Reading the Detectives discussion
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What mysteries are you reading at the moment? Old thread
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Sandy
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Oct 08, 2017 07:22AM
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I've just finished The Plumley Inheritance, the first in the long series of Ludovic Travers mysteries by 'lost' author Christopher Bush, which have just been reprinted by Dean Street Press.
Born in the 1880s, he does have a rather Victorian style of writing - I like that in general, but did find the first 25% or so rather slow and stodgy. However, then I really got into it and enjoyed the later sections a lot, as the plot becomes ever more outrageous and exciting!
I'm also listening to the audiobook of A Pocket Full of Rye read by Richard E Grant, who does a wonderful job with different voices for all the characters.
Born in the 1880s, he does have a rather Victorian style of writing - I like that in general, but did find the first 25% or so rather slow and stodgy. However, then I really got into it and enjoyed the later sections a lot, as the plot becomes ever more outrageous and exciting!
I'm also listening to the audiobook of A Pocket Full of Rye read by Richard E Grant, who does a wonderful job with different voices for all the characters.
I just finished Murder of a Lady by Anthony Wynne, which is one of the British Library Classic Crime printings. It's a "locked room" type mystery, and is one of the most enjoyable of the BLCC books that I've read so far. I gave it 4 stars - it has some problems but kept me on my toes and surprised me several times!
Moonlight Reader wrote: "I just finished Murder of a Lady by Anthony Wynne, which is one of the British Library Classic Crime printings. It's a "locked room" type mystery, and is one of the most enjoyable o..."I was just looking at that book the other day- will get it once I make a dent on my TBR.
I have just started two NetGalley crime reads: Broken Bones, the latest in the Kim Stone series, and The Last Hours, historical crime fiction.
Reading The Floating Admiral, the Detection Club joint venture between Christie, Sayers and various other members. So far, I must admit it's not holding my attention. It's all about keeping track of people's movements and tide times at the moment, rather like Ten Red Herrings (although not as bad as that) with little personality. One of the things I love about both Christie and Sayers is the many scenes showing the characters living their lives, away from the detective's all-seeing eye. You get none of that in The Floating Admiral (so far), even though they both wrote a chapter. Curiously lifeless.
I'm reading Behold, Here's Poison, a Heyer mystery. I've read a couple and, when looking up one of our December nominations, I noticed they are included with Kindle Unlimited. So I may read a few while I have a membership.
Annabel wrote: "Reading The Floating Admiral, the Detection Club joint venture between Christie, Sayers and various other members. So far, I must admit it's not holding my attention. It's all about keeping track o..."I read Admiral years ago. It was okay. At that time I read another one of the Detection Club's books, and have a couple on my shelves now to read. It is difficult to keep up excitement/suspense, etc., when a different author writes each chapter.
I've just finished A Madras Miasma and I recommend it to anybody who enjoys books set in India during the Raj. Very well written with a great sense of place and time.In the process I discovered Crime Wave Press Publishers that specialises in Asian crime fiction. They have some unusual settings in their catalog if anybody is interested. http://www.crimewavepress.com/
That looks interesting, Carolien. I will have a look at the catalogue later, but have put A Madras Miasma on my TBR list, thanks.
Carolien wrote: "I've just finished A Madras Miasma and I recommend it to anybody who enjoys books set in India during the Raj. Very well written with a great sense of place and time.
In the proces..."
I added it to my TBR. Sounds good and available with Kindle Unlimited.
In the proces..."
I added it to my TBR. Sounds good and available with Kindle Unlimited.
I've started reading The Incredible Crime by Lois Austen-Leigh - this is a British Library Crime Classics title and was available for me as a monthly choice from the Kindle Owner's Lending Library. I've been meaning to read this one since Abigail mentioned it a little while back.
Enjoying it so far - it is set in areas I know well, in Cambridge and on the Suffolk coast. I was interested to see from the introduction that the author and her sister Honor (great-great-nieces of Jane Austen) lived at Aldeburgh in Suffolk and knew people involved with the famous festival, and Lois used to drive around the town on her motorbike!
