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

[Tania]

I am listening to Fire in the Thatch: A Devon Mystery by E.C.R. Lorac. I think of all the authors brought back into print by the BLCC series, Lorac is my favourite. I also have another of their anthologies, The Edinburgh Mystery: And Other Tales of Scottish Crime on the go.

[Carolien]

Jill wrote: "I am nearly half way through Moonflower Murders by Anthony Horowitz, which I am enjoying, but thinking maybe no quite as good as some of the others by him."

I'm hoping to get this out of the library next month. Enjoy!

[Jill]

Tania wrote: "I am listening to Fire in the Thatch: A Devon Mystery by E.C.R. Lorac. I think of all the authors brought back into print by the BLCC series, Lorac is my favourite...."

I think I must agree with you about Lorac

[Judy]

Good to hear you are enjoying An English Murder, Craftyhj. We read it here as a buddy read 5 years ago - if you are interested in looking at the discussion, the general thread is here:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

And the spoiler thread is here for when you have finished:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Sandy]

I read Waste of a Life, the most recent in Simon Brett's latest series. Each book has gotten better and I'm looking forward to the next. Really have to try some of his other series.

[Jill]

Sandy wrote: "I read Waste of a Life, the most recent in Simon Brett's latest series. Each book has gotten better and I'm looking forward to the next. Really have to try some of his other series."

I read ten of his Feathering series and am now on to his Charles Paris series. I think I have all of the Mrs Pargeter series. Hope you enjoy whichever you try.

[Jill]

I am about to start The Dirty Duck by Martha Grimes the fourth in the series. So far have liked her books.

[Susan in NC]

Jill wrote: "Sandy wrote: "I read Waste of a Life, the most recent in Simon Brett's latest series. Each book has gotten better and I'm looking forward to the next. Really have to try some of his..."

I read Charles Paris and some of Feathering, really have to get back to those for fun mysteries! Love the Martha Grimes Richard Jury mystery series, also, nice long series to sink into! Charming and witty supporting characters, too, kind of like the early Midsomer mysteries.

[Sandy]

Grimes' Jury is yet another series on my TBR. So many books to look forward to.

[Jackie]

Jill wrote: "I am about to start The Dirty Duck by Martha Grimes the fourth in the series. So far have liked her books."

Jill, I think I read the first in that series but I might have only had it on my list forever. I might need either read it or re-read it, because it looks good.

[Jill]

I only started reading Martha Grimes when I was down in Cornwall in 2005 and we were at Lamorna Cove and ate at The Lamorna Wink. I saw the book in a shop there and had to have it. I really enjoyed it and so went on to buy more of the books. Before that I had never heard of her.

[Sandy]

I have read two mysteries recently, The Lost Man of Bombay, set in India in 1950, and Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone. Bombay is third in a series that I have been following. It has a prickly female detective who may get herself killed soon. The plot is exciting and seems true to the history of post-war, post-British India.

My Family is not about assassins as I had assumed and has a very unusual style of completely breaking the 'fourth wall', or not even establishing it in the first place. The narrator writes instructional books on how to write mysteries and follows Knox's 10 rules faithfully and explains every time he does so. The pages where the deaths occur are given in the narrator's preface. (I wonder how that works in an e-book?) Definitely written for laughs but still a good puzzle mystery.

[Susan in NC]

Sandy wrote: "Grimes' Jury is yet another series on my TBR. So many books to look forward to."

I know we are pretty much full up on Buddy Reads for now, but Grimes’ Jury series might be a future contender for us - I read many of them years ago, but would definitely be up for a reread.

[Glenda]

I've started reading the Agatha Christie books in order of publication. Even though I've read many of them, I'm enjoying re-reading.

[Karen]

Susan in NC wrote: "Wanted an easy, breezy audiobook to knit to (have a project to finish), putting aside ‘Verdict of 12’ for our upcoming A Case of Duplicity in Dorset."

I have just finished reading The Corfe Castle Murders a murder mystery also set in Dorset.

[Susan in NC]

Karen wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "Wanted an easy, breezy audiobook to knit to (have a project to finish), putting aside ‘Verdict of 12’ for our upcoming A Case of Duplicity in Dorset."

