Tara ’s Comments (group member since Jul 12, 2017)

Tara ’s comments from the Reading the Detectives group.

I just finished The Boomerang Clue , an early thriller by Agatha Christie, which was as ridiculous as you would expect, but still fun reading.
I will be starting The Chocolate Cobweb by Charlotte Armstrong for my American Mystery Classics bookclub, as well as Fallen Into the Pit by Ellis Peters, her non Brother Cadfael series. Looking forward to both.
And while not exactly a mystery in and of itself, I am also reading as a coffee table book, Agatha Christie, the Art of Her Crimes: The Paintings of Tom Adams by Tom Adams. Tom Adams is perhaps the most well known illustrator of Christie books, and in this work he discusses his thoughts about the work, along with commentary by John Fowles. As a non-creative person, it is interesting to learn about the creative process of people who excel in their craft.

Roman Clodia wrote: "There are examples of spying as an activity far earlier - I'm thinking of Alcibiades, for example, during the wars in 5th century Athens but maybe Walsingham's was the first 'official' spy network?..."

I would assume there has been spying for as long as there has been diplomacy.

Tracey wrote: "Good idea about the long game, that sounds like a very Poirot thing to do. I've never actually watched any of the Suchet series, now we've read them all, maybe I can delve into to this for my Poiro..."

Its actually a fun exercise to watch the adaptations right after finishing the book, just to see the similarities and differences. The early Suchets (which are mostly the short stories), are particularly good.

Susan wrote: "I have always thought the phrase, 'jolly hockey sticks,' related to those sporty girls in Enid Blyton books - the good sports, who were boisterous, hearty and enthusiastic.

I have only just start..."

Sometimes I feel as though the best parts of Christie novels are the bits in between the mystery, where you have a character expound on their loneliness, or their deep feelings of love. She really understood humanity so well.

I would like to nominate Murder in Stained Glass by Margaret Armstrong:

Meet Miss Trumbull, a stout talkative New Yorker with perfect manners and a passion for sleuthing.


When the remains of temperamental artist, Frederick Ullathorne, are found in his own fiery kiln it looks like a ghastly murder has been committed. But with only a few bones as evidence the local police are getting nowhere fast. Can Miss Trumbull pick up the clues that the police are missing? Or will her interfering get her into trouble in more ways that one?



This delightful whodunnit by Margaret Armstrong was first published in 1939. It is the first in the American Queens of Crime series from Lost Crime Classics

Robin wrote: "Judy wrote: "The political content of this book is extremely odd, to say the least, and I suspect not something Christie would have included in a later novel.

I don't really understand what the sh..."

Its really not that hard to see how someone can be both anti-Communist and anti-Fascist once you realize that both movements come from the same side of the political spectrum (they are incorrectly understood as being far left and far right ideologically). Both ideologies call for government control of institutions such as banking and healthcare, but one is based on a class structure, while the other is nationalistic in nature. Remember that Stalin and Hitler were allies until Hitler betrayed Stalin.

Susan in NC wrote: "Tara wrote: "I mainly use the audiobooks from my library, but they have quite the extensive collection, and as others have mentioned, it saves me a small fortune, particularly given how expensive a..."

It is certainly one of the benefits of living in a large city. I have been particularly grateful for the large ebook and audiobook collection over the last year, for obvious reasons. I would guess as many as 2/3 of the books I read were from the library.

I mainly use the audiobooks from my library, but they have quite the extensive collection, and as others have mentioned, it saves me a small fortune, particularly given how expensive audiobooks are. I also appreciate that they will bring in books from other branches in the city, so all I need to do is pick it up once its been delivered.

I generally enjoy Christie's characterizations, but her American portrayals so often feel plodding and obvious. Being half-American herself, one would have thought she would have understood the culture better.

Tracey wrote: "What an ending to a great journey through the Poirot books! I was suspicious of Poirot, but didn't suspect Norton. I agree with the comments about Judith, she was horrible and very much unlike Hast..."

I got the impression it was a fake in more recent times, although I'm not clear whether that was due to health issues, or a very long game on his part to allow him to impersonate X. It was definitely a fake in the Suchet series though, and looked it, IMO, in the later seasons when they changed its look.

Trying to get back into non-fiction, I'm listening to Labyrinth of Ice: The Triumphant and Tragic Greely Polar Expedition by Buddy Levy on audiobook. I rather enjoyed his book on the Amazon, so hoping this one is just as engaging.

There are so many good themes that Christie threads through this book--aging and decline, processing loss and grief, the seductive quality of evil. A really solid book, and a much sharper ending than we would have had if she had waited to write this book last (if Elephants is anything to go by.) It sounds silly, but I feel like I have lost an actual friend, but I am consoled by the fact that I can find him again any time I want.

I dislike Judith altogether. She was rude, snobbish, opinionated (in the worst sort of way), and treated her dear father horribly. I could understand her rebellious attitude in a teenager, but coming from a young woman of 21 who is supposed to be a budding scientist, it was rather off-putting.
One does wonder in terms of her attitudes towards euthanasia, how much of that was her own beliefs, and how much was it parroting Dr. Franklin, who she was both in love with and also admired and respected professionally? If she was suspectible to Norton's manipulations, she might also be open to suggestions from other quarters as well. And unfortunately, the idea of population control is still being propounded today from some in the scientific community, all in the name of environmental concerns. Sadly those types of ideas never seem to die.

I just finished The Dutch Shoe Mystery: An Ellery Queen Mystery which is my second EQ mystery. I quite enjoyed it, more so than I thought I would, despite feeling slightly cheated in the clues given.
I'm about to start Blood on the Tracks: Railway Mysteries, another lovely compilation series from Martin Edwards. Who doesn't love a good mystery on a train?

I have been devouring this series, as I find it great escapist, comfort reading at the moment. I just finished The Deeds of the Disturber, which I believe does make reference to her diaries being published after her death. The first book in the series is still my favorite, but the humor and innuendos that make this such fun continue in subsequent books.

Simon seemed like the obvious suspect to me, particularly with all of the veiled references to his hands/gloves that was a key clue. I did like the twist with the leper, and the sweet story with Bran. I wonder if he will become a little squire.

There is a bit of sameness across the books, but I still love reading them. Even the hardships of living in such a time is somehow ameliorated by the warm tones.

Have we ever read Hare as a group?

Icewineanne wrote: "Tara, the Ellery Queen & Alfred Hitchcock mystery magazines have been in print for decades. I read them as a teen in the 70s & I still read the stories as a senior ....😂
Really enjoy short mystery ..."

Who you feel wrote the best short stories they featured in the magazines?

So far I've read The Chinese Orange Mystery, and I enjoyed it. I also own The Egyptian Cross Mystery: An Ellery Queen Mystery, which I planned to read for Christmas, but ran out of time, as well as The Dutch Shoe Mystery: An Ellery Queen Mystery, which I will be reading in a month or two for a book club discussion.
My impressions so far is that they are definitely books of their time, but can be enjoyable if you approach them from that angle.
Has anyone read the Ellery Queen Mystery Magazines?I believe they are still publishing, but were probably at their peak in the 40s/50s.