Reading the Detectives discussion

Another month already! It's time to nominate books for our April 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 will nominate one of the (fairly) new Pushkin Vertigo series of re-released, European crime novels. If it doesn't win, perhaps it will introduce a new publisher to the group :)

The Judge and His Hangman

Inspector Barlach is dying. But not fast enough for his arch-enemy

When a member of the Bern police force is shot dead on a Swiss country road, the enigmatic Inspector Barlach and his colleague Tschanz are intent on tracking down the killer. But the ailing Inspector doesn't have time to lose. Soon the pair discover that the victim was murdered on his way to a clandestine party at the home of a wealthy power broker - so why was a local policeman socialising with some of Switzerland's most influential men? Who was his shadowy host? And why has Barlach's past returned to haunt him in his final hours?

The Judge and His Hangman is a thrilling tale of lifelong rivalry, and of two men chained together by a wager that would destroy them both.

Friedrich Dürrenmatt (1921-1990) was a Swiss author and dramatist, most famous for his plays The Visit and The Physicists, which earned him a reputation as one of the greatest playwrights in the German language. He also wrote four highly regarded crime novels: The Pledge (adapted for a 2001 film starring Jack Nicholson), Suspicion and The Execution of Justice, are also published by Pushkin Vertigo.

This is not available via Kindle in the US, but relatively cheap paperbacks are. I had it on my wishlist and have purchased.

Are any Pushkin Vertigo titles available on kindle, Elizabeth? I would happily change my nomination to a title more easily available.

Susan wrote: "Are any Pushkin Vertigo titles available on kindle, Elizabeth? I would happily change my nomination to a title more easily available."

Now looking, I find this title on Kindle: The Inspector Barlach Mysteries: The Judge and His Hangman and Suspicion: "The Judge and His Hangman" and "Suspicion". Same translator.

I had just used the Amazon buy link and there were no Kindle editions by that publisher. In any case, it's one I want to read and I know it fits next challenge season.

The only kindle version of this book I saw on Amazon US is The Inspector Barlach Mysteries: The Judge and His Hangman and Suspicion. Two books BUT $10 ... more than I usually spend. Others are better at searching than I am so may not be the final word.

I see almost 20 Pushkin Vertigo series available on Amazon US, but they are all $10. The only one by the same author, another book, is available on pre-order.

My libraries have hard copies of the two volume book mentioned above, but not published by Pushkin Vertigo.

Well, I'll leave it. I don't always like to go my price, as I know I pick up new authors and books through the nomination thread and I have thought of picking a Pushkin Vertigo title for a while.

What I'm seeing from this side of the world -
Searching Amazon.com for the title The Judge and his Hangman I get two books. One is the two book volume and that is published by University of Chicago Press (February 15, 2017); the other book is just the single title of the search and is published by Pushkin Vertigo (April 20, 2017) and is very much cheaper in price that the 2 title book.
This is the link which hopefully will work.
https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_no...

Of course as we have often seen, even though I'm search the US Amazon site, what I see can be different from what you see in the US.

ETA: for those on this side of the world Amazon AU also has both options for the title available, as well as all the books published by Pushkin Vertigo.

I will nominate Pietr the Latvian by Georges Simenon

Lesley wrote: "What I'm seeing from this side of the world -
Searching Amazon.com for the title The Judge and his Hangman I get two books. One is the two book volume and that is published by University of Chicago..."

Your link goes only to the combined book at $9.99.

I would like to nominate He Dies and Makes no Sign by Molly Thynne The third and last Dr Constantine story

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Lesley wrote: "What I'm seeing from this side of the world -
Searching Amazon.com for the title The Judge and his Hangman I get two books. One is the two book volume and that is published by Univer..."

Ah, well that must be all that they have made available in US it would seem. Pity.

I will nominate Sergeant Cluff Stands Firm by Gil North

Some great nominations already - classic Swiss and French mysteries (the first Maigret!), and two classic British reprints.

I will add to the mix by nominating a classic US mystery, which I've been meaning to read for ages - the first in the Hildegarde Withers series, first published in 1931. This is on Kindle Unlimited in the UK.

