Wow, June's Half Over. Ready To Act On July Title?

[Tina]

PI's, you know what to do. As for me, I just want something good to read if we're to have a July pick. A short story would be fine. Maybe one taken from a Christie short story collection or any proven author's collection. Novel length is good as well. Maybe something with a vintage era but not limited to these posted. Just suggestions. What say you PI's?

[Mark Pghfan]

I'm always up for a Christie. Novel or short stories.

Are any of you familiar with the short story anthologies collected by Martin Edwards? He has several collections of classic mysteries, grouped by categories: Police solving the mystery, mysteries taking place in London, Locked room mysteries, etc. If you want, check out Amazon's page for his books. https://www.amazon.com/Martin-Edwards...

[Tina]

Will do. Thanks, Pghfan!

[Tina]

Pghfan, I nom'd one of his titles in Dec.; would be up for one in July.

I'll go with

or a Christie short story from

[Mark Pghfan]

Good choices!

[PugMom]

I can get a hold of the Christie but not the other book.

[Tina]

Mark Pghfan wrote: "Good choices!"

:-)

[Nicole]

I'll read anything!

[Mark Pghfan]

The Christie sounds great. Three Blind Mice is a longish short story, but the others in the book are shorter. This will be a good choice!

[Nicole]

Cool! I already have it! :-)

[Tina]

Possible title(s) in this collection for a future read?

[Tina]

Nicole wrote: "Cool! I already have it! :-)"

I also have it.

[Nicole]

Tina wrote: "Possible title(s) in this collection for a future read? "

Are these short stories, Tina?

[Tina]

Nicole wrote: "Tina wrote: "Possible title(s) in this collection for a future read? "

Are these short stories, Tina?"

Nicole, thought they were but now that I look further, it seems most are full length novels. Might be a few that are shorts. It was sent to me "based on your reading preferences..." and that's how I picked up on it. Here's the list they provided:

Lord Peter Wimsey, eccentric amateur sleuth.
I Lord Peter Views the Body (1928) 12 stories: The ..
1 Abominable History of the Man with Copper Fingers
2 Entertaining Episode of the Article in Question
3 Fascinating Problem of Uncle Meleager's Will
4 Fantastic Horror of the Cat in the Bag
5 Unprincipled Affair of the Practical Joker
6 Undignified Melodrama of the Bone of Contention
7 Vindictive Story of the Footsteps That Ran
8 Bibulous Business of a Matter of Taste
9 Learned Adventure of the Dragon's Head
10 Piscatorial Farce of the Stolen Stomach
11 Unsolved Puzzle of the Man with No Face"
12 Adventurous Exploit of the Cave of Ali Baba"

II Hangman's Holiday (1933) 4 stories: The ..
1 Image in the Mirror"
2 Incredible Elopement of Lord Peter Wimsey"
3 Queen's Square"
4 Necklace of Pearls"

III In the Teeth of the Evidence (1939)
1 In the Teeth of the Evidence
2 Absolutely Elsewhere"

IV Striding Folly (1972)
1 Striding Folly
2 The Haunted Policeman
3 Talboys

* Sayers, Lord Peter and God by Carolyn Heilbrun
* Greedy Night, A Parody by E. C. Bentley (less)

[Mark Pghfan]

I have the Lord Peter book as well, and would certainly be up for a discussion of some of the short stories.

[Nicole]

Do we have a host yet for July? If not, I can do it - just let me know. :-)

[PugMom]

It looks like my library has that Lord Peter collection. Are we definitely choosing that?

[Tina]

Nicole, if you would host, that'd be great! Thanks so much! :-)

As for the pick, I don't have Lord Peter book but can get it. I'll be ready whichever way the PI's go. Happy Summer in The Parlor, PI's!

[Nicole]

I already have Three Blind Mice and have just requested Lord Peter from the library. What if we read one short story from each? Perhaps one 7/1- 7/15, and the second 7/16 - 7/31? Just a thought!

[Tina]

Sounds okay to me. If we go this route, can we start with short story from Three Blind Mice? I know we read a story from this collection but does anyone recall which title?

[Nicole]

The Case of the Perfect Maid

[Tina]

Shows what I know. I thought it was 3 Blind Mice. lol

[Mark Pghfan]

I have both books and two stories from each sounds like a great idea! (I've been out of town for a few days, and just getting caught up with things.)

[Nicole]

Tina wrote: "Sounds okay to me. If we go this route, can we start with short story from Three Blind Mice? I know we read a story from this collection but does anyone recall which title?"

