What mysteries are you reading at the moment? Old thread Showing 1,851-1,900 of 4,457

[Jill H.]

I just getting ready to start the below cited book.....picked it up at the library sale for $1.00. I have read this author, one of the many noms de plume used by this writer(s). They are somewhat dated but usually are pretty straight forward and good little reads when one is also reading larger books.

by Patrick Quentin

[Teri-K]

I just finished Strong Poison by Dorothy Sayers. I've read all her books many times, but this time I used the audio book, narrated by Ian Carmichael, who played Lord Peter in the BBC series. I enjoyed listening to it a lot.

I think it's one of the best of the series. There's a good puzzle and several interesting characters. I especially like Miss Climson, so it's fun to see her playing an important role.

[Jill H.]

Who better to narrate a Lord Peter book than Ian Carmichael!!!!! The BBC series was great and when reading one of the books, his face pops into mind.

[Leslie]

I am rereading a Ngaio Marsh - Overture to Death - via audiobook.

Teri-K, I listened to one of Ian Carmichael's narration of a Sayers earlier this year - Unnatural Death, which also has Miss Climpson. I love Carmichael's voice for these!

[Teri-K]

Leslie wrote: Teri-K, I listened to one of Ian Carmichael's narration of a Sayers earlier this year - [book:Unnatural Death|1928..."

I recently reread that one, and Whose Body? I haven't decided which one to get next. I wanted Murder Must Advertise, but it's a dramatized abridged version. :(

I agree Carmichael looks and sounds like Peter should. :)

I've listened to several of Marsh's, too. I liked Death of a Fool better in audio than when I read it years ago. Of course Nadia May is excellent, and that really helps.

[Betsy]

Jill wrote: "Who better to narrate a Lord Peter book than Ian Carmichael!!!!! The BBC series was great and when reading one of the books, his face pops into mind.

"

I agree. He was terrific as Lord Peter.

[Abbey]

Jill wrote: "Who better to narrate a Lord Peter book than Ian Carmichael!!!!! The BBC series was great and when reading one of the books, his face pops into mind"

oh, yes, fell madly for him in the 1970s! BUT when Edward Petherbridge showed up in the 1980s to do the Harriet Vane trilogy, WOW!!

Both very good as Lord Peter, but Petherbridge was far more subtle, diffident; Carmichael was rather bluff'n'hearty, you know? Both with those lovely plummy voices -sigh-

[Susan]

Just a reminder that we have some great buddy reads coming up.

The discussion for Heads You Lose will open in a day or so. Then we will start There's Trouble Brewing mid-way through September. I'll post a reminder nearer the time.

Heads You Lose is the first Inspector Cockrill mystery. We are planning to read the second, Green for Danger as our Jan 2018 book, which is really thinking ahead!

There's Trouble Brewing is the third Nigel Strangeways mystery. Again, you can read the first three books in any order if you want, so it is not necessary to have read the first two: A Question of Proof and Thou Shell of Death first in order to join in.

Both Christianna Brand and Nicholas Blake (pen name for Cecil Day-Lewis) are favourites of mine and I look forward to discussing their books with the group.

As well as these, we also have other great buddy reads lined up:

August/Sept: Heads You Lose: Christianna Brand
September/Oct: There's Trouble Brewing
Oct/Nov: The Life and Times of Miss Jane Marple The Life and Times of Miss Jane Marple
Nov/Dec: Not a Creature was Stirring: Jane Haddam Not a Creature was Stirring
Jan/Feb: Green for Danger: Christianna Brand Green for Danger

Everyone is welcome to join in, whether you have read the book(s) or not. There is a film for "Green for Danger," starring Alastair Sim http://www.classicfilmfreak.com/2017/.... Anyone who has read any of the Miss Marple books is welcome to join in and, even if you don't have time to read the books, come and chat. You might find some future reads.

[Susan]

Finished Bucket's List: A Victorian Mystery

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

About to begin At Bertram's Hotel

[Judy]

Thanks for the rundown on the forthcoming buddy reads, Susan - I just nearly did a typo and put fundown, which seems very appropriate as I'm sure all these reads will be a lot of fun!

