Do you like reading Mysteries?

[John]

Jean, coming back to 'whodunits' ', it sounded as if you hadn't heard of the phrase, whereas I thought it was the usual word used, certainly in my youth (before your time!) for what are now called Golden Age mysteries. In contrast to the Chandler, Spillane type, called hard-boiled. There's a very good Wikipedia page 'whodunits' page, which mentions the usual authors, but also others less well know ones such as Nicholas Blake and Christianna Brand, two I have not read but who have been recommended in this thread recently.

[Leslie]

Jean wrote: "I'll have a look for Maj Sjowall, thanks Heather :) Yes, I enjoyed the Peter James I tried (the first one!) - not for the claustrophobic though!! There's plenty to ..."

Jean, I would second Heather's recommendation of the Martin Beck mysteries (written by a husband-and-wife team, Per Wahlöö and Maj Sjöwall, in the late 1960s/early 70s). I have also become a fan of the Arnaldur Indriðason books that Gill mentioned (I think she was part of the readalong that got me hooked on those!).

Have you read any of Louise Penny's mysteries? They are set in southern Canada, mostly in the province of Quebec. I think you would like them.

Christianna Brand's Inspector Cockrill books are quite good but I tend to like the older Golden Age mysteries more than you do.

[Leslie]

Jean wrote: "Ah, a prequel, I see. So what is Digital Fortress, Charbel? Is that not in the Robert Langdon series perhaps?"

That is a stand-alone. I liked it more than the Robert Langdon books, but it is just as preposterous in places. You have to be willing to suspend your disbelief in order to enjoy Dan Brown!

[John]

Also just to mention Raymond Chandler (who I love) again: American, classless, and hard-boiled maybe, but like P G Wodehouse, Denis Wheatley, C S Forester, Simon Brett, Graham Swift, and (me!), he went to that most English of schools in South London, Dulwich College! Born in Chicago, he moved to England at the age of seven.

[[deleted user]]

I enjoyed Dan Browns books but I definitely agree about suspending belief. Digital fortress and Deception Point aren't as good as the Langdon books but they are still good mysteries. Some people dismiss the books as poor literature but I think they are interesting books and well researched. I've yet to read The Lost Symbol or Inferno. I won't read Inferno until I've finished reading Dante's inferno in many years time!

[Bionic Jean]

John - I have heard the term "whodunnits". Sorry if I misled you. I think of it as an old-fashioned description though (and no, I'm not getting at you with that! :D I think I worked out once that I'm a year older than you!)

Yes, I recommend Nicholas Blake (C.Day Lewis)

Leslie - I haven't read any of those authors, no...

[Gill]

John wrote: "Jean, coming back to 'whodunits' ', it sounded as if you hadn't heard of the phrase, whereas I thought it was the usual word used, certainly in my youth (before your time!) for what are now called ..."

My view of a 'who dunnit' is that it's a book where the reader can work out who the criminal is by the info the author gives in the book, before the author gives this away at the end. Somewhere, and it related to someone who came up in a completely different context in this group, is a list of rules for detective books. I'll see if I can find it online.

[Gill]

Here's a link re the rules. Ronald Knox is very interesting in general, check him out on Wikipedia maybe.

http://metrowir.com/2013/06/21/the-te...

[Melissa]

My recommendation P.J. Tracy's Monkeewrench series. A team of oddball characters who reside in the Minneapolis area. Very well written. My second is A Great Deliverance by Elizabeth George (A Thomas Lynley Series). Also well written. And humorous is the Martha Grimes's Richard Jury Series.

[LauraT]

"Categorization" is always complicated and, in the end, too personal even if it has "general" ambitions!

[John]

Gill - thank you. But LOL at this. One very famous Agatha Christie novel falls foul of this list, doesn't it!

[John]

Jean - younger in spirit and energy, then!

[Bionic Jean]

Aw *blushes* thanks John (I think...) But aren't I a candidate for the "wise elder" of the group after all then? LOL You are far too much of a gentleman to ask, but I was born in the year of the coronation, in case I've got it wrong!

Gill - I laughed a lot at that :D

More great recommendations every time I revisit this thread, thanks! Have you read all of Elizabeth George's mysteries, Melissa?

