English Mysteries Club discussion

Welcome to the "English Mysteries club". Whether you're a new member or have been here for a while, please tell us a little about yourself here, so we can get to know you :)

I'm Jean, your moderator, and I love all sorts of reading - obviously including English Mysteries! I live in the South of England, am married and used to teach in inner city schools. As well as books, I love animals and nature, Art, Music and anything purple. My favourite author is Charles Dickens. We've had lots of pets - dogs, cats and guinea pigs - and at the moment are waiting for our new rescue dog to arrive from Romania.

Hi, Jean! Saw your message about relaunching this group and it peaked my interest. Especially as I got into reading mysteries through two giants: Agatha Christie and Conan Doyle.

I have recently retired after 30 years serving in public relations on a college campus, and am thoroughly enjoying myself. In addition to reading, I enjoy gardening, knitting/crocheting/needlepoint, cooking and traveling.

Hi Pamela and welcome! It's lovely to see you here and you have the honour of being our first new member since the relaunch :)

Hi, Jean! I saw you join this group (which I think we both belonged to before) and followed you over.

Hi Pamela, I too started on AC's mysteries and never looked back. Welcome to the 'new' group. Jean will be an amazing MOD.

Hey Leslie :) Welcome! How great that you've re-joined the "English Mysteries Club". Yes, we were two of the faithful "Morse-keteers" ;)

(To explain to everyone, there was a Buddy Read to read all the "Inspector Morse" novels, and in the end just 3 of us completed the whole series, so we dubbed ourselves "The Three Morse-keteers" LOL!)

ShanDizzy - thank you for the vote of confidence! Perhaps we should choose something by her for our first group read ... or there will be buddy reads too :)

I'm still here. Nice to see some activity again! I'm a public librarian in Minnesota. I'm not particularly a mystery reader - probably more into historical and literary fiction - but I have a special love for the British Isles. I am of Cornish, Welsh, Scottish, and Irish descent as well as English, so I hope you aren't going to be too strict about the "English" part of this group. My favorite author is Dorothy Dunnett.

Nice to meet you all! I look forward to getting to know more about this group and being introduced to new mystery writers, like Dunnett! I've watched the Inspector Morse TV series, I should perhaps check into the books ...

Hi Laurel! Nice to meet you. I definitely agree we should be flexible, and have you spotted the folder I've just set up for Reading Around English Mysteries? There a thread tailor-made for you there ;) LINK HERE

Laurel wrote: "I'm still here...My favorite author is Dorothy Dunnett."

Hi Laurel, thanks for mentioning Dunnett. I just added one of her Johnson/Johnson books to my list.

Bionic Jean wrote: "Hi Laurel! Nice to meet you....and have you spotted the folder I've just set up for Reading Around English Mysteries? There a thread tailor-made for you there..."

Ha ha! Yes, I did see that! Also Canadian, American, and Australian. Now where do I post about, say, the Penny Brannigan series, set in Wales but written by a Canadian. Or Evan Evans, written by an American...?

Laurel wrote: "Now where do I post about, say, the Penny Brannigan series, set in Wales but written by a Canadian. Or Evan Evans, written by an American...?..."

Well, it's up to you, but I usually go by the author's nationality. Think of the English author Lindsey Davis setting her series in Ancient Rome, or Elizabeth Peters in Egypt. It seems clearer then!

With the ones you mention, just choose whichever seems to suit best, or put them in the general thread. I think it's good to broaden the scope of this group a little, for those who wish it, but keep the title :)

ShanDizzy wrote: "Laurel wrote: "I'm still here...My favorite author is Dorothy Dunnett."

Hi Laurel, thanks for mentioning Dunnett. I just added one of her Johnson/Johnson books to my list."

I love Dorothy Dunnett's historical fiction (especially the Lymond & Niccolo series) better than her other books but the Johnson Johnson series is fun. Be aware, however, that they are more espionage thrillers than mysteries.

Hi Jean, Looking forward to the group relaunch.

My favorite mystery writer is Margery Allingham, although I enjoy reading Agatha Christie and Dorothy L. Sayers too.

I also like reading about and stitching antique/reproduction samplers, collecting found photos, and spending time with my little Boston terrier.

Leslie wrote: "..Johnson Johnson series is fun. Be aware, however, that they are more espionage thrillers than mysteries..."

I appreciate the heads up Leslie. I saw that they are spy/espionage which is another genre I like to read. In fact I'm currently reading John Creasey's Department Z series. I will try Dunnett's histfic series that you mentioned as well.

Hi Cindy! Nice to meet you :)

I'm Sandy, retired, living in the US (Boston area). I belong to the GR groups Reading the Detectives (a group I joined when this one went dormant), Historical Mystery Lovers, and a Georgette Heyer group. These give you an accurate impression of most of my reading. For my modern mysteries I love Louise Penny, Mick Herron and am impatiently waiting for the next Strike from JK Rowling. For something entirely different I've started Terry Pratchett's DiscWorld.

I recognize a lot of names in the introduction thread.

