March? April? Spring Title Search. The Hunt Is On!

[Tina]

Hey, PI's, spring has sprung...sort of. Great that we have a group again. Jill, Allison, Pghfan, J is back and moi. Sir Al is in the house via The Lane (movie discussion threads).

Anyway, what say you? Use the rest of March to finish current discussion and start hunting for April title or quick pick something and start reading right away? And then should we stay on course with Royal Spyness or search for a new title and postpone Spyness for mid-spring? I'm good all ways. Just want to get my nose back in a great book. Opine, please. ;-)

[Tina]

I'll opt for taking rest of Mar. to sleuth out titles and post picks, vote on them.

I forget if we'd a host for next discussion or needed one. Won't put anyone on spot so I won't post any names. Remind me if you were to host. ;-)

A couple of my titles are: (may come in different covers).

That's it so far. Now you. ;-)

[Mark Pghfan]

I am OK waiting until April. I'd like us to consider, though, some of the more classic mystery books. I know we've done a lot of Christie, but perhaps Allingham, Marsh, Tey, Crispin, Ellis Peters, Dickson Carr, Sayers, Patricia Wentworth, etc.

Anyone interested in that? I'm a little bit over spunky women who run bakeries or catering...

[Anastasia]

Pghfan wrote: "I am OK waiting until April. I'd like us to consider, though, some of the more classic mystery books. I know we've done a lot of Christie, but perhaps Allingham, Marsh, Tey, Crispin, Ellis Peters..."

Pghfan, I would love to read one of the more classic books.

[Tina]

Thanks, Pghfan! Appreciate the suggestions.
Not big on Marsh or Tey so I won't vote for either but I'm up for exploring the others.

And our wonderful Anastasia is back! Thanks for weighing in. I have no problem with a classic as long as I can find the title.

[Jill]

Pghfan wrote: "I am OK waiting until April. I'd like us to consider, though, some of the more classic mystery books. I know we've done a lot of Christie, but perhaps Allingham, Marsh, Tey, Crispin, Ellis Peters..."

I'm ok with reading some classics.

[Jill]

Here's the three that I recently bought. , , . But I'm open to anything. Classics, Royal series, cozy, whatever everyone wants to do. Is fine with me.

[Tina]

Jill, Yeah, classics or the other is good with me too though I have my eye on Girl On the Train. Started reading sample pages and it drew me in. Maybe we can have an aside chat on that one should it not get picked.

Pghfan, should we pick a Classic, could you handle hosting the title/discuss? Thought I'd ask. ;-)

[Mark Pghfan]

I would be happy to host a classic.

[Jill]

Tina, sounds good I'd love to have a little discussion on it.

Pghfan....let me know what you decide on, it's been a long time since I read any of the classic mysteries....Looking forward to revisiting them

[Anastasia]

Jill wrote: "Tina, sounds good I'd love to have a little discussion on it.

Pghfan....let me know what you decide on, it's been a long time since I read any of the classic mysteries....Looking forward to revis..."

[Anastasia]

Some of the classics may be hard to find now. I used to love Rex Stout and Erle Stanley Gardner

[J]

Other than a classic, in honor of Spring I would like to nominate one of he Kate Collins Flower Shop Mysteries. Dearly Depotted seems to have gotten pretty good reviews but there are others. Anyone familiar with this series?

[Anastasia]

J wrote: "Other than a classic, in honor of Spring I would like to nominate one of he Kate Collins Flower Shop Mysteries. Dearly Depotted seems to have gotten pretty good reviews but there are others. Anyone..."

I love this series. I am up to Throw in the trowel.Unfortunately, I think this is one that needs to be read in order as otherwise you miss out on the ups and downs of the various relationships and the background stories.

[Tina]

PI's , I'd go with a classic but one that can be readily found at Ammy or B&N with new copies available. Too often I've purchased used books and they were nasty icky where I couldn't turn the pages. Just didn't enjoy the experience; didn't finish the books. I don't have a reader so that shoots that one.

Maybe we should take a poll: Classic or Current. ;-)

[Tina]

I'm up for either but should we go with a classic, Pghfan, and you agree to host, I'd be open to hear your title suggestions.

Good to have you back, J. ET good?

Haven't heard of the Flower Shop mysteries until now.

Maybe we should have two discussions late March - through April. One contemporary and one classic. lol Something for everyone and all sides of our mystery sensibilities.

