Reading the Detectives discussion

It's time to nominate for our June 2024 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.

If you aren't sure whether we have read something, the group bookshelves may help, or just ask. If it was at least 3 years ago that we read it, it is fine to renominate.

I enjoyed the Moray Dalton so much, I want to nominate another! It looks from reviews like several of the group have read Inspector Collier’s first and second outings, so I’ll nominate The Belfry Murder by Moray Dalton:

“If I meet any dragons I’ll run away.”
When Mary Borlase, English governess of the little Countess Nadine, escapes from Russia during the Great War, she brings with her jewels belonging to the ill-fated Romanoffs, including a famous emerald, the Eye of Nero. Mary dies of pneumonia a few days after reaching England, in a room over her brother’s antique shop. What has become of the now missing jewels? Has she hidden them somewhere, or entrusted them to someone before her death?
Years later a Russian waiter sells a secret twice over, and pays the ultimate price. The search for the emerald has begun.
For a man calling himself Mr. Brown, and his gang, it is first an adventure, but becomes a matter of life and death. For Martin Drury, chicken-farming in Sussex it brings the gleam of romance and a chance of knight errantry. And for Inspector Hugh Collier of Scotland Yard, young and ambitious, backing his intuitions against the opinions of his superiors, it is a case full of pitfalls, whose issues might spell promotion—or a fatal mark against his name.
The Belfry Murder was originally published in 1933. This new edition features an introduction by crime fiction historian Curtis Evans.

I will nominate The Blind Side by Patricia Wentworth

“Anybody could have told you what Ross was like.” “They did tell me,” said Mavis tearfully. “ That’s why I did it.” Ross Craddock was just the type to be murdered. The new landlord of Craddock house, he begins by giving eviction notice to his aunt Lucy. He threatens the doorman with dismissal. He makes a violent and unwelcome pass to his cousin Mavis. He is vindictive and spiteful and ends up dead. The suspects include Lee who may have walked in her sleep and killed him out of unconscious fear. Or Peter who may have found Ross’ advances to Mavis unbearable. Or aunt Lucy who unexpectedly came back. Or possibly Bobby who was still in love with Mavis and furious that she was seen with Ross. The answer will be yet another Wentworth twist. The Blind Side was originally published in 1939. This new edition features an introduction by crime fiction historian Curtis Evans. “When I pick up a book by Patricia Wentworth I think, now to enjoy myself—and I always do.” Mary Dell, Daily Mirror

I will nominate Murder in Blue by Clifford Witting. I may have nominated it before. I know I started it some time ago - in the past year - and misplaced it. Published in 1937.

John Rutherford, bookseller/novelist, discovers a bludgeoned corpse of a policeman on an evening stroll. Inspector Charlton believes the killer may go to extremes to cover his tracks.

Thank you for the nominations so far. We have:

Susan in NC: The Belfry Murder by Moray Dalton

Jill: The Blind Side by Patricia Wentworth

Jan C: Murder in Blue by Clifford Witting

Any more? I'd like to put the poll up tomorrow so this is your last chance :)

I'll add one more book to the mix: This Delicate Murder: A Golden Age Mystery by Henrietta Clandon aka Vernon Loder (real name John George Hazlette Vahey), first published in 1936 and reissued by Dean Street Press.

The narrator of This Delicate Murder is Penny Mercer, murder-mystery author. She and novelist-husband Vincent are invited by Lionel Fonders to a shooting-party at Chustable Manor, where the other guests are mostly fellow-writers of various types. But Penny and Vincent become embroiled in a vexing murder case when their host is fatally shot in the field. Fonders was not generally beloved, but it is Vincent himself who becomes the chief suspect in his host’s unnatural death.

In his attempt to clear himself, he enlists the help of clever attorney and amateur sleuth William Power to find the fiend who put paid to Fonders. With so many jealous authors at hand, the field of suspicion is wide. Can you keep pace with Power?

The poll is now open - please vote for the book you most want to read in June.
https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/2...

And the winner is... Murder in Blue by Clifford Witting, which will be our June group read.

Full results:

Murder in Blue 6 votes, 42.9%
This Delicate Murder: A Golden Age Mystery 4 votes, 28.6%
The Belfry Murder 2 votes, 14.3%
The Blind Side 2 votes, 14.3%

Thanks, Judy, I want to read this one, beautiful covers on his books - hoping for a kindle sale!

I've only read one of his - . I'm looking forward to this one!

Looking forward to this one too, Rosina. I will update the list.