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

[Susan in NC]

Colin wrote: "That "somewhere" business is something I can sympathize with. There are always books I know I own (or that I feel pretty certain that I own, at any rate) but actually remembering where they have be..."

Same here!

[Judy]

I'm another one who often can't find books I thought I owned, sometimes because they have got list on my shelves and sometimes because they have been borrowed by family members!

I've just started rereading Whose Body? by Sayers for our challenge. Interesting to go back to the start of the Wimsey series.

[Sandy]

Judy wrote: "I'm another one who often can't find books I thought I owned, sometimes because they have got list on my shelves and sometimes because they have been borrowed by family members!

I've just started ..."

That is one I was sure I owned but I can't find it. Requested it from the library.

[Judy]

Sandy, I nearly borrowed it from the library, then remembered I had it on my Kindle!

[Susan in NC]

Judy wrote: "I'm another one who often can't find books I thought I owned, sometimes because they have got list on my shelves and sometimes because they have been borrowed by family members!

I've just started ..."

I’ve always enjoyed that one, read along with the audiobook this time, which was entertaining.

[Jan C]

Judy wrote: "I'm another one who often can't find books I thought I owned, sometimes because they have got list on my shelves and sometimes because they have been borrowed by family members!

I've just started ..."

I have got out The Complete, Annotated Whose Body?, with annotations by Bill Peschel.

[Sandy]

I am reading The Cartographers which may, or may not, be considered a mystery. There is a death, mysterious pasts, an investigation and fantastical elements. Interesting read so far.

[Wayne]

I am reading Death Notice, set in Chengdu, China. About a third in, and it is readable with an interesting plot. Looking forward to the rest of it.

[Manupii]

I’m reading Agatha Christie’s The Murder on the Links.

[Colin]

Finished off Fire, Burn! and I recommend it - my brief review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Now about to join Ellery Queen on another of his visits to Wrightsville in The Murderer is a Fox

[Keith]

I have been too busy to partake in this discussion til now. I have spent some time with Dorothy Sayers, I have read her books at various times in the past but this time in irder, especially the four Harriet Vane romances and am about 3/4 the way through Thrones and Dominations, new to me and I also have the other Jill Paton Walsh continuations to go, Thank goodness for Kindle! I have replaced my 10 year old Paperwhite 1 for the new Paperwhite 5

[Jill]

I am just starting Capital Crimes: London Mysteries by Martin Edwards for our June buddy read, as it seems quite a lengthy book.

[Susan]

I struggle with short stories and may need to motivate myself for that one, Jill. Let me know how you get on.

[Susan in NC]

I’m going to start Capital Crimes: London Mysteries as well, a story or so a day, tucked in here and there is why I like anthologies.

[Sandy]

I'm also going to have to start Capital Crimes earlier than I normally do as I can only read one or two short stories at a time. That also means I will need to take copious notes as the early stories will be forgotten by the time I get to the last one.

[Susan in NC]

Sandy wrote: "I'm also going to have to start Capital Crimes earlier than I normally do as I can only read one or two short stories at a time. That also means I will need to take copious notes as the early stori..."

I’m just doing a quick summation on the update of each story as I go. Hopefully that will be enough to trigger my faulty memory!

[Jill]

I am about to start The Magic Casket in Capital Crimes: London Mysteries and thinking am I being cheated from the whole story in the individual book which I have in DR. THORNDYKE MYSTERIES – Complete Collection: 21 Novels & 40 Short Stories (Illustrated): The Red Thumb Mark, The Eye of Osiris, A Silent Witness, The ... Puzzle Lock, The Magic Casket and many more ? or The Magic Casket Any thoughts?

[Tara]

I recently finished The Egyptian Cross Mystery by Ellery Queen, which I quite enjoyed. I was not an EQ fan initially, but he has grown on me. Perhaps because the pomposity has been toned way down.

Now working my way through Tragedy at Law by Cyril Hare which is thoroughly engrossing from page one, as well as The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco, which is such a dense read I am finding I need both the print and audio version, and I have been going back to absorb things I am missing. Its a challenging read, but I feel like it will be worth it.

[Sid]

Tara wrote: " The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco, which is such a dense read I am finding I need both the print and audio version, and I have been going back to absorb things I am missing. Its a challenging read, but I feel like it will be worth it. "

I found the first few chapters of The Name Of The Rose almost unreadable, but then it picked up wonderfully and I loved it. I read somewhere that Eco claimed that he had made the beginning deliberately difficult because he didn't want just anyone to read his book. If that's true then I'm glad I didn't know about it in advance - I'd have thought him a self-regarding twerp and not gone anywhere near the book. I'm glad I did , though, and I hope you enjoy it too, Tara.

[Jan C]

Jill wrote: "I am about to start The Magic Casket in Capital Crimes: London Mysteries and thinking am I being cheated from the whole story in the individual book which I have in [..."

I'm reading [book:The Red Thumb Mark|5423698]. Not sure if I have The Magic Casket unless it is included in John Thorndyke's Cases or Dr Thorndyke's Casebook.

[Susan in NC]

Jan C wrote: "Jill wrote: "I am about to start The Magic Casket in Capital Crimes: London Mysteries and thinking am I being cheated from the whole story in the individual book whic..."

Just finished the “Casket” story, definitely not my cup of tea. Maybe a different Thorndyke story? I often find with these anthologies, the earliest (oldest?) detective stories seem the least interesting- I don’t know if it’s because they’ve been borrowed from so heavily by later writers, or the writing just seems rather hokey, or melodramatic, or something…

[Jackie]

I just brought Whose Body? home from the library and will start soon. I know I've read at least some by this author but it's been decades and I don't remember if this was one of them.

