English Mysteries Club discussion

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message 851: by VeronicaR (new)

VeronicaR | 8 comments I have devoured P.D. James and Elizabeth George books. Do any of you have suggestions for similar writing and character driven plots?


message 852: by Thomas (new)

Thomas (tom471) | 984 comments I read Bloodlands: Europe Between Hitler and Stalin by Timothy Snyder It is not a mystery but a history of the mass killings under Hitler and Stalin from 1932-19454. My 5 star review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I strongly recommend this book. The author speaks and reads 6 languages, and has consulted sources overlooked by most historians of this period.


message 853: by Andrew (last edited May 13, 2024 06:53AM) (new)

Andrew Bedford | 14 comments I’m reading “a morbid taste for bones” by Ellis Peters. It’s the first in the Cadfael series. Away from crime I’m reading the latest Clarkesworld magazine, which is mostly sci-FI short stories and articles and is published every 2 or 3 months and always lands on my Kindle when I’m not expecting it. In reality I am marking time until the new Stephen King book is released on May 21st. I’m just recovering from a deep reading slump caused by a few stresses that have occurred since the start of the new year. I’m happily over most of them now and slowly getting my reading and commenting groove back.


message 854: by Joan (new)

Joan  (xstitchfan) | 84 comments Hi Andrew, I get reading slumps. I’ve had to admit how stressed I’ve been lately. Why make my reading stressful too! I have just found a light cozy mystery series by an American that follows a semi-retired English professor in Massachusetts as he keeps finding dead bodies in western Massachusetts by the gorgeous Berkshire Mountains. I’ m not reading any of my group reads or Christie reads, but I am reading again! I’ve read 4 books in this series in 5 days. Happy Reading to all - and enjoy whatever you are reading!


message 855: by Jackie (new)

Jackie | 180 comments I just started The Word is Murder which will be my first by Anthony Horowitz.


message 856: by Joan (new)

Joan  (xstitchfan) | 84 comments Jackie, Let me know what you think of it. I am always curious what members of this group think about specific books. Happy reading!


message 857: by VeronicaR (new)

VeronicaR | 8 comments I have read all of the Hawthorne series and now on the newest, "Close to Death".


message 858: by Jackie (new)

Jackie | 180 comments Joan wrote: "Jackie, Let me know what you think of it. I am always curious what members of this group think about specific books. Happy reading!"

Joan, I found it intense in a "can't put it down" way. I just finished but haven't written a review yet. it will be full of spoilers, I think.


message 859: by Joan (last edited May 24, 2024 10:16AM) (new)

Joan  (xstitchfan) | 84 comments Jackie wrote (in response to Joan about “The Word is Murder”) -
[Joan, I found it intense in a "can't put it down” way. I just finished but haven’t written a review yet. It will be full of spoilers, I think.]

Jackie, That is exactly why I just gave it a 5 star rating with no review. I won’t do spoilers. I could only write two sentences - which isn’t a book review. A woman plans her funeral and is killed a few hours later. The book is beautifully written by Anthony Horowitz and I loved reading it! So, I look forward to reading any group members reviews.


message 860: by Thomas (new)

Thomas (tom471) | 984 comments I read Holy Enemies of Freedom: How Martin Luther Unleashed the Beast of Anti-Semitism by A.J. Deus It describes much more than Martin Luther's antisemitism. It is a history of organized religious violence. My 3.5 star review, rounded down https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...


RJ - Slayer of Trolls (hawk5391yahoocom) I started reading the third book in a hard-boiled detective series written by a noted Fantasy author

The Man Who Tried to Get Away (The Man Who, #3) by Stephen R. Donaldson
The Man Who Tried to Get Away by Stephen R. Donaldson originally published under the pseudonym Reed Stephens


message 862: by Thomas (new)

Thomas (tom471) | 984 comments I read Ladykiller by Katherine Wood It is a romantic mystery set on a Greek island. My 4 star review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...


message 863: by Thomas (new)

Thomas (tom471) | 984 comments I read A Refiner’s Fire by Donna Leon I rate it an easy 4 stars. Perfect for readers who like books w/o bad language, graphic sex or violence. My review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...


message 864: by Thomas (new)

