What mysteries are you reading at the moment? (2024-2025) Showing 601-650 of 1,020

[Jill]

Now reading Reconstruction by Mick Herron

[Judy]

I'm reading The Progress of a Crime by Julian Symons, a seasonal read as it starts with a murder on Guy Fawkes Night. It's a British Library reprint of a book that was first published in 1960, and follows police and newspaper reporters. It's slightly grim, involving gang violence, but good so far - I think he was a really good writer.

[Jackie]

I have started Clouds of Witness and am reading a chapter, and then listening to the audio book chapter.

[Sandy]

Never sure whether these are really mysteries, but I am reading / listening to A Song of Comfortable Chairs, from the #1 Ladies series. My sister buys the paperback copy of each book as the newer hardback is released. She then gives it to me for my birthday, after she and her friends have read it. I am expecting a paperback soon and haven't read the last one.

I have our mid-months read from the library and am ready to start those next.

[Judy]

I've started 2 of our forthcoming buddy reads, the Michael Innes short story collection 'Appleby Talks' and the Brother Cadfael book 'The Holy Thief'. Not very far in as yet, but enjoying them so far.

I found The Progress of a Crime by Julian Symons rather grim overall although I do like his writing style.

[Susan in NC]

I’m starting Partners in Crime by Agatha Christie for our upcoming buddy read.

[Jackie]

Susan in NC wrote: "I’m starting Partners in Crime by Agatha Christie for our upcoming buddy read."

I got both the ebook and the audio book of this one and will start as soon as I'm done with Clouds of Witness.

[Mbuye]

I am new here, but most of the books mentioned here are familiar to me. I'm exploring vintage crime novels, the latest one I have is ECR Lorac's 'Rope's End, Rogue's End.' I hope that doesn't disturb the reading goals of others, but at the end of the year, I allow myself a lot of latitude. 😊

[Susan in NC]

Me, too! It’s fun to read whatever strikes my fancy and revisit old favorites with a holiday theme.

[Alwynne]

I finished a vintage Japanese crime novel by Tetsuya Akuyawa The Black Swan Mystery a gripping blend of puzzle-style mystery and surprisingly sensitive social commentary - particularly good on the lingering aftermath of war, gender and 1950s Japan, would love to read more in this ongoing detective series.

Link to my review:

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

[Jan C]

I started Last Respects by Catherine Aird. So far so good.

[Sandy]

Something I will be reading at a future moment: Mr Campion's Christmas. I hadn't known the series was continued but saw this as a new release and put in a request with my library. The kindle is $25 in the US! More than a hardback!

[Judy]

Sandy wrote: "Something I will be reading at a future moment: Mr Campion's Christmas. ..."

I'll be interested to hear what you think of that one, Sandy - I have often wondered about the Mike Ripley Campion continuations, but haven't tried one as yet. Good idea to get it from the library, especially given the Kindle price. :)

[Sandy]

Judy wrote: "Sandy wrote: "Something I will be reading at a future moment: Mr Campion's Christmas. ..."

I'll be interested to hear what you think of that one, Sandy - I have often wondered abo..."

The library is always my first choice.

[Louise]

At the moment I am working my way through the Peter Diamond series by Peter Lovesey, set in Bath. Currently on No.11, Stagestruck. It’s an enjoyable fairly light series featuring a gruff middle aged police detective and lots of detail about places in Bath and the surrounding area. My favourite one so far is no.6 The Vault,which features some possibly authentic drawings by William Blake, a missing writing desk that belonged to Mary Shelly, and mysterious bones found in the cellars under the Roman Baths. All the books are full of interesting details of this kind. If you haven’t been to Bath, the series will probably make you want to go there.

[Sandy]

Louise wrote: "At the moment I am working my way through the Peter Diamond series by Peter Lovesey, set in Bath. Currently on No.11, Stagestruck. It’s an enjoyable fairly light series featuring a gruff middle age..."

A series that I have wanted to read for a while. Didn't know it was set in Bath. I visited 2 - 3 times as a friend once lived there, and I recommend it highly. She had an apartment high over the city and we saw a balloons once.

[Susan in NC]

Louise wrote: "At the moment I am working my way through the Peter Diamond series by Peter Lovesey, set in Bath. Currently on No.11, Stagestruck. It’s an enjoyable fairly light series featuring a gruff middle age..."

I read the first in the series, definitely want to get back to it - I’ve never been to Bath, but I’d love to continue the series and learn more!

