The big thing that made Gone Girl/Girl on the Train successful is that they appealed to women, who were historically turned off by the Stephen Kings/Dan Browns that dominated the genre. It's less about them being something fresh and innovative and more that they appealed to a new demographic.
I wanted to recommend some Mystery Books by POC authors since you said you're always looking for them and I agree, there's not a lot of people recommending them on UA-cam! Miracle Creek by Angie Kim Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley (Both some of my all time faves) Some books on my TBR: Queen of the Tiles by Hanna Alkaf (contemporary mystery with scrabble?) The Conductors by Nicole Glover ( this one's a historical Mystery with fantasy elements) A Master of Djinn by P. Djèlí Clark (Fantasy Mystery) Wahala by Nikki May (kinda get Liane Moriarty vibes) Fish Swimming in Dappled Sunlight by Riku Onda (probably more of a Thriller) Please feel free y'all and comment your own recommendations! This was kinda hard bc I get most my Mystery recs from Meg 😅
Monday’s Not Coming is my favorite Tiffany D. Jackson Cold by Mariko Tamaki is part mystery/part ghost story I also have Queen of the Tiles and Firekeeper’s Daughter on my tbr as well as Darling by K. Ancrum
I feel like reading Gone Girl now would be like watching The Sixth Sense now. At the time it was gag-worthy but now it would seem so obvious because of where the genre has gone. Going into it knowing roughly what happens would ruin it I’m sure.
Let me tell you, 17yo me reading Gone Girl for the first time was a monumental moment. Before Gillian Flynn was widely known, when thriller was dominated by men and this trope wasn’t widely used, this book was IT! She was the moment! Gone Girl getting called forgettable? I cannot stand for the slander 🖐️
In case you’re still interested in Mystery/Thrillers by POC authors, here are a few: Kindred (black author; genre bending) The Good Son (South Korean author; translated work) The Only Good Indians (Native American/Indigenous author; thriller/horror) Not So Perfect Strangers (Black author) The Bandit Queens (South Asian/Indian author) The Cutting Season (Black author; American South/plantation) Sisters of The Lost Nation (Native American/ Indigenous author) The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina (Latinx author; genre bending) Razorblade Tears (black author; reads like an action movie)
Ironically some Stephen King's horrors aren't quite as disturbing as his non horror books. If it's the violence that disturbs you Pet Semetary would be a good horro from him, cause I wouldn't say it's particularly violent, it's disturbing in a more emotional way if that makes sense.
I've notice the same lack of BIPOC authors in the mainstream adult mystery/thriller landscape, but if you're interested in dipping your toe more into cozy mysteries, there are a TON of series by BIPOC authors--including but not limited to Ovidia Yu, Mia P. Manansala, Alexia Gordon, Jennifer J. Chow, Jesse Q. Sutanto, Abby Collette, Gigi Pandian, Shamini Flint, Vaseem Khan, Harini Nagendra, Olivia Matthews, Valerie/V.M. Burns, Valerie Wilson Wesley, and Vivien Chien. For more traditional mysteries and thrillers, I've read Shutter by Ramona Emerson (horror fusion) and Bluebird Bluebird by Attica Locke and think they're both worth reading. I'm looking forward to trying The Trees by Percival Everett, The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb, You're Invited by Amanda Jayatissa, Lay Your Sleeping Head by Michael Nava, and Razorblade Tears by S.A. Cosby (to limit it to a few lol, my TBR is out of hand).
I just want to read a book because it's good not because of the authors skin colour. Also these days a lot of what you call "bipoc" books tend to be quite ray cist, preachy, aggressively hateful and just overly privileged. No thanks I don't want some random bully calling me evil because I'm white. I can't stand ray cists.
Great video! The mystery/thriller genre did change a lot, especially in the past 4/5 years, so you were very brave for doing this. I'm reading all the 2022 winners in all categories this year and that is also a cool challenge, bigger hopes for good books that way lol
The Girl on the Train is what got me back into reading. I remember reading it in one day but I feel like it’s definitely not a book you’d be into if you already read a lot of mystery/thrillers. 😆
I read Gone Girl the year it came out for a Bookclub and watching your blog, I feel soooo justified with my lack of care for it. Aaahhh thank you so much for vlogging your reading experience!
Immediately want to do this myself with general fiction winners. ETA: After seeing the general fiction winners… I have changed my mind. 😆 I really enjoyed the Mr. Mercedes series! The first one was probably my favorite of the King books I’ve read. Hope you like them!
I really recommend watching gone girl because it translates so well onto screen. Unlike The Last thing he told me 😂 which is not great on screen either.
It’s so funny to me to see people read Stephanie Plum books. I read a good chunk of them when they were originally being published but I stopped reading for a bit and didn’t keep up with them. The whole point of them is the relationships and the situations she gets herself into, kind of like the Finlay Donovan of the 2000s. The first one had a movie adaptation with Katherine Heigl.
