The best crime/mystery novel of the Twentieth Century - Page 2

HarryT · 06-27-2011, 12:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by issybird

I've read and reread Sayers, but I think the books would have been better if she hadn't fallen in love with Lord Peter. Busman's Honeymoon was embarrassing.

It's funny you should say that - it's actually one of my favourites

.

Poppaea · 06-27-2011, 03:14 AM

The Name Of The Rose, Umberto Eco
Murder On The Orient Express, Agatha Christie

basschick · 06-27-2011, 04:16 AM

don't think i have a single favorite crime/mystery novel, but one of my favorites is peter wimsey novel- murder must advertise.

if shibumi counts in this category, chalk me up for that one, as it's one of my all-time favorite books.

DMB · 06-27-2011, 04:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Poppaea

The Name Of The Rose, Umberto Eco
Murder On The Orient Express, Agatha Christie

I agree that The Name of the Rose is very good. (But I wish I could read it in Italian.)

I sort of expected that Christie would figure a lot in this thread, but I have always found her books tedious because of the cardboard characters. I prefer crime fiction that includes characters that are interesting in themselves and not just their situations.

Poppaea · 06-27-2011, 05:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DMB

I agree that The Name of the Rose is very good. (But I wish I could read it in Italian.)

I sort of expected that Christie would figure a lot in this thread, but I have always found her books tedious because of the cardboard characters. I prefer crime fiction that includes characters that are interesting in themselves and not just their situations.

Yes, you are right about Agatha Christie, but for me she was the one to invent the detective with funny personal habits that is still one of the trademarks of the genre. I am not sure if this perception is valid, there could have been earlier rolemodels as those by Agatha Christie (Poirot, Miss Marple) but hers seem to be the most influencial ones on the genre.

Or am I mistaken?

HarryT · 06-27-2011, 05:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DMB

I sort of expected that Christie would figure a lot in this thread, but I have always found her books tedious because of the cardboard characters. I prefer crime fiction that includes characters that are interesting in themselves and not just their situations.

That's one reason that I prefer Dorothy L. Sayers; her characters feel like "real people", rather than Agatha Christie's 2-dimensional ones.

Has anyone read Ngaio Marsh? I haven't read any of her books. How does she compare with Sayers and Christie?

DMB · 06-27-2011, 06:49 AM

Marsh is better than Christie IMO but not as good as Sayers. But she comes across as having a nice quirky personality.

issybird · 06-27-2011, 08:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

It's funny you should say that - it's actually one of my favourites

.

Cheers, Harry!

That's what makes a horse race.

Quote:

Originally Posted by basschick

don't think i have a single favorite crime/mystery novel, but one of my favorites is peter wimsey novel- murder must advertise.

Murder Must Advertise, without Mary Sue Vane, is my favorite, also.

Of Sayers, Christie and Marsh, can I put in a plug for Josephine Tey?

DMB · 06-27-2011, 08:10 AM

I like Murder must Advertise but I am also very fond of the The Nine Tailors. She writes so beautifully about East Anglia.

CRussel · 06-27-2011, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

That's one reason that I prefer Dorothy L. Sayers; her characters feel like "real people", rather than Agatha Christie's 2-dimensional ones.

Has anyone read Ngaio Marsh? I haven't read any of her books. How does she compare with Sayers and Christie?

I've been "reading" Ngaio Marsh through Audible.com, and enjoying them immensely. Sadly, there are no eBook versions.

Is she as good as Sayers? No, but certainly better than Christie, IMO.

CRussel · 06-27-2011, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by issybird

Of Sayers, Christie and Marsh, can I put in a plug for Josephine Tey?

Certainly! And should get a vote, though I'd have to say Sayers still tops her. And how about Margery Allingham? I find Campion and Lugg still compelling today, and wish I could have them in eBook.

HarryT · 06-27-2011, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CRussel

I've been "reading" Ngaio Marsh through Audible.com, and enjoying them immensely. Sadly, there are no eBook versions.

There are - at least in the UK. All her books are available at Amazon, and I'd guess other suppliers too.

