Group Reads 2025

[Ann]

Carol: how fun you were in Sherry’s bookstore! Hope you had time to meet up too!

Carol/Bonadie wrote: "I was in Sherry's bookstore and saw this on the shelves: Kills Well with Others. It's the sequel to Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn, which I believe was..."

[Ann]

Group Read Books 2025 updated lineup
New - We have a title and US publish date for the Thursday Murder Club book 5 - added for Oct/Nov-2025
New - Add for June/Jul-2025 Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy
New - Add for Aug/Sep-2025 Kills Well with Others vy Deanna Raybourn

🔶 Dec/Jan-2025 Keep Your Family Close by Annette Dashofy

🔶Jan/Feb-2025 The God of the Woods by Liz Moore

🔶Feb/Mar-2025 Butter by Asako Yuzuki

🔶Mar/Apr-2025 The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon

🔶 Apr/May-2025 First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston

🔶May/Jun-2025 The Summer Guests by Tess Gerritsen

🔶May/Jun-2025 Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson

🔶Jun/Jul-2025 Kill Your Darlings by Peter Swanson

🔶Jun/Jul-2025 Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy

🔶Jul/Aug-2025 Don't Let Him In by Lisa Jewell

🔶Aug/Sep-2025 Kills Well with Others by Deanna Raybourn

🔶Sep/Oct-2025 The Hallmarked Man byRobert Galbraith

🔶 Oct/Nov-2025 The Impossible Fortune by Richard Osman Thursday Murder Club #5

[Carol/Bonadie]

While reading an article on recommended mystery/thrillers in the Boston Globe (link below), two pieces of exciting news:

There's a new Maid novel out by Nita Prose: The Maid's Secret. Group read perhaps?

The Thursday Murder Club just wrapped filming for a Netflix movie starring Pierce Brosnan, Ben Kingsley and Helen Mirren. Fun!!!

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2025/04/0...

[GailW]

I have a question I need to ask you serious Robert Galbraith fans - I haven't read book 6 and 7. Do you think I'll be missing much if I pick it up again at The Hallmarked Man? (there is no way I'll be able to catch up by then.)

[Ann]

Gail, re your question on reading the 2025 Robert Galbraith book before the last two - I think would be fine. The relationship between Strike and Robin will have evolved (or not depending on your point of view) but the cases usually stand alone nicely!

[Carol/Bonadie]

Gail, I second Ann's opinion. As a dedicated read-in-order person I would hate to skip the books because I follow Strike's and Robin's relationships and changes in their families/friends as much as I follow the cases. But Ann is right that while references may be made to previous cases, the central cases in each book stand alone. If you can stand that, you're good to pick up The Hallmarked Man.

[GailW]

Perfect. Thanks. I'm a read-in-order reader too but the books are so big that reading three of them is too daunting for me anymore. I think that's why I haven't read the last two! I read 5 during covid shutdown and loved it.

[Carol/Bonadie]

Also, there is so much available online what with fan summaries and AI, that if you come across something in the plot and you think "who the heck is *that*?" or "how did we get here?" you can probably quickly Google it and find the answer. Or ask us, your personal AIs, LOL.

[GailW]

GailW wrote: "Perfect. Thanks. I'm a read-in-order reader too but the books are so big that reading three of them is too daunting for me anymore. I think that's why I haven't read the last two! I read 5 during c..."

Well, great idea! 😂

[Sherry]

hey CAROL and BARRY- just an FYI
i'm hosting lisa jewell at bank square books on June 22 at 7 pm. ticketed event (with or without book) - only 60 tickets left!

[Carol/Bonadie]

Sherry, I already had it on my calendar so I will see if I could get a ticket now.

[Sherry]

Carol/Bonadie wrote: "Sherry, I already had it on my calendar so I will see if I could get a ticket now."

great!

[Carol/Bonadie]

Ann, don't know if you missed my suggestion above in message #53 for the next in the Maid series

[Ann]

Thanks Carol - that is exciting news - we must add it too. The Group Read list is growing nicely!! Hmm, available starting 4/8/2025 for US publication. Where shall we slot it?

Carol/Bonadie wrote: "Ann, don't know if you missed my suggestion above in message #53 for the next in the Maid series"

Carol/Bonadie wrote: "While reading an article on recommended mystery/thrillers in the Boston Globe (link below), two pieces of exciting news:

There's a new Maid novel out by Nita Prose: The Maid's Secret."

[Ann]

Group Read Books 2025 updated lineup
New - tentative timing Jul/Aug-2025 The Maid's Secret by Nita Prose

🔶 Dec/Jan-2025 Keep Your Family Close by Annette Dashofy

🔶Jan/Feb-2025 The God of the Woods by Liz Moore

🔶Feb/Mar-2025 Butter by Asako Yuzuki

🔶Mar/Apr-2025 The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon

🔶 Apr/May-2025 First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston

🔶May/Jun-2025 The Summer Guests by Tess Gerritsen

🔶May/Jun-2025 Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson

🔶Jun/Jul-2025 Kill Your Darlings by Peter Swanson

🔶Jun/Jul-2025 Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy

🔶Jul/Aug-2025 Don't Let Him In by Lisa Jewell

🔶Jul/Aug-2025 The Maid's Secret by Nita Prose

🔶Aug/Sep-2025 Kills Well with Others by Deanna Raybourn

🔶Sep/Oct-2025 The Hallmarked Man byRobert Galbraith

🔶 Oct/Nov-2025 The Impossible Fortune by Richard Osman Thursday Murder Club #5

[Natali]

I'd like to put The Roads Chosen up for grabs.



