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Recommend other Authors/Books

3rdGirl 19 Oct 09 at 10:40 a.m. GMT

I though we could use a posting to recommend any mystery books and authors aside from the amazing Ms Christie that we come across. Sometimes we mention them in other posts, but here we can discuss them a bit more in depth.

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go_leafs_nation 10 Jan 12 at 9:14 p.m. GMT

Folks, I'm afraid I haven't really given you any updates in a while. Well, so much has happened at my blog! I've read everything from Margaret Millar's Fire Will Freeze to John Dickson Carr's The Nine Wrong Answers. I've even reviewed a few movies, such as the new Sherlock Holmes (not that great) and The Adventures of Tintin (brilliant!). Currently I'm rereading and working on a review of Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None which will be followed by a special series of articles.

All this and more can be found at the link below:

http://at-scene-of-crime.blogspot.com/

cameronjhw 08 Jan 12 at 5:22 p.m. GMT

Hi everybody, I have decided to jump from the British mysteries to one of America's popular mystery writers as well as detective. It's Ellery Queen's There Was an Old Woman and I managed to finish it all last week. Now I have to admit that I don't know too much of the writing style or elements that are used in these mysteries. But I enjoyed it a good deal. It has humor, mystery, romance, and a touch of madness and queerness. Also it is one of the nursery rhyme mysteries which Christie herself is no stranger to in her work. It tells of the eccentric Potts family which is controlled by the elderly and down-right tyrannical old matriarch Cornelia Potts who made a huge fortune in the shoe making business (the old woman who lived in a shoe). She lives in a grim mansion on Riverside Drive in New York with her second mild-mannered and henpecked husband, and her six unhappy adult children (three of whom are crazy and the others who are normal). A series of strange and grim events strike this bizarre household among them a duel between two of the brothers where one of them is killed by a shot in the heart, a second murder, a shocking and surprising confession, an attempt on the life of Ellery Queen, and a denouement that occurs during a wedding ceremony which points to an unlikely individual. I enjoyed this book because of the nursery rhyme motif, the eccentric members of the Potts family, and the conclusion which points from one suspect to another and finally to the real killer. It is not bad and while there are those who have different views on Ellery Queen I'm not sure I will read another of his but I am glad I gave this one a chance. If you come across this one I would suggest you read this one if you have nothing to do. 

Number3 06 Jan 12 at 8 p.m. GMT

Go leafs and cam you will appreciate this.  I was in a local book shop going through the "nostalgia" books and found a 1976 version of Carr's "Below Suspicion" lurid 70's cover and all.

On the sale shelves there was a Marsh omnibus which I am waiting on until some of my book piles shrink.

cameronjhw 16 Dec 11 at 1:02 a.m. GMT

Ahoy and hello again, I have just now finished another Ngaio Marsh mystery which has a classic format in the mystery field-murder on a ocean voyage. The novel is called Singing in the Shrouds and it involves Roderick Alleyn on the trail of a homidcal maniac who strangles young women and their bodies are discovered with flowers on them and broken jewelry torn from their necklaces. Also the killer sings when he or she has just eliminated another of its victims. Alleyn believes that the killer is aboard a cargo ship called Cape Farewell heading to South Africa. He suspects that it must be one of the 9 passengers who is the singing killer among the passengers there are a stamp collector, a schoolteacher, a moody spinster, a young girl whose engagement is broken off, and a TV star among others. Alleyn must work quickly before the killer strikes again and the ship reaches its final destination. I enjoyed this novel because of the format and the exotic settings in Las Palmas and Cape Town. This book combines elements of a classsic whodunit with a Hitchcockian touch of a manical killer at large. I was surprised by the identity of the murderer and the motive. I had suspicions against at least a number of different characters. There are some interesting references to Shakespeare and some real-life criminals. Also there is a hint of homosexuality on one of the minor characters. Wit, humor, suspense, romance, and tragedy blend in this late 1960's Marsh novel and I would suggest you try this one....but not on a pleasure cruise

go_leafs_nation 13 Dec 11 at 10:27 a.m. GMT

Not very many updates to report this time, as I've slowed my pace somewhat due to exams (which finish tomorrow). I read the new Sherlock Holmes novel, The House of Silk, and enjoyed it. Unfortunately, Dr. Watson is a complete fool at times, overlooking obvious villains that stand out by a mile. The secret of the titular House of Silk was also disappointing.

An e-book that I read was Julius Katz Mysteries, a promising short story collection available for free by promising author Dave Zeltserman, who has managed to create a wonderful, loving homage to Rex Stout. I next reviewed an obscure masterpiece, Whistle up the Devil, and did research on the author, Derek Smith. I could not find any information on him online, so I got in touch with many people who knew him and applied a corrective of sorts to this.

Next I reviewed the supposed "classic" Before the Fact by Francis Iles, which was turned into the Hitchcock film Suspicion. Unfortunately, it doesn't hold up in the least. It may have been original, but it's misogynistic and the main character is such an idiot it's hard to feel sorry for her when she's finally murdered.

Finally I returned to John Dickson Carr Land and reviewed The Nine Wrong Answers, one of the Master's finest later books. The plot is among his great triumphs (despite a ridiculous impossible poisoning method, but that's an extremely minor plot thread) and once it finally gets started, it is a bizarre and unforgettable phantasmagoria!

As usual, I encourage everyone to read these reviews at the link below, along with a cornucopia of reviews and articles you'll find in my "Criminal Record" tab:

http://at-scene-of-crime.blogspot.com/

go_leafs_nation 13 Dec 11 at 10:17 a.m. GMT

I have to disagree here. Death of a Fool/Off With His Head has a good premise. The dancing sequences are good. THe final reconstruction is brilliant. But it doesn't all hold together because half of the clues are so blunt and obvious that the other half loses its purpose. The finale is a mix of minor surprises and major revelations where I just raised an eyebrow at how long it took everyone to figure that out.

cameronjhw 09 Dec 11 at 7:58 p.m. GMT

Hello everyone, I am on my Christmas reading plan and I started out with a real puzzler. It's Ngaio Marsh' novel Death of a Fool. I have just finished reading it and I am glad I read it. The story involves a small rural community called South Mardian where every year on the Winter Solstice they perform an ancient ritual dance called the Dance of the Five Sons. It's a fictional form of a morris dance. On the night of the performance one of the dancers (a local blacksmith named William Andersen) loses his head literally in a mock decapitation. Soon the whole village is under suspicion when Roderick Alleyn arrives only to discover that besides that they are all practically eccentric they all seem to have a motive. The suspects include the victim's five sons, his 18 year old granddaughter, a bomber pilot who owns a gas station, the local Rector's son, and a German fanatical expert on British folk dances among others. Alleyn must sort out the folklore from the reality in order to catch a very deadly and very possibly insane killer.  I enjoyed this book very much. The last two chapters kept me in suspense as to the murderer's identity. This book is considered to be a locked-room mystery. Marsh gives plenty of info on morris dancing. The reconstruction scene is exciting and I was astounded as to who did it because in my mind I had a number of candidates. A good read full of murder, magic, folklore, and a number of surprises in the pages. Try this book you won't be disappointed....

Number3 05 Dec 11 at 10:34 p.m. GMT

Go leafs and Cameron you will appreciate this.  The library in the school I work at was discarding biographies and I found a major gem in the piles.  It's John Dickson Carr's bio of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.  

So it is on the to-read pile. Along with the Melville bios , and Shirley Jackson's that I found.

cameronjhw 03 Dec 11 at 11:18 p.m. GMT

I have just read last night a previously undiscovered radio mystery play by the master of the locked room mysteries, John Dickson Carr. The play is "Who Killed Matthew Corbin?" and it features Dr. Gideon Fell. It was broadcasted on the BBC and there were not many copies of this drama but thanks to the book called Fell and Foul Play (which I own) I manage to read it and I for one was shocked. Fell tells the story of Matt Corbin's murder which took place in his study at the back of the family country house in Hampstead. He was shot through the heart and there are only four suspects who could have committed the deed and they each have a motive. His two brothers, the dead man's cousin, and a young woman who is engaged to one of the brothers. The play is divided into three parts and I had a time trying to guess the solution but it was a shocker. Plenty of twists, red herrings, surprises, and a unexpected denouement. I am glad I read it and it is one you should read whether you are a Carr fan like me or you like mysteries. A great suspenseful read...

go_leafs_nation 30 Nov 11 at 10:16 a.m. GMT

I've written a lot on my blog since my last update. I won't give a full list of the titles I reviewed, but I encourage you all to visit and check it out. Among other things, I translated a two-part interview between French author Paul Halter and Roland Lacourbe. I took a look at a CADS supplement written by Curt Evans on The Detection Club, some unlikely (but successful) Sherlock Holmes tributes/pastiches. I read my first P. D. James novel (and was underwhelmed), accepted the 2012 Vintage Mystery Reading Challenge, and took a good look at John Rhode's The Corpse in the Car. My most recent review was of Darwin and Hildegarde Teilhet's The Broken Face Murders. Finally, I've been doing some research on an author of an obscure, unheralded classic, and I hope to post my findings within the next few days.

You'll find all this and more at:

http://at-scene-of-crime.blogspot.com/

go_leafs_nation 14 Nov 11 at 8:48 p.m. GMT

I've got another set of updates about books reviewed and articles written over at my blog. They are:

Murder in the Maze by J. J. Connington

The Religious Body by Catherine Aird

Through a Glass, Darkly by Helen McCloy

Death on the High C's by Robert Barnard

La Nuit du loup (The Night of the Wolf) by Paul Halter (which has been translated into English)

A Rant Against the Word "Cozy"

The last article would be particularly in the interests of those on this site. In it, I examine Agatha Christie in particular, and how the term "cozy" has been scornfully and unfairly applied to her work. It has spread to other authors and is frankly getting ridiculous, perpetuating myths about mystery novels that are completely false. Here is the link:

http://at-scene-of-crime.blogspot.com/2011/11/rant-against-word-cozy.html

You can visit my blog and see everything I've written by following this link:

http://at-scene-of-crime.blogspot.com/

NightRayDuck 05 Nov 11 at 11:52 p.m. GMT

Thanks for the info, go_leafs. I think, the next time my sister wants me to ship 10 Christie novels to her, I'll recommend the Mutilated Mink instead. :-)

Tommy_A_Jones 05 Nov 11 at 2:19 p.m. GMT

This reply contains spoiler information. Show reply

I will definitely look for it go_leafs, It sounds Great and I am a Bundle Brent Fan so I will enjoy it I think, I have just finished Cutting by James Hayman, It is his first Novel he has had a Career in Publishing liike David Roberts who I also like, James Hayman Books are set in Maine and Very Pacy, there is no reason why AC fans should like this apart from the fact That I liked it, no scratch that I LOVED it and I love ACs Books.  

go_leafs_nation 05 Nov 11 at 12:14 p.m. GMT

This is why my next read, The Affair of the Mutilated Mink by James Anderson, was such a tremendous breath of fresh air. Anderson genuinely loves Christie’s work, and his novel reads like a tribute to her stuff more than a parody or satire. He sets it in the 1930s, but a lot of really curious touches makes it clear that it’s the fictional universe of the 1930s mystery, not the historically accurate era. He gets the Christie touch down to a tee: we have the Bright Young Things Christie was so fond of, a complex plot, and a finale absolutely typical of Christie. The best part is that the Scotland Yard specialist brought in (a parody of detectives like John Appleby) gets everything completely wrong, but the plodding local policeman, Chief Inspector Wilkins, solves the case. Everything is explained satisfactorily, and overall it’s a pure delight. The comedy really works and it’s written with love and admiration for Dame Agatha’s stuff. It’s like  The Secret of Chimneys if it was a more focused story—those who love the Bundle Brent books will definitely love this one (and there are two more in the series!). You can read my review of this book at this link: http://at-scene-of-crime.blogspot.com/2011/11/case-without-amateur.html

go_leafs_nation 05 Nov 11 at 12:14 p.m. GMT

Now that I’ve updated you all on my blog articles, I have a warning to deliver as well as an unreserved recommendation, both of particular interest to Agatha Christie fans. These two books, Gilbert Adair’s The Act of Roger Murgatroyd and James Anderson’s The Affair of the Mutilated Mink, are marketed as Christie satires/parodies/tributes. However, if you value your sanity, stay away from Adair’s book.

The Act of Roger Murgatroyd is one of the most mean-spirited, distasteful, hateful novels I have ever read. It acts as though it’s a hi-larious parody of Agatha Christie, but in reality, it’s written with hatred and disdain for her work and the mystery genre in general. Adair’s idea of a joke is to drop Agatha Christie’s name so that you, the reader, sees that she is a rival to his detective-story writer, Evadne Mount. Sometimes, he comes up with a genuinely amusing joke, but then he invariably beats it to the ground so that it’s no longer funny. Evadne Mount is one of the most annoying characters I’ve ever read about, and her deductions to solve the mystery are frankly moronic. There is a locked-room mystery, but the explanation is not only moronic, it comes with a plot hole so huge you can drive the entire plot through it. Stay away from this book! I will post my complete review on this site very soon (and possibly add one or two more things to it)—Adair is in love with his own cleverness, and seems to hate Agatha Christie and her fellow practitioners in crime.

[to be continued]

go_leafs_nation 05 Nov 11 at 12:04 p.m. GMT

Hello from me again! I have some more updates regarding my blog, At the Scene of the Crime. I'd particularly like to single out two of the most recent entries, but that'll come in just a second. (I will have to do two separate posts for this.) For the moment, here are the various reviews/articles since my last update:

Polish Detective Stories (An analysis carried out as a guest blog for Detection by Moonlight)

The Case of the April Fools by Christopher Bush

Black Orchids by Rex Stout

Not Quite Dead Enough by Rex Stout

The Case With Nine Solutions by J. J. Connington

The Act of Roger Murgatroyd by Gilbert Adair*

The Affair of the Mutilated Mink by James Anderson*

As always, I invite you to take a look at my blog. You'll find spoiler-free reviews of all sorts of detective novels from somebody who genuinely loves to read them. At the side of the page, you'll also find a blog roll of similar sites, including a French version of my blog, Sur les lieux du crime. Here is the link: http://at-scene-of-crime.blogspot.com/

(*These two books will be highlighted in my next post.)

Number3 01 Nov 11 at 9:36 p.m. GMT

I recently finished "The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night Time" by Mark Haddon. I thought it was wonderful.  The main character suffers from ASD(Autism Spectrum Disorder). 

Currently I'm reading "Robinson Crusoe" by Daniel Defoe.  So far it's rather interesting.

brendamonks 25 Oct 11 at 5:09 p.m. GMT

Robert Goddard is a superb author of crime novels. I read his 2nd book many years ago and realised what a wonderful story writer he was so read his first book. Since then I have pounced on every book he writes (one a year - usually published in Springtime) and I believe he's now written about fifteeen. The titles are great. The content is page-turning. I reccommend him to any Christie fan in particular. They are crammed full of red herrings and I have yet to guess the ending. Enjoy.

go_leafs_nation 23 Oct 11 at 4:51 p.m. GMT

Hello again from me! Here is another update of book reviews, discussions, etc.

Talking About Detective Fiction by P. D. James (Warning: not recommended at all)

John Dickson Carr: Scribe du Miracle by Roland Lacourbe

The Treason of the Ghosts by Paul Doherty

Where There's a Will by Rex Stout

Panic Party by Anthony Berkeley

Ther 43% (Alcohol) Solution: An Appreciation of Craig Rice (an appreciation of mystery author Craig Rice, written in collaboration with her official biographer!!!)

Once again, please visit the crime scene at:

http://at-scene-of-crime.blogspot.com/

You'll find plenty of book reviews and discussions, all written by a mystery enthusiast. Also, keep an eye peeled in the coming weeks for a translation of an interview between French author Paul Halter and French scholar Roland Lacourbe-- I got M. Lacourbe's permission to try my hand at a translation. :)

go_leafs_nation 13 Oct 11 at 4:11 p.m. GMT

Hi there, everyone. Some more updates on reviews from my mystery blog:

Paul Halter, La Malediction de Barberousse (Barbarossa's Curse)

Paul Halter, La Mort vous invite (Death Invites You)

Rules were made to be broken: an analysis of Fr. Ronald Knox's Commandments of Detective Fiction

Paul Halter, Le Crime de Dedale (The Crime of Daedalus)

As always, I invite you all to visit the blog! I know I haven't been a regular contributor here of late, but I'm still going strong, discovering various new authors to enjoy all the time. If anyone has any review request (particularly from the Golden Age era), just give me a shout out over here or at the blog (where you don't need a user account to comment).

http://at-scene-of-crime.blogspot.com/

go_leafs_nation 04 Oct 11 at 11:29 a.m. GMT

Well, since my last update I've done a pretty good job of posting a review every day, of which the first three are "crossover" reviews with other bloggers:

Bloody Murder by Julian Symons (a study of the genre)

The Mask of Ra by Paul Doherty (an impossible crime set in Ancient Egypt)

An Ancient Evil by Paul Doherty

Ghostly Murders by Paul Doherty

La Quatrième Porte (The Fourth Door) by Paul Halter

How Like an Angel by Margaret Millar

I invite you all to take a look "At the Scene of the Crime", where you will find all of my reviews of all sorts of mystery novels:

http://at-scene-of-crime.blogspot.com/

go_leafs_nation 27 Sep 11 at 4:02 p.m. GMT

Well, At the Scene of the Crime is now celebrating 100 blog posts! This milestone is a pretty impressive one I'm proud of, and to celebrate, I've prepared a series of crossover reviews with other bloggers, readers, etc. After my last update, though, I reviewed the following books:

I, The Jury by Mickey Spillane (which, incidentally, left me thoroughly disgusted)

The Zebra-Striped Hearse by Ross Macdonald

The Real Inspector Hound by Tom Stoppard (a wickedly funny parody of The Mousetrap)

Minority Report (2002 movie, directed by Steven Spielberg)

The Wench is Dead by Colin Dexter

Gold Was Our Grave by Henry Wade

John Dickson Carr: The Man Who Explained Miracles by Douglas G. Greene

As usual, I invite you all to take a look at the blog, where you will find spoiler-free reviews of mysteries from an enthusiast:

http://at-scene-of-crime.blogspot.com/

3rdGirl 23 Sep 11 at 6:27 a.m. GMT

Puffinjill

Welcome back, 3rdGirl!!!!! I have been thinking of you and hoping you were OK. Wonderful to hear your news too!! Hope all goes well for you in the future - you'll certainly be busy!! And the very best of luck to you, go leafs, as you start University! Hope you both still find time out of your busy schedules to give the rest of us your views in these boards.

Hi all, it's been about 12 months since I was last on here and I am now a mum with twins and a 2 year old, so not much time to read. I've had to start listening to audiobooks to get my fix! I hope you're all well.

I've managed a couple of books recently.

Tasha Alexander's And Only To Deceive with detective Lady Emily, and Charles Finch's Fleet Street Murders and A Stranger in Mayfair which were excellent.

Cosy AND clever, which I love!!

go_leafs_nation 10 Sep 11 at 1:26 p.m. GMT

Well, I'm still going strong, reviewing things left and right. Here are the items reviewed since my last update:

Scream 4 (2011)

Fred Vargas, L’homme à l’envers (translated as Seeking Whom He May Devour)

A. C. Baantjer, DeKok and Murder by Melody

Ross Macdonald, The Galton Case

William L. DeAndrea, Killed in the Ratings

Bill Pronzini, Blowback

Bon Cop Bad Cop (2006)

Raymond Chandler, Farewell My Lovely

As usual, I invite you to take a look at the crime scene and see what I have to say about the detective fiction I read. :)

http://at-scene-of-crime.blogspot.com/

And for those who are wondering if I have ever reviewed The Case of the Blood-Bolstered Pincushion by J. X. Hooligan, here is a list of every book, movie, etc. that I've ever reviewed, with links to each:

http://at-scene-of-crime.blogspot.com/p/criminal-record.html

go_leafs_nation 28 Aug 11 at 12:46 a.m. GMT

Well, I'm back from my vacation and might as well provide everyone with an update, although I've written only one review since coming back (there were a few I managed to fit in before leaving):

Scott Ratner's play Kill a Better Mousetrap (which uses Christie's The Mousetrap as its focal point)

Paul Doherty's The Devil's Domain (a surprisingly good impossible poisoning novel taking place in the Middle Ages)

G. K. Chesterton's The Flying Inn (though not a mystery, I made an exception based on the fact that G. K. Chesterton wrote it and that interest in such a review was expressed by a regular reader).

I invite you to take a look at my blog and see what I've been up to!

http://at-scene-of-crime.blogspot.com/

go_leafs_nation 08 Aug 11 at 4:01 p.m. GMT

Here I am with another blog update. :) There's been quite a bit of reviews since my last update:

Barry Ergang, The Play of Light and Shadow

Henry Wade, No Friendly Drop

Elliot Paul, Mayhem in B Flat

R. Austin Freeman, The Magic Casket

Jonathan Creek: The Grinning Man & The Judas Tree

Henry Wade, Heir Presumptive

Rex Stout, Some Buried Caesar

Henry Wade has quickly become a new favourite of mine, I'and I've examined a Nero Wolfe tale for the first time. As usual, I invite readers to read these spoiler-free reviews of mystery novels from a reader who loves them "At the Scene of the Crime":

http://at-scene-of-crime.blogspot.com/

go_leafs_nation 28 Jul 11 at 3:07 a.m. GMT

Well, it's been a busy month "At the Scene of the Crime", with plenty of reviews before my summer vacation finishes and before I go off to Spain for about a month. You could say I'm making up for time I will lose later. Anyhow, there's been plenty of great stuff reviewed since my last update, and I've also started a series of reviews on "Crime Kings"- male authors from the Golden Age who are overlooked far too often in favour of their female contemporaries.

Schlock Homes: The Complete Bagel Street Saga by Robert L. Fish (a masterwork, this)

Louise Penny, Dead Cold

William DeAndrea, Killed in the Act

Peter Lovesey, Bloodhounds

R. Austin Freeman, The Eye of Osiris *(this is where the Crime Kings reviews start)

Freeman Wills Crofts, Murderers Make Mistakes

Anthony Wynne, The Toll House Murder

Anthony Berkeley, Top Storey Murder

R. Austin Freeman, The Singing Bone

As always, I invite you to stop by at the blog to read my complete reviews. I'm a reader who loves mysteries, so if you want to get a good idea whether you'll like a book/author or not, see if I've written about it! The reviews, of course, are spoiler-free.

http://at-scene-of-crime.blogspot.com/

cameronjhw 27 Jul 11 at 6:18 p.m. GMT

Hello again I have just finished the 18th Ngaio Marsh novel called Scales of Justice. I have to say this was a really unique and intriguing read. The story takes place in a picture-postcard country village called Swevenings. Although this village is pretty and hardly a spot for anything sinister...it becomes one when one of the townspeople Colonel Cartarette is found brutally murdered by a blow to the head while fishing by the trout stream. Soon the whole charming community becomes a beehive of suspicion, secrets, hidden motives, and plenty of suspects who could have committed the awful deed including an eccentric old man who lives with his cats, an ex-Navy alcoholic commander who enjoys archery, an attractive femme fatale among others. It does not take long for Roderick Alleyn to do some real detective work and when he does he manages to reel in the killer. It has a very interesting solution as to the murder method which is both bizarre and grisly and also to the villian's identity which although you don't really suspect this person once you have the facts it should have been obvious. This novel has some unique and different characters, vivid descriptions of the countryside and its portrayal of everyday village life. It's almost like one of Christie's Miss Marple village mysteries. Also it gives some interesting information on fishing which plays a very important part in the novel. I enjoyed this book and one you should try.

cameronjhw 24 Jul 11 at 5:52 p.m. GMT

Number3-I already knew that the Man Who Knew Too Much was a story orignally by Bennett and Lewis I was just saying I was reminded of Hitchcock's film versions one done during the 1930s and the other in the late 50's. I know Hitch did not use any of Marsh's works for his films.

