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

[books]

About to start the Jan group read The Hollow Man. I remember not liking it as much as his others when I read it ages ago, and I'm interested to see what I make of it this time round.

[Abigail]

Making my way through Cargo of Eagles, savoring it because it’s the last, loving Allingham’s vivid scene-setting and humor in dark places.

[Jill]

Abigail wrote: "Making my way through Cargo of Eagles, savoring it because it’s the last, loving Allingham’s vivid scene-setting and humor in dark places."

Me too. I have thought if this book is up to the usual standard for Campion, I will try Mr. Campion's Farthing by Youngman Carter, as I would imagine he would want keep to his wife's style.

[Abigail]

My recollection from reading this book 40 years ago is that it was glaringly obvious where Youngman Carter took over, and based on that experience I never read Mr. Campion’s Farthing. We’ll see if I feel the same way this time around!

[Marwan]

Finished The 39 Steps by John Buchan

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

[Carolien]

I'm reading Death in the Andamans which is a reread and I'm enjoying it very much so far.

[Susan in NC]

Carolien wrote: "I'm reading Death in the Andamans which is a reread and I'm enjoying it very much so far."

Oh, isn’t this in your book pool for Retro Reads? Can’t wait to see your review, I want to read more of Kaye’s “Death In” books, I was so pleased you included it in your pool - I totally forgot to include mysteries in my list!

[Tara]

Having finished (and loved) Laura, I have now started Dead Man's Ransom. More star-crossed lovers it seems, but I do adore Brother Cadfael.

[Susan in NC]

Tara wrote: "Having finished (and loved) Laura, I have now started Dead Man's Ransom. More star-crossed lovers it seems, but I do adore Brother Cadfael."

Me, too! Rereading him after many years is delightful. It’s been long enough that I don’t remember a lot of details, so it’s almost like reading them first time around.

[Carolien]

Susan in NC wrote: "Carolien wrote: "I'm reading Death in the Andamans which is a reread and I'm enjoying it very much so far."

Oh, isn’t this in your book pool for Retro Reads? Can’t wait to see your re..."

It is in the Retro Reads pool, but I didn't nominate it. I'm however very grateful to Barb in Maryland who nominated it. What makes it quite interesting is the time between her writing it and final publication. She went to the Andamans before WWII, wrote it while in Persia during the war and it is published as the final in the series in 1960. The house used for the setting was destroyed by Japanese bombs during the war. The setting is also part of the charm. The Andamans are part of India, but they are actually much closer to Thailand and Myanmar. I originally read it in the days before Google maps, and I'm having fun looking at the islands now. It's very atmospheric, part ghost story and I'm avoiding reading it late at night!

[Jan C]

Recently finished Rounding the Mark by Andrea Camilleri and The Body in the Road by Moray Dalton. So I guess it is on to The Patience of the Spider and Death in the Cup, respectively.

[Susan in NC]

Carolien wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "Carolien wrote: "I'm reading Death in the Andamans which is a reread and I'm enjoying it very much so far."

Oh, isn’t this in your book pool for Retro Reads? Can’t..."

Oh, that does sound wonderful, and knowing the background will make it even more fun when i finally read it! There are so many great books in the pool, I wanted to read my five, and then every time another member added books, I kept adding to my TBR pile!

[Colin]

Following on from a couple of reads that have gone from the unfinishable to the indifferent, I'm going to turn to some John Creasey, namely Death in Cold Print .
Dizzyingly prolific, Creasey is an author that, so far at least, I've found to be satisfying for his overall consistency. I liked the Gideon books I've read well enough but I tend to enjoy the West stories a bit more. We'll see how this one fares.

[Sandy]

I read one of upcoming books, The Late Monsieur Gallet. It is short and straight forward, and I've become a fan of Simeon's style. Maigret's thought process (and confusion) is clear and there is none of Fell's hinting that he knows all the secrets.

[Judy]

Our latest buddy reads are now open - no less than 4 to choose from! Please pop by and join in the discussions.

