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

[Judy]

I'm just about to start our next Cadfael book, The Pilgrim of Hate - looking forward to it, after really enjoying the next Maigret buddy read, The Hanged Man of Saint-Pholien.

[Susan in NC]

Judy wrote: "I'm just about to start our next Cadfael book, The Pilgrim of Hate - looking forward to it, after really enjoying the next Maigret buddy read, [book:The Hanged Man of Saint-Pholien|18..."

I always find a visit with a Cadfael audiobook restful! I’ve recently reread this one, I may move on to the next…the international news is so awful, I feel quite unsettled (nothing compared to the horrific conditions in Ukraine, of course!) One feels so helpless…

[Tara]

Franky wrote: "Tara wrote: "Franky wrote: "I'm plunging into the classic The Thin Man. I have watched bits and pieces of the film but never actually read the book."

I'll be starting this tonight too..."

I suppose it could also work as a Christmas movie, albeit not in a traditional sense. I'm finding the book to be rather close to the film portrayal, even recognizing bits of dialogue.

[Jackie]

I am well into Behold, Here's Poison, has anyone else started?
I've read it more than once so I have to force myself to slow down and savor.

[Jan C]

Jackie wrote: "I am well into Behold, Here's Poison, has anyone else started?
I've read it more than once so I have to force myself to slow down and savor."

Did we previously read it? Looks like I read it in 2018.

[Jill]

I have that we read it in 2019.

[Judy]

I don't think we have read Behold, Here's Poison in the group previously - I've just had a look back and it was nominated in early 2019 but didn't win. I read it in 2016, so probably won't remember any of it!

[Carolien]

I've finished Behold, Here's Poison and enjoyed it more than Death in the Stocks. I also finished Murder on the Ballarat Train which is a series that I am enjoying more each time I read it.

[Sid]

I've just got the last few pages of Behold, Here's Poison to finish over breakfast. I found the opening a bit stodgy but enjoyed the wit and characters far more once Hannasyde arrived.

[Sandy]

I have finished the Maigret and am listening to Flavia (a re-listen). Heyer will also be a reread and I always enjoy her wit. Then Cadfael and the next Knox is waiting for me at the library, with 2 - 4 other requests in transit.

[Sandy]

I read half of Pignon Scorbion & the Barbershop Detectives before putting it aside. Like our monthly read, it is a modern GA that didn't work for me.

[Judy]

Wow, no danger of you running out of mystery reading there, Sandy! Hope you enjoy them all after putting the Pignion Scorbion (a new one on me!) aside.

[Susan in NC]

I have reread “Behold, Here’s Poison” and enjoyed it, as always! I’m in a Georgette Heyer group so I’ve read it before, always enjoy her dialogue. I started Lorac’s Murder in Vienna.

[Sandy]

Judy wrote: "Wow, no danger of you running out of mystery reading there, Sandy! Hope you enjoy them all after putting the Pignion Scorbion (a new one on me!) aside."

Nor of other reading. I returned from the library with six books, none from our upcoming reads.

[Colin]

Recently, I read Brian Flynn's Murder En Route , which was so-so - the narrative voice used was very self-consciously Victorian or Edwardian and I found it a bit wearing.
I then moved onto, and had quite a good time with, Maigret at Picratt's .
And now I'm back with another Flynn mystery, this time it's The Orange Axe .

[Sid]

I jumped the gun slightly on Behold, Here's Poison and enjoyed it a lot after a rather stodgy start. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I've now started Comes a Stranger and I'm enjoying this one, too. Both are recommendations from this group for authors I've not tried before - so thanks!

[Jill]

I'm about to start Murder in Vienna for the next group read

[Karen M]

Jill wrote: "I’ve only read 14 of the Hamish series as I got distracted by the Agatha Raisons and have read 24 of those. Too many series that I mean to follow up on, so trying my upmost to not start any new one..."
I've read all but the last three in the series but they were not written by M.C. Beaten but were co or ghost written so I've been putting it off for a while. I love Agatha and (LOL) in some instances I definitely identified with her.