Number3 24 Jul 11 at 1:08 p.m. GMT

Cameron-  "The Man Who Knew Too Much" was based on a story by Charles Bennett and D. B. Wyndham Lewis.  Unfortunately Hitch didn't do any Marsh stories.

But it would have been wonderful if he did.

Number3 24 Jul 11 at 1:08 p.m. GMT

Cameron-  "The Man Who Knew Too Much" was based on a story by Charles Bennett and D. B. Wyndham Lewis.  Unfortunately Hitch didn't do any Marsh stories.

But it would have been wonderful if he did.

cameronjhw 22 Jul 11 at 8:41 p.m. GMT

I have just finished the 17th Ngaio Marsh novel called Spinsters in Jeopardy. This novel is not so much a murder mystery as it is a thriller. It features Roderick Alleyn and his wife Agatha Troy and their son Ricky. The story is about Alleyn and his family on holiday in Southern France in the Riviera. But the last thing in the world they ever expected on their holiday was kidnapping, drug-trafficking, a bizarre and unholy cult, and being witnesses to a shocking murder committed at the flamboyant and sinister chateau called the House of the Silver Goat. This novel has some vivid descrptions of the French countryside which gives it a very exotic flavor as well as some shocking and wicked references to mysticism and black magic. Towards the end of the book it was really suspenseful and macabre. It combines the modern with the Gothic. As I read this book I was reminded of the Alfred Hitchcock film The Man Who Knew Too Much. The title has a interesting connection to the plot but I won't say why. I thought the book was intriguing to read even though it was not a murder mystery. A unique blend of wit, humor, action, suspense, romance, terror, and the bizarre.

go_leafs_nation 16 Jul 11 at 7:26 p.m. GMT

I might drop into one here or there, but to tell the truth, my shelves are so jam-packed that I won't go out of my way to find some books. Thanks for the tip, though!

Number3 14 Jul 11 at 1:59 p.m. GMT

go-leafs- if possible  while in Spain look for book dealers of English language books, and get ready for some good surprises. Travelers and ex-pats leave good things behind.

go_leafs_nation 13 Jul 11 at 8:31 p.m. GMT

Books I've reviewed since last time:

Christopher Fowler, The Victoria Vanishes

William DeAndrea, Cronus

Case Closed: Volume 38

A movie: Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame

Patrick Quentin, Puzzle for Players

John Rhode, Death on Sunday

I've also redesigned the blog to go with the "At the Scene of the Crime" motif. Check out the new look! (Here is the post I made after the redesign: http://at-scene-of-crime.blogspot.com/2011/07/great-blog-redesign.html)

Finally, after "The Flying Inn" was mentioned by GKCfan, I've managed to purchase a copy, but I doubt I'll get to it before I leave for Spain in August as I have a huge stack of library books. I might take it on the plane with me, though, and possibly review it when I get back.

Here is my blog's web address:

http://at-scene-of-crime.blogspot.com/

cameronjhw 11 Jul 11 at 3:08 p.m. GMT

I have finished the 16th novel by Ngaio Marsh called Night at the Vulcan. This is another one of Marsh's novels that is centered on a murder-mystery that centers on a theatre. The story is about a young New Zealand girl called Martyn Tarne who goes throughout the West End in search for a job and ends up as a dresser in the Vulcan Theatre. She soon is embroiled in the various feelings of suspicion, jealousy, hysterics, supersitition, and vanity. But the last thing in the world she ever expected was that she was to be a suspect in the murder of a drunken and rotten actor found dead in his dressing room on opening night. The macabre thing is that the murder seems to be exactly like a similiar crime that took place years ago in the same room. As for suspects there's no shortage among them an attractive leading lady, a tempermental actor-manager, a distinguished and eccentric playwright, a hysterical ingenue and more. Once Roderick Alleyn steps in it's only a matter of time to bring down the curtain on a killer. This novel interested me because it centers on the theatre and its complex life behind the footlights. It also points out that the theatrical life is not all glamour, excitement, and romance that  some consider it to be. It shows its heartaches, the tense and vain atmosphere among actors and authors as well as the theatre is more of a living than a enchanted and intriguing place to build a career. The solution did intrigue me and I was surprised by who the murderer was and even more the motive and how the cold-blooded deed was done. Another good read....

NightRayDuck 10 Jul 11 at 10:14 p.m. GMT

Speaking of Margery Allingham, I've only read 1 short story of hers, and that's probably the reason that I struggled through it. The "mystery" was ok, but each character had so many nicknames that I needed to read it over 5 times before I felt reasonably sure the actions and parts of each character. I wonder if I'll know the characters better if I manage to read the stories according to order of publication or something...

The story was "The Case is Altered", in which the main character Mr. somebody Campion goes to some distant aunt of his for Christmas holiday, and husband of said aunt is some sort of important person in some technical department of government, and things get tangled up because said aunt invites many guests including celebrities and even notorieties. It was completely confusing. In many paragraphs, instead of saying "Mr. Campion" or "Campion", Allingham wrote him as "the lean man", "the serious man" of something or other, and when the story cuts to a different scene, with another character bursting onto the scene and exclaiming something, the scene and the other characters occupying the scene not having been mentioned, and then a response is given by someone described as the person peering through his thin, prim eyeglasses, and it's some five more exchanges in that dialogue before I found out that "the person peering through prim eyeglasses" was also Mr. Campion.

I am sorry if the above paragraph is confusing. It's difficult to write coherently while quoting such a large variety of designations for one character in one short story. o.O

Do you suppose I'll have some hope of knowing which recurring character is speaking, when I read another Allingham story on the first go?? Thank you.

Number3 10 Jul 11 at 2:49 p.m. GMT

I love P. D. James work.  Along with Ruth Rendell/Barbra Vine.  So far my favourite  P. D. James story is "A Certain Justice."  I am looking forward to reading her non fiction.

go_leafs_nation 10 Jul 11 at 12:37 p.m. GMT

Although the book was excellent as a whole, I'm really not a fan of solutions in that vein. It did it excellently- one of the better treatments of the twist I've ever read, and miles better than a similar take by Dororthy L. Sayers... But at the same time, there's an element of dissatisfaction associated with it. You reach the end and think to yourself-- "Seriously? That was IT?"

Nofret 10 Jul 11 at 7:59 a.m. GMT

The unique solution to Police at the Funeral is just about the only murder method that Christie never used in any of her works! However, IMO it's not among the best of Allingham's works. Her earlier ones are noted for their rural, idyllic settings, while the later ones tend to be grittier. For the former I'd recommend Sweet Danger, and Look to the Lady, and the latter Traitors' Purse and The Tiger in the Smoke.

NightRayDuck 10 Jul 11 at 2 a.m. GMT

I have to admit that I am also worried, every time I tried to look up a P.D. James novel, by the sheer number of pages. (I've never even tried reading one yet. And I couldn't find short stories by P.D. James.)

The type of "character development" that go_leafs has just pointed out is exactly the reason that I wouldn't recommend most of Robert Ludlum's books in this forum. Personally I like Ludlum's stories, but his "Osterman Weekend" is the only story in which the character angst actually equates serious brain work in a sleuthing attempt by the characters.

go_leafs_nation 09 Jul 11 at 4:51 p.m. GMT

The size of a PD James novel scares the living daylights out of me. 500 pages or more, of which the plot is allocated about 150 pages. I highly dislike the way almost every novel written today is excessively padded out with "character development" (read: annoying character angst).

Six new reviews have been put on my blog. First, the breathrough mystery/sci-fi crossover by Isaac Asimov, The Caves of Steel. Next, a brilliant novel from Peter Lovesey called Rough Cider, which reads like Five Little Pigs if it had been written by a more hardboiled author than AC. Third, a brilliantly comic mystery, My Kingdom for a Hearse (by Craig Rice). After that, it's Margery Allingham's Police at the Funeral, a novel with an apparently classic solution, but one I disliked (although the book as a whole is brilliant). Then a pair of modern books back-to-back: William DeAndrea's The Manx Murders and Carola Dunn's Death at Wentwater Court. Some of these authors, like Carola Dunn, have been mentioned on this thread before, so if you want to know if you'll like reading some of these authors, check out my blog!

http://at-scene-of-crime.blogspot.com/

Dolly_B 08 Jul 11 at 7:57 p.m. GMT

How about PD James.  She invents the most intricate plots, with lots of detail.  Sometimes trying to get through her detailed descriptions is a bit of a chore but once you've finished the book, digested the contents, and thought about it, you realize it was one of the best stories you have ever read.   I think her last book was written in 2008 (The Private Patient) and it was a wonderful.  I belive PD James was 88 years old when it was written.  Agatha Christie will always be my favourite author but PD James is a close second .  Are there any other fans out there?

SilverTyne 07 Jul 11 at 2:53 p.m. GMT

I haven't read themall yet, but those I have read are very much Christie style English village mysteries.

Number3

Speaking of Georgette Heyer, I'm reading a book about her Regency series. 

Silver does she use the Regency era in her mystery stories?

Number3 07 Jul 11 at 2:38 p.m. GMT

Speaking of Georgette Heyer, I'm reading a book about her Regency series. 

Silver does she use the Regency era in her mystery stories?

SilverTyne 05 Jul 11 at 10:10 p.m. GMT

Hullo all!

I'm new here so I've only had time to skim read this monster of a thread.  I'm a fan of the golden age cosy village mystery, so I concur with the recommendations for Patricia Wentworth. I also liked the John Dickson Carr and Carter Dickson books, along with Ngaio Marsh. I hadn't come across Carola Dunn so I'll definitely be giving hers a go.

I haven't seen a mention of Elizabeth Ferrars here - forgive me if I missed it. And I'd also recommend the Arthur Crook books by Anthony Gilbert and the excellent crime strand by Georgette Heyer, particularly Envious Casca and Behold, Here's Poison.

go_leafs_nation 01 Jul 11 at 4:24 a.m. GMT

I've been on a roll reviewing mysteries lately- one of the perks of vacation time. I've reviewed the following books since my last update:

William DeAndrea, Fatal Elixir

Jeffrey Marks, Anthony Boucher (a work of non-fiction)

Keigo Higashino, The Devotion of Suspect X

Bill Pronzini, Camouflage

Louise Penny, The Murder Stone

George Baxt, The Alfred Hitchcock Murder Case (a crossover review)

Paul Halter, Le Diable de Dartmoor (The Devil of Dartmoor)

These reviews can be found here:

http://at-scene-of-crime.blogspot.com/

I particularly recommend Louise Penny to AC fans, whose work uncannily reminds me of AC and whose writing seems to fly by! (I'm not someone who tosses comparisons like that lightly...) My review of her book The Murder Stone is here:

http://at-scene-of-crime.blogspot.com/2011/06/canadian-statue-mystery.html

go_leafs_nation 19 Jun 11 at 1:09 a.m. GMT

Since my last update, I've reviewed several books on my blog. Here is a chronological list:

Leo Bruce, Case for Three Detectives (one is a brilliant parody of Poirot)

Kelley Roos, The Frightened Stiff

Anthony Berkeley, Jumping Jenny

Craig Rice, Home Sweet Homicide

Patrick Quentin, A Puzzle for Fools

Ellery Queen, The Tragedy of Y

Alan Green, What a Body!

Helen McCloy, Dance of Death

Edmund Crispin, Swan Song

John Dickson Carr, Panic in Box C

John Dickson Carr, The Ghosts' High Noon

John Dickson Carr, The Bride of Newgate

Peter Lovesey, Mad Hatter's Holiday

Stuart Palmer, The Puzzle of the Happy Hooligan

The 1946 film adaptation of Home Sweet Homicide

Bill Pronzini, Scattershot

Bill Pronzini, Shackles

Paul Halter, À 139 pas de la mort (139 Steps from Death)

You can read all this and more on At the Scene of the Crime!

http://at-scene-of-crime.blogspot.com/

cameronjhw 19 Jun 11 at 12:57 a.m. GMT

I recommend the next Ngaio Marsh novel I have just finished last night called  A Wreath for Rivera. This novel centers around a jazz band called Breezy Bellairs and his Boys. The story also centers on a very eccentric peer named Lord Pastern and Bagott who has taken up jazz music and plays the drums. In the band there is a handsome but suspicious piano-accordionist called Carlos Rivera who seems to be attracted to Pastern's step-daughter. One evening during the debut of Lord Pastern's composition which involves a gun and a wreath of flowers Rivera is murdered with many witnesses watching among several suspects who all seem to have a motive and the detective Roderick Alleyn with his wife Agatha Troy. It doesn't take long to find out who sent this swarthy cad to his swan song. This novel centers obviously on jazz music as well as drugs, blackmail, and a very unusual and elaborate murder weapon. This novel is fun to read and has a very interesting solution to who, why and how....

NightRayDuck 17 Jun 11 at 12:07 a.m. GMT

Honorable mention of stories that are not strictly a solvable case, but contain some other interesting factors, and are, each in its own way, a well-composed and interesting piece.

Bradley H. Sinor, "The Adventure of the Other Detective", 2003. Dr. Watson accidentally crosses dimensions into the London of one of many alternative worlds, and assists the private consulting detective in this London, to prevent the escape of a very dangerous criminal.

Chris Roberson, "Merridew of Abominable Memory", 2008. Dr. Watson, now elderly and having memory difficulties, discusses with his physician the misadventure of a savant who had pathological total recall. (Regardless of the accepted name of the disease / condition, this is a real-world, though very rare, medical problem, with classic cases dating back to the 1800s. Some U.S. doctors call a recent case "hyperthymesia.")

Naomi Novik, "Commonplaces", 2008. Holmes accepts / courts the intimate company of a lady in a way that he probably had never done before. An interesting interpretation of Holmes's attitude to romance.

NightRayDuck 16 Jun 11 at 11:40 p.m. GMT

A few more "other authors' idea of Sherlock Holmes adventures" recommendations. The following tales work out as proper mysteries, and the characters act as one might expect from the original tales by Arthur Conan Doyle. The stories make fun reading if regarded purely in terms of the narrative. Unfortunately, the crime, motive, method etc in these stories are rather familiar in mystery plots and / or real-life criminal methods, and so, the "mystery" might be rather boring or "too easy" to mystery fans.

No blurbs for these, for fear of completely spoiling the simple puzzle in the tale.

Michael Moorcock, "The Adventure of the Dorset Street Lodger", 1993.

Mary Robinette Kowal, "The Shocking Affair of the Dutch Steamship Friesland", 2005.

Laurie R. King, "Mrs. Hudson's Case", 1997.

NightRayDuck 16 Jun 11 at 11:37 p.m. GMT

Thanks for the recommendation, Number3. I had read the original Sherlock Holmes short stories many times over and some ten years before I had ever seen the original full-length novels. My impression with "A Study in Scarlet" and "The Sign of Four" was "Oh dear. Is Dr. Watson writing a human drama, tragic romance, very lengthy cautionary tale, or something??" :p

The only lengthy flash-back in the Sherlock Holmes canon that truly enhanced and completed the story is the one in "The Valley of Fear".

Number3 07 Jun 11 at 1:38 p.m. GMT

Duck, I just finished a good companion to read along with the Sherlock cannon.  It's called "An Elementary Guide: The Sherlock Holmes Companion."  It's by Daniel Smith.

Also I'm going back and re-reading the cannon from the beginning. So I'm currently reading "A Study In Scarlet."

cameronjhw 06 Jun 11 at 3:22 p.m. GMT

I have just finished the 14th Ngaio Marsh novel called Final Curtain. This novel is one of her most creative works because it dabbles in both the world of the theater and painting. The story takes place after the Second World War and Roderick Alleyn's wife the famous artist Agatha Troy is asked to paint the portrait of the distinguished and elderly Shakespearean actor Sir Henry Ancred for his 75th birthday. When she arrives at his family home Ancreton (which is a combination of a castle and a country house) she discovers that his children and grandchildren don't get along with each other due to the fact that they are an over-sensitive, emotional and theatrical family. The family is even more upset by Sir Henry's relationship with a much younger and common actress which seems to lead to marriage. However, on the night of his birthday he is found dead and it seems everyone had a motive and a opportunity for the deed. Alleyn is called in and solves this bizarre and complex mystery. Marsh uses references of Shakespeare, artists, theatrical stars, and even the name of a real-life character actor is mentioned in one chapter. Not many people will remember his name but he did appear in a film adaptation of one of Christie's own works. Also the murder method used in this novel is one that would be featured in a Christie novel some years later. Marsh does an excellent job in creating a very dysfunctional and emotional family with its secrets and frustrations. The characters are believable and the setting is unique. She does a good job in describing the castle where the story takes place. A good read with elements of wit, humor, suspense, tension, and a tense denouement

NightRayDuck 03 Jun 11 at 2:50 a.m. GMT

more recommendation of Sherlock Holmes tales by other authors.. Case / problem solvable with logical observation, questioning, inference, and assumption of one paranormal factor per story.

Dominic Green, "The Adventure of the Lost World", 2004. Someone on a murder spree, using a trained, carnivorous dinosaur as the weapon. Also includes some highly improbable but amusing disguises perpetrated by the detective.

Barbara Hambly, "The Adventure of the Antiquarian's Niece", 2003. A case that looks like domestic tyranny turns out to have its roots in black magic taught by evil yet very powerful supernatural entities. (part of a Holmes v. Cthulhul tribute)

Neil Gaiman, "A Study in Emerald", 2003. A private consulting detective in a world that has been ruled by powerful non-human individuals for centuries. The detective attempts to locate and trap malfactors involved in the brutal murder of a foreign royalty. (part of a Holmes v. Cthulhul tribute)

Geoffrey A. Landis, "The Singular Habit of Wasps", 1994. Carnage after some stranded extraterrestrials attempt to settle down in London.

Tim Lebbon, "The Horror of the Many Faces", 2003. An unworldly force or individual assumes very effective disguise while killing and dissecting people in London. (part of a Holmes v. Cthulhul tribute)

NightRayDuck 02 Jun 11 at 4:44 p.m. GMT

I read a whole volume of Sherlock Holmes tales by other authors, I thought I might mention those tales that use the canonic "Holmes" characters effectively.

Lively tale with a logical mystery solvable without need to resort to the paranormal explanation. Very fun reading.

Stephen King, "The Doctor's Case", 1987. Dr. Watson is the first to notice the crucial clue on the crime scene; Mr. Holmes is slower than usual due to the crime scene giving him a severe, albeit temporary, attack of illness.

Vonda N. McIntyre, "The Adventure of the Field Theorems", 1995. The well-liked and well-respected author of the "Professor Challenger" series asks Holmes to investigate the causes of crop circles in the farming fields, and rather hopes Holmes can prove that human agencies are not involved.

Anthony Burgess, "Murder to Music", 1989. A visiting monarch is at risk for assassination. Celebrated musicians are involved one way or another.

Sharyn McCrumb, "The Vale of the White Horse", 2003. The medical history of an old family has been the basis of a local fairy tale of misfortune. The latest instance is a murder case.

Tanith Lee, "The Human Mystery", 1999. Someone with a secret obsession about Holmes manages to distress him very much. No crime that would concern the police. The psychology of motive, the schemer completely failing to anticipate Mr. Holmes's reaction is very interesting.

NightRayDuck 01 Jun 11 at 1:06 a.m. GMT

I have a rather long list of "New Sherlock Holmes" short story recommendations, but it looks like our "Off-Topic Discussions" thread has temporarily disappeared from this "Miscellaneous" forum, so I am randomly thinking I might do better to post the recommendations later, if and when the forums are more stabilized..

cameronjhw 28 May 11 at 2:41 a.m. GMT

I have finished the 13th novel by Ngaio Marsh called Died in the Wool. This novel is great in many aspects. First of all the story takes place in New Zealand during WW2. It centers on Florence Rubrick, Member of Parliament who lives on her country house and sheep station in the rugged wilderness of the countryside. She disappears when she goes off to rehearse a patriotic speech in the wool-shed and is found dead in a bale of wool three weeks later. Roderick Alleyn who is there to find enemy agents in New Zealand and investigate hints of espionage  is on hand to figure out if her murder is connected to spies. As he interviews her relatives, servants, employees and others who were connected to her he finds many clues, suspects, and motives which leads to a very exciting conclusion. The solution really surprised me. Marsh gives vivid descriptions of the New Zealand countryside, the sheep farming and the whole process of shearing and other things to get wool. She evidently seems to know alot about sheep farming and that is the other reason this makes it an interesting and entertaining read. This novel reminded me of Christie's Five Little Pigs and Sparkling Cyanide to a degree. Hope any of you get a chance to read this novel as well as her other novels.

Number3 24 May 11 at 4:05 p.m. GMT

I just finished a bio about Sir Arthur Conan Doyle by James Playsted Wood.  It's called "The Man Who Hated Sherlock Holmes."

It's mostly touches the surface of Doyle's life but, it is a good primer for those just getting interested in Sir Arthur.

NightRayDuck 24 May 11 at 4:08 a.m. GMT

about Ngaio Marsh - I haven't the opportunity to look up her novels yet, but I happened upon a short story of hers in a volume of whodunnits around Christmas time. story is called "Death on the Air", I think, it's about a domestic tyrant being murdered by a rigged wireless / radio sound system. the story struck me as well-constructed, the murder method and alibi worked out properly, and the various character interactions made it possible to infer the possible motive for each character, as well as which character might have been mistaken about things they had or had not observed.. and Inspector Alleyn seems to have a strict working ethic without any boastful disapproval for murder (like Poirot) or long moralizing or psychological analysis as found in many Christie works. I think the writing is very stylish and effective.

cameronjhw 23 May 11 at 9:43 p.m. GMT

NightRayDuck-Yes it did have steam as well as containing sulphur.

I wonder if there is anyone out there who has read Ngaio Marsh's works who give their views on her novels and what they think of her as a writer I would be most interested.

NightRayDuck 22 May 11 at 6:05 a.m. GMT

wow boiling mud pool.. new visitors often don't understand that some of the items in a hot spring / geyser area can be much hotter than boiling water. I wonder if the boiling mud pool had steam at all?

