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

Sandy’s comments from the Reading the Detectives group.

I've been sidetracked by shiny new books; see the 'what mysteries are you reading' if you care for the details. I will be rereading this eventually.

Susan wrote: "I have finished this now. It was a bit tragic that, after all that, he was not allowed to join the middle class and marry Helena properly. I know I could look it up and see what happens, but I feel..."

He really should have waited for the emperor to return and not deal with the nasty son. But, typically, Falco knew that and went ahead anyway. He is often his own worst enemy.

Susan in NC wrote: "Good! Nothing worse than forcing yourself to read a book you don’t really like or care about- I couldn’t be a moderator! I’ve decided to give a book 50-75 pages, if I’m not enjoying it or intereste..."

We don't all have to read all of the books. Personally I have much the same policy and dropped a couple of the buddy series.

P.S. The multiple titles of the Maigret books are always confusing, perhaps because of the different translations. Sometimes my library system recognizes what I ask for; other times I have to look at the different editions on GR.

This is very atmospheric even for Maigret and an excellent evening read with that tense ending.

The letter to the police that starts Maigret's wasn't sent to him but "had laid around for several days .... Maigret had noticed it by accident ...". He had to ask if it was the same town where he grew up. And if it was ever explained who had sent the letter, I missed it!

Great book.

Next on my to-read list.

I quite like the personalities of both lead characters and will be happy for them to continue their low-key romance.

I thought the California setting, and especially the author's and Jonathan opinion of CA, added a twist to the book. Interesting plot with the two intertwined crimes. Maybe even three, I you count the theft of undescribed artwork in Italy.

The progress was portrayed so vividly, with all the preparations needed for each stop. I felt sorry for the man with the portable desk (another vivid picture). The smell of Henry's leg may be the feature that stays with me; little wonder he was not in a good mood.

Absolutely loved this book. To me it was much better than Dark Fire and I liked that one.

This will be a reread but I remember nothing.

I have my library copy sitting around, waiting for me.

I have started this and am amused by the view of 1990's southern California: "legs now served mainly a decorative function".

I am deep into the world of Shardlake and Henry VIII's 'progress'.

Frances wrote: "As I am traveling in Scotland I’ve just finished Ian rankin’s Strip Jack while I’m in Edinburgh and started Anne Cleeve’s White Nights before I head up to the Shetlands."

How nice to be able to combine travel and reading.

I also liked the detective, his boss and subordinates and plan to continue the series. However, I felt the plot got too complex by the end and GA mysteries that involve drugs do not stand up well (in my opinion).

I also appreciated the full description of the method and might understand how it worked, though I remain sceptical that it was reliable. I really liked that the murderer had a practice session. That improved his odds.

I wonder if the narrator 'writes' all the books in the series.

Susan in NC wrote: "Sandy wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "Sandy wrote: "I am very happy to discover this series even though I am not overly fond of locked room mysteries. And 77 of them!"

Wow, 77 dead in one case?"

No, ..."

They have only recently started translating them.

Susan in NC wrote: "Sandy wrote: "I am very happy to discover this series even though I am not overly fond of locked room mysteries. And 77 of them!"

Wow, 77 dead in one case?"

No, 77 books in the series.

P.S. I was worried I would have trouble keeping the names straight but it was not a problem.

I am very happy to discover this series even though I am not overly fond of locked room mysteries. And 77 of them!