What mysteries are you reading at the moment? Old thread Showing 2,201-2,250 of 4,475

[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!

[Pamela]

I am currently reading The Lake District Murder by John Bude. I know others were disappointed in this, but I am quite enjoying the focus on bread-and-butter police work.

[Carolien]

I've just finished rereading Envious Casca. I vaguely remembered the plot, but enjoyed the book nevertheless. Having mostly read Christie this year for our challenge, it gave me a chance to compare the two again. I probably prefer Heyer's overall style, she seems to put more effort into her characters. Christie's plots are brilliant, but I seldom care much for the majority of her characters. All those Regency romances also means that Heyer gets whatever romantic interest there is in the book, much better than Christie.

[Sandy]

Carolien wrote: "I've just finished rereading Envious Casca. I vaguely remembered the plot, but enjoyed the book nevertheless. Having mostly read Christie this year for our challenge, it gave me a cha..."

I've been reading Heyer's Hannasyde and Hemmingway mysteries with the goal of getting to Envious Casca by the Christmas season. Enjoyable reads. I'll sidestep Christie / Heyer comparisons but I agree the romance in Behold, Here's Poison was very well done and reminiscent of her Regency romances.

[Paperbackreader]

Carolien wrote: "Having mostly read Christie this year for our challenge, it gave me a chance to compare the two again. I probably prefer Heyer's overall style,...All those Regency romances also means that Heyer gets whatever romantic interest there is in the book, much better than Christie."

Ah maybe that explains why I prefer Christie. Character development is an issue but I'll gladly ignore romance any time. Romance, well crafted or not, is not my cup of tea. I have read just two of Heyer's mysteries. I hated one of them but quite liked the other. Maybe I should read more of her work.

[Lady Clementina]

I have a whole pile of Heyer's mysteries waiting on my TBR- I found her Penhallow excellent in terms of characterisation but while I wouldn't want to comment on the comparison either, but can't resist saying I do find Christie's characters very well done too.

[Susan]

I think Christie paints very good portraits of characters personally. I haven't read much of Heyer's work, but I would be interested to read her mysteries.

[Roman Clodia]

I was hoping Envious Casca was going to top the poll (under its other name) but it seems not - I'm hoping to get the audiobook from the library for run-up-to-Christmas commuting.

[Judy]

I'm going to switch my vote to Envious Casca/A Christmas Party, as my choice looks like a no-hoper...

[Roman Clodia]

Yay!

[Sandy]

Finished and enjoyed Miss Kopp's Midnight Confessions but it occurred to me that these books are not mysteries, as there is no solving to be done. While mostly fiction the author identifies the parts that are true to either these characters or the times.

After the earlier discussion of Heyer, I plan to read another of hers next, They Found Him Dead

[Susan]

There are two or three books I would like to read in the vote. Hopefully I will get time for them before Christmas :)

[Sandy]

Susan wrote: "There are two or three books I would like to read in the vote. Hopefully I will get time for them before Christmas :)"

I agree; December could be a busy month!

[Marwan]

Started reading The Lonely Sea by Alistair MacLean

[Jill]

Started The Warrior's Princess by Barbara Erskine which I would say is a mystery as well as historical fiction

[Susan]

I started re-reading Not a Creature was Stirring which will be our last buddy read of the year next month. Really love Jane Haddam and really enjoying this - even though I have read it before more than once.

[Susan]

I came across this recently The Mitford Murders Not sure how good it is, but I liked the look of the storyline/setting.

[Fred]

I just started The Roman Hat Mystery by Ellery Queen. This was first book with Ellery Queen as detective. I read more 25 years ago but wanted to revisit because I was disappointed when read another Queen this year Calamity Town.

[Judy]

I've just started our next group read, Crooked House by Agatha Christie - it immediately hooked me in! Looking forward to our discussion of this one.

[Susan]

Glad you liked it, Judy. Often Christie's stand alone novels get ignored, as Poirot is so huge, but many of them are really good.

ust a reminder that, in mid-November, we will have our next buddy read: Not a Creature Was Stirring

This is the first in the Gregor Demarkian series - nice new covers for anyone (like me!) who appreciates that kind of thing. Murder, mayhem and tinsel - what's not to like?

