The Best Whodunit Books You've Read

Gazella · 03-25-2014, 12:34 PM

So I'm in the mood for a good murder mystery whodunit book. The first thing that comes to mind is of course Agatha Christie's novels. I've read a couple which I'll list below. But are there other good novels other than Christie's? I'm looking for an engaging storyline, interesting characters, will keep me guessing, shocking ending. Basically something similar to the novels below. Do you have any favorites?

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd
And Then There Were None
The Mysterious Affair at Styles
The Murder on the Links

MickeyC · 03-25-2014, 12:51 PM

One of my favorites is Night Train by Martin Amis. Very noir-ish novel.

HarryT · 03-25-2014, 01:01 PM

Dorothy L. Sayers' "Lord Peter Wimsey" books are my favourites.

Catlady · 03-25-2014, 01:02 PM

I like Ellery Queen.

Gazella · 03-25-2014, 01:31 PM

Never heard of Night Train but have heard of Sayer's and Ellery Queen's mysteries. Will check them out. Thanks.

Apache · 03-25-2014, 02:01 PM

Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe is one of my favorites.
Apache

Catlady · 03-25-2014, 06:22 PM

You might also try Anna Katharine Green and Mary Roberts Rinehart for old-fashioned whodunits.

Marcy · 03-25-2014, 10:38 PM

I second Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe, my favorite detective ever. Even though I've gotten them all as ebooks, I kept my Stout pbook collection in case of the Zombie Apocalypse.

pwalker8 · 03-26-2014, 10:13 AM

Actually some of my favorite who done it were Issac Asimov's Black Widow series of short stories. There are around 60 or so short stores, collected in 4 or 5 books. I don't think they are available in ebook format. Randell Garret's Lord Darcy series is also pretty good (including an amusing take off of Murder on the Orient Express). It's set in an alternate universe, so it's not traditional who done it, but still good. The Omnibus ebook is available.

DrNefario · 03-26-2014, 01:11 PM

Most recently I enjoyed London Particular/Fog of Doubt by Christianna Brand. She's a little late for Golden Age, but in the same vein. Apart from that I tend to go for Christie. I just finished The Seven Dials Mystery, which was entertaining enough but not outstanding, and realised that the dialogue is a big part of why I enjoy them, and probably explains why I didn't get on so well with Sayers and John Dickson Carr. I just couldn't hear their detectives' voices.

kyrilson · 03-27-2014, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pwalker8

Actually some of my favorite who done it were Issac Asimov's Black Widow series of short stories. There are around 60 or so short stores, collected in 4 or 5 books. I don't think they are available in ebook format. Randell Garret's Lord Darcy series is also pretty good (including an amusing take off of Murder on the Orient Express). It's set in an alternate universe, so it's not traditional who done it, but still good. The Omnibus ebook is available.

Oh yeah!! The Black Widowers books by Asimov are great. I have the paperbacks on my shelf along with most of the Ellery Queen paperbacks. Lots of fun reading there.

ccowie · 03-27-2014, 08:14 PM

I really love the Inspector Gamache series by Louise Penny.

Apache · 03-27-2014, 09:02 PM

I also like Martin Walker's Bruno, Chief of Police too.
Apache

Pulpmeister · 03-29-2014, 10:01 AM

Georgette Heyer wrote a number of classic whodunnits, which are inevitably overshadowed by her Regency romances. There's a fair amount of humour in them, too.

They Found Him Dead
Death in the Stocks
No Wind of Blame
Envious Casca

and several others

She also devised the neat trick of not having a detective go on forever like Alleyn.... she started with Inspector Hannasyde and Det Sergeant Hemingway, but after a while the dour Hannayde got promoted upstairs, and the livelier Hemingway was promoted to Inspector and carried on with an succession of entertaining sergeants.

Victoria · 03-29-2014, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Catlady

You might also try Anna Katharine Green and Mary Roberts Rinehart for old-fashioned whodunits.

CatLady - thanks for the tip. Amazon has a Megapack of Anna Katharine Green with 35 novels and short stories for $.88 - likely available in ePub somewhere as well. http://www.amazon.com/Anna-Katharine...=cm_cr_pr_pb_t

I second the Dorothy Sayers recommendation, and find Martin Walker's Bruno lots of fun.

If you like the Christie era, I enjoy Gladys Mitchell's Mrs. Bradley series - though I don't think they are very well written - that said, I do enjoy them. If you are interested, 'Faintly Speaking' and 'St.Peter's Finger' are marked down at Amazon.

