Incredible reference and a great read even if you're not usually a fan of "thrillers."

All I know is that, of the 100 noted within, I already read 18, had 14 more on to-read lists for a while now, and I added another 24 to said list from the 100 noted.

And then I added another 31 more books just from the authors who wrote about the 100 thrillers as their books also sounded interesting and worth reading.

So, 1 book read, 55 more added to the interminable to-read list. I'd fret about never finishing that to-read list but having more good things to read is never a bad thing. ( )

Quick impressions: A nice collection of short essays about books in the thrillers genre. From ancient times looking at books such as The Odyssey to The Da Vinci Code, we get short essays on 100 selections. Each short essay is written by other authors in the genre. Morrell, the editor, is the author of First Blood (the basis for the film that went on to spawn the Rambo franchise). There may be one or two titles you may wonder if they are really thrillers, but that is part of the appeal. Overall, a good variety, and it may inspire to go back and look for some titles to read.

(full review on my blog later) ( )

Incredible reference and a great read even if you're not usually a fan of "thrillers."

All I know is that, of the 100 noted within, I already read 18, had 14 more on to-read lists for a while now, and I added another 24 to said list from the 100 noted.

And then I added another 31 more books just from the authors who wrote about the 100 thrillers as their books also sounded interesting and worth reading.

So, 1 book read, 55 more added to the interminable to-read list. I'd fret about never finishing that to-read list but having more good things to read is never a bad thing. ( )

Read it - short blurb and accolade for all 100 of the choices.
Oh, no . . . 98 more books to go on my to-read list.
Great selection of choices and reviews - some unknowns that are now high on my list.
Read in 2010. ( )

"The Thriller is the oldest kind of story - rooted in our deepest hopes and fears, for ourselves, those we love, and the world around us."

Whether you are an aspiring author, a seasoned veteran of the New York Times Best Seller lists, whether your books have been turned into multi 100 million dollar movies or you are just an avid reader, creative writing major, history student or just want to know more about what makes a thriller popular and good, this book is indispensible and should set on your bookshelf next to the dictionary, thesaurus and book of quotations. If you occupy any of the above categories, or many more, then this book is a Must Have not just a must read. There are few "writers books" that stand the test of time but "Thrillers: 100 Must Reads" not only will stand the test, it is the test as it spans the history of the Thriller from "Beowulf to The Bourne Identity, Dracula to Deliverance and The Heart of Darkness to The Hunt for Red October".

Writing a review on this wonderful book is akin to writing a book report on a book report. It's a daunting task as the authors who wrote these essays are amongst the best in the world in any genre and the giants and grand masters of the Thriller. When the publishers, Oceanview Publishing first provided me with an ARC of this book I almost took a pass. These guys are an impossible act to follow. And if I think it is daunting for me, the authors of the essays found it daunting as well. Any "Best of..." list is hard for one person to agree on, let alone a large number of people. David Morrell states in the preface, the authors collectively had a hard time deciding how far back in history to go in compiling the list. And these esteemed authors didn't just draw titles out of a hat and write quick little blurbs. It quickly becomes apparent that not only did they struggle with the selections and nominations, but each and everyone of them wrote what amounts to a synopsis for a thesis in a masters class in creative writing.

And the stories, ah the stories. You could just print out the table of contents, use it as a shopping list and go to the bookstore. Stack these titles on your coffee table, arrange them nicely on your office book case or devote a few shelves in your library to them and anybody In the world would think you are a serious reader and book lover. ( )