Mystery/Thriller Reading Friends discussion

Group reads have been an enjoyable experience for the last few years, we look forward to more in 2022. We loosely decide on books based on repeating authors we have read in the past getting a mostly 'automatic' add, looking out for a true crime book somewhere in the mix and nominations here. What ideas do you have for 2022?

Our bookshelves hold past group read books, and any selected for the coming year, including a favorite author with a new release in 2022, Peter Swanson. Nine Lives
https://www.goodreads.com/group/books...

There are some intriguing new 2022 books mentioned in this article on books to read soon
https://offtheshelf.com/2021/11/books...
Greenwich Park by Katherine Faulkner looks good
The School for Good Mothers by Jessamine Chan is another early 2022 release.

Ann wrote: "There are some intriguing new 2022 books mentioned in this article on books to read soon
https://offtheshelf.com/2021/11/books......"

The Tenant and Greenwich Park look really interesting. I've been on the search for some lighter suspense that's a mix of One for the Money and National Treasure, but I haven't had much luck finding something like that's deeper than a cozy. Would love any suggestions. Also, Hilary Clinton's new book is on my list, too, and so is Darynda Jones A good day for Chardonnay. I read the first in the series and loved it.

Kathy: I also was intrigued by The Tenant and it could be another candidate along with Greenwich Park!

Ann wrote: "Kathy: I also was intrigued by The Tenant and it could be another candidate along with Greenwich Park!"

Another place I've found really good reads is the Costco magazine. I picked up The Book of Lost Names there that was a great read and some of Kate Quinns books, The Rose Code and The Huntress, that I loved.

Both The Tenant and Greenwich Park sound interesting, with a slight preference for The Tenant. But you know me and those foreign murder mysteries!

Carol: I do know how much we both like Scandinavian thrillers! isn't it about time for a new Department Q book? I just checked, we have to wait until "Autumn 2022" for Natrium Chlorid. in the meantime I added two books:
Jan 2022 The Tenant by Katrine Engberg
Feb 2022 Greenwich Park by Katherine Faulkner
and we have
Mar-2022 Nine Lives by group favorite Peter Swanson

Okay, I requested the first two. The Tenant is available right away and I'm number 12 on the list for Greenwich Park.

Carol: at first I thought, wait aren't we reading The Tenant in January? .. then remembered, yikes that's only two weeks away. I apparently can have my pick of formats... I'm going to need to do some library math... 😱😃

Carol/Bonadie wrote: "Okay, I requested the first two. The Tenant is available right away and I'm number 12 on the list for Greenwich Park."

More nominations for future months (think April onward)
what about The Christie Affair by Nina de Gramont?
US release is Feb 1, 2022, it is described as: "In August 1926, the world’s greatest mystery writer Agatha Christie disappeared for 11 days. The reasons why are still a mystery, but novelist Nina de Gramont provides some interesting possibilities in this fictionalized story of one deeply weird real-world crisis. The Christie Affair is historical kinda-fiction, a thriller wrapped in romance, mystery, and some fascinating conjecture. "
I saw it mentioned in this blog post along with several other tempting books. https://www.goodreads.com/blog/show/2...#

That's a possibility, Ann. I also found all of the listings under Mystery & Thriller intriguing. Did any of those jump out at you?


Ann wrote: "More nominations for future months (think April onward)
what about The Christie Affair by Nina de Gramont?
US release is Feb 1, 2022, it is described as: "In August..."

Carol: The Maid by Nita Prose
The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley and The Book of Cold Casesby Simone St. James also caught my eye!

Carol/Bonadie wrote: "That's a possibility, Ann. I also found all of the listings under Mystery & Thriller intriguing. Did any of those jump out at you?


Ann wrote: "More nominations for future months (think April onwa..."

I'm so far behind on the group reads that I'll never catch up :). I was telling Carol about a book I just finished that's due to be published around 5/24/22 and she thought I should mention it as a possible group read. Never Coming Home by Hanna Mary McKinnon- a man murders his wife to inherit her millions of dollars (we know this right from the first chapter) in what he considers to be the perfect murder. But someone knows what he did- or do they? Although it bogged down a little bit for me in the middle, it was a fast and twisty read.

Sherry: Never Coming Home looks really good! Lots of interesting options mentioned, so in another post I’ll make a list snd see where we can slot them in!

Many thanks all for the suggestions! I'm listing some of the recommendations as potential group read books in possible slots for the next few months. Thoughts?

Apr 2022 The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James. This one looks good, podcasters, cold cases, murder, we group read and enjoyed one other book by St James.

May 2022 The Maid by Nita Prose A young woman on the spectrum, a murder. There has been some hype.

