What mysteries are you reading at the moment? Old thread, 2019-2020 Showing 101-150 of 1,516

[Sandy]

I have Joe Country from the library! A shiny new book. I won't get to it for a couple of days and I have to share it with my significant other, who is recovering, successfully, from his new hip. Does mean he can't possibly win any physical contest over the book, though he's good at playing the sympathy card.

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

I'm glad he's doing well, Sandy.

[Sandy]

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "I'm glad he's doing well, Sandy."

Thank you

[Judy]

Glad his op went well, Sandy, and I hope you both enjoy the book.

[Judy]

I've just finished the second in the Hannah Swensen series by Joanne Fluke, Strawberry Shortcake Murder.

I enjoyed it, but fell into the trap of reading the little bit from the next book at the end, so now I will need to go on to that one very soon to find out what happens! There was also a bit of a cliffhanger in Strawberry Shortcake Murder that I would have been wondering about anyway.

The next Joanne Fluke mystery will have to wait for a bit, though, as I've started our next Marsh title, Off With His Head, aka Death of a Fool. Not very far in but I'm enjoying it so far.

[Sandy]

Judy wrote: "Glad his op went well, Sandy, and I hope you both enjoy the book."

He certainly did - he finished it late last night (helped by a very long baseball game).

[Susan]

Glad to hear he is recovering, Sandy, and that he enjoyed Joe Country. I loved it too and can't wait to discuss it next month!

I also finished Miss Pym Disposes and am pleased that, after really struggling with Tey previously, I enjoyed this.

[Susan in NC]

Sandy wrote: "I have Joe Country from the library! A shiny new book. I won't get to it for a couple of days and I have to share it with my significant other, who is recovering, successfully, from..."

Glad the recovery is proceeding apace! I guess if you want to share you could read aloud to him...

[Gardener0126]

Judy wrote: "Gardener, we read Hamlet, Revenge here a while back, so you could look up the threads if you are interested."

Thanks, just finished the book. I will take a look at the discussion.

[Judy]

I've just come across a very good BBC radio drama of Miss Pym Disposes, our group read for next month, on YouTube - I read the book in 2016 and remember it pretty well, and am now listening to the drama to refresh my memory before the discussion. (Not sure if I will also have time to reread the book.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DsYr...

[Sandy]

I just downloaded Sparkling Cyanide on audio. I figured I should read it soon after Yellow Iris: A Short Story for comparison. So far I'm having trouble paying attention so its not holding my interest.

[Abigail]

Am reading A Magical Match by Juliet Blackwell, the umpteenth entry in a cozy series with witchy elements set in San Francisco. Not GA, just comfy.

[Bruce]

I recently finished A is for Alibi, by Sue Grafton, the first of the alphabet series. I enjoyed it, as it was very neo-hard boiled detective (for film it would be neo noir)and with a good female lead. I predicted the killer though. Hopefully the others aren’t as predictable.

[Jill]

Recently finished The Blue and the Grey by M.J. Trow which I enjoyed. I love this author's Maxwell series so thought I would try another book by him. Now reading Dumb Witness for next month's Poirot read

[Susan]

I am also reading Dumb Witness, Jill. Not a Poirot I have read for a while, so I can't remember whodunnit, which is a nice change :)

[Sandy]

Still listening to Sparkling Cyanide and still not caring much about it. The victim is so annoying (dead a year before the book starts) I'm rather routing for the murderer. But then I don't like the suspects much either.

[Susan]

Carrie wrote: "I'm about 3/4 of the way through Lethal White by Robert Galbraith. It's turning out to be my favorite of the Cormoran Strike series so far."

Another series I need to get back to, Carrie.

[Tania]

I've just finished Murder in the Mill-Race, which is the first E.C.R. Lorac book I've read. I liked her writing and will read more of her books, eventually. I have Bats in the Belfry: A London Mystery on my library list so will try to take this one out soon(ish)

[Sarah]

I am currently reading Jo Nesbo, the devil's star. Have read a few of the Harry Hole series although never in order! Enjoying this one.