Here are links to the non-spoiler threads for each book:

Death in High Heels by Christianna Brand:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

A Case of Blackmail in Belgravia by Clara Benson:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

The Death of Monsieur Gallet by Georges Simenon
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Cargo of Eagles by Margery Allingham
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Judy]

There are problems with availability of the next Bobby Owen book, Comes a Stranger - if you are reading this series, please pop over to the thread linked below to have your say on whether the read should go ahead as planned or be delayed. Thank you.

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

[Susan in NC]

Colin wrote: "Following on from a couple of reads that have gone from the unfinishable to the indifferent, I'm going to turn to some John Creasey, namely Death in Cold Print [bookcover:Death in Cold Print|601258..."

I hope you enjoy it, Colin, that can be frustrating, one stinker after another…

[Colin]

Thank you, Susan. So far, so good!

[Susan in NC]

Colin wrote: "Thank you, Susan. So far, so good!"

Good, enjoy!

[Judy]

I've started reading Behold a Fair Woman by Francis Duncan, one of his Mordecai Tremaine mysteries - this is one of a few books from the library that I need to read and send back!

Enjoying it so far as Tremaine is on a summer holiday on an island, which is nice escapism for me during winter - even though I can confidently predict that his holiday will soon be disrupted.

[Cary]

Margery Allingham, Death of a Ghost

[Sid]

Judy wrote: "I've started reading Behold a Fair Woman by Francis Duncan, one of his Mordecai Tremaine mysteries"

Thanks, Judy - I've not come across him before, but looks well worth trying.

[Jill]

I am starting Village School by Miss Read. I am liking it, and now found out that it has classed as a cosy mystery, which I hadn't realised.

[Tania]

I loved Village School, though I remember it as short stories about life in the village, perhaps one of them contained a bit of a mystery.

Fairacre is based on Wood Green in Oxfordshire, and I had googled pictures of the place after reading it; about a week after reading it, I had to go to a Roman villa near Whitney and we drove straight through the village. (I had been looking out for road signs pointing to it so I would have an idea of where to go if I wanted to visit, but I hadn't realised the route took us straight through. Sadly I didn't have time to stop. I think they do Fairacre tours.

[Rosina]

I have just 'borrowed' from Kindle Unilimited. I've never heard of Allingham's pseudonym, so I'm not sure what to expect!

[Judy]

Rosina, I'll be interested to hear what you think of The Devil and Her Son. I read a different Allingham novel written under the Maxwell March pseudonym a few years ago, Rogues' Holiday, and vaguely remember it was a bit melodramatic compared to her Campion novels, but I still plan to read the others.

[Susan in NC]

Just started reading Fear Stalks the Village for February, and rereading (with audiobook) the next Cadfael, The Pilgrim of Hate. I always enjoy a revisit with Cadfael, and it’s spring time in Shrewsbury, very welcome in icy NC right now!

[Judy]

Sid, if you try Francis Duncan I hope you enjoy him. The group read his book Murder for Christmas in the past and I've also read a couple of others by him.

Vintage has reprinted 5 of his titles, but I get the impression they may not republish any more. But in any case, it seems to be a series where the order doesn't matter too much, as they are all basically standalones.

[Ellen]

Something in the Water by Charlotte MacLeod. I've been able to get most of this series off of PaperBack Swap.

[Marwan]

Started reading The New York trilogy by Paul Auster

[Sid]

Judy wrote: "Sid, if you try Francis Duncan I hope you enjoy him..."

Thanks, Judy - that's helpful. I'll just try whatever I can get my hands on, then!

[Shaina]

This week I read Murder's a Swine: A Second World War Mystery by Nap Lombard and thoroughly enjoyed it.

I also read The Body in the Dumb River by George Bellairs which was quite good and The Incredible Crime: A Cambridge Mystery by Lois Austen-Leigh (great-great niece of Jane Austen) which started quite well but was disappointing overall.

[Carolien]

Next up for me is Unholy Writ. I read the series years ago, so look forward to some rereads.

[Susan in NC]

Ellen wrote: "Something in the Water by Charlotte MacLeod. I've been able to get most of this series off of PaperBack Swap."

Good for you! I bought several used paperbacks years ago with rather colorful covers , but they are so yellowed and old now, and the print so small, i have to rely on ebooks. Luckily, Scribd has most of them, but it has been really slow and unreliable over past month or so.

