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

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

I have just passed chapter nine as well. The plight of the two kids is to sad, and their environment they live in is so desperate. As Nicole noted, no murder yet, but I am still much interested in the story!

I'm not particularly good at computer things, but if, in the doc, you go to "save as", there may be a menu under the name you choose where you can select "pdf". Have a look.

I took a bus tour Sunday through last night, Tuesday, to NYC. I always wanted to see the city for Christmas!

I have a wonderful, though short, time. The city is all dolled up for the holiday, but unfortunately, one cannot have snow on demand. (Though that would have made the travel difficult--I guess I can't have it both ways!)

I've read a few of the Maggie hope books and liked them very much. I would vote for Mr. Churchill's Secretary!

I think separate threads, as we usually do

I've been in NYC for a few days, on a tour. Not much time to read, but I got the book before I left and got a bit of reading done on the bus. I'm ready to go!

Turns out my local library had it in stock. So I have it now!

I just ordered it from the library. Should be in soon. The 18th sounds doable.

If you can finalize the details on that, Tina, and I can get the book, I will happily join in.

All my on-line stuff is set up already, and mostly delivered already.

Sadly, I don't get Hallmark any longer. I am keeping my holiday fix up with multiple versions of A Christmas Carol, on DVD.

And Tina, you got it just right--a lot of my doggie friends call me Uncle Mark! And I've made homemade dog treats myself, for them.

I've been baking a bit for cookie give-aways later on. So far, cashew snowballs, sugar cookie cutouts, and molasses-ginger cookies. Hard to say what my favorite is.

"Feed me". (I have friends with two bassets and this is what they always say!)

Tina and I have been on various mystery chap groups for a long time, and we've always searched for books that had a nice Christmassy feeling. Frequently disappointed, but this one was not. Nice descriptions of the decorations, the food, the presents, and more.

I agree with you, Nicole, I didn't think much of Cedric, but somehow couldn't believe someone presented as pretty bad would end up being as bad as he was.

And I was surprised about Mr. Carmichael, Winnie's Father, turning nice at the end.

Well, the book is done, and a lot happened in the last few chapters! While we cleared up the mystery of who the long lost daughter was, we still had a lot to go, it seems.

I have to admit that I didn't see Cedric's role in all this, given that he seemed to nasty and controlling throughout the rest of the book.

And I'm not sure I buy how Winnie suddenly turned from so meek to the powerhouse she ended up to be.


But I have to admit that the loose ends were tied up nicely and there was a decent level of Christmas spirit throughout the book.

Coincidences. I'm nearly done and I think most of the mystery has been explained. Seems quite unbelievable, at this point. I hope the finale clears this up.


I'll start the final section today or tomorrow.

We hear a very interesting story from Charlotte (the girl) toward the end of this section. Not much to go on in the way of clues just yet, to explain the disappearance. Something tells me it is connected with the disappearance (of a different sort) of Winnie's sister.

But then you've never seen me in my flowing red satin skirt!

Meanwhile, the tree is up, the house is decorated indoors and out, but tastefully! Some cookies are made, and the holiday newsletter is prepared, though not yet mailed.

I'm going to NYC on a bus tour next Sunday, for a few days, and looking forward to a Christmas in New York! Then Christmas dinner for my friends on the 23rd. 16 people coming!

Nicole: Bring 'em!

Let's move on to the next section. We are learning more about the odd dynamic in Greenbriars. Cedric is controlling, Winnie is extremely passive, her father is nasty, her aunt is dotty. We find a little more about the lost child of ten years ago--see seemed to have dressed herself (seems unlikely) and walked off by herself (seems unlikely) and never returned (until chapter 17!). Molly is doing her best to investigate this very old mystery, which has very few clues.

I'm just starting chapter 18, so now I can't wait to see what the shocker of Charlotte's return turns out to be!