Hey!! Let's get some action going! What are we reading?

[HarryT]

That would explain it, then! This is not a good choice to read as a standalone novel. If you'd like a recommendation for a good one that works well as a standalone book I'd suggest "Murder Must Advertise", although in all honesty you'll get a lot more from this series by reading them in order.

[CRussel]

You might well find reading earlier ones to be a better place to start. Whose Body is the first. Personally, I'm with Harry -- Gaudy Night is a favourite. But that's in large part because Harriet Vane is a favourite. She is introduced in Strong Poison when Lord Peter prevents her hanging for murder.

For a standalone, Murder Must Advertise is, as Harry suggests, one that works well without knowing any of the other characters or back story.

[Cyclops]

Iceworld by Hal Clement. Paperback

[LovesMacs]

I like Harriet Vane well enough but it's the characters of Shrewsbury College who fail to interest me. I'm very tempted to save this book for another time.

[Historiann]

Originally Posted by LovesMacs

I'm reading Gaudy Night by Dorothy Sayers but I just can't get into the story. The premise is that a celebrated mystery author returns to her alma mater, where someone has been sending nasty letters and other mischief.

I know that this book and this author are highly regarded but I don't connect enough with the characters enough to care about which of them is guilty. That opinion hasn't changed despite being almost halfway through the book.

I recently re-read Gaudy Night for the first time in a long time and can see why it might not appeal. It's different from most mysteries and very different from current works in that genre. I enjoyed it a great deal but then I am interested in it not just for the plot and characters but also for the perspective on women's education and the place of women in society at the time. I also am familiar with Harriet Vane from other books. A friend of mine introduced me to Sayers many years ago and insisted that I read the books in order, which served as a very good introduction to the characters and to Sayers' style.

That said, I'm currently reading the first in the Miss Seeton series--much lighter than Sayers and very enjoyable. It was recommended here on MobileRead and while I can't remember who recommended it I am very grateful to that person. The book is fun.

[Hampshire Nanny]

Originally Posted by Historiann

That said, I'm currently reading the first in the Miss Seeton series--much lighter than Sayers and very enjoyable. It was recommended here on MobileRead and while I can't remember who recommended it I am very grateful to that person. The book is fun.

I don't remember who recommended it -- but that is a favorite series. What's interesting is that the books were actually written by more than one author -- all of whose names or noms de plume have the initials of "H. C." I suppose all the better to obscure the fact that they weren't all written by the same person. See http://www.cozy-mystery.com/miss-emily-d-seeton.html

[Hampshire Nanny]

Originally Posted by CRussel

You might well find reading earlier ones to be a better place to start. Whose Body is the first. Personally, I'm with Harry -- Gaudy Night is a favourite. But that's in large part because Harriet Vane is a favourite. She is introduced in Strong Poison when Lord Peter prevents her hanging for murder.

An omnibus of the first 3 Peter Wimsey mysteries is on sale at amazon US: https://smile.amazon.com/Lord-Peter-.../dp/B00GH2G8YM

[CRussel]

Originally Posted by Hampshire Nanny

An omnibus of the first 3 Peter Wimsey mysteries is on sale at amazon US: https://smile.amazon.com/Lord-Peter-.../dp/B00GH2G8YM

Or, if you live in Canada, all of the Sayers books are available for free at fadedpage.com. (Canada is Life+50, and Sayers is PD here.)

[Historiann]

Originally Posted by Hampshire Nanny

An omnibus of the first 3 Peter Wimsey mysteries is on sale at amazon US: https://smile.amazon.com/Lord-Peter-.../dp/B00GH2G8YM

Thanks!!!! This conversation makes me want to re-read all of them.

[PurpleStar]

I'm finally starting to read 1632 by Eric Flint. I've had it kicking around for a few years so I suppose it's about time I read it!

[Dazrin]

Originally Posted by Dazrin

Next up: Rivers of London (or Midnight Riot depending on where it was published) by Ben Aaronovitch. I didn't plan on reading two books in a row that deal with the other rivers of London but that's what it is.

That was fun! Thanks everyone who recommended it.

I also started The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury on Wednesday during a long drive, I should finish it this weekend.

I have Small Gods by Terry Pratchett, the next in my complete read of the Discworld series, and Moons over Soho by Ben Aaronovitch on hold but it looks like at least a 2-3 week wait before one of them becomes available.

Next up: TBD, I have the weekend to work it out I think.

[Apache]

I have been reading the Bruno Chief of Police Series in order because the newest book is out in the UK and will be released in the US on June 21, 2016. I will be finishing book eight this morning and starting the new one Fatal Pursuit immediately after. I love this series and it is rapidly becoming my favorite. All eight are wonderful and I fully expect number nine to be as good. I originally started this series because of MR Forum members recommendations. I thank all of you and highly recommend this series.
Apache

[LovesMacs]

Thanks to everyone who responded but I think I'm just not in the mood for reading a mystery anymore. I do own the whole Peter Wimsey set (that is, those written by the original author) so I can read them in order in the future.

That leaves me in the conundrum of what next to read in terms of fiction. Decisions, decisions.

[Rev. Bob]

Originally Posted by JustinThought

This looks like a fun (and informative!) thread, so I thought I'd throw my three-cents-worth in.

[...]

But those are the primary books that are occupying my Samsung tablet's SD card.

While "what do you read" is indeed a worthy question, this thread is more usually "what book(s) are you currently reading" instead. For myself, I read lots of stuff, but most recently I read volumes five and six of Gaiman's The Sandman, on loan from a friend. I finished those a few days ago and haven't started a new book since then. (I've got some writing I need to attend to. Lots of plotting, no reading.)

[arcadata]

Currently reading Book 1 in Stephen King's Dark Tower series - some years ago, I read up to Book 4 but ran out of steam, and never finished the series. Now that the movie is in production, I've decided to try again and this time, reach the end of the series. It's a tall order (8 books!)