Yes Foxy, like you I also enjoyed the 'Famous Five' and the 'Secret Seven'. Because I'm nearly seventy, does anyone remember 'Sweet William' ?

Another favourite of mine is 'Hetty Wainthropp Investigates' with that superb Star, Patricia Routledge.

And yet another...'Maisie Raine', with Pauline Quirke as a Detective Chief Inspector. She had some family problems (in the series) Absolutely brilliant !

The very first police show EVER shown on TV (Sydney). The station (Ch.9) opened. You had, a half hour of News. Then 'Racket Squad' in B&W. Then the station closed down!

Initially, we only had one hour of TV a night. I bet many of you good people will remember that ?

Cheers...Sung Wu.

Aah, adding children's mysteries to the mix opens a whole new range of detectives! I loved the Famous Five, but could never get into the Secret Seven. I don't know why - I think they were just a bit too short and simple for my taste. Enid Blyton had a gift for the old mystery story. I also loved her Five Find-Outers, and the series of mysteries that all started with the letter R: The Rub-a-Dub Mystery, The Rockingdown Mystery, et al.

Finally, there was Malcolm Saville's Witchend series, which I loved. I think they were actually the Lone Pine Mysteries, but the first - Mystery at Witchend - had all the elements I loved. Wandering around in the moors, creepy landscapes and a good dose of wartime conspiracy. It's actually the only children's book that still sits on my bookshelf, sandwiched between John le Carre and Wilbur Smith.

Just remembered Jonathan Creek starring Alan Davies and Caroline Quentin - always highly entertaining.

I remember as a child reading a book called Emile and the Detectives - can't remember how it went but I do remember thoroughly enjoying the read.

I've got a confession to make, the
"Famous Five," and "Secret Seven,"
belonged to my next door neighbour.
She gave them to me and an entire
stack of her favourite mysteries
when she left home to get married.

It developed a taste of mystery stories
in me - which became more varied
as I grew up.

Has anyone read, "Presumed Innocent,"
by Scott Turow? or "Gorky Park,"
by Martin Cruz Smith? or "The name of
the Rose," by Umberto Eco? and there's
heaps more but I don't want to de-rail
Poirot's thread.

Dear Foxy,

Your contribution could only enhance a thread.

"The Name of the Rose" is an absolute classic. Umberto Eco is a rare talent. I've just got hold of "Foucault's Pendulum" by him, which looks equally intriguing.

Martin Cruz Smith is brilliant. Among his lesser-known works, I would say Gypsy in Amber is a must-read, as is Rose. Speaking of roses, I watched the film version of In The Name Of The Rose in RE in high school, but haven't read the book. I feel like I have, though, after reading a lengthy discussion on it in one of my favourite books, How To Talk About Books You Haven't Read. Not a mystery, but a great read nonetheless.