Reading the Detectives discussion
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What mysteries are you reading at the moment? Old thread
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I just finished The Death of Mrs. Westaway
which reminded me how much I like Ruth Ware
Annabel wrote: "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..."I agree. That is why I do not enjoy Tey and enjoy Marsh only sporadically.
Finished Death in a White Tie, Police at the Funeral and The Mystery of the Blue TrainNow starting Fade Away by Harlan Coben book 3 in the Marlon Bolitar series
Jill wrote: "Finished Death in a White Tie, Police at the Funeral..."I'm on the waitlist for Death In A White Tie, Jill. Did you like it?
S Dizzy wrote: "Jill wrote: "Finished Death in a White Tie, Police at the Funeral..."I'm on the waitlist for Death In A White Tie, Jill. Did you like it?"
Yes it was good . The only thing is I'm not too keen on romance in these books, but I am able to overlook it as I did like the plot .
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Susan wrote: "Jill, you are forging ahead! I'm currently listening to The Pale Horse."The Pale Horse is one of the few late Christie mysteries I enjoy. Mrs. Oliver is always fun!
Jill wrote: "Finished Death in a White Tie..."I enjoyed Death in a White Tie more than other Marsh books.
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Finished The Case of the Gilded Fly. Had a hard time finishing this one. I don't think I will be reading anything by Crispin again.
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I, on the other hand, am rationing out my last few Crispin's as I do enjoy Fen's dry wit.
Luckily there is something for every taste.
Sandy wrote: "I, on the other hand, am rationing out my last few Crispin's as I do enjoy Fen's dry wit.Luckily there is something for every taste."
Hmm I am curious. I have read only The Case of the Gilded Fly. So, I cannot comment on other Fen mysteries. But what did you enjoy about The Case of the Gilded Fly? I always enjoy hearing about other viewpoints. :)
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Susan wrote: "It is true that some author's books appeals and others don't. I have struggled with both Allingham and Tey in particular, but I enjoy Fen - I find them fairly funny and I enjoy the Oxford setting in the early books."I have struggled with Allingham and Tey too.
I agree about the humor part. That was the only bright spot in The Case of the Gilded Fly for me.
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Susan wrote: "If you struggle with an author, there are plenty more who will appeal, which is the plus point to remember :)"Someone in a book-related group that I am part of on facebook pointed out that a million + books have been published in the first half of this year alone--so there really are several billions of fish to pick from!
Susan wrote: "If you struggle with an author, there are plenty more who will appeal, which is the plus point to remember :)"But there are only so many GA authors I can choose from. So, when one of them disappoints me, it depresses me a bit.
Paperbackreader wrote: "Finished The Case of the Gilded Fly. Had a hard time finishing this one. I don't think I will be reading anything by Crispin again."I felt like you regarding Crispin, but I will probably read another of his books, just to give him a fair try. I found it was his rambling and attitude I didn't like, but as this was the first book , I'm wondering if he improves.
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Jill wrote: "I felt like you regarding Crispin, but I will probably read another of his books, just to give him a fair try. I found it was his rambling and attitude I didn't like, but as this was the first book , I'm wondering if he improves."I normally give authors a second chance. It is only fair. I was wondering if if Crispin's writing changes with time. For example, is there is a reduction of the level of sexism? I guess it bothered me because it is not just there is casual sexism in his writing. God knows many of my favorite GA authors wrote enough sexist/racist/classist stuff! But I felt the entire story was drenched in it. The victim is blamed incessantly and the actions of the perpetrator is justified incessantly. It became a bit too much.
In addition to all that, the detective withholds information, not entirely fair in a detective story from my point of view. Also, when the motive is finally revealed it seems to come out of nowhere.
Judy wrote: "Crispin was very young when he wrote Gilded Fly, but I actually preferred it to the next one, Holy Disorders. I do agree he can be a bit rambling, but still enjoy him."I'm currently working on Holy Disorders. It is kind of rambling and confusing. But I am st8cking with it because, if it is anything like Gilded Fly, it will pick up and be worth it in the long run. So far I have enjoyed Crispin's humor.
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Susan wrote: "I like Crispin and keep meaning to read the whole series."I have a couple on my TBR which I must get to soon.
