Sandy’s Comments (group member since Dec 14, 2015)

Sandy’s comments from the Reading the Detectives group.

Back to Susan in NC's recommendations, both Leaphorn & Chee and Anna Pigeon have been on my TBR 'forever'. Never tried either.

Susan wrote: "Perhaps to follow the Sarah Hawkswood?

How do you feel about Rebus, Sandy?"

Rebus has never been on my TBR although I know the series is well regarded. I am willing to give it a try.

Regarding Hawkswood, I will be spotty as the books are not in my libraries and are $8 on kindle unless there is a sale. I have a few that way. (A bit off subject.)

I have continued Henry Tibbett (the first three), some from the library, some from Kindle Unlimitied. Tibbett does not have the humor of Sloan and Crosby, but he is a kind man with a helpful wife.

Continuing Susan in Nc's thoughts:
in the Cadfael/historical/clerical vein, there’s the Sister Frevisse mysteries (first was The Novice's Tale), by Margaret Frazer, or the Brother Athelstan mysteries, first was The Nightingale Gallery. Frevisse definitely has more humor, Athelstan is rather heavy on the medieval “life is nasty, brutish and short” vibe!

I read The Novice's tale in 2017 and my review says I plan to continue. Maybe now is the time? And Brother Athelstan is on my TBR.

Susan in NC wrote: "Susan wrote: "Please let me know if you spot any mistakes.

For something different and more modern, I enjoyed the Sam Wyndham series (India, 1920s, first was A Rising Man by Abir Mukherjee) or The Case of the Missing Servant by Tarquin Hall, first book in the Vish Puri series.

Thank you for mentioning those series. I was already on the wait list for the new San Wyndham but didn't realize there is a new Vish Puri after a long gap.

Another I own and a series I mean to start, No Game For a Dame. Free in the US (from what I can see - Amazon not very helpful as it tells me I own the book).

A .38, a nip of gin and sensational legs get Depression-era private investigator Maggie Sullivan out of most scrapes – until a stranger threatens to bust her nose, she’s hauled in on suspicion of his murder and she finds herself in the cross-hairs of a crime boss with connections at City Hall.

Moving through streets where people line up at soup kitchens, Maggie draws information from sources others overlook: The waitress at the dime store lunch counter where she has breakfast; a ragged newsboy; the other career girls at her rooming house.

Her digging gets her chloroformed and left in a ditch behind the wheel of her DeSoto. She makes her way to an upscale bordello and gets tea – and information – from the madam herself.

A gunman puts a bullet through Maggie’s hat. Her shutterbug pal on the evening paper warns her off. A new cop whose presence unsettles her thinks she’s crooked. Before she finds all the answers she needs, she faces a half-crazed man with a gun, and a far more lethal point-blank killer.

If you like Robert B. Parker's hard boiled Spencer series and strong women sleuths, don't miss this one-of-a-kind Ohio detective from a time in United States history when dames wore hats -- but seldom a Smith & Wesson.

Susan in NC wrote: "How about a visit to Roger Sheringham? I’ve got his third case on kindle, currently 99 cents in the USA, Roger Sheringham and the Vane Mystery[bookcover:Roger Sheringham and the Van..."

Oh good, one I own.

Welcome Anubha. you will find lots of discussions of Marple and Poirot in our threads. They are always open for new comments.

Oh dear! I looked at Wild Fire first and saw it was the final entry in the series. Then looked at Killing Stones and now I know more than I want to! My recommendation is to avoid the synopsis of Killing Stones.

Judy wrote: "One of the issues I had with the plot was that it was hard to believe Rachel would allow her faithful servant to stay after it turned out she was organising things like the poisoned chocolates and ..."

Rachel really seemed to be a glutton for punishment. Not only did she not fire the servant, she supplied a home for all sorts of people she didn't like. Why anyone would put up with Cherry and Maurice, or the whiny sister, is beyond me. Even her favorite, Christine, turned out to have no common sense. She had only to ask Richard if the lie was true.

I enjoyed the adventurous plot, The outsider, Gale, was the only character I really liked. While I routed for Rachel, I thought she was foolish to not change her will or at least lie and say she did. Another trope: hire a detective and then ignore his advice.

I thought the sister's attempt at forgery was a hoot. I was certain her unused sleeping powders were going to be a factor.

Alwynne wrote: "I finished a novella from 1982 newly translated into English Suspicion from Japanese author Seichō Matsumoto. Through the coverage of one woman's arrest and trial for murder, Matsu..."

I read Tokyo Express by the author last year and meant to read more. My review:

Excellent plot (though I zoned out of discussions of timetables) with two dogged detectives and a boss willing to follow a hunch. A bit of personality shown with the older detective but none for the main investigator. The style reminds me of Maigret.

I'm about halfway through and really liking it. I didn't like the only other Miss Silver I read so I may need to revise my opinion.

Susan wrote: "I nominate Post After Post-Mortem by E.C.R. Lorac

I know we have had a lot of books by Lorac, but this looks really goo..."

In US: $1

I really like Poirot-being-Poirot in this book. His little mannerisms seem fresh and new. While I enjoyed the book, I thought the plot got unnecessarily complex and the reveal not terribly convincing. The characters were excellent, even the minor players. I hope Poirot is right and Lennox finds love. But we know Poirot is always right; he has told us.

Frances wrote: "I'm about a third of the way in and enjoying this, although I fail to understand the "kind wealthy person who allows their incredibly annoying and demanding family to sponge off them endlessly" tro..."

Nor with the "nasty wealthy person who demands his family gather around for their yearly abuse and the changing of the will".

Interesting thought about Marple/Poirot crossover.

I have started my reread though, as usual, I remember little. Just met Mr. Goby who is one of my favorite minor characters. No sign of Poirot yet.

I have the eBook from the library and will be joining in soon.

I am really enjoying Playing Dead: Short Stories by Members of the Detection Club. Over halfway through and haven't hit any I dislike. Great collection.

Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "I'm reading Come, Tell Me How You Live by Agatha Christie (writing as Agatha Christie Mallowan)

I'm about 3/4 of the way through & enjoying Dame Agatha's adventuro..."

I really liked it!

I like The Windsor Knot series.

Not my favorite. I had to review the first third of the book to get the characters straight and there aren't that many of them. Also, Olive only makes sandwiches off stage. I did like Bobby's reasoning at the end.