[Charbel]

Jean wrote: "Ah, a prequel, I see. So what is Digital Fortress, Charbel? Is that not in the Robert Langdon series perhaps?"

No, it has nothing to do with the Langdon books.I personally didn't find it that good.
Another novel that's different form the Langdon books is Deception Point which I plan to read soon.

[Melissa]

Jean, yes, all of them. Even the last three, not my favorites, but trapped in the series. I still love her characters and George's writing. Now as to The Moonstone and The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins; they are my favorite mysteries from my youth. In recent history, Stieg Larsson, his trilogy is the best that has crossed my path. Maybe in five years I'll read that series again.

[John]

Jean

[John]

Try again!

Jean, 1949 for me, I'm afraid.

Which is the best Nicholas Blake to start with - is there a hero/detective in a series?

[Dhanaraj]

Two names have been in my mind for some time and I thought it would be better to mention here. They are: Benjamin Black and Dan Kavanagh. Has anyone read any of their books in this genre?

[Bionic Jean]

Melissa - that's what I've gathered from others' comments. I've only read one that I remember. But I do love the expression "trapped in the series" and wonder how often that applies! I concur about Wilkie Collins :) But Stieg Larsson... I felt obliged to finish these for a readalong, but am heartily glad there aren't 10 as initially planned (although of course his was a tragic death :( )

Sorry - no, Dhanaraj.

John - I was listening! You didn't have to say it twice! LOL. And of course I bow to your seniority in that case ;)

[Bionic Jean]

John - C. Day Lewis writing as Nicholas Blake wrote the novels about Nigel Strangeways, an amateur investigator in the "gentleman detective" mould. Here's a list of the novels in order:

A Question of Proof (1935)
Thou Shell of Death (1936) (also published as Shell of Death)
There's Trouble Brewing (1937)
The Beast Must Die (1938)
The Smiler With The Knife (1939)
Malice in Wonderland (1940) (US title: The Summer Camp Mystery)
The Case of the Abominable Snowman (1941) (also published as The Corpse in the Snowman)
Minute for Murder (1947)
Head of a Traveller (1949)
The Dreadful Hollow (1953)
The Whisper in the Gloom (1954) (also published as Catch and Kill)
A Tangled Web (1956) (also published as Death and Daisy Bland)
End of Chapter (1957)
A Penknife in my Heart (1958)
The Widow's Cruise (1959)
The Worm of Death (1961)
The Deadly Joker (1963)
The Sad Variety (1964)
The Morning After Death (1966)
The Private Wound (1968)

I think they vary, but that you'd enjoy the good ones! I've reviewed a couple, and particularly like The Beast Must Die and The Smiler With the Knife. I've heard that Malice in Wonderland is also very good - I have it as "Murder with Malice" in a UK paperback:)

[LauraT]

Melissa wrote: "Jean, yes, all of them. Even the last three, not my favorites, but trapped in the series. I still love her characters and George's writing. Now as to The Moonstone and [book:The Woma..."
How I agree!

[John]

Jean - thank you. Just bought The Beast Must Die, and Minute For Murder, on Kindle. They look good, and I will read them soon. Ta.

[Jenny]

Dhanaraj wrote: "Two names have been in my mind for some time and I thought it would be better to mention here. They are: Benjamin Black and Dan Kavanagh. Has anyone read any of thei..."

I haven't but always been meaning to Dhanaraj! Pseudonyms for John Banville and Julian Barnes right? I imagine they do the hybrid-thing between literary and genre fiction really well. I am particularly looking forward to trying Julian Barnes aka Dan Kavanagh. I generally struggle with John Banville, but maybe his mysteries I like? Have you tried them yet Dhanaraj?

[Dhanaraj]

@ Jenny: I have not read them. I imagine they do the hybrid-thing between literary and genre fiction really well. That is the reason for my curiosity too.

[Alannah]

I don't think I have had much experience with mysteries, but I really do want to try the Agatha Christie books.

[Dhanaraj]

Alannah wrote: "I don't think I have had much experience with mysteries, but I really do want to try the Agatha Christie books."

Try one of her books. Her books are not that fatty and I love Christie for her analysis of characters. After trying out a book, you can decide for yourself. I would advise you strongly to try at least one of her books. My suggestion would be: Murder on the Orient Express.

