Play Book Tag discussion

I cheated since today is Wednesday, but I thought we should start a new thread.

I read a lot of mysteries and I understand the conventions of the genres but I keep being surprised by

1. People talk to police, PI's, and even amateurs without ever refusing or asking for a lawyer. Of course, that would slow down the action.

2. People have phenomenal memories and powers of description. "Yes, I remember the young man who came into my shop a few weeks ago. He was tall and dark, wearing a blue suit. I thought he looked nervous. I remember the clock struck 12 while he was here, because we chatted about going to lunch." Personally, I am terrible at describing people, even those I see all the time! And I won't remember whether I talked to one person or a different one, or maybe just thought those things to myself (which leads me to sometimes start telling someone a story I already told them in the past.)

3. If the detective (or his team or his rival) is working on 2 very different cases, they will turn out to be related. Or a case will be related to something from the detective's past. It's never a good idea when a detective goes to a childhood home, as he/she will inevitably get involved with someone they knew who went missing/died/committed a crime years ago.

So glad you started this! Anyone can start a new thread. I am often so deep in work I don't know what day it is.

😂. Love this. Reminds me of a discussion at some point about all those blows to the head or falls that instantly knock someone out cold. It isn't that easy to be knocked out cold.

#2 - I actually provided onceva very specific and detailed description of the guy holding a gun on my friend while his friend stole our bags. Tbe angle I was standing in relation gace me perfect view, including license platec# on getaway car. This was New Orleans Garden District at noon.

But I had no details in his buddy.

Theresa wrote: "So glad you started this! Anyone can start a new thread. I am often so deep in work I don't know what day it is.

😂. Love this. Reminds me of a discussion at some point about all those blows to the..."

I think I was the one that brought up the blow to the head thing. I'm sure a professional military person could do this, but an ordinary thug, probably not, or a woman under threat who grabs a vase or something. Or the villain conveniently hits his head when falling.

Then there is the famous "talking killer" scene, where the hero/heroine confronts the villain and the bad guy spends a long time describing how he/she did everything, giving rescuers time to arrive, or the hero time to get to a weapon. And the "I'll leave you alone to think about things" ploy, allowing an escape. I guess the books would be pretty dull if the villain just shot the hero/heroine dead and took off. And series would be pretty short!

I've read mysteries where people can't give a detailed descriptions, but of course it happens in some of them. Ditto with not answering questions without a lawyer. It depends on how it will move the story forward.

In fictional mysteries things have to make more sense, ie be able to be figured out, than they often do IRL, but this holds for fiction in general.

Yes, I agree about the long talking scenes, but they can be fun. I believe them if the murderer is sure she's safe and is planning to kill the person they are telling.

But let's not forget that once caught some killers like to brag about their kills and will describe some or all of them. The late Clifford Olson of Canada was one.

Just watched the finale of Top Chef. The. Best. Finale. Ever! In every way. And I am so sad I can't text or call my friend Liz to carry on about it. Even angry that she left this world before we could dissect the finale.

My pick from the beginning did win. All deserved it, even earned it. We have not seen the last of either runner up.

Don't say anything more, I'm watching it tomorrow night.

OK, now back to mysteries and/or thrillers/suspense , either books or movies. There is always the scene in which you think, don't do that alone.

The other one, don't you think you should follow up with that?

or have you forgotten about this?

Romances- There has to be a misunderstanding somewhere.

Hey! I think you need to talk about this!

Booknblues wrote: "OK, now back to mysteries and/or thrillers/suspense , either books or movies. There is always the scene in which you think, don't do that alone.

The other one, don't you think you should follow up..."

Ha, ha, yes, these are perfect!

Booknblues wrote: "Don't say anything more, I'm watching it tomorrow night."

Don't worry. I was deliberately ambiguous.

Robin P wrote: "Booknblues wrote: "OK, now back to mysteries and/or thrillers/suspense , either books or movies. There is always the scene in which you think, don't do that alone.

The other one, don't you think y..."


They are. An extension to BnB's suggestion - police department is not doing basic detective work like checking license plate numbers or confirming an alibi.

In romances - if you are eavesdropping even accidentally stay and listen to the entire conversation!

Booknblues wrote: "Don't say anything more, I'm watching it tomorrow night."

