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

Sandy’s comments from the Reading the Detectives group.

Roman Clodia wrote: "Yes, I loved Piranesi - and it's been the top book ever in my real-life book group, according to our scores.

I'm not sure, though, that it has any relationship as to whether or not Clarke's other ..."

Thank you. I'll try to get to Piranesi at least.

Has anyone read Piranesi? It has been on my TBR since it came out and I keep postponing my place in the library wait line. I see it as a test case for Susanna Clarke's much longer book that it also on my TBR.

I'm also going to have to start Capital Crimes earlier than I normally do as I can only read one or two short stories at a time. That also means I will need to take copious notes as the early stories will be forgotten by the time I get to the last one.

Nothing in US yet.

There is an article by Curtis Evans in CrimeReads:

https://crimereads.com/the-charming-m...

about an American author, Edith Howie. She sounds interesting and I may add her to my impossibly long TBR list.

Towards the end of the article, Evans quotes a scathing comment by Edmund Crispen about Ngaio Marsh's Swing, Brother, Swing.

I am reading The Cartographers which may, or may not, be considered a mystery. There is a death, mysterious pasts, an investigation and fantastical elements. Interesting read so far.

Judy wrote: "I'm another one who often can't find books I thought I owned, sometimes because they have got list on my shelves and sometimes because they have been borrowed by family members!

I've just started ..."

That is one I was sure I owned but I can't find it. Requested it from the library.

Wishing you both well - rest and read

Susan in NC wrote: "Reading ebook of The Moving Toyshop, listening to a reread of The Silver Pigs. Great narrator!"

After reading the first few Falco's I discovered the narrators (there are two), loved them and switched to audio with a book by my side.

Kevin was my main suspect and I'm glad they got him on something else, probably even more serious. I hope Flurry got a light-ish sentence for murdering the priest Flurry was an interesting and sympathetic character. I wish Blake had included his fate in the epilogue.

I will use my "reader's rights" and imagine my own ending for Flurry: a few years in prison where he copes with his loss by working for the well-being of other prisoners then a quiet but meaningful life in the country. Sean has kept the property going and Flurry remembers his wife fondly.

Judy wrote: "I'm about halfway through this now and slightly struggling to keep track of all the characters. Sorry that it seems to have moved away from the hat shop after the early pages - I would have liked t..."

Bobby returns to the hat shop repeatedly so don't despair.

Susan wrote: "So glad you liked it, Judy. It really was an unusual read, wasn't it? Like the central character, Day-Lewis was born in Ireland and was brought to England by his father at the age of two after the ..."

I would not have liked being involved with Day-Lewis. He did not seem a pleasant person.

Gary wrote: "Nearly finished reading/listening to Murder by Misrule by Anna Castle, the first in the Francis Bacon series."

One of the books I own but have not yet read. Hope you liked it.

I am about to start either A Sunlit Weapon, the latest Masie Dobbs or a non-mystery, non-series by Alexander Mccall Smith, The Pavilion in the Clouds. Both need to be returned to the library soon. Then I have another new book waiting, The Cartographers. Requests seem to become available all at once.

I certainly did not guess the killer, even on my second read. And, if Bill was involved, that might have been the final blow to Henrietta's sanity. I doubt she / they will get much money as I suspect the lawyer spent it all.

Judy wrote: "Just saw this Goodreads post which has grouped 100 mysteries and thrillers together into different settings - or "wheredunnit" as they call it!
https://www.goodreads.com/blog/show/2319"

A fun list. I was expecting geographical locations.

This is a re-read for me but all I remember is the "why" of the title. I will be starting it tonight and looking forward to spending time with Aird.

Was there any reason for the ransom note to be in German? (Other than both sender and receiver being German.)

I read this when I first read the series and did not find a copy this time. I remember it being short and amusing with Flavia getting to demonstrate her chemical chops.

I missed the title of the series, so was suspicious of Genevieve and not of Ellen. I like to think she would have been at the top of my list otherwise.

This is my third Marston and I have not continued any of the series. I expect the history is always accurate but seems to presented a bit heavy handed. The plots and characters are fine but, for me, there is no sparkle.