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

Judy’s comments from the Reading the Detectives group.

Good to hear you enjoyed this so much, Carol. I didn't like it quite as much as some others by Bellairs that I've read, but still enjoyed it.

Definitely some very dark themes, susan. I would often be reluctant to read books with this type of material but for some reason the Beck books compel me - I think the authors don't dwell on the details of the crimes but are matter of fact about it. The way the killer is found by chance is brilliantly done, I thought - it must often be like this in real life.

I've finished my reread of this one now and really enjoyed it. I like this series a lot, and I think it is partly because of the teamwork - "terse, well formed characters" is a perfect description, Sarah.

Very true, Susan, they do seem realistic. I'm not always a fan of darker crime series but find these books compelling.

Yes, although I enjoyed it, I got a bit lost in the method, and wasn't sure if it would have worked.

I've started this, which is a reread for me though I don't remember very much of it. Really enjoying the writing style and I'm being pulled in.

Welcome Nicole, glad you found us.

I'm also a bit fed up with the disparaging of Crosby, although I enjoyed the book - Aird's writing style is so readable.

Still enjoying this one, though I was distracted by finishing another book! Leeyes is awful, isn't he - seems as if we have him being unpleasant to Sloan and then Sloan being slightly unpleasant to Crosby.

That's great Rosina - hope you enjoy it. I'm already nearly halfway through, as I find Aird's books hard to put down.

Just posted this in the Kindle deals thread but thought I'd post it here too:

For anybody reading the Catherine Aird Inspector Sloan series, the 3-book omnibus The Calleshire Chronicles Volume Two: A Late Phoenix, His Burial Too, and Slight Mourning is currently reduced to £3.99 on Kindle (this includes our current buddy read and the next one) and book 9, Passing Strange, is currently £1.99. A Late Phoenix (our previous buddy read) is also £1.89.

Aird books often tend to be quite expensive so I tend to look out for offers!

For anybody reading the Catherine Aird Inspector Sloan series, the 3-book omnibus The Calleshire Chronicles Volume Two: A Late Phoenix, His Burial Too, and Slight Mourning is currently reduced to £3.99 on Kindle (this includes our current buddy read and the next one) and book 9, Passing Strange, is currently £1.99. A Late Phoenix (our previous buddy read) is also £1.89.

Aird books often tend to be quite expensive so I tend to look out for offers!

That would be interesting, Jill. I'm also wondering if they will ever come up against someone who remembers them from a previous voyage - it would be fun to see how they react. I do enjoy the ship atmosphere in these books.

I've started this one and am immediately being sucked in - I think it will be a quick read for me, as with the other Sloan and Crosby books. I'm slightly distracted by working out how to pronounce some of the characters' unusual names, though!

I agree, Susan and Susan. I'd like to see the detectives have a bit more personality. and also agree that being amazingly glamorous wouldn't be very helpful with working undercover!

Thanks Susan! I've started this one and see we have everyone swooning over our amazingly gorgeous detectives again - getting a bit predictable. I'm quite intrigued by the arrested couple, though.

P.S. Fascinating about the title changes - it makes things very confusing, and doesn't help when searching for books!

Sarah, re E.R. Punshon, if you are happy to read on Kindle, the Dean Street Press site has US and UK links for all his titles.
https://www.deanstreetpress.co.uk/pag...
DSP did also do regular freebies but I think those probably won't continue as they will be closing down following their owner's death though their books will remain available.

I've started this now - not very far in yet, but I'm enjoying the atmosphere and meeting the characters again. An interesting comment from one of the other monks about how Cadfael spends much more time in the outer world than the rest of them, due to his growing herbs and healing the sick.

Craftyhj wrote: "Yew trees are traditionally planted in church graveyards in the UK so at the time Cyril Hare was writing this would have clearly marked the book out as a murder mystery..."

Thank you for that explanation, Craftyhj - that hadn't struck me although I have seen Yew trees in churchyards.