[Bruce]

Sandy, I remember not being too impressed with Sparkling Cyanide either, compared to some of Christie’s other books. I remember Colonel Race being the only highlight of the book.

[Jill]

Finished Dumb Witness Now onto The Riddle at Gipsy's Mile by Clara Benson

[Susan in NC]

Tania wrote: "I've just finished Murder in the Mill-Race, which is the first E.C.R. Lorac book I've read. I liked her writing and will read more of her books, eventually. I have ..."

I like her writing, too, and have Bats in the Belfry from my library, looking forward to reading it soon.

I’m reading Death of a New American from my library right now.

[Susan in NC]

Susan wrote: "I am also reading Dumb Witness, Jill. Not a Poirot I have read for a while, so I can't remember whodunnit, which is a nice change :)"

I remember seeing the David Suchet dramatization of Dumb Witness, so I’m afraid I’ll remember too much - I don’t think I’ve ever read this one, though.

[Abigail]

It's not a murder mystery but more of a political drama (I'd say "thriller" but it's slower-paced than that, more like a procedural) written in the 1970s but eerily haunting today: Night of Camp David by Fletcher Knebel. It's about what might happen if a U.S. president became insane while in office.

[Victoria]

I’m reading the Singing Sands by Josephine Tey. The only other book of hers I’ve read is Daughter Of Time, and that was many years ago. I’m enjoying the slow pace, but get the feeling it’s about to up a little soon.

[Judy]

Hi Victoria! We read The Singing Sands here not long ago - the threads are still open if you want to comment. :)

[Susan in NC]

Abigail wrote: "It's not a murder mystery but more of a political drama (I'd say "thriller" but it's slower-paced than that, more like a procedural) written in the 1970s but eerily haunting today: [book:Night of C..."

Yikes!

[Abigail]

Yes, it's very interesting the way the scenarios play out. There's a scene, for instance, where the Secretary of Defense organizes a commission to examine how to insulate the command and control structures around launching a nuclear attack from disaster if one of the three key deciders is insane. Their conclusion? The structures work okay if any one of the deciders is crazy--unless the decider in question is the president. The commission disbanded without finding a solution to that conundrum.

In the book, even the Twenty-Fifth Amendment is not particularly helpful. It's a very sobering tale.

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Abigail wrote: "In the book, even the Twenty-Fifth Amendment is not particularly helpful. "

That might be because the book was first published in 1965 and the 25th Amendment wasn't ratified until 1967, so it wasn't yet in effect. Not sure when the book was first written, the 25th Amendment might have been a pipe dream at that point.

[Abigail]

You're right! I had it in my head that the book was published in 1978. The perils of reading on Kindle!

There is a lot of discussion in the book with the vice-president, who has a signed succession agreement with the president along the lines of the Twenty-Fifth. I guess, with the 1978 date in my head, I read that as an elaboration of the terms of the Twenty-Fifth.

[Susan in NC]

Still, timely and terrifying, if half the leaks we are hearing are true!

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Susan in NC wrote: "Still, timely and terrifying, if half the leaks we are hearing are true!"

Or not at all terrifying. I was taught to believe only half of what you hear and nothing of what you read (news stories). (Or maybe vice versa, but in any case most of what is called news these days is entirely biased - and that is from all sides.)

[Susan in NC]

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "Still, timely and terrifying, if half the leaks we are hearing are true!"

Or not at all terrifying. I was taught to believe only half of what you hear and nothing of what you r..."

Well, I’m not thrilled with the evidence of my own ears and eyes...

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Susan in NC wrote: "Well, I’m not thrilled with the evidence of my own ears and eyes... ."

And a very many thought the same 2009-2016.

[Susan in NC]

We’ll just have to agree to disagree.

