What mysteries are you reading at the moment? Old thread Showing 2,501-2,550 of 4,475

[Judy]

Well done in completing your challenge, Carolien! A very interesting idea. I'll be over to read your review and look at your complete challenge.

[Susan]

Congrats, Carolien! Loved your review - will look at your challenge too.

[Judy]

Sandy wrote: "At some point they will be the prime suspects."

Haha Sandy, I think you are right. I'll be reluctant to read more Miss Hart and Miss Hunter Investigates mysteries unless it looks as if they are a bit different from the others, as this one was pretty much like a repeat.

[Jill]

Well done Carolien!

[Carolien]

I've completed Dark Traces and it is an excellent police procedural. I read the original Afrikaans copy so hopefully it translates well since it is an excellent read. It has a very interesting cast of characters and is quite dark as it focuses on a serial killer of teenage girls in Cape Town. It manages to convey the daily challenges faced by the under-resourced South African detectives well and these add complexity to the plot. There is no HOLMES system that spits out useful information on p252 just when a new clue is required.It also deals with death both from the perspective of murder as well as a mercy act which adds additional depth to the story. Highly recommend this one.
Review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Here's a recent interview with the author: http://www.thebigthrill.org/2017/10/a...

[Judy]

I was given Silent Nights: Christmas Mysteries edited by Martin Edwards for Christmas, and have started reading it right away. A lovely varied collection in the British Library Crime Classics series.

[Paperbackreader]

Finally, came back to The Big Book of Christmas Mysteries, after a year-long break from it. Not because I did not enjoy it but because I wanted to savor it. And 'tis the perfect season and weather for it too.

[Paperbackreader]

Judy wrote: "I was given Silent Nights: Christmas Mysteries edited by Martin Edwards for Christmas, and have started reading it right away..."

I have Silent Nights: Christmas Mysteries on my wish list. I wonder if the stories in it would overlap with the ones in The Big Book of Christmas Mysteries.

[Sandy]

I enjoyed my Christmas short story collection, Mistletoe Mysteries. There was quite a variety.

And, accidently, I've added another collection to my TBR: Green for Danger: The Official Anthology of the Crime Writers' Association. I requested this from the library expecting it to be our January read but it is a collection edited by Martin Edwards. I had noticed he was the author, but assumed it was a reprint with his introduction. It has a lot of modern authors, very few of whom I've read so I will be travelling new territory.

I was able to get our Green for Danger thru another library system. So, other than having a full reading schedule, I'm good.

[Jill]

I have Silent Nights: Christmas Mysteries but think I will save it for next year now. Am reading Mysteries for Christmas: 48 Puzzling Murder Mysteries & Supernatural Thrillers: What the Shepherd Saw, The Ghosts at Grantley, The Mystery of Room Five, ... of Cernogratz, A Terrible Christmas Eve... this year slowly.
Also I am reading The Abbey Court Murder by Annie Haynes for January

[Susan]

Good to see so many of us reading ahead - organised for the New Year :) I have finished The Abbey Court Murder and have nearly finished Green for Danger (mystery set in a WWII hospital - our next Buddy Read) and A Man Lay Dead (our first Ngaio Marsh).

[Carolien]

Sandy wrote: "I enjoyed my Christmas short story collection, Mistletoe Mysteries. There was quite a variety.

And, accidently, I've added another collection to my TBR: [book:Green for Danger: The ..."

Would you post a list of authors? Would be nice to see where we can expand our horizons for the new year!

[Judy]

I've now finished Silent Nights, which I thought was a good collection - a few of the stories are more spooky than Christmassy, though!

I also read A Prescription for Death, the second of the Asharton Manor Mysteries novellas by Celina Grace. I enjoyed this - it has a clever plot and the heroine, Vivian Holt, is a nurse just after WW2 rather than a cook, which made a change.

I noticed though that she was a fan of mystery books by Joan Hart, the cook from the other books I've read by Celina Grace!

[Sandy]

Judy wrote: "I've now finished Silent Nights, which I thought was a good collection - a few of the stories are more spooky than Christmassy, though!

I also read A Prescription for Death, the s..."

I'm glad Joan Hart has realized her ambition!

[Sandy]

Carolien wrote: "Sandy wrote: "I enjoyed my Christmas short story collection, Mistletoe Mysteries. There was quite a variety.

