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It is time to nominate books for the May/June group read. This time, I'm taking you to France for French crime/mystery/thrillers. It doesn't look like we've read any works by French authors, so I guess the sky's the limit.

Here are a couple of links that may offer some help while you're thinking about who to nominate:

Stopyourekillingme (France Mysteries):

and
Eurocrime (Authors and Their Titles - France):


PLEASE READ:

A word or two about nominations and voting:

1. As has been the case for as long as I can remember, if your nomination wins the poll vote, you will be the discussion leader. Do NOT nominate a book if you do not wish to be the moderator.

2. When a book gets to the poll, please please please -- if you don't really want to read it, don't vote for it.

3. This is not the place for authors to promote their own work.

4. If the book is in a series, it might be wise to start with book #1 rather than somewhere mid-series.

All right then, I think that's it. Have fun, and pick some good books!

Hidden order by Brad Thor

Sonya wrote: "Hidden order by Brad Thor"

Thanks, Sonya, but I don't think Brad Thor is from France.

The 7th Woman by Frédérique Molay
Book one in series

A Very Long Engagement by Sebastian Japrisot

A Very Long Engagement

Vertigo by Boileau-Narcejac

The Mystery Of The Yellow Room by Gaston Leroux.

Ex Libris wrote: "The Mystery Of The Yellow Room by Gaston Leroux."

The Mystery of the Yellow Room

So far, so good!

Hi - clarifying question: does the book need to be by a French author set in France? Several set in France are by people from other countries and I noticed a few by French authors set elsewhere.

Suzy wrote: "Hi - clarifying question: does the book need to be by a French author set in France? Several set in France are by people from other countries and I noticed a few by French authors set elsewhere."

French author -- like American authors, they tend to leave home once in a while in their books. :). It doesn't have to be in France.

I did not participate in group read nominations/votes at the beginning of joining the group. Now I do participate but I am careful to follow the rules. My nomination is by a French author of a book set in Paris. I also think Suzy's question was a good one, as I sometimes read books by Americans set in other countries.

Come on, let's give French authors in France a chance. I don't read much from them, although I seem to read crime writers from most countries. So, had a look of what was around and this looks appealing:

The Three Evangelists

Gisela wrote: "Come on, let's give French authors in France a chance. I don't read much from them, although I seem to read crime writers from most countries. So, had a look of what was around and this looks appea..."

Fun book, Gisela.

The Prone Gunman by Jean-Patrick Manchette.

Nancy wrote: "Gisela wrote: "Come on, let's give French authors in France a chance. I don't read much from them, although I seem to read crime writers from most countries. So, had a look of what was around and t..."
Yeaph, and as a German living in the UK, it seems VERY FRENCH!

Carol wrote: "The Prone Gunman by Jean-Patrick Manchette."
Sounds great too.

I was going to pick Georges Simenon's first Inspector Maigret novel, but he was born in Belgium, so might not qualify. Instead I'll pick another book, unfortunately the 2nd book in a series. I hope that's ok as it's the only one I've got... I nominate. Autumn, All the Cats Return by Philippe Georget.

Bill wrote: "I was going to pick Georges Simenon's first Inspector Maigret novel, but he was born in Belgium, so might not qualify. Instead I'll pick another book, unfortunately the 2nd book in a series. I hope..."

Nice! I have that one too. Also have his first one.

Gisela wrote: "Carol wrote: "The Prone Gunman by Jean-Patrick Manchette."
Sounds great too."

I thought it looked interesting and I'm having some attraction to 30s - 50s mysteries/police procedurals, all of a sudden - at least the ones that hold up and don't seem dated.

Carol wrote: "Gisela wrote: "Carol wrote: "The Prone Gunman by Jean-Patrick Manchette."
Sounds great too."

I thought it looked interesting and I'm having some attraction to 30s - 5..."

I've got it on my bookshelf too, glad to see it nominated.

Carol wrote: "Gisela wrote: "Carol wrote: "The Prone Gunman by Jean-Patrick Manchette."
Sounds great too."

I thought it looked interesting and I'm having some attraction to 30s - 5..."

I don't get that "dated" thing. They were written during a specific time period so "dated" to me doesn't apply. I think instead they become a great window onto what was happening culturally/socially/politically/economically at the time.

Nancy wrote: "Carol wrote: "Gisela wrote: "Carol wrote: "The Prone Gunman by Jean-Patrick Manchette."
Sounds great too."

I thought it looked interesting and I'm having some attract..."

Just had to say and Amen!

Nancy wrote: "Carol wrote: "Gisela wrote: "Carol wrote: "The Prone Gunman by Jean-Patrick Manchette."
Sounds great too."

I thought it looked interesting and I'm having some attract..."

Nancy, by dated , I mean that the writing quality doesn't hold up because the metaphors are now cliches or, for example, the sexism isn't representative of the time but simply indicates a lack of talent. It's different from a novel that represents it's drafting time, to me. It's not about judging older works by contemporary preferences. Any hoo...

Well, to each his/her own, I suppose!

Nancy wrote: "Carol wrote: "Gisela wrote: "Carol wrote: "The Prone Gunman by Jean-Patrick Manchette."
Sounds great too."

I thought it looked interesting and I'm having some attract..."

Yeaph, I think this is one of the things crime novels are so good at. If anybody is interested a Cardiff University academic called Katharina Hall has just published a book about German-speaking crime called "Crime Fiction in German: Der Krimi", which apart from discussing and great German language crime authors and books, also deals with the historical, social, political aspects and influences on crime writers since there basically were German-language crime stories. Unfortunately like all academic books it is quite pricey, but really worthwhile. Having lived for most of my life now in the UK, I have a shocking lack of knowledge about German writers (also a symbol of my generations education in Germany I'm afraid).

She also has a brilliant blog "Mrs Peebody investigates" . Discusses crime novels, films of all genres and languages, but her main focus are Scandinavian and German. Brilliant and funny. The lady is clearly well connected.

I don't know if this nomination counts, but I'll throw it out here....

The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair

It is written by a Swiss man, but super popular in France. In 2014 the Telegraph called it "The French thriller that has taken the world by storm" in this article and also says "Is it a French book, or is it an American book? And now that you can read the novel in English, does it make any difference?"

Just in case that nomination doesn't work...

This book has a quadriplegic, blind and mute amateur detective as the protagonist! Death from the Woods

and the Commissaire Adamsberg series by Fred Vargas are supposed to be interesting, and the first book is The Chalk Circle Man

´³±ð²Ôé wrote: "I don't know if this nomination counts, but I'll throw it out here....

The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair

It is written by a Swiss man, but super popular in France. In 2014 ..."

technically, he was born in Switzerland, but wrote in French. I'll allow it.

Gisela wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Carol wrote: "Gisela wrote: "Carol wrote: "The Prone Gunman by Jean-Patrick Manchette."
Sounds great too."

I thought it looked interesting and I'm havin..."

This is fascinating and my knowledge of German authors is embarrassingly limited, as well. Thanks for sharing the links.

I'll leave nominations open one more day, and set up the poll tomorrow morning.