What mysteries are you reading at the moment? Old thread Showing 2,851-2,900 of 4,457

[Tania]

Currently reading His Last Bow: 8 stories. I have read the Sherlock Holmes stories in order over the last couple of years. Nearing the end now.

[Frances]

I'm going to give My First Murder a try-love the choir angle and haven't read anything Finnish, I don't think.

I've just started The Grave's a Fine and Private Place in the Flavia de Luce series, which I've enjoyed so far.

[Lady Clementina]

Frances wrote: "I'm going to give My First Murder a try-love the choir angle and haven't read anything Finnish, I don't think.

I've just started The Grave's a Fine and Private Place in the Flavia ..."

Good to hear you're enjoying the Flavia book- I've read a few mixed review about that one. I've only reached book 5 in the series but have enjoyed them so far- more for Flavia herself than the mysteries.

[Annabel]

I picked up a Kathy Reichs secondhand at the station (I love these charity bookshelves popping up everywhere from stations to churches) and am halfway through it - Bones Never Lie . I've always thought Reichs was a better writer than Cornwell. I drifted away from the Tempe Brennan series because too many of them involved upsetting murders of children, but this one isn't too gruesome.

[Jill]

Just starting The Water Room by Christopher Fowler. I enjoyed the first book so have high hopes for this one.

[Sandy]

Jill wrote: "Just starting The Water Room by Christopher Fowler. I enjoyed the first book so have high hopes for this one."

I also enjoyed the first book and want to pick up the series again.

And I see Anne Perry has a new series spinning off her Pitt series ... which I plan to read if I ever catch up with her Monk series. Sigh.

[Tara]

Jody wrote: "Tara wrote: "I recently started The Cold Dish by Craig Johnson after very much enjoying the Longmire series on Netflix. The book is very..."

I am really getting into his writing style Jody, and I think I will carry on with the series. Unfortunately having watched the show first its impossible to not envisage the actors when reading the books, but I am trying!

[Sandy]

I've returned to Crispen's Gervase Fen series with Buried for Pleasure. I just love the dry humor! I wish there were more as I must be near the end.

[Susan]

I have loved the Gervase Fen books I have read so far, Sandy.

[Jan C]

Reading Holy Disorders right now.

[Leslie]

Sandy wrote: "I've returned to Crispen's Gervase Fen series with Buried for Pleasure. I just love the dry humor! I wish there were more as I must be near the end."

I love his humor too Sandy! Maybe I will sneak in a reread of The Long Divorce...

I just finished the 3rd (and last) Dr. Constantine mystery by Molly Thynne -- He Dies and Makes no Sign. More action than I expected towards the end! I wish she had written more of these.

[Lady Clementina]

Sandy wrote: "I've returned to Crispen's Gervase Fen series with Buried for Pleasure. I just love the dry humor! I wish there were more as I must be near the end."

I have a couple of these waiting on my TBR.

[Susan]

I am reading the first of a new series, set in Ireland: The Ruin

Really enjoying it so far.

[Sandy]

Leslie wrote: "Sandy wrote: "I've returned to Crispen's Gervase Fen series with Buried for Pleasure. I just love the dry humor! I wish there were more as I must be near the end."

I love his humor ..."

Thanks for the Dr. Constantine nudge. He is waiting on my kindle.

[Paperbackreader]

Continuing with Ian Carmichael's narration of Lord Peter Wimsey mysteries. Now listening to The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club. Maybe characters like Captain George Fentiman and Ann Dorland exist but I would not like to meet them and am not enjoying listening to them behaving the way they do.

[Susan]

Sounds fantastic, Paperbackreader. I have the first BBC radio Wimsey drama collection - even though I am never usually keen on the full cast dramatisations - just because Ian Carmichael was Wimsey :)

[Tracey]

I've just finished Miss Pym Disposes which I thoroughly enjoyed. However I can see how it divides opinion as it isn't a classic crime story. But it was a witty read, reminiscent of Malory towers books!

[Judy]

I’ve started reading one of the Patricia Wentworth books which was a previous freebie, Kingdom Lost. This is about a young woman who has been living alone on an island, Robinson Crusoe style!

