What mysteries are you reading at the moment? (2021) Showing 651-700 of 1,557

[Laurence]

Spring rain, snow, rain again. Found an unread copy of . Morse to the rescue.

[Sandy]

I just read A Bitter Feast, the latest in the Kincaid and James series. Loved it as usual and hoping for a new book soon. Once started I have never been able to put one of these aside so I make sure I have no other plans.

[Colin]

It feels like an age since I last read any Erle Stanley Gardner so I'm about to pay a visit to Perry Mason's world in The Case of the Drowning Duck

[Tara]

Colin wrote: "It feels like an age since I last read any Erle Stanley Gardner so I'm about to pay a visit to Perry Mason's world in The Case of the Drowning Duck "

I've never read any Perry Mason. Where is a good place to start?

[Colin]

Anywhere you like, there's no particular continuity to worry about. If you are familiar with the Raymond Burr TV show, then the books from the 50s might be a good way in as Gardner seemed to be writing very much with that in mind at that stage. The earlier stuff is more hard-boiled, especially the books from the early 30s so bear that in mind- the Mason of 1935 is very different from the Mason of 1955, for example. Of the early ones I've read, I found Howling Dog and Stuttering Bishop excellent.

[Nike]

I'm reading The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn.

[Jan C]

Tara wrote: "Colin wrote: "It feels like an age since I last read any Erle Stanley Gardner so I'm about to pay a visit to Perry Mason's world in The Case of the Drowning Duck [bookcover:The Case of the Drowning..."

I always suggest start at the beginning, even if you don't continue to read in order it familiarizes you with relationships.

I'm reading in order.

[Colin]

Yes, lots of people like that approach. I could never really be bothered with it though as it requires far too much discipline for my sloppy soul, and then I grew up when availability was such that I got used to reading whatever I could lay my hands on and when lists of publication order were rare as hens' teeth.

I take the point about relationships but the principals in the Mason books have basically the same relationship (and age as far as I'm aware) from the first to the fiftieth book.

[Sandy]

I am reading Betty Church and the Suffolk Vampire. It is a long book (500 pages) for this genre, mystery with humor, and it took the first 100 pages before the author's style became engaging rather than annoying. Now I'm down to the last 100 pages and involved in the plot and enjoying the humor.

It is very loosely connected to the author's The Mangle Street Murders Victorian series. I read a few of those. This one is set as WWII starts.

It could be considered a 'cozy' but the murders, several so far, are quite gruesome.

[Tania]

I just finished a re-read of The Mystery of the Blue Train, not up there with her best, but she's still hard to beat.

[Susan in NC]

I’m just starting The Secret of Chimneys, our June Christie- if I read it, it was long ago, so I’m looking forward to it- listening to the audiobook with Hugh Fraser, my favorite Christie narrator!

[Gary]

Colin wrote: "Yes, lots of people like that approach. I could never really be bothered with it though as it requires far too much discipline for my sloppy soul, and then I grew up when availability was such that..."

I grew up back then too. Grab whatever was on the shelf at the local book store or library. I am now reading both Nero Wolfe and Perry Mason in order. Amazes me how many of the early Wolfe books I hadn't read before. I am sad that the bulk of Gardner's other two major series are not available in ebook format.

[Carolien]

I've just completed A Very Long Engagement which is a very different mystery. Five French soldiers are taken by their fellow soldiers and dumped unarmed into no-man's land to be killed by the enemy one night during WWI. After the war, one of the soldiers who were part of the operation confesses the event to the fiancee of one of them. She sets out to discover what had really happened and whether all five really had died. Beautifully translated, it is a start reminder of the horror of WWI.

[Judy]

I haven't read A Very Long Engagement, Carolien, but I remember seeing the film which I thought was very good.

[Judy]

I'm reading our forthcoming buddy read, The Mummy Case, and also couldn't resist another in the Hannah Swensen series, Cream Puff Murder - they are pure comfort reading.

[Susan in NC]

Switching between Christie and a reread of an upcoming book for the Flavia de Luce series, I Am Half-Sick of Shadows. Very enjoyable narrator.

[Jan C]

Carolien wrote: "I've just completed A Very Long Engagement which is a very different mystery. Five French soldiers are taken by their fellow soldiers and dumped unarmed into no-man's land to be kille..."

