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

Sandy’s comments from the Reading the Detectives group.

I wasn't expecting to like this as much as I did. I found the mystery and the characters fascinating. I will miss the slimy reporter as he goes off to London. Too much smoking and drinking of course. Now that his back story is told, I hope it doesn't play such a large part in the following books.

So, after three buddy reads involving the torture and murder of young girls, I am looking forward to the relative sanity of Peter Shandy next month. Ready for a laugh.

I loved it!

I started this today and am racing through it. Interesting writing style. Very interesting characters. Maybe too many hints of a back story, but that could be because it is the first book.

Not sure why I connected with this entry so quickly, but I did and stayed up late to finish it. Max's flawed character was portrayed sympathetically. Poor Mrs M but at least she will have a new boarder to reminisce with.

This seemed so much like a series closer that I read the plot of the next one and things change quite a lot.

I never thought Ruby loved Edgar but evidently she did.

Once I started I was caught up immediately and finished by staying up late.

I like this even more than the first, maybe because he didn't have to spend time in a concentration camp. The tension of the times is very well portrayed. There is a lot of violence, by both the good guys and the bad. I think it is very true to its setting. Bernie sees hope here and there while we know there is none. Quite sad.

Any ideas why it is called 'The Pale Criminal'?

I am already tired of Ruby and I haven't started this one. There was a new policewoman in the last book I routed for.

Susan wrote: "I am about 40% of the way through. I am pleased that Billy Styles has re-entered the fray."

And that he has kept in touch. Now needs to bring his girlfriend for approval.

Susan wrote: "She went missing at the end of the first book. I think Kerr was a very realistic writer - people went missing and you never found them. They were either killed or carted off to a prison or a camp. ..."

The atmosphere is frightening. I want to tell Gunther to get out. It is going to get worse.

I have started and, as last time, am worried about Gunther's well being. While I don't remember the date of the first book, this one mentions his losing track of his girl friend two years earlier.

I didn't realize it was the last novel she wrote. Makes all the complaints by T&T about their aging bodies more poignant. There are references to many of T&T's adventures. I hope Christie enjoyed revisiting them.

Absolutely no mention of his, Maigret's, return to the force. He does not return to the force in this book though he does visit. I'm willing to treat them as stand alones. According to the title he goes to New York next.

I agree that retirement agrees with Madden.

Judy wrote: "I've started this now - well written but grim subject matter, as with the first one. I was quite surprised to find that such a long time has passed since the first book and it seems Madden has now ..."

I recently read Maigret Gets Angry and he has been a farmer for a couple of years.

Not a favorite as I don't think Christie does political intrigue as well as village murders. I couldn't really get into the mystery.

On the plus side, Tommy and Tuppence were wonderful, dealing with their aging bodies and caring for each other. Their sidekick is still doing all that he is asked, and more. The dog is a treat.

I really do not like searching for psychotic killers!

The atmosphere in these two books is great, as are the characters. I checked the plot of the next and it doesn't seem to be another killer with a deprived (depraved?) childhood, so I am in for one more.

I got a bit tired of hearing how great everyone thought Madden was at his job. It's been at least eleven years (10-year-old son)!

Finished it a couple of days ago. Love the characters, the writing, and the plot is very engaging, but ... over to spoilers.

I have started my re-read, on audio with Hugh Fraser.

Last night I read (in one sitting as the author recommends), Maigret Gets Angry. Good plot with an unexpected resolution. Interestingly, he has been retired for two years and is tending his garden. Reminded me of the first Poirot, worrying about his zucchini (under European name), With Maigret it is eggplant (again with European name).

Time to start this month's buddy reads.

Frances wrote: "Now about a third of the way in-I'm not enjoying it as much as other Loracs I've read, but she's set up a rather smug little family which doesn't resonate with me as much as more troubled or flawed..."

Too much is made of the family being intellectual, in my opinion.

Sharon wrote: "I'm reading Miss Marple: The Complete Short Stories by Agatha Christie. The first of these stories are where Miss Marple made her entry into the world. In her introduct..."

I hadn't heard that about Miss Marple. Thanks.