English Mysteries Club discussion
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HJ
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Feb 05, 2016 05:09AM
S.K. -- no, Elizabeth Lemarchand's books were written too late to be Golden Age mysteries. The sleuths are two policemen, Pollard and Toye.
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Reading the Golden Age of Murder by Martin Edwards. It was nominated for an Agatha Award this year in the non-fiction category. It was a bargain just $1.99 on my Kindle.
I finished Friday on My Mind, the fifth novel in the Frieda Klein series by Nicci French. I liked it (despite having decided during "Thursday" that I don't particularly like Frieda) and had no idea whodunnit until the reveal.I would appreciate hearing from anyone else out there who's reading this series whether you think it's somehow necessary for no one in Frieda's inner circle to be in a longterm romantic partnership.
Reading "Dandy Gilver and the proper treatment of bloodstains" by Catriona McPherson. Just reached the last third of the book and things started to get enjoyably twisty.
I'm almost through Nicci French's Wednesday book. I think she needs help. Not a character you really care about.
Just finished Louise Penny's The Cruelest Month.
Mary wrote: "Just finished Louise Penny's The Cruelest Month."Ah, yes, the immortal Gamache. What's next for you after that?
I am reading several excellent historical mysteries and have the new Elizabeth George on my list: A Banquet of Consequences. Anyone read that?
I read The Case of the Gilded Fly by Edmund Crispin. Lots of witty repartee; much of it in an extensive vocabulary - good as an ebook so I could look up the words. I enjoyed the wit and the characters; Fen is certainly interesting. The plot was fine but the wrap up a bit too smooth with a strange red herring and a motive that I found unlikely. However, the road to the solution was an enjoyable trip. Interesting use of WWII blackout rules in the plot development. I intend to read at least the next two in the series before deciding whether to continue.
S.K. wrote: "Mary wrote: "Just finished Louise Penny's The Cruelest Month."Ah, yes, the immortal Gamache. What's next for you after that?
I am reading several excellent historical mysteries and have the new Elizabeth George on my list: A Banquet of Consequences. Anyone read that?
..."
I haven't read it, but there was mixed opinions in the "best book" thread.
S.K. wrote: "Mary wrote: "Just finished Louise Penny's The Cruelest Month."Ah, yes, the immortal Gamache. What's next for you after that?
I am reading several excellent historical mysteries and have the new ..."
I will probably pick up one of the many Peter Robinson Inspector Banks books that I have sitting in my to read pile.
Mary wrote: "S.K. wrote: "Mary wrote: "Just finished Louise Penny's The Cruelest Month."Ah, yes, the immortal Gamache. What's next for you after that?
I am reading several excellent historical mysteries and ..."
Sandy: I haven't read any Edmund Crispin, but I especially like books with a rich vocabulary. I'll add The Case of the Gilded Fly to my list.
Mary: I love the Inspector Banks books! Missed a few along the way and should have read them in order as I've lost the thread of the character development.
Mary wrote: "Just finished Louise Penny's The Cruelest Month."Just sayin...I love the writing of Louise Penny. Always anticipating her next Gamache story. Did you enjoy your book?
Faith wrote: "Some more great suggestions in this thread, yay! Couple recent books: Sayers' Murder Must Advertise, L.B. Hathaway's Murder Offstage and Anthony Berkeley's The Poisoned Chocolates Case.
I can't ..."
Edith Wharton really wonderful writer. Try her other books too.
Sandy wrote: "S.K. wrote: "Mary wrote: "Just finished Louise Penny's The Cruelest Month."
Ah, yes, the immortal Gamache. What's next for you after that?
I am reading several excellent historical mysteries and ..."
Sandy wrote: "S.K. wrote: "Mary wrote: "Just finished Louise Penny's The Cruelest Month."
Ah, yes, the immortal Gamache. What's next for you after that?
I am reading several excellent historical mysteries and ..."
Faith wrote: "Some more great suggestions in this thread, yay! Couple recent books: Sayers' Murder Must Advertise, L.B. Hathaway's Murder Offstage and Anthony Berkeley's The Poisoned Chocolates Case.
I can't ..."
