What mysteries are you reading at the moment? Old thread Showing 2,901-2,950 of 4,475

[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.

[Susan]

I have just re-read, or re-listened to, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, which was a joy.

Paperbackreader, I do look forward to reading more Marsh, even though, I too, find her quality varies.

[Pamela]

I'm currently struggling through Angel with Two Faces by Nicola Upson, her second Josephine Tey book.

[Tara]

I just finished listening to The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes from Audible. Derek Jacobi was the narrator, and he is one of my favorites, so it was a great treat to revisit these stories.
My next listen (I always have an audiobook in the rotation) will be I is for Innocent as I work my way through the alphabet series. I haven't read a lot of mysteries with a female detective (besides Miss Marple), so I like the different perspective.

[Leslie]

I have read a few more Nero Wolfe books recently -- Too Many Women (you can imagine the fun Archie has in this one!) and And Be A Villain (the first of several books with criminal mastermind Arnold Zeck; Zeck is Stout's version of Moriarty).

And I read the 3rd Philip Marlowe book, The High Window. I don't think I had heard of this one before & was surprised to find that it was so good when it is relatively unknown.

I am now reading Craig Rice's The Sunday Pigeon Murders

[Jill]

Just starting Look to the Lady by Margery Allingham, and it's looking pretty good.

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂]

The Mystery of a Hansom Cab started really well, but started to meander & I had to read the last few pages again to figure out the killer's motivation.

Still well worth a read. :)

[Carolien]

Carol ꧁꧂ wrote: "The Mystery of a Hansom Cab started really well, but started to meander & I had to read the last few pages again to figure out the killer's motivation.

Still well worth a read. :)"

Nice to know, I have it somewhere in the TBR pile

[Carolien]

We've had a long weekend and I've managed to complete some books along the way. Assigned to Murder is set in New Zealand in the spectacular scenery along the West Coast of the South Island. I enjoyed the plot and it will be interesting to see how the series develops. Having been there recently obviously added to my enjoyment of the book.

I also read A Promise of Ruin which is the second in the series set in turn of the century New York. This one includes the very beginnings of the Mafia in New York and revolves around the kidnapping and sale of Italian girls into prostitution. Some memorable characters. I love this series (and for once I am up to date). Highly recommend this series if you love Edith Wharton or Anne Perry's Monk series.

[Sandy]

Carolien wrote: "We've had a long weekend and I've managed to complete some books along the way. Assigned to Murder is set in New Zealand in the spectacular scenery along the West Coast of the South..."

I love Monk so will have to check out the turn-of-century New York series. And, I can handle a series with only two books (so far).

[Leslie]

I finished the 2nd Francis Pettigrew (5th Inspector Mallett) book by Cyril Hare — “With a Bare Bodkin”. I found Hare’s setting in this one very amusing (a satire of WW2 British bureaucracy, it’s set in the Bureau of Pin Control and has a subplot about black market trading in pins!) and the mystery was very good.

[Judy]

With a Bare Bodkin sounds great, Leslie. I haven't tried any Cyril Hare yet, but must do so soon!

[Susan]

I have also had Cyril Hare on my TBR list for ages. Perhaps a future nomination?

[Sandy]

I have, finally, started Vintage Murder, our May Marsh read and really enjoy her take on the theatre scene.

And I now have Murder Underground from the library!

However, while picking up that book, I was seduced by the new book display and picked up two other non-mysteries: The Judge Hunter and Mr. Flood's Last Resort, both due in two weeks.

[Jill]

I finished The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, and was so good to get back to a full Poirot story. Now reading The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America by Erik Larson

[Tara]

Jill wrote: "I finished The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, and was so good to get back to a full Poirot story. Now reading [book:The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That C..."

I listened to the Devil on audiobook Jill and I quite enjoyed. The juxtaposition of a serial killer with the amazing advancements of the Chicago Worlds Fair was an interesting way to present that story. You'll have to let us know how you like it.

[Carolien]

I've completed The Northern Cross which is the second in the Baltic Sea series (see message 2909 above). Complex plot and the author has to be commended for the creativity displayed in coming up with the various murders (it has a high body count). Really enjoying this series and must now wait for book 3 to be translated.

[Jan C]

Tara wrote: "Jill wrote: "I finished The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, and was so good to get back to a full Poirot story. Now reading [book:The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at th..."

I read it some time ago and enjoyed it. But I am from Chicago. So I may be biased.

My mother was a little chicken about reading it. We suggested she just read every other chapter - then she could skip the more grisly chapters.

But through this book I learned that Burnham lived in my town - I should have known since there is a street named for him. And Holmes "residence" was in the next town north.

[Jill]

Jan C wrote: "Tara wrote: "Jill wrote: "I finished The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, and was so good to get back to a full Poirot story. Now reading [book:The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and ..."

I am about a quarter into it now, and enjoying it so far. I have certainly learnt a lot about Chicago at that time, which has been very interesting. Also the construction going on must have been phenomenal.

[Jan C]

"the city that works"

[Tara]

One has to wonder how often people just disappeared that Holmes got away with his spree for so long.
Added bonus: you can impress all your friends at cocktail parties with your knowledge of the history of the Ferris Wheel!

[Jan C]

Most of the people who disappeared were strangers to the city who would have no one to check on them. Girls coming to the city looking for work; not necessarily coming to see the Fair on their own.

[Sandy]

The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America has been on my TBR since I visited Chicago for a wedding. They have three kids now; I should get around to it soon.

[Susan]

Ha ha! I have similar books, Sandy, that have lingered (unread) for years...

[Jill]

Me too!

[Sandy]

Followup to Devil discussion, Erik Larson has another book, Thunderstruck, that introduced me to the Crippen murder that gets mentioned often GA mysteries.

[Jill]

Sandy wrote: "Followup to Devil discussion, Erik Larson has another book, Thunderstruck, that introduced me to the Crippen murder that gets mentioned often GA mysteries."

That's interesting Sandy. I live not far from Chelmsford (birthplace of radio) and we used to have a Marconi building a few roads away from me.

[Sandy]

Jill wrote: "Sandy wrote: "Followup to Devil discussion, Erik Larson has another book, Thunderstruck, that introduced me to the Crippen murder that gets mentioned often GA mysteries..."

And I live in Massachusetts which also has a Marconi historical site out on Cape Cod.

[Gary]

Just started Death Al Dente by Leslie Budewitz

[Susan]

Just a reminder that our next buddy read is:

May/June: Look to the Lady: Margery Allingham

I will open the thread this weekend

[Elinor]

Just started a children mystery, Murder Most Unladylike, I think it will be just my cup of tea.

[Lady Clementina]

Elinor wrote: "Just started a children mystery, Murder Most Unladylike, I think it will be just my cup of tea."

Looks interesting

[Susan]

My daughter reads that series, Elinor. She enjoys school books and I think that is somewhere between Enid Blyton and Agatha Christie :)