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

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

I'm into the final section, though not to the end yet so I don't know the solution. I'm still working on the assumption that the same person killed Patsy Lee that attacked Alex. I think the onlyperson capable of the latter is the Sergeant (who probably killed his son as well). On the other hand, that seems too obvious. Well, we will find out!

She seems to now! Later in this section, she mentions that she got an event gig coming up, but otherwise, no work being discussed.

And I have to comment here that I love the Diva series because it is pretty light reading, despite the murders. But I am re-thinking after the brutal attack on Alex. I really don't care for that sort of crime in my cozies. I will continue, though.

Natasha is certainly a pill. I don't know why Sophie puts up with her!

I thought I'd get the next section going. I'm not sure where you all are, though.

Sophie has met the family of a possibly (probably, I guess) incarcerated woman, jailed for a murder a few years ago. It seems to Sophie that the old case might be tied up with the recent death of Patsy Lee.

And now we have the appearance of the dreaded Natasha, previously out of our current story. Natasha appears to be in line to be the new Patsy Lee, thanks to Patsy's former husband, Peter. Her first time in the spotlight does not go well...

I live in Pittsburgh, but DC is only a four hour drive for us. I've been to Alexandria many times and love the area. I think that makes these books more enjoyable for me as well.

As we move on, we do see some connections between the two cases!

My guess is that she liked certain names and wanted to use them again. I also think she remarked one that she never thought people would notice such things. Little did she know how rabid we are as fans!

I do make my filling from scratch! Not too difficult and tastes so much better than a box filling.

I'm just through this first section. Midway through, there is a fairly abrupt change from the murder of Patsy to Sophie's introduction to a "cold case" involving a possibly innocent person sent to prison for murder five years ago.

I don't recall Sophie being involved in such a thing in the past. I've read a lot of the Diva books, though not all.

There isn't really an official explanation of this, but most people suspect that it is something that Christie experienced herself and fist inserted it into Sleeping Murder (written in the WWII years, but not published until 1976.) No doubt she forgot using it when she put it in Pricking of My Thumbs, in 1968 or so. And not noticed when the 1940's book was sent for publishing in the 70's.

Nevertheless, assuming it is something that really happened, isn't it spooky?

And I think I'm going to bake a pie! Perhaps Lemon Meringue!

I hadn't thought about the twisty business, but that the guilty party looked like it was Jacob was pretty twisty!

Good morning! I'm into chapter 11 myself already, so it is an easy and fun read.

I have to tell you all that I am a big time baker and all the emphasis on pies is totaly enjoyable!

It will be helpful to you that there is a character list in the front of the book, to help us through the large number of people.

Sophie (the event planner) is involved in, along with pretty much everyone in town, a pie baking and eating contest. A famous TV personality-cook, Patsy Lee Presley is in attendence, all full of herself, though doing some strange things at the same time.

Fairly on in this section (I hope its not a spoiler), Patsy gets poisoned. In the middle of the contest, no less! With everyone scurrying around, the contest eventually continues.

If you've read any of the previous books in the series, you probably know the usual characters (kindly outlined in the beginning, as well).

Read on and discuss!

I guess I can host. Let me get started a bit first.

More and more states are on full lockdown! Our county in PA has been for more than a week, but now it is the whole state.

Definitely just unable to speak!

Our library also does Hoopla, though for this book, I'd rather have a forever copy! I'm downloading it now.

Sadly, out library is closed for the duration, but it see Sweetens the Pie is available on Kindle for $2.99. I guess I could swing for that!

Are the Nicoles in?

I was wondering if there is anything recent in the Diva series, by Krista Davis. We've read a number of them and always enjoyed them. I'll have to take a look and see what we read last.

I didn't pick Bella. I think a lot of people when they found out about the reversed image in the mirror suddenly remembered figuring that out on their own!

Sadly, we don't ever hear further about either Hastings (until Curtain) or Bob! I'm sure they spent many happy hours rolling the ball down the stairs and fetching it!

Raw carrots wouldn't appeal to me even now! My favorite is probably Caroline Peabody, the old lady Poirot goes to for information on the family. She is on to him like a shot!