[Rosina]

I have just finished Coffin Scarcely Used by Colin Watson. I'd forgotten all about the series in the decades since I read them when they came out, and will be working my way through them. Perhaps recommending it for one of our monthly reads ...

[Jill]

Finished The Water Room. Which I thoroughly enjoyed and also learned a bit more about London. I really like the characters who definitely keep me entertained all the way through. Have now started Vintage Murder ready for next month's discussion

[Susan]

I have started Vintage Murder too, Jill.

I came across a really interesting book the other day, which has just been re-printed: Mr. Bowling Buys a Newspaper

In Raymond Chandler’s favourite novel, Mr Bowling buys the newspapers only to find out what the latest is on the murders he's just committed…

Mr Bowling is getting away with murder. On each occasion he buys a newspaper to see whether anyone suspects him. But there is a war on, and the clues he leaves are going unnoticed. Which is a shame, because Mr Bowling is not a conventional serial killer: he wants to get caught so that his torment can end. How many more newspapers must he buy before the police finally catch up with him?

Donald Henderson was an actor and playwright who had also written novels as D. H. Landels, but with little success. While working for the BBC in London during the Second World War, his fortunes finally changed with Mr Bowling Buys a Newspaper, a darkly satirical portrayal of a murderer that was to be promoted enthusiastically by Raymond Chandler as his favourite detective novel. But even the author of The Big Sleep could not save it from oblivion: it has remained out of print for more than 60 years.

This Detective Club classic is introduced by award-winning novelist Martin Edwards, author of The Story of Classic Crime in 100 Books, who reveals new information about Henderson’s often troubled life and writing career.

Think this could be my nomination next month.

[Sandy]

Looks interesting but may not be available in the US yet - only a hardcopy version is listed on Amazon with no pre-order option.

[Susan]

That's a shame, Sandy. I thought it looked excellent. I really enjoyed The Story of Classic Crime in 100 Books too.

[Jan C]

It is available here at alibris and abebooks, of course shipping would add an additional $3-4.

[Judy]

There is also a Black Heath Crime edition of Mr Bowling Buys a Newspaper for 99p on Kindle, although this is bound to be a pretty basic edition compared to the lovely new Detective Club edition with the Martin Edwards introduction. I don't know if you can get Black Heath editions in the US?

[Susan]

I have treated myself to the lovely new edition, plus Audible. It's been a long day, I needed to buy books :)

[Jan C]

Judy wrote: "There is also a Black Heath Crime edition of Mr Bowling Buys a Newspaper for 99p on Kindle, although this is bound to be a pretty basic edition compared to the lovely new Detective Club edition wit..."

There are Black Heath editions but Mr. Bowling isn't one of them.

[Gary]

Currently reading Who Killed Bob Teal? and Other Stories: Collected Case Files of the Continental Op: The Middle Years, Volume 2 by Dashiell Hammett

[Sandy]

I've started A Necessary Evil: A Novel, second in a new series set in India in 1920 and I'm liking it. I'm having a problem however as I read The Strangler Vine, which has a similar setting, since reading the first in this series and I'm getting the two confused. The lead character in this series is a lot more sensible; I got quite annoyed with the other.

[Susan]

I have read all 3 of those, Sandy, and liked them.

[Sandy]

Finished A Necessary Evil and loved it. Wonderful flavor of India under Britain in the 1920's; I just hope it is accurate as I know very little about the true history.

A problem with being caught up in a series is the wait for the next entry (and fear it will never come).

[Sandy]

Not to worry! I see #3 is due in June (Britian first I suppose).

Now, if J K Rowling would just get working on the next Cormoran Strike ...

[Bev]

Just finishing The French Powder Mystery by Ellery Queen (should have it done tonight).

[Gary]

Bev wrote: "Just finishing The French Powder Mystery by Ellery Queen (should have it done tonight)."

Were you able to figure it out? Love the reader challenge.

[Jill]

Just starting Murder Underground for group read.

