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

Tara ’s comments from the Reading the Detectives group.

Did anyone guess the ending? Its not the usual scenario for an outsider to actually be responsible for the murder, so that was an interesting twist.

One element I did not care for were all of the reveals of people's real identities. I could imagine one person pretending to be someone they were not, but multiple characters in the same household at the same time? It stretches credulity a bit.

Despite Simeon Lee's nasty and sadistic streak, I did not find him as odious as Mrs. Boynton from Appointment with Death. A greedy, selfish old man, but not quite as evil in his intent. I also suspect he had lots of captivating stories to tell.

Despite the title, there was not much of a Christmas feel to the story. I had remembered the Suchet adaptation, so no surprises with the ending, but still some nasty characters to enjoy disliking!

I could definitely recommend the Hugh Fraser reading of this story. His impression of Simeon Lee is devilishly entertaining.

Evil Under The Sun also reminded me of Triangle at Rhodes, although I believe most of the similarities are in the convoluted love triangle aspect.

For a man who does not enjoy nature, I cannot imagine him as a sunbather. Unless the hotel was known for its exquisite cuisine and 5 star accommodations, I don't see what would have attracted him there, especially if Hastings didn't drag him along.

Susan in NC wrote: "Tara wrote: "Just finished Towards Zero, and starting Ordeal by Innocence in a joint Agatha Christie audiobook read by Hugh Fraser. These are non-Poirot/Miss Marple myste..."

Hugh is one of my favorite narrators! His old lady impressions are particularly amusing.

Towards Zero has some Christie reoccurring themes about suicide, betrayal, and men "madly" falling in love with women who are not their wives. Apparently men can be bewitched by women, and aren't responsible for what happens!

Ordeal by Innocence involves a murder that has already occurred before the book begins, and it ostensibly solved. I think this would have made a good Poirot, although some of Christie's most unique constructions involve random first person narrators.

Just finished Towards Zero, and starting Ordeal by Innocence in a joint Agatha Christie audiobook read by Hugh Fraser. These are non-Poirot/Miss Marple mysteries, but very good stories. Ordeal by Innocence was one of Agatha's personal favorites, so I'm looking forward to seeing if I agree.

I also have P.D. James' The Mistletoe Murder And Other Stories in my queue. Gotta love a Christmas-themed mystery!!

Bruce wrote: "I agree. I think it was also one of Christie’s most successful attempts at a (for then) modern novel. She was definitely stuck in a much older era, and it showed in some of her later books, althoug..."

I didn't really get a modern feel when I read it. It reminded me of Heathcliff on the moors in Wuthering Heights. Dark, brooding, tragic all the way through. Perhaps also because you have a heroine trapped by her circumstances, that seems more Victorian than mod. But every atmospheric nonetheless.

Tracey wrote: "Tara wrote: "Loving my audiobook "read" of The Diary of a Bookseller by Shaun Bythell. As a bookworm who loves reading books about books, as well as books about ot..."

Sadly Confessions is not available at my library yet, but I will definitely read once it is!

Loving my audiobook "read" of The Diary of a Bookseller by Shaun Bythell. As a bookworm who loves reading books about books, as well as books about other people who love books, this is right up my alley.
Shaun Bythell owns the largest second-hand bookshop in Scotland, and decided to keep a diary of the goings-on in the shop as they occurred. Lively characters abound, whether they be employees or customers, and I have laughed out loud on numerous occasions. If anyone enjoys this type of book, I would definitely recommend.

Nick wrote: "Bicky - I may be wrong but I don’t think the answer to your question is ever spelt out. However, one can speculate in line with what we have been told: We know that Alistair Blunt had had an appoin..."

Was it the real or fake MSS who recommended the dentist to Amberiotis? I know it was the real one who originally gave the tip-off to him that led to the blackmail scheme, but I am blanking on how long the fake was parading around as her. Either way, it makes much more sense if it was the fake MSS, as that would allow for the set-up more easily than a coincidence does, and I would think the appointment was made within a short period of time as the pain was acute.

For great pieces of art, whether it be film, music, or books, the journey is just as, if not more important than the destination. Even if I know the outcome of a story, somehow I still hold my breath hoping this time it will end the way I want. I think what makes Christie so special is that while the solving of the puzzle mystery is at the core of her stories, it isn't the only element. If she lacked the ability to tell a good story in general, she wouldn't be the most widely read author in the planet.
There is also something to be said about the joys of a second, third or hundredth re-read of a great book. The Lord of the Rings is one of those books you could probably read a thousand times, and get something new out it every time. In terms of mysteries, I enjoy the experience of the re-read once I know the outcome so that I can re-discover the clues that were laid out. In some ways you appreciate the art of how the puzzle was crafted even more so in this context than when it is all fresh and unknown.

I could recommend either Hand in Glove or Dead Water, 2 recent buddy reads that were quite good.