I read Gone Girl when it came out, didn't like it then and have been disappointed for years that it made domestic thrillers *the thing* because they never work for me. Mystery/thriller is my favorite genre and I'm so glad to see domestic thrillers are finally trending out.
if it makes you feel any better, i'm sure that kayla hated the girl on the train too 😬 this was a fun vlog tho, i'm glad that you finally pulled it of!! i'm very surprised with how much you like stephen king and how you didn't love gone girl. i think your analysis is correct in that gone girl was revolutionary at the time for the genre but if ten years later you've read a lot of mystery/thrillers since then, it probably does seem a bit generic
An hour?! Ohhh I am SEATED. 4:16 I can't wait til Megan finds out that Stephen King is a SPIN OFF of another trilogy that wins the GR choice awards for Book One and Three in earlier years.... 17:44 I'm so glad Mara told you about the SK books!
About Dan Brown: I gave up on him as a writer with Inferno. I loved the earlier books (Angels & Demons being my favourite), but his books afterwards (starting with Inferno) read more like a city tour than an actually interesting story. So if Inferno does intrigue you, I would recommend earlier books!
I’m reading The Bill Hodges series atm so I can read The Outsider and then Holly, the things we do for our love of books 😅😅 (already read the Holly short story in If It Bleeds)
I agree with your sentiment at the end that the winners are more for people who maybe don't read very much, or good introduction books into the genre! I also gave Into the Water 2 stars and even with you describing it I don't remember it at all but I absolutely loved Girl on the Train and the Guest List and I have read two of the Dan Brown books in that series - not in order and enjoyed those, including Agatha Christie that is the extent of my mystery thriller reads!
Totally agree with you on The Last Thing He Told Me! Gone Girl’s setting is based on my old college town here in Missouri, USA which intrigues me more than the hype! Ugh, I hope I don’t hate it! Lol 😂 😅
I flew threw The Last Thing He Told Me but afterwards I’m like wait was that even good? 😂 the way they jumped to conclusions and were like wait we have to get on a plane now and I’m like how did you get to that conclusion?! I bet the miniseries is good. I feel like it would do well in that format
I just finished the book and am watching the series. It’s pretty true to the book but I like the miniseries better! We get more emotion from the characters in the miniseries, so they don’t feel as flat as they did in the book.
Knowing you didn't like the Golden Couple and did like the Paris Apartment, I knew we were a reading match. But seeing that you didn't like the Silent Patient locked it in. About to dive into all your recs!
Watch the Gone Girl movie girl. It's better than the book and the script was written by Ms Flynn herself. The movie is a 5 star for me.. I really liked "The last thing he told me" and gave it my vote but I'd have nominated it in Fiction not Mystery
The Outsider has a tv series and in my opinion it’s soooooo good. I haven’t read the book so I don’t know if the answer to the mystery is the same. But Holly in the show is one of my favorite characters on screen, the actress does such a great job. Hope you have a chance to check it out!
I was shouting the whole time in my head that you should Mr Mercedes first and then The outsider. Glad you did! And you were warned About Holly: I have autism myself. And autism is a very broad spectrum. So for me, I can't really say much on rep for it, because there probably is someone out there who identifies with Holly. I found it handled pretty well by King tbh.
I would love to hear your thoughts on some of the more iconic/better stephen king books! your reactions are so fun to watch, I would be entertained even if you hate all my favs 😂 but I do hope that will be a future video sometime!! 💗
My grandmother read all of the Stephanie Plum books when I was younger those were like her favorites but she also reads Amish romance so I’m shocked those actually won something 😂😂
i will say i think the stephen king books that you read are actually good because the ones you wanted to start with are more thriller or horror and those are true mysteries. i think it’s hard to compare the two types of stories that he writes, so it’s good that you were able to start with something SO DIFFERENT from what you are looking forward to reading.
The fact that you'd never heard of Stephanie Plum hurt me! They are so fun but I don't know if I'd call them thrillers. Keep in mind this series started in the 90s and I'll argue as an American who had been to New Jersey, the characters are not just stereotypes. I've seen all of them in real life and the Lula is completely spectacular. Evanovich's characters are the most vivid, delightful I've ever read. And yes, Stephanie makes bad choices. That's kind of the point. You aren't supposed to approve of her dating habits. The series has fallen off some but 1-15 are terrific.
I recently watched a video by Lizzies Literary Life where she randomised books from her GoodReads Read list and had to try and remember what it was about and what rating she gave it- it was super fun and would love to watch you do something similar ❤️
Some recommendations are Barbara Neely, Ovidia Yu, Kellye Garrett, Abir Mukherjee, Sherry Thomas, Parini Shroff, Jeannie Lin, Walter Mosley and Alafair Burke.
Oh boy do I love a long themed vlog 😍🙌 thanks for sharing lovely! Also sidebar: who is the hilarious blonde meme girl in all of Meg’s videos??? I want to watch whatever show she stars in 😄🙌
I hated Inferno. It was all "run, then run some more, and stop and talk about a painting/artist, then run some more." Then ending was so bad, I began to question my life choices. I decided then and there I really need to DNF more often.
