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

Sandy’s comments from the Reading the Detectives group.

he first in the historical series is Courting Dragons.

I just finished Nicked, a humorous, swashbuckling view of what was probably a serious undertaking in its day.

I am also reading two non-fiction books: Dinosaurs at the Dinner Party: How an Eccentric Group of Victorians Discovered Prehistoric Creatures and Accidentally Upended the World and Fool: In Search of Henry VIII's Closest Man. "Fool" I am finding dry, but it has inspired me to read The Autobiography of Henry VIII: With Notes by His Fool, Will Somers. This interest in Henry's fool was tweaked by an historical mystery series using Will Somers (fool) as the main character.

I will be starting our monthly reads soon, to balance the non-fiction reads.

I will be reading this, probably starting in a couple of days. A quick trip to the library for a noon concert added a couple of books to my pile.

Vanessa wrote: "I was doing a very good job of keeping track of the characters, except for the guy that cut his hand. Every time he showed up, I had completely forgotten who he was.

I only started reading these ..."

I agree that I would have loved to hear Olive's reaction to Isobel's true character.

Susan in NC wrote: "I very much enjoyed the first book in a new-to-me historical mystery series, The Seeker byS.G. MacLean. It’s set in London, 1650s, during the Protectorate. I immedi..."

Glad to hear that The Seeker is good as I bought the series recently!

Jill wrote: "Have you read any of her Marion Chesney books?"

A few, and found them even lighter than Hamish and Agatha. Mildly enjoyable. More romance than mystery.

I avidly read (listen to) the Hamish Macbeth books but have more trouble with Agatha Raisin.

P.S. Points and Lines was written in 1958, so not GA.

After testing and dropping a new book (Puzzle Me a Murder - wasn't interested after fifty pages) I am reading a Japanese GA, Points and Lines. So far, so good.

Hope to get a chance to get back to my audio book Mistress of the Art of Death tomorrow.

Whereas I believed Richenda and was looking for other possible inheritors lurking in the bushes.

I just finished The Rose Arbor (excellent), set in the late 1960's and DNA would have been useful but never got a mention. And, from my childhood in the 1950's, I vaguely remember Frank Sinatra being brought up on a paternity suit. I asked my father how God could have made such a mistake if the parents weren't married. I often wonder what he answered and his later discussion with my mother.

The inheritance didn't completely fizzle out. The murderer needed the estate to go to the elderly lady who would not be checking the books.

'Needing' an audio book, I also started Mistress of the Art of Death which has been on my TBR forever (it also fulfills a historical mystery group challenge). It is set in the time of Henry II, after his Thomas Beckett fiasco, and is fascinating. It reminds me of Shardlake in its historical details. Trigger warnings for gruesome child murders.

Re the series name, from GR:
Also known as "Art History Mysteries", this series describes the adventures of art historian Jonathan Argyll and two members of the (fictitious) Art Squad of the Italian police: Flavia di Stefano (deputy) and General Bottando (head of the squad).

I've started The Rose Arbor, a stand alone, with a current day (1968) kidnapping and three from WWII.

I agree that Isabelle didn't behave well in this book. I don't blame her for changing her mind, but she should not have encouraged Arthur in the beginning. Jack tried to warn her.

I enjoyed it every bit as much as the other in the series. Perhaps because I listened while puttering around the house, I never felt it got bogged down about the heritance. Nor did I identify the murderer ... once again may be because I was not fully involved.

I so like Sloan's outlook and Aird's dry humor.

Thank you, Susan in NC, for identifying where I last encountered a death in the fortune teller's tent.

I enjoy Sloan's thoughts and the relationships within the police. The sly humor is definitely a plus. I didn't think it was a 'lesser' entry in the series.

At the end of my eBook some of Punshon's reviews were included. He wrote a fine review, even when he almost panned the book.

Jan C wrote: "US - shopping late at night I noticed that there is a sale on Patricia Moyes Henry Tibbett books."

I picked up a couple that my library doesn't have. I really should test the author but the first in the series is one my TBR.

I liked this book. Though it still had a bit of the mysteriously enchanting woman (and man) that I hoped Punshon had dropped. I wonder how Isobel's parents took the news of her crimes and if they even believed her guilt. Or would Bobby just tell them she died? I can see them denying the police story but maybe they had seen her temper.

Loved the "Thelma and Louise" ending, although one woman was not a willing participant.

While I still picture Bobby as I did in the first books, he must be middle-aged by now, perhaps even thickening around the middle.