UK Book Club discussion

I'd kind of avoided this challenge, because even though I spend a great deal of time in the UK (reading books set there, that is), I thought it might be downright impossible for me as an off-islander to even know what county my books are set in. But what the heck, let's give it a go -

ENGLAND -
1. Bedfordshire
2. Berkshire
3. Buckinghamshire - Artists in Crime by Ngaio Marsh (finished 30 Jan 2013, 4 stars)
4. Cambridgeshire - Case Histories by Kate Atkinson (finished 6 Feb 13, 5 stars)
5. Cheshire
6. Cornwall - Wycliffe and Death in a Salubrious Place by W.J. Burley
7. Cumberland
8. Derbyshire
9. Devon - Tied up in Tinsel by Ngaio Marsh
10. Dorset
11. Durham
12. Essex - The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie
13. Gloucestershire - The Potted Gardener by M.C. Beaton
14. Hampshire - The Tinder Box by Minette Walters (finished 7 Oct 12)
15. Herefordshire
16. Hertfordshire - Marnie by Winston Graham (finished 28 Feb 13, 4 stars)
17. Huntingdonshire
18. Kent - The War in the Air by H.G. Wells
19. Lancashire
20. Leicestershire
21. Lincolnshire
22. London - Five Roundabouts to Heaven by John Bingham
23. Middlesex
24. Norfolk - At Home: A Short History of Private Life by Bill Bryson
25. Northamptonshire
26. Northumberland - The Crow Trap by Ann Cleeves
27. Nottinghamshire - The Virgin and the Gypsy, DH Lawrence
28. Oxfordshire
29. Rutland
30. Shropshire - Monk's Hood by Ellis Peters
31. Somerset - Grave Goods by Ariana Franklin
32. Staffordshire
33. Suffolk
34. Surrey - The Blood-Dimmed Tide by Rennie Airth
35. Sussex - A Tangled Web by Nicholas Blake
36. Warwickshire
37. West Midlands - Chocolate Wars by Deborah Cadbury
38. Westmorland - The Old Contemptibles by Martha Grimes (started 13 Apr 13)
39. Wiltshire Old Filth - The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
40. Worcestershire
41. Yorkshire - North Riding
42. Yorkshire - East Riding
43. Yorkshire - West Riding

WALES -
44. Anglesey/Sir Fon
45. Brecknockshire/Sir Frycheiniog
46. Caernarfonshire/Sir Gaernarfon - The Lantern Bearers by Rosemary Sutcliff
47. Carmarthenshire/Sir Gaerfyrddin
48. Cardiganshire/Ceredigion
49. Denbighshire/Sir Ddinbych - A Morbid Taste for Bones by Ellis Peters
50. Flintshire/Sir Fflint
51. Glamorgan/Morgannwg
52. Merioneth/Meirionnydd
53. Monmouthshire/Sir Fynwy
54. Montgomeryshire/Sir Drefaldwyn
55. Pembrokeshire/Sir Benfro
56. Radnorshire/Sir Faesyfed

SCOTLAND -
57. Aberdeenshire
58. Angus/Forfarshire
59. Argyllshire
60. Ayrshire
61. Banffshire
62. Berwickshire
63. Buteshire
64. Cromartyshire
65. Caithness
66. Clackmannanshire
67. Dumfriesshire
68. Dunbartonshire/Dumbartonshire - The Eagle of the Ninth by Rosemary Sutcliffe
69. East Lothian/Haddingtonshire
70. Fife
71. Inverness-shire
72. Kincardineshire
73. Kinross-shire
74. Kirkcudbrightshire
75. Lanarkshire
76. Midlothian/Edinburghshire - Dead Souls by Ian Rankin
77. Morayshire
78. Nairnshire
79. Orkney
80. Peeblesshire
81. Perthshire
82. Renfrewshire
83. Ross-shire
84. Roxburghshire
85. Selkirkshire
86. Shetland
87. Stirlingshire
88. Sutherland
89. West Lothian/Linlithgowshire
90. Wigtownshire

NORTHERN IRELAND -
91. Antrim
92. Armagh
93. Down
94. Fermanagh
95. Londonderry
97. Tyrone

I will start this challenge effective 2012. Unfortunately, my first book, is set in a fictitious location in Scotland.. darn.. lol But that's ok. The Wasp Factory is set on a remote unnamed Scottish peninsula near the fictitious town of Porteneil.. Guess that doesn't help much, eh?

