What mysteries are you reading at the moment? Old thread Showing 4,401-4,450 of 4,457

[Susan]

Is the Death of Jezebel available in the US, Elizabeth? It is very difficult to get hold of here.

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Susan wrote: "Is the Death of Jezebel available in the US, Elizabeth? It is very difficult to get hold of here."

I got this edition Death of Jezebel for $1.99 in February. It is still available at $7.99 and another, Death of Jezebel, for $5.99. (Not sure why there are 2 Kindle editions and at different prices!) But the hardcover is very dear: $528.00. I don't know what it is about that - maybe it's on gold-leafed paper or something.

[Judy]

I've just been looking up Death of Jezebel and looks as if the only way to get it in the UK without spending a fortune is on a CD audiobook - these are available on other sites more cheaply than on Amazon, but still pretty pricey!

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Judy wrote: "I've just been looking up Death of Jezebel and looks as if the only way to get it in the UK without spending a fortune is on a CD audiobook - these are available on other sites more cheaply than on..."

I did not look at the audio editions, Judy. I don't do audio, so didn't think of checking the US price.

[Susan]

Well, I have managed to track down my copy of Death of Jezebel and will happily loan it to you, Judy, should you wish to read it.

It is good to hear it is on kindle in the US at least. Perhaps we will, eventually, get it released here.

[Judy]

Very kind of you, Susan - I have lots to read at the moment but may take you up on it in the future. :)

If anyone in the UK does want to get hold of the audible CD version, looks as if it is much cheaper buying direct from the US Amazon rather than the UK site! I do hope that all of these are soon released on Kindle here too - I know it is down to rights, but it is a bit frustrating that so many books are only on Kindle in some countries and not others.

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Today I will start Who Killed Palomino Molero?. I am somewhat amused, as I am definitely reading this Peruvian author in English, but choose it now because it won a Ukrainian translation award.

This wonderful detective novel is set in Peru in the 1950s. Near an Air Force base in the northern desert, a young airman is found murdered. Lieutenant Silva and Officer Lituma investigate. Lacking a squad car, they have to cajole a local cabbie into taking them to the scene of the crime. Their superiors are indifferent; the commanding officer of the air base stands in their way; but Silva and Lituma are determined to uncover the truth.

Who Killed Palomino Molero, an entertaining and brilliantly plotted mystery, takes up one of Vargas Llosa’s characteristic themes: the despair at how hard it is to be an honest man in a corrupt society.

[Marwan]

Started reading Innocent Graves by Peter Robinson

[Susan]

Reading Your Deepest Fear Latest in a series, set in Liverpool, which I love. Both the author, and the city...

[Judy]

I wasn't getting on very fast with listening to the audio book of The Floating Admiral, a novel which was written in segments by a number of members of the Detection Club, so I have now switched to reading the Kindle version. I'm enjoying the way the writers pick up on each other's ideas.

[Susan]

I've also started Whisper Network which is very topical.

[Jill]

I have finished Revenger by Rory Clements
Now starting The House on Cold Hill by Peter James. I have read a few of this author's crime series and want to see what his horror mystery is like.

[Judy]

Whisper Network certainly looks very topical, Susan!

[Susan]

Yes, not quite sure what I think of it yet. There seems to be an idea that women are supportive to each other, in the workplace, which I must say I have not always found to be the case :)

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Susan wrote: "Yes, not quite sure what I think of it yet. There seems to be an idea that women are supportive to each other, in the workplace, which I must say I have not always found to be the case :)"

Yes, a workplace made up entirely of women is not a happy place.

[Annabel]

Having visited the Long Mynd in Shropshire during the long weekend, I'm planning a complete reread of Malcolm Saville's Lone Pine mysteries. I've still got most of them from my childhood. I used to adore them and fell in love with the Shropshire hills as a result.
Malcolm Saville

[Jan C]

Started The Mystery of the Blue Train this week. Also, The Case of the Curious Bride.

[Gary]

Jan C wrote: "Started The Mystery of the Blue Train this week. Also, The Case of the Curious Bride."

I just found my real book version of Blue Train, part of a Mystery Guild omnibus. Also found 2 or 3 of my Perry Mason paperbacks.
I probably will not read the Mason series in series order.

