C. (Comment, never msg).’s Comments (group member since Jan 30, 2014)

C. (Comment, never msg).’s comments from the Gentle SPECTRUMS group.

I am sad and shocked to hear Olivia Newton-John went to the afterlife yesterday. It is odd that her name came to mind last night, in bed with the cats! I was thinking of actresses who are English and technically, she was born and lived there until she was 6 years-old. Then she became Australia's sweetheart.

The whole world loves her. I am among children of the 1970s & 1980s who absolutely adore her and am a fan. I have many of her CDs to collect on my wish list for years but have several of them on record vinyl. I am sorry she is in Heaven at a year younger than my own dearest Mom. My Mom and cats will enjoy meeting her. I am so glad Ron & I saw her in concert years ago. We cherish remembering her stellar performance. Our tickets commemorate that wonderful night. https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainmen...

Shirin, I am happy you posted! I hope you soon read previous posts and add even more of your observations to the colourful, lovely conversations there; including things not exactly about this book. What you are saying about coffee and tea is a great start and I am glad to have your reactions so far about this novel.

I enjoy tea but drink coffee daily and have wanted to try Turkish coffee. I have not heard of Arabica coffee. Ron & I have many herbal teas but only get it once in a while. For us, boiling water to make it takes more of an extra effort than pouring juice or warming up a coffee. We use the whole pot over two days, microwaving it after it is cold. We aren't picky and are against waste anyway. If someone comes over and prefers a fresh pot, we will save the old stuff in a pitcher to finish ourselves later.

I do think the vitamins and minerals of juice is extremely important and should be drunk every day, unless you are eating the actual fresh berries and fruits daily. Grains & proteins are of secondary importance in the food groups. Protein is last and of course, need never come from formerly live animals. As long as there are no animal products, I **love** trying food from anywhere in the world. An old friend I used to know, whose children are Iranian, used to make delicious basmati rice.

Ron & I cook with chickpeas, lentils, pastas, refriend beans, garden grown squashes in stirfries or soups, tacos and homemade pizza toppings using vegetarian meat from the store (veggie ground beef and veggie pepperonni). My favourite food cultures are Italian, Mexican, and Indian. In Canada, whose people are from everywhere, we mix good types all up. We will be eating well today with a nice medely of these dishes.

Today, August, 4, is mine & Ron's 22nd anniversary! We wish dearly that our precious McCartney could be here on Earth with us and by now, he would be 22 years-old too. You know my friends, that we have earned joy and celebration of our family being together this year! Love, Carolyn.

Shirin, are you enjoying this story better than "Except The Dying" and "Under The Dragon's Tail"? Is your only criticism a lack of depth, clarity, and consistency among characters? How about the plot?

Kerri & I discussed that we gave a lower grade at the end because we considered the motive for criminal actions weak. However, reading this story was a pleasant change because there was no danger and an absence of clean baths, clothes, food, and homes. We wonder why an officer lost his life and there is interest in him and his family and of course, it is personal to the team at police station 4. Otherwise, it is not upsetting or scary, until we see how Peg and formerly one of the Eakin Sons, were treated.

It sounds like you agree that while we expand a look at Will's personal life, scenes of too many external characters interrupt it. Kerri & I believe that their predicaments and actions should be exposed through Will and Peg; no more than two lead perspectives.

At home she was not crazy. I would lock my door too if I sensed or discovered that the husband or a Son had evil plans about me. I hope you understood that Peg went to a few family members for help, against Mr. Eakin and the half-Brother, Jed. They made up a lie that she attempted to have sex with them. Peg kept away from them until she decided how to get help. She got sent to a mental institution. There, she acted calm (until Will finally arrived to interview her, maddeningly). She knew the best way to get out of a hospital is to show yourself as much as possible as being well.

This is my criticism: she was not trapped at home and could go to police, a neighbour, phoned for help, or moved out.

I hope you read and share the rest of our conversation, that Kerri & I also criticized the German and Asian immigrants for not speaking up about every detail they were aware of, to assist police. They were afraid of racial prejudice around police, I can understand but they gave no thought to helping the victim and the safety of people in the future.

Another criticism of ours you might have read, is that most of the tertiary characters were extraneous. They only returned once or twice and had no involvement with Oliver.

We enjoy a lot of subjects outside of the mystery ww hope you participate in, such as medical and dental advancement and seeing old-fashioned supplies, tools, merchandise, and buildings in museums. We shared Will's relief of seeing and paying for dental care. They are also expensive treatments for cats but it is a relief when our babies are pain free, blood results reassure us that there are no other problems, and our babies use their mouths properly and easily again.

Please keep putting here or on your profile, where you are lately. Keep adding your thoughts every chapter or so. There is a lot to talk about and we always have fun, going off on other tangents outside of our books too, because we are friends! :)

I have no comment about calling yourself behind schedule. My reading this year is so much smaller, I have not started the challenge badge yet. I have often set a smaller number of books than I can finish, so that the statistics do not estimate I am behind and have me feeling rushed. Near the end of the year after I see how I am doing, I raise the quantity of books I see I will finish.

It is cool that Mom kept in touch with a couple of special teachers who became like family, isn't it? It is also neat to know about nuns firsthand. Because they were best friends who made a life together instead of marrying, we didn't think that odd. In recent years of education about the wide spectrum of orientation, I wondered a little but what a tacky stereotype for today's mind to contemplate. They were probably in their teaching order since they were younger than some of our cats and sharing expenses with a best friend made sense.

