Loved the video,but the real takeaway was the cute t-shirt editing Mara’s is wearing that says ‘Y’all means all’. As a southern girl as well, I need this shirt in my life.
I also voted for The Maid and read Wrong Place, Wrong Time afterwards. I loved it as well. There are moments in WPWT where she’s talking about Mom guilt that I felt deep in my bones.
Just starting that now and feeling a little crabby already. Hate that whole Manic Pixie Dream Girl trope. Why cant women be COMPETANT instead of goopy dummies? Holding on for something better to come
I laugh seeing the contenders for 2013/2014 - Lisa Gardner, Sandra Brown, John Sanford, and Lee Child because those were books my parents read. Paula Hawkins in 2015 really ushered in the current era that we've been in for 8 years. I would love if Goodreads had a Gothic literature category.. which is separate from the horror, mystery, and thriller genres. Good examples of modern day Gothic novels would be Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware and When no one is watching by Alyssa Cole, etc.
THE DRY by Jane Harper is very good. I think it’s her best book, by far. The way she makes the Australian Outback one of the scariest places on earth to live. It’s well worth a read
It's great how different we all are in regard to books. In 2022, you voted for The Maid which was absolutely awful IMHO. I thought Billy Summers was the best book in the thriller category for 2021 and you obviously abhor Stephen King's recent works. I respect and look forward to your opinions although we often disagree. Thank goodness we all enjoy different things! Great video! ✌️😎
I agree with your friend who said these should be two separate categories. There always seems to be a preponderance of thrillers. It would be nice to have a category just for mysteries. I clearly need to read The Maid - bumping that one up my TBR list. Thanks for the video.
Love these kinds of videos. I noticed that there was a Wiley Cash book listed on the Edgar Awards, "Dark Road to Mercy." I think it's a strong book by him. It's short and quick, but I wouldn't necessarily go in thinking of it as a mystery/thriller. It's more a gothic-esque fiction. Anyway, highly recommended.
"I will NOT recommend Mr. Mercedes! I'm not weak like the Edgars!" 🤣 I loved this video so much, thanks for all the laughs, lol. I think maybe the thing to do is to find some other mystery or thriller that came out that year that you HAVE read and would recommend. I think that should count for years when all the options suck, lol.
I’m interested in the reaction to The Thursday Murder Club outside the UK. The author is a well known and well love TV presenter in the UK, so people were predisposed to like it.
It was enjoyable, but had a lot of references to British culture that made the humor not land as strong for me (which is fine obvs but just part of being a non-British reader 🥰). I’ve heard from other Americans that the humor hits better in audio where the actor can put the right emphasis on the jokes, so I’ll probably continue the series in audio
I'm American, but I love the humor of the book. I'm sure there are some references that I miss, but there is a particular type of humor that is on the subversive side (making light of murder for example). I also think the books have a lot of heart. the second book is particularly moving. I prefer the narrator for the first two books over the third, but I think the audio is the way to go for the series.
As an American, I did know Richard Osman, but it wasn’t a big deal that he was the author. I enjoyed the series, but have yet to pick up the third one. For me, it wasn’t any of the British references/culture/humor that made me consider giving up the series. My complaint is how “perfect” all the main characters are. I’m used to everything magically working out in a cozy, but having it happen to several people instead of the typical one detective kinda turned me off.
I would love for you to read Apples Never Fall! I didn’t expect to love it but I had so much fun with it. Also Local Woman Missing! I recently finished Wrong Place Wrong Time and thought it was fantastic.
I absolutely love that even though you dnfed Girl On The Train twice, for a book you've literally never finished, how it has managed to affect you so much over so many years 🤣
Wrong place, wrong time sounds like a really cool concept! I loved an anonymous girl from 2019. I wanted it to win. I agree that the in death series all blends together but I still love them. Shocked and dismayed by their taste 🤣🤣🤣
This was so fun to watch. And I agree that everyone should read My Sister the Serial Killer, one of my favorite reads from the last few years. SO good. You made a reference to your 100 all-time favorite books. Is there a list (or video) you could point me to? I would love to get a gander. ❤
@@bookslikewhoa I think fantasy will always hold that spot for me, but some good mystery thriller can feel like such a breath of fresh air to mix things up from time to time.
