What mysteries are you reading at the moment? (2024-2025) Showing 851-900 of 1,020

[Jackie]

Susan in NC wrote: "Oh, and I’m starting a reread of The UnfinishedClue by Georgette Heyer, a favorite very humorous GA country house murder mystery, for another group.

I really enjoyed ..."


That's one of my favorites - maybe even my very favorite - Heyer mystery.

[Neer]

Thanks Judy for the reply. I am enjoying the book so far. In fact, finding it better than the first two in the series.

Judy wrote: "Neer wrote: "I have just started Dolores Gordon-Smith's As If by Magic, the third in her Jack Haldean series. I remember discussing the first two. Is there a thread for this one too?"

Hi Neer, sor..."

[Judy]

Good to hear, Meet, glad you are enjoying the Jack Haldean book. I heard the author speak at the Bodies from the Library conference in London last year but she wasn't talking about her own books, she was talking about true crime and how it feeds into classic crime fiction.

[Judy]

Sorry Neer, I typed your name and didn't spot that Google changed it!

[Judy]

I've started rereading The Big Four, which I don't think is one of Christie's best, but should still be fun to discuss.

[Susan in NC]

Jackie wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "Oh, and I’m starting a reread of The UnfinishedClue by Georgette Heyer, a favorite very humorous GA country house murder mystery, for another group..."

Me, too! Lola da Silva is a hilarious character, “great value” as one character says - I’m going to try thinking that way about greedy, self-centered characters in my life - think of them as “good value” for the unconscious humor they provide! To paraphrase (badly) Mr. Bennett in Pride & Prejudice, what are we here for but to amuse our friends and acquaintance (or something along those lines - just reread it, but my memory is a sieve, and Mr. B tosses off so many cheeky, sly remarks…)

[Susan in NC]

Judy wrote: "I've started rereading The Big Four, which I don't think is one of Christie's best, but should still be fun to discuss."

I got about tw-thirds through and was rolling my eyes so hard I gave up, figured I’d revisit the last chapter this week to try and organize my thoughts, but I’m not promising much!

It just hit me, (view spoiler)[“Big Four” reminded me of the serial short films cinemas would show for kiddies in the late 1940s, the ones my mum and dad described to us from when they were young. Cliffhanger after cliffhanger, can’t catch your breath or keep track! (hide spoiler)]

[Sandy]

I have started two mysteries: our latest Bobby Owen and an historical mystery, A Disappearance in Fiji, set in Fiji (obviously) in 1914. Both off to good starts. I'm reading Bobby on my tablet and it is hard to see outside so I wanted a paper book for my back porch.

[Jan C]

Currently reading Murder in the Cards by Tony Piazza. I'm a little over halfway through. It starts with a murder of an actress at the Grand Canyon and moves to a San Simeon-type castle with a character similar to Hearst. But, like in Dragnet (which I've started watching at night after Perry Mason), the names have been changed to protect the innocent. I'm enjoying it.

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂]

Sandy wrote: "I have started two mysteries: our latest Bobby Owen and an historical mystery, A Disappearance in Fiji, set in Fiji (obviously) in 1914. Both off to good starts. I'm reading Bobby o..."
This sounds very promising & I might see if my library will order it for me.

Last year I had a holiday in Fiji & read this one which I found disappointing. Death of a Hero

[Judy]

Thanks for saying you'd be happy to read Cat and Mouse by Christianna Brand, Susan - sorry that I'm slow in replying! Let's add it in October-November if that's ok with you.

[Carissa]

Sandy wrote: "Judy wrote: "Good to hear you liked Mystery Mile, Jackie - I love Campion.

I've just finished A Fatal Crossing by Tom Hindle. I quite enjoyed the c..."

I realize this reply is over a month late, but I'm just now catching up on this discussion! I read A Fatal Crossing about two months ago and was also disappointed. I had problems with the plot and characters, and Hindle needed an editor to catch basic errors (a Model T is described as blue, when they were famously only available in black for the vast majority of the production run).

Hindle's books aren't available on Kindle in the US and I didn't want to commit to a somewhat pricey paperback without knowing if I'd like his books, so I submitted a materials request to my library to get it. I doubt I'll be submitting requests for his other books, sorry to say.

[Neer]

Halfway through Mail Train by Kenneth Austin Dobson. Plenty of suspicious actions aboard a train making its way through Africa. A great cast of characters and good humour. Enjoying it greatly.

[Judy]

Carissa wrote: "I read A Fatal Crossing about two months ago and was also disappointed. I had problems with the plot and characters."