I couldn't get into "Sweet Valley High" even when I was at the protagonists' age and always preferred the paranormal and mysteries. However, I certainly cheer you on for the completion of collections. I understand the concept of ghostwriters well after reading Melanie Rehak's "Nancy Drew" / "Hardy Boys" treatise. I wondered why how anyone could stand not putting their name on things but it was an honour to serve as Carolyn Keene or Franklin Dixon. Did you know? The original "Hardy Boys" author, Leslie McFarline, is Canadian. I prefer their novels to Nancy's for the increased adventure and as I have said, "The Three Investigators" beat all. I hope you read "Mystery Of The Stuttering Parrot" before giving it to me. Do read others that come to hand, especially early ones by Robert A. Arthur.

Gosh yes, if I am mentioning the shift in Virginia's namesake books, the decreased writing qualitiy was obvious. It was to Mom. For me, I noticed them reguritating similar off-putting plot lines: poor but gorgeous girl is related to bitchy owners of a mansion. A creepy person is their biological parent or sibling. I couldn't read "My Sweet Audrina" nowadays for the sexual assault theme.

As a kid somehow more dumbstruck than freaked out about terrible themes, I thought it was an original, unforgettable book. Even then I reacted angrily about family lying to a child in such an outrageous way. If you just want the drama of a very unique idea for a secret, it will have your pages humming; I'll give Virginia that. I hope it was left as a standalone story. The flowers series prequel is "Garden Of Shadows". You acquire some sympathy for the abhorrent Grandma but still go "Why end up acting that way?".

I hope some of our walkmans work but our cassette decks stopped. At first I thought it was the age of the tapes. I myself, gave away a lot of tape albums in this decade, to friends and family who have players. Because of the gap between records and CDs, I still have a ton of cassettes. I gained some space and gave pleasure to the people, for whom I believe they worked; confirming it was only our players pooping out.

One thing that ticks me off is people complaining about changes in novels, be it the style in which they are written, or the settings. I am happy you love fresh settings. It is a fine reason to look forward to "Let Loose The Dogs", besides meeting Will's family. I value originality and freshness highly, in life and in stories. I can't stand reading reviews in which people complain about the odd time that Louise Penny takes us out of her main village; a setting I like much less. I keep myself from writing "Shut up, they are there almost all the time. Grab a sense of newness, will you"?

Presuming she is on your list of authors in which to indulge, my two favourite Louise Penny stories to date are outside of the village: "Bury Your Dead" and "The Beautiful Mystery". Both are also thrilling and gratifying to my eyes, for including proper, non-crime mysteries that are ancient. You are clearly a Sister of fun changes, like in many other things, my dear Kerri!

I think I am catching up on your additions, Kerri and might as well continue onto your last two items. I tried a couple and was not a "Sweet Valley High" fan. I used to joke that this was all anyone read in my high school, while I was into V.C. Andrews. Mom & I stopped when ghostwriters completed Victoria's drafts and were making up new ones, rather thinly. I know "Sweet Valley High" was prolific and marvel at you nearly finishing the collection.

I am nearly done "Nancy Drew's" series and only have a little more to collect of the "Hardy Boys". You know well that I have almost all of Robert A. Arthur's "Alfred Hitchcock & The Three Investigators" mysteries, with some spaces in his ghostwriters sequels to fill in at leisure.

I notice you had been reading a novel called "Minnie Dean" for a long enough time that I am glad you are done on your behalf, haha. We learn all kinds of subjects from fiction, whether it is historical or modern. I dislike the popular penchant for historical fiction because most people hypocritically criticize naturally-aged fiction as "outdated" and little pisses me off more than that.

I also abhor the notion that everything fun and enchanting was discovered and all mysteries were solved long ago and that there is nothing to do nowadays. I prefer modern stories because I relate to them best and prefer the feeling that there is much fun, interest, and discovery waiting to be had in my present time period.

You proposed subjects I am eager to visit. Our updates and side topics I added were lengthy enough, that I deferred some great conversations. There is no need to hastily converse about everything at once. One of many things I find reassuring and valuable about you, is that you get back to things and don't miss ground worth covering. Replying to succeeding posts or e-mails does not dismiss earlier ones.

Yes, the 2008 show I imagine and I think our next novel, "Let Loose The Dogs", has Will back in Nova Scotia with his Dad. I am glad he sees or discusses his Sister. Yesterday, I saw a repeat of the show with his Sister but as we said, they are very different characters and stories. As a fan of the written series with you, Shirin, and Leeanne; I know we are excited to continue Will's personal life from "Shipwreck". What a wonderful novella that added so much to our experience of this fictional person. Even watching the show, I defer to what I know from the novella when Will mentions childhood.

Yes, great strengths highlighted in the television series are his science skills, the effort to make the show feel as modern as they can by pushing every envelope from health, race, and sexual orientation; and meeting famous personages of the 1900s. There is even a cagey government official that gives some story arcs an "X-Files" flair, referring to secrecy rather than the paranormal. Family, friendship, loyalty among comrades, compassion, and humour ties everything together.

It is nice that you looked at old medical supplies but too bad if it came from hospital time. I loved looking at old pharmacy and hardware stores with my Brothers & Dad at "The Manitoba Museum Of Man & Nature". The old town was our favourite part, including a mini theatre in which we could watch a few minutes of a silent film. Manitoba's coup de grace is a ship! You can walk aboard "The Nonsuch" and bend your way into its stairs and rooms. Dad, my Brothers, Ron, & I laugh at how old tins or tools are in museums, if they familiar to us at our Grandparents' or Ron's parents' house.

