What mysteries are you reading at the moment? (2023)

[Jill]

Judy wrote: "I'm halfway through The Man Who Died Twice now but not enjoying it much at all - it's a pity, I expected to love Richard Osman's books as I really like him as a TV ..."

That's funny Judy , as I like his books a lot but don't like him on TV.

[Jan C]

Judy wrote: "I'm halfway through The Man Who Died Twice now but not enjoying it much at all - it's a pity, I expected to love Richard Osman's books as I really like him as a TV ..."

I'm having trouble with The Thursday Murder Club and I didn't know anything about him.

[Sandy]

Just finished Murder Crossed Her Mind, the fourth in a new series set in New York in the late 1940's. It is an homage to Rex Stout, complete with the brownstone apartment. The lead detective does leave the office, but she has MS so is limited in her activities. Her sidekick is a tough young woman who does the heavy lifting. It is becoming a favorite series.

[Sandy]

Jan C wrote: "Judy wrote: "I'm halfway through The Man Who Died Twice now but not enjoying it much at all - it's a pity, I expected to love Richard Osman's books as I really like..."

While I also never heard of the author, I love the series. Luckily there is enough variety to please each of us.

[Jill]

Sandy wrote: "Jan C wrote: "Judy wrote: "I'm halfway through The Man Who Died Twice now but not enjoying it much at all - it's a pity, I expected to love Richard Osman's books as..."

He actually comes from where I live, and attended the local school, so many people here know him.

[Jackie]

I've started Death in Dark Blue the second in a cozy series. So far it's not grabbing my interest, and I remember the first in the series was only so-so but the premise, where the protagonist gets a job assisting her favorite author, is a good one so I'm giving it a chance.

[Jill]

I'm about halfway through A Toast To Tomorrow, but have struggled in a few places. Lots of names to remember.

[Kirsten]

I've been reading Freezing by Clea Koff. The author is a real life forensic anthropologist who actually has worked in Bosnia identifying bodies.

[Susan_MG]

I just finished The Poisonous Seed and enjoyed it so much I will continue with series. I listened to 1st book on Audible but the second book is only on bookstore or Kindle purchase. I see the 3rd book is kindle unlimited USA. The distribution of the remainder seems a mix but I barely checked.

[Carolien]

Judy wrote: "I'm halfway through The Man Who Died Twice now but not enjoying it much at all - it's a pity, I expected to love Richard Osman's books as I really like him as a TV ..."

The Man who Died Twice is probably the worst in the series to my mind, Judy. I've just read The Last Devil to Die and it is a much better book. I get the feeling Osman wanted to be Mick Herron and only realised after book 3 that his essentially cosy series is not compatible with Herron's cynicism.

[Sandy]

Susan_MG wrote: "I just finished The Poisonous Seed and enjoyed it so much I will continue with series. I listened to 1st book on Audible but the second book is only on bookstore or Kindle purchase. I see the 3rd b..."

My library system has the complete series, so I am tempted. This is how I get into so many series.

[Carolien]

I've just discovered James Oswald's Inspector McLean series. It may be too close to horror for some and appreciate Stuart MacBride, but I am inhaling them. His Constance Fairchild series is a bit more of a straight police procedural.

And while in Edinburgh, I've finished A Dark Matter which involves a private investigating business linked to an undertakers. Really liked the first one in the series focused on a mostly female cast.

[Jill]

Sandy wrote: "Susan_MG wrote: "I just finished The Poisonous Seed and enjoyed it so much I will continue with series. I listened to 1st book on Audible but the second book is only on bookstore or Kindle purchase..."

I really liked the first one so will be reading on

[Judy]

Carolien wrote: "The Man who Died Twice is probably the worst in the series to my mind, Judy. I've just read The Last Devil to Die and it is a much better book. I get the feeling Osman wanted to be Mick Herron ..."

Thank you, that's good to know - I didn't get on with Mick Herron at all and was actually thinking that Osman's style in this book reminds me of him. Glad to hear that you like the latest book later, Carolien.

[Jackie]

Jill wrote: "I'm about halfway through A Toast To Tomorrow, but have struggled in a few places. Lots of names to remember."

Jill, I haven't decided if I want to read/participate with this one yet, looking forward to an update. are you enjoying it, is what I want to know.

[Jill]

Jackie wrote: "Jill wrote: "I'm about halfway through A Toast To Tomorrow, but have struggled in a few places. Lots of names to remember."

Jill, I haven't decided if I want to read/participate wit..."

I'm over half way through now, and it has picked up. I think it is having a lot of foreign names, and some with aliases, that I have to think "who are you?". Maybe that is just me being thick at the moment. I wouldn't want to put you off

[Judy]

I'm currently listening to A Spoonful Of Murder by J.M. Hall on Spotify, the first in a series about retired primary school teachers who become detectives.

There seem to be a lot of these series with older amateur detectives now in the wake of Richard Osman's books. I'm really enjoying this one, which I think is largely because the narrator is actress Julie Hesmondhalgh, who is doing a fantastic job and bringing a lot of personality and warmth to the narration. Anyway, I'm wondering if this type of gentle detective series works best for me on audio - I may give the third Richard Osman book a try in that format.

[Judy]

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