For The Blood-Dimmed Tide, the setting is Surrey and for Five Roundabouts to Heaven the setting is in the locale of London and surrounding area.. although I might be wrong.. lol

Ha! You're joining in with the madness then Bill - good luck. Just ask about counties, someone will help you categorise the books. (I'm really only good for the Southwest and very shady when it comes to the North, I've offended Yorkshire people already!!)

Em wrote: "Ha! You're joining in with the madness then Bill - good luck. Just ask about counties, someone will help you categorise the books. (I'm really only good for the Southwest and very shady when it co..."

Thanks, Em, I'll do that. Of course now that I've decided to take part in this challenge, I'll probably start focussing on books set outside the UK.. It's always the way.

Dagnabit.. I finally get another UK - based story and it's also set in Surrey. Ah well, next time, maybe. Must say, though that I did enjoy The Riverside Villas Murder.

Bill wrote: "Dagnabit.. I finally get another UK - based story and it's also set in Surrey. Ah well, next time, maybe. Must say, though that I did enjoy The Riverside Villas Murder."

I've had that book on my tbr list for ages, but I've never found a copy in my bookshop.....I think I shall have to order it.

There is a mystery book shop in Victoria, British Columbia that I visit when I'm down there and luckily they had a copy. Good luck finding a copy.

Bill wrote: "Dagnabit.. I finally get another UK - based story and it's also set in Surrey. Ah well, next time, maybe. Must say, though that I did enjoy The Riverside Villas Murder."

Dagnabit - great Bill....only ever heard that in a cartoon. Was that a Fred Flintstone saying?

Ian wrote: "Bill wrote: "Dagnabit.. I finally get another UK - based story and it's also set in Surrey. Ah well, next time, maybe. Must say, though that I did enjoy The Riverside Villas Murder."
..."

I'm picturing Elmer Fudd, dagnabit, you wascawy wabbit.. but I may be wrong.. lol

I think its Deputy Daug who said it!

Yep Lynne - it was Deputy Dawg...now that was a quality cartoon along with Top Cat

I stand corrected. I just googled (google is an amazing thing) and you are both quite right.

Ok, well, I've added a county to my list. I'm currently reading Chocolate Wars by Deborah Cadbury. While it does move about the UK somewhat and even Europe and the US, the main focus is on the Cadbury brothers factory in Bournville. Checking it out, I find that Bournville/ Birmingham is in the County of West Midlands which was formed in 1974 from parts of Staffordshire/ Worcestershire and Warwickshire. So there you go, even when I can identify a county, it's not on the list.. lol

I have Chocolate Wars on my bookcase too, have really got to get on and read it!

Lynne - The Book Squirrel wrote: "I have Chocolate Wars on my bookcase too, have really got to get on and read it!"

I've got to say, it's really super. Most informative, interesting story. I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

Hi Bill.....Bourneville was/is in Warwickshire, so your 36a was tagged to the right one, no 36. Do you get Cadburys chocolate in Canada? It's rather nice and that's coming from a non chocolate lover.

We do get Cadbury products here, Ian. I was just checking out the list of products on their website and we get most, if not all. My wife, who is from England, tends to think they don't necessarily taste the same. They may be packaged in Canada, under licence to Cadbury's or something such as that. Having said that our local Quality Foods (a BC grocery chain) does periodically get container loads of English food products direct form the UK, including some Cadbury items, so I've managed to experience the wonders of the Curly Wurly. ;0)

Curly Wurlys were/are indeed wondrous. Didn't know still made.

Still make them Ian but as with everything they seem small now than they were when I was young.

Finished another book set in England, unfortunately, still in London.. lol. Excellent though. by Mark Billingham. About to start one set in Brighton, A Tangled Web by Nicholas Blake.

Visited Notthinghampshire today, finished by D.H. Lawrence. (3 stars)

In Gloucestershire at the mo', reading The Potted Gardener.

Visiting the Scilly Isles, which I read are part of Cornwall as part of Wycliffe and Death in a Salubrious Place by W.J. Burley.

As I google The Pillars of the Earth, it states that Kingsbridge Cathedral was set in Marlbourough, Wiltshire due its proximity to Winchester, Gloucester and Salisbury.. I always wanted to visit Wiltshire.. :0)

Bill wrote: "As I google The Pillars of the Earth, it states that Kingsbridge Cathedral was set in Marlbourough, Wiltshire due its proximity to Winchester, Gloucester and Salisbury.. I always want..."

I lived in Wilts for years - Stonehenge was practically in my garden. I loved going to Marlborough, there is a church right in the middle of the town which was great, complete with coffee shop and craft for sale. Haven't been for years though. You should make the effort Bill and visit.

