Reading the Detectives discussion
note: This topic has been closed to new comments.
Archived threads
>
What mysteries are you reading at the moment? Old thread
I've just finished Murder in the Museum one of the British library classics set in the British Museum. An easy read but quite a stupid/ridiculous solution to the mystery. Also finished The Big Four a Poirot mystery. Another stupid one, seemed a bit like vignettes rather than a complete mystery and rather ridiculous.
I bought The Big Four as its Poirot number five so I thought a good one before she got all sixties silly, but she was clearly laying the ground work for that here!
Either I was in a grump this weekend or the books were pretty silly. Anyone else read either of them?
Mod
Mod
Susan wrote: "I read The Big Four a number of years ago, but it doesn't stick in my mind and I don't think I have re-read it, so presumably did not enjoy it either! I think Christie was often under immense press..."It certainly didn't feel like her usual stuff!
I imagine lots of authors felt financial pressures and it affected their work. Dickens was a bit like that, drag things out to serialise them. The Old Curiosity Shop is terrible, endless scenes of Little Nell and Grandfather wandering England, on their last legs, about to give up and die (oh how I wish they had) when random stranger enters, discovers a connection and gives them food and shelter for the evening. Repeat ad infinitum.
Mod
Judy wrote: "Michelle, I love Dickens (my favourite author since childhood) - I know the plots in the early novels are rambling, but I'm happy for them to ramble on forever. The Old Curiosity Shop isn't one of ..."Oh I love Dickens, have read many and my work book club is reading Our Mutual Friend in 6 chunks (as well as a standard book each month). Old Curiosity Shop though I couldn't stand as it was the same ramble again and again, had little point and wasn't about a shop old or curious. I would have liked to hear about the shop, feels like there should be a story there. I agree there are some great characters there though albeit somewhat unfortunately named!
I have thoroughly enjoyed all the others I've read of his though so I will forgive him The old Curiosity Shop. I also particularly enjoyed Charles Dickens and the Great Theatre of the World by Simon Callow. I like the theatre a lot so really interesting to see the links and influences of this on Dickens. and Simon Callow knows his stuff, I saw a one man show he did of Dickens and it was fabulous.
Mod
No, but it has been on my TBR for a very long time, so I am interested in your reaction.
Mod
Dickens obviously wrote for magazines, so you do have these - will they or won't they cliffhangers all the time. Reading the whole thing as a novel obviously suffers just a little compared to reading in instalments. I do love Dickens though and, as a Londoner, I feel he really wrote about the city like no other author ever has.
In the summer I took my children to the Dickens museum, which was where he wrote many of his most famous novels. My children love the breakfast bowls I brought there, with, "Please Sir, I want some more!" on them :)
Judy wrote: "Michelle, I love Dickens (my favourite author since childhood) - I know the plots in the early novels are rambling, but I'm happy for them to ramble on forever. The Old Curiosity Shop isn't one of ..."I love Swiveller and the marchioness too and also Kit taking his mother out to dinner- that is so sweet. And in David Copperfield, Aunt Betsey-
I'm reading The Murder of Roger Ackroyd with another group. My kindle edition doesn't have some of the diagrams. Doesn't matter for me as I have read the book at least 3 times before, but might be frustrating for other readers.Really enjoying knowingly watching Christie lay her clues.
I am a Newbie here! I have 5 or 6 books going ranging from "Big History" to "Barnaby Rudge". The current mystery/mysteries is Christie's "Complete Hercule Poirot Short Stories". It will take me a while, I think! I am also reading "Middlemarch" for the first time with the Victorians group here on Goodreads.
Sandy wrote: "Leslie wrote: "I have just started the first Dr. Siri mystery, The Coroner's Lunch. Has anyone else read these?"No, but it has been on my TBR for a very long time, so I am interes..."
I have finished it now -- I liked the setting and the mystery was decent but Dr. Siri has paranormal ability (view spoiler) which I wasn't crazy about. Especially as the author used that as a way for Dr. Siri to get 'clues' which he wouldn't have been able to get otherwise!
Mod
No, but it has been on my TBR for a very long time, s..."
Oh no, I'm not crazy about paranormal!
From Doon to Death. It will be my first Ruth Rendell mystery.
Mod
Mod
I just finished Josephine Tey's To Love and Be Wise and now reading Gladys Mitchell's The Mystery of a Butcher Shop. Up next: the seventh Maigret. Because Tey died so young and thus wrote so few (but extremely good) mysteries, I've really taken my time reading her books. In fact, I read the first Inspector Grant novel twice (a year apart) with her incredible The Daughter of Time sandwiched between the two readings.
Amy wrote: "From Doon to Death. It will be my first Ruth Rendell mystery."
How wonderful that you've begun the Inspector Wexford books...Rendell was such a great writer and we're so lucky that she wrote so many Wexford books, from 1964 until 2013! I trust it will be the beginning of a wonderful friendship for you!
How wonderful that you've begun the Inspector Wexford books...Rendell was such a great writer and we're so lucky that she wrote so many Wexford books, from 1964 until 2013! I trust it will be the beginning of a wonderful friendship for you!
