What are we reading in 2020?

Happy New Year to all! I haven't read any British crime fiction yet this year, but there's sure to be some in my to-be-read pile, so I thought I'd get the thread started.

I've read a few already:

Hercule Poirot's Christmas - Agatha Christie 3.5★s
Many Rivers to Cross - Peter Robinson 4★s
A Stranger in the Family - Robert Barnard 3.5★s
Evil Games - Angela Marsons 4.5★s (group read)
Backlash - Sally Spencer 3.5★s
The Fair Maid of Bohemia - Edward Marston 4★s
Murder on the Brighton Express - Edward Marston 4★s

>2 Sergeirocks: Wow! I'm impressed!

>3 ted74ca: You think that's impressive? You should see some of the guys on the 'Read It, Track It' and 'Mystery & Suspense Extra!' groups, they're already well into double figures for the year, 😀.

>3 ted74ca: That's what I was going to say as well and then I read the next post. I thought I read fast but I'm a piker compared to some of the people here and on BookCrossing.

A golden oldie from 1934, Murder Underground by Mavis Doriel Hay 4.5★s.

I stumbled upon the name of this author last year while researching books for my Century of Suspense challenge - a serendipitous find, as I enjoyed this book from start to finish. IMO, definitely up there with Christie; I'm surprised Hay is not more well-known... Probably to do with the fact that she was not exactly prolific, only 3 novels to her name. Unfortunately, I can only get hold of one other of her titles from my local library.

Here's a link to a delightful piece I think members of this group will enjoy:

https://crimereads.com/your-guide-to-not-getting-murdered-in-a-quaint-english-vi...

Finally finished Missing Person by Sarah Lotz. What a disappointment-I don't really know why I bothered to finish it. I found it really boring and far too long. I didn't care what happened to any of the characters except for the old dog!

>7 rhinemaiden: Very amusing, 😀

I'm not doing too well on my choice of books lately: kind of disappointed in I'll Keep You Safe by Peter May- loved the details about the setting, but rather implausible storyline.

>7 rhinemaiden: I love it!

A Painted Doom, book 6 in the Wesley Peterson series by Kate Ellis, 4.25★s.

Better choice this week: Moriarty by Anthony Horowitz. Clever and entertaining.

Working my way through the Kate Shackleton series and really enjoying it: Murder in the Afternoon by Frances Brody.

This month I've read:

The Chain by Adrian McKinty 4★
The Falls by Ian Rankin 4★
The Hiding Place by C.J. Tudor 4★

Finished the sixth book in Ken Bruen's Jack Taylor series today : Cross. I really like this series.

The Silver Locomotive Mystery - Edward Marston 4★s

The first Sherlock Holmes/Dr. Watson mystery: A Study in Scarlet - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle 4★s

>15 VivienneR: The Falls was the first Rankin I ever read and I've been hooked ever since.

From one of my favourite series: The Stone Circle - Elly Griffiths 5★s ( a group read over on the Mystery and Suspense Group).

>20 Sergeirocks: I've really enjoyed all of the Elly Griiffiths novels I've read.

Entry Island by Peter May. I loved the Scottish history (the Clearances on the Hebrides islands) in this book , but the police investigation part seemed unrealistic, and there was far too much romance for my liking!

>21 ted74ca: The Dr. Ruth Galloway books are one of our favourite series on the Mystery and Suspense Group Reads.

Nine Lessons - Nicola Upson 4.5★s - I do enjoy this series which features the author Josephine Tey in one of the lead rôles.

Death of a Kingfisher - M. C. Beaton 4★s - Book 27 in the Hamish Macbeth series.

By an author new to me - Mari Hannah: The Murder Wall - 4★s
Series set in and around Newcastle upon Tyne, England. The main character is DCI Kate Daniels.

I just finished The Summer that Never Was by Peter Robinson that I gave 4 stars. It redeemed Robinson in my view since I was disappointed in the last one in the series, a retelling of a gruesome murder in Canada, too recent to be reworked.