[Tina]

J wrote: "Other than a classic, in honor of Spring I would like to nominate one of he Kate Collins Flower Shop Mysteries. Dearly Depotted seems to have gotten pretty good reviews but there are others. Anyone..."

[Tina]

My noms so far would be a Campion Margery Allingham in the Classics category and Girl On the Train for Contemporary category. To please both eras maybe do both? So don't like having to pick 'tweens greats. lol

Royal Spyness or Dearly Depotted could be my starter picks for May.

[J]

Good idea about maybe doing both Tina. I only suggested Collins' series as an alternative. Whatever the PIs decide is fine with me,

Anastasia- I only suggested Depotted since it appears to have gotten better reviews than the first one but on second look neither was terrible.
Am curious if you would recommend this series? Might read it own my own if the PIs vote it down.

[Anastasia]

J wrote: "Good idea about maybe doing both Tina. I only suggested Collins' series as an alternative. Whatever the PIs decide is fine with me,

Anastasia- I only suggested Depotted since it appears to have go..."

I think you will enjoy it. Each book focuses on a particular murder but there are a lot of other things going on in the the background. Sort of like a soap opera, once you start you get hooked. There are quite a lot of funny moments and they are all light quick reads, especially good when you want to get away from everything and relax.

[Tina]

Thanks, J, Anastasia. As they say, so many books, so little time though things are shaping up. ;-)

[Jill]

Tina, I have a suggestion. In another group that I in, they do the one that they pick each month. And then they choose a second book and make it to where if someone doesn't like the monthly pick, or can't find/get a book because there's a hugh waiting list at the library for that book, but still wants to participate in a monthly read, or if they have time, they do both books. Maybe we could do that with the Royal series that we've been talking about doing. Just an idea

[Tina]

Jill, I thought it would work having two discussions a month. Thing is we need more participants to carry them. Then again, with two choices, there'd be a better chance of finding a fit. We could try it for a few months and if it works, keep it. If no, then drop one.


If we can wait for May, maybe run Dearly Depotted and Royal Spyness. April can be one of Pghfan's classics and the contemporary title.

PI's if you are reading this, voice your opine on this idea. Thanks!

[J]

Sounds good on paper (as they say) but doing 2 reads a month sounds more like a time issue. Tina didn't we try it once before - maybe on the old board?
I seem to remember people just didn't have enough time.

[Jill]

I know sometimes I don't have time to read one book, so I understand the time issue. And sometimes I can't purchase the book and have to get it from the library, and sometimes that in itself takes longer than watching paint dry....lol....THERE'S JUST SO MANY BOOKS TO CHOOSE FROM!!!!!!!!!!ARRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGG...LOL....oh that felt better....lol....I'm sure we'll think of something that will work for this group, we just need to think....sometimes that could be a dangerous thing for me...lol....

I don't mind doing one book a month. or maybe something we could do. just throwing this out there and since our group is small. maybe we could appoint one person every other month to suggest three books, we take a poll, we read the winner, and then the next month read the first book in the royal series, that way it would allow everyone time to get the books.

[Anastasia]

Too many books to read.That makes it more difficult to commit to more than one a month. Also have too many series that I am already reading so don't really want to start another

[Tina]

Just running things 'round in head. Should we go with two books a month, all don't have to read/discuss both books unless they want to. And if things get split up, as long as there are two reading/discussing same book, IMHO, that's a discussion. Plus we can pop back and forth 'tween threads to keep in loop. This way we wouldn't miss anyone.

We've about six reg. active members in The Parlor. Even if two PI's go to one discussion, the other book will have a reasonable four participation. And three and three and so on. That could work. Maybe we can all post an invite to the discussion(s). We got a few that way.

For April we could do Pghfan's classic and a contemporary title.

How 'bout we try April and see how it goes. If it doesn't work, we can go back to one book running a month.

I think we've two no's for two books so far. Anastasia and J elect one book a month option. I'll vote with Jill for two books to try in April. Just need to hear from Allison and Pghfan. How's this sound so far?

[Anastasia]

The two books gives us a choice-we could read one or both so it seems to suit everyone

[Tina]

I'll go along with majority, Anastasia. Doesn't matter. Just so long as we have a group, book buddies to discuss a good mystery with. ;-)

[Jill]

Me too Tina, I go with the flow. Like I said, what ever we decide I'm fine with.

