Reading the Detectives discussion

it's time to nominate for our April 2020 group read.

Please nominate mystery/detective books written in/set in the GA period, or a little earlier or later.

As usual, just one nomination per group member. Also, only one book by any individual writer can be nominated per month.

The Ghost It Was

He seemed as if he might be interesting. People with no morals often are, and someone who makes no pretence of having any always is.

A convert to the recent fad of ‘spiritualism’, James Warrenton purchases the old, and purportedly haunted, Amberhurst Place. A cantankerous, yet easily amused, old man, he has far too many nephews, and far too much time.

Suspecting his family of only ever wanting his fortune, James strikes up a bet for his own entertainment with his nephews on the existence of ghosts.

Desperate to get into their uncle’s good graces, or at least not irritate him further, his four nephews vie for the place as prime heir to James’ estate.

Snide comments and ruthless remarks volley around Amberhurst, but when a harmless prank turns deadly, everyone is a suspect – even the ghost.

Another re-print - this one by Agora books. First published in 1936 by Richard Hull, who was involved in the Detection Club and apparently assisted Agatha Christie with her role as President.

The Ghost It Was sounds very interesting, Susan. I've been meaning to try something by Richard Hull, who is said to have a lot of humour in his books. And I see this one is on Kindle Unlimited in the UK.

Also on Kindle Unlimited in US

I will nominate The Draycott Murder Mystery by Molly Thynne

There was something about those hands, with their strangely crisped fingers, as though they had been arrested in the very act of closing, that somehow gave the lie to the woman's attitude of sleep.

A howling gale ... A lonely farmhouse ... the tread of a mysterious stranger ... and then the corpse of a beautiful blonde, seemingly stopped in the act of writing.

This is all a bit much for local bobby PC Gunnet, especially when it seems the dead - and aristocratic - woman shouldn't even have been there in the first place. But nonetheless the owner of the farm, John Leslie, is convicted, and his guilt looks certain. Certain, that is, until the eccentric Allen "Hatter" Fayre, an old India hand, begins to look more deeply into the case and discovers more than one rival suspect in this classic and satisfying puzzler.

I will nominate Brat Farrar by Josephine Tey. It is a standalone by Tey. I'm pretty sure some group members have read it, but hopefully it is worth a reread.

In this tale of mystery and suspense, a stranger enters the inner sanctum of the Ashby family posing as Patrick Ashby, the heir to the family's sizable fortune. The stranger, Brat Farrar, has been carefully coached on Patrick's mannerism's, appearance, and every significant detail of Patrick's early life, up to his thirteenth year when he disappeared and was thought to have drowned himself. It seems as if Brat is going to pull off this most incredible deception until old secrets emerge that jeopardize the imposter's plan and his life.

Three good options already. I have a lot of Molly Thynne's books, which I have downloaded when they appeared free.

Yes indeed, great suggestions - I love Brat Farrar and would also like to read more by Molly Thynne.

It's a Molly Thynne I don't have, but it's not expensive.

I would definitely be interested in reading another Molly Thynne with the group. I picked them up when they were on sale on Kindle, but have only read the first two.

I nominate Murder in the Mill-Race by E.C.R. Lorac.

Great suggestion, Michaela. I will just post the cover and a description:

‘“Never make trouble in the village” is an unspoken law, but it’s a binding law. You may know about your neighbours’ sins and shortcomings, but you must never name them aloud. It’d make trouble, and small societies want to avoid trouble.’
When Dr Raymond Ferens moves to a practice at Milham in the Moor in North Devon, he and his wife are enchanted with the beautiful hilltop village lying so close to moor and sky. At first they see only its charm, but soon they begin to uncover its secrets – envy, hatred and malice. A few months after the Ferens’ arrival, the body of Sister Monica, warden of the local children’s home, is found floating in the mill-race. Chief Inspector Macdonald faces one of his most difficult cases in a village determined not to betray its dark secrets to a stranger.

Yes, another great suggestion. I'm keen to try Lorac.

Thanks Susan for adding the cover and blurb! :)

Nominations so far

Susan: The Ghost It Was by Richard Hull

Jill: The Draycott Murder Mystery by Molly Thynne

Elizabeth: Brat Farrar by Josephine Tey

Michaela: Murder in the Mill-Race by E.C.R. Lorac

I'll add one to the mix - I've just noticed that there is a 1920s historical mystery series by Simon Brett, which looks as if it contains a lot of humour - so I'll nominate the first in the series, Blotto, Twinks, and the Ex-King's Daughter

Ex-Princess Etheline, daughter of the exiled king of Mitteleuropia, has been kidnapped during a visit to Tawcester Towers, ancestral seat of the Dukes of Tawcester, and ducal family honour demands that she should be rescued.

The Dowager Duchess entrusts the task to her son, the Right Hon. Devereux Lyminster, known universally as 'Blotto'. He is, of course, terribly handsome, honourable and brave, but as sadly deficient in the brains department as his sister 'Twinks' is gifted.

So the siblings set off, accompanied by trusty chauffeur, Corky Froggett. They drive across many countries to Mitteleuropia, a realm now ruled by a usurper, the ex-king's brother, where they suspect the princess has been taken.

The poll will go up over the weekend - does anyone have any more books to nominate?

Nominations so far

Susan: The Ghost It Was by Richard Hull

Jill: The Draycott Murder Mystery by Molly Thynne

Elizabeth: Brat Farrar by Josephine Tey

Michaela: Murder in the Mill-Race by E.C.R. Lorac

Judy: Blotto, Twinks, and the Ex-King's Daughter by Simon Brett

The poll is now open - please cast your vote for the book you want to read in April.

https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/1...

The Draycott Murder Mystery by Molly Thynne has taken the lead in early voting. If you haven't voted yet, please take a look at the choices.

https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/1...

The vote is currently drawn, so please do vote, if you haven't already done so.

More have voted! I'm thrilled to see more voters this month.

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "More have voted! I'm thrilled to see more voters this month."

Yes! Good to see.

Absolutely. A very close vote this month.

We have a winner, and The Draycott Murder Mystery by Molly Thynne will be our group read in April.

Full results:
The Draycott Murder Mystery 11 votes, 36.7%
Brat Farrar 9 votes, 30.0%
The Ghost It Was 4 votes, 13.3%
Murder in the Mill-Race 4 votes, 13.3%
Blotto, Twinks, and the Ex-King's Daughter (Blotto and Twinks, #1) 2 votes, 6.7%

Looking forward to this one, which has been waiting on my Kindle for a long time. At first I thought I'd already read The Draycott Murder Mystery, but then realised I was getting it mixed up with another book!

I think Draycott benefited from the fact lots of us had it on kindle, which is fair enough. We all download a lot of books, so it's good to read one lingering on my kindle.

Yes, I do think clearing the freebies makes you feel good.

Absolutely - one down. Hmmm, quite a lot to go!

I agree whole heartedly! Paging thru all those unread books is a bit depressing. Even worse is of staring at my physical book overload.

Just discovered that I must have already started Draycott - I am allegedly 30% into it. I may have to re-start it.