Jun 2022 Never Coming Home by Hannah Mary McKinnon 5/24 US release, a twisty thriller suggested by Sherry's arc read of it.

Jul 2022 The Christie Affair by Nina de Gramont fictionalized version of a real life mystery.

Here's our current lineup:

Jan 2022 The Tenant by Katrine Engberg
Feb 2022 Greenwich Park by Katherine Faulkner
Mar-2022 Nine Lives by group favorite Peter Swanson

All look good to me.

I was able to recommend the books that have not been published yet on my Overdrive so hopefully will not have a long hold time.

However, for The Maid, the estimate is about a six month wait for the hold I placed so hopefully I can get it by May.

Sandi- thanks for the tip on the availability delay for The Maid. Sure enough, my library wait with 32 copies and many holds for each looks like close to a six months wait for me too; maybe we need to move that one to July!

Sandi wrote: "All look good to me.
I was able to recommend the books that have not been published yet on my Overdrive so hopefully will not have a long hold time.
However, for The Maid, the estimate is about ..."

Here's our current lineup: (see group bookshelf for links)

Jan 2022 The Tenant by Katrine Engberg

Feb 2022 Greenwich Park by Katherine Faulkner

Mar-2022 Nine Lives by group favorite Peter Swanson starts on release mid-month so almost an April book. I've moved out the start dates on the following:

May 2022 The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James. This one looks good, podcasters, cold cases, murder, we group read and enjoyed one other book by St James.

June 2022 The Maid by Nita Prose A young woman on the spectrum, a murder. There has been some hype.

July 2022 Never Coming Home by Hannah Mary McKinnon 5/24 US release, a twisty thriller suggested by Sherry's arc read of it.

Aug 2022 The Christie Affair by Nina de Gramont fictionalized version of a real life mystery.

I am so excited to hear there is a release date in 2022 for book six of the Cormoran Strike series! The Ink Black Heart by Robert Galbraith
This 944 page behemoth might be a group read since we group read the other five books. Thoughts?

Ann wrote: "I am so excited to hear there is a release date in 2022 for book six of the Cormoran Strike series! The Ink Black Heart by Robert Galbraith
This 944 page behemoth mi..."

Yes, yes, yes!

Ditto, ditto, ditto!!! and what a great title (The Ink Black Heart)

Release date is August 30, so not yet in either of my library systems or in Audible.

Carol and Dawn, so exciting! I'm looking forward to reading it this fall. Definitely an audible credit with the length. Woo hoo! It is a great title

This reminds me to check out the TV series. Right after I finish "Reacher"

Carol: both are excellent!!
Carol/Bonadie wrote: "This reminds me to check out the TV series. Right after I finish "Reacher""

Carol/Bonadie wrote: "This reminds me to check out the TV series. Right after I finish "Reacher""
You haven't finished Reacher?

Barry wrote: "Carol/Bonadie wrote: "This reminds me to check out the TV series. Right after I finish "Reacher""
You haven't finished Reacher?"

can you even believe it? she's watching one episode at a time!

Carol, you need to crank up the popcorn machine and get serious about this!

Barry wrote: "Carol, you need to crank up the popcorn machine and get serious about this!"

exactly! that's what I've been telling her.

Carol: Even I watched Reacher 2-3 episodes at a time; though in fairness by not doing that, you still have more to look forward to. ;)

Sherry wrote: "can you even believe it? she's watching one episode at a time!"

Barry wrote: "Carol, you need to crank up the popcorn machine and get serious about this!"

Sherry wrote: "exactly! that's what I've been telling her."

Jeez, you people are really pushy!!!
I watched the last episode last night. Is it my fault I have other things to do with my life, like dig out from snowstorms, watch Easter Europe fall apart (don't get me started) and finish Group Reads?
The truth is I didn't binge watch more quickly because I just didn't instantly fall in love with the Reacher character. I'm not sure I can explain why, he's certainly physically what I'd sorta imagined. He did eventually grow on me I guess. I wasn't wild about the rest of the casting either.
What can I say. I did enjoy it ultimately, and will watch Season 2 whenever it drops

Carol: glad to hear you finished it - we may be pushy, but we just know you'll love the Cormoran Strike series too! LOL
Reacher was scruffier in the end and therefore was more what I would have expected. I'm ready for more.

Carol/Bonadie wrote: "Jeez, you people are really pushy!!!
I watched the last episode last night. Is it my fault I have other things to do with my life, like dig out from snowstorms, watch Easter Europe fall apart (don'..."

