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

Sandy’s comments from the Reading the Detectives group.

This a somewhat amusing look at GA manor house mysteries. So many twists at the end! I didn't even try to determine who was where, and at what time, during the storm. An enjoyable enough read but never really engaging. I will probably read the next one as I have the omnibus edition, but maybe not immediately.

Nancy Drew led a lot of us down this path. Welcome to the group.

I didn't like this book much, though I might have liked it better on my first read when I gave it two stars. I found the twists unrealistic and felt Tom was only made a murderer so Christie could explain why Peters (aka Boris) was on the scene. I was amused by Mrs. Baker but she had no background and thus no reason to belong to the organization. I did like Hilary / Olive and thought she was well developed and changed realistically during the story.

I did a very quick re-read last night and it is not amoung my favorite Christies. I found all the characters but the lead quite wooden.

Jan C wrote: "I have 3 of these books so I don't think I'll nominate either."

That makes voting hard!

Lady Clementina wrote: "Just started Murder at the Savoy, a netgalley copy; the second in the series but my first time reading it. Set in 1940s London"

I've requested the first in the series, Murder at the Ritz from my library so will be reading it soon.

Susan in NC wrote: "Sandy wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "Beat me to it, Michaela! Ok, I’ll try again with a Catherine Aird. I’ve read the first two, and am up to The Stately Home Murder. Bu..."

I was surprised when I found out Aird is a more recent author as her books seem very GA to me. According to GR she is in her low nineties and still alive. Here's wishing her well.

Since Eric Ambler came up for discussion in the Detective Club article, I will nominate A Coffin for Dimitrios.

" A chance encounter with a Turkish colonel with a penchant for British crime novels leads mystery writer Charles Latimer into a world of sinister political and criminal maneuvers throughout the Balkans in the years between the world wars. Hoping that the career of the notorious Dimitrios, whose body has been identified in an Istanbul morgue, will inspire a plot for his next novel, Latimer soon finds himself caught up in a shadowy web of assassination, espionage, drugs, and treachery. "

Susan in NC wrote: "Beat me to it, Michaela! Ok, I’ll try again with a Catherine Aird. I’ve read the first two, and am up to The Stately Home Murder. But I think some prefer to start a s..."

I like that series though it is one that I repeated forget to continue. His Burial Too is up next for me.

I will be re-reading this soon but it is at least a book away.

Colin wrote: "I've decided to give this a go. Christie had little aptitude for thrillers and I always sigh a little when I see one of her novels heading down that route. That said, I've had this particular book ..."

I always have a feeling of accomplishment when I read one of those books that have been on the shelf forever. (The Egg Cozy book meets that requirement for me.)

I will be reading it but it is at least two books away.

I will probably try the ocean liner series, but didn't much like the couple of Marsten's I've read. April seems a long way off!

Frances wrote: "I also quite enjoyed this one, and look forward to reading further Crispin mysteries with this group.

Can anyone explain the Gilded Fly reference to me? What did it have to do with the ring?

I s..."

I agree with the fantastical murder method. Shooting thru three open windows and hitting Yseut in the forehead, combined with finding her in the appropriate position at the opportune time stretches my imagination.

Thank you for the list Susan. I am continuing with Bobby Owen and, so far, with Maigret. Will be skipping Freddy P-S however.

After completing, and loving, Lindsey Davis Falco series, I am starting the series starring Falco's now grown and widowed adopted daughter. She has taken up her father's profession and his old decrepit lodgings. So far, so good, and I especially enjoy all the family references. The first book is The Ides of April

Judy wrote: "I'm just reading a John Dickson Carr as well, The Case of the Constant Suicides, which I picked up at the library - I'm nearly halfway through and so far I am really en..."

Sounds great - I like humor with my killings.

I have read two mysteries: Exit and An Elderly Lady Must Not Be Crossed. Having recently read the second Thursday Murder Club, I have been happily spending time with the elderly (where I feel right at home). Both books are fine reads but Thursday Murder Club is my favorite.

P.S. Elderly Lady is not a mystery as she is proudly murderous.

After reading the article I'm rather proud of my self for only adding one book to my TBR, Eric Ambler's A Coffin for Dimitrios

Judy wrote: "I'm getting a bit fed up with Fen constantly telling everyone he knows who did it and that it's obvious. Not to me (even though I've read it before!)

I was vaguely wondering if Crispin possibly ha..."

Sharing your pain Judy. I am also getting tired of being made to feel like an idiot because I have no idea who or why (and it is a re-read).

There is a long article in CrimeReads.com about the Detection Club.

Hopefully the link will work:
https://crimereads.com/the-detection-...