I read this one a while ago and was also disappointed - I remember the plot and characters as becoming increasingly unbelievable, with a weird backstory. A shame, I was expecting more after seeing lots about the book. Has anyone tried one of the others by Tom Hindle, and if so were they better than this one?

[Neer]

I have read The Murder Game by Hindle and found it totally unexciting. Didn't bother to read anymore of his works.

[Judy]

Thanks Neer, in that case I'll try to avoid being tempted by the covers of Hindle's books!

[Susan in NC]

Just starting our July read, In Muffled Night - grateful for the helpful and interesting introduction, I wasn’t familiar with the real murder case the book was based on.

[Sandy]

I'm in one of those 'embarrassment of riches' situation when a number of library requests have arrived. Right now I am reading Knave of Diamonds, the latest in the Russell and Holmes series and a favorite.

Next up, A Case of Mice and Murder, A Shipwreck in Fiji and Death at the Sanatorium.

I also have our buddy reads and a couple of other series I am trying to continue.

Happy 4th to our US members.

[Judy]

Enjoy, Sandy! I'll be interested to hear what you think of that little lot. I've heard good things about A Case of Mice and Murder.

I've just read a British Library title that was mentioned in the Shedunnit podcast, Family Matters by Anthony Rolls, but I wasn't a big fan - it's a (sort-of) inverted mystery and there was an awful lot seen from the viewpoint of unpleasant characters for my liking. It's also rather slow. He's a witty writer though.

[Susan in NC]

Sandy wrote: "I'm in one of those 'embarrassment of riches' situation when a number of library requests have arrived. Right now I am reading Knave of Diamonds, the latest in the Russell and Holm..."

Thanks, same to you! After a reading slump, I’ve been enjoying a nice mix of mystery and fiction for different groups. I guess it’s more thriller than mystery, but I found it satisfying-just finished Call for the Dead. Never read John Le Carré, but I enjoyed it.

[Jan C]

Thanks. Hope everyone had a "great" 4th.

[Susan in NC]

I’m reading A Disappearance in Fiji , recommended by a GR friend. Enjoying this historical mystery set in a place and time I’m totally unfamiliar with (Fiji, 1914).

[Judy]

I have removed a self-promotion post from this thread to our self-promotion thread - just a quick reminder that self-promotion is only allowed in the designated section.

[Judy]

I've just read The Second Confession by Rex Stout, a Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin classic that I must have grabbed in a Kindle sale years ago and forgotten I had! Very enjoyable, I'll check my Kindle for any more that I've forgotten about.

I've also started one of our forthcoming buddy reads, River of Darkness by Rennie Airth - I'm listening to this on Audible and finding it gripping so far although dark, as the title suggests. The narrator on the Audible recording, Peter Wickham, is great, but I may get hold of a physical copy too as it is quite long.

[Neer]

I am reading The Survivors by Anne Edwards. New author for me.

[Susan in NC]

Judy wrote: "I've just read The Second Confession by Rex Stout, a Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin classic that I must have grabbed in a Kindle sale years ago and forgotten I had! Very ..."

Oh, I had the physical hardcover from my library, but also used a credit for the Audible- he was an excellent narrator! I agree, dark, but excellent…I just realized, my current mystery is Fiji 1914, and “Darkness” is post WWI England, but the war is almost a living, breathing character for the ominous pall it casts over everything.

[Sandy]

I've finished two of my new books and both were excellent. I thought Knave of Diamonds was one of the best in the series.
The other is the first in a new series, A Case of Mice and Murder. While I thought the main character and his sidekick were a bit too good to be realistic, that made them very pleasant company. It is set in 1901, in the London legal enclave of Temple Inn, resulting in a somewhat closed circle of suspects.

[Sandy]

Another winner from my recent library windfall: Death at the Sanatorium. I only picked this book because I want to read the next in the series, not yet published, and I feel compelled to read in sequence. Set in Iceland, it bounces between two time periods (with a couple of short visits to an even early time). The premise is a young future police investigator writing his dissertation on the handling of an old murder.

The author's note expounds on his love of Christie and his search of Icelandic translations during his youth. Starting in his teens, he translated them for publication himself.

[Jackie]

I am re-reading (actually audio book) By the Pricking of My Thumbs and I'm realizing I like Tommy & Tuppence much more now than I did when I was young. Not sure why.

[Sandy]

A Christie trivia question (to be pondered independently as the answer would be a spoiler):

One book Ragnar found impossible to translate because the solution depends on two English words that are different by only a letter. He had to resort to keeping the English word.

