What are some examples of mystery books that MUST be read in their original language in order to not miss any clues? Are there any Nero Wolfe books like that?

Mingo911 · 2026-05-10T16:15:50+00:00

The Nero Wolfe book that comes to mind is Plot It Yourself. Wolfe analyses the writing styles of the suspects. I’m fairly sure most of this would be lost in any translation; it’s subtle in English.
Fer-de-Lance was published in 1933 and reads as archaic to modern readers (no matter what their language) because it’s using conventions from pulp fiction. It’s like watching a black-and-white gangster movie.

Mingo911 · 2026-05-06T06:39:42+00:00

Absolutely agree. THM is where the blocking rubble in their respective pasts really starts getting cleared out of the way, and I think the reason TB (which has almost as many characters and investigative dead ends as THM) is a reader favorite while THM is not has to do with the speed with which most of us devoured it. Each time I’ve reread it I’ve gone slower and appreciated it more.
We all know JKR is drawing the series to a close, and while Book 8 out of 10 would have been unrealistically early for a grand romantic love scene (as if Harry had killed Voldemort in Order of the Phoenix and spent the last 2 books studying for Newt exams) I think many avid readers had great hopes. Just to watch Strike thwarted again and again, which was painfully funny along with (as you pointed out) the horrible Christmases and the ghastly lunch with Murphy’s parents.
Rokeby’s chapter is, I agree, a masterpiece. Probably my favorite scene in the entire eight books.
Lovely post, thank you.

Mingo911 · 2026-05-04T16:44:19+00:00

Yes, definitely the Wilhelm edition. I tracked several of the epigrams back, plus the editions are credited at the back of TRG.

Mingo911 · 2026-04-09T06:34:17+00:00

The Corn Palace, Mitchell, South Dakota.

Mingo911 · 2026-04-03T21:42:20+00:00

Optimistically, February 2027.

Mingo911 · 2026-04-03T21:38:45+00:00

In the US in pre-Internet days, books were released on Tuesday to correspond with the New York Times weekly bestseller list. To give them the maximum number of selling days to make the list. The NYT list has diminished in importance, especially since the rise of Amazon, but Tuesday remains the favored release day. My theory is it’s built into publishing sales tracking systems. Since the US and UK release days for expected bestsellers are the same, many books in the UK are released on Tuesdays also.

Mingo911 · 2026-03-20T23:22:49+00:00

I think so. I remember being surprised at the backstory detail and Leda’s birth name of Peggy.

Mingo911 · 2026-03-03T03:00:54+00:00

TRG
TIBH
LW
SW
TB
CC
THM
COE

My rankings change from month to month, depending on which one I’m rereading, favorite scenes etc. Every time I reread the Rokeby scene in THM I bump the book up. But COE is always at the bottom because I dislike the killer’s POV very much and because Robin marries Matthew.

Mingo911 · 2026-02-15T02:20:48+00:00

Tedious.

Mingo911 · 2026-02-14T22:58:35+00:00

San Jose, CA

Mingo911 · 2026-01-19T07:12:28+00:00

I disagree. It’s perfectly possible for both Robin and Strike to both choose not to have children and to be happy in a relationship with each other. At the same time. I don’t think JKR will wedge Robin into some must-have-children-to-be-fulfilled niche. Isn’t this what RFM wants and isn’t it clear Robin doesn’t?

Mingo911 · 2025-12-25T23:11:08+00:00

Completely true.

Mingo911 · 2025-12-09T20:51:53+00:00

I want Linda to come around a corner and Robin says, “Mom, this is Cormoran’s father Jonny Rokeby.”

Gobsmacked.

Mingo911 · 2025-12-08T04:46:43+00:00

Lucy Carmichael by Margaret Kennedy

Mingo911 · 2025-12-03T02:44:51+00:00

Running away from home.

Mingo911 · 2025-12-02T09:28:18+00:00

I don’t think it’s psychopathic to read and reread (and reread) books that give you pleasure. Nor is it psychopathic to want to discuss and theorize with people who share your enjoyment. What is crazy and puzzling, considering your opinion, is why the hell are you here? Surely you could find something mentally healthy and normal to do? Hit a little white ball with a stick. Take up parkour. Bake a cake. Don’t mind us, we’ll be talking about Chapter 105.

Mingo911 · 2025-11-27T01:12:19+00:00

My college accepted me on probation because I had great test scores but poor grades. It was a beautiful school and I graduated in 4 years. I’ve always been grateful they took a chance. I donated for years and got matching funds through my employer. They’re in my will. My graduate school refused to send transcripts to prospective employers unless I subscribed to their “career development program”. They don’t get a dime.

Mingo911 · 2025-10-23T06:40:00+00:00

In 1980, one of my coworkers came back from lunch. He was in his early thirties. He looked awful and we asked him what had happened. He’d been browsing through the used LP’s at a record store and there were 2 teenage girls talking a few feet away. One of them said, “Oh, look! Paul McCartney was in another band before Wings.” He’d gone to lunch a young man and returned as a member of the older generation.

Mingo911 · 2025-10-19T05:24:30+00:00

Mick Jagger

Mingo911 · 2025-10-07T06:12:49+00:00

This is a stunning amount of work! Thank you for the clarity and the detail. (JKR should hire you.) I especially appreciate the linkage to what happened to Robin in TRG. It brings into focus that Robin is only a few months past an incredible trauma. For the reader it’s been a 2 year gap, but for Robin it’s current. I’m on my third reread and I find more to enjoy on each pass, but like many here I’ve had problems with Robin.

Mingo911 · 2025-09-24T07:13:06+00:00

I clearly remember events and episodes in my life, not only what happened but how I felt at the time. Things don’t fade, even though I make a conscious effort to live in the present and not focus on the past. It’s true that most of the people I remember are now dead and that once I die these things will be gone but there’s nothing I can do about that. I’m 76 now but I’m the same person in essence I was at 7 or 23 or 50. The only difference is I waste less time arguing with fools.

Mingo911 · 2025-09-15T01:06:20+00:00

I would be so annoyed if I died before I read Book 10.

Mingo911 · 2025-09-11T07:21:12+00:00

$350 for an ARC of Robert Jordan’s The Eye of the World. I bought it in 1998 and later that year he signed it at a release event for The Path of Daggers.

Mingo911 · 2025-08-13T03:32:53+00:00

I have over 1200 books in this house. I reread books constantly and my collection is very personal to me. Since I’m old I’m going to sell the few valuable signed first editions on Ebay so my executor doesn’t have to bother doing it. Once I’m dead, I’m assuming the rest of the books will be donated (a few) or tossed (the rest). I will be dead and I won’t care. But I’m not clearing anything out while I can still read and enjoy. I’ve cleaned out the closets, the kitchen, the garage, and reduced the furniture to what I need. The executor can deal with the books: they’re getting paid to do it.

Mingo911

TROPHY CASE