Reading the Detectives discussion

I'm usually listening to an audiobook at the same time as reading another in paperback. At the moment I'm reading a book set around present day St Martin's Lane in London while listening to An Expert in Murder which is set in the same area in the 1930s. This happened quite by chance but it's been a really interesting experience.

The next book in the modern day series (by Ben Aaronovitch) is set in Soho. So does anyone know any Golden Age books set in Soho? Preferably 1930s or 1940s.

Ruth, I'm interested to hear this, since I keep meaning to get into audiobooks more - the two books in the same area sound like a great idea.

I can't think of any Golden Age books set in Soho, but hopefully someone will be able to help!

I love audiobooks Judy. The right narrator can really bring the characters to life and add an extra dimension to the story.

There is one book called A Scream in Soho by John Brandon- a British crime classics book. Sorry I can't seem to link anything ever from my mobile app of goodreads

I've just discovered that there's a British Library Crime Classic called Murder in Piccadilly by Charles Kingston which features a nightclub in Soho called the Frozen Fang and the Soho underworld.

Well remembered, Arpita. I just realised that Peter posted about A Scream in Soho by John G. Brandon in the thread about British Library Crime Classics - he didn't like it much, though.

Thanks Judy. Love the cover art on this series of books- they are so atmospheric and have a classic vibe.

Wonderful! They both sound great. Thanks Judy and Arpita.

This has been on my shelf unread for far too long however it might also make an interesting companion read Ruth....




North Soho 999: A True Story of Gangs and Gun-Crime in 1940s London by Paul Willetts

Alec de Antiquis was shot dead in Charlotte Street on April 29 1947 after challenging the leaders of a smash-and-grab gang targeting jewellers in the West End.

An agency photographer snapped the 31-year-old’s body slumped against the kerb seconds after the brutal killing.



The image, beamed around the world at the time, revealed the human cost of teenage gun crime in bomb-scarred 1940s London.

Paul Willetts trawled through Old Bailey transcripts and scores of newspapers cuttings.

Paul Willetts says: “People will tell you that teenage gun crime is a modern phenomenon – a fashion blamed on black people or rap culture. But the statistics surrounding this story paint a different picture. In London alone, 10,300 people between the ages of 14 and 20 were, by 1947, convicted members of criminal gangs. It was a wave of gun crime and gangsterism threatening to overwhelm post war London.”

Charles Jenkins gunned down Antiquis, an Italian-born mechanic and father of six, following a botched raid on Jay’s jewellers in Tottenham Street.

The getaway driver, a 17-year-old ‘novice’, failed to find the reverse gear and the masked robbers were forced to flee on foot.

Superintendent Robert Fabian, nicknamed ‘Fabian of the Yard’, solved the murder after a mystery mackintosh holding forensic clues led detectives on a nationwide manhunt stretching from the South London to North Yorkshire.

Jenkins and his accomplice Christopher Geraghty, 21, from Islington, were eventually found, sentenced to death after an Old Bailey trial and hanged in Pentonville.

As it's by Paul Willetts, and based on the three other books I have read by him, I'd say it's guaranteed to be a winner

More info about the book from Paul Willetts here...

http://www.london-books.co.uk/books/n...

Thanks Nigeyb.

^ And thank you Ruth, you've prompted me to read North Soho 999: A True Story of Gangs and Gun-Crime in 1940s London by Paul Willetts next. I'm starting it this very night.

^ ^ ^ I can only endorse my own recommendation Ruth. I'm on page 24 of 272 of North Soho 999: A True Story of Gangs and Gun-Crime in 1940s London and it's a predictably compelling, absorbing opening to this account of the murder that came to symbolise the crimewave threatening to overwhelm post-war London. Set in bomb-scarred London in 1947, it is the untold story of a Soho robbery and shooting carried out by a 17 year-old and his two young accomplices. Paul Willetts does it again.

