What mysteries are you reading at the moment? Old thread Showing 601-650 of 4,475

[Susan]

Interesting. I read the first one and stopped. Then I noticed that, in the new book, she was actually heading towards the second world war! Anyway, I thought I would go back and try again.

[Lady Clementina]

Judy wrote: "Ooh, I'd be interested to hear what you think of that one, Jill. After finishing all the original Holmes stories a few months back, I'm missing him and Watson..."

I find myself reading Holmes over and over again- so I never ever 'finish' the books!

[Phyllis]

I thought the first book in the Maisie Dobbs series was okay - but that the next few were very good (up through A Mapping of Love and Death or so) - and that the series declined after that. The last one I read was Leaving Everything Most Loved, disliked it, and probably won't return to the series.

[Phyllis]

I just finished Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None - wow. I had not read this since my early teen years, and I did not recall how creepy it is! I read it for another on-line book group - definitely a worthwhile re-read.

[Susan]

Phyllis - oh, And Then There Were None is VERY creepy! Totally agree.

[Judy]

Lady Clementina wrote: "I find myself reading Holmes over and over again- so I never ever 'finish' the books!."

Good idea, I certainly aim to reread them in the future! I only 'finished' my current read. :)

[Leslie]

Nadine wrote: "Im not sure where to post this but about J Tey and the Grant novels? I have been reading some reviews and some people are saying that they are terribly snobbish and racist?"

I don't remember her books having anything racist in them. This type of complaint has been made about most of the Golden Age writers I think; I disagree with it but they were products of their time so class (and race) consciousness is a part of their books.

Just my 2¢

[Judy]

Susan wrote: "Interesting. I read the first one and stopped. Then I noticed that, in the new book, she was actually heading towards the second world war! Anyway, I thought I would go back and try again."

I stopped after the first Maisie Dobbs book too - I quite enjoyed it but found her background completely unbelievable. I'll be interested to hear if you feel the series gets better - so often if I do give up after one book, I then discover that the series really comes into its stride later on!

[Susan]

I do the same, Judy. I start so many series and give up; but I just thought I'd give this another try.

[Jill]

Have just finished The House of Silk. I really did like it. A lot of books have been written trying to capture the mood of the Conan Doyle, some not too bad and others pretty hopeless, but I thought this was a pretty good attempt. I'm not surprised the estate authorised this book. I would say definitely worth a read.

[Leslie]

I am currently reading the first Zen book, Ratking. Very good so far!

[Susan]

Jill, Anthony Horowitz also writes fantastic kids books - both my boys loved him.

I just started Darktown: A Novel and just finished A Death at Fountains Abbey.

[Judy]

Leslie wrote: "I am currently reading the first Zen book, Ratking. Very good so far!"

Ooh, I loved the Zen TV series with Rufus Sewell and was sorry they didn't make any more of them - but haven't read any of the books yet. Must do so!

[Judy]

Jill wrote: "Have just finished The House of Silk. I really did like it. A lot of books have been written trying to capture the mood of the Conan Doyle, some not too bad and others pretty hopele..."

That sounds great, Jill. Yet another one to add to the TBR...

[Jill]

Susan, I read Horowitz 's Diamond Brothers a few years ago, and really liked them. I thought they appealed to both children and adults,as they contained certain things that a child would take at one level and an adult could read further into. I've also read The Gatekeepers series apart from the last one ,as it was such a long time getting written.

[Jill]

Leslie, I have read the first three of the Zen books, and will continue with them, as I do like them.
I have so many series on the go, as I like to space them out. I once read 24 Anne Granger books one after the other (someone had lent me , so I had to get them back) and promised myself I would never do that again, as it did nothing to my enjoyment of what were really good stories .

[Leslie]

Judy wrote: "Leslie wrote: "I am currently reading the first Zen book, Ratking. Very good so far!"

Ooh, I loved the Zen TV series with Rufus Sewell and was sorry they didn't make any more of them..."

