What mysteries are you reading at the moment? Old thread Showing 2,701-2,750 of 4,457

[Jay-me (Janet)]

Just finished Elizabeth Edmondson's series by reading A Matter of Loyalty which was completed affer her death last year by the author's son Anselm Audley

[Judy]

Jay-me (Janet) wrote: "Just finished Elizabeth Edmondson's series by reading A Matter of Loyalty which was completed by the author's son Anselm Audley"

I've picked up one of hers but haven't started it yet - hope to do so soon.

[AngryGreyCat]

I am reading Death is my Neighbor by Colin Dexter

[Sandy]

I loved the Morse TV series but never read any of the books.

[Jill]

Just starting The Bat by Jo Nesbø I have put off starting this author as I have so many series on the go, but as people keep telling me I should
read these, I have decided to start now.

[Susan]

I read a couple of the Morse books, but wasn't that excited by them. I recall reading one of the Jo Nesbo books out of order, and liking it, so I should go back and read the series from the beginning.

[Tracey]

After reading favourable reviews of the TV series Babylon Berlin, I've started reading the first book in the series.

[Judy]

I’ve started the third Martin Beck mystery, The Man on the Balcony- just remembered how much I love this series.

[Carolien]

I've just finished A Man's Word. I have thoroughly enjoyed this series set in Viking Britain. Unfortunately only the first three books have been translated. It's much gentler than Bernard Cornwell - Brother Cadfael fans may enjoy them.

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

After the Funeral by Agatha Christie

[Susan]

Carolien wrote: "I've just finished A Man's Word. I have thoroughly enjoyed this series set in Viking Britain. Unfortunately only the first three books have been translated. It's much gentler than [..."

I read the first in the series, Carolien, but found the language too modern. I recall "dumb guy," being one such comment in the book that jarred. I wish translations would keep in the period - I don't think Vikings called people, "dumb," and it was let down by a poor translation.

I am reading the 'new,' Inspector Alleyn - [book:Money in the Morgue: An Inspector Alleyn Mystery|36494590]. Obviously, I've only read the first three so far, but I'm enjoying this.

[Annabel]

I've just started Our Mutual Friend . Couldn't decide if it qualified as mystery or non-mystery but have plumped for mystery. I've never read it before - have to say that CD didn't play a blinder when trying to come up with a snappy title. But as always with Dickens, I'm now berating myself for not remembering earlier how many of my favourite qualities his books have. Atmospheric setting, check. Puzzling mystery, check. Humour, check. OMF also has some biting social comment which is depressingly relevant today - the response of the prosperous Podsnap when given statistics on deaths of rough sleepers seems particularly apposite this week.

[Joanne]

Annabel - I recently listened to the unabridged Our Mutual Friend and thoroughly enjoyed it, for just those reasons you mention. I plan to delve into another Dickens novel soon, which I hope will be as good. Any suggestions, anyone? :)

[Rosina]

Joanne wrote: "Annabel - I recently listened to the unabridged Our Mutual Friend and thoroughly enjoyed it, for just those reasons you mention. I plan to delve into another Dickens novel soon, which ..."

Which narrator did you listen to? Audible UK has three or four, and I haven't yet decided (though one does get awful reviews ...)

[Joanne]

Rosina wrote: "Joanne wrote: "Annabel - I recently listened to the unabridged Our Mutual Friend and thoroughly enjoyed it, for just those reasons you mention. I plan to delve into another Dickens nov..."

David Timson, who was very good.

[Tania]

I'm reading India Black and the Widow of Windsor, a Victorian mystery. Enjoyable distraction.

[Rosina]

Joanne wrote: "Rosina wrote: "Joanne wrote: "Annabel - I recently listened to the unabridged Our Mutual Friend and thoroughly enjoyed it, for just those reasons you mention. I plan to delve into anot..."

Excellent - the Timson version was the one I had my eye on!

I've just finished Bleak House, so I will be having a pause with some less heavy books (London Rules ...) before beginning another Dickens

[Annabel]

Joanne wrote: "Annabel - I recently listened to the unabridged Our Mutual Friend and thoroughly enjoyed it, for just those reasons you mention. I plan to delve into another Dickens novel soon, which ..."