Still working my way through Enter the Saint. Really enjoyed the first of the three stories. Just started the second story.

[Judy]

I'm up to the Sayers section of The Floating Admiral now and finding it noticeably better than most of the sections by other writers that I've read so far. An interesting curiosity, but I don't really think it lives up to the individual books I've read by the contributors, not surprisingly!

[Sandy]

I'm in one of those times when everything is 'due' at once. I have started London Rules for our buddy read but haven't started our other mid-month buddy read nor Cards on the Table. I've put aside Mycroft and Sherlock as it can be renewed from the library (though by now I may have to start rom the beginning!). Then my request for The Stone Circle appeared at the library so that needs to be next. I did zip thru Royal Blood on audio: the epitome of a frothy read. I also have my next Sebastian St Cyr book out of the library, untouched and already renewed once. I may just return it unopened.

It sounds like I'm complaining but too many books really isn't a bad problem.

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Will start today Death Of A Hollow Man in readiness for the buddy read.

[Judy]

Sounds like you have your hands full with books, Sandy! As you say, not a bad problem.

Hope you enjoy Death of a Hollow Man, Elizabeth - looking forward to our discussion.

[Sandy]

A day of laundry and other household duties allowed me to start Cards on the Table on audio. Hugh Fraser narrates and I like the book's concept so am a happy listener.

[Jan C]

Started A Morbid Taste for Bones last night. Previously started Death at the Dog, Joanna Cannan's second Northeast story.

[Gary]

Currently at the 14% point of Too Many Cooks by Rex Stout. The 5th book in the Nero Wolfe series.

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Gary wrote: "Currently at the 14% point of Too Many Cooks by Rex Stout. The 5th book in the Nero Wolfe series."

That was a good one!

[Jemima]

I’m reading The Tuscan Child by Rhys Bowen. It’s just turned into a murder mystery and a thriller with a dual plot, 1973 and 1944. I’m finding it compelling. I had always struggled to read other books by this author which although amusing were not gripping enough in plot for me. I’m listening to this one on Audible. Beautifully acted. Absolutely loving it.

[Judy]

Ooh, I've been meaning to read The Tuscan Child, Jemima, after really enjoying In Farleigh Field - I thought this might be a sequel, but I see they are both standalones.

[Judy]

I'm currently reading Death Sees Most Of The Game by our own Annabel Frazer - it is set around Wimbledon, so ideal for this time of year, with the big tennis tournament coming up in a few weeks!

[Jemima]

I was referring to The Royal Spyness books that I wasn’t too sure I liked. But Fairleigh Field looks like another read I would like. There is a short story she wrote on a Christmas theme that might be a lovely read for December.

[Jill]

Started The Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman. Says it is a mystery but we shall see. Seems more of a YA book at the moment, which is ok,but hoping it isn't too obvious.

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Jill wrote: "Started The Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman. Says it is a mystery but we shall see. Seems more of a YA book at the moment, which is ok,but hoping it isn't too ..."

It is shelved by more than 300 GR users as Young Adult, which doesn't make it so, but is indicative.

[Frances]

I've just started Full Disclosure, a legal thriller written by the former Chief Justice of Canada, Beverley McLaghlin. So far it's pretty good, and quite minimally grisly.

[Judy]

Jemima wrote: "I was referring to The Royal Spyness books that I wasn’t too sure I liked. But Fairleigh Field looks like another read I would like. There is a short story she wrote on a Christmas theme that might..."

I haven't tried Royal Spyness, but I really like her series about Evan Evans, a Welsh constable living in a small village - great ones to listen to on audible as the Welsh reader (Roger Clark, I think) has a wonderful speaking voice, though sadly he has only done the first three. I'll bear the Christmas story in mind for later in the year. :)

[Marwan]

Started reading Hit List by Lawrence Block

[Annabel]

Judy wrote: "I'm currently reading Death Sees Most Of The Game by our own Annabel Frazer - it is set around Wimbledon, so ideal ..."

If I could do emojis on here, I'd do some heart ones, Judy. I hope you enjoy it.

[Annabel]

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Jill wrote: "Started The Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman. Says it is a mystery but we shall see. Seems more of a YA book at the moment, which is ok,but hoping ..."