Please don't say anything about who wins Top Chef since I'm only on season four! I'm watching this as I finally go through old files that I've been meaning to go to for some years now. In the résumé file I found the rough copy of my security screening application for working at the RCMP. I was so young I had to type an extra sheet of paper for all of the addresses I'd lived in for 10 years due to a family sabbatical plus many moves I personally made. Suffice it to say there were at least twice as many addresses as years for various reasons.

I have no idea why I kept that, but haven't shredded it yet. Once finished with that I have plenty of other projects to work on that I don't get to unless I watch something with ads that I don't have to watch every second of just listen to.

I might forget who you name, but might not. Right now in season four they're in Portugal with the final 3 left to go.

Theresa wrote: "Robin P wrote: "Booknblues wrote: "OK, now back to mysteries and/or thrillers/suspense , either books or movies. There is always the scene in which you think, don't do that alone.

The other one, d..."

Oh, right, eavesdropping - the heroine or detective just happens to be passing by/standing near a window/ somehow unseen when the bad guys are talking. And they are always revealing useful details, like "Ok, let's go over the plan."

In romances the overhearing usually leads to misinterpretation, which leads the person to think they aren't wanted, and of course, they don't ask about it, they just run away or whatever.

Theresa wrote: "Just watched the finale of Top Chef. The. Best. Finale. Ever! In every way. And I am so sad I can't text or call my friend Liz to carry on about it. Even angry that she left this world before we co..."

Just finished watching and it ended with the chef winning who I was hoping for. I love that they have such good feelings among the finalists. That is wonderful especially when I think back to the first season I watched -Season 2, which had a rather unfortunate incident with head shaving.

It really has continued to get better as it went along and I loved seeing chefs from other seasons returning (Karin- including season 4).

There was a serious sense of camaraderie in the kitchen, for the last several episodes actually. I wanted to eat all their food!

Knew you would enjoy it.

I was going to PM Theresa! This week I have been busy spending most my existence watching Season One of Traitors UK. Since we both loved the three US Seasons, she told me she had also gone through the three UK. Wow was that a great show. I just LOVED it. Sad that they didn't have a reunion....

Amy wrote: "I was going to PM Theresa! This week I have been busy spending most my existence watching Season One of Traitors UK. Since we both loved the three US Seasons, she told me she had also gone through ..."

LOVE The Traitors! UK Season 4 will be a celebrity one.

While waiting for the next season of UK and US versions, you must stream Traitors Australia (2 seasons) and Traitors New Zealand (1 season) -- all on Peacock I believe. The Aussie version 2nd Season is EPIC. New Zealand is just a tad different - interesting cast.

Now that most of the shows I watch are done, I may have to do a re-watch of all The Traitors.

Oh, believe me this is going to be a good portion of my summer!!! I might just go take it slow to save it. But I totally binged this one. Right now my oldest kid is watching Survivor 48. Last night at 1 AM, we were up watching the epic challenge that had all of America talking, when a particular event happened that crossed the show and Even made Jeff Probst cry.

Booknblues wrote: "Theresa wrote: "Just watched the finale of Top Chef. The. Best. Finale. Ever! In every way. And I am so sad I can't text or call my friend Liz to carry on about it. Even angry that she left this wo..."

Excellent! I accidentally found out ahead of time who won Season four (at least I was happy about it) but don't want any other spoilers. I'm up to 3 and on hold because my husband's van isn't working so he's at home; he doesn't like the show and we have on TV (I can wait!) I'm not happy about one of the three.


My daughter started with last year's and says it's better now because they stopped having obnoxious people which I'm looking forward to. I like the Spring Baking Challenge because it's friendlier.

I used to do a great deal of baking and cooking from scratch, so can relate to a lot of it, although I never bothered to try difficult french pastries. One year in university I made all of my own mayo, whipping it by hand (I was quite the purist for doing things the old school way back then.)

Theresa wrote: "Amy wrote: "I was going to PM Theresa! This week I have been busy spending most my existence watching Season One of Traitors UK. Since we both loved the three US Seasons, she told me she had also g..."

Now that Natalie is back here, I will be watching TV again. She already has a list a mile long of shows we need to watch. I am going to have to check to see if this one is on it

I think this link will work as a free article. It's a NY Times essay about why men don't often read fiction and why it matters. Kudos to Jason, Algernon, and other men in our group for diverse reading!

