English Mysteries Club discussion
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June 2013 - The Beast Must Die
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Susan
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May 27, 2013 04:26PM
It is not available at Amazon in the U.S. in any form including Kindle. I really wish we could books that are easy available to get.
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This was available for the Kindle in the USA just a week ago, but when I checked yesterday and today it isn't. Hopefully it will be available again very soon!
If you use that link, you will find "This title is not currently available for purchase"
Leslie wrote: "If you use that link, you will find "This title is not currently available for purchase""
That's surprising because I have just purchased it and downloaded to Kindle & iPad. Even when not logged into my account it still shows as available from here (NZ)
:( apparently it is available in the UK but not the US
Leslie wrote: ":( apparently it is available in the UK but not the US"Wow, that is a first. Usually it's New Zealand where they're not available. I don't understand the need to apply DRM in this online world anyway. Imagine the sales that could be lost through doing this - a debate I've had with many a publisher through work. Of course the publishers blame the authors, the authors blame the publishers etc. etc. ... At the end of the day everyone misses out.
End of soapbox!
Sorry, when I suggested it I did check it was listed on kindle on both the Amazon.uk and .com site, which it was:http://www.amazon.com/The-Beast-Must-...
It even has my review attached :)
That's good Ann. I have to admit that I don't always think of looking to see if a book is available outside the UK, it just doesn't occur to me, but I was sure this one was.
I can see it on both .com and .co.UK, so it seems it's not available to those with an IP address originating in US as Leslie said.I wonder if it is worthwhile asking Amazon why that is? Or better still, if they would consider making it available for US readers.
I assumed that if it was listed on .com it was available to anyone buying from that site.
I have no problem with you withdrawing the book, but I don't feel I can nominate any further books as I can't do more from the UK than check Amazon.com and see if it is listed.
I have requested The Beast Must Die from the Yale library and hope to get my hands on a copy tomorrow. In the NY public library, it was available for in-library use only, not for borrowing -- not a good sign, as far as general availability is concerned.I read A Great Deliverance a long time ago and loved it. If it's widely available, it should make a great BoTM.
Jean-Luke wrote: "Considering the difficulty in locating this book, I've been thinking about changing the BoTM to the second place book, which is A Great Deliverance. Thoughts? I really didn't expect this book to be..."I have emailed Amazon about this issue so why don't you hold off on switching for a few days.
Susan wrote: "I have no problem with you withdrawing the book, but I don't feel I can nominate any further books as I can't do more from the UK than check Amazon.com and see if it is listed."Susan, this is not your fault. Leslie said it was available in US just last week. It's just Amazon being silly. Please continue to nominate and I'm sorry I blew off some steam. You can't control Amazon so don't worry.
Thank you, Jean Luke. I will order from one of these sellers. I have no problem with used books either. I appreciate you taking the time to find them for me.
The problem is that, looking at the .com site it is still showing as being listed from here (the UK). So, I have no way of knowing whether a book is actually available - as it seems to be the case that it isn't. I was attempting to suggest something a little more obscure, but it is pointless if people can't obtain it. I am really happy for the group to change the book, but I have to admit that I don't feel comfortable suggesting further reads.
I just feel bad I caused so much trouble. I will just vote from now on!
Susan, don't feel bad. These things happen when you have people from so many countries.Besides your nomination won so many people want to read it. I ordered a copy from the Amazon link Jean-Luke gave and am looking forward to it. Please feel free to nominate books. We are all adults and can make our choices to vote for it or not. Read it or not. Besides hunting down a book can be fun.
I check each nomination at my local libraries and on Amazon (Kindle)to see how available they are which is what Leslie did a week or so ago from her US IP address. At that time she could see it available on Amazon.com and yet now it appears to have become unavailable to the American market.I would really like to know why Amazon do this. I would have thought it made commercial sense to allow purchase of all books in all countries - but I've already had my rant about this.
I think what we do is the best we can as Susan (26) says, so nobody should feel bad.
I just hope some of you like it now. You are very kind, but I do feel bad.
@Susan - I don't think you should feel bad at all! I am honestly a bit shocked that this classic is so hard to find, so maybe we will drum up some interest for it! I have heard back from Amazon with a non-answer answer which I include below:
"Message From Customer Service Hello,
I’m sorry that the book "The Beast Must Die" isn't currently available for Kindle.
