What mysteries are you reading at the moment? Old thread Showing 1,451-1,500 of 4,475

[Jill]

Sandy wrote: "I just read the blurb of Magpie Murders and it sounds intriguing. I've had Horowitz's The House of Silk on my TBR for a long time. Has anyone read that?"

I read it and thought it was not too far away from the Conon Doyle books. I gave it 5 stars as I liked it a lot

[Jan C]

I thought House of Silk was okay. Okay enough that I also got Moriarty.

Magpie murders doesn't come out in US until June.

[Lady Clementina]

Judy wrote: "I enjoyed Magpie Murders a lot but there was an aspect that annoyed me - but I will say no more because it would involve spoilers!"

I like the idea of that book so have put it on my wishlist for now- trying not to add too many to my TBR since as usual it is overloaded.

[Annabel]

I enjoyed house of silk - very good effort at the Conan Doyle tone of voice - but I didn't like the end. I haven't read Moriarty yet - I'm punishing it for having an unimaginative title - but will probably try it at some point based on strengths of house of silk.

[Gary]

Finished The Howard Hughes Affair by Stuart M. Kaminsky. LA based PI Toby Peters crosses paths with Hughes, a gangster nick-named Bugsy, Basil Rathbone, stolen airplane plans, and more than one corpse in the days before Pearl Harbor. I really enjoy this series.

[Annabel]

The Howard Hughes sounds really interesting. I have never come across this author.

[Michelle]

The print/font in large parts of Magpie Murders annoyed me! enjoyed the story though.

[Michelle]

The House of Silks was very good. Moriarty, despite its name, isn't a Sherlock and Watson story though. Set in that world and the detective uses their methods but they do not feature in it.

[Judy]

Annabel wrote: "I enjoyed house of silk - very good effort at the Conan Doyle tone of voice - but I didn't like the end. I haven't read Moriarty yet - I'm punishing it for having an unimaginative title - but will ..."

I was already keen to read House of Silk, and your mention of the Conan Doyle tone of voice has made me all the more so, Annabel.

[Gary]

Annabel wrote: "The Howard Hughes sounds really interesting. I have never come across this author."

Kaminsky was a very prolific author. He had three long running series of his own. He also wrote three CSI:NY novels, a couple of Rockford Files novels as well as novels featuring Kolchak. He died in 2009 at age 75.

[Jan C]

Gary wrote: "Annabel wrote: "The Howard Hughes sounds really interesting. I have never come across this author."

Kaminsky was a very prolific author. He had three long running series of his own. He also wrote ..."

Looks like he did a couple of Jim Rockford stories too.

[Crime Addict]

Currently reading Mission to Venice
by James Hadley Chase.

[Annabel]

Also just started The DA Breaks An Egg by Erle Stanley Gardner which I found in an oxfam bookshop. Thought it was a perry mason but it isn't. Not sure if it is a standalone or some other series? Anyway really enjoying it so far - I like the way ESG writes. Have only read one perry mason previously.

[Gary]

Annabel wrote: "Also just started The DA Breaks An Egg by Erle Stanley Gardner which I found in an oxfam bookshop. Thought it was a perry mason but it isn't. Not sure if it is a standalone or some other series? An..."

That is the 9th and final novel of the Doug Selby series by Gardner. One of the earlier books was the basis for a made for tv movie starring Jim Hutton as Selby.

[Annabel]

Gosh you make me feel very uninformed, Gary. I had never heard of them and now am trying them in the wrong order, but never mind.

[Judy]

I've started the 4th in the Bobby Owen series by E.R. Punshon, Mystery Villa. Good so far - the introduction points out some similarities with Great Expectations, which are interesting to me as a Dickens fan.

There seem to be a lot of paid-for Punshon titles to read through before I get on to the freebies waiting on my Kindle... but this one was only 99p anyway.

[Gary]

Annabel wrote: "Gosh you make me feel very uninformed, Gary. I had never heard of them and now am trying them in the wrong order, but never mind."

The good thing about Gardner is the books can be read in any order.

[Annabel]

That's lucky. I'm really enjoying The DA Breaks An Egg so far. In fact it has bumped Diary of A Provincial Lady and the latest Alex Rider (Archangel), which has mysteriously reappeared having momentarily vanished when my son thought I was catching up with him in the series...