[Susan]

Yes, I am sure they will be fun, Judy. Looking forward to all of them :)

[Robin]

I read the comments on Patricia Highsmith's work with interest. I really admire her work and love the conflict they engender in the reader (some, anyway) because of the moral judgement one I forced to make. The Ripley series is a case in point. If ever there was an anti hero, it is Tom Ripley...but how he draws one in! it is shocking to feel for this amoral protagonist, but in the last novel his detractors are so judgemental and pompous I found myself doing so. I read lots of novels just for comfort and pleasure, and agree Highsmith's cannot fill this task. However, for something that is a bit more demanding I love Highsmith's work.

[Abbey]

weeellll... I *do* have a TON of good things to read, many for reviews due "soonish!" -grin-

BUT...

just received from ABE Books in the mail A lovely weird book I purchased about a month ago (must have come from UK via China Boat!) published 1948,

FIFTY FAMOUS DETECTIVES
OF FICTION, short story anthology, no editor, just the stories, AND some really strange-but-wonderful black & white illustrations! A lovely old thing, it's been a long long time since I purchased an old lightly foxed, musty-smelling Big Book, yum!!!

(Happy Dance, Happy Dance!!!) I'll have to portion out the stories so that I can get the reviewing done by deadlines though!

Ain't it lovely to have almost (whispers) Too Much To Read?!!! -grin-

[Leslie]

Robin wrote: "I read the comments on Patricia Highsmith's work with interest. I really admire her work and love the conflict they engender in the reader (some, anyway) because of the moral judgement one I forced..."

Thanks for your comments -- perhaps I will try another one with this attitude in mind.

[Robin]

Oh, that's great. I'll try to think of one that might be more palatable... Mmmm, might be hard!

[Susan]

I read an interesting novel about Patricia Highsmith a while ago, The Crime Writer which I really enjoyed.

The buddy read thread for Heads You Lose is open. Pop over and say hello!

[Jill H.]

I am a Nero Wolfe fanatic. You might want to try The Doorbell Rang soon.....it is one of my favorites.

[Teri-K]

Now I'm rereading The Unfinished Clue. I'm a fan of Heyer's mysteries, and this one has an especially lively bunch of characters in it.

[Marwan]

Robin wrote: "I read the comments on Patricia Highsmith's work with interest. I really admire her work and love the conflict they engender in the reader (some, anyway) because of the moral judgement one I forced..."

I couldn't agree more about Tom Ripley, I only read the first one though " The Talented Mr. Ripley" and it was amazing, one of the best books I read in 2015.

[Jan C]

Kate Thompson wrote: "Jill wrote: "I am a Nero Wolfe fanatic. You might want to try The Doorbell Rang soon.....it is one of my favorites."

I got that one at my used bookstore. Should these be read in order?"

I don't know if they need to be. I am reading them in order, however. Now on The Red Box, #4.

Have read many of them before.

[Carolien]

Just finished Raven Black and really enjoyed it. Probably like this cast of characters better than the Vera Stanhope series and love the Shetland setting. Ann Cleeves writes very well.

[Judy]

I really enjoyed The House in Charlton Crescent byAnnie Haynes and will read more by this author. Her style reminds me of early Christie (same period).

I'm now reading Red Harvest by Dashiell Hammett and loving his hardboiled prose though it is a bit hard to keep track of all the characters.

[Lady Clementina]

Cards on the Table- I thought I had read this before but on reading it I realise that perhaps I haven't.

[Jay-me (Janet)]

I've read a couple more of the Agatha Raisin ones - slowly making my way to the one set in Worcestershire. But it may take some time as a couple at a time of this series is enough. Apart from not liking Agatha the last book Agatha Raisin and the Terrible Tourist was more like reading a boring travel guide. So I'm reading something light and fluffy and then going back to Dandy Gilver.

[Sandy]

I agree that a little Agatha Raisin goes a long way. I prefer Hamlish Macbeth but even those I can't read back to back. They, and even Dandy Gilver, are some of my light and fluffy interludes.

[Robin]

I like Agatha Raisin, and have read several a few months ago. one problem is that they do not stay in the mind, or mine, anyway. It may be that they are my fluffy interludes too.