It will be fun to elaborate in the music thread. I love hearing that you started with cassette tapes before compact discs. I enjoy MP3s for making music mixes but prefer collecting physical albums. I enjoy sharing that I have a huge record collection, including LPs, 45s, and 12" singles. I ended up with a large cassette collection too because I took awhile to get a CD player, a generous, quality gift of a heavy but portable stereo unit that is still working. Also, I collected records as long as I could, even travelling for them, when they disappeared in 1990. The few that you observe now cost something like $30 CDN because they are novelty pressings. I remember records being a normal album format option of $5.99 CDN in department stores. Dad went further and had a great collection of 8-track tape and a swivel rack.

Yes, Newfoundland is a late addition, which is odd because our confederation started in the east with provinces like eastern Ontario and Quebec. I loved getting to know the Newfie accent from Jonny Harris as George Crabtree and especially as himself, in his excellent travelling series "Still Standing". I wished I could picture what the accent sounded like, when I was reading Farley Mowat's great novel "The Black Joke" and his related memoir "The Boat Who Wouldn't Float.

Leeanne & I talk about "Still Standing" with high praise in the television thread. If you want to get to know Canada's small places, this is the show to watch and you would love it. Jonny mixes comedy with his spotlight on towns that need a tourism boost. I appreciate him even more and am his fan now. There are no blu-rays, therefore I set our satellite dish to tell me whenever his wonderful show comes on!

I have a tourism book featuring Newfoundland I look forward to pouring over with large photographs, a great charity sale find. I recently read a kid's mystery that taught me a lot about Newfoundland too. Like you, once I discovered something new, I notice it appearing before me here & there, which is delightful.

I know a bit about nuns because two of Mom's closest friends were school teachers with whom she kept in touch for life. They are "Tantes" to us (French for "Aunts"). They left the convent after Mark was born and lived together in a house nearby, instead of marrying anyone. Tante Evelyne is still alive at 90+. I've learned a bit about nuns from "Call The Midwife" too. Both indicate that practises changed drastically over the years, to the point where you could scarcely tell who nuns were, in the most modern attire.

Besides changing times, you must have read from historical fiction even more than I have, that the types of convents and monasteries vary, like "cloistered" private ones. A few series I like are about religious communities, by authors Sister Carol Anne O'Marie, Caroline Roe (Canadian), Margaret Fraser, and Ellis Peters.

Shirin, I am sorry about technical problems and being busy, I think. We are here for you to keep adding comments while you read. You will say something new for us to converse about. I have to keep reading new books because I don't have the high quantity finished that you two already do.

Yes, Anne Perry is a must. She is one of few historical fiction authors whom I love. She beautifully reproduces the feeling and environment of being there. She doesn't only add horse carriages and dresses to make it sound old.

Maureen Jennings' animal remarks were brief. She should skip them. I laughed at how you echoed with us that it is good to read a story that is less disgusting and has fewer assholes! Kerri & I wish it did not flip around to other characters but we enjoyed reading it, until some stupid scenes at the end. We will see what you think.

In real life, are nurses or doctors allowed to sedate or medicate without pre-approval and a lot of thought? Books and films make it look like the law allows them to take away or inject any irritated patient. I want no more stories in which a patient's concerns are disbelieved, with or without those stupid sedating stereotypes. I have the benefit of my Mom & I being close friends with a few nurses and will ask them for the answer.

It is understood Oliver's insurance coverage was resolved. I share your feeling of wanting to see happy scenes played out, like dessert at the end of a meal, a wind down. Be prepared that Anne Perry's several early novels end with what I call "a thud", even though the mystery cases are solved all the way through.

My dear Martha Grimes, another favourite, got flack for a few myseteries closing too cryptically to understand their endings, defeating the purpose of special effects. The "Murdoch Mysteries" televisions shows close on dramatic notes, not necessarily showing criminals go to prison or the like but the cases are always finished.

On TV, women and children have been villains. The series doesn't mind getting creepy, as the era clops along in time towards modernization that they depict admirably. Believe it or not, there are Dracula, Hallowe'en, zombie, ghost fake-outs, and escape room episodes! I might change my mind when we join together on the upcoming family story but I feel that I am successfully separating the Wills to enjoy them both. Book Will seems more fun immediately but TV Will has the benefit of showing his compassion and care on the face of excellent actor, Yannick Bisson. I love the MacGyver science angle, which doesn't seem to come from Maureen's books. Oooo, when Yannick occasionally speaks French.... ahhh, that is lovely! :)

Something I am noticing and hearing a lot about is Newfoundland, our easternmost and last province in Canadian confederation. I had not known the Neufie accent before but Jonny Harris (and Alan Doyle of the old band "Great Big Sea") have certainly shown it to me on TV now. On the show, they make George Crabtree a Newfoundlander ("Newfie" might be an affectionate Canadian dig that I hope is not viewed as a pejorative. I hope it is as acceptable as "Kiwi" to you). It served the show well because there was a Newfoundland episode where Will joins George in visiting his Aunts at home and PERFECTLY sends him under cover, haha.