In 2020 Winter Counts was up in both Edgar & GR and it should have won everywhere IMO. Also, Blacktop Wasteland was nominated and it’s by the same author as Razorblade Tears. Also, if you haven’t, read Walter Mosley. He’s an American treasure and, I suspect, a legit genius. The absolute WORST thing about Mr Mercedes is that it was up against Saints of the Shadow Bible and that book was incredible. And Ian Rankin was up in 2014 too and totally deserved it. The big problem with the Rankin books is that you have to start at the beginning but, dang, I love Rebus and Rankin can seriously write.
You mentioned that you are planning to read all the thriller nominees for this year and that you really didn’t like the characters in the Bill Hodges series… well guess which beloved character Uncle Stevie is bringing back in his latest thriller that will 100% end up in the finalists? I’ll give you a hint: the name of the book is Holly 😂
I pre-ordered ‘Origin’ in April 2017 and read it (when I got it 6 months later) in less than a day while having “dumb fun”. You could’ve done the same.
Off topic aside doing the Together We Read challenge on Libby and River Women River Demon has MAYBE?? unlimited ecopies until April 2. The study guide was OK but one of the questions cracked me up because SOMEBODY had liddle too much Grad School hehehe. Book ok--Mexican Gothic paranormal mystery thriller women power bowl of gumbo. Kinda wish author would just pick a lane but whatever
It's so interesting that most of the nominations for these 10 years were books I wouldn't have read. I agree with you for 2019 (My Sister the Serial Killer) and 2018 (The Broken Girls). 2021 for me would be a tie between Harlem Shuffle and Razorblade Tears. For 2020 I'd pick The Sundown Motel. Didn't read any of the nominations for 2017, 2016, and 2014. For 2015 The English Spy by Daniel Silva, and 2013 Inferno. Dan Brown is just an easy, fun read. Steve Berry does a much better job with the kind of topics Brown picks.
I agree that mystery and thriller should definitely be separated. I also feel bad for cozy mysteries because they hardly stand a chance. I think that Arsenic and Adobo only did as well as it did because of it being a BOTM pick so it was on many people's radars.
I actually slightly disagree! I think One By One is more of a thriller than a mystery. I solved that one really early on, but enjoyed (somewhat) the thriller aspect.
'One by One' over 'The Guest List', as someone who had SUPER high hopes for 'One by One,' is a big no for me. I much prefer how quickly 'The Guest List' moved than to the padding we find in most Ruth Wares. And I WANT to love Ruth Ware so much!
Haha, see, I like the build up in Ruth Ware, whereas I find Lucy Foley's execution of those tropes really unsatisfying. But that's why there's a book for every reader!
My pick for Mystery Thriller in 2023 was also Wrong Place, Wrong Time but I didn't feel strongly about any of the nominees. The Maid isn't a great mystery but works because of the character. On that list, I liked Wrong Place, Wrong Time, The Bullet That Missed, and The Night Shift the best. I think I still would have voted for Wrong Place Wrong Time since i think it was original and The Bullet That Missed wasn't as strong as The Man Who Died Twice. And The Night Shift was just entertaining and don't think it had the quality of a "best of the year" type of book. Also, Seven and a half deaths should have won that year. But I love a very complex mystery. I loved it. I also loved his follow-up book and can't wait until he releases more.
i'm so glad harlan coben hasn't won any of these because GOD his books are so annoying. he comes up with such interesting premises and then his characters are so annoying and the plot takes the weirdest turns and his writing is aggressively mediocre...
It was some time ago when I decided that life is too short to read books that I am supposed to read (like classics lets say) because they will change my life etc... Life itself changes my life lol. Anyway I decided to stick with my favourite thriller/crime/mystery books. But of course when you read that many at one point they start repeating themselves and at the moment almost every book I read it is so predictable. Some of the books I know what's going on very early on because it reminds me of another book or it is just too obvious. The amount of books I give 1 or 2 stars at the moment is scary 😅😅 Many books that are overhyped and constantly recommended I end up hating them. I hate "Gone girl", maybe if I had read it 10 years ago it will be different story, and now I knew what is happening in the moment she... went gone. And I hate it for other reasons as well. I was super dissapointed by the overhyped "Lock every door" as well. On the other hand I love "The Kind worth killing", I like "The Push" as well, I didn't think I would like it, but it was completely different story from what I imagined. And did you really haven't read "Behind her eyes"????? You must fix this NOW! I don't like Louis Penny, she is super popular in my country, but her first book was so boring, I cannot believe she is given 5 times Agatha Christie award. Cormoran Strike series also done after reading Silkworm and hated it lol.
