From the Bookshelf of Reading the Detectives…

Murder in Blue

Clifford Witting

Start date: June 1, 2024

Finish date: June 30, 2024

Discussion: Group reads

Why we're reading this: Winner of the poll for our June group read.
[close] Winner of the poll for our June group read.

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Group reads

* VOTE NOW for November 2025 group read!
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What Members Thought

May 30, 2024 Susan rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I have enjoyed previous books by Clifford Witting and so I was pleased to read the first novel in his Inspector Harry Charlton series (and indeed his first mystery) first published in 1937.

John Rutherford, who owns a bookshop in the village of Paulsfield, is out for a stroll when he comes across the body of a police constable. Inspector Charlton is investigating the murder and Rutherford falls in love with his niece, Molly, during the case.

The mystery had an interesting setting and a good cast ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

May 28, 2024 Susan in NC rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: detectives-buddy-read24, my-library, kindle

3.5-4 stars. I enjoyed this dry, clever GA mystery, and would like to read more by this author.

Full disclosure, I read 80% plus of this group read, then had a guest for the holiday weekend, lost the thread, and didn't feel like trying to get back into it to wrap it up - so I checked the last chapter to see whodunnit, and called it read - I’ve got a couple library books I’ve waited for for awhile, and won’t be able to renew. It’s not that I didn’t enjoy it, but I find if a book is dragged out to ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Jun 07, 2024 Jill rated it liked it · review of another edition

I did like this book, but must admit I did get lost around the triangle of roads and had to go back to it to work it out. I also got the constables mixed up for a while. That may be because l am on holiday and got distracted. I liked that the narrator as the author spoke to the reader. For a first in series it was engaging. The method of the murders was pretty convoluted, and wonder if the following books will continue things vein.

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Jul 24, 2022 Ellen rated it liked it · review of another edition

I got very confused with all the bicycles! (The ‘N’ word could have been deleted with no effect whatsoever on the novel.)

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

Shelves: mystery-classic, rread-2024, mystery-detective-grp, z2024-own-24

Quite good Golden Age mystery with interesting plot and characters. The village atmosphere was great with the narrator running bookstore / lending library with a novel approach to make it profitable. Touches of humor in the writing and a bit of romance.

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