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That's what I mean, Dags! Still, quite a thriller. And that closing scene was great.

And don't forget Grisham's "The Firm." Yes, he's a master of the legal thriller. Connelly has written more than just his Harry Bosch detective stories, which are mainly in the mystery genre, but even some of those I'd classify as thrillers. IMO, one doesn't need multiple chase scenes or fights on Mt. Rushmore to claim thriller rights. A requirement of an action-driven plot would eliminate most psychological thrillers. Good guys, though perhaps flawed themselves, overcoming sinister forces out to do them in is what I'd consider the hallmark of thrillers. "Notorious" had hardly any action. And speaking of Hitchcock, what about "Vertigo"? Two action scenes - one at the beginning and one at the end. Both are definitely thrillers. Harlan Coben - I forgot about him! - doesn't depend on nail-biting action in his stories. But it sure doesn't hurt to have a climactic physical confrontation scene at the end!

Thanks! Didn't know that. But then, how could I?

For example, after posting the above, I either have to click on 'Go back to the Next Big Writer Premium Group' or 'jack the knife' to get me back to a page where the Home button appears. Unnecessary clicking.

My favorites are Nelson DeMille, Michael Connelly, Greg Iles, Robert Crais, Vince Flynn (RIP). I've read Clancy, of course - stories are good, though a little too techno-geek for me - and also Silva. Paul Erdman was known for writing financial thrillers - right up your alley, Cobber. Clive Cussler tells some wild, but quite entertaining stories. Michael Crichton (another RIP) spun some hair-raising yarns based on potential technology. I channeled him, actually, when I wrote "The Side Effect." I've heard Lee Child, with his Jack Reacher series, is good, but he's still on my to-read list. John Sandford is more mystery/crime than thriller, but he's had some good books with his "Prey" series. Enough for now. Any more authors I should check out, folks?

The Jack the Ripper murders. Never solved, and even more interesting because of the prominent people theorized as suspects, such as Prince Albert and Lewis Carroll. The Black Dahlia murder in 1940s LA also fascinating because of the gruesome nature (she was cut in half) and it was never solved. The kidnapping and murder of the Lindbergh baby remains controversial to this day despite the fact a suspect was convicted. Ditto the treason trial and subsequent execution of the Rosenbergs.

I read a lot!

You likely plan to get some mileage from those names, but the joke might get a bit old before the end of the story. Just a thought.

Me, too.

Okay, in The Bridge on the River Quai, at the end, when William Holden gets killed, Jack Hawkins gets defensive with his Thai women bearers, and protests that he had no choice. What? To kill Holden with his mortars? No, Holden was killed by Japanese rifle fire. I never got that scene.

In NBNW, the plot from that point on depended on Cary sitting across from Eva in the dining car. So how could that be "arranged" on purpose? And in the very beginning, the fortuitous event of Cary just happening to be there when the victim is knifed and then getting the knife in his hand... But I didn't care! It was exciting, I like Cary Grant, and it was a good movie!

In Heat, with Pacino and DeNiro, when DeNiro's crew is coming out of the bank they just robbed, Pacino, who's heading to the bank but is still blocks away, somehow can see that far and says, "They're already coming out of the bank!" And then at the end, from a similar distance away, he sees DeNiro's girlfriend waiting for him in the car. And then, when DeNiro is running away, Pacino just happens to guess right on the direction he took. But I still liked that flick! The shootout scene in the streets of LA - based on a real-life shootout, I've heard - is awesome. Great acting by all concerned, including Val Kilmer.

I'll think of some more, given the time. The point is that, though some WTF moments occur in films, the good ones don't let those moments ruin the movie.

Well, Cary Grant was told to go there, if my memory serves. But there were other plot holes in that film, and they didn't bother me. Great movie!

I discovered a minor plot hole in my novel, "Teammates," that no TNBW reviewer spotted, and it got past my picky-picky editor as well. So I'm going to fix it. Somebody, out of the millions who will read the book, would be bound to spot it.