The Notting Hill Mystery reminds me of a radio show I listened to on SiriusXM, Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar. The version I listened to was from the 50s-60s about an insurance investigator that itemized his expenses as he went after fraudsters. I now have The Notting Hill Mystery on my list!
Going to have to see if I can find Frenzied Fiction at my library. I didn't get to read the Bookbinder with everyone on the Discord as August got really busy and am now kinda nervous about reading it, I do have it physically so I will get to it eventually but I may make sure to read Dictionary of Lost Words first.
I’m delighted to hear you’re behind with the Dickens readalong because I am too! I will definitely finish them all by the end of the year. My bookclub was doing a slow read of The Duke’s Children and I got hooked and read the whole thing in August. I know you understand. 😅
Absolutely loved Over Sea Under Stone - it felt so very nostalgic for me when I read it even though it wasn’t a book I’d read as a child, it was so reminiscent of the sort of book I loved. I still have two more of the series to read. Agree that the narration of The Trouble with Mrs MH audio was fab.
I love Dumb Witness - I think it was the only book on your list I have read. I will be looking for Cabaret Macabre and Unruly, and I have added The Notting Hill Mystery to my list of possibilities for Victober.
Usually I enjoy Agatha Christie's Poirot stories, though the last I read was almost funny in the impossibility of independent solving - as it turned on a facial expression of a character peripheral to a conversation. So be it - finished my Victober pick yesterday: Portrait of a Lady. Pretty much the best thing I"ve read this year so very happy about that. Hoping also to reread some Wilde plays and Shaw too, as they represent the near beginning of my English Lit. journey. (And ofc I loved Montgomery Hurst - thx!)
I was really interested by what you said about The Bookbinder of Jericho as The Dictionary of Lost Words very nearly tipped over into too many issues and telling me what to think territory, so I was wary and now I know to skip this one. Clumsy depiction of neurodivergence in contemporary fiction is a pet hate of mine. You have made me want to read Dumb Witness though.
Yes, I feel like The Dictionary of Lost Words pulled off all of its many themes, but the Bookbinder of Jericho didn't quite for me? And to half-do the theme of neurodivergence was especially an issue. But yes, Dumb Witness is great!
Argh. As the mom of a young man with Autism I really get frustrated with inadequate disability representation. For a fun, light murder mystery with a good representation, I’d suggest Blanche on the Lam by Barbara Neely.
Fun reads! This sweater makes you camouflaged in front of your book shelves.
I ADORE Dumb Witness!! One of my top five Agathas. Read it again and again.
The Notting Hill Mystery reminds me of a radio show I listened to on SiriusXM, Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar. The version I listened to was from the 50s-60s about an insurance investigator that itemized his expenses as he went after fraudsters. I now have The Notting Hill Mystery on my list!
Going to have to see if I can find Frenzied Fiction at my library. I didn't get to read the Bookbinder with everyone on the Discord as August got really busy and am now kinda nervous about reading it, I do have it physically so I will get to it eventually but I may make sure to read Dictionary of Lost Words first.
Thanks for the shout out Katie! Good to hear your thoughts on this
I’m delighted to hear you’re behind with the Dickens readalong because I am too! I will definitely finish them all by the end of the year. My bookclub was doing a slow read of The Duke’s Children and I got hooked and read the whole thing in August. I know you understand. 😅
Oh, The Duke's Children - what a great book :)
Absolutely loved Over Sea Under Stone - it felt so very nostalgic for me when I read it even though it wasn’t a book I’d read as a child, it was so reminiscent of the sort of book I loved. I still have two more of the series to read. Agree that the narration of The Trouble with Mrs MH audio was fab.
Yes, I felt that with Over Sea, Under Stone, too - very much the kind of book I'd have loved as a child.
My the list grows ever longer.
I love both Dumb Witness and Unruly for very different reasons.
I love Dumb Witness - I think it was the only book on your list I have read. I will be looking for Cabaret Macabre and Unruly, and I have added The Notting Hill Mystery to my list of possibilities for Victober.
👍🙂
Usually I enjoy Agatha Christie's Poirot stories, though the last I read was almost funny in the impossibility of independent solving - as it turned on a facial expression of a character peripheral to a conversation. So be it - finished my Victober pick yesterday: Portrait of a Lady. Pretty much the best thing I"ve read this year so very happy about that. Hoping also to reread some Wilde plays and Shaw too, as they represent the near beginning of my English Lit. journey. (And ofc I loved Montgomery Hurst - thx!)
Thanks, James!
I was really interested by what you said about The Bookbinder of Jericho as The Dictionary of Lost Words very nearly tipped over into too many issues and telling me what to think territory, so I was wary and now I know to skip this one. Clumsy depiction of neurodivergence in contemporary fiction is a pet hate of mine. You have made me want to read Dumb Witness though.
Yes, I feel like The Dictionary of Lost Words pulled off all of its many themes, but the Bookbinder of Jericho didn't quite for me? And to half-do the theme of neurodivergence was especially an issue.
But yes, Dumb Witness is great!
I’m reading the bookbinder of Jericho soon and now slightly nervous..
Yes, it didn't quite work for me!
Argh. As the mom of a young man with Autism I really get frustrated with inadequate disability representation. For a fun, light murder mystery with a good representation, I’d suggest Blanche on the Lam by Barbara Neely.