It's been a while since I've shared a "Thursday Thirteen" but inspired by Jodie's recent post and my excitement over finally being able to participate in a Classics Circuit Tour I'm feeling all in the mood to come up with a list of books I'd like to read sometime (all are on my TBR pile). The Classics Tour for May/June happens to be authors from the Golden Age of Detective Fiction, and yes, I've already added my name to the list. I'm venturing out a little and choosing an author who is not mentioned in their post and who is also an American. I've been meaning to read her for ages as she was born in Lincoln, Nebraska and I always feel like I should pay particular attention to Nebraska authors. I'll be reading Mignon Eberhart's The Mystery of Hunting's End. The Nebraska Sand Hills are the inspiration for the book's setting, so this should be an interesting read for a variety of reasons.
Anyway, this of course, puts me very much in a mystery mood (though, really, when am I not?). I agonized over who to read for the Classics Circuit Tour, but I can always pull any other book from my pile to read before or after. So, here is a list of thirteen classic mysteries from the first half (am not sticking solely to the Golden Age years) of the 20th century, though there might be one or two earlier or later. I've made other mystery lists--Mysteries with War Settings, Murder and Mayhem, Classic American Crime and Mystery Novels and Around the World in 25 Murders. Obviously my list is in no way comprehensive and I've left off books I've already read. In no particular order, here's a few books I'm looking forward to reading:
Malice Aforethought, Francis Iles
The Hollow Man, John Dickson Carr
The Saltmarsh Murders, Gladys Mitchell (this was my second choice for the tour)
Murder on the Orient Express, Agatha Christie (I should really have a Miss Marple book here as I've never read her--only Hercule Poirot!--any Miss Marple recommendations?)
The Big Sleep, Raymond Chandler
The Thin Man, Dashiell Hammett (I've always wanted to read one of his Nick and Nora books)
The Leavenworth Case, Anna Katharine Green
Tragedy at Law, Cyril Hare
The Moving Toyshop, Edmund Crispin
Murder Must Advertise, Dorothy Sayers
Strangers on a Train, Patricia Highsmith
39 Steps, John Buchan-
Enter a Murderer, Ngaio Marsh (The second Inspector Alleyn mystery set in the theater world)
I think most, if not all, of these books/authors really are considered the best of or the classics of the genre, though there are so many other really great mysteries out there that I follow. I read quite a few contemporary (or written now with a historical setting) mysteries that much like regular fiction I feel like I need to read more of the"classics". There are always so many good mysteries to choose from I often feel like a kid in a candy shop when trying to decide on what to read next.
At the moment, by the way, I am reading Suzanne Arruda's Mark of the Lion, which is one of those historical mysteries I mentioned, and is very light and easy going. I think I may have to pick my next book from this list!