Enjoying it so far - it is set in areas I know well, in Cambridge and on the Suffolk coast. I was interested to see from the introduction that the author and her sister Honor (great-great-nieces of Jane Austen) lived at Aldeburgh in Suffolk and knew people involved with the famous festival, and Lois used to drive around the town on her motorbike!
I just finished Broken Bones
the seventh in the Angela Marsons Kim Stone series. Oddly, this is one series that I have read all the way through and kept up with. Normally I start well and then give up, or it just falls by the wayside, but this has kept my attention well.
the seventh in the Angela Marsons Kim Stone series. Oddly, this is one series that I have read all the way through and kept up with. Normally I start well and then give up, or it just falls by the wayside, but this has kept my attention well.
Judy wrote: "I've started reading The Incredible Crime by Lois Austen-Leigh - this is a British Library Crime Classics title and was available for me as a monthly choice from t..."I've been eyeing that one myself!
I read The Incredible Crime (largely because of the author) but I wasn't mad about it. Will be interested to see if Judy likes it more than I did.
Susan wrote: "I read The Incredible Crime (largely because of the author) but I wasn't mad about it. Will be interested to see if Judy likes it more than I did."I wasn't impressed either - rather incredible, as far as I could tell. And with some really strange attitudes.
Sounds as if maybe I shouldn't expect too much from The Incredible Crime, though the local settings will be a bonus for me. Early days as yet for me...
Having finished the final McGee book, The Lonely Silver Rain, and this month's Miss Marple, They Do It With Mirrors, I am now reading a contemporary Italian mystery, Angelica's Smile.
Judy, I think The Incredible Crime is of interest due to the author, so it is certainly worth reading out of curiosity anyway.
I'm reading Still Life, the first of Louise Penny's Three Pines series which updates the GA trope of the village murder and makes it completely modern. I've dipped into the later books in the series and then realised that I was missing so much by not having read them in order so am going back to the start. Anyone else read this series?
I read the first when it came out and never continued the series, RC. Not sure about anyone else, but I so often read one or two books in a series and then never get back to it. Mind you, I would need never ending time to keep up with all the series that I've started :)
I'm enjoying it but it's far less dark and complicated than the later books. I don't usually mind jumping in late but in this case the books seem to be a serial rather than a series with lots of continuing storylines.
Roman Clodia wrote: "I'm reading Still Life, the first of Louise Penny's Three Pines series which updates the GA trope of the village murder and makes it completely modern.
I've dipped..."
I've read all the series but the latest. I love them and they definitely need to be read in order. Character development is important. People disappear only to return in later books. There is an overarching plot that builds and peaks around book 8 or 9. Enjoy!
I've dipped..."
I've read all the series but the latest. I love them and they definitely need to be read in order. Character development is important. People disappear only to return in later books. There is an overarching plot that builds and peaks around book 8 or 9. Enjoy!
I am currently reading Bloody Scotland
a book of short stories, by some of Tartan Noir's best authors.
a book of short stories, by some of Tartan Noir's best authors.
Sandy wrote: "There is an overarching plot that builds and peaks around book 8 or 9. Enjoy!"I think 9 was where I jumped in - can see my mistake clearly now that I'm halfway through 1. The characters are just wonderful!
Sandy wrote: "Roman Clodia wrote: "I'm reading Still Life, the first of Louise Penny's Three Pines series which updates the GA trope of the village murder and makes it completely ..."I've read the first seven. I think I have been bogged down for a while on #8, The Beautiful Mystery. Not sure why.
The poll for our December group read is now up - it's a bumper poll this month, with 9 nominations, so please do vote for the one you'd like to read!
https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/1...
https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/1...
I've finished The Incredible Crime now, and have to say I wasn't really impressed at all - as someone living in the area, I enjoyed the descriptions of Cambridge and Suffolk, but that was about it.
I agree with you, Rosina, that the mystery really is incredible and there are some very odd attitudes. I won't be rushing to seek out anything else by this author.
I agree with you, Rosina, that the mystery really is incredible and there are some very odd attitudes. I won't be rushing to seek out anything else by this author.