[Susan in NC]

I’ve just started a reread of Who Killed the Curate? for this group in December and another group where it’s in a book pool. Just started last night, and the frothy rather silly tone with the rather flaky Lady Lupin suits me right now ;o)

[Jan C]

Louise wrote: "At the moment I am working my way through the Peter Diamond series by Peter Lovesey, set in Bath. Currently on No.11, Stagestruck. It’s an enjoyable fairly light series featuring a gruff middle age..."

I think the last one I read was #4 Bloodhounds. Kind of an homage to John Dickson Carr, I thought.

[Jackie]

Susan in NC wrote: "I’ve just started a reread of Who Killed the Curate? for this group in December and another group where it’s in a book pool. Just started last night, and the frothy rather silly tone..."

I very much want to read further adventures of Lady Lupin despite them not being available at my library. I see amazon has #4 in the series for $5 on kindle and I'm leaning towards getting it. #2 is going to be available but not willing to pay $16+ and #3 not available.

[Susan in NC]

Jackie wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "I’ve just started a reread of Who Killed the Curate? for this group in December and another group where it’s in a book pool. Just started last night, and the frot..."

Oh, wow, I didn’t know there were that many, I thought there were just two! Thanks.

[Judy]

I've started reading The Secret Place by Tana French, which is a book club choice for the Shedunnit podcast and sounded interesting - I think a boarding school setting often works well in crime fiction.

But although I like the writing style, I've realised that it is very long, more than 500 pages in paperback! (I'm reading on Kindle so hadn't immediately spotted the length.) It's also number 5 in the Dublin Murder Squad series but I'm trying not to worry about that too much, especially as there is a different lead detective in each book.

[Sandy]

Judy wrote: "I've started reading The Secret Place by Tana French, which is a book club choice for the Shedunnit podcast and sounded interesting - I think a boarding school setti..."

Tana French is another author I mean to try sometime. Unfortunately it is a long list.

[Susan in NC]

Hear, hear!

[Sandy]

My next two reads will be new books as a couple of my library requests are available. What Time the Sexton's Spade Doth Rust, a new Flavia De Luce after several years, and The Grey Wolf, the latest Inspector Gamache.

Looking forward to both!

[Sandy]

An addition to my list: The Mistletoe Mystery, a novella and next in the series. Requests always seem to become available at the same time.

[Judy]

I've started our next group read, Impact of Evidence and am enjoying it so far. Just a reminder that there are editions of this available under both the ECR Lorac and Carol Carnac names.

[Judy]

I really liked Impact of Evidence but am not really enjoying The Secret Place by Tana French. I'm about halfway but think I will just skim through to the end. I feel it's too slow and repetitive with unbelievable characters, a shame as I liked the start.

[Sandy]

Judy wrote: "I really liked Impact of Evidence but am not really enjoying The Secret Place by Tana French. I'm about halfway but think I will just skim through to the end. I feel it's too slow and repetitive wi..."

Maybe my list of 'authors to try' has gotten shorter or at least rearranged.

[Kirsten]

Ray wrote: "Broken monsters by Lauren Beukes. I’m still on page 52. And I’m not very used to reading modern thriller/mystery I prefer 20s-50s but i though to give it a go. Hopefully it turns out good"

I've loved both the books by Lauren Beukes I've read.

[Judy]

Sandy wrote: "Judy wrote: "I ... am not really enjoying The Secret Place by Tana French. I'm about halfway but think I will just skim through to the end. I feel it's too slow and repetitive wi..." Maybe my list of 'authors to try' has gotten shorter or at least rearranged. "

I know a lot of people really like her, and this book won awards, so you might think differently. But I have to say there are a lot of repetitive conversations involving teenage slang, swearing etc - I also don't think all teenagers talk in this same way, saying things like "Totes amazeballs". Oh well, I'll stop moaning now! Good to have given a different author a try, anyway.

[Judy]

I've just finished one of our forthcoming buddy reads, Last Respects by Catherine Aird, which I thought starts quite slowly but then becomes more gripping. Just wanted to mention that it's included in The Calleshire Chronicles Volume Four: Last Respects, Harm's Way, and A Dead Liberty - a reminder for anyone who bought this collection when it was on a special offer! I did but nearly forgot I'd got it ;)

[Judy]

The poll for our February group read is up - it's another chance to vote for runners-up from our polls over the past year!

Please cast your votes here:
https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/3...-

[Sandy]

CrimeReads has a short article by Martin Edwards on The Theft of the Iron Dogs: A Lancashire Mystery, mentioning Lorac's love of the countryside.

https://crimereads.com/martin-edwards...

P.S. I'm finding this CrimeReads site harder and more annoying to navigate with ads popping up where they not wanted.

