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

Sandy’s comments from the Reading the Detectives group.

I hadn't noticed that the question of the pizza chef's wife was left unresolved and now I'm annoyed. Like Judy said, it is true to life but I hold my fiction to higher standards.

Once I got past my disbelief in Paola's actions the mystery was quite good. I can understand why the books are not translated into Italian; Leon is quite harsh on Italian corruption.

This is the second time I've noticed how apt the title is once you know the resolution. The other was Noble Radiance.

Jill wrote: "After the previous book ,I was hoping these books had become more to my liking. Alas, not to be. This was strung-out so long. There were so many characters, that I gave up on trying to sort them ou..."

I enjoy, and use frequently, the character list.

Totally agree that Paola's actions are out of character and pointless. So many other ways she could have tried to affect change,

Guess I should move the buddy reads up to the top of my TBR! I can't read them too early as I forget details.

Pamela wrote: "I loved this, but agree it’s not a book for an easy skim through read - I really needed to pay attention to follow what was going on, even the news reports at the beginning of each section have imp..."

This has been an interesting series so far: as you say not run of the mill.

Finished We Solve Murders - absolutely wonderful, humor, action and interesting characters - and started The Camel of Destruction, next in a series I am working my way through. It is set in Egypt, 1910, under British Protectorate. I have also downloaded the new Flavia De Luce, What Time the Sexton's Spade Doth Rust for later listening.

Judy wrote: "Vanessa wrote: "I gave up on this one. The main problem is that I don't like Caroline and James. With James, it's definitely that I find him boring, and I especially don't care about his relationsh..."

I agree with Vanessa; James has no personality and, while Caroline has one, I don't much care what happens to her. She should find another way of avoiding a dull marriage and leave her uncle with his competent secretary, James.

Well, I am abandoning the book now that the murdered man's wife has appeared planning revenge. That was one oddity too many!

I have no sympathy for Roger who Is taken in by "Zoe" and falls in love with her sister without having a single conversation. He assumes the murdered man deserved it although nothing was known about him at the time. I see from the above post that Linda, Max, and Mrs. Miller are involved in the solution somehow, and I haven't even met them at the 50% mark.

Very glad that James Courtenay and Daphne / Zoe worked things out as I felt so sorry for James.

Susan in NC wrote: "Sandy wrote: "Best of wishes to our North Carolina members, and others in the US Southeast. Hurricane Helene did a LOT of damage."

Thank you, we had some power outages, trees down, but not persona..."

Glad to hear from you and I hope Jan C is okay. She must have other things on her mind even if she is fine and has power.

I still have to finish The Bungalow Mystery, and read a new book, The Murders in Great Diddling, but then We Solve Murders is waiting for me at the library!

I definitely agree about the old-fashioned feel. At first I thought the 'girl' our hero rescued from the murder scene was a child but she is actually a young woman! I am having trouble with his misplaced (in my opinion) gallantry. Not a favorite so far, but I want to know what is going on.

Best of wishes to our North Carolina members, and others in the US Southeast. Hurricane Helene did a LOT of damage.

I definitely agree about the relationship, if any, with James. I'm already annoyed.

In book one, it was Poppy's heroics that saved Caroline at the end, though all details are lost in the myriads of later books.

In the US, Appleby's End is $1

I enjoyed this even less than the first book, which I found more outrageous so didn't feel I needed to take it seriously. I was impressed that the author tied in the golden platypus from book one.

The theme I liked best here was the finishing schoolteacher who taught them how to spy on unfaithful husbands. And I can see Caroline's friends in with access to inside information will always be important. A bit like Mrs. Pargeter's husband's associates but less amusing.

I wondered why the author had Poppy make an appearance. I don't remember her having any part in the action. Even James wasn't very important.

This will be my next book.

I have started Death in the Garden for our October challenge. I wasn't much of a fan of the first book so am hoping for better.

I just finished Eleven Huskies, third in a series set in northern Canada with a vet as the amateur detective. Quite a frightening description of a forest fire in this book. And, according to the tribute in the front, it was written before their horrendous fire season in 2023. Interesting enough series; a bit different.

Jackie wrote: "Donna wrote: "Just started Bury Your Dead, #6 in the Gamache series."

I love so many of that series!"

I am 80th on my library's wait list of 592 for the next in the series.

The relationship between the main characters is developing nicely and a third team member will take the stress off Catchpoll's legs. I really liked the inside view of Catchpoll's home life and Bradecote's situation has good plot potential.

Hoping to see more of some of the secondary characters. Both the cook, who may now have a wife and adopted son, and the Jew would be welcome additions.

I'm enjoying these characters and the world the author portrays. They are working better together now, each beginning to value the other's contribution.

And I predicted Bradecote's tragedy! (Though that sounds as if I am enjoying it.)