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

[Susan in NC]

Hoping to pick up The Lady from Burma by Allison Montclair from my library and start soon. It’s a modern series, but set in London immediately after WWII.

[Susan in NC]

Dee❤️ wrote: "I am Reading Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie"

Funny you mention this one, I have a used copy and I’m not sure I ever read this one! As Christie fans know, finding a new mystery is not so easy, so I may give it a go before I start my annual holiday rereads (starting with )! I saw a commercial for the upcoming Branagh Poirot movie, had to google to see which book it was based on - I didn’t recall Poirot ever going to Venice! Definitely a plot stretch…

Btw, have I missed the poll for our November read? Sorry, mods, wasn’t sure where to ask!

[Keith]

I too am enjoying the Pargeter series. I am though, interspersing them with other books as well, Patricia Wentworh's 'MIss Silver' and more Sayers' 'Peter Wimsey/Harriet Vane' to whom I keep returning.

[Judy]

Susan, no I haven't put up the poll yet, sorry, time seems to be running away with me this month! I will put it up tomorrow.

[Susan in NC]

Judy wrote: "Susan, no I haven't put up the poll yet, sorry, time seems to be running away with me this month! I will put it up tomorrow."

Thanks Judy, no rush, I was afraid I missed it!

Rereading an old favorite, The Luck Runs Out by Charlotte MacLeod. Perfect for knitting along to, I know whodunnit, can just enjoy the humor!

[Jackie]

Frances wrote: "As I am traveling in Scotland I’ve just finished Ian rankin’s Strip Jack while I’m in Edinburgh and started Anne Cleeve’s White Nights before I head up to the Shetlands."

I love that idea, good for you!

[Susan in NC]

Jackie wrote: "Frances wrote: "As I am traveling in Scotland I’ve just finished Ian rankin’s Strip Jack while I’m in Edinburgh and started Anne Cleeve’s White Nights before I head up to the Shetlands."

I love th..."

Thanks - when you’re feeling a bit “meh” about everything, a good old favorite book or movie can perk you up a bit! ;)

[Judy]

The poll for our November group read is now open and tricky as ever to choose - so please cast your votes:
https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/2...

[Kirsten]

I'm reading Freezing by Clea Koff. A good start, the author is a forensic anthropologist who worked in Bosnia identifying victims of the ethnic cleansing there.

[Judy]

I really liked Accident by Design by E.C.R. Lorac - one of the best I've read by Lorac. I've now started our forthcoming buddy read Sovereign and am looking forward to becoming engrossed in this one too.

[Sandy]

I am deep into the world of Shardlake and Henry VIII's 'progress'.

[LovesMysteries]

Reading a few short stories from Agatha Christie's collection The Underdog and Other Stories. The few that I'm reading are The Plymouth Express, The King of Clubs, The Affair at the Victory Ball, and The Cornish Mystery.

[Jill]

I am about to start Shroud of Darkness E.C.R. Lorac. Looking forward to it.

[Craftyhj]

I am 2/3rds of the way through the third Inspector Mallett book, Suicide Excepted by Cyril Hare.

Mallett is taking his time to appear properly in this one and it is not as good as a result. I think there are a couple more twists and turns to come before the reveal.

[Fred]

Reading "The Player on the Other Side" by Ellery Queen on kindle, but actually written by science fiction author Theodore Sturgeon.
Before that read "The People of Darkness" by Tony Hillerman which is the basis of the latest "Dark Winds" series on AMC. Reading shorter books in September as part of a challenge by Criminolly on Youtube.

[Jackie]

I just started The Cape Cod Mystery and it looks to be a fun, light-weight read.

[Susan in NC]

I’m starting Shroud of Darkness by E.C.R. Lorac for our October challenge.

[Wendy]

I've been in a bit of a reading slump so far this year so I thought starting a new series might be just what I need. I'm currently reading Old Bones and am really enjoying it!

[Kajehas]

Wendy wrote: "I've been in a bit of a reading slump so far this year so I thought starting a new series might be just what I need. I'm currently reading Old Bones and am really enjoying it!"
I read that book, and followed up by reading the rest of the Nora Kelly books and all of the Agent Pendergast books and I just finished the most recent Gideon Crew book.

Now I have to wait for the authors to finish their next book.

[Craftyhj]

I am continuing on through my Inspector Alleyn journey with Death in Ecstasy

[Susan in NC]

I wanted something light, started listening to our next Freddy Pilkington-Soames, A Case of Robbery on the Riviera by Clara Benson. Always light, funny and entertaining, perfect to knit by (knit to?). ;)

[Jill]

I am now about to start Death at Bishop's Keep by Robin Paige Haven't read any books by this couple before

[Sandy]

It is one of those times when many of my requests become available at the same time. I have a physical copy of The Sunset Years of Agnes Sharp, with an audio back up. This is by the same author as Three Bags Full, where the sheep are the detectives. On kindle I could have The Last Devil to Die, also with an audio backup. I may postpone this so I won't confuse the two sets of quirky elders. On its way is the latest Mick Herron. I will be starting a physical book tonight and save the kindle for the week-end when I will away. An abundance of riches.