Hi Joanne, until I discovered OMF, Bleak House and Tale of Two Cities were my favourites so I would recommend one of those. I tend to do well with Dickens' atmospheric mysteries and less well with tales of childhood hardship and cutesy children altbough saying that Bleak House unquestionably has one of the latter!

[Elinor]

Joanne wrote: "Annabel - I recently listened to the unabridged Our Mutual Friend and thoroughly enjoyed it, for just those reasons you mention. I plan to delve into another Dickens novel soon, which ..."

I finished yesterday Great Expectations after a hiatus of one year in the middle of it, and I end up loving it. I was not so found of it when I started it, neither have I been of A tale of Two Cities, started a few years ago and never finished. When I got back to it I just love the humour, the plot, the writing style, the characters...
I'm going to read Bleak House a few chapters a month, Victorian-style, with another group made especially for this readalong.

[Teri-K]

Elinor wrote: "I'm going to read Bleak House a few chapters a month, Victorian-style, with another group made especially for this readalong..."

Is it a GR group doing that read-along? I'd love to try something like that.

[Elinor]

Yes ! You can find it here : https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...

[Teri-K]

Elinor wrote: "Yes ! You can find it here : https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/..."

Thanks! I've joined the group and look forward to reading along with you and the others.

[Susan]

Rosina, I hope you love London Rules as much as I did :)

Audible are releasing a series of brand new Dickens novels this year - the first release is A Tale of Two Cities read by Simon Callow. Has anyone tried it?

[Judy]

I’ve started reading And Then There Were None ready for next month’s group read. I am reading it on Kindle but slightly thinking I should have looked out a hard copy to make it easier to flip back and keep the characters separate in my mind!

[Sandy]

Oh dear! I'm planning on listening to it which is even harder to keep characters straight. Notes may be in order.

[Susan]

Don't worry. There are a lot of introductions in the beginning as our unwary guests make their way to Soldier Island, but you will begin to lose characters fairly quickly!

I listened to it on Audible, Sandy, and I still think it's a very creepy novel, even though it was written so long ago.

[Judy]

Thanks, Susan - Sandy, I soon stopped mixing them up and didn't have to make notes although I thought I might do at first! About 60% of the way through And Then There Were None now and looking forward to discussing in March.

[Jill]

I've started The Rubber Band by Rex Stout, so I am a bit closer to the buddy read book we will have later

[Carolien]

I've completed Blue Lightning. Loved the book, but it will take me a while to recover from the ending.

[Judy]

I love Dickens but find it hard to choose favourites- however if you are looking for a Dickens mystery Edwin Drood is wonderful, the only problem being that there is no solution!

[Sandy]

I'm readingExecution Dock, in Anne Perry's William Monk series, set in Victorian London. I love these characters and have been neglecting them for newer acquaintances. You should always keep up with your old friends!

[Sandy]

And I read the first short story in The Mysterious Mr. Quin, a Christie character I didn't know existed. Quin drops into a house party, supposedly by accident, then leads the participants in a discussion of their reminiscences that solves a decade old mystery. Very good story and a strange character.

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

Recently finished a very entertaining golden age detective story, Seven Dead by J. Jefferson Farjeon and republished by Poisoned Pen Press. My review can be read at https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/... or https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Judy]

I've just started A Man of Some Repute by Elizabeth Edmondson - was it Jan who recommended her? I'm enjoying it so far - it's set in the early 1950s and involves a missing aristocrat and a castle.



I see this is the first in the A Very English Mystery series, but sadly the author died in 2016, after completing only two full-length books in this series - she had also startied a third, which has now been completed by another author. She wrote quite a few other books though, including some under the name Elizabeth Aston.

[Judy]

Sandy and Sandy, I've been meaning to try Anne Perry again - I read one of hers many years ago but don't really remember it now - and am also keen to try Seven Dead. Visiting this thread is bad for my TBR ;)

[Jay-me (Janet)]

Judy wrote: "I've just started A Man of Some Repute by Elizabeth Edmondson

I see this is the first in the A Very English Mystery series, but sadly the author died in 2016, after completing only two full-length books in this series - she had also startied a third, which has now been completed by another author."

