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Hayes wrote: "Mohammed wrote: "Five Red Herrings by Doroty L.Sayers, my first novel of a giant in classic detective stories...."It was not the best one to start with, perhaps. A lot of long winded talk about t..."
I actually read an essay that mentioned this novel and Gaudy Night as the more famous ones with Gaudy Night as the best in the series. I saved GN for later and choose this one as my first.
I agree about long talks about time tables,such but i find Lord Wimsey to be a fun,interesting lead, her prose is quality. I will read the first one no matter how this one ends. Because there has been a few lines that was so witty that i smiled even chuckled.
Gaudy Night is part of the series of Vane-Wimsey Novels and should not be read out of sequence:
Strong Poison
Have His Carcase
Gaudy Night
Busman's Honeymoon
Otherwise you won't understand the relationship.
Strong Poison
Have His Carcase
Gaudy Night
Busman's Honeymoon
Otherwise you won't understand the relationship.
Hayes wrote: "Gaudy Night is part of the series of Vane-Wimsey Novels and should not be read out of sequence: Strong Poison
Have His Carcase
Gaudy Night
[book:Busman's ..."
Thanks for letting me know even if i was planning to read the books as they were published.
Heh reading this 7th novel i was wondering why is Lord Wimsey single? I had heard that he stood out because unlike most famous detective heroes he was married, had sort of normal life.
Like Thin Man by Hammett, not many classic detective stories where the detective is married and not a lone wolf.
Just started Monica Ali's "Untold Story," which is about Princess Diana faking her death, coming to live in America and the paparazzi photographer who discovers she's alive and well. It's being described as a "thriller," but I'll be the judge of that.
I just put down a bestselling book described as a thriller. After a hundred pages, I'd learned the backstory of every major character, what they drank, and how they looked. I also learned that life is too short to stick with a bad book.Switched to IF THE DEAD RISE NOT by Philip Kerr. Ah....
Mohammed wrote: "Thanks for letting me know even if i was planning to read the books as they were published..[..."Mohammed, I agree with Hayes 100%. Don't read Gaudy Night before you've read Strong Poison and Have His Carcase. Save Busman's Honeymoon till last. For the novels that don't involve Harriet Vane, it doesn't really matter what order you read them in. If you like humour, you'll probably appreciate [book:Murder Must Advertise|351559].
One of the best things about Sayers is that if you become a fan, you'll get pleasure re-reading her novels for years to come. It won't matter that you already know the plot.
Laura wrote: "I'm half-way through Peter Robinson's Bad Boy. I love catching up with his detectives and since I used to live in Yorkshire, I like revisiting familiar scenery. It's a page turner so far."I really like Peter Robinson too, Laura. However, I was a little disappointed with Bad Boy. I'll be interested in knowing what you think when you're finished.
Have finished Footsteps in the Dark, Georgette Heyer's first mystery and started re-reading A Place of Execution for the July / August Group Read.
Collin wrote: "Just started Monica Ali's "Untold Story," which is about Princess Diana faking her death, coming to live in America and the paparazzi photographer who discovers she's alive and well. It's being des..."
As soon as Diana was killed the conspiracy theories started!
As soon as Diana was killed the conspiracy theories started!
Mohammed wrote: "Hayes wrote: "Mohammed wrote: "Five Red Herrings by Doroty L.Sayers, my first novel of a giant in classic detective stories...."It was not the best one to start with, perhaps. A lot of long winde..."
Mohammed, I'm so glad you've found Dorothy Sayers. I've read everyone of the Peter Wimsey/Harriet Vane books multiple times and keep going back to them. They're wonderful. I hope you enjoy them. Happy reading!
I go through stages with my reading, just re-entering a mystery phase. Last time I read much mystery it was all cozies, this time I'm not looking so much for the cutesie humor stuff. Just finished reading the entire Lucas Davenport series and the Virgil Flowers series by John Sandford Loved them. Started reading The Monkey's Raincoat last night. Liking it alot so far
Nice, Bithalynn! I too enjoy the Sandfords and am working my way through the Robert Crais books!
Recently finished listening to
this is the first book in the series and the first book I have read by this author. I really enjoyed it and hope to pick up book 2 on audio from the library this weekend.
Just finished Ken Bruen's Once Were Cops. Very different. Terrific writer. Without going into spoilers, let's just say I spent most of the book hoping someone would take Shea down. Also read Arturo Perez Reverte's Queen of the South, another recommendation from the group.
As soon as I finish Hart's Iron House (an ARC which I'm really enjoying by the way) I may try CJ Box's Picket series several people were talking about
Linda wrote: "Recently finished listening to this is the first book in the series and the first book I have read by this author. I really enjoyed it and hope to pick up book ..."Love this series. Just finished the latest in the series, her third and that was very good.
