It’s funny how we can sometimes have the exact same likes and dislikes as other people, isn’t it? When I first started using the Internet, I became a member of five different mystery reading groups. I belonged to one mystery reading group that was based around culinary mysteries, one group that was more of a "hard-core" mystery group that had a lot of graphic details, one group that was really pretty silly and almost totally forgettable, and two groups that consisted of (mostly) women who had very similar "cozy mystery book" preferences.  (I say "women" since I believe we only had one man in either group during all of the years that I belonged.)

My favorite mystery reading groups were those two "cozy mystery book" reading groups, and I was very sorry when they disbanded. I am still very good friends with two of the members, and we have been through many changes throughout the years. The Internet allowed us to meet and exchange our views on books and authors, and also provided us with  fast and efficient methods of communication (sending e-mails and IMing each other). Making good friends through the mystery reading groups was as easy at it used to be to make neighborhood friends in the coffee klatches of yesteryear, before everybody felt the need to put up six foot fences around their yards.

The really great thing about the reading groups on the Internet is that they enable us to find other people who have similar tastes in books, and from there we are able to forge ahead and make lasting friendships. Having something in common, like reading mysteries, is a great starting point for friendships. I treasure both of the women I found through my cozy mystery reading groups.