E.C.R. Lorac

[Susan in NC]

Thanks! One I did not have, and not on Scribd that I could tell - that app is sluggish lately- got the kindle for $2.99!

[Judy]

Susan, I'm having trouble with Scribd app too, on my Kindle Fire - if I try to listen to an audio book it always says the app needs to update, but the updates do not work! Fortunately it works OK on my phone though.

[Susan in NC]

I was having problems with the desktop app on my iPad, husband suggested deleting and reloading, seemed to help. But yes, mobile app on phone worked fine - problem is, my older eyes don’t like tiny screens!

[Judy]

Susan in NC wrote: "I was having problems with the desktop app on my iPad, husband suggested deleting and reloading, seemed to help. But yes, mobile app on phone worked fine - problem is, my older eyes don’t like tiny screens..."

Nor do mine! Fortunately the ordinary books still work on my tablet so I just have to listen to the audio books on my phone.

[Lesley]

Susan, Judy, It is on Scribd but showing as not available until 23rd. This happens a lot with books I want to read I’ve noticed.

I’m also having slowness problems with the app. Took almost 9 minutes to open an already downloaded book yesterday. They updated the app just over a week ago and it’s since then I’ve noticed it’s got really slow.

[Susan in NC]

Judy wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "I was having problems with the desktop app on my iPad, husband suggested deleting and reloading, seemed to help. But yes, mobile app on phone worked fine - problem is, my older ..."

Good system, I do the same!

[Susan in NC]

Lesley wrote: "Susan, Judy, It is on Scribd but showing as not available until 23rd. This happens a lot with books I want to read I’ve noticed.

I’m also having slowness problems with the app. Took almost 9 minu..."

Thanks, Lesley - I don’t always pay attention to downloads, but when I start noticing problems, it’s so often a download issue! I let them know, but they send meaningless emails saying they’re working on it, will get back to me, etc., meanwhile, would I like to look at their list of FAQs to see if one might help? No, I really don’t care to waste time doing that...

[Judy]

Lesley wrote: "Susan, Judy, It is on Scribd but showing as not available until 23rd. This happens a lot with books I want to read I’ve noticed. ..."

Thanks Lesley, sadly that title, Accident by Design is not on Scribd in the UK, but good news that you will be able to read it there, once it is available.

I'm enjoying Bats in the Belfry and looking forward to our group read discussion. :)

[Piyangie]

I too found Death Came Softly and Murder in Vienna, but not Accident by Design. It is not available in Scribd for my part of the world.

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Scribd isn't available in my part of the world.

[Judy]

I posted a little while ago in this thread about Two-Way Murder, an unpublished novel which Lorac wrote under the name Mary le Bourne, after seeing a blog post about it by Martin Edwards.

Looks as if Edwards persuaded British Library Crime Classics to pick this one up - it is now due to be published for the first time in March! But under the Lorac name, not Mary le Bourne.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Two-Way-Murd...

[Michaela]

Sounds great, thanks Judy! Definitely on my list!

[Susan in NC]

Thanks, Judy!

[Susan in NC]

I don’t think that title is available in the U.S., can’t find it on Amazon

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

You could buy it from Abebooks ;-)

https://www.abebooks.com/first-editio...

[Susan in NC]

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "You could buy it from Abebooks ;-)

https://www.abebooks.com/first-editio..."

Thank you! Lol, if I rob a bank, perhaps!

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Susan in NC wrote: "Thank you! Lol, if I rob a bank, perhaps!"

I thought maybe you'd like that. The shipping to the US is more than I'm willing to pay.

[Judy]

Susan in NC wrote: "I don’t think that title is available in the U.S., can’t find it on Amazon"

I think it has only just been listed for publication in March in the UK by BLCC, so let's hope Poison Pen announces the US publication date soon.

I'm slightly puzzled that the manuscript is still on sale for £5,000 - surely BLCC must have used it to prepare the print version?! But maybe someone will still snap it up...

[Susan in NC]

Judy wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "I don’t think that title is available in the U.S., can’t find it on Amazon"

I think it has only just been listed for publication in March in the UK by BLCC, so let's hope Poiso..."

Yes, that’s pretty spendy!

[Piyangie]

I'm reading Death Came Softly at present. This is my third read of Lorac and enjoying it more than the previous two reads.

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

That's the one I hope to fit in before the end of November. Glad to hear you're enjoying it.

[Judy]

Looks like Accident by Design is no longer available - I should have snapped it up when I had the chance. But maybe it will reappear, and I've got quite a few other Loracs to go anyway.

[Piyangie]

I started Rope’s End, Rogue’s End, but just couldn't get on with it. Now I'm reading Murder by Matchlight.

[Judy]

I quite liked Rope's End, Rogue's End, but didn't think it was one of her best (out of those I've read so far.) I'll be interested to hear what you think of Murder by Matchlight, Piyangie.

[Piyangie]

I'm glad to hear that Rope's End, Rogue's End is not one of Lorac's best. Now I don't mind so much for giving it up. :) I just couldn't stand the bickering and the antagonism between the siblings. It put me off. I'm not the easily giving up kind, but it really made me!

Murder by Matchlight is more intereting. We are again in a London setting. The mystery is also intriguing. I think I'll enjoy it a lot.

