Reading the Detectives discussion

It's time to nominate for our August group read! You are welcome to nominate books by Golden Age authors, or titles which were written later but are set during the Golden Age. Happy nominating!

A Question of Proof

As we have been talking about school mysteries, in our thread about the first mysteries we ever read, I thought of this first Nigel Strangeways novel, which takes place in 1935.

The annual Sports Day at respected public school Sudeley Hall ends in tragedy when the headmaster's obnoxious nephew is found strangled in a haystack. The boy was despised by staff and students alike, but English master Michael Evans, who was seen sharing a kiss with the headmaster's beautiful young wife earlier that day, soon becomes a prime suspect for the murder. Luckily, his friend Nigel Strangeways, nephew to the Assistant Commissioner of Scotland Yard, is on hand to help investigate the case.

Susan wrote: "A Question of Proof

As we have been talking about school mysteries, in our thread about the first mysteries we ever read, I thought of this..."

Might be difficult to find that here. I just looked at the usual places I get books and abebooks starts at $13.89 for books in US, for books from UK cost is less but postage isn't.

It is not on kindle in US that I can see, but Amazon.com have copies listed for less than $2, shipping from the US.

Susan wrote: "A Question of Proof

As we have been talking about school mysteries, in our thread about the first mysteries we ever read, I thought of this..."

Speaking of school murders, James Hilton also wrote one Was It Murder?/ Murder at School.

Cat Among the Pigeons also has a school setting.

Hmm as it will be holiday/vacation time I am putting in by Agatha Christie

A wonderful choice, Hilary. Always happy to read Miss Marple.

Lady Clementina, did you want to nominate either of the books you mentioned?

I nominate The Red House Mystery.

The Pit Prop Syndicate by Freeman Wills Crofts a/k/a F Wills Crofts. Sometimes the title is The Pit-Stop Syndicate. Doesn't seem like a hyphen would make a difference. But it does - 99 cents on kindle. Without a hyphen, $3.99.

I haven't started this one yet. But it is a non-series book. It appears to be a mystery involving stolen license plates.

Published in 1922.

Jan C wrote: "The Pit Prop Syndicate by Freeman Wills Crofts a/k/a F Wills Crofts. Sometimes the title is The Pit-Stop Syndicate. Doesn't seem lik..."

The Pit Prop Syndicate is also available free through Manybooks
http://manybooks.net/titles/croftfre2...
or from Project Gutenberg
http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/2013

Carolien wrote: "I nominate The Red House Mystery."

I was about to nominate this but luckily checked the thread first! It appeared on my radar from a local book store email. The reviews sound amusing and it is free.

Sandy wrote: "Carolien wrote: "I nominate The Red House Mystery."

I was about to nominate this but luckily checked the thread first! It appeared on my radar from a local book store email. The rev..."

I so wish Milne had written more adult fiction.

Sandy wrote: "Carolien wrote: "I nominate The Red House Mystery."

I was about to nominate this but luckily checked the thread first! It appeared on my radar from a local book store email. The rev..."

I read it some years ago- quite good if I remember right.

I've been meaning to read something by Patricia Wentworth.

Dean Street Press has reprinted a lot of her titles, so I'm spoilt for choice, but will go for Nothing Venture: A Golden Age Mystery, which is a standalone and looks quite intriguing - another novel with a weird will!

Judy wrote: "I've been meaning to read something by Patricia Wentworth.

Dean Street Press has reprinted a lot of her titles, so I'm spoilt for choice, but will go for [book:Nothing Venture: A G..."

Me too- Strangers on a Train and Mr Ripley in particular.

Lady Clementina wrote: "Judy wrote: "I've been meaning to read something by Patricia Wentworth.

Dean Street Press has reprinted a lot of her titles, so I'm spoilt for choice, but will go for [book:Nothing..."

I think that's Patricia Highsmith but you should definitely read Strangers on a Train as it's excellent. It got modernised/retold recently which is also very good - links not working for me today but try The Kind Worth Killing by Peter Swanson

I recommend Cat among the pigeons by Christie which has a school setting but I have just finished The moving finger and it's one of my favorites 'cause I like a little romance as well as a good mistery...

Kiara, are you nominating Cat Among the Pigeons for August?

Also, Lady Clementina, are you nominating any of the books you have mentioned?

I'm guessing these were all just being mentioned in discussion, but just double=checking! Thanks :)

Judy wrote: "Kiara, are you nominating Cat Among the Pigeons for August?

Also, Lady Clementina, are you nominating any of the books you have mentioned?

I'm guessing these were all just being mentioned in dis..."
Oops sorry- I had my Patricias confused- wentworth is the Miss Silver books, right?

Yes, that's right. I keep getting them confused too!

Judy wrote: "Kiara, are you nominating Cat Among the Pigeons for August?

Also, Lady Clementina, are you nominating any of the books you have mentioned?

I'm guessing these were all just being mentioned in dis..."
I nominated Cat Among the Pigeons and Hilton's Was It Murder above- both with a school theme.

