What mysteries are you reading at the moment? (2024-2025) Showing 901-950 of 1,029

[Neer]

Reading Paul Tremblay's Horror Movie. I loved the author's A Head Full of Ghosts but this one is not that compelling.

[Neer]

Jan C wrote: "I finished Murder in the Cards by Tony Piazza this afternoon. It was fun."

I had a look. It seems like an entertaining mystery. Thanks for sharing. I had not heard of the author before.

[Carissa]

I just started John Rhode's "The House on Tollard Hill." It's part of his Dr. Priestley series. They generally aren't the equal of Lorac, etc., but they're a fun easy read. I'm glad Spitfire Publishers has been reissuing them for Kindle!

[Jan C]

Neer wrote: "Jan C wrote: "I finished Murder in the Cards by Tony Piazza this afternoon. It was fun."

I had a look. It seems like an entertaining mystery. Thanks for sharing. I..."

I think he has 3-4 books. The other day I picked up 1-2. Plus they're pretty cheap. Just a couple of dollars, I think.

[Jan C]

Carissa wrote: "I just started John Rhode's "The House on Tollard Hill." It's part of his Dr. Priestley series. They generally aren't the equal of Lorac, etc., but they're a fun easy read. I'm glad Spitfire Publis..."

I really enjoy the Dr. Priestley stories. I also enjoy Lorac.

[sabagrey]

I am slowly reading my way through Margery Allingham's Campion and Ngaio Marsh's Detective Alleyn series.

Of the "queens", I have only known Agatha Christie until this spring, and I have to admit that I am not a big fan of her books as far as I know them. But maybe I will give her another chance. Anyway, I only came across Sayers this spring (having known her only by name - but that for decades!), and now I feel like catching up with the remaining two of the ladies, enjoying myself a lot on the way.

[Sandy]

The queens are well worth discovering and rereading and Sayers might be my favorite.

[sabagrey]

Sandy wrote: "The queens are well worth discovering and rereading and Sayers might be my favorite."

fully agree about Sayers. She plays in a league of her own the further you get in the series.

[Judy]

I've just finished a John Bude book published by British Library with 2 novels in it.

I thought the first one, Death in White Pyjamas, was very slow and became a bit of a chore to read, but I really enjoyed the second novel, Death Knows No Calendar. That one has an entertaining detective, Major Boddy - I think he is a one-off, which is a shame as he's a great character.

[Judy]

Hope you enjoy the 'queens', Saba -I think they are all great. I think Sayers is my favourite too although I love the early Allinghams.

[Judy]

I've just opened up the discussions on our new monthly read, Calamity at Harwood by George Bellairs and our challenge read, Sleeping Murder by Agatha Christie. Please pop by and join in!

[Sandy]

I have a couple of new books from the library that I need to read soon. I have started Death at the Playhouses: Lowe and Le Breton Mysteries, second in a new series set in the 1970's. And then Elly Griffith's latest The Frozen People. I confused our August and October Chrisitie reads but have our other August read and may squeeze that in between the two library books.

[Judy]

I'm reading 2 of our forthcoming buddy reads, The Corpse in Oozak's Pond and White Nights - they are very different so I shouldn't mix them up. I was nearly halfway through Oozak's, then realised White Nights is due back at the library soon!

[Susan in NC]

I’m currently reading a dated mid-1980s cozy mystery, Strangled Prose by Joan Hess. I’ve seen her books around forever, and decided to finally try it as it was included in a NY Times list of cozy mysteries to try, shared with me by my best and oldest friend, who knows I’m a mystery fan.

This was under the heading “I’m allergic to anything cutesy”, so I thought I’d give it a try. I know the author has another series, set in small-town southern U.S. (Arkansas, I think), which I may try if I like this. I tend to enjoy older cozy series like Elizabeth Peters and Charlotte MacLeod, so this may be an entertaining match for me.

[Jackie]

I just started White Nights.

[Sandy]

Finished Death at the Playhouses: Lowe and Le Breton Mysteries - three stars, good main characters, convoluted plot but all tied together. And The Frozen People - four stars, Elly Griffiths writes a good story with interesting characters, lots of suspense. Ignore the impossibility of time travel and enjoy.