It could have been me that recommended this author - I've read this series and several other of her books.
The third book was completed by her son.

[Judy]

I’m grateful for the recommendation of Elizabeth Edmondson, Jay-me - enjoying her book so far.

[Susan]

I am re-reading a future buddy readThe Beast Must Die

[Elinor]

I'm still at the very begining of the second Alleyne, but I've also started a French historical mystery, The Man with the Lead Stomach (reading it in French since that's my native language :))

[Carolien]

Elinor wrote: "I'm still at the very begining of the second Alleyne, but I've also started a French historical mystery, The Man with the Lead Stomach (reading it in French since that's my native la..."

I really enjoy this series. I've read the first two books and I must get back to it.

[Susan]

Ooh, me too, Carolien. I read a few of the series some years ago and you have reminded me that I would like to re-visit.

[Leslie]

I am trying to read my Cyril Hare books in order (I got several of these when my parents moved and already owned a few). I discovered that I was missing the second Inspector Mallett book which was not available at the library (even with interlibrary loan). So sad...

but I used some of my Xmas gift card to buy myself a paperback copy (~$20!!). It arrived Tuesday and I finished it today. Death is No Sportsman was a convoluted but fair mystery -- no clues hidden from the reader. And I guess that fly fishing hasn't changed much since the 1930s as it didn't strike me as very dated.

[Susan]

I haven't read many Cyril Hare's, Leslie, but have liked the ones I have read.

I'm currently reading Hangman the sequel to Ragdoll

[Jill]

Just started The Nursing Home Murder by Ngaio Marsh

[Paperbackreader]

Since I seem to prefer Ngaio Marsh books in audio book form, I am trying to see if it is the same with Dorothy L. Sayers. I was not much impressed with Clouds of Witness. Am trying The Nine Tailors read by Ian Carmichael to see if it makes me feel better about Sayers.

[Annabel]

IMO Clouds of Witness is fun (if you don't mind cartoonish characters and some absurd gothic nonsense) but flawed. Nine Tailors is much better, one of my favourites. (view spoiler)[My big problem with COW is the ludicrous Gothic depiction of the Grimethorpe menage, which feels like such utter male fantasy (violent farmer, beautiful wife who's annoyingly responsive to upper-class male visitors) that it's surprising to remember it was written by a woman. The really hateful thing about it for me though is the way in which the Grimethorpes' young daughter is mentioned briefly in the first scene at the farmhouse but then no one, not her father, her mother, Lord Peter or the author bothers to think about her welfare ever again. (hide spoiler)]

I am re-reading A Tale of Two Cities, since Our Mutual Friend has put me into a Dickensian frame of mind. First time I've read it in decades. So far, the writing's not as good as OMF IMO but the plot is faster-paced and more exciting - I'd almost say taut, if you could ever say that of one of Dickens' doorstop tomes!

[Teri-K]

Paperbackreader wrote: "Since I seem to prefer Ngaio Marsh books in audio book form, I am trying to see if it is the same with Dorothy L. Sayers. I was not much impressed with Clouds of Witness. Am trying [b..."

I think some Sayers are much better than others. I like Gaudy Night, Strong Poison, Busman's Honeymoon, Murder must Advertise, Clouds of Witness (mixed feelings about this one), Nine Tailors (but I used to be a bell ringer and that helps). Some of the others are better after you've developed a taste for Whimsey.

It is interesting to see how he evolves in the books. He's an idiot in the early ones. I actually like Harriet, Parker and Miss Climpson better than Peter.

[Judy]

I’ve finished A Man of Some Repute by Elizabeth Edmondson - I enjoyed the main characters more than the mystery. I might read more by her in future.

Now on to The Nursing Home Murder for our challenge!

[Leslie]

I finished the first Maigret book yesterday - Pietr the Latvian. While I didn't think it was as good as some of the later Maigret books, it was interesting to see how Simenon originally envisioned him.

[Jan C]

I received The Complete, Annotated Whose Body? yesterday. I haven't looked at it very carefully yet though. Looking forward to it and hope the author gets working on annotating the other books.