Ruth’s Comments (group member since Oct 06, 2015)

Ruth’s comments from the Reading the Detectives group.

Damaskcat wrote: "I like Kate Charles' Book of Psalms series which starts with A Drink of Deadly Wine

Another favourite is D M Greenwood's series featuring Theodora Braithwaite - the first one is [bo..."

I enjoy those two series as well, Damaskcat.

Susan wrote: "So many great books to explore! The will expand my tbr list even more..."

Some great suggestions here. It's good to have them all together in one place.

Perhaps we should have some more threads for other themes - can you think of any others?

Kell wrote: "From the cozy mysteries site:

http://www.cozy-mystery.com/blog/teac...

and

http://www.cozy-mystery.com/blog/myst......"

There's a few on those two lists I'm going to look into.

Thanks to everyone for all your suggestions on this thresd and the clerical mysteries thread. They are both going to be such great resources that I can refer to.

Everyman wrote: "Has anybody mentioned Kempelman's (sp?) Rabbi Small series? I found them not only enjoyable mysteries, but a nice look into the Jewish traditions and practices. (I use that phrase because he consid..."

Is it these Friday the Rabbi Slept Late - not come across them before.

Kell wrote: "If you're into cozes, there's an impressive list maintained at the cozy-mystery site: http://www.cozy-mystery.com/blog/myst..."

I do enjoy a nice cosy actually Kell! Kate Charles and D M Greenwood are two of my favourites on that list.

Miss M wrote: "Ha...seen this? : )
The Wry Romance of the Literary Rectory
Or...this: The Old Rectory ..."

They both look really interesting actually - have you read either of them?

I've looed at that site Judy, but a bit overwhelmed by the number of references! Good for checking recommendations though I think.

HJ wrote: "There's another site with annotations for some Wimsay books and stories: http://planetpeschel.com/the-wimsey-a...

The one which I think most needs annotations is [book:Busman's Honeymoon|1..."

That's a great site HJ. Looks like it's aimed at American readers who might not be familiar with English terminology. It includes several of the things I checked up on like 'sahib' and 'shooting-box'

Sandy *She has some marvellous observations that have had me chuckling and dwelling on the differences between our lives then and now..."

I really enjoy looking up all the references and meanings of words and phrases snd came across this site

http://www.dandrake.com/wimsey/clou.html

Jan C wrote: "Full disclosure - I am a preacher's kid ..."

Same here Jan! My father was variously a curate, a rector, a chaplain at a girls' convent school, and a vicar.

Judy wrote: "I really enjoyed the TV series based on these, starring James Norton. But must admit I didn't get on with the book I tried, as it was so different - another example of watching the TV show first! Sidney is a much more troubled character in the TV version, which tends to appeal to me.
..."

I think that's what is putting me off starting this one - and also reading the Father Brown series. I've heard they are both different from the TV series.

Jan C wrote: "The Grantchester series - Sidney Chambers and The Shadow of Death"

That's on my list. Are you reading it at the moment Jan?

I've thought about reading some of the Father Brown stories before but somehow haven't been sure about them. Can you compare them to anything else?

This is great - lots of new authors for me to try! Keep it coming :-)

Does anyone have any favourite books which fall into this category?

I'm thinking of books set in or around universities or places associated with them like Oxford and Cambridge, or featuring an academic, professor, student or similar as the detective - or sidekick.

I was reminded while reading a review of one of Edmund Crispin's books that my favourite types of detective fiction used to be those in either an academic or church setting, but I've rather lost touch with these aspects in the last few years and I'd like to reacquaint myself with some of the books and find some new ones.

I love the wordplay and literary games in Edmund Crispen's books, and I also generally enjoy seeing quotes and latin and greek phrases littered around even if I've no idea what they mean!

Does anyone have any favourite books which fall into this category?

I'm thinking of books set in or around cathedrals, focused around church life in a parish, or featuring a priest, churchwarden, vicar's wife or similar as the detective - or sidekick.

I was reminded while reading a review of one of Edmund Crispin's books that my favourite types of detective fiction used to be those in either a church or academic setting, but I've rather lost touch with these aspects in the last few years and I'd like to reacquaint myself with some of the books and find some new ones.

HJ wrote: "I think it depends on how interested you are in Troy, and the relationship between her and Alleyn. I second Ellen's recommendation of Death in a White Tie if you want to see how the romance develops (and it is a very good anyway)...."

I think I'm going to go with Ellen's suggestion as I'm really keen to see how the relationship develops.

I actually started a re-read a couple of years ago but stalled because there was one particular book I didn't enjoy and then immediately after that the audio titles just disappeared from my library's Overdrive system. I'd love to do a complete re-read from the beginning at some point.

I'm just coming to the end of Artists In Crime which I've thoroughly enjoyed. Has anyone got a recommendation for which one I should try next?

I'm currently listening to Artists in Crime by Ngaio Marsh read by Phillip Franks and it's excellent. I think one of the marks of a good narrator is that you forget that it's one person reading the book and start hearing each individual character.

This is the book that introduced Agatha Troy and it's lovely to be reminded of how their relationship started.

Judy wrote: "I've just been spending a Waterstones token from Christmas and picked up a copy of a new BLCC title, Murder at the Manor: Country House Mysteries. This is short country house detect..."

That's one I've been tempted by Judy, so I'll be interested to hear what you think of it.

Susan wrote: "On a slightly different note (although I suppose it ties in to the 'dumbing down' of TV with endless reality shows) I am currently reading Proust and I was thinking that he would never get publishe..."

I think some authors are able to adopt a persona that they present to the public, but if you are very shy or a 'private' person even this may not be possible. I suppose you could just cultivate an air of mystery but as you say the public appetite now is for lots of interaction with their authors.