An interesting note is that they were visitors in 1900. Newfoundland did not agree to join Canada as our tenth province until the year 1949, when my parents were babies! On the other hand, Manitoba is the fifth province as of May 12, 1870. We were pivotal in starting the rest of the country west and north of us and mustering together (you see what I did there) the formation of the RCMP. The western and northern outposts needed law enforcers to allay battles between Aboriginal tribes and unruly visiting Americans. Kerri, Shirin, you may have heard of the Canadian gold rush in Yukon Territory. That fit into that time frame, shortly after California's gold rush. I look forward to seeing a "Murdoch Mysteries" show that is in Yukon and imagine that couldn't fake actually visiting to film it there!

To finish your other thoughts about the novel, now that you mention it, I guess Nathaniel's adopted or biological Sons were slowly poisoning him. We agree Peg's Son ascended naturally, don't we? It turns out step Sister was all right but I despite how quiclky everyone wants to call someone crazy and medicate them.

Wasn't your eyerolling from Peg not simply telling Will everything she needed to, while being alone in an interview with him? I also feel that rather than call out to Oliver from her window, Peg could have given a note to a maid, visited, or phoned someone prior to locking her room. Trying to talk to the Sons was twisted as a sexual advance but don't stop there. Seek help outside the family.

I remember what I wanted to add since I first made notes. I appreciate academic references but do not feel that Maureen's book titles tell us anything about her stories. There was no Tom or cold, which made me think of a crime in a blizzard like the first mystery. Only someone well versed in her reference material would get anything out of her quotations and we are well-read women. I think these quote derived titles are meaningless to most of us and aren't worth the few who recognize them.

What does "Let Loose The Dogs" have to do with Will's family? I hope his dear Mom ascended accidentally or from an illness by the water. I avoided the show about that book and a few others from the first season in 2008, to ensure the novels are new to me.

Yes, an accident can work as a death. I think we feel there needs to be plausibility about the way it occurred, why it was covered-up, and it has to be well written. No one is going to alert a policeman, punch him, or shoot him whether or not they are sure he had died; how stupid now that you mention it, Kerri.

You are right about pretending to have a fiancee being pointless too. Any business owner could have been hired as a lying witness. Doesn't that ruse rely on readers the Eakins knowing whether or not Oliver has a fiancee and if his Mom knows her? It would indeed have been nice to see Mom & fiancee support each other. Oliver should have introduced them and discussed problems. My Mother-in-law has ideas based on Ron's early, erroneous telling of things that occurred. He has told her "No", even though he long had trouble speaking up to her. If my parents disliked anything they should know, I dealt with rumblings and questions reasonably.

If you think of where the overall writing or storytelling quality was lacking, Kerri, do tell. I thought I disliked the plot and a few peeves but you might be onto something else. Now, I look forward to what you & Shirin add to our conversation! :)

Shirin, don't read this until you are done the novel. Kerri & I are discussing the end of the story from here onwards. Nonetheless, don't rush and please contribute your thoughts along the way. Stick with us and add small progress several times. :)

Kerri, if you ever read Martha Brooks, she wrote prolifically about sanitorium days. She lived in a Manitoba town that housed health care staff. Tuberculosis clinics, presumably cured, were closed so long ago before our time, they must have been open in Canada by the early 1900s of Williams'. I would only propose that it is still a choice with medical care: are we better in the comfort and protection of home, or risking a public hosptial for professional benefits? I shared in my note about Tommy Douglas, the Sutherlands' Grandpa, that Canadian health care wasn't paid for until 1957. Apparently the NDP's platform today asks for dental and medication coverage too, like the Green Party has sought for years.

Well Kerri, I am as curious as you are of my, why we trinkled down to three stars for this novel. We disliked the dirty atmosphere of grubby people and houses in the previous story and the horrific topic of assault in the first. We thought this novel was more pleasant to read but graded it inferiorly. For me it is because the plot was phoned-in. We saw by the ending that Maureen crafted no intriguing background about Mrs. Wickam or Peg. Readers shouldn't have better ideas than authors, should they!

It was only ever going to top out at four stars because I was sick of Maureen using "at" all the time with verbs, instead of simply writing: "poked", "scratched", "pulled" and you know I disliked "backwards, forwards, towards, onwards" without Ss. Once or twice is fine but an author seems to overdo irritating habits and three instances of animal abuse or killing made four stars all I could give.

It went down to three stars for the killing being an accident. Who argues with a police officer and hits him, to the point of accidental death? They should have stayed respectful or quiet, if they didn't want trouble for scaring or threatening Peg. I think her Son ascended from natural causes. He would not have been Nathaniel's heir anyway. Peg was right about sensing or overhearing that they had harmful plans for her.

I think the first two novels with more grim situations received higher marks from us because Maureen excelled as a writer. Would you say four stars rewarded novels that were better than the average ones? Besides turning to other people too often in this one, I enjoyed them very much until William got to the sanitorium. Worse than a weak plot was that stupid scene.

William believed Peg needed help, as she called out to him on the street before. She should have rapidly told him everything and if Maureen absolutely had to write that her body language alerted nurses; it is unbelievable that William allowed her to be carted away. They had a private interview, which is hard to screw up!!!! Why? Just so Maureen could add action and have Peg escape in a dumbwaiter later? Running around in a barn later and one Brother being nice and then dying, was too much as well, if it was for the sake of action and sentiment.

Let's hope this is the only Maureen Jennings dud. I am glad I am not the only one to give it three stars and love reading the series with you & Shirin. Later, we'll see what Leeane makes of the novels.