Birds of a Feather by Jacqueline Winspear-the second in her Maisie Dobbs series.

It's very quiet on here, I hope everyone is keeping well...?
Perhaps, like me, you are finding it difficult to concentrate on reading - my mind keeps wandering and wants to check on the latest news. I think I'm spending more time on the 'net than reading.
Stay safe, everyone.

>28 Sergeirocks: Like you, I am spending a lot of time reading news. Other reading has been curiously lacking in British mysteries. I'll be correcting that soon with Of Wee Sweetie Mice and Men a light mystery from Northern Ireland author Colin Bateman.

Stay safe, everyone.

A murder mystery set in ancient Egypt, Death Comes as the End by Agatha Christie 4★s.

I just started Ann Cleeves book The Long Call which is the first book in a her new series called The Two Rivers. I haven't read any of Cleeves' books before because I didn't discover her until she was well into her other series so I'm glad to get in on the ground floor on this one.

I’m having a lovely comfort read with an Adela Bradley mystery - Dance to your Daddy by Gladys Mitchell.

>28 Sergeirocks:. I, too, find myself unable to focus on reading or watching TV or much of anything that requires concentration right now. Mind you, I am still working full time (plus quite a bit of overtime) at our local hospital, so maybe I have a good excuse! Yes, keep safe everyone!

I really like the Kate Shackleton mystery series: just finished #4 A Woman Unknown by Frances Brody

Forgot that I also finished a good book on my e reader sometime pre-pandemic: The Magdalen Martyrs by Ken Bruen. I've read this series all out of order and have watched the TV series inbetween books, but I enjoy both the TV series and the books.

I have finished The Long Call and I thought it was quite good. I particularly liked the locale which is North Devon.

Finished book 3 in the Jackson Brodie series by Kate Atkinson, When Will There Be Good News? 4★s
I do think this is a series which is best read in order.

I finished At Death's Door by Robert Barnard. This is a nice and breezy, good-but-not-great English murder mystery, first published in 1988. Barnard, who died in 2013, was a prolific and popular mystery writer. He wrote two books featuring Inspector Idwal Meredith. I read the first, Death of a Mystery Writer a short time ago and enjoyed it, deciding at the time to read this second Meredith case as well. Like the first Meredith mystery, we get about half a book's setup here before the crime is even committed. So part of the fun is guessing who is going to be murdered before trying to think along with Meredith to figure out who done it. We have here an aged famous writer on death's door in an upstairs bedroom, his soon and step-daughter tending to him, his much younger daughter, product of his scandalous second marriage showing up with her boyfriend, the second wife, a famous and revered professionally if roundly loathed personally also coming by with her new husband, plus other assorted family members and connective characters putting in appearances. Lots of ego, jealousy and questionable motives. An enjoyable diversion, all in all.

I'm still reading a lot less than I used to. Hoping for the day (if ever) that we return to normal. Though what that normal will entail is anyone's guess...
Hope you are all keeping well.

> I am hoping that "normal" will be better than what went before. I think most people have learned what is important to their happiness i.e. family, friends, nature, physical activity. Buying things and eating out could be relegated to occasional treats while we spend time with the important things.

>40 gypsysmom: Not close to "normal" but I am delighted that my library is now offering curbside delivery of holds although my husband prefers to browse. He has been limited to browsing my extensive collection of print and ebooks. I hope the new normal doesn't include having to book an appointment to go to the bank or to arrange car insurance.

I just finished The Silent world of Nicholas Quinn by Colin Dexter 4★
A nice twisty puzzling crime, not just for me but Lewis was baffled too, and even Morse's reasoning was a little off target most of the time. Enjoyed this one.

