Last night was the book club’s fifth meeting where we discussed Mark Billingham’s Their Little Secret. There was a surprise for members at last night’s meeting though as Mark joined us for a brief Q&A for the first fifteen minutes of the meeting before we went on to discuss the book. He was warm, friendly and funny and it was great to have him attend. So from everyone there, thank you, Mark.
You can view the whole discussion on the video below. Or if you just want to hear Mark talk he’s on the first fifteen minutes! Please be aware if you watch the video that there are spoilers so don’t watch if you haven’t read the book but intend to read it in the future.
Now onto the voting for next month’s meeting – which will be Monday 7th September. You have until Friday evening to vote. I will then update you on the winning book. This month’s theme is far-flung places (as few of us are going far this year.) As suggested by a member. Next month, instead of a theme, I’m going to open it up to all members who attend the meeting and have an open month. So if you feel any month hasn’t been your cup of tea, next month you can suggest a book you’d like to go into the vote.
Over to you now.
White Heat by Mel McGrath
Half Inuit and half outsider, Edie Kiglatuk is the best guide in her corner of the Arctic. But as a woman, she gets only grudging respect from the elders who ruled her isolated community on Ellesmere Island. When a man is shot and killed while out on an “authentic” Arctic adventure under her watch, the murder attracts the attention of police sergeant Derek Palliser. As Edie sets out to discover what those tourists were really after, she is shocked by the suicide of someone very close to her. Though these events are seemingly unrelated, Edie’s Inuit hunter sensibility tells her otherwise. With or without Derek’s help, she is determined to find the key to this connection-a search that takes her beyond her small village, and into the far reaches of the tundra.
The Unexpected Inheritance of Inspector Chopra by Vaseem Khan
On the day he retires, Inspector Ashwin Chopra inherits two unexpected mysteries.
The first is the case of a drowned boy, whose suspicious death no one seems to want solved. And the second is a baby elephant. As his search for clues takes him across the teeming city of Mumbai, from its grand high rises to its sprawling slums and deep into its murky underworld, Chopra begins to suspect that there may be a great deal more to both his last case and his new ward than he thought. And he soon learns that when the going gets tough, a determined elephant may be exactly what an honest man needs…
Tangerine by Christine Mangan
The last person Alice Shipley expected to see since arriving in Tangier with her new husband was Lucy Mason. After the accident at Bennington, the two friends—once inseparable roommates—haven’t spoken in over a year. But there Lucy was, trying to make things right and return to their old rhythms. Perhaps Alice should be happy. She has not adjusted to life in Morocco, too afraid to venture out into the bustling medinas and oppressive heat. Lucy—always fearless and independent—helps Alice emerge from her flat and explore the country.
But soon a familiar feeling starts to overtake Alice—she feels controlled and stifled by Lucy at every turn. Then Alice’s husband, John, goes missing, and Alice starts to question everything around her: her relationship with her enigmatic friend, her decision to ever come to Tangier, and her very own state of mind.
The Silver Road by Stina Jackson
Three years ago, Lelle’s daughter went missing in a remote part of Northern Sweden. Lelle has spent the intervening summers driving the Silver Road under the midnight sun, frantically searching for his lost daughter, for himself and for redemption.
Meanwhile, seventeen-year-old Meja arrives in town hoping for a fresh start. She is the same age as Lelle’s daughter was – a girl on the brink of adulthood. But for Meja, there are dangers to be found in this isolated place.
As autumn’s darkness slowly creeps in, Lelle and Meja’s lives are intertwined in ways, both haunting and tragic, that they could never have imagined.
Sword by Bogdan Teodorescu
As a shadowy killer stalks the streets of Bucharest, seeking out victims from among the Roma minority, the police are at a loss to track down the murderer, who always dispatches in the same manner – hence the Sword nickname the media are quick to give to the killer. As panic starts to take hold and inter-racial tensions begin to reach boiling point, those in government and those who want to be try manipulate the situation for their own ends.
Crying Blue Murder (aka A Deeper Shade of Blue) by Paul Johnston
The whitewashed walls of paradise hide acts of chilling depravity
When Alex Mavros is hired to find American tourist Rosa Ozal, it looks like a straightforward missing person case for the Athens-based private detective. Arriving on the Greek island where Rosa was last seen, he finds something deeply wrong: a British journalist has fled without warning and a pair of young lovers has been found floating in a rigid, naked embrace amongst the fishing nets. The islanders are in no mood to answer the questions of an inquisitive outsider – but do they have other, more sinister, motives for keeping Mavros in the dark? As he begins to unravel the mystery, Mavros discovers an island steeped in horrors beyond his wildest imaginings.
If you’re not yet a member of the virtual crime book club you can sign up HERE. We’d love to have you join us!
You can find all the previous videos at this link HERE.
Sorry to have missed it. I would like to vote for The Silver Road
What excitement last night to discover you had invited Mark – that will teach me not to read emails all the way through! He did a good job of explaining his approach to Thorne – thanks for organising this. Seems we all like a good, solid police procedural, especially with added psychological insights, don’t we?
The Silver Road is my first choice, or Crying Blue Murder as second
White Heat please.
It was such a great meeting, Rebecca- thanks for putting it together. It was interesting and helpful to hear what goes on behind the scenes of this book. My vote is for White Heat, but these all look terrific. Looking forward to the next meeting.
Looking for a great book? Fictionb.com is the best place to start. Here you will find simple lists of books in order by author and by series.Thriller Book Covers also available
Hi Rebecca
Thanks for organising last night it was an enjoyable evening and especially interesting to have Mark Billingham join at the start.
The three that particularly look good to me are White Heat, The Silver Road and Sword. Nevertheless, I would be happy to read whatever is chosen.
Could I vote for The Silver Road please
I vote for Silver Road. But all the choices are interesting.
Thank you Mark Billingham for joining our discussion.
Thank you Rebecca for inviting Billingham.
I have – but haven’t read -Tangerine but like the look of the others, and as you can never have too many books, would be happy with any of them…
So sorry I missed it! My vote is for The Unexpected Inheritance…
Second would be White Heat.
Looking forward to next month’s meeting!
Silver road would be my first choice but happy to read any. Have just read Tangerine after being on the shelf for ages!
Thanks for last night, it was good to hear Mark as I have read many of the Thorne books!
Story I couldn’t stay for the whole discussion last night, but I have caught up with the video.
I vote for “Sword” with second choice “Crying Blue Murder”
Like Nola I have, but have not read Tangerine. For that’s where my vote goes.
Apologies if this posts twice, but I did comment a few hours ago, but comment has not become visible. The mysteries of technology ….
Great meeting last night, thanks Rebecca.
My vote is for ‘The Unexpected Inheritance of Inspector Chopra’ by Vaseem Khan.
I hope you are feeling better.
I should have added, my second choice would be White Heat. 🙂
Thanks for a very enjoyable evening with the added bonus of Mark being there to talk about his book. My vote is for Tangerine but I’d be happy to read any of them x
I missed the meeting (time difference and a lot happening here in Melbourne just now!) but just caught up with the meeting over a glass of wine. Loved hearing Mark talk about the book – I have read all of them and know the secret, but not telling. I think my mantra should be ‘Get dressed, buy cheese, write novel.’ Well done on another great meeting Rebecca! I will read whatever is chosen x
Crying blue murder please.