Mystery/Thriller Reading Friends discussion

Hi all, I am fairly new to this group. Hope to try new books and get to know you all a bit better by being a part of this challenge. I am going for

Option #3 - 2024 Determination Plus Challenge

Progress as at Dec 31: 24/24 books

✅1.
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✅5.
✅6.
✅7.
✅8.
✅9.
✅10.


The next 14 books is the "Plus" part of the challenge. Hope you enjoy and are able to find some great books that will fit in.

✅11. A book set in a different country than you live in.


✅12. Read a book by an Author that you never read before or one by a new debut author.


✅13. A book that someone recommended to you.


✅14. A book that is a different genre than your normal type of read. (could be out of your comfort zone).


✅15 & 16. Two books from a series you haven't completed yet. (Everyone has that one or two books to still read to catch up in a series)


✅17. A book that comes out in 2024.


✅18. A book that you mean to read in 2023 but never got around to it.


✅19. A book that came out before you were born. (this one might be harder to do but we know you can handle it)


✅20. A book that is done by more than one author (it can be a book of short stories by different authors, or one book that is one story with more than 1 author like Patterson or Evanovich and I'm sure there are others.


✅21. A book that won an award.


✅22. One of the oldest to be read books on your unread mountain.


✅23. A book set in multiple countries.


✅24. Book you started in the past but put aside and never finished for some reason.

Hi Ruhani - it is great to see you are joining in the fun of a determination list with us. I hope you enjoy filling in the prompts and getting some book suggestions from the other's posts. We look forward to seeing what you select and read!

Yay! I look forward to your entries. I find I have as much fun planning what I will read to finish the list as I do in actually reading the books!

Hi Ruhani, Welcome to the 2024 Determination Plus Challenge. Thanks for joining us. Looking forward to seeing what books you read for the challenge. Good luck.

Ann wrote: "Hi Ruhani - it is great to see you are joining in the fun of a determination list with us. I hope you enjoy filling in the prompts and getting some book suggestions from the other's posts. We look ..."

Thank you. Definitely look forward to seeing what the others in this group read

Carol/Bonadie wrote: "Yay! I look forward to your entries. I find I have as much fun planning what I will read to finish the list as I do in actually reading the books!"

Absolutely. Though some of the time I find that I read different books from the ones I planned to read :-)

Donnajo wrote: "Hi Ruhani, Welcome to the 2024 Determination Plus Challenge. Thanks for joining us. Looking forward to seeing what books you read for the challenge. Good luck."

Thank you!

Ruhani wrote: "Absolutely. Though some of the time I find that I read different books from the ones I planned to read :-)..."

Same here! So I take my notes as "suggestions," lol.

Some of the books I want to read:

11. A book set in a different country than you live in - Almost every book I read is set in a different country to what I live in :-) But just to go with the flow and assuming most of the group members are from US/UK, I am going for Exiles by Jane Harper which is set in Australia

12. Read a book by an Author that you never read before or one by a new debut author. The Suicide House by Charlie Donlea

13. A book that someone recommended to you. This was a recommendation from one of the facebook groups I am a part of Sweet Little Lies by Caz Frear

14. A book that is a different genre than your normal type of read. (could be out of your comfort zone). A historical ghost story - not really my thing at all Jackaby by William Ritter

15 & 16. Two books from a series you haven't completed yet. (Everyone has that one or two books to still read to catch up in a series) Silent Scream and Dead Memories from Angela Marsons' DI Kim Stone series

17. A book that comes out in 2024. This I will wait and see

18. A book that you mean to read in 2023 but never got around to it. Jane and the Man of the Cloth by Stephanie Barron

19. A book that came out before you were born. (this one might be harder to do but we know you can handle it). Not too hard. I think I may go for Josephine Tey's The Daughter of Time. Failing which I can always do an Agatha Christie

20. A book that is done by more than one author (it can be a book of short stories by different authors, or one book that is one story with more than 1 author like Patterson or Evanovich and I'm sure there are others. Crossfire by Dick Francis and Felix Francis

21. A book that won an award. Does Goodreads awards count? In that case it might be The Housemaid's Secret by Freida McFadden

22. One of the oldest to be read books on your unread mountain. Bought this a long time back: The Girl in the Spider's Web by David Lagercrantz

23. A book set in multiple countries. Nothing comes to mind at the moment. Look forward to seeing what others will pick

24. Book you started in the past but put aside and never finished for some reason Into the Dark by Karen Rose

Looks like you might have have some good books ahead of you. I already maybe switched one prompt book which I was planning of but I can move one I started to above since I own it. Went to library got book club book so will start that in next day or two. And a book I wanted to read last year was on waiting list a long time the took it off list so that one is Atlas of the heart by Brene Brown which if I last reading it will be one different than my usual. I already started reading it.

