English Mysteries Club discussion
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Currently Reading?
Carol/Bonadie wrote: "Lorraine wrote: "I'm currently reading The Brutal Telling by Louise Penny. It's funny how a small town like Three Pines can have so many mysterious deaths."LOL, Lorraine. This is my quarrel with ..."
Louise Penny writes beautiful stories.
I have just finished another Donna Leon (the girl of his dreams) - always good company even if the plots have been a little thin of late. Also finished a shorter novel, A Malmo Midwinter: an Inspector Anita Sundstrom novella, by Torquil Macleod. I've enjoyed the stories and characters in this series so far. And 'Stasi Child: A Chilling Cold War Thriller (The Oberleutnant Karin Müller series' by David Young was good, a bit different - set in the GDR in 1975, and well researched. High hopes for more in this series.
I've went on a European mystery binge for about a week (should have been doing assignments for my studies, but the books seemed a much better idea at the time...)I finished the second in the series by Michele Giuttari, A Death In Tuscany. I enjoy the authenticity of both the setting and plot in this series. I followed that up with The Golden Egg by Donna Leon. I still enjoy this series and this book is quite different in that it is a mystery, but not a criminal investigation.
I've got the first of the Malmo series on my Kindle, I must really get around to it based on your recommendation, Karen. I'll have a look at the David Young series as well.
Just finished A Banquet of Consequences, by Elizabeth George. I was hesitant to read another George, because I thought the last one was absolutely dreadful, but I got some good recommendations from trustworthy people on Banquet. All in all, I'm glad I read it. The ending is very unsatisfying, and overall it's nowhere near as good as the early George, but perhaps she's starting to get back on track. I'd love to hear what others who have read it thought.
I am about to start I am Half-Sick of Shadows by Alan Bradley. It is book #4 in his Flavia de Luce series. I have been delightfully surprised by this series and have been binge reading it. I picked up the first book because I found the cover interesting. When I found out the main character was only 11 (a sticker was covering part of the description), I almost returned it to the library without reading it. I am glad it didn't. Even though she is only 11, she is very intelligent relatable.
Karen wrote: "I am about to start I am Half-Sick of Shadows by Alan Bradley. It is book #4 in his Flavia de Luce series. I have been delightfully surprised by this series and have been binge reading it. I picked..."I really like that series, Flavia is an interesting character and the rest of the household is pleasantly flakey.
Sandy wrote: "Karen wrote: "I am about to start I am Half-Sick of Shadows by Alan Bradley. It is book #4 in his Flavia de Luce series. I have been delightfully surprised by this series and have been binge readin..."She reminds me of my best friend growing up. The two of us were always getting into misadventures.
Olivia wrote: "Currently I'm reading Defending Jacob by William Landay. So far it has been a page-turner."What a good read Defending Jacob!
I've been reading all of Christopher Brookmyre. Just love his flamboyant style, great language and good plotting.
Have started reading John le Carre's The Night Manager to compare with the wonderful BBC tv version. It's got me hooked already, tho it's difficult trying to re-imagine the characters when I can see the tv ones still so vividly!
Karen, me too! I'd read The Night Manager years ago, but I couldn't stand for that extraordinary BBC series to end, so I'm reading it again with a fresh set of faces in my mind. Tom Hiddleston was far from how I'd pictured Pine, but Hugh Laurie (what a genius) has taken over my mental Roper.
In the middle of Hamlet, Revenge!. I like the series so far and it's nice that there are a lot of them.
I just finished The Keeper of Secretsby Judith Cutler. It is set in the Regency period with a young parson and local doctor as the protagonists. The second in the series was available on paperback swap so I have it on order.
Discovered E.R. Punshon recently when 15 of his Bobby Owen series were finally available in Kindle editions so I've gotten to the sixth book in the series now: Death Comes to Cambers. Really a fun read. Bobby starts our as a constable, and is drawn into a case with one of the best Scotland Yard detectives who sees great promise in young Owen and ends up mentoring him through the beginning of this series. The growth of Owen's detection skills in interesting to watch.
Thanks for the recommendation about the Bobby Owens series. Just ordered the first one for my Kindle.
Reading Alibi for a Corpse by Elizabeth Lemarchand. It is the third in the series. I really enjoyed the first two.