[Susan]

I enjoyed Murder Underground, Jill. Looking forward to discussing it.

[Carolien]

Completed Entanglement which is the first in a series featuring a Polish prosecutor. One of the interesting features of my current focus on translated crime is the difference in the continental criminal justice systems compared to the English/American systems which we are all familiar with. The role of the prosecutor takes centre stage in this one. It's an absorbing crime with links to Poland's post-WWII history, but I found the social commentary even better. I don't know enough about Poland, but suspect the author nails it in this book. Living in post-apartheid South Africa I can relate to a situation where a country has escaped a totalitarian past, but has dealt with the repercussions inadequately and where the current reality is not quite what was expected. Great book and here's the article that pointed me in this direction: http://www.thebigthrill.org/2016/11/i...

Time Heals No Wounds is another excellent book and the ending was completely unexpected, It is well-written, the setting is lovely and the plot brilliant. Highly recommend this one. I see there are six books in the series, but only the first two have been translated - I hope the translator is hard at work on the remainder of the series.

[Susan]

Looks really good, Carolien. Totally agree that it is always interesting to read crime books set outside of the usual British/American setting.

[Judy]

Entanglement sounds really interesting, Carolien. Can I ask, how dark/gory is it? I need to read a book set in Poland for my challenge, but am trying to stay on the cosier side of crime at the moment, so if this is very noirish or has a lot of mortuary scenes, I may wait a while.

[Frances]

Sandy wrote: "Not to worry! I see #3 is due in June (Britian first I suppose).

Now, if J K Rowling would just get working on the next Cormoran Strike ..."

Agreed!

[Susan]

I have just finished the third in the Nathan Cody series, Don't Make a Sound which I loved. About the start the next Kim Stone, Dying Truth

[Carolien]

Judy wrote: "Entanglement sounds really interesting, Carolien. Can I ask, how dark/gory is it? I need to read a book set in Poland for my challenge, but am trying to stay on the cosier side of crime at the mome..."

Not at all gory. One murder and no torture or anything like it.

[Carolien]

Susan wrote: "I have just finished the third in the Nathan Cody series, Don't Make a Sound which I loved. About the start the next Kim Stone, [book:Dying T..."

Angela Marsons have been on my list for a while. Do I gather from the fact that you are reading number 8 in the series that it is worth investing in?

[Susan]

I have loved all Angela Marsons books, Carolien. One of the few series that I have read all the books in.

[Judy]

Carolien wrote: "Not at all gory. One murder and no torture or anything like it...."

Thank you for answering that, Carolien! In that case I will hope to read Entanglement soon.

[Judy]

I'm currently reading Vintage Murder for our Ngaio Marsh challenge. Really enjoying it so far, but I'm glad to be reading it in paperback as there are an awful lot of characters to keep track of, and there is a handy cast list at the start.

[Susan]

I struggled with Vintage Murder (although I have enjoyed the Marsh books so far). Currently enjoying re-reading The Murder of Roger Ackroyd.

[Judy]

Susan wrote: "I struggled with Vintage Murder (although I have enjoyed the Marsh books so far)..."

Sorry to hear that, Susan - for me so far it is far and away the best of the series so far, though I still have 100 pages or so to go, so it is possible the ending will make me think again. Anyway, I'm looking forward to our discussion!

I'm also reading a Rex Stout book, The Silent Speaker, which is very good so far but I'm finding the plot a little bit confusing. Archie is in love again! :)

[Susan]

It was certainly a world she knew well, Judy. I will save my thoughts until tomorrow, when I open the discussion thread, but I didn't really enjoy it as much as the previous books in the series. I am also nervous about the best book, when Alleyn discovers his love interest...

[Paperbackreader]

Susan wrote: "I struggled with Vintage Murder (although I have enjoyed the Marsh books so far). Currently enjoying re-reading The Murder of Roger Ackroyd."

I find that the quality of Ngaio Marsh's mysteries vary. I loathed Night at the Vulcan! Death and the Dancing Footman and Scales of Justice where average. But I enjoyed Artists in Crime, Death in a White Tie, and Final Curtain.