S.K. wrote: "Ellen wrote: "S.K. wrote: "Ellen wrote: "I just finished the King's Corrodian by Pat McIntosh. I wish it wasn't the last book in the series. Hope she writes some more."
That's a new author for me...."
I am not familiar with L.B Hathaway nor Anthony Berkley. Will check out. Thanks for new names (for me)
S.K. wrote: "Mary wrote: "Just finished Louise Penny's The Cruelest Month."Ah, yes, the immortal Gamache. What's next for you after that?
I am reading several excellent historical mysteries and have the new ..."
I read the latest Eliz George and for the most part did enjoy. I mentioned this in another post I feel this was close (for me) to some of her first Lynley books. We know her last number of books were pretty bad.
Death on the Riviera: A British Library Crime Classic by John Bude. 4 Stars from me.This is my second John Bude novel, and I am now a firm fan.
He writes with a light hand, adept characterisation, and a dry sense of humour.
Death on the Riviera starts with the secondment of Detective Inspector Meredith to the French Riviera where a counterfeit currency racket has been linked to an Englishman, Chalky Cobbett, a well known crook and forger.
Aided by Sergeant Strang and Inspector Blampignon, Meredith follows the clues to Villa Paloma, the residence of an eccentric Englishwoman and her odd assortment of guests. There is smuggling, a clandestine love affair, a wronged husband, a cad, and, of course, a body.
This is a highly enjoyable classic murder mystery.
Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the gift of an ARC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
Sandy *The world could end while I was reading and I would never notice* wrote: " Death on the Riviera: A British Library Crime Classic by John Bude. 4 Stars from me.This..."
I'd love to read this and some of the other British Library Crime classics. My only problem is that they are a fortune once I have converted SA rands into British pounds or US dollars and I'm not sure I cannot get more/better books for the same investment. Will have to add them to my birthday list.
Is it the shipping costs that are prohibitive? Or do you read in e-book form? I have a friend in Australia who sometimes cannot get books for reasonable prices (or even at all), so maybe it's the same for you.Poisoned Pen is my publisher--very good people, small enough to care about readers. It might be worth contacting them to explain the particular issue.
I've just read Dead Men Don't Ski (1959) by Patricia Moyes. It's the first in a series starring Chief Inspector Henry Tibbett. In this one he is on a skiing holiday in Italy with his wife, mixing business with pleasure. I enjoyed it, and am going to read more in the series.
Reading "No Game for a Dame" by M. Ruth Myers on my Kindle. I'm about 1/3 through the book and it's an entertaining read--written in a kind of Mickey Spillane style with a female private detective. This is quite different from my usual preference for historical fiction. I needed a different style to "cleanse my palate" before diving back into my beloved cozies. Stylistic writing and tongue-in-cheek scenarios bring the reader right into Ohio in the 1950's (1940's?), reminiscent of listening to an old radio serial. Some references to drinking stout and some other British-type jargon but definitely set in the US. The story moves along and I'm thinking about taking a cue from Maggie, our detective, and keep charts to help me remember the relationships between all the characters. So, not English but still an enjoyable read.
S.K. wrote: "Is it the shipping costs that are prohibitive? Or do you read in e-book form? I have a friend in Australia who sometimes cannot get books for reasonable prices (or even at all), so maybe it's the s..."These are the e-books. To put in context, I can buy 3-4 of the Dean Street Press mysteries for the price of one British Library Crime Classic. Even when I was in England last year, they were more expensive than other books in the same genre.
The shipping cost for physical books to South Africa is a nightmare since it has to be couriered. No sane person uses our post office for parcels - they often go on strike for months at a time and your parcels get lost.
My husband spends a lot of time in England each year so he can buy and bring back for me, but even then I have a very tight budget given the exchange rate so I tend to buy very specific books.
Carolien wrote: "S.K. wrote: "Is it the shipping costs that are prohibitive? Or do you read in e-book form?..."Do any libraries anywhere near you carry the e-books you like? or can your husband get a library card in England next time he's there? As a writer of neo-traditional cozies I hate to suggest this, but when I discovered I can check out an e-book from the San Francisco Public Library while sitting in my club in London, it revolutionized my reading habits.