Judy wrote: "I'm currently reading Escort to Adventure by Angus MacVicar, one of the many recent Kindle freebies. Enjoying it so far - it is set in Scotland, so good for my chall..."
Judy, you said "many recent Kindle freebies." Hmm...I'm new to Kindle (I prefer actual books), but I finally gave in, mainly because some of the early 20th-century books I was seeking were not available in print. But now that I have Kindle, I haven't found any freebies...can anyone provide direction/advice/help?
Judy, you said "many recent Kindle freebies." Hmm...I'm new to Kindle (I prefer actual books), but I finally gave in, mainly because some of the early 20th-century books I was seeking were not available in print. But now that I have Kindle, I haven't found any freebies...can anyone provide direction/advice/help?
Mod
Christine, sometimes classic mystery books on Kindle are available on special deals for a limited time, for instance via Kindle daily deals - we have a thread for these offers:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Also, publisher Dean Street Press has recently been announcing freebies every week, usually on Monday or Tuesday - they announce them on Twitter and Facebook and members then post the details on the thread above. Not sure how long they will continue this, but it has been good while it lasts!
Mod
I've found some of these by searching Amazon's Kindle sections for a term like "classic mystery" or for a particular author, and then clicking to sort by "price: low to high". Hope this helps. :)
Christine, there are a lot of free books on Amazon, you can just type Free in the search box on the Kindle home page (I just got over 107,000 as a result.) But you do need to be aware that most are self-published. Nothing wrong with SP, but the quality can vary drastically and you can waste a lot of time sorting. For me, it's more helpful to find trusted sources...like here. : )Two other sources I like a lot:
--on Amazon there is a thread that's been continued for years where customers post price drops (though usually not freebies) for trad pubbed books. Lots of good finds there IMO.
(Link is to end of thread since info is time-sensitive.)
https://smile.amazon.com/forum/kindle...
--the website ereaderiq.com is really useful - you can find recent price drops, free books, and especially, create a watchlist for books you're interested in and they'll email if the price drops within your parameters
Jan C wrote: "Sue Grafton's X is currently available for $3.99 and that's relatively new. I snapped it up."I've read all this series, only series I have stuck with till the end. But I found W a bit...long.
Will read my library's copy some time next year.
Started Margaret Coel's "Night of the White Buffalo" and am liking it. I have read all of hers, in order! I used to live in Riverton, WY and find the series very accurate as to the area and people.
Miss M wrote: "Christine, there are a lot of free books on Amazon, you can just type Free in the search box on the Kindle home page (I just got over 107,000 as a result.) But you do need to be aware that most are..."
Thanks so much for all the information. Now maybe I'll use that Kindle after all!
Thanks so much for all the information. Now maybe I'll use that Kindle after all!
Judy wrote: "A bit more on freebies/special deals... there are quite a lot of public domain books which can be downloaded free on Kindle.
I've found some of these by searching Amazon's Kindle sections for a t..."
Judy, thanks so much for your response and all the ideas. I should be able to take advantage of these opportunities now. I used the Kindle for about a week after I bought it and now it's buried somewhere in the middle of papers and magazines. Happy Halloween!
I've found some of these by searching Amazon's Kindle sections for a t..."
Judy, thanks so much for your response and all the ideas. I should be able to take advantage of these opportunities now. I used the Kindle for about a week after I bought it and now it's buried somewhere in the middle of papers and magazines. Happy Halloween!
Lynne wrote: "Started Margaret Coel's "Night of the White Buffalo" and am liking it. I have read all of hers, in order! I used to live in Riverton, WY and find the series very accurate as to the area and people."I enjoy her mysteries too. Usually get the audio on Overdrive and listen while driving.
Christine wrote: "I just finished Josephine Tey's To Love and Be Wise and now reading Gladys Mitchell's The Mystery of a Butcher Shop. Up next: the seventh Maigret. Because Tey died so young and thus wrote so few (..."I also am a great fan of Tey and your post induced me to put her back on my TBR pile!
Christine wrote: "Amy wrote: "From Doon to Death. It will be my first Ruth Rendell mystery."How wonderful that you've begun the Inspector Wexford books...Rendell was such a great writer and we're so lucky that she..."
I think I must have been snoozing in a cave----how could I have missed the Wexford books? Thanks to this post, I have checked on Rendell (I was not terribly enamored of the movies made of her books, so maybe that was the problem?) and think I must add Wexford to the TBR pile!
Jan C wrote: "Lynne wrote: "Started Margaret Coel's "Night of the White Buffalo" and am liking it. I have read all of hers, in order! I used to live in Riverton, WY and find the series very accurate as to the ar..."I can see where her books would make a good "listen". I have had people recommend Hillerman since I like Coel. Anyone have any input on Hillerman? Thanks in advance!
I don’t know about the other Hillerman, but Tony Hillerman’s books are wonderful, steeped in Navajo and Pueblo culture and ways of life on the tribal lands. I reread several of them last year and was as impressed as I had been the first time around, though I would add a warning about graphic violence.It’s a good idea to read them in order because the detectives grow and develop over the course of the books. The stories are very much about the inner lives of the detectives, not just the puzzle of the crime.
