Reading the Detectives discussion
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What mysteries are you reading at the moment? (2021)
Colin wrote: "Not read that one myself yet, Judy. I've heard it's better than the first in the series, something which is often true of many authors' work."
Definitely - I think it often takes one or two books to get going. I will hope to get to it soon.
Definitely - I think it often takes one or two books to get going. I will hope to get to it soon.
I just finished A Trick of the Light. I enjoyed it very much, but realised that I need to take a break from Three Pines. The setting feels repetitive at the moment. I'll give it a few months and then return to the series.
Started The Death Wish by Elisabeth Sanxay Holding. Although first published in 1934, I don't think most of you would call this GA. I linked to that cover so that you could see how "pulpy" it is.
I see what you mean about the cover of The Death Wish, Elizabeth! I'll be interested to hear what you think of the book.
I've just started as part of my Victober reading The Trail of the Serpent has a great intro by Sarah Waters and according to the scholarly essay included in my edition rivals 'The Moonstone' for the title of the first British detective novel...so far lots of lashing rain, sinister portents, murder and mayhem, with a slightly Dickensian cast of characters...
Carolien wrote: "I just finished A Trick of the Light. I enjoyed it very much, but realised that I need to take a break from Three Pines. The setting feels repetitive at the moment. I'll give it a f..."I've had the feeling I needed to take a break from the Three Pines series, Carolien, whenever I read two of them back to back.
I'm always glad when I go back to them, but really need a break inbetween.
Current active reads:
Where There's a Will by Rex Stout Book 8 in the series.
The Case of the Sulky Girl by Erle Stanley Gardner Book 2 in the series.
I enjoyed Where There's a Will, Gary, though I don't remember it in any detail a couple of years on.
Gary wrote: "Current active reads:
Where There's a Will by Rex Stout Book 8 in the series.
..."I enjoyed The Sulky Girl.
Listening to The Murder Room by P.D. James. Its not up for our group read until December, but its the only James book currently available from my library. So far I'm enjoying it for the mere fact that the narrator is not Penelope Dellaporta, who has narrated all of the audiobooks in the series thus far, and who has a whiny, irritating voice.
Tara wrote: "Listening to The Murder Room by P.D. James. Its not up for our group read until December, but its the only James book currently available from my library. So far I'm..."
I started one of the James' books on audio and quickly dropped it for a print version.
I started one of the James' books on audio and quickly dropped it for a print version.
Jan C wrote: "Gary wrote: "Current active reads:
Where There's a Will by Rex Stout Book 8 in the series.
Where There's a Will by Rex Stout Book 8 in the series.[bookcover:The Case of the Sulky Gi..."
I have read tons of Mason and Wolfe books, not sure that I have read either of these. I am listening to the Mason book on audio. A pity Raymond Burr never did audio books of the Mason series.
My husband reads aloud to me while I cook and wash dishes. Our latest book that we read this way was The Case of the One-Eyed Witness by Erle Stanley Gardner. My husband does a great imitation Raymond Burr!
I've started our next P.D. James book, Death in Holy Orders - not very far in as yet, but I see we are back to the East Anglian coast.
Betsy wrote: "My husband reads aloud to me while I cook and wash dishes. Our latest book that we read this way was The Case of the One-Eyed Witness by Erle Stanley Gardner. My husband does a great imitation Raym..."
What a wonderful tradition! Not only do you get the amusement of an audio book, but you two can discuss the book. I always like reading the same book as my significant other (he would not be a good narrator however).
What a wonderful tradition! Not only do you get the amusement of an audio book, but you two can discuss the book. I always like reading the same book as my significant other (he would not be a good narrator however).
Betsy wrote: "My husband reads aloud to me while I cook and wash dishes. Our latest book that we read this way was The Case of the One-Eyed Witness by Erle Stanley Gardner. My husband does a great imitation Raym..."this sounds so cozy!
Betsy wrote: "My husband reads aloud to me while I cook and wash dishes. Our latest book that we read this way was The Case of the One-Eyed Witness by Erle Stanley Gardner. My husband does a great imitation Raym..."What a lovely idea, Betsy. I love being read to.
Reading aloud contributes to a bond between reader and listener. That said, I'm glad my husband doesn't read to me.
I'm reading Hickory Dickory Dock by Agatha Christie. I have missed some in my Poirot journey and now carefully going through the list and catching up.
Betsy wrote: "My husband reads aloud to me while I cook and wash dishes. Our latest book that we read this way was The Case of the One-Eyed Witness by Erle Stanley Gardner. My husband does a great imitation Raym..."I wish my husband would read to me! Unfortunately our book interests don't overlap enough for this to be feasible. We have gotten into listening to audiobooks during car trips though, which has been fun.
