What mysteries are you reading at the moment? Old thread Showing 4,351-4,400 of 4,475

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂]

I've wanted to read a Colin Cotterill for a while now & picked up The Coroner's Lunch while on holiday. I really enjoyed the start, but I'm just over the half way mark, & it is falling away for me a bit.

This won't put me off trying another Cotterill - first in series books are often a bit weak - & I love Laos. Would go back in a heartbeat.

[Bicky]

Judy wrote: "I'm halfway through our next group read, They Rang Up the Police by Joanna Cannan, which is very witty and readable - enjoying it so far."

When does this group read start?

[Sandy]

Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "I've wanted to read a Colin Cotterill for a while now & picked up The Coroner's Lunch while on holiday. I really enjoyed the start, but I'm just over the half way mark, & it is fallin..."

I've read the first three books and enjoyed the setting and characters. Sometimes there is a supernatural element that I don't like. I have the fourth on audio as someone mentioned that the humor comes through more in audio. We'll see if that is true but its a series I plan to continue, just not as avidly as others.

[Susan]

Bicky wrote: "Judy wrote: "I'm halfway through our next group read, They Rang Up the Police by Joanna Cannan, which is very witty and readable - enjoying it so far."

When does th..."

The main group reads start at the beginning of the month, Bicky. So we have one main group read and the challenge read. The extra, buddy reads, open mid-month - with the exception of the Poirot books, which were set up by a member of the group, and she opens those on the first of the month too.

You can find a list of all the current, and upcoming, reads at the very top of the discussion threads.

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

General Chat - Current and Upcoming Reads

Hope that helps!

[Judy]

Thanks, Susan, for posting the link to our post with the list of forthcoming reads. Lots of goodies in store. :)

Just a reminder that the next books coming up, on May 1, are the group read They Rang Up the Police by Joanna Cannan, the next book in the Inspector Alleyn challenge, Spinsters in Jeopardy by Ngaio Marsh, and the next Poirot buddy read, Cards on the Table.

[Bicky]

Susan and Judy, thank you.

[Susan in NC]

Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "I've wanted to read a Colin Cotterill for a while now & picked up The Coroner's Lunch while on holiday. I really enjoyed the start, but I'm just over the half way mark, & it is fallin..."

I read that last year and loved it - but I know what you mean, the characters and humor were terrific, but at the halfway point I felt like the mysteries were piling on and we weren’t making any progress!

I would definitely continue with this series, but as many of you say, I’m juggling several series and I love them all, some publish once a year, some not so much, and others you pick up along the way from recommendations from GR friends (yes, I’m blaming all of you for feeding my addiction...)

[Susan in NC]

Sandy wrote: "Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "I've wanted to read a Colin Cotterill for a while now & picked up The Coroner's Lunch while on holiday. I really enjoyed the start, but I'm just over th..."

I know what you mean about the supernatural touch, I just assumed the author was trying to reflect he spirituality of the people - not easy to keep alive in the face of the Communist government. I wondered if he’d keep that in future books.

[Gary]

Up next on my Kindle, Enter the Saint by Leslie Charteris. This is the first Saint book and is the first one I will have read.

[Hannah]

Bicky wrote: "In an attempt to google 'novels of a moral type' I also came across this list but I doubt Miss Tither's books would belong to a list of which the first three members are Nietzche, Paine and Machiav..."

Interesting discussion! I'm very much into collecting old novels, many of which are the sort of moral novels you mention. Many were Sunday School prizes for kids for perfect attendance or good grades (back in the days when Sunday School literally was a school to help with working kids and literacy!) and there were even several publishers founded to print this sort of thing. Others were used to illustrate facets of the Christian faith and were published in cheap editions to be used as tracts (Christie's Old Organ, Jessica's First Prayer, for instance).

I don't know of any that are traditionally published these days, though I think some are still being written as indie novels, particularly for kids. The only publisher I know of that's still in business is Thomas Nelson, which is now owned by HarperCollins and publishes Bibles and other various books, but definitely not the old sort of "moral novel."

[Carolien]

I've just completed Herbie's Game which is the fourth in this very entertaining series. I've loved the premise from the start. Junior Bender is a burglar who gets hired by other criminals to solve cases which they, for obvious reasons, cannot report to the police! This is not the best in the series, but it has a solid plot, lots of suspects (there are 3 - 5 hit-men and hit-women involved!) and quite a bit of life philosophy. Recommend this series if you enjoy Robert Crais or Robert B. Parker - it has a similar pace and humour.

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂]

Sandy wrote: "I've read the first three books and enjoyed the setting and characters. Sometimes there is a supernatural element that I don't like. I have the fourth on audio as someone mentioned that the humor comes through more in audio. We'll see if that is true but its a series I plan to continue, just not as avidly as others."

