What mysteries are you reading at the moment? (2021) Showing 1,001-1,050 of 1,557

[Tania]

I am now reading an actual mystery, Murder's a Swine: A Second World War Mystery by Nap Lombard who is a husband and wife writing team, I forget his name but she was Pamela Hansford Johnson. I recently read An Error of Judgement by her and really liked it.

[Victoria]

Judy, The Honjin Murders is one of the ones I want to read. It sounds good!

[Jackie]

I am reading what I guess you might call a cozy mystery, and it's the first of a series.

A Lady's Guide to Etiquette and Murder

so far it's not bad.

[Judy]

I've finished The Wychford Poisoning Case by Anthony Berkeley and have somewhat mixed feelings about it - it is fairly entertaining overall, but has some bizarre and off-putting elements. Not one of his best! My review is here:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I've now started India Gray: Historical Fiction Boxed Set by Sujata Massey, after enjoying her novel The Widows of Malabar Hill. This collection includes a short prequel novella to that book with series detective Perveen Mistry at Oxford. I'm keen to read the second full novel in the series but it is quite expensive on Kindle at the moment - I'll probably cave in and buy it soon though, before I forget the first book!

[Judy]

Victoria wrote: "Judy, The Honjin Murders is one of the ones I want to read. It sounds good!"

Hope you enjoy it, Victoria! Just remembered I've got another of the Pushkin Vertigo Japanese mysteries, The Tokyo Zodiac Murders by Sōji Shimada, but haven't read it as yet.

[Jill]

I'm back at Shrewsbury now with Brother Cadfael for next months read with The Devil's Novice

[Victoria]

Tokyo Zodiac Murders is another on my list. I’ve also got Murder in the Crooked House by the same writer, The Inugami Curse by Seishi Yokomizo and The Master Key by Masako Togawa, all recommended in a video by Books and Bao on YouTube. I’ll see which ones I can find when I can get to a bookshop

[Sandy]

I've started Death in Delft and expect it will be another series I want to follow. At least there aren't too many of them (yet).

[Lady Clementina]

Sandy wrote: "I've started Death in Delft and expect it will be another series I want to follow. At least there aren't too many of them (yet)."

This is a series I've been meaning to pick up as well; looking forward to your thoughts!

[Alwynne]

I finished a classic Virago novel from 1934, it's by F. Tennyson Jesse A Pin To See The Peepshow although Tennyson Jesse was an established fiction writer she was also a criminologist, and this is her fictionalised version of the events that led to the notorious trial and execution of Edith Thompson in 1923. It's really well-told, quite conventional but decently crafted and emotionally powerful. It's out of print but due to be republished in October as part of the British Library Women Writers' series.

Link to my review:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Tania]

Alwynne wrote: "I finished a classic Virago novel from 1934, it's by F. Tennyson Jesse A Pin To See The Peepshow although Tennyson Jesse was an established fiction writer she was also a criminologist..."

This is the one I'm most looking forward to, and I'd like to follow it with Messalina of the Suburbs which is also based on the Ilford murder case.

[Sandy]

I've finished Death in Delft and liked it a lot. It is probably more modern in feel (language and characterization) than an historical mystery should be. I found it very readable, liked the main character and the historical figures, Vermeer and Van Leeuwenhoek, added interest. The setting was different, both in location and the religious tensions.

Luckily for me the series is available on Kindle Unlimited in the US. And it was a kindle deal recently.

[Alwynne]

Tania wrote: "Alwynne wrote: "I finished a classic Virago novel from 1934, it's by F. Tennyson Jesse A Pin To See The Peepshow although Tennyson Jesse was an established fiction writer she was also..."

I hope it works as well for you as it did for me, I thought it was a very sensitive, powerful depiction of Julia/Edith, and by the end I really believed in the character. I think, from what I've read, that Tennyson Jesse was partly writing against portrayals like Delafield's and cutting across class prejudice to give some sense of a real woman who got caught up in horrific events for reasons she mostly couldn't control.

[Tania]

Yes, that's my understanding. That's why I'd rather read this one first.

[Alwynne]

Tania wrote: "Yes, that's my understanding. That's why I'd rather read this one first."

I'll be interested to see your verdict on the Delafield when you get to it.