Occasionally books are removed from the Kindle Store for various reasons. We don't have any details about why this particular book may have been removed.
You may see a link labeled "Tell the Publisher! I'd like to read this book on Kindle" directly below the pricing options, on the right hand side of the screen, on some book detail pages (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00C...). Clicking the link lets publishers know Kindle users are interested in a digital version of printed books not yet available in the Kindle Store and doesn't place an order for the book.
Please contact the publisher directly and ask that they make their content available for Kindle.
*****
If you do need further assistance or if you have any problems, please don't hesitate to contact us. You can reach us by e-mail, chat or phone directly (and toll free from many countries) by clicking on the link below:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/contac...
Contacting us through the website allows you to verify security before a call is placed and ensures we have your account information ready when we call you. If your country isn't listed or you're unable to take advantage of the Contact Us feature, you can call us directly at 1-866-321-8851 or 1-206-266-0927 if you're calling from outside the U.S.
We will continue to work with publishers directly and ask that they make their content available for Kindle.
Best regards, Sarah N. "
Leslie wrote: "@Susan - I don't think you should feel bad at all! I am honestly a bit shocked that this classic is so hard to find, so maybe we will drum up some interest for it! I have heard back from Amazon..."
Great that you got a reply Leslie, but it misses the point entirely - that it isn't any longer available in US!
Ella's Gran wrote: "it misses the point entirely - that it isn't any longer available in US! ..."which is why I call it a non-answer! I did actually click on the "I want this book" link, figuring although it will be too late for this readalong, it is good to build up demand. In the meantime, I ordered a used paper copy.
I got it today from the Yale library. It's probably in most major university libraries and many big-city public libraries. So that's another avenue to explore if you're looking for a copy.
I ordered mine from the Amazon link and it came from Goodwill. That makes me feel good. I get to read a great book and help Goodwill in one fell swoop. Total cost $4.
I asked for a copy on inter library loan. Lets see when I get it.
I had this in paperback once upon a time but you can't keep everything. Unfortunately my library doesn't have it. Just ordered it used from Amazon.
Received my copy of the beast must die from the library. unfortunately it's a large print book which makes me feel a bit sheepish about reading it ( don't know why). Looking forward to reading it.
Well, after all that discussion about availability (and after I ordered a used paperback), this is again available as a Kindle book in the U.S. If you are an Amazon Prime member, you can even borrow the Kindle book for free! Which I am going to do, since I don't know how long it will take for the paperback to arrive!
Leslie wrote: "Well, after all that discussion about availability (and after I ordered a used paperback), this is again available as a Kindle book in the U.S. If you are an Amazon Prime member, you can even borr..."That's interesting Leslie. I have been noticing in the last few days when I search for a title in Kindle it isn't showing as available, but when I then search in 'books' in the Formats box there is Kindle Edition with "pricing information not available" in place of "Auto-delivered wirelessly".
I wondered if this meant it is coming as a Kindle Edition or was it a Kindle Edition that has been temporarily removed.
Hoping these are just temporary glitches and not that getting Kindle books is going to be more difficult!
At the risk of butting in I have here the link for the kindle purchase.Hope it helps.
http://www.amazon.com/Beast-Must-Nige...
Susan, this is in my library and on Amazon in the UK.Please, please continue to nominate and take part in our group - that's what these groups are all about - these things happen - it's too hard to know if its available all across the world the best you can do is check Amazon and then nominate. The only other way is to not choose books that are very recently published - but that's not the case with this one. I like to hear everyone's views and to find new authors so I really appreciate your contribution.
The book looks good so I will give it a go!
@Susan - I agree with Penny and (other) Susan that you should continue to nominate & participate. There was no way to predict what happened, as apparently Amazon & the publisher were having some difficulty - who can tell when that sort of thing will occur?!In any case, this was a book I already was planning on reading & now that I have finished, I am glad that I ended up buying a "real" book!
Can we open up discussion now? I really enjoyed this mystery with all it's twists and turns. Thank you Susan for suggesting this book. May you suggest many more in the future.
I thought that it was very well written, but I was disappointed in the "solution." More generally, I didn't really warm up to Nigel and Georgia; perhaps I would have warmed up to Nigel more if he'd had a chance to discover a highly nonobvious solution. On the other hand, I was drawn completely into Felix's narrative.
