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

Sandy’s comments from the Reading the Detectives group.

Not a new attitude. Thirty years ago I was in Newport RI, visiting the mansions, with my out-of-state license plate and a very well-dressed older woman drove up next to me and told me to go home.

I read this five years ago and all I remembered was the lady with the Pekes. Usually the book is familiar as I read even if I don't know what is coming next, but not this time. I loved it and will miss Hemingway's attitude. I thought of P D James and how Dalglish would disapprove of these cheerful investigators. I was very glad the farmer's and local gentry's secrets were not revealed.

Susan wrote: "There were a lot of very big Donna Leon fans there I felt a bit of a fraud as, although I've read many of the books and I have been enjoying re-reading them, I was not as obsessive as many of those..."

According to a quick review on the Kirkus podcast, the tourist influx is prominent in her latest book.

Even better than many of the Cadfael books, and I've liked them all. This one has Cadfael out of the abbey and back in his native Wales, accompanying Brother Mark from earlier books. He is happy to return to his home country and later to his chosen abbey home. The description of Wales and the lives of the Welsh during frequent invasions is interesting. Excellent.

I was wrong in my early identification of the young lovers.

I have my copy from the library but need to finish two other buddy reads first.

P.S. For some reason I thought this was the last Cadfael so was pleasantly surprised that there are two more.

I am verging on the halfway mark, in print, and wondering how the Welsh can possibly pronounce such a collection of consonants. Quite different from the books set in the abbey. I think I have identified the young lovers ( once they meet).

Not my favorite Christie as there is too much international intrigue with foreign agents seeking mysterious papers that could destroy the free world. However it is a good introduction to our adventurous duo.

I have just started and am not much beyond meeting the Pekes. It is a reread but that doesn't mean I remember much. Heyer has already worked in a complaint about taxes.

I have two mysteries in process. Deadly Beloved, continuing my project of continuing my ignored series, and The Man Who Read Mysteries, a short story collection where the amateur detective takes on the style of his favorite literary detective. It has been lurking on my kindle for years.

I read Last Seen Wearing, a reprint of the 'first' police procedural by the US Library of Congress. It really is a police procedural as all the action is involves the police investigation. I liked it a lot and especially enjoyed the footnotes. It was written in 1950 and, as well as factual information, the footnotes explain many of the societal differences, with the Kinsey Report findings getting prominence.

He might also want to cover his identity given the loose lips of the characters. After saying 'I should not be telling you this...', they immediately spill all, including any wild rumors. Very human of course, but not complimentary to the palace staff.

I gave The Last Days of the Dinosaurs four stars.

My review:
A very interesting look at the end of dinosaurs / rise of mammals with 'personalized' views of the animals living through the calamity and its after affects. The author's enthusiasm is contagious.

A warning about the audio book: While labelled unabridged it does NOT contain the appendix where the author expands on what is known, what is suspected and where she gave free rein to imagination within the likely science.

Judy wrote: "Sandy, I agree about the cliffs and ropes - I always find those sorts of stunts hard to follow, although I suppose at least there was no danger of readers copying the murder and escape methods!

I ..."

I only wondered why the photo was noted and figured it must have been for a reason.

For US members: I found two versions of Murder by Matchlight available on kindle for either $1 or $10. And my library has a copy, saving me the dollar (or ten).

I am reading Death Under a Little Sky. Only about a third in but like it well enough to request the next book from the library.

Definitely agree; I enjoyed Mordecai immensely.

As usual with any 'locked room' aspect I was disappointed with the method of entry. My mind shut down once cliffs and ropes were involved.

This seemed more a series of episodes in Guy's life than a plotted story with a beginning, middle and end. Given the author's note at the end, he may have added a lot of padding to his idea to get a full-length book. Spending time with Guy and his friends is fine, but I could easily leave them to their own devices.

Regarding the plot, I found it hard to believe in the male victim's power over women, thus had trouble with the murderer's motive. It seemed as though the author chose the least likely suspect. And she was one of the reasonable characters I will miss.

I started listening to the audio book with a kindle version alongside, but there is too much going on for me to keep it straight on audio. Part of the problem is not remembering the characters from the first book very well. I am continuing in print.