The Mystery, Crime, and Thriller Group discussion

Hello, everyone! I'm Woman Reading or WR in the US. When the pandemic stress increased last summer, I binge read urban fantasy, even though crime fiction has been the genre I've read the longest, starting with Nancy Drew books. It's a new year - happy 2021! - so I thought it was time to join and seek new ideas and other avid readers.

Before the pandemic, I had actually planned to attend my first ever crime fiction convention - Boucheron 2020 - because it kept popping up on my radar. Well, lockdown shelved that idea. I had hoped to find new authors and meet others who were committed enough to this genre to make travel plans. Given reality, it makes me thankful that at least this online platform exists. I'm looking forward to seeing the books chosen by this group.

Welcome to the group WR. I hope you find some good reading ideas here. It's a great group.

Bill wrote: "Welcome to the group WR. I hope you find some good reading ideas here. It's a great group."

Thanks, Bill. I just finished my first straight forward mystery of the year & the PI is also named Bill.

The Art of Violence: A Lydia Chin/Bill Smith Novel by S.J. Rozan. Rozan usually alternates which one of her two private investigators gets to tell the story. This time Bill Smith deals with a convicted killer turned celebrated artist who believes he's a serial killer. This is #13 in the series but the mystery reads easily as a standalone.

My review - www.Goodreads.com/review/show/3645043534

Welcome !

Nancy wrote: "Welcome !"

Thanks, Nancy. I'm currently reading Rebecca and a nonfiction. I look forward to joining the group read with Agent Running in the Field in February.

Woman Reading wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Welcome !"

Thanks, Nancy. I'm currently reading Rebecca and a nonfiction. I look forward to joining the group read with Agent Running in the Field in ..."

I love Rebecca! And I'll be right there with you in the group read.

Welcome WR! Looking forward to reading more of your reviews 📚 😊

Icewineanne wrote: "Welcome WR! Looking forward to reading more of your reviews 📚 😊"

Thanks for the warm welcome, Icewineanne!

Nancy wrote "I love Rebecca!

Having just finished it, I now see why so many of my crime fiction friends love it as well. It's a literary masterpiece.

My review - www.Goodreads.com/review/show/3178309692

I finished the group read Agent Running in the Field. I had planned to read it as soon as I could get it from the library but I had gotten distracted last year.

I enjoyed it overall, and the ending was the only letdown for me. I loved his humor and wit, and the multiple occasions of double meanings kept me on my toes.

I now want to read his Smiley books, but there's a long wait list now that everybody wants to remember le Carre after his death.

My review - www.Goodreads.com/review/show/3820672188

In keeping with the espionage theme, I just finished A Woman of No Importance: The Untold Story of the American Spy Who Helped Win World War II by Sonia Purnell. This nonfiction reads like a thriller as it relates espionage and covert action in France during WWII.

My review - www.Goodreads.com/review/show/3834661011

Woman Reading wrote: "In keeping with the espionage theme, I just finished [book:A Woman of No Importance: ..."

Sounds interesting.

After reading John le Carré's Agent Running in the Field, I decided to try the very popular George Smiley series from the beginning.
Call for the Dead #1 by John le Carré

My review - www.Goodreads.com/review/show/3851996833

Moving onto #2 - A Murder of Quality by John le Carré. It can be read as a standalone.

My review - www.Goodreads.com/review/show/3861303507

During my wait for le Carré books, I read Hide Away by Jason Pinter. Pinter has written the Henry Parker series, but he's a new author for me. This book launches a new thriller series with an atypical protagonist - a single mother turned vigilante - which is what caught my attention.

My review - www.Goodreads.com/review/show/3875231670

Long wait for The Spy Who Came In from the Cold but worth it! John le Carré's third novel reaped international acclaim. Published in 1963, just 2 years after the Berlin Wall was erected, this book was electric!

My review - www.Goodreads.com/review/show/3877958239

The Looking Glass War #4. In the Introduction, John le Carré explained his motivation for writing this installment the way that he had, which was helpful. For those who didn't benefit from that, The Looking Glass War would be really confusing. How could such an incompetent sister service such as the Department still exist to flail about like it did here? Surely all of the British agencies were as adept as their Circus?

My review - www.Goodreads.com/review/show/3883777931

After reading Rebecca, I became a fan and looked into The Rebecca Notebook and Other Memories by Daphne du Maurier.

I was curious about both du Maurier's creative process and underlying thoughts while writing Rebecca as well as the author herself.

