Starting/joining in with buddy reads Showing 451-500 of 1,326

[Judy]

More buddy reads are now open for discussion - you are welcome to drop by and join in.

Here are links to the general threads - as usual, each book also has a spoiler thread.

The Case of the Late Pig by Margery Allingham
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Bump in the Night by Colin Watson
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Susan]

Our Buddy Read list has been updated until the end of the year. We have tried to include the series that have a few followers:

Buddy reads are: (mid-month starts)

July/August
The Riddle at Gypsy's Mile by Clara Benson
Joe Country by Mick Herron
The Dreadful Hollow by Nicholas Blake

August/September
Dancers in Mourning (1937)
aka Who Killed Chloe? by Margery Allingham
A Morbid Taste for Bones by Ellis Peters

September/October
The Skull Beneath the Skin by P.D. James
Death in Disguise by Caroline Graham

October/November
The Whisper in the Gloom
aka Catch and Kill by Nicholas Blake
Hopjoy Was Here (A Flaxborough Mystery Book 3)
by Colin Watson

November/December
The Fashion in Shrouds - Margery Allingham
Written in Blood - Caroline Graham

December/January
One Corpse too many - Ellis Peters
The Incident at Fives Castle - Clara Benson

[Susan in NC]

Quick question- if you’re a “read series in order” person, would reading “Riddle at Gypsy’s Mile” by Clara Benson (4 in a series), without reading the first three, be confusing?

[Judy]

I think it would be okay to jump in and read an Angela Marchmont novel out of order - do others agree?

[Susan in NC]

Thanks, Judy - reading the plot summaries I think I’d like the first three, I just can’t fit them in before starting this one.

[Susan]

I think the Angela Marchmont's are, pretty much, stand alone novels too. There are the odd character who pops up, but the plot works. Interestingly, Freddie Pilkington-Soames is in the fourth book (which I haven't finished yet) and he appears in a spin off series.

I also realised I put down the Cadfael books as having a few of us reading the series, when we haven't started it yet! However, it was a popular suggestion by Judy and I thought it was quite cosy for winter, while the Clara Benson one set over New Year.

[Susan in NC]

Thanks, Susan, about the Marchmont series; as for Cadfael, I think several members (like me) have mentioned they have read Cadfael, and are rereading them and looking forward to rereads with the group!

[Susan]

We will, of course, complete the Ngaio Marsh (long!) challenge as buddy reads next year, as well; although our 2020 challenge will be P D James.

[Susan]

Updated Buddy read list:

Buddy reads are: (mid-month starts)

November/December
The Fashion in Shrouds - Margery Allingham
Written in Blood - Caroline Graham

December/January
One Corpse too many - Ellis Peters
The Incident at Fives Castle - Clara Benson

January/February
Hag's Nook - John Dickson Carr
Clutch of Constables - Ngaio Marsh

February/March
End of Chapter - Nicholas Blake
When in Rome - Ngaio Marsh

[Susan]

There is a new Mick Herron novella out in January, 2020. As it is short and, as we have read the previous books in the series, I have added it as an extra buddy in January. Of course, the thread will remain open, so people can read it as and when they get it.

I have also added the next Caroline Graham to the end of the list.

[Susan]

Updated list:

Buddy reads are: (mid-month starts)

November/December
The Fashion in Shrouds - Margery Allingham
Written in Blood - Caroline Graham

December/January
One Corpse too many - Ellis Peters
The Incident at Fives Castle - Clara Benson
The Catch - Mick Herron (novella)

January/February
Hag's Nook - John Dickson Carr
Clutch of Constables - Ngaio Marsh

February/March
End of Chapter - Nicholas Blake
When in Rome - Ngaio Marsh

March/April
Faithful Unto Death - Caroline Graham
Tied up in Tinsel - Ngaio Marsh

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

March/April is perfect for the next in the Barnaby series. Thanks, Susan.

[Susan]

Looking forward to it, Elizabeth :)

[Judy]

Yes, thanks for adding these in, Susan. So many good things in store.

[Susan]

Judging by the title of the Marsh, we may have a Christmas book in the Spring, but never mind!

[Judy]

That one definitely is a Christmas book - we have previously had it as a buddy read here, in the group's early days.

[Jill]

I thought that but I wasn't here then so I intended to tack it on at the end

[Susan]

I don't even remember it, Jill. Perhaps I didn't read it then, as it was out of sequence?

[Frances]

My Goodreads shows the publication date for The Catch: A Slough House Novella 2 as Jan 9th so should it perhaps be a Jan-Feb read? Or later for those of us who use the library?

[Susan]

Yes, it will be a Jan/Feb read, Frances, you are quite right. I will move it in the list to the correct place. The thread, as always, will stay open, so people can comment at any time.