Loved the video,but the real takeaway was the cute t-shirt editing Mara’s is wearing that says ‘Y’all means all’. As a southern girl as well, I need this shirt in my life.
What Mara had to go through with certain winners (Ahem Ahem), we need her own version of a Book Award Show.
Yay! I’ve been hoping to see follow-up videos from this project.
I also voted for The Maid and read Wrong Place, Wrong Time afterwards. I loved it as well. There are moments in WPWT where she’s talking about Mom guilt that I felt deep in my bones.
It's so, so good!!
Hahaha the struggle near the end was lovely 😂
The struggle was real
I read Joyland a couple months ago. It was just okay. Not much happens but has a nice character study that King usually does well.
I read Wrong Place Wrong Time based on one of your recent videos and I loved it!!!
I'm so glad to hear it!
Unrelated to this video, but I’m so glad you recommended The Writing Retreat, it was very my kind of thriller!
Just starting that now and feeling a little crabby already. Hate that whole Manic Pixie Dream Girl trope. Why cant women be COMPETANT instead of goopy dummies? Holding on for something better to come
I'm so glad!
Mara downgrading Maidens in the middle of filming made me cackle😂
I laugh seeing the contenders for 2013/2014 - Lisa Gardner, Sandra Brown, John Sanford, and Lee Child because those were books my parents read. Paula Hawkins in 2015 really ushered in the current era that we've been in for 8 years.
I would love if Goodreads had a Gothic literature category.. which is separate from the horror, mystery, and thriller genres. Good examples of modern day Gothic novels would be Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware and When no one is watching by Alyssa Cole, etc.
THE DRY by Jane Harper is very good. I think it’s her best book, by far. The way she makes the Australian Outback one of the scariest places on earth to live. It’s well worth a read
I fully agree!
It's great how different we all are in regard to books. In 2022, you voted for The Maid which was absolutely awful IMHO. I thought Billy Summers was the best book in the thriller category for 2021 and you obviously abhor Stephen King's recent works. I respect and look forward to your opinions although we often disagree. Thank goodness we all enjoy different things! Great video! ✌️😎
Haha exactly - there's a book for every reader, and a reader for every book!!
So enjoyed both of the videos!
Mara to Edgar Awards about their 2015 Thriller Pick: “I have many questions. Number one, how dare you?”
I agree with your friend who said these should be two separate categories. There always seems to be a preponderance of thrillers. It would be nice to have a category just for mysteries. I clearly need to read The Maid - bumping that one up my TBR list. Thanks for the video.
Glad you enjoyed! The Maid is very voice & character driven, so if you vibe with the main character, you'll like the book
Love these kinds of videos. I noticed that there was a Wiley Cash book listed on the Edgar Awards, "Dark Road to Mercy." I think it's a strong book by him. It's short and quick, but I wouldn't necessarily go in thinking of it as a mystery/thriller. It's more a gothic-esque fiction. Anyway, highly recommended.
"I will NOT recommend Mr. Mercedes! I'm not weak like the Edgars!" 🤣 I loved this video so much, thanks for all the laughs, lol. I think maybe the thing to do is to find some other mystery or thriller that came out that year that you HAVE read and would recommend. I think that should count for years when all the options suck, lol.
I’m interested in the reaction to The Thursday Murder Club outside the UK. The author is a well known and well love TV presenter in the UK, so people were predisposed to like it.
It was enjoyable, but had a lot of references to British culture that made the humor not land as strong for me (which is fine obvs but just part of being a non-British reader 🥰). I’ve heard from other Americans that the humor hits better in audio where the actor can put the right emphasis on the jokes, so I’ll probably continue the series in audio
The audio is so good
I'm American, but I love the humor of the book. I'm sure there are some references that I miss, but there is a particular type of humor that is on the subversive side (making light of murder for example). I also think the books have a lot of heart. the second book is particularly moving. I prefer the narrator for the first two books over the third, but I think the audio is the way to go for the series.
As an American, I did know Richard Osman, but it wasn’t a big deal that he was the author. I enjoyed the series, but have yet to pick up the third one. For me, it wasn’t any of the British references/culture/humor that made me consider giving up the series. My complaint is how “perfect” all the main characters are. I’m used to everything magically working out in a cozy, but having it happen to several people instead of the typical one detective kinda turned me off.