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Didn't even know there was a movie.

[Jan C]

Just started Who Killed Dick Whittington? by E. Radford. I had no knowledge that Dick Whittington was a pantomime. It is another one of those theatrical mysteries.

[Jill]

I am now reading Never Somewhere Else by Alex Gray A serial killer in Glasgow killing girls and leaving their bodies in the park, so a psychologist and criminal profiler is brought in.

[Sandy]

I just finished What the Devil Knows, the latest book in that historical series and one of my favorites. Another excellent entry.

I was feeling guilty about how many series I've been ignoring so yesterday I either borrowed or requested several books to get back on track. I will be busy once I finish my two non-mystery books in progress.

[Susan in NC]

Sandy wrote: "I just finished What the Devil Knows, the latest book in that historical series and one of my favorites. Another excellent entry.

I was feeling guilty about how many series I've be..."

Same here! Seems like all my favorite series publish around the same time every year, so I need to track them down, see what the latest is, request from the library, check Scribd or Audible, then wait for the holds to come through!

[Susan in NC]

Just started next month’s group read, Calamity in Kent .

[Sandy]

Finished Just What the Doctor Ordered as it is known at my library, aka The Flaxborough Crab to the rest of the world. This is a fun series with a good dose of humor mixed in with the mystery. I've requested the next in the series already as the book are 'originals' and well-loved. I want to read them before they get tossed.

Thanks to the group for introducing them to me.

[Rosina]

Sandy wrote: "Finished Just What the Doctor Ordered as it is known at my library, aka The Flaxborough Crab to the rest of the world. This is a fun series with a good dose of humor ..."

I finished the Flaxborough Crab a couple of days ago, and have Broomsticks Over Flaxborough ready for my next comfort read. At the moment though, I'm reading Cleek, the Master Detective.

[Sandy]

Rosina wrote: "Sandy wrote: "Finished Just What the Doctor Ordered as it is known at my library, aka The Flaxborough Crab to the rest of the world. This is a fun series with a good ..."

Broomsticks is in my library as Kissing Covens. I like the Crab title better than Doctor but Broomsticks vs. Covens is a toss up.

[Jill]

I am just starting The Secret of Chimneys the next group read, think I have read it before but so long ago, I don't remember it. I think maybe as there are so many Christie's I get them muddled.

[Sandy]

Continuing on my "library books that may be gone soon" project, I'm reading Inspector Ghote's Good Crusade. I'm finding Ghote's interaction with the street urchins that are his witnesses a bit repetitive and annoying. I will persist and try the next one as I liked the first in the series.

I originally heard about H.R.F. Keating in a talk by Alexander McCall Smith and was reminded when I read Howdunit: A Masterclass in Crime Writing by Members of the Detection Club.

[Lady Clementina]

Sandy wrote: "Continuing on my "library books that may be gone soon" project, I'm reading Inspector Ghote's Good Crusade. I'm finding Ghote's interaction with the street urchins that are his witne..."

I haven't read the Ghote books but did see the film adaptation of the first which was quite nice. Have been wondering about the books since.

[Sandy]

Lady Clementina wrote: "Sandy wrote: "Continuing on my "library books that may be gone soon" project, I'm reading Inspector Ghote's Good Crusade. I'm finding Ghote's interaction with the street urchins that..."

Never knew about a film. Thanks

[Lady Clementina]

Sandy wrote: "Lady Clementina wrote: "Sandy wrote: "Continuing on my "library books that may be gone soon" project, I'm reading Inspector Ghote's Good Crusade. I'm finding Ghote's interaction with..."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Per...

[Sandy]

Lady Clementina wrote: "Sandy wrote: "Lady Clementina wrote: "Sandy wrote: "Continuing on my "library books that may be gone soon" project, I'm reading Inspector Ghote's Good Crusade. I'm finding Ghote's in..."

Thank you for the link.

[Judy]

I've started next month's Christie for our challenge, The Secret of Chimneys.

[Tracey]

Susan in NC wrote: "Just started next month’s group read, Calamity in Kent ."

Me too. Enjoying it very much so far.

[Judy]

I'm also really enjoying Calamity in Kent, Tracey - about halfway through. Looking forward to our discussion.

