What mysteries are you reading at the moment? Old thread Showing 1,601-1,650 of 4,475

[Jill]

My husband does that a lot, he used to do it with CD's as well but thankfully there aren't so popular now.

[Brina]

I'm not sure how you categorize this but I'm reading Woman on the Orient Express by Lindsay Jayne Ashford

[Susan]

Brina, I really enjoyed Woman on the Orient Express.

Oh, I buy books I had before (covers are important!). I am trying to restrain my obsession - or, rather, addiction. Even if I lived for 200 years, I couldn't possibly finish all the books I owned...

[Brina]

I'm 2/3 through. Story is interesting, writing is simple, I'll probably finish today at some point.

[Jill]

Just starting The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova I'm assuming it is a mystery although I realise it is based on Bram Stoker's classic. I'm not really into vampires and things like that , but this has had such mixed reviews, I thought I would see for myself

[Jan C]

Jill wrote: "Just starting The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova I'm assuming it is a mystery although I realise it is based on Bram Stoker's classic. I'm not really into vampires and th..."

I had it for a while but I'm not into vampires, etc., so I got rid of it.

[Susan]

I enjoyed The Historian. I don't mind the odd 'horror' book - although that is more literary fiction than horror. She is a good author and I also enjoyed The Shadow Land by her.

I have just startedIf We Were Villains, despite having far too many books on the go, as it has been suggested as similar to Donna Tartt's Secret History. A big claim, but we'll see...

[Susan]

By the way, I am a huge fan of both Donna Tartt and Marisha Pessl (the most similar author in style to her that I have found). Does anyone know of any other authors like them? I am always happy to have recommendations.

[Judy]

Susan wrote: "I enjoyed The Historian. I don't mind the odd 'horror' book - although that is more literary fiction than horror. She is a good author and I also enjoyed The Shadow Land by her. "

I haven't read anything by her so far, but have just got The Shadow Land out of the library as the Bulgaria book for my ongoing European challenge... which is going to leave me hooked on loads of new-to-me authors, just what I need.

I went for this one rather than The Historian because I'm not a vampire fan either!

[Judy]

I loved The Secret History but wasn't such a big fan of The Little Friend... haven't read The Goldfinch as yet.

[Susan]

The Goldfinch was the best so far, in my opinion. I liked The Little Friend, but the ending got a little lost...

Although I don't like vampire novels, a good book is a good book, and the Historian really drew me in. A really good author can make you look at genres you don't normally read. I would say that I do not like fantasy, but I have read a couple of books in that genre which I really liked.

[Judy]

Yes, a good author can tempt me to try genres I wouldn't normally consider too.

[Jan C]

I would agree but I do have a strong dislike for fantasy. I like to have some grounding in reality.

[Jill]

Jan C wrote: "I would agree but I do have a strong dislike for fantasy. I like to have some grounding in reality."

I have a strong dislike of love stories. The kind where " he looked in her eyes and she looked in his eyes". If a romance occurs in a story , that's ok , but if it trails on I loose interest.

[Michelle]

I loved The Historian. It is a vampire story but it is as far away from Twilight as you can get. It's much more literary and as the title suggests is also following a quest for historical work but not in a Da Vinci Code way.

If you enjoyed The Historian then The Discovery of Witches may be of interest although I was less keen on books two and three.

And I have to confess to reading the Da Vinci code and others by Dan Brown. They have their place and who wouldn't love someone whose response to a massive crisis that could end in death is "I have to get to a library, fast!"

[Abbey]

Jill wrote: "If a romance occurs in a story , that's ok , but if it trails on I loose interest."

me too. Romantic flavoring, not the majority of a meal in a story, thanks! I simply abhor what Brits call "twee!!" (LOVE that word, so evocative!), what I sometimes define in my reviews as "Cu-yoooote!!" writing, a sort of overdoing the attempt to seem "aDORable, simply too, too aDORable!", and one of my all-time gag-me-with-a-spoon "things" is:

when the heroine is soooo beautiful, gorgeous, magnificent, super-superlative that every, EVERY male who comes within range is instantly smitten. Not just interested or appreciative of her great beauty and, um "gifts" -grin- but totally *focused*, etc. ykwim.

When I was 12 I enjoyed thatsortathing for a while then grew tired of it, and I do understand why some folks always enjoy it, it's for them my equivalent of a nifty puzzle plot in a beautiful old house with almost but not quite likable rich folks Behaving Badly and some dry sharp humor - yummy! comfortable but not TOO.

But sweet, supra-cute ain't for me, thanks but no-thanks. a very little in a book IF not played for humor, goes a long way, and then quickly becomes fingernails-on-a-blackboard for me!

hey, is THAT metaphor going to go the way of the Dodo? Most kids don't have much access to blackboards and squeaky chalk these days, do they?

[Judy]

I really like romantic content in a crime book if it's done well but agree with you, Abbey, that it can get a bit much if everyone in sight is swooning over the detective - this also goes for male detectives and is a bit of a problem in some of the later Peter Wimsey books!