Glad you signed on for this. It's one of my favorite challenges. I am a big fan of Josephine Tey!

You've made an admirable first effort out mapping out your reads! A couple I've read but they all sound interesting. I look forward to seeing how you do! (btw, Jane Harper is a favorite around here, I think we've read all three of her Aaron Falks. if you search you'll find a group reads discussion of Exiles)

Carol/Bonadie wrote: "You've made an admirable first effort out mapping out your reads! A couple I've read but they all sound interesting. I look forward to seeing how you do! (btw, Jane Harper is a favorite around here..."

Thanks for letting me know about the group chat. Will check it out.

Ruhani: your list of books to read looks good. I like Jane Harper's books a lot. It sounds like we may get some ideas from your books to help us with our books from another country. :)

Ruhani wrote: "Some of the books I want to read: .....
11. A book set in a different country than you live in - Almost every book I read is set in a different country to what I live in :-) But just to go with the flow and assuming most of the group members are from US/UK, I am going for Exiles by Jane Harper which is set in Australia."

Donnajo wrote: "Looks like you might have have some good books ahead of you. I already maybe switched one prompt book which I was planning of but I can move one I started to above since I own it. Went to library g..."

Look forward to seeing your book choices

Gail W wrote: "Glad you signed on for this. It's one of my favorite challenges. I am a big fan of Josephine Tey!"

I've read books by Nicola Upson featuring Josephine Tey as the detective but this is actually going to be my first Josephine Tey. Long overdue and I look forward to reading this particular title that everyone seems to talk about

Ann wrote: "Ruhani: your list of books to read looks good. I like Jane Harper's books a lot. It sounds like we may get some ideas from your books to help us with our books from another country. :)

Ruhani wrot..."

Thank you. I love Jane Harper as well and its good to see she's a favourite of this group

Already two books into the Determination Plus Challenge.

#1: Jackaby by William Ritter
Determination category: #14. A book that is a different genre than your normal type of read. (could be out of your comfort zone)

This - a historical ghost fiction - was definitely out of my comfort zone. It also happens to be part of the historical mystery challenge I am doing this year - I may not have chosen this otherwise. I guess these categories are put here to make sure we read and enjoy genres we don't go for generally. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. For me, unfortunately, this did not work

#2: The Suicide House by Charlie Donlea
Determination category: #12. Read a book by an Author that you never read before or one by a new debut author.

Now this book I enjoyed. I tend to read a lot of psychological thrillers and sometimes the stories are so similar that I get them mixed up after reading. This has a different story and kept up my interest. The twist at the end was good as well. Definitely want to read more from this author.

Ruhani wrote: "I've read books by Nicola Upson featuring Josephine Tey as the detective but this ..."

Oh, that's just funny. I was going to recommend to you to read Upson's series! I love it!

WTG.

Now The Suicide House does sound good. I've sworn off thrillers for the moment, but I will definitely note this for the futue. Thanks, Ruhani! And good job!
---P.S. Have you read the first in the series, Some Choose Darkness? I am a read-in-order kinda gal with respect to series, so I'd read that one first.

Carol/Bonadie wrote: "Now The Suicide House does sound good. I've sworn off thrillers for the moment, but I will definitely note this for the futue. Thanks, Ruhani! And good job!
---P.S. Have you read th..."

I had no idea this was part of a series when I chose it because I also tend to read in order when possible. Thanks for letting me know. I will check out the first in the series.

#3: The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey
Determination category: #19. A book that came out before you were born.

I loved this book! What took me so long to read a Josephine Tey?? I love the writing style, the humour, the mystery. And for a book that came out before I was born, it sounds so remarkably fresh and alive. Also, I've always had a soft spot for Richard III and used to actually think that he looks so mild in his portrait. So the story was a winner as well. Now I need to get a proper biography of Richard III or an account of the Princes in the Tower.

Good job, Ruhani!

Ruhani, nice! I may have to read this one, intriguing description and an author I have meant to try.

Ruhani wrote: "#3: The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey
Determination category: #19. A book that came out before you were born.

I loved this book..."