03-25-2014, 12:34 PM	#1
Gazella Wizard Posts: 1,705 Karma: 4619474 Join Date: Nov 2012 Device: Kindle Scribe, Kindle Paperwhite	The Best Whodunit Books You've Read So I'm in the mood for a good murder mystery whodunit book. The first thing that comes to mind is of course Agatha Christie's novels. I've read a couple which I'll list below. But are there other good novels other than Christie's? I'm looking for an engaging storyline, interesting characters, will keep me guessing, shocking ending. Basically something similar to the novels below. Do you have any favorites? The Murder of Roger Ackroyd And Then There Were None The Mysterious Affair at Styles The Murder on the Links Last edited by Gazella; 03-25-2014 at 12:37 PM.

03-25-2014, 12:51 PM	#2
MickeyC Grand Sorcerer Posts: 16,731 Karma: 12185114 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Florida Device: iPhone 6 plus, Sony T1, iPad 3	One of my favorites is Night Train by Martin Amis. Very noir-ish novel. Last edited by MickeyC; 03-25-2014 at 05:18 PM.

03-25-2014, 01:31 PM	#5
Gazella Wizard Posts: 1,705 Karma: 4619474 Join Date: Nov 2012 Device: Kindle Scribe, Kindle Paperwhite	The Best Whodunit Books You've Read Never heard of Night Train but have heard of Sayer's and Ellery Queen's mysteries. Will check them out. Thanks.

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03-25-2014, 01:01 PM	#3
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Dorothy L. Sayers' "Lord Peter Wimsey" books are my favourites.

03-25-2014, 01:02 PM	#4
Catlady Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,404 Karma: 52613881 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: Kindle Fire, Kindle Paperwhite, AGPTek Bluetooth Clip	I like Ellery Queen.

03-25-2014, 02:01 PM	#6
Apache Readaholic Posts: 5,246 Karma: 90000000 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: South Georgia Device: Surface Pro 6 / Galaxy Tab A 8"	Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe is one of my favorites. Apache

03-25-2014, 06:22 PM	#7
Catlady Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,404 Karma: 52613881 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: Kindle Fire, Kindle Paperwhite, AGPTek Bluetooth Clip	You might also try Anna Katharine Green and Mary Roberts Rinehart for old-fashioned whodunits.

03-25-2014, 10:38 PM	#8
Marcy Guru Posts: 897 Karma: 950683 Join Date: Oct 2009 Device: Kobo Libra2	I second Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe, my favorite detective ever. Even though I've gotten them all as ebooks, I kept my Stout pbook collection in case of the Zombie Apocalypse.

03-26-2014, 10:13 AM	#9
pwalker8 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,196 Karma: 70314280 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Atlanta, GA Device: iPad Pro, iPad mini, Kobo Aura, Amazon paperwhite, Sony PRS-T2	Actually some of my favorite who done it were Issac Asimov's Black Widow series of short stories. There are around 60 or so short stores, collected in 4 or 5 books. I don't think they are available in ebook format. Randell Garret's Lord Darcy series is also pretty good (including an amusing take off of Murder on the Orient Express). It's set in an alternate universe, so it's not traditional who done it, but still good. The Omnibus ebook is available.

03-26-2014, 01:11 PM	#10
DrNefario Wizard Posts: 2,182 Karma: 12000000 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: UK Device: Kindle, Kobo Touch, Nook SimpleTouch	Most recently I enjoyed London Particular/Fog of Doubt by Christianna Brand. She's a little late for Golden Age, but in the same vein. Apart from that I tend to go for Christie. I just finished The Seven Dials Mystery, which was entertaining enough but not outstanding, and realised that the dialogue is a big part of why I enjoy them, and probably explains why I didn't get on so well with Sayers and John Dickson Carr. I just couldn't hear their detectives' voices.

03-27-2014, 08:14 PM	#12
ccowie Hiding with an ereader Posts: 391 Karma: 3987376 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Kitchener Ontario Device: Kindle Paperwhite, Sony PRS 950, Ipad 2, PRS 350	I really love the Inspector Gamache series by Louise Penny.

03-27-2014, 09:02 PM	#13
Apache Readaholic Posts: 5,246 Karma: 90000000 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: South Georgia Device: Surface Pro 6 / Galaxy Tab A 8"	I also like Martin Walker's Bruno, Chief of Police too. Apache

03-29-2014, 10:01 AM	#14
Pulpmeister Wizard Posts: 2,770 Karma: 29144810 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Perth Western Australia Device: kindle	Georgette Heyer wrote a number of classic whodunnits, which are inevitably overshadowed by her Regency romances. There's a fair amount of humour in them, too. They Found Him Dead Death in the Stocks No Wind of Blame Envious Casca and several others She also devised the neat trick of not having a detective go on forever like Alleyn.... she started with Inspector Hannasyde and Det Sergeant Hemingway, but after a while the dour Hannayde got promoted upstairs, and the livelier Hemingway was promoted to Inspector and carried on with an succession of entertaining sergeants.

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