The Penguin Pool Murder by Stuart Palmer

For the third graders at Jefferson School, a field trip is always a treat. But one day at the New York Aquarium, they get much more excitement than they bargained for. A pickpocket sprints past, stolen purse in hand, and is making his way to the exit when their teacher, the prim Hildegarde Withers, knocks him down with her umbrella. By the time the police and the security guards finish arguing about what to do with Chicago Lew, he has escaped, and Miss Withers has found something far more interesting: a murdered stockbroker floating in the penguin tank.

I would be happy to read any of them listed!

Judy wrote: "Some great nominations already - classic Swiss and French mysteries (the first Maigret!), and two classic British reprints.

I will add to the mix by nominating a classic US mystery, which I've bee..."

I enjoyed this book and am now on the fourth in the series. Of course, I did collect many of them on sale from Kindle.

I would love to nominate Duplicate death by Georgette Heyer

I have enjoyed the Georgette Heyer crime novels I have read, but I am quite confused about the order, as she seems to have two detectives that overlap. I know we have some Heyer experts among us, so maybe they can enlighten me?

Susan wrote: "I have enjoyed the Georgette Heyer crime novels I have read, but I am quite confused about the order, as she seems to have two detectives that overlap. I know we have some Heyer experts among us, s..."

The Order (Publication Date) of the Mystery Novels is:
Footsteps in the Dark
Why Shoot a Butler?
The Unfinished Clue
Death in the Stocks
Behold, Here's Poison
They Found Him Dead
A Blunt Instrument
No Wind of Blame
Envious Casca
Penhallow
Duplicate Death
Detection Unlimited

There are two main characters who take the role of Detective in a Series format. Superintendent Hannasyde is Superintendent of New Scotland Yard. In these first books, Inspector Hemmingway is his main man and follows his directives in the investigations. Eventually Hannasyde retires and Hemmingway is promated and takes the role of Superior in the last few novels. One of the very appealing things is how personable Hemmingway is and how likeable, easy and friendly. He hides his intelligence and shrewdness under a light hearted manner. Hannasyde is also vey likeable, with a more austere personality, that is rescued by an ability to show and feel great compassion and a latent sense of humour. They play off each other very well. Later Hemmingway has a Scottish Inspector working for him, who adds his own unique personality and fun quirks to the mix. In a number of the books we meet characters we have met before in new difficulties as adults, when they were children previously etc. Some of the stand alones are absolutely brilliant as well 'Why Shoot a Butler?' is one of my all time favourites. It's detective figure is a lawyer who uses his abilities and connections to solve the mystery and protect his family at the same time.

SUPERINTENDENT HANNASYDE MYSTERY Series:

Death in the Stocks ’35
Behold, Here’s Poison! ’36
They Found Him Dead ’37
A Blunt Instrument ’38

INSPECTOR HEMINGWAY MYSTERY Series

No Wind of Blame ’39
Envious Casca ’41
Duplicate Death ’51
Detection Unlimited ’53

STAND ALONES:

Footsteps in the Dark ’32
Why Shoot a Butler? ’33
The Unfinished Clue ’34
Penhallow ’42

Thanks :)

More Heyer is yet another tempting option!

Very useful summary, Jemima!

I like Heyer's mysteries. I have one left to read that I am 'saving'.

Last call for nominations - the poll will go up this weekend!

The nominations so far:
Susan: The Judge and His Hangman by Friedrich Dürrenmatt
Hilary: Pietr the Latvian by Georges Simenon
Jill: He Dies and Makes no Sign by Molly Thynne
Pamela: Sergeant Cluff Stands Firm by Gil North
Judy: The Penguin Pool Murder by Stuart Palmer
Jemima: Duplicate Death by Georgette Heyer

May the best detective win!

I'll not nominate. I recently read Penguin Pool and Pietr is sitting on my shelves. So I hope that wins and it will push me to read it.

I'm up to Palmer's 4th book now.

As for the Penguin Pool, I couldn't get past the first couple of chapters - the introduction of the children - and had to abandon it. The main character held no appeal at all.

Rosina wrote: "As for the Penguin Pool, I couldn't get past the first couple of chapters - the introduction of the children - and had to abandon it. The main character held no appeal at all."

I think it picks up (maybe a little) after the first few chapters. As I recall, I had a little trouble at the beginning.