For the Dan Brown books, only read the first two books (Angels and Demons and The Da Vinci Code). The rest are forgettable. However, I think it helps if you enjoy history, particularly art history. If that doesn't excite you, then you won't like the books. I agree with you on Gone Girl. Probably amazing when it was released, but I am 100% over domestic thrillers. Ironically, I'd love to see a return to more Dan Brown type thrillers as that is more of my thing for a popcorn read.
I’m happy you enjoyed your Stephen King journey lol. I loved mr Mercedes. I think the thing with his horror is that he’s afraid of NOTHING. Like he really gets into how terrible his characters are to the point where you’re like omg??? Do he think like that??? How did he think of that??? Also I totally agree with your comments on Jerome and Holly. I LOVEEEE them both but I think they can be written better for sure.
Do you think you'll read Stephen King's new book, "Holly"? Comes out this fall. I just read the Mr. Mercedes books earlier this year and am very excited for it. Love her character.
The Stephanie Plum series is a love of mine, I think I've read the first 12 at this point. The books are meant to be really silly and a joke and I always find myself laughing. It sounds like number 17 is the same as the other books, and to me that has no place on the goodreads mystery and thrillers awards. You're right they are joke books. Even though I love them I can totally see why you gave it a 2
They have made a apple Apple TV+ show of the last thing he told me, I read it, so I could watch the show but now I’m so interested in the show after reading the book
I tried to do all the dan browns book Last year in autumm bc my boyfriend had book 5 since it came out and hasnt read it yet, I Challenged him to read it faster than me reading all 5 . I started book 4 in january and have not picked it up since....well he still hasnt even started book 5 so currently I am still winning😅
First, this is for you for doing that to yourself for our entertainment 🏆 Next, I love your points about diversity and it would be very interesting for another reading ap out there to do a POC version. I would love the market to let Goodreads die the death it deserves because it could be SO MUCH BETTER
A few thriller/suspense books I enjoyed by women of colour - All Her Little Secrets and Anywhere You Run by Wanda M. Morris You're Invited by Amanda Jayatissa The Perfect Ruin by Shanora Williams Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley (YA, but a great read for all ages imo)
I liked the Mr Mercedes trilogy too, so you are not alone with your reading experience☺Most of Stephen King's horror novels are not very disgusting. He ist definitely NOT an extreme horror author. Sure, there are some scenes in there sometimes, but Mr Mercedes had them as well. The very first chapter for example gives a good example of that. I wish I had a better memory and knew which books would be more suitable and which ones I would not recommend 😂 😂 ""Later" and "Holly" are probably safe bets since they are crime/mystery/thriller books as well. "Fairy Tale", "The Eyes of the Dragon" (fantasy), "Billy Summers" and "Sleeping Beauties" probably too, but I have not read them. Gwendy's Button Box is not really horror too and reads more like a coming-of-age ya story or even middle grade! The books he writes under the name of Richard Bachman are more like thrillers or action movies most of the time too. "Gerald's Game" or "The Long Walk" for example do not have much going on but they are still gripping (imo at least! taste is not universal, if you do not like them it's fine, I'm sorry for recommending them in that case hahahahahaha)
You said that you read a book with your patrons and hated it, was it rules for vanishing? I read gone girl and girl on a train when they 1st come out and i hadnt read any thrillers before so i really enjoyed them, i dont think i would like them so much if i had read them now, ive got 1 stephen king book which is the shinning but havent started it yet as im alittle worried because he such a big name in the book world that i dont want to be disappointed reading him x
i loved gone girl when i read it a year ago but i never read thrillers. it just did something for me but maybe if i read more thrillers i would have a different opinion.
In case this helps, authors of color in the mystery genre: Sujata Massey, Gigi Pandian, Kellye Garrett, Yukito Auatsuji, Kaoru Takamura, Jennifer J. Chow, S.A. Cosby, Abir Mukherjee, Harini Nagendra, Gu Byeong-mo, Ovidia Yu, Qiu Xiaolong, Tarquin Hall, Vaseem Khan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Angeline Boulley, and Seishi Yokomizo. I’ve read from all of these authors and recommend them. I’m sure I’ve forgotten many so if you want something more specific let me know and I’ll get back to you.