[Tania]

Hopefully soonish then. : )

[Judy]

I think I've read Fred & Edie by Jill Dawson, a more recent book inspired by the same case, but it must have been pre Goodreads and I don't really remember it. I see from reviews it is said to be sympathetic to Edith's character though.

[Alwynne]

Judy wrote: "I think I've read Fred & Edie by Jill Dawson, a more recent book inspired by the same case, but it must have been pre Goodreads and I don't really remember it. I see f..."

Did you remember if you liked it? The only other book I've read based on this is Sarah Waters's The Paying Guests but it's only very loosely related.

[Thom]

Carol wrote: "The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax just started this book but enjoying it"

I fell in love with the character way back in the early 1970s. Gillman is a very good writer and I have the whole series. Perhaps it's time to reread them again.

[Thom]

Tania wrote: "Today I finished Scales of Justice by Ngaio Marsh Not reading in order now, but as I get them. The later ones seem better so far."

I also have found the later Marsh books to be better than the early ones, although Nursing Home Murders, A Man Lay Dead and Artists in Crime are also very good.

[Judy]

Alwynne wrote: "Did you remember if you liked it? ..."

Sorry to be useless, but after looking inside, I'm now not sure if I have ever read this book after all or am mixing it up with another one!

Anyway I've bought a copy of it as it is only 99p on Kindle. It looks good from peeping inside and I think I'll read it soon - it's told in letters and Edie has an immediately appealing voice.

I have seen the film Cause Celebre and read the Sayers novel which was partly inspired by this case, The Documents in the Case, although I don't think the characters were all that similar as far as I remember.

[Judy]

Since Mrs Pollifax has just been mentioned, I've just noticed The Elusive Mrs Pollifax is in today's UK Bookbub at 99p - it's the third in the series. I will also post this over in the deals thread if it isn't already mentioned.

[Thom]

Judy wrote: "Since Mrs Pollifax has just been mentioned, I've just noticed The Elusive Mrs Pollifax is in today's UK Bookbub at 99p - it's the third in the series. I will also post this over in ..."

Am new here so forgive me if I am posting this in the wrong place (if so feel free to let me know where the post belongs and I will delete and repost). My UK friends often use this site and it appears to me that some great deals are to be had with many mysteries listed. https://www.theworks.co.uk/c/books/fi...

[Susan in NC]

Sandy wrote: "I've started Death in Delft and expect it will be another series I want to follow. At least there aren't too many of them (yet)."

Same here, I really enjoyed the first, want to read more.

Just started Detection Unlimited by Georgette Heyer for the Heyer group’s September read. This is the only one of her mysteries I somehow had not read, and I need some humor right now, figured this would fit the bill. I can tell right away, I will enjoy it!

[Susan in NC]

Sandy wrote: "I've finished Death in Delft and liked it a lot. It is probably more modern in feel (language and characterization) than an historical mystery should be. I found it very readable, l..."

I agree, those two characters were very interesting, made for a unique story.

[Jackie]

Susan in NC, I just got notified I can check out the ebook of Dectection Unlimited and can start it as soon as I finish up A Lady's Guide to Etiquette and Murder.

I've read Dectection Unlimited many times, and it's one of my favorites of her mysteries.

[Jan C]

Just finished Unexpected Night by Elizabeth Daly. I enjoyed it. I didn't solve it but I enjoyed it.

[Thom]

Jan C wrote: "Just finished Unexpected Night by Elizabeth Daly. I enjoyed it. I didn't solve it but I enjoyed it."

An excellent read as I recall. I didn't solve that one either.

[Carolien]

I'm reading the second in the Karl Alberg series Sleep While I Sing, I am so glad I've discovered this Candadian series which I highly recommend.

[Judy]

Just started our forthcoming group read, Mystery in the Channel by Freeman Wills Crofts. I was convinced I'd read this previously, but now realise I had apparently mixed it up with another book! Enjoying it so far, anyway.

[Jill]

I quickly read The Blurred Man by Anthony Horowitz. These books by Horowitz do make me smile, and the mysteries aren't bad. Have now started An Instance of the Fingerpost by Iain Pears, our long buddy read for September. Thought I had better make an early start as I wasn't keen on the other book The Portrait that I read by this author. So far this one is faring a lot better.

