List: mystery

I read and re-read a lot of Dorothy L. Sayers in German when I was a kid, around 10. I loved those books to bits, so I started wondering if they were as good as I remembered. I started my re-read in the beginning, with Whose Body?, and it turns out: yes. The books are as good as I remembered, or even better, now that I get to read them in English and have an Internet at my fingertips to look up all the more and less obscure literary allusions – which there are many of. The writing style is charming, and has a very distinctive voice of its own, and lends very realistic, nearly audible voices to each and every character on cast.

The Nine Tailors

by Dorothy L. Sayers · published 1934 · read 2005-08-01

I stand by my previous 5 star rating even on the re-read. Of course, this is heavily influenced by the fact that I read this book several times as a kid, but still – I think it is a good book. It's definitely by far my favourite book from Dorothy L. Sayers. Everything fits: characters, dialogue, extreme amounts of atmosphere, and even a plot worth the name. There are some side characters that I'd have loved to see more of, but that's the only criticism that comes to mind.

Busman’s Honeymoon

by Dorothy L. Sayers · published 1937 · read 2020-02-11

I think at this point (or earlier, but who knows) Dorothy Sayers had understood that her forte was in the characters and the dialogue, and WOW does she ever deliver. It's a honeymoon with a murder, of course, and I can't get over my love of the characters, so I won't even try.

Gaudy Night

by Dorothy L. Sayers · published 1935 · read 2020-02-08

Gaudy Night is the first book on my Wimsey re-read that I hadn't read before. In truth, it's about 3.5-4 stars, but it gets five for breaking my heart.

Hellspark

by Janet Kagan · published 1988 · read 2020-10-07

Hellspark is not without faults, but faults do not remove a five-star rating given out of pure joy. This is what I want my scifi to be like, and the fact that Kagan has not published much (and died in 2008) was rough to discover in a world where it seems like every book has a sequel. Sadz.

Sleeping Murder

by Agatha Christie · published 1976 · read 2005-05-01

This was one of the few Miss Marple mysteries that I remembered for years. It didn't vanish into the blur of "eh, somebody died and Miss Marple solved it". Partially because I found it genuinely creepy, and partially because it's an unusual setup: New homeowners feel creeped out, and particularly Gwenda feels bad vibes, is scared of the dark, remembers doors where none are etc. Good setup, and a neat solution.

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd

by Agatha Christie · published 1926 · read 2005-02-01

Truly fun book with low re-read value, because you'll remember the gimmick. Christie does that a lot: she picks one thing, and then she runs with it until the very end. Some books are good because the thing is good (like this one), and some are disappointing because the thing is disappointing. Oh, and then there are some books that don't have a thing.

Murder on the Orient Express

by Agatha Christie · published 1934 · read 2005-08-01

The famous Orient Express! As always, Christie has a gimmick and follows it to the end, but this time she adds several good ideas on the side! I particularly liked the Cyrillic writing on the handkerchief that threw everybody off and yet was perfectly visible to the reader.

Der Richter und sein Henker

by Friedrich Dürrenmatt · published 1951 · read 2009-10-01

Existentialist mystery, is maybe the best description of this book. Do not read if you're not in the mood for dark and dire. The aging detective may be staple, and even some of the plot twists may invite you to think that this is just another mystery, but it goes far beyond that, if you're willing to dive into the subtext.

Der Verdacht

by Friedrich Dürrenmatt · published 1952 · read 2006-11-01

Detective Bärlach's second case concerns a surviving Nazi doctor. As always, it's not – in the end, at least – about bringing about official justice. Dürrenmatt doesn't much care for that, or trust in it, and looking at the publishing date, he was not wrong.

A Study in Emerald

by Neil Gaiman · published 2003 · read 2017-11-28

Sherlock + Cthulhu is a very Gaimanishly Gothic mix.

Murder Must Advertise

by Dorothy L. Sayers · published 1933 · read 2005-12-01

Murder Must Advertise is such a fun book. Witty, word-play-y, though it works best if you're already familiar with Lord Peter. Great characterisations, and not even that bad of a plot (always the weak point with Sayers). The characters were life-like and good and touching in unexpected places. Keen eye for British class and culture. Loved the banter, missed the Bunter. I'm very happy my re-read arrived here, because Murder Must Advertise and the next book, Nine Tailors, seem to me the best of Sayers' work.

