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

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

The Christie Caper is by Carolyn Hart, and was published nearly 30 years ago, in 1991. The mystery involves a celebration of Agatha Christie's hundredth birthday. (Thirty years ago, now!)

I know I've read this, but probably shortly after it came out and I had essentially no recollection of any of the plot. So, a brand new book for me!

The setting is South Carolina where our heroine, Annie Darling, owns a very successful mystery bookstore, and is sponsoring the event to be held at a nearby hotel.

The book has a cast of characters at the beginning, which will be helpful in sorting out all the people--locals, visitors attending the conference, and others. I love this sort of thing--especially in an actual book where I can flip back and find it easily. Too difficult with a Kindle.

Turning out to be the fire source in the book is Neil Bledsoe, a nasty, arrogant writer and critic and known despiser of Christie and similar cozy-type writers. No one likes him and he likes practically no one else. A perfect set up for murder.

And in this first section, we find that an attempt is made on his life, during a pre-conference reception in Annie's book store. Soon another attempt, and Annie and her husband Max are out to try to stop things there.

When this first cam out, I read a few others of the Annie/Bookstore mysteries by Ms. Hart. I guess she is continuing still, though she has other series published as well. Any of you a particular fan of Hart? I really liked her and don't know why I haven't kept up with the series through the years.

Starting up today! Chap 1-11.

Still looking to start The Christie Caper on Saturday. I'm re-reading and frankly don't remember much of this at all. It was a long time ago!

I better get started reading! Look to start right on August 1st.

Are we on board for Christie Caper? I can host if you'd like.

I've got an ENORMOUS to be read pile!

I am much delayed responding to Nicole's six book suggestions for August. I'm ruling out This Side of Murder and Dangerous Engagement as too expensive. The Blue Rose and Murder at Archly Manor are OK with me, if we decide that way. The Christie Caper is my choice as I already have the book!

Finished last evening. Truly unbelievable, if you ask me. Frankly, I felt Zara had something important to do with the solution, but not what things turned out to be.

I've got that book and I'm looking at it right now!

I agree. Donald Bain wrote what I felt were more in keeping with the character.

I'm just about there as well. I guess she is pretty famous and likely to know the first lady.

I did see that on Facebook. Someone must have taken a lot of time to do this!

No problem. I would have expected something different as well.

I'm nearly through this second section. I have to admit I'm not liking this. Too much of a thriller. Action without seemingly any detection. I hope though, given the burned manuscript, there won't be much more of the text of The Affair to wade through.

Nicole: I saw this on Facebook (there are LOTS of Christie pages there!) Very interesting, especially how things changed by the decades.

I don't mind rereading a book if I've enjoyed it. Certainly not the Christies! It is fun to share a book with others, if you liked it in the first place. (Or forgotten that you read it!)

The Marchmount book sounds good, and at only 99c in Kindle, doable given our library Covid limitations.

I've just got into this second section--things have been busy for me. And honestly, the book is not grabbing me all that much. As far as the book within the book, it seems like the author is trying to write something different, something I don't particularly like. And there is a lot of it.

I suppose its possible that somewhere in that there is a clue to the solution of the murders.

And has been noticed, it seems a bit violent for a Jessica book, and more thriller like than I prefer.

So sad to lose a beloved pet. My sympathy.

I'm afraid I'm not as far along as I should be at this point. I'll try to catch up.

Spoiler as well:






I am just to the point of Barfield's "suicide". Certainly does seem unlikely.