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The Puzzle Doctor

@puzzledoctor.bsky.social

2.3K followers 340 following 500 posts

Avid mystery fiction book blogger at classicmystery.blog - rediscoverer of Brian Flynn

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The Puzzle Doctor @puzzledoctor.bsky.social · 2d

I found these a little more variable as some veered quite a way away from the whodunnit I expected - Ghostly Murder in particular. On the other hand, A Haunt Of Murder is just wonderful

The Puzzle Doctor @puzzledoctor.bsky.social · 2d

My standard medicine for a case of reader's block - take one Paul Doherty and leave me alone until I finish it...
#historymystery #BookTwitter #classicmystery
classicmystery.blog/2025/10/13/t...

The Puzzle Doctor @puzzledoctor.bsky.social · 3d

It's coming up to fifteen years of crime fiction and classic mystery blogging - so it's time to take a look back at how it began...
#ClassicMystery #BookSky
classicmystery.blog/2025/10/12/f...

Fifteen Years On The Blog – A Look Back At Year One

It’s only a couple of month now before my blog turns fifteen. That’s the crystal anniversary, I think, although enterprising jewellers who’ve realised that they can’t wait forty years to sell them,…

classicmystery.blog

The Puzzle Doctor @puzzledoctor.bsky.social · 4d

The Curse Of Book Club strikes again - somewhat at least...
#classicmystery #invertedmystery #classiccrime #BookSky
classicmystery.blog/2025/10/11/t...

The Affair At Little Wokeham (1943) by Freeman Wills Crofts

Anthony Mallaby’s life has led him to Little Wokeham. A doctor in the declining years of his career for a number of reasons, he has taken the role of a GP in the village. He soon becomes close to t…

classicmystery.blog

Reposted by The Puzzle Doctor

Andreina Cordani @andreinacordani.bsky.social · 9d

I am totally blown away by this review! 😍😍

The Puzzle Doctor @puzzledoctor.bsky.social · 10d

Fancy a Christmassy mystery? You can't get any more Christmassy - or more mysterious - than this one, out on Thursday from the "Christmas Death Fairy" @andreinacordani.bsky.social and @zaffrebooks.bsky.social #BookSky #Dickens #Mystery
classicmystery.blog/2025/10/05/a...

A Scrooge Mystery (2025) by Andreina Cordani

Everyone knows the story of Ebeneezer Scrooge. How after years of miserly behaviour inflicted misery on all those around him, one Christmas morning he transformed into a benevolent figure, bringing…

classicmystery.blog

The Puzzle Doctor @puzzledoctor.bsky.social · 10d

Fancy a Christmassy mystery? You can't get any more Christmassy - or more mysterious - than this one, out on Thursday from the "Christmas Death Fairy" @andreinacordani.bsky.social and @zaffrebooks.bsky.social #BookSky #Dickens #Mystery
classicmystery.blog/2025/10/05/a...

A Scrooge Mystery (2025) by Andreina Cordani

Everyone knows the story of Ebeneezer Scrooge. How after years of miserly behaviour inflicted misery on all those around him, one Christmas morning he transformed into a benevolent figure, bringing…

classicmystery.blog

The Puzzle Doctor @puzzledoctor.bsky.social · 14d

Genuinely the hardest Puzzly to judge ever - its head to head to head between the latest from @nevfountain.bsky.social , @victoriadowd.bsky.social and @martinedwardsbooks.bsky.social
#BookSky #BookOfTheMonth

classicmystery.blog/2025/10/01/t...

The Puzzly – The ISOTCMN Book Of The Month – September 2025

September, traditionally one of the weakest months for the number of books that I manage to read. Term starts, with its usual plethora of distractions as classes begin again and piles of paperwork …

classicmystery.blog

The Puzzle Doctor @puzzledoctor.bsky.social · 16d

New review - out next week from Simon Brett and @severnhouse.bsky.social
#BookSky

classicmystery.blog/2025/09/29/m...