[Susan in NC]

Sandy wrote: "It is one of those times when many of my requests become available at the same time. I have a physical copy of The Sunset Years of Agnes Sharp, with an audio back up. This is by th..."

A delightful problem to have! I have to wait a few days for Acqua Alta as an audiobook to become available through my library or on scribd. I’ve got a used paperback of the book. That will be my next mystery read.

[Jill]

I have now started Seven Dead by J. Jefferson Farjeon. Has started well, with quite a puzzle.

[Keith]

After a couple of 'Miss Silvers', 'The Benevent Treasure' and 'Death at Deep End' I've returned to Ngaio Marsh's 'False Scent'., a much easier read than our Patricia who spends ages sort of setting the scene.

I am reading only on Kindle at present, much more convenient than a 'real' book, I have little room for storage in my new home although I have been able to keep my reference books and a few others such as Jean Auel's 'Clan of the Cave Bear' series which I intend to reread before too long.

[Sandy]

I have finished The Sunset Years of Agnes Sharp and recommend it highly as a fun read, though with dark overtones of ageing. The characters are all interesting, including a tortoise. The plot is not realistic but plausible enough to hold my interest.

I have postponed the library's delivery of The Last Devil to Die as I could completely confuse the two sets of elderly detectives.

[Susan in NC]

Sandy wrote: "I have finished The Sunset Years of Agnes Sharp and recommend it highly as a fun read, though with dark overtones of ageing. The characters are all interesting, including a tortois..."

Lol, good point - I try not to start two or three similar books at one time, for the same reason…I’ve got a nonfiction book on the go, but started Acqua Alta by Donna Leon last night.

[Sarah]

I'm waiting for my library to find Acqua Alta. I KNOW they have it, since I borrowed it years ago, but the computer system says it doesn't. Using Link+, a program that searches libraries all over California, says it does. I've ordered the book through Link+ and hope Berkeley requests from another city, if it can't find it here at home. In the meantime, I'm reading something completely different, which I also read ages ago: Ian Rankin's "Hide and Seek," the second in the Rebus series.

[Judy]

Hope the library finds the book, Sarah.

[Sarah]

Thanks, Judy. My local library is usually more reliable than this, a great source of books, with great staff and resources. A good friend is a professional public librarian, and times are getting tougher, with budget constraints and, even worse, growing verbal and physical abuse against library employees. Very sad.
I finished Ian Rankin's book, and found Richard Osman's latest in his Thursday Murder Club Mystery series today in the Little Free Library around the corner. I think they are published in the US a bit after they appear in the UK, and they're not great, but I need something light. I have "Green for Danger," but I'll wait until the group discussion starts. Thanks again.

[Susan in NC]

I love the Thursday Murder Club books, I think they’re very fun and entertaining! Enjoy, Sarah, and I hope your library finds Acqua Alta for you.

I read the first couple chapters of Seven Dead by J. Jefferson Farjeon last night, I’ll read on. I’ve tried this author a couple times with other titles, and the books were DNFs for me. This book seems intriguing and entertaining so far, I’ll see how it goes!

[Keith]

I tried 'Seven Dead' too and found it hard to finish. Certainly no pleasure, just a job that had to be completed, Really, for me, it was a waste of time. Right now I'm reading Ngaio Marsh's 'Death at the Bar' Quite intriguing, Alleyn and Fox have just arrived on site, I have some washing etc to do before I get back to the book. There is no such thing as 'women's work'. is there? If I don't do it, it doesn't get done.

[Susan in NC]

Keith wrote: "I tried 'Seven Dead' too and found it hard to finish. Certainly no pleasure, just a job that had to be completed, Really, for me, it was a waste of time. Right now I'm reading Ngaio Marsh's 'Death ..."

Lol, very true! May your household chores go quickly, so you can return to reading.

If I’m able to find the book chosen for the month, I like to at least give it a try. I was a little discouraged by the GR reviews, but I’ll read on, between our next Brunetti and my current nonfiction book.

[Jill]

Finished Seven Dead. Rather far fetched, but plenty of action.
Now started A Case of Robbery on the Riviera

[Susan in NC]

Ugh, I couldn’t finish - got halfway through, realized that was a couple hours reading time I’d never get back, went back to Acqua Alta. Gave it one star so I don’t accidentally ever try another of his books -third time was definitely not a charm for me!

Cleanse your palate with Freddy, his nonsense is entertaining! I really enjoyed this one, felt like our star reporter comes into his own.

[Sandy]

Oh dear! No longer looking forward to Seven Dead but will give it a try.