I'll have to give them a go.

DMB · 06-27-2011, 10:36 AM

Unfortunately, Allingham's books are still not available in eformat. I expect they will become available though.

One book I would love to get for my Kindle is Landscape with Dead Dons by Robert Robinson. It was published in the early 1960s and resuscitated in paperback format about 5 years ago. I bought several copies of the new issue, but I didn't have an ereader then...

British people may remember Robert Robinson as a witty and erudite broadcaster, now apparently retired. Landscape with Dead Dons contains the funniest scene I have ever come across in a crime novel. I suppose it would be hard to make a case for it as the best crime novel of all time, but for me it is certainly the most entertaining.

poohbear_nc · 06-27-2011, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

There are - at least in the UK. All her books are available at Amazon, and I'd guess other suppliers too.

I'll have to give them a go.

There are some interesting parallels between Marsh & Sayers - in that both have their protagonist fall hopelessly in love with a seemingly unattainable woman - whom they meet as a potential suspect in a murder case. The courtship & marriage figure largely in both authors' series.

Marsh sets many books in the theater world, using her personal experience in stage productions in New Zealand in her plotting. Many novels feature actors - lying/acting during a murder investigation.

stonetools · 06-27-2011, 11:42 AM

What's interesting about the recommendations so far is that the majority are of women writers writing "cozy" mysteries set in the milieu of upper class England in the 1920s and 30s.What is it about this type of mystery that remains so attractive today?
Is it the mileu-the quirky characters, the aristocratic setting, the language?
Is it the plotting?
Is it that these writers are so superior?

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06-27-2011, 03:14 AM	#17
Poppaea Lucifer's Bat Posts: 2,577 Karma: 20638583 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Earth/Berlin Device: Kobo Libra Colour	The Name Of The Rose, Umberto Eco Murder On The Orient Express, Agatha Christie

06-27-2011, 04:16 AM	#18
basschick Wizard Posts: 1,096 Karma: 4695691 Join Date: May 2008 Device: Kindle Paperwhite	don't think i have a single favorite crime/mystery novel, but one of my favorites is peter wimsey novel- murder must advertise. if shibumi counts in this category, chalk me up for that one, as it's one of my all-time favorite books.

06-27-2011, 06:49 AM	#22
DMB Old Git Posts: 958 Karma: 1840790 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Switzerland (mostly) Device: Two kindle PWs wifi, kindle fire, iPad3 wifi	Marsh is better than Christie IMO but not as good as Sayers. But she comes across as having a nice quirky personality.

06-27-2011, 08:10 AM	#24
DMB Old Git Posts: 958 Karma: 1840790 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Switzerland (mostly) Device: Two kindle PWs wifi, kindle fire, iPad3 wifi	I like Murder must Advertise but I am also very fond of the The Nine Tailors. She writes so beautifully about East Anglia.

06-27-2011, 10:36 AM	#28
DMB Old Git Posts: 958 Karma: 1840790 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Switzerland (mostly) Device: Two kindle PWs wifi, kindle fire, iPad3 wifi	Unfortunately, Allingham's books are still not available in eformat. I expect they will become available though. One book I would love to get for my Kindle is Landscape with Dead Dons by Robert Robinson. It was published in the early 1960s and resuscitated in paperback format about 5 years ago. I bought several copies of the new issue, but I didn't have an ereader then... British people may remember Robert Robinson as a witty and erudite broadcaster, now apparently retired. Landscape with Dead Dons contains the funniest scene I have ever come across in a crime novel. I suppose it would be hard to make a case for it as the best crime novel of all time, but for me it is certainly the most entertaining.

06-27-2011, 11:42 AM	#30
stonetools Wizard Posts: 2,016 Karma: 2838487 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Washington, DC Device: Ipad, IPhone	What's interesting about the recommendations so far is that the majority are of women writers writing "cozy" mysteries set in the milieu of upper class England in the 1920s and 30s.What is it about this type of mystery that remains so attractive today? Is it the mileu-the quirky characters, the aristocratic setting, the language? Is it the plotting? Is it that these writers are so superior?