What mysteries are you reading at the moment? Old thread Showing 3,851-3,900 of 4,457

[Susan]

Started The Lady Vanishes

I have never seen the film, but will be interested to hear how people think this compares.

[Susan in NC]

Susan wrote: "Started The Lady Vanishes

I have never seen the film, but will be interested to hear how people think this compares."

I want to start that next, I’ve never seen the film either; sounds like kind of a thriller, and I didn’t want to start another right after reading The Salzburg Connection.

[Judy]

Susan in NC wrote: "I’m reading Murder at the Manor."

I remember enjoying this collection - the picture on the cover is of Christchurch Mansion, which is a stately home that has been turned into a free museum in the centre of my town, Ipswich.

[Gary]

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "I've started Double for Death, the first in Stout's Tecumseh Fox series. I didn't even realize he'd written a series other than Nero Wolfe. I'm not very far, but my first impression ..."

He also wrote a novel featuring Dol Bonner and another featuring Inspector Cramer which are related to the Wolfe series. If I remember correctly one of the Fox stories got reworked by Stout as a Wolfe story.

[Sandy]

I recently listened to Too Many Women and enjoyed spending the day with Wolfe and Archie. I don't visit them often enough.

[Gary]

I am partway into The Naval Treaty and then The Final Problem and I will have finished The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes

[Susan in NC]

Judy wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "I’m reading Murder at the Manor."

I remember enjoying this collection - the picture on the cover is of Christch..."

I’ve read the first three stories so far, bit of a mixed bag - the Sherlock story very good, the next wordy and rather boring, but then a fun Raffles story. I’m curious about the rest, and expect I’ll enjoy comparing the different writing styles.

I love the covers of these British Library Crime Classics books! I hope it’s a good museum, you’re lucky to live near such a lovely place.

[Judy]

Susan in NC wrote: "I’ve read the first three stories so far, bit of a mixed bag - the Sherlock story very good, the next wordy and rather boring, but then a fun Raffles story...."

I always enjoy comparing the writing styles in those books too, Susan, and agree about the lovely covers. I find short story collections ideal for bedtime reading, since if I read a bit of a longer story then I sometimes forget what happened by the morning and have to read it again!

[Annabel]

Annabel wrote: "I am reading Miss Klopp's Midnight Confessions . I love this series but was horrified to discover that for this one, she has switched to third p..."

Finished it now. Very disappointing, in all honesty. Aside from the switch in narrative voice, it seems that the author has decided to base the plots on the real-life Constance Kopp's real cases. Well, we all know real life isn't as elegantly plotted as fiction so for me, the thing just sprawled. I feel bad criticising it as I loved the first two - will hope for a return to form (by which I mean what I personally prefer) in her next.

Have moved on to rereading Patricia Wentworth's Eternity Ring for a dose of sheer self-indulgence.

[Susan in NC]

Judy wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "I’ve read the first three stories so far, bit of a mixed bag - the Sherlock story very good, the next wordy and rather boring, but then a fun Raffles story...."

I always enjoy ..."

You’re right - perfect! I enjoy reading a story or two a day, in between audiobooks while I knit (I’ve got a sweater going that at this rate, I’ll not wear until next winter...)

[Susan in NC]

Annabel wrote: "Annabel wrote: "I am reading Miss Klopp's Midnight Confessions . I love this series but was horrified to discover that for this one, she has swi..."

Oh, nuts, that disappointing- I really enjoyed the first couple books and hoped they’d continue in that vein...oh well, not like there aren’t other mysteries to read out there! You all have given me several new authors to explore- thank you!

Not sure if this is the right thread, but has anyone read Catherine Aird? I read her first two books through Scribd and enjoyed them - kind of traditional Golden Age police procedural in rural England, but post-WWII.

[Sandy]

I've read the first three of Catherine Aird's Inspector Sloan series. My short review of the third:

Good mystery with a unique set up (the body is discovered in a suit of armor) but the real attraction is the author's quiet, dry humor.

One more series I try to keep going. I like quiet, dry humor.

[Carolien]

Sandy wrote: "I've read the first three of Catherine Aird's Inspector Sloan series. My short review of the third:

Good mystery with a unique set up (the body is discovered in a suit of armor) but the real attr..."

I have the first two books, maybe I should get around to reading them. I like quiet, dry humour too.

On the subject of "gripping" mysteries, Amazon send me a recommendation today for an "atmospheric, thrilling thriller". Not going to read that one.

[Susan in NC]

Sandy wrote: "I've read the first three of Catherine Aird's Inspector Sloan series. My short review of the third:

Good mystery with a unique set up (the body is discovered in a suit of armor) but the real attr..."

Me, too - that’s what pulled me in and got me hooked. Thanks for the good news that the third is good, that’s next up for me. Such an intriguing set up, I’m glad it worked!

[Susan in NC]

Carolien wrote: "Sandy wrote: "I've read the first three of Catherine Aird's Inspector Sloan series. My short review of the third:

Good mystery with a unique set up (the body is discovered in a suit of armor) but..."

