Reading the Detectives discussion
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What mysteries are you reading at the moment? Old thread
I am currently reading this rather large book of short story mysteries set in Scotland. As is usual in a compilation book, some are good and some not so good. A couple of the older stories are rather difficult to read as they use the local dialect but overall this is a pretty interesting book.
by Stefan R. Dziemianowicz
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This hadn't struck me, Susan, but I think you are probably right! I've come to the conclusion Rebecca Cantrell just isn't for me as I can't believe in her characters.
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If you like Tey (I love the books of hers I've read), have you tried Nicola Upson's series about her? The first that is in this month's poll is my least favourite - they're wonderfully researched and each is different from the others.
ps. I can't get on with Bernie Gunther's obsession with women's anatomy!
Judy wrote: "Thanks Susan - have you come across any other good books set in Weimar Germany before WW2? I have tried Philip Kerr but vaguely remember I wasn't very keen, but intend to give him a second try. I w..."Midnight in Berlin by James McManus is set in Germany just before the outbreak of WW2. I really enjoyed it.
Also of course Munich (Robert Harris) which I mentioned above I have just started is set just before WW2, as you would expect from the title. And although it's in England at the moment (ten pages in), again the title suggests we will be in Germany before too long...
Not sure why this posted twice ...
Judy wrote: "Thanks Susan - have you come across any other good books set in Weimar Germany before WW2? I have tried Philip Kerr but vaguely remember I wasn't very keen, but intend to give him a second try. I w..."A Toast To Tomorrow is set in Germany, from the end of WWI to the mid thirties - it was written in 1940 so is interesting in its unwitting foreshadowing. It's unfortunately only available at high price at the moment, and I understand that the recent reprints were of peculiarly poor quality. It was also published under the title Pray Silence, and that may be slightly cheaper
Judy wrote: "Thanks Susan - have you come across any other good books set in Weimar Germany before WW2? I have tried Philip Kerr but vaguely remember I wasn't very keen, but intend to give him a second try. I w..."Judy, there's also a German series which has been recently translated (first two books, so far):
Babylon Berlin by Volker Kutscher
I'm not wild about the MC, but the historical details are pretty good. Very popular series in Germany and there's supposed to be a big Euro TV production out later this year.
Rosina wrote: "A Toast To Tomorrow is set in Germany, from the end of WWI to the mid thirties - it was written in 1940 so is interesting in its unwitting foreshadowing. It's unfortunately only available at high price at the moment, and I understand that the recent reprints were of peculiarly poor quality..."Note that this is the 2nd book in the Tommy Hambledon series - the first is Drink to Yesterday.
Leslie wrote: "Note that this is the 2nd book in the Tommy Hambledon series - the first is Drink to Yesterday. I don't think Drink to Yesterday is necessary pre-reading. It's a rather different book, and although I'm sure I read it originally in the 60s (I even own a copy!) I don't re-read it at all.
Just finished the first in a series of only 3 books by Molly ThynneThe Crime at the 'Noah's Ark'. I liked it and plan to read the others. It is wonderful that some of the neglected Golden Age authors are back in print.
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I haven't tried Nicola Upson's books as yet, RC - are they similar to Josephine Tey's own books? She is an author who has really been growing on me - I wasn't so keen on the first one or two, but I loved A Shilling for Candles and now Brat Farrar is a 5-star read for me, one of the best mysteries I've ever read.
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Jan C wrote: "I've just started A Shilling for Candles and I'm really enjoying it so far."I enjoyed it as well- much more so than Grant's first outing.
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I totally agree with Ellen - it is wonderful that we have so many authors being re-published. I am sure many modern crime authors would not agree though. I wonder if they see them as competition? I know that some crime podcasts I listen to are often a little sneering about GA writers and the re-discovery of books from that era.
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That's interesting, Susan. I suppose they are competition in terms of sales - and many older books being republished are much cheaper than current books, especially when they are in the public domain of course!
I'd like to think there is room for all of them though, with digital and on-demand publishing making it possible for many more books to be available than in the past.
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This is a bit darker than my typical crime reads, but I thought the opening was a very strong hook and got me gripped - a woman sees an incident involving two young girls on a train and has to decide whether to intervene.
The book is very well-written, but the rest of the story doesn't quite live up to the start for me. For one thing, it becomes rather bitty as there are a lot of different viewpoint characters. Also I think there are very few clues to some of the later plot twists.
