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

Sandy’s comments from the Reading the Detectives group.

I started, and almost finished, yesterday and love Cyril Hare's writing. Of course I can never remember exact quotes but there is one at the end of the first chapter 'then the treasurer heard no more' and 'the winds of government efficiency had blown away the local police' opens another chapter. I wish he had written more.

Abigail wrote: "Finished Britannia Mews by Margery Sharp and starting a quick reread of Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston for a reading group.

I’d be interested to hea..."

I gave Act of Oblivion five stars. My review:

This book vividly demonstrates the tragedy of religious intolerance. Both sides firmly believe God is on their side and gladly kill anyone whose belief varies in the smallest detail. I found all the characters well-rounded, and each is sympathetic in his / her own way (with the exception of Charles II and his brother, the Duke of York). The story is compelling and moves between colonial New England and London. I learned a lot about the English civil war and the Restoration, and I enjoyed it tremendously.

It is one I own even if it is not the one I voted for.

I will be joining in soon and looking forward to another Pettigrew.

I will be joining in soon. Never heard of the series and avoid all " noir" so not sure how I will fare.

This was a re-listen and the first time I gave it four stars (high for me). I wouldn't this time but I also paid less attention and got lost in the double identities. I remembered the subplot of her father but not the mystery.

I've become a fan of Simenon and his deceptively simple writing. All the characters are vivid and the plot moves briskly. I have the luxury to arrange to read them in a single sitting as the author recommended.

Abigail wrote: "Finished Britannia Mews by Margery Sharp and starting a quick reread of Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston for a reading group.

I’d be interested to hea..."

So far I quite like Act of Oblivion though I need to skim the many descriptions of ghastly punishments. Both sides of the pursuit are portrayed sympathetically and that emphasizes the tragedy of religious intolerance. Being from the US, I know only a bit about the English civil war and am glad to learn more. Being from Cambridge, Mass. (the fugitives first stop)., I was interested in the setting. It is barely recognizable but a couple of minor characters live on in street names.

I will be starting Act of Oblivion tonight. I have liked others by the author, Robert Harris, and am looking forward to this book.

CrimeReads has an interesting article by Martin Edwards about Murder After Christmas. I've requested it from my library.

Pamela wrote: "I quite liked this, and was glad that the solution involved some actual clues (such as Hook talking to Baynes) but it seemed a bit odd that Dennis stayed at home and relied on Keith talking to the ..."

The bonkers sister might have been my favorite character and it would have been satisfying if she was found to have hidden depths.

Jackie wrote: "I've never heard of Shardlake."

It is a series set in the reign of Henry VIII, with a lead character who is a hunch-backed lawyer. The first one is Dissolution.

Susan in NC wrote: "Sandy wrote: "I am interested in the Iain Pears series.

I have read all of Anne Perry's Monk series and am trying to work my way thru her Pitt series. As said, the books are very similiar so need..."

Have you tried Shardlake on audio? Excellent narration by Stephen Crossley but it is 16 hours!

I did have some sympathy for Leda; she had great potential that was frustrated by a need to marry before any of it could be realized.

FYI, in the US, The Anonymous Venetian by Donna Leon (Brunetti #3), seems to be Dressed for Death. Wish they wouldn't do that!

I am interested in the Iain Pears series.

I have read all of Anne Perry's Monk series and am trying to work my way thru her Pitt series. As said, the books are very similiar so need to be widely spaced.

I would like to try the Bryant and May series by Christopher Fowler. The first is Full Dark House and is the only one I've read. I think I heard the series has recently wrapped up.

I'm starting the Matthew Shardlake Dissolution series again, but those are 600 pages!

I've followed Maise Dobbs and like, not love, the series. I read each as it comes out.

P.S. $3 in the US

I will nominate The Body in the Silo, next in a series of which I, and maybe we, have read the first two. I own the rest and would like to continue. If I remember correctly, this is the insurance investigator who consults with his wife and plays elaborate games of solitaire.

Judy wrote: "I started The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman a few weeks ago but didn't warm to it and gave up... however then I was given the second book in the series as a..."

Especially true with humor.