#4: The Puppet Show by M.W. Craven
Determination category # 21. A book that won an award.

The original idea was to read Frieda McFadden's Housemaid's secret which won a Goodreads award but I changed my mind and picked this since (1) I am back to reading British police procedurals this year and (2) because this book has won the Crime Writers Association Gold Dagger Award in 2019. This was a good one! Love Washington Poe and Tilly. There's a serial killer on the loose but this is a killer with a purpose as they soon uncover together. Very well done. I must - MUST - come back and sample some more from this series, despite my long and ever growing list of new authors to try in this genre.

I love British police procedurals! Never heard of this one, sounds good. I like to start at the beginning of a series so I'll look for it now.
---
edit: OMG there are a billion of these! Luckily The Puppet Show is the first in the series,

Carol/Bonadie wrote: "I love British police procedurals! Never heard of this one, sounds good. I like to start at the beginning of a series so I'll look for it now.
---
edit: OMG there are a billion of these! Luckily Th..."

Right?? I made a list of new authors writing British police procedurals to try out this year and it already stands at 36! 7 of these (free books!!) I have saved in my kindle library. No way can I try all 36 but those I can I will put in my determination list (#1-#10). And yes, I too always try to start with the first in a series

You are doing great.

Two more British Police Procedurals which I will put under my optional determination list.

#5: One Lost Soul by J.M. Dalgliesh
Determination Category: #1
Date completed: January 24

Is it me or was this a bit slow moving? I'm returning to new British Police Procedurals and started with M W Craven's Puppet Show which was outstanding. This seemed slightly tame in comparison. I guess it is unfair to compare them because obviously this was very much a local murder rather than a hunt for a serial killer. Anyway, I have a list of 35 new authors to try so I am not sure whether I will revisit other books of this series.

#6: A Litter of Bones by J.D. Kirk
Determination Category: #2
Date completed: January 28

My third British Police Procedural for the year and I really liked this. Though a taut story line is essential, I find that the personality of the MC and their team is the dealbreaker for me. It helps if the MC is the obsessed, brilliant, rule-breaking kind and if they have an interesting back up team. This clicked all the boxes and so is a winner for me.

Ruhani wrote: "Though a taut story line is essential, I find that the personality of the MC and their team is the dealbreaker for me. It helps if the MC is the obsessed, brilliant, rule-breaking kind and if they have an interesting back up team. This clicked all the boxes and so is a winner for me.
..."

Ruhani, the above quote made me want to recommend a police procedural series in another country that jumped to mind. It's the Department Q series by Jussi Adler-Olsen. It take place in Denmark but otherwise is as you described above. There are 9 in the series, the first is The Keeper of Lost Causes. Ann can back me up.. they are fantastic!

Carol/Bonadie wrote: "Ruhani wrote: "Though a taut story line is essential, I find that the personality of the MC and their team is the dealbreaker for me. It helps if the MC is the obsessed, brilliant, rule-breaking ki..."

Thank you for the recommendation! Will be sure to check out this series

2 more done. December has actually been a very good reading month for me. Work picked up only very slowly after the holidays (though this may change in February) and I am making the most of it.

#7: Hidden Pictures by Jason Rekulak
Determination category #13: A book that someone recommended to you.
Completed: January 29

The plan was to read Caz Frear's Sweet Little Lies but Everand blocked this for me (has anyone noticed that ever since Everand took over Scribd they are only allowing us to read a couple of books a month and blocking all our saved books as well?) so I picked this book. It came up repeatedly as a recommendation in a facebook group I am part of but I just could not find a copy before this. Anything this was an engagingly written mystery cum horror story. Can't remember the number of similar books I've read where a nanny/housekeeper/maid arrives at a mansion and strange things start to happen. What makes this book stand out are definitely the pictures! Loved them! And loved the twist towards the end.

#8: Jane and the Man of the Cloth by Stephanie Barron
Determination category #18: A book that you mean to read in 2023 but never got around to it
Completed: January 30

I adore this series but although I liked the Lyme setting, this seemed to move a bit slow and I was not as interested or invested in the story. Somehow, smugglers, underground caves and Jane Austen just don't seem to go together for me. But of course this was, as always, exquisitely written and very enjoyable

You are doing so good. I was hoping to get more books read this morning I’m at 18 total for month and was hoping to reach 20. But I’m not going to get much read rest of day because I’ll be out and that leaves one more day and none of my books are close to finishing unless I go off my current list and do one or two of my shorter kindle reads which I can do.

