Jessica-sim’s Comments (group member since Jan 01, 2016)

Jessica-sim’s comments from the Reading the Detectives group.

The preface and first chapters are very enjoyable! So far so good 😂

Me too! That’s why I just rushed myself through the book, didn’t want to have to entertain the scary options for too long!

It’s quite a challenge for me to get my hands on the book (without paying full price which is against my budget’s wishes). The offer of the digital library in the Netherlands often frustrates me! And if I were to brave the covid rules and go to the library they only have one Dickson Carr book in the whole province! It walks by night is the book of choice. I’m guessing he’s not very popular here.

Yes! I also could be entirely wrong in my suspicions… even more fun! 😂

At about 60% in I feel things could be a lot more clearer already, there are some vital questions that are not getting asked!

I’ll still be reading the chosen book. I’m optimistic!

But why would you want to bogus vote?

Unless…. What if I were to change my vote back to Agatha Christie and create a three way tie ;-)

Yay for the buddy read! I’m at 50% now, definitely have some theories…

As I just finished The Handmaid’s Tale by Atwood I’m looking at these nuns just a little bit differently. I’m still only in chapter 2 but these 50 “witnesses”? Already all are highly suspicious to me. They are carefully trained to avoid observing the behavior and even the faces of the others around them just like the poor handmaidens in the scary distopia I just read!

I wonder how long it’ll take me to get sucked into this mystery! That Crosby though! How did he ever make it on the team? I hope he’s brighter than he’s being presented to us.

I liked this book and I applaud your timing for next years challenge. Just one complaint: wasn’t my TBR large enough already??

I think it’d be very nice to revisit this book in december next year. I am really enjoying reconnecting with the golden age writers, when he wrote in chapter one that even “my” Agatha Christie went to the grave with secrets I thought “hmmmm reallyyy???” It took way too long to remember the strange disappearance 😂. It’s also very fun to realise that the big names were youngsters, rebellious and energetic, when they wrote their earlier books not the distinguished older ladies and gentlemen in tweed suits that live in my head .

I've not been structured in my reading this year but for next year I'm coming back! The challenge books have been added to my agenda (chaos control for 2022 haha) and I am looking forward to diving in to Edwards book today!

This is one of the first Christie books I ever read, I started with omnibus of her earlier works. I wonder how I like it now that I have read so many of her books. Off I go…

Yes of course you may post!! And welcome 👋.

Having read it I can completely understand the divided opinions in the non-spoiler thread. I was absolutely enjoying myself in Kent and London and liked Jimmy’s research. Especially when he decoded the secret notebooks.

But then…. 3 chapters of observing a door and sneaking through a hallway? The story and the dashing reported came to a standstill! I hoped Maya would be the mastermind (why else did we have to get to know her so well?) or indeed Shelley or someone else on the force? Or the hotel employees. Why didn’t she react to her fiancé’s name and pretended to have to check in the register? What did she do there if anything at all.

But nope, a deus ex machine and a very weak and very fast ending. We just spend several chapters skulking about with no results and the rather boring ending is presented in half a chapter.

So… I’m very disappointed but suspect that in a couple of days I will just remember the enjoyable parts.

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

This one didn't really do it for me. Maybe I just wasn't in the mood, but Arthur Calgary and actually many of the characters just kept exasperating me. Just communicate with each other already!

The motive of the murderer did escape me for a very long time but I never really considered anyone else.

I also was exasperated with Calgary in the beginning. I can totally get that your guilty feelings (they don’t have to be valid) can blind you to such an extend that you just have to get it of your chest no matter the costs. But after that it took him a ridiculous long time to realise that there still had to be a killer and that this might be quite upsetting for everyone involved.

update: I discovered the problem. This one is included in the 1950s omnibus 1950s Omnibus and I didn't list the separate books as read. New challenge will be: can I put the book down after finishing Ordeal by Innocence? It is followed by The Pale Horse another favourite of mine!

I cannot believe my eyes! Goodreads says I have never read this one, cannot be possible I thought I read ALL the books by now 🤣. In any case better get cracking to complete my quest of reading all Agatha’s books!