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it's time to nominate! Please suggest books for our November 2019 group read.

The books can be written in/set in the GA period, or a little earlier or later.

As usual, just one nomination per group member, please. Also, only one book by any individual writer can be nominated per month.

I'll nominate a Dean Street Press reissue:

The Death of Mr. Lomas

When Mr. Lomas visits the Chief Constable of Burnham and describes his symptoms, Sir Wilfred Burrows believes that his visitor suffers from nothing more serious than nerves. Later that day Mr. Lomas's body is recovered from the water at Willow Lock; yet death is not by drowning.

Sir Wilfred recounts the interview to Inspector Knollis, who, realizing the significance of the symptoms, is satisfied that Mr. Lomas is a victim of cocaine poisoning. With characteristic energy he sets about the task of unmasking the murderer.

In this gripping story of a cunning murderer brought to justice by brilliant, logical reasoning, the solution is skilfully yet legitimately concealed to the last.

The Death of Mr. Lomas was first published in 1941. This new edition features an introduction by crime fiction historian Curtis Evans.

I'll nominate The Polo Ground Mystery by Robin Forsythe

Mr Sutton Armadale, the financier, was shot dead on the private polo ground of his palatial home. Before expiring in his gamekeeper’s arms, he muttered the one word “murder�.

Among the suspects are Armadale’s second wife; a drunken, loud-mouthed stranger in the neighbourhood; and an irresistibly attractive ballerina. The amiable and eccentric Algernon Vereker finds the case as befuddling as a crack on the head from a polo mallet. Two witnesses were certain they heard two shots fired, yet only one spent cartridge case was found on the ground by the dead man’s body. What is the “Sutton Stakes� connection� and is a “Bombay Head� part of the solution?
The Polo Ground Mystery (1932) is a classic country house whodunit, with a sporting equestrian theme. The second of the Algernon Vereker mysteries, this new edition is the first published in over 70 years. It features an introduction by crime fiction historian Curtis Evans.

1909's Carolyn Wells' The Clue.

Among the most famous of her mystery novels were the Fleming Stone Detective Stories which—according to Allen J. Hubin's Crime Fiction IV: Wells's The Clue (1909) is on the Haycraft-Queen Cornerstone list of essential mysteries.

Three great nominations already, and all very accessible - the first two are Dean Street Press reissues, and I see there are several cheap Kindle editions of The Clue, too, including one at 99p.

Fell Murder: A Lancashire Mystery, another reissue of a favorite Golden Age author, ECR Lorac.

There isn’t much on GR about this one, but Amazon has this: First published in 1944 Fell Murder sees E.C.R. Lorac at the height of her considerable powers as a purveyor of well-made, traditional and emphatic detective fiction. The book presents a fascinating 'return of the prodigal' mystery set in the later stages of the Second World War amidst the close-knit farmerfolk community of Lancashire s lovely Lune valley.
The Garths had farmed their fertile acres for generations and fine land it was with the towering hills of the Lake Country on the far horizon. Garthmere Hall itself was old before Flodden Field, and here hot-tempered Robert Garth, still hale and hearty at eighty-two, ruled his household with a rod of iron. The peaceful dales and fells of the north country provide the setting for this grim story of a murder, a setting in fact which is one of the attractive features of an unusual and distinctive tale of evil passions and murderous hate in a small rural community.

Sorry, I’ve nominated Lorac in past months, but I don’t think I’ve nominated this title.

Another great nomination. I have been meaning to try Lorax.

I´d be interested in the Loracs too, though I don´t know if they´re standing alone, as I never read one.

Only four Lorac's are available in my library systems (in the US), the title mentioned is not available on kindle, and the titles that Amazon does have (the same four as the libraries) are closer to full price: $4 - $10. Others in the US may want to check to see if they find the books available.

Sorry about that, if they’re not available or pricey! They’re being slowly reissued - I’ve been lucky enough to get a couple of Lorac’s books through my library, and really enjoyed them. I was going to read Fell Murder: A Lancashire Mystery anyway, so I thought I’d nominate it to the group. She wrote a lot of books, but British Library Crime Classics have only reissued a few so far.

Susan in NC wrote: "Sorry about that, if they’re not available or pricey! They’re being slowly reissued - I’ve been lucky enough to get a couple of Lorac’s books through my library, and really enjoyed them. I was goin..."

It is soon - 1/6/20 - to be re-issued in paperback - $14.99. No mention about e-books.

Judy wrote: "Another great nomination. I have been meaning to try Lorax."

I really like her low-key detective, MacDonald.

Michaela wrote: "I´d be interested in the Loracs too, though I don´t know if they´re standing alone, as I never read one."

They are stand-alone books, slowly being reissued by British Library Crime Classics. I’ve read three so far, each case featuring her Inspector MacDonald of Scotland Yard. The three I’ve read through my library are: Murder by Matchlight, , Fire in the Thatch: A Devon Mystery, , and Bats in the Belfry: A London Mystery, .