I finished reading my volume of "Improbable Adventures of Sherlock Holmes", various short stories by various authors. Now I am in two minds whether to write interesting blurbs for the stories I enjoyed, or to write complaints about extra-boring stories where one might have substituted any two characters for the detectives. 

cameronjhw 21 May 11 at 7:31 p.m. GMT

I have just finished reading the next Ngaio Marsh novel in the series called Colour Scheme. This is the second novel she sets in New Zealand at a hot springs spa with its geysers, mud baths, and thermal pools.  The story takes place during WW2 and Roderick Alleyn is on the trail of enemy agents. His investigation leads him to the spa where flashing signals and foreign ships appear at night and a businessman who may or may not be a spy but it becomes even more serious when the businessman dies in a boiling mud pool. It seems everyone had a motive among them an old Maori chief, a drunken roustabout, a celebrated actor, a retired Harley Street physician and others. Alleyn not only solves the murder but reveals some surprising facts. I enjoyed this novel because of its exotic setting and learning some of the culture and traditions of a different ethnic group. There were some hints of British colonialism. Marsh really knows how to give a vivid description of the subtropical landscape and her unique characters. Clever solution and surprising too. A god read for those who love to travel.

go_leafs_nation 21 May 11 at 3:57 a.m. GMT

I've now read three of Paul Halter's books, and I must say, I was very, very impressed, especially by the last one, Le Tigre Borgne (The One-Eyed Tiger).

As always, you can see all my reviews here:

http://at-scene-of-crime.blogspot.com/

go_leafs_nation 16 May 11 at 3:05 a.m. GMT

Blogger had a few technical issues, and as a result, one of my reviews has temporarily disppeared. However, here is my review for the recently translated The Lord of Misrule (Le Roi du Desordre) by Paul Halter. M. Halter's novels promise to be highly entertaining reads. I've got eight more sitting here, waiting to be read.

cameronjhw 11 May 11 at 9:30 p.m. GMT

I have just finished the eleventh novel by Ngaio Marsh called Death and the Dancing Footman and I have to say I did enjoy it. It was fun to read and I enjoyed the return of Roderick Alleyn. The plot of the novel was unique it tells of a bored millionaire named Jonathan Royal who decides to have a party at his country house and invite a number of guests who seem to have a conflict among one or another of the guests. Among them are a poetic dramatist, two quarrelling brothers, two competing beauty specialists, an Austrian plastic surgeon and more. As the party and tensions rises a brutal murder of one of the guests strikes and a snowstorm traps them in. Great characterization, complex solution, and lots of wit, humor, and more. I did not figure out who the killer was and even more the motive and even more important how it was done but once Alleyn went over the solution I should have seen that. I recommend this to anyone who loves a country house whodunit, those who enjoy Marsh's works or to anyone who loves a good mystery. Good read.

go_leafs_nation 09 May 11 at 4:08 a.m. GMT

I've posted some more reviews in my mystery blog, which of late has been bombarded with posts- four in the last four days!!! Among other things, I have taken a look at Christianna Brand, read an impossible crime novel by William L. DeAndrea, read my first Gladys Mitchell, and even reviewed two short story collections. The first is the recent The Reverend Dean Mysteries; the second is the delightfully witty The Anagram Detectives.

http://at-scene-of-crime.blogspot.com/

go_leafs_nation 28 Apr 11 at 7:01 p.m. GMT

I've posted quite a bit in my mystery blog since my last update, including a highly critical look at Raymond Chandler, two enthusiastic reviews of books by William L. DeAndrea, a review of Rufus King's Somewhere in this House, and a review of Elspeth Huxley's The Merry Hippo.

http://at-scene-of-crime.blogspot.com/

NightRayDuck 26 Apr 11 at 4:39 a.m. GMT

Continuing with the "New Sherlock Holmes" stories I've been reading.. "The Vale of the White Horse" by Sharyn McCrumb also impressed me very much. It features an old lady who is an expert of folklore particular to her village. In the enlightened era (i.e. doctors were trained in schools and were allowed to open up people and bodies and look at biopsies under the microscope), when the old lady's tales might be easily discounted, one particular tale turns out to be as informative as anything that Dr. Watson might do.

NightRayDuck 20 Apr 11 at 4:19 a.m. GMT

That sounds like fun.. The collection I am reading contains several pieces from authors usually writing science fiction or urban fantasy, including some that had originally been written for a sort of "Sherlock Holmes meets Cthulhu" tribute anthology. Among such stories, finding a Stephen King piece without any supernatural element was a nice surprise.

Number3 19 Apr 11 at 2:18 p.m. GMT

Darknight, I don't remember who wrote it but, it was a story where Holmes goes up against the Sax Rhomer  character "Fu Manchu".  That was an interesting story.

NightRayDuck 17 Apr 11 at 8:28 p.m. GMT

I've been reading a collection of Sherlock Holmes stories written by other authors. So far, the most impressive one is "The Doctor's Case", written by Stephen King (yep the horror author) in 1987, in which Dr. Watson notices the critical clue first, while Mr. Holmes is extremely distracted through no fault of his own. It's fun to read, matter-of-fact, and atmospheric.

Number3 08 Apr 11 at 6:33 p.m. GMT

go leafs a few Bouchercon was held in the city I live in.  Alas due to not having a ride I didn't get to go.

go_leafs_nation 07 Apr 11 at 8:21 p.m. GMT

Here is my review of Anthony Boucher's excellent novel Nine Times Nine. I highly recommend it.

NightRayDuck 04 Apr 11 at 1:13 a.m. GMT

 I got rather tired of "Tut!" every other paragraph and "irascible" "querulous" "irritated" every other page, that's all.

GKCfan 03 Apr 11 at 9:33 p.m. GMT

I totally agree with you, go_leafs_nation.

go_leafs_nation 03 Apr 11 at 9:31 p.m. GMT

The stories Carr and Doyle co-wrote have got a lot more freshness and originality to them. Those written solely by Doyle are rather poor, basically rewrites of original Holmes stories. At times, the ripoffs are so obvious it's painful. The only good story Doyle wrote by himself was The Deptford Horror, a reimagining of The Speckled Band- which showed that he could write, he just didn't have enough creativity or originality.

NightRayDuck 03 Apr 11 at 9:07 p.m. GMT

I've just finished reading The Exploits of Sherlock Holmes, written by Adrian Conan Doyle and John Dickson Carr, sort of the "official continuation" of canonic Sherlock Holmes. The stories are ok as observation-inference-investigation-proving exercises (btw. the activity that's often called "deduction" in mystery stories is more properly called an "inference" in logics). The collection does not include a whole lot of surprising twists or odd coincidences, so that might disappoint some mystery fans. Most of these stories can be solved by the reader, except the very last details such as the exact weapon that had been used, the exact motive for murder, and so on.

From the point of view of an avid reader of the canonic Sherlock Holmes short stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, my impression is that, for the stories co-written by Mr. Adrian and Mr. Carr, somebody had carefully paced the story to place a "Tut!" every half page, and Watson describing Holmes as "querulous" or "irascible" every other page. Way too carefully reminiscent of general structure of the original Sherlock Holmes stories, that the flow and emphasis of the particular story are interrupted. The stories written solely by Mr. Adrian have an easier flow.

go_leafs_nation 02 Apr 11 at 7:13 p.m. GMT

I look forward to seeing what the new site will look like!

At any rate, I've written a bunch of blog entries since I gave the link, but my most recent review is on an excellent novel called The Tokyo Zodiac Murders. If you thought Agatha Christie was clever, just wait till you come across Soji Shimada.

I highly recommend it. (You can read my entire review by clicking on "The Tokyo Zodiac Murders" above.)

Moderator2 31 Mar 11 at 2:42 p.m. GMT

All of you regular site users we need your help with spam. If you see any please report it by clicking on 'Report abuse'. The new site is coming along well and we'll be trying to eliminate spam entirely while still giving you the freedom to post links etc. Thanks as ever. Moderator2.

go_leafs_nation 29 Mar 11 at 6:10 p.m. GMT

I grew up right across the border from Detroit. It seemed like all my friends and everyone around me were Wings fans, and I could never stand them!!!

I looked through some booksellers there, but they all either had no books I was interested in or ones I already owned.

Number3 29 Mar 11 at 5:30 p.m. GMT

go leafs when you were there did you go to Queen Street?  If, so are there still plenty of book sellers there.

Since I grew up near Detroit, hockey night always centred around the Wings and Michigan State University games. Mostly MSU games though.

go_leafs_nation 27 Mar 11 at 2:43 p.m. GMT

I live about an hour away from Toronto. Personally, thanks to hockey (I'm an unashamed Leafs fan), I'm a bit biased against Montreal, but that's just me. I visisted places around Toronto over the summer, including Casa Loma and the various Toronto museums. Its Zoo is immense- too big for my liking. But again, that's just me.

I'll be sure to check out your friend's blog.

Number3 27 Mar 11 at 2:33 p.m. GMT

go leafs, my friend Kerri has a reading carnival on blogspot called "The Agatha Christie Reading Carnival."  Check it out, and please do contribute to it as well.

go leafs have you been to Toronto recently? I haven't been in a while and I'm trying to figure out which city I want to visit this year.  I'm also contemplating Montreal.

go_leafs_nation 26 Mar 11 at 8:14 p.m. GMT

On a tangentially related note, I started up a blog where I post my general ramblings about my great passion: mysteries.

http://at-scene-of-crime.blogspot.com/

I have collected the various posts I wrote on a certain website into the blog. These posts include my video review of The Affair at Royalties, a post about my favourite Christies, and a massive post about my favourite plot ideas, and representative recommendations. The material therein may be of interest to fellow fans of all things mysterious.

go_leafs_nation 18 Mar 11 at 12:46 a.m. GMT

Let me tell you all a little story.

On this site once or twice (and again on other sites), someone has recommended the manga/anime series Detective Conan (aka Case Closed). After listening to some of the elaborate or implausible murder methods the killers in this series employed, I was extremely skeptical about the series. After all, how could "some silly comic book" do mysteries, my great passion, any justice whatsoever?

Boy, was I ever wrong.

For my money, it is the best modern mystery series available. It is just purely wonderful. Although the first books have very weak mysteries, the characters and the dynamics introduced between them are just so fascinating and so much fun, that it kept me reading- right through to the double digits, which is when the mysteries also pick up and get really creative.

It's a wonderful series that shows plenty of imagination, fun characters, and understands what a mystery is about. It has a perfect balance between characters and story, and really excellent humour. I started reading it not too long ago, after seeing a book from the series in a bargain room at a local bookstore- and I'm already through to Volume 26.

I highly recommend it to serious mystery fans.

NightRayDuck 17 Mar 11 at 5:56 a.m. GMT

I kept forgetting this recommendation: it's worth looking into, for those who can read Japanese, or who can read in a language that this book has happened to be translated into..

The Seven Witnesses by Kyotaro Nishimura. (You see, the book title may have been translated differently.) A young man was put in jail for a killing that the police pieced together from bits and pieces told by seven witnesses. Someone abducts the witnesses and a well-known police inspector, puts them on an island and asks the police inspector to question them again and try to figure out whether the young man had really been guilty. But someone starts killing the witnesses...

It's a cold-case investigation, requiring a whole lot of careful listening to the various statements, piecing them together or asking for the facts rather than assumptions when the statements don't add up, reconstructing the crime...

...and the investigation is conducted in an atmosphere of fear and suspicion rather similar to the atmosphere in And Then There Were None.

GKCfan 12 Mar 11 at 10:20 p.m. GMT

I wish to correct my last comment, but I can't delete it:

The Poisoned Chocolates Case (both the original short story and the extended novel) are excellent.  I highly recommend them.

GKCfan 12 Mar 11 at 7:28 p.m. GMT

The Poisoned Chocolates (both the original short story and the extended novel) is excellent.  I highly recommend it.

go_leafs_nation 12 Mar 11 at 4:42 p.m. GMT

darknightofrays

ah, go_leafs, I know the feeling. they should have marketed the book as a "parody" (makes fun of another specific piece of fiction) rather than "satire" (makes fun of this and that and other stuff found in real life). and then, at least, readers shopping for a new book can say to themselves "but I don't think I'll enjoy a parody". and the book can gather dust in the bookstore in peace. 

That might have worked if it was parodying anything. Oh, what the heck, I have now put this book out of my mind for good. It's one of the rare times a book made me want to burn it.

Ay any rate, for a far more solid mystery story, I recommend Anthony Berkeley's The Poisoned Chocolates Case, a true classic. It is brilliant from start to finish, very witty, and often funny.

NightRayDuck 11 Mar 11 at 10:34 p.m. GMT

recommending a book for mystery fans: The Osterman Weekend, by Robert Ludlum. this was one of his early novels, where suspicion of espionage would be figured out much better by carefully reconciling various statements and actions of all the different characters, and looking for an inconsistency.

his later novels tend to have more of running away from villains, chasing villains, having a fist fight, breaking into a secret headquarters, and other "spy thriller" activities.

NightRayDuck 11 Mar 11 at 10:26 p.m. GMT

ah, go_leafs, I know the feeling. they should have marketed the book as a "parody" (makes fun of another specific piece of fiction) rather than "satire" (makes fun of this and that and other stuff found in real life). and then, at least, readers shopping for a new book can say to themselves "but I don't think I'll enjoy a parody". and the book can gather dust in the bookstore in peace. 

go_leafs_nation 09 Mar 11 at 3:30 p.m. GMT

I recently came across George Baxt's The Affair at Royalties, which claimed to be a satire of Agatha Christie. However, this was a failure on almost every level. I do not recommend him in any way whatsoever, as the book is more of a slap in the face instead of a satire. I adapted my furious online rant into a YouTube video which anybody who's interested can watch. But... ugh. This was just awful. (Just a warning for the easily offended. There is some mild language, but nothing too awful, and considering how awful the book was, only understandable.)

http://youtube.com/watch?v=WCchdq6NBn4

Number3 08 Mar 11 at 2:48 p.m. GMT

I recently read a good American writer named Margret Truman.  She writes mysteries based on places in Washington D. C. 

Number3 20 Feb 11 at 2:15 p.m. GMT

I love Mary Roberts Rinehart.  I had some of her books that came out during the "Pulp" era and were marketed as such.

NightRayDuck 17 Feb 11 at 7:40 p.m. GMT

Oh, I almost forgot about a serious recommendation of a good mystery writer. Mary Roberts Rinehart, an American writer active in the late 1800s to the early 1900s, whose works included The Circular Staircase. She was a real lady of the genre, with properly set-up mysteries that the reader could make guesses at, and could see the sleuthing character ferreting out bits of facts that would confirm or wash out the reader's guesses. I think many of our friends here will enjoy her books. 

Number3 17 Feb 11 at 2:02 p.m. GMT

Currently I'm reading a book about the Medici family called "Death of a Medici Princess." 

After that I'll be staying on the same tangent and reading "The Duchess of Malfi" by Webster.

NightRayDuck 17 Feb 11 at 1:06 a.m. GMT

I got a compilation of the Adrian Conan Doyle / John Dickson Carr The Exploits of Sherlock Holmes, but I haven't started on it yet. I have only read one short story by GK Chesterton so far, The Flying Stars, an ingenious and rather funny theft sleuthed by Father Brown. I liked it very much, and got rather worried that Father Brown's involvement in murder investigations might be rather depressing to me. 

cameronjhw 16 Feb 11 at 2:49 p.m. GMT

For spring break I thought I might read a John Dickson Carr novel or maybe some of the Father Brown stories by GK Chesterton. I never read any of his works to those who have read his stories can anyone give me suggestions as to which of the stories I should really read first. I would be very interested to hear what some of his fans consider the best of his stories.

Tommy_A_Jones 15 Feb 11 at 3:12 p.m. GMT

I haven't read any books set in N+Burma but I have read A Shilling For Candles which I did enjoy.

Number3 15 Feb 11 at 3 p.m. GMT

I'm currently reading the last Inspector Grant novel by Josephine Tey.  It's called "The Singing Sands."  I had just recently read a few books about Burma. 

I wonder if anyone author has written any mystery stories set in Burma?

NightRayDuck 15 Feb 11 at 6:34 a.m. GMT

ok! there are still several more responses to post, but here are my recommendations - not for a particular author, but for at least two short stories by this author: Neil Gaiman. his professed genre is fantasy, and his stories are often somewhat spooky in a rather modern setting, not the dragon-wizard-dashing prince-nymph-druid type of fantasy.

the stories are:

A Study in Emerald, which chronicles the activities of a Holmes-like sleuth in a world where otherwordly creatures (from H.P. Lovecraft's horror stories) have gained social prominence in many parts of the world.

Murder Mysteries, where the modern-day main character listens to a very convincing narrative of an investigation carried out by an Avenging Angel, back when angels were very busy working with God in creating the world.

Regardless of the fantasy elements, these two stories adhere particularly well to classic whodunit guidelines. Murder, yes, blood splatters and so on, but the focus is on narrating the relevant details of the "case", and how the solution is reached, or vaguely surmised by the narrator. If you pay attention while reading, and then think it over "outside the box", you might reach several additional, surprising conclusions.

NightRayDuck 15 Feb 11 at 6:15 a.m. GMT

HeiseiHolmes's 2010 Jan. recommendations including "Tortoiseshell Holmes" the cat - actually the novelist had it going as several novels of a series. they are quite entertaining, for anyone who can stand a police detective who gets bullied by his younger sister, and pays so much attention to the odd behaviors of their cat when the cat points out crucial clues.  I wonder what the adaptation was like.

Detective Conan manga and animated series, published in the US and maybe other English-speaking countries as Case Closed!, is quite interesting. the sleuth "Conan" is himself a mystery fan, and took his pseudonym when searching for one in a hurry, and seeing the author name "Arthur Conan Doyle" on a volume of classic mysteries~ Readers or viewers who don't know much about Japanese traditions and folklores might find some of the more spooky-looking cases difficult to understand.

along those lines ~ if you have any young female relative or friend who enjoys comic books but is looking into starting on the mystery genre - the Earl Cain manga series by Kaori Yuki might work. the main conflict in that series is based on psychological complexes, and played out through several bits of horrible mad science. sort of like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, I suppose, or Dr. Frankenstein and his creature.

NightRayDuck 15 Feb 11 at 6:02 a.m. GMT

discussions about Dorothy Sayers' work: I tried reading the beginning of one book, I can't remember which, and maybe I was sleepy or tired, I felt it was horribly long and wordy. but I have glimpsed in TV adapts that Lord Peter Wimsey is a wonderful character.

NightRayDuck 15 Feb 11 at 6:01 a.m. GMT

discussions on Rex Stout and adapts of his work: I enjoy the adaptations very much, even though friends had told me that plot details were not adhered in some of the episodes. and I have to agree with GKCfan, the interaction between characters really is hilarious in Rex Stout's Wolfe/Goodwin stories (actually I've only read one short story in full). for me, the reading experience would have been even more enjoyable if I knew most of the slangs of those days by heart, rather than puzzling three or four times on each slang term before settling on a guessed meaning, and moving on with the story. :p

NightRayDuck 15 Feb 11 at 5:59 a.m. GMT

I haven't found this thread until a few hours ago! So here are several very late responses -

go_leaf's Dec 29, 2009 review of Guy Ritchie-directed Sherlock Holmes movie: I agree very much. also I would like to add a rather devious idea: Holmes in the original books had frequently been found by his contemporaries as bizarre, several or many bad habits of his had been described, and he had been known, on occasions, to "go undercover" as it were, in disguise of some sort of rough character whose day-to-day job was definitely physical and full of foul language (ex. grooms for horses). oh, my idea, I would like to suggest that some of the more outrageous events in this movie, for example the kick-boxing scene, could possibly have been something that Dr. Watson wouldn't have liked to put in his narratives, since his stated purpose for the narratives was to demonstrate the odd yet piercingly accurate power of deduction, not to praise the detective's physical prowess~

cameron's July 2010 listing of favorite Sherlock Holmes stories - I love "The Speckled Band", "The Engineer's Thumb", and "The Hound of the Baskervilles". along those lines I'd recommend other original Holmes stories "The (some location I can't remember at the moment) Vampire", and "The Valley of Fear".

PewterGoblet_at_Bertram's Aug. 2010 about Sherlock Holmes adapts: I agree. The tv adapts starring Jeremy Brett were, in my experience, the most consistent as to character, set, and look. The series contains very few silly changes to the Holmes character that other producers habitually make so that he would look more socially acceptable, politically correct, or simply more attractive and glamorous in his looks.

Aurora 06 Feb 11 at 3:55 p.m. GMT

I've just discovered Carola Dunn's Daisy Dalrymple mysteries.

Set in the 1920's they are very "Agatha" and I can honestly say I didn't get the last one which is very unusual as I have read so many whodunnits I usually solve them by about half way through.

Well worth a try and dirt cheap in The Works.

Number3 01 Feb 11 at 1:37 p.m. GMT

I have been reading the Inspector Grant series by Josephine Tey and enjoying ever moment of it.

Currently I'm reading a bio of Tey by Sandra Roy.  It's a part of "Twayne's English Author Series."  This edition came out in 1980. 

Tey and Christie can be seen as "bookends" for women mystery writers of "The Golden Era."  They both wrote plays, were interested in history, and had characters named Inspector Grant.

Currently I'm reading the section about Tey's plays.

cameronjhw 01 Jan 11 at 9:38 p.m. GMT

I have just finished the Colonel March stories from the Department of Queer Complaints. They were fun to read and they presented some intriguing puzzles. I liked all of the stories but my favorites are The Crime in Nobody's Room, Hot Money, The Silver Curtain, and The Footprint in the Sky. Carr truly knows his stuff whether it is a novel, short story, or radio play. Next week I plan to read the next Ngaio Marsh novel in the series before I go back to school. The next novel is called Death and the Dancing Footman. If anyone has read this novel I would be interested in people's comments and opinions on this novel.

cameronjhw 01 Jan 11 at 9:37 p.m. GMT

I have just finished the Colonel March stories from the Department of Queer Complaints. They were fun to read and they presented some intriguing puzzles. I liked all of the stories but my favorites are The Crime in Nobody's Room, Hot Money, The Silver Curtain, and The Footprint in the Sky. Carr truly knows his stuff whether it is a novel, short story, or radio play. Next week I plan to read the next Ngaio Marsh novel in the series before I go back to school. The next novel is called Death and the Dancing Footman. If anyone has read this novel I would be interested in people's comments and opinions on this novel.

Number3 29 Dec 10 at 7:52 p.m. GMT

I went to  fantasticfiction.co.uk  for more information on Carr. I also found a new on-line book seller that I am going to plug.  It's called Betterworldbooks.com  This company uses its profits to support world literacy.

And yes, they do have Carr books, about eight pages worth. As well as 144+ pages of Agatha Christie.  So please check out this site and support world literacy.

I am currently reading the Autobiography and throughly enjoying it.

I did have a most excellent Boxing Day. I hope everone else did as well.

go_leafs_nation 27 Dec 10 at 3:49 p.m. GMT

Once again, I highly recommend that anyone searching for Carr use abebooks.com. It's a highly useful tool, and prices are usually more of a deal than on ebay, and of course, the book conditions are often very good. I just got a first edition of Fear is the Same that way as a Christmas gift. It's lovely.