I wanted Mrs. Wickham's history but hoped there was nothing nefarious. Too often people conceal details from families, without giving them a chance to show they would respond to news better than it was assumed. Mrs. Wickham wouldn't have minded Oliver falling in love and marrying. He needn't share their roof to help with finances and care. As a boarding house, maybe he & his wife could have used the spare rooms. Being religious is natural to share with your child. I don't think we saw evidence beyond a few eyebrow raising books of that day.

Oliver raising suspicion by already having a fiancee broke the case and the German and Chinese witnesses eventually. I dislike coincidences or accidents in stories.

About Anne Perry / Juliet Hulme, I didn't see the tell-all film about her and didn't know Peter Jackson produced it. I am sorry she did not keep her privacy and hope there has been plenty of compassion and respect for her since that publicity.

I am on page 336 in chapter 33. I fell asleep quickly with Petal & Angel but awoke with my glasses & lights and found the vigour to read further on. I'll be done tonight, so I hope Shirin chats and guesses with us a few times now and afterwards. Let's keep talking after we finish books and extend our fun, right? :)

I understand fear of racist repercussions. I don't think a good character is built nor contributed to society in a way that earns respect, by lying because avoiding follow-up questions and closing a case is easier for you. Could he not think of the help the victims need? I criticize a German labourer for doing the same.

It was wrong that Maureen Jennings had him drinking tea too. My relatives from that time period are German and ALL OF THEM and my Dad's cousins today, drink coffee. My Godmother even wants a cup in the heat of a summer day. I love that Will is introduced to all kinds of coffee and loves it, including the Turkish sort I have not tried. People might have a cup of tea occasionally. It bothers me that so many people, even those who are actually addicted to tea traditions, aren't drinking juice and water enough. My fridge is full of four kinds of juice all the time. I do not drink soda. Right now I have cranberry juice picked & made by Ron, organic mango juice, 13-ingredient green power juice, tomato juice, kiwi & strawberry juice, pineapple juice, apple juice, and orange juice. I crave juice for hydration, enjoyment, nourishment, and flavour.

Whatever differences from the shows, with increased Canadian content visually and logistically; we owe Maureen Jennings thanks for Canada's most beloved detective cast and possibly our longest enduring television show. It doesn't appear that Will is scientifically inclined yet and another treat for you to look forward to on screen are famous 1900s personages whom we meet in the fictional stories.

It is natural for us to think about computer technology because that advancement rose quickly and is in our faces. I have had penpals since childhood but appreciate the internet for meeting more of you and hearing from you more quickly. I'll get back to that letter next week and am glad it will be a happy one, Kerri! I look forward to Shirin's detailed responses to a few special letters too. Medical and other advancements do abound. When Ron's Brother had cancer, a type of chemo was introduced that does not damage hair. My Dad is alive because they could remove a bladder and use a bag.

Essiac Aboriginal herbs and Chinese / Indian energy medicine are old knowledge people need to hear of, which might have helped our precious Spirit. Alternative healing is rising. There are advancements in kidney help: food scented differently, so that cats aren't bored. However, I have read a contradicting study that kidney problems need protein and that it should not be reduced until the last stage. Cats might last longer with it, from the allopathic standpoint. Not including what I know now about clearing energy in the meridian pathways.

As a kid I remember microwaves, videotapes, CDs, DVDs, cordless phones, and answering machines coming along. Dad had a good 8-track collection, which preceded tape cassettes. I still want a Futon, the couch that opens into a bed; maybe the only way we could have overnight guests in a small house. Dentistry is better. Instead of metal, I use white cavity filler that is stronger and matches teeth colour. Actually, Julia & William of the TV show constantly introduce new medicine and gagetry. Pens come with their own ink and I don't know when pencils came out.

I have not made guesses about the mystery but sense it involves learning more about Peg's and Mrs. Wickham's pasts. Were you at the part where Will found the religious books in Oliver's bedroom? Not ticking off a religious person seems more likely than caring for his Sister, Dora, after marrying. We need to identify the man who asked Anna to pose as Oliver's fiancee and what stake he had on hiding the verdict. He was probably someone from Nathaniel Eakin's house, those creeps.

I guess it is next door to the vacant house: we think one of them killed Oliver, don't we? However, I sense the motive pertains to Mrs. Wickham instead of her Son and that Peg was only in the wrong place. I closed the novel where Will realized he should speak with her and told Nathaniel he was going to whether he liked it or not. I felt as relieved as you must, about him reaching her before they tried to impose an operation.

Enid made a very intelligent point about Will taking an interest because she was handy. People in that day & age, like external Anne Shirley characters, marry quickly because they can't properly explore without a commitment and tried early eligible options. George reinforced that astuteness: if Will is willing to pursue Enid at a different house, that will say a lot. I don't know when she lost her husband either. The first novel might have said. It occurred to me the only Welsh celebrities I know share her last name: Tom Jones and Catherine Zeta-Jones! I am loving George in the books too, despite physical and family differences.

The only thing I like about Beatrice is trying anything for Arthur. Options are the better chance for success. I wouldn't say looking for cures tires anyone out but is worth it. I don't know anything about tuberculosis / consumption but you often refer to it. Do you have a special interest? You noticed details no one else did when we started the series. Fresh air, seeing birds and wildlife, and touching the grass under our feet is important for people and animals. I forgot that it must be contagious and wonder if Maureen did. Manitoba authoress Martha Brookes grew up near a tuberculosis hospital and wrote about it often, otherwise it would be unknown to me. I think I answered everything you contributed since July 8.

