Reading the Detectives discussion

Nominations, please! We didn't have a nomination thread last month because we decided to read the runner-up in the June poll (Miss Pym Disposes by Josephine Tey) in July. But now it's time to suggest books for our August 2019 group read.

The books can be written in/set in the GA period, or a little earlier or later.

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

I'll be very selfish in my nomination because it's a book I intend to read before the end of August anyway. The Man in Lower Ten by Mary Roberts Rinehart originally published in 1909. It is not part of a series. I have read Rinehart before. She doesn't have the heft of the women to come after her, but I think she is important to sample, nonetheless. In this one:

Lawrence Blakely, an attorney-in-law carrying important papers, stumbles on a murder aboard a train. Meanwhile, his bag containing the valuable documents has been stolen, along with his clothes, and he's being accused of the killing when the train is wrecked. Blakely and a mysterious young woman may be the car's only survivors.

The Hunt for Sonya Dufrette

On the day of the ‘Royal Wedding' in July 1981 at a house party on the banks of the Thames, a little girl wanders off on her own. Her doll is found floating in the river, but of the girl herself there is no sign. Twenty years on and Antonia Darcy, divorcee and assistant librarian at the Military and Naval Club, still puzzles over the disappearance of Sonya Dufrette and the strange behavior of the awful Lawrence Dufrette, his exotic wife Lena, and intelligent and charming Lady Mortlock — not to mention the strange absence of the nanny. Ably assisted by her new admirer, Major Payne, Mrs. Darcy embarks on the first adventure in a new series of ingeniously plotted whodunits set against the background of country house life.

This is out of our period, but I think it has a GA feel. However, if anyone objects, I am happy to think of something else.

Susan wrote: "The Hunt for Sonya Dufrette

On the day of the ‘Royal Wedding' in July 1981 at a house party on the banks of the Thames, a little gi..."

This may not be available on kindle in the US, though my library systems have print versions.

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "I'll be very selfish in my nomination because it's a book I intend to read before the end of August anyway. The Man in Lower Ten by Mary Roberts Rinehart originally pu..."

Not selfish - sensible double tasking.

The Warrielaw Jewel by Winifred Peck. It was free quite recently.

Sandy wrote: "Susan wrote: "The Hunt for Sonya Dufrette

On the day of the ‘Royal Wedding' in July 1981 at a house party on the banks of the Thame..."

Amazon only has print for big prices - $66. Some of the used book stores may have it for a more reasonable price.

Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "The Warrielaw Jewel by Winifred Peck. It was free quite recently."

And I managed to pick it up when it was!



‘Listen! I see I’d better take you into my confidence.’

‘I’d rather you didn’t,’ I said.

Betty Morrison, a lawyer’s wife, is flung into the society of an ancient Edinburgh family, the Warrielaws. There’s Neil the Rip, Cora the Siren, Rhoda the Business Woman, and Alison the little Beauty – not to mention the formidable, elderly Jessica and her meek sister Mary. The family all possess unusual gold-green eyes – and harbour a precious and historic jewel, a bauble under constant threat of theft. The alarmed Betty will become a crucial witness in a case that includes mysterious disappearances of gems and people, as well as wholesale murder.

The Warrielaw Jewel was originally published in 1933. This new edition features an introduction by crime fiction historian Martin Edwards.

Holiday with Violence by Ellis Peters - before she wrote the Cadfael stories. I may have read this previously. Published in 1951. Four kids on vacation - a train ride, a lost coat and a dead guy. If it is the book I read before I recall enjoying it. If it isn't, I have high hopes for it.

I was just going to nominate The Warrielaw Jewel, but I see Carol got there first! :)

I won my pick earlier in the year and we are reading my other wish-Miss Pym so I won’t nominate. Some great options already!

Hi, I’d like to nominate The Weight of the Evidence, an Inspector Appleby mystery (1943) by Micheal Innes. Innes was an Englishman, his character is unusual in that for an English cop of this period he is very independent and often irreverent and funny.

Yay, another Michael Innes! I'd love to read that, but am also interested in The Warrielaw Jewel.

Are we ready for a vote?

The poll will go up at the weekend - any more nominations?

Thanks, Judy. I wasn't trying to rush things, I just wondered if people had other books they were looking forward to. Maybe I didn't phrase my question that way.

I’d like to nominate Tragedy at Law by Cyril Hare, if I may. I have really enjoyed his books we’ve read for buddy reads.

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Thanks, Judy. I wasn't trying to rush things, I just wondered if people had other books they were looking forward to. Maybe I didn't phrase my question that way."

No worries, Elizabeth, thanks for the reminder!

Thanks for the nomination, Martha - Cyril Hare is proving popular with the group!

These are the nominations so far:

Elizabeth: The Man in Lower Ten by Mary Roberts Rinehart

Susan: The Hunt for Sonya Dufrette by R.T. Raichev

Carol: The Warrielaw Jewel by Winifred Peck

Jan: Holiday with Violence by Ellis Peters

Lemar: The Weight Of The Evidence by Michael Innes

Martha: Tragedy at Law by Cyril Hare

A great selection as always! It will be hard to choose from this lot, but are there any more?

An embarrassment of riches - off to look for all of these on my Scribd account and at my library - we can’t los with any of these. Someone nominated an ECR Lorac a few months ago, and I’ve really enjoyed the two I’ve been able to find (she’s slowly being re-published). One I haven’t gotten to, but mean to read soon is: Bats in the Belfry: A London Mystery .

I know it was nominated recently (thanks to whoever introduced me to this author), but I figured I’d throw it in the hat again for August!

The poll is now open - some great choices there, so please cast your votes!

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

The Warrielaw Jewel is currently in the lead, with Bats in the Belfry coming second, but still a few days left to vote!

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

We have a winner - The Warrielaw Jewel by Winifred Peck will be our August group read.

Full results:
The Warrielaw Jewel 10 votes, 45.5%
The Man in Lower Ten 4 votes, 18.2%
Bats in the Belfry 4 votes, 18.2%
Tragedy at Law (Francis Pettigrew, #1) 3 votes, 13.6%
The Weight Of The Evidence (Sir John Appleby, #9) 1 vote, 4.5%
The Hunt for Sonya Dufrette (Country House Crime Mystery, #1) 0 votes, 0.0%
Holiday with Violence 0 votes, 0.0%

Yay! I'm hanging out for a GA mystery read! :)

Added to my plan!

Looking forward to it, bought it for the Kindle a few days ago at a great price, $2.99- yay! Thanks to whoever posted that great price to the group. I’ve requested the others from my library, if they had them, or tracked them down on Scribd or Kindle!

Looking forward to it - I think I downloaded it free a while ago.