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

Judy’s comments from the Reading the Detectives group.

Who else is reading this one? I enjoyed the first book in the series and am looking forward to meeting the characters again.

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

Susan wrote: "I know a few of us are fans of Berkeley and, as there is so much discrepancy on what is available where, it was decided a buddy read was the way forward..."

Thank you for setting this buddy read up, Susan - I've just finished and must say I thoroughly enjoyed the clever plotting and Berkeley's witty writing style once again. I definitely want to read a lot more by him... even though I had a few reservations which I'll save to post in the spoiler thread.

Looking forward to our discussion - who is reading this book?

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

I'm just opening up our latest Maigret discussion - who is reading it? I haven't done yet but will aim to do so in the next few days. It sounds quite noir from the description in the introduction that Susan has kindly posted.

The spoiler thread is linked below:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

As it's mid-month (already!), I'm just opening up our new buddy reads. Thank you to Susan for setting up the threads and posting introductions.

Who is reading this one? I'm looking forward to it after enjoying all the other books by Cyril Hare that I've read. Just a shame there aren't any more.

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

The vote for our September group read is now open, so, if you haven't voted yet, please take a look and choose the book you most want to read:
https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/2...

Our poll is now open - please choose the book you most want to read:

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

Nominations so far:

Jill: The Astonishing Adventure of Jane Smith by Patricia Wentworth

Susan in N.C.: Two-Way Murder by E.C.R. Lorac

Jan: The Widening Stain by W. Bolingbroke Johnson

Judy: The Death of Mr. Lomas by Francis Vivian

Susan nominated Twice Round the Clock by Billie Houston but Sandy checked and sadly it isn't on Kindle in the US as yet, so I think we should hold that one for a future poll or buddy read.

Does anyone have any more nominations to add? I'd like to get the poll up tonight so this is your last call. :)

This has been nominated in the past but I'll have another try - it's a Dean Street Press edition so hopefully should be widely available, and is the first in a series.

The Death of Mr. Lomas

When Mr. Lomas visits the Chief Constable of Burnham and describes his symptoms, Sir Wilfred Burrows believes that his visitor suffers from nothing more serious than nerves. Later that day Mr. Lomas's body is recovered from the water at Willow Lock...
The Death of Mr. Lomas was first published in 1941. This new edition features an introduction by crime fiction historian Curtis Evans.

Welcome, Patrick, good that you found us.

I've started rereading this one, which is one of my favourite Marsh books - really enjoying it so far.

I'm really enjoying Fraser's reading, Craftyhj. Ellen, I hope your library copy comes through soon!

Susan in NC wrote: "Also treated myself to the Audible with Hugh Fraser reading-perfect!..."

Great idea, Susan - thanks for that! I've treated myself to the same version and am enjoying it - pretty sure this is going to push my rating up from last time around. When you know the story it's sometimes hard to get into the mood and the tension, but hopefully listening to it read by Hugh Fraser will help. I see there is also another Audible version read by Dan Stevens, who also has a great voice, but I'll stick with Fraser - nobody reads Christie better imo.

Thanks for all the nominations so far. Good news - The Widening Stain is now on Kindle in the UK, for £3.99 (I think it was unavailable here when previously suggested.)

I can hardly believe it's already time to nominate for our September 2023 group read. Where is the year going?!

Please only nominate books written and published in the Golden Age period, or a little earlier or later - if in doubt whether a title is eligible, please ask.

As usual, just one nomination per group member, and only one book by any individual writer can be nominated per month.

If you aren't sure whether we have read something, the group bookshelves may help, or just ask! If it was at least 3 years ago that we read it, it is fine to renominate.

Yes it's today, Michaela - thanks for that, now corrected!

I was also pleased to see Corky turning up again - a fun character even if I wouldn't like him in real life!

That's just how I felt about Gertie too, Susan, that I should remember her but wasn't sure if I did. I thought she was a great character apart from at the beginning where she was being annoying.

I've read about a third of this book now and am enjoying getting back to Freddy. Gertie is annoying at first but I'm warming to her now - not sure if she appeared in earlier books.

I do love the idea of people and animals being replaced by statues, making the stories come true, and the vicar and his witchcraft made me laugh too, Abigail. I just felt there was so much packed into one book and at times the obscure conversations went on a bit.

I felt the same as Carol, loved the start in the train and Appleby wandering through the countryside with Judith, though this part did remind me of one of his earlier books - not sure which one. But then I felt there were just too many quirky events and I wasn't as interested in the later twists.

I also think the publisher is misleading readers by calling this weird tale: "A snowbound country house mystery"!