Some other point occurred to me that I will add it if it reappears. Now I will make a wild guess at working out this mystery. The method for reaching solutions that we read about and watch is going over what you know.

Mrs. Wickham / Wicken has a nice house but took boarders to supplement Oliver's income. Margaret / Peg was an orphan who became a talented dressmaker, urged to marry a widow. Her Son was recently poisoned and she hid in her bedroom because she believed it was on purpose. As a result, the family sent her to a sanitorium. She is cautiously asserting her sanity there.

What is the Eakin financial status? They have one young maid, Janet Curren(?). Do you recall the origin of her employment and why she cares about staying in that dismal place? I would get out. It is hard to please someone frustrated with you. I experienced that at a few jobs, disliked or not viewed as satisfactory.

The family is dissatisfied with each other. Do they care about being loved by their Dad / Stepdad, or is it about an inheritance? It is soon. He is old and as of chapter 33, unwell or harmed. Why did the married couples not move elsewhere? Do they have other jobs or are they financially tied to the household? Why not use the abandoned house for space and privacy? I think that is all and that the Lees and Anna are incidental. I am proud of Foon Lee's compassion and duty, for offering to help the police for the sake of victims and crime solving.

I think Oliver was only killed for being near illegal activity. My guess is that he heard Peg's call for help like Will and the German. I suggest he was answering her, like a good constable would. However, that would make his family connection coincidental. I wonder if there are connections, or if the closing chapters only explain Peg's story before Oliver strove to help her.

It is fun to talk daily, including the challenge of delighting in more to comment on than my follow-up paragraphs fit in. I hope to update the odds & ends now. It is a cloudy morning, when helpful sun & breezes are already challenged in the worst mosquito summer I have experienced. I run outside briskly. If there is work out of doors, we dress over every area despite the 30C heat, even up to net headgear!

Ron taught me and I observed on fun drives, that fish eat mosquito larva in lakes, oceans, and rivers. You do not want standing water in ditches and marshes. We are grateful for the rain for our gardens, plants, trees, and the safety of our forest homes overall. However, talk about surprising us with bites and itches, even in the house. I close the bedroom door in the evening so they don't hide there when I settle to read.

Thank you for continuing to support and encourage us. We are staggered by the wait of missing and hoping for our cat Son for five years. May joy abound around all of us right now and sustain the years ahead in great health, happiness, and in lightness.

Yes, Anne Perry is an English girl who has spent most of her 80+ years in Scotland. She is fantastic. She had a sad past about a mistake changing her life that makes me sorry for her, in a way other people aren't inclined to sympathize with. I read an interview that she believed she didn't deserve happiness and did not couple. I hope she forgave herself. Maybe she was always talented; or knowing fear, hardship, sadness made her a genius, compassionate, daring authoress. She connected with our precious Lovey and eased my pain that hardest week. Thank you for always acknowledging what I share, my dearest friend, Kerri.

A Sister was killed, whose loss was cried about in the most touching, realistic way I have read. Charlotte spoke of how this Sister taught her to read, do her shoes but that this loss must not compare to coming from the body of their Mom, the grief she must feel. I remember all the books that sympathized with me the next few times I read anything. Thank goodness I chose well and the right ones came to me. Gail Bowen's "Deadly Appearances" and Penelope Stokes' "The Wishing Jar" too.

I hope you know Shirley, Donald, Kiefer, & his twin Rachel are not only well known. They ARE Canadian. "The Ryans" are too: Gosling and Reynolds. Add the young new Muslim "Marvel Comics" actress, Iman Vellani and Simu Liu, who hosted the "Juno Awards" that I didn't watch. I caught him in a couple of sitcom episodes of "Kim's Convenience" and enjoyed it.

As for your part of the world, I have seen a few "Ghost" episodes and marvel at Rose McIvor's ability to conceal a New Zealand accent. I presume she has one. I don't know if I would have guessed she was putting on an accent, except it is too neutral. That way I think of putting it is that she sounds North American like a blank slate. There is no regional flavour of coming from anywhere. Otherwise she is perfect and the show is compassionate, original, and funny. There is the chitchat part updated.

I am on page 162 in chapter 26 in "Poor Tom Is Cold" Criticisms emerge in conversation first. Later, things we love are served like desserts at a party. I smiled about those same puddles!

We are in harmony that we love seeing a real, relatable person in him and not a hard-boiled detective front. In "Except The Dying", Shirin loved it when William splashed in his foot bath basin and imagined it was the Atlantic Ocean. It worked well for our introduction that we had just read "Shipwreck" from his childhood. As Mom would say, "I am chomping at the bit" to read the next novel, featuring a return to Nova Scotia. I guess my Mom has long used a horse expression. :)

I did not think the Eakins were nice enough to eldery horses either. Besides fooling someone into buying an older horse than served their needs and the sweet horses', forcing her to jump in discomfort was awful. Rabbit stew upset me too and I wish Maureen had shut up after naming the stew, if she found that factor important. We think of William as an animal lover.

I don't believe it was the gas boosting William's joie de vivre. I say it was the relief of a dentist healing his problem and releasing the fear of trying him out. What must it be like to try a procedure that is new, not old hat like dentists are to us. We grew up in a flurry of innovation so we could draw our own examples and it would be nice to recognize the many experiences that are new to us as well. What might you say they are?

