Reading the Detectives discussion

It's time to nominate books for our March 2019 group read.

The books can be written in/set in the GA period, or a little earlier or later.

Just one nomination per group member, please. Also, only one book by any individual writer can be nominated per month.

I'd like to nominate Richardson's First Case by Basil Thomson

The D.D.I. recognized him and smiled. “That was a great case you brought us. You’ll be interested to hear that it is a case of mur-r-der!”

For eight years Basil Thomson headed the famous C.I.D., New Scotland Yard. He knew the Yard inside out. Now in this tale of mystery and detection we are taken behind the scenes. We are shown the greatest detection machine in the world in motion, and see how the Yard tracked down its man.

Stand, then, with young P.C. Richardson on the misty corner of Baker Street, while the traffic of the city swings by, and fate lays at his feet the beginning of his career. Out of the fog brakes shriek, a big car jolts to a stop, and from beneath the wheels the crowd disentangles a bundle of old clothes, within which is a man quite dead; a man who had said to someone, “Very well, then; I’ll call a policeman”—and was killed. Work with him to the ingenious solution, when he takes from his pocket the clue holding the fate of a human life.

Richardson’s First Case was originally published in 1933. This new edition, the first in over seventy years, features an introduction by crime novelist Martin Edwards, author of acclaimed genre history The Golden Age of Murder.

Jill wrote: " I'd like to nominate Richardson's First Case by Basil Thomson

The D.D.I. recognized him and smiled. “That was a great ..."

A kindle version is available in the US for 71 cents (down from 99 cents).

I'm going to try nominating The Floating Admiral again.

The creators of Hercule Poirot, Miss Marple, Lord Peter Wimsey, and Father Brown collaborate on one mystery, all applying their unique expertise to solve the same case.

I'll nominate The Secret of High Eldersham by Miles Burton (who was also known as John Rhode and other pseudonyms). This is the first of his long series of novels featuring Desmond Merrion, and has been republished by British Library Crime Classics.

Here's the start of the Goodreads blurb:
Samuel Whitehead, the new landlord of the Rose and Crown, is a stranger in the lonely East Anglian village of High Eldersham. When the newcomer is stabbed to death in his pub, and Scotland Yard are called to the scene, it seems that the veil dividing High Eldersham from the outside world is about to be lifted.

Frances wrote: "I'm going to try nominating The Floating Admiral again..."

I read this a long time ago and found it one of the most confusing novels I'd ever read! Because each of the contributors had their own solution in mind, the narrative wandered everywhere before finally being wound up. But maybe that might make it a good subject for discussion.

I'll nominate a pre-GA author, and one of her stand alone titles. I have enjoyed a few other of her titles and will look forward to an excuse to read another. Anna Katharine Green at wikipedia. (This title is public domain in the US, and can be found free for the Kindle. I don't know what that procedure is in other countries. It is also available at Project Gutenberg.)

The Chief Legatee by Anna Katharine Green.

Although not so well known these days Anna Katharine Green was one of the first detective story authors and famous in her time. She is reputed to have been an inspiration behind the great Arthur Conan Doyle and Agatha Christie. Her books have even been used in courses in Yale Law School.

The Chief Legatee (a legatee is the person or organisation receiving part of the deceased's estate in a will) certainly does not disappoint, with suspense soaked pages covering the search for a vanished new bride, disappeared in mysterious circumstances. Twists, turns and surprising revelations are guaranteed!

The Death of Mr. Lomas: An Inspector Knollis Mystery

When Mr. Lomas visits the Chief Constable of Burnham and describes his symptoms, Sir Wilfred Burrows believes that his visitor suffers from nothing more serious than nerves. Later that day Mr. Lomas's body is recovered from the water at Willow Lock; yet death is not by drowning.

Sir Wilfred recounts the interview to Inspector Knollis, who, realizing the significance of the symptoms, is satisfied that Mr. Lomas is a victim of cocaine poisoning. With characteristic energy he sets about the task of unmasking the murderer.

In this gripping story of a cunning murderer brought to justice by brilliant, logical reasoning, the solution is skilfully yet legitimately concealed to the last.

The Death of Mr. Lomas was first published in 1941. This new edition features an introduction by crime fiction historian Curtis Evans.

“Francis Vivian skips all tedious preliminaries and is commendably quick off the mark; we meet his characters with lively pleasure." Observer

“A commendably fast-moving story of mystery and detection.” Liverpool Post

“Mr. Vivian neatly fits everything in its place.” Times Literary Supplement

Great selection of nominations so far! As we already have five books to choose from, I'm inclined to close the nominations this weekend and get the poll up a bit earlier than we usually do - does anyone have anything else to nominate?

The poll is now open - cast your votes!

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

Very close in early voting - Richardson's First Case is just one vote ahead of two books tied in second place, The Chief Legatee and The Secret of High Eldersham.

I've just realised that this month I haven't read any of the five nominated books, and will be very happy with any of them.

The vote is currently tied. Anyone undecided, please vote now, or, if you want to change your vote, do so now.

Richardson's First Case is now out in front, but there's still time to cast your vote if you haven't done so yet!

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

We have a winner - it's Richardson's First Case by Basil Thomson, which will be our March group read.

Full results:

Richardson's First Case 9 votes, 40.9%
The Secret of High Eldersham 6 votes, 27.3%
The Floating Admiral 4 votes, 18.2%
The Chief Legatee 3 votes, 13.6%
The Death of Mr. Lomas: An Inspector Knollis Mystery 0 votes, 0.0%

Our winner is 71 cents on Amazon in the US.

Sandy wrote: "Our winner is 71 cents on Amazon in the US."

Thanks, Sandy!

It's 99p in the UK - I think that is the regular price. :)