Reading the Detectives discussion

I am setting myself the challenge of reading one book from each county of England, Wales and Scotland.

I'm using the list of historical counties, and I am including the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. I have used the same list of counties that I use for my family history research.

My challenge won't be limited to mysteries.

There is no time limit on my challenge

Unless there are no alternatives for a particular county then I will not re-read books. (The exception to this is books that are being re-read as part of another challenge - this will allow me to count Five Red Herrings which I am currently reading again)


I will probably find myself reading several books from one area as when I find a new series I like to read my way through it.


I had intended restarting my old blog, but for some reason I can't log on to edit it. So I have started a new blog which can be found at https://jaymekindle.wordpress.com/

England


Bedfordshire Sprig Muslin
Berkshire The Big Over Easy
Buckinghamshire The Scandal at Bletchley
Cambridgeshire A Quest for Clemency
CheshireRock Stars Don't Like Big Knickers
Cornwall The Cornish Coast Murder
Cumberland The Lake District Murder
DerbyshireThe Toll-Gate
Devon Animal Instincts
Dorset Summer at the Comfort Food Cafe
Durham No Bra Required
Essex Death in Flitbury Marshes
Gloucestershire The Cheltenham Square Murder
HampshireHomicide in Hampshire
Herefordshire Foxglove Summer
Hertfordshire A Presumption of Death
Huntingdonshire The Children of Green Knowe
Isle of Wight Gigi's Island Dream
Kent Rope Enough
Lancashire Creature Comforts
Leicestershire . The Late Elephant
LincolnshirePlotting The Play
City of London (Middlesex)Murder Underground
Norfolk Murder on the Marsh
Northamptonshire The Sculthorpe Murder
NorthumberlandThe Hangman Murders: A DC Oliver Cole Mystery
Nottinghamshire Conditional Love
Oxfordshire Death on the Cherwell
Rutland . "A House in Rutland"
Shropshire . The Wayward Apprentice
SomersetOld Crotchet
Staffordshire
Suffolk Utterly Explosive
Surrey The Hog's Back Mystery: A British Library Crime Classic
Sussex The Sussex Downs Murder
Warwickshire The Bad Apple
Westmorland The Frozen Lake
Wiltshire The Asharton Manor Mysteries Boxed Set
WorcestershireTo Guide Her Home
Yorkshire ~ West Riding The Bradshaw Mystery
Yorkshire ~ North Riding Craven Scar
Yorkshire ~ East Riding A Single To Filey: A DCI Tony Forward Novel

41 read @ 8 January 2019

Wales


Anglesey Worse than Dead
Breconshire Cwm Llechrhyd
Caernarfonshire Brass in Pocket
Cardiganshire Free to Be Tegan
Carmarthenshire The Dancing Lights
Denbighshire
Flintshire
GlamorganHidden Chapters: A powerful novel exploring motherhood, adoption, and family secrets
Merioneth Daughter of Time
Monmouthshire The Angel Tree
Montgomeryshire
PembrokeshireA Cottage by the Sea
Radnorshire

9 read @ 9 January

Scotland


Aberdeenshire Sophia's Secret
Angus/Forfarshire Death at Glamis Castle
Argyllshire Auld Acquaintance
AyrshireEnmity
BanffshireDandy Gilver and The Reek of Red Herrings
Berwickshire . No Stranger to Death
Buteshire The House at Ettrick Bay
Caithness
Clackmannanshire
Cromartyshire/Ross-shire Bring Me Home
Dumfriesshire Dandy Gilver & A Deadly Measure of Brimstone
Dunbartonshire The Eagle of the Ninth
East Lothian/Haddingtonshire
Edinburgh The Evil That Men Do
Fife The Pitkirtly Triangle
Inverness-shire Highland Fling
Kinross-shire
Kirkcudbrightshire Five Red Herrings
Kincardineshire
Lanarkshire Dandy Gilver and the Unpleasantness in the Ballroom
Morayshire Death of a Nag
Nairnshire
Orkney Orkney Mystery
Peebles-shire
Perthshire The Winter Ground
Renfrewshire Avarice
Roxburghshire The Girl Before Eve
Selkirkshire
Shetland Dreaming in Norwegian
Stirlingshire Murder At Scottish Mensa
SutherlandDeath of a Perfect Wife
West Lothian/Linlithgowshire The Burrymen War
Wigtownshire Dandy Gilver and a Bothersome Number of Corpses

