Reading the Detectives discussion

Are you reading a good Golden Age or more modern mystery at the moment, or have you just finished one? Please share your recommendations and reviews!

This is a new thread as the old one has become rather long, but you can still refer to it for past discussions.

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

I just finished the first Vera Stanhope mystery by Ann Cleves, The Crow Trap, a modern rather hard-edged mystery set in northern England. I thought it was very well done, though I tend to prefer a cozier vibe. Review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Just discovered Elizabeth Daly through The Book of Forgotten Authors. She was 'purportedly Christie's favourite mystery writer' and she started writing these novels in her early 60s!

Just read Widows of Malabar Hill. I was running well behind the buddy read but I’m so glad I read it anyway. I loved it. Now in the middle of ‘Evil Under the Sun’ Agatha Christie. I LOVE Poirot in this story so far.

I am currently reading "Dark Wind" by Tony Hillerman. This is the second book written about Jim Chee. Hillerman wrote one more
stand alone mystery with Chee before putting his two detectives
together--Chee and Leaphorn. While this book is good--it's just
a pure mystery, I like the later books where Hillerman interweaved their personal lives into the mystery.

Finished The Lake House by Kate Morton. Which I liked but thought the ending rather far-fetched, and also that it was a hundred pages too long. Also finished The Marylebone Drop by Mick Herron.
Now starting Scales of Justice by Ngaio Marsh for next month's group read.

I managed to squeeze in The Black Echo by Michael Connelly on my recent airport trips. I love the show Bosch on Amazon Prime, and I was not disappointed by the book that inspired it. Eventually I would like to get through more of these in the series, but other books/series are ahead in the pile, so it will have to wait a bit. Its more contemporary than I usually like, but has a compelling character that is flawed, but not deeply damaged as so many writers seem to portray these days.

Jill wrote: "Also finished The Marylebone Drop by Mick Herron"

It seems to be known just as The Drop in the UK. And I'm rather shocked to see that I got it from Audible in February, and still haven't read it!

On a light note, very light, I'm close to finishing The Golden Tresses of the Dead, latest in the series set in 1952 with child chemist-detective as main character. Yet another of my favorite series and this entry is very good. I'm listening to it, then saw the print version in the library and picked it up. I'm reading it looking for plot points, and humorous asides, I missed. Worth the reread. Will then finish the audio with the book along side.

Sandy wrote: "On a light note, very light, I'm close to finishing The Golden Tresses of the Dead, latest in the series set in 1952 with child chemist-detective as main character. Yet another of m..."
I love Flavia, but only got to the first three so far.

Sandy wrote: "On a light note, very light, I'm close to finishing The Golden Tresses of the Dead, latest in the series set in 1952 with child chemist-detective as main character. Yet another of m..."

I love Flavia, and have read every book - always fun!

I have nearly finished Joe Country Have left the ending for today as I am emotionally wrung out so far! I think Jackson Lamb is my favourite series of all, at the moment.

Not a mystery as such but I picked up A Is For Arsenic: The Poisons of Agatha Christie today and am already two chapters in. A is for Arsenic: The Poisons of Agatha ChristieIt's a forensic analysis of the use of poisons in some of the books by a chemist - fascinating.

I found it in Waterstones Piccadilly which is probably my favourite new (ie non-secondhand) bookshop in the UK - beautifully cool today in stuffy, overheated central London, with nice leather sofas to sink into, although possibly not enough of them.

I remember this building when it was Simpsons, a very stuffy department store (the model for Are You Being Served?). I used to go there as a student to marvel at its old-fashioned ambience and buy half-price coats and I was generally the only customer there aged under fifty. It's a beautiful building and I'm glad that it was made into a bookshop. It's now a lovely, echoing space, like a cathedral for books.

Annabel wrote: "Not a mystery as such but I picked up A Is For Arsenic: The Poisons of Agatha Christie today and am already two chapters in. A is for Arsenic: The Poisons of Agatha ChristieIt's a f..."

That sounds quite picturesque. I also purchased that book a few months ago, started it and liked it, but it got pushed aside for other books with deadlines. I need to pick up again.

Annabel wrote: "Not a mystery as such but I picked up A Is For Arsenic: The Poisons of Agatha Christie today and am already two chapters in. A is for Arsenic: The Poisons of Agatha ChristieIt's a f..."

Sounds like heaven! And now I’m going to picture Mrs. Slocumbe popping around the corner of a bookshelf as I browse, asking me if I’m being served....

