Georgette Heyer Fans discussion
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let's read another mystery!
As I remember, those two were my favourites. Only one I have at present is her final one, Detection Unlimited.Depending when the read is, I may be able to get some others from my friend in Auckland.
Envious Casca gets my vote, although I also like Behold, Here's Poison. Or really, any of the other Hannasyde or Hemingway ones.
Whatever is decided, I'll need time to order a copy. I was lucky with footsteps. My library had the eBook.
I vote for envious casca and detection unlimited. My library has eBook copies.While I would like to read these mysteries for a group read, I won't reread them. Thus, I'd hate to purchase them. These would not be keepers.
The other thing is, I can't find the thread, but I know some of us were talking about doing the Unknown Ajax as a group read. I'm happy to do 2 GH a month, but don't know if everyone else is!Or would people like a mystery for Novemember & a Regency for December?
"I have all the mysteries," she said smugly, "so any of them are fine with me." However, my copy of Ajax is missing. Still. I think someone broke in to my house and stole it.
Two GH group reads a month would be difficult as I am tied up with other group reads/buddy reads etc.I actually started making monthly lists for the books that I need to read for each month for other groups etc. I have several titles already for my October list. In addition, I already have one title listed for a November buddy read. More titles for that month will be added as the month approaches and my other groups vote for November's selections.
Novemember - what a typo. :D Kind of like it though.& I forgot about October!
I'll look for that box tomorrow. Otherwise like Karlyne I may not be able to participate in the Ajax read.
Although I'm hoping to see my friend soon. I could borrow her Ajax & Casca.
I really should get on with Detection Unlimited. Its holding me up reading the Koestler biography - because of Koestler's annoying habbit of dropping spoilers.
Karlyne wrote: ""I have all the mysteries," she said smugly, "so any of them are fine with me." However, my copy of Ajax is missing. Still. I think someone broke in to my house and stole it."It's the only explanation.
Hj wrote: "Karlyne wrote: ""I have all the mysteries," she said smugly, "so any of them are fine with me." However, my copy of Ajax is missing. Still. I think someone broke in to my house and stole it."I..."
My grandmother used to say that the definition of insanity is when someone breaks into your house and does your ironing. Or maybe steals your Georgette Heyers, I'm thinking.
I don't mind really , I really disliked Death in the Stocks ( I wanted all the Verekers dead) but that can add spice to a discussion don't you think? . I guess nobody would vote for Penhallow? I thought that quite the cleverest of the mysteries.
The only one that stays with me at all is the one with Terrible Tim, his brother (?) and the lady companion. Not sure which that is! I'm happy to re-read it.
Barbara wrote: "I don't mind really , I really disliked Death in the Stocks ( I wanted all the Verekers dead) but that can add spice to a discussion don't you think? . I guess nobody would vote for Penhallow? ..."
Oh, I love Penhallow, and I've noticed that there aren't too many people on the fence about it. You either love it or hate it!
I think, Hj, that's Duplicate Death where Terrible Tim's all grown up and in love with Beulah (I've never known a real Beulah, by the way), while his half brother Jim is involved somewhat. Is that it?
I couldn't get through Penhallow and it put me off reading all the other mysteries. I keep telling myself I should give them another try.
Whatever else you may say about Penhallow, it's quite different from her other mysteries and shouldn't be allowed to put you off trying them. :)
Penhallow is more of a character study than a mystery, and as Margaret says, it's nothing like her "real" mysteries whatsoever!
I should definitely give them another try then, it was a few years ago too.
Karlyne wrote: "I think, Hj, that's Duplicate Death where Terrible Tim's all grown up and in love with Beulah (I've never known a real Beulah, by the way), while his half brother Jim is involved somewhat. Is that it? ..."The one I was thinking of is when he's a child: They Found Him Dead.
Possible spoiler?I wouldn't really call Penhallow a mystery, since we know from the beginning (of the crime, I mean, not of the book) who the killer is and wy. All in all, I suppose it's a tragedy, or whatever we would call most of HArdy's best novels. Does anyone meet his downfall because of a flaw inhis character (well, yes, old Penhallow himself), or are the characters innocent victims of a cruel fate? As in some of Hardy's books, some of the secondary characters fare pretty well, such as the twin brother who is in love with the maid, but there's no happy ending for most of them.
Hj wrote: "Karlyne wrote: "I think, Hj, that's Duplicate Death where Terrible Tim's all grown up and in love with Beulah (I've never known a real Beulah, by the way), while his half brother Jim is involved so..."I remember that one, too. I think.
A Blunt Instrument is a good one, too. It probably has more "mystery" than most.
Mary wrote: "Possible spoiler?I wouldn't really call Penhallow a mystery, since we know from the beginning (of the crime, I mean, not of the book) who the killer is and wy. All in all, I suppose it's a trage..."
It always gets lumped with the mysteries, but I agree that it's not since we know the killer from the beginning. It's a stand-alone for Heyer, I think.
so, how about The Unknown Ajax next and then do a mystery? (gives us another month to decide which mystery LOL)
@JackieWhat is the animal in your picture? I think he's cute!
