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

Sandy’s comments from the Reading the Detectives group.

Colin wrote: "I won't always review what I've read but if I do, it happens as soon as I've finished the book. Anything I write is generally very brief and leans towards impressions so there's no point in my hang..."

My reviews are also very short, intended more as a jog for my memory and for a friend who might actually care about my comment.

In the US for $1, The Greatest Murder Mysteries of Mary Roberts Rinehart - 25 Titles in One Edition: The Circular Staircase, The Bat, Tish Carberry Series, The Breaking ... Amazing Interlude, K, with Autobiography

It sounds as though they are not all mysteries (despite the title) as both the Tish books and memoirs of WW1 are mentioned. She was a war correspondent!

How soon after you finish a book do you rate and review it? If you postpone the review how do you keep track of those waiting review?

I usually finish a book in the evening, mark it completed on GR the next morning and rate and review it then. I doubt I would remember to rate and review once the book is on my large "read" shelf. But my rating of one of our reads might have been different if I had waited. There are exceptions when I know I have mixed feelings and then I keep the book in "currently reading" status.

Susan in NC wrote: "Just started listening to the audiobook of Summer Half by Angela Thirkell, it’s a reread for the Retro Reads group’s July book. Summer weather is just heating up here ..."

I read the first in that series and always meant to continue.

From Wiki:

The plot of this novel is an expansion of a Hercule Poirot short story entitled "Yellow Iris," which had previously been published in issue 559 of the Strand Magazine in July 1937 and in book form in The Regatta Mystery and Other Stories in the US in 1939. It was published in book form in the UK in Problem at Pollensa Bay in 1991.

The full-length novel has Colonel Race as the central investigative character in place of Poirot, who had that role in the short story. The novel uses the basics of the short story, including the method of the poisoning, but changes the identity of the culprit(s) – not for the first time, when Christie rewrote her own work.

Susan in NC wrote: "Jill wrote: "I have now started the next group Sparkling Cyanide which I know I read in my early teens, but although it seems familiar, I can't say I remember much about it"

I really..."

Sparkling Cyanide does come in two versions, short story and novel, with different titles. I think the ending changes. I'll do some googling and report back.

I've started yet another series, The Mamur Zapt and the Return of the Carpet set in Cairo in 1908. I enjoyed the mystery (no murder), the setting and the characters. I tried really hard to understand the political set up in Egypt at the time, nicely explained by the author in the preface. I hope it will become clear to me eventually but my confusion did not detract from the book.

The blurb compares it to the Amelia Peabody series, but the only similarity I see is Egypt.

Looking back, I see I only gave it two stars. Must have been upset with the ending at the time.

Judy wrote: "I started listening to Evanly Bodies, the last in the Constable Evans series by Rhys Bowen, but judging by the start I think it is really going to be a struggle - the ..."

Judy, I sympathize with your print vs audio decision. I found a print version of our next Flavia because I don't have the time right now to listen to the audio even though I've downloaded it and love the narration.

Its one of those times when several library request have come in at once.

Judy wrote: "I started listening to Evanly Bodies, the last in the Constable Evans series by Rhys Bowen, but judging by the start I think it is really going to be a struggle - the ..."

Follow up on Rhys Bowen, author of the Evans series:
I "attended" an interview with her and seven of her fellow writers (they blog as Jungle Red Writers). Rhys mentioned her daughter convinced her to revive the Molly Murphy series to be written in conjunction with the daughter. I haven't read those though I've read a few Evans and am following Royal Spyness. I also recently read her historical stand alone, The Venice Sketchbook which I enjoyed well enough. I stayed up late to finish it - always a good sign.

My divided opinion: I disliked the unlikely ending with the actor and the drug distribution. We never found out the drug kingpin. The 'locked room' aspect was never true, nor did any the investigators care about how the crime was committed. If they had it might have been easily solved. And I disliked the police turning over the case to the journalist.

On the plus side, I liked Jimmy (in spite of his faults), the inspector, the setting, the writing. I enjoyed reading the book.

Judy wrote: "Haha - Sandy, why is your opinion divided, or would that be better for the spoiler thread?"

Over to the spoiler ...

Colin wrote: "Sandy wrote: "My opinion is divided even after reading."

You need to have a talk with yourself. :D"

I try to avoid arguments with the unreasonable and uninformed.

Jessica wrote: "Hm I see there are divided opinions here... well no option but to start it myself and find out!"

My opinion is divided even after reading.

Judy wrote: "Robin wrote: "And the behaviour of the man who changed his affiliation with the murdered king to Anthony Cade. This was also handled well, with the possibility that Cade's worries about this were b..."

I agree that when the affiliation was explained it was a huge head slap for me. Why couldn't I see a clue that big? Quite a tribute to Christie.

Susan in NC wrote: "Jill wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "Just received the next Gaslight series mystery from my library, Murder on Wall Street by [author:Victoria ..."

I loved the early books but lost interest eventually. Not a series I plan to pick up again but I have fond memories of Sarah's midwifery days.

P.S. Only one more book and I will be caught up and there aren't many series that long I can say that about.

Jackie wrote: "I'm reading Blood on the Water in the William and Hester Monk series. It annoys me that the cover says it's the William Monk series, as his wife is equally important in most of the ..."

I agree with all your comments. I suppose Perry couldn't call it the William and Hester Monk series as she did the Pitts, as it took so long for their relationship to develop and it would have been a spoiler (though any one could see the ending to the triangle).

I also love Hester. I space out the novels so the sameness is relaxing and not annoying. Perry's writing style certainly includes a lot of questions!

The Night Hawks hasn't made it to my libraries yet and you get a chance a deal. Envious!

A Swim in a Pond in the Rain: In Which Four Russians Give a Master Class on Writing, Reading, and Life is an interesting way to be introduced to the stories, as well as his lessons on writing.

So does that make you a 'super librarian"? Good work.