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Susan in NC wrote: "We’ll just have to agree to disagree."

Yep. That's why I've asked that politics not be discussed because so often alternate opinions are not appreciated.

[Susan in NC]

You are a wise woman!😀

[Susan in NC]

Just started reading (switching between library paperback and audiobook) Bats in the Belfry: A London Mystery.

I also started reading and listening to Dumb Witness, but could tell right away the audiobook, although labeled “unabridged”, is different from the text of the book. Since I’ve seen and enjoyed this one several times with David Suchet, but have not read the actual book, I’ll probably read it, and skip the audiobook.

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Susan in NC wrote: "Just started reading (switching between library paperback and audiobook) Bats in the Belfry: A London Mystery."

Please keep after these Lorac titles. I might find myself drifting in that direction.

[Susan in NC]

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "Just started reading (switching between library paperback and audiobook) Bats in the Belfry: A London Mystery."

Please keep after these Lorac titles. I might fi..."

Lol - I don’t think you’ll regret giving them a try, Elizabeth (nuts, I dread recommending a book and having a friend hate it...) In the intro to this reissue , Martin Edwards says the plot and atmosphere “lift the book well above the ordinary.” If you do try this one (or other Lorac titles), I hope you enjoy it!

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Susan in NC wrote: "I don’t think you’ll regret giving them a try, Elizabeth"

I have added so many authors/titles to my wish list since joining this group and the 20th Century group! (And I may find myself with more choices than I have time for, but ...) I find somehow I've had enormous restraint when it comes to Lorac. Is there one I should mark before any others?

[Susan in NC]

Well, I’ve read them out of order, technically- read Fire in the Thatch before Murder by Matchlight or Bats in the Belfry, but I was reading for a specific challenge and needed a certain title (one with an element in it), so started with Fire. Turns out I like her low-key style, and figured I’d get the others from the library as they become available.

In the intro to this book, Edwards says Lorac was a skilled writer of whodunnits, but this one stands out, so I’d say give this a try first, see how you like it. The other I read, Murder by Matchlight, was interesting because it was set in the blackout during WWII in London - a very interesting twist. I don’t think you can go wrong with any of her books I’ve been able to get hold of, each had an interesting plot I hadn’t seen before.

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Susan in NC wrote: "I don’t think you can go wrong with any of her books I’ve been able to get hold of, each had an interesting plot I hadn’t seen before."

This is a good recommendation - I'll mark Bats and then at least I'll have her on my shelves and know I might poke around her others.

[Susan in NC]

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "I don’t think you can go wrong with any of her books I’ve been able to get hold of, each had an interesting plot I hadn’t seen before."

This is a good recommendation - I'll mar..."

Great! I agree, since I’ve gotten more active in GR groups the last couple years, I have added so many books to my TBR lists...if I manage to get to half of them I’ll be lucky!

[Abigail]

Well, Night of Camp David had a very anticlimactic ending! A pity, because I found the first three-quarters interesting. Now reading Death Comes to the Village--back to cozy-land! It's set in, I'm guessing, the Home Counties in 1816.

[Susan in NC]

Abigail wrote: "Well, Night of Camp David had a very anticlimactic ending! A pity, because I found the first three-quarters interesting. Now reading Death Comes to the Village--back t..."

Oh, I’ve enjoyed that series, I’ll be interested to see what you think.

[Abigail]

We often seem to have similar tastes and inclinations, so I'm glad to hear it!

[Gary]

Currently reading Strangulation & Strawberry Cake by Nancy McGovern

and

Marriage Vow Murder by Leslie Langtry

Enjoying both.

Next up will probably be the third in the Mr. And Mrs. North series and the third in the Miss Silver series

[Jill]

Have started Death of a Fool the next Ngaio Marsh group read. Cheeky Marsh with her Camilla CAMPION.

[Susan]

I am going to start that next, Jill. I noticed the name too :)