Reading the Detectives discussion
Archived threads
>
What mysteries are you reading at the moment? (2023)
Sandy wrote: "I just read The Last Devil to Die. For anyone following the series, you may not want to be reading parts in public places. Very good book.Will be starting our Bobby Owen buddy rea..."
Oh, yay, good to hear, and duly noted, I will read at home! Currently waiting for my library loan to come through. ;o)
I am enjoying The Roman Hat Mystery
for our November challenge read, after getting off to an interesting but somewhat slow start. I’m always more forgiving with a first in a series, and I vaguely remember decades ago watching an American television series based on the Ellery Queen books, so I was hoping I’d enjoy the books!
I'm currently listening to "Ghosts from the Library" on Audible. I'm not sure whether to classify it as mystery or non-mystery, but all the stories are mysterious! The authors are all favorites of we Golden Age fans - Christianna Brand, Edmund Crispin, etc. Highly recommended!
I have just finished The Six Queer Things by Christopher St. John Sprigg. Definitely a mystery, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I didn't find it scary but I can imagine if more easily scared than me, it could be.
Jill wrote: "I have just finished The Six Queer Things by Christopher St. John Sprigg. Definitely a mystery, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I didn't find it scary but I can imagin..."Thank you for suggesting this! I just used some Kindle credits that were about to expire and got it! :)
Carissa wrote: "Jill wrote: "I have just finished The Six Queer Things by Christopher St. John Sprigg. Definitely a mystery, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I didn't find it scary but..."I hope you like it as much as I did.
I finished Garden of Lamentations by Deborah Crombie today. Will be starting Catherine Aird's Parting Breath on the morrow.
I've taken a break from GA mysteries and am reading a Dick Francis / Felix Francis 'Crisis' and will read another before I go back to Miss Marple and Miss Silver
I am enjoying The Pale Horse
by Agatha Christie. I wasn’t sure before starting it, but I’m pretty sure I’ve never read this one - always pleased to read a new-to-me Christie.
I have started the challenge book The Roman Hat Mystery by Ellery Queen. First book I have read by these authors, and am liking it so far
Inspired by the author's death last year, I am testing a long series with Gallows View while waiting for my requests for our monthly reads to arrive. I find it a good, solid mystery in the police procedural category.
Sandy wrote: "Inspired by the author's death last year, I am testing a long series with Gallows View while waiting for my requests for our monthly reads to arrive. I find it a good, solid mystery..."I love his books. I have read 19 of his books and was so sorry to hear of his death. I do have his remaining books and must get back to him soon. Hope you enjoy them.
I’ve got Green for Danger from my library, going to give it a try because the premise sounds intriguing-though I’ve not got on with this author in the past, this is her highest-rated book so I’ll try one more time! ;o)
Sandy: I read all of Peter Robinson's books, and found this to be one of those rare series that doesn't start bogging down and continues to maintain energy because the characters and scenarios change.Jill: Yesterday I picked up The Roman Hat Mystery from the library and look forward to starting it, after I finish reading Angie Kim's Miracle Creek.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...
I hadn't planned to read this, finding by chance in the Little Free Library around the corner, and didn't think I'd like it, mistaking it for sci-fi, but it's actually a mystery/courtroom drama/insight on racial tensions, immigration, children with disabilities, family stress.
I also checked out another E.C.R. Lorac book, Fire in the Hatch: a Devon Mystery, to add to my "to read" stack.
Finished Murders in Volume 2 by Elizabeth Daly last night. I suddenly remember that I had 40 pages left and realized that I might as well just finish it. Volume #3 in the Henry Gamadge mysteries. I am enjoying them. Daly was reputed to be a fave American author of Christie's.Started a new book for me, Three Hours in Paris by Cara Black. I'm still at the beginning and not sure yet how well I like it.
Jan C wrote: "Finished Murders in Volume 2 by Elizabeth Daly last night. I suddenly remember that I had 40 pages left and realized that I might as well just finish it. Volume #3 in..."I’ve read the first two Elizabeth Daly mysteries and enjoyed them, I’m glad to hear book 3 is good!
