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

Sandy’s comments from the Reading the Detectives group.

Louise wrote: "At the moment I am working my way through the Peter Diamond series by Peter Lovesey, set in Bath. Currently on No.11, Stagestruck. It’s an enjoyable fairly light series featuring a gruff middle age..."

A series that I have wanted to read for a while. Didn't know it was set in Bath. I visited 2 - 3 times as a friend once lived there, and I recommend it highly. She had an apartment high over the city and we saw a balloons once.

Bellies yesterday and bumbums today?! I fear tomorrow.

Susan wrote: "Had either of you read anything by Elly Griffiths before? I did like it but I felt very much this was a first in a series - introducing the characters, etc."

I avidly read the Ruth Galloway series which is now concluded. It is a series in which the characters private lives and interrelationships are important. Not particularly dark (in my opinion) but I remember one involved the murders of children.

P.S. Poor Mrs. Maigret who was looking forward to retirement in the country.

I haven't started yet, though I have the book from the library. Glad to see Maigret is back on the job; his working on the side asking favors from his friends on the force would not work for too long.

A good start to a series with interesting characters in a different setting: vaudeville in 1950's Brighton. The premise involves a WWII group that attempted to trick the Nazis with various visual illusions - and there really were such attempts, many quite successful. Now two of the former group, one a police investigator and the other a successful magician, need to solve murders within the group. Probably a bit melodramatic (the early Ruth Galloways were as well) but good chemistry amoung the characters and an involved plot.

I am not as invested in these characters as I was with Ruth Galloway and her friends. I did not really warm to Max but Edgar and Diablo are great. I'm interested to see how the series develops.

Judy wrote: "I've just found this article which explains who all the detectives and authors mentioned are - I don't think there are major spoilers, but I'm going to read each paragraph after the relevant story ..."

Thank you very much for the article. I am (almost) tempted to reread the stories I have finished now that I know what they are spoofing. However, I'm afraid I don't know enough about most of the originals to really appreciate the spoof. The stories must have been a treat for avid mystery readers at the time.

Ditto of Judy's post.

Judy wrote: "Sandy wrote: "Something I will be reading at a future moment: Mr Campion's Christmas. ..."

I'll be interested to hear what you think of that one, Sandy - I have often wondered abo..."

The library is always my first choice.

Something I will be reading at a future moment: Mr Campion's Christmas. I hadn't known the series was continued but saw this as a new release and put in a request with my library. The kindle is $25 in the US! More than a hardback!

I am one of the 'less keen' members Susan mentioned. I remember not particularly liking this on my first read (though I gave it three stars), and it has not improved since. I keep trying short stories but with little success. On the plus side, I am listening to it and Hugh Fraser is an excellent narrator.

I wonder if Peter's was wrapping up the series when Jerome gets 'exposed' as a not nice person. And will he remain humbled in the last book?

Just finished last night, loved it, and the details are still clear (probably because I haven't started another book). I will be sorry to say goodbye to Cadfael.

I will be starting very soon. A bit hesitant about this series, probably because I liked Ruth Galloway so much and I doubt this will as good.

Welcome Mbuye. Feel free to pick and choose among our offerings; there is no pressure to keep up and the comment threads are always open. (Though I never remember enough about a book I read long ago to respond meaningfully.)

I love retirement and sure you will too.

Never sure whether these are really mysteries, but I am reading / listening to A Song of Comfortable Chairs, from the #1 Ladies series. My sister buys the paperback copy of each book as the newer hardback is released. She then gives it to me for my birthday, after she and her friends have read it. I am expecting a paperback soon and haven't read the last one.

I have our mid-months read from the library and am ready to start those next.

I enjoyed my re-read of this book perhaps even more than my first couple of readings, probably because it has been so long - eight years! - since I spent time with Lord Peter, Bunter, Parker and Peter's family. Peter and Parker work well together, and we know Parker will be one of the family eventually once Mary / Polly settles down. Does anyone one know why Polly is a nickname for Mary?

While I remembered why the brother would not supply his alibi, I had forgot the rest of the ending. I felt sorry for the victim at the end.

I wondered about the daughter as well.

Jackie wrote: "Sandy wrote: "I am also a 'read and listen' person but I usually refer to the book when I find my mind wandering. I may try your method as well, Jackie."

do you mean you read AS you are listening?..."

Yes, reading ahead if doing both at the same time is a problem. I have the book available and after I have listened for a while and find gaps in my understanding (like where are they now? what just happened?), I pause the narration and catch up in the book. I have found this particularly helpful here as the action bounces between Wimsey and Parker. And, between the two methods I understand more of the farmer's dialect.

I also have Ian Carmichael as narrator and love him as Lord Peter (though I didn't think he didn't fit the physical profile in the TV version).

Not many likeable characters in this book, except the regulars of course, and the new governor and his wife. Even the attempt to salvage Kenneth's character at the end was not really successful in my opinion. Dead Victor was really nasty, and I had no sympathy for Nicole, drugged or not. She was going to marry the guy! I agree with Susan's take on her father-in-law's character.

I expect it was really that bad for the young native women. If I remember correctly, they could only go to the hotel dining room with white escorts and then people made the wrong assumption. Their family and friends are very concerned for their reputation.