Me too! Rufus Sewell is great eye candy ;)

Jill wrote: "Leslie, I have read the first three of the Zen books, and will continue with them, as I do like them.
I have so many series on the go, as I like to space them out. I once read 24 Anne Granger book..."

Luckily for me, I got almost the whole series when my parents purged their bookshelves last summer!

[Michelle]

Another free (UK) Patricia Wentworth. This one is Dead or Alive

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dead-Alive-F...

[Jay-me (Janet)]

Michelle wrote: "Another free (UK) Patricia Wentworth. This one is Dead or Alive

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dead-Alive-F......"

Thank you. I also found another Bobby Owen mystery The Conqueror Inn: A Bobby Owen Mystery by E.R. Punshon

[Betsy]

Thanks for the info on the Bobby Owen book. Have taken it out.

[Judy]

Thanks, Michelle and Jay-me! It's great to get a present every Monday. :)

[Jill]

Thanks Michelle and Jay-me. Hope this carries on!

[Judy]

I've just read A Penknife in My Heart, a 1950s crime novel by Nicholas Blake aka Cecil Day-Lewis - not so much a mystery as a "will they get away with it?" story about two men who plan to swap crimes.

I found it a compelling read and would now like to read more by Nicholas Blake. This one is a standalone but I'd like to give his Nigel Strangeways novels a try.

[Jan C]

Jay-me (Janet) wrote: "Michelle wrote: "Another free (UK) Patricia Wentworth. This one is Dead or Alive

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dead-Alive-F......"

Thanks for the alert.

[Leslie]

Maybe we should set up a separate thread for deals so that they don't clog up the 'what are you reading' thread? Just an idea...

[Leslie]

Judy wrote: "I've just read A Penknife in My Heart, a 1950s crime novel by Nicholas Blake aka Cecil Day-Lewis - not so much a mystery as a "will they get away with it..."

Sounds like Patricia Highsmith's Strangers on a Train. I have read a few of the Strangeways books and would like to read more but I have found that they are not always easy to find in the library. I think that he must have been one of those authors that American libraries purged when money and space got tight...

[Sandysbookaday (taking a midwinter break)]

A collection of short stories Serpents in Eden: A British Library Crime Classic put together by Martin Edwards. Read the first 2 stories last night. One was really good, the other not so. But am looking forward to the rest of them. Some good authors represented in this collection.

[Susan]

Jill, I did suggest the first Nigel Strangeways a while back, but I think it was hard to get hold of for some people. I would be happy to do a buddy read if you are interested? He is one of my favourite GA amateur sleuths. A Question of Proof is the first in the series.

[Michelle]

You're welcome, long may the free books last! Thanks also Jay-me.

[Jill]

Susan wrote: "Jill, I did suggest the first Nigel Strangeways a while back, but I think it was hard to get hold of for some people. I would be happy to do a buddy read if you are interested? He is one of my favo..."

Think you have confused me with Judy who mentioned Nigel Strangeways.

[Susan]

Sorry, you see what autocorrect does! I typed J and it changed it to Jill, when I thought I'd typed Judy... Apologies. The offer of a buddy read stands for any interested parties, if there are any.

[Jan C]

Susan wrote: "Jill, I did suggest the first Nigel Strangeways a while back, but I think it was hard to get hold of for some people. I would be happy to do a buddy read if you are interested? He is one of my favo..."

It looks like we just have to order it from the right store. Looking at half.com it is 99 cents. And Abebooks and alibris had relatively cheap (less than $5) copies available. And those were the only stores that I looked at.

[Susan]

Maybe I will try nominating it again, Jan.

One book I am reading which may interest some of you is The Woman on the Orient Express. It isn't a mystery, but it does involve Agatha Christie as a character. She is escaping her divorce and fleeing to Baghdad. It's good so far.

[Judy]

Susan, I would be up for a Strangeways buddy read if you decide to go that route!