Clouds of Witness

by Dorothy L. Sayers · published 1926 · read 2006-06-01

This was just as fun as I remembered. Peter's mother appears a lot (always a good thing), and his brother is a total idiot. Peter does his thing and I love everything about it. The story is a bit inconsequential, but we're here for the dialogue, not some pesky murder mystery.

Strong Poison

by Dorothy L. Sayers · published 1930 · read 2020-01-10

I like Strong Poison a whole lot – Peter meets Harriet for the first time, and behaves like a bit of an idiot, which is both realistic and appreciated. Lots of terrible things about society in those days are displayed ostensibly without judgement, but with lots of judgement just by the looks Mrs Sayers throws at said society. It's delightful.

Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency

by Douglas Adams · published 1987 · read 2007-02-01

Inevitably, the Dirk Gently books get compared to the Hitchhiker's Guide books. Lacking originality, I'll do the same. Yes, this book is much denser and a bit more absurd despite the fact that the Earth remains standing (er, revolving) and there are no aliens. It's also more geeky, or nerdy, or written to a British academic in-group. Or possibly against it.

Paper Money

by Ken Follett · published 1977 · read 2017-01-08

This was my first Ken Follett book and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Filled with villains, bankers, politicians, and journalists in 70s London, loads of side characters and an evolving story spanning only one day it is so very vivid! Going to try other Follett books now.

Sherlock Holmes

by Arthur Conan Doyle · published 1914 · read 2003-09-01

Reading Sherlock Holmes was a milestone in growing up. I remember starting the first story when I was barely eight. It started “To Sherlock Holmes, she is always THE woman.” I stopped reading and ran to my mother to complain that she hadn't handed me the first part: obviously there had to be another part beforehand! She explained to me that books for adults often worked in a less linear fashion, and that I should stick with it. Which I did.

The Winter Queen

by Boris Akunin · published 1998 · read 2008-04-01

Fandorin was fun – I read more than just the first, but was too lazy to add them. Mysteries in Tsarist Russia. The mystery and plot is lame, but the character is alright and the setting is gorgeous.

Thus Was Adonis Murdered

by Sarah Caudwell · published 1981 · read 2019-12-19

This book sports a dry humour that's a lot of fun to read. The self-important unreliable narrator is incredibly well done, and makes for an unusual and fun narrative arc. I'm not a big fan of mysteries, so I wasn't all that interested in who murdered whom, and more with the snark in the meantime (which, I suppose, is just as intended). At times, the intentional tediousness of the narrator grated, because I had been dealing with people who were somewhat similar while reading the book – which also made me appreciate the dry meta commentary a lot.

D’Shai

by Joel Rosenberg · published 1991 · read 2021-10-04

Hidden gem among early 90s Fantasy: In an Asian-inspired world, everybody has a kazuh: a talent, one of 52, that they discover and then hone to the point of genius, by entering a deep flow state. The protagonist, Kami, belongs to a family of acrobats, but clearly acrobatics are not his kazuh. This doesn't make him crippled or outcast or anything, he's just less good at some things than his father and his siblings.

The Cuckoo’s Calling

by Robert Galbraith · published 2013 · read 2017-01-15

I did enjoy myself. Well-written (if heavy on the fancy words in the beginning). Looking forward to the next books in the series.

4:50 from Paddington

by Agatha Christie · published 1957 · read 2004-05-01

There's no way I can think of this book without seeing and hearing the movie. The book veered a bit too far into the "here, have some train schedules" direction – I'm not much of a mystery reader, the details bore me and I never try to puzzle them out on my own. For good reason: Miss Marple books often work with hazy clues and psychology magic.

The Thirteen Problems

by Agatha Christie · published 1932 · read 2020-06-15

This collection of short Miss Marple stories was enjoyable. While Agatha Christie mostly follows her pattern of "the most vulnerable-looking person is most suspicious", I don't read mysteries for the plot, so I didn't care all that much. But the characterisation of poor old Miss Marple was very entertaining to read! I remember how this narration device got boring and even annoying when I read most of the Miss Marple books in one go, but over longer intervals, it works very well.

