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

Sandy’s comments from the Reading the Detectives group.

Welcome Ninie. Hope you join in our reads, Christie and others.

Yes, Clithering is quite a Marple fan. We know which side he would be on in Marple vs Poirot.

A trivia contest: identify the detective by the trait!

Susan wrote: "It's an odd quirk to give your detective!"

Well, so many quirks are taken. I've read a Maigret recently and he is constantly fiddling with his pipe. Bobby Owen rubs his nose. In the Andrew Basset series I just read he must have cheese for breakfast.

One of the above average Bobby Owen. Good plot with the only 'strange' woman being a very cheerful one. On the negative side, not even a mention of Olive. He is old enough now that his climatic endings do not entail super-human physical feats.

I was very disappointed in this book once it became a case of international intrigue. I suppose it was a timely topic at the time, but it does not age well. I skimmed much of the last third of the book.

I read A Murder Too Many, fifth in a series from the 1980's I discovered recently and have been working my way through. The amateur detective is a retired botany professor, supposedly writing a book, but lured into murders by his curiosity and a desire to be helpful. The next book is set at Christmas so I wanted to be ready.

On to our buddy reads!

I plan to reread (or re-listen) soon.

I have it from the library and am looking forward to reading it.

I also enjoy author talks. Recent ones were Stephan Greenblatt with his Christopher Marlowe book, Dark Renaissance: The Dangerous Times and Fatal Genius of Shakespeare's Greatest Rival and a book about Elvis and his manager moderated by a local aging rocker, Peter Wolf.

Next up is Mary Roach with Replaceable You: Adventures in Human Anatomy, a book I just finished. She can make the most disgusting subject interesting and humorous. Then Mark Kurlansky with his latest about Boston and slavery. I have read several of his single topic books (Paper: Paging Through History most recently) as well as a selection of short stories.

I am about to start Maigret's Rival, next in the series.

That five book set must have been a deal at some point as I have it as well. I also read readers comments for all five and I don't think Price improves (though at some point he has twins).

Judy wrote: "I've nearly finished one of the two "official" Sherlock Holmes sequels by Anthony Horowitz, The House of Silk, and have really enjoyed it - I think he gets very close..."

I definitely recommend his series with the "real" Horowitz teamed up with a very private private eye.

Susan in NC wrote: "Currently reading the short Bonfire Night and I can’t believe my luck, first to get the ebook of The Impossible Fortune ..."

I also got The Impossible Fortune today and it will be next up. As I canceled my request in another library system, I noticed they estimated the wait as six months. Lucky us.

I listened to 24 Hours in Ancient Rome: A Day in the Life of the People Who Lived There. Amusing, informative and ties in well with Falco.

Susan wrote: "I came across a fun book (released 30th Oct) that some of us may be interested in:

Travels with Agatha Christie

In 1922, a youn..."

Sounds good! A few years ago I read The Grand Tour: Letters and Photographs from the British Empire Expedition 1922 which is Christie's version based on her letters, I only gave it two stars but maybe I was in a bad mood.

Jackie wrote: "Wow, I never thought to question Letitia's death but now that we know what her sister is capable of...

Susan in NC wrote

every time I read it, I pick up on yet another twist in the plot

We kn..."

Interesting thought but I don't suspect Lotty of Letty's death. No reason for it: Letty would share, easier for Lotty to be herself.

Finally finished and really disliked the detective. Bunny and her daughter were great characters, much more interested in actually solving the murders then Price was. I am so glad she left her husband to his distasteful daughter, ineffectual son and bankruptcy.

I thought the plot was very well done once the story finally got moving, but there was quite a lot of non-action in the first half.

I am 'almost' tempted to continue the series just to see if the author continues with the unlikeable and inept detective. But probably not.

In the US, PBS' Masterpiece Theatre is starting a Maigret series this weekend, though I'm not sure I recognize him from this description:

"Maigret is an unconventional young detective, relentlessly pursuing investigations while heading the elite police unit, La Crim."

I agree with relentlessly pursuing.

Susan in NC wrote: "Jackie wrote: "accidentally posting this in the other thread so moving it here:


I was happier with the Edmund Swettenham character ending up with Phillippa...wait, she turned out to be Emma, righ..."

I agree that Pip could have done a lot better than Edmund. Regarding Patrick and Emma, I'm indifferent; neither appealed to me.