August 2022 group read: Winner!

[Judy]

It's time to nominate for our August 2022 group read!

Please only nominate books written and published in the Golden Age period, or a little earlier or later - if in doubt whether a title is eligible, please ask.

As usual, just one nomination per group member, and only one book by any individual writer can be nominated per month. Happy nominating - looking forward to seeing all the suggestions.

[Roman Clodia]

I'd like to nominate Murder in the Basement by Anthony Berkeley. I know his books haven't always been easy to get hold of but as one of the latest batch of British Library Crime Classics, it's hopefully accessible to everyone:

When two newlyweds discover that a corpse has been buried in the basement of their new home, a gruelling case begins to trace the identity of the victim. With all avenues of investigation approaching exhaustion, a tenuous piece of evidence offers a chance for Chief Inspector Moresby and leads him to the amateur sleuth Roger Sheringham, who has recently been providing cover work in a school south of London.

Desperate for evidence of any kind on the basement case, Moresby begins to sift through the manuscript of a satirical novel Sheringham has been writting about his colleagues at the school, convinced that amongst the colorful case of teachers hides the victim -- and perhaps their murderer.

A novel pairing dark humour and intelligent detection work, this 1932 'whowasdunin?' mystery is an example of a celebrated Golden Age author's most inventive work.

[Abigail]

For once I have a book to nominate, thanks to my sister-in-law! The Chuckling Fingers (1941) by Mabel Seeley. Available as a Berkley paperback, and I’ll go back and check for other eds.

The blurb says, “Rediscover one of the great mystery authors of the twentieth century in this Depression-era tale of a wealthy family’s dark secrets turning deadly on their secluded lakeside estate.”

Edit: available on Kindle, audio, used copies etc.

[Susan in NC]

I’d like to nominate an Elizabeth Daly mystery, Nothing Can Rescue Me: Henry Gamadge #6 . I picked up a couple used years ago, didn’t realize they were #5 and #6, I totally understand if we don’t want to start with this one, which GR actually has as #5, while the cover says #6. Anyway, here’s the GR blurb, no summary just review quotes: “ Agatha Christie in 1940s New York. *Sixth in the Henry Gamadge series. *The perfect choice for fans of Agatha Christie - after all, Elizabeth Daly was Ms. Christie's favorite writer. *Highly literate prose style, with no sex or on-stage violence. *Classic whodunit structure, with multiple suspects, locked rooms, and improbable clues. *There is a distinct market for old-fashioned puzzle mysteries, few of which are being published today *Here's a treat: Another charmingly urbane Henry Gamadge novel, fully up to Miss Daly's usual high standardst - Books *Deliciously gossipy, back-biting characters all gathered in an imposing mansion in upstate New York ... a pleasure - The New Yorker”

My plot summary on back is more informative: In mid-1943..Henry Gamadge is longing for a quiet weekend. But when a half-forgotten classmate requests assistance, Gamadge is unable to resist the tug of an old school tie. The problem, says Sylvanus, concerns his Aunt Florence - rather less Auntie Em than Auntie Mame. A giddy socialite, terrified of Nazi bombs, Florence has moved her extensive household of hangers-on to the family mansion in upstate New York. But menace seems to have followed them, in the form of threatening messages inserted into the manuscript of Florence’s painfully bad novel in progress. Several members of the household are convinced the messages are emanating from Another World, but the politely pragmatic Gamadge suspects a culprit rather closer to home.

Available for $7.99 on Kindle, or Open Library https://openlibrary.org/works/OL34665...

[Susan in NC]

Abigail wrote: "For once I have a book to nominate, thanks to my sister-in-law! The Chuckling Fingers (1941) by Mabel Seeley. Available as a Berkley paperback, and I’ll go back and check for other ..."

Oh, yay, set in the Midwest, this one goes on the TBR, thanks for bringing it to our attention! I get more on my TBR list through these nominations…

[Susan in NC]

Roman Clodia wrote: " I'd like to nominate Murder in the Basement by Anthony Berkeley. I know his books haven't always been easy to get hold of..."

Thanks for this one, I’ve seen it on Scribd, and I’ve enjoyed the Sheringham’s I’ve read, I appreciate the humor.

[Abigail]

You had me at “rather less Auntie Em than Auntie Mame”! Not to mention a painfully bad novel!

[Susan in NC]

Abigail wrote: "You had me at “rather less Auntie Em than Auntie Mame”! Not to mention a painfully bad novel!"

Those comments caught my eye, as well! ;)

[Abigail]

Good blurb writer! I could use one of those, since I am among the lamest.

[Sandy]

Checking Amazon in the US:

Murder In The Basement - kindle available for pre=order in December. Nothing in my library system.

The Chuckling Fingers - kindle for $10, both book and ebook available in my library

Nothing Can Rescue Me: Henry Gamadge #6 - kindle $8, book available in my library.

[Susan in NC]

Sandy wrote: "Checking Amazon in the US:

Murder In The Basement - kindle available for pre=order in December. Nothing in my library system.

The Chuckling Fingers - kindle for $10,..."

Thanks for checking, Sandy, I did find it on open library and provided the link, also.

[Roman Clodia]

I'm happy to withdraw my nomination if it's not available in the US.

[Judy]

That's a shame about Murder in the Basement, RC - as you say, we have had problems with Anthony Berkeley's availability before. Hopefully this book will be published in the US. Would you like to nominate a different title?

