Reading the Detectives discussion
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What mysteries are you reading at the moment? Old thread, 2019-2020
Leslie wrote: "I have been remiss in updating my mysteries here...This month I have reread several: Sayers' The Five Red Herrings (4*) & Asimov's The Caves of Steel (4*) and [book:T..."
Quite the eclectic list Leslie. I'm interested to try the Asimov books.
I've been reading and enjoying Dorothy L. Sayers' Lord Peter Wimsey books, some for the first time, some I had read a long time ago. I keep hearing that Gaudy Night is among the best of the series. I also just finished Thrones, Dominations, an unfinished Sayers novel, finished by Jill Paton Walsh. I am way behind, since it was published in the late 1990's, and Walsh has written a series of Wimsey books since. Looking forward to those!
Terri wrote: "I've been reading and enjoying Dorothy L. Sayers' Lord Peter Wimsey books, some for the first time, some I had read a long time ago. I keep hearing that Gaudy Night is am..."I enjoyed the Paton Walsh Wimsey books very much, I felt like they captured the characters and style of the original books nicely! Hope you like them.
I've read two Wimsey books. I read the 2nd just to see if the first just wasn't very good. I didn't like either Wimsey or Bunter, so no more for me. Yes, I know I'm an outlier, especially in this group. But we can't all like everything.
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Despite talking a bit like Wimsey, to me Dr Reggie Fortune doesn't have the same appeal. There is also a *lot* of casual racism etc, not all that surprising as the book came out in 1920, of course. But anyway I think I will continue to read just one story at a time! I also have a second collection of these to go.
Just finished Bury Your Dead which was wonderful. There are actually 3 different plots interwoven in the story line. Should definitely be read in sequence as the one plot is linked to the previous one in the series The Brutal Telling.
Gave up on Thirteen Guests for now, after 8 chapters still wasn’t feeling into it, so now I’ve started listening to our August Poirot read, Dead Man's Folly. Poirot and Ariadne Oliver are a fun combination - I always imagine Christie used her as her author’s voice to complain about her detective, or the writing process, or publishers!
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I'm about half way through Thirteen Guests. Some of the guests seem a bit strange, but then that helps to identify them.
I just finished One by One They Disappeared. It was excellent. Moray Dalton looks to be a GA author worth reviving!
Susan wrote: "That's good to hear, Shaina. Had you read P.D. James before? Are you enjoying them?"I had come across the P.D. James title Cover Her Face many times but I didn't pick it up for some reason or the other. When I saw it on the group I decided to start reading them and yes I am enjoying them a lot. Thank you for asking.
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That's good, Valerie - I have been wondering about trying her.
An article on Curtis Evans' blog compares her to Sayers, Allingham and Lorac, which is quite tempting!
http://thepassingtramp.blogspot.com/2...
Just started Photo Finish for our July Marsh read, and its just delicious! All of her over-the-top characters on full parade. And we get to go to a remote island in New Zealand.
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Glad you are enjoying it, Tara - looking forward to hearing more of your thoughts over in the Photo Finish discussion - and perhaps you will have tempted others to give it a try!:)
Susan wrote: "That's good to hear, Shaina. I have read a few, but not all of them, so it's nice to read them all in order."That's the plan. In fact, after joining this group I have so many books on my eReader now (e.g.Ngaio Marsh series). I also end up reading Call Mr. Fortune the day I read about it here.
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Judy wrote: "This group can certainly add to your TBR list, Shaina! I hope you enjoy Call Mr Fortune - I liked it at first but am not feeling quite so sure about it now that I'm halfway through."Judy I read it in one sitting (was up till 3 am reading that night). It was funny when I read it but like you say you "won't feel it" after. Add yes the group has certainly added to my TBR shelf (but you won't hear me complaining).
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Wow, don't think I could stand the pace! :)
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Hope you like it, Ellen. I remember enjoying all the 3 Ianthe Jerrold titles reprinted by Dean Street Press - a pity she didn't write more.
Judy wrote: "Ellen wrote: "Just started The Studio Crimeby Ianthe Jerrold. I am enjoying the read so far."Hope you like it, Ellen. I remember enjoying all the 3 Ianthe Jerrol..."
Both of these authors wrote more than 3 but I would have loved it if Molly Thynne and Cyril Harehad more titles. We are so lucky that technology makes so many of these authors available to us now.
I have started the next Dalgliesh, Devices and Desires. I'm not far enough in to rave about it, but I do so like this series.
I'm reading Gaudy Night by Dorothy L. Sayers. It seems very different in tone to most GA mysteries so far. Lord Peter has barely made an appearance.
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Judy wrote: "I've just started Thirteen Guests for our next group read - not very far in yet, but I have a feeling it will be a quick one to read. Looking forward to our discussion."I am just finishing off More Work for the Undertaker and then I'll be starting Thirteen Guests. It sounds fun.