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/25/st...

Very interesting article. My brother has never been a reader of books or fiction. He reads magazines and newspapers and is often far better informed on may subjects as a result, such as Fracking than I am. That's nothing new - and he's surrounded by women who read fiction voraciously: 3 sisters, a daughter and a wife.

On the other hand, a friend from high school started a book club after he sold his consulting business and retired, it's goal to read more diversely - specifically more fiction as they all tend to read non-fiction. Their reading still stears more to fiction that increases actual knowledge (historical fiction) but it's still a work in progress - I made suggestions of some crime fiction that were well received. However, this book club he formed is made up of men like him that are gay. My reading of the article suggests this is primarily a problem for heterosexual men - not reading fiction that is. That I'm not so sure about.

I also want to mention that on my single visit so far to The Ripped Bodice romance bookstore in Broolyn, there were what I found to be a surprising number of men there, and actively participating in talking about the merits of various authors and series in the groups that tended to form. Not one of them struck me as either gay or just there because with wife/girlfriend/partner.

So my question: is it really any worse than the legions of women who read only one or two genres of fiction?

I think that's interesting. My parents were both readers of fiction, but my dad also nonfiction (more than my mother, who also read nonfiction.) I have to say that my dad, a straight man, tended to read men's fiction with very masculine themes for the most part. I read some of them as well as some of the books my mother read.

It's NOT worse than legions of women who read only one or two genres of fiction!

For those who don't have kids or no sons, most boys hit an age where they only want to read books featuring boys, whereas girls are more open to reading books featuring either. My son, who is NOT a male chauvinist by any stretch of the definition, was like this. At first he was flexible. I started reading the Little House books to him when he was 5 or 6 (can't remember exactly when.) He liked the first three, but during Farmer boy he it the stage where he didn't want books featuring girls, so I didn't read the rest of those books to him, but turned to other ones.

Also, he hit the age were boys like to bond with their fathers or a male figure (there are two main ages.) Around that time my husband brought home his 8 or 10 Hardy Boys books and ended up reading all of the original series to him. By then my son was reading books featuring boys; not much of a reader, but he had to read and that's what he liked the best.

My son prefers audiobooks and likes the Chet and Bernie books plus a few others, but doesn't generally read--he listens to a great deal of music (the best musicians do) plus online teachings. My dad was a mix of literary fiction plus a lot of action/adventure books (Robert Ludlum, for eg, but he also liked Shogun and many other books.)

At 92 my dad no longer has the attention span for a novel.

My mother's father read all of the Icelandic sagas but I can't remember what else; I don't remember if my dad's father read any fiction fiction, but he might have--he was a prolific reader.

Regarding Top Chef, I'm now on Season Six and getting things done while watching. I tackle jobs I never get around to during that time, or boring jobs (folding laundry, for example.)

I don't really like such sweeping generalizations along gender lines. I think reading as many books as most Goodreads members do is not representative of the population at large, and I have several highly educated friends who don't pick any fiction reading the whole year long. Then, there's my generation, who grew up without cable TV, internet or mobile phones and was really into reading.
My parents indirectly guided me by buying a massive number of children books, beside their regular fiction shelves [mostly modern classics and best-sellers] . I started even before going to school, because they were too tired after work to keep reading to me and my brother, so they taught us to fend for ourselves very early on. It was also the most effective way to bring us in the house and off the street.

Algernon (Darth Anyan) wrote: "I don't really like such sweeping generalizations along gender lines. I think reading as many books as most Goodreads members do is not representative of the population at large, and I have several..."

I think that generalizations are just that, and don't include the vast variety of some readers within groups! I don't like them and don't fit into one, but sales and reading patterns support them.

A majority of women readers read romance or women's fiction--romance makes more than 50 percent of all fiction sales! I didn't read much of it until the past few years as it wasn't my thing, and used to be offended by that generalization.

My dad bought books geared to male readers, but read other things my mother bought that she thought he'd like, including some women literary fiction authors (primarily Canadian ones.)

Karin wrote: "At 92 my dad no longer has the attention span for a novel.
.."

