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

Judy’s comments from the Reading the Detectives group.

Jill wrote: "I did so like this. Maigret sorting things from his sickbed with the aid of his wife and an old friend. His wife definitely deserves a medal, with what she has to put up with!"

Yes, it was great to see more of Madame Maigret, I agree, Jill. Also interesting to see such a different side of Maigret, feeling ill and vulnerable but still as determined as ever to find out the truth.

Susan in NC wrote: "I enjoyed my reread even more than usual, this one was different and suspenseful!"

I agree, this one had a different plot and was a tense read. One of the best in the series so far, I thought.

Jackie wrote: "I'm currently reading and won't look at the spoiler thread until I'm done.
I'm finding my expectations for this one are in line with what it provides so I am enjoying it, if that makes sense."

I think it does, Jackie - I felt slightly the same, very much the formula we've come to know, although I also thought it had some of the same annoyances there were in previous books - for me, anyway. Overall, I find this a relaxing series and enjoy the cruise ship atmosphere, though it would be nice to have a few more descriptions of the various on-board meals and events.

Good to hear, Rosina! I've started and am finding it an engrossing read so far - great to get back to all the rivalries and sarky comments between the various characters, which feel so real and influenced so many other police procedurals.

I enjoyed this - it was another very different story and a hard book to put down. Simenon came up with an amazing number of interesting plots for these early Maigret books.

I believe we will be reading Murder on the Celtic, Jill. I think a couple of titles may have previously been missing from the series on Goodreads, but Susan has mentioned in the introduction to the new buddy read that we have Murder on the Celtic still to go.

This discussion is now open as it's mid-March - who is reading this one?

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

Let's open up this discussion as it's now mid March. Many thanks to Susan for setting up the threads for this and all the other buddy reads.

Who's joining in on this one?

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

Just opening up this discussion - who's sticking with the series for this one? Just one more title to go, as mentioned in the introduction that Susan has posted.

Spoiler thread linked below:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...--

Just opening up our latest batch of buddy reads, with many thanks to Susan for setting up the threads.

Who is joining in on this one? The spoiler thread is linked below:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Just opening up our new batch of buddy reads. Who is reading this one?

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

I'll open the buddy reads up now, while I think of it :)

Sarah wrote: "I just started the upcoming "buddy read" of Maj Sjöwall and Per Wahlöö's "Murder at the Savoy." My edition has a very insightful introduction written by Jan Arnald (pen name Arne Dahl),..."

I've started this one too and have the same introduction. Really enjoying it so far.

The vote for our May group read is now open - please vote for your preferred choice!
https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/2...

I'm reading 2 of our forthcoming buddy reads at the moment - they are very different, so no danger of mixing them up! I'm just over halfway through a paperback edition from the library of Murder on the Oceanic. I'm finding it quite an enjoyable light read, but the various things that always annoy me about this series are annoying me once again - I'll save them for the discussion!

I'm also currently reading our next Cadfael book, The Potter's Field, and enjoying it a lot so far. It has an intriguing and different plot.

Susan in NC wrote: "Listening to Joan Hickson (my favorite Marple) narrating Murder at the Vicarage,.. I’ve always found it interesting, this is narrated from the vicar’s POV, Miss Marple is in the background for much of it... I always wondered if she toyed with the vicar as her detective…."

That's an interesting idea! He would have been another good detective. As you say, Christie had written Miss Marple short stories before this so I think she would have been keen to progress with her as a detective, but maybe the vicar could potentially have been an extra detective like one or two of her other characters such as Colonel Race?

Our poll is now open - please vote for the book you most want to read in May.

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

Any more nominations? The poll will be posted at the weekend.

I'll nominate Unexpected Night by Elizabeth Daly. I believe this has been nominated before and didn't win, but as a lot of this author's books are now on Kindle in the UK, I'll have another try. It's the first in the Henry Gamadge series.

An antiquarian book dealer spends his vacation investigating murder in this series opener from Agatha Christie’s favorite American author. New York handwriting and rare book expert—and a gentleman sleuth—Henry Gamadge is vacationing in coastal Maine when the police there need his help. It’s a strange case involving a seemingly natural death, a large inheritance, a mysterious nighttime rendezvous, and a troupe of summer stock actors who start dying off. Something is clearly afoot, but nothing quite seems to fit. With an eye for frauds, Gamadge is just what the local detective needs to throw the book at a killer . . .“

Jackie wrote: "Judy, I thought for sure I'd have some advice for you but I think all of Heyer's heroes are loyal ... honestly, I'll bet you like any of the romances you try. ..."

Thanks, Jackie! I'll make a date with one very soon and let you know :)