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

Tara ’s comments from the Reading the Detectives group.

My library has the Baghdad Chest and The Second Gong available on Overdrive as ebooks.

Perhaps the line "the lady doth protest too much" should have been a clue here. He got himself quite hysterical about being "persecuted" with routine questions, that really should have been more of a giveaway.

Susan wrote: "Well, some people really do like Harriet, and I do too, but the playing hard to get scenario lasted way too long! Although the final yes was very sweet in the end..."

Luckily it only took about 2 books for Troy to come around, so that wasn't too long :)

Susan wrote: "I am pleased, to be honest, that Troy doesn't infiltrate every novel, as Harriet seems too. Not that I dislike either, but a straight mystery, without love interest, is preferable, in my humble opi..."

I think since most of the detective fiction I have read previously has main characters who are habitually single (Holmes, Poirot, Miss Marple, Brother Cadfael), a bit of normalcy and affection is something that is enjoyable (especially as a counterpoint to darkness and death). I haven't read the Wimsey books, but I would agree with you Susan that if it interferes with the storyline, it detracts rather than adds at that point.

This was a good mystery, and although I was stumped on the culprit, all of the clues were there for the reader to puzzle out. Personally I wanted more Troy (I know some in this group would disagree). I think the relationship between Alleyn and Fox has really grown into a wonderful thing (and I like Alleyn best in his "mother hen" moments). Really looking forward to the next book.

I also suspected Violet Darragh, and I had totally written off Legge as he was the "obvious" suspect, and therefore, not the real killer. (I believe Marsh did something similar in an earlier book, but I am vague on who and in what book...) I was very anxious for Fox when he feel ill (although I wasn't sure at first if this wasn't another ploy to fool the suspects), and I was much relieved when he recovered. For all of his teasing, you can definitely tell that Alleyn truly cares for Fox, which is rather nice to see. A great mystery all around, and one of my favorites in the series so far.

I just started the 3rd Lady Hardcastle mystery, Death around the Bend by TE Kinsey. I really didn't care much for the 2nd book in this series as it felt very cobbled together, but so far this one is faring better. We shall see as I progress though.

So excited to hear this! I was planning on finishing the series myself anyway, so this will save me having yet another series in the works as well.

I enjoyed the banter, but I agree its not particularly believable. She's a lady, but she throws all of the conventions of being a lady out the window. I thought of Flo more like a companion than a maid, but even then it was a bit of stretch. Still a fun, breezy read, if not particularly noteworthy.

I agree that this was silly, but I would still want to hang out with Lady Hardcastle and Armstrong. Its a light read that was fun to listen to while I was busy doing other things.

Judy wrote: "Tara wrote: "Trying to make the most of my 3 months of free Kindle Unlimited membership, I just started A Quiet Life In The Country by T E Kinsey. I am not far into..."

Thanks Judy, I will check out the thread. Its early going, but it seems like it will be breezy.

Trying to make the most of my 3 months of free Kindle Unlimited membership, I just started A Quiet Life In The Country by T E Kinsey. I am not far into it, but I am enjoying it, and I plan to read the rest of the series since there are only a handful of books.

I wasn't sure whether to add this to the mystery thread or not, but I just started Poirot and Me by David Suchet, who famously portrayed Poirot for 25 years (and filmed virtually all of Christie's stories including the Belgian detective). I am enjoying it so far, and I suspect it will be a quick read. I was able to get it for only $0.99 on kindle, so its worth grabbing if you are a Poirot fan like me.

Louise wrote: "The Life and Crimes of Agatha Christie by Charles Osborne is excellent. It discusses all her books in chronological order, without giving away the identity of the murderer. there's an index so if y..."

Thanks Louise. The Osborne book looks like a good place to start.

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "I don't see how she escaped justice. Is it better for the taxpayers to fund a big trial and commit murder itself with the death penalty?

I, of course, remembered the TV episode and had vivid pictu..."

It's true she does not escape ultimate justice. But in some cases, the victim's family feels robbed of closure if they do not have a trail and conviction. Poirot seems morally strict in other cases (such as The Affair at the Victory Ball), it is interesting to me when he seems to deviate from that code.

I also vividly called the TV episode, which I thought was well done. Its impossible to unsee it once its in your mind.

Susan wrote: "Tara wrote: "Can anyone recommend a good companion book for Christie? It doesn't matter if it contains spoilers, as I plan to read the relevant books before the companion piece (although if there a..."

Thanks Susan. I was thinking of more of a guide to the books. I have seen The New Bedside, Bathtub and Armchair Companion to Agatha Christie and Agatha Christie: A Reader's Companion and wondered if they were worth picking up.

Can anyone recommend a good companion book for Christie? It doesn't matter if it contains spoilers, as I plan to read the relevant books before the companion piece (although if there are spoilers referenced for other books, that could prove to be very annoying).

What did everyone think of the fact that Poirot knowingly let Nick commit suicide? Its definitely a morally grey area, as in one sense it is escaping justice, but in another, it is a harsher punishment than she otherwise might have gotten. And is it within Poirot's power to make that decision?

Susan wrote: "While the Light Lasts apparently includes the first short story that Christie ever wrote. I think I might give the collection a go, as I have never read it and we don't have a novel for next month."

The collection is only $0.99 in the US, so I am going for it!

Oedipuss wrote: "Tara wrote: "Oedipuss wrote: "Hello. I'm new here. Thanks for having me. I've got a lit degree so I've read much of "the canon" (at least American and British Lit) and I grew up loving science fict..."

Sounds like a project Oedipuss! My general experience is that the books are almost always better that the TV/film version (with some minor exceptions), so I would be interested in reading a book or two in the series to test that theory.