What mysteries are you reading at the moment? Old thread Showing 2,501-2,550 of 4,457

[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.

[The Joana Edit || JR]

Thanks Susan! Think when I finish what I am currently reading I am going for the Poirot one. The other book I read it almost 20 years ago and I still think it is an amazing book! Totally recommend!

The book worm

[Judy]

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

Sandy, sorry to hear you and Paperbackreader didn't enjoy David Copperfield, which I love, but we can't all like everything! I'm really enjoying The Secrets of Wishtide and thought there were more books in the series, but now I've realised it's the only one so far... I certainly hope there is more to come.

[Annabel]

Susan wrote: "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..."

Having read some of other reviews of this book after posting my own, it looks as though the first book was extremely popular but this one (the second) much less so. She must have taken a radically different direction with it. There are five more and they seem generally reasonably popular, so perhaps I was just unlucky with this one. At any rate, it's clearly sensible to start with the first.

[Annabel]

The Book Worm 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"

Although And Then There Were None is fantastic, it's very chilling and if I was going to recommend the best standalones for an AC novice, I'd probably go with Crooked House, Murder Is Easy or The Moving Fingers, all of which I absolutely love.

By the way, did anyone watch The Crooked House over Christmas? I watched it with my family and was annoyed at the changes to the plot, but it was still just about watchable. My main enjoyment was in watching my children (aged 9 to 13) guess all the characters in turn as the murderer and still get it wrong. In that sense, it was a masterclass in experiencing Christie's genius for character development and misdirection and I hope it will persuade them all to read her books when they're older.

[The Joana Edit || JR]

Annabel wrote: "The Book Worm 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"..."

I know what you mean with chilling. I read when I was 11 because a friend of mine also did it. But it is a masterpiece!

[Paperbackreader]

Annabel wrote: "Although And Then There Were None is fantastic, it's very chilling and if I was going to recommend the best standalones for an AC novice, I'd probably go with Crooked House, Murder Is Easy or The Moving Fingers, all of which I absolutely love."

The Moving Finger is not a stand-alone, it's a Miss Marple mystery. I loved it when I read it as a teen. Remember not liking Murder Is Easy that much.

I prefer And Then There Were None as a play, guess I'm a sucker for some sort of happy ending. Actually, I love most of Christie's plays.

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

Enjoyed this Golden Age detective story Death Makes a Prophet by John Bude. My spoiler free review can be found on https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/... or https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Susan]

I am not reading these, but I came across them and wondered whether anyone else has, as I thought they looked good?

Death Below Stairs (we were talking of murder 'below stairs' before, weren't we?).

Also, this is being re-printed: A Short History Of England

[Patrick]

The Chesterton history of England is bound to be interesting!

[Sandy]

Patrick wrote: "The Chesterton history of England is bound to be interesting!"

I hope so ... I just bought it.

[Jill]

Sandy wrote: "Patrick wrote: "The Chesterton history of England is bound to be interesting!"

I hope so ... I just bought it."

It does look interesting, and the fact it was free helped a lot

[Patrick]

I just grabbed it on Project Gutenberg myself.

[Susan]

Does anyone know the author of Death Below Stairs? I can see she has written a series before, so just wondered if anyone has read anything by her?

[Susan]

Apparently, there is a prequel novella to Death Below Stairs - A Soupçon of Poison. Perhaps I will try that first and then decide if it's for me.

[Judy]

Susan, you can get A Soupcon of Poison free in a collection of 3 novellas, Past Crimes: A Compendium of Historical Mysteries by Ashley Gardner aka Jennifer Ashley.

I picked this up a few weeks ago - just checked and it is still free.

[Susan]

Thanks, Judy.

[Judy]

P.S. I have read a couple of books in the Captain Lacey Regency Mysteries series by Jennifer Ashley - the first one is The Hanover Square Affair which is also free on Kindle (or there is a book with several mysteries for 99p). I think I quite enjoyed them but have now left it quite a while and my memories are fading.

[Susan]

I will have a look, Judy. I thought the Victorian one looked good.