Never too Late to Read Classics discussion

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The Odor of Violets
2025 American Mystery Classic
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American Mystery: The Oder of Violets by Baynard H Kendrick msg 13
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Melanie wrote: "Lesle, I'll post my thoughts about The Birthday Murder on this thread."
Thank you Melanie!!
Im very interested in this one.
Thank you Melanie!!
Im very interested in this one.
Lesle wrote: "Do not forget about this thread!!
Thought:
The Red House Mystery by A.A. Milne"
It's a good one.
Thought:
The Red House Mystery by A.A. Milne"
It's a good one.

Melanie wrote: "I just finished The Birthday Murders by Lange Lewis. What a terrific mystery! I loved everything about it - the plot, characters and setting. I'm definitely looking..."
Thank you Melanie!
I am adding it too
Thank you Melanie!
I am adding it too
I forgot about this author S.S. Van Dine
The Winter Murder Case
The Benson Murder Case
The Dragon Murder Case
The Greene Murder Case
The Gracie Allen Murder Case
The Winter Murder Case
The Benson Murder Case
The Dragon Murder Case
The Greene Murder Case
The Gracie Allen Murder Case

I read The Cat Saw Murder last year & really liked it.
Also, the Library of America has some great noir collections that should be available from your local libraries:
Women Crime Writers: Four Suspense Novels of the 1940s: Laura / The Horizontal Man / In a Lonely Place / The Blank Wall
Women Crime Writers: Four Suspense Novels of the 1950s (LOA #269): Mischief / The Blunderer / Beast in View / Fools' Gold
American Noir: 11 Classic Crime Novels of the 1930s, 40s, & 50s: A Library of America Boxed Set
I previously got both Women Crime Writers volumes on sale as ebooks for $1.99 each. Sadly, they aren't on sale anymore. :(

The Odor of Violets by Baynard H.
Kendrick
Meet Captain Duncan Maclain. Blinded during his service in the first World War, Maclain made up for his lack of vision by sharpening his other senses, achieving a mastery of the subtle unseen clues often missed by those who see only with their eyes. Aided by his dogs Schnucke and Driest, the Captain puts the intelligence-gathering techniques he learned in the Army to work, making a name for himself as New York City’s most sought-after private detective. Now it’s 1940, there’s a second World War breaking out, and Maclain is pulled into a case unlike any he’s investigated before.
One claim of the strengths of this novel is in how successfully it blends mystery fiction writing styles. It has its hardboiled and spy elements.
Anyone up for something different than a Mary Roberts Rinehart read?
message 16:
by
Rosemarie, Northern Roaming Scholar
(last edited Aug 19, 2025 06:54AM)
(new)
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rated it 3 stars
Rosemarie I think I might enjoy this. I just got it in the mail yesterday.
Hopefully start on it this afternoon.
Hopefully start on it this afternoon.
message 22:
by
Lesle, Appalachain Bibliophile
(last edited Sep 04, 2025 09:16AM)
(new)
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rated it 4 stars
I finished it last night as well! I loved Maclain his senses are remarkable. The puzzle a great addition to his skill set.
My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I am wanting to get the other two that I have listed in my review!
Hopefully I can find them.
My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I am wanting to get the other two that I have listed in my review!
Hopefully I can find them.
Books mentioned in this topic
The Odor of Violets (other topics)The Cat Saw Murder (other topics)
Women Crime Writers: Four Suspense Novels of the 1940s: Laura / The Horizontal Man / In a Lonely Place / The Blank Wall (other topics)
Women Crime Writers: Four Suspense Novels of the 1950s (LOA #269): Mischief / The Blunderer / Beast in View / Fools' Gold (other topics)
American Noir: 11 Classic Crime Novels of the 1930s, 40s, & 50s: A Library of America Boxed Set (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Baynard H. Kendrick (other topics)S.S. Van Dine (other topics)
Lange Lewis (other topics)
Lange Lewis (other topics)
A.A. Milne (other topics)
More...
these can replace a month from the scheduled reads and please comment your read here so we can all share these wonderful reads:
Some suggestions from the Planning Stage:
Dashiell Hammetter The Maltese Falcon (1930) 213 pgs
Mary Allingham Dancers in Mourning (1937) 240 pgs
Ellery Queen The Dutch Shoe Mystery (1931) 216 pgs
Anna Katharine Green That Affair Next Door (1897) 350 pgs
Lang Lewis The Birthday Murder (1945) 208 pgs
American Authors:
Dorothy B. Hughes
Charlotte Armstrong
Patricia Highsmith
Anya Seton