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

Judy’s comments from the Reading the Detectives group.

I'm starting this now after finishing a Cadfael book - thought I'd have more chance of keeping things straight in my mind with one historical mystery at a time.

I have finished now and mainly enjoyed it but thought we could have done with one or two more suspects! I also liked Richard.

I got sidetracked from this book but have returned to it and am now about halfway through (maybe more if there is a big preview of another book at the end again!) Enjoying it despite my long gap in the middle.

Glad you are enjoying it, Carol! You have plenty of treats in store with the rest of the series.

For anyone who wants to discuss the solution, here's a link to the spoiler thread - I haven't finished my reread yet but will be over there before too long!:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

I've bought a beautiful paperback edition and am really looking forward to starting in the next day or two, but just want to finish at least one of the other books I'm reading first!

I'm enjoying rereading this and I think I'll watch the TV adaptation with Ian Carmichael as Peter after finishing. I remember it has a wonderful Norfolk church in it.

I've belatedly started this one (held up by other books!) and am enjoying it so far - I tend to save the introductions until I've finished, but am wondering if the introduction will shed any light on why Punshon moved Bobby to the countryside, even though I've read that he himself stayed in London through the Blitz.

I've belatedly started rereading this book, and am enjoying it a lot -although I'm not taking in all the detail of bell-ringing, it does add a layer of authenticity and helps to create the rural atmosphere, which slightly reminds me of the villagers in Thomas Hardy novels.

I also like the vicar and his wife, and it was interesting to see the suggestion in the Jill Paton-Walsh introduction to the edition I'm reading that they may be partly based on DLS's parents.

The poll for July's group read is now open - if you haven't voted, please go along and pick the book you most want to read!
https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/2...

I've finished now and enjoyed the book overall, as I liked the writing style, the Scottish setting and the characters. I would read more by this author.

I do agree with Susan in NC though that the murder method seems far-fetched and I'm not sure if it could really work. I've come across ice as a weapon in other locked room mysteries, but do wonder if it would actually be hard enough after being ferried about - still, I don't suppose that matters, as so many GA methods are extremely far-fetched!

I also agree that there weren't many suspects left by the end, and I was disappointed that the killer was someone we hadn't seen much of.

Hope you both enjoy the episode, Teri-K and Susan.

The poll is now open - please cast your vote!
https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/2...

Thanks everyone, good to know The Z Murders is fine to include!

I'll wait to put the poll up first thing tomorrow - looks to me as if The Z Murders is available in the US, but please could someone just confirm that if possible?

I'm a fan of the Shedunnit podcast, presented by Caroline Crampton - she did an episode in November looking at why murder mysteries contain so many vicars, which included some thoughts on The Nine Tailors.
I enjoyed this episode - link below:
https://shedunnitshow.com/clericalcri...

Nominations are:

Susan in NC: One by One They Disappeared by Moray Dalton

Jill: Six Against the Yard by The Detection Club

Susan: Death in a White Tie by Ngaio Marsh

Jan: Mystery at Lynden Sands by J.J. Connington

Michaela: The Z Murders by J. Jefferson Farjeon

Michaela wrote: "If it´s available in the UK and US, I´d like to nominate The Z Murders by J. Jefferson Farjeon. It´s about 3 Euro on the German p..."

Thanks Michaela, great nomination (I've been meaning to read this for years) and just in time there as I was just about to post the poll! It's available in the UK for £2.99 on Kindle - could someone please check on US availability before I put the poll up? Many thanks.

Susan in NC wrote: "Thanks, Judy, hope you had a lovely holiday weekend (coronation + Bank Holiday, wasn’t it?)"

Thanks Susan! That's right, we got an extra bank holiday for the coronation. My daughter visited and we had a street party near home on the Sunday, but I was working on the Monday.

Any more nominations? Sorry, I've been a bit tied up over the holiday weekend (in the UK) but will get the poll up tomorrow.

Sarah, no worries - it can be difficult to keep track of what we've read recently! The easiest way is probably to search our bookshelf. Anything we read around 3 years ago or more is fine to recombination.