Fell and Foul Play was not particularly successful if I recall correctly. Most editions were purchased by libraries, and the few that are floating around in decent shape have ridiculous price tags attatched to them. The Door to Doom and Other Stories is the one cameron just spoke more about. It's interesting. It's got some of Carr's very first stories from his school days involving a then-nice Bencolin (who would become sadistic, almost Satanic, in the novels), some good radio plays, and hilarious Sherlock Holmes pastiches. The real highlight, however, are two essays that are reprinted. One is Carr's essay on detection, The Grandest Game in the World. The first edition of the short story collection actually has an abridged version that appeared in Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine-- by the second edition, the original copy had resurfaced, and it's got a lot more material. The second essay is Stand and Deliver! Carr's second passion was always history, and this was the first of a series of planned essays (which would later be collected into a book) examining some colourful history. This particular one examines highwaymen, and is also entertaining and at times hilarious. The series, however, never progressed beyond the first essay, which is really a tragedy. Such a book would have made for a glorious exit from this mortal world for the great John Dickson Carr.

cameronjhw 27 Dec 10 at 2:54 p.m. GMT

No it was not only printed in the UK. There was a publication in the U.S in paperback form which includes the whole essay called "the Grandest Game in the World" along with six Suspense radio plays, four Henri Bencolin short stories, two pastiches on Sherlock Holmes, and some spooky short stories. Hope you can find it. I found my copy on Ebay.

Number3 25 Dec 10 at 1:58 p.m. GMT

cameron was the Carr book that you read only printed in the UK?  I have Carr in my reading queue and it would be wonderful to read all of the in print stories. 

I also have Father Brown in the queue.  I did see some TV adaptations of the stories.  I think Thames did them back in the 70's and they were recently put on DVD.  They were rather fun to watch.

cameron if you haven't read Josephine Tey give her a try.  Especially "The Daughter of Time."

cameronjhw 24 Dec 10 at 8:48 p.m. GMT

Thank you for the info on Chesterton and Father Brown stories. I'll give them a try. I agree with you about Carr his stories are entertaining and different. Speaking of Carr's radio scripts I actually read two that were included in the book called The Door to Doom and Other Detections. There are six radio scripts from the famous radio mystery anthology Suspense. The two I read were intriguing. One was called The Hangman Won't Wait it featured Sydney Greenstreet as Dr. Gideon Fell who tries to prove a young woman's innocence in her fiance's murder before she is executed. The other one was called The Phantom Archer which tells of a woman who was shot by a bow and arrow in a room that contains a dummy of a medieval archer and the only door was watched on the other side by two witnesses. You're right he did know how to tell a story on radio and add suspense, menace, and most times terror. I hope to finish the Queer Complaints stories soon.

go_leafs_nation 24 Dec 10 at 3:51 a.m. GMT

If you're looking for a tale that takes place on a dark and stormy night inside a grim chateau that is said to be haunted by the spirit of a headless 16th century monk... that's not Chesterton. But he is a pure delight. Father Brown comes across some very bizarre cases, many involving paradox. He spends some time considering philosophy, and Chesterton's worldviews are channeled through him, and this enriches the stories even more.

One of my favourite cases involves a man being bludgeoned to death by a hammer. The only problem is that the hit was truly bone-shattering. Someone would have had to possess superhuman strength to have committed the crime, and there was simply nobody in the village physically capabale of such a feat. It's as if God himself struck the man dead... It's called The Hammer of God.

Carr is very fun, and The Department of Queer Complaints has extremely interesting stories. The first half deals with Colonel March, and the stories are excellent. The Footprint in the Sky is a particular favourite of mine. My problem with the collection is that March suddenly goes AWOL, and the last half of the book doesn't feel the same at all, despite some solid entries.

Carr was never much of a short story writer, though. His output in the format was very limited, and those he managed to pull off range from excellent ('All in a Maze', found in The Men Who Explained Miracles) to horrible ('William Wilson's Racket' in the same collection). In short, they're a really mixed bunch. At the same time, Carr's radio scripts are excellent. He really took the medium and used it to its full potential.

cameronjhw 24 Dec 10 at 2:34 a.m. GMT

I would like to first of all to wish you all a merry Christmas. I decided to take a break off the Ngaio Marsh novels and to read some short stories by John Dickson Carr in the book called Fell and Foul Play. It features all the short stories and BBC radio plays featuring Dr. Gideon Fell. I was able to read the five short stories that feature Dr. Fell and I enjoyed them and thought they were suspenseful and entertaining. Here is a brief synopsis of the five stories:

The Wrong Problem-a woman is found stabbed in a locked tower room with a barred window

The Proverbial Murder-a man is shot in his study from the outside of the house but how can that be since two policemen were watching the house?

The Locked Room-a man is attacked in his study with the window locked on the inside and the door watched by two people

The Incautious Burglar-a man is stabbed wihile robbing his own house

Invisible Hands-a woman is found strangled while lying on a stone on the beach and the only footprints on the scene are...the victim's!

These were great to read and I hope other Carr fans get a chance to read them. I have been going through my mystery collection and I find that I have thoughts of donating some books by Dorothy L. Sayers and Margery Allingham. I can't seem to find them intriguing or entertaining as Christie and at the moment Marsh. I have mixed feelings on G.K. Chesterton's Father Brown. If anyone has read him could you give me some info on the stories like atmosphere, suspense, wit, or are the cases intriguing enough. Well that's all for now. I think my next reading will be all 9 stories of Carr's the Department of Queer Complaints featuring Colonel March, can't wait to read them and give my feedback.

cameronjhw 18 Dec 10 at 7:35 p.m. GMT

I have just finished the next Ngaio Marsh novel Death of a Peer. This novel features a most remarkable and colorful British family called the Lampreys. They are considered scatter-brained, eccentric, peculiar, not responsible, and most important they are defintely united. They have six precocious children who love to do charades. However, they are on the brink of financial ruin unless their mean and nasty Uncle Gabriel will come to the rescue.  He ends up dead-with a meat skewer in his left eye and found in the lift as he was leaving the Lamprey flat. Plenty of suspects, motives, alibis, and amounts of witty humor through the investigation. This novel starts out from a British drawing-room comedy and ends in a gruesome finale. The identity of the killer surprised me but of course it was obvious when you go over the facts. One of the characters that is certainly unique is Lady Violet Wutherwood, the victim's widow who is a foreigner, she's fat, insane, and has strong beliefs in witchcraft. A good novel to read and I'm glad I read it.

cameronjhw 13 Dec 10 at 4:03 p.m. GMT

Hullo Hullo everyone. After a interesting semester which ended up with my having a broken leg, cuts on my head, a bruised sternum, and surgery. I am finally much better and starting my holiday reading. I plan to read the next 8 Ngaio Marsh novels. I have finished Death at the Bar. It was good to return to Roderick Alleyn and this novel was a cunning and complex case. It deals with a lawyer named Luke Watchman who spends his holiday in a South Devon pub called the Plume of Feathers. After an night of brandy and an experiment with darts the lawyer dies of a dart puncture dipped in cyanide but it is so simple as that---of course not. The suspects are great among them: the victim's cousin a well-known actor, a distinguished painter, an plump Irish lady who water-colors, an outspoken farmer, and a young farmer's daughter graduated from Oxford. One character that I liked was the loud, witty, and humorous chief constable Colonel Maxwell Brammington. This novel is a perfect example of misdirection in more ways than one. I enjoyed this novel and it's one you should read too.

Puffinjill 13 Sep 10 at 7:08 a.m. GMT

Welcome back, 3rdGirl!!!!! I have been thinking of you and hoping you were OK. Wonderful to hear your news too!! Hope all goes well for you in the future - you'll certainly be busy!! And the very best of luck to you, go leafs, as you start University! Hope you both still find time out of your busy schedules to give the rest of us your views in these boards.

Tommy_A_Jones 12 Sep 10 at 1:39 p.m. GMT

Thankyou cameronjhw and GKCfan, I will look them up

go_leafs_nation 12 Sep 10 at 1 p.m. GMT

Welcome back! Personally, my computer decided to go on strike for the entire summer, and things got so bad with it that I finally abandoned all hope of recovering my files and bought a new laptop (which I was going to need for my university career, which starts Monday, anyways).

But as far as other authors are concerned, I recently read Rex Stout's The League of Frightened Men and found it an interesting story. There's little mystery and no really huge surprises at the end, but it's quite an entertaining story, with plenty of interesting twists along the way to make it worthwhile.

In other news today, after months and months of trying to track down Clayton Rawson's Great Merlini tales (having fallen in love with his short story From Another World), the third novel arrived in the mail for me a few days ago, thus completing my collection, I've read the first, Death From a Top Hat, and it was simply wonderful. The plot twists, turns, and stands on its head, and it has two excellent impossible situations that produce the Homer Simpson effect ("D'oh!"). (Admittedly, the solution for the second one relies on a cliche when a false solution is far more diabolically ingenious, but Rawson charms you just long enough to get on to explaining another mysterious element, so I didn't mind THAT much.)

3rdGirl 12 Sep 10 at 11:10 a.m. GMT

In a second hand bookshop recently and found a book by Elspeth Huxley (cousin of Aldous) called The African Poison Murders. It was a great atmospheric and spooky read set in Colonial East Africa (modern Zimbabwe) written in 1939. I'm trying to find the first book The Flame Trees of Thika with little sucess.

How is everyone?? I've been missing in action for a few months as we've moved house and I'm also pregnant again (with twins!!) and have been very sick lady indeed. We also had no internet which was a quite a challenge! I do hope you are all well Puffinjill, Tommy, Bundles and Go Leafs! It's been a while!

GKCfan 10 Sep 10 at 9:14 p.m. GMT

There are 18 books in the "Clue" series from the 1990's.  Only the first six are by A.E. Parker.  At least three other authors wrote the remaining books.  You can tell that there are slight stylistic differences.  Book 1 (Who Killed Mr Boddy?) has 13 mysteries, and all the rest have 10.  They are all out of print, but copies can be found on Amazon and in many libraries.

A list of all of the books (and some other Clue-themed books) can be found at: http://www.cluedofan.com/   Simply go to the left column, scroll down to "Merchandise," and click on "Books."

cameronjhw 10 Sep 10 at 6 p.m. GMT

The books are by A.E. Parker. There are 17 or 18 in the series. Like I said they are mini-mysteries so the characters or plot-lines may not be fully developed like a novel but it helps to pass the time for a little while. Some of the stories I remember well that I liked were:

1. A Mixed Bag-all of the guests have identical black bags but they each contain different things and someone wants Mr. Green's stocks and bonds that are in his bag.
2. Cut Down to Size-Colonel Mustard gets stabbed when someone gets carried away with cutting newspaper articles with a knife
3. The Deadly Toothbrush-Miss Scarlet gets killed when one of the guests is after her priceless ruby toothbrush

They have mystery, humor, some amounts of suspense and always the solution is there at the very end. I hope you get a chance to read these. Each book contains 10 mysteries. The titles are certainly intriguing like The Screaming Skeleton, The Clue in the Shadows, The Vanishing Vampire, and Death by Candlelight

Tommy_A_Jones 10 Sep 10 at 3:56 p.m. GMT

They sound right up my street, Who wrote them?

cameronjhw 07 Sep 10 at 2:43 a.m. GMT

I recommend a series of mystery books some may or may not remember. They are the Clue book series based on the board game. It features 10 mini mysteries along with the six famous characters, six deadly weapons, and nine rooms. I know some may have read them when they were either kids or teengers but I find them fun to read when you don't have time to read a full-length whodunit. I also like them because of the characters. I like seeing Colonel Mustard always challenging someone to a duel, Mrs. Peacock being prim and proper and saying how rude things are, Mr. Green being a bullying and greedy businessman trying to make a fast buck, Mrs. White pretending to be sweet and loyal but is bitter and sneers at everyone behind their backs, Prof. Plum always being absent-minded about his inventions or everything (even to where a bomb was once hidden) and Miss Scarlet being the flirt and loves jewelery and other priceless things. In fact, these characters are almost like ones from Christie's own works. The militant colonel, the prim elderly society lady or spinster, etc. I hope no one thinks I'm childish to read them. They were so much fun when I read.

Tommy_A_Jones 05 Sep 10 at 4:14 p.m. GMT

A while ago I saw on BBC4 a series bout Railways and one was Presented by a Novellist who wrote Murder Mysteries with a Train theme, I forgot the name of the Writer, I wonder if it was him.  

Aurora 05 Sep 10 at 2:32 p.m. GMT

Has anyone tried The Railway Detective series by Edward Marston? I found them really entertaining and surprisingly educational as I'm not a train spotter but find that era fascinating.

Tommy_A_Jones 25 Aug 10 at 4:59 p.m. GMT

I have just finished Sweet Poison by David Roberts set in 1935, the sleuths are a Duke and a Left-Wing Journalist, I thoroughly enjoyed it, If the others are as good as this I thiroughly reccommend the books.

Puffinjill 12 Aug 10 at 6:50 a.m. GMT

The TV adaptations certainly bear no resemblence to the books at all. I hadn't read any of Gladys Mitchell's books when I did see the TV series and, therefore, couldn't make any comparisons. I enjoyed them for themselves as they were quite fun and well produced. When, a few years later, I finally picked up one of the books and started to read it, I couldn't believe how different it was in every way from what I had previously seen on my TV! The characters, their relationships (stop it with the implied relationship between Mrs Bradley and her chauffeur, George!!!) and the plots had nothing to do with their originals and I can now see why die-hard Gladys Mitchell fans despise TV series for misrepresenting the works they love so much.

go_leafs_nation 12 Aug 10 at 12:43 a.m. GMT

From what I've heard, Gladys Mitchell fans would like to soak all the copies of the Mrs. Bradley series starring an (apparently) horribly miscast Dianna Rigg in gasoline, and set them alight, whooping with joy that a great evil has been eradicated. I can't judge, as I've neither read the books nor seen the series, but by all accounts, the liberties it takes with plot and characters are horrifying, and the conclusions it comes up with for these new plotlines are (for lack of a better word) stupid.

Puffinjill 11 Aug 10 at 2:43 p.m. GMT

I have never found one I could put down either, Butler, and I've read all the Rebus books and a few of the others. I'm not much of a one for modern crime/detective/thriller fiction because I don't normally take to the gritty and (usually) more graphic settings and stories. However, Rankin just writes really fantastic books and, regardless of which genre he writes, they are just so readable. Obviously being set in my beloved Edinburgh (I am SOOOOO jealous of you living there, Butler!!!) is a big draw for me, and may have attracted me in the first place, but once I had read Knots And Crosses, I was hooked! What a debut! I'm also lucky to have all the Rebus books in audio form and they make fantastic listening too.

TheButlerDidIT 11 Aug 10 at 12:06 p.m. GMT

Puffinjill

Brilliant, aren't they, TheButlerDidIt! Rankin's Rebus books just get better and better. My favourite is The Falls followed by A Question Of Blood but all of them are well worth reading. I shall be taking one or two with me when I visit Edinburgh again this December!

It would be nice to walk down Prince's Street and then later read about Rebus on the same street. Luckily I live in Edinburgh so I have a great picture of all the places he vists. Big Ger is one of my fave characters. I'm begining to love Holmes and Clarke. Amazing. I have yet to find an Ian Rankin book I can put down.

PewterGoblet_at_Bertrams 11 Aug 10 at 6:08 a.m. GMT

Also, no book-to-tv series- translation is more successful in my opinion than Jeremy Brett's Sherlock Holmes.

He 'became' Holmes, and the cinematographer recreated Sidney Paget's original victorian illustrations for the Holmes stories (I would say to the 't,' but it's more to the image) PERFECTLY! Check them out--also on Netflix. :)

Really brings the books alive...enjoy!

PewterGoblet_at_Bertrams 11 Aug 10 at 6:02 a.m. GMT

I just recently watched (but haven't yet read) the "Mrs. Bradley" mysteries starring Diana Rigg. The books are by Gladys Mitchell.

The tv series was absolutely fantastic! It's set in the 20s-30s and Mrs. Bradley is a divorced wealthy older lady who solves mysteries with help from her chauffeur/friend/more-than-friends? But unlike Miss Marple, most everyone (including the police) brings her to help with cases and trusts her. She's strong and outgoing, and Diana Rigg plays her so entertainingly!

I rented the series on Netfilx, it's from the 90s on PBS' 'Mystery!' Enjoy! :)

go_leafs_nation 11 Aug 10 at 12:02 a.m. GMT

The only Gardner I've read is The Case of the Curious Bride, which was entertaining enough for a read, but what makes it really interesting was that it came up in a real-life murder trial.

Ellery Queen is an author you will either like or dislike. I don't know anyone on middle ground as far as he's concerned. There's not much more to say. The ones I've read have been mostly enjoyable, but his Cat of Many Tails is an absolute masterpiece.

cameronjhw 10 Aug 10 at 9:35 p.m. GMT

I don't normally want to read the hard-boiled works of Hammett and Chandler because of the language and sex details. But I am willing to give them a chance now that I have read Hammett's the Maltese Falcon. I certainly will read the works of Rex Stout and John Dickson Carr. I have heard a lot about Carr's works and have actually read a few of his short stories. Now Stout I have not read but am currious to read them because Wolfe is suppose to be a sort of Mycroft Holmes where he uses his mind than getting physical on crime detection. Speaking of American mystery writers I plan to read Ellery Queen and Cornell Woolrich who wrote stories of suspense and psychological terror. I have debated on whether I should read James M. Cain or Erle Stanley Gardner maybe someone can give me some info and their opinions on these two and are they worth the time to read

go_leafs_nation 10 Aug 10 at 8:32 p.m. GMT

I don't recommend the Phillip Marlowe novels at all. Raymond Chandler seems to have hated every single decent mystery author out there, including Agatha Christie. But the funny thing is, he couldn't come up with a mystery to save his life. He even omits to explain a death in one of his books, The Big Sleep. Dashiell Hammett is truly excellent, though.

I'm not very keen on hardboiled stuff to be honest. If you're just interested in the American mystery authors in general, I highly recommend John Dickson Carr and Rex Stout.

Puffinjill 10 Aug 10 at 2:50 p.m. GMT

Brilliant, aren't they, TheButlerDidIt! Rankin's Rebus books just get better and better. My favourite is The Falls followed by A Question Of Blood but all of them are well worth reading. I shall be taking one or two with me when I visit Edinburgh again this December!

TheButlerDidIT 10 Aug 10 at 1:25 p.m. GMT

Just finished The Black Book by Ian Rankin. Really great stuff with decent characters. I think Tooth and Nail is still my fave although I have only read the first 5 so I may have a new fave in the future.

cameronjhw 07 Aug 10 at 6:52 p.m. GMT

Yesterday, I have just finished reading a different mystery novel and it is not a British mystery. I read The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett. I decided to take a break from the British mysteries and get my intro to the hard-boiled school of detective fiction. Now I know that with most American hard-boiled mysteries they focus more on sex and violence than the puzzles found in Christie, Sayers, etc. I admit I have seen the 1941 film version with Humphrey Bogart so I kind of already knew about the story but I still wanted to read the novel and I am glad I did. The novel was gritty, violent, sordid and shady characters, and some elements of sex. But I enjoy the book and I am anxious to read the Philip Marlowe novels and some other hard-boiled American detective stories. I still like the cozy British mysteries but I just like to see what the American mystery writers have to offer. Now I am undecided as to what novel I should read next. Hopefully I can read a few more before school starts.

cameronjhw 06 Aug 10 at 4:53 p.m. GMT

I was fortunate enough to get all 32 Marsh novels on Ebay. So I am really glad and determine to read all 32 of them in order. Hopefully I can squeeze in two more Marsh novels to read before I start school. Right now I am taking a break and reading a different mystery novel many have heard of. I will tell you what it is when I have finished it.

Puffinjill 06 Aug 10 at 3:29 p.m. GMT

Your secret is safe with me, McGinty!! And I have seen those omnibus editions of her books. Trouble is, I already have a few so I will need to find one an omnibus that doesn't include any of the ones I already have. But thanks for the tip!!!

McGinty 06 Aug 10 at 10 a.m. GMT

If you have trouble finding any of Ngaio Marsh's books look on Amazon - they have all been repackaged with each book containing three novels each AND they are in the right order too !! I adore her books - just love the way Alleyn aged from the 1930s through to the early 1980s, which is why I found it best to re-read them all in the correct order, not that the stories carried over, they are all self contained, but just to see how Alleyn and Troy's relationship developed, how they aged and what happens to their family. The only characters that happened with in Christie were Tommy & Tuppence, and then she seemed to forget from one novel to the next how many children they had. I shall have to whisper the next bit - I actually prefer Marsh to Christie ! Eeek - don't tell anyone !

Puffinjill 02 Aug 10 at 7:23 a.m. GMT

Lucky you if you can manage to get hold of all her titles AND read them in order! I've struggled to find them so I've just read them when I've been lucky enough to come across them. I also have some of them in audio book form - both abridged and unabridged - and these are really entertaining too. I think next up for you (if you continue in order ) is Death At The Bar which is one I haven't managed to read so I will be interested to hear your views on it! Happy reading!!!

cameronjhw 01 Aug 10 at 8:43 p.m. GMT

I can't wait to finsih them all. I have finished the first 8 novels. The first one A Man  Lay Dead was ok. But as I read the next one they became more and more interesting. I plan to read them in order from the first to the last. I'm glad there are some who have read her work and like them.

Puffinjill 31 Jul 10 at 7:32 a.m. GMT

Keep going, cameronjhw, you've still got some gems to discover if you are going to read them all!! I've been a big fan of Ngaio Marsh and her character Roderick Alleyn for quite some time now but have struggled to get hold of the books. Overture To Death was really good but I particularly enjoyed Death In A White Tie. Her portrayal of 'High Society' was very well done and her characters are so well drawn. Out of those I have read so far (and I still have lots to go!), my favourite has been Death And The Dancing Footman. You still have this one to go, cameronjhw, so I won't give anything away!! Seems strange to me that Marsh isn't as well known as her contemparies but good to see that others are discovering her books and finding out how great they are too!

cameronjhw 31 Jul 10 at 3 a.m. GMT

I have finished the eighth Ngaio Marsh novel and this one is a classic. It's called Overture to Death. This novel is like your typical Miss Marple mystery. You have a rural country village with a hotbed of local scandal and gossip, the hearty pompous local squire, the mild-mannered and honorable clergyman and his rather attractive daughter, the genial village doctor, a mysterious widow and a couple of church-going, gossiping spinsters. It centers on the murder of a wealthy, elderly and gossip-loving spinster named Miss Campanula. She is found dead in one of the most unique and bizarre murder methods ever devised by a fiendish killer. Roderick Alleyn as usual solves the case based on some weird clues among them a Spanish onion, a water pistol, potted plants etc. This is another novel that centers on a theatrical production. The characters are fun and real, the plot is great, and the solution is clever and yet it makes you realize of course it should have been obvious. A must read. P.S. Be careful what chords you hit on the piano

cameronjhw 23 Jul 10 at 9:50 p.m. GMT

I have finished the seventh Ngaio Marsh novel today and this one is one of her best Death in a White Tie. It is set in London during the season of debutantes, balls, parties, teas, concerts and dances. In this novel it is also the season of blackmail and murder. Someone has been blackmailing certain members of high society and with the help of an wealthy peer his friend Roderick Alleyn think they know who it is but murder intervenes when Alleyn's friend is asphyxiated in the back of a taxi and now Alleyn has to figure out who the killer as well as the blackmailer. The dialogue is good, the characters fun and believable and it takes you back to a period of high-class, glamour and eloquence mixed together with the sordid trappings of scandals, secrrets, shifty deeds, and a cunning and fiendish mind who hides among the wealthy. The solution is clever and the ending will leave you excited and amazed as you realize the clues were there the whole time. Great read I personally recomend it 

cameronjhw 16 Jul 10 at 3:31 p.m. GMT

I've just finished the sixth Ngaio Marsh novel Artists in Crime. It was a good book to read. You learn a lot about artists and the varying degrees of the artistic temperment among the principal suspects. This book introduces Roderick Alleyn to Agatha Troy a painter he met onboard a ship who wil lappear in later novels. There is a playful chemistry between these two sometimes they are friendly to each other other times they conceal their emotions. The murder method in this one was bizarre--a nude model is stabbed while in a unusual pose. Plenty of clues, motives, a second shocking crime, and a solution that will surprise some unless you pick up on the clues and the killer. This novel also features drug addiction and a surprising view on free sex among artists and models during 1930s London. On to the next Marsh novel.