Carol/Bonadie wrote: "Jeez, you people are really pushy!!!
I watched the last episode last night. Is it my fault I have other things to do with my life, like dig out from snowstorms, watch Easter Europe fall apart (don'..."

it's a dirty job but someone has to do it! lol
glad you finished and ended up liking it.
I'm following him on instagram-and he's so opposite of reacher, its funny to read his posts and watch his stories.

I hesitate to recommend another thriller because i keep saying I'm tired of them, but then GBH, my local public tv station keeps sending me event announcements with authors whose books sound interesting. So let me throw this one out -- The Golden Couple -- and see if it captures any interest for an upcoming Group Read.
---edit: it looks like Sherry read it and recommends!

Carol: I've had The Golden Couple on my want to read shelf for a while, so I am up for it as a group read. Lol you crack me up, a true sign of a book addict / book lover where tempting book news lures us in every time! (Looking in a mirror here!)

Carol/Bonadie wrote: "I hesitate to recommend another thriller because i keep saying I'm tired of them, but then GBH, my local public tv station keeps sending me event announcements with authors whose books sound interesting. So let me throw this one out -- The Golden Couple -- and see if it captures any interest for an upcoming Group Read.
---edit: it looks like Sherry read it and recommends!
.."

Ann wrote: "Carol: I've had The Golden Couple on my want to read shelf for a while, so I am up for it as a group read. Lol you crack me up, a true sign of a book addict / book lover where tempt..."

I read it and liked it- but I like all of the books that they write!

Ann wrote: "Carol: I've had The Golden Couple on my want to read shelf for a while, so I am up for it as a group read. Lol you crack me up, a true sign of a book addict / book lover where tempt..."

I know Ann. No impulse control!!!

Sherry, I have zero impulse control with books, I always think I have room for just one more. Lol

Ann wrote: "Sherry, I have zero impulse control with books, I always think I have room for just one more. Lol"

I totally can relate, ann!

Here's our currently lineup: (see group bookshelf for links)

Jan 2022 The Tenant by Katrine Engberg

Feb 2022 Greenwich Park by Katherine Faulkner

Mar-2022 Nine Lives by group favorite Peter Swanson starts on release mid-month so almost an April book.

April 2022 The Golden Couple by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen

May 2022 The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James. This one looks good, podcasters, cold cases, murder, we group read and enjoyed one other book by St James.

June 2022 The Maid by Nita Prose A young woman on the spectrum, a murder. There has been some hype.

July 2022 Never Coming Home by Hannah Mary McKinnon 5/24 US release, a twisty thriller suggested by Sherry's arc read of it.

Jul-2022 The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley. We just had to add this one!

Aug 2022 The Christie Affair by Nina de Gramont fictionalized version of a real life mystery.

Sep-2022 The Ink Black Heart by Robert Galbraith so very excited for a new Cormoran Strike book!

Thanks for the reminder, Ann. Boy, did I jump the gun on The Christie Affair. Must have been bec I love Christie and there was hype around it.
SO ready for The Ink Black Heart. I binge-watched Cormoran Strike last month and was smitten all over again!

Ann wrote: "Sherry: Never Coming Home looks really good! Lots of interesting options mentioned, so in another post I’ll make a list snd see where we can slot them in!"

I'm up for Never Coming Home as well and look forward to reconnecting with the group for this read.

Russ wrote: "I'm up for Never Coming Home as well and look forward to reconnecting with the group for this read...."

Russ, welcome back! Look forward to hearing from you.

Russ: yes, welcome back!
Carol/Bonadie wrote: "Russ, welcome back! Look forward to hearing from you"

Here's a nomination for a possible November 2022 group read:
The Soulmate by Sally Hepworth described as a twisty domestic suspense novel. Publication in the US is 10/25/2022. Recommended by Sherry who read the arc and for Carol who is overbooked. LOL
Anyone else think it is a good candidate?

Hahaha...I knew someone was going to make it a nominee. I'm definitely in for November!

definitely a good candidate- sally hepworth writes great psychological domestic thrillers.

Jess wrote: "Hahaha...I knew someone was going to make it a nominee. I'm definitely in for November!"

LOL. This will help me remember to request it closer to the release date when my library is likely to have it. November is far enough from our last domestic thrillers (The Golden Couple and Greenwich Park that I'll be ready for another one I guess.

Ann wrote: "Here's a nomination for a possible November 2022 group read:
The Soulmate by Sally Hepworth described as a twisty domestic suspense novel. Publication in the US is ..."

It states now that the release date is April 2023

Jess: Just for Carol! Looks like our first decision for a 2023 Group Read book.

Jess wrote: "It states now that the release date is April 2023"

Ann wrote: "Here's a nomination for a possible November 2022 group read:
The Soulmate by Sally Hepworth described as a twisty domestic suspense novel. Publication i..."