[Ellen]

Susan in NC wrote: "Ellen wrote: "Something in the Water by Charlotte MacLeod. I've been able to get most of this series off of PaperBack Swap."

Good for you! I bought several used paperb..."

I definitely need bright light and strong reading glasses to read the old paperbacks now.

[Susan in NC]

Ellen wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "Ellen wrote: "Something in the Water by Charlotte MacLeod. I've been able to get most of this series off of PaperBack Swap."

Good for you! I bought..."

Same here!

[Jill]

Tania wrote: "I loved Village School, though I remember it as short stories about life in the village, perhaps one of them contained a bit of a mystery.

Fairacre is based on Wood Green in Oxford..."

You were right. The only mystery I found was why people tagged it one. I really enjoyed it and hope to read on.

I have now started Inspector French's Greatest Case next month's challenge read

[Sid]

I've just started the new Sophie Hannah from NetGalley:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...
The first few chapters are promising...

[Tania]

Jill wrote: "Tania wrote: "I loved Village School, though I remember it as short stories about life in the village, perhaps one of them contained a bit of a mystery.

Fairacre is based on Wood G..."

Glad you enjoyed it Jill. I think I'll try to pick up another one soon. Comfort reading for the winter months.

[Judy]

I've just started one of the British Library Crime Classics short story collections, The Long Arm of the Law: Classic Police Stories, edited by Martin Edwards - one of several library books which I have been meaning to read. I do enjoy these collections, though they leave me trying to track down books by even more authors!

[Icewineanne]

Judy wrote: "I've just started one of the British Library Crime Classics short story collections, The Long Arm of the Law: Classic Police Stories, edited by Martin Edwards - one o..."

Love them too! Let us know how you find this one Judy.

[Judy]

Will do, Anne, thank you. I've enjoyed the first few stories.

[Susan in NC]

Judy wrote: "Will do, Anne, thank you. I've enjoyed the first few stories."

Good, I enjoyed that one, as you say, had me chasing after more authors!

I’d like to read and discuss one of those short story collections as a group, as it would give the group a feel for which authors we’d like to explore in future buddy reads. Also, as one of several reading “assignments” for the month, for those of us in a few groups, those collections allow dipping in and out, fitting stories in among other books.

[Jan C]

I've gone back to Tragedy at Ravensthorpe by J.J. Connington, one of my new faves. It started out slow but has picked up.

[Rosina]

Judy wrote: "Rosina, I'll be interested to hear what you think of The Devil and Her Son. I read a different Allingham novel written under the Maxwell March pseudonym a few years..."

I have now finished The Devil and Her Son. In itself, it was well written and pretty exciting, a cross between Christie's stand alones like They Came to Baghdad and Mary Stewart's Nine Coaches Waiting, with a touch of The Reluctant Widow. But the heroine is a bit of a ninny, and the plot didn't totally add up, with too many coincidences, I think.

[Susan]

I am really loving our next months read Fear Stalks the Village and am re-reading Rory Clements Tom Wilde series, as I stalled halfway through, so currently on Nucleus

[Judy]

Rosina, good to hear that you enjoyed The Devil and Her Son, even if you had reservations about the heroine, - I will hope to get to it and the other Maxwell March I haven't read yet soon, as I'm sure I will start to miss Allingham after finishing the Campion books.

[Judy]

I'm reading The Crime at Tattenham Corner by Annie Haynes which I think I picked up as a freebie in the past. It has an exciting plot and I'm enjoying it so far.

[Wayne]

Will most probably start Death in High Heels tomorrow

[Susan in NC]

Susan wrote: "I am really loving our next months read Fear Stalks the Village and am re-reading Rory Clements Tom Wilde series, as I stalled halfway through, so currently on Nucleus"

I really enjoyed Fear Stalks the Village, also. Almost finished with our next Cadfael, The Pilgrim of Hate, not sure what mystery I’ll tackle next, Scribd is giving me headaches right now, so it has to be something I already have, or can get from my city library! I have a hold on two MM Kaye mysteries at my library, probably one of them - depends on how quickly side roads are easily accessible. All the cold and snow make an exotic setting appealing!