2 Basic Club References (Updated for Sep 2024-Aug 2025)
BASIC #1) THIS YEAR’S READING LIST AND MEETING CALENDAR: All three links below have the same information but in different formats.
- To get the above information in the easiest online reading format: Just Click Here. …OR…
- To get the above information in the best printing format (PDF): Just Click Here. Tip: (a) Print just page 1 for a quick reference sheet. AND/OR (b) Print pages 2-7 (back-to-back) for complete details on each book. You can also get the same thing using the online link above – no printing necessary!
BASIC #2) THE CLUB’S “GRADING FORM” WITH THIS YEAR’S BOOKS ALREADY LISTED AT THE TOP OF THE FORM:
- Learn more about our “Grading” form – also known as evaluation, rating, or scoring form – and download one of 3 versions here: GRADING FORM PAGE.
4 Tools to Help You Find Your Perfect Crime Fiction Book
TOOL #1) A LIST OF ALL THE BOOKS THE CLUB HAS READ SINCE 2005: (Updated, Sep, 2023). If you haven’t read them, there could be something for you here. Click here to view, download, or print the lengthy PDF – “All the books we have read in the history of the club.” There are 259 books on the list! Books are listed four times in the document: (a) By the month in which it was read; (b) by the author; (c) by the title; and (d) by the average score given by the club’s participants – these scores have only recently been saved, although the group has used the grading/evaluation form for over ten years. Great resource for finding (mostly) good books too read. Consider choosing books with an average group score of 86 or above.
TOOL #2) USE “STOP YOU’RE KILLING ME.COM”: That’s the name of a fantastic mystery-thriller reference website, where you can search for mystery books by authors, by series characters, by genres, by geographic settings, occupations of sleuths, and much more. Click here for StopYoureKillingMe.com.
TOOL #3) USE “IF YOU LIKE THAT, MAYBE YOU’LL ALSO THAT THIS”: This “tool” is simply a list of 300+ authors listed under 21 different crime fiction sub-genres (or categories). The first page has directions on how to use the tool. To view, download, and/or print this PDF: Click here: “If You Like That, Maybe You’d Like This.”
Still can’t find what you need? Go on to Tool #4.
TOOL #4) USE A SPECIALIZED LIST: All the links to lists are on a separate page, but the bullets below give you an idea of what you can find there. CLICK HERE to go to the page of links to specialized Lists to help you find the perfect book.
- A list of books nominated for the reading list in previous years, but not chosen for the final club reading list.
- A list of cornerstone books in crime fiction history between 1748 and 1948. “Classics” in mystery history.
- Lists of award-winning books.
- All mysteries and thrillers associated with a specific holiday.
- Crime fiction books written by authors of color, by LGBTQ+ authors, and by native American authors.
- A list of some of Dick Goutal’s fav mystery authors.
3 Miscellaneous Helps for Maximizing Your Fun in the Mystery Book Club
HELP #1) MAKE USE OF THE POSTS UNDER THE “CRIME FICTION FUN TOPICS!” MENU TAB: This replaces the previously existing Facebook Group Page, making the fun more easily accessible to everyone. By the way, this is new for the fall of 2022. How to get started:
- Click on the “Crime Fiction Fun Topics” menu-tab above.
- Click on the title of the first “post” you see, namely, “Let’s Share – Crime Fiction Fun Topics!” That will expand the post so you can see all of it.
- Scroll down through to see some past posts, to get an idea of some things we like sharing.
- Leave a reply to a recent post; start a conversation.
HELP #2) SOCIALIZE WITH US: Sometimes some members will go out to eat after a meeting- join in! Sometimes you may be invited during the week to join in a meal with a few others- join in! Invite another member to join you for coffee or… whatever. Sometimes we have a “field trip” to see a mystery movie, visit an area location that appears in a book we are reading, go for a walk, sail in the harbor, and more – join in!
HELP #3) USE OUR CHECKLIST TO REFLECT ON THINGS YOU REALLY DON’T WANT IN YOUR MYSTERY BOOK: This will help you understand that we mystery book fans are all different. We have specific likes and dislikes. The checklist has 74 things that at least someone has said – I’d rather not have that in a mystery book I read. Hey, we all like sandwiches – but there are some who would rather not eat one if it has onions. Same idea with our personal preferences in mysteries! Check out the list of 74 things that can annoy at least a few readers (maybe), but then tell the world (with anonymity) what YOU dislike in some crime fiction books. Do the survey called, “I Just Don’t Like a Book That Has…”. If you would like to print a hard copy of the 74 items Click here to get the PDF file..
AID #1 DON’T FORGET: SUBSCRIBE TO OUR MAIN EMAIL LIST: To keep up with all our activities, it is advised that you subscribe to the newsletter and other periodic announcements. You can miss out on some fun activities if you don’t hear about them! Click the “Subscribe” tab on the main menu above.
AID #2) DOWNLOAD OUR ZOOM MEETING HELP SHEET: What to know before, during, and immediately after connecting and getting “admitted” to the meeting. Finally, see a list of things you can or should do during the meeting like muting, raising your hand, and signaling agreement. Click to display and/or download and print the Zoom Helps Sheet .
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