Reading the Detectives discussion

I meant to read the Iceland book next, but got in a slight muddle and as a result I'm now reading a mystery on Kindle set in the tiny country of Andorra, Death Has a Thousand Doors by Patricia W. Grey.

It's in the Pyrenees close to Spain and France, and the whole country only has a population of 85,000! Enjoying all the local colour. I'm sure I'd never have discovered this particular book without this challenge. Iceland next, anyway!

I've now finished Death Has a Thousand Doors, set in Andorra - my review is here:

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

I've also started Silence of the Grave - very atmospheric, dark and grim so far.

I look forward to hearing what you think of Arnaldur Indriðason Judy.

Yes, I like his books too. They are dark, but really well written.

I liked it too, Leslie and Susan - I've just written a review:

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

Silence of the Grave was much darker than the crime novels I usually read, but I agree that the quality of the writing is excellent.

Good to hear, Judy. I am a big fan of Nordic Noir and am currently engrossed in The Owl Always Hunts At Night which is the second in a series, following on from I'm Traveling Alone. Both very dark and gritty and violent, but I am as much a fan of those kind of mysteries as the Golden Age puzzles. I know some people tend to one or the other, but I am perfectly happy with either, or both.

I had always thought Nordic noir might be a bit too dark and gritty for me - I'm more on the puzzle mystery wing. But I will try some more noir in future.

I've just started a book set in Ireland, Death in the Quadrangle by Eilís Dillon, which Miss M recommended a little while ago. Very good so far - I love the witty writing style, and as an academic mystery it will be interesting to contrast with Gaudy Night.

I've now finished 'Death in the Quadrangle' - I liked the writing style and found it an enjoyable, easy read, but I was a bit disappointed with the plot, so overall a 3-star read for me.

I was slightly puzzled as to what on earth to read for England for this challenge (most books I read are set there anyway, so the whole idea of doing this is to broaden out!)

But I have now decided on one of the British Library Crime Classics anthologies, Serpents in Eden, a collection of short countryside crime stories - from a quick peek, it appears that they are all set in different areas of England.

For Scotland, I've just read Escort to Adventure by Angus MacVicar, a romantic adventure/mystery from the 1950s, which I enjoyed a lot.

You're doing remarkably well, Judy!

I have Escort to Adventure on my kindle - whereabouts in Scotland is it set? I'm wondering if I can read it for my challenge.

How are you getting on with your challenge? I'm still at the stage of finding counties that have plenty of choices for reading. I'm sure you are finding the same with countries.

Jay-me (Janet) wrote: "I have Escort to Adventure on my kindle - whereabouts in Scotland is it set? I'm wondering if I can read it for my challenge. "

It starts in Glasgow but most of the book is set in Kintyre, at a fictional village called Glendale which is apparently based on Southend on the peninsula, where he lived. I'm not sure where Kintyre fits in your historic counties, Jay-me?

I'm enjoying my challenge but haven't got nearly as far as you have! Early days for me, so I'm still finding places with plenty of choice too.

So far I've read 6 books - I've got a list of 56 countries, but I think this will probably expand as I go, since many countries have areas which have a very different character, as I've just found with Italy and Sicily.

Susan wrote: "You're doing remarkably well, Judy!"

Thanks for the encouragement, Susan! I'm enjoying my virtual travels. :)

Great idea Judy! Good luck with this.

Thanks, Roisin!

Judy, if you want to try some Nordic noir that is not too violent, try Yrsa Sigurðardóttir. There is a murder, but then more of a puzzle and no particular violence in the books. I was pleasantly surprised by them.

Carolien, sorry to be slow in responding! My daughter also recommended the same author to me just after you did - I will give her a try. :)

I've just started Death in the Dordogne: The first Bruno, Chief of Police investigation by Martin Walker, which was recommended to me by a Goodreads friend, for France. Enjoying it so far - a very evocative portrayal of the Périgord region.

I've now finished Death in the Dordogne, which was a good read though I had one or two reservations - here is my review:

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

I'm currently reading The Summer of Dead Toys by Antonio Hill, which Susan recommended, for Spain - I'm not very far in, but it is good so far.

Oh, I loved that book, Judy. Thank you for reminding me - I would like to re-read that series. Not that there are too many just yet, but perhaps one has come out that I missed?!

Just checked - still only two, but both excellent.

So far it's a bit darker than I usually read, but it's good to move out of my comfort zone. The characters are very interesting - at times I've found the story a bit hard to follow because it jumps around somewhat, but I'm getting into it now.

I really love the characters. I like both GA and dark, violent thrillers though. I know some people only like one or the other.

I've finished The Summer of Dead Toys now - I put it down for a while, then picked it up and read the second half almost non-stop. Although it is dark and has some very disturbing subject matter, I liked it a lot and would like to read the second one too. I think it helps that the characters are so interesting. And, even though the mystery is solved, there is an aspect of the story that's left open...

I read it some time ago, but I recall that I really liked it. Glad you did too.

Just came across a website which looks very useful for people trying to find a book set in a particular corner of the world, www.tripfiction.com - I think it will be very helpful to me in finding books for some of the trickier locations.

Nice site, Judy. Which countries are you struggling with?

Thanks, Susan. I'm not really sure which ones will be hard yet - so far I've tended to read fairly easy countries, but I'm sure it will get harder as I carry on. I suspect some of the East European countries might be quite difficult.

Possibly. Let us know if you get stuck and we will help you search.

