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

Sandy’s comments from the Reading the Detectives group.

I am reading the Flavia books but am not current so now looking forward to the 'sequel' which is three books in the future. Falco and family often get at least a mention.

Regarding Roman Britian, I read Medicius, but didn't continue the series. I have started yet another Roman Britian series with a freed slave mosaic layer as the lead character. The second book is A Pattern of Blood. I can remember that title as I read it this month. Anything much further back is gone.

I read Death and the Conjuror. While I only gave it three stars (my normal rating) I liked it well enough to read the second in the series. Admittedly, locked rooms are not my favorite genre.

I read the first George Gently and meant to continue sometime so would welcome a buddy read.

My very favorite buddy reads are Shardlake (maybe because I just finished one), Donna Leon, Falco (a re-read), and Aird. It is always a pleasure to read Maigret, Cadfael, Pears, Bobby Owen and Fen. There are buddy reads where I don't participate.

Susan in NC wrote: "Judy wrote: "Well remembered - I've just checked back and I read this in 2017. I had meant to read book 2 as I enjoyed the first one, but it's one of those series that I somehow never got back to a..."

I've read the first three of Mamur Zapt, and plan to continue eventually.

Susan wrote: "Updated Buddy Read List:
We will finish the Gervase Fen and the Oceanic Liner series soon too.
Buddy Reads:

Jan/Feb
The Misty Harbour by Georges Simenon (Maigret #15)
Last Act in Palmyra by Lindse..."

I think the last heading should be June/July; not July/August

Susan wrote: "I was thinking of reading the Erast Fandorin series. Has anyone read them? The first is The Winter Queen

This is the first book featuring Erast Fand..."

I also read it in 2017 (maybe inspired by Judy?), however I intentionally dropped the series so uncertain if I will continue.

I just googled Catherine Parr and she marries Thomas Seymour after Henry's death! I did not like Thomas whatsoever while Catherine seemed smart and sympathetic. Not sure how accurate these characterizations are, but I'm disappointed in her. Unfortunately, she did not have long to either enjoy her marriage or regret it.

Loved this book even as I despaired at the cruelty done in the name of religion. Not just the murders, but the temper of the times. The look into Bedlam was enlightening and the history of false teeth both enlightening and amusing.

Hoping for the best for Barak and Tamsin. And for Shardlake.

Susan_MG wrote: "I decided to start my 2nd Seishi Yokomizo, Death On Gokumon Island, published in 1971. This book is beginning about 1945."

Another series I would like to continue ....

I am still working my way through new books due at the library:
The Secret of the Lady’s Maid (not as good as other in the series), Death of a Lesser God (excellent series for Indian history), and The Moose Paradox (not new, nor a mystery, but there is a new one in the series that I have out so my boyfriend can read it).

Then I really hope to get to Revelation.

Judy wrote: "On the subject of alternative titles... I dropped everything to finish Roger Sheringham and the Vane Mystery by Anthony Berkeley when I realised it was due back at t..."

This is $1 in the US. I grabbed it.

Read this last night (one of the benefits of Maigret - over and done in one sitting) and it is excellent. The atmosphere is palpable.

One of my favorites Maigret's so far, but there are a lot to follow. Once again, the atmosphere is one of the best aspects of the series. The scene with Maigret stumbling around in the fog and the ship suddenly looming up like a wall is memorable. An interesting resolution to the mystery.

Susan wrote: "It's always sad to lose a favourite author, Sandy..."

At least the books remain.

The latest Stop You're Killing Me newsletter (www.stopyourekillingme.com) lists the authors who died in 2023. One I didn't know about is Kate Saunders who wrote a series starting with The Secrets of Wishtide. It is a pleasant, quiet series and I often checked for additional entries. Sad.

In the US, is $2. This is the second in a new series, set after WWII, and a homage to Nero Wolfe and Archie. I recommend it.

Falco's mission from the emperor was very vague. I went back at some point to see if I missed the details but there were none. The author's note at the end mentioned that Rome had information on Petra's defenses so there must have been agents in the area.

Like Rosina, I wish I had visited Petra, and Egypt, when I was younger and it was safer.

I will be starting very soon - love the series.

This is a re-read of one of my favorite series. Maybe not the best book in the series but I the setting is dramatic.

I read The Twilight Queen, second in a new series with Henry VIII's jester. I think it is an excellent series and seems quite true to the era. Now I want to try the author's medieval series with Crispin Guest.

However, it means I will not start our next Shardlake immediately as I need to clear my mind of one version of Henry before adding another. Not a problem as I have several library books that are coming due.

A warning about the jester series: there is more sex than I am accustomed to, though not in any detail.