What mysteries are you reading at the moment? (2021) Showing 551-600 of 1,557

[Judy]

I've started reading The Bath Mysteries by E.R. Punshon, a forthcoming buddy read - enjoying it so far (25% in). It has an intriguing plot and we learn more about Bobby Owen's family.

[Jill]

Judy wrote: "I've started reading The Bath Mysteries by E.R. Punshon, a forthcoming buddy read - enjoying it so far (25% in). It has an intriguing plot and we learn more about B..."

I, too, am now reading The Bath Mysteries

[Sandy]

I have, finally, started our January read, The Poisoned Chocolates Case and am really liking the set up and Berkeley's humor.

[Tracey]

Colin wrote: "I'm reading Sorcerer's House by Gerald Verner at the moment. There's a creepy old derelict mansion, whispers about Cagliostro's black deeds in the past, a larg..."

Sounds very intriguing. Added to the tbr list!

[Judy]

I've just realised I have a Gerald Verner title which I picked up as a freebie, and I see it is still free - Noose for a Lady. This is the first in the Simon Gale series and Sorcerer's House is the second. Yet another author I must get on to soon.

Talking of Kindle freebies, I'm currently reading one of the many Patricia Wentworth titles I picked up free a while back, Dead or Alive: A Frank Garrett Mystery. So far it's quite enjoyable, and more romantic thriller than mystery, as with almost all the dozen or so books by this author that I've read so far.

[Judy]

Sandy wrote: "I have, finally, started our January read, The Poisoned Chocolates Case and am really liking the set up and Berkeley's humor."

Glad to hear you are enjoying it, Sandy - I thought it was a lot of fun.

[Shaina]

I'm currently exploring the previous group reads. I recently finished Bats in the Belfry, Death comes to Cambers and yesterday finished The Mystery in White.

As all of them were great (I'm still combing through the archives) I bought another Bobby Owens- Crossword Mystery which I plan to start today ( I think I'm going to read as many as I can in the series)

[Jill]

Shaina wrote: "I'm currently exploring the previous group reads. I recently finished Bats in the Belfry, Death comes to Cambers and yesterday finished The Mystery in White.

As all of them were great (I'm still ..."

We are reading through the series by one every other month

[Judy]

Good to hear you are enjoying our previous group reads, Shaina! The previous threads are still open if you want to add comments to any of them.

[Nancy]

Sandy, I just noticed that I marked The Poisoned Chocolates Case “want to read” on April 5, 2012. Maybe now, I will finally actually read it.

[Sandy]

Nancy wrote: "Sandy, I just noticed that I marked The Poisoned Chocolates Case “want to read” on April 5, 2012. Maybe now, I will finally actually read it."

I doubt you will be disappointed.

[Shaina]

Jill wrote: "Shaina wrote: "I'm currently exploring the previous group reads. I recently finished Bats in the Belfry, Death comes to Cambers and yesterday finished The Mystery in White.

As all of them were gr..."

Thank you, Jill. I didn't know it was an ongoing thread. I think I will join in.

[Shaina]

Judy wrote: "Good to hear you are enjoying our previous group reads, Shaina! The previous threads are still open if you want to add comments to any of them."

Yes! I didn't expect I would enjoy them all but so far I have enjoyed everything I read. I'm happy to read all comments and most of them cover all the points I have. I will add my two pennies in case I have something new.

I also see myself joining Kindle Unlimited for the British Crime Library books and Golden age mysteries.

[Susan in NC]

Sandy wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Sandy, I just noticed that I marked The Poisoned Chocolates Case “want to read” on April 5, 2012. Maybe now, I will finally actually read it."

I doubt you will be disappointed."

That one was fun! Enjoy! I just started Hide My Eyes for our upcoming read - so far, relieved that this seems a bit more straightforward than the last several Allingham books, we’ll see! ;)

[Colin]

I'm reading Murder in Vienna by ECR Lorac just now.

The jury's still out on Lorac as far as I'm concerned. I didn't get on especially well with Fell Murder, which I thought painfully slow and too heavy on the description, and Rope's End, Rogue's End while better featured some character traits that I found, let's say, similar, meaning I was on to the culprit pretty fast.

I'm about a quarter of the way in and it's not bad so far. I like that it's a change from the rustic shtick of the other books although the pacing is on the deliberate side.

[Judy]

You did well to get hold of Murder in Vienna, Colin - it was nominated for the poll for next month's group read, but it was then pointed out that the Kindle edition is currently "under review" and not available for purchase. Second-hand editions on Amazon start from £785! I hope you enjoy it, anyway.

