Reading the Detectives discussion
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What mysteries are you reading at the moment? Old thread
I am enjoying Richardson’s First Case - interesting look at the plodding but essential nature of police work. I think it’s more honest, showing how many people go into solving a case, instead of believing one super cop or amateur detective did it all alone - and the intro by Martin Edwards in my Kindle edition had interesting information about the author and his storied career.
Judy wrote: "I’m about to start the Basil Thomson one. Just read a short story by him in one collection which was pretty good."I hope you like it - I like his clear, no-fuss, logical writing style- reflects a police detectives thought processes, I think!
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S Dizzy wrote: "I am currently reading this delightful series which was on my GR homepage, you know, in one of the 'because you read this, you may like this' and I am enjoying it so far. [bookcover:Murder at Harti..."I've seen a few of these and wondered what they are like. May try them based on your comments.
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Carolien wrote: "S Dizzy wrote: "I am currently reading this delightful series..."Carolien, I read for the simply joy of it and the escapism it provides, which is why I mostly read fiction and this Ginger Gold series is so much fun!
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Yes, I suppose I am damning with faint praise! I shall be glad when I have finished ploughing through this one (The Secret of High Eldersham) - it's a bit like a triple-length episode of Midsomer Murders.
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I hope you like it - I like his clear, no-fuss, logical writing styl..."
I'm under way and enjoying it so far - a nice witty edge to the writing style.
S Dizzy wrote: "Carolien wrote: "S Dizzy wrote: "I am currently reading this delightful series..."Carolien, I read for the simply joy of it and the escapism it provides, which is why I mostly read fiction and th..."
Good for you! I need to remember that, especially in times of stress.
Judy wrote: "Susan wrote: "Not sure, 'reasonably entertaining,' is a ringing endorsement, Judy ;)"Yes, I suppose I am damning with faint praise! I shall be glad when I have finished ploughing through this one..."
Oh, dear, I enjoy Midsomer Murders and all, but wow!...
Judy wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "Judy wrote: "I’m about to start the Basil Thomson one. Just read a short story by him in one collection which was pretty good."I hope you like it - I like his clear, no-fuss, ..."
I thought so, too - and I thought it was timeless and realistic, having to worry about a slam dunk case, public opinion, etc. Satisfying ending, too - not drawn out and overly dramatic. I like Thomson’s style- his whole series is available on Scribd, I’ve saved his second book to read.
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Sounds good, Susan! I had Scribd on pause (I tend to have either Scribd or Kindle Unlimited at any one time!), but have reactivated my subscription now to read Basil Thomson and the next Ngaio Marsh, Swing, Brother, Swing.
I started the Basil Thomson, but so far am underwhelmed. The writing doesn't appeal and I don't understand all the acronyms.
Susan wrote: "I just finished re-reading, The A.B.C. Murders"Wow, you are ahead of the game Susan :)
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Susan wrote: "Not really, Adrian - I read the wrong book last month!"Ha ha, nice one Susan, I love your honesty.
Eat, Pray, Die came up on the kindle freebie thread in this group. I remembered a GR friend of mine liked it so I have just read.I liked it too, although it has very little connection with reality. The author is obviously a Stephanie Plum fan but not close enough to be called plagiarism. 4 weak ★ (probably helped by so far this year's reading has been a bit disappointing). I also like the witty titles & that she has stuck with a series design.
Do we put real life crimes here? I'm reading The Scene of the Crime by NZ journalist Steve Braunias. These are newspaper/magazine articles he wrote - & I'm afraid it shows. But the chapters on Mark Lundy & Antonie Dixon are absolutely compelling.
Judy wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "I thought so, too - and I thought it was timeless and realistic, having to worry about a slam dunk case, public opinion, etc..."Sounds good, Susan! I had Scribd on pause (I te..."
I don’t have Swing, Brother, Swing available through Scribd or my library, I ended up ordering a used paperback- should arrive this week (I hope).
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Sounds good, Susan! I had Scribd o..."
In my library (US) it is A Wreath for Rivera ... in case that is the problem.
Judy wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "Judy wrote: "I’m about to start the Basil Thomson one. Just read a short story by him in one collection which was pretty good."I hope you like it - I like his clear, no-fuss, ..."