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That's great news Sandy - and dedication lining up 3 of our reads at once!
I just finished a reread of
which I didn't remember at all so enjoyed very much.Just started
which is great fun so far. I've enjoyed all of Clara Benson's books I've read so far, and Freddie and his set are very much like something out of Wodehouse.
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Judy wrote: "Lady Clementina, I also really enjoy Clara Benson. Is there any problem with jumping into the Freddie books before finishing all the Angela ones?"No, all going smoothly so far. I've read up to book 5 in the Angela series, six is waiting on the TBR pile
I just started ECR Lorac’s Murder in the Mill-Race: A Devon Mystery
- love the way she sets the scene in the rural village!
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No, all going smoothly so far. I've ..."
Thanks Lady C, that's good to know. I've read up to book 6 in the Angela series - with book 7 coming up as a buddy read here in mid-August. :)
I finished Coffin Road yesterday. A standalone set in the Outer Hebrides. I loved the Blackhouse trilogy which I read earlier in this year and this was a very interesting read. A lot of my work deals with environmental risk and this looked specifically at the role of bees in the food chain. In a non-covid 19 world, we would have been on Lewis this month for a visit after I read trilogy. Will have to wait a while I suppose.I also read The Comforts of Home to continue with the Simon Serrailler series (also set in the Hebrides - there is a message here). This was a nice addition following the previous fairly harrowing instalment. I'm planning on catching up with the full series before the end of the year.
Yesterday I started Murder at the Vicarage. Christie's plots are very good, but I'm afraid her rather simple writing and lack of good characterizations will have me not reading a lot more. I do have two others by her on hand and will read them, but will not be purchasing any more.
Oh that's a shame - I can comfort-read Christie endlessly and Murder At the Vicarage is one of my favourites. Her writing is simple but I love the flashes of wit and humour. Still, she has enough fans and can do without one more ;)
I am definitely enjoying the humor. (Can you believe I said that?)
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Carolien wrote: "I finished Coffin Road yesterday. A standalone set in the Outer Hebrides. I loved the Blackhouse trilogy which I read earlier in this year and this was a very interesting read. A lo..."I really enjoyed the Blackhouse trilogy. Will add Coffin road too my tbr list. I have his Lockdown to read next, which may be too close for comfort! Hope you get to visit Lewis soon.
I'm not sure I completely understand the term "comfort read" but maybe for me it is Anthony Trollope. At the very least, it is 19th Century reads.
Christie is also my comfort read. I think it is mainly because I started reading her at a young age, so returning to her brings back the simplicity of that time.
My current reads:
Deadly Dirty Martinis by Nicole Leiren on my Nook.
The Inspector and Mrs. Jeffries by Emily Brightwell audio book format.
Academic Curveball by James J. Cudney on my Kindle
Susan wrote: "I could not imagine my life without Agatha Christie. Like RC, she is my ultimate comfort read."Mine too!
Currently in the glove box of the car, for long waits outside school..., is an old Penguin copy of Enter a Murderer.
Jill wrote: "Christie is also my comfort read. I think it is mainly because I started reading her at a young age, so returning to her brings back the simplicity of that time."Same here! I’ve been watching my DVD collection of Miss Marple mysteries with Joan Hickson over the last few evenings. Started with “Murder at the Vicarage”, then “Body in the Library” and “A Murder is Announced” last night.
Reading the Detectives
Books mentioned in this topic
The Constant Rabbit (other topics)The Thursday Murder Club (other topics)
Gallows Court (other topics)
The Thursday Murder Club (other topics)
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P.D. James (other topics)Vanda Symon (other topics)
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This month I have reread several: Sayers' The Five Red Herrings (4*) & Asimov's The Caves of Steel (4*) and The Naked Sun (3.5*) which combined sci fi with murder mystery. I really like Asimov's first and the second was good but not as good as the first.
I also delved into my already owned books to read The Patriarch by Martin Walker (also known as "The Dying Season") (4*) and Deadly Tasting by Jean-Pierre Alaux & Noël Balen (4*), continuing in my way through these series. Plus I have read Just Add Salt by Jinx Schwartz (1.5*), Relative Fortunes by Marlowe Benn (3*) and Photo Finish by Ngaio Marsh (3*).
From the library, I have read A Family Affair by Rex Stout (4* or maybe even 4.5*) and The Overnight Kidnapper by Andrea Camilleri (4*) -- perhaps not the best Montalbano but still a lot of fun to read. And on a whim, I checked out the first Hamish McBeth book, Death of a Gossip by M.C. Beaton (2*) - I liked the characters but wanted more from Hamish's perspective rather than that of one of the suspects.