Reading the Detectives discussion

I like Ellis Peters, Ace. I've never read Bernard Cornwell - which book would you suggest a new reader begin with?

I've got the first Brother Cadfael book waiting in the pile by my bed - must get to it soon!

The Bernard Cornwell Saxon stories are being serialised on tv at the moment . The Last Kingdom .

Susan wrote: "I like Ellis Peters, Ace. I've never read Bernard Cornwell - which book would you suggest a new reader begin with?"

I've read a couple of Ellis Peters so far and enjoyed them- a couple more waiting on my TBR.

I've read two Cornwells - one was from the Sharpe series which I quite enjoyed to my surprise since I didn't think I'd like something on a war theme. The second was Gallows Thief (a stand-alone I think)-it was pretty enjoyable but there was a bit of coarse language in some dialogues (for authenticity I guess) but that part I didn't enjoy.

Yes, having looked at the blurb, I think Cornwell looks a bit 'blokey' for my tastes. Perhaps I am being unfair and should give them a try, but war themes don't appeal. I read a book by Clive James (whose writing I love) and he was saying that he was introduced to the Patrick O'Brian novels and loved them. Normally, I take anything Clive James suggests as being worth investigating, but men on warships - not sure. Anyone else read them? Clive James book, by the way, was the incredibly moving Latest Readings and I recommend it for any book lovers.

I used to love the Sharpe TV series starring Sean Bean - it was very well done. But I have somehow never got round to the books.

Judy wrote: "Great to meet you, Ace - as a Miss Marple fan you are welcome to join in with the discussions for our group challenge! Must admit I haven't read any Bernard Cornwell as yet, but I'd like to go back..."

Hi Judy, thanks for the welcome and sorry for calling you Susan (blushing).
I'll check in the threads for the marple reads, I have read the first 2 and the Caribbean one. They seem a bit dated to me, but I'm going to keep at it as they are short reads and I'm going to try to solve one before miss marple does :)

Bernard Cornwell is the master of the battle scene, which I love... Richard Sharpe and Uhtred of Bebbanburg from the Sharp and Saxon Series' are 2 of my favourite characters of all time. I love the strategy behind the battles and Cornwell brings many strong female characters into the fold. There is a brilliantly written blog post by Sharon Kay Penman recently about why Bernard Cornwell is so great. I'll try and track it down for you to read.
But in summary a bit blokey but he has many female fans!

Jill wrote: "The Bernard Cornwell Saxon stories are being serialised on tv at the moment . The Last Kingdom ."

Hi Jill,
Yes the tv series is good, but unfortunately very badly cast Uhtred, altogether too pretty for the part. Have you watched them yet?

Lady Clementina wrote: "Susan wrote: "I like Ellis Peters, Ace. I've never read Bernard Cornwell - which book would you suggest a new reader begin with?"

I've read a couple of Ellis Peters so far and enjoyed them- a coup..."

Hello Lady Clementina, he has so many books, of the standalone ones I have read, I liked Azincourt the best.

I hope you will stick with Sharpe, he is a great character.

We have a thread for discussing historical mysteries which I've just bumped:

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

It would be great to hear some recommendations etc over there. I'm getting increasingly into this genre!

Ace wrote: "Hi Judy, thanks for the welcome and sorry for calling you Susan (blushing).
I'll check in the threads for the marple reads, I have read the first 2 and the Caribbean one. They seem a bit dated to me,

No worries, Ace. Many of the books we read here are classic mysteries from the 1930s and 40s - so yes, they are dated, but personally I love them! Pleased to hear that you are going to keep on with the Miss Marple books and good luck at solving one before Miss M does. :)

Ace wrote: "Lady Clementina wrote: "Susan wrote: "I like Ellis Peters, Ace. I've never read Bernard Cornwell - which book would you suggest a new reader begin with?"

I've read a couple of Ellis Peters so far ..."

I will - does it matter if one doesn't read them in order?

