Never too Late to Read Classics discussion

Any American Mystery:
these can replace a month from the scheduled reads and please comment your read here so we can all share these wonderful reads:

Some suggestions from the Planning Stage:
Dashiell Hammetter The Maltese Falcon (1930) 213 pgs

Mary Allingham Dancers in Mourning (1937) 240 pgs

Ellery Queen The Dutch Shoe Mystery (1931) 216 pgs

Anna Katharine Green That Affair Next Door (1897) 350 pgs

Lang Lewis The Birthday Murder (1945) 208 pgs


American Authors:
Dorothy B. Hughes
Charlotte Armstrong
Patricia Highsmith
Anya Seton

Do not forget about this thread!!

Thought:
The Red House Mystery by A.A. Milne

Lesle, I'll post my thoughts about The Birthday Murder on this thread.

Melanie wrote: "Lesle, I'll post my thoughts about The Birthday Murder on this thread."

Thank you Melanie!!
Im very interested in this one.

I'll probably read at least one of these substitutions. Not sure which.

Lesle wrote: "Do not forget about this thread!!

Thought:
The Red House Mystery by A.A. Milne"

It's a good one.

I just finished The Birthday Murders by Lange Lewis. What a terrific mystery! I loved everything about it - the plot, characters and setting. I'm definitely looking for her other mysteries, especially the ones in an academic setting.

That's great, Melanie. I'm adding this to my TBR.

Melanie wrote: "I just finished The Birthday Murders by Lange Lewis. What a terrific mystery! I loved everything about it - the plot, characters and setting. I'm definitely looking..."

Thank you Melanie!
I am adding it too

I forgot about this author S.S. Van Dine

The Winter Murder Case
The Benson Murder Case
The Dragon Murder Case
The Greene Murder Case
The Gracie Allen Murder Case

Margery Allingham and A.A. Milne are both British, FYI. Not sure if that matters to you or not.

I read The Cat Saw Murder last year & really liked it.

Also, the Library of America has some great noir collections that should be available from your local libraries:

Women Crime Writers: Four Suspense Novels of the 1940s: Laura / The Horizontal Man / In a Lonely Place / The Blank Wall
Women Crime Writers: Four Suspense Novels of the 1950s (LOA #269): Mischief / The Blunderer / Beast in View / Fools' Gold
American Noir: 11 Classic Crime Novels of the 1930s, 40s, & 50s: A Library of America Boxed Set

I previously got both Women Crime Writers volumes on sale as ebooks for $1.99 each. Sadly, they aren't on sale anymore. :(

Christine Thanks for sharing those.
Very interesting reads it looks like and what a deal!!

The Odor of Violets by Baynard H.
Kendrick

Meet Captain Duncan Maclain. Blinded during his service in the first World War, Maclain made up for his lack of vision by sharpening his other senses, achieving a mastery of the subtle unseen clues often missed by those who see only with their eyes. Aided by his dogs Schnucke and Driest, the Captain puts the intelligence-gathering techniques he learned in the Army to work, making a name for himself as New York City’s most sought-after private detective. Now it’s 1940, there’s a second World War breaking out, and Maclain is pulled into a case unlike any he’s investigated before.

One claim of the strengths of this novel is in how successfully it blends mystery fiction writing styles. It has its hardboiled and spy elements.

Anyone up for something different than a Mary Roberts Rinehart read?

Free PDF read
https://archive.org/details/odorofvio...

Is anyone reading a different mystery?

I forgot about this one!

I've just borrowed it on Libby.

Rosemarie I think I might enjoy this. I just got it in the mail yesterday.
Hopefully start on it this afternoon.

I am about 3/4 ths way through and I am really liking Captain Maclain. He is a master!

I'm about a third of the way through. This book would make a good movie.

I agree!

I am in love with Schnucke his female guide dog. She is a smart girl.

I finished this last night-there are some very tense and exciting moments towards the end.

I finished it last night as well! I loved Maclain his senses are remarkable. The puzzle a great addition to his skill set.

My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I am wanting to get the other two that I have listed in my review!
Hopefully I can find them.

Sanchita wrote: "Hi All, Here is my review of The Case Book of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle:

https://youtu.be/MUgwtm4HrL8"

I searched as best I could but could not find the thread for The Bride Wore Black, which was scheduled for July 2025. So I'll leave my comments here.

I liked how this story was set up by the author. First, (view spoiler)[ the woman is described, then the man's name, (e.g. Moran) and what happens to him, then the post-mortem on that man. (hide spoiler)] The detective, Lew Wangen, was sharp and thought outside the box. The story had a sinister feeling from the beginning. The ending was unexpected to me but the author did give clues about it throughout the story.

Kathy wrote: "I searched as best I could but could not find the thread for The Bride Wore Black, which was scheduled for July 2025. So I'll leave my comments here..."

Kathy sorry I Archived it under Mystery/Suspense.

Here is the link: If you want to copy and past over there.
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Lesle wrote: "Kathy wrote: "I searched as best I could but could not find the thread for The Bride Wore Black, which was scheduled for July 2025. So I'll leave my comments here..."

Kathy sorry I..."

Thanks, Lesle. I copied it over there.

You can leave this one here for others to see.

That way too they can find your thoughts if they run across the thread that is Archived.

Sorry just trying to get things cleaned up for the New Year. December will be here before we know it!

I've just finished Miss Pinkerton by Mary Roberts Rinehart. It was an enjoyable read and kept me guessing until the end. There were some suspenseful moments.
It is number 3 in the series and directly precedes The Haunted Lady, which is the final book.

Nice to know! Glad you liked it.

Lesle, what mysteries has Anya Seton written? I see only historical romances for her.

Melanie
Her notable romance novels with elements of mystery, suspense, or intrigue are Dragonwyck, Green Darkness, The Hearth and Eagle, Devil Water, and Avalon.

So they are a sub-genre of Romance:
Romance Mystery/Suspense

Lesle, thanks very much! That's good to know.

I'll read one or two novels by Highsmith.

Luís wrote: "I'll read one or two novels by Highsmith."

I do not have any of hers.
Which ones have you read that you really enjoyed Luis?

Your more than welcome Melanie of course!

Lesle wrote: "Luís wrote: "I'll read one or two novels by Highsmith."

I do not have any of hers.
Which ones have you read that you really enjoyed Luis?"

I've read only one book by her: O Álibi Perfeito