I’m American, but love all things UK related, so the humor worked wonderfully for me. I love the entire series!
I would love for you to read Apples Never Fall! I didn’t expect to love it but I had so much fun with it. Also Local Woman Missing! I recently finished Wrong Place Wrong Time and thought it was fantastic.
I absolutely love that even though you dnfed Girl On The Train twice, for a book you've literally never finished, how it has managed to affect you so much over so many years 🤣
lol it's haunting my dreams!
Wrong place, wrong time sounds like a really cool concept! I loved an anonymous girl from 2019. I wanted it to win. I agree that the in death series all blends together but I still love them. Shocked and dismayed by their taste 🤣🤣🤣
In Death is such a comfort read for me
I tried so hard with Wrong Place, Wrong Time but couldn't get on with it. Anything time bending really throws me.
This was so fun to watch. And I agree that everyone should read My Sister the Serial Killer, one of my favorite reads from the last few years. SO good.
You made a reference to your 100 all-time favorite books. Is there a list (or video) you could point me to? I would love to get a gander. ❤
Yes indeed! I do an all time favorites video every Thanksgiving, and in 2022, it was my Top 100 books - should be back there in November :)
@@bookslikewhoa I must have been in a turkey coma and missed it! 😴 Thanks, Mara.
I have decided that I am not a very particular reader... Loved Gone Girl. Enjoy Jo Nesbo, Harlan Coben... I am easily entertained I guess.
Same. Love Harlan Corbin. Wilde series current fav and cant wait for next.
This was fun and I truly need to prioritize more mystery thrillers because I have a lot of fun when I do pick them up
They are probably my favorite genre in terms of pure entertainment/enjoyment
@@bookslikewhoa I think fantasy will always hold that spot for me, but some good mystery thriller can feel like such a breath of fresh air to mix things up from time to time.
I agree with your choice with "One by One". I loved the book, but I do love a good mystery
The biggest surprise for me is that Mara didn’t have Reconstructing Amelia on her TBR! It’s one of my favorite thrillers of all time!
wow 2015 was a bleak year. Also I keep forgetting to mention but I LOVE the new intro music!
Yay, glad you like it! I'm trying to change things up by season :)
In 2020 Winter Counts was up in both Edgar & GR and it should have won everywhere IMO. Also, Blacktop Wasteland was nominated and it’s by the same author as Razorblade Tears. Also, if you haven’t, read Walter Mosley. He’s an American treasure and, I suspect, a legit genius. The absolute WORST thing about Mr Mercedes is that it was up against Saints of the Shadow Bible and that book was incredible. And Ian Rankin was up in 2014 too and totally deserved it. The big problem with the Rankin books is that you have to start at the beginning but, dang, I love Rebus and Rankin can seriously write.
I’ve heard great things about ‘Joyland’ by Stephen King as well.
I’m genuinely surprised at how many nominees I’ve read, especially considering that I do not consider myself a mystery/thriller reader
Maybe I over enunciate but I misheard when you referred to ‘Horror’ lol
You mentioned that you are planning to read all the thriller nominees for this year and that you really didn’t like the characters in the Bill Hodges series… well guess which beloved character Uncle Stevie is bringing back in his latest thriller that will 100% end up in the finalists? I’ll give you a hint: the name of the book is Holly 😂
I knoooowwww 😭😭😭 I saw that when I pulling together a list of what might make it. Truly I am a glutton for punishment
I’m here for the decisive judgement on the books that deserved to win. 👏🏽
I also preferred One By One over The Guest List, but I think it is a bit more of a thriller than mystery, or perhaps it's an even split
I think the Edgar Awards are a year behind the Goodreads you’re comparing it to, the 2023 awards in April are for books published in 2022
I have The Thursday Murder Club Trilogy. Pray for me that I get the British references. I have a feeling I might but who knows?
I highly recommend the audio books for your best chance as the jokes and humour are most likely to hit
@@danielleoliver1734Interesting.
Actively avoiding Shari Lapena and Paula Hawkins whose works I have liked lol
I pre-ordered ‘Origin’ in April 2017 and read it (when I got it 6 months later) in less than a day while having “dumb fun”. You could’ve done the same.
Off topic aside doing the Together We Read challenge on Libby and River Women River Demon has MAYBE?? unlimited ecopies until April 2. The study guide was OK but one of the questions cracked me up because SOMEBODY had liddle too much Grad School hehehe. Book ok--Mexican Gothic paranormal mystery thriller women power bowl of gumbo. Kinda wish author would just pick a lane but whatever
I really liked ‘The Couple Next Door’. It was quite thrilling.