>40 gypsysmom: >41 VivienneR: Having just had some of our lockdown restrictions eased in the UK, 'normal' may be somewhat noisy - it has been so peaceful during the past 2 months with little traffic about. 😔

From one of my favourite authors: Into the Blue - Robert Goddard 4.5★s

I just finished a novel featuring the families affected by a mass killing at an Edinburgh college, and the accompanying investigation led by newly promoted DI Helen Birch. All the Hidden Truths by Claire Askew. I quite enjoyed this book and will check into whether the author has followed this up with another book-it would make a good series.

I am presently reading Summary Justice by John Fairfax. It is a courtroom crime drama with a very interesting main character, a barrister called Benson. He is a convicted murderer who has served a prison sentence and now is trying to build a practice in criminal law.

I just finished Talking to the dead by Harry Bingham that I really enjoyed. Set in Wales, the young female detective has a problem following orders. I bought a three-book bundle and I'm so glad because I can go to the next one in the series right away.

I am currently reading one of the early Inspector Banks mysteries by Peter Robinson, The Hanging Valley. In this one Banks flies to Toronto to follow up clues in a murder. Robinson lives in Canada now and I consider him to be a Canadian writer but he was raised in Yorkshire where he sets most of his Banks series. It is interesting to have his character observe and interact with Canadians because I imagine Robinson experienced some of the same things when he first came to Canada.

>43 ted74ca: Thanks, it looks good, you have led me to yet another purchase :)

Just finished Crack Down by Val McDermid in the Kate Brannigan series.
This time out, Brannigan's boyfriend is arrested and she must concentrate all her efforts on finding the real culprit. I enjoy the casual humour but got tired of the profuse folksy analogies like "cheekbones like chapel hat pegs" that show up on most pages.

The Arsenic Labyrinth - Martin Edwards 4.5★s.
Set in the English Lake District. This is book 3 in the series. I've read book 1, but don't feel I've missed anything by not reading book 2. The stories stand well alone.

I have a very slim TBR by Elizabeth George, The Evidence Exposed

Marnie by Winston Graham. Not having seen the Hitchcock film, I didn't know what to expect. I wondered at first how Hitch could have made it into one of his trademark thrillers, but the book grew on me until I couldn't stop turning the pages. 4.5★s from me.

I've been reading Judith Flanders's Sam Clair series. They're light, fun, quick reads, and I love Sam herself as a character. I'm on the third one, A Cast of Vultures, right now.

I just finished The Burning by Jane Casey, an Irish author. I enjoyed it a lot even though I had one or two quibbles.

Rogue's Gallery - A collection of short stories by Robert Barnard 4.5★s

Didn't enjoy this one at all- felt it had a dragged out beginning and middle which was then suddenly wrapped all up in the last couple of pages. A Death Divided by Clare Francis

A good old Miss Marple story - A Caribbean Mystery - Agatha Christie 4★s

Stumbled across a series new to me, but I wasn't very impressed with the 1st one: Crime on the Fens by Joy Ellis.

I have started on The Private Patient by P.D. James

I have just started A Room full of Bones by Elly Griffiths. It is Book 4 in the Ruth Galloway series.

I've just finished Well of the Winds by Denzil Meyrick - very enjoyable. 4.5★s.

>59 mrspenny: I'm a big fan of the Ruth Galloway series.

>60 Sergeirocks: I have become a big fan as well. There are some intriguing and interesting characters apart from Ruth. I also like to continuity of some themes from one book to another.

From one of my favourite authors: Out of the Sun - Robert Goddard 5★s.
This is the second book in the Harry Barnett series.

A bit of a plodder, this one: A Full Churchyard by Nicholas Rhea 3★s. Fifth book in a series about a superstitious Yorkshire DI.

I'm reading Lord Peter Views the Body by Dorothy L.Sayers and loving it. It's a book of short stories which have clever twists, which I think is so hard to write in the short story format. I will be reading more Sayers after this one.

Recently finished An Amateur Corpse by Simon Brett 3.5★

Brett's Charles Paris series never fails to satisfy. Paris is an actor but as he is not in high demand he manages to fill in his time solving crimes and drinking Bell's. The theatre makes a nice backdrop for his mysteries and this amateur theatre group provides a few unintended funny moments.

