Discussion: Reading Soon: Propose a Buddy Read! • The Detection Club • BookLikes

#20 by: Themis-Athena's Garden of Books date: 7 years ago discussions stats

@Tannat: Seems like Pietr the Latvian / Pietre le Letton is the book's pretty universal title, not only in English and French but also in other languages. That said, I've found Maigret and the Enigmatic Latvian and Strange Case of Peter the Lett as alternate English titles, O Assassino sem Rosto (The Assassin Without a Face) as the Portuguese title and something translating as Maigret and the Unknown Freak as the Dutch title. No idea if that is any help?

@Tigus: I'm sure Wodehouse would approve! (And I'm now trying to imagine a dialogue where Jeeves explains to Bertie just who that Maigret fellow is and why we should bother about him in the first place.)

#21 by: Tannat date: 7 years ago discussions stats

Reply to post #20 (show post):

I figured as much. I just thought I'd ask the experts who wanted to read it. I'm not sure if I've read Maigret before. I feel like I might have read one of the later ones for school...but I'm not sure. The paperback doesn't look too bad, cost-wise though. Are you just reading it to witness the start of Maigret?

#22 by: Themis-Athena's Garden of Books date: 7 years ago discussions stats

Reply to post #21 (show post):

It's one of the books mentioned in Martin Edwards's "History of Crime", as an example of classic Continental European crime writing. That said, I've read other Maigret books and am also reading it to catch up with the beginning of it all. I may try to find it in French, too.

#24 by: Tannat date: 7 years ago discussions stats

Reply to post #22 (show post):

I figured it was mentioned in Edwards. I was just trying to figure out whether I'd want to read it. :) I've ordered a copy anyway.

#25 by: Abandoned by user date: 7 years ago discussions stats

I used a cover detail from Pietr the Latvian for square 23! I might try to join you in this one. I've not read any of the Maigret books - I will say that Maigret made a cameo appearance on an episode of Murdoch Mysteries (a Canadian television show that I love) and was very irritating.

#26 by: Themis-Athena's Garden of Books date: 7 years ago discussions stats

Reply to post #25 (show post):

Hmm. Irritating how? Somehow that doesn't necessarily sound like him -- certainly not the way that Holmes or Poirot can be irritating, at any rate.

#27 by: Abandoned by user date: 7 years ago discussions stats

Reply to post #26 (show post):

Have you seen Murdoch? It's adorable, and quite lighthearted. Not gritty at all. Maigret was intended to be over-the-top in his Frenchness, I think. Conan Doyle has also appeared on the show.

#28 by: Themis-Athena's Garden of Books date: 7 years ago discussions stats

Reply to post #27 (show post):

No, I haven't seen Murdoch Mysteries yet (I know, I know. I'll get there eventually.) I guess you'll have to tell us then whether the Maigret from the show is the one from the books!

Have you seen any of the French and British "Maigret" adaptations?

#30 by: Themis-Athena's Garden of Books date: 7 years ago discussions stats

Reply to post #29 (show post):

It definitely has been fun, and I'm already looking forward to the Simenon read as well!

Now off to bed -- or rather, probably, to finish my "Serial Killer" Halloween Bingo read ... that Norwegian story about a certain Snowman ... :)

#32 by: Abandoned by user date: 7 years ago discussions stats

I like the idea of the Wentworth book - I wanted to read another Miss Silver. Of the other two, I think that Death of a Busybody is the more appealing. I'm also interested in Verdict of Twelve by Raymond Postgate which is one of the books mentioned in Chapter 15, The Justice Game.

#34 by: Tannat date: 7 years ago discussions stats

I can get Family Matters or Death of a Busybody from my library.

#36 by: Themis-Athena's Garden of Books date: 7 years ago discussions stats

They all sound good to me! I'm a recent proud owner of Family Matters and Verdict of Twelve, Death of a Busybody is on my wishlist ... and I'm always up for another got at Patricia Wentworth, too. Or Gladys Mitchell, if it comes to that!

#37 by: Tannat date: 7 years ago discussions stats

Reply to post #35 (show post):

Well, for unknown authors (to me) I tend to take the library route first if I can. Not everything turns out as well as Murder of a Lady. My library seems to be acquiring a lot of the British Library crime classics. Although I maybe cave and read Edwards so that I can suggest my own books.

#38 by: Abandoned by user date: 7 years ago discussions stats

I'm going to be starting Death on the Cherwell by Mavis Doriel Hay for Chapter 11 and The Hogsback Mystery by Freeman Wills Croft for Chapter 4. Any interest in a buddy read?

#39 by: Themis-Athena's Garden of Books date: 7 years ago discussions stats

Reply to post #38 (show post):

Drat. I just finished Death on the Cherwell. Would be up for The Hog's Back Mystery, though.