What mysteries are you reading at the moment? Old thread Showing 1,451-1,500 of 4,457

[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 H.]

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 H.]

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

[Sandy]

Jill wrote: "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,..."

That is a great find and unexpected. Enjoy your discoveries and let us know which authors we should seek out in kindle deals.

[Judy]

Very interested to hear about the Van Dine - I recently picked up a set of his Philo Vance novels on Kindle, but haven't started reading yet. I'll also be interested to hear which writers in that collection you recommend, Jill.

[Lady Clementina]

Judy wrote: "Very interested to hear about the Van Dine - I recently picked up a set of his Philo Vance novels on Kindle, but haven't started reading yet. I'll also be interested to hear which writers in that c..."
I have some Philo Vance on my TBR are well.

[Jill H.]

Included in this anthology are some well known early Golden Age writers such as R. Austin Freeman. Arthur Morrison, H.C. Bailey,and Anna Katharine Green. And then there are those with whom I'm not familiar.....Ernest Bramah, J.S, Fletcher and Bennett Copplestone and others. Some of the stories are translated from other languages and that may be why they are not familiar to the English speaking public.

Based on this book, I might recommend the Arséne Lupin stories by Maurice LeBlanc and anything by Eden Philpotts and H.C. Bailey. Strangely enough, VanDine does not include any of his Philo Vance tales which at one time were wildly popular but are now an acquired taste. I have read several of them and would recommend "The Kennel Murder Case" and "The Canary Murder Case". But be warned, they take patience since Vance is a character that takes some getting used to.

[Annabel]

I've read one of the Philo Vance books, which I think involved an Egyptian curio. As per the advice above, I found it took a bit of getting used to and the plot was rather hard to follow. (I mainly bought it because it had a beautiful original dustjacket.) I was amazed to discover that Van Dine had been so hugely successful in his day, as I had never heard of him.

Also now halfway through The DA Breaks An Egg, by Erle Stanley Gardner. (Egg-breaking an important task for detectives - the Oxfam where I found it also had Inspector Ghote Breaks An Egg.) I am enjoying it - it feels like a Raymond Chandler in tone, although I should probably not describe it as hard-boiled! Some of the police procedural behaviour is a bit startling though - sheriff, district attorney etc searching crime scenes before the forensic police team arrive and allowing a friendly journalist to join them at the crime scene, sit in on interrogations and arrange exclusive interviews with the suspects.

[Marcus]

This procedure - the one with you described - is a little bit unrealistic. I think it compromises the story. I'll certainly dislike it.

[Jill H.]

It seems to be the style in most Golden Age mysteries......everybody gets involved in the crime scene, trampling all over the clues and interviewing suspects, etc. Can you imagine that happening in modern times?

[Sandy]

I wonder if the casual treatment of the crime scene is done for literary reasons or if procedures of the time ere that lax. The confusion can make a more interesting story.

[Gary]

Jill wrote: "It seems to be the style in most Golden Age mysteries......everybody gets involved in the crime scene, trampling all over the clues and interviewing suspects, etc. Can you imagine that happening in..."

It is certainly true in Murder Out of Turn by Frances Lockridge. Mr. And Mrs. North are involved along with acting homicide Captain Bill Weigand in investigating the murders at the cabin resort they are staying at while on vacation. The state police detective and Weigand have to interview the suspects somewhere and where better than the North's cabin which they are sharing with their friend Weigand?

Ellery Queen is always tagging along with his dad Inspector Richard Queen. On the tv show the helpful reporter or the grandstanding radio personality always seemed to insert themselves into the investigation usually annoying Richard and Ellery.

Perry Mason and Paul Drake and at times Della Street always seemed to get a look at the crime scene before Lt. Tragg and Assistant DA Hamilton Berger arrived.

[Judy]

I'm reading our group read for next month, Trent's Last Case, and casual treatment of the crime scene is a feature here too!

[Susan]

Well, I suppose forensics were not really a focus of the investigation as they are now. People were looking for 'clues' rather than 'evidence.' The focus now seems to be equally on both solving the case and on a case standing up in Court once the crime has been solved.

[Jill H.]

I think you are right, Susan. There wasn't much forensic science, if any, in the GA mysteries, so everybody got into the act since DNA, etc. was unheard of then. It makes for interesting reading since it is all the use of the "little grey cells" instead of science that solves the case. Sherlock Holmes wouldn't be half as much fun if they could just get a DNA sample and the case is solved!!

[Susan]

Yes, let's call all the suspects in the library and take a blood test ;)

[Jill H.]

:>)

[Abbey]

Annabel wrote: "I've read one of the Philo Vance books, which I think involved an Egyptian curio. As per the advice above, I found it took a bit of getting used to and the plot was rather hard to follow. (I mainly bought it because it had a beautiful original dustjacket.) I was amazed to discover that Van Dine had been so hugely successful in his day, as I had never heard of him."

Ohm'GAWD!!!!! You have an orig DJ, please please may I have a pix of it?!!

yep, Vance is *definitely* "an acquired taste" (grin) and most modern readers hate the style, plus compared with many of his contemporaries he was considered BOring! even then, but was extremely popular. The Vance character is a direct steal from Holmes but even more "rarefied" in tastes and pedantic but thatsorta thang was very very popular mid-1920s.

btw, if you "sorta" enjoy it, try his BISHOP MURDER CASE, the characters and setting are magnificent and the plot is simply stunning! Plus if you have an original or very early edition the inside pix are wonderful for letting you see how NYC looked then. But if the convoluted plot and slow pace of the Egyptian one annoyed or frustrated you too much, then don't go near this one, it's even more twisted. And dark, dark, RICHly dark...!

[Annabel]

I will take a picture of the dust jacket and post it. (Now hoping I have not over-promised - can't remember exactly what edition it was...)

[Annabel]

It's 1945 so not the first edition, sorry. I've taken a picture of the cover anyway and will post it up when I get near a laptop - my phone won't let me do it.

[Abbey]

thanks! Im fairly UN-savvy when it comes to techno-stuff, so "no hurry, no worries!" whenever, would be lovely. I use old covers for screensavers and always enjoy seeing a new-to-me one.

anyway, the true first edition of that book from ~1930, likely has a very plain cover, his publisher "went forensic" for the ccovers, well, what *passed* for forensic at the time, i.e., Important Looking Folders, maybe a weapon or two, usually quite um, clean... you know, what they thought the lay public might attribute as "official Police Stuff"! of the period. (grin)

I have very early editions of all his books, but no covers, in the 1990s when I purch'd them that sort were cheap. Usually first year but later eds, so I get the inside pix, which are wonderful!