Abigail wrote: "I don’t know about the other Hillerman, but Tony Hillerman’s books are wonderful, steeped in Navajo and Pueblo culture and ways of life on the tribal lands. I reread several of them last year and w..."Thank you, Abigail!
I'm on the second Anne Hillerman book. She's not bad. But she's also not her father. But she notes that her father often worked with her, she was one of the first to read and provide feedback on his books. I think she may have notes at the beginning and the end of the book.
Jan C wrote: "I'm on the second Anne Hillerman book. She's not bad. But she's also not her father. But she notes that her father often worked with her, she was one of the first to read and provid..."Since I have a penchant for reading series in order, I will start with Tony and will get to his daughter in.........(fill-in-the-blank years!)
Lynne wrote: "I also am a great fan of Tey and your post induced me to put her back on my TBR pile! " and she also wrote, "I think I must have been snoozing in a cave----how could I have missed the Wexford books? Thanks to this post, I have checked on Rendell ...and think I must add Wexford to the TBR pile."
I'm so pleased that I've inspired you to read and re-read these two great authors. Hope you post your reactions here, too. Grant and Wexford are both such interesting, well-rounded characters.
I'm so pleased that I've inspired you to read and re-read these two great authors. Hope you post your reactions here, too. Grant and Wexford are both such interesting, well-rounded characters.
I have just finished the second Lew Archer book - The Drowning Pool. It was good but not as compelling as The Chill. Next up is our BoTM :)
Mod
Mod
Judy wrote: "I'm reading one of the early Patricia Wentworth books republished by Dean Street Press, Touch and Go: A Golden Age Mystery - really enjoying it so far. I read too man..."Lots of series get "samey" if you do too many too close together, even authors or "detectives" you really like. It is a challenge to me to read series books close enough so I remember recurring characters and certain situations, and far enough apart so as not to get ho-hum. A few authors seem to escape such dilemmas---I find P.D. James and Dalgleish to be one of those.
Leslie wrote: "I have just finished the second Lew Archer book - The Drowning Pool. It was good but not as compelling as The Chill. Next up is our BoTM :)"
I love Ross Macdonald! I'm reading the Archer series in order also. But I was temporarily off track when a couple years back a new book came out with four of his best fifties stories. I had to read that. It was fantastic, with essays by others included. As I'm chronologically reading all the detective/mystery writers who interest me, I'm also reading Margaret Millar's books. I just finished her Fire Will Freeze, which was a very enjoyable seriocomic mystery from 1944. Her writing differs vastly from her husband's, but she's wonderful in her own way. I consider Ross Macdonald one of the best writers in or out of the genre. Sometimes, when I read his books, I have to stop and just let the impact of his words really soak through. His writing was stunning at times.
I love Ross Macdonald! I'm reading the Archer series in order also. But I was temporarily off track when a couple years back a new book came out with four of his best fifties stories. I had to read that. It was fantastic, with essays by others included. As I'm chronologically reading all the detective/mystery writers who interest me, I'm also reading Margaret Millar's books. I just finished her Fire Will Freeze, which was a very enjoyable seriocomic mystery from 1944. Her writing differs vastly from her husband's, but she's wonderful in her own way. I consider Ross Macdonald one of the best writers in or out of the genre. Sometimes, when I read his books, I have to stop and just let the impact of his words really soak through. His writing was stunning at times.
Christine wrote: "Leslie wrote: "I have just finished the second Lew Archer book - The Drowning Pool. It was good but not as compelling as The Chill. Next up is our BoTM :)"I love Ross Macdonald! ..."
I just started reading him this year. I have a few Millar books on my shelf too :)
I read Ross years ago. I have a couple of Millar's but haven't read them yet.
I totally agree lots of series get samey. But I think it's a mark of great writing that DLS Lord P's series didn't. I read them all quite quickly, not all back to back, but pretty quickly, and I didn't get bored at all or think they were samey. I then needed more so read in quick succession the four LPW books by Jill Paton-Walsh.
Mod
I read my first P.D James five years ago ( Shroud for a Nightingale ) and then sort of forgot about her. Last year I picked up some of her books and decided to work my way through them in order. So far only read the first ( Cover her Face ) as I have a lot of series on the go, but look forward to continuing. I try to space books out so I don't feel they are samey, but reading a DLS one once a month has been fine and I don't tire of P W.
Mod
Susan wrote: "I am (slowly) re-reading the P D James novels and really enjoying Dalgliesh as a character."Which P.D. James book would you recommend for a first-time reader?
This topic has been frozen by the moderator. No new comments can be posted.
Reading the Detectives
Books mentioned in this topic
Earthly Remains (other topics)A Rule Against Murder (other topics)
Earthly Remains (other topics)
Earthly Remains (other topics)
The Lake House (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Kate Morton (other topics)E.F. Benson (other topics)
E.F. Benson (other topics)
Ed McBain (other topics)
Leslie Charteris (other topics)
More...
I love this one! I've reread it quite a few times when in need of light reading.