I am trying out a new series called The Agency by Y.S. Lee. While it is classified as a "Young Adult" I enjoyed the first book in the series and have just started on the second.
I am reading a book by Rachel Abbott, an author I've never read before. It's called Only the Innocent.
Half way through listening to
Final Account by Peter RobinsonEnjoying
Cometh the Hour by Jeffrey Archer. About 1.4 of the way in.Just started
Out of the Ice by Ann Turner, the second of her books that I have read.
Just finished The Good Knight bySarah Woodbury and liked it very much. I intend to go on with the series.
Joan wrote: "Just finished A Banquet of Consequences, by Elizabeth George. I was hesitant to read another George, because I thought the last one was absolutely dreadful, but I got some good recommendations from..."At a mystery writers' conference last week, I heard that Elizabeth George's last several books were ghosted or "cowritten" -- a step more & more series authors allegedly are taking to keep up with the book-a-year (minimum) pressure.
This speaks well for groups like this, that encourage readers to find writers who are new to us, & maybe give our faves some breathing room to rest, experiment, & even read!
Just finished Breaking Cover, the latest (ninth) in the Liz Carlyle series by Stella Rimington. I still like this series. The whodunnit aspects of this one were not great, but the character development continues to interest me. I particularly liked the vulnerable-human version of Geoffrey Fane.
Murder at the Masque by amy Myers, no.4 in her series about Auguste Didier, a frenchc hef who keeps getting mixed up in murder investigations though he would rather just get on with the cooking. it's a very amusing series. This one is set in cannes at a cricket match between the English on one side and russians on the other. great fun.
Ellen wrote: "Just finished The Good Knight bySarah Woodbury and liked it very much. I intend to go on with the series."Carol wrote: "Joan wrote: "Just finished A Banquet of Consequences, by Elizabeth George. I was hesitant to read another George, because I thought the last one was absolutely dreadful, but I got some good recomme..."
That explains why I have not enjoyed the last few books...I don't read her any more which is not what the publisher wanted!
Betsy wrote: "I really like Pollard and Toye, but I haven't read them in years."I wish my local library had them but I have been able to buy them used without to much expense.
I may look into buying a couple. I can't remember the names of the ones I read though so I guess I will start over. I wish the library had them too.
I'm currently reading Stephen Kelly's The Secrets of the Dead, a HM set during WWII. Good style and interesting characters. After that, will go back to rereading Ellis Peters' Brother Cadfael books, and also start on Rhys Bowen's latest Lady Georgiana -- love those.
Karen wrote: "Discovered E.R. Punshon recently when 15 of his Bobby Owen series were finally available in Kindle editions so I've gotten to the sixth book in the series now: Death Comes to Cambers. Really a fun ..."Thanks for this recommendation. I read #1 in the series,
a hefty old copy with yellowed pages & ornamental chapter heads, perfect for Punshon's prose. Here's my review if anybody's curious:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Started As Chimney Sweepers Come to Dust last night. Flavia's comments about the adults in her life make me wonder what thoughts are really going on in the minds of the middle school students I see in the library every day.
"The Return of Captain John Emmett" which I almost stopped reading as it was moving along so slowly and wasn't holding my attention. However, once he got the letter and started on his detecting quest, it has picked up pace and for me, my interest so I will continue on
Love Daniel Silva's Gabriel Allon series, and Louise Penny's Armand Gamache (Three Pines) series. Just finished my first Preston & Child, The Blue Labyrinth, and now I'm hooked on that series as well.
Laurie wrote: "I am reading An Impartial Witness by Charles Todd"Laurie, I bought a copy of An Impartial Witness by Charles Todd at a library sale a few years ago but have never gotten around to it. Should I push it to the front of the TBR pile?
Books mentioned in this topic
The Taken (other topics)Sherlock Holmes: Murder at the Savoy & Other Stories (other topics)
Wicked Autumn (other topics)
Cover Her Face (other topics)
A Mind to Murder (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Alice Clark-Platts (other topics)Chris Ould (other topics)
Adrian McKinty (other topics)
Will Thomas (other topics)
Anna Katharine Green (other topics)
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I enjoyed Three Day Town and really enjoy Sigrid Harald