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

Sandy’s comments from the Reading the Detectives group.

I'm reading one of my random library pickups, Murderous Mistral, which I've found out is a very stiff wind. It is the start of a ten-book series but only the first two have been translated into English. Set in Provence, where the author lives, written in German, where the author was born. In between he studied in the US. The rest of the world is much more cosmopolitan than the US.

Atmospheric, interesting characters, romantic potential, good food and, so far, an engaging mystery.

Roman Clodia wrote: "I've finished and while I can sort of see why some people have a problem with the frustrated spinster stereotype, it's also quite a social indictment as she says that she knew she was clever but wa..."

Excellent points and maybe Christie's nod to woman's lib.

I recently finished Death and the Conjuror which was fine, perhaps most memorable for being an interesting homage to GA locked room mysteries.

This was only a so-so read for me. I enjoyed discovering both the smuggling business set up by the victim and his wife's deception of poor Charles. They were excellent villains.

The 'good guys' were less interesting. Helen often annoyed me; I could guess why she had no close friends. I hoped Tom would find a new life and love in New York and remain there. I had no real problem with the lawyer but didn't warm to him. Charles was even more of a doormat than Tom. My favorite may be Inspector Dodd who seemed to be set up to fail but rose to the occasion.

I can see how the father got sucked into the smuggling scheme as he felt Helen needed the very best. I suppose then the first murder was self-defense and then the second so he wouldn't get caught. They say the second is easier.

I thought it was definite that Helen and the lawyer ended up together. But left open was whether the father would be tried for the second murder and whether Charles would still insist on giving the wife half of the business.

I liked the story well enough, and the Liverpool setting was interesting (though I don't know anything about Liverpool so can't judge accuracy). Not so sure about the characters.

Not a favorite: Luke does not seem to be a very good detective and I actively disliked Bridget. Any relationship that starts with being madly in love with someone you dislike is too dramatic for my taste. I hoped somehow the doctor's daughter would get a chance to experience a bit more before settling down with a man her father disliked.

The mystery was fine, and I didn't suspect the murderer even on my re-read. I'm a bit disappointed that it is a slightly mad frustrated spinster, but there is a lot of credit given to elderly "aunts".

I wish there was more of Battle. He always seems calm and competent investigator. And Hugh Fraser has a great voice for him.

Finished this and while reviewing my prior comments I noticed that the GR description has Miss Fullerton, rather than Pinkerton, as the train passenger. Odd. Maybe a change in the US because of the detective agency?

Rosina wrote: "While I'm with Kindle Unlimited, I'm reading Ruth Downie's series about a medicus in Roman times - currently just finished number 3 - . They are e..."

I read the first of the series quite a while ago and meant to get back to it after the Falco series, but it hasn't happened yet.

Kindle Unlimited can be quite enticing that way. I have at least two series I want to finish, and I always take out a new book when I return one, so the number never goes down.

Judy wrote: "It's been too long since I read a Rex Stout book, so I'm reading one of his books of 3 novellas, Curtains for Three, and enjoying it."

It has been much too long for me as well. Curtains is next up for me and I have it on audio. Maybe soon, after cleaning up my library backlog.

Note that we may be reading One Virgin Too Many eventually.

Enjoy hanging out with Strike and Robin Marwan.

As well as starting one of our monthly reads, (Murder is Easy), I am reading a new library book due back soon, Death and the Conjuror, billed as a homage to Golden Age locked room mysteries.

Susan wrote: "I will nominate Postscript to Poison by Dorothy Bowers

“Do you think it is a secret that you are slowly poisoning Mrs. Lac..."

I don't think it available on kindle in the US. There is a single copy in my library system.

I will be re-reading this on audio and yes, Hugh Fraser narrates. I only remember the start of the book.

Absolutely loved Mercury Pictures Presents. It's a look at Hollywood during WWII, with both humor and pathos, and surprisingly relative to today.

Another couple of books from my library pile. Augusta Hawke is the start of a new series by the author of the Max Tudor 'cozy' series. I gave up on Max after a couple of books (didn't like the female lead), but this one shows promise, IMO. Bits of wry humor and a female lead who writes mysteries so the author can poke fun at her profession. At times the author seems to think of Augusta as quite old, but she is early 40's.

The next book, Killers of a Certain Age I put aside after 80 pages. Must be me as it has great reviews. Too many other books to read.

On to a non-mystery, Mercury Pictures Presents. I absolutely loved his A Constellation of Vital Phenomena and The Tsar of Love and Techno was also excellent.

I never foresaw that solution to the murder and I'm in agreement: his death was a direct result of his zealotry, and he earned it.

Sid wrote: "I'm about half way through The Bullet That Missed by Richard Osman and I'm enjoying it a lot. If you liked the previous two, you'll like this one for sure."

I'm looking forward to that one. I just moved to the top of the request list but had to postpone for two weeks due to library book overload.

I recently finished two books. A Few Right Thinking Men, set in Sydney in 1930, became more of a political thriller than a murder mystery. I enjoyed the first half then got bogged down in Australian politics as the story became more unlikely.

The second book was more successful in my opinion. Back to the Garden is a stand-alone by the author of the Mary Russell / Sherlock Holmes series that I love. This is the unraveling of a cold crime when bones from the 1970's are uncovered. The book bounces between 'then' and 'now', identified in each chapter heading. While I usually have a definite favorite time period in these types of books, here I liked both.

Susan wrote: "Currently Free today: The Routledge Companion to Jane Austen

Thank you to my good friend, Jill, for letting me know abou..."

I grabbed it, Thanks.

I am still reading two of our mid-month buddy books and I have overdosed on library books. I stopped in a branch I seldom visit and picked up three books on a whim. Then my branch had two requests come in plus two more new books on display. And I have a kindle library book that I keep forgetting to read because it doesn't take up room on the table. I'll post titles as I read; no time now as I need to get Falco back to Rome.

I've finished so can move onto Falco. Like Judy, one historical at a time. This Cadfael really gave us a vile villain.