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

[Jan C]

I just finished Death Lights a Candle by Phoebe Atwood Taylor. I received two books this week - The Ghost and the Stolen Tears by Cleo Coyle and Bright Young Dead by Jessica Fellowes, the second in her Mitford Murders series.

I will probably read Crossed Skis next.

[Susan in NC]

I just picked up Murder on Bedford Street the latest in Victoria Thompson’s Gaslight Mystery series. Longtime fan, but skipped the last because the reviews were very “meh”. Hopefully this one will be better!

[Sandy]

Susan in NC wrote: "I just picked up Murder on Bedford Street the latest in Victoria Thompson’s Gaslight Mystery series. Longtime fan, but skipped the last because the reviews were very “meh”. Hopefull..."

I once followed the series avidly but stopped soon after the main characters circumstances changed. (Trying to avoid spoilers.)

[Sandy]

I've started The Last Remains, rumored to be the last, at least for now, of the Ruth Galloway series. Trying to read slowly to savor.

[Susan in NC]

Sandy wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "I just picked up Murder on Bedford Street the latest in Victoria Thompson’s Gaslight Mystery series. Longtime fan, but skipped the last because the reviews were ..."

Gotcha ;)!

[Sarah]

For Susan in NC or any others interested in murder mysteries set in the American South, dealing with racism and the white/black, economic border line: I recently finished Decent People, by De'Shawn Charles Winslow
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...
set in West Mills, NC, in 1976. The story is the exact opposite of "Golden Age Crime," at points almost too painful to read, but a page turner that has you suspended to the edge of your seat.

[Icewineanne]

Enjoying a Library of Congress reprint
A Gentle Murderer by Dorothy Salisbury Davis
Comes with a new intro, bio of the author & very good footnotes as you read along

[Susan in NC]

Sarah wrote: "For Susan in NC or any others interested in murder mysteries set in the American South, dealing with racism and the white/black, economic border line: I recently finished Decent People, by De'Shawn..."

Thanks, Sarah.

[Susan in NC]

I’ve started Crime in Kensington by Christopher St. John Sprigg, our June challenge title.

[Gary]

Just finished The Whispered Word by Ellery Adams the second book in The Secret, Book & Scone Society. I actually won 3 of the books in the series in real book format. I have really enjoyed this series so far.

[Susan in NC]

Going to start next month’s read (reread for me) of The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey. The audiobook from my library came through, I love Derek Jacobi as narrator!

[Susan in NC]

Quick question for our mods: which of our Buddy reads are we doing over the summer? I only ask so I can check my sources for availability, I know we have several series in progress. Thanks!

[Jill]

This takes us through up to August/September
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Susan in NC]

Thanks so much, Jill, don’t know how I missed this, only had May/June! ;)

[Judy]

The poll for July's group read is now open - if you haven't voted, please go along and pick the book you most want to read!
https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/2...

[Jill]

Have finished reading Star Trap by Simon Brett. It has been some years since I read Brett's Charles Paris. The first two I thought were quite good, but wasn't so keen on this one.
Am about to start To Love and Be Wise by Josephine Tey as it seems we had only read the first 3 as a group , and as the next group read is the 5th book I wanted to slip this in first.

[Jill]

I have finished To Love and Be Wise and really enjoyed it, am now starting Crime in Kensington

[Sarah]

I'm just starting Peter Robinson's Standing in the Shadows
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6...
both eagerly, since he's one of my favorite authors, and with a heavy heart, since this will be the last Detective Superintendent Alan Banks novel I'll have the chance to read for the first time.
Thank you, Peter Robinson, for the gift of writing so many glorious mysteries.

[Susan in NC]

I’m reading A Coffin for Dimitrios by Eric Ambler for a book pool in another group. Thought it was a spy thriller (hadn’t read the author before), but now that I’m halfway through, I feel like it’s also a detective story!

[Pamela]

Susan in NC wrote: "I’m reading A Coffin for Dimitrios by Eric Ambler for a book pool in another group. Thought it was a spy thriller (hadn’t r..."

