Ellen’s Comments (group member since Feb 05, 2016)

Ellen’s comments from the Reading the Detectives group.

I have started. It has been a very long time since a read this book but I do remember who did it.

This was a reread for me and I enjoyed it as much this time as I did the first. Arbican definitely a heartless villain.

Jill wrote: "Just starting The Wolves of Willoughby Chase by Joan Aiken. Looks in the nature of a good old-fashioned children's book."

Judy wrote: "I loved The Wolves of Willoughby Chase as a child. I believe the same author, Joan Aiken, wrote a couple of Jane Austen sequels."
I received Wolves of Willoughby Chase from the Weekly Reader Book Club in the 1960's. I expect I have reread it a dozen times. One of my all time favorites. They must have been well made for though it is very grimy it is still in one piece.

I read this a couple of years ago but plan to reread for the challenge. I really enjoyed learning about the traveling court. I have read all Hare's titles now and wish he had written more. Mallet appears on his own in 3 previous books. Mallet and Pettigrew appear in 3 together and Pettigrew is in 2 by himself.

I plan to start this week.

I enjoyed the book and it kept me involved. On the other hand when I found out who had done the murder I wasn't happy with it.

I started yesterday and I am enjoying it so far. I'm planning on doing 8 out of the 12 in this challenge. Either had to be able to get it a the library or for a very very low price. I already had Tragedy at Law and Whose Body so they will be rereads.

Just finished Those Angry Days: Roosevelt, Lindbergh, and America's Fight Over World War II, 1939-1941 and have started Secondhand: Travels in the New Global Garage Sale.

Susan in NC wrote: "Ellen wrote: "Something in the Water by Charlotte MacLeod. I've been able to get most of this series off of PaperBack Swap."

Good for you! I bought several used paperb..."

I definitely need bright light and strong reading glasses to read the old paperbacks now.

Something in the Water by Charlotte MacLeod. I've been able to get most of this series off of PaperBack Swap.

Judy wrote: "I have actually paid a brief visit to a bookshop today, for the first time since goodness knows when! It was a shop that mainly sells second-hand books, and I picked up a 1960s private eye thriller..."

I stopped by my favorite independent bookstore last week Murder by the Book. I picked up my signed copy of Jacqueline Winspear's latest The Consequences of Fear. I had watched their zoom interview with Will Thomas so purchased his new Barker and Llewelyn Dance with Deathtoo. I do miss in person author visits. I wonder if the authors miss the book tours.

I am reading the first Brother Cadfael A Morbid Taste for Bones. Just picked up The Long Arm of the Law: Classic Police Stories from the library so will be starting it soon.

Reading The Kidnap Years: The Astonishing True History of the Forgotten Kidnapping Epidemic That Shook Depression-Era America. I'm more than half done and it has kept me interested. This book is not flattering to J. Edgar Hoover. It is interesting to note that the non-fiction book I finished last week The Woman Who Smashed Codes: A True Story of Love, Spies, and the Unlikely Heroine who Outwitted America's Enemies was also quite critical of the FBI head. It's amazing how he got away with it.

By coincidence I just started An English Murder by Cyril Hare which was number 2 on her list. I have really enjoyed his series titles so I am looking forward to this one.

Tara wrote: "Ellen wrote: "I just finished Dorothy and Jack: The Transforming Friendship of Dorothy L. Sayers and C. S. Lewis by Gina Dalfonzo. Since I am a big fan of both of t..."

It is not a collection of their letters although she quotes from them extensively. Their friendship began when Sayers wrote him a fan letter.

I just finished Dorothy and Jack: The Transforming Friendship of Dorothy L. Sayers and C. S. Lewis by Gina Dalfonzo. Since I am a big fan of both of these authors it made for a fun read. The book is not long either so it was also a fast read.

Sandy wrote: "The Death of an Old Girl series has been on my TBR for quite awhile, and taking up a spot on my Kindle Unlimited borrows. Has anyone read them?"

Yes I enjoy this series a lot. I finished number 13 Troubled Waters in August and have been thinking about going on to the next one soon. I burn myself out on a series if I read one right after the other. I read the first book in the series Death of an Old Girl in 2016.

Judy wrote: "I've just received an email from the CrimeReads website, which has a link to a blog post by Martin Edwards entitled 10 Golden Age Detective Novelists Who Deserve to Be Better Known -..."

The only author from this list that I have read is Henry Wade. I highly recommend him. Many of his titles are on Kindle for a very reasonable price.

I don't have Under Orders and actually don't remember if I have read it. I do have Come to Grief it is the 3rd Sid Halley. It is not one I have reread recently but I must have liked it or I wouldn't have kept it.

I have The Annotated Sherlock Holmes: The Four Novels and the Fifty-Six Short Stories Complete. It been a long time since I read through this version. The 2 volumes have the 56 short stories and 4 novels arranged chronologically. Full of fascinating info.