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

Sandy’s comments from the Reading the Detectives group.

Tara wrote: "Continuing my monthly reads from the American Mystery Classics series, I've gotten a few chapters into The Eight of Swords: A Dr. Gideon Fell Mystery by [author:John Dickson Carr|56..."

I read that last year and found lots of humor in it. Enjoy.

Judy wrote: "Sandy, I've just done a bit of Googling and it sounds as if the method described is probably possible, as apparently Freeman used to try the forensic science methods in his books out himself.

I fo..."

I'm impressed that Freeman tested all his methods. No wonder he wanted to include all the technical details.

Happy Fourth to our US members. To the Brits, an apology for all the trouble we caused.

I liked this book a lot, even the technical explanations, which surprised me as I didn't like the Thorndyke story in Capital Crimes (notes now lost so no idea why). I think the Sherlock Holmes vibe was so strong that Freeman could have been sued today. Thorndyke is a much more genial version with a sense of humor and human emotions.

I agree the thief was obvious from the start but that really didn't seem to be the point of the story. It was more how could they prove Rueben innocent. Like Judy I wonder if it is actually possible to fake a fingerprint.

I thought the romance was fine and allowed Freeman to show Thorndyke's perceptiveness. The wife was a wonderful character. I liked all her appearances and her time on the witness stand was a treat.

I too need to ponder a bit, but Michael Gilbert has never disappointed. I often think of his book set in a prisoner of war camp.

I will be starting this today. Good to see all the positive comments.

I am reading The Bangalore Detectives Club, one of three new library books due back in a couple of weeks. This is set in Bangalore (obviously) in 1921 and features a new young (19!) wife.

I've just started and have learned the women, who could only swim out of view of men, if at all, swam in saris. The young wife is fascinated to discover swimsuits (form-fitting and exposing the arms) are available in the big city and hopes her mother-in-law will allow her to have one.

Susan wrote: "Ah, OK. Just thought I'd mention it, in case."

Thank you.

Susan wrote: "It isn't the first in the series, though, Sandy, just to let you know. The Windsor Knot is the first."

I have read the first, just didn't remember the name. Three Dog is called something different over here.

My opinion is much the same as Sid's. I loved it at first then thought it dragged on too long. I found the wood lice resolution silly. I googled wood lice to see if they were something entirely different across the pond, like paraffin, but they seem to just be our pill bugs. In addition I dislike those long confessions that go on for pages and pages.

On the plus side, the couple is engaging and the setting excellent. Anyone else picture Myrna Loy and William Powell from the Thin Man movies?

I see both of the last two nominations on kindle in the US, Lorac for $8 and Juggernaut for $3.

Finished To Love and Be Wise and really enjoyed Grant and Tey's other characters though I thought there was a plot hole or two and a bit of improbability in the resolution. I have requested the audio version of The Daughter of Time which was my first Tey years ago. In this book she got to rant how no one ever knew the author of a play and how lucky it was to even get a play into rehearsal.

I was amused by the first in A Three Dog Problem: The Queen Investigates a Murder at Buckingham Palace series and am on the wait list for this book.

Judy wrote: "I think Georges Simenon and E.R. Punshon both wrote more than one book a year early on, but slowed down a bit later."

They must have, or started in infancy.

Susan wrote: "Self published authors seem to produce more than that, though, don't you think?"

I know nothing about self publishing but it sounds easier than dealing with a corporation. And the profits may be lower so more the impetus to write quicker. And no book tours after each publication.

I've thought of a couple of examples of long, quick series but none that I liked.

Though I can't think of any examples now, I remember looking at a few series that are quite young but have many more books than I expected.

Jackie wrote: "Sandy wrote: "Reviewing my 'active' series I noticed there was one of Tey's Alan Grant books I hadn't read so I've started To Love and Be Wise. Then I can mark off that series as 'com..."

Not sure they are very connected, though Grant has met one character from this book in an earlier case (that I don't remember).

Reviewing my 'active' series I noticed there was one of Tey's Alan Grant books I hadn't read so I've started To Love and Be Wise. Then I can mark off that series as 'completed'. Always a feeling of accomplishment.

Louise wrote: "The Maigret novels by George Simenon are excellent. There are over 70 of them so plenty to choose from."

I agree. Some of us are making our way slowly through the series as buddy reads. The Yellow Dog will be discussed mid-month. I like Simenon's style and the books are short while being completely developed stories.

I will be starting The Wintringham Mystery tonight, then I better get moving on our July reads (July? Already?).