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

Sandy’s comments from the Reading the Detectives group.

In the US and for those who want to prepare for our July read, The Sanctuary Sparrow is available at Amazon for $3.

Finished Just What the Doctor Ordered as it is known at my library, aka The Flaxborough Crab to the rest of the world. This is a fun series with a good dose of humor mixed in with the mystery. I've requested the next in the series already as the book are 'originals' and well-loved. I want to read them before they get tossed.

Thanks to the group for introducing them to me.

Judy wrote: "Ruth wrote: "Judy wrote: "Just noticed that Suffolk Libraries are putting on two free (with optional donaton) online author talks this weekend - it's the "Skulduggery in Stowmarket" crime writing f..."

Thank you for the link. I own several of the Feathering series because of a deal on Audible, but not the first. Now I'm eager to get that one and start reading. He is an interesting speaker.

I read The Liar's Dictionary. I haven't decided on my rating yet, either three or four stars. It is a loose intertwining of two stories, a hundred years apart.

Rosina wrote: "Judy wrote: "A period mystery freebie from today's BookBub (UK) - A Thread of Madness by Blythe Baker, first in a series about two sisters who run a dressmaking sh..."

And in the US

I just finished What the Devil Knows, the latest book in that historical series and one of my favorites. Another excellent entry.

I was feeling guilty about how many series I've been ignoring so yesterday I either borrowed or requested several books to get back on track. I will be busy once I finish my two non-mystery books in progress.

I am reading Betty Church and the Suffolk Vampire. It is a long book (500 pages) for this genre, mystery with humor, and it took the first 100 pages before the author's style became engaging rather than annoying. Now I'm down to the last 100 pages and involved in the plot and enjoying the humor.

It is very loosely connected to the author's The Mangle Street Murders Victorian series. I read a few of those. This one is set as WWII starts.

It could be considered a 'cozy' but the murders, several so far, are quite gruesome.

Many in the group have been reading her books, including one later this month. The threads are in the 'buddy reads' section. I stopped after three or four - too many other books to read.

Michaela wrote: "I found this also confusing in the plot and sometimes dragging till the action-packed end. Don´t think I will read another in the series."

I like Bobby but there are so many good series there is no sense in continuing one you don't care for. I dropped one of our buddy reads this month after a couple of books (not Amelia, her I love).

I just read A Bitter Feast, the latest in the Kincaid and James series. Loved it as usual and hoping for a new book soon. Once started I have never been able to put one of these aside so I make sure I have no other plans.

Searching the internet I found someone's idea of an alternate ending that I like. There is no suggestion accuracy; just a guess.

A letter is found in a current archaeological dig in which Hori confesses he drove his friend Kamial (the eldest brother) to do the killings and then shot him and won the girl and the property. They then live happily ever after.

My problem is that I want to like Hori.

I would have preferred the murderer to be someone else and I wonder what Christie's original ending was and how much she had to change.

Oddly, I don't see Thus Was Adonis Murdered available on kindle in the US. My library has print copies.

This is my second read. The first, 4 - 5 years ago, was on audio, I remember little and am enjoying it more this time.

I'm surprised that this was the first historical mystery and would love to know Christie's ending.

I agree with all of the above and it is a very interesting observation about the reviewer's private profiles. I will probably subtract a star from my rating just to bring down the average.

I think the epilogue added the ultimate implausibility: Diane and Lady Felicity (? not sure of her name) setting up a tea shop and living side by side upstairs! Diane must be kept clear of the customers.

This is also in Kindle Unlimited in the US.

I wasn't very impressed with either the writing or the plot. I read the reviews for the third book (set in Egypt) and they are also glowing.

Over to spoilers ...

Abigail wrote: "Finally finished it. I have to admit that I kept feeling reluctant to go back to it. I found the long stretches in Gerry’s company exhausting and kept wishing for more time with the other character..."

I completely agree about the dancing scene. Felliniesque and macabre is an excellent description.

I have started A Swim in a Pond in the Rain: In Which Four Russians Give a Master Class on Writing, Reading, and Life which is an exploration of a few Russian short stories. While geared more towards writing a short story than reading one, I got a lot more meaning out of the first story than I would have on my own.

The only other book by George Saunders I've read is Lincoln in the Bardo which I highly recommend on audio.

Tara wrote: "Started my next read from the American Mystery Classic series, The Case of the Baker Street Irregulars by Anthony Boucher. Perhaps ironically, Sherlock does not featur..."

I just read The Case of the Crumpled Knave, liked the young detective, and Baker Street Irregulars is second in the series. However, according to GR only his sister is in Baker Street. How does she work as a character? She is mentioned several times in the first book and sounds different from her brother.

Alwynne wrote: "Not sure where to post this. There's a new - new to me anyway - spam scam going around on GR. Accounts set up with no friends, reviews, books leaving comments on reviews - mainly on the ones showin..."

Thank you!