So interesting that The Maidens is unpopular. I enjoyed it far more than The Silent Patient which everyone raved about.
It's so interesting that most of the nominations for these 10 years were books I wouldn't have read. I agree with you for 2019 (My Sister the Serial Killer) and 2018 (The Broken Girls). 2021 for me would be a tie between Harlem Shuffle and Razorblade Tears. For 2020 I'd pick The Sundown Motel. Didn't read any of the nominations for 2017, 2016, and 2014. For 2015 The English Spy by Daniel Silva, and 2013 Inferno. Dan Brown is just an easy, fun read. Steve Berry does a much better job with the kind of topics Brown picks.
Quote of the Day: “I’m not weak like the Edgars.”
The secret placeis good ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I love Tana French, but I didn't make it far in "The Witch Elm" at all. Something about it didn't strike right for me.
I agree that mystery and thriller should definitely be separated. I also feel bad for cozy mysteries because they hardly stand a chance. I think that Arsenic and Adobo only did as well as it did because of it being a BOTM pick so it was on many people's radars.
Yeah, The Maid is the closest thing to a cozy that has ever won, I think
I actually slightly disagree! I think One By One is more of a thriller than a mystery. I solved that one really early on, but enjoyed (somewhat) the thriller aspect.
Did I see Veronica Mars as a 2014 nominee?!!
'One by One' over 'The Guest List', as someone who had SUPER high hopes for 'One by One,' is a big no for me. I much prefer how quickly 'The Guest List' moved than to the padding we find in most Ruth Wares. And I WANT to love Ruth Ware so much!
Haha, see, I like the build up in Ruth Ware, whereas I find Lucy Foley's execution of those tropes really unsatisfying. But that's why there's a book for every reader!
My pick for Mystery Thriller in 2023 was also Wrong Place, Wrong Time but I didn't feel strongly about any of the nominees. The Maid isn't a great mystery but works because of the character. On that list, I liked Wrong Place, Wrong Time, The Bullet That Missed, and The Night Shift the best. I think I still would have voted for Wrong Place Wrong Time since i think it was original and The Bullet That Missed wasn't as strong as The Man Who Died Twice. And The Night Shift was just entertaining and don't think it had the quality of a "best of the year" type of book.
Also, Seven and a half deaths should have won that year. But I love a very complex mystery. I loved it. I also loved his follow-up book and can't wait until he releases more.
I think 2018 had the best line up, so I would have been happy to see 7 1/2 Deaths win as well!
Razorblade tears for sure! Any y’all know a girl go by the name TAAAAAAAAINGERIIIIIIIINE?
night film is v good!
Louise Penny!!
BRB adding “aggressively mediocre” to my Assessment Toolkit.
i'm so glad harlan coben hasn't won any of these because GOD his books are so annoying. he comes up with such interesting premises and then his characters are so annoying and the plot takes the weirdest turns and his writing is aggressively mediocre...
Lol the spontaneous downgrade of the Maidens 😂
It was some time ago when I decided that life is too short to read books that I am supposed to read (like classics lets say) because they will change my life etc... Life itself changes my life lol. Anyway I decided to stick with my favourite thriller/crime/mystery books. But of course when you read that many at one point they start repeating themselves and at the moment almost every book I read it is so predictable. Some of the books I know what's going on very early on because it reminds me of another book or it is just too obvious. The amount of books I give 1 or 2 stars at the moment is scary 😅😅 Many books that are overhyped and constantly recommended I end up hating them. I hate "Gone girl", maybe if I had read it 10 years ago it will be different story, and now I knew what is happening in the moment she... went gone. And I hate it for other reasons as well. I was super dissapointed by the overhyped "Lock every door" as well. On the other hand I love "The Kind worth killing", I like "The Push" as well, I didn't think I would like it, but it was completely different story from what I imagined. And did you really haven't read "Behind her eyes"????? You must fix this NOW! I don't like Louis Penny, she is super popular in my country, but her first book was so boring, I cannot believe she is given 5 times Agatha Christie award. Cormoran Strike series also done after reading Silkworm and hated it lol.
Yeah, I'm trying to enjoy Louise Penny, but so far, not super impressed
"aggressively mediocre" haha :)