A Murder Is Announced

by Agatha Christie · published 1950 · read 2004-01-01

One of the generic Miss Marple mysteries, but a rather good one. I liked the premise – and there's not much more to like. It's one of those books where the author had one good idea (see title), and then follows through. Christie does that very well, and that is that.

Murder at the Vicarage

by Agatha Christie · published 1930 · read 2004-07-01

This is where it begins: The tons of Miss Marple book start here, introducing the gentle but sharp old lady who can solve every crime by reducing it to some small village squabble. I generally enjoy the Miss Marple mysteries more than the Poirot ones, mostly because Hastings is so incredibly obnoxious. But both series have in common that the bulk of the mysteries are not particularly noteworthy and I often can't remember any details.

Nemesis

by Agatha Christie · published 1971 · read 2005-06-01

Generic Miss Marple mystery – can't really remember anything about it except for the beginning. The beginning was a lot of fun, but it continued as a run-of-the-mill mystery.

Curtain

by Agatha Christie · published 1975 · read 2020-06-18

After reading the first Poirot the other day, I thought I'd continue with the last one. Agatha Christie takes Poirot full circle, with the last novel playing in the same place as the first one, with plenty of reminiscing going on.

The Mysterious Affair at Styles

by Agatha Christie · published 1920 · read 2020-06-14

I'm not really one for mysteries, and I enjoyed this book more than I expected. This is the first of the Poirot books, and it is already a near-perfect example of its genre. It opens by describing, at length, the initial setting, implying heavily who will die, and shows off how everybody has means and/or motive to become a murderer, all the while being very proper and British about it. Then, the murder, then, the curious Belgian detective, then, an unbelievable amount of clues and red herrings. Final clarity to be delivered on the last pages in a dramatic manner, exit villain left, curtains.

Fünf

by Ursula Poznanski · published 2012 · read 2016-05-14

Hm, it might just be that I'm not a fan of thrillers, but I don't particularly love this one. There is nothing wrong with it. The characters are very relatable, the story is sound, the details are well-researched, the language and pacing are very well done,... I don't dislike it, but I don't love it either.

Lord Peter Views the Body

by Dorothy L. Sayers · published 1928 · last read 2020-01-05

This collection is a very nice mix of Lord Peter Wimsey stories. I particularly liked the ones where he's an under-cover spy, and the one where he and his nephew go on a treasuer hunt. While the plot quality varies a bit, the writing and character building are delightful.

Striding Folly

by Dorothy L. Sayers · published 1972 · read 2020-02-22

Three Wimsey short stories, one of which doesn't really feature him at all. The other two show him as a family man, first on the night of the birth of his first child, then as the father of three children. Beautifully one as family study (neither he nor Harriet have really changed, with hilarious results). Weird to see such a well-written and snarky defense of spanking (some) children at the detriment of a nosy and stupid woman with ridiculed modern views.

Have His Carcase

by Dorothy L. Sayers · published 1932 · read 2020-01-23

This was a fair Wimsey novel – banter (especially between Him and Her), with the mystery being less important than the people (who cares about a dead body on the beach). The strong focus on their non-relationship detracted a bit from my carefree enjoyment, though, and made me read the book more through a historian's lense: Gender roles, social norms, and general expectations have changed so much, and Dorothy L. Sayers' take on them is fascinating and utterly foreign to me.

The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club

by Dorothy L. Sayers · published 1928 · read 2019-12-29

I disliked the last third/final twist of this novel, and found the first half a bit predictable, but I continue to enjoy the characters and the writing tremendously, so this may just be my general dislike of mysteries.

A Master of Djinn

by P. Djèlí Clark · published 2021 · read 2021-09-06

Steampunk, non-Victorian edition: In 1912, Egypt is a rising world power due to its access to magic. Holding its own against the British and other world powers in a multicultural metropolis, Cairo is far from free and perfect, though: Our protagonist, Fatma, is one of the few women in the Ministry of supernatural stuff, where she works as an investigator, and gets to unravel the bloodless-but-supernatural murder of some British guys.