Just finished Turn of Mind which was very very good and am now starting
which is being compared to the Stieg Larson books.
Teresa in Ohio wrote: "Also Nevada Barr.each book features a different national park. "You know, I enjoyed some of the early Nevada Barr books, but she's upped the thrill factor so much in her recent ones that they've become too "icky" for me. I read one recently that involved middle-school girls being raped and abused, and even though they were rescued again, it was clear those girls were never going to be right in the head again. That turned me off of her series.
I'm starting The First Inspector Morse Omnibus: The Dead of Jericho, Service of All the Dead, the Silent World of Nicholas Quinn.
Mod
Have started Death at La Fenice by Donna Leon. It started slowly, but I think I'm really getting into it.
Elli wrote: "Have started Death at La Fenice by Donna Leon. It started slowly, but I think I'm really getting into it."Is this your first Donna Leon, Elli? They aren't page turners, but I love them anyway. Interesting mysteries, great characters, a beautiful setting and delicious-sounding meals!
Kim wrote: "Mohammed wrote: "Thanks for letting me know even if i was planning to read the books as they were published..[..."Mohammed, I agree with Hayes 100%. Don't read Gaudy Night before you've read St..."
The book im reading feels very schitzo, when Wimsey is the POV its so much fun with his humor,his dialouge crack me up, his detective style. But when its the POV of the police detectives its not nearly as good story,interesting.
The crazy theories have too many details for my taste.
Lucky for Sayers her Wimsey is so compelling, fun to read.
Cathy wrote: "Just finished Ken Bruen's Once Were Cops. Very different. Terrific writer. Without going into spoilers, let's just say I spent most of the book hoping someone would take Shea down. Also read Ar..."
Bruen has a talent for writing twisted noir characters specially when they are criminal,sickos like Shea. I too hated him and wanted to see him go down. Bruen is brilliant and i just wish he was more prolific.
Mohammed wrote: "The crazy theories have too many details for my taste...."Five Red Herrings isn't my favourite Sayers either. I tend to lose track of which suspect is which. Sayers may have written it to show that she could write a mystery which depends on a railway timetable. I know that the place she set it in was somewhere she and her husband used to go to on holiday, so she was familiar with the area and the way the locals speak, hence the dialect.
Elli wrote: "Have started Death at La Fenice by Donna Leon. It started slowly, but I think I'm really getting into it."
I read this recently. It did start slowly, but I got the idea that she was trying to figure out what direction Aurelio Zen would go. I'm looking forward to reading the next ones.
I read this recently. It did start slowly, but I got the idea that she was trying to figure out what direction Aurelio Zen would go. I'm looking forward to reading the next ones.
Kim wrote: "Sayers may have written it to show that she could write a mystery which depends on a railway timetable."
I think I remember reading that somewhere. She did so much experimenting. I loved the cipher thing in Have His Carcase, and again in A Presumption of Death. She did a lot of psychological "experimenting" in Gaudy Night. There was the whole thing about the science of poisons in The Documents in the Case (and the letter/diary format, different from her usual), which I think is her only non-Wimsey novel.
I think I remember reading that somewhere. She did so much experimenting. I loved the cipher thing in Have His Carcase, and again in A Presumption of Death. She did a lot of psychological "experimenting" in Gaudy Night. There was the whole thing about the science of poisons in The Documents in the Case (and the letter/diary format, different from her usual), which I think is her only non-Wimsey novel.
Kim wrote: "Mohammed wrote: "The crazy theories have too many details for my taste...."Five Red Herrings isn't my favourite Sayers either. I tend to lose track of which suspect is which. Sayers may have writ..."
Hehe the scottish accent dialouge is a puzzle to figure out sometimes.
I dont mind the the crazy theories, the red herrings i just wish the whole novel or most of it was from Lord Wimsey's POV. You see from the POV of the other detectives too much.
Hayes wrote: "I loved the cipher thing in Have His Carcase, and again in A Presumption of Death. She did a lot of psychological "experimenting" in Gaudy Night. There was the whole thing about the science of poisons in The Documents in the Case (and the letter/diary format, different from her usual), which I think is her only non-Wimsey novel. ..."I love all that about Sayers' novels too, Hayes. She never wrote the same book twice. I think that's very impressive for someone who wrote detective fiction using the same detective (except, as you say, for The Documents in the Case, which I thought was amazing even though it was Wimsey-free). It shows just how skilled a writer she was. I've been reading the Sayers biography written by Barbara Reynolds, having finished the first volume of her letters, and she really was quite terrifyingly bright.
Mohammed wrote: "i just wish the whole novel or most of it was from Lord Wimsey's POV. You see from the POV of the other detectives too much.
I know what you mean, Mohammed. It's much more fun seeing Wimsey's mind at work!
