Reading the Detectives discussion

Golden Age mystery nominations please for our June 2022 group read!

Please only nominate books written and published in the Golden Age period, or a little earlier or later - if in doubt whether a title is eligible, please ask.

As usual, just one nomination per group member, and only one book by any individual writer can be nominated per month. Looking forward to seeing all the suggestions.

I'd like to nominate by Christopher Bush, re-issued by Dean Street Press.

Published in 1927.

“Have you heard the news, sir?” the waiter said.

“I’m afraid I haven’t. What is it?”

“Plumley’s dead, sir. Henry Plumley. We just got the news over the ’phone. Suicide they say it was. Anything else you want, sir?”

That isn't on kindle in the UK, Michaela. Could someone check whether it is available in the US?

It doesn't look like it's on Kindle in the US.

Susan wrote: "That isn't on kindle in the UK, Michaela. Could someone check whether it is available in the US?"

Yes, it is: https://www.amazon.com/Brooklyn-Murde...

OK, it doesn't look readily available in the UK

As Doris posted, Brooklyn is available in US for $1. And Plumley for $4, but I found nothing for Murder by Experts. There may be only one Anthony Gilbert on kindle.

OK, so we aren't doing too well, are we? I will remove my nomination and perhaps nominate something else.

Brooklyn is not readily available in the UK, so might need to re-think that one too?

I will nominate The Invisible Host instead.

"Do not doubt me, my friends; you shall all be dead before morning."

New Orleans, 1930. Eight guests are invited to a party at a luxurious penthouse apartment, yet on arrival it turns out that no one knows who their mysterious host actually is. The latter does not openly appear, but instead communicates with the guests by radio broadcast. What he has to tell his guests is chilling: that every hour, one of them will die. Despite putting the guests on their guard, the Host's prophecy starts to come horribly true, each demise occurring in bizarre fashion. As the dwindling band of survivors grows increasingly tense, their confessions to each other might explain why they have been chosen for this macabre evening-and invoke the nightmarish thought that the mysterious Host is one of them. The burning question becomes: will any of the party survive, including the Host . . . ?

The Invisible Host (1930) established one of the best-loved and most durable forms in classic mystery fiction. It was famously to reappear in Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None (1939). How much Christie's novel is indebted to its predecessor is open to conjecture (and the subject is discussed in our new introduction, by crime fiction historian Curtis Evans). Whatever the verdict, readers will delight in The Invisible Host, an innovative and most unusual mystery from the golden age of crime fiction. It was adapted into a play, and a Hollywood movie as The Ninth Guest (1934).

Susan wrote: "I will nominate The Invisible Host instead.

"Do not doubt me, my friends; you shall all be dead before morning."

New Orleans, 1930. Eight g..."

On kindle in the US for $3.

I want to nominate another book instead: Weekend at Thrackley by Alan Melville.

Jim Henderson is one of six guests summoned by the mysterious Edwin Carson, a collector of precious stones, to a weekend party at his country house, Thrackley.
The house is gloomy and forbidding but the party is warm and hospitable – except for the presence of Jacobson, the sinister butler. The other guests are wealthy people draped in jewels; Jim cannot imagine why he belongs in such company.

After a weekend of adventure – with attempted robbery and a vanishing guest – secrets come to light and Jim unravels a mystery from his past.

It´s available on Kindle and Kindle Unlimited, and there´s also an audiobook.

Michaela wrote: "I want to nominate another book instead: Weekend at Thrackley by Alan Melville.

Jim Henderson is one of six guests summone..."

Available for $9 on kindle in US. I don't see it on Kindle Unlimited, but that series is usually available in libraries.

Thanks, Michaela. I will remove your previous nomination, so we've both changed ours. Never mind.

That makes nominations so far:

The Plumley Inheritance (Carolien)
The Invisible Host (Susan)
Weekend at Thrackley (Michaela)

I will nominate The Polo Ground Mystery by Robin Forsythe

Mr Sutton Armadale, the financier, was shot dead on the private polo ground of his palatial home. Before expiring in his gamekeeper’s arms, he muttered the one word “murder”.

Among the suspects are Armadale’s second wife; a drunken, loud-mouthed stranger in the neighbourhood; and an irresistibly attractive ballerina. The amiable and eccentric Algernon Vereker finds the case as befuddling as a crack on the head from a polo mallet. Two witnesses were certain they heard two shots fired, yet only one spent cartridge case was found on the ground by the dead man’s body. What is the “Sutton Stakes” connection… and is a “Bombay Head” part of the solution?

