What mysteries are you reading at the moment? Old thread Showing 3,451-3,500 of 4,457

[Sandy]

Farrah wrote: "I’m reading the 4th Coromoron Strike mystery Lethal White by Robert Galbraith. Its nice to get back to familiar characters and see what they are up to. I’m a few chapters in."

I'm on the wait list. And impatient.

[Frances]

I just finished Magpie Murders, which is a very clever mystery-within-a mystery with a peek into the writing/publishing world around the very popular English cozy-type series. I think it would particularly appeal to members of this group.

[Sandy]

Frances wrote: "I just finished Magpie Murders, which is a very clever mystery-within-a mystery with a peek into the writing/publishing world around the very popular English cozy-type series. I thi..."

I loved it, and his later book The Word Is Murder. I have The House of Silk out of the library now and hope I get to it before its due date.

[Susan]

Horowitz has a new mystery coming out: The Sentence is Death in November.

Death, deception, and a detective with quite a lot to hide stalk the pages of Anthony Horowitz's brilliant new murder mystery, the second in the bestselling series starring Private Investigator Daniel Hawthorne.
_________________________
‘You shouldn’t be here. It’s too late…’

These, heard over the phone, were the last recorded words of successful celebrity-divorce lawyer Richard Pryce, found bludgeoned to death in his bachelor pad with a bottle of wine – a 1982 Chateau Lafite worth £3,000, to be precise.

Odd, considering he didn’t drink. Why this bottle? And why those words? And why was a three-digit number painted on the wall by the killer? And, most importantly, which of the man’s many, many enemies did the deed?

Baffled, the police are forced to bring in Private Investigator Daniel Hawthorne and his sidekick, the author Anthony, who’s really getting rather good at this murder investigation business.

But as Hawthorne takes on the case with characteristic relish, it becomes clear that he, too, has secrets to hide. As our reluctant narrator becomes ever more embroiled in the case, he realises that these secrets must be exposed – even at the risk of death…

It follows The Word Is Murder

[Sandy]

Great news, Susan! Another wait list to monitor.

[Pages]

I really liked Magpie Murders and loved The Word is Murder. That’s great he’s got a new book coming out. He’s brilliant.

[Judy]

I've just bought The House of Silk and it looks really good - hope to get to it soon!

[Lady Clementina]

Farrah wrote: "I really liked Magpie Murders and loved The Word is Murder. That’s great he’s got a new book coming out. He’s brilliant."

I have Magpie waiting to be read, and want to read The House of Silk too.

[Susan]

Don't forget we have three Buddy Reads to choose from this month:

October/November:
Malice in Wonderland by Nicholas Blake
Death Among the Sunbathers: E R Punshon
Slow Horses by Mick Herron

We usually open Buddy Reads mid-month, so next weekend, if anyone wants to join in. Malice in Wonderland is one of my favourite Nigel Strangeways mysteries, as I love the original setting of an early holiday camp. Slow Horses is the first in the brilliant, Jackson Lamb//Slough House series. Death Among the Sunbathers is the second in the Bobby Owens series.

[Judy]

Thanks Susan! Sorry not to have mentioned this earlier, but I’ve just remembered, for anyone reading Death Amongst Sunbathers, I’d advise waiting to read the introduction until the end as there may be one or two potential spoilers.

[Susan]

Thanks, Judy. So often a problem with re-published GA novels, where there is often an essay.

[Annabel]

Just finished another old Perry Mason paperback. The fact that I can often make no sense at all of the white-collar fraud plot in these books doesn't make me love them any the less. (And as I've said before, it's a pleasant alternative to the gruesome murders of children and women which are staple fare of contemporary thrillers.)

I am travelling on the sleeper train to Scotland this week (a long-held dream coming true!) and having discovered to my horror that I have no copy of Murder on the Orient Express at home (how can this be?), I am taking Christie's similar Murder on the Blue Train and The Thirty-Nine Steps (not a sleeper, but a train to Scotland at any rate).

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Judy wrote: "Thanks Susan! Sorry not to have mentioned this earlier, but I’ve just remembered, for anyone reading Death Amongst Sunbathers, I’d advise waiting to read the introduction until the end as there may..."

I have started this and did begin the Introduction, but I'm always leery of those and quickly skipped pages when it started on the book itself. Thank you for letting me know I did the right thing!

[Tracey]

Annabel wrote: "Just finished another old Perry Mason paperback. The fact that I can often make no sense at all of the white-collar fraud plot in these books doesn't make me love them any the less. (And as I've sa..."

Enjoy the sleeper! The Case of the Constant Suicides involves a train to Scotland (though not the sleeper I'm afraid) should you want some further reading?

[Jan C]

Recently read The Sleeping Car Murders - a sleeper in France. And there's Carola Dunn's Murder on the Flying Scotsman: A Daisy Dalrymple Mystery - a sleeper to Scotland, I think.

