Reading the Detectives discussion

Nominations please for our September 2020 group read!

You can nominate mystery/detective books written in/set in the GA period, or a little earlier or later.

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

AS we have read the other two Dr. Constantine books, I would like to nominate He Dies and Makes no Sign

“He had his enemies, I suppose?”

“Disputes, you mean? Over the merits of Puccini and Wagner, Strauss and Verdi! But people do not entice an old man from his home many years afterwards to avenge Wagner or Puccini!”

It was a shock to the Duchess of Steynes when her son announced his engagement to the grand-daughter of an obscure violinist, Julius Anthony; but still more of a shock was the discovery of Anthony’s murdered body in the cinema at which he played.

Dr. Constantine and Detective-Inspector Arkwright join forces in their third (and final) case together. Their only clue at the outset is the dead man’s mysterious assignation at the Trastevere restaurant, one of London’s most fashionable eateries, and located, as it happens, on the property of the Steyneses. The biggest challenge at first appears to find any kind of motive for the old man’s slaying – until their investigations lead in a fiendishly unexpected direction.

Jill wrote: "AS we have read the other two Dr. Constantine books, I would like to nominate He Dies and Makes no Sign

“He had his enemies, I suppose?”

“Disputes, you mean? Over the merits of Pu..."

Good choice. I like the idea of completing something, enjoyed the others and I have it on my kindle. It is available on Kindle Unlimited or $3 to buy in the US.

It would be fun to do the other Dr Constantine book, I agree. Great nomination, Jill.

I’ve not read the previous two books featuring this detective, would you say they were necessary before this one?

I thought the previous two worked fine as standalones, as far as I remember, so I think it would be OK without. Do others agree?

I agree. I don't remember any continuity.

I think the only thing they had in common was that they contain Dr Constantine

Thanks!

Inspired by our thread of books people have enjoyed this year, I will nominate:

Death in Pont-Aven AKA Death in Brittany

Roll over Maigret. Commissaire Dupin has arrived. Death in Pont-Aven is a classic' M.C. Beaton A baffling murder in an idyllic French seaside village, a tangle of family secrets and a puzzling mystery await Commissaire Dupin in this captivating whodunit thriller. Commissaire Georges Dupin, a cantankerous, Parisian-born caffeine junkie, is dragged from his croissants and coffee one morning to the scene of a curious murder. Ninety-one-year-old hotelier Pierre Louis Pennec has been found dead on his restaurant floor. The killing shatters the peace of the Breton village of Pont-Aven - a seaside community where everyone knows one another and nothing much seems to happen. As Dupin's investigation proceeds, he uncovers a web of secrecy and silence that belies the village's idyllic image. The first in the Commissaire Dupin series, Death in Pont-Aven introduces the enigmatic policeman whose peculiar methods of detection raise more than a few eyebrows. Packed with the atmosphere of a beautiful seaside village, mouth-watering Breton cuisine and the smell of the Atlantic air, this is a spellbinding, subtle crime novel, full of wry humour and surprising twists.

Sounds great, Susan. "A baffling murder in an idyllic French seaside village, a tangle of family secrets and a puzzling mystery" - what a combination!

Yes! Thanks for a great addition to the TBR list, I was unaware of this, but very intrigued...

The Big Bow Mystery by Israel Zangwill, believed to have been the first "locked room" mystery.

It is fairly short too.

I am having computer problems and can't copy and paste at this time.

Currently free on Kindle here.

Oh dear. I have both Death in Brittany and The Big Bow Mystery.

Jan C wrote: "The Big Bow Mystery by Israel Zangwill, believed to have been the first "locked room" mystery."

I believe the first locked room mystery was Edgar Allan Poe's The Murders in the Rue Morgue, published in 1841.

I also have a copy of The Big Bow Mystery waiting to read!

Nominations so far:

Jill: He Dies and Makes no Sign by Molly Thynne

Susan: Death in Pont-Aven by Jean-Luc Bannalec

Jan: The Big Bow Mystery by Israel Zangwill

The Big Bow Mystery is free on Amazon. No blurb, but I did find this online:

https://crimefictionlover.com/2014/02...

As Elizabeth stated above, Edgar Allan Poe had the first locked room mystery published, but this is certainly an early example.

I'll nominate a book which has been sitting on my shelves patiently, Thunder on the Right by Mary Stewart.

Artist Jennifer Silver has come to the picturesque, secluded Valley of the Storms in the French Pyrenees to meet with a young cousin who is about to enter the convent there -- only to discover that the young woman has died in a dreadful car accident. Or did she?

Lies abound in this strange and frightening place, but seeking the truth could lead Jennifer to her own violent death.

Judy wrote: "I'll nominate a book which has been sitting on my shelves patiently, Thunder on the Right by Mary Stewart.

Artist Jennifer ..."

I love a Mary Stewart, and I have Thunder on the Right, sitting on my shelves, waiting for a re-read.

Good to hear you like Mary Stewart, Rosina. I think I've only read one or two by her so far.

Nominations so far:

Jill: He Dies and Makes no Sign by Molly Thynne

Susan: Death in Pont-Aven by Jean-Luc Bannalec

Jan: The Big Bow Mystery by Israel Zangwill

Judy: Thunder on the Right by Mary Stewart

Any more nominations?

Judy wrote: "Good to hear you like Mary Stewart, Rosina. I think I've only read one or two by her so far."

Oh, very intrigued, I’ve heard so much about her in other groups, but yet to take the plunge and read her!