My favourite so far out of those I've read by Lorac is BLCC reprint Crossed Skis: An Alpine Mystery, published under her other pseudonym, Carol Carnac. The narrative moves to and fro between London just after the war and an Alpine holiday.

I've just started Death Came Softly by Lorac, but am not very far in as yet.

[Colin]

I got it on Kindle a while ago but have only just got round to reading it, Judy
I have copies of both those others you mention - do let us know how you get on with Death Came Softly.

BTW, I see the British Library have another Lorac coming out later this year, These Names Make Clues.
Other titles in that upcoming batch: Till Death Do Us Part by John Dickson Carr, Murder in the Basement by Anthony Berkeley, Murder After Christmas by Rupert Latimer, The Widow of Bath by Margot Bennett.

[Judy]

Colin wrote: "BTW, I see the British Library have another Lorac coming out later this year, These Names Make Clues.
Other titles in that upcoming batch: Till Death Do Us Part by John Dickson Carr, Murder in the Basement by Anthony Berkeley, Murder After Christmas by Rupert Latimer, The Widow of Bath by Margot Bennett...."

Thank you for mentioning those forthcoming titles, Colin - good to see more Lorac, Berkeley and Dickson Carr coming back into print. I think the others are new names to me.

[Judy]

PS Lorac is back to a rural setting in Death Came Softly, with a country house in a remote area of Devon. I'm enjoying it so far.

[Colin]

Lorac was really fond of description, wasn't she? Dramatic incident, on the other hand...
I'm 35% in and so far somebody has suffered a head injury, but it might simply be the result of a slip. Something badly needs to happen soon.

[Tania]

Last night I finished The Red Lacquer Case: A Golden Age Mystery by Patricia Wentworth; I've read a few of these early ones, and while they are light, easy reads, there is little substance to them. I'd like to try one of her Miss Silver mysteries which are better known, so this month I plan to read The Key which is a group read for another group.

[Gary]

Just started A Man Lay Dead by Ngaio Marsh

[Jill]

Tania wrote: "Last night I finished The Red Lacquer Case: A Golden Age Mystery by Patricia Wentworth; I've read a few of these early ones, and while they are light, easy reads, the..."

We read Grey Mask back in 2017 and I loved it, but we never went any further. One of those series I hope will crop up again sometime.

[Judy]

I've also just read one of the early Patricia Wentworth titles lurking on my Kindle, Dead or Alive: A Frank Garrett Mystery. I really enjoy her writing style but often find her plots in these thrillers impossible to swallow, and this one was no exception!

[Tania]

@ Jill, Thank you, I'll ta!ke a look when I get round to that one.

@Judy, I agree, they are a bit daft and hard to swallow at times; they remind me a bit of the plot in The Man in the Brown Suit.

[Tara]

Gary wrote: "Just started A Man Lay Dead by Ngaio Marsh"

Hope you enjoy Gary. Our group reads through her catalog was quite enjoyable.

[Jill]

Now reading Death at the Dog by Joanna Cannan

[Susan in NC]

Just starting a reread (relisten, really, doing audiobook with Emilia Fox, I do like her for Christie mysteries), of May’s read, Death Comes as the End. Very much looking forward to this one, it’s been many years, don’t remember a thing! Such a different setting and time for a Christie mystery.

[Tara]

Behind a month, but there was quite the backlog at my library for the audiobook of Ordeal by Innocence. Somehow I rated this 5 stars, yet I don't remember a thing about it! My review doesn't help me much either, although I get the sense it was the character development rather than the mystery that so impressed me. Let's see what round 2 brings.

[Margaret]

I can't work out whether to re-read Thus Was Adonis Murdered or an Allingham. I've just finished The Punt Murder, which I very much enjoyed (possibly 4.5, rather than 5, but definitely very good - especially at 99p).

[Judy]

Thus Was Adonis Murdered is one I've been meaning to read for years... and am now not sure where I've put my copy. Thank you for the reminder about this one, Margaret.

The Punt Murder is a new one on me - the Cambridge setting sounds very tempting.

[Colin]

Colin wrote: "I'm reading Murder in Vienna by ECR Lorac just now.

The jury's still out on Lorac as far as I'm concerned. I didn't get on especially well with Fell Murder, ..."

And finished. My thoughts on it: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Margaret]

Judy wrote: "Thus Was Adonis Murdered is one I've been meaning to read for years... and am now not sure where I've put my copy. Thank you for the reminder about this one, Margaret.