I've only recently started reading lots of mystery/thriller, but here's some recommendations from BIPOC authors. I apologize if these are all already really well known. Also sometimes I label something as a thriller but then i see that others categorize it as a horror or a contemporary so I may have no idea what I'm actually reading: Confessions by Kinae Minato Razorblade Tears by SA Crosby Literally everything by Celeste Ng Monday's Not Coming by Tiffany D Jackson Hello, Universe by Erin Entrada Kelly (this is middle grade mysterious adventure tale but it's soo cute I just really want to recommend it more okay) The Cutting Season by Attica Locke If You Could See The Sun by Ann Liang ... and stick with me here, but I think that The Count of Monte Cristo by Akexandre Dumas is a classic epic quest thriller (an I wrong? I don't know) Also, I didn't love the plot of Jackal by Erin Adams but I did like the writing style, so I've got my eye out for future work of hers
I definitely enjoyed Gone Girl but not as much as other people seemed to. I gave it around a 3.5. Honestly, I feel like the movie is better and I never say that😬
Re: Dan Brown. Angels & Demons and The DaVinci Code were fantastic. The Lost Symbol… eh. But do not read Origin. Just don’t do it. It is one of THE most boring books I’ve ever read, and it was my least favorite book I read the year I read it. I deeeeeeeeeply regret not DNFing that one. Don’t do it! Re: Stephen King. Yeeeeeah the end of his books are basically always “oh P.S. it’s aliens/monsters/mad science.” That’s why I loved Mr. Mercedes so much, it wasn’t speculative at all! Then of course he went there with the rest of the series. I kind of gave up on King because I was so tired of it always being speculative.
Hi, You asked for a Mystery/Thriller written by a person of color - try: When No One is Watching by Alyssa Cole. Just found your channel . Agree with most of your reviews. Will subscribe.
I'm pretty sure the girl on the train is one of the worst books I've read, i love getting mystery recs from u cuz we have very similar tastes so definitely going to be adding some of the ones u enjoyed to my tbr
You're so right about the discrepancy between diversity in YA and adult fiction. When I stopped reading YA, my diversity stats absolutely TANKED. A few years ago some 40% of the books I read were by authors of colour, but last year? SEVENTEEN PERCENT. Yikes on bikes. Previously I never felt like I had to actively seek out authors of colour to get to a more acceptable percentage, but I definitely need to pay more conscious attention to it now. And sadly it's not just mystery/thriller, I just ran through all the past winners in the scifi category, not a single person of colour has won that either. Andy Weir alone has won that category three times, but a non-white person? Not. Once. ARGH. Oh and I think that category has only been won by a woman three times in the past 11 years. Also not great.
I read a ton of adult romance especially, adult queer romances, but I also read a bit of YA romance and I have to say YA really is way better than other genres at having diverse characters and authors of color. Adult queer romances are possibly the worst genre because they all tend to be straight white women which is a whole other discussion but YA is so so good at pushing books by diverse authors with diverse characters.
The big thing that made Gone Girl/Girl on the Train successful is that they appealed to women, who were historically turned off by the Stephen Kings/Dan Browns that dominated the genre. It's less about them being something fresh and innovative and more that they appealed to a new demographic.
There was not a single second of this video I could have predicted.😮
I wanted to recommend some Mystery Books by POC authors since you said you're always looking for them and I agree, there's not a lot of people recommending them on UA-cam!
Miracle Creek by Angie Kim
Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley
(Both some of my all time faves)
Some books on my TBR:
Queen of the Tiles by Hanna Alkaf (contemporary mystery with scrabble?)
The Conductors by Nicole Glover ( this one's a historical Mystery with fantasy elements)
A Master of Djinn by P. Djèlí Clark (Fantasy Mystery)
Wahala by Nikki May (kinda get Liane Moriarty vibes)
Fish Swimming in Dappled Sunlight by Riku Onda (probably more of a Thriller)
Please feel free y'all and comment your own recommendations! This was kinda hard bc I get most my Mystery recs from Meg 😅
I love the The Queen Of The Tearling Series, The Queen’s Thief Series and The Thief Series, all underrated (to me)
Monday’s Not Coming is my favorite Tiffany D. Jackson
Cold by Mariko Tamaki is part mystery/part ghost story
I also have Queen of the Tiles and Firekeeper’s Daughter on my tbr as well as Darling by K. Ancrum
Thank you, a few of these sound right up my alley. I left a comment with a few recs of my own
I did not know Firekeepers daughter was considered mystery, I will have to check this out. @witchymary5246
I feel like reading Gone Girl now would be like watching The Sixth Sense now. At the time it was gag-worthy but now it would seem so obvious because of where the genre has gone. Going into it knowing roughly what happens would ruin it I’m sure.
Let me tell you, 17yo me reading Gone Girl for the first time was a monumental moment. Before Gillian Flynn was widely known, when thriller was dominated by men and this trope wasn’t widely used, this book was IT! She was the moment! Gone Girl getting called forgettable? I cannot stand for the slander 🖐️
that green striped sweater is just iconic, always puts a smile on my face
In case you’re still interested in Mystery/Thrillers by POC authors, here are a few:
Kindred (black author; genre bending)
The Good Son (South Korean author; translated work)
The Only Good Indians (Native American/Indigenous author; thriller/horror)
Not So Perfect Strangers (Black author)
The Bandit Queens (South Asian/Indian author)
The Cutting Season (Black author; American South/plantation)
Sisters of The Lost Nation (Native American/ Indigenous author)
The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina (Latinx author; genre bending)
Razorblade Tears (black author; reads like an action movie)
Ironically some Stephen King's horrors aren't quite as disturbing as his non horror books. If it's the violence that disturbs you Pet Semetary would be a good horro from him, cause I wouldn't say it's particularly violent, it's disturbing in a more emotional way if that makes sense.
