Georgette Heyer Fans discussion
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Duplicate Death
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Duplicate Death March 2021 Chapters 1-10
I recently got a deal on a Kindle copy of this title, so that's what I'll probably be reading this time, but I also have a paperback copy that I think I picked up in a used bookstore:
I’ve read this one a couple times, I have this paperback
, but listened to the audiobook this time. The narrator really fit this one, I liked her voices for the spoiled Cynthia and her adoring but rather strident mama! Any of our British members listen to the audiobook? I’d like their take on the narrator’s Celtic pronunciations of Sandy - sounded rather garbled and strange to me.
I have read this once before, and am reading on my kindle this time.
Oh dear, there's quite a lot of people in the first few chapters. I hope they're not all suspects, I'll never keep them straight!
Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "Do you think [spoilers removed]"I wondered about that, especially with the banter! Then I realized with Hemingway’s personality, he might joke with all of his superiors!
I've read this one many times and find I like it much better than I did for the first few reads. have owned the paperback but not currently, and I just finished reading it on my kindle.
Jackie wrote: "I've read this one many times and find I like it much better than I did for the first few reads. have owned the paperback but not currently, and I just finished reading it on my kindle."A first-time read for me, Kindle version too. Only the third Heyer mystery I’ve read. It grew on me!
Nick wrote: "Oh dear, there's quite a lot of people in the first few chapters. I hope they're not all suspects, I'll never keep them straight!"That was my thinking too. Fortunately they all settle into place!
I've read this one a number of times, and I like it. Unfortunately my books are in storage in another state and the Overdrive copies are still checked out. One should come through in a week or two. So I'll be following along till then.
Susan in NC wrote: "I wondered about that, especially with the banter! Then I realized with Hemingway’s personality, he might joke with all of his super..."
There were so many witty lines in this title!
Finally started this one. It has been eons since I last read it, so I remember almost nothing about it--except for two small bits in the first chapter!Pat is reading the letters from her sons, wherein one of the boys mentions lost gloves, followed later by (view spoiler)Those bits have stuck with me all these years. I just lost track of where I had read them!
GH is already in top form in Chapter 3 with her description of Cynthia. Her remark on that young woman's intellect is awesome.
Barb in Maryland wrote: "GH is already in top form in Chapter 3 with her description of Cynthia. Her remark on that young woman's intellect is awesome."Yes! Normally Ulli is not my favorite narrator, but her rather flat affectation is perfect for Cynthia and mama - and the awful auntie, Mrs. Pickhill! She even loosens up and has fun with Hemingway’s accent and comic asides! My only fault is with her Scots brogue and pronunciation of Celtic aphorisms from Sandy - those sound like garble, I doubt Scots sound like that!
Overdrive came through! I've just finished Chapter 1, and remembered how nice it is that Heyer wrote a follow up to They Found Him Dead. I liked Timothy and Jim and Patricia a lot in that one, so it's fun to revisit them later. There are other characters I wish she'd written about again, like Sophie or Hugo, but these are the only ones she revisited that I remember. Also, the mentions of the war make a touching reminder that these people have survived some difficult times. (view spoiler)
I'm reading an ebook copy, but I have this one in storage in another state.
I didn't get to last month's read but hope to get to this one later in the month. I've been trying to catch up on my TBR but I'm being very sluggish. Thought I'd get more read.
I am really enjoying this read - it is my second read through, but I didn't remember much other than duplicate bridge.
I enjoyed this much more than I have on other reads. so many vivid characters.
I'm spreading out reading this, so I can savor it. I also chuckled at her amusing description of Cynthia's intelligence. One of the things Heyer does well is poke fun at her characters without actually being mean. She shows us who they really are with a touch of irony that makes me smile.
She shines at dialogue, too. I loved where Patricia and James are talking over the letters from the boys. That fond exasperation you often feel for your kids is there. Lovely!
