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

Judy’s comments from the Reading the Detectives group.

Sandy, I thought the character of Madden was especially good - I know it's a bit of a cliché to have a detective who has lost a wife and child, and I can immediately think of several other examples. But I think it's very well done in this book, on top of his ongoing troubles resulting from the First World War. I did also have problems with the plot from about halfway, though, which I'll talk about in the spoiler thread

I think a lot of the period detail is convincing - it probably helps that the author was born in 1935, so he would remember the 1940s, although obviously not the 20s. His Wikipedia page also says "Airth found inspiration in a scrapbook about his uncle, a soldier killed in World War I."

Has anyone seen the TV adaptation of this one, from the Marple series starring Geraldine McEwan?

I'm a bit wary of watching it as it has Miss Marple added into the story (I wish they hadn't done that!) and apparently has also given Tuppence a drink problem, which seems rather odd, to say the least. Wondering if it is still worth a look?

Our new buddy reads have all opened up now, if anyone would like to get started on those discussions. I think there will be lots to talk about.

The e-book edition of this that I read automatically started at Chapter 1, so I nearly missed the lovely dedication to all the readers who wrote to Christie asking what had happened to Tommy and Tuppence! Nice to know that she satisfied their curiosity by returning to the characters.

I think it's quite unusual for Christie that she'd made the couple age in real time (well, almost!). But I suppose she had more scope with them than with Poirot or Miss Marple as those characters both started out old, although they do still get a bit older over their series.

Thank you to Susan for opening this up. I've started it but am not very far in as yet - interesting to have it set around the Coronation.

I'm getting the feeling it might be slightly lighter in tone than the previous books, but it's early days as yet...

The spoiler thread is linked below:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Thanks very much to Susan for posting the detailed introduction, explaining how this series evolved - very useful.

Who is reading this book or planning to - or do you remember it from reading it in the past?

The spoiler thread is linked below:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Just opening up our buddy read of the first in this series - who is reading this one?

The spoiler thread is linked below:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/edit/...

Just opening up our latest buddy read discussions, with thanks as ever to Susan for setting up the threads.

Who is reading this one? I finished it yesterday and really enjoyed it - I wasn't sure how good such a late Christie would be, but I think she definitely still had her touch here!

The spoiler thread is linked below:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...--

I'm reading our next Tommy and Tuppence now, By the Pricking of My Thumbs, and enjoying it a lot so far.

I've just finished two of our buddy reads, River of Darkness and March Violets - I also switched between listening and reading for both of them. I found them both interesting but uneven - I think there will be lots to discuss.

On another tack, was anyone else surprised that Diana disappears from the book after being the viewpoint character at the start? I was a bit disappointed as I found her a likeable character, but I soon pretty much forgot about her as the story was so fascinating.

Vanessa and Susan, not just me who did a double-take about the stains, then!

I've just received the second-hand copy I ordered of Heaven Knows Who by Christianna Brand, so will be interested to see if this element is mentioned in the real case. I'll aim to get on to this one asap before I forget all the details of In Muffled Night.

Good to hear you are both enjoying the Poirot/Marple challenge, Susan and Jackie. :)

The vote for our September group read is currently open, so if you haven't voted yet and would like to, please take a look.
https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/3...

The poll is now up - please vote for your preferred choice.

https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/3...

Frances wrote: "Good point Judy about the absent vs non existent wife-did Christie regret marrying Hastings off so early? ..."

I wonder if she did - these stories feel as if we've gone back to the pre-marriage set-up. There is one story where Hastings believes he has to save his wife's life, and we hear about how much he loves her... but, even so, he doesn't rush off to see her at the end. It also sounds from this story as if they can't be writing to each other all that often.

Welcome Arbab, glad you found us and hope you enjoy trying Christie. I must agree with Sandy about The Big Four, not one of her best!

Thank you for checking the availability on Murder Included, Sandy and Susan!

I also have Death at the Dog and have previously read it but haven't tried this one as yet.

I think I did the same, Susan! ;)

I've just read The Second Confession by Rex Stout, a Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin classic that I must have grabbed in a Kindle sale years ago and forgotten I had! Very enjoyable, I'll check my Kindle for any more that I've forgotten about.

I've also started one of our forthcoming buddy reads, River of Darkness by Rennie Airth - I'm listening to this on Audible and finding it gripping so far although dark, as the title suggests. The narrator on the Audible recording, Peter Wickham, is great, but I may get hold of a physical copy too as it is quite long.