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

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

Enjoying it so far. Just starting the next section.

1-8 this week.

I will be plugging onward into the next section next week. Is "J" still coming along?

I think I missed the fly catcher.

Our group is discussing The Seance Society, by Michael Nethercott. The book was published in 2013 and is the author's debut novel. Our heroes are the owner of a private investigation firm (Lee Plunkett) and a mysterious, scholarly Irishman (Mr. O'Nelligan) who assists (actually, who really does the problem solving, as we are told early on.) The setting is Connecticut in 1956. THe story is told in the first person, with Plunkett wittily and sarcastically (at times) doing the narration.

The firm is called in to investigate the mysterious electrocution of one Trexler Lloyd, a wealthy man interested in spiritualism so much that he invents a machine called a Spectricator. The machine was supposed to allow communicating with the dead, but, as it turns out, sent him to the great beyond. Apparently. It seems some people think that's a bit fishy, hence the investigation.

I think the book is an easy read--not wordy, but to the point, and wittily written. Some very interesting characters along the way. And, if the book jacket is to be believed, a clever plot.

We will discuss the book in thirds, this being the first part.

How about an official start next Monday the 8th? We should all be a little into the book at least by them.

I hope to pick up the book this evening after work and will need a few days to read enough to start the discussion. So, Tina, later in the week works for me. And, J, are you on board for that start date as well?

Yep. Plan to do it in thirds, like we're used to.

Actually, I don't have the book yet either. Because of the holiday, my library is closed so I can't pick it up, and now I won't have it until Tuesday. I'll start later in the week, or when it's convenient for the rest of you.

I'll start up Seance on Tuesday the 2nd. Let me think a bit for the October choice.

I've ordered Seance from the library for September. I'd be willing to host, since there will be at least three of us on board. I agree with Tina's dislikes as well. Certainly cozy, but no vampires, zombies and the like. I'm OK with the animal business as well--I'm very fond of Rita Mae Brown's series of which there are 15 or more now. (I have some still unread!)

I am in for Seance for September.

Tina, there are three Orient movies out there, with the Albert Finney one the first I am aware of. There was a TV movie about 2003 or so with Alfred Molina in it. And the third is the Suchet version. I still think the Finney one is the best.

The second one seems set more in the Halloween time frame. I think it would make a good October pick.

I will be open to holding off Seance until October, if we find a good September selection. I am more interested in something we all want to discuss than in choosing a particular book.

Watched the Being Poirot special last night. About one hour of a show with an hour of breaks. I was surprised on how they spun the dreadful Orient Express adaptation. Somehow calling the original movie "fun" and claiming this version to be more true to the book. I don't recall Poirot (in the book) having anywhere near the angst shown by Suchet over the ending, or his faith being challenged by what he did. I was also surprised that they shot "Curtain" before some of the others, and the Dead Man's Folly was, in fact the last adaptation shot.

I put the Poirot special on the DVR but did not watch it yet. I plan to edit out all the pledge breaks.

The Seance Society looks like a good choice to me. Interesting characters, witty dialogue and a good mystery, they say...

I'm not sure when the new Poirot comes out and how soon we would get it. Probably not in time for a September read. And probably a bit pricey...

Everything seems to be moving slowly. Here, people don't seem to discuss the book at the same pace. I liked our way, where we did it in sections and people were pretty together. On Masterpiece, it seems equally disjointed. We are not reading there, but discussing the TV versions.

The one on Masterpiece is already started.