Reading The Tuesday Club Murders by Agatha Christie.

[Gary]

I just finished The Secret, Book, & Scone Society by Ellery Adams, the start of another series by the prolific Adams. I enjoyed the book a great deal. I won trade paperback copies of books 2 and 4 in the series in good read giveaways.

Currently reading Death of a Hussy which is book 5 in the Hamish MacBeth series.

[Susan in NC]

I enjoyed Tragedy at Law Lib/E and Murder in Vienna , and I just read our upcoming Flavia short story yesterday, The Curious Case of the Copper Corpse , and it was a fun, quick read. Also starting a reread (well, relisten, trying the audiobook) of our upcoming challenge read Whose Body? by Dorothy L. Sayers. Keeping up with the body in the bath theme!

[Sandy]

One of the Flaxborough series also has a bath theme: Hopjoy Was Here. I like the humor in that series.

[Susan in NC]

Sandy wrote: "One of the Flaxborough series also has a bath theme: Hopjoy Was Here. I like the humor in that series."

Me, too!

[Jill]

Susan in NC wrote: "Sandy wrote: "One of the Flaxborough series also has a bath theme: Hopjoy Was Here. I like the humor in that series."

Me, too!"

And me!

[Colin]

My reading this year has been a distinctly mixed bag with a couple of entertaining efforts, some outright duds, and a number that were just about middling.
Anyway, I've made a start on The Widow of Bath by Margot Bennett, a book which seems to have drawn quite a mixed response. I can why see why that might be so but, and granted I'm less than a third of the way in, I can say I'm finding it enjoyable so far.

[Icewineanne]

Sandy wrote: "One of the Flaxborough series also has a bath theme: Hopjoy Was Here. I like the humor in that series."

Glad you mentioned this series Sandy. I’d never heard of it but as I enjoy British humour & mystery, looked it up got the first book as free download from amazon. Very excited to start this series.
Cheers!

[Susan in NC]

Colin wrote: "My reading this year has been a distinctly mixed bag with a couple of entertaining efforts, some outright duds, and a number that were just about middling.
Anyway, I've made a start on The Widow o..."

Hadn’t seen this British Library Crime Classics reissue before Colin, thanks - hope it continues to be enjoyable for you.

[Susan]

I am reading a NetGalley title, No Less The Devil: The unmissable new thriller from the No. 1 Sunday Times bestselling author of the Logan McRae series

I like Stuart MacBride although sometimes he can be a bit gory. However, his characters are excellent.

[Carolien]

I must get back to Stuart MacBride, I really enjoyed the Logan books.

I've just finished City of Silver: A Mystery which was fascinating, partly for the setting of 17th century Bolivia. Set in a convent in Potosi, which was the source of most of the Spanish silver from South America, a young woman dies mysteriously alone. The abbess is convinced it was not suicide, but her decision to bury the girl in consecrated ground, attracts the attention of the local representative of the Inquisition. A suitable book for the time as it takes place at Easter. A solid plot.

[Susan]

An interesting setting can be so important, Carolien. Sounds interesting.

[Sid]

Icewineanne wrote: "Sandy wrote: "One of the Flaxborough series also has a bath theme: Hopjoy Was Here. I like the humor in that series."

Glad you mentioned this series Sandy..."

At its best, the Flaxborough series is terrific, I think. I liked Coffin, Scarcely Used, the first, but they get much better, I think - and Miss Lucy Teatime, who arrives in the fourth, Lonelyheart 4122 is an absolute joy. I can feel a re-read coming on...

[Sandy]

Sid wrote: "Icewineanne wrote: "Sandy wrote: "One of the Flaxborough series also has a bath theme: Hopjoy Was Here. I like the humor in that series."

Glad you mentioned this series Sandy..."

..."

The group read the first in the Flaxborough series in Dec 2018, so those discussions are still available.

[Jackie]

Sid, you are making me want to start the series!

[Icewineanne]

Sandy wrote: "Sid wrote: "Icewineanne wrote: "Sandy wrote: "One of the Flaxborough series also has a bath theme: Hopjoy Was Here. I like the humor in that series."

