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

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

I think a character list is a great idea. Especially in a long established series like Murder She Wrote, where there are many locals to sort out, something long time readers have already done. We newbies have not. If I have a chance, I will do that with Treachery.

I've had the Who's Who of Christie for a long time. Great and helpful book!

I seldom get trick or treaters in my neighborhood--not a lot of children here. The most over the years is about six. So I guess six bags would suffice! (I usually pick some candy that I can include in baking cookies or a cake, in case they don't all get passed out.)

I'm not a coffee drinker, but a nice spiced, hot cider would suit me very well.

Sorry to be a day late starting, but here I am!

Our second book is Trick or Treachery by Donald Bain (and Jessica Fletcher!). Published in 2000 it seems to have a tiny bit of age on it, but not a problem, in my opinion.

Jessica is home in Cabot Cove Maine and getting ready for Paul Marshall's grand Halloween party. There are a couple of promising, Halloweeny things in the offing, other than the party. First of all, there is the legend of the founders of Cabot Cove and the murder of the husband by the wife and then her suicide. Her ghost has been reported throughout the years.

This may have prompted possible con-man Lucas Tremaine, new to town and predicting mayhem and misfortune on the town unless the pay him for spiritual assistance. To make things additionally ominous, there is a strange woman renting a cottage who seems to upset people in the town. (I can't say there has been much of a reason for that, at least not yet.) Her name is Mathilda Swift. Jessica seems to see here a good bit, in passing.

And passing is a good phrase, as she is found dead at the end of chapter 5.

Discuss!

I started this last night and will begin a discussion tomorrow, so I can get a little further into it. First section will be chapters 1-6.

Didn't see the ending coming, certainly. The real surprise was that Ida was overheard telling it, and got no credit for figuring out both mysteries.

If you got this on Kindle, as I did, you get a free copy of the other Oh Fudge novella. I've downloaded and will get around to it sometime!

I guess I'll start Treachery next week. Look for it, after I've gotten a bit into it myself.

I've got a lot of older books cheaply at thriftbooks.com. In this case, though, my library system had the book.

I'm almost done with the book. The plot does thicken, which is good. There are certainly a lot of eccentrics in this town, aren't there? But a lot of Halloween feeling to the book as well, which is also good.

To my surprise, by library just let me know that Treachery just came in for me to pick up. I guess I volunteered to host, in case it came in on time, so I will. I'll alert you of a start date.

Who else in going to be in the discussion?

I am now into this second section. I really don't understand why the dense police officer seems to think Ida was Dandy's mortal enemy. It hasn't been pointed out yet (as far as I am) that it is likely that someone else, perhaps the murderer, is the one who wrote the damning blog entry.

Finally got to start this last night and I am up through chapter three. I'm having a hard time trying to get a feel for Ida's age. Did I miss something? She seems to be a bit on the older side.

An interesting thing of note, in most of the cozies we read, the very handsome man seems to be somebody's likely boyfriend or suitor. In this case the rather dense police officer, though apparently gorgeous, doesn't seem like anyone's love interest! An interesting twist!

I'm not sure about the candy corn fudge. Though I like candy corn (at least somewhat), it seems it would be out of place in fudge. Things that make you go "hmmmm."

I'll start this today. I just finished the new Poirot, The Three Quarters. I was underwhelmed.

Hard to say what the best was but the worst was a production of Ten Little Indians about three years ago in a small, local theater here near Pittsburgh. Everything was dreadful! The acting, the accents, the casting, everything. I went with some friends, a few of whom wanted to leave at intermission. We were devastated to find that they really did not die during the course of the play--they lined up at the main exit to take their kudos. (We left by the side exit so as not to see them!) Worst theater experience of my life, not just of Christie.

I did see a fine performance of Death on the Nile a few years ago as well. It is a seldom-performed play, but very well done. A friend's nephew played the part of the socialist Lord.

Nicole, probably. He is my preferred reader of Christie books.

Tina, I'm jealous of your ticket to se Murder is Announced. I've seen a few of Christie's plays live, but not that one.

I'll get Candy Corn on my Kindle today and will be ready to start. I put my name on the list for Treachery, from the library, though I can't say when it will come. If it comes in time (mid-month?) I will be able to host, if needed.

Sure, leave me with "Q"! Quiet and qool evenings by the fire.

I think we should be able to do both in the month. I think starting with Candy Corn first, being easier to obtain and then Treachery would work best for me. I'd like to read both, actually.

Actually I put my name on the list for Treachery anyway. There didn't seem to be anyone else on the waiting list.

My library has Trick or Treachery, but it is not currently available (i.e., checked out, and only one copy.) I'll vote for Candy Corn Crime at this point, since it is short and only 99c on the Kindle. If we go to the other book, I will place my name on the list and hope for the best.