Reading the Detectives discussion

Judy wrote: "I'm another one who finds audio books a bit of a struggle - I love the idea of them but often find I start thinking about something else and miss a big chunk."

Audio books take a while to get used to and it takes a bit of practice to get the hang of them. Devote like a half an hour or an hour to listening to an audiobook and put all of your attention on it, and by doing that you won't miss a huge chunk of it. Don't give up on them because listening to audiobooks can be a good experience .... it just takes a little training to the ear and undivided attention.

I like to have audio books on long drives. I have a friend who listens while doing housework and says it's amazing how much she gets done.

LovesMysteries wrote: "Devote like a half an hour or an hour to listening to an audiobook and put all of your attention on it, and by doing that you won't miss a huge chunk of it. "

Thanks for the advice, I'll give it a try. I too often try to listen to them while doing something complicated, which is absolutely fatal!

Hi, I'm Bridget and I'm happy to have found a group with similar reading interests!

Hi Bridget - welcome to the group! Lovely to have a new member :)

Welcome, Bridget, we're glad you found us too!

Howdy Everyone! I am Lynne (Bluemoonlady) from the middle of nowhere in Eastern Colorado. I have been reading mysteries as long as I have been reading. My first loves were Nancy Drew and Perry Mason! Since then, I have read voraciously but have spread out my interests. I still also have a mystery going among the other books. I am reading all of the Agatha Christies, and have only Hercule left (I saved what was for me, the best for last). I also read all of the John Dickson Carr's Dr Gideon Fell. The locked room discussion in "The Three Coffins" is a wonderful classic of the genre. This seems like a very prolific group and I only get on-line a couple times a week but will do my best to stay abreast!

Welcome Lynne!

I agree with you about The Three Coffins (also known as "The Hollow Man") but I haven't read much else by Carr -- any recommendations?

Welcome, Lynn, from western North Carolina. I love John Dickson Carr.

Leslie wrote: "Welcome Lynne!

I agree with you about The Three Coffins (also known as "The Hollow Man") but I haven't read much else by Carr -- any recommendations?"
I recommend most of the Dr Gideon Fell's, though I think the earlier ones are much the best. Wasn't thrilled with the last ones. I also have the Sir Henry Merrivale's but haven't started them. I probably will after I do the rest of Hercule Poirot. Thanks for the welcome!

Jan C wrote: "Welcome, Lynn, from western North Carolina. I love John Dickson Carr."

Thanks for the welcome. Always glad to find a fellow Carr fan. Have you read them all?

Lynne wrote: "Jan C wrote: "Welcome, Lynn, from western North Carolina. I love John Dickson Carr."

Thanks for the welcome. Always glad to find a fellow Carr fan. Have you read them all?"

Oh, no, I have many more to look forward to. So far, I've just been picking them up as I go. Loved The Three Coffins. Next up for me is Hag's Nook.

Welcome Lynne. We are glad you found us, however often you visit :)

Welcome, Lynne! Great that you have joined. I must confess I still haven't read any John Dickson Carr, though I've been meaning to try him for ages. I really will do so soon!

I just finished reading two Carter Dickson novels featuring Henry Merrivale. The Plague Court Murders and The Red Widow Murders. I like locked room/impossible crimes and I think John Dickson Carr/Carter Dickson is the best. My favorite is The Three Coffins, a Dr. Fell mystery and The Crooked Hinge is also good.

Fred wrote: "I just finished reading two Carter Dickson novels featuring Henry Merrivale. The Plague Court Murders and The Red Widow Murders. I like locked room/impossible crimes and I think John Dickson Carr/C..."

I have recently been binge-watching an old (1960s) TV show based on John Dickson Carr short stories called "Colonel March of Scotland Yard" -- Colonel March is played by Boris Karloff!! He is in charge of the "Department of Queer Complaints" and the show definitely features the 'impossible' crimes Carr is so well known for.

I keep meaning to read John Dickson Carr. Maybe he would be a good nomination for a group read next year?

Fred wrote: "I just finished reading two Carter Dickson novels featuring Henry Merrivale. The Plague Court Murders and The Red Widow Murders. I like locked room/impossible crimes and I think John Dickson Carr/C..."

