What mysteries are you reading at the moment? Old thread Showing 451-500 of 4,457

[Judy]

I'm just reading Cocaine Blues by Kerry Greenwood, the first in the Phryne Fisher series. I love the TV show and am interested so far to see how Phryne is very similar to her portrayal in the programme but Dorothy seems quite different. Haven't seen much of Jack as yet...

[Carolien]

This series has been on my TBR list for ages. Would love to hear your opinion, Judy.

[Deborah]

Judy wrote: "I'm just reading Cocaine Blues by Kerry Greenwood, the first in the Phryne Fisher series. I love the TV show and am interested so far to see how Phryne is very similar t..."

I recently purchased this to read too, for the same reason. I haven't started it

[HJ]

I've never seen the TV series but have read all the Phryne Fisher books. I also really like the other (completely different) series by Kerry Greenwood -- Corinna Chapman. The first is Earthly Delights.

[Judy]

I had to wait ages to get it from the library, so I think there must be a lot of interest in this author at the moment!

[Carolien]

Sandy recently recommended Old Friends and New Enemies in this thread. It's on special on Amazon at $0.99 if anybody is interested. I've grabbed it.

Has anybody read anything by Barbara Nadel or Aaron Elkins and have any comments on either?

[Susan]

I've read some Barbara Nadel. She has a series set in Turkey, which I read a couple of and enjoyed. She also had a series set in the East End, during the war. The main character was an undertaker and I found that very interesting. Not sure what other books she has, but I have read a few.

[Jan C]

Carolien wrote: "Sandy recently recommended Old Friends and New Enemies in this thread. It's on special on Amazon at $0.99 if anybody is interested. I've grabbed it.

Has anybody read anything by [a..."

I enjoy Aaron Elkins' The Bone Detective series with Gideon Oliver. Except sometimes I can't remember if I've read one or not and I'll read it and it sounds vaguely familiar. However, with one of them I wasn't sure that I'd read it before until I got close to the end. He is a forensics professor at a University in Washington state. But he goes to meetings in Mexico, Hawaii, Europe - and seems to get caught examining bones no matter where he goes.

[Susan]

Although the book I just finished is not a mystery, it is about a crime writer, although she did not like that particular label! The Crime Writer is a fictional look at Patricia Highsmith's time in Sussex in the early 1960's. Highly recommended.

[Damaskcat]

Carolien wrote: "I've finished Murder in Steeple Martin. Nice cozy mystery with an intricate plot."

I'm on number 14 in this series and I'm really enjoying it. I feel as though I know the main characters and they're like old friends.

[Damaskcat]

Carolien wrote: "I've just finished Killer Instinct (obviously reading crime fiction is much more amusing than my Criminal Procedure text book at this stage!).

One of the best female protagonists tha..."

You can't buy Kindle books as gifts on the UK Amazon site.

[Damaskcat]

Deborah wrote: "Judy wrote: "I'm just reading Cocaine Blues by Kerry Greenwood, the first in the Phryne Fisher series. I love the TV show and am interested so far to see how Phryne is v..."

I've read all this series a couple of times and can recommend them :-)

[Judy]

I've finished the first Phryne Fisher book now - I quite enjoyed it but didn't think it was a patch on the TV series, which yet again shows that often people prefer whichever they come across first out of a book and a TV adaptation.

It was a quick, fun read, but I felt it didn't develop the characters as much as the series does. Also the descriptions of all Phryne's wonderful clothes are a bit of an interruption in the book, even though I love her outfits in the series! But I will probably read some more.

[Jan C]

I just finished Black and White and Dead All Over - not a golden ager, but a newspaper murder mystery. I thought it was interesting.

[Susan]

I am currently really enjoying The Dying Detective. I thought it was a stand alone novel, but it turns out to be linked to a series - although I normally dislike reading any book out of order, I am really loving this. If anyone likes Nordic Noir, this is one for your list!

