Never too Late to Read Classics discussion

Lesle's Optional Swaps:
The Widow of Bath by Margot Bennett
Castle Skull: A Rhineland Mystery by John Dickson Carr
The Christmas Egg by Mary Kelly
Mystery in White by J. Jefferson Farjeon

This will work as one continuous thread, that you can comment on which Author/Book you are reading and any comments along the way. You may read any of the Swap Out Classics or even read one that draws your interest and would like to share. There are over 120 of these fine classics.

Here is a link in Goodreads for the Classics:
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/9...

I've just started reading volume 5. The Poisoned Chocolates Case by Anthony Berkeley, and it's entertaining so far.

Since our library system is still affected by the cyberattack in October and we can't place any holds😱, I'll find a book on Libby to swap for January.
I really enjoy reading the books in this collection.

That is a shame Rosemarie. Did not realize it traumatized the Library system that hard.

I like this collection it will bring me to more new authors and I really enjoy mystery type reads too!

I just finished reading Calamity in Kent by John Rowland. My first book by this author & I enjoyed it.

Trisha what about it did you like? Something different than a normal mystery?

I'll be reading The Female Detective by Andrew Forrester.


I read and enjoyed it too, Trisha.

Rosemarie I really enjoy these book covers! Thanks for sharing those.

Any time!

Since I managed to complete the January choice fairly quickly (because it was so enjoyable) I'm adding an additional volume in January. I'm going for one that isn't on our schedule for 2024 - The Port of London Murders by Josephine Bell.

(And I think that the British Library have missed a trick by not (so far) issuing a poster with a selection of these wonderful covers.)

I'm half-way through 'Poisoned Chocolates,' I've been wanting to read something by Jefferson Farjeon, so I'll try 'Mystery in White' next.

How delightful to have these dreamy thrillers as part of the NTLTRC!

I’ve only noticed the cover for the Poisoned Chocolates book but yea, love it. Pretty sure it even contributed to the temptation to read it.

John wrote: "(And I think that the British Library have missed a trick by not (so far) issuing a poster with a selection of these wonderful covers.)..."

I totally agree with you John! It was why I was drawn to the books in the first place!

Mbuye I am happy to hear how much you are enjoying this! Happy reading 📚 🔖

I finished The Female Detective and it was a disappointing read. It's from a much earlier time period, which isn't really a factor since I really enjoy Wilkie Collins.
It's a collection of short and longer stories, her cases-and they're very uneven. I'm glad I read a library copy.

I just finished Mystery in White by J. Jefferson Farjeon, and this was good for atmospherics, suspense and even supernatural elements, satisfactorily full of bodies, irony and humour, but I felt slightly let down at the very end

Rosemarie that is really early publication date than I thought this series was. It's a shame that you did not totally enjoy it but it is a plus that you did not purchase it.

Mbuye I have this one and am sorry to hear the ending was not satisfactory.
That experience when reading is one of the worst. You get through the read and have decent feelings for it and than...boom!

Hope your next one is totally enjoyable!

I read Excellent Intentions by Richard Hull. It started well & was an original idea - someone died suddenly & there were various discussions about illness, suicide or murder. The story continued with legal arguments in a trial, though the reader was left to guess who was accused. A clever story - but I found it became tedious. The legal discussions weren’t very interesting & the almost endless repetition of similar questions to everyone involved lost their impact. I didn’t really mind what the trial verdict would be as I didn’t find the characters particularly interesting. I’m unlikely to read another book by this author - a shame as I’m sure others will like the book, but it just didn’t appeal to me.

Lesle, did I give you the impression that Farjeon's 'Mystery in White' was not satisfactory?

That's too bad. All I meant was that it was such rollicking fun throughout, that it was a shame to have it end so quickly!

In any case, although this series comprises classics, mostly it's stuff that's been out of print for years and years. They're not always the same quality, and there's a reason why the Big Three -- Dorothy Sayers, Dame Agatha and Dame Ngaio Marsh -- will always tower over the others.

At the moment, I'm reading 'The Long Arm of the Law', also BLCC, short stories, not exactly procedurals as we understand them now, but involving professional policemen doing their jobs rather than clever amateurs. Some are very good indeed!

Mbuye wrote: "Lesle, did I give you the impression that Farjeon's 'Mystery in White' was not satisfactory?..."

I did! So sorry, but glad you clarified it. I thought Rosemarie had really liked it at some point and is why I purchased it. I will now get to read it with the expectation of a fun read!!

Mbuye wrote: "I'm reading 'The Long Arm of the Law', also BLCC, short stories,..."

Those stories sound intriguing. Thank you for sharing!

I have a feeling by years end I will have a whole shelf of BLCC!!

A collection you couldn't regret!

Mbuye wrote: "A collection you couldn't regret!"

You probably are not wrong about that for sure!! :)

For February I've been reading Death of Anton by Alan Melville. It's a good mystery with some humour as well. I'm enjoying it a lot.

That does sound like a great one Rosemarie. Humor is welcomed!

Is this thread restricted to BLCC books, or may any vintage/ Golden Age crime be commented on?

You can share here if you like. Some of the Golden Age is in the list and some of course are not, but I am ok with you sharing here Mbuye. Happy Reading your crime novel!!

Lesle wrote: "You can share here if you like. Some of the Golden Age is in the list and some of course are not, but I am ok with you sharing here Mbuye. Happy Reading your crime novel!!"

Lesle,

I've found another gem from Richard Hull ('The Murder of My Aunt,') called 'Keep it Quiet.' it does not appear on the BLCC list, but it is a marvellous, wicked Golden Age mystery all right. I laughed throughout 'Murder of my Aunt,' but others didn't find it funny at all, which makes me wary of saying I am chuckling my way through this one too.

This book I found finally on the Internet Archive.

That is great Mbuye! I thought it was funny at times too. Some of his and her antics were not funny but the distance the two would go was. Hope that makes sense.

Yes, it does, thanks

I'm reading Castle Skull by John Dickson Carr. It's a great read for October as it's dark and creepy.

Kathy here is where I had it listed!!

The Christmas Egg lol

!! Lesle. Glad you commented her since I forgot about this thread. I ended up reading all four of the “swaps.” My favorite was Mystery in White.

Kathy wrote: "!! Lesle. Glad you commented her since I forgot about this thread. I ended up reading all four of the “swaps.” My favorite was Mystery in White."

I have that one! I thought Rosemarie said it was really good too!