What mysteries are you reading at the moment? Old thread, 2019-2020 Showing 1,001-1,050 of 1,516

[Colin]

Leslie wrote: "I just finished a Christianna Brand book - Death of Jezebel. Very good twist on the 'locked room' mystery and extremely devious solution!"

Not the easiest book to find, in an affordable form anyway. I've had a copy of this sitting unread on my shelves for years now. I always seem to end up saving it for later.

[Jill]

Just about to start The Heresy of Dr Dee by Phil Rickman I read the first book The Bones of Avalon a couple of weeks ago so thought I would read the follow up Still in the reign of Queen Bess, but the Welsh Border rather than Glastonbury.

[Leslie]

Colin wrote: "Leslie wrote: "I just finished a Christianna Brand book - Death of Jezebel. Very good twist on the 'locked room' mystery and extremely devious solution!"

Not the easiest book to fi..."

I borrowed the ebook from Hoopla. At the moment, they seem to have most of the Inspector Cockerill books. They used to have all the Appleby books by Michael Innes but no longer (or at least not available to me through my library's subscription) so I wanted to take advantage of it while I could!

[Tara]

The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton, described as "Gosford Park" meets "Groundhog Day" by way of Agatha Christie. What's not to like?

[Icewineanne]

Love Ann Cleeves Vera series. Went back to read her 1st book in her 1st series.
Here’s my brief review;

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

[Sandy]

I'm reading the final book in the Phryne Fisher series, Murder and Mendelssohn. Always a bit bittersweet to finish a series.

[Gary]

My current mystery list:

On my Nook Santa Puppy by Lynn Cahoon

On my Kindle Braking for Bodies by Duffy Brown

Audible listen Over the Edge by Jonathan Kellerman Alex Delaware #3

[Rosina]

My reading, at the moment:

Kindle:

Audible: ;

and paperback: . This is one of my favourites, being read for cosiness.

[Tania]

I have recently finished Unnatural Death I preferred this one to the 2 previous Lord Peter Wimsey books, so I'm looking forward to the next one.

[Carolien]

Sandy wrote: "I'm reading the final book in the Phryne Fisher series, Murder and Mendelssohn. Always a bit bittersweet to finish a series."

It always feels like you are saying goodbye to a good friend. I think that is why I sometimes put off reading the last book for ages.

[Jill]

Carolien wrote: "Sandy wrote: "I'm reading the final book in the Phryne Fisher series, Murder and Mendelssohn. Always a bit bittersweet to finish a series."

It always feels like you are saying good..."

That's what I have done with Tombland by C.J. Sansom I really don't want the series to end

[Colin]

I've finished Michael Gilbert's Death Has Deep Roots and it was a great read.
Now I'm moving on to The White Cockatoo , which will be my first book by Mignon G Eberhart.

[Jill]

I have just started Taken at the Flood for the group read. A bit late but I do find Christie's books are very quick to read.

[Leslie]

Jill wrote: "I have just started Taken at the Flood for the group read. A bit late but I do find Christie's books are very quick to read."

I'll be starting that later today so we can be late together :)

[Leslie]

Tania wrote: "I have recently finished Unnatural Death I preferred this one to the 2 previous Lord Peter Wimsey books, so I'm looking forward to the next one."

I am currently reading Lord Peter Views the Body, which is a collection of short stories (in case you didn't already know that). Great fun!

[Tania]

Excellent. I shall try to get that one next. Hard to know when I can get it with libraries shut and post very slow.

[Jan C]

Colin wrote: "I've finished Michael Gilbert's Death Has Deep Roots and it was a great read.
Now I'm moving on to The White Cockatoo [bookcove..."

I have started her Sally Keate stories . Started with [book:The Patient in Room 18|1601162]. My copy contains a foreword/introduction about the author, native Nebraskan. Not too many with a nurse sleuth.

[Tara]

Tara wrote: "The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton, described as "Gosford Park" meets "Groundhog Day" by way of Agatha Christie. What's not to like?"

I just finished this yesterday and I cannot recommend it highly enough. So creative and innovative, but also a great mystery.