[Alannah]

Dhanaraj wrote: "Alannah wrote: "I don't think I have had much experience with mysteries, but I really do want to try the Agatha Christie books."

Try one of her books. Her books are not that fatty ..."

It's on the to-read list, thanks.

[LauraT]

Dhanaraj wrote: "Alannah wrote: "I don't think I have had much experience with mysteries, but I really do want to try the Agatha Christie books."

Try one of her books. Her books are not that fatty ..."

I Agree

[Kalena]

Jenny wrote: "Great thread Jean!

I have to say that until discovering Henning Mankell's Wallender series, I thought I didn't like mysterys much. To this day I am really a Scandinavian girl when i..."

I am reading my first Henning Mankell book, The Man from Beijing and really like it. I really enjoy international mysteries and often feel like I am living in the wrong part of the world...

Started my reading life with Arthur Conan Doyle, Nancy Drew (Carolyn Keene) and Encyclopedia Brown (Donald J. Sobol), Agatha Christie.

Grew into Patricia Cornwell, Kathy Reichs, Lillian Jackson Braun, and P.D. James.

Favorites now: Louise Penny, Jo Nesbø, Kate Atkinson, Jussi Adler-Olsen, Charles Todd, Alan Bradley, and Keigo Higashino.

Want to read: Donna Leon, Tim Downs, Steven James, David Downing, John Dunning, E. E. Kennedy, E. E. Kennedy, Arnaldur Indriðason, Colin Cotterill, and Elly Griffiths.

I have always loved mysteries--the more witty, clever, and surprising the better. Although I can stomach them, I do not care for excessive violent or sexual descriptions (shock factor). It is great when the book is historically accurate as well. I am excited to see new names to look up and welcome any suggestions if you have similar interests. Thanks!

[LauraT]

Mysteries are my summer food! Now that I'm at the seaside I read almost only mysteries!!!
I've enjoyed White Heat and La bambina con la neve tra i capelli - both set in very cold climates!!!! - and quite liking The Last Fix

[Amber]

I enjoy the Pizza Lover's mysteries by Chris Cavender, the Virals series by Kathy Reichs is pretty good, the Stephanie Plum series is pretty good, and I read two by Joyce Carol Oates the Chalk Girl and winter house and they are pretty good too.

[Leslie]

Kalena wrote: "Started my reading life with Arthur Conan Doyle, Nancy Drew (Carolyn Keene) and Encyclopedia Brown (Donald J. Sobol), Agatha Christie..."

Nice list of authors (both read & to-be-read) Kalena! In your TBR list, I will highly recommend Arnaldur Indriðason although several of the others are pretty good too.

[LauraT]

Leslie wrote: "Kalena wrote: "Started my reading life with Arthur Conan Doyle, Nancy Drew (Carolyn Keene) and Encyclopedia Brown (Donald J. Sobol), Agatha Christie..."

Nice list of authors (both read & to-be-rea..."

I do agree

[Kalena]

Leslie wrote: "Kalena wrote: "Started my reading life with Arthur Conan Doyle, Nancy Drew (Carolyn Keene) and Encyclopedia Brown (Donald J. Sobol), Agatha Christie..."

Nice list of authors (both read & to-be-rea..."

Thanks! I always appreciate recommendations. Also, I just finished The Man from Beijing which is a stand-alone by Henning Mankell (Swedish). It was decent--not great, but good. Will check out his Kurt Wallander series.

[Hadel]

Anyone can advise a good new mystery book that could have supernatural, or sci fi or thriller ... like PD James, Dean Koontz and Michael Palmer?

Thank you and all the best,
Hadel

[Genia]

Hadel wrote: "Anyone can advise a good new mystery book that could have supernatural, or sci fi or thriller ... like PD James, Dean Koontz and Michael Palmer?

Thank you and all the best,
Hadel"

One word - Dresden

[Hadel]

Genia wrote: "Hadel wrote: "Anyone can advise a good new mystery book that could have supernatural, or sci fi or thriller ... like PD James, Dean Koontz and Michael Palmer?

Thank you and all the best,
Hadel"

..."

Thanks, will check it out ;-)