Victoria32 16 Jul 10 at 2:26 p.m. GMT

cameronjhw

I quite agree with you. Do you think Sayers and Allingham add too much humor in their books. I've heard the Allingham mysteries are adventures and so much mysteries that require the reader to figure out the puzzle. Also do you consider the Father Brown stories as great stuff to read.

I don't know Allingham, but Sayers' humour is quite subtle and gorgeous! I've read some Father Brown and would like to find more...

Victoria32 16 Jul 10 at 2:19 p.m. GMT

I made a posting - two of them in this thread - where have they gone? This site is extremely user-unfriendly.

Victoria32 16 Jul 10 at 2:08 p.m. GMT

Dorothy L Sayers! In some ways I consider she's superior to Agatha Christie, who IMO was a terrible snob (I put that down to the fact that she was in reality an American to all intents and purposes.) DLS is no kind of a snob!

Victoria32 16 Jul 10 at 2:02 p.m. GMT

I have read and loved the Phryne Fisher mysteries!

.

Puffinjill 15 Jul 10 at 2:19 p.m. GMT

Yes, I've read all of her Joe Sandilands series and they are an enjoyable read. Different style completely to AC so hard to compare but worth a look.

lidija_kov 15 Jul 10 at 11:50 a.m. GMT

Has anyone read any Barbara Cleverly book? I've just found out about her, so I'm wondering if is it worth reading or not? Can someone please compare it to Agatha Christie's books. Thank you!

cameronjhw 06 Jul 10 at 10:16 p.m. GMT

I love reading the Sherlock Holmes adventures. As I read the stories I get a picture of what London looked liked in the Victorian Era. The gas-lit streets, the hansom cabs along cobblestone streets, Big Ben striking midnight as Holmes and Watson pursue a villian. I like Holmes because he is a very eccentric fictional character like Poirot and his fastidious demeanor and habits. What interest me about Holmes was that he had a very cold and unemotional behavior towards women and other people with an exception of Watson of course. Yet he is a genius when solving a case. My favorite stories are one others have probably claim were their favorites. Ones like The Speckled Band, The Red-Headed League, The Copper Beeches and The Hound of the Baskervilles. I also like the Final Problem, The Empty House, The Six Napoleons, The Engineer's Thumb, The Crooked Man, etc. My favorite Holmes on film is of course Basil Rathbone. I listen to the radio show he did in the 1940s with Nigel Bruce as Watson. I feel British mysteries are quite exciting, intriguing, and fun despite those who say the British writers of whodunits were dull.

Puffinjill 05 Jul 10 at 2:41 p.m. GMT

Great description, go leafs! What a little gem it is! I must get hold of a copy (id it's on DVD) and I must, MUST keep my eyes peeled for a copy of the original story. By the way, I've been busy trying to track down my beloved green and white Penguins and have been very lucky recently as it's the 75th anniversary of Penguin books and I've managed to find quite a few, including some by John Dickson Carr ,H. C. Bailey, Freeman Wills Crofts and, of course, Agatha Christie. I think I can now call it a collection and not just a handful of books!!

go_leafs_nation 05 Jul 10 at 12:33 p.m. GMT

The film is a wonderful adaptation- reasonably faithful, and at the same time, Sim did an excellent job as Inspector Cockrill, giving the character plenty of fun eccentricities. It's actually a very funny movie, although one or two scenes are certainly intense. Top-notch entertainment.

Puffinjill 05 Jul 10 at 7 a.m. GMT

Finally managed to get hold of a Rex Stout via my Library service after reading so much discussion about him on this forum. I started it yesterday morning and actually finished it last night! A great read and I shall see if I can find any more but I'm a little doubtful that the Library will be of any more help. Unfortunately the only one they could supply me with was the last in the Arnold Zeck trilogy, Even In The Best Families, as I gather from other posts this isn't the ideal place to start but it was better than not starting at all!!

Talking of the Christianna Brand novel Green For Danger, I seem to remember watching a great film black and white of this title a few years ago. I think it must be an adaptation of it, although not having read it I'm not 100% sure. It starred Alistair Simm and was a wonderful, atmospheric film. Must see if I can track down a copy of it.

Puffinjill 29 Jun 10 at 6:57 a.m. GMT

No, I don't think either of them have too much humour in their books at all. In fact, I don't think they include as much as Christie does in many of her books, The early Margery Allinghams's are lighter in tone and a little more frivolous (Sweet Danger, for example) but her later works are much more thoughtful and brilliantly observed (The Tiger In The Smoke and Hide My Eyes, to name but two). Sayers created some wonderful characters and could certainly write sparkling dialogue between them that, at times, was very amusing, but there is always an underlying darker tone to her work, possibly a hangover from the age in which they were written. Both of these writers could introduce humour into any situation (as AC and even 'real' life does) but the humour was never the real point. As for the Father Brown stories, I'm not the one to ask as I've not read may of them yet. Something I need to correct before much longer.

cameronjhw 28 Jun 10 at 2:42 p.m. GMT

I quite agree with you. Do you think Sayers and Allingham add too much humor in their books. I've heard the Allingham mysteries are adventures and so much mysteries that require the reader to figure out the puzzle. Also do you consider the Father Brown stories as great stuff to read.

Puffinjill 27 Jun 10 at 8:21 a.m. GMT

No, they aren't. I can't say that either Sayers or Allingham kept to one main plot device to unmask the villian of the piece as AC tends to do in many of her works. Both Sayers and Allingham wrote fewer novels than AC by far and these tended to be less 'formulaic' in their final pages.

This isn't meant as a criticism of AC or her way of writing AT ALL, it is meant as an acknowledgment of the fact that she found an effective way for Poirot to reveal the villian to her reading public that gripped thier imagination. It managed to keep the audience guessing right to the end and helped to keep the suspense high. Her readers are taken back over all the facts and evidence once more and given a last chance to make up their minds before the big reveal happens, so we can all feel as if we are taking part too. It works so very well, so why not use it time and time again?

cameronjhw 27 Jun 10 at 4:05 a.m. GMT

I understand what you mean. What I like about the Christie denouements are that they are usually surprising especially when Poirot gathers the suspects and goes on until he reveals the killer's identity. I don't know if the denouements for Sayers' or Allingham' work are like Christie's. I would be interested to know.

go_leafs_nation 25 Jun 10 at 10:43 p.m. GMT

Well, Sayers died in '57, so she very well couldn't have set her novels in the 70s. If you're looking for suspense, you can't do much finer than her Gaudy Night. It involves practical jokes at a university that become darker and darker... It is also one of only two Sayers I did not solve- the puzzle is very well-concealed. Lord Peter, surprisingly, is largely absent, and the book nearly centers around Harriet Vane.

You may also like Christianna Brand, particularly Green for Danger, which has marvelous characters, some really good suspense, a great puzzle, and all a WWII setting.

I'd also recommend John Sladek's Black Aura and Ellery Queen's Cat of Many Tails. John Dickson Carr's The Burning Court is one of the finest mysteries ever written, with several fantastic impossible occurences, a haunting supernatural atmosphere, and a thundering good solution, set in America (a surprise for Carr, who often set his books in England). Warning: look up no more about it. Its ending is infamous, which is why it is so easily spoiled. Wikipedia indulges in that tomfoolery as well.

cameronjhw 25 Jun 10 at 6:50 p.m. GMT

I find that after reading Christie other writers like Sayers and Allingham do not compare with Christie's ability to focus on psychological suspense, plots that keep you in their grip until the end and create a great mystery that does not always center on British characters. It seems to me Sayers and Allingham tend to focus on humor and wit and not enough on suspense and convincing characters. I like stories that have a good amount of suspense. When I started reading the first five Ngaio Marsh novels they do have wit and humor but they have suspense, interesting settings, and unusual and yet unique solutions. I plan to read the the rest of Marsh's novels because she sets them from the 1930's to the 1970's just like Christie does. They are able to depict not only a changing world but a changing England no longer high-society and wit but now on to serious and unplesant changes in time

go_leafs_nation 25 Jun 10 at 4:06 p.m. GMT

I'll have to start with The Doorbell Rang, though, because it's on an Interlibrary Loan with no renewals allowed. Plus, it's come highly recommended, and I'm told the A&E adaptation is one of the series' finest episodes.

GKCfan 25 Jun 10 at 6:51 a.m. GMT

You're right: A Family Affair = Curtain, although the solutions are different.  Reading chronologically is a great idea, especially for the Arnold Zeck trilogy  (And Be a Villain ; The Second Confession ; In the Best Families), which should be  in order.  

go_leafs_nation 25 Jun 10 at 12:38 a.m. GMT

I've heard it's the Curtain of Stout, so I'm fairly certain I will leave it till last. It's part of an omnibus I got with 7 books in it. Either way, I think I'll try proceeding in as chronological an order as I can manage from now on, starting with Fer-de-Lance. I'll probably also grab Three for the Chair tomorrow. There's a bunch of books that I got mainly so that once I read them I can watch the A&E adaptation without feeling guilty.

GKCfan 25 Jun 10 at 12:25 a.m. GMT

Save "A Family Affair" for last- it's the final book in the series, and to read it earlier would permanently alter your views on one recurring character.

go_leafs_nation 25 Jun 10 at 12:19 a.m. GMT

At last, some time for me to breathe. Anyway, here's the list of the Stouts I acquired yesterday:

A Right to Die ; And Be a Villain ; The Second Confession ; In the Best Families ; Three Doors to Death ;Prisoner's Base ; Fer-de-Lance ; Black Orchids ; The Mother Hunt ; Three Witnesses ; And Four to Go ; The Golden Spiders ; Death of a Doxy ; Death of a Dude ; The Red Box ; The Rubber Band ; The Silent Speaker ; Might as Well Be Dead ; If Death Ever Slept ; Three At Wolfe's Door ; Gambit ; Please Pass the Guilt ; A Family Affair

TheButlerDidIT 24 Jun 10 at 9:12 p.m. GMT

I have read four biographies of the Beatles in the past 4 months. Really good stuff. Interesting stories many humerous and some plain weird.

AndThenThereWasTim 24 Jun 10 at 7:35 p.m. GMT

Call me an anglophile, but im not big on American writers. Last American author I read was, against my will, Ray Bradbury, who I cant stand. Im becoming more and more of a Dickens fan. The Old Curiosity Shop was amazing! One of my favorite books ever. Right now im reading Bleak House, Grapes of Wrath by Stienbeck, and Peril at End House. Im a big C.S. Lewis fan.

MissQuin 24 Jun 10 at 5:11 p.m. GMT

Hello Heisei. I don't think music influencing your books would do any harm. Seems like a good idea actually.

HeiseiHolmes 24 Jun 10 at 10:18 a.m. GMT

Apart from mysteries, I'm kind of set on getting a copy of "Moderato Cantabile" by Marguerite Duras. But that's only because she was mentioned in the song "Stay"... I'm also interested in checking out Novalis, "Hamlet", and I was thinking about "Bonjour Tristesse", before I read the description of it on the internet... I'm kind of letting music influence my reading. Which isn't good.

go_leafs_nation 23 Jun 10 at 9:43 p.m. GMT

Today, I took part in my annual bookstore invasions, and walked away with 24 books by Rex Stout (bringing my grand total up to 30) and one by Edmund Crispin. And Chesterton's The Man Who Was Thursday, which I saw for a dollar. Despite exams, life is currently wonderful.

I took a bunch of your Stout suggestions, GKCfan, and followed some of my own impulses as well (I liked the sound of Death of a Dude, for instance, and I simply couldn't resist The Golden Spiders, which I remembered was the pilot for the A&E series). I'm very happy with the results. If you'd like, I can post the complete list of today's acquisitions on here later- my biology exam is peeking around the corner, though, so I'd best get to it!

cameronjhw 21 Jun 10 at 6:52 p.m. GMT

I find that after reading Christie, Sherlock Holmes, some stories by Carr, Sayers and starting on Marsh. I like the British mysteries I have read so far. I like the background of WWII England, the fabulous country house, traveling to Europe or the mysterious Orient or Egypt. I plan to read Stout, Gardner, Chandler, Cain, Hammett, Queen, etc just to see what the American mysteries are like and compare and contrast as well as say that I have read some whodunits by American writers. On the whole I just love mysteries

cameronjhw 18 Jun 10 at 8:48 p.m. GMT

I have just finished Ngaio Marsh's Vintage Murder. I really had fun reading this one. It is another novel to take place in the world of the theatre but this is the first novel that is set in New Zealand. Marsh gives some great depictions of life in New Zealand, history of Maori culture and background on the tribe and gives a colorful idea of the New Zealand countryside with its green hills, mountains, scented flowers, chriping birds, etc. The characters are unique and believable. Plenty of suspects, clues, and motives. The murder method was totally different and bizarre and brutal. Roderick Alleyn's character becomes more in-depth and personal. The identity of the killer surprised me when it came to the climax. It does not feature a gathering of suspects like Christie does but Marsh is able to make it tense and suspenseful as you discover the name of the murderer. A great read and lots of colorful characterzations and settings combined with mystery, suspense, humor, and wit all in one. I highly recommend this one

go_leafs_nation 17 Jun 10 at 12:39 p.m. GMT

I'll be sure to set aside two years to learn how to cook sometime. I'd probably drive myself insane with the smell of the eggs alone!

GKCfan 17 Jun 10 at 6:47 a.m. GMT

go_leafs_nation, if you ever read The Nero Wolfe Cookbook, you'll be curious to try most of the recipes, but you'll soon realize that they take superhuman skill at cooking and a well-padded bank account.  The creators of that cookbook take most of the dishes mentioned in the books.  The one I really ought to try sometime is scrambled eggs from The Mother Hunt.  They're supposed to be the tastiest, fluffiest eggs you can ever make... and they take forty-five minutes to prepare.  Minimum.  

Tommy_A_Jones 16 Jun 10 at 4:04 p.m. GMT

I don't know if anyone has mentioned Martha Grimes yet but I recently reads Old Fox Deceiv'd and although it was slow to start of with which was probably my fault I really Like Richard Jury and Melrose Plant and will read another by her.

cameronjhw 16 Jun 10 at 2:52 p.m. GMT

I have just finished reading Ngaio Marsh's Death in Ecstasy. It was an intriguing combination of murder, drugs, and spiritualism It had a very disturbing and bizarre background at some unorthodox cult. The novel talked alot on sodium cyanide and it was interesting to that it mentioned the book on how to make it. The characters are different and unique. Has plenty of different motives for murder. The ending was a surprise. I sort of suspected who the killer was but then I dismiss that person because I could not think what motive that person had for the crime. Nevertheless, a good one to read and I like the detective Inspector Roderick Alleyn

go_leafs_nation 16 Jun 10 at 10:49 a.m. GMT

Thanks for finding it, GKCfan! I won't be able to make it, but at least I will not go insane wondering about it for now. Perhaps it is the cold stuffing that is the secret?

Yes, you're perfectly right- Miss Climpson redeems a lot in Unnatural Death.

GKCfan 16 Jun 10 at 5:33 a.m. GMT

I'm so glad you're enjoying Rex Stout's books.  I will check out the forum when I have some time.  If you're interested in saucisse minuit, check out The Nero Wolfe Cookbook.  I think I found a link to the Nero Wolfe saucisse minuit recipe:

http://www.recipezaar.com/recipe/saucisse-minuit-404274

I'm not sure what the secret ingredient is, though...

I agree that there are some plot problems with Unnatural Death, but they are offset by the introduction of the character Miss Climpson, who I enjoy, especially in Strong Poison.

go_leafs_nation 15 Jun 10 at 11 p.m. GMT

Sayers was one of the original crusaders of crime. She had really strong opinions on what mystery authors could be approved of and so forth, and I guess it's for that reason that her style and books are among the most criticized of its kind. I disagree with such criticisms. To sum up her books briefly, they are rather fun (for me at least), especially if you're open to them. If you're expecting riveting psychological dramas that enforce that people are dull as death and deathly dull, you will not get that. Lord Peter Wimsey can be rather amusing and comic. Sometimes, like in Gaudy Night (my favourite by her), Sayers could really get terrifying. Why? You'll have to read it yourself and judge. Her weakest book is Unnatural Death, in which the villain's identity is practically known from page one, but it asks the question "how was it done?", and the answer is obvious. It makes for an enjoyable romp nonetheless. (Strong Poison also has a villain who is just about known from the start, but it is a much stronger and more enjoyable read.)

GKCfan, I believe I will join your ranks as a Stout fan from now on. I've finished Too Many Cooks, and I consider it a masterpiece. It's the best Stout I've read so far, and I have great admiration for it, particularly in scenes where Stout masterfully handles the issue of racism. You may be interested in this topic from a Golden Age Mysteries forum, of which I am a proud member, where I updated my fellow members on my progress and thoughts as I read the book:

http://www.jdcarr.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6812

cameronjhw 15 Jun 10 at 9:42 p.m. GMT

Can anyone give me some info as to the writing style of Dorothy L. Sayers and what makes her work interesting to read.

go_leafs_nation 13 Jun 10 at 3:16 p.m. GMT

I agree. Now, I moved on to reading Too Many Cooks, and it is an absolute delight so far. As someone who is very fond of food, the many delicious-sounding descriptions of dishes (that sausage sounds heavenly!) make the whole thing even more enjoyable. We've just been told about the episode with Laszio and the arsenic in the kitchen, so the mysterious set-up isn't bad at all. Let's see if the book can carry through like this for the whole nine yards.

GKCfan 12 Jun 10 at 8:47 p.m. GMT

I agree– I haven't read Too Many Clients but I've seen the A&E version.  What makes even the weakest Wolfe mysteries work are the facts that the characters play so well off each other, and the dialogue is so much fun.

go_leafs_nation 12 Jun 10 at 3:47 p.m. GMT

Well, I finished Too Many Clients, and anyone looking for a solidly-constructed mystery with a complex plot will find it a nightmare. The culprit makes as much sense as anyone else based on the evidence, and the clue the reader is given is so small, it is akin to hinging the guilt of Dagmar Doubledick on the colour of his tie (green!) when he meets the detectives in the park in Chapter Six.

That being said, I surprisingly didn't care much. Had anyone but Stout written it, I'd be outraged. But his characters are so delightfully enjoyable, his dialogue sparkles so brilliantly and it feels so fresh (and the descriptions of food he gives are so enjoyable), that I find myself highly enjoying it nonetheless.

I also discovered an 'endorsement' of Stout by Agatha Christie herself, while glancing through a biography of Stout by John McAleer. I love stumbling across quotes like that, authors commenting positively on their fellow authors' works. It suggests a circle of crime in which everyone is mutually respected and admired. It's a very pleasant suggestion to think about.

go_leafs_nation 11 Jun 10 at 1:19 a.m. GMT

My opinion of the A&E series is really high so far after but an episode, so I'm really looking forward to more! That's one reason why I chose to read Too Many Clients next, since it's one of the Season 2 episodes. It's quite enjoyable so far- Stout's dialogue is simply outstanding, and the improvised reason Goodwin comes up with at the phone when Cramer's in the office (with the fictional Gerson going crazy when he's found his bonds) made me laugh right out loud. Looks like I've become a fan!

I will, of course, be sure to keep an eye out for the CBC radio series.

GKCfan 10 Jun 10 at 8:03 p.m. GMT

The A&E adaptations are superb- I highly recommend all of them, and the books they adapt are among the best– they have to be, because you can't make a TV movie about the detectives just spinning their wheels.  Unfortunately, I haven't read about a third of the Wolfe books because they're out of print.  However, the books I mention in my earlier post, the A&E adapted books, Before Midnight, and The League of Frightened Men are all quite good, plus the short novelettes are much more tightly constructed (they're usually published in collections of three or four– titles with those numbers in them contain short stories).  Also, you can find some Nero Wolfe radio mysteries on the Internet.  The Sidney Greenstreet-as-Wolfe radio series from the 1940's are not so hot because the plots are all original and rather generic, although Greenstreet makes a great Wolfe.  The 1982 series by the Canadian Broadcasting Company starring Mavor Moore as Wolfe and Don Francks as Archie (13 1-hour episodes based on the original stories) are outstanding.

go_leafs_nation 07 Jun 10 at 11:07 a.m. GMT

I haven't yet red Allingham myself, personally, so I can't really comment.

I noticed that with Champagne for One, GKCfan, as Wolfe sent his crew out to do (sometimes) unspecified jobs which would clinch proof for deductions Wolfe had already made. I certainly agree that the interplay between Wolfe and Goodwin was one of the most entertaining portions of the entire book. (I liked CFO enough to see the A&E adaptation of it, and it was just brilliant- one of the best I've seen in a while. It really captures the tragedy of the murder very well.) Do you recommend any other Stouts?

GKCfan 03 Jun 10 at 8:19 p.m. GMT

I have not read much of Allingham, but she is said to be very much in the "cosy mystery" vein.  She is often compared to Christie, although I much prefer Christie Allingham isn't bad at all.  Her short story "Death on the Air" is often anthologized.  It's very different from the similarly titled Christie novel.  Although I haven't read it, the solution to Police at the Funeral is considered a classic.

As you've guessed from my name, I love G.K. Chesterton.  You can find out more about him and find links to some of his work at chesterton.org.

And yes, I did recommend Rex Stout earlier.  My favorite part of Stout's mysteries is the Wolfe/Goodwin interplay.  The odd thing about Stout's novels is that they often spend the entire middle third of the book going nowhere, with all the leads coming up dead ends, and the plot doesn't advance until the final act.  The best all-around Wolfe mysteries (The Doorbell Rang, Prisoner's Base, Over My Dead Body, The Silent Speaker, and the Arnold Zeck Trilogy) all have compelling plotlines throughout the books.

cameronjhw 03 Jun 10 at 2:26 p.m. GMT

I know several people have mentioned they have read the works of Dorothy L. Sayers. She is considered as one of the original queens of crime. I only have read a few short stories by her among them The Fountain Plays, Blood Sacrifice, Suspicion, and The Man Who Knew How. These stories I highly recommend because of the surprise twist endings. However, Blood Sacrifice might be a bit confusing to some. I really have not read anything about Lord Peter Wimsey. I was wondering if anybody can tell me things about him and what is it about Sayers' detective that I should read her novels. Now I really don't know anything about Margery Allingham and I would appreciate it if anyone who has read her can tell me anything special about her writing style, her detective, or anything unique about her mysteries. 

go_leafs_nation 03 Jun 10 at 10:45 a.m. GMT

G. K. Chesterton was just brilliant. His writing is very eloquent, and it is full of paradoxes, which Chesterton simply loved. His famous detective is Father Brown, a Roman Catholic priest who goes about solving crimes, but not because of the dropped cigarette or the scrap of torn clothing- he is a student of human nature. Chesterton wrote other brilliant stories that do not feature Brown: the ones I've read are The Club of Queer Trades and Four Faultless Felons, Both are excellent, and the second in particular is brilliant when it comes to paradoxes.