Buddy reads are: (mid-month starts)

November/December
The Fashion in Shrouds - Margery Allingham
Written in Blood - Caroline Graham

December/January
One Corpse too many - Ellis Peters
The Incident at Fives Castle - Clara Benson

January/February
Hag's Nook - John Dickson Carr
Clutch of Constables - Ngaio Marsh
The Catch - Mick Herron (novella)

February/March
End of Chapter - Nicholas Blake
When in Rome - Ngaio Marsh

March/April
Faithful Unto Death - Caroline Graham
Tied up in Tinsel - Ngaio Marsh

[Michaela]

Sorry to ask, as I´m quite new here, but will there be further reads of the Cadfael novels? I´ll soon start the second...

[Susan]

Yes, we will be adding further books to the list, Michaela. If you want to continue, at your own pace, you are welcome to add comments when we get to them. As the moderators try to read all the buddy reads (or have at least one moderator who will read them) there is a limit to how many books we can fit in, but we do try to space the series we follow, in the buddy reads, fairly.

I have also opened a thread for the new Mick Herron novella, although I probably won't get to it until next week.

[Michaela]

Thanks Susan! You Mods must be very busy! I´m defintely not as quick! ;)

[Judy]

The third Cadfael book, Monk's Hood, is now added in for March/April... so the latest list is:

Buddy reads are: (mid-month starts)

January/February
Hag's Nook - John Dickson Carr
Clutch of Constables - Ngaio Marsh
The Catch - Mick Herron (novella)

February/March
End of Chapter - Nicholas Blake
When in Rome - Ngaio Marsh
Traitor's Purse - Margery Allingham

March/April
Faithful Unto Death - Caroline Graham
Tied up in Tinsel - Ngaio Marsh
Monk's Hood - Ellis Peters

April/May
The Imbroglio at the Villa Pozzi - Clara Benson
Black as He's Painted - Ngaio Marsh

[Susan]

We have added another book to our Buddy Read list (not doing very well with our New Year's Resolution to have only 2 buddy reads a month, but never mind!). The updated list is:

Buddy reads are: (mid-month starts)

January/February
Hag's Nook - John Dickson Carr
Clutch of Constables - Ngaio Marsh
The Catch - Mick Herron (novella)

February/March
End of Chapter - Nicholas Blake
When in Rome - Ngaio Marsh
Traitor's Purse - Margery Allingham

March/April
Faithful Unto Death - Caroline Graham
Tied up in Tinsel - Ngaio Marsh
Monk's Hood - Ellis Peters

April/May
The Imbroglio at the Villa Pozzi - Clara Benson
Black as He's Painted - Ngaio Marsh
The Crooked Wreath (aka 'Suddenly at His Residence') - Christianna Brand

The Christianna Brand is the third in the Inspector Cockrill series. We have read the previous two books in the group - they are Heads You Lose and Green for Danger, should anyone be interested in joining in and want to read those first. They are, though, stand-alone books, as really, the Inspector is never central to the action.

[Susan]

An updated Buddy Read list:

Buddy reads are: (mid-month starts)

January/February
Hag's Nook - John Dickson Carr
Clutch of Constables - Ngaio Marsh
The Catch - Mick Herron (novella)

February/March
End of Chapter - Nicholas Blake
When in Rome - Ngaio Marsh
Traitor's Purse - Margery Allingham

March/April
Faithful Unto Death - Caroline Graham
Tied up in Tinsel - Ngaio Marsh
Monk's Hood - Ellis Peters

April/May
The Imbroglio at the Villa Pozzi - Clara Benson
Black as He's Painted - Ngaio Marsh
The Crooked Wreath (aka 'Suddenly at His Residence') - Christianna Brand

May/June
Coroner's Pidgin aka Pearls Before Swine - Margery Allingham
The Widow's Cruise - Nicholas Blake
Last Ditch - Ngaio Marsh

[Susan]

Here is an updated list of buddy reads:

June/July
Smallbone Deceased - Michael Gilbert
St Peter's Fair - Ellis Peters
A Grave Mistake - Ngaio Marsh

July/August
A Place of Safety - Caroline Graham
More Work for the Undertaker - Margery Allingham
Photo Finish - Ngaio Marsh

August/Sept
Death of Jezebel - Christianna Brand
The Problem at Two Tithes - Clara Benson
Light Thickens - Ngaio Marsh

Sept/August
Crocodile on the Sandbank - Elizabeth Peters
The Worm of Death- Nicholas Blake
Money in the Morgue - Ngaio Marsh with Stella Duffy

We had a discussion a while ago about possible new buddy reads / series and we decided to give Elizabeth Peters a try.

With Nicholas Blake and Ngaio Marsh coming to an end, I was wondering whether anyone would like to continue the Flavia books? The Sweetness at the Bottom of the pie seemed quite popular?

Also, was wondering whether anyone would like to read the Georgette Heyer mysteries in order, as buddy reads?

Thoughts, please! Remember, that buddies are a slow, meandering way to read a series, so, take that into consideration before saying yes or no...

[Icewineanne]

Would enjoy doing a buddy read of Flavia’s next adventure Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag 😊

[Judy]

I'd love to read more Flavia, and would also be up for more Georgette Heyer - two very fun series.