[Judy]

Glad to hear you are enjoying Murder by Matchlight, Piyangie. I know what you mean about bickering siblings - I think quite a few classic mysteries have a bit too much of this!

[Piyangie]

Judy wrote: "I quite liked Rope's End, Rogue's End, but didn't think it was one of her best (out of those I've read so far.) I'll be interested to hear what you think of Murder by Matchlight, Piyangie."

I thought Murder by Matchlight had a good mystery, Judy. I also liked the setting in London with the blitz and the blackouts. It rendered the story a realistic touch.

[Judy]

Ooh, that's good to hear, Piyangie. I thought there was a good post-war London setting in parts of Crossed Skis: An Alpine Mystery which she wrote under her other name, Carol Carnac - loved that one, with its mix of London and the Alps!

[Susan in NC]

Judy wrote: "Ooh, that's good to hear, Piyangie. I thought there was a good post-war London setting in parts of Crossed Skis: An Alpine Mystery which she wrote under her other name, [author:Caro..."

Oh, that does sound intriguing!

[Susan in NC]

Piyangie wrote: "Judy wrote: "I quite liked Rope's End, Rogue's End, but didn't think it was one of her best (out of those I've read so far.) I'll be interested to hear what you think of Murder by Matchlight, Piyan..."

I enjoyed that one, too, I thought the blackout, wartime conditions added a really interesting twist and complication to the investigation.

[Piyangie]

I checked out Checkmate to Murder, and it sounds very interesting. Unfortunately, it's not available on Scribd and I'll have to buy the kindle. Has anyone read it?

[Susan in NC]

I haven’t, but have it on my wish list- I was just looking at scribd, I see the ebook and audiobook of “Fire in the thatch” are available- that was a good one, have you read that book?

[Piyangie]

Susan in NC wrote: "I haven’t, but have it on my wish list- I was just looking at scribd, I see the ebook and audiobook of “Fire in the thatch” are available- that was a good one, have you read that book?"

It'll be my next read, Susan. Probably in December.

[Piyangie]

Finished reading Fire in the Thatch: A Devon Mystery. It was good, but I felt it could have been better. So far from what I've read, Murder by Matchlight is my favourite.

[Judy]

Another Lorac title is due for publication in September in UK from British Library - These Names Make Clues.

[Piyangie]

I found Checkmate to Murder in Scribd recently. It wasn't available some time ago, but I'm glad to find it. Hope more and more audio and ebooks of hers will be published.

[Jacqui]

Piyangie wrote: "I found Checkmate to Murder in Scribd recently. It wasn't available some time ago, but I'm glad to find it. Hope more and more audio and ebooks of hers will be published."

Just reading Checkmate to Murder it's on Kindle Unlimited, in the UK at any rate. Enjoying it a lot though I'm wondering if it's a style of writing back in the 30s, 40s where there is so much dialogue. Not complaining I find it refreshing but have come across it in a few of that time.

[Susan in NC]

Judy wrote: "Another Lorac title is due for publication in September in UK from British Library - These Names Make Clues."

Thank you!

[Susan in NC]

Piyangie wrote: "I found Checkmate to Murder in Scribd recently. It wasn't available some time ago, but I'm glad to find it. Hope more and more audio and ebooks of hers will be published."

Same here, I found the audiobook in Scribd. I requested the book from my public library, but it takes quite a while between ordering time and actually getting the book into patron’s hands!

[Judy]

I thought our Lorac fans might be interested to know that another title has just appeared on Kindle (and also on Kindle Unlimited in the UK anyway), I Could Murder Her, originally published as Murder of a Martinet.

I've borrowed this and will try to read it sooner rather than later, as it is another one from an unknown publisher so might suddenly vanish again! There are two editions of it at the moment, both on KU.

[Pamela]

Thanks Judy, I’ve now got this from KU too so will try to read it soon.

[Michaela]

Great, thanks Judy! :)

[Sandy]

On KU in US as well and I grabbed it as the selection changes frequently.

[Susan in NC]

Thanks, Judy!

[Judy]

I just managed to buy Murder in Vienna for 99p from Amazon. It's a bit odd, what looks to be the same edition seems to be listed twice, once as "under review" and once where you can buy it! This is the link which worked for me.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Murder-Vienn...

[Michaela]

Glad for you Judy! Perhaps we can read it one day? ;)

[Judy]

Michaela wrote: "Glad for you Judy! Perhaps we can read it one day? ;)"

Thaniks Michaela! Hope so - I'll keep an eye on whether it stays available!

[Judy]

More titles have appeared by Lorac for 99p in UK - Colin just posted about them in the deals thread, but I'll add the news here too. Thanks to Colin!
Shroud of Darkness
The Last Escape
While picking these up, I noticed that Accident by Design has reappeared on Kindle and again is 99p.

[Michaela]

All on my kindle, thanks Judy! :) Hope they´re as good as the ones I already read.

[Judy]

Just noticed that another Lorac book has just come out from British Library in the UK, Post After Post-Mortem: An Oxfordshire Mystery. I thought for a second it was on Kindle only, but there is a paperback edition too - for some reason Amazon hasn't linked them together.