Jill wrote: "Sandy wrote: "On a light note, very light, I'm close to finishing The Golden Tresses of the Dead, latest in the series set in 1952 with child chemist-detective as main character. Ye..."

I'm reading that one too! Have you read all the others in the series?

Has anyone read anything by Ronald Knox? I've picked up The Floating Admiral again because it is due back at the library shortly, and I'm really enjoying his section, which makes me think I should try one of his full-length mysteries.

I also picked up my old paperback of next month's buddy read, The Case of the Late Pig by Margery Allingham, and was instantly hooked - it's much more exciting and more fun than I had remembered! This is the next Campion book in the series, which is actually narrated by Campion himself.

Finished Scales of Justice. Now starting Bump in the Night by Colin Watson for next month's read

Terri wrote: "Jill wrote: "Sandy wrote: "On a light note, very light, I'm close to finishing The Golden Tresses of the Dead, latest in the series set in 1952 with child chemist-detective as main ..."

I have read all the others, all on audio. I was a bit disappointed by the prior book but blame that on listening during a busy time and may have missed too much (thus my read and listen approach with this book).

Jill wrote: "Finished Scales of Justice. Now starting Bump in the Night by Colin Watson for next month's read"

You are well prepared! I've been using the end-of-month gap to catch up on other reading so will be feeling the pressure soon.

Right now I'm continuing a Regency series with Where the Dead Lie. Up next is The American Agent, the latest Masie Dobbs book, now up to World War II. And I read a non-mystery, The Pioneers: The Heroic Story of the Settlers Who Brought the American Ideal West. McCullough writes history so very well.

Judy wrote: "Has anyone read anything by Ronald Knox? I've picked up The Floating Admiral again because it is due back at the library shortly, and I'm really enjoying his section,..."

I have The Three Taps: A Detective Story without a Moral and The Footsteps at the Lock but I haven't started either of them yet.

Getting ready to start Tenant for Death, our June group read.

I just started Bones of the Earth , the final installment of the Inspector Shan Tao Yun series. This is my first read by this author, and is totally outside the usual GA English manor murders I normally gravitate towards. The series takes place in Tibet, and explores the iron grip the Chinese government holds over its people. Its a fascinating story, and is very well-written. I would highly recommend, especially if someone is looking for an exotic locale for their next mystery.

Started Tenant for Death Starts somewhat confusingly, unless that is just me.

Jill wrote: "Started Tenant for Death Starts somewhat confusingly, unless that is just me."

I think the first chapter makes one wonder where it is headed and makes the reader think there is a *lot* to remember. I'm just past the halfway mark, and am definitely enjoying this one - maybe more than I might have expected.

Jan C wrote: "Judy wrote: "Has anyone read anything by Ronald Knox? I've picked up The Floating Admiral again because it is due back at the library shortly, and I'm really enjoying..."

I also read The Three Taps. I remember it as a competent enough detective story but nothing mind-blowing. It seemed to me that for someone who clearly took the detective genre so seriously, he could have done better - but to be fair I think he was writing in an era when they were considered like crossword puzzles and not a lot of energy was put into character or humour.

Thanks, Jan and Annabel, for the info on Knox - i will hope to try one of his novels. Sounds like The Three Taps may not be the one to go for from your comments, Annabel, but maybe they are all more on the puzzle side?

Sandy wrote: "Jill wrote: "Finished Scales of Justice. Now starting Bump in the Night by Colin Watson for next month's read"

You are well prepared! I've been using th..."

Love the St. Cyr series! I’ve got to get back to Maisie, as well, I read the first book for sure, but like a magpie, something sparkly and new in the murder line must have caught my eye...

Agree completely about McCullough, I have several of his books on my TBR pile!

Tara wrote: "I just started Bones of the Earth , the final installment of the Inspector Shan Tao Yun series. This is my first read by this author, and is t..."

Tara, this sounds very intriguing to me, thank you.

Not sure if I posted previously in the first thread, but I’m in the middle of Tenant for Death, and just got my used copy of Scales of Justice in the mail today, so I’ll probably dive into that next or one of the Poirot June reads.

I've nearly finished Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder and am enjoying it, but I wish I'd read it on Kindle rather than listening to it on audiobook, as it is taking too long. I see that some of this series was filmed, and am wondering what the show was like.

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Jill wrote: "Started Tenant for Death Starts somewhat confusingly, unless that is just me."

I think the first chapter makes one wonder where it is headed and makes the reader think ..."