[Sandy]

I have one more new book, The House at Devil's Neck and my library requests, including Sleeping Murder and our mid-month reads, are 'in transit'.

[Susan in NC]

Sounds like you have a lot to look forward to, reading wise!

[Jan C]

Just started Death On The Oxford Road by E.C.R. Lorac. We didn't read this one yet, did we? I didn't recall the name.

[Judy]

We haven't read Death on the Oxford Road, Jan - I don't think there are many copies around. In the UK it's not on Kindle and there's a paperback on Amazon for £108! Anyway hope you enjoy it, I'll be interested to hear what you think.

[Jan C]

Judy wrote: "We haven't read Death on the Oxford Road, Jan - I don't think there are many copies around. In the UK it's not on Kindle and there's a paperback on Amazon for £108! Anyway hope you enjoy it, I'll b..."

It was probably one of the $1.99 specials.

[Judy]

Jan C wrote: "Judy wrote: "We haven't read Death on the Oxford Road, Jan..... It was probably one of the $1.99 specials."

Ooh, in that case I hope it turns up in the UK too!

I've started reading another Lorac/Carnac title, Murder as a Fine Art which is one of the British Library reissues - I had previously made a false start on this one as I found the first few pages confusing, but made sure to read that part when I was wide awake this time and am enjoying it now!

[Susan in NC]

Jan C wrote: "Judy wrote: "We haven't read Death on the Oxford Road, Jan - I don't think there are many copies around. In the UK it's not on Kindle and there's a paperback on Amazon for £108! Anyway hope you enj..."

I think I nabbed that one, too!

[Susan in NC]

Judy wrote: "Jan C wrote: "Judy wrote: "We haven't read Death on the Oxford Road, Jan..... It was probably one of the $1.99 specials."

Ooh, in that case I hope it turns up in the UK too!

I've started reading ..."

Thank you, I was wondering about this one - I always have fairly high expectations when the BLCC puts out a title…

[Judy]

Susan, I've finished Murder as a Fine Art now and would have to say I don't think it's one of Lorac/Carnac's best - there are a large number of characters, so it's hard to keep track, and some of it is a bit dry. I still found it quite enjoyable though, as her writing is always very readable.

[Sandy]

I have two mysteries going: The House at Devil's Neck, a new book that hasn't grabbed me yet, and Desperate Undertaking: A Flavia Albia Novel, next in Falco's daughter series that I have been ignoring while revisiting with her parents.

[Susan in NC]

Judy wrote: "Susan, I've finished Murder as a Fine Art now and would have to say I don't think it's one of Lorac/Carnac's best - there are a large number of characters, so it's hard to keep tra..."

Thank you - I checked and it’s not even published here until march of 2026! So I won’t rush to read it. I still have a few Lorac’s on kindle I picked up on sale and haven’t read yet.

[Judy]

I did notice there was a lawyer's firm called 'Cole & Cole' in Murder as a Fine Art, which I'm guessing was a Detection Club in-joke referencing fellow-members G.D.H. and Margaret Cole!

There is also another Lorac book set in Lunesdale, Still Waters, being published by British Library in December in the UK - I hope you don't have to wait too long for that one.

Still on the subject of Lorac, I've just noticed that there is actually a paperback of Death On The Oxford Road for £9.95 in the UK, but it's listed under "E.C.R Lorac" with no point after the R, so it comes up as by a different author! It doesn't look like a very good quality edition though.

[Susan in NC]

I will probably start Lonesome Road by Patricia Wentworth next, then Black Coffee by Agatha Christie and Charles Osborne; I’ve never read it, to my knowledge, but the audio has come through my library, and I found the book on Internet Archive.

[Jackie]

I almost checked out Lonesome Road a week or two ago but decided to wait, now I'm number four holding and the estimate is 6 weeks, dang!

[Susan in NC]

That’s why I get the ebooks and audiobooks when available, I’ll have to risk forgetting with my sieve-like memory…

[Judy]

I'm reading one of our next buddy reads, A Dead Liberty by Catherine Airs. For some reason I find the title hard to remember! Not very far in yet.