I stopped reading Crispin after his 3rd book, the Floating Toyshop which I hated but this was more then 20 years ago, maybe it's time to give him another chance. Being a senior I can't remember why I disliked it so much
Susan wrote: "I like Crispin and keep meaning to read the whole series."Susan, Crispin's Fen series is, in my opinion, hilarious!!!! Especially the last one (Glimpses of the Moon, though many did not like this last installment). ((here is my review of it https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...)) I simply HAD TO purchase the entire Gervase Fen series. The absurd characters and British wit at its finest...oh! and there are some interesting mysteries as well.
S Dizzy wrote: "Susan, Crispin's Fen series is, in my opinion, hilarious!!!! Especially the last one (Glimpses of the Moon, though many did not like this last installment). ((here is my review of it https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...)) I simply HAD TO purchase the entire Gervase Fen series. The absurd characters and British wit at its finest...oh! and there are some interesting mysteries as well. "I agree about the humor. I highlighted the real funny lines from the book on my Kindle!
But for me, the things that bothered me outweighed my appreciation for his wit. I have explained those in my review of the book, https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Does Crispin's writing change with the rest of the books of the series, is a question I had. I really hate losing a GA author! :(
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Paperbackreader, I am sorry, I have only read the first three, I think, so I can't be of help.
Susan wrote: "S Dizzy - that review brightened up my morning - inspired!Thank you Susan, it was a lot fun to read. It was as if Crispin let his imagination have free rein and gave us a front row seat. And Paperbackreader, I am sorry that you don't find Crispin's stories entertaining.
Paperbackreader wrote: "Jill wrote: "Finished Death in a White Tie..."I enjoyed Death in a White Tie more than other Marsh books."
I agree. I felt that it was a step up from her previous Alleyn stories.
Jill wrote: "Jill wrote: " ...Yes it was good . The only thing is I'm not too keen on romance in these books, but I am able to overlook it as I did like the plot ."Jill, I too enjoyed this story. It made Alleyn more mature and relatable than in previous stories, in my opinion.
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Sandy wrote: "Dizzy, that is a wonderful review of Crispen. I love his humor."Thanks Sandy. That story was sooo much fun to read! ((I'm still chuckling as I remember it.))
Finished The Pale Horse Now starting Lamentation by C.J. Sansom I have had this book for some years but have been holding off reading it , as I wasn't sure if there would be any further books left in this series to look forward to. Now I know there is, I can go ahead and wallow in it!
Started reading The White Cottage by Margery Allingham. Finished Keep it Quiet by Richard Hull, I loved it but I also love PG Wodehouse. My copy had the first chapter of The Ghost it Was which hooked me but it's out of print. I've emailed Crime Classics asking if they plan to reprint.
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Judy, the characters in the gentlemen's club are very similar to Wodehouse characters. This is the only Hull book I've read don't think others are similar. I have The Murder of My Aunt, will report after I finish it. It's a small book.
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Currently reading two mystery novels.Divas, Diamonds & Death the 15th in the long running shared universe Danger Cove cozy series.
Returning to more classic fare
Cop Hater by Ed McBain The first of the 87th Precinct books.
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I am currently reading The Alienist for my non-Goodreads book group. One of those books I have long meant to read, but never done so.
Judy wrote: "The title The Murder of My Aunt sounds quite Wodehousian, Lorraine!"Finished The Murder of My Aunt, and you are correct, Hull in these 2 books is a dark Wodehouse. It was a fast humorous read. In the forward of my book it indicated that the 1912 The Singing Bones by R Austin Freeman was the first to use the inverted detective story. Of course I had to see if it was available on Amazon, it was for 99 cents. My tbr books are getting bigger every day.
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I feel your pain, Lorraine. I'm also now very intrigued by the sound of Richard Hull.
I am rereading The Murder on the Links by Agatha Christie for my Christie publication order reread, which I have basically just begun!I am also reading The Overlook by Michael Connelly, which is part of my HBU (Harry Bosch Universe) project.
Finished Lamentation Great book. Now reading Trial by fire by Frances Fyfield and Thin Air by Michelle Paver
I'm reading The Cornish Coast Murder which I am not yet far into. Other books keep getting in the way, but I think I'm going to enjoy this one.
Just over half way through The Gallows Curse by Karen Maitland I have read two of this author's , and although I am liking this, at the moment I am not finding it as good as the others. Hopefully I will change my mind before the end
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Reading the Detectives
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Oh-I forgot to say, it sn't being offered for review yet- just on the wish for it list.