My review:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Jade]

Can I add my name to Natali's nomination



My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[GailW]

Natali wrote: "I'd like to put The Roads Chosen up for grabs...

Ooooh. I like the sounds of that one. And for $1.21 on kindle, I already bought it!

[Ada]

I've just finished this. I don't know what to say about it. I'm now reading the second instalment. If it is all true and it does give that sense, I wonder why the author put this out as a thriller.

[Ann]

Folder update - to avoid having so many single group read folders this year I started a Group Reads 2025 folder - this is now quite full with the two threads per book so far this year. I renamed that Folder Group Reads Jan-Jun 2025 for the first half of the year and made a new folder called Group Reads Jul-Dec 2025 for the back half of the year - Feedback or questions welcome.

[Sherry]

Ann wrote: "Folder update - to avoid having so many single group read folders this year I started a Group Reads 2025 folder - this is now quite full with the two threads per book so far this year. I renamed th..."

sounds like a good plan to me, ann!

[Carol/Bonadie]

Sounds good to me also, Ann! Thanks for organizing us.

Ann wrote: "Folder update - to avoid having so many single group read folders this year I started a Group Reads 2025 folder - this is now quite full with the two threads per book so far this year. I renamed th..."

[Ann]

Group Read Books 2025 time to finish out the year. Do any of you have suggestions for a November and a December book to add?
Our last designated 2025 group read book is for October/November with the Thursday Murder Club installment.

Potentials sources: Barry's lists of award nominees and winners might spark some ideas. https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Goodreads Fall books month by month guide may give ideas:
https://www.goodreads.com/blog/show/2...

** Is anyone else curious about the Reese Witherspoon / Harlan Coben collaboration for Gone Before Goodbye?
Another possibility is Hero by Thomas Perry. It's a standalone. Thomas Perry passed away on 15-Sep-2025 http://new.deadlypleasures.com/2025/0...

The list:
🔶 Dec/Jan-2025 Keep Your Family Close by Annette Dashofy

🔶Jan/Feb-2025 The God of the Woods by Liz Moore

🔶Feb/Mar-2025 Butter by Asako Yuzuki

🔶Mar/Apr-2025 The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon

🔶 Apr/May-2025 First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston

🔶May/Jun-2025 The Summer Guests by Tess Gerritsen

🔶May/Jun-2025 Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson

🔶Jun/Jul-2025 Kill Your Darlings by Peter Swanson

🔶Jun/Jul-2025 Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy

🔶Jul/Aug-2025 Don't Let Him In by Lisa Jewell

🔶Jul/Aug-2025 The Maid's Secret by Nita Prose

🔶Aug/Sep-2025 Kills Well with Others by Deanna Raybourn

🔶Sep/Oct-2025 The Hallmarked Man byRobert Galbraith

🔶 Oct/Nov-2025 The Impossible Fortune by Richard Osman Thursday Murder Club #5

🔶 Nov/Dec-2025

🔶 Dec-2025/Jan-2026

[GailW]

Just a couple of suggestions that I recently found as good deals on kindle and are on my list to read someday:

* Dead Sweet by Katrín Júlíusdóttir, first in a series from an Icelandic author. Billed as a political thriller, with the main protagonist a female police officer.

* The Rabbit Factor, first in a series from a Finnish author. Sounds unique. Billed as a quirky, tense and funny thriller. I've read another standalone from this author and really enjoyed it (and that was unique as well!).

* Hide by Tracy Clark. First in a series with a female detective in Chicago. This won the Anthony Award for best paperback in 2024. The third book in the series, Echo, was a nominee for the Anthony Award this year. (Which I thought I had - but wrong book!)

* The Harlen Coben with Reese Witherspoon sounds good as well!

[Sherry]

i'm definitely interested in Gone Before Goodbye- coben/witherspoon

[Ann]

Gail and Sherry, I agree, the Harlan Coben/ Reese Witherspoon collaboration seems like a natural fit for a group read. 😀 and Gail your three first in series book options look intriguing, especially The Rabbit Factor.
I have read the first three Tracy Clark books and look forward to book four in December so Hide is a good possibility.

[GailW]

Ann wrote: "Gail and Sherry, I agree, the Harlan Coben/ Reese Witherspoon collaboration seems like a natural fit for a group read. 😀 and Gail your three first in series book options look intriguing, especially..."

Two cool things about the first one: the author is actually a politician in Iceland. Also, I think I saw you "want to read" Reykjavík: A Crime Story by Ragnar Jónasson? From the cover it looks like she is a co-author with him on that book. Maybe we do that one? If we save it for Dec-Jan we can use it for the more than one author prompt?!? Just a thought.

.... [PS - nope that wasn't you. Another friend in a different group!] ....

I'm eager to read the Rabbit Factor at some point because I want to see how he does tense and funny. I've already seen him do quirky and funny (he's got a wry sense of humor which I love)

[Carol/Bonadie]

I like Gail's suggestions, although haven't prioritized them yet as to preference.

Not sure about the Reese/Harlan collab. I'll look at the description but have moved away from his type of doubled-down thrillers. But I have no problem skipping a month if I decide not to read.
----
edit: The Resse Harlan collab looks sort of interesting, although I pause at the "devastating tragedies" that are mentioned to kick off the heroine's story. I'll wait to decide, if it gets picked.

[Ann]

Carol: I know what you mean; the collaboration with Reese will be my first Harlan Coben book in a while. I am a fan of Reese, so curious enough to try it.