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

Sandy’s comments from the Reading the Detectives group.

I have two mysteries going: The House at Devil's Neck, a new book that hasn't grabbed me yet, and Desperate Undertaking: A Flavia Albia Novel, next in Falco's daughter series that I have been ignoring while revisiting with her parents.

Judy wrote: "Just wondering how people use their "want to read" lists on Goodreads? I added quite a lot of books years ago, then found I wasn't reading many of them so mainly stopped using it - I'm now trying t..."

My TBR is longer that I can ever read in my lifetime. As well as books I actually intend to read, I add books that take my fancy and I want to remember to consider. I also add all the kindle books I buy for cheap or nothing. Regular cleanup is necessary but seldom accomplished much.

My favorite aspect of this book may be Miss Marple's protective attitude towards the young people: forever warning them to not investigate, to not believe everything they are told, to have less faith in other's innate goodness.

That sounds absolutely dreadful, and unnecessary!

I have one more new book, The House at Devil's Neck and my library requests, including Sleeping Murder and our mid-month reads, are 'in transit'.

Finished Death at the Playhouses: Lowe and Le Breton Mysteries - three stars, good main characters, convoluted plot but all tied together. And The Frozen People - four stars, Elly Griffiths writes a good story with interesting characters, lots of suspense. Ignore the impossibility of time travel and enjoy.

I enjoyed this with special recognition to some of the very minor characters: the actress that does mimicry, the math professor that can't get Littlejohn's name correct, the deaf sister's joy upon hearing, and the cockney having trouble adjusting to country life. I was disappointed that on Littlejohn's time off, at the very end, he took his wife to the movies not to one of the actress' performances.

Susan wrote: "Hmmm, although you think they would make more effort to be unseen."

And be more careful about footprints.

Finished now and off to spoiler thread. Very amusing read with some great short characterizations.

Definitely and amusing opening with ghosts the prime suspects!

Judy wrote: "I think I've read that it was a sort of insurance policy for her family - she wrote a Poirot and a Marple book during WW2 and kept them unpublished so her husband and daughter could publish them if..."

I think she wrote the last Poirot (and Marple?) during WW2 so it would be her ending and not another writer's.

Judy wrote: "Good news that you're joining in, Frances, and no worries, Sandy - the reading order is a bit confusing because of this book being stored in a vault for 30 years..."

I wonder why? Did Christie not like it? Or her publisher?

I have a couple of new books from the library that I need to read soon. I have started Death at the Playhouses: Lowe and Le Breton Mysteries, second in a new series set in the 1970's. And then Elly Griffith's latest The Frozen People. I confused our August and October Chrisitie reads but have our other August read and may squeeze that in between the two library books.

I confused August and October's reads so have requested this book and will be returning A Murder Is Announced. I'll be late!

I was depressed by the fortune teller's advice at the end: that Emma should get on with her life. I had hopes that Ruby and Edgar would break up.

Pretty good entry in the series but Ruth Galloway and Griffith's other current day series (I can never remember the name) remain favorites. I have The Frozen People from the library so will be reporting on that series soon.

I am halfway through and not finding it as interesting as the other Griffith's I have read. Like Judy I find Max more interesting than Edgar.

In US: , #3 in Shetland series, is $3.

Glad to hear that the series get better Carolien. I was not looking forward to Madden without his police buddies.

The queens are well worth discovering and rereading and Sayers might be my favorite.

In US: is $2. A new series that I like. This may be #2.

Wow does Bernie go through a lot! I agree with Judy's comments. I was very glad when Bernie took time to explain what was going on because I got confused. The setting of the book is a major draw.

Also agree the ending with Inge's disappearance is true to the time. I would have liked Bernie to be happy but suppose that does not fit with the hard-boiled PI persona,