Teri-K wrote: "I'm spreading out reading this, so I can savor it. I also chuckled at her amusing description of Cynthia's intelligence. One of the things Heyer does well is poke fun at her characters without ac..."
Yes, you describe her writing gifts so well!
Teresa wrote: "I didn't get to last month's read but hope to get to this one later in the month. I've been trying to catch up on my TBR but I'm being very sluggish. Thought I'd get more read."Hang in there, dearest - try the audiobook if you can get it, sometimes a different medium makes it even more fun! (Just ignore the rather awful Scots brogue she gives Sandy!)
I enjoy listening while knitting, or doing boring housework, like folding laundry or doing dishes - makes the chores and the pages fly by...well, with my balance issues, I go slowly these days! ;)
I must say, I’m currently reading/listening to Why Shoot a Butler? for the Reading the Detectives group, and the (view spoiler)
Susan in NC wrote: "I must say, I’m currently reading/listening to Why Shoot a Butler? for the Reading the Detectives group, and the [spoilers removed]"I still like Why Shoot a Butler but it's not one of her very best mysteries. Like you said, the characters are less likable, they feel stiffer to me, and it has less of that humor which makes you smile as you read.
One reviewer suggested that Heyer didn't like her own brothers, as she wrote so many of them who were worthless jerks. Interesting thought. ;)
Teri-K wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "I must say, I’m currently reading/listening to Why Shoot a Butler? for the Reading the Detectives group, and the [spoilers removed]"I still like Why Shoot a Butl..."
Lol, the brother theory has been floated here before, regarding other good and/or worthless brother characters Heyer created! ;)
I think GH loved her brothers but they were a financial burden to her.I always do wonder if the unsatisfactory brothers was a subconscious thing or GH relieving her frustrations.
This is my first read, a pleasure to read GH lines for the first time. I don't know how I've missed it; feeling very lucky. Caught myself laughing out loud when Cynthia was introduced. Looking forward to meeting all the characters and trying my best to sort them out. Like a good wine at the first sip, this shows promise.
Mary wrote: "This is my first read, a pleasure to read GH lines for the first time. I don't know how I've missed it; feeling very lucky. Caught myself laughing out loud when Cynthia was introduced. Looking forw..."Oh, lucky one - good approach, savor and enjoy!
Mary wrote: "This is my first read, a pleasure to read GH lines for the first time. I don't know how I've missed it; feeling very lucky. Caught myself laughing out loud when Cynthia was introduced. Looking forw..."GH's lines about Cynthia's intellect are priceless!
Talk about laughing, I tried to upload my reading version cover, but the best I could do was save it as my profile picture. So here it is! 1977 Bantam mass market paperbook, $1.50. My dream job would be to select cover art for GH books!
Mary, I can tell there is Tim and Beulah and one of the police, but who is the guy with his arms folded?
Mary wrote: "Talk about laughing, I tried to upload my reading version cover, but the best I could do was save it as my profile picture. So here it is! 1977 Bantam mass market paperbook, $1.50. My dream job wou..."Hi Mary is that a scan of your own copy?
If so, I can add that for you. Could you tell me the page count (not including any advertising or blank pages right at the end) :)
Mary wrote: "Talk about laughing, I tried to upload my reading version cover, but the best I could do was save it as my profile picture. So here it is! 1977 Bantam mass market paperbook, $1.50. My dream job wou..."But, but..our romantic young couple have no legs! Oh, no!!
Jackie wrote: "Mary, I can tell there is Tim and Beulah and one of the police, but who is the guy with his arms folded?"The man with the folded arms appears to be wearing a long dark coat, a long overcoat. At first I thought it might be a judicial coat, but definitely an overcoat, and holding a hat in his crossed arm hand. He has a hadlebar moustache and is wearing glasses.
Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "Mary wrote: "Talk about laughing, I tried to upload my reading version cover, but the best I could do was save it as my profile picture. So here it is! 1977 Bantam mass market paperbook, $1.50. My ..."Final page count is 233. I'd love to know how to post covers!
