Mark Pghfan’s Comments (group member since Mar 06, 2014)

Mark Pghfan’s comments from the The Parlor PI's group.

This is a brand new book and pretty pricey on Kindle. I requested it from the library, but there are 10 people ahead of me!

As a former (among many other tasks) chemical safety officer, I was on top of the murder using methylene chloride and its similar acute action of mimicking carbon monoxide poisoning! Though I wonder how the culprit got ahold of this and where it would have been stored in the hotel.

I'd like to check it out as well.

I certainly loved the book--the snowbound aspect and Jessica sleuthing as if her life depended on it (as it turns out!)

The ending was a bit bizarre for me, though. I'll follow up on this as this discussion progresses.

Yes, Anastasia, that was a stumper for me as well. A combination of physical strength, cunning, and opportunity was very confusing.

I really enjoyed reading the book--the Wodehousean style was a lot of fun. The ending, sadly, was a bit too far-fetched for me.


SPOILER!




That is, the shooting from outside, far away.

Finished yesterday! Time to send it back to the library. Comments on the final section to follow!

What do you all think about the town drunk saying he saw Bigfoot doing the first murder? And the size of the hired help now in the hotel?

Since there isn't many people in, you can throw my name into the pile, Tina.

I once had someone enter my hotel room who had mistakenly (apparently) been issued a key to my room by the front desk. I was quite startled, but it did not seem as though there was any ill intent. I always keep the door bolted and the chain across when I am in my room.

And yes, the clock was creepy, just like the little Indians in you know what book!

I am also a little concerned about the young couple, no one seems to know, trying to leave the hotel during the storm.

I am racing through the book now as it is due soon at the library...

I's so excited about all the new people here for our discussion! I'll hold off on putting my name is as well, for the same reasons.

Actually, though I've see some of the TV series, I've not watched a lot of them. I definitely preferred the ones where she is in Cabot Cover verses when she is travelling. The atmosphere is a lot of what I like about a book. And especially right now when we have been getting snow here (I'm in Pittsburgh), though not enough to be totally shut in, but enough to slow things down and want to just stay in our warm houses.

And I agree with you, Jon, that she is now active and confident while acting on her own.

I'm into the second part of the discussion already, largely because I know I will need to get the book back to the library by the 9th. There was a queue to receive it and so I probably won't be able to renew it!

Thanks for joining us, Jon. You may have noted above that I am about a third of the way through the book and enjoying is very much. The setting during a blizzard is really intriguing. Something I've always found hard to understand in many of our current mysteries is how the police continually disparage the amateur who has solved many, many previous cases that baffled them! I'm glad that here Jessica is riding along with the sheriff and others, like a trusted colleague. It may have taken a while, but they've trusted her to help them.

I'll be ready when we start. About a third of the way through the book at this point. 3-5 inches of snow expected here Sunday, though hardly the amount Jessica and Cabot Cove are getting!

I finished last night, but I won't spill the beans at this time. (I'm starting on Jessica Fletcher, before it needs to go back to the library.)

There is certainly no end to the twists and turns in the plot, and I am loving that. Usually, the middle of our books drag a bit but this one keeps us going all the way.

I'd love to, but there is a reason.

I don't know if I will say it now, but I still suspect Lydde, given what I think I noted as a clue in his mention of where he was when the defestration (I love that word) occurred.

I'm a bit more than half through and we seem to have solved the first mystery. Or have we?

I am into the next section, so ready when you are. I will need to pick up the past on this as I just got the Jessica Fletcher book from the library.

I TIVO'd the Agatha Christie special on last night at 10. (Too late for me!)