Never too Late to Read Classics discussion

American Mystery Classic series
Features the very best American whodunnit novels from the Golden Age. This genre type of fiction that follow the investigation of a crime, such as a murder or disappearance, from the moment it occurs until it is solved.

I chose to use the publication year for the layout with also the rating from Goodreads.

January The Door by Mary Roberts Rhinehart (1930) 400 pgs

February The Cape Cod Mystery by Phoebe Atwood Taylor(1931) 258 pgs

March Fer-de-Lance by Rex Stout (1934) 285 pgs

April The Case of the Shoplifter's Shoe: A Perry Mason Mystery by Erle Stanley Gardner (1938) 272 pgs

May The Wall by Mary Roberts Rinehart (1938) 312 pgs

June The Case of the Rolling Bones: A Perry Mason Mysteryby Erle Stanley Gardner (1939) 264 pgs

July The Bride Wore Black by Cornell Woolrich (1940) 288 pgs

August The Great Mistake by Mary Roberts Rinehart(1940) 450 pgs

September The Case of the Careless Kitten by Erle Stanley Gardner (1942) 288 pgs

October The Haunted Lady by Mary Roberts Rinehart(1942) 251 pgs

November The Unsuspected by Charlotte Armstrong (1947) 240 pgs

December The Chocolate Cobweb by Charlotte Armstrong (1948) 242 pgs

OR
Any American Mystery: these can replace a month from the scheduled reads:
Some suggestions:
Dashiell Hammetter The Maltese Falcon (1930) 213 pgs
Mary Allingham Dancers in Mourning (1937) 240 pgs
Ellery Queen The Dutch Shoe Mystery (1931) 216 pgs
Anna Katharine Green That Affair Next Door (1897) 350 pgs
Lang Lewis The Birthday Murder (1945) 208 pgs

Oh my!! I did not realize how large the list is until now! That is not even all of the Authors and Classics!!

Well there is, plenty to choose from lol!!

I would like to read The Cape Cod Mystery.

One of the Perry Mason series.

Pam wrote: "I would like to read The Cape Cod Mystery."

Pam this one?

The Cape Cod Mystery by Phoebe Atwood Taylor

Rosemarie wrote: "One of the Perry Mason series."

I agree Rosemarie!!

Lesle - Yes! That’s the one. I was able to find it on Hoopla.

My local library seems to have a few copies of the Perry Mason books, so I'd be interested in those. The Cape Cod Mystery looks good too.

I'm also interested in the books by Mary Roberts Rinehart.

Kathy wrote: "I'm also interested in the books by Mary Roberts Rinehart..."

The Perry Mason ones are a given for me! I also would enjoy the Rinehart's as well Kathy!

Any interest in suggesting reads for this topic?

I will update this weekend for this one as well.

I like the Nero Wolfe series by Rex Stout. The first book is Fer-de-Lance.

I have Fer-de-Lance on my TBR so I'd support that.

Also:
The Door - Mary Roberts Rinehart

The Case of the Careless Kitten - Erle Stanley Gardner

The Cape Cod Mystery - Phoebe Atwood Taylor

Ive not read any of the Rex Stout I dont believe. Ive read some reviews though. They seem well liked.

Kathy wrote: "Also:
The Door - Mary Roberts Rinehart..."

I like this author to read as well Kathy!

Here are the supported Mysteries. Still taking suggestions.

The Cape Cod Mystery by Phoebe Atwood Taylor
The Case of the Rolling Bones: A Perry Mason Mystery by Erle Stanley Gardner
The Case of the Shoplifter's Shoe: A Perry Mason Mystery by Erle Stanley Gardner
The Door by Mary Roberts Rhinehart
The Great Mistake by Mary Roberts Rinehart
The Wall by Mary Roberts Rinehart
The Haunted Lady by Mary Roberts Rinehart
Fer-de-Lance by Rex Stout
The Case of the Careless Kitten by Erle Stanley Gardner

I suggest Nightfall (1947) by David Goodis

by David Goodis

I support The Black Curtain and would add The Big Clock..

Some thoughts as I looked into a few:

The American Gun Mystery by Ellery Queen
For those of us that might enjoy a Western read twist to this mystery.

The Case of the Shoplifter's Shoe: A Perry Mason Mystery by Erle Stanley Gardner
with a 3.94 rating and an interesting suspect of an older lady being accused of shoplifting!

The Haunted Lady by Mary Roberts Rinehart
Arsenic in her sugar bowl was wealthy widow Eliza Fairbanks’ first clue that somebody wanted her dead!

What do you think about these???

I suggest The Hunter
...hard-boiled crime fiction and first book in the Parker series: Parker, the master thief.
I don't know if hard-boiled CF falls into American Mystery Classics...buy I'm sure you will let me know.

by Richard Stark

Anyone else thinking about supporting an American Classic? I

I am thinking next weekend I will try and wrap up hopefully all my planning threads.

I would like to second the Cape Cod mystery and the Case of the Rolling bones by Gardner.

I would also like to nominate, even thought they are not on the list, The Maltese Falcon and The Thin Man both by Dashell Hammett

Jeremy
Nice thought let me put some thought into this. Im not sure if he is part of the American Classic series but I might come up with something.

If anyone has reads that are from American Authors that are not part of the series let me know that they are not with your suggestions. I might come up with something to work in to this.

Lesle, I'm sorry for adding my choices so late. I just didn't realise American Classic Mysteries referred to Otto Penzler's republished classic crime mysteries (face palm). I figured this out with your response to Jeremy. I have looked through the list and would like to add my support to some already supported books.
Fer-de-Lance
The Cape Cod Mystery
The Case of the Rolling Bones: A Perry Mason Mystery
The Case of the Shoplifter's Shoe: A Perry Mason Mystery
The Wall by Mary Roberts Rinehart
The Haunted Lady by Mary Roberts Rinehart
The Case of the Careless Kitten

I would like to nominate 4 books from the same American Classic Mystery List:
The Tule Marsh Murder by Nancy Barr Mavity
Rim of the Pit by Hake Talbot
The Bride Wore Black by Cornell Woolrich
The Birthday Murder by Lange Lewis

I have closed the suggestions for this category.
Please see message one for next years plan.

Thank you everyone that put in thoughts and suggestions. I think it will be an interesting year!

I line up for 2025 Reading Schedule is done.

I have added the page number count. To help with your planning if you like.

Thank you everyone for participating!!

Nancy wrote: "I suggest The Hunter
...hard-boiled crime fiction and first book in the Parker series: Parker, the master thief.
I don't know if hard-boiled CF falls into American Mystery Classics...buy I'm sure y..."

I missed this comment, Nancy. I missed this entire thread actually. I’m surprised and elated that you mentioned this book!