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

Sandy’s comments from the Reading the Detectives group.

Frances wrote: "I agree, this wasn't a very strong mystery, and I also suspected Glass by about 2/3's of the way in once the times didn't add up, and his religiousness started to seem unbalanced, particularly the ..."

I got the impression that the Norths (a very annoying couple!) were quite wealthy. At one point John asks Helen if she would have married him without his money.

Judy wrote: "Another thing that puzzles me about the plot - near the start it is mentioned that the lawyer is probably related to the family via an illegitimate relationship and has the blue eyes etc. I suspect..."

I remember that hint and don't remember any follow-up. However, I didn't suspect him but should have. He was alone with the gun in the estate office and his upright law partners didn't like him.

Rosina wrote: "At least Olive wasn't a wildly successful hatter, with an international reputation, who gave it all up for loooooove"

She seems to have successful in the sense her hats were loved. But it seems the upper class never paid bills. Olive was thrilled when she had a paying customer in one of the books.

I was disappointed Olive had to give up her hat shop and hope she revives it when (if?) Bobby is back in London.

Rosina wrote: "Thinking about other missing heir stories, there are large gaps in our knowledge.

I don't think we ever learn anything about Bertram as a child, except that he had met Ralph occasionally, and pla..."

I thought he got expelled from university (or maybe prep school) and was sent to the US to avoid actual prison time.

I agree with Judy that it is "obvious" that the missing heir is a fake and the real mystery is why his grandfather accepts him. (I'm assuming the grandmother only accepted him because she was told to by her husband.) Ten years at university age should not change people very much. One of the plot holes is that this isn't mentioned even by people in the village who must have seen the real Bertram from time to time.

I will be reading this soon (as I will Blunt Instrument). I have an audio version but probably need a print version as well.

I have read this before and will be reading it again soon. As usual, I have no memory of the plot though the religious policeman rings a bell.

I am reading this, will finish today, and really like it. Might be my favorite Owen, but they do all blend together after a while.

Wow! I haven't been reading Innes, but that sounds like a ridiculously fantastical plot.

I really liked Mercury Pictures Presents

Wishing you both the best Jill. Bad enough to have a medical emergency, but away from home makes it much more stressful.

About to start the next Bobby Owen for one of buddy reads.

Finished my reread of Magpie Murders and, finally, remembered the murderer in the final chapters. Great book, must read the next one soon.

I've started a re-read of Magpie Murders before the TV version is aired here in the US.

Klowey wrote: "Has anyone heard of this book? An English Murder
It gets pretty good reviews and is Christmasy."

Still doesn't seem to be available on kindle in the US.

I quite liked the Betty Church book and intend to continue the series. I have them waiting for me on Kindle Unlimited.

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.