Jan C wrote: "Finished Murders in Volume 2 by Elizabeth Daly last night. I suddenly remember that I had 40 pages left and realized that I might as well just finish it. Volume #3 in..."
Re Three Hours in Paris, I got that in a library 'blind date', browsed it but never read it. Has a different and interesting premise.
Blind Date: the books come in a brown paper wrapping with a label giving category and very short teaser.
Re Three Hours in Paris, I got that in a library 'blind date', browsed it but never read it. Has a different and interesting premise.
Blind Date: the books come in a brown paper wrapping with a label giving category and very short teaser.
Sandy, I'd never heard of book 'blind dates' but then saw some books wrapped in brown paper with teasers in a bookshop yesterday! I think I'd be loath to buy a book without knowing what it is though - less risk at the library!
Judy wrote: "Sandy, I'd never heard of book 'blind dates' but then saw some books wrapped in brown paper with teasers in a bookshop yesterday! I think I'd be loath to buy a book without knowing what it is thoug..."
Agree completely! My blind dates have never been entirely successful.
Agree completely! My blind dates have never been entirely successful.
Susan in NC wrote: "I am enjoying The Pale Horse
by Agatha Christie. I wasn’t sure before starting it, but I’m pretty sure I’ve never read this one - ..."One of my favorites of her standalones
Kirsten wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "I am enjoying The Pale Horse
by Agatha Christie. I wasn’t sure before starting it, but I’m pretty sure I’ve ne..."I really enjoyed it - definitely different premise, but fun and interesting!
Sandy wrote: "Jan C wrote: "Finished Murders in Volume 2 by Elizabeth Daly last night. I suddenly remember that I had 40 pages left and realized that I might as well just finish it..."There was a period in my life when I would pick up a library at x position - no matter what the category or subject matter. So I would up picking up a couple of science fiction which I never would have read. I also picked Mapp and Lucia this way. That was a good pick.
Jan C wrote: "Sandy wrote: "Jan C wrote: "Finished Murders in Volume 2 by Elizabeth Daly last night. I suddenly remember that I had 40 pages left and realized that I might as well ..."I love the Lucia novels, personal favorites!
Jan C wrote: "Finished Murders in Volume 2 by Elizabeth Daly last night. I suddenly remember that I had 40 pages left and realized that I might as well just finish it. Volume #3 in..."I too really enjoy Elizabeth Daly's mysteries!
I've just finished 'The Pale Horse' by our Agatha . The ending was quite unexpected, I had no clue before the denouement.
Keith wrote: "I've just finished 'The Pale Horse' by our Agatha . The ending was quite unexpected, I had no clue before the denouement."Me, either, but I loved it! Such a rare treat, to find a Christie I’ve never read!
I just finished Green for Danger for our November polled read, and loved it!
Currently reading Jane and the Final Mystery by Stephanie Barron. A wonderful series, I’ve read every book, and this is the last.On a cheerier note, I’ve just gotten notification from my library that my turn at reading The Last Devil to Die by Richard Osman has come up, yay! I’ll start that next after finishing Jane.
Susan in NC wrote: "Currently reading Jane and the Final Mystery by Stephanie Barron. A wonderful series, I’ve read every book, and this is the last.On a cheerier note, I’ve just gott..."
I have a copy of Osman's book but have got a bit behind with my reading, so despite my eagerness to read it, am trying to hold out a bit longer. Have now started Murder on the Salsette the next buddy read
Jill wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "Currently reading Jane and the Final Mystery by Stephanie Barron. A wonderful series, I’ve read every book, and this is the last.On a cheerier ..."
I could only get the audiobook of Salsette through Scribd, and I don’t like reading mysteries with only an audiobook- plus I hate the way the narrator voices women! Pure nasal nails on chalkboard! So I’ll have to skip that one. I’d like to read on, but it’s not worth buying, and my usual free sources don’t have any further books in the series.