Judy wrote: "I haven't tried Nicola Upson's books as yet, RC - are they similar to Josephine Tey's own books?They are in that they don't necessarily have an official crime to solve (though some do) and they draw on Tey's life and her friendship with the police inspector who was the model for Grant. They're very varied in theme and are exceptionally well researched and redolent of the period but with a modern outlook. I would place them at the slightly more literary end of the crime spectrum - and the overarching character arcs means they're best read in order - though I came to them via the second book. Maybe try the library first?
BTW, if you haven't read The Franchise Affair, it's brilliant!
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Lady Clementina wrote: "Jan C wrote: "I've just started A Shilling for Candles and I'm really enjoying it so far."I enjoyed it as well- much more so than Grant's first outing."
Me, too. I thought that first book just dragged at points.
Lady Clementina wrote: "Jan C wrote: "I've just started A Shilling for Candles and I'm really enjoying it so far."I enjoyed it as well- much more so than Grant's first outing."
Same here!
Carol ♔Type, Oh Queen!♕ wrote: "Lady Clementina wrote: "Jan C wrote: "I've just started A Shilling for Candles and I'm really enjoying it so far."I enjoyed it as well- much more so than Grant's first outing."
Same..."
I actually prefer The Man in the Queue, although it isn't perfect.
A Shilling for Candles and The Franchise Affair are my 2 favorite Tey books, though Brat Farrar is a close third.
Finished Malice Aforethought last night. It's hard to believe that this book came out in 1931. It was not what I expected. It was a rather disquieting read.
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I started listening to the Librivox recording of The Circular Staircase yesterday - some of the voices are a bit odd in terms of accents but I'm enjoying the story too.
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Susan wrote: "I struggled with this one, but will wait for the discussion..."I read The Circular Staircase some time ago and I agree. Will wait for the discussion too.
Judy wrote: "I'm just starting next month's group read, The Circular Staircase by Mary Roberts Rinehart. Enjoying the writing style and the first person narration."I have been reading M R Rinehart for years, and I think her mysteries move slowly with a lot of explanation for the characters' situations. Most of her main characters seem to have fairly wealthy backgrounds. This seems to be true with most "golden age" mysteries Of course, some of the characters want more wealth which causes the murders. I do enjoy her books, they are of an era that is long gone. Maids, chauffeurs, gardeners, cooks, and companions are foreign to most of us now.
Paperbackreader wrote: "Finished Malice Aforethought last night. It's hard to believe that this book came out in 1931. It was not what I expected. It was a rather disquieting read."Disquieting is a great way to describe that book! There was a very good TV adaptation by BBC/PBS both in the early 1980s & more recently (2005?).
Got this new book from my local library today. The Island by M J Trow - book #4 in the Grand & Batchelor Victorian Mystery series.I've not read any in this series, but spotted this in the new section, so hopefully it will not matter if I read out of sequence.
Sorry cannot give link as I've had to request Goodreads Librarians to add the book as no listing yet.
The Island
Reading Suspects Nine the 12th in the Bobby Owens series by E.R. Punshon. I really like this series so I sort of went on a binge and burned myself out and had to quit for awhile. Now that I have had a breather I am enjoying this one a lot.
Ellen wrote: "Reading Suspects Nine the 12th in the Bobby Owens series by E.R. Punshon. I really like this series so I sort of went on a binge and burned myself out and had to qu..."I have a Punshon - The Choice- don't think it's on GR & it is not part of of the Bobby Owen series. Hoping to get to it soon.
I'm a third of the way in on The Franchise Affair& so far it is really living up to my expectations! :)
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It certainly fit the bill.
I have a sneaking affection for The Big Four. I know it's nonsense, but it's fun. If you forget the ridiculous world domination stuff and concentrate on the separate short stories it originally started life as, it becomes much more enjoyable.And I still adore Christie for her ability to sketch in characters in a microsecond. Having just finished wading through Munich (the new Robert Harris, a disappointment for me) and struggled with its confusing array of inadequately realised diplomats and officials, I am in awe of how well I can visualise minor characters from a minor Christie such as Mr Ingles, the shambling son from Yellow Jasmine and the woman who was once friends with Claude Darrell.
Loved the Franchise Affair. :)
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I wish I had known The Big Four started as four short stories; I would have paid more attention. I got side tracked by world domination, as one does.
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Sandy wrote: "I finished The Coroner's Lunch and enjoyed the character and how he deals with authority. Old age has its privileges. The setting is unique (for me): newly Communist Laos in the 1970'..."I really enjoyed that book, too. I thought it gave me a real view into what life was like then without feeling heavy handed. I really should read more of them... :)
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Reading the Detectives
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Thanks, Susan, I will look out for Philip Kerr! I must admit I've left The Floating Admiral and an immense book about novel plots to one side for Munich - reading several books at once and changing the order is a bad habit of mine.
Annabel