What mysteries are you reading at the moment? Old thread Showing 601-650 of 4,457

[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 step back for a while)]

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 step back for a while)]

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 step back for a while)]

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?

[Christmas Carol ꧁꧂]

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...

[Jill]

I have just started Information Received which I got when it looked like it would be book of the month and Bloodhounds by Peter Lovesey. It is the fourth in the series and seems good, being about a book club. It seems it is a "locked room" mystery. I also am reading my way through Lovesey's Sergeant Crib mysteries. I find this author very easy to read, which maybe down to the short chapters

[Judy]

I'm just in the middle of Snobbery with Violence by Marion Chesney aka M.C. Beaton - this is the first in her Edwardian Murder Mystery series and is a quick, fun read. The main characters are Lady Rose, a former suffragette, and Captain Harry Cathcart, a veteran of the Boer War. Enjoying it so far.

[Susan]

Just started a cosy: Death on Windmill Way. I haven't really read enough to have an opinion yet.

[Judy]

Leslie wrote: "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..."

Good idea, Leslie, thanks for that - I've just set up a thread:

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Inevitably, some offers and deals will still be mentioned in other threads, but it should be helpful to have a specific thread for them.

[Christmas Carol ꧁꧂]

I've just finished a group read of Georgette Heyer's No Wind of Blame I've read it a number of times before & as always, I loved it. I find it very funny!

[Judy]

I've just started reading A Perfect Match, the first in the Lloyd and Hill series about a pair of police detectives by Jill McGown, which was published in 1983.

I just picked up the second in the series at an Oxfam shop, which is a Christmas-themed book, Murder at the Old Vicarage, but thought I'd like to start with the first in the series. Enjoying it so far. Sadly the author died a few years ago.

[Susan]

I just finished Darktown: A Novel, which is set in 1948 Atlanta. It is about the first 8 black police officers in the city and is a really good read - highly recommend it.

[Phyllis]

I have just read the first two Inspector Banks (by Peter Robinson) books - Gallowsview and A Dedicated Man. Enjoyed both.

[Susan]

Have just noticed that Anthony Horowitz has written a GA type mystery Magpie Murders. Looks really good and I know we were talking about him a while ago.

[Jill]

Looks interesting Susan. I have added to my wish list, hoping the price drops when it is published

[Susan]

It is on NetGalley, on Orion. I downloaded it yesterday, so any NetGalley reviewers may want to request.

[Sandy]

During the last six weeks I have read quite a few mysteries, not all "classics".
The Nature of the Beast, last year's entry in Louise Penny's Three Pines series. This year's entry is due today and I'm on the waiting list. I love this series. I thought a major part of the plot was fantastical and then learned in the epilogue that that part was true.
The Alienist an historical mystery by Caleb Carr. It is set in New York at the turn of the last century, when Teddy Roosevelt was chief of police. Excellent historical content and atmosphere.
The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett. I read this because in the next entry in the Mary Russell / Sherlock Holmes series I'm due to read, they are in San Francisco and meet Hammett, so felt I should have read him. All I know about Hammett I got from Lilian Hellman's autobiography. I really enjoyed the book though couldn't take it as seriously as Hammett would have liked. The movie characters took over.
Journey to Munich, by Jacqueline Winspear, latest in Maisie Dobbs series. I have mixed feelings about this series; Maisie is too introspective for my taste. This was an interesting story and good view of Munich post-Hitler, pre-WWII.
Finally, I am currently listening to Rumpole for the Defence and loving it - already ordered the next set of cd's from the library.

[Leslie]

I have started a reread via audiobook of Christie's The Secret of Chimneys -- it is narrated by Hugh Fraser (Hastings for the Poirot TV show) :)

[Judy]

Sandy wrote: "Finally, I am currently listening to Rumpole for the Defence and loving it - already ordered the next set of cd's from the library. "

Oh, I love Rumpole! I enjoyed all the books and the TV series was excellent too - Leo McKern was just perfect.

[Judy]

I'm enjoying A Perfect Match by Jill McGown, but am being distracted by the many scanning errors in the Kindle edition!

Earlier on it said that someone was the "widow of the kite Charles" - it took me a moment to work out that 'kite' should be 'late', because a k and i look vaguely like an l and a!

Now there have been two references to 'defective' instead of 'detective', and, to make it worse, someone just said 'I have taken pity on the defective branch of the police farce', instead of the 'detective branch of the police force' ! Can't publishers afford proof readers any more? I've come across so many similar errors, especially in Kindle books but also in print copies.

[Carolien]

I've just completed Delayed Death and enjoyed it very much. It is set in Florence and has a very continental feel to it in language and style as the author herself is German. Although described as a cozy, it works well as a police procedural and has a light touch of romance and comedy. It comes complete with a huge cast of Italian family members and motives abound. I'm definitely continuing this series.

I also read Last Rights. It's the third historical mystery that I have read recently where the historical aspect is very interesting, but the mystery part not as compelling. This one is set in London during the Blitz and I enjoyed the information on Jewish life in London during WWII. The second historical mystery where I had a similar experience was Murder in the Marais which is partly set in Paris under German occupation. Both books end up being 3.5 stars for me rather than a full 4 star.

[Susan]

I've read, "Last Rights," Carolien. "Delayed Death," looks good and has been added to my TBR list, so thanks for that.

[Leslie]

I am reading Smallbone Deceased which was first published in 1950. I guess that is the edge of the Golden Age? Anyway, it's really good so far!