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

Judy’s comments from the Reading the Detectives group.

That's very true about war overshadowing the novel, Susan, and thank you for mentioning Mrs Dalloway. I remember the character of Septimus Smith, whose life has been wrecked by WWI. I hadn't realised it was the 100th anniversary of the novel, very interesting.

Sandy wrote: "I have very mixed feelings. While I liked the characters and the writing, I do not care for murders that are committed by psychopaths. There is no real motive to uncover and in this book there wasn..."

I agree with your comments, Sandy. I thought the early chapters were great, but became less enthusiastic as the book continued and some aspects started to feel more far-fetched. As you said, I also don't like reading about psychopaths as there is no real motive, as you say. I didn't like the sections where we see through the eyes of the killer and I also thought the revelations at the end about his mother were too melodramatic.

I could also have done without the Viennese psychologist, and definitely agree with you and Susan about the dead body in the car - it's impossible to see how the switch could have been carried out in the circumstances.

I did like the police characters, especially Madden, whose shell-shock was movingly portrayed. It was good to see him finding new love with Helen, though I found the sexy picnic scene a bit much tbh. So all in all, I was disappointed with how the book turned out after a strong start, but I would try another in the series since I did think parts of this one were really good.

I've finished this now and found it a great read, more fun than the previous books as the crime storyline isn't so grim.

I think some of the twists are rather far-fetched, particularly nobody in the office clocking that the General isn't someone they've seen before - but that sort of thing is in the spirit of Golden Age, even if it isn't very realistic!

Towards the end, it's quite strongly hinted that the bomb is going to turn up where it does, but it was still satisfying when it happened and Max coped with it so well. I didn't guess the villain!

Not sure what I think about the romantic relationships in this - Max and Joyce seem well-matched but I don't get the impression he is totally serious about her, and I also don't think Ruby is really in love with Edgar, or ready to settle down.

Oh yes, Frances, 'smirky dialogue' is just right! I do agree those clothes would be hot in summer, something which I think is suggested in passing in the book.

Great point about Emma - I'm reminded of the TV series Life on Mars, where the WPC is constantly put down. And that was set in the 1970s rather than the 50s, so there had been progress in the workplace. Good to see Emma playing a full role but I wonder how realistic it is, as you say. I suppose we do see the pressure on her from her family, but Edgar and Bob both have respect for her as a colleague.

Just noticed a few classic detective books going cheaply in the UK.

The 8 Inspector Richardson books by Sir Basil Thomson are currently 99p each on Kindle - the first one in this series is Richardson's First Case

Dean Street Press also has a number of other titles at 99p, including several of the Simon Bognor mysteries by Tim Heald - looks like the earliest one published by DSP is Just Desserts: A Simon Bognor Mystery which is number 5 in the series.

Not DSP, Bones in the Wilderness by George Bellairs is also 99p.

I've started our next group read, Calamity at Harwood by George Bellairs - not very far in as yet.

I just came across a mention of the Brighton 'promettes' - wondered who they were, and found this 2-minute newsreel film which is definitely of its time!!
https://www.britishpathe.com/asset/36532

I'm about halfway through this now and really enjoying it too, Frances - I think so far it's definitely the best so far in this series. I am noticing that I'm much more interested in Max than in Edgar, though - I think Max's personality is more intriguing, with the magic, conflicted feelings over his aristocratic background, etc!

Ooh, interesting! Thank you, Susan.

The winner is Lonesome Road by Patricia Wentworth, which will be our September group read.
We'll also do the runner up, Murder Included by Joanna Cannan, in October, as several people mentioned they owned it. Thanks everyone!

Full results:
Lonesome Road (Miss Silver, #3) 5 votes, 45.5%
Murder Included (D.I. Price #1) 4 votes, 36.4%
Sergeant Cluff Stands Firm 1 vote, 9.1%
Murder of Lydia 1 vote, 9.1%

That's good to hear, Susan. Must admit I struggled with it a bit - I do think Bernie is a good character, but I found the writing style rather hard work. I'm guessing it improves in the later books.

Ooh yes, the tea in bed sounds very luxurious, Frances, although to be honest I would probably spill it everywhere! Maybe Albert is able to get home mid afternoon after the early starts, although I somehow doubt it!

Sandy, I thought the character of Madden was especially good - I know it's a bit of a cliché to have a detective who has lost a wife and child, and I can immediately think of several other examples. But I think it's very well done in this book, on top of his ongoing troubles resulting from the First World War. I did also have problems with the plot from about halfway, though, which I'll talk about in the spoiler thread

I think a lot of the period detail is convincing - it probably helps that the author was born in 1935, so he would remember the 1940s, although obviously not the 20s. His Wikipedia page also says "Airth found inspiration in a scrapbook about his uncle, a soldier killed in World War I."

Has anyone seen the TV adaptation of this one, from the Marple series starring Geraldine McEwan?

I'm a bit wary of watching it as it has Miss Marple added into the story (I wish they hadn't done that!) and apparently has also given Tuppence a drink problem, which seems rather odd, to say the least. Wondering if it is still worth a look?

Our new buddy reads have all opened up now, if anyone would like to get started on those discussions. I think there will be lots to talk about.

The e-book edition of this that I read automatically started at Chapter 1, so I nearly missed the lovely dedication to all the readers who wrote to Christie asking what had happened to Tommy and Tuppence! Nice to know that she satisfied their curiosity by returning to the characters.

I think it's quite unusual for Christie that she'd made the couple age in real time (well, almost!). But I suppose she had more scope with them than with Poirot or Miss Marple as those characters both started out old, although they do still get a bit older over their series.

Thank you to Susan for opening this up. I've started it but am not very far in as yet - interesting to have it set around the Coronation.

I'm getting the feeling it might be slightly lighter in tone than the previous books, but it's early days as yet...

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

Thanks very much to Susan for posting the detailed introduction, explaining how this series evolved - very useful.

Who is reading this book or planning to - or do you remember it from reading it in the past?

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

Just opening up our buddy read of the first in this series - who is reading this one?

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

Just opening up our latest buddy read discussions, with thanks as ever to Susan for setting up the threads.

Who is reading this one? I finished it yesterday and really enjoyed it - I wasn't sure how good such a late Christie would be, but I think she definitely still had her touch here!

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