You are right about Cat among the pigeons, it had already been nominated so I 'll go for The moving finger which, as I 've said is one of my favorites

Thanks Kiara and Lady Clementina.

We usually only have one nomination per person, but I see I didn't make that clear, so we can go ahead with both nominations this time, or you can save one for next month if you like.

Judy wrote: "Thanks Kiara and Lady Clementina.

We usually only have one nomination per person, but I see I didn't make that clear, so we can go ahead with both nominations this time, or you can save one for n..."

I didn't know that. Well, if you're counting mine as Cat Among the Pigeons, I'll leave it at that and put in Was it Murder the next time.

Thanks Lady Clementina, that's great.

The poll is now open - a great array of choices this month!

https://www.goodreads.com/poll/list/1...

Lots of Agatha Christie this time! I voted for the only book I haven't read already but would be happy to reread any of the others :)

The Red House Mystery is surging ahead. I have read it before, but it is obviously of interest as it was written by A A Milne (of Winnie the Pooh fame). I think it was his only mystery, in fact?

Yes, A. A. Milne has stormed into an early lead. I've just checked and you're right that this is his only mystery, Susan, but he did also write some other novels for adult readers.

I can never think of Milne without having his feud with Wodehouse coming to mind:

http://strangeco.blogspot.co.uk/2013/...

Thank you for that link, Susan! It’s excellently written, draws you in with wit and then turns serious. And it sheds light on events I hadn’t previously heard about.

Thanks for the link, Susan - I had heard their feud mentioned but didn't know much about it. I did see a very good BBC film about Wodehouse's broadcasts, where he was played by Tim Pigott=Smith.

I read another article earlier today about Milne, showing how both he and his son became increasingly frustrated by the success of Pooh and Christopher Robin:
http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/2016...

Seems he was yet another author who became fed up with people just wanting to hear about the one character and not reading his other books, as with Conan Doyle and Sherlock Holmes. It will be interesting to read a completely different book by Milne if The Red House Mystery does win.

I did read a biography of him some years back, A. A. Milne: His Life by Ann Thwaite and found it interesting, though I don't remember it in detail now.

He sounds an interesting character, doesn't he? Pooh Bear is so beloved a character you cannot really imagine the author being a cold, or uninterested, parent...

I wonder if that was true - the way he writes has so much warmth and humour that it's hard to imagine.

A new film about Milne is being made:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainme...

& just a suggestion for future polls - how about one nomination per author per month? Otherwise the votes (even for the great Christie) get diluted.

& I'm speaking as one who voted for (& really wants to read) the Milne title. :)

Susan wrote: "I can never think of Milne without having his feud with Wodehouse coming to mind:

http://strangeco.blogspot.co.uk/2013/..."

Thanks for sharing. I didn't know very much about this.

I read a lovely article/interview in an old women's weekly about Christopher Robin- and how he preferred to live a very private life. It had nice pictures of CR, Pooh, the original bear after whom Pooh was named, and of Alice.

Having two books by the same author does dilate the vote, but perhaps we need to self police these things - ie if someone nominates a book by a certain author, then if you were thinking of another book by the same author, you keep that suggestion for the following month?

I have already read the Milne book, but it was a while ago now.

Thanks, Susan, that makes sense - also, it's possible to change your vote while the poll is running, so anyone who wasn't sure which book to go for can swap if they like.

I've never read the Milne book and am now intrigued, so even if it doesn't win (which it definitely looks like doing!) I'm going to read it soon anyway.

Yes, I don't think we want to stop people nominating, as that would be self policing. However, with three Agatha Christie books nominated, that is a good sign for something Judy and I have tentative plans for later...

Susan wrote: "Yes, I don't think we want to stop people nominating, as that would be self policing. However, with three Agatha Christie books nominated, that is a good sign for something Judy and I have tentativ..."

An Agatha Christie themed read?

This year we are reading the LPW books, maybe next year could be Miss Marple?

Susan wrote: "Yes, I don't think we want to stop people nominating, as that would be self policing. However, with three Agatha Christie books nominated, that is a good sign for something Judy and I have tentativ..."

Intriguing ... There are many Chritsie I haven't read.

Good to see you are intrigued. Once Judy and I have ironed out the details we will unveil our idea :)

Idea unveiled - Hilary, you are a good detective :)

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Quite a few new members have joined in the last week (we had 250 members last time I checked!), so just a reminder that the poll for our August read will be closing in the next couple of days! Here's the link for voting:

https://www.goodreads.com/poll/list/1...

We have a winner! It's The Red House Mystery by A.A. Milne.

Here are the full results:

The Red House Mystery 6 votes, 28.6%
A Question of Proof (Nigel Strangeways, #1) 4 votes, 19.0%
The Pit Prop Syndicate 3 votes, 14.3%
Cat Among the Pigeons (Hercule Poirot, #32) 3 votes, 14.3%
A Caribbean Mystery (Miss Marple, #10) 2 votes, 9.5%
The Moving Finger (Miss Marple, #4) 2 votes, 9.5%
* Nothing Venture 1 vote, 4.8%