[Judy]

Sandy *The world could end while I was reading and I would never notice* wrote: "A collection of short stories Serpents in Eden: A British Library Crime Classic put together by [author:Martin..."

I have read a couple of these themed collections and they are a great way to discover different authors. Will look out for this one!

[Susan]

Judy, I do love Nigel Strangeways! Would anyone else be interested? I would be happy to set up a buddy read, but I understand it is not on kindle in the US, so some of us might need some time to get hold of it.

[Sandysbookaday (taking a midwinter break)]

Susan wrote: "Maybe I will try nominating it again, Jan.

One book I am reading which may interest some of you is The Woman on the Orient Express. It isn't a mystery, but it does involve Agatha C..."

Sounds intriguing! Will have to look out for this one. Thanks Susan.

[Sandysbookaday (taking a midwinter break)]

Susan wrote: "Maybe I will try nominating it again, Jan.

One book I am reading which may interest some of you is The Woman on the Orient Express. It isn't a mystery, but it does involve Agatha C..."

Just came across this on NG and downloaded. Thanks Susan!

[Susan]

You're welcome, Sandy :)

[Judy]

Susan wrote: "Judy, I do love Nigel Strangeways! Would anyone else be interested? I would be happy to set up a buddy read, but I understand it is not on kindle in the US, so some of us might need some time to ge..."

I'd be happy to take part if/whenever you decide to do it, Susan. A shame it's not on Kindle in the US.

[Leslie]

Susan wrote: "Judy, I do love Nigel Strangeways! Would anyone else be interested? I would be happy to set up a buddy read, but I understand it is not on kindle in the US, so some of us might need some time to ge..."

I might be depending on which one is chosen and availability.

[Susan]

I would go for the first one A Question of Proof I think. It is not necessarily the best, but I think you should start at the beginning. Anyway, if anyone (other than Judy) is interested, let me know. I will take that into consideration before setting up any discussion thread.

[Leslie]

Susan wrote: "I would go for the first one A Question of Proof I think. It is not necessarily the best, but I think you should start at the beginning. Anyway, if anyone (other than Judy) is intere..."

I have that one on my to-read list so if I can get my hands on a copy, I will join in.

[Susan]

Great to hear, Leslie :)

[Martha]

Has anyone here read any Rhys Bowen books, particularly the Her Royal Spyness series? My husband is currently listening to them on tape, much to my amusement, as he is a rough-around-the-edges, manly sort of man. (In fact, I'm forbidden to tell anyone what he is reading because he's embarrassed about it!)

I understand they are set in the Golden Age. Once I've made my way through Ngaio Marsh, I'm considering taking up Bowen, if it's worthwhile. Any thoughts or opinions?

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂]

Martha wrote: "Has anyone here read any Rhys Bowen books, particularly the Her Royal Spyness series? My husband is currently listening to them on tape, much to my amusement, as he is a rough-around-the-edges, man..."

I want to read the her Royal Spyness books. I've just finished a prequel to another series of hers The Amersham Rubies It's very short, with a rushed/slapdash ending, but was good enough that I will search out more books by her.

[Jan C]

I read a couple in the Molly Murphy series until I got fed up with it. Too cozy for me.

[Jill]

I've read a couple in the Constable Evans series. I have some others including Her Royal Spyness waiting to be read. I liked what I have read.

[Leslie]

Martha wrote: "Has anyone here read any Rhys Bowen books, particularly the Her Royal Spyness series? My husband is currently listening to them on tape, much to my amusement, as he is a rough-around-the-edges, man..."

I read the first few and enjoyed them but for some reason never continued on with the series. While I liked them, they were more fun entertainment than real mysteries imo...

[Leslie]

I finished Sidetracked, the 5th Wallander book, late last night. I found it much more to my tastes than the first book which is the only other one I have read. The PBS series had beautiful cinematography but I found them dull in content so I was pleased by this book.

Now I am starting one of the Alexander McCall Smith Ladies' Detective Agency books -- The Miracle at Speedy Motors...