What a lovely intro Sandy! I feel as if I know you already :)

Thanks for commenting, as I can see you have been a member here for over 5 years - around the time I was too :) Do you (or anyone else) know when this group actually "went dormant"? That would be interesting to know.

And I see that you are actually one of the moderators of "Reading the Detectives", so it is very nice indeed of you to come here. I love the generosity of spirit GR has, in allowing us access to as many groups as we like, and have set up a thread in "English Mysteries" where members can talk about their other groups, if anyone would like to. The more, the merrier!

Bionic Jean wrote: "What a lovely intro Sandy! I feel as if I know you already :)

Thanks for commenting, as I can see you have been a member here for over 5 years - around the time I was too :) Do you (or anyone els..."

I joined Reading the Detectives mid-December 2015 so this group died before that. Not sure how long it took me to realize the death and find a replacement, but less than 6 months.

And I am a '2nd tier' mod; Judy and Susan do the heavy lifting. It is a great group.

Sandy wrote: "mid-December 2015 so this group died before that ..."

Gosh, that's a long time without a mod :(

Bionic Jean wrote: "Sandy wrote: "mid-December 2015 so this group died before that ..."

Gosh, that's a long time without a mod :("

He was listed as moderator for quite awhile after announcing his dissatisfaction.

I understand. That's why when I was making the archive, I found the final "Book of the Month" was in June 2015.
What a shame.

Who else would like to come and tell us a bit about yourself?

Hi Sandy I thought I recognized your post. I too am in Reading the Detectives. Welcome to this group as well. Jean is doing STUPENDOUSLY as MOD in just this short space of time!

LOL Shannon thank you! I'm just beavering away in the background at the moment, but will send a group message either today or tomorrow, so people hopefully will get together here again.

I know Judy, another mod from that group, from a Dickens group! Funny how we come across each other in different places on GR :) Some people I get to know quite well, just from their reviews!

I saw that GR friend Pamela joined this group so popped over and joined! (I was not member in the past.) I love mysteries of all stripes, but am especially drawn to English mysteries old and new. I live in Minneapolis, MN and am also retired, giving me time to volunteer at my local neighborhood library. I belong to two other mystery groups, being very active in the Mystery, Crime and Thriller group. Looking forward to participating here!

Laurel wrote: "I'm still here. Nice to see some activity again! I'm a public librarian in Minnesota. I'm not particularly a mystery reader - probably more into historical and literary fiction - but I have a speci..."

Hello fellow Minnesotan! I'm curious where you work. My sweetheart and I are attempting to visit all 41 Hennepin Co libraries - 13 so far. I volunteer at two of them. Nice to meet you.

Hi Suzy and welcome to the "English Mysteries" club. I'm so glad you found us! I know Pamela too - she's a good friend from another general group. It's great that you're so keen on mysteries, and I hope this group suits you to a "T" :)

Hey Rita! Welcome - how lovely to see you here too :) I did a double take then! (Because Rita and I are already good friends, everyone).

Looking forward to lots more introductions here, from friends old and new.

Hello everyone! I´m Michaela from Austria, and discovered mysteries again about two years ago. Since then I joined several groups, but couldn´t resist when I found Jean from The Reading for Pleasure group invited us. Besides the usual Sherlock Holmes and Poirot mysteries, I´m just discovering others. And I´m an anglophile anyway! :)

Welcome to the "English Mysteries Club" Michaela! YAY! Another friend has joined :) I hope you like it here.

I'm looking forward to lots of established members coming on here too, to tell us a little about themselves, as the Group Relaunch letter to all members goes out tomorrow morning :) I'm so excited!

Hi Suzy, Rita & Michaela. Welcome. Rita I think we were in RFP group. Hope yr health is as good as it can be.

Hello all :)

I joined because I saw Michaela join and then I saw that the group is run by Jean, who I know from RFP. Although I’m not always active on there so she may not know me!

Historical fiction and mysteries/thrillers are my absolute favorite genres. I also love Classics but I haven’t read as many in the last few years as I should have. I like Nonfiction as long as the topic is something I’m already interested in. I don’t care for romance, horror, or contemporary!

Non bookish wise, I’m a huge hockey fan, shopper, and tv binge watcher. Hulu and Netflix are my besties lol. I love to be in my bed (and shopping online for things I don’t need - like the Nancy Drew earrings I just bought). But most of my time is taken up by my 7 year old nephew and one year old niece.

Looking forward to solving mysteries with you all!

Hi Allie! Welcome to the "English Mysteries Club", and what a great intro post you did. I love the idea of Nancy Drew earrings :D I once had some of little dinosaurs, and others with little treble clefs hanging down. Both fitted in with my interests in geology and music.

Of course I remember you! You were the one who explained about the “whip” and “nae nae” by a rapper (though I confess it's still just words to me!) AND you're in the mega buddy read :)

I hope we get lots of intros here today, as I'm just about to send the relaunch letter ...

Hello all.

Hi Adrian, and welcome! Would you like to tell us a little about yourself? I can see you like Lee Child ...