[Roman Clodia]

I'd also be interested in following Flavia and enjoyed the Heyers we've read as a group - a slower pace than one of each series a month works for me as more frequently they can begin to feel a bit samey to me.

[Pamela]

I'd definitely enjoy reading more from the Flavia series. I'd like to finish either Blake or Allingham before starting another set of Buddy Reads though, would that fit with your planning?

[Susan]

Yes, great ideas. We were thinking of running the next two Blake's together, to finish that off and also speeding up the Allingham's. We will finish Marsh too, pretty soon, so I will have a think about order and put some more titles up.

So, the next Flavia before the end of the year, perhaps, and Heyer from the beginning? She has 12 mysteries, I think, but I know we have a few Heyer specialists in this group, who will, undoubtedly, put me right if I am wrong!

I love our buddy reads, but we do need to inject new blood and we did have a couple of dud series - mostly suggested by me, so sorry about that...

[Michaela]

I´d be interested in both, though I haven´t read the first Flavia book yet.

[Susan]

There will be plenty of time, don't worry. The second will be in a few months, by which time libraries, etc. should all be re-opened, we hope!

[Tara]

Excited to see Elizabeth Peters on the list--I've been wanting to read her books for awhile. I would be interested in trying Heyers, but as I haven't read her stuff before, it comes more from an open mind than a specific desire.

[Susan]

Updated list of Buddy Reads:

June/July
Smallbone Deceased - Michael Gilbert
St Peter's Fair - Ellis Peters
A Grave Mistake - Ngaio Marsh

July/August
A Place of Safety - Caroline Graham
More Work for the Undertaker - Margery Allingham
Photo Finish - Ngaio Marsh

August/Sept
Death of Jezebel - Christianna Brand
The Problem at Two Tithes - Clara Benson
Light Thickens - Ngaio Marsh

Sept/October
Crocodile on the Sandbank - Elizabeth Peters
The Worm of Death- Nicholas Blake
Money in the Morgue - Ngaio Marsh with Stella Duffy

October/Nov
The Sad Variety - Nicholas Blake
The Tiger in the Smoke - Margery Allingham
The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag - Alan Bradley

Nov/Dec
The Morning After Death - Nicholas Blake
A Ghost in the Machine - Caroline Graham
Footsteps in the Dark - Georgette Heyer

We will have finished Nicholas Blake, Caroline Graham and Ngaio Marsh at the end of this list!

[Jill]

I have read the first three Flavias and was going onto read the fourth, but if the group are definitely intending to read them I will hold off until it catches up. When we were reading the Heyer crime books, they were divided by Hannasyde and Hemmingway. Goodreads have now mixed them up. Are you thinking of rereading the ones we have already read as a group?

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

I have read the first Elizabeth Peters and will likely not re-read, but am looking forward to joining in with this series. Also looking forward to continuing Christianna Brand's Cockrill series. I will not be reading Flavia.

[Abigail]

I'd be happy to read the Flavia de Luce series as a buddy read.

[Susan in NC]

Same here, I’ve read the entire series, but it’s interesting to reread, and now that I’ve discovered the delightful audiobook narrator, she adds to the enjoyment!

Oh, sorry, forgot to say, yes on Elizabeth Peters and Heyer mysteries as well - I love mysteries with some humor, and I own most of these, so access shouldn’t be a problem. Thanks!

[Susan]

I was thinking of the Heyer mysteries in publication order and have put the first one (I think) down. However, if there is a better way, I am fine with changing it - I know little about Heyer. There are only 12, so it would be good to re-read the ones we've read.

[Jill]

Susan wrote: "I was thinking of the Heyer mysteries in publication order and have put the first one (I think) down. However, if there is a better way, I am fine with changing it - I know little about Heyer. Ther..."

I think I was typing when you put up the list, and thought you were referring to the detectives. I hadn't realised there was a Country House Mysteries series which encompasses those we had read. Obviously I have worked that out now.

[Susan]

I think there is some cross-over, so decided to go with publication order. Heyer is popular with lots of the group and I know that I want to read more by her - doing so in the company of our lovely group members sounds the perfect way to do it.

[Judy]

I will look forward to more Flavia and more Heyer.

[Susan]

Good to hear, Judy.

[Laura]

I just finised Flavia's first book and I'd love to continue with the series.

[Sue]

I haven't read Heyer or the Flavia books but have often heard good things about both so they are on the edges of my radar! I'd love to see what you all make of them and perhaps join in here and there. I tend to get over-enthusiastic about buddy reads and then overwhelmed at how many I've taken on (please tell me I'm not the only one?!) so I'm not sure how many I'll read, but quite possibly one or two.

[Jackie]

Sue, you are SO not the only one!
I have a tendency to do this anyway, but much more so this year when concentrating on anything is harder.

[Bicky]

Definitely more Heyer.

[Sue]

Jackie wrote: "Sue, you are SO not the only one!
I have a tendency to do this anyway, but much more so this year when concentrating on anything is harder."

Thank you! And yes I've had trouble concentrating too. I keep changing my mind about what to read.