I have Bats in the Belfry.

Jan C wrote: "I have Bats in the Belfry."

Oh, that was a good one!

Jan C wrote: "1909's Carolyn Wells' The Clue.

Among the most famous of her mystery novels were the Fleming Stone Detective Stories which—according to Allen J. Hubin's Crime Fict..."

And it’s on Kindle for .99! Yay!

Carrie wrote: "Jill wrote: "I'll nominate The Polo Ground Mystery by Robin Forsythe

Mr Sutton Armadale, the financier, was shot dead on the private polo ground of his palatial h..."

I’ve never read this author, sounds very interesting - I love nominations, I end up adding several new authors to my TBR pile.

Jan C wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "Sorry about that, if they’re not available or pricey! They’re being slowly reissued - I’ve been lucky enough to get a couple of Lorac’s books through my library, and really enjo..."

Well, if it’s too hard to get, maybe I should pull that nomination, and instead suggest Murder in the Mill-Race: A Devon Mystery ? That’s on Kindle and available as a used book on Amazon.

Susan in NC wrote: "Jan C wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "Sorry about that, if they’re not available or pricey! They’re being slowly reissued - I’ve been lucky enough to get a couple of Lorac’s books through my library, a..."

Thank you - that is one available through my library.

I could get The Sussex Downs Murder by John Bude in my library.

Can I just check, is that a nomination for The Sussex Downs Murder, Michaela?

Judy wrote: "Can I just check, is that a nomination for The Sussex Downs Murder, Michaela?"

Yes, if that´s okay, please! I found it when looking for the Lorac mysteries.

That's fine, thanks, Michaela.

Nominations so far:

Susan: The Death of Mr. Lomas by Francis Vivian
Jill: The Polo Ground Mystery by Robin Forsythe
Jan: The Clue by Carolyn Wells
Susan in NC: Murder in the Mill-Race: A Devon Mystery by E.C.R. Lorac
Michaela: The Sussex Downs Murder by John Bude

Michaela wrote: "Judy wrote: "Can I just check, is that a nomination for The Sussex Downs Murder, Michaela?"

Yes, if that´s okay, please! I found it when looking for the Lorac mysteries."

Yay, another I’ve been wanting to read!

The poll is now open:

/poll/show/1...

Michaela wrote: "I could get The Sussex Downs Murder by John Bude in my library."
me, too, and I don't see the others ...one more place to check but will probably have to vote for this one.

I see it's #2 in a series...

Jackie wrote: "Michaela wrote: "I could get The Sussex Downs Murder by John Bude in my library."
me, too, and I don't see the others ...one more place to check but will probably h..."

I only found out now, but I think the books are stand-alones.

I also believe the John Bude books don't need to be read in order - I've read the first one, The Lake District Murder, which was basically a police procedural type mystery. British Library Crime Classics has only reprinted a few and they don't all follow on from each other.

The Sussex Downs Murder is currently in the lead in early voting, but it is only one vote ahead of Murder in the Mill-Race. If you haven't voted yet, please take a look at the 5 great choices.

/poll/show/1...

We have a winner - it's The Sussex Downs Murder by John Bude, which will be our November group read.

Full results:

The Sussex Downs Murder (Superintendent Meredith, #2) 8 votes, 50.0%
Murder in the Mill-Race: A Devon Mystery 5 votes, 31.3%
The Death of Mr. Lomas (The Inspector Knollis Mysteries #1) 2 votes, 12.5%
The Polo Ground Mystery 1 vote, 6.3%
The Clue (Fleming Stone #1) 0 votes, 0.0%

Thanks, Judy. Added to my TBR list.

Thanks, Judy - this one was already on my list, and my library has a copy - yay!

Thanks Judy - confused about the author for the The Death of Mr. Lomas (The Inspector Knollis Mysteries #1). Looked it up on Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ and found two separate authors for the same book. Will the real author please stand up? Which author got the vote?
Thanks
Memo

The Death of Mr. Lomas (The Inspector Knollis Mysteries #1)
by Francis Vivian

The Death of Mr. Lomas: An Inspector Knollis Mystery (The Inspector Knollis Mysteries Book 1)
by Christopher Bush

Thanks Judy! Will get it from my library! :)

Memo wrote: "Thanks Judy - confused about the author for the The Death of Mr. Lomas (The Inspector Knollis Mysteries #1). Looked it up on Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ and found two separate authors for the same book. Will the rea..."

Welcome, Memo. That one is by Francis Vivian - Christopher Bush wrote some other books published by Dean Street Press, so looks as if someone has got in a muddle and uploaded the wrong details to GR!

Yay! For Sussex Downs Murders. I am currently reading #1 in the series.

I am also reading the first in the series by Bude.

I will probably read the first in the series before the group read. Just can't read out of order...

Susan wrote: "I will probably read the first in the series before the group read. Just can't read out of order..."

I feel like that, too, but the first in the series isn't available at my library. darn it!