24 read @ 7 December 2018

N. Ireland, IOM and the Channel Islands


Antrim
Armagh
Down The Tea House on Mulberry Street
Fermanagh
Londonderry
Tyrone

Isle of Man Aunt Bessie Believes

Jersey Blood In The Sand: Volume 1
Guernsey. The Splintered Circle
Alderney Secrets & Lies
Sark
Herm. Herm, Our Island Home

6 read @ 9 June 2021


Adding Counties of the Republic of Ireland
Carlow
Cavan
Clare
CorkThe Girl From Kilkenny
Donegal
DublinMurder at Irish Mensa
GalwayMurder on the Old Bog Road
KerryIf You Could See Me Now
KildareMurder At Kildare Mensa
Kilkenny
Laois
Leitrim
Limerick
Longford
Louth
Mayo
Meath
Monaghan
Offaly
Roscommon
Sligo
Tipperary
Waterford
Westmeath
Wexford
WicklowMurder At Wicklow Mensa

6/26 @ 3 January 2019

Great challenge, Jay-me! The George Gently books by Alan Hunter are mostly set in Norfolk, though the TV series was set up north for some reason.

The Inspector Morse books by Colin Dexter are in Oxfordshire and the Inspector Wycliffe books by W.J. Burley are mostly set in Cornwall.

Diana Xarissa's Aunt Bessie series is set on the Isle of Man.

Betsy wrote: "Diana Xarissa's Aunt Bessie series is set on the Isle of Man."

I have read the first book in that series and have the next two on my kindle so the IOM is definitely covered. I also have some George Gently books so I will have to check the settings of those. They would also cover a challenge to read books that have been languishing in the depths of my kindle for a while.

I have a couple of books set in Lincolnshire and I think I have a selection to choose from that cover Cornwall and Yorkshire.
Then I've got Five Red Herrings to read as part of this year's challenge so that will be another county to check off the lists.
I can see some counties being quite difficult

Dying to see what you choose for Cornwall! :)

That'll take you awhile!

Carol ♛ Type, Oh Queen! ♛ wrote: "Dying to see what you choose for Cornwall! :)"

There are a lot of books set in Cornwall, such as Winston Graham's Poldark series and several by Victoria Holt which I have read. And of course The Cornish Coast Murder which I read earlier this year.
But none of those will do for this challenge as I am planning on reading new books if possible. Or at least none that I have read recently. I have vague memories of one that I read many years ago that was set in the Channel Islands, so if I could find that one then I would count a re-read of that.

As well as the John Bude mentioned above I also read The Sussex Downs Murder and The Lake District Murder earlier this year. I wish I had started the challenge earlier.


I have decided on my first book - I'm continuing with the next book in the series by Cecilia Peartree The Pitkirtly Triangle which is set in Fife.

Patrick Gale writes quite a few books set in Cornwall, not Golden Age or mystery though but he is a very good writer.

But I would suggest something by Daphne Du Maurier, Jamaica Inn for example.

I like Carola Dunn's cozy (Cornish) series...
Manna from Hades

For Hampshire, you might try Jane and the Ghosts of Netley by Stephanie Barron. It’s not the first in the series (many of which are set in Hampshire), but it’s the one with the most historical/political content. It’s Jane Austen as sleuth in a series of mysteries, very well written.

A non-crime suggestion. Some of Elizabeth Goudge's books are set in the Channel Islands.

Back to crime - Elly Griffiths for Norfolk.

First book finished.
I'm now on the south coast of England reading Rope Enough which has been on my kindle for a couple of years so it will also count as part of my challenge to read books that have been on my TBR for a while.

Are you going alphabetically, geographically or whatever I fancy-ly?

Michelle wrote: "Are you going alphabetically, geographically or whatever I fancy-ly?"

Whatever I fancy-ly

The first couple were already on my kindle and were easy to find.
The first because it is a recent download and the second because it was in a special collection for books in my "backlist challenge"

There are a few others that are somewhere on the kindle, but there are a lot of books on there so I could get sidetracked when I am searching :)

It's a good way to get the to read list down. And even better if you need to expand it to read new series. I guess time doesn't matter unless Scotland have another independence referendum!

I was looking for something else and came across another book by John Bude. The Cheltenham Square Murder
I was checking through similar books to see if I could add more titles to my list of possible challenge books and I found Devon, Surrey,Yorkshire and Oxford. I also found a lot that were made up counties.

