The Mystery, Crime, and Thriller Group discussion

I have this thing about reading books before watching the movies they're based on, so I have a huge collection of unread novels that I'm wanting to read. These will be my challenge books for 2016 as well as this year's major focus in my crime-fiction blog.

I'll post as I read them --

I like that idea, Nancy. I look forward to seeing what you end up choosing.

I've been working on the list. Here's what I have so far from the upstairs crime library -- I still have to go through the British reading room.

Vertigo
She Who Was No More (Diabolique)
Fantômas
Dark Passage
So Evil My Love
To Have and Have Not
The Killer Inside Me
Perfume: The Story of a Murderer
Bunny Lake is Missing
Black Wings Has My Angel
No Orchids for Miss Blandish

Added to the list: Some Must Watch, which became The Spiral Staircase.

Two of my favorites:

Rebecca
The Big Sleep

Jill wrote: "Two of my favorites:

Rebecca
The Big Sleep"

They're both great - sadly, I've read them already! But keep them coming.

I didn't realize Bunny Lake was a book. Strange movie, but some great songs by The Zombies. The British Reading Room??? interesting.

Only books from the UK and Ireland are in that room. My daughter gave it its name.

I love it. I'm not quite so organized. The missus likes to organize by colours and such. I've got multitudinous lists of where my books are located, in which room, on which shelf.. lol

Bill wrote: "I didn't realize Bunny Lake was a book. Strange movie, but some great songs by The Zombies. The British Reading Room??? interesting."

it's definitely a book. It was written by the same person who wrote The Nanny, which became a Bette Davis movie. I should add that one to the list as well.

Adding The Aspern Papers, by Henry James. The film is The Lost Moment:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0039583/

Nancy wrote: "Adding The Aspern Papers, by Henry James. The film is The Lost Moment:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0039583/"

I saw The Lost Moment years ago. Very atmospheric and creepy, but hard to find.

Not really -- I just bought one on Amazon!

Nancy wrote: "Not really -- I just bought one on Amazon!"

You're right, of course. I was thinking of the last time I saw it on TV, which was more years ago than I care to mention. ;)

Gary wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Not really -- I just bought one on Amazon!"

You're right, of course. I was thinking of the last time I saw it on TV, which was more years ago than I care to mention. ;)"

I'd never heard of the film until someone suggested it to me just recently. Now I'm looking forward to seeing it.

Adding The Uninvited, by Dorothy Macardle. Okay, it's not a crime novel, but there are elements of mystery in most ghost stories so what the heck.

Gary wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Not really -- I just bought one on Amazon!"

You're right, of course. I was thinking of the last time I saw it on TV, which was more years ago than I care to mention. ;)"

When I was looking it up, I noticed it had been on TCM, so it may appear sooner or later.

Nancy wrote: "Gary wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Not really -- I just bought one on Amazon!"

You're right, of course. I was thinking of the last time I saw it on TV, which was more years ago than I care to mention. ;)"..."

Thanks! I'll keep looking for it. The Aspern Papers is one of my favorite Henry James stories. As I recall, the movie makes some siginifcant changes to the original--most film adaptations do--but is still very much worth watching.

Gary wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Gary wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Not really -- I just bought one on Amazon!"

You're right, of course. I was thinking of the last time I saw it on TV, which was more years ago than I care t..."

Sadly, I lost my copy so I had to get a new one. It usually comes with his "Turn of the Screw," kind of packaged together, but my copy of "Turn of the Screw" comes with his " In the Cage." I love Henry James.

Nancy wrote: "Gary wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Gary wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Not really -- I just bought one on Amazon!"

You're right, of course. I was thinking of the last time I saw it on TV, which was more years ago ..."

I have a recommendation. My Barnes and Noble Classics edition contains The Turn of the Screw, The Aspern Papers, The Beast in the Jungle, and one of Henry James's creepiest psychological "haunted house" stories, The Jolly Corner, along with the author's prefaces and a well-written introduction. Not bad for $5.95. At least, it was $5.95 when I bought it at B&N about 10 years ago. ;)

The Turn of the Screw, The Aspern Papers and Two Stories

In these stories, you can see the influence of James on writers like Shirley Jackson (The Haunting of Hill House) and Stephen King (The Shining).

Very kind and sweet of you, Gary, really, and I seriously appreciate you thinking of me.

After I went into a panic because I couldn't find my Aspern Papers, I picked up Penguin's The Aspern Papers and Other Tales as well as the little Wordsworth edition of Ghost Stories of Henry James. Like I need more books, but well, it's a sickness. :)

Nancy wrote: "Very kind and sweet of you, Gary, really, and I seriously appreciate you thinking of me.

After I went into a panic because I couldn't find my Aspern Papers, I picked up Penguin's [book:The Asper..."

You're very welcome, Nancy. I empathize. And my "book sickness" is trying to write them. ;)

Bill wrote: "I didn't realize Bunny Lake was a book. Strange movie, but some great songs by The Zombies. The British Reading Room??? interesting."

I didn't realize Bunny Lake was based on a book either. This was one of my favorite movies when I was a kid. Needless to say, I was a strange kid...

Faith wrote: "Bill wrote: "I didn't realize Bunny Lake was a book. Strange movie, but some great songs by The Zombies. The British Reading Room??? interesting."

I didn't realize Bunny Lake was based on a book e..."

Strange is good. I was that way as a kid myself.

Nancy wrote: "Adding The Uninvited, by Dorothy Macardle. Okay, it's not a crime novel, but there are elements of mystery in most ghost stories so what the heck."