[Susan]

Ooh, enjoy, Jackie. I love the early Wimsey books best.

[Susan in NC]

Jackie wrote: "I just brought Whose Body? home from the library and will start soon. I know I've read at least some by this author but it's been decades and I don't remember if this was one of them."

I envy you, if this is a first read, I remember enjoying the humor, yet loving the creepy vibe as Lord Peter gets closer to a solution!

[Jill]

I am half way through Framed in Cornwall by Janie Bolitho I read the first in the series Snapped in Cornwall and liked working out the places the author included in the story, as I know the area well. Reading this, as I work my way through the Capital Crimes: London Mysteries stories.

[Jill]

Have finished Framed in Cornwall , wasn't great but kept me guessing. Now starting Not Quite Dead Enough by Rex Stout. Really weird, Archie in the army and Wolfe training.

[Susan in NC]

Still trying to do a story or so a day of Capital Crimes: London Mysteries, finding the first, older stories rather heavy going ( I think it’s the melodramatic writing style, probably appealing back then, especially in a serial format, but to modern eyes, kind of dull), but also started listening to An Excellent Mystery on audiobook while knitting - our next Cadfael.

[Sandy]

Jill wrote: "Have finished Framed in Cornwall , wasn't great but kept me guessing. Now starting Not Quite Dead Enough by Rex Stout. Really weird, Archie in the army a..."

I remember how odd it was to picture Wolfe exercising.

[Sandy]

I am reading The Footsteps at the Lock, the next by Ronald Knox, after I liked our read of the first. I have had it out from the library since then and the second due date is quickly approaching.

I am half done and like it just as much as the first. His wife his travelling to the crime scene with him (except when she has to return home in the mistaken belief the children would like to have her around) and is assigned to being friendly. A friend from Scotland Yard has shown up but I'm not sure if it is the same friend with whom he had a bet in the last book.

[Judy]

I've started Acqua Alta by Donna Leon - really enjoying it so far. I'm not sure why I left this series for such a long time, but am enjoying getting back into it.

[Tara]

Sid wrote: "Tara wrote: " The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco, which is such a dense read I am finding I need both the print and audio version, and I have been going back to absorb things I am missing. Its a c..."

That is a rather twerpish thing to say. The author does seem more interested in going into the various schisms in church doctrine than in developing the mystery. The one thing I will say in its favor is that it is an enveloping world.

[Judy]

The vote for our July group read has opened, with 5 great nominations. Please vote for your preferred choice!
https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/2...

[Colin]

I'm almost a hundred pages into The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle. It has taken me about four days to get this far and I have to say I'm finding it all beyond tedious at the moment, wholly uninvolving and drawn out.
Much as I dislike abandoning books - especially when I paid out good money for them - I doubt if I can be bothered continuing.

[Susan in NC]

I started listening to our next Freddy Pilkington-Soames, something light and entertaining I can listen to while knitting, A Case of Murder in Mayfair

[Tara]

Colin wrote: "I'm almost a hundred pages into The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle. It has taken me about four days to get this far and I have to say I'm finding it all beyond tedious at the moment, wholly unin..."

I liked this book a lot, albeit as an audiobook. Perhaps that format would work better for you?

[Colin]

I suppose it's possible, Tara, but I have my doubts. The truth is I don't think it's my kind of book. I read John Dickson Carr's time travel/mystery hybrid Fire Burn very recently and had a great time with it, but it was short, snappy and to the point.

[Tara]

Colin wrote: "I suppose it's possible, Tara, but I have my doubts. The truth is I don't think it's my kind of book. I read John Dickson Carr's time travel/mystery hybrid Fire Burn very recently and had a great t..."

Well, we can't like them all! Hope you enjoy your next book more.

[Colin]

Thanks, Tara!

[Judy]

I've started our forthcoming buddy read The Silver Pigs - early days yet, but it's an intriguing start.

[Jackie]

I have started All the Devils Are Here and it's excellent.

[Tara]

I've started my first read from Julian Symons, a Sherlockian mystery called A Three-Pipe Problem. Its about an actor, Sheridan Haynes, who is obsessed with Sherlock Holmes, and goes about trying to solve a series of seemingly unconnected murders. Right off the bat it has a very 70s feel to it, which I'm liking.

[Sid]

Just finished Listen To Me by Tess Gerritsen. It's the first of hers I've read and I enjoyed it. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Susan in NC]

I want to start Murder at Monk's Barn by Cecil Waye, one of our upcoming challenge reads.

[Jill]

I am about halfway through An Excellent Mystery, and trying to keep up with all the traveling in it.

[Sid]

I'm well into The Sirens Sang of Murder and loving it. Regularly laughing out loud!

[Sandy]

I have our next four (!) mid-month books lined up and need to choose one. An embarrassment of riches.

[Sandy]

Best laid plans and all that ... My library request for Bad Actors arrived so that may move to the top of the list as two of us need to read it before my time runs out.

[Judy]

I thought I'd got an audiobook of the next Maigret buddy read from the library, but it turned out to be a very old radio play version rather than the book!

[Jan C]

Susan in NC wrote: "I want to start Murder at Monk's Barn by Cecil Waye, one of our upcoming challenge reads."

I had a little trouble at the beginning - it seemed a little predictable - but it picked up for me.

[Susan in NC]

Jan C wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "I want to start Murder at Monk's Barn by Cecil Waye, one of our upcoming challenge reads."

I had a li..."

Good to know, Jan, thanks, I’m hoping to start it soon, but a nonfiction library book has to be finished first!