[Jill]

Finished Taken at the Flood now onto The Imbroglio at the Villa Pozzi so from one Marchmont to another

[Susan]

I have been enjoying a NetGalley book, which is a re-issue from 1959 Murder to Music

Apparently, the author published under different names and is best known for her historical sagas, under the name Anne Melville.

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Currently reading The Silent Executioner aka The Exploits of Juve. Fantômas is a French series published during the GA period. It is unusual in that Fantômas is the name given to the perpetrator of a string of extravagant crimes extending over the life of the series. Juve, of the title of this one, is a French policeman, supposed to be famous for his successes, but who is always one step behind the so-called Fantômas.

[Susan]

I am reading The Health of Strangers and am about to start The Black Tower

[Colin]

I have finished off the superb Ordeal By Innocence by Agatha Christie and I'm now just dipping into The Waxworks Murder by John Dickson Carr.

[Judy]

I have just started The Black Tower too, Susan - looking forward to our discussion.

Colin, I will be interested to hear about The Waxworks Murder - the title is intriguing! I have only read one by John Dickson Carr so far.

[Sandy]

I read Facets of Death, the latest entry in the Detective Kubu series. This is a prequel and the story takes place when he first joins the police. Good but probably not as good as the first entry, A Carrion Death. The series is written by two South Africans and is set in Botswana. Why Botswana is explained in the authors' note at the end. I almost know the geography of that country between this series and #1 Ladies.

[Colin]

Judy wrote: "Colin, I will be interested to hear about The Waxworks Murder - the title is intrigu..."

A most enjoyable read, Judy. You can read my review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Leslie]

I am currently rereading Murder Down Under by Arthur W. Upfield. I really enjoy my time with Bony & reading about Australia of the early 20th century.

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Leslie wrote: "I am currently rereading Murder Down Under by Arthur W. Upfield. I really enjoy my time with Bony & reading about Australia of the early 20th century."

That's the only one of the series I've read. I should find a way to get back to it.

[Sandy]

Leslie wrote: "I am currently rereading Murder Down Under by Arthur W. Upfield. I really enjoy my time with Bony & reading about Australia of the early 20th century."

I've read the first two and plan to continue. Both Bony and the setting are interesting.

[Judy]

Colin wrote: "Judy wrote: "Colin, I will be interested to hear about The Waxworks Murder - the title is intrigu..."

A most enjoyable read, Judy. .."

Thank you for posting the link to your review, Colin - I really like the sound of this one, with the decadent inter-war Paris atmosphere that you describe, but perhaps I should start the Bencolin series from the beginning? So far I have only read one of the Dr Fell books but would like to read more.

[Colin]

Judy, what was the Fell book? Was it Hag's Nook? That one is rich with atmosphere, and that sense of crawling dread that Carr was able to evoke so deftly. Now if that aspect worked for you, then the Bencolin stories might well do so too. Keep in mind though that they he really goes for the Grand Guignol vibe in these books. The character is one he first played around when he wrote some short stories for The Haverfordian as a student.

The first Bencolin novel, It Walks by Night, is a pretty strong debut, perhaps exceptionally so when you think how young Carr was when he wrote it. That atmosphere I spoke of is dialed up to 11 but it's also an excellent puzzle with a fine locked room murder at its core.

The British Library have published two so far and The Lost Gallows is coming later in the year with, I think, plans for The Waxworks Murder (or maybe using its US title The Corpse in the Waxworks) some time in 2021.

[Gary]

I think my next "classic" mystery will be Over My Dead Body by Rex Stout followed by Unnatural Death by Dorothy L. Sayers. Right now I am finishing off two cozy mysteries:
Braking for Bodies by Duffy Brown
Campari Crimson by Traci Andrighetti

[Judy]

I remember enjoying Over My Dead Body a lot, Gary - is it a reread for you, as I remember you are a Stout fan?

[Judy]

Colin wrote: "Judy, what was the Fell book? Was it Hag's Nook? That one is rich with atmosphere, and that sense of crawling dread that Carr was able to evoke so deftly..."

