Reading the Detectives discussion

Do you have any festive/Christmas-themed books lined up to read over the next few weeks?

We have two mysteries with Christmas settings coming up in our December schedules, the group read The Crime at the 'Noah's Ark' by Molly Thynne and the buddy read Envious Casca aka A Christmas Party by Georgette Heyer - but are you planning to read any more Christmassy books, whether mysteries or not?

I should have said of course that we already have a buddy read of another Christmas-themed mystery under way, Not a Creature was Stirring by Jane Haddam.



Anyone tempted to join in is very welcome!

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

I am not sure if any Chanukah mysteries exist but I try to read one Sholom Aleichem book each year

Any winter solstice–themed mysteries out there? I am a fanatical avoider of Christmas in real life, but might read one of the already chosen books.

I have three definites, in addition to our group reads, all short.

First a repeat short story on audio: The Shepherd, the Angel, and Walter the Christmas Miracle Dog - very funny

A new novella, The Deal of a Lifetime - expecting to cry over this one, but I loved And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer

Finally (until I see others) one of Anne Perry Christmas novellas. I think its #8; I only read the ones based on her William Monk series and most are from the Pitt series ... which I'll read someday.

One more that I forgot:

Hiddensee: A Tale of the Once and Future Nutcracker if my library request bubbles to the top in time (otherwise it will be a post-holiday read!)

Yet another. Hoopla enticed me to borrow Murder for Christmas.

Wow, you have got plenty of festive reading in store there, Sandy! I can recommend Murder for Christmas, which I really enjoyed - hoping to read other books by Francis Duncan about this detective Mordecai Tremaine before too long.

I'm hoping to read the British Library Crime Classics collection Silent Nights: Christmas Mysteries - not sure what else.

Abigail wrote: "Any winter solstice–themed mysteries out there? I am a fanatical avoider of Christmas in real life, but might read one of the already chosen books."

There is a book called Winter Solstice by Rosamunde Pilcher but it's not a mystery, looks to be a romantic saga set in Scotland. I haven't read it but she has a lot of fans.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B077K475M...
99p at the moment
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B077MN9XY... also, and
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B077KBXRN...

Maybe something among these that would appeal to someone

Thanks, Judy! There are a bunch of witch-themed mystery series among recent writers, probably one of them has done such a thing. . . .

I am planning to complete my personal challenge of reading a book of short stories each month with Murder Under the Christmas Tree: Ten Classic Crime Stories for the Festive Season.

Pamela wrote: "I am planning to complete my personal challenge of reading a book of short stories each month with Murder Under the Christmas Tree: Ten Classic Crime Stories for the Festive Season."

An interesting challenge! How did you do? Any really good collections? I've meant to follow up with some of Martin Edwards' anthologies after reading one, but haven't yet.

I am currently reading In the Shadow of Agatha Christie: Classic Crime Fiction by Forgotten Female Writers: 1850-1917 which are short stories, Pamela.

In terms of festive books, I want to read An English Murder if I get the time.

Nicholas Blake did a couple, including his second Thou Shell of Death set over Christmas.

Sandy wrote: "Pamela wrote: "I am planning to complete my personal challenge of reading a book of short stories each month ..An interesting challenge! How did you do? .."

I've managed a book a month so far. I must admit I prefer a collection by different writers to reading a whole collection by the same author, however good they are. I did enjoy Tales of Adventures and Medical Life by Arthur Conan Doyle though. I have Capital Crimes: London Mysteries by Martin Edwards standing by as well, so I may beat the target of 12!

I've just picked up A Maigret Christmas from NetGalley - but as I'm a late starter when it comes to Xmas, I'll be saving it for after my frantic, last-minute present-buying frenzy on the 23rd/24th!

I have started The Big Book of Christmas Mysteries, a collection of short stories.

Dying For Christmas a modern crime novel by the excellent Tammy Cohen is 99p today.

Leslie wrote: "I have started The Big Book of Christmas Mysteries, a collection of short stories."

I love the cover!

Lesley~aka Ella's Gran wrote: "Leslie wrote: "I have started The Big Book of Christmas Mysteries, a collection of short stories."

I love the cover!"

:)

I'm half way thru Murder for Christmas and enjoying it very much. The amateur detective reminds me a bit of Dr Constantine that we jus met at the Noah's Ark. This isn't a 'locked room' mystery as people come and go during the holiday festivities.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Charles-Dick... 49p

Charles Dickens: The Complete Christmas Books and Stories [newly updated] (Golden Deer Classics) Kindle Edition

I liked Murder for Christmas a lot too, Sandy. I've been meaning to read more books about that detective, Mordecai Tremaine.

I saw Mistletoe Mysteries in our 'kindle deals' and then found it thru my library's hoopla selection. So I downloaded it and read the first story last night. A pleasant enough read but a lot happened so it was a rather strange mix of quite interesting detail and skimmed plot points.

This might make you smile...

Our library service is being re-organised and reservations are taking ages. A book I reserved in July came in just this month for example. So I thought I'd get in early reserving A Christmas Carol on DVD this week.

It's in already. I picked it up today.

So I'll be watching one of my Christmas picks before we've had our Halloween fest!

Anyway, I was looking through this thread as I'm beginning to think about longer evenings and Christmas stories. I've got some great titles from all of you, so thank you.

I may wait a couple of weeks before I reserve them from the library though...

Hope you enjoy your early taste of Christmas, Sue! I must order a couple from this thread - I have been lucky and snapped up a green Penguin of our forthcoming buddy read An English Murder by Cyril Hare - hope I’ve got the title right!

Judy wrote: "Hope you enjoy your early taste of Christmas, Sue! I must order a couple from this thread - I have been lucky and snapped up a green Penguin of our forthcoming buddy read An English Murder by Cyril..."

I've been meaning to read that one Judy, I'll try to get a copy for the buddy read.

I want to read Mr Dickens and his Carol

For those hoping to join in with An English Murder for our future Buddy Read, it is currently £1.49 on kindle

Susan wrote: "For those hoping to join in with An English Murder for our future Buddy Read, it is currently £1.49 on kindle"

Thanks for posting this Susan. I just bought it. It was going to cost me almost this much to reserve it at the library!
:-)

Hurrah! Good to hear, Sue :)

In terms of upcoming books, might also be worth mentioning:

Coffin, Scarcely Used 99p

The Unexpected Inheritance of Inspector Chopra £1.99

Anybody else interested in, or already read, the Dickens title? Mr Dickens and his Carol

Susan wrote: "Anybody else interested in, or already read, the Dickens title? Mr Dickens and his Carol "

I might fancy it - I sometimes tend to be a bit nervous about novels featuring Dickens, to be honest, as I can feel my purist hackles rising at bits they have made up, haha. But I will take a look.

I see from the page about this that the author is being asked if she was influenced by another similar title, but is politely pointing out that she adapted it from a screenplay she wrote years ago.

I have Mr Dickens and his Carol on order at the library at the moment as I’ve heard it’s worth a look. Not sure when it will arrive though.

Judy, it is sometimes better not to read novels featuring characters you love - I completely understand that!

I've brought The Christmas Card Crime and Other Stories for my festive reading this year. Looking forward to dipping into this.

Tracey wrote: "I've brought The Christmas Card Crime and Other Stories for my festive reading this year. Looking forward to dipping into this."

I'm going to read The Santa Klaus Murder since I missed out last year. :)

Don't forget we have An English Murder as a buddy read this year - currently £1.49 on kindle in the UK.