Nigeyb wrote: "^ ^ ^ I can only endorse my own recommendation Ruth. I'm on page 24 of 272 of North Soho 999: A True Story of Gangs and Gun-Crime in 1940s London and it's a predictably compelling, ab..."

Paul Willetts is certainly on my list of authors to try now.

For UK readers, The Man in the Queue by Josephine Tey is a Kindle Daily Deal today at 99p. I thoroughly recommend this book!

I just recently finished the entire Sherlock collection and was recommended Laurie R. King's series. Has anybody read her Sherlock mysteries? Are they worth checking out?

Rebecca wrote: "I just recently finished the entire Sherlock collection and was recommended Laurie R. King's series. Has anybody read her Sherlock mysteries? Are they worth checking out?"

They're okay. I think I'm up to the 5th one, O Jerusalem. Of course, I've been about to start that one for several years.

Jan C wrote: "Rebecca wrote: "I just recently finished the entire Sherlock collection and was recommended Laurie R. King's series. Has anybody read her Sherlock mysteries? Are they worth checking out?"

They're ..."

I am always hesitant to read anything with already established literary figures and Sherlock Holmes, I think, can be tricky. I read the synopsis of King's books and am on the fence about them. I heard Anthony Horowitz wrote two novels containing Sherlock. Are those better than King's?

Rebecca, I've also just finished reading all the Holmes stories and am now wondering about any further adventures, so would be very interested to hear of any recommendations.

I'm tempted by a book called Sherlock Holmes, the Published Apocrypha, which contains some additional stories and plays by Doyle and some others - has anybody read this? I'm intrigued to hear that it includes some parodies by Doyle of his own work!

Rebecca wrote: "I just recently finished the entire Sherlock collection and was recommended Laurie R. King's series. Has anybody read her Sherlock mysteries? Are they worth checking out?"

I've read the first 8 (or so) of the Mary Russell / Sherlock series and plan to continue. Its one of my favorite series. The mysteries are good, the exotic locations are interesting and the characters seem true to Holmes, Watson and Mrs. Hudson years later. I did have to work to put aside their age difference. I haven't read Holmes all that recently and would be interested in your view if you do go directly from one to the other.

Sandy wrote: "Rebecca wrote: "I just recently finished the entire Sherlock collection and was recommended Laurie R. King's series. Has anybody read her Sherlock mysteries? Are they worth checking out?"

I've rea..."

Really? That is interesting. What age difference? Is Holmes younger in the novels?

Rebecca wrote: "Sandy wrote: "Rebecca wrote: "I just recently finished the entire Sherlock collection and was recommended Laurie R. King's series. Has anybody read her Sherlock mysteries? Are they worth checking o..."

Really? That is interesting. What age difference? Is Holmes younger in the novels?

The Russell / Holmes series takes place in the early 20th century. Mary was born in 1900 so her age is always easy. Holmes is about as young as King can make him (as he detected in the Victorian period) by having him explain that Watson always made him seem older in the stories. He is still 50 - 60ish when she is coming into her maturity. Luckily there are no sex scenes. King explained in an interview that she wanted to move Holmes into a different age: cars, telephones, etc.

Ah I see. I'm glad there are no explicit scenes, I don't think I would be able to handle Holmes being romantic; that would feel so wrong. Guess the only way I can see for myself is to buy the first book. Glad that you have enjoyed it!

I think the first book in this series is wonderful, and some of the others are as well, though others are just okay. The romance is very understated throughout—more of a meeting of the minds.

On the Sherlock Apocrypha, I've now found an article about these works online and seems there are several different books which all contain overlapping selections...

http://www.ihearofsherlock.com/2014/0...

Judy wrote: "Rebecca, I've also just finished reading all the Holmes stories and am now wondering about any further adventures, so would be very interested to hear of any recommendations.

I'm tempted by a book..."

I will definitely have to check out the Sherlock Apocrypha; sounds like it could be an interesting read. I have been thinking of picking up Anthony Horowitz's Sherlock novels. He wrote two I believe, that has Holmes as a main character. Even after finishing the works, I can't seem to get enough of Holmes!