[Jill H.]

Kate Thompson wrote: "Jill wrote: "I am a Nero Wolfe fanatic. You might want to try The Doorbell Rang soon.....it is one of my favorites."

I got that one at my used bookstore. Should these be read in order?"

They do not need to be read in order BUT do not read A Family Affair until you have either completed all the other books or are not planning to read anymore of them. It is the last book written by Rex Stout and it contains a bit of a shock.

[Jill H.]

Kate Thompson wrote: "Thanks for the information Jill. I wanted to read these in order and I plan on reading all of them."

Reading them in order gives you a chance to see the character of Archie develop. He is a little different in the first books and the development is positive. But of course, Wolfe never changes!

[Gary]

Jill wrote: "Kate Thompson wrote: "Thanks for the information Jill. I wanted to read these in order and I plan on reading all of them."

Reading them in order gives you a chance to see the character of Archie d..."
Well that is not entirely true. There was Wolfe's attempted exercise program....but that would be giving things away.

In some books he is a sixth of a ton in others a seventh of a ton.
Other than that, he is pretty consistent.

[Judy]

I'm not worrying too much about reading the Wolfe books n order, as my local library only has some of them and also sometimes a later book is published with an earlier one in a double set! But I'm bearing in mind Jill's warning about A Family Affair.

[Jill H.]

Gary wrote: "Jill wrote: "Kate Thompson wrote: "Thanks for the information Jill. I wanted to read these in order and I plan on reading all of them."

Reading them in order gives you a chance to see the characte..."

Gary......the "exercise program" was pretty funny. And in The Black Mountain he was certainly out of his element. Stout was a little inconsistent with some of his situations such as Wolfe's weight and Sol's marital status.

[Annabel]

I think The Unfinished Clue is one of the best of the Heyer detective stories. Some of the characters are a bit 'stock' but they're all well-delineated and sufficiently differentiated to make it fun. I particularly love the heroine and the hero is less insufferably smug than some Heyer heroes!

I also love Cards On The Table. How lucky you are, Lady Clementina, if you are really reading it for the first time.

I've just finished The Red House Mystery by AA Milne. I've been intending to read it for ages as it's a staple of secondhand bookshops, but I'm feeling slightly lukewarm about it. It's very 'hearty amateur' in feel, with a lot of rather Famous Five tactics, eg following people, spying on them, eavesdropping on conversations etc. And I am thinking of making a collection of humorous upper-class chaps named Anthony, to include Anthony Cade, Anthony Browne and Antony Latter alongside this book's Anthony Gillingham.

[Sandy]

The Red House Mystery was a group read a year ago if you want to see others' opinions. I remember it pleasantly, but with little detail.

Is one of Milne's A's for Anthony? Could you add him to your list?

[Annabel]

That's useful, thank you, Sandy. I just read Raymond Chandler's dissection of The Red House Mystery, which was linked from the thread. It's pretty crushing and makes some excellent points about the technical errors in the murder method.

[Christmas Carol ꧁꧂]

Annabel wrote: "I think The Unfinished Clue is one of the best of the Heyer detective stories. Some of the characters are a bit 'stock' but they're all well-delineated and sufficiently differentiated to make it fu..."

I'm a massive Heyer fan (I moderate the Georgette Heyer group on Goodreads) but this is one of the titles I don't own.

Using a bit of understatement here, but I'm a bit behind on my Sayers reads. Have just started Unnatural Death & am already totally engaged!

[Leslie]

Judy wrote: I'm now reading Red Harvest by Dashiell Hammett and loving his hardboiled prose though it is a bit hard to keep track of all the characters. ..."

I loved this too which was a surprise because I thought that I didn't care too much for hardboiled mysteries. Now I know that it depends on who the author is - Dashiell Hammett & Raymond Chandler are just so much better than Mickey Spillane! (Apologies to any Mike Hammer fans)

And speaking of hardboiled, I have been slowly making my way through my father's Lew Archer books (now residing in my home); currently I am reading Black Money which is turning out to be one of the better books in the series.

