What mysteries are you reading at the moment? (2022)

[Carolien]

Not a book, but I found The Staunch Book prize this afternoon which I thought was an interesting premise - mysteries and thrillers without violence towards women. http://staunchbookprize.com/

The list of previous winners contain some interesting ones. I am definitely reading The Godmother.

[Sandy]

I recently read The Marlow Murder Club that I gave only two stars, though I saw moderator Susan gave it five. So, you need to read it and decide for yourself. Luckily, we don't all like the same books.

My review: "I thought this was a 'good enough' read for most of the book but it lost a star with the over-the-top ending. The main character was interesting but, again, there was an over-the-top ending. In my opinion the four women's relationship has potential for an on-going series, but a better plot is needed. I'm not sure if I will give them another try."

I have also read two of our upcoming reads, Bobby Owen and Cadfael, and have (finally) started last month's Toyshop.

Upcoming I have The Crossword Murder which I heard about through an author interview. They are a married couple who had an interesting method of working together that I have now forgotten. I put in a library request after the interview, was told the book was lost, kept in the request to remind myself of the book, and then it appeared! The authors wanted a pen name to reflect the black and white of crosswords, so chose Nero Blanc.

[Jackie]

Carolien wrote: "Not a book, but I found The Staunch Book prize this afternoon which I thought was an interesting premise - mysteries and thrillers without violence towards women. http://staunchbookprize.com/

The ..."
thanks for that, Carolien, it's a wonderful concept and I think The Godmother looks like I need to find a copy!

[Marwan]

Started reading Blood on Snow by Jo Nesbø

[Marwan]

Started reading Time to Murder and Create by Lawrence Block

[Sandy]

I am reading When Blood Lies, the latest in an historical series I love. Set in Regency England, this book takes place in Paris during the unrest when the Bourbons were back on the throne. It is a series that needs to be in sequence.

I still have The Crossword Murder and Death at La Fenice scheduled.

[Susan in NC]

Sandy wrote: "I am reading When Blood Lies, the latest in an historical series I love. Set in Regency England, this book takes place in Paris during the unrest when the Bourbons were back on the ..."

Oh, love the St. Cyr series, I’m on hold for that at my library! Enjoy!

I’m still enmeshed in my nonfiction library book, need to get back to and finish reread of La Fenice.

[Jan C]

Closing in on the end of Deadly Nightshade: Henry Gamadge #2, second in the series. I am enjoying it, although this one took a little bit to get going.

[Carolien]

I've just finished The Count's Millions one of the early French crime novels. No murder, but a missing fortune. It ends in the middle of the story and I'm now going to read Baron Trigault's Vengeance for the resolution.

[Jill]

Just starting Murder's a Swine July group read. Looks like it will be very entertaining .

[Marwan]

Started reading Never Never by James Patterson

[Susan in NC]

I have to put my reread of Death at La Fenice on hold for now, the library ebook was automatically returned, and can’t be renewed for now.

I was able to get the hardcover of our upcoming read, Murder on the Mauretania , from the library, so I’ll be starting it soon.

[Jackie]

Jill wrote: "Just starting Murder's a Swine July group read. Looks like it will be very entertaining ."

I have been reading it; thought I'd posted that already but where? I'm finding it surprising.

[Kirsten]

I'm 78% through Her Final Breath by Robert Dugoni

[Jill]

I am about to start They Found Him Dead a July buddy read. I have read some of Heyer's other books with this group, but they were divided into Hannasyde and Hemmingway then, as they are on Fantastic Fiction.

[Sandy]

I will be starting The Wintringham Mystery tonight, then I better get moving on our July reads (July? Already?).

[Jackie]

Jill wrote: "I am about to start They Found Him Dead a July buddy read. I have read some of Heyer's other books with this group, but they were divided into Hannasyde and Hemmingway then, as they a..."

thank you for reminding me, Jill

[Judy]

I've started reading our next challenge book, The Red Thumb Mark by R. Austin Freeman, and am enjoying it so far.

[Wayne]

I am rereading And Then There Were None, and thank goodness I have forgotten most of it. Five down and I haven't got a clue. I have got a suspect in mind, but I have already lost two, or as Judge Wargrave puts it: "exonerated but too late."

[Jill]

Finished They Found Him Dead which I really enjoyed, and am now starting Murder on the Mauretania by Conrad Allen a July buddy read. I was going to start As Chimney Sweepers Come to Dust but as the Heyer book had a prominent youngster in it, I decided on the sea instead

[Louise]

Maigret Takes a Room by George Simenon. Very entertaining as Maigret always is.

[Tania]

I finished The Red House Mystery by A.A. Milne. I liked it, but not as much as I had hoped. I guess he knew his strengths.

[Sandy]

Reviewing my 'active' series I noticed there was one of Tey's Alan Grant books I hadn't read so I've started To Love and Be Wise. Then I can mark off that series as 'completed'. Always a feeling of accomplishment.

[Jackie]

Sandy wrote: "Reviewing my 'active' series I noticed there was one of Tey's Alan Grant books I hadn't read so I've started To Love and Be Wise. Then I can mark off that series as 'completed'. Alway..."

I read The Man in the Queue but didn't realize it was the start of a series.

[Jackie]

I just started Murder on the Mauretania. Does anyone else have trouble spelling that?

[Judy]

I'm under way with our next group read, Murder Before Swine - looking forward to discussing it very soon.

