Reading the Detectives discussion

It's time to nominate for our October group read.

You are invited to nominate books which were written in the Golden Age or slightly later, or those which were written later but are set in the era.

Just one nomination per group member, please. Also, only one book by any individual writer can be nominated per month.

Happy nominating!

I would like to nominate the second of the Dr Constantine
books Death in the Dentist's Chair by Molly Thynne

Constantine reflected on the various means dentists have at their disposal, should they wish to silence their patients ...

Mr Humphrey Davenport, society dentist, has an embarrassing problem - he has managed to get locked out of his own surgery. And to make matters worse, Mrs Charles Miller is locked inside, minus her false teeth. When the door is finally opened, the patient is found with her throat cut.

Dr. Constantine, a fellow patient at the clinic, is a witness to the gruesome discovery. He lends his chess player's brain to solving a locked room mystery with a difference, ably assisted by Detective-Inspector Arkwright. Was the murderer the theatrical Mrs Vallon? Or little Mr Cattistick, who recognized the fortune in jewels around the dead woman's neck? Or perhaps it was Sir Richard Pomfrey, the subject of an unusually venomous look from Mrs Miller shortly before her demise?

Good nomination, Jill, I'd like to read Death in the Dentist's Chair- especially as I've just had my check-up so it is over for a while!

I was wondering if I'd already read it, but I must have just read the first chapter at the end of the previous book, something which often confuses me into thinking I might have read something!

The Plumley Inheritance by Christopher Bush, originally published in 1926.

When the eccentric magnate Henry Plumley shockingly collapses and dies, a great adventure begins for Ludovic Travers, the dead man’s secretary, and his comrade Geoffrey Wrentham – a romp with not only mystery and mischief in the offing but murder too.

Thanks for the 2nd Molly Thynne nomination as I own it and really intended to continue the series. That was so very long ago!

I've also got the Molly Thynne one. I've looked at it frequently, but being one having horrific memories of experiences in the dental chair, and who almost has to be sedated for a regular check-up, I've never got brave enough to read it! :)

I think I nominated the Plumley book before, so I would love to read that. Also, keen on the Molly Thynne, so win-win, so far.

I will go for something a little different this month:

The Roman Hat Mystery

A murder in a crowded theater leaves a pack of suspects, but only one clue.

Despite the dismal Broadway season, Gunplay continues to draw crowds. A gangland spectacle, it's packed to the gills with action, explosions, and gunfire. In fact, Gunplay is so loud that no one notices the killing of Monte Field. In a sold-out theater, Field is found dead partway through the second act, surrounded by empty seats. The police hold the crowd and call for the one man who can untangle this daring murder: Inspector Richard Queen.

With the help of his son Ellery, a bibliophile and novelist whose imagination can solve any crime, the Inspector attacks this seemingly impenetrable mystery. Anyone in the theater could have killed the unscrupulous lawyer, and several had the motive. Only Ellery Queen, in his debut novel, can decipher the clue of the dead man's missing top hat.

I'm going to nominate the Hercule Poirot mystery by Agatha Christie used with the popular ol' nursery rhyme: Hickory Dickory Dock . It begins with a small problem -- Poirot's secretary Miss Lemon making 3 simple mistakes in a letter -- spiraling to a series of murders to a student hostel on . . . . .what else? Hickory Lane of course!

Thanks, LovesMysteries. To recap - nominations so far:

Death in the Dentist's Chair

The Plumley Inheritance

The Roman Hat Mystery

Hickory Dickory Dock

Some great nominations!

I'll add to the mix - we have never read any Sherlock Holmes as a group, so I'll suggest this classic short novel, which I think would be fun for Halloween:

The Hound of the Baskervilles

Any more nominations? The poll will go up at the weekend.

I have only read one Holmes, ever, so that might be a way to make me try another one, Judy :)

Best of all, some great nominations, yet again.

I read all of Holmes a couple of years ago now, I think it was, and feel it is time to revisit one or two!

The poll is now open - cast your votes now!

https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/1...

Since George Bellairs books on sale, I nominate Death in Dark Glasses. Just finished and enjoyed it.

Sorry Lorraine, nominations have already closed and voting has started.

Glad to hear you are enjoying Bellairs though - I would like to read more by him.

Death in the Dentist's Chair is just ahead of The Hound of the Baskervilles in early voting, but a long way to go yet!

Dentist Chair is still slightly ahead with the others strung along behind ... one vote between each.

Lorraine, I've never heard of Bellairs' Inspector Littlejohn but there sure are a lot of them.

Sandy, I never did either until I joined Crime Classics Review Club

Death in the Dentist's Chair is well ahead, with voting due to finish at the weekend.

I think I downloaded it ages ago, so I am ready for that one :)

I did, too. But it is only $2.99.

We have a winner! Our October group read will be Death in the Dentist's Chair by Molly Thynne.

Full results:


Death in the Dentist's Chair 11 votes, 36.7%
The Roman Hat Mystery (Ellery Queen Detective, #1) 5 votes, 16.7%
The Hound of the Baskervilles 5 votes, 16.7%
Hickory Dickory Dock (Hercule Poirot, #32) 5 votes, 16.7%
The Plumley Inheritance (Ludovic Travers, #1) 4 votes, 13.3%

Yay! I have access to that one thru amazon prime.

I'm looking forward to this one - even though I have a dentist appointment on Tuesday!

Carol ꧁꧂ wrote: "I'm looking forward to this one - even though I have a dentist appointment on Tuesday!"

:)

Happy with selection, great group

Glad that people are looking forward to this - I have it waiting on my Kindle!

I think I've knocked out part of a filling so will be paying a visit too, Carol!

Lorraine wrote: "Happy with selection, great group"

Glad you are enjoying the group, Lorraine. :)

We may want to complete all pending dental work in September.

Wednesday is my next appointment!