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

[Judy]

Hope your arm is feeling a bit better and that reading the ebooks isn't too difficult, Sandy.

I've started Half-Mast Murder by Milward Kennedy after noticing it on Kindle Unlimited. I was tempted because he comes up quite a bit in discussions of the Detection Club but I don't think I've read anything by him, except for his chapter of The Floating Admiral. It's a locked room mystery about a man found dead in a summerhouse - quite a country house mystery vibe to it so far, although I'm not very far in as yet.

[Sarah]

I'm fortunate to live near a Little Free Library that has a well stocked, fast turnover of old paperback mysteries. This week I found two that the group has already read: "The Benson Murder Case," by S.S. Van Dine, and Agatha Christie's "The Pale Horse." I've read Christie before, but want to read it again, and feel curious about Van Dine, who got very mixed reviews. A love-it-or-hate-it, amateur detective described on the back cover as "America's answer to Lord Peter Wimsey"!

[Susan in NC]

Just finished Murder on the Caronia by Edward Marston for our upcoming Buddy read, and before that, Slippery Staircase by E.C.R. Lorac. I will start His Burial Too by Catherine Aird tomorrow.

[Jackie]

I'm reading the third in the Decluttering series by Simon Brett Waste of a Life and finding them very different from the one other I've read by him, much less light-hearted. This is neither good nor bad, I enjoy his writing either way.

[Jan C]

Susan in NC wrote: "Just finished Murder on the Caronia by Edward Marston for our upcoming Buddy read, and before that, Slippery Staircase by E.C.R. Lorac.

[Jackie]

I plan to start Murder on the Caronia probably today. well, technically I have already started since I read the first paragraph when I downloaded the library book on my kindle. ;-)

[Sarah]

I posted this in the discussion about the Buddy Read, Cyril Hare's Death Walks the Woods
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...
aka That Yew Tree's Shade, on the topic of title changes by publishers for the UK versus the US
Right now I'm reading a US book publisher's ARC of a Martin Edwards book, "The Puzzle of Blackstone Lodge," part of the Rachel Savernake series, that's already been published in the UK under the title "Blackstone Fell."
I also went online to order "Murder on the Caronia" through Link+, since my library doesn't have a copy but the statewide network does. I can't find any work by E.R. Punshon in any form; I guess he wasn't as popular across the pond.

[Marwan]

Ceremony in Death by J.D. Robb

[Susan in NC]

I enjoyed another visit to Calleshire with Inspector Sloan in His Burial Too, I appreciate the dry humor.

Going to start a reread of The Nine Tailors by Dorothy L. Sayers for our upcoming read, and then Murder of a Lady byAnthony Wynne.

[Susan in NC]

Jackie wrote: "I plan to start Murder on the Caronia probably today. well, technically I have already started since I read the first paragraph when I downloaded the library book on my kindle. ;-)"

I like this series, it’s lighter and more escapist, but since I don’t see a transatlantic cruise in my near future, that’s fine by me! ; )

[Craftyhj]

Susan in NC wrote: "Jackie wrote: "I plan to start Murder on the Caronia probably today. well, technically I have already started since I read the first paragraph when I downloaded the library book on my..."

Im interested to hear a positive review of the series- I read the first in the Railway series and was very disappointed. Perhaps I will have to give one of these a go.

[Susan in NC]

Craftyhj wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "Jackie wrote: "I plan to start Murder on the Caronia probably today. well, technically I have already started since I read the first paragraph when I downloaded th..."

I don’t think I’ve read his Railway Series, but I think I read his medieval Domesday Book series years ago. This ocean liner series is lightweight and fast reading - felt to me like the books improved after the first one. I like having one lighter buddy read series on the go, like this one and the Angela Marchmont and Freddy Pilkington-Soames books, both by Clara Benson, or the Flavia de Luce. I enjoy humor in my mysteries, and nothing too dark or bloody - I can watch the news for that!

[Jill]

Susan in NC wrote: "Craftyhj wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "Jackie wrote: "I plan to start Murder on the Caronia probably today. well, technically I have already started since I read the first paragraph whe..."

I’m like you.I like to have the lighter books between others I have to concentrate on

[Susan in NC]

Amen, sis - got to give our “little grey cells” a break!

[Judy]

Sarah, re E.R. Punshon, if you are happy to read on Kindle, the Dean Street Press site has US and UK links for all his titles.
https://www.deanstreetpress.co.uk/pag...
DSP did also do regular freebies but I think those probably won't continue as they will be closing down following their owner's death though their books will remain available.