I have ju..."

Thanks, Karen, sounds like an intriguing “fish out of water” premise, added to the TBR pile.

I’m re-reading No Wind of Blame for our upcoming read. Our next Cadfael isn’t until next month, but they’re all available on Scribd, so I started a reread (of the audiobook) of by Ellis Peters. I find Cadfael so restful!

[Kirsten]

I've been reading The Christie Affair

[Sandy]

For those of you who follow Elly Griffiths Ruth Galloway series, she was interviewed on the Shedunnit podcast and the next Ruth Galloway book will be the last (at least for the foreseeable future). Sigh.

[Judy]

I've started our next Michael Innes buddy read, The Weight of the Evidence. Enjoying it more than the previous couple so far - it's an academic mystery.

[Glenda]

Verdict of Twelve by Raymond Postgate.

[Sandy]

I have two new books started at the moment, The Motion Picture Teller, set in Thailand in the 1990's and Secrets Typed in Blood, New York after WW II. Both are new books requests and I have two more waiting for me at the library. Motion Picture is a stand alone by the author of a series I follow 'casually' and the other is third in a recent series that I've read as they come out. It is easier to keep up with a new series than to catch up with a long-running one.

[Craftyhj]

I am gradually making my way though the Campion books on audio. I am currently listening to Traitor's Purse which is number 11 in the series.

[Sandy]

Craftyhj wrote: "I am gradually making my way though the Campion books on audio. I am currently listening to Traitor's Purse which is number 11 in the series."

I love Campion, the character. The group has read the series so you will find our comments in the old threads, and they are all still open. However, I know I will not remember the details of any one book.

[Jackie]

I'm about half-way through The Moving Finger.

[Susan in NC]

Just starting next month’s challenge read, Inquest: A Golden Age Mystery by Henrietta Clandon. New to me author, curious to see what I think.

[Kirsten]

Finishing up The Christie Affair today.

[Jill]

Susan in NC wrote: "Just starting next month’s challenge read, Inquest: A Golden Age Mystery by Henrietta Clandon. New to me author,..."

I'm about a quarter into Inquest: A Golden Age Mystery. Liking it but the people seem very unlikeable

[Susan in NC]

Jill wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "Just starting next month’s challenge read, Inquest: A Golden Age Mystery by [author:Henrietta Clandon|19934131..."

Yes, the tone of the narrator so far is definitely dry, and sarcastic!

[Fred]

I am trying to get through Gaston Leroux's "The Phantom of the Opera" but needed a break so I am reading "A is for Alibi"--the first Kinsey Milhone mystery by Sue Grafton. Halfway through the book and I am enjoying it. I have read others in the series and like the earlier books because they are more compact. When the books got longer toward the end of the series I found it difficult to hold my interest. Overall, Grafton was a great writer.

[Judy]

Fred, I agree the early Kinsey books were the best in the series, and it fell off a bit later, although I thought one or two very late on were good again.

I'm still reading The Weight Of The Evidence, the next Michael Innes buddy read, but am also reading A Noble Radiance by Donna Leon because it is due back at the library soon! Enjoying both so far.

[Susan in NC]

Gave up on “Inquest”, just wasn’t feeling interested. Instead I’ve had some library books come through, reading Murder at the Serpentine Bridge.

[Kirsten]

I've been listening to The Mitford Murders

[Sandy]

I've started our next Donna Leon and liking it a lot.

[Susan in NC]

I really enjoyed that one, I’m so glad to be rereading the series with the group! I think this one Dressed for Death, our upcoming read, is as far as I got reading many years ago - I didn’t remember much at all. It is delightful to reconnect with a good, long series after many years, the author has had time to write many more books to enjoy! ;)

[Gary]

Currently back to reading The Silent Speaker by Rex Stout and listening to The Case of the Counterfeit Eye by Erle Stanley Gardner

[Sandy]

I'm reading the new entry in one of my favorite series (yes, I do have a lot of favorites), A Killing of Innocents. Traying to savor it as the wait has seemed long. I discovered the series after it had several books and devoured them much too quickly.