The Polo Ground Mystery (1932) is a classic country house whodunit, with a sporting equestrian theme. The second of the Algernon Vereker mysteries, this new edition is the first published in over 70 years. It features an introduction by crime fiction historian Curtis Evans.

This is 99p in UK kindle. Maybe someone could check the US price

Jill wrote: "I will nominate The Polo Ground Mystery by Robin Forsythe

Mr Sutton Armadale, the financier, was shot dead on the private polo ground of his palatial home. Before..."

Same on my US version. $0.99

Jill wrote: "I will nominate The Polo Ground Mystery by Robin Forsythe

Mr Sutton Armadale, the financier, was shot dead on the private polo ground of his palatial home. Before..."

I bought it four years ago yesterday, and still haven't read it. It's about time ...

I think it’s been nominated previously, but I like anthologies and will nominate Capital Crimes: London Mysteries :

Mystery crime fiction written in the Golden Age of Murder

Capital Crimes is an eclectic collection of London-based crime stories, blending the familiar with the unexpected in a way that reflects the personality of the city. Alongside classics by Margery Allingham, Anthony Berkeley and Thomas Burke are excellent and unusual stories by authors who are far less well known. The stories give a flavour of how writers have tackled crime in London over the span of more than half a century. Their contributions range from an early serial-killer thriller set on the London Underground and horrific vignettes to cerebral whodunits. What they have in common is an atmospheric London setting, and enduring value as entertainment.

Each story is introduced by the editor, Martin Edwards, who sheds light on the authors' lives and the background to their writing .

Susan in NC wrote: "I think it’s been nominated previously, but I like anthologies and will nominate Capital Crimes: London Mysteries:

Mystery crim..."


I see it’s $7.99 on Kindle, but I think it’s an older title, might be available in libraries.

Great, I´ve got this one at home! :)

Great selection of nominations so far!

Carolien: The Plumley Inheritance by Christopher Bush

Susan: The Invisible Host by Gwen Bristow

Michaela: Weekend at Thrackley by Alan Melville

Jill: The Polo Ground Mystery by Robin Forsythe

Susan in NC: Capital Crimes: London Mysteries, edited by Martin Edwards

Judy wrote: "Great selection of nominations so far!

Carolien: The Plumley Inheritance by Christopher Bush

Susan: The Invisible Host by [author:Gwen Bristow|4237..."

Yes, these are all TBRs for me, I’d be happy with any of them, I just threw the anthology in for a fifth title. And I’d like to read it, it’s available through Scribd.

Rosina wrote: "Jill wrote: "I will nominate The Polo Ground Mystery by Robin Forsythe

Mr Sutton Armadale, the financier, was shot dead on the private polo ground of his palatial..."

I bought it years ago, too.

The poll is now up - please vote for the book you want to read in June.

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

The British Library anthology Capital Crimes is currently in the lead in our poll, just a couple of votes ahead of Weekend at Thrackley, with a few more days of voting still to go.

Current position:
Capital Crimes: London Mysteries 7 votes, 36.8%
Weekend at Thrackley 5 votes, 26.3%
The Polo Ground Mystery 4 votes, 21.1%
The Invisible Host (Mystery League #6) 3 votes, 15.8%
The Plumley Inheritance (Ludovic Travers #1) 0 votes, 0.0%

Please vote if you haven't done so - this is the link:
https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/2...

Some great choices. Shame about The Invisible Host and The Plumley Inheritance, both of which I'd like to read, but that's the joy of nominations. They are all good choices.

Except that I don't possess either of the leaders. I have the other three.

And I have the two leaders. :)

Our poll has now closed, and the winner is Capital Crimes: London Mysteries, edited by Martin Edwards, which will be our June group read.

Full results:
Capital Crimes: London Mysteries 8 votes, 34.8%
Weekend at Thrackley 6 votes, 26.1%
The Polo Ground Mystery 4 votes, 17.4%
The Invisible Host (Mystery League #6) 3 votes, 13.0%
The Plumley Inheritance (Ludovic Travers #1) 2 votes, 8.7%

To cover my bases I bought both of the leaders the other day.