Regarding Yorkshire I've not decided whether to split the county into the three original ridings.

Ian Samson wrote Death in Devon and The Norfolk Mystery.

Both you and Judy have fascinating challenges ahead of you. Keep us updated!

I'm regretting not starting this challenge at the beginning of the year as I have read quite a few that would have ticked off some of the counties. :(

Jay-me (Janet) wrote: "I'm regretting not starting this challenge at the beginning of the year as I have read quite a few that would have ticked off some of the counties. :("

I would think they would still count, it's only you putting the restrictions on it, tick them off. It's a long list anyway so you will still have plenty of new discoveries to make.

I wouldn’t regard that as cheating at all! You’re just belatedly developing the framework for your reading.

Michelle wrote: "I would think they would still count, it's only you putting the restrictions on it, tick them off. It's a long list anyway so you will still have plenty of new discoveries to make. ."

Abigail wrote: "I wouldn’t regard that as cheating at all! You’re just belatedly developing the framework for your reading."

I've started adding them, I just need to check the locations of some books to see whether they can be included :)

I'm just listing them and putting a couple of sentences about them on my blog for the moment. When I have time I might go back and write a bit more and add any photos that I have if I have visited the county. https://jaymekindle.wordpress.com

Good on you Jay-me! And after all, if you're reading series chances are you'd read the next one set in the same county anyway.

For Suffolk, I would recommend Humber Boy B set in Ipswich where I am from and it was pretty good to see bits of the town I knew about being written about, Ruth Dugall is a great author and this particular one has echoes of the Jamie Bulger murder, the boy convicted being released and given a new identity. I really enjoyed it and read all her other ones, although I was less keen on her latest, Nowhere Girl. The main protagonist of her stories is a probation officer which is a good twist on solving crimes. In Nowhere Girl she wasn't a probation officer as such and I think it suffered. But other than that she is a great writer and I love her novels

Have you got Cambridgeshire sorted yet? If not then there are the Imogen Quy books The Wyndham Case is the first one - or if you don't mind some m/m love interest then the Edwardian Cambridge Fellows Lessons in Love is another one

Suffolk is nicely evoked in Margery Allingham’s early (second?) novel, Mystery Mile.

I enjoyed, The Wyndham Case. Imogen Quy was a good series.

Michelle, I'm also from Suffolk - I grew up in a village but have lived in Ipswich for many years. I haven't read anything by Ruth Dugdall as yet, will look out for her books.

I loved Mystery Mile - the Lovejoy books by Jonathan Gash are also largely set in north Essex, and I remember enjoying some of those years ago, along with the TV adaptation starring Ian McShane.

Abigail wrote: "Suffolk is nicely evoked in Margery Allingham’s early (second?) novel, Mystery Mile."

Thanks, will check it out!

Judy wrote: "Michelle, I'm also from Suffolk - I grew up in a village but have lived in Ipswich for many years. I haven't read anything by Ruth Dugdall as yet, will look out for her books.

I loved Mystery Mile..."

I'm London now but family still in Suffolk so nice to get out of London. My parents lived in Sudbury for 20years, nice town but doesn't do enough to promote itself especially as Gainsborough was a local boy and Constable not far up the road.

I love driving through the little villages, so nice chocolate box houses, different styles as you go through each village. My brother is in Lavenham which is lovely and whenever. Go back we try to have fish and chips at Felixstowe even if we have to sit in the car as it's blowing a gale......

You can try Zoë Sharp for Lancashire. I really enjoy the Charlie Fox series.

Kate Atkinson's Jackson Brodie series start in Cambridge and the second book is set in Edinburgh.

Good luck!

Going back over books read this year I have managed to cross out a handful of counties. I still need to check a couple of the Georgette Heyer books that I have read to see if they fit into a specific county.

I read the John Bude book set in Gloucestershire The Cheltenham Square Murder and have started The Hog's Back Mystery: A British Library Crime Classic (Surrey) on kindle, and Five Red Herrings (Kircudbrightshire) in paperback.

