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

Sandy’s comments from the Reading the Detectives group.

Take note of Christie's description of Anne's surfboarding. I believe Christie mastered the art on her honeymoon.

Miss Trumbull isn't looking forward to the visit. Is there ever a reason given why Charlotte invites her? It doesn't sound as though it is a regular visit.

I have, finally, started our January read, The Poisoned Chocolates Case and am really liking the set up and Berkeley's humor.

I just borrowed Howdunit: A Masterclass in Crime Writing by Members of the Detection Club from the library. I don't plan to write a book but I expect some of the essays will be interesting.

I just read two of our April reads, The Man in the Brown Suit and Murder in Stained Glass and I was struck by a couple of similarities. The one I will mention now is that they both have fearless, or foolish, amateur women main characters. There are also many differences between the two women.

I quite like Beaton's Hamlish series though I have to agree with many of the criticism. He never changes, never ages, but his pets come and go. I listen to them and the calm stories and narrator's voice are a pleasure.

I may give Agatha Raisin another try now that I have run out of Hamlish's but she has an abrasive personality.

Fingerpost is a book I own, probably as a paperback with small print. Given the length of the book, a buddy read may be the only way I'll finally read it. So all we need is an 'empty' month.

Susan in NC wrote: "Sandy wrote: "I'm returning to Anne Perry's Pitt series with Callander Square. I started this and her William Monk series in 2013, decided I could read Monk and return to Pitt. I'm ..."

I'm impressed that you would consider rereading a 30ish series! (Though I am doing Amelia Peabody and Flavia that add up to 30 books.)

I'm returning to Anne Perry's Pitt series with Callander Square. I started this and her William Monk series in 2013, decided I could read Monk and return to Pitt. I'm close to being caught up with Monk but since then the Pitts' son has his own series so I'm falling behind.

I enjoyed this book a lot; Punshon's humor appeals to me though I missed Mitchell. I doubt the mice pulling the slippers while trying to escape their little cages / traps would really sound much like a shuffling person but will just file this away as another unlikely solution along with shooting from a boat, arrows in the dark, poisoned darts while sliding down a bannister.

Sayers was our yearly challenge in 2016 so there will be comments on all the books in the 'challenge' section.

My take on buddy reads:

They are a bit more informal than our yearly challenge (currently miscellaneous Christies) and our monthly read that is selected by a vote.

They are usually series that we are reading our way through slowly. The buddy reads are (often) suggested by a member and other members will join in if interested. We have several active series at this time. Feel free to suggest your favorite.

There a master list of upcoming reads.

I've finally started this and the introduction to my edition says it is one of the best in the series. I'm about a quarter in and enjoying it a lot, but I've hardly met Eddy. I would have expected rants from the vicar.

Colin wrote: "This was a fine read with the doubts and uncertainties about Hugo's guilt maintained right to the end.

I thought Daisy was an interesting character and I wasn't bothered by the naivety; there are..."

I entirely agree with all of your post.

I read The Postscript Murders and loved it. There are too many co-incidents in the plot for a complete 5-star rating but the characters are delightful, the story is interesting, there is humor and a bit of romance. I will think of this book when I encounter small woodland creatures.

As the author writes the Ruth Galloway series without resorting to unlikely co-incidents I imagine she is amusing herself in this book and I hope she writes more of them.

Jackie wrote: "there is a lot to dislike in this book, but I did find the climax thrilling. the long car chase and, at the very end, her face just barely above water!"

I sympathized with the poor cop who feared for his life during that ride. I had fun reading the book despite its problems and Heyer remains a favorite of mine for the Regency romances. Many of those romantic couple are just as unlikely, but written more convincingly.

One of my problems with Frank (and there were many) was that he was rather cruel to the one policeman he tolerated.

Rosina wrote: "Sandy wrote: "Having just finished I can answer the will question:

Quoting "in favour of his grandson Mark, or failing him, of his granddaughter Shirley"."

Mark was alive at the time of his grand..."

You're right; my mistake.

I thought Heyer missed an opportunity with the aunt. She would have made a great Miss Marple, twittering around in the background, ignoring the murder but having all the answers.

Having just finished I can answer the will question:

Quoting "in favour of his grandson Mark, or failing him, of his granddaughter Shirley".