From the Bookshelf of Reading the Detectives…

Murderer's Mistake (Robert Macdonald #28)

E.C.R. Lorac

Start date: February 1, 2024

Finish date: February 28, 2024

Discussion: Group reads

Why we're reading this: Also known as The Theft of the Iron Dogs
[close] Also known as The Theft of the Iron Dogs

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Showing 2 of 330 topics — 11,893 comments total

Group reads

* November 2025 group read - Winner!
By Judy · 20 posts · 32 views

last updated Sep 17, 2025 08:43AM

* Sept 25: Lonesome Road (#3 Miss Silver Mysteries) by Patricia Wentworth
By Susan · 16 posts · 16 views

last updated Sep 19, 2025 01:03PM

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What Members Thought

Mar 31, 2025 Tania rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery

I really like the sense of place the reader gets when she sets her mysteries in Lancashire.

8 likes · Like · see review

Sep 14, 2023 Lynnie rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery, post-war, read-in-2023, lancashire, british-library-crime

I enjoyed this as much as I enjoyed the other two Lunesdale books by Lorac.
It's a gentle read with lots of description about farming in the dales but also a very intriguing murder mystery as to motive.

Don't read the introduction first (I never do, I read them afterwards) - I felt this one gave too many hints.

There's a fourth Lunedale Mystery - Still Waters - and I really hope the British Library will republish this one next year. ...more

7 likes · Like · see review

Feb 04, 2024 Carissa rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: england, mystery, detective, golden-age, british-library-crime-classics, rural

E.C.R. Lorac (the pen name of Edith Caroline Rivett) is one of my favorite Golden Age detective writers. "The Theft of the Iron Dogs" is a particularly strong book. The plot itself is solid, with many interwoven strands. It is also a fascinating slice of history, as it takes place in rural northern England immediately after WWII. Rationing is still in effect, and town dwellers, in particular, have very restricted access to foods we consider unremarkable necessities, particularly eggs, dairy, mea ...more

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Feb 02, 2024 Sandy rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery-detective-grp, rread-2024, mystery-classic

Glad I listened to the slightly longer audio version vs The Murderer's Mistake as that has the character's thoughts and the setting descriptions. These are some of the pleasures of Lorac's writing. A good enough mystery with MacDonald's thoughtful investigation and a very interesting farmer / bookseller side character. ...more

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