Fred, I agree with you. Those books are so enjoyable. In my "chronological quest," I read those over a year ago, but your post reminds me to jump back to my list of his books. So many books, so little time!

Leslie wrote: "Fred wrote: "I just finished reading two Carter Dickson novels featuring Henry Merrivale. The Plague Court Murders and The Red Widow Murders. I like locked room/impossible crimes and I think John D..."

How wonderful that you found that old series! I have never seen it. Where did you find it so that you can binge watch it?

Christine wrote: "Leslie wrote: "Fred wrote: "I just finished reading two Carter Dickson novels featuring Henry Merrivale. The Plague Court Murders and The Red Widow Murders. I like locked room/impossible crimes and..."

I think I found him by accident - I found it on a bookshelf at my brother's. His girlfriend thought she had gotten rid of all of them (the least person in the house had left everything, including books). It was a Dr. Fell. I didn't even know then that Carter Dickson and John Dickson Carr were the same person.

I believe both of those authors might be carried by Rue Morgue - a small press/supplier that reprints classic mysteries

Deborah wrote: "I believe both of those authors might be carried by Rue Morgue - a small press/supplier that reprints classic mysteries"

It looks like they have gone out of business as of last February, per an item on google.

Although Amazon does appear to have a number of Carr titles, as does Powell's. A number are available on Kindle now, although not all.

Jan C wrote: "Christine wrote: "Leslie wrote: "Fred wrote: "I just finished reading two Carter Dickson novels featuring Henry Merrivale. The Plague Court Murders and The Red Widow Murders. I like locked room/imp..."

Hi Jan, I was actually asking about the old TV series someone mentioned (perhaps you?) with Boris Karloff. I am lucky to live in a town with a library that has 90% of the great Golden Age books. And they are always adding to their collection.

BTW, I'm shocked that your brother's girlfriend would want to "get rid of all of" the books the former owners had. That would be a goldmine to me.

Christine wrote: "Jan C wrote: "Christine wrote: "Leslie wrote: "Fred wrote: "I just finished reading two Carter Dickson novels featuring Henry Merrivale. The Plague Court Murders and The Red Widow Murders. I like l..."

It surprised me as well. But she was past her mystery binge, I guess, and it hadn't occurred to me that I might have an interest. For several years she was in a Civil War phase and last time I was there she had moved on to Lee Child. Not sure what she is reading now. In her spare time she teaches accounting/finance at University of Texas at San Antonio.

Jan C wrote: "Christine wrote: "Jan C wrote: "Christine wrote: "Leslie wrote: "Fred wrote: "I just finished reading two Carter Dickson novels featuring Henry Merrivale. The Plague Court Murders and The Red Widow..."

I liked the Reacher books until Tom Cruise was cast to play Reacher (a virtual giant compared to tiny Cruise) in the movie. Not that I go to that many movies, but it seemed ludicrous. Then I read that Lee Child loved the fact that Cruise was going to play Reacher. After that, I couldn't bear to read another one of the books. Guess I'm a little picky, huh?

I watched an interview with Lee Childs recently and he explained that although initially he was wary about the much smaller Cruise playing Jack Reacher, he believed he had provided a totally realistic performance of his hero a- he said he inhabited the character totally!

Susan in Perthshire wrote: "I watched an interview with Lee Childs recently and he explained that although initially he was wary about the much smaller Cruise playing Jack Reacher, he believed he had provided a totally realis..."

Susan, thanks for your note. I suppose that's true, but it's just hard for me to get past all the things I know about Cruise. Plus I kept thinking how hard it would be to watch it while realizing he was standing on boxes during close-up scenes! I'm ruined from being on too many movie sets when I was younger...it's harder to believe (some of) the illusions when you can see the "wizard behind the curtain!"

Christine wrote: "Susan in Perthshire wrote: "I watched an interview with Lee Childs recently and he explained that although initially he was wary about the much smaller Cruise playing Jack Reacher, he believed he h..."

I totally understand - - the more I know about Mr Cruise, the less inclined I am to watch him myself; but I must admit I saw the first film and thoroughly enjoyed it. He is a good actor and always delivers great entertainment - for me, he really did become Jack! I can see where you're coming from. I remember the stories of Alan Ladd having to stand on a box to appear taller than his leading ladies!!