Hello, everyone. You don't know how happy I am to be here. Let me introduce myself. I go by the name, Sawako (nickname). I am from Egypt. I am 24 years old (till May, of course). I am happy that I came across this group. I wish I had joined it in 2016. As I am currently reading Lord Peter. And that's how I knew about the group. But as the proverb goes "Better late than never". I read all of Sherlock Holmes' books by Arthur Conan Doyle. I also read some books by Agatha Christie and Dorothy L. Sayers. And I would love to read books by Georgette Heyer. If there's something you would like to know. Feel free to ask me. Have a nice day, everyone. (^O^)

Welcome Sawako, glad you found us! I read all the Sherlock Holmes stories last year and loved them The Wimsey threads from last year are still open and you are also very welcome to join in with our Miss Marple challenge.

Hi Sawako - welcome to the group :) We are happy you found us. As you know, we had a Lord Peter challenge last year (I assume that is how you came across us) and we have a Miss Marple challenge this year. Some of our members are also involved in a Georgette Heyer group, so they can probably advise you better about her.

Judy wrote: "Welcome Sawako, glad you found us! I read all the Sherlock Holmes stories last year and loved them The Wimsey threads from last year are still open and you are also very welcome to join in with our..."

Thanks! Of course, I would love to join in with the challenge. I am not sure how to do it. As it will be my very first group challenge.

Susan wrote: "Hi Sawako - welcome to the group :) We are happy you found us. As you know, we had a Lord Peter challenge last year (I assume that is how you came across us) and we have a Miss Marple challenge thi..."

Thanks! I am so sorry that I missed Lord Peter's challenge. But I will participate in the threads. I borrowed Five Red Herrings and Murder Must Advertise from openlibrary. I am also waiting to get Sleeping Murder.

We have two books a month, Sawako. One is a general read which we vote on (there is no vote open at the moment, as people are still nominating suggestions for the next vote) and the other book is an ongoing, yearly challenge (in this case Miss Marple). There is no pressure for members to join in with any of the books, but at least one, or more, of the moderators will read the books.

If you have a look at the site, you can see that all of the discussion threads for the Lord Peters challenge remain open. So, if you prefer to carry on reading those, you can do so at your own pace and comment on those discussions. If you want to join in with the Miss Marple challenge, we are currently reading, "Sleeping Murder," and have read two previous novels and one book of short stories. In other words, you can jump in at any point and we keep an eye to see whether any discussion threads have been added to.

Good to hear, Sawako. Please feel free to join in whenever, and wherever you wish, and the same is true for all new members, of course. The Lord Peter challenge was great fun and Miss Marple is equally enjoyable so far.

I am so excited to start. And thank you, Susan, for your explanation.

You're welcome, Sawako. I am sure you will find your way around our little group in time :)

Hi there, I have just joined. I am new to GoodReads and I am a huge fan of Golden Age crime. As well as Agatha Christie, Dorothy L Sayers and Georgette Heyer, I have a particular passion for Patricia Wentworth and am sorry I missed the Grey Mask read last month.

I live in Berkshire (UK) and these days, tend to reread old crime novels rather than try new books, which is a terrible admission. I have three children and am already trying to interest the oldest (age 12) in classic detection via the Robin Stevens Unladylike Murders series.

I look forward to making your acquaintance. Annabel

Welcome Annabel. Hello from western North Carolina.

I have a number of Wentworth's Miss Silver waiting me on my Kindle - they had a big sale one month.

Welcome Annabel, glad you joined us. That's a great selection of favourite authors.

I've been reading quite a few of the early standalone Wentworth books, since many have been given away free on Kindle in the UK, and also have a lot more stacked up! I try not to read them too close together as they get a bit samey, but I do enjoy her writing style a lot.

Welcome, Annabel. Nothing wrong with re-reading old books :)

Annabel wrote: "Hi there, I have just joined. I am new to GoodReads and I am a huge fan of Golden Age crime. As well as Agatha Christie, Dorothy L Sayers and Georgette Heyer, I have a particular passion for Patric..."

