Need help before Noon CST

I have to quickly come up with three to five suggestions for our book group at work. This is a new group that is focused on fiction. We have both men and women.

We've read:

January: 1984
February: Eragon

Any suggestions? We have to be careful because of the corporate environment to not have books that are too violent or racy.

Brave new world is supposed to be read as a counter to 1984
Ender's Game could be interesting for a group read.
Shroud for the Archbishop is a murder mystery in 7th Century Rome and solved by a female monk in a male dominated society.
Eon is a different Sci-Fi book having fun with space time.

I've tried hard not to suggest anything overtly fantasy or sf...

The Master and Margarita should be interesting as platform for discussing good vs. evil.
The Cobweb has some years but was initially written under an alias and is nominally a mystery/crime/spie/spook story but could be interesting as to the current situation in Iraq.
The Plague is good for discussing ethics, and also a good read.

I second the choice of Ender's game - it could make for a good discussion.

I think I'd like to try to stay away from science fiction or fantasy. Perhaps a mystery/thriller or historical/general fiction.

I thought about Snow Flower and the Secret Fan but it might be too female oriented.

The Facts Of Life by Graham Joyce - a story of a family of women growing up in post-war Coventry. A mixing of the fantastical with the mundane.

Declare by Tim Powers. Almost an homage to John Le Carre but with monsters. Spies, secret histories and the supernatural.

Hawksmoor by Peter Ackroyd. A Whitbread Prize winning novel.

<2 Shroud looks like a possible!

Oops message 4 came in whilst I was editing.

Hawksmoor counts as mainstream and it features a detective investigating a serial killer.

The Facts Of Life although nominally fantasy might easily be considered magical realism by some.

Maybe Captain Corelli's Mandolin by Louis de Bernieres? It could provide a lot of discussion, both for its historical details and the writing style.

Hound of the Baskerviles?
Gets the thriller, mystery and historical checkboxes.

I've no idea how my timezone or the LT one relates to CST - how much longer have we got?

It's 9:52am where I am right now.

I'm leaning toward Shroud for the Archbiship, The Plague, The Facts of Life and Hound of the Baskervilles so far. One more for a total of five selections and I should be good. Keep them coming!

Well the Tag historical Mystery comes up with Kate Ross and Bruce Alexander I know neither of them but they both appear to have written a few books.

one Sue Graftons alphabet series, maybe A is for Alibi would work, a female PI in california, set in the 80s so not to historical, but a light fun read for most people.

If you are watching out for excessive violence mysteries/thrillers are tricky because a lot of these do get violent in places.

Violence is fine. Bloody gore like in early Hamilton novels would be a bit much. :)

John le Carre's more recent works, Constant Gardener for example will provide a lot of discussion, now that he's moved out of the spy trade.

Quicksilver ? I really didn't like this, but I know its recieved a lot of praise. Historical, a bit of mystery a bit of general fiction fantasy crossover. Its long though.

I enjoyed The Final Solution: A Story of Detection by Michael Chabon, and it is a quick read, as well.

Sphere could definatly generate some interesting conversations.
Eaters of the Dead is an interesting retelling of Beowulf.

Okay, I can relax! It's been rescheduled for next week. Yay!

The White Plague by Herbert was really good. I read it years ago. It is vaguely sci-fi (I know you said you were trying to stay away from that), but only because it's a created virus, and there is, of course, an apocalyptic feel because of it. But it touches on so many issues and has a very 'real' feel to it. It's on my own re-read list.

Family Matters by Rohinton Mistry