Karin - this resonated with me. Prior to selling the cows and retiring from active farming (he did handyman work for some years for neighboring farmers), my father had no time or interest in reading books -newspapers, farm related journals was it - and his National Geographic cover to cover every month. Once he stopped having cows to milk and crops to care for, he read anything and everything we had around the house, from Nancy Drew to romances, to mysteries to books like The Last Days of Pompeii. If one of us left a book stiting somewhere as we went to the kitchen to get a snack, he'd abscond with it. He borrowed books from the local Senior Center library. But at some point around 90, he stopped have the attention span for a novel or anythnig longer than a short story or essay. Those he continued to read.

Which has me wondering if part of the issue is the work men are engaged in during their working lives - does it affect what they choose to read? I think it does. Prior to retiring my friend from highschool only really read NF especially history. Now he's reading fiction adn more broadly.

The hit over the head comments make me laugh..... I once got a text out of the blue from my mum asking where she would have to hit someone over the head to knock them out cold. With no context provided I was a bit concerned. Turned out she was writing a story and not planning a murder.

Theresa #2 makes perfect sense. Your brain allowed you to zone out any information not relevant to the immediate threat and to notice in great detail the immediate threat.....survival psychology in action. I remember where I was, who I was with, what music/smells etc were there for all the traumatic experiences of my life (I wish I didn't).

Theresa by definition of that article I must be a Heterosexual man. I wish someone told my body before all this health drama. Non-fiction is much easier to focus on than fiction when I am stressed and it doesn't tend to contain any triggers for my PTSD.

As for my health update I'm waiting on more tests and test results as family history was not what I'd been told all my life so there is likely a genetic component in which case they no-longer suggest lumpectomy and radiotherapy but double mastectomy and oophorectomy. While waiting on those results a new lump has come up in the other boob so waiting on imaging for that and my liver has gone mad and stayed mad (so they don't think it is a reaction to surgery) so waiting for abdominal ultrasound for that. Waiting and not knowing royally sucks for someone with anxiety so I wish I'd just had a double mastectomy at the start of all this. Unfortunately, unless I have a gene that predisposes me to BC they won't even consider it.

So sorry to hear all this, Jen! I agree that waiting and uncertainty are the worst parts.

I think I was the one who brought up the hit on the head and immediately pass out trope. I read a lot of mysteries where that happens. Usually it is the main character, especially if it is a Too Stupid to Live heroine going somewhere alone, knowing thre is a killer on the loose. Or the heroine hits the villain with a vase or other object, he falls, hits his head on something and instantly dies. The other one is the pregnant woman who has a fall and immediately suffers a miscarriage.

Jen wrote: "The hit over the head comments make me laugh..... I once got a text out of the blue from my mum asking where she would have to hit someone over the head to knock them out cold. With no context prov..."

I’m sorry you’re going through this. Have you found any online or in-person support groups? One of my friends went through surgery , chemo, and she just completed radiation therapy. She said it helped to talk to people who had gone through it all. Those excruciating times when you’re waiting for news would be a great time to talk to someone.

Another woman in our book club survived the same type of cancer, so she also had her to talk to. You might get lucky and find the right person too. She was buoyed by doing a lot of little things for herself. Picking out wigs was very fun. She found a wig with long blonde hair and a cute hat. It’s very easy to put on, and it made it easier for her to get out of the house for a short walk. She also got tips on timing activities that will give you a lift. Every stage is different. The good thing about online groups is that there is probably someone around at all hours, somewhere in the world.

Jen wrote: "The hit over the head comments make me laugh..... I once got a text out of the blue from my mum asking where she would have to hit someone over the head to knock them out cold. With no context prov..."

It's too bad they are reticent to do the double mastectomy if that's what you want(ed)--do you have private insurance or just the national/state one? I'm not keen on jumping on the big surgery band wagon for everything, but given your diagnosis my non-medical-expert opinion is it should have been an option from the get-go.

I have an interesting real life story. My friend is caring for a woman who won the Pulitzer. The non Fiction book she wrote is called Is There No Place on Earth For Me

I ordered it from Amazin

Sallys wrote: "I have an interesting real life story. My friend is caring for a woman who won the Pulitzer. The non Fiction book she wrote is called Is There No Place on Earth For Me"

Is There No Place on Earth for Me? won the Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction in 1983 and was a National Book Award Finalist the same year.