I can't believe I've never read any of Stuart Macbride's series. Luckily for me, I ran out of library books and while I was waiting for my next request to become available for pickup I flipped through the dozens of used books I've been collecting over the past couple of years and found the 1st in the series: Cold Granite. I quite enjoyed it so have just requested the 2nd one from my library.

Galway Girl by Ken Bruen 4★
Bruen's Jack Taylor series is as much about books, music and the culture of Galway as that unrepentant rogue Taylor. I love Bruen's pared-down style of writing that captures the action as well as Taylor's psyche. This is one of my favourite series.

>67 VivienneR:. I really like the Jack Taylor series as well; currently waiting for my request of Sanctuary to arrive at my library.

>68 ted74ca: I noticed Galway Girl on the new books list at my local library and borrowed it although I knew it was out of sequence. The three I've skipped are in other local libraries but because of the virus I can't borrow from them. Looks like I'll have to wait for the vaccine. :(

Finished a pretty good thriller (includes some crimes, so thought it could fit into this category) last night: Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris

A personal treat, 🙂 - Ian Rankin's The Falls 5★s.

I ration myself of this series (Rebus) , I enjoy it so much!

>71 Sergeirocks: The Falls was my introduction to the Rebus series and started me on my long journey to read everything Ian Rankin ever wrote. I've almost succeeded although a few of his non-Rebus books have eluded me. I should really reread The Falls some time.

Zipped through another thriller this week: The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware. Not bad, definitely not great.

Quite dated-I'm sure I read one in this series a decade or so ago-but really well written. Shadow Play by Frances Fyfield

One of Ann Cleeves' standalones: The Sleeping and the Dead - 4.25★s
Ann would always make it on to my list of favourite authors.

>75 Sergeirocks:. Mine, too, for sure.

One by an author new to me: Devil at the Crossroads - Olive Etchells 4.25★s.
Third book in a series, but I didn't feel I'd missed out on anything by not reading the previous two books.
I shall watch out for more of her books, though she doesn't appear to ba a prolific writer - only 5 books over the period 1992-2009, as far as I can discover.

I really like this series-gritty and dark as it is. Just finished Sanctuary by Ken Bruen.

I'm just finishing Piece of my heart by Peter Robinson. He lives in Canada so some people might consider him Canadian but he is from the north of England. I couldn't lay my hands on a print copy so resorted to audio which was ruined by a very poor narrator (Ron Keith). Although Keith changes his irritating voice a little for each character they all sound much the same, male or female, making it very difficult to follow. i've no idea how to rate the book.

>79 VivienneR:. That's too bad the audio book wasn't enjoyable. I've really liked everything I've read by Peter Robinson. I have visited Yorkshire and have extended family there so it helps to imagine the setting when reading.

This author has moved to the US but she's British born and raised. I read this series mostly because it's set in Edinburgh- a city I love - but I find it a bit too gory and gruesome sometimes. This one was Perfect Kill by Helen Fields

I discovered this author through the group reads on the Mystery and Suspense Group: Angela Marsons. I'm thoroughly enjoying her DI Kim Stone series; Kim is very spikey, having had a quite horrendous childhood and grown up in the care system, but I like her.

Lost Girls 5★s, book no. 3 in the series.

The devil by Ken Bruen 4.5★

As if Jack Taylor didn't have enough demons of his own, he is hounded by the Devil in this mystery, although mysterious applies too as the story has a touch of the supernatural. I love Bruen's spare style of writing, frequent music and literary references, and that Ireland itself has a strong presence, where it is evident that times are changing and Taylor's old Galway is fading. Although he can be a bit of a train wreck, Jack is the best person to have on your side in a jam.

I can hardly wait for the next in the series and have already put book 9 on hold at the library.

