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

[Jan C]

Currently reading Laura by Vera Caspary.

[Jill]

Am now starting Fear Stalks the Village Ethel Lina White. I have only read The Lady Vanishes by this author before, which I thought was excellent, so I can't helping expecting great things from this book.

[Colin]

Stuart Palmer's The Puzzle of the Silver Persian

[Sandy]

Colin wrote: "Stuart Palmer's The Puzzle of the Silver Persian "

That is a series I've been meaning to try.

[Colin]

Well worth dipping into.

[Judy]

I've started our forthcoming group read, Fear Stalks the Village by Ethel Lina White, and am enjoying it so far.

[Tara]

About to read my first Perry Mason The Case of the Baited Hook: A Perry Mason Mystery. I've only read one short story with this character and enjoyed it. They all seem so familiar to me from having seen a bunch of the TV series.

[Betsy]

I love the old Perry Mason TV series with Raymond Burr! You’ll find the books have much more intricate plots but otherwise provide all the same fun.

[Susan in NC]

Just starting Death in the Andamans by M.M. Kaye.

[Tara]

Betsy wrote: "I love the old Perry Mason TV series with Raymond Burr! You’ll find the books have much more intricate plots but otherwise provide all the same fun."

According to the introduction by Otto Penzler, the earlier books were more hard boiled (back when Gardner was producing stories for the pulps, most notably Black Mask), perhaps similar to how Ellery Queen resembled Philo Vance in the early works, but was altered in later books.

[Colin]

The early books from the 30s were definitely more hard-boiled with Mason coming across as something of a tough guy. They are a lot of fun but can feel radically different for anyone expecting a character close to Raymond Burr's TV portrayal. Gardner regularly played around with styles and let the character evolve. By the 40s there was a noticeable shift, a softening if you like, and by the time the TV show was being made he was writing very much with that style in mind.

[Tara]

Colin wrote: "The early books from the 30s were definitely more hard-boiled with Mason coming across as something of a tough guy. They are a lot of fun but can feel radically different for anyone expecting a cha..."

Its amazing how prolific the man was, averaging between 1-2 million words a year. I suspect the fact that he dictated his novels and had a staff of 6 secretaries to transcribe them, was a huge factor in having the time to produce so much. His work creating an organization to help free wrongly incarcerated people is also highly noteworthy.

[Sandy]

Tara wrote: "Colin wrote: "The early books from the 30s were definitely more hard-boiled with Mason coming across as something of a tough guy. They are a lot of fun but can feel radically different for anyone e..."

I hadn't heard about his organization. It is always good when those who have are willing to share.

[Jill]

I am now starting The Jealous One by Celia Fremlin. An author I was introduced to a couple of years ago, and just can't get enough of.

[Wayne]

Two-thirds of the way through Death in High Heels and just started The Bat.

[Susan in NC]

I started listening to The House Without a Key , which has been nominated a few times, and has since been on my TBR list. It’s quite cold and we’ve already had a few ice/snow storms to kick off 2022, so I’m definitely looking for tropical settings! I will get back to Honolulu after I finish my current library loan, Death in the Andamans. Also a tropical setting and beautifully descriptive writing!

[Sandy]

I'm read an historical mystery, A Foreign Affair; about forty pages in and it hasn't grabbed me yet.

[Karen M]

I'm lucky enough to receive and e-arc of All the Queen's Men by S.J. Bennett. The Queen in the title is Queen Elizabeth and this is the second book in the series and, lucky me, the second one I will have read. It's The Queen's personal assistant who solves the mysteries but her Majesty is definitely present.

[Tara]

Susan in NC wrote: "I started listening to The House Without a Key, which has been nominated a few times, and has since been on my TBR list. It’s quite cold an..."

I've been wanting to read this book myself. Sounds like just the thing to lift you out of the winter doldrums.

[Judy]

Sandy wrote: "I'm read an historical mystery, A Foreign Affair; about forty pages in and it hasn't grabbed me yet."

I really like that historical Victorian series, Sandy - hope it grabs you soon! My only problem is that I've read them with such long gaps in between that I often forget the overall story arc. You've just reminded me that I have another of these waiting to be read! Also most of the books seem to have different UK and US titles which gets a bit confusing.

[Susan in NC]

Tara wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "I started listening to The House Without a Key, which has been nominated a few times, and has since been on my TBR list..."

The opening scene grabbed me, I admit! Seems like interesting characters, also.

[Jill]

Now starting Different Class by Joanne Harris

[Karen M]

Jill wrote: "Now starting Different Class by Joanne Harris"

I just finished her Blackberry Wine and really enjoyed it. It takes place in the same town as her Chocolat with a couple of the same characters as background. Enjoy!

[Wayne]

Finished Death in High Heels (three stars) and halfway through The Bat (going is good)

[Jill]

Karen M wrote: "Jill wrote: "Now starting Different Class by Joanne Harris"

I just finished her Blackberry Wine and really enjoyed it. It takes place in the same town as..."

I have not read Chocolat but I did see the film and didn't really like it. I did read Gentlemen and Players and loved that. One of my all time favourite books

[Carolien]

I finished Unholy Writ, the first in the Mark Treasure series. I enjoyed it more than expected. Some of the side comments on politics and investment bankers were spot on. I have a few of the series and will continue with it.

[Colin]

I'm about to dip randomly into Christopher Bush's Ludovic Travers books with The Case of the Tudor Queen .
It doesn't seem to be regarded as one of the best of the Travers stories but we'll see.

[Susan]

I have nominated the first in the series a couple of times, Colin, but it didn't win the vote and I have yet to get to it...

[Colin]

I've never read the first one myself (I've just been picking titles as they catch my eye and not in any particular order) but I understand it's not great and probably not the best introduction to the books.

