Reading the Detectives discussion

Nominations please for our November 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.

If you aren't sure whether we have read something, the group bookshelves may help, or just ask! If it was at least 3 years ago that we read it, it is fine to renominate.

Wow! Nominations for Novemer already. As we near the end of the year, please note your mods are busy behind the scenes getting next years challenge ready. No hints just yet, but hope to unveil it in October, to help people prepare their reading.

wow, great teaser, Susan!

I will nominate , by Mary Kelly, which I picked up second-hand, and have been waiting to read!

"A car speeds down a road between miles of marshes and estuary flats, its passenger a young woman named Agnes - hands bloodied, numbed with fear, her world turned upside down. Meanwhile, the news of a girl found dead on the marsh is spreading round the local area. A masterpiece of suspense, Mary Kellys 1964 novel follows Agnes as she casts her mind back through the past few days to find the links between her husband, his friends, a mysterious stranger new to the village and a case of bloody murder.

"Complex and thoroughly affecting, Due to a Death was nominated for the Gold Dagger Award and showcases the author's versatility and remarkable skill for characterization and dialogue."

Susan wrote: "Wow! Nominations for Novemer already. As we near the end of the year, please note your mods are busy behind the scenes getting next years challenge ready. No hints just yet, but hope to unveil it i..."

Yay! I look forward to it every year, thanks so much to our lovely mods for the humdinger challenges you’ve crafted for us - much appreciated! This year, only one I haven’t been able to get hold of, much appreciated as well!

Rosina wrote: "I will nominate , by Mary Kelly, which I picked up second-hand, and have been waiting to read!

"A car speeds down a road between miles of marshes and estuary fla..."

Beautiful cover on that one, always catches my eye.

I withdraw that Bellairs mystery, and instead nominate a current Kindle sale book, Death in the Night Watches by George Bellairs, cheaper and higher rating on GR, always a plus.

At the height of World War II, Thomas Littlejohn investigates a factory boss’s murder

Once, Henry Worth’s sprawling factory was filled with looms and textile workers, but since the onset of World War II, the space has been given over entirely to military production. Worth is walking the grounds late one night when he smells gas coming from an unused shed. When he enters to investigate, the door slams and locks behind him. He is dead in minutes.

Detective-Inspector Littlejohn is called down from London to investigate the murder and finds the entire town upended by the question of Worth’s inheritance. Three children and a wife are feuding over the man’s fortune, and they are not afraid to kill to get their share. As British troops fight and die overseas, Littlejohn finds that the fiercest battlefield of all may be on the home front.

Don´t know if I can nominate Green for Danger by Christianna Brand, as it´s already been read in January 2018, even if as a buddy read.

I will nominate The Footsteps at the Lock by Ronald Knox

Urbane mystery, set in the pastoral reaches of the upper Thames, concerns the disappearance of young heir to a fortune. Insurance company investigator Miles Bredon takes on the case. Delightfully tongue-in-cheek tone, baffling clues, challenging mystery counterpointed by poetic evocation of the river and countryside. Fine novel by author of 10 celebrated "commandments" for writing detective fiction.

Some great suggestions. Green for Danger was read a few years ago now, Michaela, so that's fine. One of my favourite GA authors and newly available on kindle with a lovely new cover

Yes, anything that we read 3 years ago or more is fine to nominate! Thanks for all the nominations so far.

Nominations so far:

Rosina: Due to a Death by Mary Kelly

Susan in NC: Death in the Night Watches by George Bellairs

Michaela: Green for Danger by Christianna Brand

Jill: The Footsteps at the Lock by Ronald Knox

Any more nominations?

Thanks Susan and Judy! I remembered something like that. And yes, the cover is beautiful!

Her books tend to go in and out of print, not sure why. I have grabbed all available when they appear - a few appeared on Audible as well.

The poll is now open - please choose your preferred read for November:
https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/2...

Happy voting and thanks to all who nominated.

We have a winner - it's Green for Danger by Christianna Brand, which will be our November group read.

Full results:
Green for Danger (Inspector Cockrill #2) 8 votes, 38.1%
The Footsteps at the Lock 7 votes, 33.3%
Due to a Death 3 votes, 14.3%
Death in the Night Watches (Thomas Littlejohn #8) 3 votes, 14.3%

How exciting! One of my favourite ever authors. Really looking forward to a re-read.