AHHHH haha you’re brilliant! I can’t wait to sit down and watch this, I had thought about doing this for fantasy!!
I've notice the same lack of BIPOC authors in the mainstream adult mystery/thriller landscape, but if you're interested in dipping your toe more into cozy mysteries, there are a TON of series by BIPOC authors--including but not limited to Ovidia Yu, Mia P. Manansala, Alexia Gordon, Jennifer J. Chow, Jesse Q. Sutanto, Abby Collette, Gigi Pandian, Shamini Flint, Vaseem Khan, Harini Nagendra, Olivia Matthews, Valerie/V.M. Burns, Valerie Wilson Wesley, and Vivien Chien.
For more traditional mysteries and thrillers, I've read Shutter by Ramona Emerson (horror fusion) and Bluebird Bluebird by Attica Locke and think they're both worth reading. I'm looking forward to trying The Trees by Percival Everett, The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb, You're Invited by Amanda Jayatissa, Lay Your Sleeping Head by Michael Nava, and Razorblade Tears by S.A. Cosby (to limit it to a few lol, my TBR is out of hand).
I just want to read a book because it's good not because of the authors skin colour. Also these days a lot of what you call "bipoc" books tend to be quite ray cist, preachy, aggressively hateful and just overly privileged. No thanks I don't want some random bully calling me evil because I'm white. I can't stand ray cists.
@@leestirling4623 I don't care what or why you read tbh, but have fun I guess?
Did you see that S.A. Cosby has a book coming out in June? I cannot wait!!
I didn’t expect this at all. Stephen King and then Dan Brown…. I have work to do but I’m glued 😂
Great video! The mystery/thriller genre did change a lot, especially in the past 4/5 years, so you were very brave for doing this. I'm reading all the 2022 winners in all categories this year and that is also a cool challenge, bigger hopes for good books that way lol
I agree w your thoughts on the characters in gone girl. I did love the second half/ending but that was also my first ever thriller I read
Glad you enjoyed your Stephen King! I’ve only read 1 of his books but enjoyed it. There’s a reason why he is considered a master of the genre.
The Girl on the Train is what got me back into reading. I remember reading it in one day but I feel like it’s definitely not a book you’d be into if you already read a lot of mystery/thrillers. 😆
Oh my god Meg over a hour long how wonderful best settle down
I read Gone Girl the year it came out for a Bookclub and watching your blog, I feel soooo justified with my lack of care for it. Aaahhh thank you so much for vlogging your reading experience!
Immediately want to do this myself with general fiction winners.
ETA: After seeing the general fiction winners… I have changed my mind. 😆
I really enjoyed the Mr. Mercedes series! The first one was probably my favorite of the King books I’ve read. Hope you like them!
I really recommend watching gone girl because it translates so well onto screen. Unlike The Last thing he told me 😂 which is not great on screen either.
Not Gone Girl beneath The Last Thing He Told Me 💀 This was so fun though!!
It’s so funny to me to see people read Stephanie Plum books. I read a good chunk of them when they were originally being published but I stopped reading for a bit and didn’t keep up with them. The whole point of them is the relationships and the situations she gets herself into, kind of like the Finlay Donovan of the 2000s. The first one had a movie adaptation with Katherine Heigl.
I read Gone Girl when it came out, didn't like it then and have been disappointed for years that it made domestic thrillers *the thing* because they never work for me. Mystery/thriller is my favorite genre and I'm so glad to see domestic thrillers are finally trending out.
a cozy mystery series by a WOC is the noodle shop mysteries! The first one is death by dumplings and it’s delightful!
You are spot on about the Stephanie plum series. Every. Single. Book. Is the same. And I believe there 28 or 29 books now in the series. It's crazy.
if it makes you feel any better, i'm sure that kayla hated the girl on the train too 😬
this was a fun vlog tho, i'm glad that you finally pulled it of!! i'm very surprised with how much you like stephen king and how you didn't love gone girl. i think your analysis is correct in that gone girl was revolutionary at the time for the genre but if ten years later you've read a lot of mystery/thrillers since then, it probably does seem a bit generic
An hour?! Ohhh I am SEATED.
4:16 I can't wait til Megan finds out that Stephen King is a SPIN OFF of another trilogy that wins the GR choice awards for Book One and Three in earlier years....
17:44 I'm so glad Mara told you about the SK books!
I'm glad all that Stephen King worked out for you in the end! I love the commitment haha
Not me adding The Outsider to my cart because of a character that loves Subaru’s… I’m also a Subie lover… lol
About Dan Brown: I gave up on him as a writer with Inferno. I loved the earlier books (Angels & Demons being my favourite), but his books afterwards (starting with Inferno) read more like a city tour than an actually interesting story. So if Inferno does intrigue you, I would recommend earlier books!
