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

Judy’s comments from the Reading the Detectives group.

I just saw that there is going to be an English-language adaptation of the Brunetti books, with scripts by Julian Fellowes, who scripted the Downton Abbey series.
https://www.hellomagazine.com/film/73...

This was actually reported in December, but I didn't spot it. No news of casting yet. I think it's quite exciting news - there was a German series previously but it doesn't seem to be available with subtitles.

I've just listened to an episode about Kett's rebellion from the Not Just the Tudors podcast presented by Suzannah Lipscomb, which I thought was very interesting as background to the book.

I wasn't worried about hearing how the rebellion turned out, but anyone who wants to avoid hearing information about that would be best to wait to hear this until after finishing the book.

Here's a link to the episode on Apple podcasts, but it is also on various other podcast apps:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...

Welcome, Al, glad you found us. We've got an Agatha Christie challenge going at the moment, discussing the first Poirot and Miss Marple novels, so you are very welcome to join in on that if you would like to.

Sonia, I think I may have visited Stranger's Hall years ago but I will need to go there again, and also visit Dragon Hall, which opens to the public again from April, and the Cow Tower! I've visited Norwich many times over the years and have seen many of its sights, but am realising there is still a lot more to see.

Frances, great to hear you may be visiting Norwich in 2026 - you will be able to catch up with all the scenes from this novel then.

Susan in NC wrote: "Very melancholy feeling hangs over the whole book, couldn’t help feeling we were seeing the ailing author through Shardlake; saddened, disillusioned, losing friends and facing his own mortality. ..."

Oh wow, this hadn't struck me but I think you're right, Susan. I'm getting towards the end of Part 2 (a long way still to go!) and there is definitely a lot of melancholy surrounding Shardlake in this novel. He has been becoming increasingly disillusioned since the first book, but I think it is more marked than ever in this one.

Susan wrote: "Brunetti has a strange love affair with Venice. He loves it and it is, of course, beautiful. Yet, the oppression of the bureaucracy and the corruption are devasting. ..."

I think the plot of this book is very clever, with the way the corruption and the need to have 'friends in high places' runs right through it, up to a killer getting away with it at the end because of his powerful relations. I did wonder about this resolution, though as surely he would be such a danger to the public, and indeed to those relations, after killing 3 people.

Sonia, I've just watched the video in your link and it is brilliant - thanks again!

Yes, Tombland is a well-known area of the city, close to the cathedral - there are some good restaurants in that area too. I wasn't sure if any other cities also had a Tombland, but I think probably the name is unique to Norwich.

Thank you for the great link, lots of interesting historical information there and even a video - I must go and see the featured building, Dragon Hall!

I also just found this snippet in a page about Norwich's Viking heritage:
"Tombland was the Anglo-Scandinavian market-place in the 11th century. The name tom is Scandinavian in origin meaning 'empty' or 'open', the 'openland' being used as a market."

https://www.heritage.norfolk.gov.uk/r...

I hadn't realised there was a Tombland bookshop, Sonia! I wondered if this book was set in Norwich when I first saw it in the shops, but didn't know if there was a Tombland anywhere else.

It's a great title - it does sound as if the story will be quite dark, which some of it has been already, as with others in this series.

Good to hear you are both going to read it, Sonia and Frances. I've read about 200 pages now and am finding it interesting to have part of the story set in Norwich, since I know the area fairly well - it seems as if the city centre's layout was similar in Tudor times to today.

Yes - I liked the fact that Paola wants her father to use his connections, but Brunetti prefers to use his own, though he wouldn't go as far as following the official protocol!

Hope all our Bobby Owen fans enjoy this book. The spoiler thread is linked below:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

I've started this and am finding it compelling, with so much lovingly-described detail about Tudor life, as in the previous books.

Sad that this is the last in this great series, but it is enormously long, so there is plenty to enjoy before we finish! Who else is reading this?

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

Thanks for opening up the buddy read threads, Susan.

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

Thank you for setting up and opening up the threads, Susan. I've finished this one and enjoyed it - looking forward to discussing it. I think the opening is gripping, with Guido trying to take in the news that his apartment may never have had planning permission.

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

I noticed that a lot of books by John Rhode are now available in cheap editions on Kindle, and bought an early title which I'd heard was interesting (one of the first GA serial killer novels), The Murders in Praed Street. It was an enjoyable read although there are some problems with elements of the plot.

I really like Wolfe and Archie too, especially Archie.

Jan C wrote: "Judy wrote: "Ooh, thank you, Susan, just grabbed Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays the Rent by Judi Dench... Glad I had picked it up on Kindle then.
..."

Sorry, I should have said that, in the audiobook, Judi Dench's thoughts are read by Barbara Flynn, who does a great job, but I'd just thought it would be Judi Dench reading it herself. I'm still enjoying it but am pleased to be able to swap between the audiobook and the Kindle version.

MikeR wrote: "This one didn't draw me in to continue with the series, Henry Gamage did not appeal, and as a handwriting expert it was apparent the crime would revolve around handwriting (as probably future novel..."

Great thinking, I must admit I hadn't thought about Henry being a handwriting expert. I also didn't think about the fact that the cousin was an actor - I clearly spent too much time swallowing the red herrings in this novel!

Mike, I made a false start on the book so I think I must have had difficulties with the first chapter, but I did get into the book when I started again, and ended up enjoying it.

Frances, I agree there are a lot of mysteries involving wills, and I'm wondering how often they have been involved in real-life murder cases! They certainly gave a lot of ideas to GA writers.