Thomas (tom471) | 984 comments I read The Burning by Linda Castillo It is book 16 in the series. set in rural NE Ohio. My 3.5 star rounded up review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...


message 865: by Thomas (new)

Thomas (tom471) | 984 comments I read Long Haul: Hunting the Highway Serial Killers by Frank Figliuzzi
It is about truck driver serial killers, the culture of truck drivers and sex workers which converge at truck stops. My 4 star review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...


message 866: by Thomas (new)

Thomas (tom471) | 984 comments I read Sharpe's Command by Bernard Cornwell It is historical fiction based on an actual battle in the war between Britain an Napoleon's France. See my 4 star review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...


message 867: by Tiziana (new)

Tiziana | 199 comments Just finished The Crimson Cavalier The Crimson Cavalier by Mary Andrea Clarke by Mary Andrea Clarke. I know the author is from U.K. but actually I don't know if she's English or or comes from other parts of the UK, so I apologize if I wrote in the wrong section.

It's a cozy mystery set in late 18th century London.
Here is my 4 stars review :
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...


message 868: by Thomas (new)

Thomas (tom471) | 984 comments I read Black Betty by Walter Mosley
I liked this book about Easy Rawlins, an unofficial PI in LA. There is violence and racism in the book. My 4 star review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...


message 869: by Thomas (new)

Thomas (tom471) | 984 comments I read A World of Curiosities by Louise Penny It is book 18 in the series and I have been reading them in order. There is a serial killer and incidents of child abuse in the book, although not graphically described. My 4 star review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...


message 870: by Thomas (new)

Thomas (tom471) | 984 comments I read Prequel: An American Fight Against Fascism by Rachel Maddow It is not a mystery, but an account of Nazi propaganda in the US from 1933-41. I rated it 4.5 stars rounded up. My review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...


message 871: by Thomas (new)

Thomas (tom471) | 984 comments I read Profiles in Ignorance: How America's Politicians Got Dumb and Dumber by Andy Borowitz It is nonfiction, detailing how American politicians have grown increasingly dumber, starting with Reagan and ending with Trump. My 4 star review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...


message 872: by Thomas (new)

Thomas (tom471) | 984 comments I read Where Roses Never Die by Gunnar Staalesen It is a private eye mystery set in Norway. My 4 star review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...


message 873: by Thomas (new)

Thomas (tom471) | 984 comments I read Maria: A Novel of Maria von Trapp by Michelle Moran It is an excellent reconstruction of the life of Maria von Trapp. My 4 star review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...


message 874: by Thomas (new)

Thomas (tom471) | 984 comments I read Forgotten on Sunday by Valérie Perrin It is historical/literary fiction, set in a small town in France. It was a bestseller in France. My 3.5 star review, rounded down. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...


message 875: by Pamela (new)

Pamela Mclaren | 365 comments Joan wrote: "Jackie wrote (in response to Joan about “The Word is Murder”) -
[Joan, I found it intense in a "can't put it down” way. I just finished but haven’t written a review yet. It will be full of spoiler..."


I read The Word is Murder at the end of last year and gave it four stars. I certainly liked it and already want to read more Horowitz.
If you want to see my review, here it is: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I've also read [book:Magpie Murders|32075854] and have the Moonflower Murders to read soon.


message 876: by Pamela (new)

Pamela Mclaren | 365 comments I've gone back to the classics in mysteries with The Catherine Wheel by Patricia Wentworth. It's the 16th in her Miss Silver series and was originally published in 1949.

I've previously read and thoroughly enjoyed Wentworth's The Dower House Mystery and have three other books in my stash.


message 877: by Jackie (new)

Jackie | 180 comments not sure when I will start them but I checked out two Miss Silver books (out of order, the horror!) from my library just to make sure I have some non-e books on hand. Classic, indeed.


message 878: by VeronicaR (new)

VeronicaR | 8 comments I read Dissolution by CJ Sansom, which is a murder mystery in a Catholic monastery that is being investigated for dissolution. This was the time of Henry the VIII and Cromwell and during their tenure they dissolved all of the Catholic monasteries and absorbed all their wealth. The story was quite enjoyable. Currently reading A Stranger in the family, the most recent offering of Jane Casey. This is number 11 of the Maeve Kerrigan series and they have all kept me immersed in the story. Hope it's the same with this one.