My library system carries more of the Jimm Jurree series than they do of the Doctor Suri, so I may try that. I'm so close to the finish on The Coroner's Lunch but I'm having to push myself to read it now.

[Adrian]

Gary wrote: "Up next on my Kindle, Enter the Saint by Leslie Charteris. This is the first Saint book and is the first one I will have read."

Hope you enjoy Gary, I love the Saint.

[Pamela]

I love The Saint too, I must reread some of those books.

Currently reading Landed Gently, #4 in the Inspector George Gently series.

[Susan]

I haven't read the Gently series, Pamela. I have looked at them before - perhaps I should push them up my TBR list?

[Pamela]

Susan wrote: "I haven't read the Gently series, Pamela. I have looked at them before - perhaps I should push them up my TBR list?"

I've read about 5 or 6 and they've been a mixed bag, but I like them as a quick undemanding read, and the 1950s setting is strong.

[Susan]

Thanks, Pamela. Will have another look.

[Jill]

Pamela wrote: "Susan wrote: "I haven't read the Gently series, Pamela. I have looked at them before - perhaps I should push them up my TBR list?"

I've read about 5 or 6 and they've been a mixed bag, but I like t..."

I have read the first 10. I enjoyed them all but I liked Gently best when he ate the peppermint creams in the first few.

[Judy]

I've been meaning to try one of the culinary mysteries which Gary and Elizabeth both recommended a while back - tonight I listened to the start of Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke, which is the first in the Hannah Swenson series. Quite enjoying it so far.

[Sandy]

Continuing the Falco series, a PI in Rome 70 AD, with Ode to a Banker

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Judy wrote: "I've been meaning to try one of the culinary mysteries which Gary and Elizabeth both recommended a while back - tonight I listened to the start of Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder by [a..."

Disclaimer: I think I didn't actually recommend this series, just noted that it has food at its core and I think contains recipes. I haven't read any of the installments.

[Jill]

They do contain recipes. My sister has read them and tried some of the recipes.

[Bicky]

Pamela wrote: "I love The Saint too, I must reread some of those books.

Currently reading Landed Gently, #4 in the Inspector George Gently series."

Just started on Gently Does It #1 and loved the Saint-but today? I have not reread him for years, but at one stage he used to be my favourite hero.

[Judy]

I was a bit surprised when one of the recipes in the Hannah Swenson book was read out on the audiobook, but I suppose otherwise listeners would miss out!

[Susan in NC]

Judy wrote: "I was a bit surprised when one of the recipes in the Hannah Swenson book was read out on the audiobook, but I suppose otherwise listeners would miss out!"

Ok, I’ve been a fair home cook and baker for years, but pretty sure I couldn’t whip up a recipe dictated to me! But you’re right, if readers expect it...my sister has read that series and enjoyed it, I’ll have to give it a try.

Just finished By Frequent Anguish for a challenge, it was meh, but before that, read Fire in the Thatch: A Devon Mystery for another challenge, it was excellent! Going to start Murder by Matchlight today.

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Susan in NC wrote: "Ok, I’ve been a fair home cook and baker for years, but pretty sure I couldn’t whip up a recipe dictated to me! "

Wouldn't you write it down as it was dictated?

[Judy]

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Disclaimer: I think I didn't actually recommend this series, just noted that it has food at its core and I think contains recipes. I haven't read any of the installments. .."

Well, thanks for mentioning them anyway. I'm enjoying it so far - I think she writes well.

[Judy]

I think I would be a bit nervous about copying down a recipe from dictation - but I suppose it would be OK if I slowed it down. I was very surprised to notice that Hannah seems to cook up a dish including egg shells, but I note the recipe didn't include the shells! Maybe I got the wrong end of the stick.

[Jill]

No good. Couldn't wait any longer. I have started London Rules !

[Susan in NC]

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "Ok, I’ve been a fair home cook and baker for years, but pretty sure I couldn’t whip up a recipe dictated to me! "

Wouldn't you write it down as it was dictated?"

Ok, good point, I think I’d have to!

[Susan in NC]

Judy wrote: "I think I would be a bit nervous about copying down a recipe from dictation - but I suppose it would be OK if I slowed it down. I was very surprised to notice that Hannah seems to cook up a dish in..."

I would be nervous as well - I’m not that fast! And yes,if it’s inaccurate or I hear it wrong (like The Telephone Game), who knows what you’d end up with!