My review - www.Goodreads.com/review/show/3846349334

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by John le Carré just may be the quintessential espionage novel.

My review - www.Goodreads.com/review/show/3894114260

I really like the way John le Carré wrote, but I can't take a continual succession of bleakness and deep cynicism.

Wild Sign #6 by Patricia Briggs - IMHO it's the best in the Alpha & Omega series, and it can be read as a standalone.

My spoiler-free review

Www.Goodreads.com/review/show/3900252184

The Honourable Schoolboy by John le Carré. It's #2 in the Karla trilogy and one not to skip for those who have read Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy. There's an evocative sensation of time and place that sets the book firmly in the mid-1970s, but the themes are timeless.

My review - www.Goodreads.com/review/show/3910667894

Age of Ambition: Chasing Fortune, Truth, and Faith in the New China by Evan Osnos. This nonfiction was a Pulitzer Prize nominee in 2015 (didn't win), but it deservedly garnered other awards.

My review - www.Goodreads.com/review/show/3921263449

I was in the mood for this after The Honourable Schoolboy, since it had been set in Hong Kong. Now I can return to le Carré.

Smiley's People by John le Carré concludes the Karla trilogy. After reading so much of the Smiley series, I'm such a fan of le Carré, and I'm glad that I had finally gotten around to his novels.

My review - www.Goodreads.com/review/show/3945180319

The Secret Pilgrim by John le Carré. Smiley is now undisputedly retired and makes a guest appearance at the Service's training school. Ned is the narrator as it's his pilgrimage that's described.

My review - www.Goodreads.com/review/show/3951432462

A Legacy of Spies by John le Carré

This is the final novel in the series involving George Smiley. It is narrated by Peter Guillam, longtime foot soldier and loyal adjunct. If you've read The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, then this is not one to miss.

My review - www.Goodreads.com/review/show/3958642443

Putin's People: How the KGB Took Back Russia and Then Took On the West by Catherine Belton.
My streak of Cold War espionage novels promoted the interest in post Cold War Russia. If you haven't noticed the news headlines about Russia, then this is eye-opening.

My review - www.Goodreads.com/review/show/3941744512

The Russia House by John le Carré. Yes, I'm a bit on a Russia streak. My curiosity had also been piqued by The Secret Pilgrim, which was in Ned's POV. Ned was the head of the Service's Russia House and astute agent runner who was initially in charge of Barley Blair.

My review - www.Goodreads.com/review/show/3990224886

A short break in espionage novels for a vigilante / police procedural A Stranger at the Door by Jason Pinter - #2 book with Rachel Marin, a widowed 30-something mother victim-turned-vigilante

My review - www.Goodreads.com/review/show/4002217739

Would one of the mods be so kind as to delete message #29 from Melike?

Given the user profile, I'm concerned that the link is to a virus or malware. Thanks!

Done! Thanks.

Nancy wrote: "Done! Thanks."

Thanks, Nancy, for being so quick on the draw!

Woman Reading wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Done! Thanks."

Thanks, Nancy, for being so quick on the draw!"

No problem. I hate spam. Absolutely hate it and I'm grateful to you for pointing it out.

The Siege: 68 Hours Inside The Taj Hotel by Adrian Levy and Cathy Scott-Clark - a description and indictment of the "26/11" terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India

My review - www.Goodreads.com/review/show/4011407414

Quick break for urban fantasy -
Kingdom of Shadow and Light #11 by Karen Marie Moning

KMM wrote in this book that this is the end of her Fever series. I was less than pleased with many of the installments after the first five, but I'm glad that I had stuck with it.

My review - www.Goodreads.com/review/show/4026133786

Gone With The Ghost by Erin McCarthy. In a slight departure from my usual genre, I read this cozy mystery with a paranormal element. The ghost of Bailey's best friend appeared in order to implore Bailey to investigate his "suicide."

My review - www.Goodreads.com/review/show/4054791106

Miracle in the Andes by Nando Parrado

Although not a mystery, this story of survival under extreme conditions was a nonfiction thriller. It also seemed more harrowing because the author, one of the survivors, provided his thoughts and feelings about the situation.

My review - www.Goodreads.com/review/show/4039168376

David L Wallace

All three of my books are now available for free to Amazon Kindle Unlimited Users. I’m seeking to entertain readers to the point where they provide feedback and reviews of my work.

Hey everyone -

I'm glad I joined this group...