[Judy]

I really enjoyed Almost Blue by Italian author Carlo Lucarelli - a very atmospheric, poetic short thriller set in Bologna, which the author describes as part of a sprawling giant urban conurbation. This doesn't really have a mystery plot and is about the hunt for a serial killer, a plot I usually tend to avoid, but I really liked it.There is also romance and the detective (female) is beautiful...

I originally read this because I'd seen a mention that it might be partly set in San Marino, a tiny country I've been trying to include in my European challenge. In fact San Marino doesn't get a look-in in this one but does in the sequel
Day After Day. I won't be able to read this whole series as only those 2 have been translated into English!

[Pamela]

Judy wrote: "I really enjoyed Almost Blue by Italian author Carlo Lucarelli - a very atmospheric, poetic short thriller set in Bologna...."

Thanks for this, Judy - have added to my TBR. Planning a visit to Bologna later this year so would be a good book to take :)

[Sandy]

I am about half through two mysteries, In This Grave Hour on audio and The Chalk Pit on kindle, both the most recent entries in series I follow. I feel so proud to be caught up in at least a few.

These two series illustrate a couple of different handling of romance in mysteries. In my opinion, only Maise Dobbs' very first, very short, romantic interest added anything. Her later interests haven't had any personality and I cared nothing about them. In fairness the romance element is not big in these books (and it is not one of my very favorite series for other reasons). The plots are interesting but I don't watch for the next book.

In contrast, Ruth Galloway's personal relationships, and those of her friends, are a major interest for me. Ruth is the physical opposite of a romantic heroine and gives hope to dumpy middle-aged women. The personal entanglements of the major and minor characters add a lot to the stories and I will miss the cast while waiting for the next book.

[Jill]

Sandy wrote: "I am about half through two mysteries, In This Grave Hour on audio and The Chalk Pit on kindle, both the most recent entries in series I follow. I feel so proud to b..."
I like the Ruth Galloway series a lot. Mainly , I think because of Ruth's characteristics . I like the relationships in these books because it is not of the soppy variety.

[Lady Clementina]

Not reading yet but I picked up something called Enigma by Robert Harris (new to me author) yesterday- with a World War II, enigma machine theme.

[Sandy]

Lady Clementina wrote: "Not reading yet but I picked up something called Enigma by Robert Harris (new to me author) yesterday- with a World War II, enigma machine theme."

I've read two by Harris, An Officer and a Spy and Conclave, and liked them very much. Pompeii is on my TBR. Please report back on Enigma.

[Lady Clementina]

Sandy wrote: "Lady Clementina wrote: "Not reading yet but I picked up something called Enigma by Robert Harris (new to me author) yesterday- with a World War II, enigma machine theme."

I've read two by Harris, ..."

I will :)

[Jill]

Just started reading #2 in the John Rebus series. I don't know how I missed it since I have read almost all of them. It is starting out well.

by Ian Rankin

[Susan]

I like Robert Harris a lot, Lady. Let us know how you get on :)

[Judy]

Michelle wrote: "I loved The Historian. It is a vampire story but it is as far away from Twilight as you can get. It's much more literary and as the title suggests is also following a quest for historical work but ..."

I have only seen the film of The Da Vinci Code, but loved that line "I have to get to a library fast" too!

[Judy]

Pamela wrote: "Judy wrote: "I really enjoyed Almost Blue by Italian author Carlo Lucarelli - a very atmospheric, poetic short thriller set in Bologna...."

Thanks for this, Judy - ha..."

Hope you enjoy it, Pamela - both book and visit, that is. :)

[Carolien]

Sandy wrote: "Lady Clementina wrote: "Not reading yet but I picked up something called Enigma by Robert Harris (new to me author) yesterday- with a World War II, enigma machine theme."

I've read two by Harris, ..."

Pompeii is a wonderful read. I really enjoy Harris, just haven't read enough of him.

[Abbey]

Judy wrote: " it can get a bit much if everyone in sight is swooning over the detective - this also goes for male detectives and is a bit of a problem in some of the later Peter Wimsey books! "

Well, Sayers DID admit she was, herself, in love with Lord Peter!

But I think that as a writer she was just pushing the envelope, trying to see how far she could go with the emotional content - at that time (late 1920s) detective stories, especially with lead detectives that we now call "Iconic" ones, i.e. Holmes, didn't show their *personal* lives much, definitely not their emotions, or how they truly felt - the sidekick, yes, a bit, usually very sweeeeetly or stereotypically, but limited.

Sayers wanted to expand the limits of what she considered The Detective Story from its then-narrow definitions. And she was quite funny about it, as when she warned her fans with the subtitle that the last novel BUSMAN'S HONEYMOON was "a love story with detective interruptions, in which Lord Peter plays the leading part".

plus, IMO she was a bit P'O'd about her fans and publisher pushing so da**ed hard for a resolution to the Vane/Wimsey love story, so she went over-the-top, just to be DONE with it!

[Susan]

I have started, Hamlet, Revenge!, the second Inspector Appleby mystery, which is one that some of us are planning for a buddy read next month. Everyone is welcome to join in - remember, we read the first in a series as a group read a while ago.