[Mark Pghfan]

Pghfan is willing to set up a classic for April. How about Police at the Funeral, by Margery Allingham. It is the fourth book featuring her detective Albert Campion (whom I recently understand was sort of a spoof on Lord Peter Wimsey.) It is a more classic mystery, without the cockney British language and the spy influences that are present in some of the Campion books. If we start in April, that should give people time to get the book from their library, or it is $6.99 on your Kindle. Who is in?

[J]

I have not read any in the Campion series so if this is one where the reader is at a disadvantage not having read the previous ones I will have to bow out.

[Mark Pghfan]

Actually, I have only read the first in the series, The Crime at Black Dudley, and I doubt if it would be necessary to follow the others. Campion is an aristocrat detective with an ornery manservant named Magersfontein. That's about it.

[Anastasia]

I'll join in if I can get the book. Read The Crime at Black Dudley recently and did not really like it, but I understand it was the first and Campion did not really play much of a part

[Anastasia]

Got the book on Audible so will join in

[Mark Pghfan]

I thought the same about Black Dudley, but understood later that that was not a particularly typical Campion. He didn't, as you noted, play much of a part.

[Tina]

Read Black Dudley and it was intriguing enough. Not bad. I will try to obtain a copy of Police At the Funeral. Sounds good. Pghfan, and if it is okay with you, I'll run a read and discuss alongside yours (or earlier or later - when schedule here permits) on title: Girl On the Train. Let me know if this is okay with all. If too much, I will honor just your offer to host a classic read, Pghfan.

[Tina]

If you're all okay with Pghfan's pick for very late March-thru April then I'll go ahead and get my copy this weekend.

As for contempory title, I'll stick with my pick of Girl On the Train. Love those train mysteries and it looks like this one doesn't disappoint.


J, would you want to lead Dearly Depotted and Jill, Royal Spyness for May? Anastasia can work a June title along with an Allison title. Then we can hit just about everyone's fave. Just a thought.

[Jill]

I'm fine with all this. I'll do the Royal Spyness for May, if that's ok with everyone else

[Anastasia]

Sounds good, although someone will probably have to talk me through how to set up the discussion boards as I haven't done this yet

[Jill]

It's not hard Anastasia, we'll all help you out

[Tina]

Thanks for that, Anastasia. Yes, we'll all help. Probably two steps to starting the discussion thread. Then break down chapters into four weeks and host as you like. Should be about it. Yep, we'll help. Just yell. ;-)

[Tina]

Expected arrival date for my Girl/Train book was yesterday (18th) and now it looks like it'll be a few more days. Was in PA early Wed. Fat chance getting it here today. Ah, me. lol

Will get my Margery Allingham this weekend. April and May looks to be shaping up to be a good Springtime in The Parlor!! ;-)

[J]

And I will be happy to do Dearly Depotted assuming anyone else is interested.

Pgh- when were you going to start Campion discussion? The book is available through my library system but since it's not my local branch, I only get it for 28 days and don't know if I can renew.

[Tina]

I'm interested in a Campion start date as well. ;-)

[Mark Pghfan]

I think I will start the Campion on April the 1st. That should give you all enough time to get it from your library (I haven't got mine yet, either.) If we are all on board, we can start earlier, if needed. I know, J, the business with trying to read within the due dates from the library!

[Tina]

Thanks, Pghfan. I will pick up my copy of Police At the Funeral this weekend. I'm okay with start date.

To get a head count; how many for Girl On the Train? Think so far I counted Jill and moi. Let me know if there are any more and I'll figure a start date to accommodate all. Lookin' good.

[Anastasia]

Depends on how I go with the classic read. If I get through it quickly I'll try Girl on the train. Have a few other books that I have started and don't like to have too many going at once.

[Jill]

I wonder if Allison would be interested in reading The Girl on the Train.

[Tina]

I thought about that, Jill. Maybe she'll check in.

Got my copy yesterday and started it. I love it! Maybe just me and not to spoil, but the way the author weaves characters' participation in story is skillful and unique. Not that it's never been done before but not over used. Love that it's not the same old formula.

Have you started the book yet? If so, what do you think thus far?

Before I forget points I want to make, I should start discussion sometime this week. Forgot to note that I can host this one unless someone else wants to. Don't want to put it on someone else if they don't want that.