This is as spooky as an invisible library because I picked up this same book in a charity shop last week and am halfway through it. It feels YA to me too. It's distinctly reminiscent of Connie Willis's wonderful To Say Nothing Of The Dog in style but certain plot elements, particularly the use of fairies, also remind me of Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell.

So far, it's mildly enjoyable rather than outstanding, but it's keeping me turning the pages, so it must be doing something right.

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

I finished Death Of A Hollow Man, and look forward to the discussion.

Later, I will start Smaller and Smaller Circles by F.H. Batacan. This is one I didn't know about until a fellow in my challenge group claimed it for Philippines' Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Award. It is relatively short at ~155 pages, and substituting it will allow me to fit in something else I might not have gotten to before the end of the month (Like probably Tenant for Death, the group read I nominated!)

Smaller and Smaller Circles is unique in the Philippine literary scene - a Pinoy detective novel, both fast-paced and intelligent, with a Jesuit priest who also happens to be a forensic anthropologist as the sleuth. When it won the Carlos Palanca Grand Prize for the English Novel in 1999, it proved that fiction can be both popular and literary.

F.H. Batacan has a degree in Broadcast Communication and a master's degree in Art Studies, both from the University of the Philippines in Diliman. She has worked as a policy researcher, broadcast journalist, web designer, and musician, and is currently a journalist based in Singapore. She previously won a prize for her short story "Door 59" in the 1997 Palanca awards, and her work has appeared in local magazines, as well as in the online literary magazine Web del Sol.

[Bicky]

Elizabeth, Smaller and Smaller Circles appears to be fantastic. Let us now how it reads.

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Bicky wrote: "Elizabeth, Smaller and Smaller Circles appears to be fantastic. Let us now how it reads."

It is longer than I thought - that 155 pages is the Student Edition, which I didn't notice. It also would in no way fall into the category that GA readers prefer. Not bloody, but grisly murders. I'm about 15% in - good characterization and writing style.

[Jill]

Having finished a book concerning dragons and mechanical alligators, I am starting Murder in the Mews by Agatha Christie to get back to a world I understand (?)

[Rosina]

I am (re-)reading Three Bags Full. And appreciating the utter sheepishness of it all.

The book starts with the death of the shepherd.

"He was healthy yesterday," said Maude. Her ears twitched nervously.

"That doesn't mean anything," pointed out Sir Richfield, the oldest ram in the flock. "He didn't die of an illness. Spades are not an illness."

[Jill]

Rosina wrote: "I am (re-)reading Three Bags Full. And appreciating the utter sheepishness of it all.

The book starts with the death of the shepherd.

"He was healthy yesterday," said Maude. Her ea..."


Looks different.

[Susan]

Reading Joe Country and Conviction
My cup runneth over...

[Gary]

Having finished Enter the Saint by Leslie Charteris on my Kindle, I am now reading Killer's Choice by Ed McBain, the 5th 87th Precinct novel and the book that introduces detective Cotton Hawes.

[Tania]

I have just finished The Blotting Book by E.F. Benson. The culprit was pretty obvious, but the story was still good. Not up there with his Mapp And Lucia (Complete Collection) books though. They'd take some beating, in fairness.

[Susan in NC]

Tania wrote: "I have just finished The Blotting Book by E.F. Benson. The culprit was pretty obvious, but the story was still good. Not up there with his [book:Mapp And Lucia (Com..."

Very true - I am a Luciaphile as well! I have read a few of Benson’s other books, but they were social comedies in the Lucia vein. I understand he wrote widely though, in several genres - I’ll have to see if I can find some of his other stuff.

[Susan in NC]

I just started A Death of No Importance on the recommendation of a GR friend- so far, very interesting historical mystery.

[Tania]

Susan, The Blotting Book is in the public domain, the copy I read was a free kindle copy. I have also enjoyed a few of his Ghost stories, this is the first mystery I've read by him. I'm not sure if he has written others.

[Susan in NC]

Thanks! The other Benson books I’ve read were lucky finds at a charity book sale years ago: Paying Guests and Secret Lives. If you like Lucia, you might enjoy them. I saw on the Blotting Book page, under “Books by EF Benson”, he had horror stories, mysteries, comedies, biographies- very wide interests!