Another in the series I'm enjoying reading with the Mystery & Suspense Group: The Skeleton Room by Kate Ellis 4.5★s.

Love Ann Cleeves's novels. Just finished Burial of Ghosts a stand-alone (I think).

Rather gritty and not for the squeamish series, but I still like it. Just finished the second in this series: Dying Light by Stuart MacBride

Headstone was bloody and brutal but I love the way Ken Bruen writes. Galway is as much a character as Jack Taylor.

I have just started Troubled Blood - the 5th Cormoran Strike novel.
It is over 900 pages so will keep me busy for a while.

>88 mrspenny: I love the Cormoran Strike series but sometimes think Galbraith (aka Rowling) doesn't know when to stop. I read recently that many publishers are reluctant to suggest edits to a best selling author.

>89 VivienneR: Hence Stephen King.

>89 VivienneR: Agree. I love the characters in the series but I don't need to read 900+ pages to get that much enjoyment. She needs editing down.

Just finished Purgatory by Ken Bruen. I enjoyed it although not as much as others. It seems Bruen is getting darker. I will read the next in the series to find out how he is proceeding but I am really hoping for some better news or at least news that is not as bad.

I just finished The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton. What an original form of murder mystery! I really liked it.

>93 ted74ca: I'm hoping to listen to the audiobook of that soon. Good to know you liked it.

>89 VivienneR: Vivienne - I agree. I have finally finished Troubled Blood and it could have done with a good editor with a red pen!!.
If there is to be another in the Cormoran Strike series, I hope it carries a few hundred less pages.
Notwithstanding the length, I did enjoy the story of the cold case.

Just finished The Mistletoe Murder and other stories by P.D. James. It was very good. Many short stories, especially in the Christmas mystery category, leave me unsatisfied but P.D. James is one writer whose stories are gratifyingly complete.

Quite enjoyed Her One Mistake by Heidi Perks

I finished The Crust on Its Uppers by Derk Raymond. Published in 1962, The Crust on Its Uppers is a sly takedown of the British upper class disguised as a noir caper novel. The protagonist a young man with the advantages of that upper class background and education, has become disillusioned with what he sees of the rot, the lack of joi de vivre and purpose, of that class, and has submerged himself instead in the South London grime scene of con men, sharks and shady players. Dark bars, drugs, booze and dodgy business dealings fuel the scene. Readers have to fight their way through Raymond's use of London rhyming slang, and often I found myself just sort of skating along on top of that, going with the rhythm and the flow instead of worrying about the meaning of every word or phrase. Never did I feel like I didn't know what was going on, however, plus my edition had a handy glossary that I used sometimes more and sometimes less. The first half of this relatively short novel is more of a character/class study than anything else, with the caper part of the proceedings not really getting going until about the midway point.

The caper itself, once it gets going, is handled well and kept me turning pages. I noted that once that action commences, Raymond (whose real name was Robin Cook, in case anyone's keeping score) dispenses to a significant degree, with reliance on slang.

I enjoyed this read experience, and I believe the book has standing as one of the first examples of London noir. The story is seedy and dark, but often funny, and I never found it to be cynical.

R.I.P. John le Carre - died 12/12/2020

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/dec/13/john-le-carre-author-of-tinker-tai...

Hard Frost by R. D. Wingfield 4★s

(Touchstones not working for me)

>99 rhinemaiden: So sorry to hear about John le Carré. 2021 will be good time to revisit his books.

Just finished Never Go Back, the final book in the Harry Barnett series by one of my favourite storytellers, Robert Goddard 5★s.

general question for all mystery/crime fans... have your reading tastes changed in 2020?

I recently picked up books by formerly favored authors to discover than I cannot read about terrorists, socio/psychopaths, all around mean people Bye-bye from my shelves John D. MacDonald Travis McGee series, Daniel Silva Gabriel Allon series.

I don't want saccharine sweet... those books put me in a diabetic coma.