I found one part of the story too much of a coincidence. That is the part where Felix (using what he claims is part logic) stops at the water puddle and there just happens to meet a friendly farmer at the gate who offers him the information that on the night of the murder George and associate stop at that exact point. Also the film actress falls head over heels in love with bearded Felix and this provides him with access to George's household. The plot is a touch too contrived but makes an excellent story nonetheless.
This is the first time I've read a Nigel Strangeways novel. I have heard that his other books are fantastic. Anyone read his other books?
This is my first Strangeways as well, but I would like to read the first one, A Question of Proof.I agree with Joan that I found Frank/Felix's narrative more compelling than the section with Nigel. I wonder, Joan, if Nigel had been in the story from the beginning whether he might have been more congenial.
Arpita - I found the farmer more of a contrivance than the actress. It wasn't necessary for her to fall in love with Felix for his plan to work & in fact, I felt that he regarded that as an unexpected problem.
What do you all think about Nigel letting him get to his boat at the end?
I think with the Nigel Strangeways books I would have liked to have picked the first one (I always prefer to start a series at the beginning), but it is a much more traditional story - set in a boys prep school. This is said to be his breakthrough novel. I like the whole series, although it changes a lot - there are spy thrillers, etc as well as mysteries. If you like odd settings, there is one book, "Malice in Wonderland" set in a holiday camp, which is fun from a social/historical point of view.
Susan wrote: "I think with the Nigel Strangeways books I would have liked to have picked the first one (I always prefer to start a series at the beginning), but it is a much more traditional story - set in a boy..."Oh I like mysteries set in schools :)
I think Leslie ( regarding the boat episode) that it is a real moral dilemma. The main point that I mulled over whilst reading this story was whether or not Felix was justifiable in his calculated killing attempt of George. Surely such an act is unforgivable; on the other hand we have to deal with George's hit and run episode and his obnoxious character. I think readers to the last are left wondering which person or persons are in the right ( if any) and I think herewithin lies the success of the story , at least for me. It makes the reader think a lot. Personally I feel no compassion for either Felix or George at the end of it. I also agree with Joan in that Nigel Strangeways I felt plays a minor role. This may in part be due to the disjointed narrative and his late entrance into the story.
I love school settings too.
I do like school settings too :) I suppose it is just a much more traditional mystery, but I do like the whole series. Again, Nigel Strangeways does not figure until about halfway through the book. Considering the author was Cecil Day-Lewis, did anyone think the style of the book suggested it was written by a poet? There were a lot of literary references.
Susan wrote: "I do like school settings too :) I suppose it is just a much more traditional mystery, but I do like the whole series. Again, Nigel Strangeways does not figure until about halfway through the boo..."I didn't notice it being particularly poetical... It seems like quite a lot of the Golden Age authors were fairly literary - both Michael Innes & Edmund Crispin have a lot of literary references as well.
@Arpita, I struggled with the moral dilemma - I could sympathize with Felix's desire for vengeance (justice?) but, as you say, calculated murder is unforgivable. I have always felt that was the biggest flaw in John Grisham's novel A Time to Kill, which has a very similar premise (man kills the men who raped his young daughter). In that book, the author (through the main character) suggests that some murders are justified, while Blake is clearly saying that isn't the case.
@Leslie: It's hard even to contemplate the question of whether Nigel would have been a more sympathetic character if he'd been in the story from the beginning. The basic conceit of the book is that it starts out as a diary written by Felix, in which the narrator is determined to get away with killing someone; having the detective be a character in such a narrative would have made the whole thing even more contrived, and it was pretty contrived as is.I didn't experience Felix's decision to kill George or Nigel's decision to let Felix kill himself as moral dilemmas. That's probably because I didn't feel as though the author was putting any of the action in this book forth as realistic or that he was endorsing anything the characters did. Rather, he was allowing the characters just to be their blemished, fully human selves and to act on thoughts and feelings that people almost never act on in real life.
In fact, that's why it's not the type of mystery book that I most like to read (despite being very well written). I prefer plots and characters that are at least somewhat realistic.
Totally agree with you Ann on all three points!
being strict with myself and not reading the previous posts as my book has just arrived from the library so once again I am behind - but like all good tortoises I get there in the end!!anyone else just starting?
English Mysteries Club
Books mentioned in this topic
A Time to Kill (other topics)A Question of Proof (other topics)