And, of course, The Man Who Was Thursday is a brilliant novel, but its final scenes can sure confuse you, especially the first time you read it- I know I was puzzled!

cameronjhw 02 Jun 10 at 8:51 p.m. GMT

I'm starting to read the works of Ngaio Marsh. I have read her first three novels and they may not be like Christie but the characters are believable, interesting, and unique. Her murder methods are unusual or at least the way how it is done. I plan to read later the works of John Dickson Carr. I read a few stories by him and they intrigued me because of the impossible crime situations and the element of supernatural doings. I don't know a lot about the works of G.K Chesterton, Dorothy L. Sayers, and Margery Allingham. Could anyone tell me some things about their work or writing style in other words what makes them great mystery writers to read about.

go_leafs_nation 01 Jun 10 at 12:26 a.m. GMT

I believe that it was GKCfan who mentioned, far earlier in this topic, that he was a big fan of Rex Stout. Well, I managed to finish Champagne for One today, and although it was an excellent and fun read, I did end up having problems with its solution, as most of the proof turns out to be either lucky guesses or assumptions/inferences, confirmed pages before the killer is unmasked. For a story that had an out-of-this-world radiance as you read along, you expect it all to be better hinted at.

I enjoyed reading this book very much (which you might be able to infer by the fact that I read most of it in one day). Nero Wolfe's many eccentricities (his love for orchids, his enjoyment and appreciation of food, etc.) won me over quickly. The food described sounded delicious! Archie Goodwin makes for a very fun narrator, and his dialogue was simply out of this world.

So yes, Stout's plotting of clues and such could've been better, but he is quite fun to read nonetheless.

go_leafs_nation 30 May 10 at 8:12 p.m. GMT

All this time later, I finally get started on Rex Stout (after encounters with Ellery Queen, Edmund Crispin, and others, which have been wonderful). The book I am currently reading is Champagne for One, which actually has a marvelous plot idea, similar (yet very different so far) to Three Act Tragedy. The characters are wonderful, and their dialogue is simply out of this world. It is wonderfully fun to read.

Fans of John Dickson Carr will probably love Edmund Crispin. I read two of his books, and although the second, Holy Disorders, does not live up to the liveliness and brilliance of its opening, both are very good reads. Crispin can be very funny, and he makes no bones about it- he's written a mystery, take it or leave it, and he won't pretend otherwise. His detective, Gervase Fen, once calls himself "the only literary critic turned detective in all of fiction".

Ellery Queen is a mixed bag. You either like him or hate him. (I say him, but it is in reality two people writing under the pseudonym.) The first books feature a smarmy, Philo Vance-ish Ellery Queen (who needs a kick in the pance), but Queen doesn't take too long to grow up. The best puzzles I've read so far are Cat of Many Tails and The Greek Coffin Mystery (which contains such a pedantic and arrogant Queen, that it can turn some people off).

Then, there's a marvelous discovery I made of Robert van Gulik, whose books are still in print. He wrote a series of books that take place in Ancient China, in the style of Chinese detective novels, centering around Judge Dee. He marvelously recreates the historical setting with a pen, and includes illustrations that are interesting for their reproduction of the Chinese style. My only quibbles are as to the puzzle's fairness now and then, but really, when considered as a whole, his books are wonderful (yet you rarely hear of him).

go_leafs_nation 18 Apr 10 at 12:14 p.m. GMT

I've read Black Aura, and I must agree with my friend's summary- it's ingenious and highly satisfying, and Phin is a wonderful detective!

3rdGirl 17 Apr 10 at 2:10 a.m. GMT

go_leafs_nation

of my favorite impossible crime stories and can match (IMO) with some of Carr's best. The story centers on a group of spiritualists living with their medium. Thackerey Phin, an American enthusiast of classic mysteries living in London, attempts to debunk them, but soon things start to happen in the house that should only happen between the pages of a John Dickson Carr novel, including a seemingly impossible disappearance from a locked lavatory and the impalement of a man on a fence after apparently levitating in mid-air! Both impossibilities have a satisfying solution and even though I solved them before Phin did, I wasn't left with a vague feeling of disappointment like with Brean's Wilders Walks Away and Talbot's Rim of the Pit (not that these books are bad, on the contrary, but they didn't really deliver in the end, which left me little bit dissapointed). And Thackerey Phin is a very likeable character and I think every detective geek will recognize something of themselves in him. I had daydreams like him. ;-)"

Goodness...that's quite eventful isn't it?? I've finally read a Patricia Wentworth Miss Silver book Lonesome Road, and I can see very much why people compare her to Ms Christie and the character of Miss Silver to Miss Marple. She even knites things for people's babies! I can't put my finger on why, but it was quite a forgettable mystery. In fact, the details of the plot and characters completely escape me and I only read it a week ago. It was a bit...vanilla...for want of a better word. I don't think I'd raed another to be honest.

go_leafs_nation 15 Apr 10 at 11:16 a.m. GMT

At long last, I finished reading Carr's H.M. canon in order, and I must say I've gained new appreciation and inisghts for the books.

So now, I finally get to read John Sladek's Black Aura, which sounds very intriguing to say the least. Here is a summary from a friend on a Golden Age Mysteries forum:

"Its one of my favorite impossible crime stories and can match (IMO) with some of Carr's best. The story centers on a group of spiritualists living with their medium. Thackerey Phin, an American enthusiast of classic mysteries living in London, attempts to debunk them, but soon things start to happen in the house that should only happen between the pages of a John Dickson Carr novel, including a seemingly impossible disappearance from a locked lavatory and the impalement of a man on a fence after apparently levitating in mid-air! Both impossibilities have a satisfying solution and even though I solved them before Phin did, I wasn't left with a vague feeling of disappointment like with Brean's Wilders Walks Away and Talbot's Rim of the Pit (not that these books are bad, on the contrary, but they didn't really deliver in the end, which left me little bit dissapointed). And Thackerey Phin is a very likeable character and I think every detective geek will recognize something of themselves in him. I had daydreams like him. ;-)"

3rdGirl 06 Apr 10 at 7:23 a.m. GMT

I have been recommended Rankin by many people TBDI and I know that Puffinjill likes them too.

The Brother Cadfael book I read was fantastic. However I'm just starting Wilkie Collin's The Woman in White which has been in the bedside pile for ages, so I'm looking forward to that.

I loved Edinburgh as well when I travelled there a few years ago. I actually got sunburned on my face it was so lovely as sunny! And coming from a lady that lives at Bondi Beach that's saying something!

I forgot to say previously that I read the AA Milne Red House Mystery, and I actually guessed the culprit, which is highly unusual for me, but it was fun.

TheButlerDidIT 01 Apr 10 at 7:20 p.m. GMT

Sounds good!

go_leafs_nation 01 Apr 10 at 1:12 p.m. GMT

I have discovered a true mystery-writing gem in Christianna Brand. Her specialty was the closed circle of suspects, and she pulled it off brilliantly like no one else! Her clueing is superb, and her characterisation is razor-sharp, as all of her characters are intensely likeable.

I'm currently reading Green for Danger, where a patient dies under mysterious circumstances on an operating table. It seems like a pure, unforeseeable accident; after all, substituting the gases that were used as anesthetic was absolutely impossible. But when a nurse hysterically declares she knows who the murderer is and has proof, she too meets her maker...

TheButlerDidIT 25 Mar 10 at 7:20 p.m. GMT

Yeah I read an Ian Rankin where there was a murder in the fringe festival which was weird because I was a few streets away from the real fringe festival!

Puffinjill 25 Mar 10 at 6:29 a.m. GMT

Oh, lucky you TheButlerDid It!!! My favourite place!!!! I'm hopefully coming back to Edinburgh just before Christmas for a holiday if all goes to plan. And I always bring a couple of my Rankin books with me to read again.

TheButlerDidIT 24 Mar 10 at 5 p.m. GMT

I live in Edinburgh and yes it is very creepy! Also Mary King's Close is very creepy also!

HeiseiHolmes 24 Mar 10 at 3:29 p.m. GMT

There's a Rebus book called "Fleshmarket Close", right? Has anyone ever seen that place? It's so creepy >_<

TheButlerDidIT 22 Mar 10 at 12:41 p.m. GMT

You might like Ian Rankin's Inspector Rebus books 3rdGirl! Set in Edinburgh they show the not so bonny side of Scotland. Each book is just amazing! The first book is called Knots and Crosses and I was so so hooked in read it in a day! And normally I like to read before bed and only read a few chapters to make it last longer! Really think you or anybody else would like them!

3rdGirl 22 Mar 10 at 2:40 a.m. GMT

Just finished Have his Carcase and loved it! The bit about the coded letters was a bit too detailed for me, however I loved the Harriett/Lord Peter dynamic and am looking forward to the next installment.

Just started Ellis Peters' A Morbid Taste for Bones last night and am hooked! It's a departure for me to get out of the 1920's/1930's genre and this is set in Shrewsbury in the 12th Century. Very interstesing and entertaining.

TheButlerDidIT 19 Mar 10 at 8:50 p.m. GMT

I don't recall seeing that authour in bookshops near me. I will do a search on WhSmith and Ebay.

WhSmith-http://www.whsmith.co.uk/CatalogAndSearch/SearchWithinCategory.aspx?gq=lesley+cookman&cat=%5cBooks&ipp=25

Ebay-http://shop.ebay.co.uk/?_from=R40&_trksid=p3907.m38.l1313&_nkw=lesley+cookman&_sacat=See-All-Categories

Might try them Aurora! Thank You!

Aurora 19 Mar 10 at 6:41 p.m. GMT

I've just discovered Lesley Cookman's Steeple Martin novels. They're good village whodunnits with likeable characters and good plot twists. If you're surfing Amazon they are well worth a try as I haven't seen them in the shops much in th UK.

TheButlerDidIT 16 Mar 10 at 5:12 p.m. GMT

Puffinjill I have read the first ten Rebus books but I have read Watchmen which is a stand-alone novel. I was suprised how much I enjoyed them all!

Puffinjill 15 Mar 10 at 2:10 p.m. GMT

I've read them all, TheButlerDidIt. Amazing writer, Mr Ian Rankin, in my very humble opinion. I would strongly recommend his work to anyone. My personal favourite is The Falls, but Knots And Crosses is up there with the best.

TheButlerDidIT 14 Mar 10 at 12:10 p.m. GMT

Yeah Knots and Crosses is the best of the first three. Tooth and Nail is the third one with Hide and Seek being the second and I can highly recommend it.

It's strange Conan that we both have so much in common! Ian Rankin, Agatha Christie. Funny if you were a Bond fan too!

HeiseiHolmes 14 Mar 10 at 10:59 a.m. GMT

I read two of them, Tooth and Nail (?) and Knots and Crosses. They were really great~

TheButlerDidIT 13 Mar 10 at 8:17 p.m. GMT

I hugely recommend crime authour Ian Rankin. His Inspector Rebus books are fantasic! I have read ten of his books and loved them! The best of the first ten books is the first book entitled Knots and Crosses. I urge people to go mad and buy them! Anyone else read and of his books?

Puffinjill 08 Mar 10 at 3:03 p.m. GMT

If I were you, 3rdGirl (and I wish someone had given me this advice before I wasted my time reading it), I wouldn't bother with Thrones, Dominions and stick to the DLS originals. I was terribly disappointed by it and felt it read as if it was written by someone who had no knowledge of any of Miss Sayers works. There is another by Ms Paton-Walsh too - Presumption Of Death - but I've not read it. I'd be interested in hearing what others have thought of her 'sequels'.

GKCfan 08 Mar 10 at 6:57 a.m. GMT

She does– Have His Carcase is Harriet's second appearance.  Her next is in Gaudy Night, then Busman's Honeymoon and then two short stories, then the Jill Paton Walsh-completed Thrones, Dominations.

3rdGirl 08 Mar 10 at 5:54 a.m. GMT

I'm about to embark on Have His Carcase by Ms Sayers. I think Harriett returns in this one. Well, I hope she does anyway!!

HeiseiHolmes 29 Jan 10 at 4:31 p.m. GMT

I guess it depends on taste...

I found out that Tortoiseshell Holmes was originally a novel by Akegawa Jiro~

Akechi Kogoro was written by Edogawa Rampo

And Zenigata Heiji is written by Nomura Kodo.

go_leafs_nation 28 Jan 10 at 6:21 p.m. GMT

A Christie fan might not really enjoy the Philip Marlowe novels by Raymond Chandler. Chandler's books have a dark, gritty view of the world, and the plots are pretty dull to put it mildly. However, I've only read two Chandlers (a while ago, I might add). I gave up on him when he forgot to mention who killed the chauffer in The Big Sleep. When I think of Chandler, I can't help but think of John Dickson Carr's essay, The Grandest Game in the World, particularly this bit:

"Come, now!" the author seems to be saying. "I'm really a straight novelist, you know, indulging in this funny little medium of the detective story becayse nowadays it's become respectable. It's true I haven't got much of a mystery, or any very clear idea of how to handle it; but if I give you strong characterizations and much talk-in-a-mist, you won't mind that."

HeiseiHolmes 28 Jan 10 at 4:18 p.m. GMT

Here's a list of things you could enjoy:

Ellery Queen

Detective Conan by Aoyama Gosho. (published in the UK as Case Closed, it's a manga and anime.)

G.K Chesterton

Zenigata Heiji (I forgot who wrote this)

Akechi Kogoro (I also forgot the author's name, He's like the Japanese Sherlock Holmes.)

Tortoiseshell Holmes (films about a mystery-solving cat.  She's owned by a bad detective and her strange behaviour helps him solve the case.)

Philip Marlowe

Sam Spade

There is probably countless others out there you would like. Oh, and at the end of all the Detective Conan books the author recommends other mystery writers.

Bundle_ 21 Jan 10 at 3:26 p.m. GMT

Has anyone read Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks? If so, there is finally going to be a movie about it.

I read Birdsong last year and despite it being mainly a book about war, I really enjoyed it.

GKCfan 14 Jan 10 at 9:25 p.m. GMT

I'm a big fan of Dorothy L. Sayers and Rex Stout.  Unfortunately, only a fraction of Stout's books are in print.  The Exploits of Sherlock Holmes  is interesting.  I don't think it's as well written as the original– they borrow heavily from the original stories, but the ones co-written by John Dickson Carr are much better.

go_leafs_nation 14 Jan 10 at 5:17 p.m. GMT

I've heard good things about Rex Stout, but I haven't yet read any of his books.

I may be getting The Exploits of Sherlock Holmes soon!!!

Puffinjill 12 Jan 10 at 6:31 p.m. GMT

Snap, Nofret, another Margery Allingham fan here!!

go_leafs_nation 12 Jan 10 at 5:20 p.m. GMT

You're certainly in the minority with Unnatural Death, which most consider not-so-great. I figured the entire thing out, motive, method and all, only 40 or so pages in. (The method is very very easily figured out.) Although it is still readable, it is a pretty stale, predictable read, without many surprises, precisely because Sayers relied on the sole mystery of 'how was it done', and isn't too successful in concealing it. The best part is basically Lord Peter. Now, Gaudy Night... that gets my vote as Sayers' best acheivement (along with The Nine Tailors).

Nofret 12 Jan 10 at 4:38 p.m. GMT

I hope you're all still persevering with Dorothy L Sayers! I can recommend Unnatural Death, also Murder must Advertise (written when Sayers worked for an advertising agency, so the characters are ordinary working men and women rather than High Society), and of course The Nine Tailors. It seems that Sayers was less interested in the question of "who dunnit?" than "how was it done?". For example, at the beginning of Unnatural Death Wimsey is confident that he has detected a murderess, but this gripping story explores how the victim was killed without leaving a trace, and what the motive was.

Another author I have enjoyed is Margery Allingham, although her books mainly fall into two categories - rural, idyllic Suffolk in the 20's/30's, or gritty post-war London, and perhaps have not aged as well as Christie's books. Try Sweet Danger, Look to the Lady, and The Tiger in the Smoke. Allingham also has the distinction, in her book Police at the Funeral, of a murderer who uses such an original method of operation that not even Agatha Christie had thought of it (though it's IMO not one of Allingham's better written books)

Thanks for the reports on the new Holmes film. Don't like "action" so I'll save my pennies!

Puffinjill 12 Jan 10 at 6:17 a.m. GMT

No, I think you are right, 3rdGirl, it was the only crime book he wrote. I've been lucky, too, as I was given it for Christmas by my sister. I'm going to save it until I have more time to myself and can curl up and enjoy it.

I haven't read any Agatha Raisin books either. The shelves of my local library are groaning under the weight of the copies they have, but something about them (not sure what) has never appealled to me. Strange, as I'm normally willing to give most murder/mystery books a go.

3rdGirl 12 Jan 10 at 2:45 a.m. GMT

I've not read any MC Beaton's but I love Ms Dorothy Sayers and Lord Peter Wimsey.

I was very excited to find in my second hand bookshop The Red House Mystery by A A Milne (of Winnie the Pooh fame) yesterday and will hopefully get time to read it this weekend! I think it may be the only crime book he ever wrote? I could be wrong on that point though.

go_leafs_nation 11 Jan 10 at 11:33 p.m. GMT

I have to disagree. I hated the M.C. Beaton I read, which was Agatha Raisin and the Haunted House. Agatha is one of the worst detectives ever. She's obnoxious, a "smart-aleck", keeps swearing, had a twisted love life, and isn't convincing in the least. It had a nice surprise ending, but wasn't worth what you had to get through before that.

Rubyy321 11 Jan 10 at 10:55 p.m. GMT

M.C. Beaton - is a fantastic author, though you cannot compare her to A.C.!

Try reading any of the Agatha Rasin series, youll love it!  Dorothy l. Sayers is also very good, again cant compare to A.C. ( I love Peter Whimsy.)

Puffinjill 11 Jan 10 at 7:40 a.m. GMT

Lucky you! I can imagine how beautiful it is up there right now. Rankins' books are so good that even the critics have had to stop being so sniffy about the whole crime genre. I think they were reluctant to admire his books as those who 'think' they know all about books and what to read mostly consider books written about these subjects to be less worthy than most. Not true at all, and Rankins' Inspector Rebus books have helped to raise the perception.A good book is a good book, regardless of subject matter. More power to his elbow!!

TheButlerDidIT 10 Jan 10 at 7:46 p.m. GMT

Nice to hear I'm not the only fan! I live near Edinburgh so it's great to hear places that you know mentioned. Ian Rankin was the first crime writer who's books were set in the present that I had read at the time. He's great!

Puffinjill 07 Jan 10 at 7:14 a.m. GMT

And I would second you on that one, TheButlerDidIT. I discovered Ian Rankin and Inspector Rebus just over two years ago. I saw a documentary in which Ian Rankin was musing over the problem of how to end his series, went out the next day and bought Knots and Crosses and then rapidly read the rest, one after another. Brilliantly written and set in my favourite place - Edinburgh! I'm not a fan of realistic, gritty crime novels (getting old, I guess,  and like a comfortable, nostalgic feeling to most of my reading) but I can't recommend these books highly enough. One of my happiest moments was buying a signed copy of Open Doors (not a Rebus novel but the first one he wrote after he finished the series) in Blackwells bookshop on my last day of my holiday in Edinburgh just before Christmas in 2008. I hugged it all the way home and treasure it still!! And I have to complete set of Rebus Audio books. I think I'm a fan....

TheButlerDidIT 06 Jan 10 at 3:16 p.m. GMT

I have read four  Ian Rankin books and loved them. They are all set in modern Edinburgh with John Rebus. I highly recommend Strip Jack. Good Hanging (Short Story Collection) and The Flood and Watchmen. They were amazing as they showed the not so bonny side of Scotland.

GKCfan 02 Jan 10 at 12:53 a.m. GMT

I've read The Man Who Could Not Shudder and liked it, although I never came close to guessing  the central conceit upon which the entire solution to themystery hinges.  Once should be careful, though: the solution to The Murder of Roger Ackroyd is mentioned towards the end.

go_leafs_nation 02 Jan 10 at 12:45 a.m. GMT

That is a book I own, but haven't read yet. Since I'm reading Carr's H.M. novels in chronological order now, I won't be getting to it for quite some time.

Bundle_ 01 Jan 10 at 9:52 p.m. GMT

Happy New Year everyone!

To Go leafs: I'm anxious to know what you thought of Carr's The Man Who Could Not Shudder? I'm asking because I received the book for Christmas. I'm reading another book at present, though.

Puffinjill 30 Dec 09 at 8:07 a.m. GMT

Oh, go leafs, NOW what do I do?!? Your reveiw is making me want to swallow my pride and get along to the nearest town with a Cinema showing Sherlock Holmes, but as I'm stuck in work until the middle of next week I shall have a little time to give the matter more thought. Thanks for posting up your views though. It's good to hear from someone who has actually read the original work and can make a considered comparison. Could I wait until the DVD....not sure.....oh dear, I'm so **** at decisions...

Am hoping to see Bright Star and I am COMPLETELY desperate to see Me And Orson Welles. Could have gone to see it when I was away in Plymouth before Christmas but my partner and his brother wanted to see Avatar (must be a boy thing) so I caved in and went. MMmmmmm, worth seeing if you fancy Jurassic Park in fluorescent colours but not my cup of tea, thank you very much.

Bundle_ 29 Dec 09 at 10:56 p.m. GMT

Glad that you enjoyed Sherlock Holmes, go leafs. And thank you for relaying your opinions about the movie -- w/o spoiling any surprises -- as it has made want to go and see it.

Bundle_ 29 Dec 09 at 10:50 p.m. GMT

3rdGirl

Bundles, I think you will need a new bookshelf to go with all of your new titles!

I have so many books that I can open up a library! As I'm sure you all can relate.

3rdGirl

I'm not a huge fan of poetry at all AMP

That is so interesting that you mentioned that, 3rdGirl! Just the other day I mentioned to my Mom that I don't care for poems and she agreed w/ me! I said that I found them too personal it's like reading someone's heart and soul, and while I can apperciate that, I don't like trying to decipher the poet's emotions and often unnecessarily, overly complex wording.

go_leafs_nation 29 Dec 09 at 9:48 p.m. GMT

The acting was strong, and I was particularly impressed by the choice for Professor Moriarty, Holmes’ archnemesis (of Reichenbach Falls fame). This perfectly sets up sequels, and apparently, one is already in the works. All I can say is “hoorah”!

I’ve been a huge supporter of Hans Zimmer ever since hearing his beautiful score accompanying Gladiator. Sherlock Holmes proves my case that Zimmer is one of Hollywood’s current musical geniuses. This score is fantastic, simply put. The final scenes in particular are excellently scored, as Holmes explains everything and a climatic scene ensues.