Hello everyone. I'm Sue from Dorset on the south west coast of England. I know some of you from other groups, particularly Reading the Detectives and Reading for Pleasure, so it's lovely to see friends here already!

I'm a numbers geek by profession, although quite normal apart from that! Before retiring I worked at our local university for years. Loved it!

Jean it's great that you are rebooting this group. I look forward to some interesting conversations about crime fiction. It's my favourite genre. I love the puzzle-solving element. I don't do blood and gore though, so I tend to stick to the early 20th-century Golden Age writers, or more modern writers with that same sort of style. My favourite would be Agatha Christie but I also like Elizabeth Peters (Amelia Peabody series) and Ellis Peters (Brother Cadfael series).

I'm gradually working my way through the British Library Crime Classics Collection. Has anyone else read these? They are reprints of lesser known crime writers from the Golden Age (1930s and around there).

Hi Everybody. I have been a member for years, but mostly inactive. I am now retired (social worker), and read (listen to) about a book a day as I crochet and go about my day. Like many others I started reading mysteries with Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys and never stopped. My reading habits have evolved (and devolved) over time, but I like books that along with the mystery, explore issues of the day, have a good sense of place and time and I must like the characters! Particular favorite authors right now are Louise Penny and Martin Walker. I just recently found Peter Grainger. I do prefer series to stand alones, probably because if I like the characters in a book, I want to know what happens next. I used to love a good thriller, but not so much anymore. So many are based on the protagnist acting stupid.

Hi, everyone. Glad to see the group has been relaunched with a new active moderator -- so important. I'm Helen, live in southern California, just recently retired, so will have plenty of time to read my favorites -- British police procedurals and historical mysteries. My favorite authors include Cynthia Harrod-Eagles (her Slider and Atherton copper series is wonderful) and Lexie Conyngham for her Murray of Letho series set in the early 1800s. Those are just two off the top of my head, I've got plenty more -- I follow dozens of authors, use an Excel spreadsheet to keep track of them all.

Helen wrote: "Hi, everyone. Glad to see the group has been relaunched with a new active moderator -- so important. I'm Helen, live in southern California, just recently retired, so will have plenty of time to re..."

Welcome Helen. I'm impressed by the spreadsheet.

Bionic Jean wrote: "Hi Allie! Welcome to the "English Mysteries Club", and what a great intro post you did. I love the idea of Nancy Drew earrings :D I once had some of little dinosaurs, and others with little treble ..."

❤️ and thank you!
Those earrings sound adorable. I like things out of the ordinary :)

Yay! Haha.

Sue wrote: "...the British Library Crime Classics Collection.."

Hi Sue I love the BLCCs. Ive read several. One of them introduced me to Inspector Littlejohn series by George Bellairs.

Thank you for adding me to your wonderful group! I am so happy to be here and join in. My love of reading started as a young girl when I read my first Nancy Drew book. I have been a mystery reader since. English mysteries are my favorites.

Sandy wrote: "Welcome Helen. I'm impressed by the spreadsheet."

Thanks, Sandy. I try to follow all my authors on Amazon and Goodreads, so I get lots of emails wanting me to buy their books. A lot of time the emails are for books I've already read, and the 'ol memory ain't what it used to be. Between the spreadsheet and my "Read" bookshelf at Goodreads, I can keep track very easily -- and I also know what's coming up for publication.

Sue wrote: "I'm gradually working my way through the British Library Crime Classics Collection. Has anyone else read these? ..."

Hi Sue, and welcome to "English Mysteries"! I was hoping you'd join as this group sounds just your cup of tea :) Great authors you mention, and I wonder how well-known that series is too.

Julie wrote: "I used to love a good thriller, but not so much anymore. So many are based on the protagnist acting stupid..."

Hi Julie, it's lovely to meet you! I'm so glad you decided to see what's happening, and would you believe I've never read Nancy Drew?! Guess it's because l'm English:) (That's my excuse anyway :) )

Yes, I agree those sort of books are tiresome :( I want to try Louise Penny - and don't know the other two! I'm sure lots of others here will, though :)

Helen wrote: "Hi, everyone. Glad to see the group has been relaunched with a new active moderator -- so important ... I'm Helen, live in southern California, just recently retired, so will have plenty of time to re ..."

Hi Helen, and I'm so pleased to meet you! Thanks for reminding me of Cynthia Harrod-Eagles - I read a couple of hers years ago and had completely forgotten her name :)

The fresh start here seem to just fit in with things in your life too - fantastic!

Marcia wrote: "Thank you for adding me to your wonderful group! I am so happy to be here and join in. My love of reading started as a young girl when I read my first Nancy Drew book. I have been a mystery reader ..."

Hi Marcia and welcome to the group! I hope you find lots of things to join in with :)

l'm going to have to read Nancy Drew, aren't I? I'm probably the only person here who hasn't!

My name is Rosemarie and I love to read just about everything, especially older books. I'm a retired teacher living in Toronto and have lots of time to read when my husband and I aren't travelling or going out.
I recently discovered the lovely series of classic mysteries available at the library and hope to discover some new authors here.