[Judy]

Yes, hope you enjoy the sleeper train, Annabel, and get some sleep on it in between books!

[Louise]

Death at the Dolphin by Ngaio Marsh. One of her theatre mysteries. Very amusing.

[Lady Clementina]

Louise wrote: "Death at the Dolphin by Ngaio Marsh. One of her theatre mysteries. Very amusing."

That's one I've been wanting to read-but we have (or had, don't remember if I got rid of it) an old old copy at home with the end missing so never did.

[Frances]

Annabel wrote: "Just finished another old Perry Mason paperback. The fact that I can often make no sense at all of the white-collar fraud plot in these books doesn't make me love them any the less. (And as I've sa..."

Have a wonderful trip! I took the sleeper up the west coast in August and loved it-which route are you taking?

[Louise]

Lady Clementina wrote: "Louise wrote: "Death at the Dolphin by Ngaio Marsh. One of her theatre mysteries. Very amusing."

That's one I've been wanting to read-but we have (or had, don't remember if I got rid of it) an old..."

Well, it's good, but I am about halfway through and have encountered what seems to.me to be a major error - surprising to.me, as I thought Ngaio.Marsh knew a lot about the theatre.

[Marwan]

Started reading Death Wears a Beauty Mask and Other Stories by Mary Higgins Clark

[Susan]

I have started Random I have meant to try Craig Robertson for ages - very good so far.

[Jill]

Started The Boy in the Suitcase by Lene Kaaberbøl. Quite disturbing

[Tara]

Jill wrote: "Started The Boy in the Suitcase by Lene Kaaberbøl. Quite disturbing"

The title alone is disturbing Jill!

[Valerie]

I just finished Death of a Red Heroine by Qiu Xiaolong . I thought it was fantastic, and intend to (eventually) read the whole series. I listened to the audio book version, which was well done.

[Susan]

That sounds good, Valerie. Added to my TBR list.

I have just finished Random and started The Long Drop

[Carolien]

Valerie wrote: "I just finished Death of a Red Heroine by Qiu Xiaolong . I thought it was fantastic, and intend to (eventually) read the whole series. I listened to the audio book versi..."

I really enjoy this series - so very different to Western crime novels.

[Susan]

What are our favourite mystery series set in other countries? Recommendations welcome!

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

I'm currently reading The Burglar on the Prowl by Lawrence Block. Light and amusing.

Susan wrote: "What are our favourite mystery series set in other countries? Recommendations welcome!"

Some I have waiting to be read:

Who Killed Palomino Molero? by Mario Vargas Llosa
All That Followed by Gabriel Urza
The Bridge of Sighs by Olen Steinhauer
The Gordian Knot by Bernhard Schlink
The Secret in Their Eyes by Eduardo Sacheri
The Invisible Guardian by Dolores Redondo
Andean Express by Juan De Recacoechea (I have read one other by him)
The Seville Communion by Arturo Pérez-Reverte (I have read others by him)
Death at La Fenice by Donna Leon (I have read this and have another in this series ... awaiting)
Arsène Lupin Series by Maurice Leblanc (Have read the first in the series, want to read more)
Budapest Noir by Vilmos Kondor
Death in Brittany by Jean-Luc Bannalec
Fantômas Series by Marcel Allain
The Winter Queen by Boris Akunin (have read this, and might continue the series, but went off to reading other things)

[Jill]

Susan wrote: "What are our favourite mystery series set in other countries? Recommendations welcome!
I have become a fan of Rex Stout since starting him here and I also have the Lawrence Block books and Donna Leon books. Also I have only got as far as the first book in the Kerry Greenwood series, which I liked a lot. Oh and Michael Dibdin's books

[Valerie]

Carolien wrote: "Valerie wrote: "I just finished Death of a Red Heroine by Qiu Xiaolong . I thought it was fantastic, and intend to (eventually) read the whole series. I listened to the ..."

Yes, I think that is one of the aspects that really appealed to me.

[Annabel]

I've just finished Trent's Last Case which I know was a Buddy Read on here not long ago.

A really early classic of the genre - was amazed to read explanations of how fingerprints and car rear-view mirrors work - but I found the style a bit too flowery and the characterisation conversely lacking. The pace was a bit slow too but the central theme is both original and compelling.

[Susan]

Thanks everyone - especially Elizabeth. I have read a few of the books you listed, but I will check out all the titles. As this thread is quite busy, at the moment, I will just post the books for our Challenge next year. Obviously, this list will also be on the Challenge thread, but it is always a good idea to organise our reading - as the year is, unbelievably, heading towards winter!