As for Ritchie’s direction, I’m heavily impressed. He doesn’t make the mistake directors make nowadays in action scenes, by jump cutting and criss-crossing so much that you have no idea what’s going on and where everyone is in relation to each other and the setting (like the dogfight in Quantum of Solace). It’s easily followed, and produces a few memorable shots and action sequences.

There’s a lot in Sherlock Holmes to warrant further viewings, and I simply loved the film. It’s flown near the top of my favourite movies list. I’ll certainly be waiting for the DVD when it comes out! I’ve been pleasantly surprised by this film. Holmes is still Holmes, living in his messy Baker Street quarters with Watson (who is still Watson). Actually, this film does a grand job capturing Holmes’ foul mood in one scene when he isn’t faced with more cases for a while. To sum up: this is a grand film, a pleasant surprise. Just don’t expect the Baker Street Irregulars to come flocking to see it.

Afterthought: The only worry I have is that people will now love Holmes for all the wrong reasons. Oh well. You can't win them all.

go_leafs_nation 29 Dec 09 at 9:48 p.m. GMT

Rachel McAdams fans may also rest in peace—she is an ideal Irene Adler. The flirting and making out wouldn’t have happened in Doyle’s stories, but it’s irresistible for any director to throw in, and doesn’t stick out. It works with everything else, and to be honest, it’s enjoyable.

So yes, the characters emerge slightly different from the ones you read about in the book, but honestly, I didn’t care. This is a very dark treatment of the Holmes material, in the style of The Dark Knight or Batman Begins. I didn’t hear anyone call foul over those films, so Sherlock Holmes shouldn’t be an exception. The increasing panic and chaos that spreads through London is reminiscent of the slowly growing chaos that becomes more and more bone-chilling in The Dark Knight. Whoever wrote the screenplay gets top marks from me. They caught me on one of my very favourite elements in a mystery: the rational explanation of seemingly supernatural events. Holmes was rarely faced with such puzzles in the Doyle canon (the best example maybe being The Sussex Vampire), and I often wished he’d had other puzzles like it. This film granted my wish, and I sat there spellbound, thoroughly entertained and enjoying myself.

My one complaint is the vagueness of the hints: obvious symptoms of [x] that aren’t actually shown until you get to the flashback, gestures of Holmes that go without any explanation until they’re brought up in the solution (easily taken for eccentricities). But let’s pass that aside—the hints are given to the viewer, but are not lingered upon. A few things could’ve been better clued (although one crime was ingeniously and subtly clued), but overall, I’m not complaining.

go_leafs_nation 29 Dec 09 at 9:47 p.m. GMT

When I was ranting and raving about how terrible Sherlock Holmes would turn out, I said that I was holding Guy Ritchie entirely responsible for the fiasco. Now that I’ve seen the film, I must give credit to Ritchie above all for making the film. Instead of making an action rampage as the trailer suggests (to lure in the Illiterati, I suppose), this is a very clever detective film. You must realize that Holmes was something a superhero for London when stories about him were first published. Instead of fighting crime with web-slinging or high-tech gadgetry, his weapon was his mind, ie his keen deductive prowess. This film injects something of a modern-day superhero into him. But contrary to my initial reaction, Holmes is not killed in this movie. He survives the treatment, and emerges gloriously to solve the heinous crime he’s faced with. This Holmes is not precisely the Holmes I imagine, but he’s still Holmes, and Robert Downey Jr. is glorious when he plays him. My problem lies with Dr. Watson, who becomes a compulsive gambler to suit this film. Another error the filmmakers made was with Watson’s fiancée, Mary Morstan, who supposedly never met Holmes before, forgetting one of the four Holmes novels, The Sign of Four, where she comes to Holmes for help, thus meeting and eventually marrying Watson. However, as I’m not a fanatic Baker Street Irregular, I let this pass without attaching much thought to it. Jude Law plays the Watson he’s required to play to perfection—again, not exactly the Watson I have in mind, but one that works for this film and is played perfectly to suit this purpose.

go_leafs_nation 29 Dec 09 at 8:10 p.m. GMT

Well, all my previous words on the Sherlock Holmes movie must now be solemnly eaten and washed down with a cup of tea. More on this soon...

3rdGirl 29 Dec 09 at 7:34 p.m. GMT

Well we are all agreed on Jeeves and Wooster anyhow! If ever I'm having a bad day I put on the episode with the minstrels and I just laugh my head off. ;-)

I'm not a huge fan of poetry at all AMP, however I've seen the shorts for Bright Star and I'm extremely keen to see it. I'm glad they've not cast him as a six foot, ginger cockney though! He looks little and divine. My husband doesn't want to take me as he knows I'll cry in it! He's so English, he gets dreadfully embarrassed when I cry at the movies. Hee hee.

I'd like to see Young Victoria, and even though Avatar is supposed to be amazing, I just am not a big Sci-Fi fan, so I'll wait for it on DVD.

I did see Where the Wild Things Are with my nephews and just loved it, as they did as well. I could not imagine that a 26 page children's book could be made into a 2 hour film. But it's fantastic (if you like that sort of thing).

Bundles, I think you will need a new bookshelf to go with all of your new titles!

Tommy, where can I subscribe to the PGW newsletter?

Jill, you can have a big hug from me and and sticky smooch from baby Tess! I'm back at work next week after my 12 months maternity leave, so a little less reading time for me in 2010. I shall have to make them all count.

I also forgot to tell everyone that I got The No 1 Ladies Detective Agency Movie and TV series on DVD from Santa as well. We watched the movie length first episode last night and it is delightful. How I wish I could travel to Botswana. It is amazingly cast. Perfect, in fact. I've never seen characters in a book so well cast ever before.

Tommy_A_Jones 29 Dec 09 at 3:14 p.m. GMT

I am a Jeeves and Wooster fan, I have all 4 Series on Video and get the Quarterly PGW Newsletter.

Bundle_ 29 Dec 09 at 3:04 p.m. GMT

I shall watch it and am more determined than ever to see Jeeves and Wooster now!

Sherlock Holmes over here is getting a lot of good buzz, which surprised me. And Robert Downey Jr. is actually nominated for a Golden Globe for his role as Holmes!

I wouldn't mind seeing The Young Victoria w/ Emily Blunt. And on a different note I wouldn't mind seeing Avatar either, just to see all the graphics.

Puffinjill 29 Dec 09 at 2:57 p.m. GMT

Bless you! I could do with a hug right now!!

I haven't read that JDC but I'm sure we know a man who has (over to you, go leafs!). My JDC collection is pitiful and I intend to add to it in the New Year. Thank God for the internet!

WHAT?!? You've NEVER seen Jeeves and Wooster? You need to put that right as soon as possible, young lady, or your education will be sorely lacking. I'm sure the DVD boxed sets are quite cheap to buy on the internet so treat yourself and enjoy! (As for you ampman, fancying Hugh laurie...well, I'm not sure about that but I will forever retain a soft spot in my heart for ANYONE involved in Blackadder! His Prince Regent in 3 is one of the funniest thing EVER!)

Enjoy all those wonderful presents! 

Bundle_ 29 Dec 09 at 2:45 p.m. GMT

Hi everyone! 

Glad to see you all got lots of presentes.

Here are some of the the things I got: Dead Man's Folly (just finished reading it), The Mysterious Mr. Quinn (a 1986 edition), Murder on the Links, The Regatta Mystery, The Grand Sophy (by Georgette Heyer). As for some of the movies I got that tevlesion series Lost in Austen, and the 2008 version of Sense and Sensibility, and a JJ Feild movie :-) etc...

I've saved the best for last I got John Dickison Carr's The Man Who Could Not Shudder (the 1990 edition). What did you think of this book, Go leafs and Jill?

And I haven't seen the Jeeves and Wooster episodes but I want to so much! Thank you both for reminding me of it!

To Jill: I hope you feel better! Sending you lots of *Hugs*!

ampman 29 Dec 09 at 2:44 p.m. GMT

Don't think I will be going to see the Keats film somehow 3rdgirl.When I was studying him for A Level English I had a big crush on him (I am female!) until my teacher told me that contempory sources described him as 5 feet tall with red hair and a cockney accent. His poems sound juvenile to me now, perhaps it is an age thing. In my youth I thought of Madame Bovary as a tragic heroine, now I think someone should have given her a good slap.

Puffinjill, I remember the Jeeves and Wooster series well and if someone had told me that in 20 years time I would fancy Hugh Laurie I would never have believed them. Now, thanks to House, I do.

Puffinjill 29 Dec 09 at 6:58 a.m. GMT

Glad to see you got through Christmas in one piece and are enjoying the books you were given. I'm home and back to work and Christmas almost feels alike a distant memory already! All that fevered preperation and stress and all over in a flash. I had an emotional Christmas which has left me feeling rather fragile (not through drink as I'm a good girl and no longer imbibe) and a bit low. So I need some good conversation and debate to lift my mood and hopefully I'll get that here.

I well remember Jeeves and Wooster from when it originally aired. Can it really be nearly 20 years old? I shall have to stop pretending I'm 18 now - another depressing thought!! I would urge anyone to see it as it is TV heaven - sublime cast and beautifully written - and still amuses as much today as the first day it was aired. It is still shown frequently on ITV3 here so I get to see the odd episode now and again. I adore Stephen Fry and I love to see Hugh Laurie as I liked him best - before he became a massive star in House. Do, do watch it if you can, Bundle/Twink, It's delightful!!

Glad I'm not the only Dandy Gilver fan. 3rdGirl! I didn't get the latest one for Christmas so I may invest my own pennies in that direction soon. But Santa was VERY good to me indeed and I have plenty of other new books to keep me occupied for a while!!

3rdGirl 29 Dec 09 at 2:18 a.m. GMT

Phew! I'm glad to be home after the Christmas crazies (that would be my family members). I'm currently in the middle of a lovely book my best friend gave me called The Coral Thief by Rebecca Stott and it's excellent. It's a brand new book out last month and is set in Paris in 1815 at the time Napoleon surrendered and the city was in great change. It's fascinating.

I read two of the Catriona McPherson 'Dandy Gilver' books Jill and they are great. Very atmospheric and set in Scotland which is a lovely change.

I don't know about this Sherlock Holmes movie either Go Leafs. It's had average reviews over here, so I'm a bit suspect. I shall await your verdict, but I think I'll wait for DVD. I shall instead go off to see Bright Star about John Keats which is being touted as the Australian film of the year. With Jane Campion (The Piano) directing it, I'm not surprised.

Bundles, I adore PG Wodehouse. Have you seen the Jeeves and Wooster TV adaptation with Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry? It is absolutely hilarious and brilliantly done. It's almost 20 years old now, but well worth tracking down. If you love old-fashioned British comedy of manners, this is as funny as it gets. His languague is just sensational.

I also received AS Byatt's The Children's Book which sounds very interesting indeed.

go_leafs_nation 28 Dec 09 at 5:19 a.m. GMT

Great to see others starting to enjoy Carr also! Personally, I'm surprised at the praise the Holmes film has gotten, and since it's unfair to judge a movie without ever seeing the final product, I'm thinking of seeing it. Ebert gave it 3 stars, so maybe (just maybe) there's a glimmer of hope for dear old Holmes...

ampman 27 Dec 09 at 2:52 p.m. GMT

I have just finished reading The Plague House Murders and The Red Widow Murders  by John Dickson Carr writing as Carter Dickson.I simply devoured them as they are so good. I am going to order all the ones the library has in stock.

Puffinjill 24 Dec 09 at 6:12 p.m. GMT

I forgot to say, finished reading it a day or so ago and I would heartily recommend The Redemption Of Alexander Seaton by Shona MacLean. Intriging story, set in 17th century Scotland and beautifully, beautifully written. I think this is Ms. MacLeans first book and I shall avidly watch for more.

Too late to insist you all add this to your Christmas wish list as all the shops are shutting and/or Santa is too busy to listen. But I would urge you to run out and grab a copy as soon as (what passes for) normal life is resumed.

Bundle_ 24 Dec 09 at 2:06 p.m. GMT

I've asked for a ton of books for Christmas; some authors include: John Dickson Carr (looks like he's on lots of people's list this year too, thanks to go leafs :0), P.G. Wodehouse, Georgette Heyer, Carola Dunn, Valerie Wolzien, Shakespear, and of course Agatha Christie. I've asked for a lot of British period movies/tv show dvds too! I'm so excited to see what I get!

Happy Christmas everyone!!!

Puffinjill 24 Dec 09 at 7:38 a.m. GMT

I've asked for SO many books and I very much doubt Santa will be THAT benevolent and bring me the lot! And I have trued to be such a good girl too!! Heading my list is The Secret Notebooks by John Curran (obviously), the new Nicola Upson and Jacqueline Winspear, anything by Catriona McPherson (anyone else out there a fan of her Dandy Gilver books?), Drood by Dan Simmons, umpteen John Dickson Carr books (no hope there!) and copious others....

I am hoping a few arrive tomorrow to add an extra smile to my day. I'm also hoping some lovely new audio books will also find their way into my stocking or under the tree. But the main thing for me is that I am lucky enough to be spending the day with those I love, hopefully sharing lots of fun, and remembering those who cannot be with us.

Merry Christmas to you all!

3rdGirl 23 Dec 09 at 11:47 p.m. GMT

By the way, what books has everyone asked Santa to bring them?

I've asked for Oscar Wilde's Dorian Gray ad I've only read his fairy tales for children and loved them. I've also asked for Ellis Peter's A Morbid Taste For Bones which is about a sleuth in the 1100's in England. Brother Cadfael lives in Shrewsbury Abbey and my British husband is from Shrewsbury so I'm really keen to read a series of books based on the history of a city that I know fairly well.

Happy Holidays to you all!

3rdGirl 23 Dec 09 at 11:41 p.m. GMT

I still can't get any Carr's out of the library Go Leafs, he's very popular!

I finished 5RH and loved it in the end. Very clever, and very obvoious once you realised the glaring clue there. She really does blind you with science though? HOW was I supposed to remember that clue with all of the other what-not about?

go_leafs_nation 17 Dec 09 at 11:23 a.m. GMT

I've moved on to The Killing of Julia Wallace. All I know of the case is that the husband was convicted, but seriously, with such a tragi-comedy of an investigation, it's a surprise the case even went to court!

Puffinjill 17 Dec 09 at 7:49 a.m. GMT

The Rathbone films of the 40's were my introduction to Sherlock Holmes. They were occasionally on TV when I first discovered the delights of black and white films on my little portable telly in my bedroom when I was in my early teens (I was a bit of a lonely girl, burying myself away from the world with my books and films. Can't say I've improved much with age!!) If I was that age now and was introduced to Holmes via this new film, I doubt I would go on to read the books or ever show much interest in the stories again. What a shame that would be.

Twink, I've finished Death On Dartmoor last evening. And far from disliking it, I rather enjoyed it! I was the one being slow, I didn't mean the pace of the book was slow at all. All this talk of Holmes is topical as Conan Doyle himself appears in the book, on Dartmoor, trying to write a new story about a large glowing dog. It was perfect holiday reading. It's always difficult reading a book from later in a series if you haven't read the rest, but knowledge of earlier books wasn't necessary as the story was complete in itself. I'd like to read others but my chances of finding any are very remote. However, thanks for the recommendation! I've now just started The Redemption Of Alexander Seaton by Shona MacLean, one I've been planning to read for quite a while, so I should be engrossed on the train home today,

go_leafs_nation 16 Dec 09 at 5:15 p.m. GMT

Certainly, film is film and books are books. But someone tossed some random fights together, stamped "Sherlock Holmes" on the label, and we get a mindless romp instead of a clever detective puzzle. They're putting FIGHTS onscreen, to quote their own words. Not other cases. FIGHTS.

And it's not like the Rathbone films didn't have changes. In Sherlock Holmes in Washington, Holmes is alive and well in what was then modern-day, combatting Nazis, who have allied themselves with Moriarty. That was far more truthful to the vein of Holmes than what we've seen of Ritchie's so far.

Bundle_ 16 Dec 09 at 5:07 p.m. GMT

It's clear that the director is trying to put his own stamp on Holmes. It's all about him and not the author's work...

To JA: I know that the Robin Paige books are a little slow and not nearly as exciting as AC's work, but their an interesting read once in a blue moon.  I hope you don't dislike Death on Dartmoor too badly.

BTW I'm reading Georgette Heyer's novel Arabella (My classes are all over for the semester, Yea!) and I simply love it! It's such a charming book! I think you'd like it too. Whenever you get a chance: read it.

Puffinjill 16 Dec 09 at 4:59 p.m. GMT

Last few pages to go of Death On Dartmoor......

As soon as I heard Guy Ritchie was directing the Sherlock Holmes film, I was sure his take on this well-loved classic would be a little different to the accepted view. However, I was really trying to give him and the film the benefit of the doubt and try to suppress my desire to have things adapted in the way I would like them to be. BUT, even if I was extremely laid back and relaxed about the way Holmes was portrayed, I still think me and Mr Ritchie would be poles apart on the way he and any story featuring him should be. My money is staying in my pocket too, go leafs.

Tommy_A_Jones 16 Dec 09 at 3:30 p.m. GMT

I should stick to the other Adaptations go_leafs btw, I am reading The Adventures of Shrerlock Holmes, my 1st Holmes Book and liking it alot.

go_leafs_nation 16 Dec 09 at 1:12 p.m. GMT

Sherlock Holmes is dead. Guy Ritchie murdered him. A shame, because the cast would've been perfect had they bothered making a detective movie instead of an action rampage. I simply refuse to hand in my $10 so a studio can profit off this kind of butchery.

Where's Adrian Conan Doyle with his lawsuits when you need him?

Puffinjill 16 Dec 09 at 9:10 a.m. GMT

I've seen those trailers for the new Sherlock Holmes movie too. Instead of making me want to dash to my nearest Cinema on Boxing Day, they make me want to run in the opposite direction. I think I will be giving this film a miss and stick with the books and my beloved BBC/Clive Merrison Audiobooks. I know my limits and I think Guy Ritchie and his Sherlockian vision will be one step too far...

go_leafs_nation 15 Dec 09 at 10:51 p.m. GMT

It's not really a thriller; Goodman basically reconstructed the crime, the police's hunt for the murderer, and his theory as to the solution.

Bundle_ 15 Dec 09 at 7:41 p.m. GMT

Oh! I detest real life thriller novels, whether somewhat fictionalized or not.

BTW go leafs I've seen the promos on T.V. for Sherlock Holmes. The kick boxing w/ Holmes was so melodramatic. As far as I can tell Jude Law can't even save this -- apparently swash-buckling -- film.

go_leafs_nation 15 Dec 09 at 1:07 p.m. GMT

Fun fact (I just found this out): Franklin D. Roosevelt died reading The Punch and Judy Murders by one Carter Dickson... He apparently left off at page 78, the beginning of a chapter titled 'Six Feet of Earth'.

Puffinjill 15 Dec 09 at 8:56 a.m. GMT

I have read quite a bit about the Bravo case but I haven't actually heard of the Storrs murder. I am intrigued....

I will have to have see if I can get hold something written by Jonathan Goodman, seeing as you recommend him so highly, go leafs. But, knowing my library service, my chances are rather poor!

Slow progress on the Robin Paige book, I'm afraid.

go_leafs_nation 14 Dec 09 at 9:23 p.m. GMT

Julian Fellowes did a smashing job with that series, particularaly with the Bravo case, which is of particular interest to AC fans since Agatha referred to it so much. But yes, the Storrs murder is extremely interesting (I agree with Fellowes' solution to the crime), and Goodman is doing an exceptional job bringing the case to life. He is currently describing how the police pieced together information to try a second suspect for the murder, and it's an unexpectedly vivid piece of writing. I really like Goodman so far, and have loaned two more books by him (The Killing of Julia Wallce, The Slaying of Joseph Bowne Elwell), both about cases I know next-to-nothing about.

GKCfan 14 Dec 09 at 7 p.m. GMT

I read that!  I got interested in the Storrs case after I saw it on an episode of "A Most Mysterious Murder!"  It's a very intriguing and unusual case.

go_leafs_nation 14 Dec 09 at 6:24 p.m. GMT

I'm currently reading a true-crime reconstruction of the murder of George Harry Storrs by Jonathan Goodman. It's The Stabbing of George Harry Storrs, and it's a very good read so far. I know a lot about the case already, and to enjoy a book this much when I know precisely what's going to happen is an unpexpected treat. Goodman does a great job with everything; he doesn't reduce the characters to "Inspector Squiffy of the Yard" (stubborn, unsympathetic, unobservant) or "Mrs. So-and-So of the Hall". It's simply a very well-written, entertaining read.

Puffinjill 14 Dec 09 at 4:58 p.m. GMT

I'm plowing through it right now. Well, in between sight-seeing and Christmas shopping!! I'm on holiday......sitting in front of a glowing wood fire.....relaxing.......

Bundle_ 14 Dec 09 at 2:45 p.m. GMT

I'm glad that your little one is feeling better, 3rdGirl!

To J.A.: That's great that you found a Robin Paige book! And yes, please tell me what you thought of it. :-)

Puffinjill 11 Dec 09 at 7:13 a.m. GMT

I've just managed to get hold of a Robin Paige book (Death On Dartmoor is the only one the library could find in the area) so I'm going to take it with me when I go away for a couple of days lets-escape-this-Christmas-mayhem break next week. So thanks for the recommendation, Bundle/Twink, I'll let you know what I think.

Absolutely no luck trying to find ANY Kerry Greenwood books, though. Possibly they aren't published here? And any search of Charles Finch has the same result. Rather frustrating. I'm sure I could find them on the internet to buy but thats not an option right now so I shall have to go without.

Puffinjill 10 Dec 09 at 7:53 a.m. GMT

I think that's a great description! Her ability to retain and arrange facts was amazing. I could do with a little more of that myself!

Glad all is well in the 3rdGirl household and all festive preparations are under way. Couldn't come and organise us, could you? I'm getting stressed already!

3rdGirl 10 Dec 09 at 12:34 a.m. GMT

Thanks everyone, we are all better and getting organised for the christmas crazies.

Well I'm still only halfway through 5RH, but hopefully will finish it over the weekend. I think I've missed the glaringly obvious clue because I am still a bit lost, but it's starting to straighten itself out and I'm enjoying it a lot more. Her (DLS's) mind is like a steel trap isn't it?

After this I'm onto Hercule Poirot's Christmas for the festive season! ;-)

Puffinjill 03 Dec 09 at 7:02 p.m. GMT

It's certainly a book that needs to be followed carefully to ensure you pick up all the threads of the alibis. But, as go leafs and GKCfan both say, if you can guess the big clue near the beginning you are halfway there! I grew to enjoy this book rather than loved it straight away but I could immediately admire the amount of sheer hard work and effort that DLS must have put into creating it. Every detail is a true detail as she faithfully kept to the existing timetables. Much easier to invent your own and move your characters as you will but DLS obviously felt the real world was good enough for her and her creations! Imagine all those seriously obsessed Railway fanatics of the day pouring over her book, trying desperately hard to find a flaw!!

I've missed you 3rdGirl, and so sorry to hear why you have been absent. I do so hope you lovely little one is well again. Best wishes to you all.

go_leafs_nation 03 Dec 09 at 1:05 p.m. GMT

Yes, this book is pretty confusing at times, but there is one glaringly simple and obvious clue (nothing to do with alibis) that points right to the killer. I'm proud to say I caught it right away.