Glad you made it over here, Annabel!

Annabel wrote: "Hi there, I have just joined. I am new to GoodReads and I am a huge fan of Golden Age crime. As well as Agatha Christie, Dorothy L Sayers and Georgette Heyer, I have a particular passion for Patric..."

I read the first two Unladylike Mysteries recently and am waiting for the third to be available in the states. Hopefully your daughter enjoys them as much as I, a half century older than twelve, did.

My daughter (10) is also a fan of the series :)

I read the first few chapters of Mistletoe Murders on a train when by some freak role reversal my daughter had brought a book and I hadn't. (She had gone on her headphones, I didn't drag it out of her hands!) I rather liked it so now have to go back and start from the beginning before I am allowed to finish MM.

Annabel wrote: "I read the first few chapters of Mistletoe Murders on a train when by some freak role reversal my daughter had brought a book and I hadn't. (She had gone on her headphones, I didn't drag it out of ..."

Interesting that we all have these self-imposed rules. Hope you find out the ending soon!

That rule was imposed by my daughter not me! She won't let me read the rest of Mistletoe Murders until I have read all the others. A 12-year-old can be quite strict about these things.

Lady Clementina wrote: " does it matter if one doesn't read them in order? .."

Hmm, They were actually written out of order, but I read them in order as I thought I could follow the history more sequentially. However they don't really flow like say the Saxon Series (which I would recommend reading in order).
So, read them as they come to hand if you like.

Hi, My name is Marwan. I'm from Iraq. I'm currently in Malaysia studying.
I've been reading mystery novels since I was 16. Agatha Christie is my favorite writer. I also like Arthur Conan Doyle, Georgette Heyer, Josephine Tey and others.

Marwan wrote: "Hi, My name is Marwan. I'm from Iraq. I'm currently in Malaysia studying.
I've been reading mystery novels since I was 16. Agatha Christie is my favorite writer. I also like Arthur Conan Doyle, Geo..."

Welcome! You will find lots to read in this group and Heyer has her very own group and you may want to check that out. Hope you join us in our Miss Marple challenge; April's book in Sleeping Murder .

Hi Marwan and welcome to the group :)

Welcome Marwan, glad you found us. That's a great selection of favourite authors!

Hi, I'm Brina. I joined because my GR friend Carol commented on my review of Murder at the Vicarage that this group is reading Miss Marple mysteries this year. I am more of a Poirot fan but I am excited to read more of Christie and her contemporaries so I am delighted to be here.

Hi Brina and welcome to the group. I prefer Poirot too, although I like Miss Marple :)

Welcome Brina! Great that Carol told you about the group. I haven’t read all that much Christie yet but am enjoying Miss Marple and I'm sure I will love Poirot too. :)

Thank you, Susan and Judy. The other detectives this group is reading look fun to read, too. Excited to read new PIs and old favorites.

Brina wrote: "Hi, I'm Brina. I joined because my GR friend Carol commented on my review of Murder at the Vicarage that this group is reading Miss Marple mysteries this year. I am more of a Poirot fan but I am ex..."

Nice to see you here Brina :)

Hi
I'm a new member (waves) and joined after Susan mentioned the group to me. I'm joining to mainly discover/discuss more books in this genre. My Bookclub/Facebook groups that I am a member of are reading Death On The Nile and Agatha Christie And The Eleven Missing Days this month and I've recently just acquired a large collection of Agatha Christie books (33) to work my way through. I'm looking forward to chatting with you all & reading the monthly choices.

Welcome Kelly

Kelly, you are in the right place to enjoy those 33 books ... and probably add a few more. Welcome.

Hi Kelly - so glad you decided to join us :) Welcome to the group.

Welcome Kelly, great that you joined. We've got a Miss Marple challenge going at the moment if there are any of those in your cellection. :)

Thanks for the warm welcome. Yes, I've seen your challenge & will be taking part with next months books. 😀x

Great to hear, Kelly. x

Welcome, Kelly. I just joined too and it's already a great group.