[Judy]

P.S. Fascinating about the title changes - it makes things very confusing, and doesn't help when searching for books!

[Sarah]

Thanks, Judy. I just posted a review of Martin Edwards' book on Goodreads, but if you type in the US title "The Puzzle of Blackstone Lodge," you get "no results found." Only by clicking on the UK title "Blackstone Fell" and looking for "other editions" can you find the yet-to-be-published. But it still doesn't appear on "My Books" on the "Read" list!
I did read it as an ebook (not Kindle but Apple), but I much prefer a book in print. I have problems looking a screen for long periods. Obviously I'm a relative dinosaur, but I'll try to increase my ebooks.

[Sarah]

I read about 10 pages of "The Benson Murder Case" by S.S. Van Dine and had to quit, I hated the writing style so much. Ugh. Now I'm re-reading Christie's "The Pale Horse," and it isn't my favorite of her novels, but it's SO much better than the book I decided wasn't worth reading. Anything by Agatha has just gone up in my estimation!

[Geraldine]

I've just started a new-to-me author, Helen Phifer "One Left Alive" enjoying it so far. My aim this year is to read a lot of different authors, I've been stuck in a bit of a rut!

[Susan in NC]

Sarah wrote: "I read about 10 pages of "The Benson Murder Case" by S.S. Van Dine and had to quit, I hated the writing style so much. Ugh. Now I'm re-reading Christie's "The Pale Horse," and it isn't my favorite ..."

Tried Van Dine once a few years ago, I was the same, couldn’t carry on with it! Very much enjoying my The Nine Tailors reread, always one of my favorite Sayers mysteries, it’s been too long!

[Jill]

I am now reading Standing in Another Man's Grave.by Ian Rankin. A favourite author of mine and having read short novella of his, realised how I had missed him

[Alwynne]

I enjoyed Jake Lamar's hard-boiled, noir Viper's Dream although the ending didn't totally work for me it's a fascinating, fast-moving journey through mid-twentieth century Harlem through the seamier side of its developing jazz scene. Likely to appeal to fans of writers like Walter Mosley and Chester Himes.

Link to my review:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Jan C]

I just finished His Burial Too. And started Moray Dalton's The Shadow on the Wall: A Golden Age Mystery from 1922.

[Susan in NC]

Finished “Nine Tailors”, now reading Murder of a Lady by Anthony Wynne.

[Jackie]

I'm finally well into Murder on the Caronia and enjoying it.

[Nicole]

I’m reading “Who speaks for the Damned” by CS Harris

[Jill]

Finished The Conqueror Inn and now starting May's buddy read of Murder of a Lady

[Susan in NC]

Nicole wrote: "I’m reading “Who speaks for the Damned” by CS Harris"

Ooo, on the wait list at my library for the latest one, one of my favorite series!

[Jackie]

I really need to try that series.

[Susan in NC]

Jackie wrote: "I really need to try that series."

It starts out entertaining, but gets even better with each book, I felt!

[Icewineanne]

Started The White Lady by Jacqueline Winspear
Excellent so far 🌱

[Carolien]

I've just finished The Dark Garden, I'm piles behind on our buddy reads. I'm also reading The Kill Fee set in 1920's London.

[Sandy]

Carolien wrote: "I've just finished The Dark Garden, I'm piles behind on our buddy reads. I'm also reading The Kill Fee set in 1920's London."

The Kill Fee is lurking on my kindle, so yet another series I need to try.

[Sandy]

Susan in NC wrote: "Nicole wrote: "I’m reading “Who speaks for the Damned” by CS Harris"

Ooo, on the wait list at my library for the latest one, one of my favorite series!"

My request is 'in transit'. So excited.

[Jill]

Sandy wrote: "Carolien wrote: "I've just finished The Dark Garden, I'm piles behind on our buddy reads. I'm also reading The Kill Fee set in 1920's London."

The Kill Fee is lurki..."

On mine as well, not that I need to start any more series!

[Sandy]

I'm reading Death in the Grand Manor: A Tessa Crichton Mystery, a book I've had on my kindle for 'years'. I was looking for something short and light to intersperse with my non-fiction read, Breathless: The Scientific Race to Defeat a Deadly Virus. Grand Manor fits the bill nicely. The narrator has a dry wit I appreciate. I don't know about the mystery as I am halfway through, and everyone is alive and well. Even the vile character that I assume will not be much longer.

[Susan in NC]

Reading The Iron Hand of Mars by Lindsey Davis, our next buddy read in the Falco series.

