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

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

Boy, I'm sure glad no one sends ME high quality chocolates anonymously!

Do I assume correctly that the chocolates were NOT the cause of the emergency room trip early in the book? And I guess we haven't found out anything about their analysis?

I'm certainly not an expert on this area, but it is the setting for the Diva series so many of us are fond of on this site. I've visited it a number of times, usually for work, and most recently when I was in DC for a conference a few weeks ago.

Alexandria is a very charming and historical city right across the river from Washington (easily accessible by their Metro system.) Old Town is the portion where Sophie lives and where her murders take place.

First of all the housing is VERY expensive and most of the homes are quite old. The main drag is King Street which has a lot of quaint, chi-chi shops (shoppes, really!) There are nice restaurants and at least one candy store (I went in) and one cupcake store (I went in.) There is also a great used book store where I bought a lot of used mysteries and some other books.

The place does of a lot of old money charm as well as, no doubt, new money people who can afford to live there.

Sophie has a large house left to her and her ex-husband by his aunt. Otherwise, I doubt she could afford to live there. Her business of cooking and party planning does seem to fit well with the type of people who live there.

It is quite a tourist attractions, though not particularly touristy. There are no chain or fast food restaurants and no convenience store chains either, as far as I could tell.

Anyway, Wolf certainly does seem to be in every case, but in this instance, he may have been stepping in because Sophie is involved with these people and would have the inside scoop. On the other hand, his questions to her were downright rude!

I am scooping along in this section. It really is an engaging read--I just want to keep going on to the next chapter, given the ending of the previous one.

I wonder what the problem is? I've never had that trouble with Goodreads.

Good news! Glad all is OK.

I'm just at the start of next next section with Max the cop showing up. Maybe the police are ahead of the game.

Absolutely! There must be a reason. The family was very cooperative for everything Sophie asked to see.

I am now through chapter 12. Things are going smoothly. Every time I think I will stop at the end of a chapter, there is a teaser for the next one!

J: Certainly I can do that. I don't claim to be an expert, but will let you know what I know. I'll do it in a sidebar thread.

Well, I'm through chapter six and the body referred to has just been found. Sophie is certainly in the midst of another murder as well as juggling her past and present men. Caught kissing (platonicly, I guess) he ex-husband just as current beau Alex arrives to see it, and then the investigating officer turns out to be previous boyfriend Wolf. Whew!

This is, I think the third in this series we have read in this group and I do enjoy them. The descriptions of the food are great and the setting of Old Town Alexandria (which some of you noted I visited a few weeks ago) is also interesting. I can do without the descriptions of what Sophie puts on (clothes and shoes) before she goes out, but I guess that is just the cross we men have to bear.

I hope all goes well, J-Snoops! Daiquiris will certainly help!

My book came to me minutes ago and I'll start reading this weekend!

I've had some. It is kind of like a jelly or gum drop, coated in powdered sugar. Some unusual flavors, though. Not worth further investigation, at least for me.

Book is in the mail, not yet received, though.

It is the second with both Harriet and Peter. Again I've watched the TV version and enjoyed is a lot. The third is Gaudy Night and the final with them both is Busman's Honeymoon.

Certainly! I've ordered the book already.

I am already started on the next one, Have His Carcase.

If I am following this correctly, Diva/Chocolate is the August choice. As it turns out, I just came back from a conference in DC and took Saturday to visit old town Alexandria, where the Diva series is set. It is a great little town. I visited (and tasted from) a cupcake shop and also checked out a great little used book store, chock full of old-time mysteries. Heaven!

Me too. It seemed more in keeping with the character. On the other hand, it was a good set up to the tension for the next story in the Wimsey-Vane saga.

What did you think of the "trick" played on the villain to get the confession?