Yes, it was Hag's Nook, which we had as a buddy read here a little while ago. I quite enjoyed it but I get the impression the puzzle aspect is stronger in some of his others?

Thank you for mentioning that British Library Crime Classics has published two of this series and more in the pipeline. I see It Walks by Night is available, so I will add to my TBR (which needs a thorough sort out) and hope to get to it soon. The Parisian setting appeals to me - hopefully I will be able to cope with the Gothic horror element!

[Gary]

Judy wrote: "I remember enjoying Over My Dead Body a lot, Gary - is it a reread for you, as I remember you are a Stout fan?"

First time for Over My Dead Body, I won't hit reread material again until Not Quite Dead Enough. Some Buried Caesar was the earliest book in the series I read back in my first Wolfe binge back in the 1970s and 1980s.

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Yesterday I started The Black Tower in anticipation of the group's May installment of the P.D. James challenge.

[Judy]

I am getting towards the end of The Black Tower, and have now also started our other group read for next month, The 12:30 from Croydon.

[Sandy]

I'm feelin a bit guilty for not starting one of our May reads, but it won't be today either. I finally got All Shall Be Well, #2 in the series, that I requested right after finishing #1. And I'm expecting The Talented Mr. Varg very soon as I am first on the wait list and today is its publication date.

As for actual reads, I listened to They Came to Baghdad, one of Christie's spy novels. The plot is very far fetched with world domination and coincidents galore but its a fun read with a likeable heroine and a wonderful wooly-headed archaeologist minor character. I'm still not sure if I got all characters straight and was very glad I had the ebook to reinforce the audio.

[Tania]

I'm feeling a bit guilty for spending the day reading The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club by Dorothy L. Sayers. Plenty of time for doing things like the washing up etc, however.

[Colin]

My latest reread was Christie's 4:50 from Paddington. I liked the book, the setting the characters and the overall feel. However, it's not really all that well clued for a Christie story. Usually, even when you've had the wool pulled over your eyes, you can look back and see where the hints and clues were dropped, but that's not so easy to do here.

Anyway, on now to some Perry Mason - The Case of the Drowsy Mosquito by Erle Stanley Gardner.

[Judy]

Tania wrote: "I'm feeling a bit guilty for spending the day reading The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club by Dorothy L. Sayers. Plenty of time for doing things like the washing up et..."

Don't feel guilty, Tania - sounds like a great way to spend the day, though obviously the washing up must have been very tempting, haha. Hard to believe, but it's now 4 years since our Sayers challenge, which ran all through 2016. I do miss reading her books - may be tempted to buddy read one in the future.

[Tania]

Thanks Judy, I did eventually do the washing up 🙂 I have been making my way through the series so I'd be happy to buddy read one.

[Sandy]

Finished All Shall Be Well and loved it. Requested the next in the series. I like a touch of romance in my lead characters.

[Susan in NC]

Rereading Crocodile on the Sandbank for a challenge, along with a couple other non-mysteries.

[Sue]

Susan in NC wrote: "Rereading Crocodile on the Sandbank for a challenge, along with a couple other non-mysteries."

I just re-read that myself Susan and it was as good as ever!

[Carolien]

Started The Lost Man which is just as brilliant as her first books. Very atmospheric and character driven.

[Carolien]

Sandy wrote: "Finished All Shall Be Well and loved it. Requested the next in the series. I like a touch of romance in my lead characters."

I read the first one in the series last year and enjoyed it. Should probably continue

[Tania]

Susan in NC wrote: "Rereading Crocodile on the Sandbank for a challenge, along with a couple other non-mysteries."

I enjoyed that recently, I'm going to be starting The Mummy Case, the 3rd in the series soon.

[Jill]

Back in March we were talking about having the Elizabeth Peters series as a new series for buddy reads. Was anything decided about that?

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Jill wrote: "Back in March we were talking about having the Elizabeth Peters series as a new series for buddy reads. Was anything decided about that?"

I understood we would be starting that when one of our other buddy reads series ended. I have several of the Amelia Peabody series and am holding off until the group starts.