Carol wrote: "Carolien wrote: "S.K. wrote: "Is it the shipping costs that are prohibitive? Or do you read in e-book form?..."Do any libraries anywhere near you carry the e-books you like? or can your husband g..."
Yes, I can get my e-books from Los Angeles public library when I'm anywhere in the world, so I imagine this would be possible if you can use a residential address of someone who lives in England or America to get the library card in the first place.
Carolien: It sounds like you face a real challenge in feeding your reading habit.
Carol wrote: "Carolien wrote: "S.K. wrote: "Is it the shipping costs that are prohibitive? Or do you read in e-book form?..."Do any libraries anywhere near you carry the e-books you like? or can your husband g..."
That's an interesting suggestion. Our libraries don't carry e-books at all, but maybe the UK is an option.
Carolien, don't know if this is practicable for you, but Mobileread has a wiki/list of US libraries where you can sign up for an annual fee (including from overseas I believe) and use their digital services. I've never done this, but generally have heard positive feedback from various forum posters.http://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/EBook...
Miss M wrote: "Carolien, don't know if this is practicable for you, but Mobileread has a wiki/list of US libraries where you can sign up for an annual fee (including from overseas I believe) and use their digital..."I'll check it out. Thanks for the ideas.
I am currently reading The Handbook of the Sherlock Holmes Statue Festival from the Sherlock Holmes Society 
A wonderful pictorial book featuring the inauguration of the Sherlock Holmes statue in London.
I would love to review either or both.Sandi Hemming
Donna Leon's books are excellent. I must catch up on the series.I've just completed A Famine of Horses which I really enjoyed. Set in Elizabethan times on the Scottish border, it is very well written. Fans of the Brother Cadfael series may want to try it.
I also love Leon's Guido Brunetti series that is set in Venice.
Add me to the list of Donna Leon's fans.
Just finished Benjamin Blacks, Even The Dead. Excellent read.
Jean wrote: "Add me to the list of Donna Leon's fans."Me too. I have read most of her books but not the last 2 or 3. Brunetti and family are wonderfully written.
Mary wrote: "Just finished Louise Penny's The Cruelest Month."I think Louise Penny truly brilliant writer. The Gamache books so excellent. The mysteries truly enjoyable. The characters living in 3 Pines great fun.
I liked Louise Penny until the last two or three.
I like Louise Penny's books but have only read the first two. I am currently reading a cozie by G. M. Maillet called "A Fatal Winter". I am enjoying it very much.
Old Friends and New Enemies: Tense and Gripping Scottish Crime Thriller by Owen Mullen. Tense and gripping. Love Charlie Cameron......*sigh*
In another group someone asked about a mystery series which I love, so I'm recommending it here: the Marcus Didius Falco series by Lindsey Davis. The first book is The Silver Pigs. Falco is a Roman, an "informer" i.e. an investigator. He is a very likeable amusing character, and the history is excellent but not overdone. The Silver Pigs is set partly in Roman Britain, but most of the books are set in Rome (with an interesting variety in locations).
Thinking about Falco (see previous entry) reminded me for some reason of another character I'm fond of: Angel in the series by Mike Ripley. I don't think I've seen that series recommended, and I do so whole-heartedly. The first is Just Another Angel, set in London in the late 1980s.
What got me hooked on the Falco series was the BBC dramatizations of the first 4 books. They replay them once a year.
Falco is one of my favourite detectives of all time.A detective that reminds me a lot of Falco in his attitude is Andreas Kaldis in the series by Jeffrey Siger. I've just read the second in the series Assassins of Athens and find them completely addictive. Set in Greece about 2000 years after Falco, but quite a few of the themes show how little society has changed over that time. Highly recommend the series.
Thank you, Carolien! I shall look into this series.
I'm going to Murder By the Book to see Jacqueline Winspear and get her new book Journey to Munich. Really looking forward to it.
I have always enjoyed the Inspector Lynley mysteries on PBS and am finally going to read A Great Deliverance by Elizabeth George.
I am reading an Elizabeth George too... In the presence of the enemy.
Currently reading Georgette Heyer Death in the Stocks
English Mysteries Club
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