GKCfan 03 Dec 09 at 8:59 a.m. GMT

Harriet Vane does not appear in Five Red Herrings. After her first appearance in Strong Poison, she skips 5RH, shows up again in Have His Carcase, vanishes again in Murder Must Advertise and The Nine Tailors, is the central character in Gaudy Night, and then shares the spotlight with Lord Peter in Busman's Honeymoon.

I agree, 5RH is one of the more difficult Sayers books to read because of the complexity of the alibis.  For a modern-day person who doesn't live in the area, it's almost impossible to crack the alibi.  Your only hope of solving the mystery is to focus on the psychological angle (Did you figure out what the missing clue was in the early chapters?  Figure that out and you're halfway to catching the killer.)

I am very glad to hear that your child is doing better.

3rdGirl 03 Dec 09 at 7:18 a.m. GMT

Sorry I've been missing everyone, the baby was in hospital for a couple of days with pneumonia and I had mama duties. All well now and back to normal.

I'm currently reading Dorothy L Sayer's Five Red Herrings and I'm halfway through and thoroughly confused! The whole missing bicycles and train schedules thing has me so confused I can't keep a track of who's who. Am I right in thinking that this is not one of her better ones? And where is Harriet Vane?

go_leafs_nation 07 Nov 09 at 11:01 p.m. GMT

I will enjoy my new books; I'm still getting through The Life of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, but once I get through that and The Murder of Sir Edmund Godfrey, I'm free to read what I wish!

Bundle_ 07 Nov 09 at 4:52 p.m. GMT

I'm glad you enjoyed The Winter Garden Mystery 3rdGirl. I didn't guess the culprit I just suspected everyone :0), so I wasn't too surprised at who did it. But I did think that there was a lot of in-depth investigation that took place for such an uncomplex reason as to why to culprit(s) did it. But is was a fun read and I enjoyed it and will read more of her books again.

And happy reading, go leafs! I love going book shopping as well! It's like being a kid in a candy store!

3rdGirl 07 Nov 09 at 10:05 a.m. GMT

go_leafs_nation

My invasion of the local bookstore was a smashing success. The opposition was crushed as I looted the store of nine books total. Of these, one will replace my copy of Till Death Do Us Part (due to my negligence, I dented my old copy), and eight are new titles to my bookshelf. Instead of The Problem of the Wire Cage, I sacked The Blind Barber, which I enjoyed more and which was in a fun Collier edition.

Go Leafs you are too funny. You are like a little terrier who's just discovered the biggest brontosaurus bone in the bottom of the garden. So chuffed with yourself! Well done. There's NOTHING like a fantastic bookshop expedition is there?

Bundles, I've read The Winter Garden Mystery and it's a good romp indeed. I liked it very much and I liked Daisy as well. Very authentic and well paced, though I did guess the culprit which is so unlike me. I'm one of those people who read them for the characters and settings and don't really look for the clues. So thank you for that recommendation!

Welcome Adele, I'm intrigues about the AA Milne book. I shall look it up after I've finished on the forum.

Puffinjill 06 Nov 09 at 6:55 p.m. GMT

My French DEFINATELY wouldn't be good enough, I'm afraid so I would have to settle for the English translation! However, as I still need to get my mitts on a copy of The Mystery of the Yellow Room, the point is academic!! It will go on my Christmas wish-list along with A.A. Milne's The Red House Mystery. I still kick myself about the Milne book as I saw it in a bookshop not too long ago but didn't buy it. Stupid me.

Glad to hear the day has been a success, go leafs!! It sounds as if your shelves will be groaning under all the extra weight! I seem to remember you said once how tidy you were and how organised you kept your collections. If this is true and you feel a burning desire to rid yourself of some old favourites due to aquiring precious new volumes then send them on to me!! I never turn down charity!! And I am a very worthy cause!!

Enjoy your new books, my friend!

go_leafs_nation 06 Nov 09 at 5:55 p.m. GMT

My invasion of the local bookstore was a smashing success. The opposition was crushed as I looted the store of nine books total. Of these, one will replace my copy of Till Death Do Us Part (due to my negligence, I dented my old copy), and eight are new titles to my bookshelf. Instead of The Problem of the Wire Cage, I sacked The Blind Barber, which I enjoyed more and which was in a fun Collier edition.

I was wondering if anyone would mention A.A. Milne's mystery. It was great, along with Gaston Leroux's The Mystery of the Yellow Room (which has a brilliant solution and fantastic writing- if your French is sharp enough, read it in the original language).

Tommy_A_Jones 06 Nov 09 at 1:25 p.m. GMT

It is very good isn't it ADELE? I read it years ago, I also have a couple of Georgette Heyer books but haven't read them yet, I had more but had a clear out about 4 years ago but kept 2 which I intend to read soon

Puffinjill 05 Nov 09 at 6:49 p.m. GMT

I've got a few of the Georgette Heyer books too. Never read any of her 'romance' books but I really love her murder mysteries. Just a shame there aren't more!

And go leafs, my friend, I shall be thinking of you on your shopping expedition tomorrow! Enjoy!!

ADELE 05 Nov 09 at 7:46 a.m. GMT

Great idea to share other authors.  Having read all of Mrs Christie's books  I have been searching for other authors of the same genre, such as Sayer & Marsh.   By far the most enjoyable I have found is Georgette Heyer.  Set during the same period as Christies early works, her 12 murder mystery novels are wonderful.  Witty and believeable characters and clever plots make them a highly enjoyable read.  I particulary recommend "Behold Here's Poison".  

AA Milne also wrote one murder mystery and it is a good read too.

go_leafs_nation 04 Nov 09 at 5:05 p.m. GMT

[Continued]

Carr's other great detective is Dr. Gideon Fell. In Hag's Nook, his first outing, the tale is rather Poesque: chilling, creepy, disturbing, terrifying. In The Mad Hatter Mystery, Fell becomes cheerfully more comic in a Chestertonian tale. Subsequent books saw Carr test Fell between sombre tones and comic ones, from The Eight of Swords to Death-Watch. Fell got less comic and more sombre as time went on, though The Case of the Constant Suicides is one of Carr's best, while keeping with the comic touch. It perfectly intergrates an intriguing puzzle (why a sudden epidemic of suicides?) with humour, and takes place in Scotland during WWII.

I recommend reading series in as chronological an order as possible, as you get to see the evolution of the detectives, and you avoid reading the solutions to other works.

go_leafs_nation 04 Nov 09 at 5:05 p.m. GMT

I DID issue a warning... The twist in The Burning Court is one of Carr's most ingenious. Having it spoiled without ever reading a Carr is quite disappointing. I stay away from summaries of all sorts when reading Carr; I want the plot to stay as much of a surprise as possible, and I don't want hints of any sort, even the misleading ones.

Sir Henry Merrivale starts out his series very intelligent, Usually, he partakes in some sort of antic in a book. Some of these moments are genuinely funny. But by his last two books, he becomes a buffoon. I was quite surprised he even got to the solution in The Cavalier's Cup- the book is filled with spiteful comments on the Labour Party, very poorly drawn out characters, and general silliness. But if you want to know what H.M. is like in full glory, look no further than Charles Laughton in Witness for the Prosecution, who is wonderfully Merrivalian.

Of the H.M.s, I highly recommend Night at the Mocking Widow, which is very much in the style of The Moving Finger, and has one of the most precious comic moments in the H.M. canon. The Judas Window is a wonderful tour-de-force, which takes place mostly in a courtoom. Sounds boring? Carr never makes it so. Another great H.M. novel is set during WWII: Nine and Death Makes Ten, and it is wonderful to say the very least.

Bundle_ 04 Nov 09 at 2:37 p.m. GMT

I don't feel so bad about not caring for Holmes books now, Enoch :0). Thank you!

I've read a little bit about John Dickson Carr online and I have to say that he was really adamant about his craft. It seems like he never put out a book that he wouldn't be proud of. And even when he had a stroke he continued to write, which is truly admirable! It's evident that he enjoyed writing.

I also read a bit about one of his detectives Sir Henry Merrivale and he sounds like a very interesting character; I can tell he is clever even from not reading the books!

And I was reading a little bit about The Burning Court not from wikipedia as I know they give the solution away but I still ended up finding out who the culprit(s) is/are, so I'll have to read another one of his books instead. The Judas Window looked really good.

Enoch_Arden 30 Oct 09 at 4:02 p.m. GMT

No one here is obliged to enjoy Sherlock Holmes, 3rdGirl and Bundle. I find Holmes mysteries entertainig, although not as good as Christie's and Carr's works.

It seems to me like Conan Doyle never seriously meant the reader to compete with Sherlock, but to merely marvel at his skills (which I truly have done!). The concept of the detective novel was new and undeveloped in the late 19th century so I don't blame Conan Doyle; on the contrary, he indeed earns my respect for the pioneering work in the field of crime mysteries.

Carr, as said, does let the reader to compete, but the problem is I'm too lazy to keep on browsing back the pages seeking for clues and checking who said what (quite a personal problem, I'm not blaming the author here either).

So... Now we come to one of the advantages of Christie's books: They're simply easy to read. You don't have to do a whole lot of checking, reasoning and speculating. As you make acquaintance of the characters, you can often guess who could absolutely not be the murderer and who possibly could. And I'm saying this after reading several dozens of her novels, of course it's a lot harder for a beginner. I don't mean to say that I always gueass the murderer before the last chapter, but when I do (in less than every other book I read) I sure feel like a master detective for a tiny moment. :)

Bundle_ 30 Oct 09 at 3:17 p.m. GMT

3rdGirl

I cannot really contribute to any discussion about Sherlock Holmes as I really just don't enjoy them. I feel like a traitor to the crime genre by admitting that! 

You are not alone: I feel the same way...And I find the books too gory.

3rdGirl 30 Oct 09 at 8:36 a.m. GMT

I went to the library and every single Carr book was checked out! He must be good!

I cannot really contribute to any discussion about Sherlock Holmes as I really just don't enjoy them. I feel like a traitor to the crime genre by admitting that! 

go_leafs_nation 29 Oct 09 at 12:08 p.m. GMT

{CONTINUED}

I have yet to read The Nine Wrong Answers, actually, but Carr did so love using his footnotes, to emphasize fair play all while misdirecting attention. An example of this is found in The Reader is Warned. He'd also enjoy adding in that "so-and-so" spoke the absolute truth in the narrative itself.

And of course, who can forget that wonderful moment when Dr. Fell cheerfully admits he is in a detective story?

go_leafs_nation 29 Oct 09 at 12:08 p.m. GMT

Enoch_Arden

Nevertheless, Sherlock Holmes -books are great - though Holmes appears quite supernaturally talented. Conan Doyle hardly gives you clues that any mortal human can use to figure out the murderer.

I heavily contest that notion. True, the murderer is quite often a character that has not been introduced, but Conan Doyle plays extremely fair with the clues. Sherlock Holmes gives them all to the reader, but in as maddening a way as possible (Such as the curious actions of the dog at night in Silver Blaze. What were these actions? That the dog did nothing.) This is simply a great device for presenting clues.

Enoch_Arden

John Dickson Carr wrote fine stories with elaborate plots and "fair play" towards the reader. I like how he acknowledges that a detective book is a race between the author and the reader; the author hands out the sufficient clues and then attemps to end the story before the reader succeeds to deduce who did it. Especially in The Nine Wrong Answers Carr challenges the reader to a duel of intellect.

Carr's essay The Grandest Game in the World gives a great insight on his opinions as to mysteries; the same can be said of that masterful chapter in The Hollow Man entitled "The Locked Room-Lecture". [I particularly enjoyed Carr's summing up of typical mysteries back in the 20s (and the hard-boiled story in the 30s), using hilarious names (naming his chess-puzzle detective Reginald du Kink and a police officer in the hard-boiled story Captain Hooligan of Homicide Division). He also hinged the solution on the colour of Dagmar Doubledick's tie, buried in the recesses of Chapter Six.]

Enoch_Arden 28 Oct 09 at 9:01 p.m. GMT

The first detective stories I read were written by Christie, so they've always represented the true and ideal mystery books to me. The atmosphere in Dame Agatha's stories is not to be found in books of other authors.

Nevertheless, Sherlock Holmes -books are great - though Holmes appears quite supernaturally talented. Conan Doyle hardly gives you clues that any mortal human can use to figure out the murderer.

John Dickson Carr wrote fine stories with elaborate plots and "fair play" towards the reader. I like how he acknowledges that a detective book is a race between the author and the reader; the author hands out the sufficient clues and then attemps to end the story before the reader succeeds to deduce who did it. Especially in The Nine Wrong Answers Carr challenges the reader to a duel of intellect.

I'd recommend Carr for anyone who loves Christie's mysteries.

go_leafs_nation 28 Oct 09 at 4:08 p.m. GMT

And by the way, The Burning Court is a very appropriate read for Hallowe'en. Anyone who has read it knows what I'm talking about.

go_leafs_nation 28 Oct 09 at 2:33 a.m. GMT

To be honest, I have yet to read a Carr I dislike. Not one of his books commits that "unforgiveable sin" of being dull. Enjoy The Burning Court; unlike most of Carr's books during this period, it is set in America, in 1929. It is one of Carr's best books; the solution so shocked me, I read no other books for three weeks! I just spent that time rereading the ending and mulling over it.

However, I still highly recommend reading series in as chronological order as can be managed. This didn't bother me, either, until I did this with the Bencolins. I enjoyed them tremendously, as I watched them "evolve" more and more. Certainly, there's no NEED to read them in chronological order (although several of the H.M.s are best read in order; The Cavalier's Cup and Night at the Mocking Widow make major allusions to The Curse of the Bronze Lamp, and several murderers are named in another); the experience is just that much better if you do.

Bundle_ 28 Oct 09 at 12:07 a.m. GMT

Thank you, go leafs. I think I'll read The Burning Court first because if that's one of his best then I'd rather start off w/ a more exciting one for an author am I not familiar w/. It doesn't really bother me when I don't read books in chronological order.

3rdGirl 27 Oct 09 at 9:28 p.m. GMT

I've written all of those down and I'm off to the library shortly. It's always good to read a series in order I think. You don't miss out on anything.

go_leafs_nation 27 Oct 09 at 8:08 p.m. GMT

Another one that popped into my head just now is one of Carr's finest masterpieces, The Burning Court. I highly, highly recommend it.

go_leafs_nation 27 Oct 09 at 4:07 p.m. GMT

I'd recommend a bunch, but his first book, It Walks by Night, is a nice introduction to his work. It features the satanic Bencolin as the detective, and it's rather ingenious. But it isn't even close to being one of Carr's best; the sequel, The Lost Gallows, is his first true masterpiece; I still recommend reading It Walks by Night before it though, as it makes the entire book that much more rich an experience.

Till Death Do Us Part is an ingenious book, but I'd hardly recommend it for starters. Dr. Fell is best introduced by reading Hag's Nook or The Mad Hatter Mystery, the first being rather Poesque, the second very Chestertonian.

Sir Henry Merrivale is Carr's other "main" detective, and he features in plenty of books. One of the most ingenious is The Peacock Feather Murders, as well as The Judas Window (which is a narrative tour-de-force).

The general recommendation is to read books in a "series" in as chronological an order as can be managed. I did this with the Bencolins and enjoyed them tremendously.

Carr also wrote plenty of historical mysteries, particularly during his later years an an author. I'm currently reading The Devil in Velvet and it is spectacular.

The rant is over; it's safe to come out.

Puffinjill 27 Oct 09 at 2:58 p.m. GMT

First one I read was Until Death Us Do Part. Really great introdution to such a great author.

Bundle_ 27 Oct 09 at 2:53 p.m. GMT

Yes, I've already added Kerry Greenwood on my must read list, 3rdGirl. Thank you! And give Robin Page a try, they're not my favorite authors ever but they are good read every now and then.

I shall also read a John Dickinson Carr book too. Which one should I start w/ go leafs?

3rdGirl 27 Oct 09 at 8:24 a.m. GMT

They are the next two DLS books on the list so I'll let you know how I go. So many books, so little time!

Bundle_

Has anyone ever read any mystery books by Robin Paige? The name is actually a pseudonym name as the books are written by an American married couple. But I have read one of their books about a year ago called: Death at Daisy's Folly. Which is set in Victorian England. Their detectives in that book are Sir Charles Sheridan and his love interest Kate. They have a whole series of books w/ them in it as well.

I've not heard of these ones at all Bundles, so I'll have a look out for them. I's quite mindboggling how many series there are out there.

Bundles if you like the 1920's flappers, I think you would LOVE the books from my first post. Kerry Greenwood's Phryne Fisher is just fabulous. The first book Cocaine Blues is good fun. and I've read all of them. The Hon Phryne Fisher is bored and goes back to Melbourne from the UK seeking adventures. She's a champagne swilling, gun toting, extremely rich bon vivant sleuth. They are funny and very light hearted. My favourites are Murder in Montparnasse and Death by Water. http://www.phrynefisher.com/

Puffinjill 26 Oct 09 at 2:45 p.m. GMT

No, it's the other way around. Five Red Herrings is set in Dumfries and Galloway and DLS used the existing time table to build her story (or should I say alibis) around. Have His Carcase used the fictional seaside resort of Wilvercombe and an imaginary tide timetable.

go_leafs_nation 26 Oct 09 at 12:09 p.m. GMT

I loved The Five Red Herrings, which I found rather similar to Five Little Pigs. The only flaw really is Sayers putting down on paper the Scottish pronunciation of words, where she could've easily just written how she normally does. Deciphering certain phrases got frustrating.

If I'm not mistaken, though, Have His Carcase had a plot that circled around real places and real times, while The Five Red Herrings has a fictional setting with a fictional time table. I get confused between the two in that regard.

Puffinjill 26 Oct 09 at 6:54 a.m. GMT

Unnatural Death does come over as very dry and lacks a little in the exciting plot line, but still a good read. I must admit, 3rdGirl, I struggled with Five Red Herrings when I first read it as it is so packed full of facts and figures. DLS wrote it around a real railway timetable and I thought it a bit bewildering at the first attempt. But I grew to love it (and it is set in Scotland which always gets me interestd!). Plus I missed Parker - my favourite, favourite DLS character - as he appears for such a small time. I've collected most of the Radio plays on audio tape but the are currently breaking on me if I play them, so I am trying to replace them, finances permitting.

Thanks for the tip about Charles Finch. I'll look out for his books.

3rdGirl 25 Oct 09 at 11:01 p.m. GMT

I didn't like Unnatural Death either go-leafs. It was the first Sayers I read and it nearly put me off her! I shall read her Five Red Herrings next. I really like the characher of Parker and his friendship with Lord Peter. I find that now I've listened to a Lord Peter radio play on BBC7, I'm a bit better at imagining his voice and understanding the language they use a bit better as well, what?

MY Santa has been given a bit of a list as well Jill, I shall investigate the Carr, Paige and Upson books recommended.

I mentioned this book in another post somewhere, but I'll mention it again. I read A Beautiful Blue Death by Charles Finch recently and really enjoyed it. I think he's written three books about Charles Lenox set in Victorian London and I loved the relationship between him and his childhood friend Lady Grey. It was nominated for an Agatha Award in 2007.

Bundle_ 23 Oct 09 at 8:35 p.m. GMT

Has anyone ever read any mystery books by Robin Paige? The name is actually a pseudonym name as the books are written by an American married couple. But I have read one of their books about a year ago called: Death at Daisy's Folly. Which is set in Victorian England. Their detectives in that book are Sir Charles Sheridan and his love interest Kate. They have a whole series of books w/ them in it as well.

Puffinjill 22 Oct 09 at 2:28 p.m. GMT

Till Death Do Us Part was the first John Dickson Carr book I read. And it was a great introduction to him and his writing. As i've said before, my only problem with him is the difficulty in actually getting ANY of this books. Mostly out of print, I guess. Still, it then allows me to spend ages poking around any second-hand bookshops I come across!

I would like to recommend Josephine Tey and her Alan Grant books. There aren't very many, but they are very interesting. The Daughter of Time is a wonderfully unique book. I know I should go into the plot, but it involves Grant (who is out of action laid up in hospital) trying to solve for himself a very well known (British) historical mystery.

I recently read An Expert in Murder by Nicola Upson (a book published last year, I think) which uses Josephine Tey as a central figure in a murder mystery. I found it one of the best new book I had read in many a long year. She has just published a sequel (the name escapes me) which I am hoping a benevolent Santa will bring me.

go_leafs_nation 22 Oct 09 at 1:02 p.m. GMT

Personally, I just finished John Dickson Carr's Till Death Do Us Part. It was so brilliant it made me want to kick myself. Plus, for sheer originality and ingenuity, there really are few books like it. The plot moves rapidly (Carr called the one "unforgiveable sin" in a mystery "being dull"), and the central conflict in the novel is that of a young lover who begins doubting his fiancee... I'm pretty confident AC fans would enjoy it. (But I recommend avoiding plot summaries; they can give so much away in order to sell copies...)

go_leafs_nation 22 Oct 09 at 12:59 p.m. GMT

Strong Poison is actually one of my favourites (my very favourite is Gaudy Night), because of the fascinating chemistry between Harriet Vane and Lord Peter. The only Sayers novel that I can truly say I disliked is Unnatural Death (Hey, the solution was obvious! I guessed it right away!), but even then, Sayers made the book a decent enough read.

Bundle_ 22 Oct 09 at 12:32 p.m. GMT

Great idea for a topic, 3rdGirl!

And I'm glad you enjoyed, Strong Poison. I got halfway through it and decided not to read any more of it for a while. I like DLS's other Wimsey books but this one I just found boring. It took her longer than usual to relay things, imo.

Puffinjill 22 Oct 09 at 7:04 a.m. GMT

I have and I really like Miss Silver. Obviously, she is compared with Miss Marple due to the fact that she is an elderly woman, but detection isn't something she gets caught up in due to finding herself involved in murders and mysterys. Miss Silver advertises herself as a detective and people bring their cases to her, more like Poirot. She had worked for many years as a governess and, again, like Miss Marple, knows a great deal about human nature.

They have a less cosy atmosphere than most of AC's work. But she writes really well and I find them a delight to read. Do give them a go if you can! She certainly was prolific! I love an author with a great big body of work to get myself lost in!! I wouldn't say they come up to the Christie standard but they are great fun.

Glad you loved Strong Poison! Going to give the other DLS novels a go?

3rdGirl 21 Oct 09 at 10:14 p.m. GMT

Has anyone read any of the Miss Silver books by Patricia Wentworth? They were recommended to me by the lady at Abbeys Bookshop in Sydney which specialises in crime fiction. I'd never heard of them, but she looks like she was certainly prolific.

BW Jill and Bundles, I've just finished 'Stong Poison' by Ms Sayers and I LOVED it.

3rdGirl 19 Oct 09 at 10:44 a.m. GMT

I can recommend an Australia author called Kerry Greenwood. She is hugely sucessful with her 'Phryne Fisher' series set in Melbrourne in the 1920's. Very clever and witty, they are lovely lighthearted romps with twisty mysteries thrown in. They are my favourites aside from AC.