[Susan in NC]

Recently started Last Respects our next Aird buddy read.

[Judy]

Thanks for the Lorac article, Sandy. Very interesting but I see what you mean about pop-up ads on the CrimeReads site!

[Sandy]

Finished The Grey Wolf and loved it with reservations. Really can't say too much without getting into spoilers. Very intricate plot.

Pondering my next read: the Lorac that is already late and I own, or one of a variety of Christmas reads that I have out of the library. One of these fulfills a 2024 'requirement' in another group. Note that our buddy reads are not mentioned though I also have these out of the library. I got a bit carried away!

[Sandy]

I finished two books recently (pressure!). Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret, third in a series and really a novella. This is a series where the author talks to the reader, gives away future plot points (though not always fulfilled in the way one expects) and promises to follow the rules of GA mysteries. Quirky and amusing.

Then, Mr Campion's Christmas, a continuation of the Allingham series. This is the 12th continuation and, according to the author's note at the end, the last. Oddly, he mentions setting them in the 1960's and 70's but this one is set in 1962. It is more of a spy thriller than a murder mystery, but Campion had secret service connections. Lugg, Amanda and son Rupert are all present. I am tempted to add Ripley's books to my long list of TBR's.

[Jackie]

That sounds good, I should check out the series. Thanks, Sandy.

[Sandy]

I finished a short story collection, Christmas Crimes at the Mysterious Bookshop. Although I don't usually enjoy short stories as much as full length books, I found this to be an excellent collection. While there is always a variation in quality, I found no disasters and many memorable reads. Very glad I included it with my holiday reads.

[Susan in NC]

Finished and enjoyed Last Respects, now enjoying relistening for the umpteenth time to Rest You Merry , an old favorite! Perfect for knitting along…next up will be Murder for Christmas by Francis Duncan for another group.

[Judy]

Lots of us have loads to read and do at the moment... but just a reminder that our latest batch of buddy reads are now open! If you have time to join in now, great, but, if not, the threads will stay open for if and when you do want to jump in. :)

Here are links to the non-spoiler threads:

A Shilling for Candles by Josephine Tey:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

The Immaculate Deception by Iain Pears:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

The Locked Room by Maj Sjöwall and Per Wahlöö (Martin Beck series):
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Last Respects by Catherine Aird (Sloan and Crosby series)
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

The Golden Dagger by E R Punshon (Bobby Owen series)
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Susan in NC]

Thanks for the reminder, Judy!

[Sandy]

I've started one of my library Christmas books, The Santa Klaus Murder. Golden age and common set up: family gathers for the holiday and someone murders the patriarch.

[Judy]

Sandy wrote: "I've started one of my library Christmas books, The Santa Klaus Murder. Golden age and common set up: family gathers for the holiday and someone murders the patriarch."

I think that one was our very first group read here, Sandy! A long time ago now, but I remember enjoying it.

I'm reading a newly-published British Library Christmas mystery, Dramatic Murder by Elizabeth Anthony, which has a spectacular start in a snow-bound Scotland. I'm about halfway through and it has stopped being so Christmassy now, though! I helped myself to a few Christmas mysteries on Kindle Unlimited and hope to find time for one or two more. :)

[Sandy]

Although I didn't much like our last Lord Edgington book, I read The Mystery of Mistletoe Hall, officially #4 in the series. The author makes it clear that it is meant to be a stand-alone.

I enjoyed it more than the last one, perhaps because we are back to country mansions under feet of snow, not boarding schools. There are nods to And Then There Were None. I was unsatisfied with the murderer and motive, but the plot is okay and there are many Christmas elements.

[Susan in NC]

I’m done with group reads for Christmas week, amusing myself with light holiday favorites- like The Convivial Codfish by Charlotte MacLeod. This is another of her literate, humorous mystery series, set in Boston - this one takes place during Christmas.

[Sandy]

Susan in NC wrote: "I’m done with group reads for Christmas week, amusing myself with light holiday favorites- like The Convivial Codfish by Charlotte MacLeod. This is another of her li..."

I haven't read that series. Will I be lost, or miss important back story, if I read #5 now?

[Susan in NC]

Not really, but there was a bit of build up of a (view spoiler)[”will they, won’t they” variety between Sarah, a widow, and Max, her art theft investigator beau, and now husband, in books 2-4. But since the series is 40+ years old, and the summary pages clearly indicate they’re a married couple, I consider it open news! (hide spoiler)] those earlier books are fun and funny, set the stage, if you will, but I think you could easily navigate book 5!

[Jackie]

I think I would prefer to read the whole series, since you recommend it Susan, thank you!