I Need a Bestselling Murder Mystery Suggestion

tjwriter · Dec 2, 2010

My dad told me that my mother would like a best selling murder mystery as part of her Christmas and I'm looking for suggestions.

It has to a smart one though, as she's pretty quick to figure these things out.

Shakesbear · Dec 2, 2010

An early P. D James. Any of the Aurelio Zen books by Micheal Dibdin - suggest Cosi Fan Tutti which I thought was witty and a damn good read.

gothicangel · Dec 2, 2010

What kind does she like? Cozy or hardboiled? Historical or modern? Psychological? Police Procedural? Amateur Detective?

tjwriter · Dec 2, 2010

I am not sure and I hate to ask as it would ruin the surprise.

More than anything it probably needs to smart and witty, and not just another formula novel from a series.

Shakesbear · Dec 2, 2010

TJ - are you able to have a rummage on her book shelves and see what authors she has there?

tjwriter · Dec 2, 2010

I haven't seen which books she bothers to keep, but I haven't seen a newish book in her house in ages. I don't think she's done much reading lately.

tjwriter · Dec 2, 2010

Really, just toss out some names of your favorites. I haven't read a murder mystery that wasn't also a fantasy in ages. I need some ideas and I can browse from there.

alleycat · Dec 2, 2010

How about a collection?

The Omnibus of Crime, edited by Dorothy L. Sayers (the best used copy you can find), or The New Omnibus of Crime, edited by Tony Hillerman.

The World's Finest Mystery and Crime Stories, edited by Edward Gorman.

I don't have any hesitation in recommending any of these three.

whacko · Dec 2, 2010

Hi tj,

My mother looks on a book, or a movie, as a challenge too. She doesn't just enjoy it like... normal people are meant to.

A case in point: I watched The Usual Suspects with her. I'd seen it before. Halfway through the film she explained what it was all about and how it would end. Which was handy. It helped me understand it.

So try Dorothy L. Sayers or Agatha Christie.

Failing that, may I suggest a book of crosswords?

Regards

Whacko

ETA - I see that alleycat beat me with DLS. Great minds think alike? Or something.

gothicangel · Dec 2, 2010

tjwriter said:
I am not sure and I hate to ask as it would ruin the surprise.

More than anything it probably needs to smart and witty, and not just another formula novel from a series.

What about one of Gyles Brandreth 'Oscar Wilde' books?

LaceWing · Dec 2, 2010

Mark Mills, The Savage Garden, in which a contemporary academic solves a centuries' old murder and a more recent one. Two for the price of one!

cmi0616 · Dec 2, 2010

I read The Postcard Killers over the summer. Mysteries aren't exactly my thing, but it's DEFINITELY worth a read.

I Need a Bestselling Murder Mystery Suggestion

tjwriter

Emerging Anew

Shakesbear

knows a hawk from a handsaw

gothicangel

Toughen up.

tjwriter

Emerging Anew

Shakesbear

knows a hawk from a handsaw

tjwriter

Emerging Anew

tjwriter

Emerging Anew

alleycat

Still around

whacko

Keeping up with the class

gothicangel

Toughen up.

LaceWing

cmi0616