[Judy]

Jan C wrote: "I just finished Black and White and Dead All Over - not a golden ager, but a newspaper murder mystery. I thought it was interesting."

That's a great title. The newspaper setting has me intrigued - will look out for it.

[Judy]

I'm just reading the first in the Appleby series by Michael Innes, Death at the President's Lodging - not very far in yet, but enjoying the academic setting and the writing style.

[Abigail]

I adore the Michael Innes books (as well as the novels the author writes under his own name, J. I. M. Stewart)—you’re reminding me that I’m overdue for a reread, Judy!

[Jan C]

Judy wrote: "I'm just reading the first in the Appleby series by Michael Innes, Death at the President's Lodging - not very far in yet, but enjoying the academic setting and the wr..."

I've just started this book. I wasn't familiar with him before hearing about him here.

[Leslie]

HJ wrote: "I've never seen the TV series but have read all the Phryne Fisher books. I also really like the other (completely different) series by Kerry Greenwood -- Corinna Chapman. The first i..."

I think I like the Corinna Chapman books better than the Phryne Fisher ones!

[HJ]

Leslie wrote: "I think I like the Corinna Chapman books better than the Phryne Fisher ones! . ..."

I definitely do, which surprised me as I tend to prefer historical settings and am not interested in baking! But there are several really good characters in the CC series. I listened to them on audio, rather than reading them in print or on Kindle, and I think that also helped me enjoy them because the audio was very well done.

[Judy]

Abigail wrote: "I adore the Michael Innes books (as well as the novels the author writes under his own name, J. I. M. Stewart)—you’re reminding me that I’m overdue for a reread, Judy!"

I've only read one other Michael Innes book so far, The Journeying Boy, which was excellent, and haven't read any of his J. I. M. Stewart books yet - so lots more to enjoy!

[Judy]

HJ wrote: "Leslie wrote: "I think I like the Corinna Chapman books better than the Phryne Fisher ones! . ..."

I definitely do, which surprised me as I tend to prefer historical settings and am not interested..."

I'll have to give one of the Corinna Chapman ones a listen.

[Leslie]

I am currently reading the second book in the 87th Precinct series by Ed McBain, The Mugger. McBain was the first mystery/crime writer to feature an entire precinct instead of one or two detectives and he also created a fictional yet realistic city to set the series in (he claimed that this was so he wouldn't have to worry about being accurate!). One feature in the first book which I am happy to see again is the inclusion of things like fingerprint cards or photostats of typewritten police reports -- it helps make me feel like a part of this 1950s police force!

[Susan]

I love Ed McBain, Leslie. I must re-read them as I downloaded loads when they were in a kindle sale. I liked the books with the 'deaf man' I think? He was a master criminal and I agree, it is good to have all those police reports and cards and heists - rather than murders.

[Miss M]

The Lighthouse by PD James has dropped to $1.99 on Amazon

[Carolien]

I've just finished Last Rituals. It's quite a complex mystery, but not nearly as dark as I expected. It cannot be described as a cozy mystery, but it's not Scandinavian noir either. I'll definitely be reading more from the series.

[Leslie]

I am currently reading a classic mystery by Australian author Fergus Hume called The Mystery of a Hansom Cab. It is in the public domain so I was able to get the audiobook from LibriVox - very good narration by Sibella Denton:

https://librivox.org/the-mystery-of-a...

[Susan]

Just started a historical true crime book Pretty Jane and the Viper of Kidbrooke Lane: A True Story of Victorian Law and Disorder: The Unsolved Murder that Shocked Victorian England

Have also just started next months group read:

[Judy]

I'm reading a Rex Stout double, Too Many Cooks/Champagne for One. I'm slightly puzzled as to why the publisher put these two together, as they were written nearly 20 years apart, but I know the Nero Wolfe books don't follow on as much as other series, so won't worry too much. Enjoying it so far.

[Joanne]

I'm reading Meet Me in Malmo (love the title), the first Anita Sundstrom by Torquil MacLeod. So far so good, and moving along quickly.