I liked the way he kept the pace going - there’s always repetitive work in a police investigation (especially in these pre-technology books) - but I felt like Thomson kept things moving in a no-nonsense way, with a clear voice and dashes of dry humor.
Sandy wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "Judy wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "I thought so, too - and I thought it was timeless and realistic, having to worry about a slam dunk case, public opinion, etc..."Sounds good, S..."
Thank you, I found that out while doing a search! I was honestly surprised my library didn’t have a copy under either title - it might have been ancient and rather ragged, but I wouldn’t have minded. This way I’ll have my own copy, though; I really enjoyed the last Marsh, looking forward to this one! I’ve got a lot of catching up to do with the Marsh books, I think they are worth owning for rereads.
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Judy wrote: "Sounds like we should have plenty to discuss about Richardsonj's First Case later this week!"You’re right, I need to save it for later!
Judy wrote: "Sorry to hear the Marsh book wasn't on Scribd for you, Susan - I think I can get most of them via Scribd in the UK, although with other authors usually it is the other way round and quite a lot of ..."There were several Marsh books, but now they don’t come up; I’ve noticed that with scribd, book availability can vary.
Susan in NC wrote: "I’ve noticed that with scribd, book availability can vary. "I understand that happens with Kindle Unlimited, too. I did the Unlimited free trial a few years back and didn't see that they had enough books of interest to me to make it worth the subscription price. (Not that I don't spend enough on books as it is!)
Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "I’ve noticed that with scribd, book availability can vary. "I understand that happens with Kindle Unlimited, too. I did the Unlimited free trial a few years back and didn't se..."
I’ve become a fan of audiobooks in the last few years and have been pleasantly surprised to find a number of audiobooks on Scribd - but those can come and go as well - frustrating, when you’re sure you saw this or that book on Scribd, but then do a search and zilch! Ah, well - books are a cheaper addiction then shoes - that’s what I tell myself...
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I tend to be tempted by their special offers - I think I've had 3 free trials now, and then they offered me three months for £1.99.
They do have quite a few titles I am interested in, such as lots of British Library Crime Classics and authors like Michael Innes, but as I have so much else to read and time is always limited, I can't really justify belonging to both KU and Scribd at once!
Susan wrote: "I am currently reading Richardson's First Case and it does feel different to other early crime books. The birth of the police procedural?"That’s what I felt - brisk, no nonsense pace and tone, dry humor thrown in casually with ease.
I have just finished The Blank Wall by Elisabeth Sanxay Holding which gets shelved as a mystery, but I think is more of a suspense novel. I enjoyed it and found it compelling, but think suspense is more accurate as there is no wodunnit aspect, more a what happens next. It felt like a book written for the movies, and was made into a film in 1949 called The Reckless Moment. Really liked it. Raymond Chandler apparently thought she was one of the best suspense writers.
Just finished Michael Gilbert's Death In Captivity. Some of these Golden Age reprints are disappointing but this one was absolutely fantastic. Really taut and gripping. It reminded me of Where Eagles Dare, which is also both an exciting war thriller and a well-constructed whodunit. I can't understand why WED is so well-known while I had never heard of Death In Captivity or its author. Am hoping to read more of his. (It's also the second lucky strike for me in a row with WW2 adventures, after Ice Cold In Alex. Both are upbeat and not too grim - whereas books written now about WW2 are almost invariably very dark indeed.)
Judy wrote: "Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "I understand that happens with Kindle Unlimited, too. I did the Unlimited free trial a few years back and didn't see that they had enough books of interest to me..."I t..."
I know, me too. I agree, they wear you down with the special offers - I rejoined Audible to get one book I couldn’t get elsewhere, and I was going to cancel right after, yet here I am, going on a second month...*sigh*
Annabel wrote: "Just finished Michael Gilbert's Death In Captivity. Some of these Golden Age reprints are disappointing but this one was absolutely fantastic. Really taut and gripping. It reminded me of Where Eagl..."See, you all are just feeding my addiction here! So many great books, I want them all!
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In the BCC books, Martin Edwards always writes a little bit about how the style is very mannered and outdated, but it doesn't really bother me - not all that different from Wimsey or Campion to be honest!
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That's good to hear, Jan - maybe it will be released on Kindle in the UK too in the future.
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Reading the Detectives
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