Mary wrote: "Talk about laughing, I tried to upload my reading version cover, but the best I could do was save it as my profile picture. So here it is! 1977 Bantam mass market paperbook, $1.50. My dream job wou..."I can even read the artist's signature, it is M. Hooks. If you Google that name, and Bantam, you'll find an article about Mitchell Hooks, an American artist who did artwork for paperback covers for Bantam, Avon, Dell. Very nice samples shown as well.
Hi MaryUnfortunately you have changed your avatar. Could you upload the book cover again, only not as your avatat (profile picture) & I will take it from there. :)
Carol She's So Novel - done! Cover back in place as my profile.
Mary wrote: "Carol She's So Novel - done! Cover back in place as my profile."I've saved a copy on my desktop, so you can change your profile picture back now if you want. :)
I'm in the middle of something else for Goodreads now, but I'll upload your edition as soon as I have finished that.
OK, I am 9 chapters in and I am really enjoying this. Much more than 'They found him dead'. I like an older Timothy - and I am hoping that we get to see more of his parents who I particularly liked in the first book. What I am finding surprising - is the liberal use of the word 'pansies'. I guess it is a sign of the time in which the book is written. It is amusing in a way.
Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "Hi MaryUnfortunately you have changed your avatar. Could you upload the book cover again, only not as your avatat (profile picture) & I will take it from there. :)"
& added.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...
I forgot to ask - does your copy have an ISBN? :)
I'm in chapter 9. I'm really enjoying Inspector Sandy Grant, and how he gives Hemingway something to pleasantly grouse about. For example (view spoiler) I feel that way about the grandkids, occasionally. lol
I like him, too. I've seen a lot of complaints about Sandy Grant and his language, but it's explained well by saying he just spent Christmas in Scottland and I think it's used to good comedic affect by giving Hemingway something else to "pleasantly grouse" about!
Jackie wrote: "I like him, too. I've seen a lot of complaints about Sandy Grant and his language, but it's explained well by saying he just spent Christmas in Scottland and I think it's used to good comedic affec..."The lady across the street is from Scotland. I'm thinking of asking her interpretation of the Scottish words. More fun than googling them, right?
As I remember Hannasyde used to complain about Hemingway's "psychology", didn't he? So this keeps that same feeling going. :)
Jackie wrote: "I like him, too. I've seen a lot of complaints about Sandy Grant and his language, but it's explained well by saying he just spent Christmas in Scottland and I think it's used to good comedic affec..."True, it does feed Hemingway good lines for his comedic banter, and since he requested Sandy at the outset, you know he likes and respects him - I just wonder if the narrator’s Celtic pronunciation is any good!
Having read other Hemingway mysteries, I know this is just his personality, and as Heyer points out, his superiors wouldn’t tolerate his cheekiness if he wasn’t so good!
Teri-K wrote: "Jackie wrote: "I like him, too. I've seen a lot of complaints about Sandy Grant and his language, but it's explained well by saying he just spent Christmas in Scottland and I think it's used to goo..."Oooh, perfect! If you have the audiobook, play her a bit and see what she thinks...yes, I always enjoyed Hemingway’s humor - Hannasyde was his “straight man” in the early books, tolerating his humor and psychological insights, and now his own sergeants fulfill the role!
Susan in NC wrote: "Teri-K wrote: "Jackie wrote: "I like him, too. I've seen a lot of complaints about Sandy Grant and his language, but it's explained well by saying he just spent Christmas in Scottland and I think i..."No audiobook, unfortunately. But she's a card and will be good for some fun when I get a chance to ask her to interpret. :)
I've wondered before if when Heyer split up H&H she wanted to try a different sort of relationship with the Inspectors, but then missed the chance for humor she had and so introduced Grant to get it back. I know I always miss that bit of levity till he shows up.