[Frances]

I just finished Rivers of London which I loved-modern police procedural with a magical twist-similar to the Bryant and May series, I believe. I'm looking forward to continuing the series.

[Alwynne]

I enjoyed Alice Slater's debut Death of a Bookseller there's an element of Caroline Kepnes in the obsessive Roach but the plot is far more inventive than I'd anticipated, and the style more literary. I also liked the fact that it didn't end in any way that I'd anticipated, and it was far less sour than I'd imagined it might be. Also loved the details around books and bookselling, the slightly grungy feel, although the portrayal of Walthamstow tends towards the generic.

Link to my review:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Jill]

Now started the May Maigret buddy read. I'm sort of putting the Lindsey Davis off a bit as I haven't been too enamoured by the series so far.

[Susan in NC]

]Finished The Iron Hand of Mars, have started our next Shardlake mystery, Dark Fire by C.J. Sansom, and the next in a historical mystery series I’ve followed for years, Heart of the Nile by Will Thomas. Library book, so had to get reading! They are both from the library, actually, but the Thomas book is new, so shorter lending period. The series is set in Victorian London, lighter tone and quicker reading than the Shardlake, but as always, I’m pulled right into the Shardlake!

[Sandy]

I have started The Nine Tailors for our May challenge read. This is at least my third read and this time I'm listening to the audio version, read by Ian Carmichael. He does an excellent job, as one would expect.

I have several library books that have suddenly become available so will need to start on these soon.

[Carolien]

I spent last weekend at the Welsh crime fiction literary festival in Aberystwyth which introduced me to a whole slate of new crime authors (and I got to listen to a few of my existing favourites). It was a lovely weekend, and the Amgueddfa Ceredigion Museum which is an old, opulent cinema was a wonderful venue.

I've read and enjoyed Zoë Sharp, Caro Ramsay and Ben Aaronovitch over the years, so it was interesting to listen to them speak in person.

I've started The Engine House by Rhys Dylan which is a new author to me and I'm really enjoying it so far. Gorgeous setting on the Welsh coast and an interesting cast of characters. Next up is Natural Causes by James Oswald.

I came home with The Unwanted Dead by Chris Lloyd and Shades by Abi Barden aka GB Williams (who was also one of the main organisers of the event). I'm looking forward to reading The Birthday Girl by Sarah Ward, An Honourable Thief by Douglas Skelton and A Bitter Remedy by Alis Hawkins. Next year will apparently be online, but I'm definitely putting the next in-person event in 2025 on my list of things to do.

[Susan in NC]

Carolien wrote: "I spent last weekend at the Welsh crime fiction literary festival in Aberystwyth which introduced me to a whole slate of new crime authors (and I got to listen to a few of my existing favourites). ..."

Wow, sounds like a lovely and productive trip! What a list…off to explore, thanks, Buddy, if you read about a North Carolina woman crushed under a toppled pile of books, you’ll be partly to blame! ;)

[Susan in NC]

The Unwanted Dead sounds really interesting, WWII setting and all (love historical mysteries) - they all do, actually…I will never get to all the books I want to read! God knows there are worse problems to have!

[Carolien]

Susan in NC wrote: "The Unwanted Dead sounds really interesting, WWII setting and all (love historical mysteries) - they all do, actually…I will never get to all the books I want to read! God knows the..."

Sure is a good problem to have I think, hope the pile stays upright!

[Judy]

The festival sounds brilliant, Carolien - I hope you enjoy all the books and authors you have discovered. And, Susan, I know the feeling re that pile of books!!

[Keith]

I have only recently re-read The Nine Taylors so it's a bit soon to do it again yet. I've started on Brother Cadfael with 'A Morbid Taste of Bones',

[Icewineanne]

Carolien wrote: "I spent last weekend at the Welsh crime fiction literary festival in Aberystwyth which introduced me to a whole slate of new crime authors (and I got to listen to a few of my existing favourites). ..."

Fantastic that you were able to attend in person, Carolien!
I participated on line in 2021 & 2022. It was terrific. And a few of the authors offered their ebooks for free, what a bonus.
Bought a few at a great price through book depository, including Alis Hawkins’ None So Blind & Myfanwy Alexander’s Bloody Eisteddfod
Glad to hear that they’ll be holding it on line again next year. I’ll definitely join in again.
Happy reading 📚📚📚

[Susan in NC]

Carolien wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "The Unwanted Dead sounds really interesting, WWII setting and all (love historical mysteries) - they all do, actually…I will never get to all the books I want to..."

Thanks, you too! Glad I was able to find some of these authors on Scribd - one benefit of ebooks, they can’t fall on me…;)