[Bruce]

I loved the saint too. I only read a few of the books though. I’ll have to read more at some point. They were almost impossible to find at one point, but now most of them are available again on Amazon. The Saint is actually very different than Bond, even though people like to compare them because of Roger Moore. He’s much less rough, and he worked outside of and sometimes against the law, as I remember it. His appearance and personality are also different - humorous and less rough around the edges. More of a fit for an actor like Roger Moore or Pierce Brosnan (if he had played him) than Bond.

[Susan]

Jill wrote: "No good. Couldn't wait any longer. I have started London Rules !"

Hurrah! Love that one. Listening to Spinsters in Jeopardy and will then listen to London Rules.

[Annabel]

Two poor reads in a row for me. Murder In the Bookshop despite its fabulous cover turned out very amateurish and disappointing. One of those Golden Age crime books recently unearthed from deserved obscurity where it should have stayed.

And ditto for The Mystery of Tunnel 51 which was written in the 1920s and set in India. It starts off with a promisingly gripping murder in a railway tunnel in the Indian mountains but rapidly plunges into a sub-Bulldog Drummond jolly jape of a whodunit, with two hearty male detective friends and their adoring wives. I couldn't get past the fourth chapter and I don't give up on things easily.

[Judy]

Sorry to hear Murder in the Bookshop and The Mystery of Tunnel 51 disappointed despite their great covers, Annabel.

I'm currently underway with Head of a Traveller by Nicholas Blake, a forthcoming buddy read.

[Jill]

I've finished Spinsters in Jeopardy Now starting Cards on the Table

[Sandy]

I've started Mycroft and Sherlock, second in the series based, loosely, on Holmes' older brother and written by a retired US basketball player (which is what drew my significant other to the series in the first place).

[Tania]

I've started reading Crocodile on the Sandbank, the first in the Amelia Peabody books. I've had it for a while, but only just getting to it.

[ShanDizzy]

Sandy wrote: "I've started Mycroft and Sherlock, second in the series based, loosely, on Holmes' older brother and written by a retired US basketball player (which is what drew my significant oth..."

Sandy, I read the first and feel that Kareem did a respectable job on these books.

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Tania wrote: "I've started reading Crocodile on the Sandbank, the first in the Amelia Peabody books. I've had it for a while, but only just getting to it."

I enjoyed that. I have some others in the series, but haven't gotten to them yet.

[Tania]

I have several of the books, bought for 50p in a charity shop. I'm not enjoying it as much as I thought I would. I'm finding the feisty emancipated female trope a bit cliched. I do realise I'm doing the author a disservice here, as she was probably one of the first people to come up with it. Much like accusing Agatha Christie of being formulaic. (She invented the formula).

[Judy]

I've finished the next Nicholas Blake buddy read book, Head of a Traveller, and have mixed feelings about it - I really liked some aspects but not others. I think it should make for an interesting discussion.

I'm now under way with another forthcoming buddy read, Death of a Hollow Man by Caroline Graham - an enjoyable start, though I'm not very far in as yet.

[Susan]

Yes, definitely not the best Nicholas Blake to start with. A couple of very uncomfortable things about this book, as there are with quite a few GA authors, to be honest.

[Bicky]

Susan wrote: "Yes, definitely not the best Nicholas Blake to start with. A couple of very uncomfortable things about this book, as there are with quite a few GA authors, to be honest."

Then, which would be the best Nicholas Blake book to start with?

[ShanDizzy]

Judy wrote: "I've finished the next Nicholas Blake buddy read book, Head of a Traveller, and have mixed feelings about it - I really liked some aspects but not others. I think it should make for..."

Judy, I too had mixed feelings about Head of a Traveller when I read it but it was intriguing enough that I couldn't put it down until I had finished it. It deals with some gruesome issues and the views of them in that time period.

[Susan in NC]

Just finishing up the latest in one of my favorite historical mystery series, , then on to either , or , depending on my mood, and how many “darlings” I can stomach after that first chapter of the Canaan book! Might feel more like straight-up evil, with Mr. Shaitana and Poirot & Co.

[Tara]

Working my way through another true crime story, Tinseltown: Murder, Morphine, and Madness at the Dawn of Hollywood , about the murder of a Hollywood director in the 1920s. Mixed feelings so far, but a good narrative style, and you get the perspective of a lot of different people, supposedly taken from contemporaneous sources.

[Jill]

Just starting Revenger by Rory Clements The second in the John Shakespeare series

[Judy]

Bicky wrote: "Then, which would be the best Nicholas Blake book to start with? .."

I thought the first couple in the series were very good, if you fancy reading in order - the first one is A Question of Proof and the second one is Thou Shell of Death.

[Bicky]

Judy wrote: "Bicky wrote: "Then, which would be the best Nicholas Blake book to start with? .."

I thought the first couple in the series were very good, if you fancy reading in order - the first one is [book:A..."

Thanks.