Mystery/Thriller Reading Friends discussion

Top Ten M/T’s

1 - Small Mercies - Dennis Lehane (4 votes)

2 - Tie: (3 votes each)

All the Sinners Bleed - SA Cosby
Exiles - Jane Harper

3 - Tie: (2 votes each)

After That Night - Karin Slaughter
Dark Angel - John Sandford
My Darkest Prayer - S.A. Cosby
Prom Mom - Laura Lippman
Resurrection Walk - Michael Connelly
The Old Woman with the Knife - Gu Byeong-mo
The Violin Conspiracy- Brendan Slocumb


Top Authors

1 - John Sandford (4 votes)

2 - Tie: (3 votes each)

Dennis Lehane
Michael Connelly
S.A. Cosby

3 - Tie: (2 votes each)

Mark Greaney
Sally Hepsworth


Top Series

1 - Tie: (3 votes each)

Prey Series - John Sandford
Thursday Murder Club - Richard Osman

2 - Tie: (2 votes each)

Cormoran Strike/Robin Ellicott - Robert Galbraith
Virgil Flowers - John Sandford
Gray Man - Mark Greaney
Lucas Davenport/Virgil Flowers/Letty Davenport - John Sandford

Top Books, Any Genre

1 - Fourth Wing - Rebecca Yarros (2 votes)

Top NTM Authors

11 entries, no multiples.

Bottom of the Barrel

10 entries, no multiples.

Summary

Thanks to the eight of us who posted our top reads: Barry, Dan, Gail W, Sandi, Sherry, Shomeret, Ann, and moi.

Once again, John Sandford got the most mentions. People have different favorites of his three series (Prey/Lucas Davenport, Virgil Flowers with or without Lucas, and Letty Davenport) so I broke them out. SA Cosby and Dennis Lehane get honorable mentions.

Lots of books got one mention -- most as favorites and a couple bottom of the barrel. Check the original thread if you’re curious as to whom or your’re looking for ideas for reads.

As I say every year, Happy New Year, keep up the good (reads) work and I look forward to seeing what we all read in 2024!

Thank you Carol! It is always a treat to see the compilation of our best of the year lists. I see two more here that I need to read and have several others on my radar that were on only one top list. Thanks to each of you for contributing!

Thank you for the rankings. Has participation fallen off over the years? 8 seems like a small sample.

Thanks, Carol. And I agree with Barry.

BarryP wrote: "Thank you for the rankings. Has participation fallen off over the years? 8 seems like a small sample."

I would say yes. The last two years there were 10. I'd have to go back and check for previous years' numbers.

it would be interesting to hear from folks who didn't participate. Too much work? Didn't read enough? Timing isn't right? I'd say below 8 and it's probably not worth the effort of compiling, we could just have people post in the thread and scan the selections,

I have attempted to post my reads 2x and apparently I don’t know how to do that because they don’t show up. I used the goodreads email once and it came back undeliverable. The other time I posted it as a comment but it never showed up there either. Sorry

thanks for doing this, carol. i agree with barry and ann- it seems like 8 is a small number considering the number of people who are in the group and post (mostly) regularly. oh well.
i still have to read All the Sinners Bleed since everyone who has read it has raved about it.

Jacquelyn: I am sorry you had trouble posting your top books. Perhaps we can help next time, or if you reply here with them, that would also be fine. The more the merrier!

Jacquelyn Schingeck wrote: "I have attempted to post my reads 2x and apparently I don’t know how to do that because they don’t show up. I used the goodreads email once and it came back undeliverable. The other time I posted i..."

Thanks for your reply - ok here goes, lucky three

Books 1 to 10
Dark Pattern by Andrew Mayne - 5
The Hike by Susi Holliday - 5 (complete surprise ending)
Lake of Fire by Mark Stevens - 3
Black Ice by Brad Thor - 4
Trip Wire by Lee Child - 4
Zero Hour by Clive Cussler - 4
The Third Grave by Lisa Jackson - 4
Damage Control by J. A. Jance - 3
Alibi by Stephen M. Murphy - 5
The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd - 4

Book Set in Different Country
Falling in Love by Donna Leon - 4

Book by New Author
Snow Blind by Ragnar Jonasson - 3

Book Recommended to Me
Wish You Were Here by Jodi Picoult - 4

Different Genre that Normal
Storm Front by Jim Butcher - 3

New Series
Fire Storm by Nancy Mehl - 4

New Series
A Darker State by David Young - 3

A Book you Meant to Read in 2022
A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park - 5

Book by More than One Author
Cabinet of Curiosities by Preston and Child - 4

One of the Oldest on my to be Read List
The Zero Factor by John Hoffert - 3

Book Set in Multiple Countries
The Prophecy by Chris Kuzneski - 5+

Jacquelyn: looks like quite a variety for your top 2023 list and potential books to look into. Thanks for posting!

Jacquelyn Schingeck wrote: "Thanks for your reply - ok here goes, lucky three

Books 1 to 10
Dark Pattern by Andrew Mayne - 5
The Hike by Susi Holliday - 5 (complete surprise ending)
Lake of Fire by Mark Stevens - 3
Black Ice..."