The Pillars of the Earth is a fantastic novel along with its sequal World Without End and well worth a read too.

Lynne - The Book Squirrel wrote: "Bill wrote: "As I google The Pillars of the Earth, it states that Kingsbridge Cathedral was set in Marlbourough, Wiltshire due its proximity to Winchester, Gloucester and Salisbury.. ..."

My sis-in-law and her husband did live in Wiltshire for awhile, but they've moved a bit north. You never know though, we may visit there on one of our trips to the UK. I would like to see Stonehenge. I have World Without End in my bookshelf so I'm sure will get to it at some point. Very much enjoying Pillars at the moment, very well-written, interesting story.

@Bill I am only 29 miles from Stonehenge still. And on the train line to Salisbury which is 2 stops away.

I have spare rooms available!

Lynne - The Book Squirrel wrote: "@Bill I am only 29 miles from Stonehenge still. And on the train line to Salisbury which is 2 stops away.

I have spare rooms available!"

:0)

Finally visiting England again, Essex this time with The Mysterious Affair at Styles, the first Agatha Christie mystery, this one featuring Hercule Poirot.

I've now visited Norfolk, with Bill Bryson's At Home: A Short History of Private Life. While the story travels around the UK and US of A, the setting is the Bryson homestead in Norfolk; as he visits each room in the house to pull tales from history. Very intersting and well-written.

I'm claiming Kent for . While it does travel around the US of A, the story starts at Bun Hill, a Kentish town, the home of the hero, Bert Smallway. It also finishes up in the same area... :0)

I finally find myself back in England with Minette Walters' mystery set in Hampshire, . I have enjoyed every one of her stories so far.

The Tinder Box was an interesting novella from Minette Walters; bigotry, murder, twists and turns, another good story from her. Moving back to the US now, to New Jersey with Seven Up, a Stephanie Plum mystery.

Bill wrote: "I finally find myself back in England with Minette Walters' mystery set in Hampshire, . I have enjoyed every one of her stories so far."

There was a time when I bought her books as they were published, but I seem to have neglected her recently.....I think I'll have to check out which of her books I've missed....I always enjoyed the ones I've read.

What I think I like is that each story is different; you don't have to worry about reading them in sequence. Well, that's one of the things I like, basically, she writes excellent stories.

Moving to Somerset now to read the third MIstress of the Art of Death book, Grave Goods by Ariana Franklin.

While it's doesn't specifically say where the story is set, based on some descriptions and excellent advice from you experts, I'm claiming Devon for Tied Up In Tinsel by Ngaio Marsh. It's been awhile since I've read a book set in the UK..

Darny doodle.. Another British mystery and of course, it's set in a county I've already visited.. Currently reading Deception on His Mind, an Inspector Lynley (although supposedly without Monsieur Lynley) set in Balford le Nez on the Essex coast.. Ah well, still am sure I'll enjoy..

Currently reading another Ngaio Marsh set in the UK. Why doesn't she name the location???? So frustrating.. lol

Bill wrote: "Currently reading another Ngaio Marsh set in the UK. Why doesn't she name the location???? So frustrating.. lol"
I'm currently trying to work out which Welsh county I can claim!!!

Good luck, Sue..

Finally getting to visit a new county. Artists In Crime, the 6th Ngaio Marsh Inspector Alleyn mystery is set in Buckinghamshire.. :0) Enjoying so far.

I'm enjoying my visit to Buckinghamshire with Artists in Crime. I was looking forward to visiting another county when I started The Woman in Black but darn it.. Where the heck is "-shire".. I wish the author would at least use a county.. grrrrrrr.. ;0)

Visiting Cambridgeshire now, just started Case Histories by Kate Atkinson.

I enjoyed my visit to Cambridgeshire very much. Excellent story. I'm now visiting the fictional county of Midsomer (which according to wikepaedia, is loosely based on Somerset - I've already visited), the crime capital of England, it seems.. lol.. Reading The Killings At Badger's Drift.

Visiting Northumberland now, reading The Crow Trap, the first Vera novel by Ann Cleeves.

Bill wrote: "I enjoyed my visit to Cambridgeshire very much. Excellent story. I'm now visiting the fictional county of Midsomer (which according to wikepaedia, is loosely based on Somerset - I've already visite..."

The Midsomer Murders all took place in and around Oxford.

Thanks Patrick. Much appreciated.

I'm playing a bit loosey-goosey with this latest visit to the UK. Marnie is partly set in Barnet which as of 1965 has been a part of the Borough of London. However when the book was written, 1961, it was still part of Hertfordshire. Am I pushing it too far?