And, accidently, I've added another collection to my TBR: Green fo..."</i>


Authors in [book:Mistletoe Mysteries

Charlotte MacLeod
Peter Lovesey
Dorothy Salisbury Davis
Eric Wright
John Lutz
Howard Engel
Mary Higgins Clark
Bill Pronzini
Sharyn McCrumb
Henry Slesar
Edward D. Hoch
Aaron Elkins
Susan Dunlap
Isaac Asimov
Marcia Muller

From Green for Danger: The Official Anthology of the Crime Writers' Association

Andrea Badenoch
Robert Barnard
Ann Cleeves
Mat Coward
Judith Cutler
Carol Anne Davis
Martin Edwards
Kate Ellis
Reginald Hill
Edward D Hoch
Brian Innes
Michael Jecks
Peter Lewis
Peter Lovesey
Keith Miles
Gwen Moffat
Amy Myers
Ruth Rendell
Zoe Sharp
Jerry Sykes

[Judy]

Quite a selection of authors, Sandy! Looks to me as if it is mainly US authors in Mistletoe Mysteries and UK in Green for Danger?

[Susan]

It's nice they used Green for Danger as a title, if somewhat confusing. However, it is a fairly old novel, from a lesser known author - and it IS a good title, so I guess they thought they could poach it :)

[Judy]

I've just read a very short Kindle freebie which Carol suggested a little while back, Murder in Ancient China by Robert van Gulik. This is two short Judge Dee stories, and the second one is set on New Year's Eve, so very seasonal! Not sure if I'll read more by him, but these are very clever.

[Lady Clementina]

Judy wrote: "I've just read a very short Kindle freebie which Carol suggested a little while back, Murder in Ancient China by Robert van Gulik. This is two short Judge Dee storie..."

I've downloaded these as well but haven't read them yet- is this the two short stories in a book?

[Judy]

Lady Clementina wrote: "I've downloaded these as well but haven't read them yet- is this the two short stories in a book? ..."

Yes, the free Kindle book Murder in Ancient China just contains two short stories as a taster for more. I thought the second story was much better than the first one, and I see Carol said the same in her review:

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

[Carolien]

Sandy wrote: "Carolien wrote: "Sandy wrote: "I enjoyed my Christmas short story collection, Mistletoe Mysteries. There was quite a variety.

And, accidently, I've added another collection to my TB..."

Thanks, Sandy. A whole bunch I have never heard of. So much to read, so little time!

I do like Zoe Sharp and Ann Cleeves.

[Sandy]

Judy wrote: "I've just read a very short Kindle freebie which Carol suggested a little while back, Murder in Ancient China by Robert van Gulik. This is two short Judge Dee storie..."

I have that lurking on my kindle and may read today or tomorrow for New Year's.

I am half thru Full Dark House. I'm enjoying the characters but it is not riveting and I keep interspersing other books.

[Susan]

I think me and Judy felt much the same way about Full Dark House, Sandy. I liked it, but it didn't hold my attention...

[Jill]

That's a shame. I loved it. Maybe I was in the mood for it at the time. I fully intend to read the next one.

[Carolien]

Jill wrote: "That's a shame. I loved it. Maybe I was in the mood for it at the time. I fully intend to read the next one."

I'm also intending to read the next one as I enjoyed this one.

[Sandy]

I am also planning to read the next as I like the concept and the dry humor ... but I am hoping it is shorter.

[Paperbackreader]

Judy wrote: "I've just read a very short Kindle freebie which Carol suggested a little while back, Murder in Ancient China by Robert van Gulik."

I remember signing up for the University of Chicago Press one free e-book a month program and receiving this. I know I have read it and it was enjoyable but I just cannot remember which year I read it or what the stories were about. Forgettable stories, I'm guessing.

[Judy]

Paperbackreader, I suspect I might not remember the Judge Dee stories for long, although I did quite enjoy them.

[Lady Clementina]

Judy wrote: "Paperbackreader, I suspect I might not remember the Judge Dee stories for long, although I did quite enjoy them."

Have you seen any of the Detective Dee films? They are Chinese I think but dubbed in English- based on the same character.

[Gary]

I'll be reading The Quiche of Death by M.C. Beaton which is the first Agatha Raisin book.

[Susan]

Gary wrote: "I'll be reading The Quiche of Death by M.C. Beaton which is the first Agatha Raisin book."

Always good to start a new series in the New Year, Gary, or have you read it before?

[Jill]

Gary wrote: "I'll be reading The Quiche of Death by M.C. Beaton which is the first Agatha Raisin book."

Really like this series. Hope you enjoy.

[Sandy]

Gary wrote: "I'll be reading The Quiche of Death by M.C. Beaton which is the first Agatha Raisin book."

A fun series, though I find a little of Agatha goes a long way. I like her Hamish Macbeth series better, though I can't read them in quick succession as they blend together.

[Sandy]

I've posted already on Full Dark House thread, but, as my complaint was in this thread, I felt I should post here as well.

I ended up really enjoying the book and am looking forward to reading more, no matter how long they are. Great characters, atmosphere and so very funny.

[Sandy]

While ignoring New Year's Eve, I read Celebrated Cases of Judge Dee. Both stories are interesting and I liked the twist in the second.