Judy wrote: "Nominations so far:

Jill: He Dies and Makes no Sign by Molly Thynne

Susan: Death in Pont-Aven by Jean-Luc Bannalec

Jan: [book:T..."



I’ll nominate Murder of a Quack by George Bellairs. “Nathaniel Wall, the local quack doctor, is found hanging in his consulting room in the Norfolk village of Stalden - but this was not a suicide. Wall may not have been a qualified doctor, but his skill as a bonesetter and his commitment to village life were highly valued. Scotland Yard is drafted in to assist. Quickly settling into his accommodation at the village pub, Littlejohn begins to examine the evidence...Against the backdrop of a close-knit village, an intriguing story of ambition, blackmail, fraud, false alibis and botanical trickery unravels.”

British Library Crime Classics has reissued this with his previous mystery, The Dead Shall be Raised. I read that first Christmas-set mystery last year for a challenge and enjoy very much. Always meant to get back to read the second mystery, which some reviews say is even better.

Susan in NC wrote: "British Library Crime Classics has reissued this with his previous mystery, The Dead Shall be Raised."

This edition is available in the UK from Kindle Unlimited, or £2.99

I think I've only read one by Bellairs so far and would like to try another - thanks for the nomination, Susan.

The up-to-date nominations list:

Jill: He Dies and Makes no Sign by Molly Thynne

Susan: Death in Pont-Aven by Jean-Luc Bannalec

Jan: The Big Bow Mystery by Israel Zangwill

Judy: Thunder on the Right by Mary Stewart

Susan in NC: The Murder of a Quack by George Bellairs

Any more? The poll will go up in the next couple of days.

I'm having a good time with a Christopher Bush mystery at the moment and I'd like to nominate another one for September. There are a huge number of these and some are going for 99p as eBooks at the moment so I'm proposing The Case of the Corner Cottage.

The blurb says: "When Ludovic Travers took over Bill Ellice’s Broad Street Detective Agency, he was glad to welcome back from war service the Agency’s star operative, Godfrey Prial. But when something happened to Prial whilst holidaying in an East Anglian town, Travers decided that a case was one he must tackle on his own. The trail led him to a year-old murder, the violent death of a retired jeweller, the theft of some particularly valuable diamonds, to a mad old man and to a young lady who didn’t somehow ring true. The Case of the Corner Cottage shows Christopher Bush at his most astute and entertaining."

Thank you, Colin. I see The Case of the Corner Cottage is one of those that's currently 99p. I've only read one of the Christopher Bush novels so far - I know there are loads though, as you say, written over a 40-year period!

Ludovic Travers is a BIG series. Over 60 titles!

I think I nominated the first book a couple of times. Maybe Colin will be more successful with his suggestion :)

Judy wrote: "I think I've only read one by Bellairs so far and would like to try another - thanks for the nomination, Susan."

You’re welcome! I’m afraid I’ll forget about it if I don’t read it soon!

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Ludovic Travers is a BIG series. Over 60 titles!"

Always a good sign! This sounds good, I’ve added to my TBR pile as I’ve never read this author- thanks, Colin!

The poll is open - 6 great titles to choose from, so please vote! https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/2...

Hard to choose this month! I've already bought two of them based on descriptions in this thread. Leading me into temptation!

Abigail wrote: "Hard to choose this month! I've already bought two of them based on descriptions in this thread. Leading me into temptation!"

But in a good way! ; )

I discovered that I have Thunder on the Right (the current leader) on my kindle, so am ready if it goes on to win the vote! Don't remember buying it, so it was probably discounted at some point.

Susan wrote: "I discovered that I have Thunder on the Right (the current leader) on my kindle, so am ready if it goes on to win the vote! Don't remember buying it, so it was probably discounted at some point."

Good to hear, Susan! It's still quite close at the moment though - just a couple of votes between Thunder on the Right and the two currently tied in second place, He Dies and Makes No Sign and Death in Pont-Aven...

We have a tie at the moment - so, if you haven't voted yet, please do!

https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/2...

We have a winner - it's Thunder on the Right by Mary Stewart, which will be our September group read.

Full results:

Thunder on the Right 9 votes, 31.0%
Death in Pont-Aven (Commissaire Dupin, #1) 7 votes, 24.1%
He Dies and Makes no Sign 5 votes, 17.2%
The Big Bow Mystery 4 votes, 13.8%
The Murder of a Quack (Chief Inspector Littlejohn #5) 3 votes, 10.3%
The Case of the Corner Cottage (Ludovic Travers #38) 1 vote, 3.4%

I haven't read any Mary Stewart before, so looking forward to it. Thanks, Judy.

I have read and loved Mary Stewart but not year read Thunder on the Right - so I am stoked for this one!

I look forward to reading this again - it's years since I last read Thunder on the Right.

I just requested it and, seriously, hope it comes in time. that's how long it's been taking to get books from other libraries. But I don't mean to complain as I am just grateful to be able to get books!

Sounds like everyone's reading a lot more these days!

Hope you all enjoy it! And hope your copy comes through in time, Jackie - we can't get books from other libraries here yet.

To be honest, I voted for one of the other choices, but this was my preferred read - I just don't have a copy of this Stewart. I'll see if I can pick up a copy at one of my local op shops. :)

Good news that you want to read it, Carol - fingers crossed one of the op shops has it. :)

Looking forward to this one!

I tried to request this from my library, which currently has curbside pickup, but the system is off line right now. We will see! It would be my first Mary Stewart, and I know there are many fans here - is there a better book to start with among her titles? In case I can’t get the title in time for this read.

I think This Rough Magic and Nine Coaches Waiting are the most popular, but The Moonspinners is my favorite.