As everyone knows, we are planning to continue our Ngaio Marsh challenge next year. We have already read books 1-12, so next year, we will be reading the following titles:

Jan - Book 13. Died in the Wool (1944)
Feb - Book 14. Final Curtain (1947)
March - Book 15. A Wreath for Rivera (1949)
aka Swing, Brother, Swing
April - Book 16. Night at the Vulcan (1951)
aka Opening Night
May - Book 17. Spinsters in Jeopardy (1953)
aka The Bride of Death
June - Book 18. Scales of Justice (1955)
July - Book 19. Death of a Fool (1956)
aka Off with His Head
August - Book 20. Singing in the Shrouds (1958)
September - Book 21. False Scent (1959)
October - Book 22. Hand in Glove (1962)
November - Book 23. Dead Water (1963)
December - Book 24. Killer Dolphin (1966)
aka Death at the Dolphin

There are further Marsh books in the series:

25. Clutch of Constables (1968)
26. When in Rome (1968)
27. Tied Up in Tinsel (1972)
28. Black As He's Painted (1974)
29. Last Ditch (1976)
30. A Grave Mistake (1978)
31. Photo Finish (1980)
32. Light Thickens (1982)
33. Money in the Morgue (2018) (with Stella Duffy)

Rather than continue the Marsh challenge into a further year, we will run the remaining nine books as Buddy Reads.

[Jill]

That's good to hear Susan.

[Judy]

Annabel wrote: "I've just finished Trent's Last Case which I know was a Buddy Read on here not long ago.

A really early classic o..."

Glad you enjoyed this one, Annabel - I agree with your comments about the problems with it, but also feel that it was well worth reading.

[Valerie]

Elizabeth's list reminded me of: Bruno, Chief of Police by Martin Walker, which I've read and enjoyed. I hope to get back to that series as well. The setting is the French countryside.

[Adrian]

Susan wrote: "What are our favourite mystery series set in other countries? Recommendations welcome!"

Maigret !

[Gardener0126]

Another series that is set in Italy are the Inspector Montalbano mysteries by Andrea Camilleri. Quite a few of them have been translated into English.
Amazons Camilleri page says: “you either love Andrea Camilleri or you haven’t read him yet.” I’m too cheap to spend $10 or more on an ebook, so I have been borrowing the audiobooks from the library. My library doesn’t have his ebooks.

[Gardener0126]

I just finished The Fourth Postman and 8 Faces at 3 both by Craig Rice. They are the first of her books that Ive read, and I thought they were fun. Somewhere I saw them described as “screwball comedy meets hard boiled detective”. It’s actually a pretty apt description. The mystery is quite good, but it’s all mixed in with the quirky comedy, so you need to pay attention to pick out any clues.

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

I've added the first in the series of both Camilerri and Rice. Thanks!

[Roman Clodia]

Well, I'm probably conventional in loving the Montalbano series by Andrea Camilleri; I also discovered the Quebec-set Three Pines series last year by Louise Penny and just devoured them back to back.

I'd previously dipped in Donna Leon's Venice-set police series, am now reading them from the start - have no. 3 up next.

[Agnesh]

Just started Mystery In White by J Jefferson Farjeon ( A British Library Crime Classic reprint)

Fun fact from the jacket: Farjeon is now best known as the author of Number Seventeen, a play that was adapted for the big screen by Alfred Hitchcock.

[Judy]

Hope you enjoy Mystery in White, Agnesh. It was a Christmas group read here a couple of years ago - if you want to take a look at our discussion, this is a link to the non-spoiler thread:

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Judy]

I've been getting into festive mood somewhat early - the next Marsh book, Death and the Dancing Footman, is very snowbound, although I don't think it is actually set at Christmas. (I may be wrong as I haven't finished it yet!)

I've also started listening to Hugh Fraser reading The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding, really for the second story in the collection, which is one of this month's Poirot buddy reads - but, having said that, I thoroughly enjoyed the Christmas pudding title story!

[Susan]

I really enjoyed, "Death and the Dancing Footman," Judy.

[Jan C]

I enjoy both Camilleri and Rice.

[Frances]

Just finished Bleeding Darkness, the fifth in the Stonechild and Rouleau series set in Kingston and Ottawa, Canada (my hometown). I really enjoy this series-police procedural mysteries without too much violence, and, at least in the first and last book, lots and lots of snow! Great characters that develop as the series progresses with interesting side histories.

[Louise]

When in Rome by NgaioMarsh. It's fairly good.

[Carolien]

Frances wrote: "Just finished Bleeding Darkness, the fifth in the Stonechild and Rouleau series set in Kingston and Ottawa, Canada (my hometown). I really enjoy this series-police procedural myster..."

I've downloaded the first in the series based on a recommendation in another group. Glad to see there are more fans. Now I just need to read it!

[Carolien]

In terms of mysteries set in different countries, I read a lot of translated crime this year. I'm just going to post the link to my challenge as there is a very long list in comments 1 and 2.

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...