[ShanDizzy]

Leslie wrote: "Judy wrote: I'm now reading Red Harvest by Dashiell Hammett and loving his hardboiled prose though it is a bit hard to keep track of all the characters. ..."

I loved this too which was a surprise ..."

Thanks for sharing these books, I'm definitely adding to my TBR list because I too love hard-boiled mysteries and agree with your view that Dashiell Hammet and Raymond Chandler are much better than Mickey Spillane. I'm currently reading Hammet's "Red Harvest" and love the prose.

[Brina]

Has anyone read any of Margaret Truman's mysteries? I have had my eyes on this series for awhile but haven't read it yet.

[Lady Clementina]

Brina wrote: "Has anyone read any of Margaret Truman's mysteries? I have had my eyes on this series for awhile but haven't read it yet."

I have read a few- enjoyed the background and settings of the books- the mysteries themselves have been mixed - not terribly complicated but interesting enough - combined with the settings I've enjoyed most.

[Abbey]

just finished MAGPIE MURDERS
(my review will be up at Reviewing the Evidence
www.reviewingtheevidence.com
in a couple of weeks, my opinion is, um, "rather different" than the one posted there just now, I hope our contrasting "takes" will be fun/interesting to read...!)

been sampling short stories, but likely next will be two novels to read also for review "soonish" at RTE:

RUINED STONES
and
SINCE WE FELL
(this is "local" for me and so is "yelling" at me VERY strongly just now, but not sure I want to read such darkness just yet, probably will find something rather comfortable for a bit first)

[Brina]

Thank you, Lady Clementina. I remember my grandma reading this series but wasn't sure if they were quality mysteries or just an in between read for her.

[J]

Margaret Truman ... yes, I have enjoyed many of them. After a while I did take a break when a couple of them seem to much alike... but I will return to them again. I found the early ones had great plots.

[Lady Clementina]

J wrote: "Margaret Truman ... yes, I have enjoyed many of them. After a while I did take a break when a couple of them seem to much alike... but I will return to them again. I found the early ones had great ..."

I liked the ones with the law professor and his girlfriend/wife who has an art gallery- they appear in quite a few of the books.

[Judy]

Leslie wrote: "Judy wrote: I'm now reading Red Harvest by Dashiell Hammett and loving his hardboiled prose though it is a bit hard to keep track of all the characters. ..."

I loved this too which was a surprise ..."

I'm still reading this and not enjoying it quite so much because the plot is so confusing and there is more violence than I expected. I don't think this is quite up there with The Thin Man and The Maltese Falcon - all the same there are still those great one-liners and some enjoyable characters.

I haven't read any of the Lew Archer books by Ross Macdonald, but will hope to try them too.

[Judy]

Abbey wrote: "just finished MAGPIE MURDERS
(my review will be up at Reviewing the Evidence
www.reviewingtheevidence.com
in a couple of weeks, my opinion is, um, "rather diffe..."

I will be interested to see your review, Abbey - there is definitely lots to say about this book and different takes should be good. Maybe one for a future group read. Thanks also for the link to Reviewing the Evidence, looks like a good website.

[Susan]

I loved Magpie Murders and also Horowitz's latest The Word is Murder. It is almost enough to make me try Sherlock Holmes The House of Silk.

[Judy]

I've been meaning to try The House of Silk but am getting very behind with reading in general - I seem to have less reading time now that my office has moved and I'm not on a bus for up to a couple of hours each day!

[Susan]

I am finding the same thing at the moment, Judy. I never get as much reading time in the summer when the kids are around and I am commuting by car and not train.

[Judy]

Jay-me (Janet) wrote: "I've read a couple more of the Agatha Raisin ones - slowly making my way to the one set in Worcestershire... Apart from not liking Agatha the last book Agatha Raisin and the Terrible Tourist was more like reading a boring travel guide. "

Funnily enough I've got the 'Terrible Tourist' book in mind to fill North Cyprus for my challenge! But I have to read the other Agatha books to take me there first too. ;)

[Judy]

Despite the fact that I'm already trying to read too many books, I've also just started The Body on the Beach by Simon Brett, because it will be due back at the library soon. Fun so far.