Reading the Detectives discussion

It's time to nominate for our March 2023 group read.

Please only nominate books written and published in the Golden Age period, or a little earlier or later - if in doubt whether a title is eligible, please ask.

As usual, just one nomination per group member, and only one book by any individual writer can be nominated per month. Looking forward to seeing what everyone nominates.

I wil nominate Death on the Down Beat: An Orchestral Fantasy of Detection: 106

The headline from The Maningpool Telegraph read:
TRAGIC DEATH OF SIR NOEL GRAMPIAN – shot during performance – Symphony Concert Calamity

As a rousing Strauss piece is reaching its crescendo in Maningpool Civic Hall, the talented yet obnoxious conductor Sir Noel Grampian is shot dead in full view of the Municipal Orchestra and the audience. It was no secret that he had many enemies – musicians and music critics among them – but to be killed in mid flow suggests an act of the coldest calculation.

Told through the letters and documents sent by D.I. Alan Hope to his wife as he puzzles through the dauntingly vast pool of suspects and scant physical evidence in the case, this is an innovative and playful mystery underscored by the author’s extensive experience of the highly-strung world of music professionals. First published in 1941, this new edition returns Farr’s only crime novel to print to receive its long-deserved encore.

I will nominate Seven Dead by J. Jefferson Farjeon

Ted Lyte, amateur thief, has chosen an isolated house by the coast for his first robbery. But Haven House is no ordinary country home. While hunting for silverware to steal, Ted stumbles upon a locked room containing seven dead bodies. Detective Inspector Kendall takes on the case with the help of passing yachtsman Thomas Hazeldean. The search for the house's absent owners brings Hazeldean across the Channel to Boulogne, where he finds more than one motive to stay and investigate.

I’d like to nominate Murder in Piccadilly by Charles Kingston

Originally Published 1936

When Bobbie Cheldon falls in love with a pretty young dancer at the Frozen Fang night club in Soho, he has every hope of an idyllic marriage. But Nancy has more worldly ideas about her future: she is attracted not so much to Bobbie as to the fortune he expects to inherit.

Bobbie’s miserly uncle Massy stands between him and happiness: he will not relinquish the ten thousand a year on which Nancy’s hopes rest. When Bobbie falls under the sway of the roguish Nosey Ruslin, the stage is set for murder in the heart of Piccadilly—and for Nancy’s dreams to be realised.

When Chief Inspector Wake of Scotland Yard enters the scene, he uncovers a tangled web of love affairs, a cynical Soho underworld, and a motive for murder.

I nominate Quick Curtain by Alan Melville published in 1934

'Don't talk bunk!' said Mr Douglas. 'You can't carry on with the show with a man dying on stage. Drop the curtain!'

When Douglas B. Douglas—leading light of the London theatre—premieres his new musical extravaganza, Blue Music, he is sure the packed house will be dazzled by the performance. What he couldn't predict is the death of his star, Brandon Baker, on stage in the middle of Act 2. Soon another member of the cast is found dead, and it seems to be a straightforward case of murder followed by suicide.

Inspector Wilson of Scotland Yard—who happens to be among the audience—soon discovers otherwise. Together with Derek, his journalist son, Wilson takes charge of proceedings in his own inimitable way.

This is a witty, satirical novel from the golden age of British crime fiction between the world wars. It is long overdue for rediscovery and this new edition includes an informative introduction by Martin Edwards, author of The Golden Age of Murder.

They are all available in the US, ranging from one dollar to over twelve.

I’m still working my way through available Inspector Macdonald cases by E.C.R. Lorac. She became a favorite author in the last few years, so I’ll nominate one I got through a kindle sale last year, These Names Make Clues :

Chief Inspector Macdonald has been invited to a treasure hunt party at the house of Graham Coombe, the celebrated publisher of Murder by Mesmerism. Despite a handful of misgivings, the inspector joins a guestlist of novelists and thriller writers disguised on the night under literary pseudonyms. The fun comes to an abrupt end, however, when 'Samuel Pepys' is found dead in the telephone room in bizarre circumstances.

Amidst the confusion of too many fake names, clues, ciphers and convoluted alibis, Macdonald and his allies in the CID must unravel a truly tangled case in this metafictional masterpiece, which returns to print for the first time since its publication in 1937

I know it says Macdonald’s 12th case, but these are standalone cases - I am a stickler for reading in order, but have read and enjoyed her books as they’ve slowly become available, and have not been confused.

Thanks Susan in NC for nominating a Lorac that´s on my list! :)

There are a few British Library Crime Classics on my TBR list , Michaela. I have noted they have a Chrstianna Brand on their pre-orders as well as the long out of print Death of Jezebel. I am thrilled to have picked that one up, but just wish someone would release Brand's books properly.

Michaela wrote: "Thanks Susan in NC for nominating a Lorac that´s on my list! :)"

You’re welcome!

Susan wrote: "There are a few British Library Crime Classics on my TBR list , Michaela. I have noted they have a Chrstianna Brand on their pre-orders as well as the long out of print Death of Jezebel. I am thril..."

The releases do seem rather random, and out of order, don’t they? I wonder what the criteria is, popularity at time of publication, copyright issues, cost?

I love Brand so download anything that appears, but it is random, I agree.

Thanks to everyone for all the great nominations!

As we already have 5 books on the list, this is the last call for any more nominations - the poll will go up tomorrow.

Susan: Death on the Down Beat: An Orchestral Fantasy of Detection: 106 by Sebastian Farr

Jill: Seven Dead by J. Jefferson Farjeon

Jessica: Murder in Piccadilly by Charles Kingston

Carolien: Quick Curtain by Alan Melville

Susan in NC: These Names Make Clues by E.C.R. Lorac

As I have 3 of the above books, I won't nominate.

I have four ...

And the poll is now open... please cast your votes! Looking like a difficult choice.

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

We have a winner! Sorry to be a bit slow in posting the results, slightly frantic week - many thanks to all who nominated and voted.

Our winner is These Names Make Clues by E.C.R. Lorac, which will be our March group read.

Full results:
These Names Make Clues 12 votes, 54.5%
Seven Dead 6 votes, 27.3%
Quick Curtain 2 votes, 9.1%
Death on the Down Beat: An Orchestral Fantasy of Detection: 106 (British Library Crime Classics) 1 vote, 4.5%
Murder in Piccadilly 1 vote, 4.5%

Great! What a win! Looking ahead to this!

I've never read any other books in this series - will that be a problem or are they standalone?

Craftyhj, that won't be a problem at all - they are standalones and not really a series except for featuring the same detective. Only some of the titles have been republished anyway, all out of order - hopefully more will be reissued :)