Reading the Detectives discussion
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What mysteries are you reading at the moment? Old thread
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Sayers really gets the mix right here for me in most of her books. Annabel, I remember you are a Wentworth admirer, and she is another writer who creates vivid characters.
However, I really do agree that I don't want to read a lot of books where there are extended kidnapping sequences etc, or to see through the eyes of the victims for long periods.
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I am looking forward to A Different Kind of Evil, the next by Andrew Wilson, featuring Agatha Christie.
In January 1927 – and still recovering from the harrowing circumstances surrounding her disappearance a month earlier – Agatha Christie sets sail on an ocean liner bound for the Canary Islands.
She has been sent there by the British Secret Intelligence Service to investigate the death of one of its agents, whose partly mummified body has been found in a cave.
Early one morning, on the passage to Tenerife, Agatha witnesses a woman throw herself from the ship into the sea. At first, nobody connects the murder of the young man on Tenerife with the suicide of a mentally unstable heiress. Yet, soon after she checks into the glamorous Taoro Hotel situated in the lush Orotava Valley, Agatha uncovers a series of dark secrets.
The famous writer has to use her novelist’s talent for plotting to outwit an enemy who possesses a very different kind of evil.
I enjoyed the first A Talent for Murder
I am reading The Silent Companions
, which, as always, I was attracted to because of the cover. TBH I'm a bit nervous about it. I've learned not to read things which have upsetting scenes in and you get quite good at being able to tell in advance, but I feel this one may have slipped through the net.
Annabel wrote: "I am reading The Silent Companions , which, as always, I was attracted to because of the cover. TBH I'm a bit nervous about it. I've learned not to read t..."
The cover does look intriguing!
I love Anne Cleeves’ books and I have to say I think the television adaptations are amazingly good. I have watched all of the ‘Vera’ adaptations as well as the ‘Shetland’ ones. Really authentic locations, atmosphere and characterisations in my opinion. So often, television or film adaptations don’t do justice to the book but I think these do.
It is an interesting discussion ! I do prefer the more puzzle like mysteries, although I do like to enjoy my characters, However I'm more focused on the detective than the victim, and since I'm quite empathic, I don't like the victim to suffer to much, I don't like for examples to see the murder happen in a series. The perfect blend for me is the tv show Lewis (my favorite ever), I love how the plot is character-focused and clues-focused, if I can say so. I like characterization and I like psychology, I don't like serial killers at all, their murders are kind of motive-less and I find the search for a motive really interesting, along with the opportunity analysis.I have started Death in the Stocks and I'm enjoying it (no big surprise but that's only my second Georgette Heyer, looking for a conversion here !)
Elinor wrote: "It is an interesting discussion ! I do prefer the more puzzle like mysteries, although I do like to enjoy my characters, However I'm more focused on the detective than the victim, and since I'm qui..."Here is the thread where we discussed Death in the Stocks ;-
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
We didn't have a spoiler thread then so suggest you look at this when you have finished the book.
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It's a historical novel which starts in Greece in 1912, and more of a spy thriller than a mystery, but I believe it will have a mystery element to it. Great writing style - I loved this line:
"The Major was wearing highly polished riding boots and an expression that said he hadn't put them on to go jaunting in oxcarts."
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Susan, do you prefer the series with Agatha Christie as a detective to the series with Josephine Tey as a detective, or does it have the same problems for you - do you feel it could have been done without a famous heroine?!
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I've posted about this in the thread for the book - it looks as if only 2 of the 4 short stories in the original edition are reworked in the novel version, even though the author's comment on his page said he had reworked all 4!
So we will at least be starting off by just discussing the 2 stories he turned into the novel, The Body in the Woods and The Case of the Missing Case.
I did just look to see if I could get hold of an older edition on Kindle to compare the two, but it looks to me as if it has been withdrawn. After googling this a bit more, I am guessing that bits of the other two stories are probably included but he has got rid of the main storylines for those to avoid too many mysteries in one novel.
Should make an interesting discussion, looking forward to it. I'm listening on Audible.
Started Dominion by C.J. SansomI love his Shardlake series and this has started well. It has been on my list for years so surprised I have only just got to it.
I just put The Case of William Smith on my phone to listen to while I work. Super busy at work so I've been getting a lot of books in!