Death by Silver

by Melissa Scott, Amy Griswold · published 2013 · read 2022-01-14

MORE gay Victorian (well, Gaslamp) magicians, will it ever stop? This one at least doesn't follow the cookie-cutter for the genre: no nobility, and magic is well-known and accepted, so there's an actual industry and civil services. Magic has actual rules, and a lot of it seems to be grammar-based, and people can, for example, take educated guesses about a magician's schooling (Oxford vs Cambridge styles) – but only guesses, not enough to be actually important clues, which I thought was a nice show of restraint.

The Silkworm

by Robert Galbraith · published 2014 · read 2017-06-27

Nice reading! I really enjoyed this case, even though it was based in the literary world (which most authors cannot really write about well). Cormoran continues to be a really cool lead – neither a hero, nor an anti-hero, nor some Mary Sue.

Das Pentomino-Orakel

by Blue Balliett · published 2004 · read 2004-09-01

Dan Brown, kids edition: Children have to solve weird puzzles where the correct solution is far from obvious unless you're the author. Better than Brown in that there's a better reason for the obscurity and also there are no illuminati.

The Body in the Library

by Agatha Christie · published 1942 · read 2005-07-01

The setup for this is so generic that even the book (and literally every other mystery author at the time) had to make jokes about it. That's … about all I remember, to be quite honest. Most Miss Marple mysteries are somewhat of a blur to me.

In the Teeth of the Evidence

by Dorothy L. Sayers · published 1933 · read 2020-05-09

Collection of short stories: A Wimsey, two-ish Eggs, and then a lot of random stuff. Sadly I like Sayers best when she does characters and snark, and least when she concentrates on plots (her plots are not great), so this wasn't for me.

Hangman’s Holiday: A Collection of Short Mysteries

by Dorothy L. Sayers · published 1933 · read 2020-01-27

This collection has two types of stories: Lord Peter Wimsey ones and Montague Egg ones. On the upside, the Lord Peter stories have great characters and witty banter, so they are fun to read even though their plots are a bit stupid or dull. On the other hand, the Montague Egg stories have mind-numbingly stupid and dull pts, so not even a witty character with good dialogue manages to save them.

Unnatural Death

by Dorothy L. Sayers · published 1927 · read 2019-12-25

A Lord Peter Wimsey mystery about lesbians, mostly. The mystery itself wasn't very compelling, with a solution so obvious I kept expecting a twist. The lesbian couples were a nice touch, though applied with their fair share of misogyny. Then there's the racism, which … could've been worse, considering the time. Is implicitly criticised, vaguely? There were some good characters to this book, but not much else.

The Five Red Herrings

by Dorothy L. Sayers · published 1931 · read 2020-01-22

I tend to like the Lord Peter Wimsey novels a lot – but I dislike mysteries in general, and I like these particular mysteries because Dorothy L. Sayers wrote brilliant dialogue and characters. This book has decidedly less dialogue and less Lord Peter than any of the previous one. Instead it focuses on the local artists and fishing – and in turn felt just as tedious as having to live with people who are only interested in their own drawings and catching fish. It dragged on and on and was no fun. I couldn't manage to care about the accused, or the victim, or the train schedules that were recited for pages on end.

Widdershins

by Jordan L. Hawk · published 2012 · read 2022-01-13

Popcorn read: Victorian encounters with the paranormal continue, but this time it's in the US. A timid philologist from a wealthy family (have to do without nobility in the US, after all) meets a Dresden-style magician for hire. They need to solve a mystery that has its solution foreshadowed so strongly, I nearly couldn't see the text under all the shadow.

Ein Drei-Tassen-Problem

by Stefan Winges · published 2014 · read 2022-01-27

Sherlock Holmes, just German and in the 1920s. If that sounds exciting to you, uh, here you go? I'm not kidding it's really straight up Sherlock, just in Cologne. There's a Mrs Hudson, the story is told from the point of view of his flatmate, a doctor returned from the army in the colonies, and they live together amid disputes about substance abuse in No 21B. Sherlock is talking incessantly about shoe soles instead of cigarette ashes, and they have to deal with a well-meaning but obviously wrong police officer, who invites them to the case only to not listen to them.

Flight of Magpies

by K.J. Charles · published 2014 · read 2022-01-23