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

Sandy’s comments from the Reading the Detectives group.

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.)

I am starting, late, this month's buddy read, Ordeal by Fire

I gave The Rose Arbor four stars:

Lots of coincidences in this plot but the story was engaging, and I loved the book. Excellent characters, even the chauvinist DI. Interesting history from both WWII and the 1960's.

This may be my favorite Maigret yet (though I might have said that before). He is retired from the police so has to investigate without any authority but with a bit of help from former colleagues, and hinderance from others. I'm not sure how that telephone trick at the end worked (how was the line open to the police?) but it was imaginative and appropriately tense.

I hope his nephew finds a job he likes and is good at.

Jill wrote: "Sandy wrote: "I finished A Messy Murder, the latest in Simon Brett latest series. Compared to Mrs. Pargeter, these are less cozy / more realistic. I found the murder..."

Definitely! A series that doesn't get a lot of attention but must be active is Blotto, Twinks, and the Ex-King's Daughter. I see entries in my library's new arrivals section.

I finished A Messy Murder, the latest in Simon Brett latest series. Compared to Mrs. Pargeter, these are less cozy / more realistic. I found the murder plot a bit weak in this one, but the other 'mysteries' with Ellen's family and friends kept the story moving along nicely. Her mother is a hoot! To be read in order as the family relationships develop.

My copy of the book lists this book as third series entry, so we may be reading them in translated order.

Correction: next book as Fandorin aboard ship so we are reading in the correct order.

Interesting ... I read this in one evening and enjoyed it but started out really confused as to who these people were and whom they were fighting. So many names, formal and informal. Fandorin is taking a secondary role in this book as the action centers on the woman. Not sure how I feel about the series.

NOTE I just read the synopsis above and it GIVES AWAY the ENDING! Why does Amazon / GR / publisher do things like that?

New series I'm enjoying:

Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone, as mentioned earlier. Two entries so far and a third scheduled for Christmas.

The Last Dance, two entries, must be read in order!

The Sunset Years of Agnes Sharp, only two have been translated and I have the second out from the library as I type

The Busy Body, the only book so far

Fortune Favors the Dead, a take-off of Nero Wolfe and Archie.

Death and the Conjuror, locked rooms a specialty

Courting Dragons, two or three books with Henry VIII's jester as protagonist

Wow! I know what I will be reading months from now. Thanks Susan.

I have this from the library though I haven't started it yet. The different periods are a great benefit of historical fiction. I am reading a Mamur Zapt series set in Cairo in the early 1900's when Egypt was under British 'protection'. The Mamur Zapt and the Return of the Carpet (Mamur Zapt is his title in the police force.) There is our challenge series set in Singapore. And I mean to get back to another couple of series by Colin Cotterill and Arthur Upfield

The Coroner's Lunch Laos 1970's

The Barrakee Mystery Australian outback, written in the 1920's and 30's

These are fun and light. Very easy reads and this one has the benefit of taking us to Corfu. The dramatic ending was unlikely but fit in well with the tone of the book. St Spiro looking after his namesake!

I agree that she is a fun character, very secure and determined. I love meeting Mr. P's associates. I wonder where she ended up living after the last book. We may find out in the next book.