What mysteries are you reading at the moment? Old thread Showing 2,151-2,200 of 4,457

[Leslie]

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.

[Susan]

Judy, I think The Incredible Crime is of interest due to the author, so it is certainly worth reading out of curiosity anyway.

[Roman Clodia]

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?

[Susan]

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 :)

[Roman Clodia]

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.

[Sandy]

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!

[Susan]

I am currently reading Bloody Scotland a book of short stories, by some of Tartan Noir's best authors.

[Roman Clodia]

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!

[Jan C]

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.

[Judy]

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...

[Judy]

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.

[Miss M]

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!

[Sandysbookaday (taking a step back for a while)]

Just about to start Weycombe by G.M. Malliet

[Susan]

Recently started Passion Play: A Novel and reading a book of crime short stories Bloody Scotland

[Judy]

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...

[Judy]

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!

[Sandy]

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.

[Judy]

I know the feeling re library due dates, Sandy...

[Leslie]

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!

[Sandy]

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.

[Susan]

Just started Close to Home and like it so far.

[Judy]

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!

[Ruth]

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!

[Christine PNW]

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!

[Christine PNW]

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.

[Jill]

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?

[Carolien]

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.

[Judy]

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.

[Paperbackreader]

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.

[Marwan]

Started reading The Cry of the Owl by Patricia Highsmith

[Gary]

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

[Roman Clodia]

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.

[Sandy]

I'm reading Miss Kopp's Midnight Confessions, the third book in a series set in New Jersey at the beginning of WWI. The series is based on a real character, the first female detective on the police force.

[Carolien]

Sandy wrote: "I'm reading Miss Kopp's Midnight Confessions, the third book in a series set in New Jersey at the beginning of WWI. The series is based on a real character, the first female detecti..."

This looks interesting. Adding it to the list.

[Judy]

Roman Clodia wrote: "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 ..."

You are in for a treat, R.C. - I love Chandler's prose style. Must say though that I find the Bogart movie of this one impossible to follow, even though he is one of my favourite actors!

[Sandy]

Judy wrote: "Roman Clodia wrote: "I started my first Raymond Chandler this morning, The Big Sleep, skipping between book and audiobook. I can sometimes find modern crime bloated so..."

I remember a review of the movie from years and years ago that pointed out all the inconsistencies, including a mysterious gun shot that none of the suspects could have fired. However, Bogie and Bacall are great.

[Roman Clodia]

I'm embarrassed to admit that not just had I not read Chandler before but I've never seen any of the famous films of his books! I've been warned elsewhere that the plots don't always make sense but I'm enjoying the pace and noir atmosphere.

I can see now where Philip Kerr's Bernie Gunter and other modern protagonists come from.

[Susan]

I love Bernie Gunther, but I didn't enjoy Chandler when I read him (and I haven't seen any of the films either). I could see it was well written though and I can also see how it did inspire later authors.

[Judy]

This discussion is reminding me that it's a long time since I read any Chandler, though as I've already said I'm a fan - I'd also like to try the sequels by Benjamin Black aka John Banville.

[Roman Clodia]

Sadly, Chandler just isn't for me though I can see why others like him. I stalled on the pervasive racism, homophobia and misogyny...😩

[Judy]

What I mainly remember is the style - those other unwelcome elements, which are in so many books of that era, have faded in my mind, R.C. Hopefully Banville's books won't have so much of this - but I'll be interested to see if he can really recapture the noir atmosphere.

[Annie]

I'm reading Elementary Murder by A.J. Wright - set in Wigan, Lancashire in 1894, 👍 so far

[Jill]

Carolien wrote: "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..."
I can remember that I did enjoy the first books but in this one the main character was rather grumpy , and where her dog had seemed to have had a big part earlier , it didn't in this. I will read the next one at sometime , in the hope that Thea reverts to her former self.

[Susan]

Just finished Crooked House, our read for next month. Just started The Bone Keeper, bit 'meh' so far. Looking forward to re-reading Not a Creature Was Stirring soon, our last buddy read of the year.

[Annabel]

Yet another Patricia Wentworth I haven't heard of! I think they must be re-releasing a lot of them on Kindle but they are completely impossible to find as secondhand copies, which is where I tend to find my books.

Just finished The Floating Admiral by the Detection Club and I must admit I was disappointed. Like a lot of Golden Age detective fiction, it's very puzzle-oriented, but given that Agatha Christie and DL Sayers wrote two of the chapters, I was expecting better writing and a lot more to go into character and setting. Perhaps that was unreasonable in a book written by committee!

It made me realise that I prize character development and setting over the cleverness of the plot. The Hound of The Baskervilles is great fun to read despite the fact that its plot is really rather leaky, because of the wonderfully atmospheric Dartmoor and Gothic characters - plus of course, its hound! (And yet, in non-detective fiction, I get bored with literary atmosphere and start clamouring for a puzzle element, as in my recent complaints about Robert Harris's Munich, so clearly I am impossible to please!)

[Sandy]

I think we are all looking for just the right balance, Annabel. Of course the tipping point is different for each of us, thus the wide range of authors and books. The hunt is fun.

[Marwan]

Finished The Cry of the Owl by Patricia Highsmith

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

[Judy]

Annabel wrote: "Yet another Patricia Wentworth I haven't heard of! I think they must be re-releasing a lot of them on Kindle but they are completely impossible to find as secondhand copies, which is where I tend t..."

Which Wentworth title do you mean, Annabel? Yes, I think all her non-Miss Silver mystery/thriller titles have now been released on Kindle by Dean Street Press in the UK.

They are also available in paperback from DSP, but I've just checked a couple and the price is £9.99 for each book, whereas the Kindle editions are £1.99 (a lot of these have also been free for a limited period). I don't suppose many of these paperbacks are around secondhand.

[Pamela]

Annie wrote: "I'm reading Elementary Murder by A.J. Wright - set in Wigan, Lancashire in 1894, 👍 so far"

I just read that one too, Annie, and enjoyed it. I liked reading a Victorian novel that wasn't set in or around London for a change.

[Judy]

Annabel wrote: "Just finished The Floating Admiral by the Detection Club... It made me realise that I prize character development and setting over the cleverness of the plot. ..."

Me too - I think this is why Sayers and Allingham are favourites for me, because they are so good at characterisation and their detectives in particular have such fascinating characters.

It would be interesting if any of the GA greats had tried writing stories for each other's detectives in these compendium books!