Jack welcomes viewers into his basement, a space where he spends much of his time pursuing two long‑standing hobbies. He explains that he is an avid stamp collector, particularly of first day covers—envelopes stamped and postmarked on the day a Canadian or Newfoundland stamp is officially issued. He shows an example commemorating the 1959 opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway, noting it includes both Canadian and American stamps because the project launched jointly. Over the years, he has collected roughly 3,000 such covers.

Jack also shares his passion for mystery novels. He highlights And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie as one of his all‑time favourites and mentions that he has written 960 reviews of mystery books, many of which are posted on Goodreads. Behind him are shelves filled with both his stamp albums and mystery collections.

He then reveals a new project: he is writing a book. He shows a mock‑up of the cover, titled Thoughts on a Future Together: Rouge National Urban Park and York Region and the City of Markham. The book explores the park, its opportunities, and ideas for strengthening and expanding it. Although the project is still in progress, Jack hints that one day he may share it publicly and invite readers to purchase a copy. He closes with a friendly thank‑you.

Hello! Basically I'm just here to ask for the thoughts of anyone who has read the John Dickson Carr Gideon Fell series! I've been making my rounds with classic detective fiction (nearly completed the full Holmes and Poirot cannons) but I have been on the lookout for any other "lesser knowns" to add to my list. At this point I'm already certain I'll read in full Christie's Marple series, Sayers' Peter Wimsey series, Horowitz's modern work, and the full, up to this point at least, translated works of Seishi Yokomizo and Yukito Ayatsuji. Basically from the research I've done I see John Dickson Carr brought up a lot, but mostly just the book The Hollow Man. Should I just read that one or is more of the series worth looking into as well? (Also any other books that fall into this line are welcomed as a rec lol)

I finished The Only One Left by Riley Sager, and I'm genuinely sitting here wondering how I didn't discover this author sooner. 😭

The way this story kept making me question what I thought I knew, only to throw another revelation at me, was SO good. I love thrillers that make you suspicious of absolutely everyone, and this book had me second-guessing things constantly.

And that plot twist is something I genuinely did not see it coming. I love it when a book manages to surprise me instead of letting me figure everything out halfway through.

What I enjoyed most was how engaging the whole story was. The atmosphere, the mystery surrounding Hope's family, and the feeling that there's always something more hiding beneath the surface kept me hooked. I just wanted answers, and somehow, every answer made me want to know more.

I'm honestly shocked that this is my introduction to Riley Sager because, apparently, I've been sleeping on this author. I've already started reading The House Across the Lake, and I'm really hoping it gives me the same experience.

For those who've read more of his books, which Riley Sager thriller should I pick up next? And does he usually manage to surprise you like this, or did The Only One Left just hit differently?

No spoilers for his other books, please! I want to go in completely blind.

Hey guys please suggest me books where we get to really experience characters and plots and a good group of characters recurring or like a team solving crimes together.

I have been liking the Quinn & Costa series by Allison Brennan so far

Also loved the In death series by JD robb

I have heard of the will trent series, and Dublin Murder squad by tana french too

So please suggest me more books where we have good crimes and a good squad of police or detectives catching the murderers and criminals.

Bonus if it has romance.

I'm a huge fan of shows such as law and order SVU and Chicago Pd

I’ve just finished reading the book Murder at Mt. Fuji by Shizuko Natsuki, in English.

It had been a long time since I’d read a book in English.

Fortunately, I was reading it on my e-reader, so I could look up the meanings of words – which was necessary to grasp the nuances.

Has only one of her books been published as an ebook so far? Or am I mistaken?

This book was wonderful. That’s why I want to read more of her work.

I love a good mystery. I have read Sherlock Holmes, Agatha Christie, Sue Grafton, Sara Paretsky, Nevada Barr, Louise Penny, Marcia Muller, Laura Lippman. I do not like cozy mysteries or psychological thrillers. What suggestions do you have for me?

The Bizarre House Mysteries series is slowly being translated for the West, but Doll House 人形館の殺人 has been skipped over. It remains only available in its original Japanese.

Does anyone know why? Presumably something either untranslatable or something that really wouldn't work well for a western audience - if anyone has any insight, I'd be intrigued.

Titles are not always the same in the UK and the US.

I recently discovered this series, which by now has 17 volumes. An Accidental Death, the first one was published in 2013, and Some Sort of Justice, the most recent, in 2026. I have read the first 3 books.

We start quite in medias res of DI Sargent Smith's police career. Along the way we learn more of his past, which matters as much to him as his present. This isn't a spoiler because we learn them almost immediately, the three matters of his past that are always in his present somehow, are his time in the military in Ireland, a serial killer that he finally succeeded in identifying, and the death of his very beloved wife from cancer. This latter does nothing to dampen his nearly immediate catnip appeal to the series of highly intelligent, successful, competent women he encounters. The first and second seem to have something to do with his refusal to 'move up' and out of the rather backwater to East England's Norwich, the police force of Kings Lake.