[Susan in NC]

I know that feeling, Sandy…started These Names Make Clues by E.C.R. Lorac, and the first in a new-to-me historical mystery series from my library, Singapore Sapphire.

[Fred]

Gary wrote: "Currently back to reading The Silent Speaker by Rex Stout and listening to The Case of the Counterfeit Eye by Erle Stanley Gardner"

Rex Stout it was one of my favorite authors. I have some of the books and even three times. The interaction between Wolfe and Archie is the most fun.

[Sandy]

Fred wrote: "Gary wrote: "Currently back to reading The Silent Speaker by Rex Stout and listening to The Case of the Counterfeit Eye by [author:Erle Stanley Gardne..."

I completely agree about the interaction between Wolfe and Archie. Need to get back to that series.

[Judy]

Looking back at my own brief review of The Silent Speaker, I see I also really enjoyed the interaction between Wolfe and Archie, although I couldn't keep track of the plot very well. Love that series.

[Jill]

I have just finished Down Cemetery Road by Mick Herron An author we have read here and thoroughly enjoyed. It is not a Slough House book, but still a good read. I am now about to start The Hermit of Eyton Forest by Ellis Peters our buddy read for next month

[Abigail]

Finally getting started on The Weight Of The Evidence, the last of my group reads for this month.

[Jackie]

I am re-reading Georgette Heyer's No Wind of Blame

[Sarah]

Luckily, I live close to several Little Free Libraries, which regularly have a bunch of tattered old paperback mysteries. Today I picked up "The Geographer's Library," by Jon Fasman, with a strong recommendation from Alan Furst. Has anyone heard of/read it? I also checked out a book from the public library, Colleen Cambridge's "A Trace of Poison: A Phyllida Bright Mystery." Phyllida Bright is Agatha Christie's friend-turned housekeeper at Mallowan Hall. I read the first book in the series, which was okay, and this second includes members of the Detection Club, G.K. Chesterton, Dorothy Sayers, Anthony Berkeley, and Christie herself. What do readers think about contemporary writers' books on "classic" detectives or authors, like Nicola Upson and Josephine Tey (which I haven't read), or Sophie Hannah and Poirot?

[Jill]

Finished The Hermit of Eyton Forest which I enjoyed, and now moving on to the next buddy for March The Grave's a Fine and Private Place by Alan Bradley

[Jan C]

Sarah wrote: "Luckily, I live close to several Little Free Libraries, which regularly have a bunch of tattered old paperback mysteries. Today I picked up "The Geographer's Library," by Jon Fasman, with a strong ..."

There is a LFL near me. I picked up three books once - discovered I already had them all. So I need to take those three back and I think I have at least three more to leave.

[Gary]

Judy wrote: "Looking back at my own brief review of The Silent Speaker, I see I also really enjoyed the interaction between Wolfe and Archie, although I couldn't keep track of the plot very well. Love that series."

Lots of characters to keep track of. A cast of characters at the start would help.
I finished the Perry Mason book. It features the first appearance of Hamilton Burger the new DA.

[Sandy]

Gary wrote: "Judy wrote: "Looking back at my own brief review of The Silent Speaker, I see I also really enjoyed the interaction between Wolfe and Archie, although I couldn't keep track of the plot very well. L..."

Hard to imagine Perry Mason without Hamilton Burger but it's been a long time since I read any Mason.

[Susan in NC]

Jill wrote: "Finished The Hermit of Eyton Forest which I enjoyed, and now moving on to the next buddy for March The Grave's a Fine and Private Place by Alan Bradley"

Looking forward to revisiting this Flavia, it felt like the good old days of the early books! ;)

Still working my way through Eyton Forest with Cadfael, it’s a hopping place with so many characters coming and going…but I love the writing, and any visit to Shrewsbury!

[Jill]

Susan in NC wrote: "Jill wrote: "Finished The Hermit of Eyton Forest which I enjoyed, and now moving on to the next buddy for March The Grave's a Fine and Private Place by [author:Alan Br..."

I enjoyed the Cadfael and really liking the Flavia but can't help worrying about family's future