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Detection Unlimited
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Detection Unlimited September Group Read 2021 SPOILERS thread
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This was great! It's now my favorite of all her mysteries. It was funny and light. I really appreciated the lack of autocratic patriarch and the village snobbery was easier to take and relate to than her usual between-the-wars aristocratic snobbery. I loved the Ultimas! They're too funny. I wish one of them had uncovered a crucial piece of evidence. Mummy is batty and I don't approve of her breeding practices but she isn't a backyard breeder and does love her pups- maybe a little too much at times. I liked the reference to They Found Him Dead and it made me miss Terrible Timothy. Hemmingway's sense of humor appeals to me a lot.
I was CERTAIN Mavis killed her uncle. NOBODY is that selfless or stupid. Full Victorian mourning for an uncle who bullied her and treated her like an unpaid servant? Come on! She was in the right place at the right time and then covered it up by having hysterics on the neighbor's doorstep. I really thought it was her until Hemmingway started pulling in the rifles and it was impossible for her to have gotten to one.
My second choice was the Squire's wife. She had the papers Gavin went back to retrieve and I thought she had looked and seen something she needed to kill to protect. I expected it to have something to do with the son who was killed or the heir. I think what the Squire is doing is technically stealing from the estate. Did I interpret that correctly? It was confusing. I feel bad for that couple. They lost everything in the war.
The Lindales weren't on my radar. I guessed their secret. I thought either he was impersonating someone else or they were living in sin. Divorce would only work if her first husband was willing to grant her one and Mr. Lindale indicates the first husband is being difficult on purpose.
Gavin wasn't high up on the list but on there in the third or fourth spot until the timeline shifted up. I hope the old man gets his picture in the paper! He provided crucial evidence even though he does not like the police. I didn't understand the motive. It seemed rather weak to me. Why kill his brother? Did he think his brother would make good on the threat to cut him off? I finished at 1 AM so I'll go back and look it over when I'm more fresh and see if I missed anything.
This was great! It's now my favorite of all her mysteries. It was funny and light. I really appreciated the lack of autocratic patriarch and the village snobbery was easier to take and relate to than her usual between-the-wars aristocratic snobbery. I loved the Ultimas! They're too funny. I wish one of them had uncovered a crucial piece of evidence. Mummy is batty and I don't approve of her breeding practices but she isn't a backyard breeder and does love her pups- maybe a little too much at times. I liked the reference to They Found Him Dead and it made me miss Terrible Timothy. Hemmingway's sense of humor appeals to me a lot.
I was CERTAIN Mavis killed her uncle. NOBODY is that selfless or stupid. Full Victorian mourning for an uncle who bullied her and treated her like an unpaid servant? Come on! She was in the right place at the right time and then covered it up by having hysterics on the neighbor's doorstep. I really thought it was her until Hemmingway started pulling in the rifles and it was impossible for her to have gotten to one.
My second choice was the Squire's wife. She had the papers Gavin went back to retrieve and I thought she had looked and seen something she needed to kill to protect. I expected it to have something to do with the son who was killed or the heir. I think what the Squire is doing is technically stealing from the estate. Did I interpret that correctly? It was confusing. I feel bad for that couple. They lost everything in the war.
The Lindales weren't on my radar. I guessed their secret. I thought either he was impersonating someone else or they were living in sin. Divorce would only work if her first husband was willing to grant her one and Mr. Lindale indicates the first husband is being difficult on purpose.
Gavin wasn't high up on the list but on there in the third or fourth spot until the timeline shifted up. I hope the old man gets his picture in the paper! He provided crucial evidence even though he does not like the police. I didn't understand the motive. It seemed rather weak to me. Why kill his brother? Did he think his brother would make good on the threat to cut him off? I finished at 1 AM so I'll go back and look it over when I'm more fresh and see if I missed anything.
Susan in NC wrote: "Jackie wrote: "I liked the visit to the enormous family - the chaotic atmosphere that really threw Hemingway for a minute that's one of my favorite scenes in the book!"
Yes, me too, not only bec..."
And how he acted like he was leaving to get them to go inside and not follow him - not often that he gets ruffled.
Critterbee❇ wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "Jackie wrote: "I liked the visit to the enormous family - the chaotic atmosphere that really threw Hemingway for a minute that's one of my favorite scenes in the book!"
Yes, ..."
Yes! I think that was one of my favorite scenes, very funny - they just took to him like ducks to water! ;)
The lower class characters are incredibly enjoyable. Mr. Biggleswade is a hoot too.
I liked this read! All the character foibles and the play on words names . I also liked the interaction of the townspeople so very like a small town in the country where everyone knows each other.It was good!
This is one of the good mysteries - meaning I like it. So far only one clunker out of her mysteries, for me. The mystery was not too difficult, and I enjoyed the characters and they way they interacted.
So far only one clunker out of her mysteries, for me. I'm going to guess Penhallow. That's my least favorite.
Jackie wrote: "So far only one clunker out of her mysteries, for me. I'm going to guess Penhallow. That's my least favorite."
Mine, too. :) I like all the rest of them a lot.