I read Osman's book and found it much more profound than earlier book in the series, still a lot of fun, with humorous characters, but also tackling serious issues. I recently finished another E.C.R. Lorac, Murder by Matchlight, set in wartime London, one of her best, I think, and have ordered both the Catherine Aird and the Sjöwall/Wahlöö for the next reads.
Sarah wrote: "I read Osman's book and found it much more profound than earlier book in the series, still a lot of fun, with humorous characters, but also tackling serious issues. I recently finished another E.C...."Thanks, I’m looking forward to the Osman, starting today - glad you like that Lorac, I thought it was an interesting premise, and look at life in the Blitz, and the unique problems police had to deal with in investigating crime. I’d like to revisit that one, I think. Once I’ve run out of Lorac books I have, I might have to start rereading them if no more have been reissued!
Currently 33% through Death Beside the Seaside by T.E. Kinsey. Book 6 in the Lady Hardcastle series. Love the audio books of this series.
I have read all the Lady Hardcastle series and thoroughly enjoyed them. I hope there will be more to come.
I've finished reading the first in the series of short story collections Bodies from the Library: Lost Tales of Mystery and Suspense from the Golden Age of Detection: Lost Tales of Mystery and Suspense by Agatha Christie and other Masters of the Golden Age - I enjoyed most of the stories a lot and want to read this whole series. Editor Tony Medawar has managed to find some amazing rarities. A bit misleading putting Christie's name on the cover as her story is very short and slight, but there are some great Golden Age authors featured including quite a long short story in mini-chapters by Anthony Berkeley. There is also a radio play script by Nicholas Blake (starring Nigel Strangeways).
For anyone who wants to listen to Rest You Merry, our December challenge read, annoyingly it isn't on Audible in the UK, but I've just noticed that it is available as an audiobook if you have Spotify premium, included in the subscription. My husband has Spotify premium so I'm in luck. ;)
Judy wrote: "For anyone who wants to listen to Rest You Merry, our December challenge read, annoyingly it isn't on Audible in the UK, but I've just noticed that it is available as an audiobook i..."It is available on Amazon in the US as an audio book.
Finished The Long Divorce our Gervase Fen buddy read, and am now starting It Might Lead Anywhere our Bobby Owen buddy read
Finished Silent Nights: Christmas Mysteries
for our upcoming December read, getting into Rope’s End, Rogue’s End
.
Driven by scheduled library visits, I put aside this month's Cadfael and read An English Murder. An excellent short book with an interesting main character, a dysfunctional family, and a snowed-in Christmas setting. Everything one could ask for!
Sandy wrote: "Driven by scheduled library visits, I put aside this month's Cadfael and read An English Murder. An excellent short book with an interesting main character, a dysfunctional family, ..."That was a good one!
Judy wrote: "For anyone who wants to listen to Rest You Merry, our December challenge read, annoyingly it isn't on Audible in the UK, but I've just noticed that it is available as an audiobook i..."Ooh, thanks for the heads-up! I have a lot of driving coming up for Thanksgiving, so I may get an early jump on this!
Finished It Might Lead Anywhere and starting The Shooting in the Shop by Simon Brett. I haven't read one from this series since 2016, so hoping I enjoy this as much as I did the others
I started Manning Coles' first book Drink to Yesterday. I saw a couple of his yesterday for sale on Kindle for 99 cents. Hope they're still on sale.Happy Thanksgiving all - whether you have it or not. I know Canadians do it in October.
Books mentioned in this topic
A Spoonful Of Murder (other topics)A Toast To Tomorrow (other topics)
A Toast To Tomorrow (other topics)
A Dark Matter (other topics)
The Last Devil to Die (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
J.M. Hall (other topics)Stuart MacBride (other topics)
James Oswald (other topics)
Richard Osman (other topics)
Mick Herron (other topics)
More...





Oh, I enjoy him, too!