I cannot stop recommending Jesse Q. Sutanto & Mia P. Manansala's books. If you haven't read them, please do! They are so much fun!
oh i would love if you did this with a different genre, cause i loved to hear your thoughts on these books!
There's a level of unhinged and madness in this video and I kinda enjoy it.
I’m reading The Bill Hodges series atm so I can read The Outsider and then Holly, the things we do for our love of books 😅😅 (already read the Holly short story in If It Bleeds)
When you got to the Janet Evanovich, I was waiting for your reaction. 😂 She is so popular with older women in the library I work at. 😅
I respected The Last Thing He Told Me for focusing on a parent-child relationship instead of a romance.
you posted this right when I was in a really sad/unmotivated mood and it cheered me up for sure ((:
I agree with your sentiment at the end that the winners are more for people who maybe don't read very much, or good introduction books into the genre! I also gave Into the Water 2 stars and even with you describing it I don't remember it at all but I absolutely loved Girl on the Train and the Guest List and I have read two of the Dan Brown books in that series - not in order and enjoyed those, including Agatha Christie that is the extent of my mystery thriller reads!
Totally agree with you on The Last Thing He Told Me!
Gone Girl’s setting is based on my old college town here in Missouri, USA which intrigues me more than the hype! Ugh, I hope I don’t hate it! Lol 😂 😅
I flew threw The Last Thing He Told Me but afterwards I’m like wait was that even good? 😂 the way they jumped to conclusions and were like wait we have to get on a plane now and I’m like how did you get to that conclusion?! I bet the miniseries is good. I feel like it would do well in that format
I just finished the book and am watching the series. It’s pretty true to the book but I like the miniseries better! We get more emotion from the characters in the miniseries, so they don’t feel as flat as they did in the book.
@@ShowMeAnAdventure that makes sense. I thought it would probably be more entertaining on tv
Knowing you didn't like the Golden Couple and did like the Paris Apartment, I knew we were a reading match. But seeing that you didn't like the Silent Patient locked it in. About to dive into all your recs!
not surprised at all by your thoughts on Gone Girl. I felt the EXACT. SAME. WAY. when I read it 👀
I’m reading Holly atm, I will be glad to finish this series (after reading Mr Mercedes )but I’m enjoying it atm
I loved this video!! Thank you for all the energy it took😂❤️
Watch the Gone Girl movie girl. It's better than the book and the script was written by Ms Flynn herself. The movie is a 5 star for me..
I really liked "The last thing he told me" and gave it my vote but I'd have nominated it in Fiction not Mystery
The rant for the most popular old books was epic 😂😂 I watched the movies for all three, no chance in hell I’m reading those books 😂😂
The Outsider has a tv series and in my opinion it’s soooooo good. I haven’t read the book so I don’t know if the answer to the mystery is the same. But Holly in the show is one of my favorite characters on screen, the actress does such a great job. Hope you have a chance to check it out!
I was shouting the whole time in my head that you should Mr Mercedes first and then The outsider. Glad you did! And you were warned
About Holly: I have autism myself. And autism is a very broad spectrum. So for me, I can't really say much on rep for it, because there probably is someone out there who identifies with Holly. I found it handled pretty well by King tbh.
I would love to hear your thoughts on some of the more iconic/better stephen king books! your reactions are so fun to watch, I would be entertained even if you hate all my favs 😂 but I do hope that will be a future video sometime!! 💗
My grandmother read all of the Stephanie Plum books when I was younger those were like her favorites but she also reads Amish romance so I’m shocked those actually won something 😂😂
i will say i think the stephen king books that you read are actually good because the ones you wanted to start with are more thriller or horror and those are true mysteries. i think it’s hard to compare the two types of stories that he writes, so it’s good that you were able to start with something SO DIFFERENT from what you are looking forward to reading.
I really love seeing Booktubers DNF! I’ve been trying to DNF more and it’s validating to be reminded that it’s okay.
Such an enjoyable video!
The fact that you'd never heard of Stephanie Plum hurt me! They are so fun but I don't know if I'd call them thrillers. Keep in mind this series started in the 90s and I'll argue as an American who had been to New Jersey, the characters are not just stereotypes. I've seen all of them in real life and the Lula is completely spectacular. Evanovich's characters are the most vivid, delightful I've ever read. And yes, Stephanie makes bad choices. That's kind of the point. You aren't supposed to approve of her dating habits. The series has fallen off some but 1-15 are terrific.
I recently watched a video by Lizzies Literary Life where she randomised books from her GoodReads Read list and had to try and remember what it was about and what rating she gave it- it was super fun and would love to watch you do something similar ❤️
Some recommendations are Barbara Neely, Ovidia Yu, Kellye Garrett, Abir Mukherjee, Sherry Thomas, Parini Shroff, Jeannie Lin, Walter Mosley and Alafair Burke.
i’m skeptical of the last thing he told me but also want to watch the show so thanks meg for being my guinea pig on if it’s worth the read
Oh boy do I love a long themed vlog 😍🙌 thanks for sharing lovely!