Abigail wrote: "I think the first book in this series is wonderful, and some of the others are as well, though others are just okay. The romance is very understated throughout—more of a meeting of the minds."

I'm glad to hear that because I don't think I would be able to handle Holmes being in a romantic relationship! A meeting of the minds, reminds me of that Shakespearean sonnet 116, I believe. I think I will just have to bite the bullet and pick up the first King book.

Thank you everyone for your feedback! It really has helped me on deciding to pick up King's book or not. :)

Rebecca wrote: "Jan C wrote: "Rebecca wrote: "I just recently finished the entire Sherlock collection and was recommended Laurie R. King's series. Has anybody read her Sherlock mysteries? Are they worth checking o..."

I read them. They were okay. Actually, I listened to The House of Silk, read perfectly by Derek Jacobi. I don't think he read the second one. I had started listening to it, but it was due back at the library and I wound up getting it on Kindle. It might have been one of the Daily Deals.

Actually, I think I like the King books better.

I'm not sure where we were talking about Martin Edwards and his The Golden Age of Murder. He apparently had a successful weekend - received both the Agatha and the Edgar for Best Non-Fiction and Best Critical Biographical, respectively.

Well deserved, Jan C. It was a great read.

Jan C wrote: "I'm not sure where we were talking about Martin Edwards and his The Golden Age of Murder. He apparently had a successful weekend - received both the Agatha and the Ed..."

Fantastic news, Jan. It was a book that was being talked about in so many places and has made a big impact.

I'm looking for a new series of mysteries in audiobook to listen to on my daily walks.

My favorite series so far has been the Hamish Macbeth series by M.C. Beaton. (I don't like Angela Raisin, though.) Second best was the Amelia Peabody series by Elizabeth Peters. Okay, though not great, was the Constable Evans series by Rhys Bowen. I don't like convoluted mysteries for listening to since can't concentrate too much on the action and clues while I'm walking. Just simple, fun, engaging, "light" mysteries, with plenty of volumes in audiobook format so I can binge listen!

Any suggestions?

Have you tried Jane Haddam, Everyman? Her Gregor Demarkian series is one of my all time favourites. First one is Not a Creature was Stirring and I think they are available in audio. Sadly, in the UK, we had them, briefly, on kindle and audio and then they vanished....

The Falco series are great fun too and there are a lot of them.

A light series that I have always enjoyed is Simon's Brett's Fethering mysteries. The Body on the Beach is the first one - I am not sure if it is on audio though.

Everyman wrote: "I'm looking for a new series of mysteries in audiobook to listen to on my daily walks.

My favorite series so far has been the Hamish Macbeth series by M.C. Beaton. (I don't like Angela Raisin, th..."

I also do many books on audio and agree that they can't be too complicated once you leave the house. I enjoyed the Vish Puri series by Tarquin Hall, although there may be only four. Phrynne Fisher series by Kerry Greenwood is definitely light and long - and fun. The John Quincannon series by Marcia Muller and her mystery writer husband is okay - also only has about four. Others I do on audio: Maise Dobbs, Flavia de Luce, and Cormoran Strike. Ones I read but might qualify: No. 1 Ladies and Mary Russell / Sherlock Homes.

Links:
The Case of the Missing Servant
Cocaine Blues
The Bughouse Affair
The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie
Maisie Dobbs
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency
The Beekeeper's Apprentice

Susan wrote: "A light series that I have always enjoyed is Simon's Brett's Fethering mysteries. The Body on the Beach is the first one - I am not sure if it is on audio though. ..."

I've been listening to some of the later books in this series and thought I might go back and start at the beginning. The only option for audio that I found for the first book was to borrow the CDs from the library.

I'm regularly finding that there is a book missing from a series on Audible.

I know, Ruth. So annoying when that happens - it often happens on kindle too...