So far the crimes he investigates aren't at all run of the mill. Partly because for the most part, with the exception of the superintendent Allan, naturally, everybody's pretty darned smart, intelligent and good at what they do. For the most part, they like what they do. If they don't like it any longer, they go and do something else. More and more, with the economic and political incompetences, the ever more determination to turn everything over to tech, rather than a reliance on human resourcefulness (not the same as "Human Resources" - read Smith's commentary on HR!) - people he knows and likes are opting for 'something else.' And of course Allan really wishes Smith would too!

There are other elements and revelations all through even the first volume, but will not spoil those.

So far this reader is very glad Smith is staying right where he is. This is one of the most interesting police locations I've landed in, in quite some time!

I joined a “mysteries and thrillers” book club recently, and the club definitely leans more toward thriller/ psychological. I, however, am a murder mystery fan, even cozies lol. I love the company, but am would like to read fewer books with dead children/sexual violence. Soooo I want to bring suggestions as we schedule books for next year!! What are newer murder mystery books that lean more intense?? Stuff like 7 1/2 deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle maybe? Trying to think of things that would still satisfy the group’s appetite. Thank you in advance!!!

I made a list weeks ago about short stories which was much easier for me than making this list. I don't know why. Maybe because my favorite actor E. A. Poe is out of the game because he never wrote a crime novel

I have 50 years of reading experience but in the last twenty years I got not that much time because of professional obligations. This might be the reason some books weren't on my radar ;)

(Crime novel does not mean whodunnit. You will notice when you see the list)

Here we go.

1. And Then there were none (Agatha Christie, 1939)

2. The Long Goodbye (Raymond Chandler, 1953)

3. The Hound of the Baskervilles (Arthur Conan Doyle, 1902)

4. Red Harvest (Dashiell Hammett, 1929)

5. Friday the Rabbi Slept Late (Harry Kemelman, 1964)

6. The Wench is Dead (Colin Dexter, 1989)

7. Death on the Nile (Agatha Christie, 1937)

8. Six Crimes sans Assassin (Pierre Boileau, 1939)

9. Cop Hater (Ed McBain, 1956)

10. Moriarty (Anthony Horowitz, 2014)

I SAID I’D READ Strange Buildings AND COME BACK WITH A REVIEW, AND HERE I AM!!! 😭❤️
OH. MY. GAWDDDD. WHAT DID I JUST READ?!?!
STRANGE BUILDINGS IS HANDS DOWN MY FAVOURITE OUT OF THE ENTIRE COLLECTION SO FAR!!! I genuinely thought Strange Houses was going to be hard to beat, but THIS BOOK??? HELLO???? 😭
The way Uketsu builds the mystery, connects the tiniest details, and makes you question literally everything you’ve read is INSANE. Every time I thought I had figured something out, the book managed to surprise me all over again. The way everything comes together is just SO satisfying!
I love how his mind works because WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU CAN COME UP WITH STORIES LIKE THESE??? WHAT GOES ON IN THAT BRAIN OF YOURS, SIR??? 😭😭
I went into this book expecting a good mystery and came out wanting to read EVERYTHING this author has ever written.
I think I’m officially falling in love with Uketsu’s writing. Someone please stop me before I end up buying every single book by this man. 😭❤️
Strange Buildings, you have my whole heart. Uketsu, you have a new fan for life. 🫶🏻

Hey everyone, I'm going on a long 24-hour train ride and I need a book that will genuinely keep me glued to my seat the entire time. I'm looking for a fast-paced thriller or suspense novel with great twists that will make the hours fly by. What are your absolute favorite page-turners that you couldn't put down?

Hi everyone! Sorry to bother you, but I’d like to start writing a mystery book—it’s just an interesting idea I’ve got in my head. Anyway, I’m worried the killer might turn out to be too predictable.

I love YA mysteries, but I’m a bit naive! I never figure out who the killer is until the very end, haha! Have you noticed any patterns regarding the killers? What was the most surprising twist when it came to the culprit? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

I'm struggling to find a book I want something like thriller or suspicious.

A book that gives a real scare

As someone who has only recently started getting into mystery novels, I think *Strange Pictures* by Uketsu is a pretty good read. However, if you’re an avid mystery reader, it might come across as a little childish or simplistic.

Since the book is translated, I also wonder if that plays a part. The original Japanese might carry a completely different tone, with the choice of words, phrasing, and overall writing style adding something that may not translate quite the same way.

*Strange Houses*, on the other hand, is definitely a level above *Strange Pictures*. I think you’ll really enjoy it, especially if you like getting immersed in the little details. The floor plans in particular make the reading experience so much more interesting.

(Will update this once I’ve read *Strange Buildings* as well!)

Readers of Alex Delaware.

Trying to work out how old he and Milo might be, but there is not much to go on in the books.
In the first book When the Bough Breaks he is 33.
When the house burnt down, I think the next book is 18 set 18mts later.
In Bad Love, they find Spike he is 3.
In Rage, I think Spike dies. If anyone is reading this does it mention Spike's age.
In Obsession they get Blanch
Bones brings in the character MO.

Can anyone add anything.

Looking for psychological thrillers with INSANE twists that keep you hooked and constantly guessing.
I loved The Inmate, The Perfect Son, The Housemaid, and Verity by Freida McFadden . I want that “WHAT THE F 😭” feeling and preferably something fast-paced.
Give me your best recommendations!!