[Sandy]

Jackie wrote: "Sandy wrote: "Reviewing my 'active' series I noticed there was one of Tey's Alan Grant books I hadn't read so I've started To Love and Be Wise. Then I can mark off that series as 'com..."

Not sure they are very connected, though Grant has met one character from this book in an earlier case (that I don't remember).

[Judy]

I really enjoyed Tey's books overall - and yes, a good feeling to complete a series (though sad there aren't more of them!)

[Susan in NC]

Jackie wrote: "I just started Murder on the Mauretania. Does anyone else have trouble spelling that?"

Yes, every time I typed it in my review, it autocorrects!

I’m going to start my reread of Georgette Heyer’s They Found Him Dead, I have the Audible.

[Jill]

Finished Murder on the Mauretania which I liked. Now I will start As Chimney Sweepers Come to Dust.

[Susan in NC]

Jill wrote: "Finished Murder on the Mauretania which I liked. Now I will start As Chimney Sweepers Come to Dust."

I liked the second (Mauritania) more than the first, I felt the author kept things moving along better, plenty to keep the reader interested.

[Roman Clodia]

Judy wrote: "I'm under way with our next group read, Murder Before Swine - looking forward to discussing it very soon."

I'm also reading Murder's A Swine, and am finding it utterly adorable!

[Sandy]

Finished To Love and Be Wise and really enjoyed Grant and Tey's other characters though I thought there was a plot hole or two and a bit of improbability in the resolution. I have requested the audio version of The Daughter of Time which was my first Tey years ago. In this book she got to rant how no one ever knew the author of a play and how lucky it was to even get a play into rehearsal.

[Judy]

Sandy, good to hear you enjoyed To Love and Be Wise. That's interesting about Tey getting in some comments from her experience as a playwright.

[Judy]

I'm currently reading our forthcoming buddy read Murder on the Mauretania - I couldn't resist picking up a lovely paperback copy of this one. I'm not very far in yet, but so far am enjoying it more than the first in the series, as others have said.

[Carolien]

I've just finished The Iron Chariot: The Original Scandinavian Crime Novel, published in Norway in 1909. If you enjoy Scandinavian crime, I would definitely recommend this one. It's very readable, with an unexpected twist in the tale.

[Sandy]

I am reading The Bangalore Detectives Club, one of three new library books due back in a couple of weeks. This is set in Bangalore (obviously) in 1921 and features a new young (19!) wife.

I've just started and have learned the women, who could only swim out of view of men, if at all, swam in saris. The young wife is fascinated to discover swimsuits (form-fitting and exposing the arms) are available in the big city and hopes her mother-in-law will allow her to have one.

[Susan]

In Victorian times, weren't swimming costumes made out of wool? I always wondered how that worked?!

[Jackie]

I just started A Darker Reality and, as always, am enjoying some things about Anne Perry's writing but also recall why I now avoid reading more than one in a row. This series is set in the 1930s and I knowing WWII is coming colors everything.

[Jackie]

Susan in NC said

I’m going to start my reread of Georgette Heyer’s They Found Him Dead, I have the Audible.

I considered doing a free trial of Audible so I can listen to this; do you have any experience with the narrator Matt Addis?

[Susan in NC]

Sorry, Jackie, the name doesn’t ring a bell for me as a narrator. I’ve found several GA audiobooks are narrated by David Thorpe, who is good, and a few other English male narrators, but then some of our British members have mentioned other names for narrators for the same audiobooks. I have no idea why two different voices for same title, I assume more recent releases?

[Jackie]

I don't know, but that sounds like a good guess. I have decided to go with a free listen of Sylvester instead since my library has it. Sadly, it's Abridged but I'm packing to move in a week so I'll likely be distracted anyway.

[Susan in NC]

Jackie wrote: "I don't know, but that sounds like a good guess. I have decided to go with a free listen of Sylvester instead since my library has it. Sadly, it's Abridged but I'm packing to move in a..."

I’m always up for a free listen! Hope you enjoy it, and good luck with your move! Always a stressful time, take care of yourself.

[Carolien]

Sandy wrote: "I am reading The Bangalore Detectives Club, one of three new library books due back in a couple of weeks. This is set in Bangalore (obviously) in 1921 and features a new young (19!)..."

I bought this one this morning. It looked interesting, so will start it soon.

[Sid]

Susan wrote: "In Victorian times, weren't swimming costumes made out of wool? I always wondered how that worked?!"

Very badly, I imagine.

[Jill]

I Have started The Secret Vanguard I've got to chapter 4 and have to admit I have got a bit lost. Think I will have to go back and reread some of it to find the missing link.

[Tara]

Continuing my monthly reads from the American Mystery Classics series, I've gotten a few chapters into The Eight of Swords: A Dr. Gideon Fell Mystery by John Dickson Carr. The Fell character was based on a hero of Carr's G.K. Chesterton. It starts out in a rather zany fashion, with a bishop riding down a banister, so we'll see where it goes from here!

[Sandy]

Tara wrote: "Continuing my monthly reads from the American Mystery Classics series, I've gotten a few chapters into The Eight of Swords: A Dr. Gideon Fell Mystery by [author:John Dickson Carr|56..."

I read that last year and found lots of humor in it. Enjoy.

[Jackie]

Just started Miss Seeton Sings - I had a hard time with the first in the series, just found the language a slog to understand especially the slang, but I have enjoyed each book since.

[Sid]

Agreed, Jackie - I've read quite a few Miss Seetons (athough not that one, I think) and have enjoyed them all. Very entertaining nonsense!