Never too Late to Read Classics discussion

Our first read of the British Library Crime Classics is The Poisoned Chocolates Case by Anthony Berkeley.

Graham and Joan Bendix have apparently succeeded in making that eighth wonder of the modern world, a happy marriage. And into the middle of it there drops, like a clap of thunder, a box of chocolates. Joan Bendix is killed by a poisoned box of liqueur chocolates that cannot have been intended for her to eat or was it?

Who is in for this crime mystery?

I’m in. Looking forward to this one.

I’m going to give it a shot on archive.org. It’s not my favorite place to read but it should work.

It's a good one. Enjoy everyone!

I'm in - I've just started reading it today.

Kathy, Annette and John look forward to your thoughts!

I read this one this past year and really enjoyed it! I'm hooked on British mystery writers.

Okay, I've fixed that book link which went to an odd edition that had no author and have put in the correct name. Once I can combine them it should all show up under the right author! However, right now the ability to combine editions isn't working. Just another problem with GR this weekend!

In any event, I've ordered the only copy in my library network so as long as it's actually on the shelf I hope to get it in time to join in.

I’m really interested in this one. I hope to fit it in. In any case, glad to have learned about it here :)

I’m in. Just love these mysteries.

This is a nice mystery. Hope you all will enjoy it.

Welcome Karin, Jen and Penelope I hope you enjoy! Please let us know what you think of the writing style and the mystery itself!

Lesle wrote: "Welcome Karin, Jen and Penelope I hope you enjoy! Please let us know what you think of the writing style and the mystery itself!"

Thanks!

I've just finished The Poisoned Chocolates Case which I thoroughly enjoyed - this first book in the challenge has set a high standard for the rest to live up to.

I enjoyed the storyline, the characters and the humour; I rated it 4 stars. I'd considered deducting 1 for the pointless addition of an alternative ending and an epilogue - both vastly inferior to the original book - but these were the fault of the publisher rather than the author.

...and I've now got the February book on order.

I have bought it for kindle. I will begin it in the next days!

I've begun listening to The Poisoned Chocolates Case and have been enjoying it also. I like the idea of the members of the "Crimes Circle," amateur detectives, coming up with theories about a case that Scotland Yard hasn't been able to solve. I'm looking forward to what each member thinks.

Welcome to the Poison Chocolate read Daniela!

Kathy wrote: "I like the idea of the members of the "Crimes Circle," amateur detectives, coming up with theories about a case ..."

That sounds intriguing, Kathy!

It is, Lesle. It's a different way for an author to present all the facts of a case.

My favourite bits were the very polite - but very barbed - responses to each others conclusions and methods.

I sent my son into pick up my library holds and return some books (I have an injured ankle so needed his help) but the system there didn't show my holds so I'll have to wait longer to pick up this book.

I have the book and am looking forward to reading it. Thanks for choosing this as a topic to read this year.

Good to have you join us, Tracey! It's a good one.

Karin, I hope you get the book soon, so that you have something fun to do while your ankle is healing.

Tracey, I am happy to see you found this. I thought it woud be a fun mystery adventure for this year! Something different.

I don't think it's easy to cap this one. It's absolutely brilliant and - er - so open!

Mbuye, thrilled that you really enjoyed our first selection of the British Crime series!!

I hope you choose others to read as well.

I forgot to mention that our member Kathy was the one that brought us to read our first British Library Crime choice for this year!

Thank you Kathy great find!!

Thank you Kathy - it was a great choice to start the challenge.

Yes, thank you, Kathy. Wicked choice

Thanks. Glad everyone enjoyed the book. I’ve been loving the British Library Crime Classics series.

Thanks for this suggestion. This was a nice little thing. The ornamental language I found very amusing and true to the era. Added a couple of English words to my vocabulary as well. :)

We are happy you found this read amusing and enjoyable.

What words did you pick up? Are they ones from that era?

I was a bit concerned about picking up this book this month because I read Jumping Jenny last year and just hated it. This was a completely different book in the characters, authorial voice, and humor, and I enjoyed the way that Berkeley poked fun at the Great Detective trope and the solutions that his fellow mystery authors would have come up with for this case. (view spoiler)[When Bradley accused himself and said that the one problem with his theory was that he didn't remember doing it, I nearly howled. (hide spoiler)] I've heard over and over again for years about how great this mystery was, but no one ever told me that it was funny.
I agree that the solutions added by later editors weakened the novel, but I just ignored them when I rated the book because they aren't part of the original story and aren't in most of the editions.

Susan
I am always disapponted like you were with Jumping Jenny to even try another book by the same author.
Kuddos to you for doing just that!

Happy you enjoyed it and thank you for sharing!

I finished it a few days ago and I liked it. It's a little slow in parts but the story is original. Perhaps it seems a bit forced that there are so many connections between the members of the club and the people involved in the murder, but this can also be explained by the fact that probably in a city like London in certain circles in those times they knew each other a bit.
The two further solutions proposed at the end, which continue the narrative, are not necessary in my opinion but I also understand that due to the way the mystery is structured it can make you want to indulge yourself and other ideas can come.

Interesting point Daniela about the continued narrative!

I just finished the book. This is a format that I'm not used to. I'm used to following a detective on his journey of discovery. I purposefully didn't read the last two additions, although I love Christianna Brand's and Martin Edward's own books. This book was very clever and I think that I need to let it sit and then reread later.

I found the story slow to start with but it got my interest about half way through. I thought the original ending was the best and gave the book 4.5 stars.

Thank you for sharing Tracey!