Michaela’s Comments (group member since Aug 16, 2019)

Michaela’s comments from the Reading the Detectives group.

Thanks Judy!

In spite of the negative thoughts of many readers here and on GR on the whole I liked this. Guy, Rodie and other characters are funny, and the complicated historical details are well explained. Nearly every character is suspicious.
I also found it good that it was mentioned that Nazis didn´t only exist in Germany or Austria but even the UK. In the US you can still find enough of them. I had a shock when I first saw photos or videos of marches there that reminded of the 1930s and 40s in the "Reich".

Judy wrote: "I've started this and am enjoying it so far - not very far in as yet. I think Guy is an interesting character, and I'm quite intrigued to know how much of the royal background etc is true, such as ..."

I also only just started, and agree with your thoughts so far.

Happy New Year everyone, and thanks Susan for the reminder!

Thanks to all mods for the list and all the work you´re doing the year over! To you and all members who celebrate Christmas or spend the holidays in another way, have a good time! Looking ahead to reading and discussing books with you all. Happy New Year!

Sandy wrote: "Another suggestion for a Cadfael replacement: . I haven't read it, nor Jill's suggestion, but it is on my TBR."

I´m in for this one! :)

Another series I´d like to read is the Royal Spyness series by Rhys Bowen.

Probably the weakest Lorac I have read so far. The solution seemed far-fetched and the whole setting depressing.

Ellen wrote: "I think my local library must be falling down on the job. They did not have a single title in this challenge."

I´m used to not getting the books read here in my library, but the positive side of the 2024 challenge is that they are all very cheaply available on Kindle or for free on Kindle Unlimited.

Same here.

I finished this today, as it took me a while, but I enjoyed my first Ellery Queen very much. Liked the characters, especially the Queens, and though it was sometimes longish I liked the more realistic and detailed investigation.

I´m in Austria´s capital Vienna, born and bred so to say. :)

Thanks everyone! I like the series too, so am glad to continue. Sadly my libraries don´t have books of this kind, but I´m okay with buying them.

Not sure if it´s the right place to ask, but will the Ellis Peters buddy read continue after this month´s read of The Heretic's Apprentice? I have to get the book soon, so would perhaps buy the omnibus of the next three books in case we continue to read them. A pity the single books get more expensive and harder available during the series...

Susan wrote: "Lots of books from our period have a tendency to let the murderer take the option of suicide, don't they? Perhaps because the death penalty was still in place then?"

I didn´t think of that, but it may easily be because of the death penalty.

This was really well written, though I personally found the setting during the blitz and in the hospital rather depressing. The red herrings were all over the place, esp. in the doubly astonishing end. And yes, Esther was rather unlikely and developed a different character in the end. I didn´t like that she "got away" with suicide, as the others with helping her "escape". And I pitied Woody when she could see that Gervase didn´t love her too.

One question I asked myself towards the end was if Cockrill´s method of getting a confession out of the suspects by mental pressure was legal then? It certainly wouldn´t be these days.

Yes, IMDb says he plays Cockrill: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0038577/...

I loved the first book in the Freddy series, but they got worse, and this one was - except for the funny parts - perhaps a low. Hope the last one in the series will be better.

There is a comment in the beginning of my kindle edition that says that the books are all stand-alones but you understand more if you read both the series. I found this a bit unfair, and will definitely not read the Marchmont series, but except for one spoiler in Angela´s life I didn´t find anything in this direction.

I like new GA authors too, and will definitely try the "firsts" and then decide which I want to continue. And I agree that it´s easier to have a list of already chosen series, so thanks again for this! Looking ahead to joining in! :)

This wasn´t to my taste at all.