Sandy’s Comments (group member since Dec 14, 2015)

Sandy’s comments from the Reading the Detectives group.

I am planning to read the Bryant and May series. The first book is Full Dark House and we read it sometime in the past. The kindle books are full price in the US but the books are readily available in my libraries.

Ellen wrote: "Sandy wrote: "Susan wrote: "Emma Lathen, I don't know at all. Sandy, as our US mod, have you read them?"

No, never read, never even heard of them."

Emma Lathen is the pen name of two American bus..."

Interesting. Thank you. Too bad the 1991 Gulf War book wasn't finished; it is a very different premise.

Susan wrote: "Emma Lathen, I don't know at all. Sandy, as our US mod, have you read them?"

No, never read, never even heard of them.

Ellen wrote: "There are 24 books in the John Putnam Thatcher series. One of my favorites. The first title is Banking on Death: Emma Lathen."

This is available on Kindle Unlimited. I saw the word Christmas and immediately downloaded it.

And there are a lot of other authors, including Ken Follett whose latest book set in Stonehenge I hope to read soon, when time allows. Maybe a month when I'm not reading many of our buddy reads. Loved his book on building a cathedral, though I never read other in the 'series'.

Arati wrote: "I've just started The Secret Adversary after completing The Affair of the Bloodstained Egg Cosy last night. Can't find my copy of They Do It With Mirrors, b..."

The group read Egg Cosy several years ago (Oct 2021) if you are interested in our comments.

Completing the Christmas reads I lined up, I am reading Crime at Christmas. Such a deadly holiday.

This one slipped off my radar. Luckily it is immediately available through my library's Hoopla account, so all I need is time. A series I like.

When I, a non-Catholic, was helping a friend memorize her catechism, we came the part where I was going to hell. She assured me no one really thought that. Phew.

For a short time, I agreed with the darker tone but then the boat owner found a whale to ride, and the series returned to its lighter tone (ignoring the off-stage death at the beginning).

Susan in NC, your reference to 'jumping the shark' was quite apt, in this case 'riding the whale'.

Not my favorite in the series but I got caught up in the antics in the second half.

Susan in NC wrote: "Sandy wrote: "I've gotten to a part where I am getting giant hogweed vibes!"

That’s what I felt when I first read it…thought the series “jumped the shark” with this one!"

Perhaps a different action with another sea creature is more appropriate!

Judy, don't be put off but try to read it with the right expectations.

I've gotten to a part where I am getting giant hogweed vibes!

My favorite series being read by the group is Donna Leon's Brunetti books (as well as Falco but I had read them earlier). The Anne Cleeves series is a close second, but we aren't too far in yet (I haven't started this month's book).

Two lesser knnown series that I am pursuing on my own that I have enjoyed are Mamur Zapt (his position not his name) by Michael Pearce and Andrew Bassett by E X Ferrars. Both of these are winding up.

Two series that I have followed but don't plan to read the new entries are Cormoran Strike and Louise Penny Three Pines. So maybe they count as disappointments.

For a non-mystery, one that has stayed with me is Memorial Days, the author is dealing with the sudden death of her husband and fellow author,Tony Horwitz. They were almost local, so I had heard them both speak, often supporting one another.

Plans for 2026: continue with Christopher Fowler series. I have read the first book twice now.

I liked it better this time but it remains a 3-start read (my normal rating). Collier seems like a fine person and may be a good detective once they let him actually investigate. I find Glide the more interesting character.

I had mostly forgotten the plot, especially the tiny twist at the end where the kindly brother is now off travelling with a murderer. I hope she never has a reason to do him in!

It will be a reread for me as well but I don't recognize the plot description (nothing new for me and my memory).

Read Smoke Without Fire, a Christmas entry in an old series (1990's) of eight books that I recently discovered. Probably not the best in the series but I like the detective: a quiet elderly man that one review compared to Miss Marple.

I just got one of those long pink error messages trying to post this:

The latest episode of the podcast Shedunnit is on Christmas mysteries and include our latest read plus a couple from prior years.

Jan, so sorry and I hope Santa is good to you.

Arati wrote: "Sandy wrote: "Welcome Arati. The group has recently completed the Cadfael series and the threads are still open if you would like to revisit Shrewsbury."

Oh wow. I would have loved to be around fo..."

We are currently reading Falco - about ten books in already. Please join us. I love the series and am enjoying my reread - usually by audio this time.

Welcome Arati. The group has recently completed the Cadfael series and the threads are still open if you would like to revisit Shrewsbury.

Judy wrote: "Odd the way that Carrie Louise just knows so many things (but not the truth about her husband) - she seems to be pretty much the opposite of Miss Marple, by believing the best of everyone!"

The three of them must have been an odd group in school perhaps demonstrating that opposites attract. The sister we met at the beginning is very much the high society lady; C-L believes the best of everyone and is devoted to 'lost causes'; and MM the worst and is immensely practical.