message 879: by Thomas (new)

Thomas (tom471) | 984 comments I read The River Runs Orange by R.J. Harlick It is a mystery/thriller set in rural northwestern Quebec, Canada. I recommend the series to cozy mystery fans. It is book 3 in the series. My 4 star review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...


message 880: by Thomas (new)

Thomas (tom471) | 984 comments I read A Red Death by Walter Mosley My 4 star review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
It is book 2 in the Easy Rawlins series, a black unofficial private investigator in 1950s Los Angeles, California.


message 881: by Thomas (new)

Thomas (tom471) | 984 comments I read Robert B. Parker's Grudge Match by Mike Lupica It is book 8 in the Sunny Randall series, started by Parker, and now written by Lupica. I have read the previous 7 books in the series. My 4 star review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...


message 882: by Thomas (new)

Thomas (tom471) | 984 comments I read Vanishing Edge by Claire Kells It is book 1 in the National Park series. I believe the book has pros and cons. My 3 star review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...


message 883: by Thomas (new)

Thomas (tom471) | 984 comments I read Arctic Blue Death by R.J. Harlick It is a cozy mystery set in Nunavut, Canada Both my wife and I recommend this series. My 4 star review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...


message 884: by Thomas (new)

Thomas (tom471) | 984 comments I read Ashes Never Lie by Lee Goldberg It is an arson mystery set in Los Angeles County, California. I liked the 2 main characters and the humor in the book. My 4 star review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...


message 885: by Thomas (new)

Thomas (tom471) | 984 comments I read Robert B. Parker's Angel Eyes by Ace Atkins It is book 47 in the Spenser PI series. This one is set in Los Angeles, California. My 4 star review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...


message 886: by Werner (new)

Werner | 257 comments In the past 24 hours, I've started reading (in different formats) two new books. Both of them happen to fall into the mystery genre.

I typically spend much of my evenings at the computer, usually on Goodreads. But our Internet connection was down last night, so I started reading a book on my Kindle app. The one I picked was Louisiana Longshot (Miss Fortune Mystery, #1) by Jana Deleon Louisiana Longshot by Jana Deleon, the first book in her Miss Fortune Mysteries series. My Goodreads friend Monica gave this one five stars, which put it on my radar; and I'd downloaded the e-book edition some time ago when I discovered that the author offers it for free (as a teaser for the series).

The Barks and Beans Cafe' mystery series by Heather Day Gilbert is one that I've frequently mentioned here, since Barb and I are following it and have read the first six books together so far. We started on the seventh installment, Roast Date (Barks & Beans Cafe Cozy Mystery, #7) by Heather Day Gilbert Roast Date, this morning.

Heather's series is consciously "cozy," so falls within the range that we associate with the "English" style. I suspect the Miss Fortune Mysteries will prove to as well, but I'm not stating that as a fact yet. Protagonist Fortune Redding is a CIA assassin who's dispatched quite a few baddies in her career (she's currently hiding out temporarily in the Louisiana bayou country because the brother of her latest victim has put a seven-figure price tag on her head), so not necessarily someone that Miss Marple would be entirely comfortable asking to tea. But my impression is that dealing with the mysteries that arise in small-town Louisiana won't require her to display the more lethal parts of her talents. :-)


message 887: by Thomas (new)

Thomas (tom471) | 984 comments I read Robert B. Parker's Someone to Watch Over Me by Ace Atkins I rated it 4 stars. It is almost as if the plot was ripped from the headlines, with a Jeffrey Epstein type abusing underage girls with the help of a woman recruiter. I am using my library to read some books in series that I enjoy reading. My 4 star review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I have just finished cataract surgery on both eyes. I now need glasses only for reading, after wearing them since I was 12 years old. Last year I had extensive dental implants. I have not reached Bionic Jean's level, but I am starting to feel that way.


message 888: by Thomas (new)

Thomas (tom471) | 984 comments I read Robert B. Parker's Bye Bye Baby by Ace Atkins It is book 50 in the Spenser series. I devoured it in 2 days and recommend it. My 4 star review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...


message 889: by Thomas (new)

Thomas (tom471) | 984 comments I read The President's Lawyer by Lawrence S. Robbins It is a US legal mystery with a surprise ending. My 4 star review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...


message 890: by Thomas (new)

Thomas (tom471) | 984 comments I read Celestina's House by Clarissa Trinidad Gonzalez It is literary fiction, set in the Philippines. I rated it 3.5 stars rounded up. My review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...


message 891: by Pamela (new)

Pamela Mclaren | 365 comments I have turned my attention to nonfiction and am reading Lincoln and Chief Justice Taney: Slavery, Secession, and the President's War Powers.