Me, too, when I read for a bit - I like Inspector Mallet. I’ve been switching back and forth between an audiobook for another group and this book, and I was feeling like I might have been missing plot details, so will try to read straight through from here on out.

Cyril Hare (Tenant for Death and An English Murder, which some of us read previously) seemed to write mysteries which seem quite modern, compared to other authors from the same period. I do agree that there is a lot to keep track of in Tenant, but look forward to discussing it.

I see my library request for The Sentence is Death is 'in transit' so I may have over-filled my end of month gap period. I'm off to the library today and am half-hoping its not there yet (the other half is excited to read it).

I've just finished rereading the Campion novel The Case of the Late Pig and I really enjoyed it - I had remembered it from previous reads as not being very good, but this time round I loved it! Funny how we can react to books differently at different times. Looking forward to our buddy read.

I'm also rereading Tenant for Death ready for our group read - I thought I would get away with just glancing through this one as I only read it a few months ago, but I found I had already forgotten most of it, so decided to reread. Enjoying this too, but I agree with comments that it can be a bit confusing - anyway we will soon be starting the discussion so I'll wait until then. :)

I have started The Adventures of Maud West, Lady Detective: Secrets and Lies in the Golden Age of Crime

Non-fiction, but very much of our period and extremely interesting so far.

I've finished the cosy mystery Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder, which I listened to on audiobook and enjoyed ... only to discover that some (all?) print/Kindle versions have a novella called Candy for Christmas in the back!

Unfortunately, because Amazon lumps all editions together, I'm not sure which editions contain this - does anyone know if it is in the current Kindle edition? I'd quite like to read the novella before going on to the second book in the series.

Not to worry, answering my own question about Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder, I've just noticed that some editions say "includes bonus short story" on the cover.

Editing to say that I just found my local library now has it as an ebook containing the short story (which doesn't mention it on the cover!), so I can catch up with it.

I'm about to start The Sentence is Death, an express read from the library. This puts me behind for our June reads, but I'm expecting a lot of reading time soon as I will be supporting my 'significant other' and his two cats after his hip replacement next week. I picture a lot of sitting around!

Hospitals can be exhausting, Sandy. A good book sounds a good idea and I hope that all goes well. X

Sandy wrote: "I'm about to start The Sentence is Death, an express read from the library. This puts me behind for our June reads, but I'm expecting a lot of reading time soon as I will be support..."

My husband has had both hips replaced. He had both done in the same year The first was done in the February and the second in the September . Both were the titanium kind , and was walking about within six weeks.What I would say is make sure he does the exercises every day.

Sandy wrote: "I'm about to start The Sentence is Death, an express read from the library. This puts me behind for our June reads, but I'm expecting a lot of reading time soon as I will be support..."

Best wishes - I agree, there will be reading time! Take care of yourself, as well - caregiving takes a lot out of you. Recharge your batteries with rest, relaxation and reading, when possible!

Thanks for all the good wishes. This is his second hip replacement and we hope it goes as well as the first. Lots of reading time and I've made sure I have titles that don't require deep thought for hospital visits (not that I read much along those lines).

Very wise - keep it light and entertaining, something you can dip in and out of without losing the thread - I tried listening to a Dickens novel during a hospital stay, ended up just putting me to sleep every time, until I was hopelessly muddled, not even sure where I dropped off! I still haven’t finished that darned book...

Hope it all goes well, Sandy. I agree it's easier to concentrate on lighter books while waiting around in hospital, so I think you are right to choose titles that "don't require deep thought".

I've started Bump in the Night by Colin Watson ready for our buddy read - it's currently £2.63 on Kindle. Early days yet but hoping for an enjoyable read.

I finished The Garston Murder Case: a Joshua Clunk Mystery by H.C. Bailey early this morning. I was all set to put it down until someone received a conk on the head and fell through a trap door. I had to find out what happened to her. Around 3:30 I did.

Unfortunately, it doesn't look like any of the other Clunk stories are in print. Most of Bailey seems to be out of print. Both Clunk and Reggie Fortune are great characters. So it is real shame.

Currently reading Creeping Siamese and Other Stories: Collected Case Files of the Continental Op: The Later Years, Volume 1 by Dashiell Hammett.

Also reading Guilt & Galaxy Cake by Nancy McGovern, the second in a 5 book cozy series.

Just starting Seventy-Seven Clocks by Christopher Fowler, the third book in the series

I'm reading Indelible by Karin Slaughter