scout can I just pick up the new book without reading from the beginning of the series?
If it’s like the other books in the series…yeah, you can start mid-series without a problem. The books are all self-contained.
Thank you
Scout –
How about Defending Jacob by William Landay
Lush Life by Richard Price
Schroeder by Amity Gaige
We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver
Or how about the classic Ross MacDonald mysteries from the 1960s? He was a big influence on Michael Connelly, Sue Grafton, etc. There’s one called The Striped Zebra Hearse that I really liked.
Or James M. Cain – Double Indemnity, Mildred Pierce, Postman Always Rings Twice
Or, for something a bit more Gothic:
Rebecca, by Daphne du Maurier
Those all have strong suspense elements that I think would appeal to someone who likes the mysteries and thriller authors you list.
Recently read and very much enjoyed Girls at the Kingfisher Club by Genevieve Valentine - a retelling of the 12 dancing princesses fairy tale set in 1920s jazz clubs.
Have you read the new Michael Connolly book The Burning Room, Scout? I think Connolly is going to move on from Harry Bosch. You might also like the Lincoln Rhyme series by Jeffrey Deaver.
I love “Rebecca”. I recently read a book called “Alena” that was sort of a re-imagining of Rebecca, but not nearly as good as the original. I also liked the Rebecca movie with Charles Dance. 
@nottelling - Thanks so much for your list, and do you happen to live in my spare bedroom? I ask that because that’s where I keep my mystery books, and you’ve named so many of my favorites (including Rebecca and We Need to Talk about Kevin). I have to admit, I haven’t read any Ross MacDonald in a long time. I think that’s an excellent recommendation!
@Bromfield2 - no, I haven’t read the newest Connolly book, but I need to - I really like the Harry Bosch books (not so much the Lincoln Lawyer books.) I hope it’s not the end of the line for Harry!
I love the “Rebecca” movie, too, @intparent.
I did go to the library yesterday, and I checked out several Laura Lippman books (her Tess Gerritsen series) and one of Ben Winters’ “Last Policeman” books. It’s a series about being a policeman at the end of the world - an asteroid is about to collide with the Earth, but the protagonist keeps solving mysteries. We’ll see if any of them deserves a mention in this thread.
Scout (and anyone else) below is my list of books read in 2014 that I enjoyed. Listed by title then author name.
Not included here are some mystery series I read- Louise Penny, Camila Lackberg, Alan Bradley.
The Daring Ladies of Lowell Alcott Kate
Lucky Us Bloom Amy
The Silent Sister Chamberlain Diane
Mrs Lincoln’s Rival Chiaverini Jennifer
Missing You Coban Harlan
Life in Motion Copeland Misty
Invisible City Dahl Julia
Save the Date Doll Jen
The Girl Who Came Home Gaynor Hazel
Tempting Fate Green Jane
Little Mercies Gudenkauf Heather
Baker Towers Haigh Jennifer
The Matchmaker Hillenbrand Elin
Winter Street Hillenbrand Elin
Under The Wide and Starry Sky Horan Nancy
Somewhere Safe With somebody Good Karon Jan
The Widow Waltz Koslow Sally
Crazy Rich Asians Kwan Kevin
Mambo in Chinatown Kwok Jean
Circle of Wives LaPlante Alice
Dear daughter Little Elizabeth
The Life List Lori Nelson Spielman
The Mockingbird Next Door Mills Marja
The Husbands Secret Moriarty Liane
Big Little Lies Moriarty Liane
I Love You More Murphy Jennifer
The Unwinding Packer George
Catching Air Pekkenam Sarah
Still Life With Breadcrumbs Quindlan Anna
Delicious Reichl Ruth
Dollface Rosen Renee
Keep Quiet Scottaline Lisa
China Dolls See Lisa
The Funeral Dress Susan Gregg Gilmore
Mr Owita’s Guide to Gardening Walls Carol
The Paying Guests Waters Sarah
The Secter Life of Violet Grant Williams Beatriz
Early Decision
Did anyone read Euphoria by Lily King? It is loosely based on Margaret Mead and her relationship with one of her husbands. I read it when it first came out earlier in 2014, and thought it was just okay. I was surprised to see it on the top of so many “Best of” lists. Just wondering what others thought of it.
I just finished an interesting book which will be published in March. (I won a proof on one of the readers websites.) It’s called The Porcelain Thief. It’s by Huan Hsu.
It’s non-fiction. The author is a journalist, but there are still a lot of writing glitches, which I hope will be fixed in the final. I think it’s well-written overall, but not very well-written, if that makes sense.
It’s well worth reading though because the story itself is incredibly interesting. The author is an ABC --an American Born Chinese. While working as a journalist in Seattle, Washington, he writes an article about a local museum which has a collection of Chinese porcelain. He is struck by the porcelain and wants to learn more about it–up until this point in his life, he’s had almost no interest in Chinese culture. He’s told that his mother’s family had a collection of rare porcelain…and from that point..we’re off and running, as the author goes off to China to learn more about porcelain and his family.
It’s hard to “pigeon hole” the book. It’s part travelogue. It’s part the story of modern China. It’s part a history of China. It’s partly a story of the attempt of one immigrant to “reconnect” with his roots. It’s partly a story of how historical events impact individual lives. I found all of this fascinating.
I can’t wait for the next Robert Crais book. He’s my favorite crime writer, but I’ve read everything he’s written. I haven’t read Station 11 yet so that will be one of my next books. There are just so many!
Fallgirl- that’s quite a list. Care to list your top five favorites ?
^
Invisible City Dahl Julia
Baker Towers Haigh Jennifer
You Should Have Known Korelitz Jean Hanff
Still Life With Breadcrumbs Quindlan Anna
The Husbands Secret Moriarty Liane
Anything written by Sophie Hannah
Ann Cleeves
Fred Vargas
Donna Leon
Mike Lawson
One publisher I’ve been focusing on is Europa Editions / World Noir. Translations, but so well written and edited.
I have You Should Have Known sitting here, waiting to be read. I should crack it open.
CC Book Club chose Station Eleven as its next book. (Discussion begins Feb. 1.) Hopefully you’re planning to join in again. It’s always fun to have a multitude of viewpoints.
I’ve just started Station Eleven - only on page 40 or so - but so far, so good.
mathmom
Rothfuss is SO GREAT. Book two is also great. Book three is not yet published with no date certain. Do not be fooled “The slow regard of silent things” is not book three. And, as someone who loves this series, I found it nearly unreadable.
I second the books by Liane Moriarty. In order of preference:
- Big Little Lies
- What Alice Forgot
- The Husband’s Secret
All of them great beach reads!! I started All the Light We Cannot See, by Anthony Doerr yesterday. So far, so good!
I hope to be able to join in the CC discussion too. My timing seems to be off on so many of the books discussed there and the order of my book list keeps changing.
Just finished The other side of the bridge by Mary Lawson. It was very good.
Picked up Gangsterland by Tod Goldberg