I enjoy history but this is really making me think of the various issues of the times and for Abraham Lincoln. I don't remember having a class where we actually talked about how Dred Scott v. Sandford affected what was going on in the country.


message 892: by Dorothy (new)

Dorothy  (vilette) | 308 comments I'm reading 'the Midnight Feast' by Lucy Foley.


message 893: by Thomas (new)

Thomas (tom471) | 984 comments I read First Frost by Craig Johnson It is book 20 in the Longmire series, which both my wife and I recommend. My 4 star review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...


message 894: by Werner (new)

Werner | 257 comments I wrote"Heather's series is consciously "cozy," so falls within the range that we associate with the "English" style. I suspect the Miss Fortune Mysteries will prove to as well, but I'm not stating that as a fact yet. Protagonist Fortune Redding is a CIA assassin.... But my impression is that dealing with the mysteries that arise in small-town Louisiana won't require her to display the more lethal parts of her talents."

Actually, however, they do (at least in this first series book). My initial impression had been misled; so although I liked the book (I read both the more cerebral and the more violent kinds of mysteries), if you're looking specifically for mystery writers who avoid directly described violence and feature a lot of traditional detecting with an intellectual challenge, Deleon is not in that number! I thought I should probably post a disclaimer, lest my earlier post confuse anybody.


message 895: by Mike (new)

Mike | 37 comments Werner wrote: "I wrote"Heather's series is consciously "cozy," so falls within the range that we associate with the "English" style. I suspect the Miss Fortune Mysteries will prove to as well, but I'm not stating..."

Thanks for the revised opinion, Werner, which does give a wholly different impression of this title.


message 896: by Bionic Jean (last edited Aug 10, 2024 02:42AM) (new)

Bionic Jean (bionicjean) | 2928 comments Mod
Thomas, that's great news about your eyesight! I hope it continues to improve 😊

In the mysteries line, I am reading one by a Korean author You-Jeong Jeong called Seven Years of Darkness ... but I'm not enjoyed it as much as the Korean ecothriller I read, The Disaster Tourist by Yun Ko-eun. That one felt Korean, but Seven Years of Darkness feels like a standard American thriller, and I don't care for those (sorry to all the American members! But I don't like Scandi-crime either 😆)

As for English mysteries, well I have just finished our group read of Evil Under the Sun by Agatha Christie, following The Case of the Gilded Fly by the multi-talented Edmund Crispin. (Did you know for instance that he wrote the music for the Carry On films as well as choral music?! And edited my favourite series of Science Fiction short stories?)

Now I am listening to No Name by Wilkie Collins. I never realised before that it could qualify as a mystery, but then several of his stories do. And it's nicely convoluted 😊


message 897: by Craftyhj (last edited Aug 10, 2024 06:43AM) (new)

Craftyhj | 51 comments I'm continuing my gradual audio jaunt through the Miss Silver books, currently on Pilgrim's Rest.


message 898: by Mike (new)

Mike | 37 comments I'm about half way through The Scottish Ladies' Detective Agency by Lydia Travers. It's a little naive, but quite good fun.


message 899: by Tim (new)

Tim | 1 comments I'm reading a biography on every English/British monarch. I'm reading my second book on the second monarch, because the first on said monarch could've been better.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...


message 900: by Thomas (new)

Thomas (tom471) | 984 comments Bionic Jean wrote: "Thomas, that's great news about your eyesight! I hope it continues to improve 😊

In the mysteries line, I am reading one by a Korean author You-Jeong Jeong called [book:Seven Year..."

Thanks BJ. My eyesight will stay the same. I can actually read large print books, my desktop and e reader w/o glasses.


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