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

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

I'd like to put a little peppermint schnapps into the hot chocolate, if that is all right!

Erie, PA, Tina. I think the barge must be in the Buffalo area.

I bet the senile old lady will be an important clue.

I am moving a little quicker in the book now that my busy schedule has quieted down a bit. I am also just past chapter 13. I'll start the new section very soon, since we are mostly there already.

The missing little girl is Charlotte.

Did I know you were from a place near Buffalo? I was born and raised in Erie, though I've been in Pittsburgh for 30 years, now.

Don't worry, Nicole, I only just finished this first section last night. I really need to keep moving, though, and will start the next part in a few days.

Funny how Sid and Gus turned up at the woman's right's get together. The book jacket blurb tells me that the young girl who walked off 10 years ago, shows back up. Since this is on the jacket, it is not really a spoiler, is it?

Well, we are all getting into the Christmas eating spirit, at least! For cocoa, I just use the Droste, like Tina. Hot milk and some sugar.

The cutouts are done. I roll the dough between two sheets of plastic wrap or parchment. That saves the sticking problem. The decorating of them happens today!

Yes, Cedric certainly seemed a bit troublesome. I think Winnie is making a good counterpoint with Molly. The bold verses the subservient. And an interesting bit about visiting the "radicals" wanted to get women the vote!

I've already make cashew snowballs (Mexican teacakes with cashews), and brownies. Next up are the sugar cookie cutouts.

I have a huge holiday dinner party coming up on the 23rd. 18 people. I don't know how they all will fit in the house!

Sorry to be a little late starting this. The past week has been very busy for me, but I'm looking forward to a much quieter week.

Milly Murphy has just returned to New York after some trauma in San Francisco, where she had a miscarriage and also made it through the earthquake of 1906. They planned to stay with husband Daniel's Mother for the holidays, but she ends up going elsewhere. Back home in New York, her good friends, Sid and Gus (an apparently closeted lesbian couple) are also leaving town. An invitation to re-join Daniel's Mother in a swank mansion then arrives and they head off there for the holiday.


It turns our not to be the quiet and relaxing holiday they imagined as odd evens begin.


Question: I know we read some Rhys Bowen before, but not a Molly Murphy one. Has anyone read one on their own? This is apparently 17th in the series! I hope not reading the others doesn't mess us up in enjoying this. It seems to be at least starting to have a nice Christmas vibe.

I got my book yesterday and am starting. I'll begin the discussion on the weekend.

Hah! I doubt Big Red will do that. Every year I ask for peace in the middle east, and a Maserati, and I never get either one.

Christmas Past should be in the library soon and I hope to start the discussion this weekend, if not earlier!

Honestly I really don't need a thing. I will probably treat myself to some good food and good cookies. (And maybe a ceramic cast iron Dutch oven!)

Oh, I’m old enough to remember Goober!

Your scenario might be valid, NicoleG. It would certainly explain things. And I was also confused. I was thinking--which one was Flanders, again? The solution seemed like a thought Tess came up with, not particularly supported by much in the way of clues, though.

This seems to be the on-going mystery, in addition to the actual murder they are (and AREN'T) investigating. I hope at least one of them gets solved. I expect the father thing will go on, unfortunately.

As I'm reading, I am wondering about Tess' Mom's reluctance both now and in the past to have shown any interest in her husband's activities. She seems unusually accepting of his frequent traveling and other expended absences. She MUST be hiding something from Tess and Mike.

I ordered Christmas Past and will host it when it comes in.

I don't think I remember Murder at Midnight. Some years ago we read a Miss Silver mystery where the murder took place at midnight on New Year's Eve, but that may have been something different.


I wouldn't mind cooking the turkey, especially at someone else's house! (And especially in Florida--its been unusually cold here in Pittsburgh for most of the month, and no end in sight!) One of the things keeping me busy was that I had a Friendsgiving dinner Sunday for 12 people. I only finished the dishes (mostly) yesterday!

Wouldn't that be great! No, not suddenly rich. Rats!