[Susan]

Must admit I really did not like Calamity in Kent...

Have started The Secret of Chimneys and also A Man Lies Dreaming which sees Hitler as a down and out PI in 1939 London!

[Carolien]

I've just finished Children of the Street set in Ghana. I'm really enjoying this series. Darko is a lovely character and I appreciate police procedurals where all the tools are not readily available.

[Tara]

I'm enjoying Vultures in the Sky by Todd Downing. Its been dubbed the Mexican Murder on the Orient Express, although the introduction compares it to And Then There Were None. I'm happy if either reference is accurate. The Mexican desert landscape is like its own character, which adds to the suffocating atmosphere already at play.

[Sandy]

Tara wrote: "I'm enjoying Vultures in the Sky by Todd Downing. Its been dubbed the Mexican Murder on the Orient Express, although the introduction compares it to And Then There..."

That book is on my TBR since the British Library book fest. (Although those are not my favorite Christie's.)

[Sandy]

I am about to start Slough House. While I love the series, I dread each book for fear some favorite character will not make it to the end.

[Susan]

There is a new one due out next year and a book of short stories out in December. I hope you enjoy Slough House, Sandy. Will be interested to hear your thoughts!

[Susan]

Just digging out titles...

New Mick Herron listed for pre-order on Amazon...

Bad Actors Bad Actors

The eighth book in the award-winning Slough House series.

May 3rd 2022

Also, a short story collection Dolphin Junction

7th Dec 2021

Now, for the first time, Herron's short fiction has been collected into one volume. In Dolphin Junction, devoted fans and future converts alike will find much to amuse, delight, and terrify them. Five standalone nerve wrackingly thrilling crime fiction stories are complemented by four mystery stories featuring the Oxford wife-and-husband detective team of shrewd Zoë Boehm and hapless Joe Silvermann. The collection also includes a peek into the past of Jackson Lamb, irascible top agent at Slough House.

[Susan]

Just digging out titles...

New Mick Herron listed for pre-order on Amazon...

Bad Actors Bad Actors

The eighth book in the award-winning Slough House series.

May 3rd 2022

Also, a short story collection Dolphin Junction

7th Dec 2021

Now, for the first time, Herron's short fiction has been collected into one volume. In Dolphin Junction, devoted fans and future converts alike will find much to amuse, delight, and terrify them. Five standalone nerve wrackingly thrilling crime fiction stories are complemented by four mystery stories featuring the Oxford wife-and-husband detective team of shrewd Zoë Boehm and hapless Joe Silvermann. The collection also includes a peek into the past of Jackson Lamb, irascible top agent at Slough House.

[Jan C]

Tara wrote: "I'm enjoying Vultures in the Sky by Todd Downing. Its been dubbed the Mexican Murder on the Orient Express, although the introduction compares it to And Then There..."

I've picked up a couple of his but haven't started any yet.

[Tara]

Sandy wrote: "Tara wrote: "I'm enjoying Vultures in the Sky by Todd Downing. Its been dubbed the Mexican Murder on the Orient Express, although the introduction compares it to A..."

I think most train mysteries get compared to Orient Express, so thats inevitable. There is also a child kidnapping sub-plot that plays into the Lindbergh case the same way Christie's book did. But it has a totally different feel, so you still might enjoy it.

[Jill]

I am just over half way through The Thursday Murder Club and am really enjoying it. I think I am getting addicted to feisty older characters in books.

[Susan]

I liked it too, Jill. If you enjoy Thursday Murder Club you might like The Marlow Murder Club

[Rosina]

That looks good - and in a similar vein I also enjoyed .

[Jacqui]

Part way through Number 3 of the Skelgil series Murder on the Edge a lot of Cumbrian local colour which is a place I've never actually been but would like to especially after reading these books.

[Judy]

Welcome, Jax. I have visited the Lake District, though I haven't seen enough of it. A series with lots of local colour sounds appealing, although I think the Skelgil books may be a bit dark for me.

I hope you get a chance to visit the area - it's so beautiful although it can be very wet at times!

[Judy]

I've just started The Children of Silence by Linda Stratmann, one of the Frances Doughty series set in the late 19th century.

I'd been meaning to get back to this series, and am hoping I will still remember the characters after I left a gap of nearly 5 years between books - how did that happen?!