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

Sandy’s comments from the Reading the Detectives group.

I agree about the sixties feel and about the confusing number of students and teachers as the book opened. My copy had a list of characters but it didn't help much: not all were included, Martin (the farmer's son) was Marion with 'her' as a pronoun, another was listed twice, and few had distinctive characteristics.

I realized that minutes could be half of a location but dismissed it as unhelpful in this case.

Crosby did not seem particularly dim in this book, but he is still being perceived as such. First impressions!

And, anyone willing to bet Sloan's son will be a daughter?

I'm reading this now; always like the humor.

Susan wrote: "This is 99p in a countdown deal, so I think it ends fairly shortly.

Murder at Everham Hall

Book 1 and looks Christmassy, so snap it u..."

And we will be trying one his other series in our 2024 challenge.

This was a re-read and I was still surprised by the murderer. I was sure it was someone else and probably had been the first time as well. I liked all of the suspects and didn't want it to be any of them.

As mentioned earlier, I was disappointed that Woody did not 'get her man' but I prefer to think it's because he really was already married.

Sarah wrote: "Great to read all the comments from group members. I live in Berkeley, CA, with many personal and professional connections to UCSF, a major medical center in the Bay Area, and getting an appointmen..."

Re Iain Pears series: The Last Judgement is scheduled for mid December. Hope your library has the series.

I read Three Fires last night.

My review:
Absolutely a riveting read with so many connections to today. Short and to the point; history brought up to date using current language and referencing later events. Being squeamish I glazed over many descriptions.

I'm in the US, Massachusetts, Cambridge, bordering Boston and proud home to Harvard and MIT (to neither of which do I have a connection). A lake sounds lovely though I do have a reservoir a short walk away. Cambridge is definitely city living.

Only four left! Rather sad.

Jackie wrote: "I just finished Dirty Thirty the latest Stephanie Plum novel. I don't think this would count as a "mystery" what do y'all think?

and I'd love to talk about the ending with anyone ..."

I really liked Stephanie Plum for a while but gave up somewhere in the teen's. I really disliked one of her potential boyfriends and got tired of her indecision. Never read them for the mystery element, just for the humor. The author now has other series and thirty is a nice round number so maybe it is the end.

Susan in NC wrote: "Lady Clementina wrote: "Judy wrote: "band worked in a similar hospital during the war...."

That's interesting to know, Susan. I think the workplace atmosphere feels convincing and am enjoying the...."

Another of those books lurking on my kindle. Need to bubble it up a bit.

Susan in NC wrote: "Susan wrote: "It definitely was of its era, wasn't it? To say the investigation was unorthodox was putting it lightly!"

Yes! I’d be interested to read further in the series, see how they proceed -..."

I've often wondered how far ahead the author is thinking when the first book is published. Seems a bit unrealistic to plan too far ahead. Some series read as though the author had a long-range arc planned right from the start (Louise Penny's Three Pines) while others resort to a non-aging detective (Poirot and many others).

Not sure if this comes under 'a different era' concept, but I found the 'blackmail the murderer' idea a questionable police policy.

And Richard did pretty much fall apart when Ellery left though he must have once carried on successfully without him to get to his present position.

Agree with the slow start; I was wondering if the entire book would take place in the theatre. Enjoyed the book enough to read more, especially the relationship between father and son.

I found the explanation at the end too long and detailed.

I may come down in the middle: I like a personal life for my detective, thus I'm in favor of Alleyn, Wimsey and Campion, but dislike inner anguish, tragic backstories and disabling character flaws so popular now.

I only read one Miss Silver and didn't warm to her at all.

Jill wrote: "I will nominate The Big Bow Mystery by Author Israel Zangwill. I believe this is free in UK but don't know about abroad


Regarded as the first full-length locked r..."

$3 in the US

I started this last night, and my library copy is a 50th anniversary edition from 1979. It has a forward by the remaining living author giving his childhood discovery of detective stories and their teenage start of their collaboration. Quite a treat.

I am really listening to this via Audible, with the book as a backup, and Audible has several books in the series for free that I grabbed.

This will be a re-read. I remember the opening with the postman and thought it worked quite well.

Susan in NC wrote: "I’m reading Mayflower: A Story of Courage, Community, and War by Nathaniel Philbrick, one of my favorite historians"

It seems I own this on kindle; maybe I can fit in for the Thanksgiving season.

I re-read Dear Committee Members. A third book in the series was just published and that reminded me how much I enjoyed the first. Lots of humor with a touch of poignancy. I've never written letters of recommendation and I doubt I should learn from this protagonist.

Another vote for Mapp and Lucia!