I read that one recently Susan and really enjoyed the mix of mystery and thriller. I like Ambler a lot, he seemed to have a good handle on what was going on in international affairs and could write an exciting story too.

[Susan in NC]

Pamela wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "I’m reading A Coffin for Dimitrios by Eric Ambler for a book pool in another group. Thought it was a sp..."

Yes! I finished last night, and read another review that pointed out what I wanted to say, but much more clearly - that Ambler’s writing was so good, he could slide in and out of genres, delivering and then upsetting our expectations, all while delivering an entertaining read! Plus, reading in his bio that he spent years in Hollywood writing films, I definitely felt that cinematic vibe, I could see the scenes in my mind - the sophisticated, world- and war-weary Europeans, globetrotting (as with Latimer) to relieve ennui or look for a new book plot, or as with Dimitrios and his ilk, desperate and willing to do anything to survive. Fascinating experiences - I want to read more! I’d be curious to compare his pre-WWII books to those written after the war (as Cold War sets in).

[Susan in NC]

I’ve got the next in the St. Cyr series at my library to pick up, hoping to start Who Cries for the Lost by C.S. Harris soon.

[Pamela]

Susan in NC wrote: "Pamela wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "I’m reading A Coffin for Dimitrios by Eric Ambler for a book pool in another group. Thou..."

I agree, I’ve only read ones from the 30s and 40s, but I have several from the 50s so I must get round to those.

[Sandy]

Susan in NC wrote: "I’ve got the next in the St. Cyr series at my library to pick up, hoping to start Who Cries for the Lost by C.S. Harris soon."

Enjoy!!

[Keith]

I'm reading the 'Deadly' series of 9 books by Kate Parker. Started off quite well but is starting to get a bit boring, set in the late 1930s the stories are getting more and more 'contrived', as I have all 9 I suppose I had better persevere to the end but the quality of her writing is not too good, compared with the other greats

[Sandy]

Keith wrote: "I'm reading the 'Deadly' series of 9 books by Kate Parker. Started off quite well but is starting to get a bit boring, set in the late 1930s the stories are getting more and more 'contrived', as I ..."

You're a better person than I if you can persist through nine books that are only so-so. I always find too many others I'm eager to read and I value my time over the money spent. Good luck and I hope they pick up.

[Keith]

You could be right Susan! I'll get to the end of No 4, it's only another couple of hours reading, and see how I feel. I still have Ngaio Marsh which will be a reread, I used to have a hard copy but had to sell a large number of 'real' books when I moved to a smaller home - thank goodness for Kindle!!!!
About 6 weeks or so ago I had a cataract operation which has made life a lot easier. Previously I had to increase the font in the Kindle so I could read but now things are back to normal. The idea of the op under a local anaesthetic was rather scary but the experience was a breeze! It was like looking up at the surface of a pond, all white and what were like wind ripples on the surface. It took about 20 minutes.

[Icewineanne]

Keith wrote: "You could be right Susan! I'll get to the end of No 4, it's only another couple of hours reading, and see how I feel. I still have Ngaio Marsh which will be a reread, I used to have a hard copy but..."

Glad the surgery was quick & painless Keith. And that your vision is much clearer.
Cheers & Happy Reading! 📚📚📚

[Jan C]

Finished my re-read of Green for Danger early this morning. I did remember much of it.

[Sarah]

Relieved to hear your surgery went well, Keith. I look forward to hearing your comments on Ngaio Marsh's book, especially since I think you live in NZ, and we both voted for it in the poll! This will be a re-read for me, too, but it's been a long time, so it's almost like opening a new book, just with well known characters.

[Keith]

Yes I am in NZ. Look at a map of the North Island. In the centre is a large lake shaped like Africa. That is Lake Taupo, the caldera of a very large volcano. I live in Taupo which is where the Waikato River leaves the lake at its Northeast corner.
Taupo is short for 'Taupo-Nui-A-Tia', Maori for 'The Great Cloak of Tia' He was the first person to discover the lake and the blue water with the light pumice shoreline reminded him of his blue feather cloak with its light coloured fringing. Ngaio Marsh was also a Kiwi.