I finished The Case of the Sulky Girl yesterday. My current audio book listen is Book 11 in the 87th Precinct series, Give the Boys a Great Big Hand by Ed McBain. A beat officer finds a hand in an airline tote bag, the fingertips are useless for prints...yikes. I had forgotten how graphic McBain could be.
Currently rereading (listening to audiobook) of Third Girl (it’s been decades!), then I’ll dive into The Franchise Affair
, which will be a first read for me. I have found Tey hit or miss for me, so interested to see if I like it.
I started Third Girl, I could not wait to start until November. So thrilled that Poirot is introduced in the first sentence (I find myself just waiting for his entrance when he pops in later on), as well as my all-time fav, Ariadne Oliver!Also, in my effort to get in my vintage Halloween-y reads, I'm about to start The Haunted Lady by Mary Roberts Rinehart. What says Halloween better than swarms of bats and rats?!
Tara wrote: "I started Third Girl, I could not wait to start until November. So thrilled that Poirot is introduced in the first sentence (I find myself just waiting for his entrance when he pops in..."I really enjoyed Third Girl, too, it’s been decades! But I believe it was my first Christie ever - read it at my grandmother’s house - so sentimental attachment, too.
I love it when you have that kind of attachment to a book. My first Christie was a double volume of Nile/Orient Express, which was a fantastic introduction to her work.
Susan wrote: "I love it when you have that kind of attachment to a book. My first Christie was a double volume of Nile/Orient Express, which was a fantastic introduction to her work."Ooh, my, two good ones there!
I think my first Christie may have been a Miss Marple one with poison pen letters - not sure which one that is now! I still tend to love that plot element though.
Susan in NC wrote: "Susan wrote: "I love it when you have that kind of attachment to a book. My first Christie was a double volume of Nile/Orient Express, which was a fantastic introduction to her work."
Ooh, my, two..."
Yes, I have to thank my mother for that introduction to Christie. My middle son, sixteen, is also a fan. He likes the books and we are also watching some of the Poirot's together.
Ooh, my, two..."
Yes, I have to thank my mother for that introduction to Christie. My middle son, sixteen, is also a fan. He likes the books and we are also watching some of the Poirot's together.
Judy wrote: "I think my first Christie may have been a Miss Marple one with poison pen letters - not sure which one that is now! I still tend to love that plot element though."The Moving Finger?
Oh, that’s a good one, too, Judy- I love Miss Marple! And yes, I agree poison pen/blackmail plots are ripe for all sorts of nefarious possibilities.Susan, I think it’s so great that your son likes Poirot, and you are introducing him to the David Suchet definitive dramatizations!
It's nice to see Poirot through my son's eyes, as he doesn't know the ending and I am so familiar with the plots/characters, it is interesting to realise how well her twists work!
I've started Rope’s End, Rogue’s End, another by E.C.R. Lorac, which was available on Scribd. Enjoying the start but I'm noticing the publisher seems to have somehow stripped out quite a bit of punctuation, which is slightly distracting!
Judy wrote: "I've started Rope’s End, Rogue’s End, another by E.C.R. Lorac, which was available on Scribd. Enjoying the start but I'm noticing the publisher seems to have someho..."Ugh, that is so annoying! I had that happen recently with a used paperback reissue of a 1960s thriller I ordered for a group read. It was so distracting, and the book was not up to the standard of a previous thriller, so I DNF’d the book - life is too short...too many good books out there, like Christie’s (I moved on to Third Girl, much more enjoyable)!
Thanks for the heads up, Judy, I’ve saved the ebook of that title to my Scribd account for later reading- I’d rather be prepared.
I've started Grave Mistake, one of our earlier Naigo March reads, as it is due back to the library and it took me a long time to get it.
Jill wrote: "I have started Footsteps in the Dark, as I suddenly realised we were almost at Halloween."that's a good one for the season!
I've finished The Eye in the Museum by J.J. Connington
A few brief comments here - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I'm thinking about maybe reading something by Ursula Curtiss next.
Susan in NC wrote: "Judy wrote: "I've started Rope’s End, Rogue’s End, another by E.C.R. Lorac, which was available on Scribd. Enjoying the start but I'm noticing the publisher seems to have somehow stripped out quite a bit of punctuation, which is slightly distracting!
"Ugh, that is so annoying! I had that happen recently with a used paperback reissue of a 1960s thriller...
I'm a bit further in now, Susan, and the good news is that the punctuation issue seems to have improved and most of it is OK, so it is perfectly readable at the moment. Also enjoying the actual story:)
"Ugh, that is so annoying! I had that happen recently with a used paperback reissue of a 1960s thriller...
I'm a bit further in now, Susan, and the good news is that the punctuation issue seems to have improved and most of it is OK, so it is perfectly readable at the moment. Also enjoying the actual story:)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
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LUDOVIC TRAVERS, a tall, skinny, bespectacled and introspective economist and amateur sleuth eventually turns pro when he becomes the owner of the Broad Street Detective Agency of London.