Absolutely! This works out better for me because I'm still waiting on Lord Peter to arrive at my library. :-)

[Nicole]

Shall we read Three Blind Mice (the title Poirot story) for our first selection? It's 72 pages long. We can divide it into 2 discussions - pages 1-36 and then pages 37-72. If you agree I can post the first discussion Sunday, July 7 and the second Sunday, July 14. We could then start discussing the Lord Peter story the next two Sundays (7/21 and 7/28) which would see us through to August. Unfortunately, my library Wimsey book hasn't come in yet - which Lord Peter story would you like to discuss?

[Mark Pghfan]

Sounds like a good start! I'm in. As far as the Lord Peter stories, I am less familiar with them. Let me browse the volume and I'll make a suggestion. I think there are stories of various lengths there as well.

[Nicole]

Thanks, Mark! :-)

[Tina]

Sounds good to me.

[PugMom]

Just requested both from the library!

[Tina]

Started Three Blind Mice. Great plot development for being a short.
Can only do so much in so few pages but as usual, AC delivers.

[Mark Pghfan]

Tina, I agree. I've read this many times, but forgot some of the early detail. It is really nicely done.

[Tina]

Mark Pghfan wrote: "Tina, I agree. I've read this many times, but forgot some of the early detail. It is really nicely done."

Pghfan, caught a theater adaptation and the perp was different from book. I also think the film baddie was different from book so though an oldie, this story becomes new with various different guilty parties.

[Mark Pghfan]

I don't thing there was a film adaptation of this story. I understand that contractually, there cannot be one until The Mousetrap closes in London (its been 67 years!) Could you be thinking of something else?

[Tina]

Pghfan, Based on stage play by Ura Levin, directed by Sidney Lumet, Deathtrap w/Michael Caine and Christopher Reeve is flick I'm thinking about. I'm pretty sure it had snowed in backdrop with unlikely character as perp and is where I got titles confused. So close in story line, still a good mystery. Now I want to see it again. lol

[Mark Pghfan]

I've seen that, and it makes sense, now!

[Tina]

Mark Pghfan wrote: "I've seen that, and it makes sense, now!"

It was good, Pghfan. Gonna see it again if I can find a copy.

[Nicole]

I saw Deathtrap A LONG time ago! I watched/read something recently and I'd swear it had a very similar plot but for the life of me I can't recall what it was. Something along the lines of someone had published someones else's work under their own name and took credit for it. I've been wracking my brain to no avail.....

[Mark Pghfan]

Some time ago, I said I would offer a suggestion for a short story in the Lord Peter collection. I suggest "Talboys". It is the last story in the book, and is rather longish (compared to the rest) and is late in the Lord Peter oeuvre.

If your book doesn't have this, I will suggest another.

[Tina]

Will take a look. :-)

[Nicole]

I have it!

[Tina]

Trying to find this book on Kindle but it seems there are a few different titles/covers to same book. Anyone know what cover, title for Kindle version looks like? Thanks!

[Nicole]

I was confused, too, Tina. I think there are several compilations. Usually one of the reviewers posts a list of included stories. I hope this helps! 📚🔍

[Tina]

Nicole wrote: "I was confused, too, Tina. I think there are several compilations. Usually one of the reviewers posts a list of included stories. I hope this helps! 📚🔍"

Okay, thanks, Nicole.

[Tina]

Still looking. Downloaded samples of Sayers' collections and scanned front matter of stories and nothing so far. I'll sleuth further but if I can't find it, go on w/o me.

[Mark Pghfan]

The volume I have is Lord Peter: The Complete Stories. If people can't find it or get it, we can always continue with some other stories in the Three Blind Mice collection.

[Nicole]

It's also in Striding Folly. I picked up a hardcover collection of the complete stories for a song on ebay. I'm happy to read either. Tina why don't you choose since you're having a hard time locating the Lord Peter book? Would you prefer another Agatha story from Three Blind Mice? Since they're so short we could squeeze two in (one per week) and maybe read a Lord Peter story another month.

[Mark Pghfan]

Nicole: Either sound like a good idea!

[Tina]

PI's, thanks for that but for now, go on w/out me. Re-cooping from bronchitis and some other stuff and will be back ASAP. With you in spirit.

[PugMom]

What is the next story? I'll look and see if it's in my book when I get home.

[Nicole]

Do we want to read another from Three Blind Mice then? Confirmation?