Reading the Detectives discussion

Nominations are needed for our June group read! As usual, 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, just ask. Only 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 re-nominate. Looking forward to your nominations.

Not sure if I've nominated this before but here goes.

The Bellamy Trial by Frances Noyes Hart. Originally published in 1927. 99 cents on Kindle in the US.

Madeleine Bellamy is killed and Susan Ives and Stephen Bellamy are accused of the crime. The trial lasts 8 days exposing sordid secrets of both families.

Please check availability elsewhere.

Jan C wrote: "Not sure if I've nominated this before but here goes.

The Bellamy Trial by Frances Noyes Hart. Originally published in 1927. 99 cents on Kindle in the US.

Madelei..."

Oooh, new title to me, sounds interesting!

Available in the UK.

I will nominate Juggernaut: A Golden Age Mystery by Alice Campbell

Up and up crept the weight. Its touch was cold and scaly; she shuddered at the contact. At the same dreadful moment she realised what the Thing was.

Esther Rowe, a Canadian, is on holiday in Cannes. She decides to stay on, and seeks nursing employment with the enigmatic and elusive Dr. Gregory Santorius. She finds herself caring for the ageing invalid Sir Charles Clifford, and meets various members of his family, some nice-some less so.

Certain suspicious events seem to indicate that someone wants Sir Charles out of the way-after all, there's a will to be considered. When Sir Charles meets his demise, it appears that the causes of death are natural. Edith isn't so sure-and finds herself caught up in murderous machinations. But will she have an ally to protect her and help her solve this macabre mystery-and escape death herself?

Juggernaut, Alice Campbell's first crime novel, was originally published in 1928, and later made into a film starring Boris Karloff. As in many of her novels, the setting is France. The milieu is rich, cosmopolitan and vividly rendered, the plot intriguing to the very end. This new edition features an introduction by crime fiction historian Curtis Evans.

"She could not be unexciting if she tried" Times Literary Supplement

Susan wrote: "I will nominate Juggernaut: A Golden Age Mystery by Alice Campbell

Up and up crept the weight. Its touch was..."

US: on kindle for $4

Thank you, both sound different and interesting.

Can I try again for Tey’s To Love and be Wise? I think I nominated last month so I’m also OK to wait before trying again.

That's fine, Frances, thank you for the nomination.

I'd like to nominate Postscript to Poison , the first book by Dorothy Bowers in her Inspector Dan Pardoe series, as I've been meaning to try her for ages.

Please could someone check US availability for me? I've had a look at US Amazon and it looks as if there is a Kindle edition available there from Black Heath Crime but I'm not 100% certain as it has started telling me all Kindle books are "not currently available".

Cornelia Lackland's tyranical rule over her step-granddaughters, Carol and Jenny, is the talk of Minsterbridge. Their grandmother's control over the family fortune means that she has absolute say in Carol and Jenny's affairs - that is if they do not wish to be cut off without a penny. Cornelia recovers from a long illness only to be poisoned the very night before she was due to change her will...

Originally published in 1938, this novel, which introduces Dorothy Bowers's series detective Dan Pardoe, is a classic British murder mystery from the golden age of crime fiction.

PS Just putting out a last call for nominations - aiming to put the poll up tomorrow.

Judy wrote: "I'd like to nominate Postscript to Poison , the first book by Dorothy Bowers in her Inspector Dan Pardoe series, as I've bee..."

I can't find it on kindle in the US. The GR link brings me to an edition in Italian. Specific search only mentions paper versions.

Thank you Sandy - this is the Kindle version I found on the US site, but it didn't say if it was available or not:
https://www.amazon.com/Postscript-Poi...

I do wish Amazon didn't make it so difficult to check availability in other countries! Thanks for looking.

I will nominate a book that is free in the US: Murder on Tyneside. Written in 1916 and mixed reviews from one star to five.

Murder on Tyneside is free on Kindle in the UK too, Sandy, but looks like it was published in 2016 - it says it's Golden Age style though, so I'm happy to put it in the poll. :)

Oops. Hope it is more successful than some of the GA style we've read recently.

The Bellamy Trial is free on Faded Page. Just check your country's copyright laws match up.

https://www.fadedpage.com/csearch.php...

Thanks Carol, useful to know.

The poll is now open, so please cast your votes! I've left out my nomination due to the availability problems in the US.

https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/3...

Judy wrote: "I'd like to nominate Postscript to Poison , the first book by Dorothy Bowers in her Inspector Dan Pardoe series, as I've bee..."

I don't think it is available here. I know I bought it in print a few years ago.

This is a rarity for me - I have all of the books. Including the one omitted.

I can’t get any of them through my usual sources, except Tey, and I’m not a huge fan of hers, so I’ll pass on voting.

And the winner is... To Love and Be Wise by Josephine Tey, which will be our group read in June. Thanks to all who nominated and voted.

Full results:
To Love and Be Wise (Inspector Alan Grant, #4) 6 votes, 40.0%
Murder on Tyneside (Agnes Lockwood Mysteries, Book #1) 5 votes, 33.3%
The Bellamy Trial 3 votes, 20.0%
Juggernaut: A Golden Age Mystery 1 vote, 6.7%

Yay! This is the one Tey I don't think I've read so looking forward to this.

Currently 77p on kindle. I struggle with Tey, but I might try again...

I think my library has this one, so I may try again to get on with Tey.

My library has the unabridged audio book so I'm in.