New MRBC June 2021 nominations (Mystery)

[Mims]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I am going to nominate Death is a Lonely Business by Ray Bradbury



Overdrive
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I will second.

[John F]

I'll nominate The Monkey's Raincoat by Robert Crais.

From Amazon:

When quiet Ellen Lang enters Elvis Cole’s Disney-Deco office, she’s lost something very valuable—her husband and her young son. The case seems simple enough, but Elvis isn’t thrilled. Neither is his enigmatic partner and firepower, Joe Pike. Their search down the seamy side of Hollywood’s studio lots and sculptured lawns soon leads them deep into a nasty netherworld of drugs, sex—and murder. Now the case is getting interesting, but it’s also turned ugly. Because everybody, from cops to starlets to crooks, has declared war on Ellen and Elvis. For Ellen, it isn’t Funtown anymore. For Elvis, it’s just a living . . . He hopes.

[John F]

I'll nominate The Blessing Way by Tony Hillerman.

From Amazon:

Homicide is always an abomination, but there is something exceptionally disturbing about the victim discovered in a high, lonely place—a corpse with a mouth full of sand—abandoned at a crime scene seemingly devoid of tracks or useful clues. Though it goes against his better judgment, Navajo Tribal Police Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn cannot help but suspect the hand of a supernatural killer.

There is palpable evil in the air, and Leaphorn's pursuit of a Wolf-Witch leads him where even the bravest men fear, on a chilling trail that winds perilously between mysticism and murder.

[John F]

I'll second A Curious Beginning.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by John F

I'll nominate The Beekeeper's Apprentice by Laurie R. King.

Seconded.

[Uncle Robin]

Testing the waters for this group's definition of "mystery, I'm nominating The Conjurer's Bird by Martin Davies. It IS largely a mystery, with detection and clue-solving integral to the plot, but without any homicide. Is avicide a word?

Seamlessly spanning two time periods, The Conjurer's Bird is at once the story of the romance between the 18th century naturalist Joseph Banks and the enigmatic 'Miss B', and of a present-day conservationist named Fitz, who is drawn into a thrilling and near-impossible race to find the elusive bird's only known remains.

The Conjurer's Bird is a beautiful story in the spirit of Possession that is as exciting as The Club Dumas, inspired by one of the great puzzles of natural history: that of the Mysterious Bird of Ulieta. Seen only once, in 1774, by Captain Cook's second expedition to the South Seas, a single specimen was captured, preserved, and brought back to England. The bird was given to famed naturalist Joseph Banks, who displayed it proudly in his collection until its sudden, unexplained disappearance.

Two hundred years later, naturalists continue to wonder if the world will ever get another glimpse of the elusive bird. Were it not for a colored drawing done by the ship's artist, there would be nothing to say that the bird had ever existed.

The Conjurer's Bird is a gripping literary mystery and passionate love story that tackles the intrigue surrounding the celebrated Banks, his secret affair with an enigmatic woman known only as "Miss B," and the legendary bird that becomes a touchstone for their love.

Seamlessly spanning two time periods, The Conjurer's Bird is at once the story of this romance and of a present-day conservationist named Fitz, who is drawn into a thrilling and near-impossible race to find the elusive bird's only known remains.

[gmw]

Originally Posted by Uncle Robin

[...] Is avicide a word?

According to the OED, yes. It gives a quote from 1834: "L. Hunt in Lond. Jrnl. No. 22 A stout fellow, in a jacket and gaiters and the rest of the costume of avicide."

[JSWolf]

I am going to nominate The Red House Mystery by A. A. Milne.

The Red House Mystery is a classic "whodunit" set in an English country house. An eclectic cast of characters are gathered in the house when the owner's brother, recently arrived from Australia, is found murdered in a locked room. Two of the house guests take the investigation upon themselves and they wade almost playfully through the abundance of evidence and theories.

[hildea]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I am going to nominate The Red House Mystery by A. A. Milne.

Seconded.


(The description reminds me of KJ Charles' country house mysteries, it sounds fun to read a classic take.)

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by hildea

Seconded.


(The description reminds me of KJ Charles' country house mysteries, it sounds fun to read a classic take.)

The Red House Mystery is one I am going to read even if it doesn't win.

[issybird]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

The Red House Mystery is one I am going to read even if it doesn't win.

And as an added incentive, it’s public domain in the US and Canada.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by issybird

And as an added incentive, it’s public domain in the US and Canada.

I picked it up at the library. It's always available.

[JSWolf]

The poll is up.

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=339712