From the Bookshelf of Reading the Detectives…

The Wintringham Mystery

Anthony Berkeley,

Tony Medawar (Introduction)

Start date: January 1, 2025

Finish date: January 31, 2025

Discussion: Group reads

Why we're reading this: Winner of the poll to choose our January group read.
[close] Winner of the poll to choose our January group read.

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Group reads

* December 2025 group read - Winner!
By Judy · 28 posts · 32 views

last updated Oct 15, 2025 10:39AM

* Oct 25: Murder Included (#1 D.I. Price) by Joanna Cannan
By Susan · 11 posts · 17 views

last updated Oct 02, 2025 10:38AM

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What Members Thought

Dec 29, 2024 Susan rated it liked it · review of another edition

This book was famously published in newspapers, with readers invited to try to solve the mystery. Agatha Christie, who sent in her suggestion under the name of her husband, won a runners-up prize! As such, this is a must-read for fans of Golden Age detective fiction.

Although Anthony Berkeley was an excellent author, who often tried out unusual ways to present his mysteries, this does very much read as though it was later adapted into a novel (as it was) and does not flow particularly well. Rathe ...more

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Jan 07, 2025 Frances rated it it was ok

This had all the tropes of a GA mystery-a country house party, a mix of old and young, known and unknown guests, some upstairs-downstairs shenanigans, and disappearing guests, jewels, and investments. A perky young couple falls in love over their detecting. Unfortunately, the whole thing left me somewhat cold and unengaged.

1 like · Like · see review

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

Slightly unsatisfying. The anti-Semitism is unnecessary and spoils the first three quarters of the novel.

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Jan 23, 2024 Sarah G rated it really liked it

Very good. Entertainingly written with an excellent premise, great characters and lots of jolly goings on.

The denouement is a bit rushed but the mystery wasn’t the main thing for me, more of a tall story to keep the characters company through the book. (Audiobook)

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Mar 07, 2022 Laura Hannaway rated it liked it

2 1/2 Stars

A so-so mystery. The characters were all ok although slightly unlikeable. I didn’t guess the ending, but Berkeley had events occur off page that made guessing impossible.
All in all not as good a Christie or Sayers.

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Jan 22, 2023 Kat rated it it was amazing

Full I of wit and mixed messages, a delightful country estate mystery!

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Jun 25, 2022 Sandy rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery-classic, mystery-detective-grp, rread-2022, read-2025

At times this seemed more like a Golden Age spoof than one written during the time period. Reminiscent of the author's The Poisoned Chocolates Case with all the tentative solutions. ...more

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