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

Judy’s comments from the Reading the Detectives group.

Pamela, I was also glad it wasn't the student. Sounds as if you are starting to pick up some of Maigret's detective methods, noticing Any's intervention!

We haven't had very much discussion of this book. What did anyone think of the solution?

I didn't guess whodunnit, but thought it was well worked out and Maigret's whole explanation was beautifully written, though it was a shame that it was a plain and sexually frustrated spinster.

Jackie wrote: "Judy, it's worth talking about what excessively cozy means!"

Ha, I suppose I'm thinking of the Joanne Fluke Hannah Swensen series - I used to enjoy these and still find them a fluffy relaxation, but now half of each book seems to be taken up with recipes and cooking. I've been looking for a few writers where there is an appealing cosy-type setting and good characters but the mystery is still the main element! I think Carolyn Hart may fit the bill.

Jackie, I haven't tried Carolyn G. Hart but her books look like fun reads, thanks for mentioning her! I'm trying to find a few more authors who are cosy but not excessively so.

Just reading Before Midnight by Rex Stout, which has an intriguing plot involving someone stealing the answers to a prize competition.

I must have forgotten about the dog!

PS I hadn't seen Storygraph before - looks like an interesting site.

Exciting idea, Jessica. I also have this book, have read it and really enjoy looking back at the articles when I read one of the featured books. I think I've read 31, though I don't remember much about some of them!

Unfortunately I believe a number of the books featured by Martin Edwards are very obscure and a few are impossible to get hold of, so it would be difficult to read all 100 - but maybe they will come back into print as a result of being featured.

Glad you have enjoyed the Detective Club Challenge, but sorry to hear you couldn't get hold of some of the books. We took care to choose books which are on Kindle and available in the UK and the US, but it is very difficult to find books which are available everywhere except for Christie!

Susan in NC wrote: "As for plot, I agree, it feels like each of the three books we’ve read so far have had similar marital conflicts, criminal conspiracies (smuggling again), other passengers drawn like moths to the twin flames of our detectives’ stunning good looks! ..."

Definitely, they have been very similar! I suppose at least we didn't have a runaway cat in this one though.

Sid, I do agree the trap and the "Almost Going Horribly Wrong sequence" - great description! - didn't seem realistic, unlike the earlier parts of the book, but the intensity of these sections gripped me and carried me through.

I did enjoy the quieter earlier sections with the more everyday detective work and the feeling of all the time passing as well, though.

Oh yes, I thought the clarinet player who is taken to the wrong village was hilarious!

Susan wrote: "Sandy wrote: "Susan wrote: "Yes, Judy, or just got bombed and killed, as in the Nigel Strangeways novels, meriting barely a line. Oh, she was killed in the blitz..."

Cecil Day-Lewis erasing one of..."

Yes, that was a shock - she gets hardly a word.

Sandy wrote: "I would never have guessed the motive having never heard of such a law..."

This really surprised me too. I had heard of the ban on marrying a "deceased wife's sister" which caused problems in Victorian times, with many couples having to marry abroad, but I didn't realise there was also a ban on marrying a "divorced wife's sister", which lasted much longer. Amazingly, the law on this in the UK only changed in 1960, after a failed attempt to change it in 1949, the year Cyril Hare's book was published.

What did anyone think of the plot of this book? I think it gets really compelling towards the end when Beck identifies a suspect but can't get him to crack, although he is increasingly convinced he did it - this reminded me of TV series like Cracker.

I found it odd that the police could be so convinced he would fall into the trap they set, but it makes for compelling reading - a sort of nightmare sequence.

Yes, I am wondering how long the courtship will continue, Jackie!

What did everyone think of the plot of this one? I enjoyed the characters, especially Maxine Gilpatrick who was great, but was a bit disappointed with the plot. I tend not to be too keen on plots where there are several characters in a gang all working together.

I was also hoping we would find out more about the argumentative missionary who died, as he was such an interesting character, but his story fades into the background.

Sandy, I am also reminded of Maigret by this author. I read Roseanna for the first time 5 years ago and gave it 5*, being absolutely gripped by it. This time it didn't grab me quite as much but I still really liked it - I do agree with Sid, though, that if you don't enjoy the first part of the book then it probably isn't one for you.

I do indeed remember Jackie Weaver! I agree it would have been nice to see more of Eleanor, but at least she doesn't disappear completely, as has happened in one or two other series.

Thank you, good point.

Sorry, I was thinking about the non-musical person with an instrument and confusing myself.

Jill wrote: "It shows it's age as the non-musical instrument would not give anything away these days."

That's intriguing but must admit I'm not sure why this wouldn't give anything away now, please can you explain? Probably this is my lack of musical knowledge letting me down! Thank you.

Hope you enjoy the fluffiness, RC! I agree they are entertaining but forgettable, Susan.

If anyone wants to see what the ship looked like, there are a lot of nice pics on this site (I found the link via Wikipedia):

https://web.archive.org/web/201711060...

I've started rereading and am enjoying it so far. I'd forgotten how many minor health problems Beck seems to suffer from, from coffee making him feel nauseous to catching bad colds! Makes him all the more human.