[Susan in NC]

Sandy wrote: "Oh dear! No longer looking forward to Seven Dead but will give it a try."

You may enjoy it, sometimes it’s a matter of right book, right time, but I’ve tried this author three times, three books, that’s a fair shake! We all like different things, you never know when another reader’s recommendation will strike your fancy, I’ve found some fun new authors that way! ;o)

[Sandy]

/?Susan in NC wrote: "Sandy wrote: "Oh dear! No longer looking forward to Seven Dead but will give it a try."

You may enjoy it, sometimes it’s a matter of right book, right time, but I’ve tried this author three times,..."

Susan, do you have a new picture, and thus a new pet?

[Susan in NC]

I do, that is Daisy, we adopted her from SPCA at the end of July!

[Gary]

Currently reading/listening to The Murder of Roger Ackroyd. Amazingly this is the first time I have read this book. How did I miss this in the 1970s and 1980s when I was cutting through my paperback copies of Christie, Stout, Gardner, and Queen.

[Judy]

Daisy is lovely, Susan!

I'm listening to Seven Dead on Audible, read by David Thorpe who I think reads very well, and enjoying it so far although I'm not all that far in as yet.

I also recently read Inspector French: Fear Comes to Chalfont by Freeman Wills Crofts, which I found a great read - I really like most of the books by Crofts that I've read so far.

[Sarah]

Daisy looks like a yellow Labrador. I love labs, I think because I grew up next door to a black lab. Looking at group members' monikers, or whatever they're called, I think I need to add a picture to my name. My beloved gone but never forgotten GSD (Alsatian) or The Hoo (NOT The Who), Tabby of All Time, or the current Guardian of the Domain, Fourier, aka le chat Fou? He originally came from Florida, rescued from one of the hurricanes, flown to CA, with a genetic disease requiring three eye surgeries, surgery on his gums, and months of sitting in a shelter, finally marked for "euthanasia." A rescue society saved him, and I saw him online, adopting him with the agreement he would have another surgery, removing all his teeth, and remain an indoor, only cat, since his "body language" gives other felines the wrong signals, making him a target for attack. He is a very handsome tuxedo cat, but came with the name "Yogurt." Who names a black and white cat "Yogurt'? As T.S. Eliot said, "The naming of cats is a difficult matter/It isn't just one of your holiday games." Fou loves mysteries: sometimes it's very hard to find him, even when I look in his usual places. Closets have presented mysteries of the locked room genre. It's also a mystery to me why he likes certain canned food, then decides it's inedible after a while, but remains constantly loyal to the dry food, which is ultimately bad for his health. Like all that smoking and drinking in Golden Age mysteries.

[Keith]

I rather doubt that Golden Age Mysteries are bad for your health. They are (usually) entertaining which is good for your mental wellbeing, exercise your mind which helps deter dementia and reading is good exercise for your eye muscles.

I said 'usually' entertaining because it is fairly recently I had to wade through 'Seven Dead', which I suppose is probably a good discipline and exercise in perseverance.

[Susan in NC]

Gary wrote: "Currently reading/listening to The Murder of Roger Ackroyd. Amazingly this is the first time I have read this book. How did I miss this in the 1970s and 1980s when I was cutting thr..."

I don’t think I’ve read that, either, i don’t know how I missed it, thanks for the reminder!

[Susan in NC]

Judy wrote: "Daisy is lovely, Susan!

I'm listening to Seven Dead on Audible, read by David Thorpe who I think reads very well, and enjoying it so far although I'm not all that far in as yet.

..."

Thank you, she’s a little love - apparently a terrier mix, but we have no idea what the rest of the mix is!

I like Crofts and Inspector French as well. Lorac is still my absolute favorite “new to me” GA author, but this delightful group has introduced me to several good new authors.

I’ve had David Thorpe narrating for several mysteries, he is good.

[Susan in NC]

Sarah wrote: "Daisy looks like a yellow Labrador. I love labs, I think because I grew up next door to a black lab. Looking at group members' monikers, or whatever they're called, I think I need to add a picture ..."

Lol, Fou is stunning, but the same as several rescue dogs we’ve had - liking the food that is not healthy for them! I think we humans can relate…;o)

[Craftyhj]

Gary wrote: "Currently reading/listening to The Murder of Roger Ackroyd. Amazingly this is the first time I have read this book. How did I miss this in the 1970s and 1980s when I was cutting thr..."

this one of Christie's very best I think.

[Sandy]

Unlike many, I am quite liking Seven Dead, perhaps more as an adventure story than a GA mystery.

[Susan in NC]

Craftyhj wrote: "Gary wrote: "Currently reading/listening to The Murder of Roger Ackroyd. Amazingly this is the first time I have read this book. How did I miss this in the 1970s and 1980s when I wa..."

I’ve always read that it was, that’s why I want to read it now.