Buttercream Bumpoff - Read & Discuss Chapters 17-24

[Allison]

Hey PI's,thought I better get this last section posted as some of you are getting to the end now I think.

[Tina]

Just arrived in The Parlor and noticed all the cupcake action. Yum!

Roach lied. Was he with Ange and she's his alibi? She would've had to have met him earlier than first thought. Hmm?

[Tina]

Poor Marty. The things those two (Mel and Angie) are putting him through. lol

Mean Christine. lol Can find one in practically every shop around.

[Tina]

Those two gals just happen to know someone who knows someone in business that they need to pull off a ruse with. Feels a bit too pat for me but then they are in business so I guess they would know a lot of people. Just some of them are too willing to go along with a hijink. The restaurant gig is case in point. If my eatery is in busy hour, I'm not too sure I'd be accommodating things going on in my kitchen or eating area of my restaurant. An accident just waiting to happen. Has anyone here been in a restaurant during crunch time? It's crazy busy: hot food, trays, waiters running around. Not buying that bit but most of the rest of story is good. ;-)

[Allison]

I just have to keep wondering how they stay in business when they are NEVER in the bakery. Except for Marty, seems like he never leaves except when they need him to perpetrate a scheme lol.

[Mark Pghfan]

I agree, poor Marty. That business is getting a little hard to swallow. Roach certainly lied, but my guess is he is not the culprit and that he will have a good reason for not telling the truth. And yes, they seem to spend a lot of time outside of their business!!

[Tina]

LOL Allison. Must be those big orders that carry them.

I think they should hire Marty pt time. He can cover for them except, like you pointed out, for times he is needed to assist in a scheme. ;-)

[Tina]

Pghfan, how's that for being your own boss? For what kind of business, I'm not sure but it's nice work if one can get it and for the while it lasts. lol

Watching Downton? Selfridge is coming up at end of March. Father Brown is good and G.chester. Not Marple or Poirot but still not bad. ;-)

[Mark Pghfan]

I watch Downton, though I'm one episode behind now. No for Selfridge. Saw one Granchester and liked it. We don't get Father Brown; that would be nice, though. I have the first season on DVD and am waiting for the next.

Almost through the book. It seems to be getting crazier and crazier.

[Tina]

LOL on the book getting whackier. I'm just post-restaurant scene. Elle's starting to seem a strong suspect so it's probably not her. I'd make a crummy gumshoe.

The Granchester priesthood sure had it easy back then. (It's only a movie, it's only a movie). lol

[Jill]

I love watching PBS. We watch all the shows, except hubby doesn't like Mr. Selfridge, but that's ok, I can watch it while he's at work and enjoy being able to hear it and not miss anything....

[Allison]

Has anyone gotten to the recipes yet?
Any plans to make anything?

[Tina]

Finished! Never saw that one for the perp.

I thought the climax a bit hokey. The baddie could've easily taken the two.

Love most shows on pbs and Selfridge is a fave. I too watch most pbs fare after SO goes to bed or is at his mom's or work etc. I prefer to crank volume so I can hear all esp. with characters' thick accents.

Not sure I'll try any of the recipes. Want to, however, look up the one. Cherry Bomb or something like that. Sounds good.

[Allison]

Good - someone's done so I can say something! Where were the clues to lead us to the bad guy? Almost non-existent except for a few bad looks towards Mel and a cooking class? Not really fair I thought.

There was some kind of recipe involving lemon (a favorite flavor of mine) that sounded pretty good I thought.

I'm glad Marty came out OK. He deserved it! Probably won't sleep ever again from all the sugar he ate.

[Tina]

Good point, Allison. No clues pointing in that direction. Sure, author can't come right out and point at the perp but a red and blue herring tossed that way would be fair.

Poor Marty not winning. They should have disqualified the winner ASA they learned of the mechanics behind the drawing.

Lemon sounds good esp. for springtime being just 'round the corner. ;-)

[Jill]

I love lemons...I love that pucker power from them. I enjoy using them in my savory dishes as well as just on desserts or fish. You all were way to far ahead of me for this book, so I choose not to participate, but I will get to it, hopefully in the next few weeks. Things are starting to thaw, I mean slow down here, so hopefully that means more time to read either in the evening or before bed.

[Mark Pghfan]

I agree, Allison. Nobody figured anything out and there were no clues provided. The ending was just sort of stumbled on.

[Allison]

Pghfan wrote: "I agree, Allison. Nobody figured anything out and there were no clues provided. The ending was just sort of stumbled on."

Glad it wasn't just me that thought the "bad guy" was left out of the mystery on this one lol. I kept wondering where I missed the clues.

Oh yes, lemon! Love it! Have some lemonade chicken marinating in the fridge right now to throw on the BBQ maybe tomorrow. For those of you stuck in the snow/cold - we were at almost 70 today and the same expected for tomorrow and the next day. Dare I say it? (whispers - Spring is here)

[Tina]

Heard from J. She may be back with us in a bit. J-Snoops, if you are reading this, welcome back.


In a bit of drama right now getting SO's mom taken care of. I shall return.

So many great titles out there. I know we were to do the Royal mysteries but wonder if we can put that off 'til April.

Spotted a new one I'll read either way. Girl on the Train and then there's a few that take place in old mansions. Hollywood mysteries another series. Got great ratings.

Okay, if anyone can handle next read & discuss, feel free to chime in. What should we do? Go with Royal Spyness or look at the new offerings out there?

Be back shortly.

[Jill]

I can wait until April to start the Royal mysteries. Right now you need to concentrate on SO's mother. That is more important. I also bought The Girl On The Train. Hoping to get that read here in the next couple of days. I'm open to anything that the group wants to read. I just bought and another new one , and I know this last one is the first book in a new series. Just my suggestions.

Tina if you need any help with anything don't be afraid to ask....even if its just to vent. Good Luck.

[Tina]

Either is okay with me, Jill. Royal mystery or even Girl On/Train. Spotted it at bookstore but got caught up with friends and B&N closed before I had a chance to get copy. Maybe I'll just order on line. But it got a great rating, def. sounds good. Want to read it either way.

Thanks for the support, Jill. So far so good. Got much accomplished in past few weeks. His mom's settling in her new home (nice rooms actually), hired a great realtor who'll have 1st Open House this weekend, neighbor might be interested in car, donating items she doesn't want and so on. Taking a breath and it's time to get back to normal and enjoy life via a good book and such.

Any of the titles sound good for remaining March or just wait 'til April. I'm good all ways.

[Allison]

Any of them sound fine to me, I'll pretty much read anything.
I have had Empty Mansions: The Mysterious Life of Huguette Clark and the Spending of a Great American Fortune on my TBR/Challenge list for 2 years now so maybe I'll splurge and get it to read after all. Was kind of holding off because the Kindle version seemed really expensive to me.