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

Judy’s comments from the Reading the Detectives group.

Has anyone read The Life of Crime: Detecting the History of Mysteries and their Creators by Martin Edwards?

I'm currently reading this and really enjoying it, but it is absolutely massive, and mentions so many different authors and works that I'm reeling!

Haha Jackie, there used to be a lot of warnings about it in the UK, but I don't remember hearing anything about it in recent years!

There's an amazing photo of giant hogweed on this page:
https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/blog...

I've given up on this one now as I'm just not enjoying it - I've read more than 40% and I think that's enough to give it a try! Hoping that Peter is back on campus in the next book.

Frances, I don't think this book has ever been filmed, sadly. Also both the actors who played Wimsey on TV, Ian Carmichael and Edward Petherbridge, were about 50 - I think they were both brilliant but, as you say, it would be good to have a younger actor in adaptations of the earlier books.

Ha, not just me who thought of that, then! I'm carrying on but not enjoying it all that much so far except for a few dry comments...

Susan wrote: "Sloan mentions his roses more than his son! Perhaps things change later in the series."

Yes, I've been surprised by how little we hear about his family, after his wife's pregnancy featured quite strongly in one of the books. Strange that all his spare cash seems to go on roses rather than baby clothes and equipment!

Frances wrote: "I've just finished this one and enjoyed it very much. Is it supposed to be set in the 80's? It feels like the 50s or 60s to me but perhaps the countryside/farm community was still more "old-fashion..."

Great question! I'm not sure if it is ever stated - I think this is one of those series where the author kept writing over a very long time but the characters don't age much (so far anyway), and I'm not sure if dates are often stated. I didn't think it felt like the 80s in this one either. (I just had a look and the first book was published in 1966 and the last one in 2023!)

I really enjoyed this one too. It was interesting to have the question of who the body belongs to going on for such a long time.

Strange that they don't find the head, as you say, Frances - I've just checked back and Sloan says near the end that they will probably never find it.

I've read a few chapters now and am somewhat bewildered - this must be the weirdest book I've read since The Daffodil Affair by Michael Innes!

Good to hear you had a chance to read this one and that you enjoyed it, Abigail! I really like your point about the local police welcoming Macdonald, and will be on the lookout when reading more Loracs in future to see if there are any exceptions to this.

Welcome, Nicole, glad you've joined the group.

Definitely! I'm not sure how old he is supposed to be, but I'm guessing still early 20s?

Great, thanks Susan!

Great, thank you Susan. We could slip it in for May-June, if you like, as we 'only' have 4 buddies then and 2 of those are very short (Maigret and Mrs Pargeter). Or, if that's too soon, would you prefer June-July or July-August?

I've often felt that Sloan is a bit mean to Crosby, but in this one I feel like being mean to Crosby myself - he comes up with so many inappropriate comments! I find him an amusing character but suspect he would drive me mad in real life ;)

I know the feeling, Frances! Good to hear you are hoping to join in on this one, anyway.

I've started this now - the start seemed fine but now things are starting to get weird. I'm slightly wondering if any other weeds were around anywhere...

And the winner is... To Love and Be Wise by Josephine Tey, which will be our group read in June. Thanks to all who nominated and voted.

Full results:
To Love and Be Wise (Inspector Alan Grant, #4) 6 votes, 40.0%
Murder on Tyneside (Agnes Lockwood Mysteries, Book #1) 5 votes, 33.3%
The Bellamy Trial 3 votes, 20.0%
Juggernaut: A Golden Age Mystery 1 vote, 6.7%

Great comments, Susan. I thought the previous book was also quite political, which I hadn't noticed so much in the earlier books.

As you say, the way the book looks at arming of police is very interesting and thought-provoking. I think the incident where the original gunfight takes place, and the irony of how the cop is actually killed, is brilliantly done. However, the Keystone Kops type stakeout later on is a bit too similar to an incident in the previous book, I thought.

I could also have done without the long resignation letter from Kollberg, which seems too heavy-handed, but I suppose the authors wanted to make sure their readers at the time got the message.

I'd love to buddy read any of these Brand novels, Susan - I'd be especially keen on Death of Jezebel as I don't really remember it at all from my previous read, but would also be happy with any.

Death of Jezebel, Green for Danger and Suddenly at His Residence are all currently on Kindle in the UK, and it looks as if London Particular may be available from June.

On the subject of Christianna Brand, I'm excited to see that British Library is bringing out Cat and Mouse next month, which up to now has been incredibly rare and expensive.