Just a note - planning my voting and looking to see which of the titles nominated would be available to me, I found that Pietr the Latvian has also been published under three different/similar titles. These are

Strange Case of Peter the Lett
and
Maigret and the Enigmatic Lett

Lesley wrote: "Just a note - planning my voting and looking to see which of the titles nominated would be available to me, I found that Pietr the Latvian has also been published under three differ..."

Thanks Lesley, that's useful to know.

The poll is now open - please cast your votes!

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

I will vote but there's only 1 my library has a chance of getting. As ever I feel I won't get a chance to read along with the group's decision. Shame, but I'm directed by finance. Hey ho. Watching from the sidelines is becoming a hobby :)

Alan wrote: "I will vote but there's only 1 my library has a chance of getting. As ever I feel I won't get a chance to read along with the group's decision. Shame, but I'm directed by finance. Hey ho. Watching ..."

My library doesn't have any of them, and I've already read the Simenon. But I've ordered the Durrenmatt, and that's the one I'll be reading.

Alan wrote: "I will vote but there's only 1 my library has a chance of getting. As ever I feel I won't get a chance to read along with the group's decision. Shame, but I'm directed by finance. Hey ho. Watching ..."

So sorry. I also base my vote on what is available to me but, in my case, most are. Hope you have other great titles with which to tantalize us.

I live in a very small town (<10k annual population), but, for its size, has a decent library. I think it would be an unusual title my library couldn't get by inter-library loan, as technically it has access to every US and Canadian library. The problem with inter-library loan for me is that I don't know how long it will take to get here (1 week? 3 weeks? longer?) nor for certainty how long the loan will be, so timing is a problem. The underlying issue is fitting it into the challenge for which I read all books.

Sorry to hear about the problems getting the books from your local library, Alan. If you can't get hold of the winner, hopefully there will be other buddy reads etc going on in the group that you can join in with?

Judy wrote: "hopefully there will be other buddy reads etc going on in the group that you can join in with?"

I'm so glad there are usually several reads other than the main read. For some reason those seem to work better for me.

It's very close in early voting, with three books currently tying for first place - Heyer, Simenon and Molly Thynne. So every vote will count this time!

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

Heyer has now just gone into the lead, but still very close.

I love Heyer, but I really dislike reading books out of order. Do any Heyer fans know if this is a problem with this book?

It's the next one in the Inspector Hemingway series after Envious Casca, which we read at Christmas 2017, Susan, so I think it should be fine. :)

Ah, good news, Judy.

Goodreads for some reason changed the two different groups of Hannasyde and Hemingway into one list , where they used to be separated. I believe we started with a Hannasyde (Death in the Stocks) Then jumped over to the Hemingway books

Fantastic Fiction has that the 4 Hannasyde books where published first followed by the Hemingway 4

I read all of these books out of order, because I read them as I came across them as a child. I think the main thing is not to read the Hemingway books before the Hannasyde books if you hate reading out of order. This was the only confusion I encountered. Because we don’t learn much about the separate inspectors personal lives, reading out of order within the 4 of each doesn’t make any difference at all. The rest of the other detective novels have different personalities acting as detective.

Try to read Death in the Stocks before Behold Here's Poison, and They Found Him Dead before Duplicate Death in that order - in both cases a suspect from the first book is mentioned or appears in the second (which would be a spoiler).

Jill wrote: "Goodreads for some reason changed the two different groups of Hannasyde and Hemingway into one list , where they used to be separated. I believe we started with a Hannasyde ([book:Death in the Stoc..."

It looks like she switches to Hemingway in 1939. He was Hannasyde's subordinate.

Thanks I thought that was the case. That was why I nominated Behold here's Poison a couple of months ago , but it didn't win. Think I will read in order and catch up with the discussion at a later date if Duplicate Death wins this time.
I'm trying to catch up with the Nero Wolf books and then go back to the discussion we had on the 8th book here.

I had noticed someone quite recently had created a new series entry for the Hemingway/Hannasyde series. They are separate, and the first one, Hannasyde is the Inspector with Hemingway his subordinate. Hemingway series begins as Hannasyde retires and Hemingway becomes Inspector.
So, that makes the series title created incorrect because they both aren't Inspectors at the same time, so I'll change it back when I get the time.