[Judy]

I'm in the Lake District at the moment and have started The Lake District Murder by John Bude, a British Library Crime Classics reprint. Good so far.

Will also be starting Hamlet, Revenge! by
Michael Innes soon, ready. for our buddy read in early July.

[Judy]

Interesting thoughts on Sayers, Abbey. I love the romantic elements between Peter and Harriet and am a fan of Busman's Honeymoon, but I do find it a bit excessive when a lot of other female characters start going weak at the knees for him in the later books!

[Jay-me (Janet)]

Judy wrote: "I'm in the Lake District at the moment and have started The Lake District Murder by John Bude, a British Library Crime Classics reprint. Good so far...."

I enjoyed the John Bude books, however I think the Lake District one was the one that I enjoyed the least.

I'm continuing my way through the Dandy Gilver series, and intend starting Bobby Owen next. I've also got part way through Rivers of London and Inspector Faro which I want to get back to.

[Sandy]

I read the first Danny Gliver awhile back and still mean to continue.

[Ellen]

Jay-me (Janet) wrote: "Judy wrote: "I'm in the Lake District at the moment and have started The Lake District Murder by John Bude, a British Library Crime Classics reprint. Good so far......"

I am up to number 7 in the Bobby Owen series. I really like them and it makes me happy that I still have many more to go.

[Judy]

Jay-me, I've now finished The Lake District Murder and didn't enjoy it all that much overall - I thought it got bogged down in plot details and didn't really have much about the Lake District.

[Jill]

Just finished re-reading another Peculiar Crimes Unit book. With all the books I have to read, why am I re-reading? But I love this series.

The Victoria Vanishes: A Peculiar Crimes Unit Mystery by Christopher Fowler

[Annabel]

I love Robert Harris's thrillers. Enigma and Pompeii are my favourites (Enigma is also a really good film, Pompeii sadly probably unfilmable). Archangel's also not bad, although a bit bleak, and there's The Ghost, which Roman Polanski filmed with Pierce Brosnan in and is also v good.

I've never managed to get on with Harris's Roman series. I tried the first one and they are very well-researched, but I just found it a bit dry. My impression is that he started off writing about WWII because he was passionate about that era (Fatherland, Enigma, Archangel all set then) but then felt he exhausted that time period and had to turn to other settings to ring the changes.

Also I saw him talk at the Henley Festival and he said it's a nightmare trying to write about contemporary politics because it moves so fast. If you want to talk about what's going on now, it's better to do so through the lens of a historical allegory - which was an interesting insight.

[Lady Clementina]

Annabel wrote: "I love Robert Harris's thrillers. Enigma and Pompeii are my favourites (Enigma is also a really good film, Pompeii sadly probably unfilmable). Archangel's also not bad, although a bit bleak, and th..."

I'm reading Jane and Prudence at the moment for a group read on the 1st and plan to start Enigma as soon as I finish.

[Susan]

Robert Harris also has a new book coming out soon which looks interesting Munich. If we have a lot of Robert Harris fans then a buddy read could always be suggested, even if he doesn't fit into the GA category. We have three lined up: the next Inspector Appleby Hamlet, Revenge!, the first Inspector Cockerill Heads You Lose and the third Nigel Blake There's Trouble Brewing. I would happily help run a Harris buddy read if there was any consensus on which book to choose?

[Judy]

I'm reading The Keeper of Lost Causes by Jussi Adler-Olsen, the first in a series about Department Q, a cold cases police department in Copenhagen. Good so far.

[Susan]

That seems to be titled, "Mercy," on kindle, Judy. That's strange, that they changed the title.

[Judy]

I'm reading it on Kindle with the 'lost causes' title - odd that it has 2 titles, I agree!

[Susan]

So annoying if you end up buying the same book twice - that happened to me a couple of times on kindle until I learnt to be more careful!

[Judy]

Susan wrote: "Robert Harris also has a new book coming out soon which looks interesting Munich. If we have a lot of Robert Harris fans then a buddy read could always be suggested, even if he does..."

I've never read anything by Harris and don't know much about him, but could be interested - I will find out more. :)

[Pamela]

Susan wrote: "]. If we have a lot of Robert Harris fans then a buddy read could always be suggested, even if he does..."

Oh yes please! I love Robert Harris's books (have read 4 or 5 I think) so would definitely be up for that.

[Brina]

I'm reading The DaVinci Code. Not sure whether to classify as thriller or mystery but it's intriguing so far, about 40% done.

[Lady Clementina]

Brina wrote: "I'm reading The DaVinci Code. Not sure whether to classify as thriller or mystery but it's intriguing so far, about 40% done."

I enjoyed that one- Angels and Demons a little more- everyone isn't too pleased with his writing but I enjoy all the info he gives one and the settings.

[Carolien]

Judy wrote: "I'm reading The Keeper of Lost Causes by Jussi Adler-Olsen, the first in a series about Department Q, a cold cases police department in Copenhagen. Good so far."

Would like to know what you think. It's been on my TBR for ages.