[Jill]

Finished The Daughter of Time which was not really a book for me having read the author’s previous books, and am now starting A Case of Suicide in St. James's by Clara Benson hoping for some humour in this one.

[Marwan]

Started reading The danger by Dick Francis

[Susan in NC]

Keith wrote: "You could be right Susan! I'll get to the end of No 4, it's only another couple of hours reading, and see how I feel. I still have Ngaio Marsh which will be a reread, I used to have a hard copy but..."

So glad you were able to get that done successfully and easily, I imagine for such a passionate reader that was awful, not to mention lots of other less entertaining activities of daily life - like driving! Glad you are back to enjoying reading- no big deal about blowing up those kindle fonts, I think we all do that. I just checked out our next Cadfael to read, and my city library only had the large print book available - that will be a treat! ;)

[Jan C]

Finished The Evil That Men Do by Hugh Pentecost. Takes place in a New York hotel. Haven't decided if I will continue with the series or not. It was okay just not really anything to write home about.

[Keith]

In my Calibre I have some 4500 books ready to load on to the Kindle, including all (I think) Christie, the whole Cadfael series as well as several others. I now have 2 Kindles, a 10 yr old PW1 (Kindle 5) and the latest Kindle 11 which will, I think, see me alright for a few days.
I read for 2 to 3 hours most days (there's nothing much on our TV) so consume books fairly quickly and enjoy rereading favourites like Dorothy Sayers. I do get a bit bored with Christie, her characters stay cardboard cutouts although her plots are great.

[Susan in NC]

Keith wrote: "In my Calibre I have some 4500 books ready to load on to the Kindle, including all (I think) Christie, the whole Cadfael series as well as several others. I now have 2 Kindles, a 10 yr old PW1 (Kin..."

I read hours every day, also, Keith - I get lots of recommendations From family and friends on streaming shows to watch, but mostly prefer nature, science, history (like Lucy Worsley) or cooking shows. Also, I’ll pop in my DVD collections of Miss Marple, EF Benson’s Mapp & Lucia, Lord Peter mysteries, and I was able to find David Suchet’s Poirot episodes on YouTube. Also, Fry & Laurie’s “Jeeves and Wooster” episodes- I like the old stuff!

Finished Who Cries for the Lost by C.S. Harris, amazing as always. Don’t know how she does it, tense exciting murder mystery, with such an authentic, fascinating historical setting (Regency London), every time. Already looking forward to the next book!

[Susan in NC]

Speaking of great historical mystery series, I also have checked out from my library, our next in the Brother Cadfael series ( The Confession of Brother Haluin) and our next in the Brunetti series (Death and Judgment ).

I’ve also started listening to next Freddy Pilkington-Soames for light relief-A Case of Suicide in St. James's by Clara Benson. I’m listening on scribd, which has been very glitchy, so I hope I can finish it. I’ve had to cancel, actually, as they no longer support the operating system on my iPad , I’ve been told - but buyer beware, I already renewed annual subscription, so I’m stuck! I’ll use it as I can, but it tends to suddenly knock me out of the app, and books suddenly become unavailable for weeks, even if you’ve saved them.

[Jill]

C S Harris is another author I mean to try

[Keith]

Unfortunatel when my son Cameron and I moved into a new home recently, our TC got broken so we are without that for a while,.
I am fortunate with the library I have on Calibre, As well as all Christie, I have Dick Francis, Cadfael, Richard Sharpe, Aubrey/Marurin, Amelia Peabody just for starters.
I'm just starting on 'Death in a White Tie'. I persevered with the 'Deadly' series which proved somewhat up and down, Like the curate's egg, parts were excellent! I still have No 9, 'Deadly Rescue' to read.
Here it is late autumn and cooling off, there is snow on Mt Ruapehu already.

[Keith]

For TC, read Television!

[Susan in NC]

Jill wrote: "C S Harris is another author I mean to try"

Highly recommended, if you do try, I hope you enjoy.