Glad you mentioned this series..."

Good to know! Thanks Sandy 😊

[Jill]

Sandy wrote: "Sid wrote: "Icewineanne wrote: "Sandy wrote: "One of the Flaxborough series also has a bath theme: Hopjoy Was Here. I like the humor in that series."

Glad you mentioned this series..."

I have read the first four and really liked them, especially the the fourth where it brings in Miss Teatime.

[Diana]

I’d never heard of these but have now bought the first as an ebook as some of you have recommended the series. I’ll look for the group read, too. As an Englishwoman who’s lived on “the Continent” for 50 years, a mystery set in England in the 50s always appeals.

[Susan in NC]

Starting a reread today of Henrietta Who?: Detective Inspector Sloan Series, Book 2 by Catherine Aird for our upcoming read. I’m listening to the audiobook.

[Jill]

I have just started Murder on the Lusitania for the next buddy read. My book is under the name of Conrad Allen

[Judy]

Jill, hope you enjoy Murder on the Lusitania. There seems to be a lot of interest in the reissue of this title - my local library has wait lists for both the physical book and ebook version.

[Judy]

I was tempted to read Red Velvet Cupcake Murder, another in the very cosy Hannah Swensen series by Joanne Fluke - nearly finished. I often think the mystery elements of these books are fairly predictable, but I enjoy the characters and setting and escaping into the warm fluffiness.

Next up I'll be reading The Death of Faith, also known as Quietly in Their Sleep by Donna Leon, as I need to return it to the library soon.

[Jackie]

Jill wrote: "I have just started Murder on the Lusitania for the next buddy read. My book is under the name of Conrad Allen"

I will be interested in what you think of it.

[Sandy]

I'm working my wat through several library requests that came in at the same time. First up is The Department of Rare Books and Special Collections. It is labelled a mystery but no death in the first 75 pages, though there an ominous warning. Liking it so far.

[Susan]

I enjoyed Murder on the Lusitania a while ago and am hoping I can remember it for the discussion!

[Icewineanne]

Murder at Mallowan Hall Colleen Cambridge
The first in a new series

[Jill]

I have finally got around to starting London Match by Len Deighton. I read the first two books in this series a couple of years ago, and enjoyed them, and just never got to read on.

[Colin]

Jill, I never got further into the Samson books than the first three, which is no reflection on their quality. To be honest, I find Deighton a far more accessible and, as such, a more enjoyable writer than Le Carre.

As for my own current reading, I'm about to embark on Bruce Graeme's Seven Clues in Search of a Crime

[Judy]

Ever just peeped at the start of a detective story, then found that you can't put it down and are on the last page? It happened to me today with the wonderful Suicide Excepted by Cyril Hare which I had waiting on Kindle - I was reminded of it because we have another Hare title coming up as a group read, glanced at the first page and that was it! A fantastic read with an amazing number of suspects and twists.

[Jackie]

I'm halfway through Odds on Miss Seeton which I believe is the last book by the original author. In looking it up, I realized I missed Miss Seeton Sings so I will read that one out of order.
I'm enjoying Odds On more than her previous books, but I'm not sure if it's because she's gotten better or I've just gotten used to her writing. I find some of the accents she has characters speak kind of rough going.

[Jill]

Judy wrote: "Ever just peeped at the start of a detective story, then found that you can't put it down and are on the last page? It happened to me today with the wonderful Suicide Excepted by [au..."

I really liked [book:Suicide Excepted|1149769] 5 stars from me, but wasn't so keen on Tragedy at Law

For some reason the link for Suicide Excepted doesn't work

[Sandy]

Continuing with my library requests I have started A Dire Isle, the second in a new series set in India.

[Susan in NC]

Judy wrote: "Ever just peeped at the start of a detective story, then found that you can't put it down and are on the last page? It happened to me today with the wonderful Suicide Excepted by [au..."

Oh, that’s good to hear! I’ve enjoyed the Hare mysteries I’ve read with this group so far, glad to know there are additional good titles out there.