Friday, February 16, 2018

MARCH MYSTERY MADNESS!


March Mystery Madness is actually a booktube initiative started three years ago by the book tubers LizziefayeLovesBooks  and Troi Towel.   There is also a goodreads group dedicated to the madness: Mystery Madness Group .

To get the ball rolling, the hosts have listed 6 prompts which I have listed below with my possible choices.  I thought it would be nice to read along, even though I don't vlog.  My hope is that reading mysteries in March will be a fun antidote to some of the "heavy lifting" I have done by reading the Tournament of Books Shortlist in January and February. Plus, I really need any inspiration to read what I own before I go and acquire or borrow more.

I think my main challenge (beside from reading only from my shelves - with one exception) will be to make sure the books within the genre are all different enough so I don't get confused. So here goes:
PROMPT
MY INTERPRETATION
POSSIBLE BOOK TITLE & AUTHOR
SHELF
Read a mystery from your shelf/tbr
In a Strange City by Laura Lipmann – this would appear to have a Poe connection, which might make it doubly interesting?
BORROW
Read a book borrowed from a friend or the library
This will be the only book I read that I don’t own.  I am waffeling between The Dry by Jane Harper or The Chalk Man by C.J. Tudor.

SOMETHING NEW
A new release or an author’s debut or an author new to you
I’m going for the “new to me” part.  I have two novels by the Australian author Peter Temple that I got years ago and haven’t cracked yet!  
HISTORICAL
A mystery set at least 50 years in the past
This is easy, I would love to get to the next Flavia de Luce Mystery on my shelf, which is Thrice the Brindled Cat Hath Mewed by Alan Bradley. A book I bought *ahem* two years ago?
FOREIGN
Read a translated mystery
I have a copy of The Laughing Policeman, a classic Scandi-noir novel by Maj Sjöwall and Per Wahlöö on tap.

OPPOSITE
Read a mystery thriller you would normally shy away from
I am going to have to bend the rules a tad and pick Just One Evil Act by Elizabeth George not because I would normally shy away from her but because I am considering stopping reading her books all together.    After the last couple of books, I think we might need to break up but I do want to give her one last chance!

Have any of you read any of these titles?  Love 'em? Hate 'em? Do you have any recommendations for optional mystery novels? 
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22 comments:

  1. Lark February 17, 2018 at 12:56 PM

    Go for The Chalk Man! Me and Melody are reading that one in March, too. We could compare notes. :)
    P.S. The rest of the books on your list all sound great btw. Surprising how easy it is to find such different mysteries to read, isn't it?

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    1. RuthiellaFebruary 17, 2018 at 4:56 PM

      Thanks for the comment Lark! The Chalk Man it shall be (provided the Library gets it in on time. It is "on order")!

      Yes, it is amazing and wonderful for the reader at just how many sub-genres and various authors with very different styles there are under the "mystery" category.

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  2. JaneGSFebruary 17, 2018 at 2:49 PM

    I thoroughly enjoyed my October of mysteries--there is something so relaxing about a mystery, especially one in a series. In a Strange City sounds marvelous.

    Enjoy your month of madness away from the heavy lifting!

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    1. RuthiellaFebruary 17, 2018 at 4:59 PM

      Thanks for the comment Jane! I agree about mysteries being relaxing. Maybe because they have a format and the reader knows (more or less) what to expect? Hmmm.

      I am really looking forward to In a Strange City! I have read other titles by Lipmann previously and liked the a lot.

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  3. CarolFebruary 17, 2018 at 11:16 PM

    Interesting comment about Elizabeth George. I haven’t read any of her books but my sister-in-law has read just about everything she’s written & Ive often wondered if I’d like her books. Have you just tired of her style or the have last few books been disappointing??

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    1. RuthiellaFebruary 18, 2018 at 12:23 PM

      Thanks for the comment Carol! Elizabeth George writes great, involved mysteries. However, after now 16 books I am growing weary of the side-stories about the detectives which thread through all the books. She is drawing these out too far and too long for my liking.

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    2. CarolFebruary 18, 2018 at 2:37 PM

      There aren't too many authors that have the ability to keep up the interest level after that many books - not that I've read 16 books by the same author!

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    3. RuthiellaFebruary 18, 2018 at 7:51 PM

      I think my problem is that only about 5 years have passed in in the world of the novels but in real life, it has been 20+ years that I have been reading them. I want the characters to "get over it" already!

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  4. jenclairFebruary 18, 2018 at 8:28 AM

    I liked the second in Jane Harper's series, but haven't read the first one yet. I liked The Chalkman. :)

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    1. RuthiellaFebruary 18, 2018 at 12:26 PM

      Thanks for the comment jenclair! Another vote for The Chalk Man, hurray!

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  5. Kathy's CornerFebruary 19, 2018 at 5:59 AM

    In A Strange City by Laura Lipmann sounds like a good choice. I too like books where Poe is featured. And I have heard very good things about the Flavia de Luce series. Good list and hope you have a great time with the books.

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    1. RuthiellaFebruary 19, 2018 at 9:30 AM

      Thanks for the comment Kathy! The Poe angle in A Strange City is definitely enticing. If I remember, I will do a wrap up post in April to let you know how I got on with the books.

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  6. RobFebruary 22, 2018 at 6:42 PM

    I haven't read any of your picks, so I'm excited to hear what you think. I love the mystery I've read but haven't gone too deep into it. My favourites tend to be anything by Chandler and Conan Doyle, which you've likely read.

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    1. RuthiellaFebruary 23, 2018 at 9:40 AM

      Thanks for the comment Rob! I have actually never read Chandler - a total hole in my reading education! :D And I have only read The Hound of the Baskervilles by Conan Doyle. If I do this next March, I should try and work one or both of those authors in!

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    2. RobFebruary 24, 2018 at 12:42 AM

      Ooh, definitely check out Chandler when you can. He is the master of the witty simile.

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    3. RuthiellaFebruary 24, 2018 at 10:34 AM

      Will do!

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  7. AngelaFebruary 23, 2018 at 9:44 AM

    I don't think I've ever read a mystery book before, but it's on my list of genres to explore this year!

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    1. RuthiellaFebruary 23, 2018 at 10:20 AM

      Thanks for the comment Angela! Well, there is certainly plenty to choose from when you do decide to dip your toe into the genre!

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  8. carolFebruary 28, 2018 at 6:51 AM

    This is a fun idea. I haven't read any on your list.

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    1. RuthiellaFebruary 28, 2018 at 10:53 AM

      Thanks for the comment carol! I think I will fun devoting my reading in this direction for a month.

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  9. So many books, so little timeMarch 24, 2018 at 11:02 AM

    I totally missed the bar on this one, looks good so maybe note it for next March xxx

    Lainy http://www.alwaysreading.net

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    1. RuthiellaMarch 26, 2018 at 4:17 PM

      Thanks for the comment Lainy! You read so many thrillers and mysteries already - every month is Mystery Madness for you! :)

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