Bithalynn wrote: "I go through stages with my reading, just re-entering a mystery phase. Last time I read much mystery it was all cozies, this time I'm not looking so much for the cutesie humor stuff. Just finished ..."I love the Virgil Flowers books--they seem fresher than the Prey books (which I still read, but not with as much anticipation as I used to).
Beth wrote: "Teresa in Ohio wrote: "Also Nevada Barr.each book features a different national park. "You know, I enjoyed some of the early Nevada Barr books, but she's upped the thrill factor so much in her r..."
The eariler books were better,firestorm is my favorite. I like my mysteries dark, so upping the violence didn't bother me. I feel as she wants to retire !nna frompark service so she can move on as a writer but is stuck with the series
I am reading Iron House by John Hart and can't put it down-if you like him it's his best yet
Diane wrote: "Linda wrote: "Recently finished listening to this is the first book in the series and the first book I have read by this author. I really enjoyed it and hope to..."I agree on Linda Catillo-have read all 3 of her books and liked them
read the first cirque du freak books today, really liked them.now starting with Heartsick by chelsea cain
Pam wrote: "I am reading Iron House by John Hart and can't put it down-if you like him it's his best yet"That is next on my list to read. Read the first three and now very much looking forward to it.
Stephan wrote: "Yesterday, I finished reading The Chinese Murder Maze by Robert von Gulik. A freebie from the University of Chicago Press this month. Five stars."
I downloaded that one too... will get to it at some point. (I have been disappointed by other UCP freebies, so it's nice to have something to look forward to!)
I downloaded that one too... will get to it at some point. (I have been disappointed by other UCP freebies, so it's nice to have something to look forward to!)
Kim wrote: "Elli wrote: "Have started Death at La Fenice by Donna Leon. It started slowly, but I think I'm really getting into it."Is this your first Donna Leon, Elli? They aren't page turners, but I love t..."
Yes, it's my first. And I doubt that it will be my last. I'm really enjoying the picture of Venice and the attitudes of various people and how they interract. I even think I've may have lived in that "small town big city situation before. And Venice itself in how the local culture is as it relates to the more recent as well as it's unique history. I'm just getting to the point now where after following up the gossip and runmor angle, lead detective Brunetti is really able to figure who and how to go after, to find and crystallize truths which you figure will effectively lead to the killer. Such a methodogy...
I finished Five Red Herrings and rated 3/5 because despite some flaws in the over-thought red herrings,theories i enjoyed reading Wimsey detecting and his humor.
Elli wrote: "Yes, it's my first. And I doubt that it will be my last. ..."It's so good to find a new series and realise that there are lots of books to catch up on!
Mohammed wrote: "I finished Five Red Herrings and rated 3/5 because despite some flaws in the over-thought red herrings,theories i enjoyed reading Wimsey detecting and his humor."I hope that you go on to read more Sayers, Mohammed. If you liked Five Red Herrings, then chances are you will like her other novels even more.
Kim wrote: "Elli wrote: "Have started Death at La Fenice by Donna Leon. It started slowly, but I think I'm really getting into it."
Is this your first Donna Leon, Elli? They aren't page turners, but I love t..."
I just bought this book. My husband has read the first 5, translated into German, and loves them.
Is this your first Donna Leon, Elli? They aren't page turners, but I love t..."
I just bought this book. My husband has read the first 5, translated into German, and loves them.
Jeannette wrote: "I just bought this book. My husband has read the first 5, translated into German, and loves them. ..."I like reading them and imagining that I'm in Venice, following Brunetti around on the (very sketchy) map of Venice in my head. I love that city! I haven't read any new ones for a while and was pleased to realise that Leon had written a few more while my back was turned. They will make pleasant summer reading in a few months time.
He likes the detective, the way he talks and interacts with his subordinates and the wife's family. I hope to read the first one soon.
We bought 4 in German, and he is reading the rest in English (from our library). My husband likes these kind of independent, smart detectives, like Wimsey and Nero Wolf.
We bought 4 in German, and he is reading the rest in English (from our library). My husband likes these kind of independent, smart detectives, like Wimsey and Nero Wolf.
I've always liked the way Brunetti complains about the corruption and then turns around and finds a way to work with it.
In Italy that is known as l'arte del arrangarsi, which is often translated as the art of making something out of nothing, but which means something more like the art of fending for yourself, or the art of organization. I'm not very good at it; I'm too American and need to have rules to follow.
This is a series that has passed my desks many times, but I always passed on them. Not because they didn't look good, they did, but becasue I always had so many series I was already reading. Tomorrow, however, when I go to work I will check out the first Donna Leon. Everyone makes them sound irresistible.
Just finished
which was a Beaumont novel and very well done and have now started
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It was not the best one to start with, perhaps. A lot of long winded talk about time tables and the such. Try another one. My personal favorite is Murder Must Advertise, and Unnatural Death is anotehr good one.