Also sidebar: who is the hilarious blonde meme girl in all of Meg’s videos??? I want to watch whatever show she stars in 😄🙌
Gemma Collins 😂
I gain a year on my lifespan every time someone doesn't love gone girl!
I hated Inferno. It was all "run, then run some more, and stop and talk about a painting/artist, then run some more." Then ending was so bad, I began to question my life choices. I decided then and there I really need to DNF more often.
For the Dan Brown books, only read the first two books (Angels and Demons and The Da Vinci Code). The rest are forgettable. However, I think it helps if you enjoy history, particularly art history. If that doesn't excite you, then you won't like the books.
I agree with you on Gone Girl. Probably amazing when it was released, but I am 100% over domestic thrillers. Ironically, I'd love to see a return to more Dan Brown type thrillers as that is more of my thing for a popcorn read.
i love this idea so freakin much
I read Gone Girl this year and I felt similar. Too long and it wasn’t as mind blowing as I built it up in my head
I’m happy you enjoyed your Stephen King journey lol. I loved mr Mercedes. I think the thing with his horror is that he’s afraid of NOTHING. Like he really gets into how terrible his characters are to the point where you’re like omg??? Do he think like that??? How did he think of that??? Also I totally agree with your comments on Jerome and Holly. I LOVEEEE them both but I think they can be written better for sure.
Do you think you'll read Stephen King's new book, "Holly"? Comes out this fall. I just read the Mr. Mercedes books earlier this year and am very excited for it. Love her character.
The Stephanie Plum series is a love of mine, I think I've read the first 12 at this point. The books are meant to be really silly and a joke and I always find myself laughing. It sounds like number 17 is the same as the other books, and to me that has no place on the goodreads mystery and thrillers awards. You're right they are joke books. Even though I love them I can totally see why you gave it a 2
They have made a apple Apple TV+ show of the last thing he told me, I read it, so I could watch the show but now I’m so interested in the show after reading the book
You can read the synopsis of the first two in the Stephen King trilogy if you are intrigued read them all if just read e last book.
When No One is Watching by Alyssa Cole
I loved that one!
Your freckles are so pretttyyyyyyy
You’re like the only other person I know how hated The Silent Patient. I too thought it was offensive 🤪
I tried to do all the dan browns book Last year in autumm bc my boyfriend had book 5 since it came out and hasnt read it yet, I Challenged him to read it faster than me reading all 5 . I started book 4 in january and have not picked it up since....well he still hasnt even started book 5 so currently I am still winning😅
Lol
Here are some non-white mystery authors I've read and enjoyed: Attica Locke, Sujata Massey, Charlotte Carter, Nicola Williams, Jesse Sutanto.
Can you please do the winners of the Edgar awards too!
I'm 8.5 minutes into this video and about to pee my pants, it's so funny lmaoooo
Is fantastic that you didn't start reading King with Misery, you would not picked up any other book from him after that
First, this is for you for doing that to yourself for our entertainment 🏆
Next, I love your points about diversity and it would be very interesting for another reading ap out there to do a POC version.
I would love the market to let Goodreads die the death it deserves because it could be SO MUCH BETTER
A few thriller/suspense books I enjoyed by women of colour -
All Her Little Secrets and Anywhere You Run by Wanda M. Morris
You're Invited by Amanda Jayatissa
The Perfect Ruin by Shanora Williams
Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley (YA, but a great read for all ages imo)
I liked the Mr Mercedes trilogy too, so you are not alone with your reading experience☺Most of Stephen King's horror novels are not very disgusting. He ist definitely NOT an extreme horror author. Sure, there are some scenes in there sometimes, but Mr Mercedes had them as well. The very first chapter for example gives a good example of that. I wish I had a better memory and knew which books would be more suitable and which ones I would not recommend 😂 😂 ""Later" and "Holly" are probably safe bets since they are crime/mystery/thriller books as well. "Fairy Tale", "The Eyes of the Dragon" (fantasy), "Billy Summers" and "Sleeping Beauties" probably too, but I have not read them. Gwendy's Button Box is not really horror too and reads more like a coming-of-age ya story or even middle grade! The books he writes under the name of Richard Bachman are more like thrillers or action movies most of the time too. "Gerald's Game" or "The Long Walk" for example do not have much going on but they are still gripping (imo at least! taste is not universal, if you do not like them it's fine, I'm sorry for recommending them in that case hahahahahaha)
Joyland would probably be another safe bet based on what you put in the category too!
@@emmadavis9020 True, could be! It is similar to Later in that regard I think.
Ah, that's the vlog project!