[Susan in NC]

It is available as an ebook on Scribd.

Edited - sorry, it’s available as an audiobook, not ebook.

[Jill]

I will nominate The Division Bell Mystery by Ellen Wilkinson

Originally published in 1932, this is the first Crime Classic novel written by an MP. And fittingly, the crime scene is within the House of Commons itself, in which a financier has been shot dead.

Entreated by the financier’s daughter, a young parliamentary private secretary turns sleuth to find the identity of the murderer – the world of politics proving itself to be domain not only of lies and intrigue, but also danger.Wilkinson’s own political career positioned her perfectly for this accurate but also sharply satirical novel of double cross and rivalries within the seat of the British Government.

£2.99 kindle in UK No idea about US .

[Sandy]

Susan in NC wrote: "It is available as an ebook on Scribd.

Edited - sorry, it’s available as an audiobook, not ebook."

Murder in the Basement is also available on Audible so one wonders why not the ebook ....

[Susan in NC]

Oh, “Division Bell Mystery” on my TBR, looks good. I see on Kindle for about $9.50, and Scribd has both ebook and audiobook.

[Susan in NC]

Sandy wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "It is available as an ebook on Scribd.

Edited - sorry, it’s available as an audiobook, not ebook."

Murder in the Basement is also available on Audible so one wonders why not t..."
Yes, that is odd, I would swear I saw the ebook available on Scribd yesterday…today, only audiobook.

[Judy]

Susan, unfortunately, according to Amazon, Nothing Can Rescue Me: Henry Gamadge #6 isn't on Kindle in the UK and is also out of print in paperback, with copies starting from around £20.

The only book by this author available on Kindle over here seems to be the first in the series, Unexpected Night, which is available very cheaply in a different edition.

I could have sworn I'd seen the yellow-covered Elizabeth Daly editions on Kindle, so I'm wondering if they were launched and then withdrawn, as seems to happen quite often lately!

[Judy]

I've just noticed that Amazon US suddenly seems to be telling me how much Kindle books cost in the US even when they are not available to me in the UK, in case I want to buy them as gifts for American friends or relations. This is a great idea and could be very useful in future (if it isn't just a blip).

[Valerie]

I'd like to nominate: Weekend at Thrackley.

Hopefully there isn't a group rule about repeating a nomination! Every time someone has nominated this (in the last few polls) I've voted for it, but it's always the bridesmaid (ha, ha). It is available on Kindle in Canada and the US (or audible if you are a subscriber).

[Michaela]

That´s been on my tbr list for a while now, Valerie. :)

[Jill]

And mine.

[Susan]

I have also nominated some Anthony Berkeley mysteries which have not been available in the US. However, if anybody wants to do them as buddies, I would happily list them, as there are a few available in the UK now.

[Judy]

Thanks for all the nominations so far.

Valerie, there isn't a rule about not repeating nominations, so Weekend at Thrackley is fine.

Susan in NC, unfortunately Nothing Can Rescue Me isn't available in the UK, so would you be happy to change to Unexpected Night, the only one by Daly that is on Kindle here? (If that one is available in the US of course!) Or would you prefer something different?

[Susan in NC]

Judy wrote: "Thanks for all the nominations so far.

Valerie, there isn't a rule about not repeating nominations, so Weekend at Thrackley is fine.

Susan in NC, unfortunately Nothing Can Rescue Me isn't availab..."
Sorry, just seeing this - absolutely, please sub the first book in the series, they are all available on Scribd, so works for me! Also, I am a “read in series order person”, so my preference, actually. I checked, I see .99 on Kindle.

The difference in availability makes nominations tough, doesn’t it? Thanks for checking and offering a fix, Judy!

Weekend at Thrackley on my TBR, too!

[Judy]

Thank you Susan, that's great. I'll make a list of nominations so far shortly!

[Judy]

Sorry, meant to do this last night. A fantastic list already!

Nominations so far:

Abigail: The Chuckling Fingers by Mabel Seeley

Jill: The Division Bell Mystery byEllen Wilkinson

Susan in NC: Unexpected Night by Elizabeth Daly

Valerie: Weekend at Thrackley by Alan Melville

[Judy]

The poll is now open - please vote for your choice from the four great nominations.
https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/2...

[Valerie]

Well, not to count (my) our chickens before they are hatched - but it looks like Weekend at Thrackley may finally be the winner! I'm excited!

[Klowey]

Valerie wrote: "Well, not to count (my) our chickens before they are hatched - but it looks like Weekend at Thrackley may finally be the winner! I'm excited!"

I think, a bridesmaid no more. :-)

[Valerie]

Klowey wrote: "Valerie wrote: "Well, not to count (my) our chickens before they are hatched - but it looks like Weekend at Thrackley may finally be the winner! I'm excited!"

I think, a bridesmaid..."

Ha, ha - yes.

[Judy]

A runaway winner this month - as predicted, it's Weekend at Thrackley by Alan Melville, which will be our August read. Thanks to Valerie for nominating this book and to all who nominated and voted.

Full results:
Weekend at Thrackley 13 votes, 56.5%
The Chuckling Fingers 4 votes, 17.4%
The Division Bell Mystery 4 votes, 17.4%
Unexpected Night (Henry Gamadge, #1) 2 votes, 8.7%

[Susan in NC]

Thanks, Judy, looking forward to finally reading this one!

[Susan]

Thanks, Judy.