Mrs Pargeter’s Past (2025) by Simon Brett

Mrs Pargeter (Melita to no one but her late husband) has always kept her distance from the shady businesses that her late husband was engaged in. The lifestyle it has set her up in is extremely com…

classicmystery.blog

The Puzzle Doctor @puzzledoctor.bsky.social · 19d

Very rare, but more findable than some titles I've reviewed. And you really should find it...
#LockedRoomMystery #BookSky
classicmystery.blog/2025/09/26/i...

Invisible Green (1977) by John Sladek

In 1939, the final meeting of the Unravellers was held in the room above Alberto’s restaurant. The various members of the crime-studying group go their separate ways as war descends over Europe and…

classicmystery.blog

Reposted by The Puzzle Doctor

Jane Thurber @thurberteam.bsky.social · 20d

This is fun and ##Booksky 📚 should take up the cause.

The Puzzle Doctor @puzzledoctor.bsky.social · 20d

Looks like AI-bots are scraping content from mine and other blogs, but I might have a solution… and you can help! #BookSky #ClassicCrime

classicmystery.blog/2025/09/25/a...

A Chinese Puzzle…

So, dear reader, I present you with a Chinese Puzzle. Not the apparently rubbish and definitely problematc Miles Burton book, no, it concerns the visits to my site. Here’s a bar chart of the visito…

classicmystery.blog

The Puzzle Doctor @puzzledoctor.bsky.social · 20d

Looks like AI-bots are scraping content from mine and other blogs, but I might have a solution… and you can help! #BookSky #ClassicCrime

classicmystery.blog/2025/09/25/a...

A Chinese Puzzle…

So, dear reader, I present you with a Chinese Puzzle. Not the apparently rubbish and definitely problematc Miles Burton book, no, it concerns the visits to my site. Here’s a bar chart of the visito…

classicmystery.blog

The Puzzle Doctor @puzzledoctor.bsky.social · 21d

New review - out in a couple of weeks time from @stormbooksco.bsky.social #BookSky #CosyMystery
classicmystery.blog/2025/09/24/m...

Murder At The Wild Haggis Bookshop (2025) by Jackie Baldwin

Beth Cunningham has come to Oban, a coastal town in West Scotland, to start a new life, to finally put her past behind her. Opening The Wild Haggis Bookshop was a dream come true, but it quickly tu…

classicmystery.blog

The Puzzle Doctor @puzzledoctor.bsky.social · 23d

New Review: A Matrimonial Murder by Meeti Shroff-Shah #BookSky @joffebooks.bsky.social
classicmystery.blog/2025/09/22/a...

A Matrimonial Murder (2025) by Meeti Shroff-Shah

Radhi Zaveri is waiting to hear from her editor about the murder mystery that she has written – based somewhat on the murder that she solved in A Mumbai Murder Mystery. While waiting, she is resear…

classicmystery.blog

The Puzzle Doctor @puzzledoctor.bsky.social · 28d

Out tomorrow from @BoldwoodBooks - it's back to France in the Hundred Years War with @michaeljecksauthor.bsky.social - Ashes Of Rebellion #ClassicHistory #BookSky
classicmystery.blog/2025/09/17/a...

Ashes Of Rebellion (2025) by Michael Jecks

1358, France. In the midst of the Hundred Years War, King John II of France is the prisoner of the English. As bands of English soldiers roam the countryside pillaging anything that isn’t nailed do…

classicmystery.blog

Reposted by The Puzzle Doctor

Dean Street Press @deanstpress.bsky.social · Sep 15

Who says desk work is dull? In these four mysteries, the deadliest assignments are on the table. 📚#MurderEveryMonday @puzzledoctor.bsky.social #booksky
crossexaminingcrime.wordpress.com/murdereverym...

Four vintage style covers from Dean Street Press Murder Mystery novel reprints showing people seated at desks/tables.

The Puzzle Doctor @puzzledoctor.bsky.social · Sep 13

So I'm told, also from Costa Coffee WiFi in the UK...