[Thom]

Judy wrote: "Just started our forthcoming group read, Mystery in the Channel by Freeman Wills Crofts. I was convinced I'd read this previously, but now realise I had apparently m..."

When done do let us know what you think. I happen to think he was a better writer than some state he is on GR. I've read this one previously and remember it well but I'll stay silent until people are done.

[Judy]

Thanks Thom, good to hear you like Crofts. I did post here that the discussion would open in a couple of days, but just editing to say it has actually opened now.

[Sandy]

I've started Mystery in the Channel, so far so good, and finished Love and Death Among the Cheetahs, so I'm nearly current in that series.

I've taken An Instance of the Fingerpost out of the library as I could not possibly cope with the tiny print version I own. It is big! I may need to move to a third version and find an electronic copy.

[Susan]

I am listening to An Instance of the Fingerpost on Audible, Sandy and enjoying it so far.

[Sandy]

Susan wrote: "I am listening to An Instance of the Fingerpost on Audible, Sandy and enjoying it so far."

Oh, a fourth version! I'll check my libraries.

[Susan]

My version has four readers: Gareth Armstrong, Roger May, David McAlister and Christopher Oxford. It's VERY long.

[Susan in NC]

Sandy wrote: "I've started Mystery in the Channel, so far so good, and finished Love and Death Among the Cheetahs, so I'm nearly current in that series.

I've taken An Insta..."</i>

I have a physical version of [book:An Instance of the Fingerpost on hold at library, but purchased an ebook kindle for that reason, I figured the print might be tiny! I had a used paperback version years ago, but ended up trading it in at the used book store, I knew the print would defeat me! I’ll see what the library version looks like…

I did look for an audiobook, but could only find an abridged version- some positive reviews, but some said it was a real hatchet job! So, I think I’ll only take that route if I’m really foundering with it, need to move along…

[Susan in NC]

Sorry, don’t know what’s up with italics, checked formatting, I don’t see it.

[Susan]

Mine is unabridged. It's from Audible.
An Instance of the Fingerpost
By: Iain Pears
Narrated by: Gareth Armstrong, Roger May, Christopher Oxford, David McAlister
Length: 28 hrs and 54 mins
Unabridged Audiobook

[Judy]

Sorry, I posted earlier that our read of Mystery in the Channel would open in a couple of days - but in fact it has opened early! So anyone waiting to comment can jump in now. :)

This is the non-spoiler thread:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

And this is the spoiler thread:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Susan]

Oh, sorry, Judy. Many apologies!

[Judy]

Susan wrote: "Oh, sorry, Judy. Many apologies!"

No worries Susan, I'm happy to discuss it now. :)

[Susan]

Didn't notice your post and thought some of us might be online, with the Bank Holiday weekend.

[Judy]

Good idea to open them early, Susan.

Our latest Agatha Christie challenge read, Crooked House is also open for discussion now:

Non spoiler thread here:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Spoiler thread here:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Wayne]

I am two sessions into Zen Attitude and will soon poke my nose into The Mysterious Affair at Styles

[Judy]

Woo hoo, just ordered a copy of The Three-Cornered Halo by Christianna Brand from Abebooks for our next buddy read.

I was a bit fed up that I didn't buy all these titles on Kindle when they were issued, but hadn't expected them to suddenly disappear again in the UK! Hopefully they will reappear before too long. :)

[Gary]

Sandy wrote: "Jackie wrote: "Carol wrote: "The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax just started this book but enjoying it"

Carol, I love this book and the entire series."

I have also escaped real life with ..."

I just finished the third Pollifax novel, The Elusive Mrs. Pollifax, very entertaining. I am now out of the audio version I had....

[Gary]

I have been absent from this group for a bit. My 96 year old WWIi vet father had a stroke on July 3rd. Sadly, he passed away on August 19th. Tomorrow I will be at his funeral. I am sure I will mention that he read to my brother and I at bedtime most nights. Then there were the constant birthday and Christmas Hardy Boys books. In later years he would fuss about me always having my nose in a book...I just looked at him and said...Uncle Wiggly, Hardy Boys....you got me started.

[Jill]

Sorry for your loss Gary. He sounds like he was a great character.