I thought about what I would add in my first entry and am sharing it today, a trivia treat. Is dentistry a free coverage in Iran and New Zealand? It is not here and neither is medicine, which would have made life much better for Mom & Dad. Mom often delayed treatment and medicine she needed and look what happened. We lost her at 75 from mini-strokes and other health issues that might not need to be. Don't get me started on what I know now about even basic energy healing saving her. Her outcome was preventable. The Green Party wants free dentistry and medication for us.

The fun fact is that people delayed going to doctors too in William's fictional time, before the NDP (New Democrat Party) introduced medical coverage. It was introduced in the year 1957 and made official across Canada in 1966. That first NDP leader was Tommy Douglas. Her famous Daughter, Shirley Dougas (referred to in a joke on "Corner Gas"), married the also famous Donald Sutherland. She ascended at the same time as my Mom. You can see who Shirley's & Donald's twin children are: Rachel and Kiefer Sutherland! How cool is that? Kiefer's Grandpa introduced health care to Canada, even though the NDP have never held the Prime Minister's seat.

Anyone in William's time was brave to go to a doctor or dentist, not only for being new but wondering what it might cost. We hesitate to visit vets until we really feel pushed. I am waiting for health care provided for animals, who are family members for us today in 2022, with whom our financial plans are shared. Political programs matter, even if we have little taste for campaigns.

Yes, it is awesome that Enid Jones & William are open minded and interested in each other. I don't think he dislikes the boy. I think William is making notes on behaviour that needs to be improved in case he became a stepfather. He was willing to sit down a play a boardgame. What seems like rudeness in people is often shifted the minute we guide them appropriately.

I don't get women like Peg not going elsewhere, if speaking up didn't work. She did not choose a safe place to stay with her Son and I too, am appalled to wonder what happened to him. Actually, I know a Grandma who chose a benefactor for her children and it turned out poorly for her; something for private e-mail. Marrying for love, or a properly arranged mate is important.

Ron's folks were catholic but he wasn't into it and I used to be devoutly protestant but love life better without that too. We were open enough to ways in which religion didn't make sense and flexible enough to find our own way. I enjoy this about Maureen's books. I am curious if William is a scientist, or if the television series made that up. Yannick Bisson's character is a crafty MacGyver type, who is prim & proper and only opens up to people who know him. William in the novels seems more fun but probably because books make us privvy to his thoughts and feelings.

George Crabtree, played by the awesome Jonny Harris is very different. Leeanne & I can't get enough of his "Still Standing" comedy show and now Ron enjoys it too. He is single and slight, not large with 5 kids. Otherwise, his personality seems similar; smart, helpful, and trusted. Henry Higgins is minimal in the book and on the show. I wonder how he progresses in print. Inspector Thomas Brackenreid is definitely Scottish, colourful, and an assertive boss on TV but likes and respects William. We get to know his family and he is a key cast member, which is why his photograph is on the books.

You make a good point about Sam avoiding a threat that readers are unaware of. I am not a fan of what people call an "unreliable narrator" and didn't fathom what it meant, until you suggested that. I follow what is written and like to think correct information can come from analysing it. It didn't occur to me that he lied to his Son, Foon as well as in court. I would rather Maureen do that for a plot reason, than Sam be weakly compliant to avoid answering questions.

My guess about the mystery is that the new information about Oliver's Mom and what we learn from Peg, are the solutions. It must be for a reason that Maureen presented but put off explaining what happened to the little boy. Before I fell asleep, William realized there was a reason Oliver hid his engagement from his iron-willed Mom, who spoke with the demeanour of someone who had managed servants. The house is hers but after the departure or loss of a husband, she rents the second floor. We also know from Oliver's childhood books that she is strictly religious, the opposite of the "marry anyone, screw anyone" Eakins. What does this suggest? I will think about these clues.

Anne Perry is spectacularly special to me. I was glad to try her and see that her writing, plotting, pacing, and character-building are excellent after collecting her books for years. You would love her, Kerri. Anne's work too is all about the policeman's family with humour and criticial commentaries on society in the same time period. The début is called "The Cater Street Hangman".

What glued me to her in a sacred way is that I was reading this introductory novel, the terrible night in 2014 that Love suddenly went to Heaven. He was our first baby to go but should have had 20 plus years ahead at that shockingly young age. I felt sick to my stomach each night I slept and each day I awoke, for a long time, until a vet told me heart failure couldn't have been stopped no matter how quickly we consulted a vet.

We haven't been the same. Three years later, today in the year 2017, was the last time we saw Conan. Today, it has been five years. Alcoholism crept into our family since then. However, as you know thank God, things are much better. As for Conan: we do not give up on good people, his love for us, God, Conan's tattoo, and the advertising you help with. May the prayers of friends never give up either. May Mom, McCartney, Spirit, and his Mom Marigold guide our boy home to us very soon.

Let's assume in this year 2022 that "marriage" includes any committed, common-law union. Religion should not dominate life but similar spiritual faith is essential compatibility between couples. It is nothing to do with society demanding that two people be catholic, protestant, black, or white even in Canada of 1900. Compatible core beliefs is how couples and to a degree, friendships work.

The way you choose, Kerri, is to defer to the more spiritual person. If one cares less about it, they would go with the flow of their beloved. William in the books and on television is a very spiritual person inside his heart but he is open to discussion on religious and traditional doctrine. Flexibility and clear thinking in place of blind adherence, is an ideal state. I could see him working with his Welsh lodger.

