What mysteries are you reading at the moment? Old thread Showing 4,401-4,450 of 4,475

[Bicky]

I am reading Coffin, Scarcely Used in preparation of reading Bump in the Night with the group and similarly The Killings at Badger's Drift.

Coffin is replete with comic descriptions.

[Judy]

We've read both Coffin, Scarcely Used and The Killings at Badger's Drift here fairly recently, Bicky - the threads are still open if you want to comment. Hope you enjoy them both - real dedication to slot them in first! :)

[Bicky]

Judy wrote: "...Hope you enjoy them both - real dedication to slot them in first! :) "

What other choice do I have? And presumably it will not be an effort because the group must have liked the first books and I trust this group's taste!

[Jan C]

Tara wrote: "Working my way through another true crime story, Tinseltown: Murder, Morphine, and Madness at the Dawn of Hollywood [bookcover:Tinseltown: Murder, Morphine, and Madness at the Dawn ..."

I need to get back to that one.

[Susan]

Bicky wrote: "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..."

If, like me, you prefer to start a series from the beginning, then that would be A Question of Proof
The most famous in the series, which works well as a stand alone is The Beast Must Die, although I don't think it's my favourite - which is probably Malice in Wonderland or Minute for Murder

[Bicky]

Susan wrote: "...If, like me, you prefer to start a series from the beginning, then that would be A Question of Proof
The most famous in the series, which works well as a stand alone is The Beast Must Die, although I don't think it's my favourite - which is probably Malice in Wonderland or Minute for Murder"

Thanks, Susan. Normally I do like to read a series in order but having read A Question of Proof in my wasteful and memory-less youth I think I will start this time with Minute for Murder as it the one immediately preceding Head of a Traveler and is one of your favourites.

[Bicky]

Loved Coffin, Scarcely Used but failed to appreciate The Killings at Badger's Drift. Perhaps, the plot was familiar from an episode of Midsomer Murders. On checking I have discovered that it was the pilot.

Onto Blake and Marsh.

[Judy]

I think you will be fine jumping in with A Minute for Murder, Bicky. :)

[Susan]

I am really enjoying The Killings at Badger's Drift but I have never seen Midsomer Murders.

Bicky, look forward to hearing your thoughts on Nicholas Blake.

[Jemima]

Just started ‘A Pocketful of Rye’ one of my favorites

[Lady Clementina]

Jemima wrote: "Just started ‘A Pocketful of Rye’ one of my favorites"

I like that one too.

[Bicky]

I am reading They All Fall Down by Rachel Howzell Hall. Guess which novel this is a take on? The epigraph is:

'Best of an island is once you get there—you can’t go any further … you’ve come to the end of things.
AGATHA CHRISTIE, AND THEN THERE WERE NONE'

[Susan]

Bicky wrote: "I am reading They All Fall Down by Rachel Howzell Hall. Guess which novel this is a take on? The epigraph is:

'Best of an island is once you get there—you can’t go ..."

Lots of one star reviews on Amazon, so I think I'll give that one a miss! You have to say, though, that it's a great plot idea and I wonder whether Christie was the first to think of it, or whether it had been used before?

[Bruce]

I finished Moriarty by Anthony Horowitz a week ago. I really enjoyed it, but have mixed thoughts on it, including some inconsistencies with the original Holmes stories, which may have been intentional, but weren’t explained. All the more baffling as it was “authorized” by the Doyle estate. I still thought it was one of the better non-Doyle Holmes-related books (it wasn’t actually about Sherlock).

[Susan in NC]

Trying to wrap up They Rang Up the Police, which I was really getting into and enjoying Northeast’s refreshing youthful attitude, but now it seems to be floundering a bit, like not sure how to wrap it up. Also started Cards on the Table, I always enjoy my Poirot revisits. And we get Battle, Race, and Ariadne Oliver as bonuses — my GA cup runneth over!

[Judy]

I'm reading Suddenly at His Residence, the third Inspector Cockrill mystery by Christianna Brand.
I bought this one secondhand a while ago, and am enjoying it so far - even though it is a very dysfunctional family in a country house!

I've just noticed that several of her detective stories are now available on Kindle in the UK, including this one under a different title, The Crooked Wreath. They are quite expensive for Kindle books, though, around £7/£8 each. Oddly, they all say they were published in 2011, although they were not available when I've looked them up before. Maybe the others will turn up soon on Kindle too!

[Susan]

I think they were expensive when I got them, Judy. The fourth one, Death of Jezebel, is not in print - I read it some years ago, but have no idea where it is and it's very expensive to replace. The only copy on Amazon is about £75 and I think I paid nearly that when I brought it, ages ago.

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

I have #3-5 on my Kindle. I must have gotten them cheaply.

[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.