The Hannaford who made the family fortune called himself a tycoon. The newspapers called him a robber baron. Since the days of Robert Hannaford I, the family has infested Philadelphia society like a disease. The current Hannafords are a clan of embezzlers, gamblers, and fantasy novelists. This Christmas, they have money in their bank accounts, crime in their blood, and murder on their minds. Gregor Demarkian is their reluctant guest. A former FBI agent who quit the agency after his wife’s death, he is invited by the Hannaford patriarch to come for dinner at the family mansion. Demarkain arrives just in time to find his host bludgeoned to death in his study and his investigation will lead him to the Hannafords, a family of cold-blooded killers.

[Jan C]

Susan wrote: "Glad you liked it, Judy. Often Christie's stand alone novels get ignored, as Poirot is so huge, but many of them are really good.

ust a reminder that, in mid-November, we will have our next buddy ..."

Surprised to find I have this hiding on my Kindle.

[Leslie]

I reread Artists in Crime via audiobook -- Nadia May does a marvellous narration of this!

[Judy]

Jan C wrote: "Surprised to find I have this hiding on my Kindle. .."

Good news, Jan - amazing what can sometimes turn up hidden on a Kindle! Looking forward to the buddy read.

[Judy]

I've started Prisoner's Base by Rex Stout, which is one I recently picked up as a Kindle offer.

Great start -a nice change of pace after The Merchant's Tale by Ann Swinfen, which I found rather slow.

[Gary]

Susan wrote: "Glad you liked it, Judy. Often Christie's stand alone novels get ignored, as Poirot is so huge, but many of them are really good.

ust a reminder that, in mid-November, we will have our next buddy ..."
H
Recently picked this up on a Nook sale.

[Roisin]

The Cry Of The Owl by Patricia Highsmith, don't know that one. I've read only two books by her, The Talented Mr Ripley, The Price of Salt and they were very good, so I should read more by her.

Finally reading the 4:50 From Paddington by Agatha Christie, which I've seen on television/film, the last version that I saw was the one with Margaret Rutherford and Joan Hickson. Wonderful stuff!

[Annie]

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

I gave this ***** my review
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Susan]

I just started Deep Water after I accidentally requested, and was approved for, the second book in a series (thinking it was a stand alone). Luckily, I do like this.

[Carolien]

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

I gave this ***** my..."

Very nice review, Annie. So glad I'm not the only one with a spreadsheet to keep track!

[Annabel]

Paperbackreader wrote: "Carolien wrote: "Having mostly read Christie this year for our challenge, it gave me a chance to compare the two again. I probably prefer Heyer's overall style,...All those Regency romances also me..."

On the Christie v Heyer debate, I will diplomatically give my opinion that both authors have good moments and bad moments when it comes to characterisation. I love all the characters of Sad Cypress and Taken At The Flood, for instance, while finding After The Funeral very under-written. Similarly, I enjoy the characterisation of The Unfinished Clue and Duplicate Death but find Death On The Stocks rather offensively over-simplistic.

Envious Casca is one of Heyer's best detection efforts IMO, but I am never quite convinced by the love interest. (And unlike some on this thread, I do like a romantic angle.)

I have just reread Appointment With Venus by Jerrard Tickell for the first time since I was a teenager, having stumbled across it on holiday (not in the Channel Islands, sadly). I loved it even more second time around - despite its wartime setting, it isn't over-violent or grim. My only complaint is its taut efficiency - I could have done with it being at least half as long again.

Re the mention of Alastair McLean earlier - I find his books very hit and miss but Where Eagles Dare is excellent and exactly like the film, or rather the film is exactly like it. Night Without End is another one I enjoy rereading despite rather erratic characterisation, because of its fantastic Arctic setting.

[Susan]

I am currently reading a new author debut East of Hounslow - very funny and clever so far (might appeal to lovers of Slow Horses).

Also, I am reading Deep Water as I mistakenly requested a book which turned out to be the sequel to this one: Cold, Cold Heart . Luckily, I am enjoying the first in the series - quite traditional, but very enjoyable.

[Judy]

I'm just starting our forthcoming buddy read, Not a Creature Was Stirring - this will be my first by Jane Haddam. I downloaded it from Scribd as part of my package.



Just finished Prisoner's Base by Rex Stout which I really liked - Archie takes an interesting path in this one, which involves becoming very friendly with the police!

[Susan]

Hurrah! I hope you enjoy Jane Haddam, Judy. I am enjoying re-reading this again.