[Jill]

I'm reading Revelationby C.J Sansom. The 4th in the Shardlake series. I am really enjoying these books, the crimes and the politics of the time.

[Susan]

JIll, good to hear you are enjoying Shardlake. Absolutely love the entire series too.

[Susan]

I am reading The Cold Calling

It is an early Phil Rickman, originally published under another name. I have only read one book by Rickman before and have not yet tried the Merrily Watkins series, but I am enjoying this.

[Ruth]

Susan wrote: "I am reading The Cold Calling

It is an early Phil Rickman, originally published under another name. I have only read one book by Rickman befor..."

I've read most of Phil Rickman's books but have stalled on the last few Merrily Watkins titles. My favourites are the stand alone novels and the two Marco teen novels originally published under the name Thom Madley

[Susan]

Thanks, Ruth. Always nice when you discover a 'new' (to you) author with so many books to explore!

[Kath]

Rebecca wrote: "Jill wrote: "I'm reading Revelationby C.J Sansom. The 4th in the Shardlake series. I am really enjoying these books, the crimes and the politics of the time."

I just finished Soverei..."

me too. Love the Shardlake books. Waiting for the next one.

[Kath]

Rebecca wrote: "Jill wrote: "I'm reading Revelationby C.J Sansom. The 4th in the Shardlake series. I am really enjoying these books, the crimes and the politics of the time."

I just finished Soverei..."

Really enjoy these books. Lots of well written scenes. You can almost smell and hear Tudor London in Sansom's writing.

[Leslie]

I am listening to the audiobook of Colour Scheme - I have read this in print before but am finding that I don't remember many of the details (though as it progresses, I have an increasingly strong feeling about who the guilty person is due to a combination of clues and recollection). In any case, it is fun to read a Ngaio Marsh set in her native country of New Zealand!

[HJ]

Is that the one with the hot springs and geothermal mud?

[Susan]

I loved Phil Rickman's The Cold Calling so much I have started the sequel Mean Spirit

[Jan C]

I just started Laura by Vera Caspary. Great so far.

[Leslie]

HJ wrote: "Is that the one with the hot springs and geothermal mud?"

Yes -- it turned out that my hunch was wrong so I am glad that I reread it! I liked the fact that even in this one she had a bit of theater by having one of the guests at the hot springs be a famous actor (and his entourage) :-)

@Jan -- I loved the movie of that with Clifton Webb. The book has been on several "best mysteries" lists so I look forward to hearing what you think about it.

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂]

I tried to nominate it for a group read & I'm now kind of glad it didn't fit the criteria as it is pretty average.

[Leslie]

I am now reading Home Sweet Homicide -- so far it is enjoyable but I was taken by surprise that it is told from the perspective of the children of a mystery writer (10, 12, and 14) who happen to live next door to where a real-life murder was committed. Having read all their mother's books, they have some crazy ideas about what is appropriate to do (such as hide evidence from the police or plant false clues)!

[Deborah]

Leslie wrote: "I am now reading Home Sweet Homicide -- so far it is enjoyable but I was taken by surprise that it is told from the perspective of the children of a mystery writer (10, 12, and 14) w..."

I read that quite a few years ago and enjoyed it

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂]

Leslie wrote: "I am now reading Home Sweet Homicide -- so far it is enjoyable but I was taken by surprise that it is told from the perspective of the children of a mystery writer (10, 12, and 14) w..."

I've added to my to read list.

[Susan]

I just started a great historical mystery, The Secrets of Wishtide .
It is a NetGalley book, so not out yet, but is the first in a new, Victorian mystery series and looks really good so far.

[Abigail]

Thanks for the heads-up about a new series, Susan! Always nice to get in on the first installment.

[Sandy]

Abigail wrote: "Thanks for the heads-up about a new series, Susan! Always nice to get in on the first installment."

I agree, so nice to be caught up!