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

Sandy’s comments from the Reading the Detectives group.

Susan in NC wrote: "Judy wrote: "I'd like to nominate Murder Included by Joanna Cannan, the first in her Detective Price mystery series.


In the UK..."

Me too (downloaded Death at the Dog at never read). Maybe a future nomination?

Judy wrote: "I'd like to nominate Murder Included by Joanna Cannan, the first in her Detective Price mystery series.


In the UK this is avai..."

In the US:
Murder Included is $3 on kindle and available on Kindle Unlimited, as are the others in the series.

The five book set is $18

Welcome Arbab. Hope you find some good suggestions in the group and enjoy an introduction to Christie.

P,S, Skip The Big Four until you have read a lot of Christie. It is not representative, in my opinion.

I'm in one of those 'embarrassment of riches' situation when a number of library requests have arrived. Right now I am reading Knave of Diamonds, the latest in the Russell and Holmes series and a favorite.

Next up, A Case of Mice and Murder, A Shipwreck in Fiji and Death at the Sanatorium.

I also have our buddy reads and a couple of other series I am trying to continue.

Happy 4th to our US members.

Shaina wrote: "I have a question. Have we dropped the Maigret series? Just asking as I don't see them listed after May/June."

Yes, we did drop Maigret as few people commented. I intend / hope to continue on my own and have requested Maigret and the Toy Village from the library for this month. I really enjoy the atmosphere and the concise plots but there isn't a lot to say about them. Expect I will be including them in the 'what mysteries are you reading' thread.

Jackie wrote: "Judy wrote: "Thanks everyone! Susan in N.C., I was thinking we would carry on with the Lord Peter series as buddy reads, so we could schedule The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club fo..."

Yep, short stories

In US a theme:

$2

$2

Susan in NC wrote: "I’m not sure if we’re still rereading the Lord Peter mysteries as a group, but if it’s okay I’ll nominate #5, which was last read in 2016 I think: [book:The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club|44494..."

In US: $.49 (great price) and readily available in libraries.

Susan wrote: "I will nominate Sergeant Cluff Stands Firm

'He could feel it in the blackness, a difference in atmosphere, a sense of evil, of thing..."

The BLCC kindle is $13.50 in the US, but many libraries, mine included, carry the series.

I second everything Judy said: gripping read (I completed it in one sitting) but it lost a star with the ending.

This was a reread of a book I didn't like the first (or second?) time.

I'm not even sure this works as a series of short stories, though I suppose each fantastical adventure could stand alone. My negativity is showing. I thought Poirot was really mean to Hasting, but if I look at each adventure as a stand-alone piece then he is only disparaging to Hastings once per episode; it is the endless repeating of how Hastings' intellect is not up to Poirot's that is annoys me. The affection between the two is obvious and a saving point of the book. The plot, such as it is, I find ridiculous.

I'm rather surprised that Christie' reputation survived this book. If a publisher did hound her for a book I hope he learned a lesson.

Louise wrote: "Judy wrote: "Susan, I believe there are more than 40 books which were published over a very long period, so the production team would have had to decide which era to choose, and the 60s have a lot ..."

Peppermint creams seem to be getting hard to find.

Finished except for the short story included at the end. I expect it to be another from Bobby's early life on the force.

Brits in the 50's had not discovered garlic! The Americans may not have either; pizza was new and not a family standard.

There were several points that confused me but I'm not sure if I will try to resolve them. The woman who tricked Bobby originally said she was hoping / planning to marry the dead man, then she is involved with one of the suspects, Banner, that has been in hiding since the murder. Was Jordan involved in the smuggling or merely an innocent receiver of stolen goods? I assume Pyne wasn't involved but got caught up in the excitement. Why were all these people gathered together at the end? Why would Banner know Jordan if he, Banner, knew nothing about the smuggling? I realize smuggling was not Bobby's case and I think it got short shrift.

I assumed Irma was planning suicide but not 'suicide by abortion'.

Vanessa, I agree only Jordan and Pyne were interesting suspects.

I hope the Brits have come to terms with garlic!

I did like the book though my comments probably indicate otherwise. Good sidekick and lots of Olive.

Sandy wrote: "Susan wrote: "We have Gordon Griffin as narrator. He doesn't work for me - sounds too elderly, so I prefer to read them."

Not our second narrator - luckily."

Regarding the elderly bit, at some point Falco mentions he is writing his memoirs after the fact (perhaps when referring to Pompeii) so maybe you could picture an elderly Falco?

Susan wrote: "We have Gordon Griffin as narrator. He doesn't work for me - sounds too elderly, so I prefer to read them."

Not our second narrator - luckily.

Love the audio books. A couple have a different narrator but I can hardly tell the difference.

Susan in NC wrote: "Sorry, missed this post - I read and enjoyed this one very much, even though it was yet another road trip! I don’t mind though, makes it more of an adventure travelogue then a mystery. Honestly, by..."

Re your spoiler: very accurate comparison

I have started two mysteries: our latest Bobby Owen and an historical mystery, A Disappearance in Fiji, set in Fiji (obviously) in 1914. Both off to good starts. I'm reading Bobby on my tablet and it is hard to see outside so I wanted a paper book for my back porch.

I have started this and really enjoyed the opening with Olive taking part in Bobby's first interview. An interesting plot so far. I expected a "cold case" to be years old, but this one is only a few months.