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

Sandy’s comments from the Reading the Detectives group.

Jody wrote: "London Bridge Is Falling Down by Christopher Fowler

Last book in the series, sad to see it end"

Oh no! I've only read the first, loved it and mean to continue.

Susan in NC wrote: "I’m reading The Shadows of Men by Abir Mukherjee from my library. One of my favorite historical mystery series."

I have been on my library's wait list "forever"!

But shouldn't complain: I have three new books, one waiting for pick up and another in transit. I have just read a non-mystery, A Pocket Guide to Pigeon Watching: Getting to Know the World's Most Misunderstood Bird, will be starting Death at the Fair to complete a 2021 challenge, then have Your Guide to Not Getting Murdered in a Quaint English Village, and two new next-in-series.

Cadfael may have gone along with his escape because he had seen death during his war years and sided with youth and love. As Susan in NC says, his conscience could be punishment enough, and he wasn't likely to be a repeat offender.

Judy wrote: "I've just found an article about Maud/Matilda - which is an interesting short biography, but calls her "Empress Maud" in the headline and then refers to her as Matilda throughout with no explanatio..."

Thank you! So, with the battle of Lincoln having just occurred we still have over 10 years to go.

Finished now. While these books are very similar, I always enjoy visiting with Cadfael.

In the US there is a kindle version available on Amazon for $2 (most are $3). Go to the author's page and sort by price, low to high.

Frances wrote: "I remember being annoyed that they interrupted the Christmas concert (although they did at least wait until the police officer had finished his solos) to report the find. If the body had lain for 2..."

Very true and I think they delayed calling in someone else (I forgot who) for just that reason.

Frances wrote: "I read this a month or so ago when I got both books in one edition from our library. I hope I remember enough to discuss! I do remember enjoying this one as well."

I sympathize; I was on my third renewal always dreading someone else would want the book and feeling a bit guilty at tying it up.

I liked both books and Littlejohn just might be my ideal detective.

I'll be starting this tonight. I just bought When Christ and His Saints Slept ($2 today in the US) which will supply some historical background I sorely need. However, we may be done the series before I get to it. There is also a new book out by about the tragedy of the white ship that started the Stephen / Matilde conflict, The White Ship: Conquest, Anarchy and the Wrecking of Henry I’s Dream. I suppose the Brits in the group know all about this already!

Both of these are on my TBR, with Piranesi first so if I don't like it, I can skip the thousand-page book.

It's amusing that you can track the prior reader's progress and that they gave up so early when it is such a long book. Not sure how I feel about that: admiration that they knew their mind so early? or disappointment they didn't give it a fair chance?

Exciting! All that action and the prospect of Bobby finding love.

I own this, definitely intend to read it, but it is a bit back in the queue. This often happens with books I own as those with library deadlines push to the front of the line.

I read this five years ago so don't remember many details. I hope to refresh my memory this month but it may be next year before I get to it. I definitely remember Pamela's confusion with the Freemans.

P.S. Also working my through a collection of Christmas short mysteries, The Usual Santas: A Soho Crime Holiday Anthology. Like any collection, some are better than others but I've liked most.

I finished one of our mid-month reads, The Dead Shall be Raised & Murder of a Quack, have started the latest in a series I follow, God Rest Ye, Royal Gentlemen, and have two other recent releases waiting for pick up at the library.

George Bellairs is wonderful and I am so glad there are a lot of Littlejohn books yet to read.

Marie wrote: "I finally got some time to myself so I was able to read it all in one sitting today.

I do wish that I had read it with the Lock 14 title instead of the Carter of La Providence that my penguin edi..."

Glad you found some time to yourself; it can be a rare commodity. I also quite like Simenon's style; it is very different from my other reads.

Jill wrote: "Finished the December group challenge The Dead Shall be Raised & Murder of a Quack by George Bellairs, and have to say Bellairs is one of the best authors I have dis..."

I like Horowitz's adult books so maybe I'll try that YA series, sometime.

I ditched my reading plans and picked up The Windsor Knot from a library display today. I don't expect it will sidetrack me for too long.

Judy wrote: "What did anyone think of the title? I didn't think there really was a night of fear! I do wonder who gave this author's books their titles - the title of the previous one I read, [book:The Body in ..."

I agree there was no 'night of fear' in the book but it is a better, or at least more general, title than 'body in the road' if there was no body in the road. What a strange title if it doesn't apply to the plot.

I am quite concerned that George Tunbridge (owner of house - I'm bad at names) is off on a two-year world tour with his wife, a murderer. Our detectives only seemed to be worried about Ivan.