Judy wrote: "Elinor, I often tend not to like books with serial killers either, partly for the same reason as you - I prefer there to be a real motive of some kind. Also some serial killer books are very gory...."
And I don't like gory as well ^^
These Agatha Christie as sleuth book looks good !
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My pleasure, Tania - can't remember if I've read that one, as Patricia Wentworth's titles are so similar, but I always enjoy her writing style, even though the early stories can be a bit hit-and-miss.
Elinor - I agree with you. I enjoy a puzzle mystery, and a engaging detective. My personal fave is a locked room mystery, a real brain teaser! I prefer there not to be too much gore in the actual killing. I'm currently reading Blood on the Tracks: Railway Mysteries. Enjoying so far, it has a great selection of authors. I'm reading this as part of some pre-reading for the Bodies from the Library conference on the 16th June in London - is anyone else going?
Judy wrote: "I've started Spy's Honour by Gavin Lyall (vowing to read at least one or two of the books on my Kindle each month!) and am enjoying it a lot so far.It's a historic..."
I adore Spy's Honour, very high on my list of all time favourites. In general, I like Gavin Lyall 's books, but this one is special.
Tracey : 200% agreed, I do love locked room mysteries as well !
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That's good to hear, Carolien. I read a bit of it when I was too tired to take it in and had to reread, but am still really enjoying it.
I'm reading Christie's They Came to Baghdad. It seems to be a spy novel, not a mystery, but I'm really enjoying it so far. Lots of interesting people coming together...
Teri-K wrote: "I'm reading Christie's They Came to Baghdad. It seems to be a spy novel, not a mystery, but I'm really enjoying it so far. Lots of interesting people coming together..."It's a fun one- a touch silly but fun and there is a mystery eement as well if I remember right
Lady Clementina wrote: It's a fun one- a touch silly but fun and there is a mystery element as well if I remember right "There is a mystery, but it's much more "innocent young thing gets involved in international conspiracy". I really enjoyed it. You're right to call it fun - not a book to take seriously. Yet I was worried about our heroine a time or two.
I also loved the first timer's view of Baghdad and a dig. Christie, with her background, made that very real and quite interesting. All in all a good read. Reminded me of Helen McInnes, though lighter.
Teri-K wrote: "Lady Clementina wrote: It's a fun one- a touch silly but fun and there is a mystery element as well if I remember right "There is a mystery, but it's much more "innocent young thing gets involved..."
Yes- I enjoy her archaeology related settings- Even Murder in Mesopotamia was very enjoyable for that (besides the murder of course).
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Amy wrote: "I just put The Case of William Smith on my phone to listen to while I work. Super busy at work so I've been getting a lot of books in!"One of my favourites. Although the plot has a few too many coincidences, it's more rigorously plotted and characterised than a lot of Wentworths. I also find it really atmospheric and moving about the war and its impact on people's lives. Some sections are narrated by the male protagonist (William Smith himself) which is unusual for PW but not unknown. I think it's very effective.
Finished Overture to Death, at long last! Many of the main characters annoyed me and at times I feel Marsh was especially harsh to certain types of women in her fiction.
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Paperbackreader wrote: "Finished Overture to Death, at long last! Many of the main characters annoyed me and at times I feel Marsh was especially harsh to certain types of women in her fiction."I agree...Marsh's snobbishness was certainly reflected in some of her mysteries but I think she created wonderful characters in Inspector Alleyn and Fox.
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Judy wrote: "I think there is also a lot of snobbishness in some of the other GA writers, unfortunately ... I suppose in Sayers, but I love her anyway, as with Marsh! I'm pleased to hear there is another theatr..."Yes, Judy, I think it was simply the time period and prevailing attitudes. When I read them with that mindset, it is not really off-putting. The mysteries are intriguing with likable characters. And I too love Sayers. Marsh is definitely growing on me. LOL
Got my monthly GA book from Crime Classics, Keep it Quiet by Richard Hull. A 1935 mystery taking place in a gentlemen's club. This is my first Hull but it won't be my last. Just started but like it a lot.
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Currently about to finish Death Al Dente by Leslie Budewitz. It is a good start to a series. I have books 2 and 3 on my Nook. I need to get back to a classic or two soon.
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Lorraine, Richard Hull looks fun. I see he has three books re-issued already and the one you are reading about to be released. Thanks for mentioning him.