Right now I'm reading Whitney Otto How to Make an American Quilt to be followed by Compton MacKenzie The Monarch of the Glen and 4 Kate Fansler books by Amanda Cross.

What say you, mystery/crime fans? Have your reading tastes changed?

Happy 2021 to all!

>103 rhinemaiden: "What say you, mystery/crime fans? Have your reading tastes changed?"

Mine definitely have.

I used to love Michael Connelly's Harry Bosch books, but now I find Connelly's prose so clunky and distracting that I can't even get through them anymore. The last one I tried was The Late Show, and I made it about two chapters before I had to just give up.

I haven't actually tried to reread any of Connelly's older stuff, so I don't actually know if it's my taste that's changed, or Connelly's writing, but my dad still loves him, so my guess is that I'm the one who changed.

I still love mystery novels, including police procedurals, but Connelly doesn't do it for me anymore. I'd have to do a lot more introspection and a lot more research to figure out exactly why, though.

>104 Julie_in_the_Library: I was never a Bosch fan, but love Connelly's Lincoln Lawyer novels, have you read those?

Who are your current favorite mystery writers?

>105 rhinemaiden: I think I've read the Lincoln Lawyer novels. I definitely read the first one.

As for current favorites, I really like Tana French, though I haven't read her newest one yet. I just finished Paul Doiron's first novel, and I enjoyed that. I'm a few books behind, but I like Louise Penny. On the cozy end of things, I've also recently discovered Judith Flanders, who I enjoy a lot.

I've also developed quite a love for some of the Golden Age mystery writers - Agatha Christie, Dorothy Sayers, and Margery Allingham.

>106 Julie_in_the_Library: oh... golden age writers. You can't go wrong! my favorites... Agatha Christie, A Murder is Announced; Dorothy Sayers, Murder Must Advertise. Also Ngaio Marsh, A Clutch of Constables.

I liked Louise Penny's early books... Still Life, A Fatal Grace

will look for some of the authors you mentioned... thanks!

>107 rhinemaiden: You're welcome! Recommending and helping people find books is always rewarding for me, so if you're ever looking for more specific recommendations, let me know!

>103 rhinemaiden:, >104 Julie_in_the_Library:, >105 rhinemaiden:, >106 Julie_in_the_Library:, >107 rhinemaiden: & >108 Julie_in_the_Library: Don't forget that in this group we focus on the discussion of British and Irish crime writers. Most of the authors you mention are American.

>109 VivienneR: oops! mea culpa!

>108 Julie_in_the_Library: let's move our mystery talk here:

https://www.librarything.com/topic/326858

A Perfect Spy by John le Carrê 4★

No one can write spy mystery stories like John le Carré, and his writing is beautiful. Characters are so well-developed that the reader begins to see them as real people. His plots may not appeal to those who like the modern high-velocity action style, but for me, le Carré will always be the ultimate in espionage novels.

>110 rhinemaiden: & >111 rhinemaiden: We'd love to hear your opinions on British and Irish authors.

Well, that's this year done, all bar the shouting (no fireworks at midnight in London - Boo-o-o! Just when we needed something to cheer us up...).
Personally, I've had a fairly difficult year of reading - I read 183 books across many genres in 2019 but only managed 115 this year. I know what I put it down to - we've all had a horrible year, due to the virus, but, hopefully, that's all going to be behind us soon. So, here's looking forward to better times in 2021, and lots more reading.

🎉Happy New Year, Everyone! 🎉

>114 Sergeirocks: I read more this year than usual as there was little choice of anything else to do. It was a dreadful year, to say the least. When the libraries closed I was glad I have so many books sitting on shelves waiting to be read. Knowing how much I read, my son brought me an "emergency" supply of his favourite books, all of which took me into unfamiliar territory.

I'm looking forward to a better year in all kinds of ways in 2021.

Wishing everyone here a Happy and Healthy New Year!

>115 VivienneR: How good, (and caring), of your son to share.