Scary Books

Hello, Nan Kate welcome to the forum [a funny thing happened on the way to the forum?!] I haven't read anything by Jo Nesbo, what kind of crime thriller do you like, gentle/ scary/ very scary/so scary you need every light in the house on?

A good thriller that I read last year was called 'Miss Smilla's Feeling For Snow' I think it was by Peter Hoeg. Not gentle detective stuff, but not gory either, just very compelling, a real page tuner.Smilla isn't a detective, but she just sets out to discover a murderer, and the trail leads all over the place.

Well what a quick response - thanks.

I don't particularly like blood and gore, something more subtle that just creeps up on you.

Reading is one of the greatest pleasures in life for me, plus a nice cup of tea or glass of wine.

I agree, reading is great, couldn't be without a book for long. Read more on my Kindle these days, but still buy books if they are paperbacks [can't hold the big heavy hardback kind any more.] On the Kate Atkinson thread that I started, you will find there are some good detective stories by her, and she is a good writer too [the Jackson Brodie series.] I think that Case Histories may be the first in the series but you can Google that. I'm sure that other people will be posting on here soon with books that they like.

Thanks so much for this information. I am sure I will become a avid follower of Gransnet.

Can I ask 2 questions please ?

Twice the words 'Share a link with followers' has flashed up what is this all about ?

Also can you explain Flip to me.

Thanks.

Sorry, can't help with your questions as I function on a very basic leval myself I don't mind blood and gore - I love the Girl With The Dragon Tattoo books - but the subtle, creep up on you stuff is what keeps me awake at 2 in the morning!

Is "share a link with followers" a Twitter thing?

How lovely that 3 of you have kindly responded to me. I can see I am going to really like Gransnet.

I keep a small note book given to me by a friend, sadly here no longer, and I write a mini review and a score out of 10 for each book I read. Also I keep a list of books I want to read and your recommendations are going onto that list, so thanks so much.

NanKate flip reverses the display order of the messages, and share with followers is a link to friends on Twitter, Facebook etc. You don't need to worry about them [or use them.]Keeping a list of books read is a good idea [I have been going to do that for ages but never get around to it] then you can tell people about books that you have enjoyed.Or at least not have senior moments and buy a book that you read 5 years ago [like I did before Christmas.]

Try Nicci French books , they are excellent written by a husband and wife team, some have been made into TV drama, but the books ( as always ) are best

"The Little Stranger" - Sarah Walters. Not jump-out-of-your-skin frightening or gory, but very unnerving and sinister.

Yes, that's the one book I've read in the last year or so which really made an impression on me - very disturbing, but engrossing.

Welcome NanKate. I have read a couple of Jo Nesbo's books and had I followed your good idea of keeping a list of all the books I have read, I could tell you which ofJo Nesbo's I have enjoyed! I love scary books so will have a look at this one and will start that list.

I have done the same as you too often now Roses I'll have a look at the book you mention too.

Other books I enjoyed were Patricia Cornwell's.

I have read Sarah Walters but again can't remember what! Like the sound of "The Little Stranger" too

Linwood Barclay, Harlan Coban, Karin Slaughter , Lisa Gardner and scariest of all John Lutz. Most can be found in charity shops. Of course there is always Stephen King ........

Thank you everyone for the great recommendations, they will all go into my notebook.

I have in fact read the Sarah Waters book and enjoyed it very much. She also wrote 'Affinity' which was another cracker !

I have read a lot of books for children 9+ so if anyone wants any recommendations for their grandchildren I would be happy to help.

NanKate, have you tried the Sue Grafton books, she`s working through the alphabet with her titles, on W now, they`re good, without being too gory.

I love all of the books by Ian Rankin. I am waiting for his next!

Another good Scottish mystery writer is Stuart MacBride whose Logan McRae series is set in Aberdeen. Interesting characters and a good sense of place. Number 1 is Cold Granite - they should be read in order.
Another irresistible (in my opinion) series is by Dana Stabenow. Set in Alaska, her heroine is the redoubtable Kate Shugak. Again, the setting is an important part of the novels and the progress of the characters from Book 1 onward makes you want to keep following her. The first book is A Cold Day for Murder, a great introduction to one of fiction's most intriguing investigators. And at the moment it's free for Kindle on Amazon!

And the two great Dames, Ruth Rendell and PD James. Mistresses of mystery.

No I haven't read any of Sue Grafton's books (Numberplease) I will check in our local Oxfam Book shop and get myself one, thanks.

I remember reading a book called "Wax Apple" by Tucker Coe when I first got married. I found it really gripping and quite scary. I couldn't believe my luck when I found a copy in a charity bookshop a few years ago and eagerly started to read it. What a disappointment - I don't think I even bothered finishing it.

In response to your comment Eloethan, I recently saw that the Barbra Streisand film 'On a clear day' was to be shown on tv, as it was one of my favourite films of the 1970s I eagerly prepared to watch it and also flagged it up to a friend.

On settling down to watch it I realised my tastes had changed so much and I thought it was just awful, however the title song 'On a clear day' was just as mesmerising and I regularly listen to it on YouTube music, so not all is lost.

Thanks for the tip annodomini about the free Kindle book by Dana Stabenow, I have now got it [love a free book!]
That's true about tastes changing with age isn't it, not just books, films, music, but food too.I find that I don't like really scary things as much as I did when younger, or anything harrowing really. Of course, each person finds different things scary don't they?