You said that you read a book with your patrons and hated it, was it rules for vanishing? I read gone girl and girl on a train when they 1st come out and i hadnt read any thrillers before so i really enjoyed them, i dont think i would like them so much if i had read them now, ive got 1 stephen king book which is the shinning but havent started it yet as im alittle worried because he such a big name in the book world that i dont want to be disappointed reading him x
i loved gone girl when i read it a year ago but i never read thrillers. it just did something for me but maybe if i read more thrillers i would have a different opinion.
In case this helps, authors of color in the mystery genre: Sujata Massey, Gigi Pandian, Kellye Garrett, Yukito Auatsuji, Kaoru Takamura, Jennifer J. Chow, S.A. Cosby, Abir Mukherjee, Harini Nagendra, Gu Byeong-mo, Ovidia Yu, Qiu Xiaolong, Tarquin Hall, Vaseem Khan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Angeline Boulley, and Seishi Yokomizo. I’ve read from all of these authors and recommend them. I’m sure I’ve forgotten many so if you want something more specific let me know and I’ll get back to you.
OOPS!!! I forgot the brilliant Raymond Chandler & Walter Mosley, an unforgivable oversight on my part. Also, P. Djèlí Clark & Kris Nelscott.
I've only recently started reading lots of mystery/thriller, but here's some recommendations from BIPOC authors. I apologize if these are all already really well known. Also sometimes I label something as a thriller but then i see that others categorize it as a horror or a contemporary so I may have no idea what I'm actually reading:
Confessions by Kinae Minato
Razorblade Tears by SA Crosby
Literally everything by Celeste Ng
Monday's Not Coming by Tiffany D Jackson
Hello, Universe by Erin Entrada Kelly (this is middle grade mysterious adventure tale but it's soo cute I just really want to recommend it more okay)
The Cutting Season by Attica Locke
If You Could See The Sun by Ann Liang
... and stick with me here, but I think that The Count of Monte Cristo by Akexandre Dumas is a classic epic quest thriller (an I wrong? I don't know)
Also, I didn't love the plot of Jackal by Erin Adams but I did like the writing style, so I've got my eye out for future work of hers
I definitely enjoyed Gone Girl but not as much as other people seemed to. I gave it around a 3.5. Honestly, I feel like the movie is better and I never say that😬
The is actually a Stephanie Plum movie that starred Katharine Heigl
I think the only reason I like the Dan Brown series is because of the Tom Hanks movies haha
I think the gone girl movie was better than the book 😳
I dnf'ed girl on the train before I knew what dnf means 😂
Re: Dan Brown. Angels & Demons and The DaVinci Code were fantastic. The Lost Symbol… eh. But do not read Origin. Just don’t do it. It is one of THE most boring books I’ve ever read, and it was my least favorite book I read the year I read it. I deeeeeeeeeply regret not DNFing that one. Don’t do it!
Re: Stephen King. Yeeeeeah the end of his books are basically always “oh P.S. it’s aliens/monsters/mad science.” That’s why I loved Mr. Mercedes so much, it wasn’t speculative at all! Then of course he went there with the rest of the series. I kind of gave up on King because I was so tired of it always being speculative.
DaVinci was amazing!
Hi, You asked for a Mystery/Thriller written by a person of color - try: When No One is Watching by Alyssa Cole. Just found your channel . Agree with most of your reviews. Will subscribe.
Japanese thrillers with good twists: Keigo Higashino, Confessions
She hated Confessions hahahaha 🤭
lol gone girl was my worst book of the year last year 😂
Omg I dnf’d the girl on the train 😂
Tell me how the 600 page inferno audiobook is 3 HOURS shorter than Gone Girl. I am feeling the boredom of Gone Girl right now for sure.
I’ve only read the girl on the train 😂
Meg I love you but the Gone Girl opinion..... to be fair the movie is better, I'd recommend you watch it lol.
I'm pretty sure the girl on the train is one of the worst books I've read, i love getting mystery recs from u cuz we have very similar tastes so definitely going to be adding some of the ones u enjoyed to my tbr
You're so right about the discrepancy between diversity in YA and adult fiction. When I stopped reading YA, my diversity stats absolutely TANKED. A few years ago some 40% of the books I read were by authors of colour, but last year? SEVENTEEN PERCENT. Yikes on bikes. Previously I never felt like I had to actively seek out authors of colour to get to a more acceptable percentage, but I definitely need to pay more conscious attention to it now.
And sadly it's not just mystery/thriller, I just ran through all the past winners in the scifi category, not a single person of colour has won that either. Andy Weir alone has won that category three times, but a non-white person? Not. Once. ARGH. Oh and I think that category has only been won by a woman three times in the past 11 years. Also not great.
I read a ton of adult romance especially, adult queer romances, but I also read a bit of YA romance and I have to say YA really is way better than other genres at having diverse characters and authors of color. Adult queer romances are possibly the worst genre because they all tend to be straight white women which is a whole other discussion but YA is so so good at pushing books by diverse authors with diverse characters.
You will hate A Slow Fire Burning 😂😂
I would recommend Carrie by Stephen King. It isn’t as horrific as his other books.