Oldies but Goodies

[Coffin Nail]

I've got a Raymond Chandler on my reading pile and my interest in crime drama was sparked by Dascheill Hammett; which author or book aroused your passion for all things murderous, mysterious or downright criminal??

[BigWords]

The holy trinity: Hammett, Chandler and Jim Thompson. I think Thompson was the first I read of the three, completely spoiling myself. I had picked up the Holmes stories when I was still at school, but they seemed too mild compared with my usual tastes. If someone is going to fight crime, or commit a crime, the stakes have to be high. "Cosy" mysteries don't ring true to me, so there is nothing I really gain from reading them. I can appreciate the craft, acknowledge the skill of the author and see the tangled plot as a work of art, but the immersion in the world of the characters isn't as strong nor as lasting as a main character who faces death and brutal beatings every so often.

[Kylie]

I've only recently started reading in the crime genre, and I was also introduced through Raymond Chandler. I've since also read and loved Arthur Conan Doyle and I have Dashiell Hammett on my TBR pile.

[ethan]

Nero Wolfe mysteries by Rex Stout, were my favorite in high school. He's largely forgotten now. Even more forgotten is my all-time favorite, Ross MacDonald, and his Lew Archer detective novels. His tales usually concerned lost children, fractured families, and the past always catching up to the present, a price to be paid for the sins of the fathers. Once held in high literary esteem, the Freudian nature of MacDonald's view of life has gone out of fashion. I recently re-read his Sleeping Beauty, based on the tragic demise of his own daughter, and it still seems like a great novel to me.

[Katrina1968]

Found Martha Grimes (Detective Jury) last week. Love it, just my speed and set mostly in English villages:smile2:

[Lizreads]

Boy, I can't think of a particular author who sent me in that direction. I think I've always liked whodunits. I could say, Carolyn Keene, author of the Nancy Drew books, because I've liked mysteries since I was a kid.

 

I do think Robert Parker is one of the best, though. I love his (though I think he's been kind of phoning it in in the past several books) books and was very saddened to learn of his death earlier this month.

[Anika]

Agatha Christie's 'Poirot' and John Mortimer's 'Rumpole of the Bailey' were my introduction to the mystery-genre, though lately I have been reading a lot of Conan-Doyle and Dorothy L. Sayers. I prefer the good 'ole cosy mystery usually, sans the near-demise or recurrent pummeling of the main character.

[Guest velocipede2288]

I am reading a John Creasey Commander Gideon book. These stories were made into a very popular TV programme in the 60's, and stared John Gregson.this one is called. Gideon's March.

[pickle]

Boy, I can't think of a particular author who sent me in that direction. I think I've always liked whodunits. I could say, Carolyn Keene, author of the Nancy Drew books, because I've liked mysteries since I was a kid.

 

Carolyn Keene and Nancy Drew I haven't thought about that in years I had about 50 of them, used to get them ordered when I lived in Germany in the 70's as a child from the puffin club. That did start my love of crime (reading wise I am not a master criminal by any means) closely followed by Agatha Christie rightly called the 'Queen of Crime' and the Conan Doyle and the complete Sherlock Holmes series.

[SueK]

I suppose it was Agatha Christie in my youth - either Miss Marple or Poirot. Then I went through a Ruth Rendell spell - I was more keen on her psychological thrillers than the Wexford series. I then got engrossed in the Brother Cadfael Chronicles but that is more about the historical settings than the plots (which I admit can be a little lightweight) but just lovely to read.

 

In later years though it has to be Arthur Conan Doyle all the way.

[Guest velocipede2288]

Agatha Christie's 'Poirot' and John Mortimer's 'Rumpole of the Bailey' were my introduction to the mystery-genre, though lately I have been reading a lot of Conan-Doyle and Dorothy L. Sayers. I prefer the good 'ole cosy mystery usually, sans the near-demise or recurrent pummeling of the main character.

 

I love the Rumpold books. I think I have all of John Mortimer's Rumpold books on my shelves.

[Guest velocipede2288]

Nero Wolfe mysteries by Rex Stout, were my favorite in high school. He's largely forgotten now. Even more forgotten is my all-time favorite, Ross MacDonald, and his Lew Archer detective novels. His tales usually concerned lost children, fractured families, and the past always catching up to the present, a price to be paid for the sins of the fathers. Once held in high literary esteem, the Freudian nature of MacDonald's view of life has gone out of fashion. I recently re-read his Sleeping Beauty, based on the tragic demise of his own daughter, and it still seems like a great novel to me.

 

This reminds me I haven't read a Lew Archer book for some time. I used to enjoy them. And I have several of Nero Wolfe books on my shelf too.Enjoyable detective fiction.