[Susan in NC]

Keith wrote: "Unfortunatel when my son Cameron and I moved into a new home recently, our TC got broken so we are without that for a while,.
I am fortunate with the library I have on Calibre, As well as all Chris..."

Perfect reading weather!

[Sarah]

Apologies it's taken me so long to reply. First to Keith: thank you for a more complete description of Lake Taupo and its history. I've seen a few mysteries set in NZ: "The Brokenwood Mysteries," of course, as well as "One Lane Bridge," and loved them both. Gorgeous scenery, but I had no idea of geography until I looked more closely at the North Island in relation to the country as a whole.
Unfortunately, I'm in a definite minority when it comes to reading format. I'm due to have my third brain tumor excised soon, and with previous scar tissue in the left temporal-parietal region, the area responsible for language, I have a heard time reading on screen or listening to books on tape. I read books in print very quickly, but have to limit my screen time more and more, which is a nuisance.
Library trip this afternoon to pick up Donna Leon. I had to request Ngaio Marsh from another library, but it should arrive soon.
I finished Josephine Tey last night and when my brain comes back on line, I'll write a few lines.
Thanks to all for your comments!

[Keith]

More lessons for you. caldera is the chamber inside a volcano which contains the magma erupted during an eruption and can collapse on itself after a big eruption. That is what happened about 25000 years ago in NZ, The Taupo volcano is still 'active', deep in the lake is a lot of hot water and one day it will erupt again, It last erupted in 186AD and there are both Roman and Chinese records of it, quite fantastically coloured sunsets. This was long before humans arrived here, 1300AD plus or minus about 10 years although previous Polynesian explorers had found the islands earlier but left no traces so the new settlers knew where they were coming to. The earliest settlement is at the mouth of the Wairau River at the NE corner of the South Island.. There is a sloping boulder bank, ideal for multihulled voyaging waka (canoes) to run ashore.

[Susan in NC]

Sarah wrote: "Apologies it's taken me so long to reply. First to Keith: thank you for a more complete description of Lake Taupo and its history. I've seen a few mysteries set in NZ: "The Brokenwood Mysteries," o..."

Enjoy your books in whatever format works for you, and best wishes for a successful procedure and swift recovery!

[Susan in NC]

Keith wrote: "More lessons for you. caldera is the chamber inside a volcano which contains the magma erupted during an eruption and can collapse on itself after a big eruption. That is what happened about 25000 ..."

I can see why you love your adopted land - fascinating natural history and beauty.

[Carolien]

I've binge read my way through a few mysteries recently. Exit by Belinda Bauer is excellent, I highly recommend it to any fans of Richard Osman's Thursday Murder Club. A really interesting premise for the plot and a lovely cast of characters.

Caution Death At Work the second of the Evan Warlow series has a tighter plotline than The Engine House and still set in the beautiful Welsh countryside. It has the feel of a Golden Age mystery as the author is scrupulous in providing enough information to the reader to figure it out and I thoroughly enjoy the sarcastic humour of Evan Warlow.

I love the Karl Arlberg series and Fall from Grace is another interesting instalment. I enjoy how she writes the stories from multiple points of view and, as in the first book, you meet the murderer early on and know that the circumstances are complicated.

I also finished Exiles, the third in the Aaron Falk series. I suspect it will be the final one in a trilogy, but hope not. If made to choose, I'll put The Dry as the strongest in the trilogy, but they have all been excellent.

I caught up with the Slough House series by finishing Bad Actors. I've been struggling with what the doctor informed me two weeks ago is a "post-viral cough which will go away eventually" (it's still here) and laughing is definitely not good for me, so my husband became quite concerned while I was reading this. I had just finished Chums: How A Tiny Caste of Oxford Tories Took Over The UK which added to my appreciation.

In between I managed to finish The Kill Fee which is a very interesting period of history and our buddy read of His Burial Too.

I'm currently reading Mykonos After Midnight and will start Crime in Kensington next.

[Sandy]

Thank you for all the interesting recommendations. I expect to add a couple to my TBR list.

[Kirsten]

I've been a reading a legal mystery/thriller called A Game of Proof