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

Judy’s comments from the Reading the Detectives group.

Thank you for setting up the threads and opening up our new reads, Susan.

Who is joining us on this read? I've just finished listening to the audio version and really enjoyed it.

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

I quite enjoyed this and also found it relaxing, but it definitely did feel very formulaic. I wish something a bit different would happen - for instance, it seems as if there is always a murder which happens in a cabin and can then be kept secret from everyone.

For anyone who enjoys the cruise ship setting, there's a series currently showing on Channel 5 in the UK called 'The Good Ship Murder' which has something of the same feel, though it is set in the present day, and in that series it's a murder each week on the same ship (or during an excursion on land by the passengers).

That's a lot of books, Sandy - hope you enjoy! I really enjoyed listening to Rest You Merry and am now looking forward to our discussion, which starts tomorrow.

I've started Corpse at the Carnival by George Bellairs, which I've been meaning to read since visiting the Isle of Man earlier this year, as it is one of several of his novels set on the island. The opening is on the seafront in Douglas, which is where we stayed on our holiday.

I really enjoyed the way the plot developed with all the overlapping investigations and dead ends. It was a bit hard to keep track of the explanations at the end, but still a 5-star read for me.

Who guessed the right killer in this one? I thought for much of the book that it might be the other young man who wanted to marry Fortunata. I was pleased that I was wrong and there was a more interesting solution.

Susan wrote: "I initially thought I was reading the previous book by mistake! It was very, very similar."

I've read about a quarter and so far I must agree - it seems as if the same types of characters turn up every time, and everyone is still swooning over George and Genevieve!

Susan wrote: "I agree, Pamela. They are a wonderfully well-rounded bunch of characters - not overly brilliant, just fed up and annoyed like most of us! I like the way that some members of the group dislike each other..."

I agree - all the workplace rivalries and niggles seem very realistic. I'm getting towards the end now, and so far I think this is the best yet in the series.

Susan, I thought of you when Beck wondered how anyone could tell the difference between the Beatles and the Stones!

Thanks, Sandy and Jill, downloading now!

The Sharon Penman books do look enormous - I'll bear them in mind for a long holiday read. Thank you Keith.

I've started this now and am immediately pulled in by the atmosphere. I see we are back to cold weather - I know one or two of these books have been set in heatwaves, but somehow I tend to think of Beck in icy temperatures and probably in the dark as well. I must agree this is a great series.

Yes, must admit I find it hard to keep track of the war between Stephen and Empress Maud, but it's often interesting to look up episodes that are mentioned on the web. I know more about that conflict now than I did before reading the Cadfael books, though I still don't know all that much about it.

I've just watched the film which was reasonably close to the book although with not so much humour and some things changed/left out.

I forgot to record it so streamed it from the Talking Pictures TV station's catch-up website, but it wasn't a very good print, with very loud music and quiet dialogue - I've belatedly noticed there is what looks to be a better print on YouTube. Alistair Sim is great as Cockrill.

P.S. Another Frances Faviell fan here - I also thought both A Chelsea Concerto and The Dancing Bear were excellent.

Susan in NC wrote: "I hope if Crosby gets married, she loves him; I’m not sure how aware he is about being the police station joke, but that’s got to wear a person down..."

I get the feeling he isn't aware of it but I think he seems a lot more competent in this book (except for his driving!), so maybe his colleagues will get bored of the joke. Sloan seems to be unsure what to think of Crosby at times in this book.

I found a page about the Salsette with some good pictures - the ship was sunk in 1917 and has become one of the most popular wrecks for divers to visit.
https://www.thehistorypress.co.uk/art...

I've started this but am not very far in as yet - I was surprised to see that our heroes are no longer working for Cunard, but I suppose they need to get in a couple more well-known ships. It certainly feels rather samey so far!

Keith, my sister lives very near to Trent Bridge - it's a small world sometimes!

Susan in NC wrote: From the bit I listened to, it seemed the abridged bits were descriptions of scenery, buildings, background on the status of the Stephen/Maud conflict, etc...."

It would be a shame to lose those bits, Susan - sounds like it is all the period atmosphere that gets lost. Shame they didn't cut out the lovers instead (only joking! I'll shut up about them now.)

Craftyhj wrote: "This was my first experience of Brand's writing. I enjoyed it, period-inevitable misogyny aside, and will definitely read more. The first one int eh series doesn't have great reviews - what do othe..."

I didn't really enjoy the first Inspector Cockrill book, Heads You Lose, but that may have been partly because I could only get it as an audiobook at that time and found it slow in that format. I also think there was more misogyny etc in that one, as far as I remember. I have really liked most of the others that I've read by Brand though, and am hoping more will become available in the UK.

I thought Gervase would have been a bad choice for Woody - not much chance of him being faithful or even considerate! So although it was a poignant moment, I saw it as a narrow escape.

I definitely agree about the list of characters in War and Peace, Susan, and I find similar lists useful in mysteries which include them! Must admit though that I find maps hard to follow unless they are extremely simple - I persuaded my husband to get a sat-nav rather than ask me for directions ;)