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

Judy’s comments from the Reading the Detectives group.

I've just noticed that the first 5 books in this series are available in an omnibus edition, The Bradecote & Catchpoll series: Books 1, 2, 3, 4, 5: Servant of Death, Ordeal by Fire, Marked to Die, Hostage to Fortune, Vale of Tears currently £4.99 on Kindle. I'm enjoying this one so far, so will probably be tempted.

I've just started this and am enjoying the writing style but suspect I may also get confused by the number of characters. I'll try making notes as well, thanks Susan!

We have a winner! It's So Pretty a Problem by Francis Duncan, which will be our July read.

Full results:
So Pretty a Problem (Mordecai Tremaine #5) 7 votes, 35.0%
Death in White Pyjamas 5 votes, 25.0%
The Wyndham Case (Imogen Quy, #1) 5 votes, 25.0%
A Shilling for Candles (Inspector Alan Grant, #2) 3 votes, 15.0%

Sandy wrote: "I also was disappointed when drugs turned out to be the motive. I like the personal reasons much more...."

Yes! There was a great line where Mrs Pargeter was thinking she hoped "madness" wouldn't be the motive and that she never wanted that to be the motive in crime novels. But I would have to say that drugs are just as bad!

Jill wrote: "Am going to start Mrs, Presumed Dead by Simon Brett. Bit late starting as I hadn't realised it was coming up so soon."

Sorry Jill, we slipped it in where we could find space, as they are quick reads. I hope you enjoy it.

Sandy wrote: "You did better with Fatal Crossing than I; I didn't finish it..."

Hmm, I'm wondering why it got so much success - maybe it was the cruise ship setting. I wonder if his later books are better, as often detective writers do improve after the first book.

I agree, Susan, it was fun! Her address book slightly reminds me of the Campion books, where there are a lot of old lags who are friendly with Albert's sidekick Lugg, whose expertise they can draw on to help solve cases.

I wasn't too thrilled with the motive for the murder, as I think drugs have been overdone, but I loved Mrs Pargeter's "heroics" at the end of the book!

I enjoyed it too. This was another quick and fun read, in another fairly closed community, as in the first in this series. I just about managed to keep track of all the characters!

I haven't started this one yet but am looking forward to it - it sounds very summery. The spoiler thread is linked below:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Hope everyone enjoys this. I'm not sure whether to read on, as I struggled with the first book, but may be tempted if people like it. :)

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

I've borrowed it from the library but haven't started yet.

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

I'm going to reread and also don't remember much, but do remember the main character and the ending.

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

Thanks for the introductions and opening up the threads, Susan. I've started this book and am enjoying it so far - Simon Brett is so readable!

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

Susan wrote: "https://www.waterstones.com/blog/mari...

An obituary to C J Sansom"

Thank you Susan, that's a lovely tribute. So sad that he has died at such a young age.

I've watched the first two episodes of the TV adaptation of Shardlake (streaming on Disney+) and am mainly enjoying it but I think Jack Barak is being made too unlikeable. I can understand why he has been brought into the adaptation of Dissolution in place of Mark, but I think he should be a bit more sympathetic than he is so far - then again, this could change in the later episodes.

I just noticed that the Cross Examining Crime blog recently published a ranked list of Edmund Crispin's novels - thought others might like to see if they agree with the rankings. I don't really remember the novels I read a while ago well enough to say.
https://crossexaminingcrime.wordpress...

Good to hear you liked Mystery Mile, Jackie - I love Campion.

I've just finished A Fatal Crossing by Tom Hindle. I quite enjoyed the cruise ship setting but had major issues with the plot, so it wasn't really for me.

I live near Sutton Hoo and have been there many times - will be interested to hear what you think of the book, Jill. I enjoyed the film but haven't got round to the book yet, despite meaning to!

We currently have a 3-way tie! So if you haven't voted, please do.
https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/2...

I've just read a British Library book, Someone from the Past by Margot Bennett. I loved the sharp, noirish writing style but the plot meanders around and I got frustrated with some of the characters, so I had mixed feelings about it overall.

I've also started A Fatal Crossing by Tom Hindle, a novel by a current author set on a cruise ship in the 1920s. I like the cruise ship descriptions but so far am not really grabbed.

The poll for our July group read is now open - please vote for your top choice!

https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/2...