Seriously, “ thrilling thriller”? Atmospheric is good, I don’t mind that word - maybe they heard us and are trying to get away from “gripping”! Better break out the thesaurus...

[Jill]

Susan in NC wrote: "Sandy wrote: "I've read the first three of Catherine Aird's Inspector Sloan series. My short review of the third:

Good mystery with a unique set up (the body is discovered in a suit of armor) but..."

Next up for me also

[Lady Clementina]

Sandy wrote: "I've read the first three of Catherine Aird's Inspector Sloan series. My short review of the third:

Good mystery with a unique set up (the body is discovered in a suit of armor) but the real attr..."

This was Stately Manor, right? That's the only one I've read and I enjoyed the humour.

[Sandy]

Lady Clementina wrote: "Sandy wrote: "I've read the first three of Catherine Aird's Inspector Sloan series. My short review of the third:

Good mystery with a unique set up (the body is discovered in a suit of armor) but..."

Yes, The Stately Home Murder. Its the one I've read most recently.

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

I started the upcoming Poirot read, Death in the Clouds.

[Jan C]

I just finished Murder on the Blackboard. On to The Puzzle of the Pepper Tree.

[Sandy]

I've started, again, Lethal White. I started it on audio awhile back, was intimidated by the size, and now I have both book and audio. Hoping it will go twice as fast! I'm enjoying it but I am one who is interested in both the detectives' relationship and the mystery. There is a lot of relationship angst so far.

I may be a bit late for our monthly reads.

[Gary]

Jan C wrote: "I just finished Murder on the Blackboard. On to The Puzzle of the Pepper Tree."

You are slightly ahead of me on The Miss Withers series. The first 2 were a lot of fun.

[Tara]

I'm about halfway through The Canary Trainer: From the Memoirs of John H. Watson, M.D. , which is book 3 in the Sherlock Holmes series by Nicholas Meyer. I'm not much into fanfic, but these books are entertaining and fast reads.

[Jill]

I am reading The Scarecrow by Michael Connelly book 19 in the Harry Bosch universe , book 2 in the Jack McEvoy series

It has a lot of warnings about putting all your details on the internet. It was first published in 2009 and yet people still do it and get upset when they are hacked.

[Gary]

Just about done with The Man With a Load of Mischief by Martha Grimes.

On my Kindle I just started Murder at the Spa by Stefanie Matteson

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

I started Black Roses today.

[Susan]

I am a bit behind, but intending to start once I have finished The Lady Vanishes. I have started, and am really enjoying, Minute for Murder

[Susan in NC]

Just started Final Curtain .

[Bruce]

I’m reading the Pelican Brief and The Lady Vanishes.

I agree Tara. I loved the first two Sherlock books by Nicholas Meyer. I still haven’t read the Canary Trainer yet. I actually do like fan fiction if it’s well done though, and not the parody or satire kind. I like to see my favorite characters from different books meet, or as in Meyer’s books, fictional characters meet real life people.

I’m not sure if you’ve seen it, but Meyer also wrote and directed the film Time After Time, about H.G. Wells and Jack the Ripper. Most people don’t notice, but there’s a couple Holmes references in it. Inspector Gregson makes an appearance near the beginning, and Wells’ Landlady is Mrs Turner. Of course, there’s also the excellent film version of the Seven Per Cent Solution. Meyer wrote the screenplay for that too, and was nominated for an Oscar for it.

[Judy]

I've just finished The Witness for the Prosecution: And Other Stories by Agatha Christie - a bit of an uneven collection but some of the stories were brilliant.

I've decided to carry on having a collection of short stories on the go, so I've now started The Allingham Casebook, a collection of short stories by Margery Allingham which was put together posthumously. Not sure how many of these feature Campion, but he is in the first story together with Charlie Luke, who features in some of the novels.

[Bruce]

I do remember thinking it was ok, but Three Blind Mice and Other Stories was a better collection. Speaking of which, The Mousetrap is coming to my city in the US next month. I don’t know if I’ll be able to see it as I just started a new job. I actually saw it in the last city I lived in though, so I got to see it once at least.

[Gary]

I have done 2 Christie plays when I was involved in community theater. In Witness for the Prosecution, I played Chief Inspector Hearne of Scotland Yard. A few years later I played another Scotland Yard detective in The Uninvited Guest. Christie rocks.

[Bruce]

That’s funny Gary! I actually saw both those plays at a community theatre in Maine in the late 90’s-early 2000’s. I’m not sure, but I think the person who played Leonard Vole in Witness played an inspector in Unexpected Guest. Just to clarify, in Unexpected Guest, was the victim a rich guy who killed a kid while speeding once, but got away with it? I don’t remember it too well, but I thought it was similar to an Inspector Calls at the time.

[Susan in NC]

Just started a reread from a favorite old Charlotte MacLeod series, The Corpse in Oozak's Pond, .