Critterbee❇ wrote: "This is one of the good mysteries - meaning I like it. So far only one clunker out of her mysteries, for me. The mystery was not too difficult, and I enjoyed the characters and they way they inte..."
Yeah me too!
My husband, who prefers mysteries to other genres, found himself book-less last week. So I handed him my copy of this one. He had a great time with it, and is now reading No Wind of Blame. (He requested it from the library on his own--no prodding from me.)I know I'll not convert him to the extent that he'll read the romances, but he seems to be enjoying her mysteries.
Barb in Maryland wrote: "My husband, who prefers mysteries to other genres, found himself book-less last week. So I handed him my copy of this one. He had a great time with it, and is now reading [book:No Wind of Blame|323..."That is soo cool! Go Barb!
Barb in Maryland wrote: "My husband, who prefers mysteries to other genres, found himself book-less last week. So I handed him my copy of this one. He had a great time with it, and is now reading [book:No Wind of Blame|323..."I was a huge fan of her mysteries long before I started reading her romances. I think they hold up quite well with other cozy mystery writers - no violence or blood - though they have professional investigators. They remind me of Ngaio Marsh books.
I loved No Wind of Blame, but for me the clunker was A Blunt Instrument, but I have only read it once, so maybe I will give it another go in a few years.Penhallow, for some reason I don't count that as a mystery, it was just such a strange book.
Detection Unlimited had great pacing and those lovely characters. Plus the puppies. Was there an Ulrika, Uriel, Uriah...
Critterbee❇ wrote: "Detection Unlimited had great pacing and those lovely characters. Plus the puppies. Was there an Ulrika, Uriel, Uriah..."
Umbrella, Ulysses ... LOL!
Critterbee❇ wrote: "Detection Unlimited had great pacing and those lovely characters. Plus the puppies. Was there an Ulrika, Uriel, Uriah..."
Umbrella, Ulysses ... LOL!
Teri K. I agree with you they are good mysteries without the blood and violence and yeah you're right they are like Marsh .
I like cozy mysteries too!
I've never tried Ngaio Marsh, so apparently I should. anywhere in particular to start?ETA I was forgetting this is the Heyer group and maybe I should post that question elsewhere. never mind!
Barb in Maryland wrote: "My husband, who prefers mysteries to other genres, found himself book-less last week. So I handed him my copy of this one. He had a great time with it, and is now reading [book:No Wind of Blame|323..."A wise man of impeccable taste, clearly…
Critterbee❇ wrote: "I loved No Wind of Blame, but for me the clunker was A Blunt Instrument, but I have only read it once, so maybe I will give it another go in a few years.Penhallow, for some reason I..."
For me, the stinker is Why Shoot a Butler?! But I did enjoy the dogs and their names- and as one character pointed out, once every name HAD to start with “U”, to alliteratively compliment “Ultima,” there was bound to be a point where the owner would have to use the dictionary for ideas!
I was quite fond of 'Untidy'--who, alas, lived up to his/her name!
Hey Jackie ! I started with Death in a White Tie and liked it! Her first one is Dead man lay...and go in order if you want to you can read them either way in order or out of order.
Jackie wrote: "I've never tried Ngaio Marsh, so apparently I should. anywhere in particular to start?ETA I was forgetting this is the Heyer group and maybe I should post that question elsewhere. never mind!"
You don't have to read them in order. Pick one that sounds fun to you. Her New Zealand and acting/theater ones are fun. Also, Artists in Crime, where he meets Troy.
Susan in NC wrote: "For me, the stinker is Why Shoot a Butler?! "Lots of folks don't care for that one, but I enjoy it. Try They Found Him Dead and then Duplicate Death if you haven't already. I like meeting Terrible Timothy as a boy and then a young man. :)
Gretchen wrote: "Hey Jackie ! I started with Death in a White Tie and liked it! Her first one is Dead man lay...and go in order if you want to you can read them either way in order or out of order."ok, thank you both, Gretchen and Terri-K!
Susan in NC, Why Shoot a Butler was one (like Footsteps in the Dark) that I had to warm up to, not liking them at first.
Teri-K wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "For me, the stinker is Why Shoot a Butler?! "Lots of folks don't care for that one, but I enjoy it. Try They Found Him Dead and then Duplicate Death if you haven't already. I ..."
Oh, I’ve read them all, some multiple times; I don’t like “Butler” because there’s not as much humor as her other mysteries, and I dislike the obnoxious heroine. The two with Timothy are fun, (view spoiler)
Barb in Maryland wrote: "I was quite fond of 'Untidy'--who, alas, lived up to his/her name!"Oh, yes, that was funny!
Georgette Heyer Fans
Books mentioned in this topic
A Blunt Instrument (other topics)Why Shoot a Butler? (other topics)
A Blunt Instrument (other topics)
No Wind of Blame (other topics)
They Found Him Dead (other topics)
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that's one of my favorite scenes in the book!"
Yes, me too, not only because they were the only people Hemingway encountered in this book that threw him for a loop, but they were so delighted he was there, pulled him right in to their home and lives! I think they’re the only ones who out-talked and out-charmed him! He’s so used to exerting himself to get in good with witnesses and suspects - no need with this family!