The Puzzle Doctor @puzzledoctor.bsky.social · Sep 13

Wow, what have I done to annoy New Zealand? Apart from repeatedly dissing Ngaio Marsh obviously...

The Puzzle Doctor @puzzledoctor.bsky.social · Sep 13

Works for me

classicmystery.blog/2025/09/13/t...

The Organ Speaks (1934) by E C R Lorac

Waldstein’s Folly is in danger of being demolished. A London establishment, a acoustically perfect concert hall, it has housed its three-storey organ as its centrepiece (despite orchestras not usua…

classicmystery.blog

The Puzzle Doctor @puzzledoctor.bsky.social · Sep 13

New review of an old book that you almost certainly won't find a copy of - and despite the author, you might not want to break the bank for... #BookSky #ClassicCrime #ClassicMystery
classicmystery.blog/2025/09/13/t...

The Organ Speaks (1934) by E C R Lorac

Waldstein’s Folly is in danger of being demolished. A London establishment, a acoustically perfect concert hall, it has housed its three-storey organ as its centrepiece (despite orchestras not usua…

classicmystery.blog

The Puzzle Doctor @puzzledoctor.bsky.social · Sep 12

Out now from friend-of-the-blog @victoria_dowd - featuring a sleuth who appreciates the finest things in detective fiction... #BookSky #ClassicCrime @victoriadowd.bsky.social
classicmystery.blog/2025/09/12/d...

Death In The Aviary (2025) by Victoria Dowd

1928, New Year’s Eve, Dartmoor. Ravenswick Abbey, the family seat of the Ravenswick family. A gathering for family and faithful servants is arranged in the upstairs room of the bed-bound Lord Raven…

classicmystery.blog

Reposted by The Puzzle Doctor

Dean Street Press @deanstpress.bsky.social · Sep 8

Because nothing says cosy like a 40-watt bulb and a little light homicide... #MurderEveryMonday @unclerobin.bsky.social @puzzledoctor.bsky.social #BookSky #Lighting #CrimeFiction #MurderMystery
Check Kate's post to know more about the hashtag: crossexaminingcrime.wordpress.com/2023/02/05/m...

Five vintage style crime fiction titles reprinted by Dean Street Press with indoor lighting as this week's theme for #MurderEveryMonday.

The Puzzle Doctor @puzzledoctor.bsky.social · Sep 5

No new review today, so here’s a random review, chosen (randomly) by Mrs Puzzle Doctor #classicmystery #BookSky #hops

classicmystery.blog/2017/03/17/d...

Death In The Hopfields (1937) by John Rhode

Every year, for a month or so, a crowd descends on the village of Culverden every weekend. They come primarily from the deprived East End of London, to visit the countryside and to make a bit of mo…

classicmystery.blog

The Puzzle Doctor @puzzledoctor.bsky.social · Sep 4

Thanks, Sheila

The Puzzle Doctor @puzzledoctor.bsky.social · Sep 3

Out now from @nevfountain.bsky.social and @titanbooks.bsky.social - the absolutely bonkers and absolutely gripping Lies And Dolls #BookSky #Mystery #MustRead
classicmystery.blog/2025/09/03/l...

Lies And Dolls (2025) by Nev Fountain

sKit Pelham, professional cult sci-fi fan, has developed something of a reputation as a detective following her unmasking the killer of Wolf Tyler in The Fan Who Knew Too Much. So when she is on th…

classicmystery.blog

The Puzzle Doctor @puzzledoctor.bsky.social · Aug 31

It's Puzzly time - my Book of the Month for the uninitiated - and was there a surprise choice? No, not remotely...
#BookSky #Mysteries #EatAMangoPoe @mwcraven.bsky.social
classicmystery.blog/2025/08/31/t...

The Puzzly – The ISOTCMN Book Of The Month – August 2025

So, it’s been a weird sort of August. A break to one of our favourite isolated spots in Scotland managed to coincide with Storm Floris, and I’ve spent most of the month waiting for a medical test t…

classicmystery.blog