Judy’s Comments (group member since Oct 01, 2015)

Judy’s comments from the Reading the Detectives group.

Just noticed the Wade book I've just read, The Duke of York's Steps, is one of the 100 chosen titles in The Story of Classic Crime in 100 Books by Martin Edwards and seems to be regarded as one of Wade's best, so it may be just me who much prefers The Missing Partners! The piece about the book also has some thoughts on Wade in general.

I've finished The Duke of York's Steps now and have to say I was disappointed overall, and didn't like it nearly as much as The Missing Partners.

Inspector Poole is quite an appealing series detective, a bit like Bobby Owen, but I wasn't very impressed with the plot and the other characters.

The Missing Partners and a couple of other titles on the Fantastic Fiction series list are on a list of standalones at the end of this book. Anyway, I'm not feeling quite so enthusiastic about Wade now... although I did really like The Missing Partners.

Susan in NC wrote: "Me, too, withe time table murders - I forget the name of the Peter Wimsey mystery where Sayers set herself the task of writing one of those, ..."

I believe that one was The Five Red Herrings.

I've finished this now - I thought the first half was a bit slow, then it became more entertaining in the second half, but wasn't one of my favourites by Clara Benson overall.

I don't think the story about the unions was always handled all that well, with industrial disputes being mixed up with a fiendish plot to start a revolution. It was quite fun to see Freddy being a man of action though.

Did anyone guess the killer? I didn't, but she wasn't a character who came in very much, and it didn't really seem to be a murder. I was suspicious of Mr Bottle though, especially given his ridiculous name for a character involved with a temperance organisation! ;)

As I really enjoyed this one, I've started The Duke of York's Steps and have now met Inspector Poole, who is nothing like Dodd and more like other GA authors' police heroes - an Oxford-educated, handsome young man who chose to join the police because of his passion for detection.

I'll watch out to see if there is any link with The Missing Partners (unlikely as this one is set in London, not Liverpool) and if not will try to get the series list changed on Goodreads.

Loved this line from Freddy:
"Besides, she looks at me as though I were something the dog chewed up and spat out, then trampled on and buried deep underground for good measure."

Abigail, I really liked The Soul of Kindness - hope you do too.

Sorry, I meant to add, the opening chapter at the Communist meeting reminds me of one of the Wimsey books but I'm not sure which one it was.

For me they were the other way round, Michaela - I preferred the second book! I'm nearly halfway through and so far I'm finding this one not quite as entertaining as book two - I miss the dreadful Corky, who I hoped might become a regular character!

Christine PNW wrote: "Frances wrote: "The first was atrocious from a Poirot perspective (He runs! He fights! He has a romantic past!) but I loved the scenery and the trains. The second they had mostly toned down the not-Poirot issues, and again I loved the scenery."

Agree with both points..."

I agree with you both - I loved the scenery too, although I realise that I've forgotten most of the second film already, probably because I watched that one on streaming and didn't concentrate as much! I wasn't impressed by the adaptations overall, but didn't think they were as awful as some of the recent TV adaptations - I don't even bother to watch those any more.

Just saw that Kenneth Branagh is making another Poirot film - this time he has chosen Hallowe'en Party, but the setting has been moved to Venice and it is being filmed under the title A Haunting in Venice.
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/mov...

Must admit I've been a bit disappointed by the two Branagh Poirot films so far.

I've just started this one. I actually missed Angela in the first couple of books, as I think she and Freddy make a good partnership, but I agree he is a more fun character.

Another thing that puzzles me about the plot - near the start it is mentioned that the lawyer is probably related to the family via an illegitimate relationship and has the blue eyes etc. I suspected him partly because of this, but the relationship is never mentioned again and doesn't feature in the motive, unless I missed something.

Rosina wrote: "I wasn't sure if Olive was the owner and inspiration for the hat-shop, or just an employee...."

I've just checked and she was the owner - this is a quote from near the start of Suspects Nine:
"Olive owned a hat shop which just about paid its way. If she sold it now, most of her small capital she had sunk in its purchase would be lost."

So this suggests that she had possibly reasons to sell the business apart from marrying Bobby - still a shame, though.

I agree it was a shame that Olive has given up her shop, though I don't suppose she could run it remotely! We don't really see much of her in this story, apart from when she is dishing up Bobby's breakfast. Nice to see them married at last though after the long engagement.

This was a very weird plot indeed, perfect for Halloween. I've been trying to find out if there are any introductions or essays about this book, or whether the author himself wrote about it - has anyone found anything like this?

I was also wondering whether Wine's collection of strange phenomena and desire to somehow brainwash people is a sort of oblique commentary on fascism, or am I making that up because this was written in war time?

Rosina wrote: "Didn't Agatha Christie write a book (at least one) where the couple each confessing to the crime to shield their beloved turn out to have been in cahoots, believing that that would put the detectives off the scent?..."

Very probably! Not sure if I've read a book with that twist or not, but must admit I'm terrible at remembering plot twists. If anyone remembers which one it is, please don't post the title (or alternatively you can use spoiler tags).

Thanks Susan

Jackie wrote: "I first read it decades ago and over time and re-reading I've come to believe it's just too long. We really get bogged down somewhere in the middle..."

I think you are right, I definitely got bogged down in the middle after enjoying the start. I think there was just too much of the religious mania and Biblical speech. I enjoyed Neville but that was about it.

Unusually for me, I guessed the killer early on (after thinking he was a comic character for the first few pages). I wondered why this character was involved at all and then realised the probable answer!

I also don't think there were enough other possible suspects, as it seemed obvious that the Norths were just trying to cover up for one another and Neville is a witty Heyer hero, so couldn't have done it!

I've read about two thirds now and have my eye on a certain suspect - looking forward to finding out whether I'm right or not. I'm finding all the discussions about exactly what happened at what time rather boring.