[Judy]

As it's nearly February, weI've just opened up the threads for our new group read and challenge read. Links to the non-spoiler threads are below - please drop by!

Group read - Fear Stalks the Village by Ethel Lina White:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Challenge read - Inspector French's Greatest Case by Freeman Wills Crofts:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Sandy]

Judy wrote: "Sandy wrote: "I'm read an historical mystery, A Foreign Affair; about forty pages in and it hasn't grabbed me yet."

I really like that historical Victorian series, Sandy - hope it g..."

I am now invested in the book and interested in our heroine and her future. I am half done and so much has happened already.

I have a kindle loan that will disappear soon (one of the Discworld books) so will be late for both our monthly reads.

[Judy]

Good to hear you are enjoying the Caro Peacock book, Sandy. I'm also deep in library books at the moment - just started For the Love of Mike by Rhys Bowen, the third in the Molly Murphy series. So far this series hasn't grabbed me as much as her Constable Evans one did, but I thought I'd try another book.

[Jackie]

I'm up to chapter 6 in Fear Stalks the Village.

[Sandy]

Judy wrote: "Good to hear you are enjoying the Caro Peacock book, Sandy. I'm also deep in library books at the moment - just started For the Love of Mike by Rhys Bowen, the third..."

I haven't tried Molly but I have grown very fond of Georgie in the royal spyness series. It took four to six books however.

[Sandy]

Re: library books. I love that my local library is now open, but it means I often come back with a book that was not on my radar and is due in two weeks. Latest one is The Cabinet.

[Sid]

Judy wrote: "I have a kindle loan that will disappear soon (one of the Discworld books) so will be late for both our monthly reads.."

Oooh - which of the Discworld books, Judy? I'd love to know which and what you think of it.

At his best I think Terry Pratchett is quite brilliant, but there are some I simply can't be doing with - principally the Rincewind books, which just bore and irritate me. OTOH, I love The Watch, Death and most of The Witches, several of the others are excellent (The Truth, Small Gods, Going Postal, Making Money etc.) and Night Watch is an absolute masterpiece, I think.

BTW, I'm about 80% through Fear Stalks The Village and enjoying it after a pretty stodgy start,.

[Jan C]

Just finished Tragedy at Ravensthorpe. Looks like the next book isn't on Kindle yet. I requested it but I may just get the paperback for $16. Although I have been trying not to buy any books until 3/17. I may have to break down and get it. Or maybe see if the library has it - if my library card is still any good.

[Judy]

It was Sandy reading a Discworld book, I believe, Sid. I did try one years ago and remember it was funny but must confess I don't remember which one.

[Sandy]

Yep, it is I reading a Discworld book, Witches Abroad to be exact. Pratchett had a unique sense of humor and a fantastic imagination. I've only read a few books but have wanted luggage that would follow me on its own little legs since my first Discworld. I discovered Pratchett with The Carpet People.

[Jill]

I finished Different Class by Joanne Harris Great read. Now about to start Holy Disorders for the buddy read

[Sid]

Oops - apologies for my idiocy, Judy and Sandy! I hope you enjoy the Witches, Sandy.

[Susan]

I am loving The Jealous One. I am so glad I discovered Celia Fremlin

[Judy]

No worries, Sid, the reply threads on GR are confusing! I hope you enjoy The Witches too, Sandy.

[Judy]

I've given up on For the Love of Mike by Rhys Bowen- I got to about halfway through but just wasn't enjoying it and very little had happened. Aso the specific copy I got from the library must be rather dusty, because it makes me sneeze if I pick it up!

I've started another library book, Blood on the Tracks: Railway Mysteries, another of the British Library collections - it starts off with a great non-Holmes short story by Arthur Conan Doyle.

[Icewineanne]

Judy wrote: "I've given up on For the Love of Mike by Rhys Bowen- I got to about halfway through but just wasn't enjoying it and very little had happened. Aso the specific copy I..."

Blood on the tracks sounds terrific. I really enjoy the British crime library collections that Martin Edwards assembles.

And sadly some library books can be a bit icky. Just read one that had fine short hairs on most of the pages. Perhaps the prior reader let her cat lounge on the pages? It really was strange.

[Susan in NC]

Judy wrote: "I've given up on For the Love of Mike by Rhys Bowen- I got to about halfway through but just wasn't enjoying it and very little had happened. Aso the specific copy I..."

Oh, interested to see what you think of that collection, I’ve gotBlood on the Tracks: Railway Mysteries on my TBR. I’d still like to do a British Library Crime Classics short story collection for a monthly read, seems more doable when you’ve got other books on the go - a short story here, a short story there, and not finally picking the book up again after a couple days and wondering, “who is this lady? Is this guy the butler or the detective? Who did I think the killer was again?”

[Icewineanne]

BLCC group read would be great 👍🏻

[Tara]

Judy wrote: "I've given up on For the Love of Mike by Rhys Bowen- I got to about halfway through but just wasn't enjoying it and very little had happened. Aso the specific copy I..."

I read this collection last year and really enjoyed it. Some stories were better than others (as is the case with all short story collections), but a wider variety of content than you would think given the constraint of the subject matter. It reminds me that I should pick back up Foreign Bodies, which I started a long time ago, and haven't read in ages.

[Carolien]

Sid wrote: "Judy wrote: "I have a kindle loan that will disappear soon (one of the Discworld books) so will be late for both our monthly reads.."

Oooh - which of the Discworld books, Judy? I'd love to know wh..."

Those are my favourites as well!

[Sid]

Carolien wrote: "Those are my favourites as well! "

You are plainly a woman of the finest taste and discernment, Carolien. :o)