What mysteries are you reading at the moment? Old thread Showing 2,901-2,950 of 4,457

[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.

[Christmas Carol ꧁꧂]

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 :)

[Carolien]

I've been eyeing them, because I love the covers!

[Elinor]

I'm liking the begining of it :)

[Sandy]

I enjoyed the first coup!e.

[Jill]

I have started Dark Places by Gillian Flynn. Had this a couple of years , but am reading it now as my husband wants to watch the film and I won't let him until I have read it. Oh The power!!!

[Marwan]

Started reading Dry Bones that Dream by Peter Robinson

[Gary]

Currently reading Murder on Wheels by Stuart Palmer, the second Miss Withers mystery.

[Carolien]

Marwan wrote: "Started reading Dry Bones that Dream by Peter Robinson"

One of my favourites in the series.

[Jan C]

Currently reading the first Craig Rice - Eight Faces at Three.

[Judy]

I've just started Inspector French and the Cheyne Mystery: An Inspector French Mystery, the second in the series by Freeman Wills Crofts. A wonderful beginning - I'm instantly hooked.

[Judy]

I've now finished Inspector French and the Cheyne Mystery, second in the series, and I would have to say the plot is utterly bonkers - a really far-fetched adventure thriller. I was rather surprised by this, since the first book in the series was a much more down-to-earth and realistic mystery.

I did still enjoy it, but got a bit irritated with the central character of Max Cheyne, and was pleased when Inspector French finally turned up halfway through the book! Is anyone else reading this series?

[Jan C]

Judy wrote: "I've now finished Inspector French and the Cheyne Mystery, second in the series, and I would have to say the plot is utterly bonkers - a really far-fetched adventure thriller. I was ..."

I've started the first one, I think. Inspector French's Greatest Case?

[Judy]

Jan C wrote: "I've started the first one, I think. Inspector French's Greatest Case? ..."

That's right. I enjoyed that one, and I've also read one out of order where Inspector French only comes in fairly briefly, so it feels more like a standalone, Antidote to Venom. I found that quite a creepy read, as a lot of it is seen from the point of view of a would-be killer planning his crime.

[Judy]

I've started reading Murder has a Motive by Francis Duncan. This is the earliest title in the series about detective Mordecai Tremaine which has been reprinted by Vintage, but I believe there were actually earlier books which haven't been reprinted as yet.

I enjoyed Murder for Christmas and have been meaning to read the other reissued titles. Tremaine is a retired tobacconist with a passion for romantic fiction, so he is quite different from your average detective!

[Tania]

I liked Antidote to Venom, it was creepy, though.
I've started Mystery in the Channel, another Inspector French book.

[Judy]

Sorry, I meant to add, has anyone come across a complete list of the Mordecai Tremaine mysteries by Francis Duncan? All the sites I've looked at only list the five reprints, but one mentioned that there are 20+ mysteries by him altogether, though I don't know if any are non-series.

Confusingly, there is also a completely unrelated series by another author (sci-fi, I think) with a central character called Mordecai Tremaine - what are the chances?

[Carolien]

Judy wrote: "Sorry, I meant to add, has anyone come across a complete list of the Mordecai Tremaine mysteries by Francis Duncan? All the sites I've looked at only list the five reprints, but one mentioned that ..."

Not sure if this will help you Judy
https://www.fantasticfiction.com/d/fr...

[Carolien]

I completed Hard Knocks this morning. I really enjoy this series. Charlie is an extremely complex but very likeable character and the plots are interesting. Love the humour like this example.

"Venko's organisation across Eastern Europe makes the Mafia look like the Women's Institute."
"My mother's in the Women's Institute," I said drily. "They're a pretty tough bunch."
I (Charlie) was rewarded with another near-miss of a smile. "I didn't know they had a swat team."
"You be amazed," I said "what she can do with knitting needles".

[Judy]

Carolien wrote: "Not sure if this will help you Judy

https://www.fantasticfiction.com/d/fr....."

Thanks, Carolien, that is helpful - it does list all his books although it doesn't say which ones feature Tremayne.