Read not too long ago because I had enjoyed the movie, seen on TCM. I'm such a chicken I would only read it riding on public transportation.

Link to my review: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3....

Faith wrote: "Bill wrote: "I didn't realize Bunny Lake was a book. Strange movie, but some great songs by The Zombies. The British Reading Room??? interesting."

I didn't realize Bunny Lake was based on a book e..."

I think I read it about the same time as the movie, so I was still in high school then.

Thanks so very much, Jan -- I'll definitely read your review after I've reread the novel. I'm one of those strange people who never reads reviews of books until I read the books themselves, and it's been so long it will be like starting new. I just bought a new copy (my old paperback disappeared somehow), along with the Criterion edition of the movie. I am probably going to start my reading year with that one because I'm so excited to reread it.

Jan C wrote: "Faith wrote: "Bill wrote: "I didn't realize Bunny Lake was a book. Strange movie, but some great songs by The Zombies. The British Reading Room??? interesting."

I didn't realize Bunny Lake was bas..."

Keir Dullea, Laurence Olivier, and Noel Coward. Screenplay by John Mortimer of Rumpole fame. What more could you ask for? I'm looking forward to it.

Not a movie, but a mini-series, I'm adding Fingersmith, by Sarah Waters to my list for 2016.

Mary wrote: "Jan C wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Adding The Uninvited, by Dorothy Macardle. Okay, it's not a crime novel, but there are elements of mystery in most ghost stories so what the heck."

Read ..."

Wouldn't it be great if there was a TCM on demand? That way you could choose your movie, and not have to hope the one you want shows up at some point!

Nancy wrote: "ouldn't it be great if there was a TCM on demand? That way you could choose your movie, and not have to hope the one you want shows up at some point!"

There sort of is, but it's not on the TV. Check it out: http://www.tcm.com/watchtcm/movies/

Score! I know what I'll be watching next time I'm on the recumbent bike. Thanks!

Three in this category I want to watch are Cape Fear, In the Heat of the Night and The Big Clock.

If you have "Maigret Sets a Trap" on your list, there's a great 1950s French film version with Jean Gabin.

Maigret Sets a Trap

Nancy wrote: "Mary wrote: "Jan C wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Adding The Uninvited, by Dorothy Macardle. Okay, it's not a crime novel, but there are elements of mystery in most ghost stories so what the ..."

I have TCM on Demand with my cable system. I had it with my last cable system, too.

I was surprised the other night to find a movie based on Laura Lippman's Every Secret Thing. Unfortunately, I didn't see the whole thing. But I read the title and the synopsis and thought it sounded so familiar. Sure enough, imdb confirmed that it was based on her book, produced by Frances McDormand.

i haven't read In the Heat of the Night. Have you? Any good?

Gary wrote: "If you have "Maigret Sets a Trap" on your list, there's a great 1950s French film version with Jean Gabin.

Maigret Sets a Trap"

Thanks, Gary. I checked -- don't have that one in my library, but I'll keep it in mind!

Jan C wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Mary wrote: "Jan C wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Adding The Uninvited, by Dorothy Macardle. Okay, it's not a crime novel, but there are elements of mystery in most ghost storie..."

Comcast? That's what we have. I'll check after I get back from the gym later, but I don't think we have it.

Mary wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Mary wrote: "Jan C wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Adding The Uninvited, by Dorothy Macardle. Okay, it's not a crime novel, but there are elements of mystery in most ghost storie..."

Me too (re old movies on YouTube).

I added Brat Farrar, by Tey -- movie adaptation is called Paranoiac.

Jan C wrote: "I was surprised the other night to find a movie based on Laura Lippman's Every Secret Thing. Unfortunately, I didn't see the whole thing. But I read the title and the..."

Interesting Jan, I'm going to try to find that - it was a good book. Did you know that Laura Lippman's husband is David Simon, who wrote the tv series "The Wire". I believe they met while working at 'The Baltimore Sun'.

Michelle wrote: "Jan C wrote: "I was surprised the other night to find a movie based on Laura Lippman's Every Secret Thing. Unfortunately, I didn't see the whole thing. But I read the..."

She also wrote some of the shows for The Wire.

Nancy wrote: "Jan C wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Mary wrote: "Jan C wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Adding The Uninvited, by Dorothy Macardle. Okay, it's not a crime novel, but there are elements of mystery in mos..."

Yes, I had Comcast/Xfiniti in Chicago and they had TCM on Demand - although it was sometimes a challenge to find it. I think they moved from one category to another. Right now I have something called Comporium and I have different kinds of challenges trying to watch On Demand. Oh, how I miss Comcast!

I'm adding another two books that taken together became the basis for the movie Sanctuary (http://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?r...) in 1961:

Sanctuary and Requiem for a Nun, both by William Faulkner.

One more : So Evil My Love, by Joseph Shearing (aka Marjorie Bowen) -- movie : http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0040809/.

I think I need to start reading now if I want to finish these in a goodly amount of time.

One more suggestion. Anya Seton's Dragonwyck. Very creepy Victorian Gothic thriller set in 1840s upstate New York. The 1940s Vincent Price Gene Tierney classic shows up on TCM once in a while.

Dragonwyck

Gary wrote: "One more suggestion. Anya Seton's Dragonwyck. Very creepy Victorian Gothic thriller set in 1840s upstate New York. The 1940s Vincent Price Gene Tierney classic shows up on TCM once in a while.

[bo..."

Thanks, Gary.

I'm adding one more and then I think I may have reached overload, since I have other-genre interests as well:

The Secret Agent, by Joseph Conrad - movie equivalent is Sabotage: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sabotag...