By way of introduction, I’m David L Wallace, someone who likes to both read and write in many genres. I have a preference for mystery thrillers, spooky (paranormal, horror, etc.), children’s books, and self-help. I recently recovered from an extended stay in the Tampa VA Hospital (Months) and it’s great to be back up and running again, and playing with my grandkids.

I'm looking forward to making friends in this group.

Thanks and respectfully,
David

Would one of the mods be so kind as to delete message #37 because this is just spamming? Thanks!

David wrote: "David L Wallace

All three of my books are now available for free to Amazon Kindle Unlimited Users. I’m seeking to entertain readers to the point where they provide feedback and ..."

Hi David and welcome to the group; congrats on your books. Just so you know, we have a policy here against self promotion; on introducing yourself it's fine to mention your work but please, after this time, any promotional posts need to be in the author threads. We'll look forward to seeing you in the reader discussion threads as well.

Woman Reading wrote: "Would one of the mods be so kind as to delete message #37 because this is just spamming? Thanks!"

I think Davd mght have been a bt confused by posting here -- the topic of the thread says "hello everyone," so I get the confusion and take it that he didn't realize that starting a new thread is better for introductions. But, in initial introductions, it's okay for authors to mention their books; note that I dd say that after this one it's off to the authors' section for any promotional comments.

Made in China: A Prisoner, an SOS Letter, and the Hidden Cost of America's Cheap Goods by Amelia Pang

Pang's exposé of China's prison industry and its connection to American consumer habits.

My review - www.Goodreads.com/review/show/4074719050

I finished two novels good for fans of cozy mysteries and both were by Jennifer Crusie -
Getting Rid of Bradley

My review - www.Goodreads.com/review/show/4104740373

What The Lady Wants

My review - www.Goodreads.com/review/show/4104740976

Four Lost Cities: A Secret History of the Urban Age by Annalee Newitz. This book describes 4 cities being excavated in Turkey, Italy, Cambodia, and the US, as the author investigates why these places had died.

My review - www.Goodreads.com/review/show/4092165371

I finished When Stars Collide by Susan Elizabeth Phillips. I've abandoned some of the earlier books in this series (all can be read as standalones), but this one is just about my favorite of the nine. I would usually categorize books in this series as romance but this one had a mystery that ran nearly throughout the entire novel.

My review - www.Goodreads.com/review/show/4118792886

Hey everyone - I am on the hunt for the scariest book of all time! Please tell me what book takes the prize for you!?

Come share your thoughts: https://youtu.be/qt3-RIWtJRI

Hmm, this thread has been attracting totally unrelated comments...

I just finished Last Guard by Nalini Singh, the latest installment in the Psy-Changeling Trinity series.

This is the second newly released fiction I've read this week in which the author has been branching out from her original genre. Singh's novels in this series were firmly set in PNR, but Singh has also recently published a couple of books in the crime fiction genre (such as Quiet in Her Bones). I have yet to read the thrillers because I'm not sure her purplish prose style would work well there. But I could feel the influence of Singh's creative stretching in this novel's plotline, which had a little more "palace intrigue" than usual, even though there's been plenty of violence in many of this series' earlier installments.

But if you're a dedicated hardcore crime fiction fan, then this is not for you. For those who enjoy mystery and urban fantasy, then this might be for you.

While Silver Silence remains my favorite in this 5-book series, Last Guard is a close contender because it advances the storyline of the ongoing PsyNet crisis.

My review - www.Goodreads.com/review/show/4132958683

One of my favorite authors finally published her prequel novella in the fantastic Charlie Fox series.

Trial Under Fire by Zoë Sharp

My review - www.Goodreads.com/review/show/2938833377

Zero Fail: The Rise and Fall of the Secret Service by Carol Leonnig

This book is on track to become one of my top nonfictions of the year.

My review - www.Goodreads.com/review/show/4031759560

Trying to solve an socioeconomic puzzle, I finished Poor Economics: A Radical Rethinking of the Way to Fight Global Poverty by Abhijit V. Banerjee and Esther Duflo.

As the pandemic has added an estimated 150 million people to the ranks of the extreme poor, this book remains relevant.

My review - www.Goodreads.com/review/show/4138614017

This is my second Patterson novel. It's very entertaining but...

Ignore who the author is and view it like an action-oriented summer blockbuster film to best enjoy The President's Daughter, a collaboration by former POTUS Bill Clinton and James Patterson

My review - www.Goodreads.com/review/show/4168630143