[Judy]

Aird, thanks Google!

[Sandy]

Finished one of our mid-month reads and have 2-3 others from the library and ready to go.

[Judy]

I've read Lonesome Road and am now reading our next Christie, The Mystery of the Blue Train, which is one I don't think I've read before. Enjoying it so far.

[Jackie]

I'm up to chapter 11 of The Mystery of the Blue Train and I don't think I've read it before, either! Very nice having a New To Me Christie.

[Susan in NC]

Jackie wrote: "I'm up to chapter 11 of The Mystery of the Blue Train and I don't think I've read it before, either! Very nice having a New To Me Christie."

I first read this one last year - couldn’t believe I’d missed one! I found it great fun. Just finished my reread, and enjoyed it very much - loved Katharine Grey, and the fact she’s from St. Mary Mead!

[Susan in NC]

Next up in my personal mystery queue, I want to tackle a Moray Dalton for another group, The Art School Murders, and then Vale of Tears by Sarah Hawkswood for our upcoming September buddy read.

[Sandy]

After our buddy read of Bobby Owen I have The Art of a Lie, another new library book with a deadline.

[Sandy]

Sandy wrote: "After our buddy read of Bobby Owen I have The Art of a Lie, another new library book with a deadline."

I bailed on Art of a Lie. Wasn't particularly enjoying it then came a major twist that changed the book entirely. I could have learned about confectionary cooking if I had persisted. So I will be reading Playing Dead: Short Stories by Members of the Detection Club along with a non-fiction and our upcoming first of month reads.

[Judy]

True crime rather than mystery, but I'm currently reading Heaven Knows Who by Christianna Brand, which is about the case that inspired our recent group read In Muffled Night by D. Erskine Muir. It's interesting to compare the two but I'm finding this a bit of a slog now that it's got on to the trial, as a lot of repetitive evidence is featured.

I've also started In the Best Families by Rex Stout, which is supposed to be one of the best Wolfe books (the third one featuring Zeck).

[Judy]

Unfortunately the Rex Stout book In the Best Families gave me a nightmare so I will avoid reading it at bedtime. I'll just say there is an incident involving an animal - I could have done with a warning on the cover.

[Susan in NC]

Ugh! So sorry…

[Judy]

Thanks Susan. For some reason incidents with dogs or cats are often harder to take than those with humans, as I know we've mentioned in the past.

[Jackie]

Judy wrote: "Thanks Susan. For some reason incidents with dogs or cats are often harder to take than those with humans, as I know we've mentioned in the past."

Judy, absolutely! I recently read Songbirds and put a trigger warning in my review, even though I think it is a good book and I don't regret reading it, one part is hard.

[Carissa]

Judy wrote: "Unfortunately the Rex Stout book In the Best Families gave me a nightmare so I will avoid reading it at bedtime. I'll just say there is an incident involving an animal - I could have done with a wa..."

I too found that one upsetting, Judy.

[Carissa]

I just started "Murder and Blueberry Pie," which is one in another series by the authors of the Mr. and Mrs. North series. I'm only a couple chapters in, but enjoying it thus far! It's also interesting to see how the world had changed between the first Mr. and Mrs. North novels and this one (second in this series) - jet pilots, daiquiris, suburbs, etc.

[Ellen]

Judy wrote: "Unfortunately the Rex Stout book In the Best Families gave me a nightmare so I will avoid reading it at bedtime. I'll just say there is an incident involving an animal - I could have done with a wa..."

I have been involved in dog rescue for almost 20 years. I have seen enough cruelty and neglect in real life not to want to read about it. Even in a murder mystery. I have knocked a star off my rating especially when the death of the animal added nothing to the plot.

[Judy]

Thanks Jackie, Carissa and Ellen - clearly many of us could do without these storylines. Ellen, I really admire you for working in dog rescue and can definitely understand you not wanting to read about cruelty in fiction.

[Sandy]

I am really enjoying Playing Dead: Short Stories by Members of the Detection Club. Over halfway through and haven't hit any I dislike. Great collection.