The Punt Murder is a new one..."

Sadly, The Punt Murder isn't actually set in Cambridge. I think that the marketing got a bit confused because it comes from the Cambridge Crime stable. It's very definitely a village setting.

The Sarah Caudwell books are brilliantly well-written; I wish that she had written more (I find the final one rather too dark The Sibyl in Her Grave). If I remember, I'll try to recommend it for the July read.

[Judy]

For anyone who hasn't voted yet, our poll for our June group read is currently tied, so please take a look and vote for the book you'd like to read.

https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/2...

[Diane]

Margaret wrote: "I can't work out whether to re-read Thus Was Adonis Murdered or an Allingham. I've just finished The Punt Murder, which I very much enjoyed (possibly 4.5, rather than ..."

Margaret, funny that you should mention Thus Was Adonis Murdered. When I was reading your own book (Prisoner at the Bar), the interactions between the young lawyers vaguely reminded me of those in Thus Was Adonis Murdered. It's been years (decades?) since I read that and it's due for a reread.

[Jill]

I have had all 4 of Caudwell's books for years but never got to them, although they were highly recommended by the friend that gave them to me. I hadn't realised that Anne Perry had written a fifth

[Judy]

Margaret wrote: "Sadly, The Punt Murder isn't actually set in Cambridge. I think that the marketing got a bit confused because it comes from the Cambridge Crime stable. It's very definitely a village setting...."

Thank you Margaret, how confusing and intriguing - I assumed someone was murdered in a punt in Cambridge, but clearly not!

I must also definitely get to Sarah Caudwell soon.

[Colin]

Right now, I'm making my way through The Way Some People Die by Ross Macdonald - very good so far.

[Margaret]

Diane wrote: "Margaret wrote: "I can't work out whether to re-read Thus Was Adonis Murdered or an Allingham. I've just finished The Punt Murder, which I very much enjoyed (possibly ..."

That's very interesting that you saw a similarity in the interactions. Clearly, their characters are different (although James could probably transfer across books quite well), but I'm pretty sure that I was influenced by Sarah Caudwell. Her young lawyers are such fun and have such a good relationship with each other. I do wish that she had written more...

[Margaret]

Jill wrote: "I have had all 4 of Caudwell's books for years but never got to them, although they were highly recommended by the friend that gave them to me. I hadn't realised that Anne Perry had written a fifth"

Start with Thus Was Adonis Murdered. Either you'll dislike the style within a few chapters or you'll find the whole thing (especially the inept Julia) hilarious.

[Margaret]

Judy wrote: "Margaret wrote: "Sadly, The Punt Murder isn't actually set in Cambridge. I think that the marketing got a bit confused because it comes from the Cambridge Crime stable. It's very definitely a villa..."

Yes, it's a bit annoying that it's wrongly described, but if you can ignore that it's worth a read.

[Sandy]

I have been really enjoying Howdunit: A Masterclass in Crime Writing by Members of the Detection Club. I expected to pick and choose the essays that looked interesting or are by authors I know but ended up reading almost all the entries. My TBR is growing by leaps and bounds.

[Tracey]

Sandy wrote: "I have been really enjoying Howdunit: A Masterclass in Crime Writing by Members of the Detection Club. I expected to pick and choose the essays that looked interesting or are by aut..."

I'd heard Martin Edwards speak about this book on a podcast and it pricked my interest. Good to know it's worth a read. Will add to my groaning tbr list.

[Judy]

I've started our forthcoming buddy read Tour de Force by Christianna Brand. I'm not very far in as yet, but so far I am enjoying her witty writing style. Looking forward to our discussion.

[Susan]

One of the characters in Tour de Force, Mr Cecil, appears originally in Death in High Heels, which I know we intend to also read as a buddy. There are a lot of links between Brand's books and characters.

[Tania]

I have just finished Death in Ecstasy by Ngaio Marsh. I didn't warm to any of the characters in this one but it kept me guessing.

[Susan in NC]

I’m just starting The Trouble at Wakeley Court and a reread of The Mummy Case

[Judy]

I've finished Tour de Force which I think will make for an interesting buddy read discussion - that's interesting about Mr Cecil, Susan.

Now starting our next Campion buddy read, Hide My Eyes by Margery Allingham. It certainly has a gripping start. The new buddy reads are due to start tomorrow, and I'm looking forward to them.

[Sandy]

I finished Tether's End (aka Hide My Eyes) last night and found it riveting.

[Jill]

I definitely think it is one of best