Good progress Ruhani, it is good to fill extra free time with more books. I don't use Scribed but based on what you said about new 'ownership' removing your access to saved books and limits seems not good at all.

Ruhani wrote: "..The plan was to read Caz Frear's Sweet Little Lies but Everand blocked this for me (has anyone noticed that ever since Everand took over Scribd they are only allowing us to read a couple of books a month and blocking all our saved books as well?)"

Donnajo wrote: "You are doing so good. I was hoping to get more books read this morning I’m at 18 total for month and was hoping to reach 20. But I’m not going to get much read rest of day because I’ll be out and ..."

18 books within one month sounds pretty impressive to me!! Hope you will be able to keep it up the rest of the year.

Ann wrote: "Good progress Ruhani, it is good to fill extra free time with more books. I don't use Scribed but based on what you said about new 'ownership' removing your access to saved books and limits seems n..."

Thank you and agree that it is good to fill extra time with books. I read 11 in January but I generally average around 5-6 per month. I don't watch TV but I am sure I can manage a couple of books more if I cut back on social media. It's such a distraction.

Ruhani wrote: "Thank you and agree that it is good to fill extra time with books. I read 11 in January but I generally average around 5-6 per month. I don't watch TV but I am sure I can manage a couple of books more if I cut back on social media. It's such a distraction..."

Wow, no TV! I wonder what that would be like. I'd sure get more books in. But that is not to be. I agree about social media, that's less my problem. Now games on my phone......

You're doing great, Ruhani!

#9: The Dentist by Tim Sullivan
Determination list #3
Completed: February 5

Another 4 star (my rating) British Police Procedural with an extremely interesting detective. DS Cross suffers from Asperger's Syndrome and what he lacks in social skills he makes up in dogged determination and attention to detail. This was a fascinating mystery. How Cross pieced the solution together was the most entertaining part. Definitely a series I want to continue reading.

#10: Grimm Up North by David J. Gatward
Determination List #4
Completed: February 15

I like the main character, the team, the locality. The mystery didn't quite come up to what I was expecting though - and that is the most important part of the story. It started off well but the end seemed a bit implausible. Would I continue this series? Depends on how good the mysteries are.

I couldn't read many books in February but managed to add three to my Determination List (well, I finished the third one in March but most of the actual reading occurred in February).

#11: What Lies in the Dark by C.M. Thompson
Determination List #5
Completed: February 17

The story is about a serial killer who kills women and carves a number in their hands to keep toll of the number of victims. The victims have nothing in common - save for the fact that they are all female and between the ages 17-40. The writing style is very loose. Many POVs - which I don't mind - but pretty unstructured and I generally like very structured novels - where they mention the narrator's name, date, time etc. Also, you don't really identify with the detectives. But strangely this book captivated me and kept me reading with hardly a break. What was unique to me about this book was the fact that the whole community played a role. We get to hear what is happening and what everybody is doing.

#12: Holy Island by L.J. Ross
Determination List #6
Completed: February 21

Karen Rose is a favourite of mine and this book reminded me so much of her books. The same beautiful people with dark secrets and difficult pasts that end up helping each other deal with these. Except, the central mystery is not as dark as Karen Rose's mysteries - at least, the body count is far less. If this series continue on the same vein I might come back to it on a day I crave a romantic thriller. How often this might happen though I am not so sure.

#13: Unquiet Souls by Liz Mistry
Determination List #7
Completed: March 4

Very well written story and a series I would like to continue but this was difficult for me to read because the central theme was child abuse. I had to skip some sections and overall it took me some time to get through it. I really like the author and her style and the detective team led by Gus McGuire is one I want to follow.

Wtg. I had the same problem in february but I was sick for a few days and reading didn't happen. I had such a good month with reading and finishing books in January but feb put me around 7 or 8 books before on my end of the year goal.

Despite a heavy workload March was a good reading month for me and I completed 13 books (that's a pretty impressive number for me)! Three of these I am adding to the first part of the determination list - which also completes that portion. I am adding one more book I read in April to the plus list. Here goes:

#14: Dark is the Grave by T.G. Reid
Determination List #8
Completed: March 7
Another series to add to my list of police procedurals. I liked Bone and the team and how the mystery unraveled. Just wish it was a little bit longer - it seemed to end very abruptly.

