost stuff as part of the story line. I think the Silent Patient is a better choice for you. (Although what is nice about kindle unlimited is you can start a book and if you don't like it, just move on to the next one.)
Cora wrote: "Anita wrote: "I am not sure what I should read, but I definitely am excited for some more engaging, less "hard" reading for December. I'm going on a cruise with my Dad and his girlfriend, so just w..."Oh, thank you so much! I love how you know me so well. Yeah, paranormal is definitely not my best thing. This is extremely helpful.
I have these books set aside to read. I may not get to them all. I have a chance to finish up the Sherlock Holmes series. 1) His Last Bow - Arthur Conan Doyle
2) The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes - Arthur Conan Doyle
3) No Country for Old Men - Cormac McCarthy
4) The Wives - Tarryn Fisher
5) I Am Pilgrim - Terry Hayes
I second I Am Pilgrim - a 5 star read. in a genre that is not normal for me. I use to read a lot of thrillers, but got a bit bored with the same old story. IMO, in this one Hayes will not disappoint. I have had The Year of the Locust on by TBR since then, maybe now is the time to pick it up.
I wanted to make a recommendation that would work for both the month tag and Fall Flurries. If I'm remembering correctly, it made my top 10 last year:Dead of Winter by Darcy Coates.
I think there are a few winter-y thriller/suspense books out there that could work for both. That's just the first one that came to my mind.
ETA: I checked what I have tagged "winter" and these also fit (I have these tagged thriller and/or suspense and all three are also tagged mystery):
An Unwanted Guest by Sheri Lapena
Deep Freeze by Lisa Jackson
Play Book Tag
Books mentioned in this topic
The Overnight Guest (other topics)An Unwanted Guest (other topics)
Deep Freeze (other topics)
Dead of Winter (other topics)
I Am Pilgrim (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Arthur Conan Doyle (other topics)Terry Hayes (other topics)
Tarryn Fisher (other topics)
Cormac McCarthy (other topics)
Tana French (other topics)
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The vote was quite close for a change, but we have a winner! I won't leave you in suspense ;)
The tag for next month is:
mystery-suspense
Non-fiction made a good run for the money, but those who voted for holiday ultimately cast a lot of votes for mystery-suspense as their second choice.
Please share your reading plans and recommendations below.
Remember, for the regular monthly reads, the book can be shelved as "mystery-suspense" on Goodreads, or be a book that is not yet shelved that way but you feel should be.
One way to find books to read for this tag is to please visit:
https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...
We encourage people to link to additional lists below if they find them.
Happy Reading!!!