We are lacking nominations for our August vote - perhaps you would like to throw one into the mix? That, of course, goes for anyone else, if you are reading something you think might be interesting - there are only three nominations for the next vote so far.
S Dizzy wrote: "I agree...Marsh's snobbishness was certainly reflected in some of her mysteries but I think she created wonderful characters in Inspector Alleyn and Fox."I like Inspector Alleyn and Fox too.
Most of the GA writers had some snobbishness embedded in their writing. It is a product of their time. But with someone like Christie, or even Sayers to a certain extent, I simply saw the snobbishness and nothing more intense. With Marsh, I sometimes feel, she actually loathes these types of people, especially if they are women! My last two Ngaio Marsh reads especially made me feel this way.
Recently finished Dominion by C.J. Sansom which was extremely good, and The Mystery at Underwood House, which I found a bit disappointing, as like the first book I had worked out the murderer from early on. Now starting Death in a White Tie
Paperbackreader wrote: "S Dizzy wrote: "...With Marsh, I sometimes feel, she actually loathes these types of people, especially if they are women! My last two Ngaio Marsh reads especially made me feel this way. ."I agree with you Paperbackreader, about the way that Marsh sometimes writes about women. Her venom and disdain for them seem to jump off the page. Also, her snobbishness is palpable. But, as I stated before, I still enjoy her stories.
Jill wrote: "Recently finished Dominion by C.J. Sansom which was extremely good, and The Mystery at Underwood House, which I found a bit disappointing, as like the..."Hi Jill, I recently started the Inspector Alleyn series and currently reading NO. 5 Vintage Murder. I hope Death In a White Tie is enjoyable for you.
S Dizzy wrote: "Paperbackreader wrote: "S Dizzy wrote: "...With Marsh, I sometimes feel, she actually loathes these types of people, especially if they are women! My last two Ngaio Marsh reads especially made me f..."Re snobbishness, the difference for me with Tey and Marsh is the dislike they seem to feel for their lower-class creations. Their disdain is clear in every word. Whereas Christie, Wentworth and Sayers, to my mind, while innately upper middle class and a bit patronising towards the lower classes, write affectionately and with understanding. The characters in A Murder Is Announced, for example, really leap off the page and are drawn with compassion and insight, whichever class they're from (okay, maybe not Mitzi, the Polish refugee ).
In Patricia Wentworth's books, the servants are often pretty formulaic (surnames like Bell and Pell, a mix of pretty young girls always 'slipping out to the post' and staid, comfortable old cooks and gardeners) but they are given intelligence and integrity and they're rarely the villain. Often that's reserved for an intensely snobbish upper-class elderly lady clinging to the glories of her ancestors.
I'll even defend Sayers on this - I love the village characters in The Nine Tailors, for instance, like the old woman who says she doesn't stand for Providence. "There's One above that'll teach him to mind his manners if he doesn't watch out."
Annabel wrote: "S Dizzy wrote: "Paperbackreader wrote: "S Dizzy wrote: "...With Marsh, I sometimes feel, she actually loathes these types of people, especially if they are women! My last two Ngaio Marsh reads espe..."Annabel, I can see what you mean when reading some of the stories of the authors you have mentioned. It isn't a correct way of thinking given that we're all human, but it was the pervading attitudes of the time period so these authors wrote what they knew and experienced, I suppose. Thanks for sharing your insights.
I'm reading, one of 5 books, The Narrowing Circle by Julian Symons, in addition to an interesting mystery you also get some book publishing history. Hard to believe in 54 they had assembly lines to crank out cheap pb's. Actually I'd love to find one by these made up authors.
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I am currently reading 3 cozy mystery novels:The Crêpes of Wrath
Crime Rib
Murder with a Twist
The last one I started back in November, but set it aside to read other books and am back to it. The other 2 are for challenges in another group.
My next classic mystery novels will be The League of Frightened Men and The Egyptian Cross Mystery
I fully intend to read Ellery Queen, but I have so many series on the go that have put off starting another
Not quite a post for this thread but I just saw on Netgalley that there's going to be a new Shardlake book out in October-very excited to see this. They're also offering Dissolution for review but I already have a copy of that.
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Reading the Detectives
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I found the same as you. I read Raven Black some years ago, but just could not get interested in the tv series