Welcome to the Reader's Nook!
Welcome Readers
This is our new Reader's Page. Please explore, enjoy, and suggest new features! This page is intended to serve the Sisters in Crime reader in all of us. After all, without you, the writers have no audience for their work! Check back for regular updates and book discussions and events for both local and global reading fans.
Mystery Subgenres
Mysteries come in many varieties. Most of us have already seen it just browsing the local bookstore or library. That broad category, “Mystery,” can be divided into subgenres based on the type of crime and how it is solved. Here are some of the main subgenres waiting for you to discover.
Top 100 Mysteries and Thrillers
TIME Magazine recently put together a panel of celebrated authors—Megan Abbott, Harlan Coben, S.A. Cosby, Gillian Flynn, Tana French, Rachel Howzell Hall, and Sujata Massey—to present “the most gripping, twist-filled, satisfying, and influential mystery and thriller books.” We'll feature a few of these every month for you.
A Reader's Links
Here are some useful local links for readers: the library system and nearby bookstores. Check them out!
Book of the Month
Check out this page once a month to see which novel we've chosen to be our Book of the Month!
Top 100 Mysteries and Thrillers
TIME Magazine recently put together a panel of celebrated authors—Megan Abbott, Harlan Coben, S.A. Cosby, Gillian Flynn, Tana French, Rachel Howzell Hall, and Sujata Massey—to present “the most gripping, twist-filled, satisfying, and influential mystery and thriller books.” We’ll feature a few of these every month for you.
Author Qin Xiaolong wanted to write about the tumultuous climate of post-Tiananmin Square China. He ended up penning the Anthony Award-winning 2000 novel Death of a Red Heroine, the first in a series starring Inspector Chen Cao.
James Lee Burke, author of the Robicheaux detective novels, has called Mystic River “the best crime novel in the English language.” Clint Eastwood’s 2003 film adaptation of the 2001 best seller was nominated for six Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
This gothic mystery, endorsed as “the real deal” by Stephen King, has sold some 15 million copies around the globe. Carlos Ruiz Zafon shows the ever-present legacy of the Spanish Civil War, while critiquing the Spanish state’s history of silencing writers.
Jo Nesbø’s unflinching look at the violence and effects of war, as well as the vivid character development, has garnered The Redbreast numerous accolades and awards, including the 2000 Norwegian Booksellers’ Prize for Best Novel of the Year.
Mystery Subgenres
There are roughly 15 basic subgenres in the Mystery category of fiction. Are you familiar with all of them? Do you have a favorite?
Click the button to explore more mystery subgenres.
Local Links for Readers
2nd and Charles (Greenville)
Angel’s Bookshoppe (Greenville)
As the Page Turns (Travelers Rest)
Barnes and Noble (chain)
Fiction Addiction (Greenville)
Hub City Bookshop (Spartanburg)
M. Judson Books (Greenville)
Mr. K’s Used Books (Greenville)
Pages on Pine (Spartanburg)
Book of the Month
The Book of the Month for January is:
Anita de Monte Laughs Last
by Xochitl Gonzalez
NPR calls Anita de Monte Laughs Last “a fantastic riff on a recurring theme in film and life: Anatomy of a Fall. A Star Is Born. Ben and Jen. And of course, the twice married and twice divorced Liz and Dick. The common theme: when one star rises, another falters. And, when it’s the woman’s star eclipsing her husband’s, trouble naturally follows.”
Xochitl (“It’s pronounces So-CHEEL) Gonzalez is the New York Times bestselling author of Anita de Monte Laughs Last, a Reese’s Book Club Pick longlisted for the Aspen Words Literary Prize, and the award-winning Olga Dies Dreaming, named a Best of 2022 by The New York Times, TIME, Kirkus, Washington Post, and NPR. Gonzalez is a staff writer for The Atlantic and was recognized as a 2023 finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in Commentary. A native Brooklynite and proud public school graduate, Gonzalez holds a BA from Brown University and an MFA from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop.
Would you like to join us?
We would love to have you as a member of Sisters in Crime of Upstate SC. If you’d like to join a fun-loving, adventuresome chapter, contact Treasurer Adrienne Mathues at [email protected]!
Five Editing Tips
The thing to keep in mind about writing and editing is to keep them separated in your mind. When you’re writing, just write. When you’re editing, just edit. In this way, you’ll develop two different types of skills.
Quick Tips: Making A First Impression
Tired of digging for a business card? Ready to make a better first impression at the next in-person event? We have a tip for you.
Avoid Book Marketing Burnout
Book marketing got expensive, and it was a lot of work, but you’re still not making near the sales you know you should. There is a reason for that.
Top Ten Writing Tips for Productivity
Do you need a fresh start, or a better way to manage your writing schedule with real life? Most of us do, so don’t be too hard on yourself!
Finding the Perfect Character Name
How do you find the perfect name to match your character, the one that readers will remember? Contributing member, EJ Murray has a few ideas about that.
Welcome to Sisters in Crime Upstate SC!
Welcome! Sisters in Crime Upstate South Carolina is 25 years old. Based in Greenville, SC, but with members all over the US and Canada. Come join us, today!