I'm on board with the Unknown Ajax and then another mystery. I didn't get to do the last one because I have to ILL all the mysteries and it didn't arrive until a few days ago. Let's decide on the mystery though so I can get it before we start.Jackie - Do you want to start the threads for Unknown Ajax? Maybe about October 4th? (I'm happy to continue starting them if you'd like.)
Then we can start our ______ mystery on November 4th?
Jackie wrote: "so, how about The Unknown Ajax next and then do a mystery? (gives us another month to decide which mystery LOL)"[High fives Jackie] I think that would be a great solution! I'm heading into the sleepout later & will see if I can find the Unknown Ajax. (I know I keep saying that!)
I have a couple of library books to read, but then I may read Detection Unlimited so I can return it. Then I can ask my friend for all the other GH mysteries!
Amy, will you please do it? I am relocating and starting another job soon and don't have a great memory anyway.that animal is a binturong - I've never seen one, only on the internet
***Carol*** wrote: "Jackie wrote: "so, how about The Unknown Ajax next and then do a mystery? (gives us another month to decide which mystery LOL)"[High fives Jackie] I think that would be a great solution! I'm head..."
I got that box out - & no Unknown Ajax. A couple of others missing too. Dang.
I'll try my friend!
The mysteries are back in print by Sourcebooks. Why Shoot a Butler sounds good. Whichever one we read, we should pay tribute to her husband for assisting with the plot. He came up with the idea and she filled in the blanks. I read one mystery once and I don't even remember which one it was.
***Carol*** wrote: "***Carol*** wrote: "Jackie wrote: "so, how about The Unknown Ajax next and then do a mystery? (gives us another month to decide which mystery LOL)"[High fives Jackie] I think that would be a grea..."
Well, if you didn't find any Unknown Ajaxes, I guess you won't be sharing any copies. Durnitallanyway!
Qnpoohbear wrote: "The mysteries are back in print by Sourcebooks. Why Shoot a Butler sounds good. Whichever one we read, we should pay tribute to her husband for assisting with the plot. He came up with the idea and..."Credit? Or blame? I'm not a fan of Heyer's mysteries, generally!
With a few exceptions, what makes Heyer's mysteries good isn't so much the mystery plot, but the characterization.
Oh, I agree, Margaret! There are a few good plot twists, but it's the wit and humor of the characters that always draws me back.
Hj wrote: "Qnpoohbear wrote: "The mysteries are back in print by Sourcebooks. Why Shoot a Butler sounds good. Whichever one we read, we should pay tribute to her husband for assisting with the plot. He came u..."I used to feel this way, because I was comparing them to the romances. now, I see them as a stand alone category...or maybe I compare them to Agatha Christie.
anyway, I have learned to enjoy them and wish there were more.
Jackie wrote: "Hj wrote: "Qnpoohbear wrote: "The mysteries are back in print by Sourcebooks. Why Shoot a Butler sounds good. Whichever one we read, we should pay tribute to her husband for assisting with the plot..."I wish there were more, too, Jackie. When I found Envious Casca a few years ago, I was almost disappointed, because it was the last one I didn't have and hadn't read.
Jackie wrote: "so, how about The Unknown Ajax next and then do a mystery? (gives us another month to decide which mystery LOL)"For those in the US with Kindles, the price today (Sept. 20) for the Kindle version of The Unknown Ajax is $2.99. Likely that won't last past today. I have been waiting forever for this to drop so have grabbed it. Are we going to read this for October? I hope so!
I read Envious Casca a year ago and didn't care for it. Someone in a non-book club forum recommended Why Shoot the Butler
I'm going away for a few days & will look in 2nd hand shops for the Unknown Ajax & GH's mysteries. If I don't catch up with my friend next weekend I won't see her for a while as she is away most of October.
Mary wrote: "Jackie wrote: "so, how about The Unknown Ajax next and then do a mystery? (gives us another month to decide which mystery LOL)"For those in the US with Kindles, the price today (Sept. 20) for the..."
It's still on sale so I bought it. I will probably do a combination of listening and reading.
One week until we start our next read along.
OK, lots of time has gone by - who wants to GO!?
I'm in. Will you lead the charge? (aka Setup the threads?) When do you want to get started?
Jackie wrote: "OK, lots of time has gone by - who wants to GO!?"If you'll set it up, I promise to discuss! And, any of them are fine with me!
let's read Death in the Stockshttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...
I really like that one and it introduces characters that appear in later books and, like all of her mysteries, I disliked characters on first reading that I later enjoyed in re-reads. now that I've read then all so many times, this is one of my favorites for the characters (don't care about the plot/murder)
I'm in. It normally takes me a few days to get the book through interlibrary loan though.
Jackie wrote: "let's read Death in the Stockshttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...
I really like that one and it introduces characters that appear in later books and, like all of her m..."
I agree with you, Jackie, about both the characters and the plot/murder, so it would be fun to see what first timers think of it!
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I was thinking Death in the Stocks.