A mystery writer I admire, some of whose books are available in the audio format, is Joanne Dobson (caveat: I’ve never listened to any of the audiobooks so I don’t know whether they’re well narrated). She wrote a series of mysteries set in a fictional small New England college town. They are smart but not full of complicated clues, more focused on characters and relationships than on a relentless sequence of incidents. Female heroine.

Susan wrote: "Have you tried Jane Haddam, Everyman? Her Gregor Demarkian series is one of my all time favourites. First one is Not a Creature was Stirring and I think they are available in audio. ..."

I read the first few Fethering stories on audio until I ran into the dry spell of Death Under the Dryer. But I finally located that at alibris.com a month or so ago. I'll have to find out if the wait was worth it. It is a series I have been enjoying. Watching Carol (?) come out of the shell she appears to have been living in.

Abigail, I like Joanne Dobson too. I love academic settings for mysteries :)

Thanks for all the great ideas! Lots for me to look for.

Everyman wrote: "I'm looking for a new series of mysteries in audiobook to listen to on my daily walks.

My favorite series so far has been the Hamish Macbeth series by M.C. Beaton. (I don't like Angela Raisin, th..."

The Flavia de Luce mysteries by Alan Bradley are all available in audiobook form - the first one is The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie. I am not a fan (the main character Flavia irritated me) but lots of people like them.

I love the audiobook editions of the Inspector Montalbano series, narrated by Grover Gardner. The first one, The Shape of Water, is a bit weak but the series improves after that.

Or if you are willing to revisit some that you read in print, there are lots of Ngaio Marsh books in audio.

Ruth wrote: "I'm usually listening to an audiobook at the same time as reading another in paperback. At the moment I'm reading a book set around present day St Martin's Lane in London while listening to [book:A..."

On the original query of Golden Age titles set in Soho, there's always Gladys Mitchell's war-time Mrs. Bradley in Sunset over Soho (1943)...

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

William wrote: "Ruth wrote: "I'm usually listening to an audiobook at the same time as reading another in paperback. At the moment I'm reading a book set around present day St Martin's Lane in London while listeni..."

Thanks William - I'll certainly look out for that one.

So, I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this, but I'm looking for recommendations. I have read two Mary Rinehart mysteries. One I liked, one I didn't. Does anyone have a book of hers that you would recommend me to read?

I've only read The Circular Staircase which I enjoyed listening to.

I liked , which was a locked-room mystery with a comedy twist.

Just a heads up, Ruth mentioned Moon over soho in the OP. From the blurb the Ben Aaronovitch Rivers series look like they should be lovely cozy mysteries about a special unit of wizards within the metropolitan police force.

They ain't cosy, more like urban fantasy where the main character is a policeman. The series gets very violent and very adult in later books. I personally loved them but then I love discworld and watching movies about wizards and spaceships, so your mileage may vary if adult content is not your cup of tea.

Also the Flavia Books go right off the boil and into tedium at about book 4. Before that they are lovely and it's a pity because Sophie Aldred is an amazing narrator.

On to the point.
The queens of detective fiction on audio book are Peabody, then Peabody, followed by Peabody. Don't bother with the one not narrated by Barbara it's her that makes the series. There is a four book omnibus on amazon cheap but I would recommend that as a companion. You also have to read it in order as well as the characters age and more permanent characters are added as part of plots and so on. http://www.audible.co.uk/series/ref=a...

Learnin Curve wrote: "Just a heads up, Ruth mentioned Moon over soho in the OP. From the blurb the Ben Aaronovitch Rivers series look like they should be lovely cozy mysteries about a special unit of wizards within the ..."

The Ben Aaronovitch book was just on the edge of what I find enjoyable in crime fiction - I'm definitely more of a cosy crime sort. I haven't read the second one yet, it's there on my pile next to the sofa but I know I have to be in the right mood to start it.

I just ran across this article, which may be of interest.
http://lithub.com/book-lovers-make-th...

I love bookish books, so thank you Daniele.