#15: The Girl in the Ice by Robert Bryndza
Determination List #9
Completed: March 13
Yet another flawed detective with baggage who goes against the boss and follows her own hunches. But while this mostly happen to male detectives, this is the first time I've seen a female detective go so off course. She gets abducted and beaten up as well! But I actually liked this book. It was interesting to see high and low society intersect. I've read the blurbs on the other books in the series and it looks as if they are right up my alley.

#16: Paper Girls by Alex Smith
Determination List #10
Completed: March 16
Another good one! I am on a quest to discover modern British police procedural series and amazed at the quantity and quality out there. This story is a hunt for a serial killer who abducts young girls. In the backdrop you have DCI Kett who is bringing up three young daughters after his wife's disappearance. A quick read and an interesting story. Hope the rest of the series picks up on the back story.

#17: Whippersnapper by Karen Guyler
Determination List #17: A book that comes out in 2024
Completed: April 6
This was an advanced copy the author shared with me of a book that is due to come out in June 2024. DI Nikki Ross, does have some baggage with nearly killing and maiming a colleague, but on the whole she is not a tormented soul like detectives in other series I have read recently. She also leads a fairly normal private life. What was really different from other books is that she is a reluctant lone wolf, almost forced to lead a tricky case on her own with minimal support. Well, support from a disabled colleague, a 'non-Police' tech and an AI entity called Whip! Quite a modern and refreshing storyline.

Whew! Thirteen is a lot of books in a month, Ruhani. I love that you read so many police procedurals, I'm getting some tips from you!

That’s great. I’m so overbooked right now with a library book club book which I can put to top section since I own it but working on two books for review that I need to do after that I’ll get to more for top print owned and the one I still need for bottom for recommend.

Last time I updated there were 7 more books to go on this challenge for me. I wanted to add these in before Dec 31 but never quite got round to it. Better late than never anyway so here goes:

#18: The It Girl by Ruth Ware
Determination List #11. A book set in a different country than you live in
Completed: December 29
Every book I read is set in a different country to the one I live in :-) So picking the last book I read this year for this category

#19: Murder at Beechwood by Alyssa Maxwell
Completed: May 28
#20: Murder at Rough Point by Alyssa Maxwell
Completed: July 11
Determination List #15 & #16. Two books from a series you haven't completed yet. (Everyone has that one or two books to still read to catch up in a series)
Two books from a historical mystery series set in the US Gilded Age. A lot more books left in this.

#21: An Impartial Witness by Charles Todd
Determination List #20. A book that is done by more than one author (it can be a book of short stories by different authors, or one book that is one story with more than 1 author like Patterson or Evanovich and I'm sure there are others.
Charles Tood books are written by a mother-son duo. I believe the other died last year but this book is one of the earlier books that were written by both.

#22: The Burning by Jane Casey
Determination List #22. One of the oldest to be read books on your unread mountain.
Completed: October 26
Never realised this was such a good book. Otherwise I would have completed this earlier.

#23: The Villa by Rachel Hawkins
Determination List #23. A book set in multiple countries.
Completed: December 23
I took a break from psychological thrillers this year and returned back with this book in December. Maybe because of the break I really enjoyed it.

#24: The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe
Determination List #24. Book you started in the past but put aside and never finished for some reason.
I had started this in the past but never went beyond the first few pages. it was literally gathering dust in my pile of books to be read. Once again, a magical book that I enjoyed

NOW I'm ready to start the 2025 Determination Plus Challenge!

Congrats! Some really great picks you had.

Ruhani: Congratulations! It’s great that you enjoyed The Burning for “one of your oldest” books. Sometimes I find there was a reason I left a book unread. ;)
Re: Charles Todd books, My go-to book for the ‘written by more than one author’ was also written by a Mother and (adult) child, the PJ Tracy books, mother and daughter. It’s sad that the Moms have passed on. Hope we both find another author duo.

Gail W wrote: "Congrats! Some really great picks you had."

Thank you. 2024 was a good reading year for me :-)

Ann wrote: "Ruhani: Congratulations! It’s great that you enjoyed The Burning for “one of your oldest” books. Sometimes I find there was a reason I left a book unread. ;)
Re: Charles Todd books,..."

I think I left 'The Burning' aside because I have a load of unread books and this was a tattered, second-hand copy and an author I didn't know. I decided to give it a try because I was trying out new (well, fairly new) police procedurals in 2024 and someone recommended Jane Casey.

Re: books done by more than one author, I have never tried P J Tracy, and now I have a reason to try one of their books. Which series do you like best? Monkeewrench or Margaret Nolan?