Fred wrote: "I just finished reading two Carter Dickson novels featuring Henry Merrivale. The Plague Court Murders and The Red Widow Murders. I like locked room/impossible crimes and I think John Dickson Carr/C..."

I just finished reading all the Gideon Fells and have managed to acquire Sir Henry Merrivale, so will start those soon. Sounds like it will be more locked room fun! Thanks for the heads up!

Leslie wrote: "Fred wrote: "I just finished reading two Carter Dickson novels featuring Henry Merrivale. The Plague Court Murders and The Red Widow Murders. I like locked room/impossible crimes and I think John D..."

Now I will have to see if I can track down the vintage TV series. I love Karloff in just about anything, no matter how hokey. Hope you all don't lose complete respect for me when I tell you that some of my Karloff favorites are Mr. Wong!! LOL

Christine wrote: "Jan C wrote: "Christine wrote: "Leslie wrote: "Fred wrote: "I just finished reading two Carter Dickson novels featuring Henry Merrivale. The Plague Court Murders and The Red Widow Murders. I like l..."

Christine! I just found the old Colonel March TV series on Amazon. Looks like you can stream it for free if you are a Prime Member. Even to buy the DVD's, they are only around $4-5 for 4 episodes. Hope this helps!

Lynne wrote: "Christine wrote: "Jan C wrote: "Christine wrote: "Leslie wrote: "Fred wrote: "I just finished reading two Carter Dickson novels featuring Henry Merrivale. The Plague Court Murders and The Red Widow..."

Lynne, thank you so much for this information! Yes, I am an Amazon Prime member. I will get this on my list immediately. Thank you!

Christine wrote: "Lynne wrote: "Christine wrote: "Jan C wrote: "Christine wrote: "Leslie wrote: "Fred wrote: "I just finished reading two Carter Dickson novels featuring Henry Merrivale. The Plague Court Murders and..."

You are most welcome!

Lynne wrote: "Christine wrote: "Lynne wrote: "Christine wrote: "Jan C wrote: "Christine wrote: "Leslie wrote: "Fred wrote: "I just finished reading two Carter Dickson novels featuring Henry Merrivale. The Plague..."

I, too, have Prime so will have to check it out.

Hi! I love reading a good mystery! Agatha Christie is my favorite, but I also enjoy Dorothy L. Sayers. I haven't read many others, but I'm always up for a new experience!

Hi Elsie, and welcome. Christie is my favourite too and we have a Miss Marple challenge next year, which you are welcome to join in with :)

Welcome, Elsie, glad you found us! We have quite a few fans of both Christie and Sayers in the group.

Hi everyone. I'm Rebekah, a huge fan of Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, Ellis Peters, Anne Perry...mystery in general, really. Happy to have found this group!

Rebekah wrote: "Hi everyone. I'm Rebekah, a huge fan of Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, Ellis Peters, Anne Perry...mystery in general, really. Happy to have found this group!"

Hi Rebekah, welcome!

Welcome Rebekah, glad you've found us! We're just about to start a Miss Marple challenge in 2017, and also discuss lots of other mysteries.

Welcome, Rebekah. Nice to have you in the group. Our poll for the February 2017 read is still up, if you would like to vote.

hello my name is aisha and this is the first time I join a group in goodreads and I adore Agatha Christie books Now I'm Reading Passenger to Frankfurt I hope to be a useful member and Benefiting thank you

Welcome Aisha! We have an Agatha Christie challenge coming up in January. : )

Hi everyone! My name is Marcus and I join the group in order to read some thrillers, specially Agata Christie.

Welcome Marcus, glad you found us. We will be reading the Miss Marple books for next year's challenge.

Hi Marcus - welcome. Yes, lots of Agatha Christie coming up next year.

I am thrilled to find this group as I read the "golden age" mysteries as well as British mysteries. I am a huge fan of Rex Stout and have all the Nero Wolfe books....but I am a huge fan of most authors of the golden age, even S.S. VanDine whose character Philo Vance has not aged well.

Welcome, Jill.

Hey, Jan C......glad to see you here. This is going to be a fun group.