I continue to dislike Beatrice Kitchen very much. Doesn't anyone else see it? She is too blindly religious and only seems nicer than terrible external characters of these novels. She is bossy and pushy too. It comes across sweetly because William and Arthur instantly fall into step for her. I will acknowledge a few things to the service provided to lodgers and men of the time, hanging their coats and getting their suppers. However today, I would consider the focus on my goings-on overstepping.

My Mom babied me, rambling to my landlord that I was moving out for the first time, even though I was the age of you both! Like the two of you I believe, I was mature and only happened to live with my folks to save money amid university debt. The landlord treated me like a kid, the way I wanted to avoid. I didn't tell the well-meaning landlady to fuck-off but was firm on those few pushy instances.

This book told us or reminded us that Arthur & Beatrice had a baby for 3 weeks. It is sad that they lost him and they will forever be parents. But it takes a good decade to engrain the otherwise gross nickname of "Mother" to your wife. It disgusts me that Arthur calls Beatrice that. Those are my criticisms, along with any person being controlled by a spouse, such as being sent to an asylum or having an operation without agreeing to it.

It was bad enough that our government came close to demanding vaccinations, which is another intrusion on bodies and beliefs, no matter how anyone viewed the virus vaccine. I will never vote for Justin Trudeau because he attempted to do that.

The positives are numerous, pleasures difficult to name that are built into reading this book, if that makes sense to you. Like you Kerri & Shirin, I am interested right away and love all the scenes about William. I like the same families and people you do. Sam pisses me off for cheating on his wife and assuming sexual needs and loyalty are different from one gender to another. The mystery is unique and touching for being a fellow officer.

Sam annoys me anew for jeapordizing the truth by thinking it easier to help the coroner close a case fast, instead of discover why a woman was masquerading as Oliver's fiancee. I understand that minorities were not believed respectfully enough but our strength and wholesome character needs to be shown. We lead and teach by example, not by keeping a misconception running amock. Any guesses about the mystery?

All right, some pages to talk about! Like Shirin indicated, there were no observations, then Kerri was too far ahead for us to comment. Did you only have a short session before ending up ahead? I am in chapter 22 now, on page 222 serendipitiously and can read and expand upon what is here. Short bits all along the way are ideal but I understand riding along on a burst of reading when the wind carries us.

In this year 2022, let's take for granted that "marriage" means any committed union, such as my nearly 22 years with Ron. My goodness, that makes five serendipitous connections of the number. McCartney was nearly age 22, in this year 2022, it is mine & Ron's 22nd anniversary next month, and I am on page 222 in chapter 22 of our shared novel. Are there meanings to derive herein?

Yes Shirin & Kerri, this novel is a heck of a lot better than the previous two. Immediately, Maureen Johnson loses a star for using the image of murdering a cat to prevent pregnancies. She must have read too much Lucy Maud Montgomery after her Canadian emigration. I will not abide the word "have to", hating if people use it regarding euthanasia or murder. LIFE AND HEALING ARE CHOICES!

I see too many disagreeable personages even though this is a fictional murder mystery. Other fiction like Anne Perry's succeeds at making up cases without adding too many assholes, nor focusing on their viewpoints overmuch. Segues like William's experience at the dentist, with Enid, at home, and at work are awesome because it is he we should follow. Too many other narrations slow the pace and interest for me. We should obtain everyone's information from William, with a minimum of flipping around. Having Peg's perspective makes sense and she should be the only other narrator.

I agree this novel is a lot less digusting and contains fewer assholes than Maureen's previous ones. It still feels too English, not Canadian enough, and old-fashioned. My old relatives from the early 1900s were coffee drinkers, all of them. As a writing aside, I hate "backwards" and "forewards" without S and "whether" used without "or not". It is a British thing but I feel "if" should be employed, except when "or not" is included.

When you watch the television show, you'll enjoy how Canadian and modern the early 1900s look, sound, and feel. They shouldn't feel primitive or removed from us, as Maureen makes them sound. This is the first novel I've read since deciding I would enjoy the television show as often as I wished and only avoid episodes derived from these books. We were wise to start without knowing the show because it is far superior but I have maintained the ability to separate them as a different set of characters and stories.

I think I hear thunder, which can be ruinous for dial-up internet modems, so I will continue later.

I fell asleep with Angel & Petal after a few pages, so tonight will be my earnest start. Xoxo to my wonderful friends. You know better than anyone else that it is time for me and my family to have fun! So let's pick out a lot of fun books together. I put several on that buddy 2022 suggestion list. :) Silly, light, glitzy, bright.... anything that brings a smile will do.

Okay, let's start tonight. Shirin, are you good to go as well?

Good morning, Shirin! I reprised the cats & dogs energy medicine book I started with our precious McCartney in March. It makes me feel better in memory of him, Spirit, and Marigiold to continue my lessons and for our remaining children. I will continue it while Ron & I are enjoying the week-end.

Monday night, let's start "The Big Four"! :) I will seek my cover in this database. Thank you for wishing us a happy Canada Day. I wonder if you read "The Stone Angel" yet or something else like you planned. Love, Carolyn.

Shirin, if Kerri gets back to us this week and says she is free, we will read "Poor Tom Is Cold". If she says she is busy, or does not get back to us, let me know you are free to start "The Big Four". Happy Canada Day to everyone! Sincerely, Carolyn.

That would be great, Shirin! July 1, which you know is Canada Day, gives us a lot to look forward to. Life is getting better here and I pray the same for you, my dear friend. Love, Carolyn.