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

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

Nicole, I agree! I've taken down all the inside things but left the outdoor tree lights up, because it is just too cold to remove them! I'll take them down when it gets above freezing. As I write this, the temp in my back yard is minus four! And I leave the electric candles in the windows up for another month or so, since, as you noted, they look so nice in the cold and dark winter.

I just got a message from my library that my book is in for pick up!

Let us know when your book comes in. I have also reserved if from our library system; not here yet, though.

We can always consider it for February!

NicoleG: Please do. We have had authors on our board from time to time and it was always a pleasure.

Jill, I'm so sorry to hear of your experience with our group and I'm not sure what further I can say or do, but to ask if there is anything I can do to correct things.

I've always felt as though everyone was welcome to our little group, and it has given me a lot of pleasure over many years now.

The selection of books has seemed a bit difficult at times, since we all have only so much time to spend on reading and don't care to read things we aren't interested in or simply have other obligations. I think we try to settle on something that will have the most people agreeing to participate, but I know that is sometime disappointing.

I am also so sorry to hear of your medical problems, which I wasn't aware of.

Mark

I'm selecting Murder in an English Village, if you all agree. (Tina assigned me the task!) Largely based on the fact that two of you liked it and that it is available from my library!

Please let us know if you will be on board for the discussion!

Not sure, NicoleG. There were some books where a character was supposed to be very handsome, but the adaptations didn't seem to consider that. Murder at the Vicarage and Death in the Air come to mind on this. I read where Christie often made a handsome man the killer, to avenge in some fashion, the fact that he first husband, who cheated on her, was quite handsome.

It was not particularly good. Faye Dunaway played the dual roles, if that isn't too much of a spoiler.

Nicole, No we didn't get much of the snowfall, about 2-3 inches is all.

I'm not sure if I mentioned this here before, but I was born and raised in Erie, where they DID get the huge snowfall. Apparently about 60 inches in four days. And they are scheduled for another foot, tonight into Saturday! I'm glad I no longer have relatives in Erie I needed to visit for the holidays!

Miss Silver is a spinster detective created by Patricia Wentworth and is in the classic old-school type and time frame. Similar to Miss Marple, though not quite so endearing. Our group read one of Miss Silver's adventures a few years ago, around this very time, since it takes place on New Year's Eve. The title was The Clock Strikes Twelve.

I did some very potent bourbon balls as well, this year! Lots of cookies as well. I hoped to make my famous cashew butter crunch candy, but didn't get around to it.

I think there are now three Christmas related episodes of Midsomer. The series has been going on for 20 years. I've watched the first one several times, and the second fewer. I've not seen the third, but have the DVD and will watch it (hopefully) soon. There is a new Barnaby, as Tina indicated. John Nettles played him for a very long time. Neil Dudgeon plays his cousin, also named Barnaby, for the last few years.

I probably have time for a main read for January, but not a side read. I am nearly done with No Clue at the Inn, and should be finished in a few days.

I am taking a "life-long education" class in January, offered through the university I used to work at. It is about Female Sleuths and promises discussions on Miss Marple, Miss Silver and some more recent examples. There will probably some reading associated with that, so I will need to monitor my reading obligations!

Though I'd like the season to last a little longer, the way it is now, I'm ready to pack things in until next year. All the decorations are still up, though, and the outside ones will stay there until its warm enough to take them down. Right now, it is -1 here at (though not IN) my house in Pittsburgh!

Tina, I don't remember it (Curious Beginnings) either. I sometimes don't get around to reading all we discuss, though.

And wow, I log on this morning and find 31 messages in just a few hours, for this new choice. I am always overwhelmed when we have so many choices and try to decide on just one (or two).

Murder in an English Village sounds like a perfect title. As far as the Leslie Meier one goes, we read one of hers in October, so I'd probably pass on that one. The Rex Grave one sounds intriguing, as well.

This is always so tough!

Tina, I have a Midsomer Christmas episode coming up for viewing as well. I've not watched it before--it is the first one with the most recent side kick.

I am now a good bit behind on the new episodes, for a series I really like a lot.

Happy birthday, Jill!!

I am about 80% through with the book, so I will try to tread lightly here in this section. I still don't know the solution, though.

I am assuming that everything ties together in the end. The pearls, Jeannette, Wortham's death and all else.

I was cruising through my mystery collection yesterday and found that I have 9 of these Pennyfoot Christmas mysteries. There are at least three I haven't read yet! This seems to be in the middle of the pack.

Actually, Hugh (I still call him Baxter), though appearing strong, seems to do whatever Cecily asks him too. I am further along in the book and this is especially noticeable.