Wsm wrote: "Read the following, in the last few days :
The Body in the Library
A Miss Marple mystery,very entertaining.
Peril at End House,pretty good,but the ending didn't surprise me.
Endless Night,a bit dif..."
That's quite a lot to read over just a few days!

I read Endless Night (or rather listened to the audiobook) for the first time recently, and I was struck by how dark it was. Somehow I was also surprised by the ending, even though Christie quite often throws that left hook out of nowhere. Overall, for a non-Poirot/Miss Marple book, it was quite enjoyable.

Nick wrote: "This is the first “Reading the Detectives” book I’ve read that I had previously read, and it prompted me to ask what people think of re-reading detective novels? It is said that one can enjoy readi..."

I think if a mystery has a good enough plot and character development, it can be enjoyed over multiple readings. But that may depend on whether or not you are a passive reader, just going along for the ride, or a more active one who is intent on solving the crime. If you are the latter, I could see how a re-read wouldn't hold the same enjoyment as that first discovery. And Then There Were None is another title that has a memorable, unusual ending, but it so taut and suspenseful, that it can hold your attention again and again.

Judy wrote: "I have just checked back and the mud spa one was Colour Scheme, which wasn't a favourite of mine either, Tara."

Thanks Judy. The title certainly does not inspire the reader to visualize a spa--it sounds more like one with Troy's paintings.

Its nice to see that Marsh can flourish in a book that is not set in a theater (or with actors). I quite liked the characters of Miss Emily and Jenny Williams. I think they will get on smashingly! Miss Emily's personality was a bit harsh and intransigent at first, but she seemed to soften as the novel progressed.
This book was much better rendered than Marsh's previous attempt at a homeopathic cure retreat (I am blanking on the title, but it was set in a mud spa). I wonder if this was something that she was personally interested in?

One of my favorite Marshes so far. I think her skill at dialogue is definitely growing (although there are still some obnoxious tendencies towards accented dialogue from "country folk"). I also appreciated that we weren't bogged down with the endless interview of suspects that sometimes comprise the latter third of the book. Even though there were still interviews, and Curtis, Thompson, Fox &c. working their magic, it felt more dynamic that usual (perhaps due to the urgency created by the storm).
I thought it was rather clever that the murder was not at all motivated by the issues involving the spring, and had nothing to do with Miss Pride (in a direct fashion). More so than in previous novels, the solution was arrived at by the physical evidence (photos, diaries), which are totally relatable in a real-world comparison.
Personally I don't agree with Miss Emily's plan to close the spring. It would have been more fair to provide disclaimers that cures are not guaranteed (I could see people in today's world suing). Perhaps some people do have psychosomatic ailments, but if the spring served as a source of relief and comfort, what is the harm? There is no procedure or medicine that is 100% guaranteed--you can only hope.
The issue with the exploitation of Wally has more to do with his own mental issues, and his terrible parents. That could have been dealt with in a different way as well.

Jill wrote: "Diane wrote: "I have read this book several times before and I've always thought it was a good Poirot. However, this time I was struck by Aunt Laura's treatment of Mary Gerrard. I know it was a dif..."

I believe that not only did she not make up a will, she specifically didn't want Mary to get her money, as she felt that it wouldn't suit her station in life (which she obviously helped to manufacture). Talk about classism! It would have been a small step in making amends for the betrayal of her childhood.

Overall I liked this book (its a pretty high bar for a Poirot to really disappoint me as he is my first love when it comes to fictional detectives). Good characters, the loveable Japp, and lots of twists. Christie seems fond of the "Poirot is the only one who believes there has been a murder" storyline, when many others assume suicide, accident, or natural causes. Readers should all know by now that Poirot is always right!

The low point for me was the ending. Having watched the TV version a few times prior to reading the book, its tough to say whether or not I would have been able to solve the crime on my own (although my generally passive reading style often means I don't figure out the killer unless its very obvious). But putting all that aside, when the detective has to spend 20 minutes explaining when and how things were done, it really makes you believe only Poirot could figure it out. I do admire Christie for often choosing the least obvious/suspected person to be the guilty party though.

I've seen the Suchet dramatization a few times, but never read the book before. Its one of the earlier adaptations, so it sticks pretty close to the source novel. The American cousins were my least favorite characters, although there were plenty to dislike all around.

I did wonder how quickly the dentists turned their patients around. Leaving an extra 15 minutes for another patient doesn't seem like nearly enough time--it always feels like I'm there for hours. Perhaps its because there was virtually no paperwork compared to today's standards.

Sandy wrote: "I didn't think that Leonard and Moppet were planning to just drive away with the car. After all they showed up at the party house, with the car, hoping for an invitation. I thought they would buy t..."

Isn't it all the more tragic that the murder (and attempted one) were committed on her behalf? Not that even righteous people would be said to "deserve" that honor, but its even more pointless for someone that can't be saved anyway.