Thanks, Susan! I've been sidetracked by festive reads over the last couple of weeks, but picked up a Kindle Daily Deal the other day for Greece.

Couldn't resist this one when I saw it - it's the first in the Mysteries of the Greek Detective series, The Messenger of Athens by Anne Zouroudi - some comments at Amazon say there are similarities with Poirot, so I'll let you know!

I still want to read the Mary Stewart books set in Greece which Abigail recommended too - I did think my local libraries didn't have those, but have just realised they have Mary Stewart listed as two separate authors in their system and have more of her books than I'd realised!

That's another one I downloaded when it was a deal of the day a while ago, but remains unread. I just need endless time and nothing else to do but read!

Susan wrote: "That's another one I downloaded when it was a deal of the day a while ago, but remains unread. I just need endless time and nothing else to do but read!"

Haha. Don't we all, but life has this horrible habit of getting in the way!

Tell me about it. Honestly, especially this time of the year, it is just crazy...

I haven't started the Greek book yet, but did just recently read a very short thriller/mystery, The Candidate: A Luxembourg Thriller, which I enjoyed - set among expats working for finance companies.

I'm now reading Prodigals of Monte Carlo by E. Phillips Oppenheim, first published in 1926 - I had a quick glance at this to see if it would be a good read for Monaco, and was instantly hooked!

Looks as if it is probably more of a romantic thriller than a mystery - has anybody read any of Oppenheim's books? A lot seem to be available on Kindle.

I enjoy Oppenheim - he was one of the earliest espionage writers and wrote quite a few mysteries as well. The Cinema Murder is a very clever mystery.

Thanks Carolien, I'll look out for that one. I'm loving Prodigals of Monte Carlo so far - I'm about halfway through and finding it very well written and full of atmosphere.

So far it is mainly a romantic story, but there seem to be thriller elements. I'm surprised he isn't better known, since this is great!

I've finished Prodigals of Monte Carlo now - it's a romantic adventure. I found it a very quick and enjoyable read, with a lot of descriptions of Monte Carlo, but the plot is weak, so 3 stars overall for me.

I recently read a Rex Stout book set in Montenegro for this challenge, The Black Mountain, which I really liked.

Am now starting Talking to the Dead by Harry Bingham for Wales, the first in the Fiona Griffiths series set in Cardiff. I hadn't actually meant to read this one but I glanced inside it at the library and was hooked right away... it is pretty grim so far but I want to know what happens next.

You are doing well, Judy :)

Thanks, Susan! :)

Your comment about browsing in the library really resonated with me this morning. Our local library has been 'closed for refurbishment,' which basically means that, when it does reopen, it will have lost most of its space and be staffed by volunteers... So you have a good point to make about how important it is to discover books you were not necessarily looking for and it is something I fear many communities will lose and be the less for.

Sorry to hear that, Susan - libraries have been hard hit by all the austerity. My area is better off than many as we haven't had any libraries actually close (so far!!), but their funding has been cut back heavily. As you say where they are closing or losing space and expert staff it is a sad loss for communities.

Our borough has made the misguided decision to close no libraries either - but, the fact is, that they may as well be closed as funding and hours have made them virtually pointless. It will hit those who most need them and that is sad.

That's such a shame. I think hours in my area are still OK but funding for new books has been hit hard and as you say those who most need libraries are the ones who suffer.

I'm lucky that there is still a small private library in my town at the Ipswich Institute, which I belong to, part of what was originally a "mechanics' institution" set up in the 19th century. They have a great selection of crime novels - but of course this is an add-on to the public libraries, not a substitute.

http://www.ipswichinstitute.org.uk/li...

Although my house resembles a library a little too much, my children have always enjoyed visiting and doing the summer book challenge. I used to take them to baby groups there and we enjoyed the walk. We have a nice, larger library, but we have to drive there and it is not quite the same...

I used to use Ipswich library as a child and loved the place. My family never had much money so new books were more of a luxury than now and my primary school - Hillside - wouldn't let me use the junior library when I was in the infants as they thought it would be too old for me, despite as my mum frequently pointed out I was reading older books outside of school. So Ipswich library was a Godsend. Only allowed to have four books out at a time then (1980s) so I had my card, my nan's, my dad's and half of both my mum and brother's allowance. My poor old mum having to drag the shopping, me and my brother and my 16 books on the bus home!

I'm sure there are kids and families in the same position now across the country and it's awful that potentially those kids will just not be able to get the books they need. And it is a need not just a want.

Michelle, I had a similar situation as a child and I also feel very strongly about libraries. Your mum was obviously extremely loving and supportive though and has given you a lifelong love of books, even if she was silently cursing on the bus :) My mother used to take out adult books for me on her card, as I moved onto adult books by the end of primary school and I am always appreciative of the fact that she just let me read whatever I wanted and never commented, even if I choose something she thought I would hate, or which was unsuitable...

Libraries have been very important to me all my life too - and I think they are still vital in a digital age! I must look into joining a friends group for one of my local libraries. The main Ipswich library is my favourite too, Michelle - I must have been visiting as an adult when you were there as a child!

Judy wrote: "Libraries have been very important to me all my life too - and I think they are still vital in a digital age! I must look into joining a friends group for one of my local libraries. The main Ipswic..."

very probably! I'd be the one with the pile of books as tall as me! Libraries are trying in the digital age, computers, courses, ebooks to borrow, just a shame powers that be cuts the funding. A mistake in the long run.