My library has his books filed under R in the Icelandic tradition of going by first names.

[Susan in NC]

Jackie wrote: "I am re-reading (actually audio book) By the Pricking of My Thumbs and I'm realizing I like Tommy & Tuppence much more now than I did when I was young. Not sure why."

I enjoyed “Thumbs” more than the earlier books, too.

[Susan in NC]

I’ve started a reread of The Corpse in Oozak's Pond (Peter Shandy #6 for our upcoming buddy read - it’s early, but my library had the ebook and I felt like something light!

[Judy]

The vote for our September group read is currently open, so if you haven't voted yet and would like to, please take a look.
https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/3...

[Sandy]

I have started one of our buddy reads, River of Darkness and loving it. Listening with a paper copy by my side.

[Judy]

I've just finished two of our buddy reads, River of Darkness and March Violets - I also switched between listening and reading for both of them. I found them both interesting but uneven - I think there will be lots to discuss.

[Judy]

I'm reading our next Tommy and Tuppence now, By the Pricking of My Thumbs, and enjoying it a lot so far.

[Susan]

Mystery wise I am currently reading 2 of our buddies: March Violets and the Brighton Elly Griffiths series.

Susan, glad you enjoyed River of Darkness. That is a book I love and I am looking forward to discussing it and also reading on.

[Sandy]

Interesting ... I am halfway into River of Darkness and liking it less, though the characters are great. Could be an interesting discussion.

[Judy]

Our new buddy reads have all opened up now, if anyone would like to get started on those discussions. I think there will be lots to talk about.

[Judy]

I've started our next group read, Calamity at Harwood by George Bellairs - not very far in as yet.

[Susan in NC]

Same, I’m about a third in.

[Franky]

I'm about past the half way mark of The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton and enjoying it so far.

[Judy]

I finished Calamity at Harwood, which I found enjoyable though far-fetched - looking forward to our discussion.

I'm now nearly halfway through the audio version of our next challenge read, Sleeping Murder by Agatha Christie - enjoying it a lot. Stephanie Cole narrates and I think she does a great job, even though I was hoping for Hugh Fraser! So far I haven't remembered the solution from my previous read, so hoping that continues to be the case.

I've also just read the first mystery in the British Library Crime Classics book Death in White Pyjamas / Death Knows No Calendar, which has been waiting on my shelf for years! I found Death in White Pyjamas a fairly good read with some interesting characters, but very slow, which has also been the case with one or two others by John Bude that I've read. Anyway, I'll hope to read the second mystery before too long.

[sabagrey]

I have begun with the Detective Alleyn series by Ngaio Marsh, alternating it with the Albert Campion books by Margery Allingham - you see: I'm on a serious reading journey to catch up on the "queens".

[Sandy]

I read the next Maigret, Maigret and the Toy Village and found it a bit strange with Maigret's fascination with a young woman mirroring Bobby Owen's. Once again Simenon has written a concise and well-plotted mystery.

[Sandy]

Opportunity to do a lot of audio books coincided with several Audible freebies about to expire meant I have tried several books that I have been ignoring.

In ascending order:

Murder in Fulbridge Village: A 1920s Mystery, I did not finish this one

An Occupied Grave, ok but no intention of continuing the series

A Body on the Beach, a very kind and patient set of experienced detectives training the younger team members. Interesting plot.

Fallen Into the Pit, by Cadfael's author and the lead character is as calm and understanding as Cadfael. His young son 'helps' with the investigation. Will consider continuing but I have too many series currently.

Mud, Muck and Dead Things, currently reading and liking it so far.

Meanwhile I await the library delivery of one of our buddy reads.

[Susan in NC]

Judy wrote: "I finished Calamity at Harwood, which I found enjoyable though far-fetched - looking forward to our discussion.

I'm now nearly halfway through the audio version of our next challe..."

Agreed about Harwood - silly in parts, but different and humorous.

I’ve got the same audiobook of Sleeping Murder from my library-I love Hugh Fraser also, but Stephanie Cole is pretty good!

[Judy]

Susan in NC wrote: "I’ve got the same audiobook of Sleeping Murder from my library-I love Hugh Fraser also, but Stephanie Cole is pretty good!..."

I decided she's fantastic - I ended up listening to it almost like a radio play! I'll watch out for anything else she narrates.

[Judy]

Interesting selection of books, Sandy - I'm also wary of getting sucked into too many series at the moment! I'd like to get on better with a couple of those I'm reading.

[Jan C]

I finished Murder in the Cards by Tony Piazza this afternoon. It was fun.