Some books seem to cover more than one county - for example Pride and Prejudice is set in Hertfordshire, Kent and Derbyshire. I think if I do read a multi centre book I will just choose one county for my challenge (unless the extra counties don't have any other choices )

Progress so far

England. 9/42

Wales 0/13

Scotland. 1/33

N. Ireland, IOM & Channel Islands. 0/12

Overall Progress 10/100

Another county crossed off now I've read The Hog's Back Mystery: A British Library Crime Classic

A longer read and more detailed than the John Bude books, but enjoyable. I will be looking for more by Freeman Wills Crofts on kindle.

I've added another county to the "finished" list as I've just read The Hangman Murders: A DC Oliver Cole Mystery I have books set in Essex, the Isle of Man and Breconshire, Wales (Brecknockshire according to the list on the Around the World Group) lined up on my kindle but I'm going to read the second book in the DC Oliver Cole series next.

I'm still reading my paperback copy of Five Red Herrings and have started Death on the Cherwell on my kindle

Progress so far

England. 11/42

Wales 0/13

Scotland. 1/33

N. Ireland, IOM & Channel Islands. 0/12

Overall Progress 12/100

That's pretty good, Jay-me. Are you finding some areas hard to find represented?

Susan wrote: "That's pretty good, Jay-me. Are you finding some areas hard to find represented?"

At the moment I'm still going through books already on my kindle and obvious ones that I spot on Amazon (that's how I came across The Cheltenham Square Murder ). Looking at the lists on the other group that I found there are some counties with a lot less choice so once I have read all the easy to find places I'm sure I will struggle.

Searching for books set in .?.?.? includes books of walks, maps and travel guides.

Another thing is trying to find the exact county just from the blurb - I'm coming across books set in East Anglia or Central Wales or the North of Scotland for example, but can't narrow down precise locations from them. If necessary later on I will have to dig deeper, but at the moment I am finding plenty of choice.

Hmmm, you might need to turn detective, to find out precise locations. I am sure we can try to help with suggestions, if you get stuck :)

Oxfordshire now crossed off - Death on the Cherwell

I remember enjoying that one - and of course we have more Oxford coming up soon with Gaudy Night! Looks as if your challenge is going really well, Jay-me.

Yes, I am really looking forward to Gaudy Night - I've heard so much about it...

Still reading my paperback copy of Five Red Herrings but have readOrkney Mystery on the kindle and am just about to start Dreaming in Norwegian which is set in Norway and the Shetlands

Added Shetland with the Frankie Valente book and Sutherland - a Hamish Macbeth book that also ticks off my "read books that have been on the kindle for a while" challenge. I'm going to continue with the next Hamish Macbeth book.


Progress so far

England. 12/42

Wales 0/13

Scotland. 4/33

N. Ireland, IOM & Channel Islands. 0/12

Overall Progress 16/100

I'm still reading Hamish Macbeth, the main setting of the series is Sutherland, there are plenty of references throughout the books so far mentioning that. The setting according to Goodreads is "Auldbiggings near Paisley" which is obviously not correct. There seem to be a lot of books set there according to Goodreads.

The book that I'm currently readingDeath of a Snob is mainly set on an island off the west coast - there has been a mention of getting a boat from Oban to the island. So I'm trying to work out which of the Scottish counties this book should be set in.

Finally got to the end of my collection of Hamish Macbeth books. I enjoyed reading them, nice gentle mysteries and I do prefer Hamish over Agatha Raisin. Most of the books were set in Sutherland so I've not ticked off many extra in the round Britain challenge but have made a dent in the list of books that have been languishing on the kindle for a while. Although there were mentions of popping down to Edinburgh, Glasgow, and London as well as various other places there is only one book which I decided could definitely be counted as an entry for this challenge.

I followed up my Hamish marathon with Animal Instincts by Alan Titchmarsh which is set in Devon.



Progress so far

England. 13/42

Wales 0/13

Scotland. 5/33

N. Ireland, IOM & Channel Islands. 0/12

Overall Progress 18/100

You are doing really well. Cadfael came from Wales - were any of the books set there? I read them a LONG time ago...

Susan wrote: "You are doing really well. Cadfael came from Wales - were any of the books set there? I read them a LONG time ago..."

I have all the Cadfael books in paperback and have read them many times over the years, so unfortunately I won't be counting them for this challenge.

I found a map that I can use to mark off the counties completed so I have added it to my blog.

I have quite a few books lined up for this challenge - just need to fit plenty of reading in, between work, kitchen updating, gym classes and possibly helping my sister with her house move. And a craft break that I'm going on next month ( was going to call it weekend but it is from Sunday evening until Wednesday)