[Sandy]

Annabel wrote: "That's lucky. I'm really enjoying The DA Breaks An Egg so far. In fact it has bumped Diary of A Provincial Lady and the latest Alex Rider (Archangel), which has mysteriously reappeared having momen..."

Your son should realize he will be uncovered by an avid mystery reader.

[Robin]

I'm currently reading Printer's Error by Gladys Mitchell. Mitchell wrote during the Golden Age, and her books are often overlooked but are quite good. She wrote 67 mysteries featuring Mrs. Bradley, which were adapted by BBC, starring Diana Rigg.

[Michelle]

Anyone read Paula Hawkins' new book Into the Water? I've just given up on it about 40% in. Quite dull, I left it for a fortnight after reading about 20% and came back to it today and it just doesn't grab me. Does it get better? It doesn't seem to know what it wants to be and everyone is miserable and annoying.

[Susan]

That's sad to hear, Michelle. I liked The Girl on the Train, so I probably will try Into the Water at some point.

[Lady Clementina]

Trent's Last Case

[Judy]

For my European challenge, I'm reading The Exiled, which is set in Serbia but written by a Finnish author, Kati Hiekkapelto.

After picking this up from a library shelf, I realised it was the third in a series and that I think I tried and gave up on the first book a couple of years back - but I'm enjoying this one so far. It's atmospheric, with a lot of little details about life in Serbia, and it is very contemporary in its subject matter by looking at the lives of refugees.

[Marwan]

Judy wrote: "Marwan wrote: "Currently reading All the Lonely People: A Harry Devlin Mystery by Martin Edwards"

..."

I started with this one, so I can't tell you much, I finished half of this book and it looks promising, I bought it because it's part of the "Crime Classics" series that has been Published by Arcturus Publishing. I've read three from the series and I loved them all.

[Judy]

Thanks Marwan, glad it's looking promising. Interesting to hear that it's in a classics series.

[Michelle]

Susan wrote: "That's sad to hear, Michelle. I liked The Girl on the Train, so I probably will try Into the Water at some point."

Its got mixed reviews. Val McDermid writing in the Guardian put it well, especially the last two sentences...

"It’s a set-up that is redolent with possibility. But that promising start fails to deliver, and the main reason is structural. The story of Into the Water is carried by 11 narrative voices. To differentiate 11 separate voices within a single story is a fiendishly difficult thing. And these characters are so similar in tone and register – even when some are in first person and others in third – that they are almost impossible to tell apart, which ends up being both monotonous and confusing ... The second novel is a notorious challenge to a writer. Hawkins had a mountain to climb after the success of The Girl on the Train and no doubt the sales of her second thriller will be massive. I suspect her readers’ enjoyment may be less so."

[Annabel]

The 'second book' thing is a real trap for authors. I've lost count of the number of copies of Donna Tartt's The Little Friend I've seen languishing in charity shops, which I take to be a sign that people who loved The Secret History bought it but then couldn't get on with it. It's longer, denser and generally hard work - I gave up after a couple of chapters, so to be fair, I am not a good judge and it may redeem itself in the end.

[Sandy]

I'm close to finishing Some Buried Caesar, a Nero Wolfe mystery, and enjoying my visit with Wolfe and Archie. They are out of town (fun portrayals of Wolfe travelling by car) showing orchids. A mealy bug attack could take precedence over the investigation!

I'm routing for Caesar, a prize bull. Hope he makes it to the end.

[Gary]

Everytime I think of Wolfe standing on a boulder in the middle of a pasture to avoid Caesar starts me laughing. Some Buried Caesar introduces the amazing Lily Rowan. It is one of my favorites in the whole series.

[Michelle]

I struggled with The Little Friend and only finished it because it was a book club read. You aren't missing much but not reading that and definitely don't read The Goldfinch. Another book club book and another stinker!

If you liked The Secret History you may want to look at The Magus which is good and a little similar on concept.

[Tania]

Michelle wrote: "Anyone read Paula Hawkins' new book Into the Water? I've just given up on it about 40% in. Quite dull, I left it for a fortnight after reading about 20% and came back to it today an..."