I just saw your 2-stars, Judy. I had originally pre-ordered Incredible Crime but something made me back off and cancel. After hearing the various opinions recently, I'm glad I did!
Miss M wrote: "I just saw your 2-stars, Judy. I had originally pre-ordered Incredible Crime but something made me back off and cancel. After hearing the various opinions recently, I'm glad I did!"
I was glad to have borrowed it rather than bought it, Miss M, although I did enjoy some bits. The mystery element is pretty weak - I think the author was really more interested in the romance side, but this isn't great either as there are too many sections about hunting, shooting and boating which all get rather samey for me...
I was glad to have borrowed it rather than bought it, Miss M, although I did enjoy some bits. The mystery element is pretty weak - I think the author was really more interested in the romance side, but this isn't great either as there are too many sections about hunting, shooting and boating which all get rather samey for me...
I've started Death on the Downs by Simon Brett, the second in the Fethering Mysteries series - enjoying it so far. One of a pile of books I need to read before they are due back at the library!
Judy wrote: "I've started Death on the Downs by Simon Brett, the second in the Fethering Mysteries series - enjoying it so far. One of a pile of books I need to read before they ar..."
I find myself organizing my reading life around library due dates, with a bit of tension supplied by guessing which I can renew.
I find myself organizing my reading life around library due dates, with a bit of tension supplied by guessing which I can renew.
I finished another Lew Archer, The Instant Enemy. I didn't like it as much as some of the others in the series though there was a great twist at the end.Now onto Dark Nantucket Noon - I should have read this a couple of months ago when the eclipse happened!
Recently finished The Language of Bees from the Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes series. After complaining about books that leave the reader hanging, that's what this one did! Luckily I bought the next at a library sale years ago so I can continue soon. I would be frustrated if I were waiting for publication.
I've started The Merchant's Tale by Ann Swinfen, the latest in her Oxford Medieval Mystery series. I'm hooked on these, so hope there are more to come soon!
Sandy wrote: "Judy wrote: "I find myself organizing my reading life around library due dates, with a bit of tension supplied by guessing which I can renew.. ."
The worst ones are the digital loans where the book is suddenly snatched away from you!
Sandy wrote: "Recently finished The Language of Bees from the Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes series. After complaining about books that leave the reader hanging, that's what this one did! Luckil..."Sandy, this series is a major comfort read for me! If you enjoy audiobooks, the narrator, Jenny Sterlin, is magnificent as Mary Russell. I think that Justice Hall is my favorite of the books, but you do really need to read them in order. Certainly don't read Justice Hall until you've read O Jerusalem!
Along with Harry Potter and anything by Christie, this is one of the audiobooks I often have in the background when I am quilting or stitching!
I just started The Dower House Mystery by Patricia Wentworth and am charmed so far! It's got quite a strong romantic subplot that is really delightful - reminds me a bit of Georgette Heyer.
Just started A Cotswold Mystery by Rebecca Tope. This is the fourth in the series, seems I read the early ones five years ago. Where does the time go?
Jill wrote: "Just started A Cotswold Mystery by Rebecca Tope. This is the fourth in the series, seems I read the early ones five years ago. Where does the time go?"I'd like your opinion on this series, Jill. My mother recommended them to me.
Moonlight Reader wrote: "I just started The Dower House Mystery by Patricia Wentworth and am charmed so far! It's got quite a strong romantic subplot that is really delightful - reminds me a bit of Georgett..."
I remember enjoying this one - a lot of fun.
I remember enjoying this one - a lot of fun.
Finished Final Curtain by Ngaio Marsh. I've realized that, I like Ngaio Marsh's books only if they come in the form of audio books. This one was an audio book, so I liked it.
Currently have two mystery books I am reading. The first is
Tea Cups and Carnage by Lynn Cahoon which is the 7th book in the Tourist Trap series. Also reading
The Golden Horseshoe and Other Stories: Collected Case Files of the Continental Op: The Middle Years, Volume 1 by Dashiell Hammett
I started my first Raymond Chandler this morning, The Big Sleep, skipping between book and audiobook. I can sometimes find modern crime bloated so am enjoying the way this gets straight to the plot from the start.
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