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

Judy’s comments from the Reading the Detectives group.

I will be reading it, but need to finish a couple of other books first. Sorry to hear there are more silly nicknames, as those were already getting a bit annoying in the previous book!

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

Who is reading this one? I've borrowed it from the library and am looking forward to it, but need to finish one or two other books before I start!

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

P.S. I think the nicknames for characters might have confused me when I listened to the audiobook a few years ago, but they're fine when reading on Kindle! I find myself imagining George, alias 'Motherdear', as rather like Pike in the TV show Dad's Army, constantly threatening to 'tell Mum'.

The poll has now closed, and it's a tie!

We will therefore read the two winning books as our next two group reads and there won't be a poll next month.

In Muffled Night by D. Erskine Muir will be our group read for July and Calamity at Harwood by George Bellairs will be our group read for August.

Full results:

In Muffled Night 5 votes, 38.5%
Calamity at Harwood (Chief Inspector Littlejohn #7) 5 votes, 38.5%
Midsummer Murder 3 votes, 23.1%

I'm halfway through now and am really enjoying the rivalry between Brand's two series detectives, Inspectors Cockrill and Charlesworth! If memory serves, I think there is at least one more book that they are both in - not sure if there are more!

Unfortunately, I think I remember the solution - I'll see if I'm right when I get to the end.

Yes, Fandorin gets around the world in this series! His new Japanese sidekick is an intriguing character.

I really liked The Enchanted April, Carissa. Hope you enjoy it. I need to read more of Elizabeth von Arnim's books - I've read a few but there are lots more.

Hope you enjoy it, Sandy. I will look to see if I can find a TV adaptation of this one.

Great to hear you enjoyed it so much, Susan. I'm just starting it - I listened to the audiobook 5 years ago, but remember very little about it!

It's now much more easy to get hold of and I'm reading the British Library edition on Kindle Unlimited. I'm excited to do so since, as the introduction above says, it's regarded as a masterpiece.

Who else is reading this? The spoiler thread is linked below:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Who is reading this one? I really enjoyed it - I listened to the Audible version and found myself gripped. One of the best Maigrets so far, I'd say.

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

Thank you for opening up the threads, Susan. Who's reading this one? I've started it and am enjoying it so far although I always find the plots of this series take a bit of following!

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

I'm under way with a couple of our forthcoming buddy reads, Signed, Picpus by Georges Simenon and The Death of Achilles by Boris Akunin. Enjoying both of them so far.

I hadn't heard of Marsali Taylor before, Carolien, thank you for the recommendation. Sounds like another interesting author - I like books with lots of local atmosphere. I'd also like to visit the Shetlands!

The poll for our July group read is currently running but not many people have voted so this is a quick reminder for anyone who would like to take part.

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

Welcome Mya, glad you found us.

Neer wrote: "I am also not convinced about the motives of the murderer... Incidentally, did Margaret suspect her daughter? She seemed to be falling apart towards the end...."

I didn't find the motivation convincing either, as Sally hasn't really seemed to be obsessed with Robert until late in the book, and the film doesn't really seem important enough to kill for.

I'm also not sure what to think about the fact that a lot is narrated from her viewpoint and yet her thoughts about what she has done are left out. In a way this seems like a cheat, although her coldness towards Catherine does become increasingly clear towards the end.

Great question about Margaret - this hadn't struck me at all. I'm not sure - she does seem to be increasingly afraid of telling Sally what to do, but would she let her go and babysit if she feared that she might be a killer? I'm not sure either way.

Sandy wrote: "The resolution of the cold crime was unexpected and believable, hinted at with earlier references to the doll..."

I definitely didn't see this coming - I was very puzzled about whether Magnus had done it. I thought it was brilliantly written but I'm not so sure about it being believable, as I find it hard to believe he could hide the body so well and that police and their dogs would not have found it in all their previous searches.

I do wonder if the police would believe Magnus in real life. He would still be an accessory after the fact, anyway - I've just had a look back and I don't think we learn whether he is still going to be taken to court. I suppose it might depend on whether he is considered fit to stand trial.

Frances wrote: "I also really enjoyed the setting-so much so that I added a trip to Shetland to my last trip to the UK and it was really worth it..."

That sounds like a really interesting trip - I must admit I'd avoided the TV series as I thought it looked too dark for me, although my husband is a fan of it. Great to hear that you enjoyed your visit and saw some of the settings. I've got to ask, did you see any ravens?

The names you are thinking of sound lovely, Jackie

Sorry to hear The Mystery of the Crooked Man wasn't as good as you hoped, Sandy. I hope Murder at Gulls Nest is better!

I do agree that there's no time to waste on books we're not really enjoying, with so many tempting choices available.