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

Sandy’s comments from the Reading the Detectives group.

I recently read two fairly short mysteries. The Wages of Zen is a police procedural set in Japan, written, and set in, 1979. Interesting for plot and the Japanese culture. Author is British but, per GR, spent time in Japan.

The other, Something Wicked is a more traditional classic GA British mystery, written in the 1980's and set in a small village with an amateur detective.

Both are the start of series I plan to continue though right now I had better get started on our April buddy reads.

Neer wrote: "Enjoying it so far but a little troubled by the child's mother's actions."

Only a little troubled! But maybe you aren't too far into the book. I grew to hate her.

99p
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So why aren't more of us rich?

I have read the book and was not impressed. Hope the second is better.

Loved this book and am eager to read more in the series BUT ...

I am so confused regarding when the plans were sold. Victim #1 must have had the plans early enough to hide them and then get killed by 4:00. However, when vicar arrived for his visit at 6:00 the dogs were still locked up as strangers were expected. There is no mention of large amounts of cash found and I think Killick would have happily told the vicar if his pleas were too late.

So when did Victim #1 and the two people who killed him arrive and work out a deal? What did I miss?

Glad the thread has been opened as I've been stewing over this for a couple of days!

Absolutely loved it though I couldn't resolve some of the plot points.

Long week-end? How nice for you Brits. When my job was tied to the stock market I got Good Friday off though the rest of the working world didn't.

For any "Dead Men Don't Ski" US fans, The Sunken Sailor: Inspector Tibbett #2 is $1.

Susan in NC wrote: "Sandy wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "I’m really enjoying it so far, up to chapter four or five, “The Franks” - I’ve been jumping around in my nonfiction reading over the last couple years, trying to f..."

The World is a strange read. The 'family' emphasis seems to be on dynasties killing off close relatives, and many others, in the most painful way possible. Why I only read it in short segments!

Susan in NC wrote: "I’m really enjoying it so far, up to chapter four or five, “The Franks” - I’ve been jumping around in my nonfiction reading over the last couple years, trying to fill in gaps in my knowledge and in..."

Very interesting and informative nattering. Reading The World: A Family History of Humanity has impressed upon me just how much of the world history is a void for me. Central American is a bit more familiar as I have taken archaeological vacations in the area.

Susan in NC wrote: "My current nonfiction book is Powers and Thrones: A New History of the Middle Ages by Dan Jones"

I own an Audible version so am interested in your opinion of it.

I am also very slowly working my way through The World: A Family History of Humanity. I can't take too much of this at a time and it is so long! I am on my second three-week library loan and it is on my request list for renewal yet again.

I am currently reading two non-fiction books: Love without wings: some friendships in literature and politics, from 1991, and Great-Uncle Harry: A Tale of War and Empire, a new release. The Palin book I would have loved to get on audio but the hard cover has pictures as recompense.

And there have been a couple of historical mysteries: Silver Lies that I sampled but didn't finish, and A Clash of Spheres, one of a series I had put aside and now need to read the remining two books immediately. It really is a very good combination of real characters and lots of imagination.

Susan wrote: "My phone definitely pings, Sandy! It is useful, to be honest and I would be immediately aware of my nefarious relatives tricks with my bank account..."

And you could have withdrawn all that money the murderer was hiding!

And if the new technology is not used, the plot works today. My phone does not ping with any account activity.

I also appreciated Maigret's determination and his wife's infinite patience. They have a very strong marriage, in contrast to the policemen in the Beck novels that many of the group are reading.

I wonder if Maigret would have been successful, or as determined, if the people concerned in the mystery had not been amoung the few he had met.

By the time they determined the victim's identity I 'knew' the father was involved because Cadfael had eliminated all other possibilities and I always trust Cadfael's gut feeling. I remembered he had left for war (unnecessarily) about the same time as his son joined the order. The actual ending was quite a surprise and very touching.

I will miss Cadfael.

I also thought this one was a bit different and one of my favorites. The Stephen / Matida war plays a more active part than in prior books.

Barely dipped in last night and will be reading it later today. Looking forward to it.

I second the Unruly recommendation! Though I never heard of the author.