[Gary]

Bruce wrote: "That’s funny Gary! I actually saw both those plays at a community theatre in Maine in the late 90’s-early 2000’s. I’m not sure, but I think the person who played Leonard Vole in Witness played an i..."

The only thing I remember about Unexpected Guest was that we did it as a black and white movie, which meant we were all in grey scale makeup and clothing.

[Jill]

Just starting Final Curtain for the group read

[Tara]

Bruce wrote: "I’m reading the Pelican Brief and The Lady Vanishes.

I agree Tara. I loved the first two Sherlock books by Nicholas Meyer. I still haven’t read the Canary Trainer yet. I actually do like fan ficti..."

I do enjoy the aspect of the real people colliding with a fascinating, albeit imaginary world. Having just read Dracula, it was especially interesting to read about Bram Stoker and his involvement in the theater, which I really didn't know anything about previously. I saw the Seven Per Cent Solution film and I thought it was very faithful to the book, and had a great cast. I will have to check out Time After Time as well, thanks for the recommendation!

[Sandy]

Finished Lethal White and loved it. Want the next one!

My review:
While I agree with all those who have said 650 pages is too long for a mystery, I absolutely enjoyed all those pages. The mysteries are complex, well-developed and satisfactorily resolved. I remain intensely interested in the private lives of Strike and Robin.

[Lady Clementina]

Sandy wrote: "Finished Lethal White and loved it. Want the next one!

My review:
While I agree with all those who have said 650 pages is too long for a mystery, I absolutely enjoyed all those pag..."

Good to hear you enjoyed it. I really liked the first two, and plan to pick up the next ones.

[Gary]

Just started The Sound of Murder by Cindy Brown

[Tara]

I just started The Alienist by Caleb Carr, which is a bit gruesome, but is well written and interesting. I'm not sure if it is strictly considered a mystery, although it does involve murders and sleuthing.

[Jill]

Tara wrote: "I just started The Alienist by Caleb Carr, which is a bit gruesome, but is well written and interesting. I'm not sure if it is strictly con..."

I loved The Alienist. Also enjoyed the The Angel of Darkness a lot.

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

I didn't particularly care for The Alienist.

Not being much of a nonfiction fan, I prefer my nonfiction to read like fiction. This being fiction that reads like nonfiction is an example of the reverse not working as well.

[Gardener0126]

I just finished two of the Hardcastle series by Graham Ison. They are police procedurals, with a bit of a cozy feel, set in the time of the First World War. I’m not always a fan of historical fiction, but I really enjoyed these. Thecharacters and setting are both well developed. I’ve read an early one in the series as well as a more recent one, and I didn’t feel like they needed to be read in order. Well, except for the fact that the first one I read was set in the period just before the war, and a later one happened during the war.

Hardcastle's Quartet

Hardcastle's Conspiracy

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Gardener0126 wrote: "I just finished two of the Hardcastle series by Graham Ison. They are police procedurals, with a bit of a cozy feel, set in the time of the First World War. I’m not always a fan of historical ficti..."

Do you think this series should be read in order? The first in the series is currently only available in expensive hardcover. I could probably inter-library loan the first, if you recommend an "in order" reading.

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

I started the Punshon February buddy read, Crossword Mystery. I'm glad to have been introduced to this series.

There is an introduction by crime history author Curtis Evans, who also wrote introductions to many of the pending Dean Street Press titles. He begins by saying:

In 1933 Britain's Detection Club, a social organization founded 3 years earlier by some of the most renowned detective novelists in the country, including Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, Anthony Berkeley, G.K. Chesterton, Freeman Wills Crofts and R. Austin Freeman, inducted, for the first time, several new members. These initiates were Gladys Mitchell, Anthony Gilbert (Lucy Beatrice Malleson) and E.R. Punshon ...


Has anyone read anything by Curtis Evans? Do you have a recommendation?

[Judy]

I've only read various introductions by Curtis Evans and there is also lots of good stuff on his blog, http://thepassingtramp.blogspot.com/

I am interested in the sound of his book Masters of the "humdrum" Mystery: Cecil John Charles Street, Freeman Wills Crofts, Alfred Walter Stewart and the British Detective Novel, 1920-1961 - it is on Kindle but is £11.75, which is more than I like to pay for a Kindle book. It might also be hard to find the Kindle edition because Amazon has got mixed up and attributed one edition to 'Curt Evans' and the other to 'Curtis J Evans', who is a historian of American religions.

[Jill]

Now reading Real Tigers by Mick Herron and can't put it down.

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Judy wrote: "I've only read various introductions by Curtis Evans and there is also lots of good stuff on his blog, http://thepassingtramp.blogspot.com/

I am interested in the sound of his book [book:Masters o..."

Thanks for both of these - the blog and the book.

(I usually use the Amazon button from GR and get directly to the book. But yes, I see Amazon has him listed with the J. so it won't link to his other books.)

[Judy]

Elizabeth, I just this minute edited my post because I noticed the print edition says 'Curt Evans', on Amazon, so that doesn't link to his other books either!