I just finished it. Gave it 3. (Same rating I gave GotT). It got bit bit confusing with such a big cast of characters, but was goodish in the end. It was the Book at Bedtime on BBC R4 and I think is srill available on Iplayer, but in abridged form, which maybe a plus for some.

[Jill]

Just finished this book in the DI Roy Sussock series. I have read several in this series but this one is pretty weak.....lots of padding and the murderer's reasons and personality is never really revealed and it is all tied up on the last two pages. Not one of my favorites.

by Peter Turnbull

[Susan]

I love Donna Tartt, but I do recall getting to the end of The Little Friend and thinking, "what?!" However, I did love The Goldfinch.

[Judy]

I loved The Secret History but don't remember anything about The Little Friend! I've been meaning to try The Goldfinch but print copies seem to have very tiny type. Must try it on Kindle...

[Judy]

While doing housework the other day I was listening to The Tales of Max Carrados by Ernest Bramah.

Audible gave away a recording of Stephen Fry reading a couple of these stories when I was a member a while ago. I am enjoying these Holmes-style tales about a blind detective and also Fry is a great reader even though I'm not really a fan in general. He makes the character voices so different I sometimes forgot it was him!

[Jill]

Finished The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest,which I should have read closer to the second book as I had to try and remember the end to pick up with the beginning of this one. Still was very good. Am now starting The Narrows by Michael Connelly,which is the next in the series for me.

[Annabel]

Gary, can you explain something for me since you understand the Erle Stanley Gardner books so well? My question isn't really a spoiler but I will put it in spoiler tags to be on the safe side. (view spoiler)[I have got to the hero allowing a journalist to enter the crime scene, nag him about her deadlines, accompany him to a hotel to check out the victim's room and search the victim's suitcase before the police have got there. (Fingerprints????) I am guessing she is his girlfriend, but all the same, why is he breaking the rules in this fashion? He doesn't seem the rule-breaking sort. (hide spoiler)] Any insight would be appreciated!

[Carolien]

Judy wrote: "For my European challenge, I'm reading The Exiled, which is set in Serbia but written by a Finnish author, Kati Hiekkapelto.

After picking this up from a library ..."

The Big Thrill has an article on the author this month. Here's the link
http://www.thebigthrill.org/2017/04/i...

[Judy]

Carolien, thanks for the link! Very interesting to find out more about this author and the amazing place where she lives.

[Marwan]

Finished All the Lonely People: A Harry Devlin Mystery by Martin Edwards

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

[Judy]

I've just started the historical mystery The Bookseller's Tale by Ann Swinfen, the first in a series set in Oxford in the 1300s - seems as if this will be a very enjoyable read.

[Leslie]

Judy wrote: "I've just started the historical mystery The Bookseller's Tale by Ann Swinfen, the first in a series set in Oxford in the 1300s - seems as if this will be a very enj..."

I read that a few months ago and thought it was quite good. I liked the setting which seemed well researched.

[Susan]

I looked at it and discovered it was already on my kindle.... The books that must lurk unread haunt me.

[Judy]

I'm enjoying the setting too, Leslie - I've visited Oxford quite a few times in the last few years so I can envisage where things are happening, even though I'm sure it has changed a lot in 700 years or so! And Susan, I know what you mean about those books lurking unread.

[Sandy]

I've started The Ghost Fields, one of the Ruth Galloway mysteries. I enjoy the atmosphere of the salt marsh; it makes me grateful for my city location.

[Marwan]

Started reading The Shape of Water by Andrea Camilleri

[Judy]

Marwan, I read The Shape of Water a few months ago and remember quite enjoying it - I might try more in the Montalbano series.

[Jan C]

I enjoy the series.

[Jill]

I found a real goody at a yard sale. The World's Great Detectives ~ An Anthology by S.S. Van Dine the author of the Philo Vance series. The publishing date is 1931, so many of the stories/authors are pretty much unknown in modern times. It is, to say the least, a different type of detective read....some of the stories are quite clever while others are rather dull and silly. But it is a great window on what mystery readers were enjoying in the early days of the 20th century