[Jill]

I am reading Parker Pyne Investigates by Agatha Christie
Not really a fan of short stories but these are interesting. Not sure I agree with the sentiments of Parker Pyne, but is certainly different from what I expect from Christie.

[Tania]

Sandy wrote: "While ignoring New Year's Eve, I read Celebrated Cases of Judge Dee. Both stories are interesting and I liked the twist in the second."

I bought this one for my Dad for Christmas. I suppose I should wait for him to read it before borrowing.

[Sandy]

Tania wrote: "Sandy wrote: "While ignoring New Year's Eve, I read Celebrated Cases of Judge Dee. Both stories are interesting and I liked the twist in the second."

I bought this one for my Dad fo..."

I suppose it is only polite ... my sister gave me a book, Naked, that she announced she wanted to borrow s soon as I finished. It really turns up the pressure!

[Paperbackreader]

Jill wrote: "I am reading Parker Pyne Investigates by Agatha Christie
Not really a fan of short stories but these are interesting..."

I love short stories. Liked Parker Pyne Investigates when I read it about a decade ago. I still remember 'The Gate of Baghdad' and 'The House at Shiraz'. But I think I would have trouble enjoying some of the stories now.

[Judy]

I'm in the middle of The Secrets of Wishtide by Kate Saunders, a historical mystery set in the Victorian era - I'm enjoying it a lot, and for me as a Dickens fan it's an extra bonus that there are many references to the plot of David Copperfield, something I wasn't expecting.

[Sandy]

Judy wrote: "I'm in the middle of The Secrets of Wishtide by Kate Saunders, a historical mystery set in the Victorian era - I'm enjoyi..."

I enjoyed Wishtide ... But, as my only reading of David Copperfield was a forced one in school, I did not get the references. I still remember, unpleasantly, that particular English teacher.

[Paperbackreader]

Sandy wrote: "But, as my only reading of David Copperfield was a forced one in school, I did not get the references. I still remember, unpleasantly, that particular English teacher."

No one made me read David Copperfield but I still disliked it. I hated the character of Dora Spenlow.

[Patrick]

I'm reading Len Deighton's first spy novel, The Ipcress File. I like it very much so far. The style is an energetic combination of high literary and Sixties British slang.

[Teri-K]

I've been working my way through Margery Allingham again. I just finished Police at the Funeral and am ready to start Sweet Danger.

I've also been revisiting Christie. I just completed Mrs. McGinty's Dead. I don't know which one I'll do next. I've been listening to them - I really like David Suchet or Hugh Fraser as narrators.

[Gary]

Susan wrote: "Gary wrote: "I'll be reading The Quiche of Death by M.C. Beaton which is the first Agatha Raisin book."

Always good to start a..."

New to me, although I have read the first Hamish Macbeth novel and the Christmas short with Hamish that fits in around book 16.

[Susan]

Gary wrote: "Susan wrote: "Gary wrote: "I'll be reading The Quiche of Death by M.C. Beaton which is the first Agatha Raisin book."

Always g..."

I have read the first couple of Hamish Macbeth and Agatha Raisin books. Must get back to them at some point!

[Annabel]

I read Nicola Upson's Angel With Two Faces , the series which involves Josephine Tey as a detective. My family bought it for me for Christmas (they went by the cover, knowing I like retro detective stories) so I was loathe to dislike it, but I have to admit to being a bit disappointed.

I just don't get the point of using a real detective author as your main character, for one thing. What does it add? Why not just call her something different and leave the Tey association out, what difference would it make? Secondly, I think the author made the textbook mistake of putting in far too much. There are too many characters, too many subplots and too much happens to everyone. Thirdly, despite the retro cosy cover, it was a little dark for me. (I don't know whether the previous book was.) So a thumbs down from me, I'm afraid, although I know some people like them.

[Susan]

Annabel wrote: "I read Nicola Upson's Angel With Two Faces , the series which involves Josephine Tey as a detective. My family bought it for me for Christmas (they went by t..."

We are aiming to read the first in the series as a buddy read later in the year, Annabel, so we will see what everyone thinks then. Thanks for your thoughts, though, which I think are really interesting.

[The Joana Edit || JR]

For now I didn’t start reading any mystery. But I will read soon something from Agatha Christie. Any recommendations?

The book worm
http://myworldasabookworm.blogspot.co.uk

[Susan]

The Book wrote: "For now I didn’t start reading any mystery. But I will read soon something from Agatha Christie. Any recommendations?

The book worm
http://myworldasabookworm.blogspot.co.uk"

There is currently a buddy read going on for the first Poirot, which is a fairly good place to start. The Mysterious Affair at Styles is the title. If you wish to start with a stand alone, then And Then There Were None is going to be in the next vote and is often considered one of her finest mysteries.