Teri-K wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "Teri-K wrote: "Jackie wrote: "I like him, too. I've seen a lot of complaints about Sandy Grant and his language, but it's explained well by saying he just spent Christmas in Sco..."Yes, Sandy is a great character, great foil for Hemingway- low-key, calm, unflappable - I can see why Hemingway asked for him!
This is my first time reading this book. I have the library copy - first American edition.
I am not enjoying this anywhere near as much as everyone else. In fact, I'm finding it a slog. It's slow and the murder scene description is way too graphic.
The characters are all so unpleasant! Pat and Jim are whiny rich people lucky to live in a mansion and afford a nanny for their horrid children. I don't think Jim should have gone to war. That's terrible! The last of the Kanes! They should have found him something safe to do. Thank goodness he survived.
This story is way too dated. Too much smoking and I'm not amused by the homophobic slurs Hemmingway tosses around. He used to be fun and witty. He's been a cop too long. I like Grant, even if he's a prude. He's funnier.
Terrible Timothy reminds me of a P.G. Wodehouse character with his blithe spirit and innocence. Unless he's a murderer. Beulah of the awful name is a weird woman. She puts up with too much abuse from her employer and she's very high strung.
Mrs. Haddington is ghastly. She's abusive to her employers and then wonders why they quit. She's the type to think good help is hard to find. Yeah ... you think? Maybe if you go back to the time when slavery was legal you might find "good" help. If she was the murder victim I would not be surprised. (view spoiler) I'd be sorely tempted if I were Beulah or the maid or the dressmaker.
That Seton-Carrew fellow is a blackmailer and a liar if ever I saw one. What does he have on Mrs. H and is she so dead set against him flirting with Cynthia because a)she's jealous b)she's worried what he's going to say or do or c)Is he a biological relative of Cynthia's, like her father perhaps? I feel sorry for young Butterwick. To be someone's last choice dinner guest and only invited to make up the numbers has to sting. To be different, possibly to be arrested and imprisoned just for being who you are had to be extraordinary difficult and heartbreaking. To watch the one you love, if Butterwick is indeed in love with Seaton-Carew, flirting with a girl you know he can't love as she ought to be loved, is enough to make anyone snap. I don't get the impression Butterwick is gay though. I think he's impressionable and socially awkward. He does try to psycho-analyze himself which is funny. I didn't know "autistic type" was a thing that early. I don't think he's a murderer though. Too high strung.
No one is looking at the seamstress. The poor, overlooked spinster who loves to hear about celebrities. She made me think of Miss Bates in Emma- the same elderly, talkative, looks up to her "betters" type person. I have much sympathy for her and if Mrs. H ended up murdered, I'd be looking at her! Poor lady.
I think the person who called in the murder to the paper is also the murderer.
At the end of the chapter Jim seems all right- still laid back and not too worried about what his little brother gets up to. They seem to get along better now they're adults and Terrible Timothy isn't trying to compete with Pat for Jim's attention and past the gangster phase. How fitting he became a lawyer!
QNPoohBear wrote: "I don't think Jim should have gone to war. "Probably our British members could answer this better than I, but I think fear of Hitler would transcend everything.
Georgette Heyer Fans
Books mentioned in this topic
Duplicate Death (other topics)Emma (other topics)
Why Shoot a Butler? (other topics)
Why Shoot a Butler? (other topics)
Why Shoot a Butler? (other topics)
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This is going to be our first group read of this title. I hope (in these troubled times) that no one has had trouble getting hold of it.
Critterbee & I decided just two threads for the mysteries went well for They Found Him Dead. So there could be open spoilers in the second thread as well - so read at your own risk! :) & please only discuss things that happened up to & including Chapter 10 in this thread. We don't want to spoil a first time read for anyone! Please use spoiler tags when necessary in this first part.
This is the first read of this title in this group but I have read it at least 10 times before. Here is my (hard cover) cover.
So, is this anyone's first read of this title? If not how many times have you read before? What format are you using this time?