Tara ’s Comments (group member since Jul 12, 2017)

Tara ’s comments from the Reading the Detectives group.

There is a limited deal on a few titles from Otto Penzler's American Mystery Classics series:

The Odor of Violets: A Duncan Maclain Mystery

The Bellamy Trial

The Case of the Baited Hook: A Perry Mason Mystery

Abigail wrote: "Sounds wonderful! Having read Robert B. Parker’s early Spenser novels, I can just wrap my head around “taut and lyrical.” Thanks for telling us about it!"

The worlds that Woolrich created were certainly dark, and seemingly his personal life was quite sad and lonely. You have to hope that having an outlet for his pain helped him a little.

I've never read any Parker. Where would you recommend beginning?

On audiobook I am listening to Mission: Jimmy Stewart and the Fight for Europe by Robert Matzen. It focuses on Stewart's war experiences and how they changed him and his acting--an interesting topic for sure.

My main non-mystery physical book is Imaginary Conversations by Walter Savage Landor. The gist of the book is a series of conversations between historical figures, although there is no pretense that these represent any real interactions but are rather in the voice of the author. There are various volumes divided into similar subjects (i.e. Greeks and Romans), although my copy appears to have been printed especially for the Limited Editions Club, and includes both long and short conversations, attempting to capture the best of what Landor had produced. I simply adore the fact that the book still has uncut pages (per the advice from Helene Hanff I use a grapefruit knife to get the job done). It feels like a present you get to keep opening as you read.

I've been in a bit of reading slump this year (lots of illness in the family keeping me preoccupied), but I just started Deadline at Dawn by William Irish (aka Cornell Woolrich) as part of a book club read. While I enjoy noir films, I have never particularly liked a similar hard-boiled vibe in my detective fiction, however, Woolrich is a master of the genre. The book is a real page -turner, even though not much as far as plot goes has even happened yet. The writing is both taut and lyrical, a somewhat odd combination. And this might be the first mystery novel that required me to have a dictionary handy.

As much as I love 84, Charing Cross Road, and of course it is the book that led me to Hanff, I think I prefer Duchess. Her humor and irreverence stands out more.

Sandy wrote: "I have been planning to re-read The Daughter of Time which is the only Alan Grant book I haven't read recently. After listening to a couple of podcasts about Richard III, I decided now..."

Jacobi is up there as one of my favorite audiobook narrators along with Hugh Fraser. He does a wonderful job with some of Tolkien's children's books.

Love the concept for the challenge. Can't wait!

I read and enjoyed A Death in Door County by Annelise Ryan which was quirky enough to keep the plot moving. I'm about halfway through The Enigma of Room 622 by Joël Dicker which is boring me to tears. Odd for something billed as a thriller. Too much time jumping that feels like its done just for the sake of it.

On audiobook, I'm starting The Devil and the Dark Water by Stuart Turton. I thought The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle was fantastic, I am hoping this sophomore effort holds up. In an effort to catch up on the detection club challenge, I'm also reading The Studio Crime by Ianthe Jerrold. I only read the first chapter the other day and I've already completely forgotten what I read--I hope this doesn't portend how the book will turn out.

I have 2 very different mysteries on the go:

Cat's Paw by Roger Scarlett, another offering from the American Mystery Classic series. Similar to Ellery Queen, Scarlett is actually a pseudonym of a writing pair, in this case a female couple. Somewhat of a predictable country house mystery vibe, it does have excellent character development. I am just getting to the murdery bit and the introduction of the police investigation.

On the other end of the spectrum is Plum Island by Nelson DeMille. I don't normally read a lot of contemporary mysteries, but I was intrigued by the anti-PC detective, John Corey. I appreciate a police investigator who isn't a broken, scarred loser, as so many seem to be written today.

I thoroughly enjoyed A Middle-Earth Traveller: Sketches from Bag End to Mordor by John Howe, Howe worked on the art design for both the LOTR and Hobbit films, and while some of the images seemed familiar, there was enough new material to keep it interesting.

Susan in NC wrote: "I’m about halfway through SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome by Mary Beard. I meant to read it when it came out, but my library loan ran out, and I forgot about it. Read..."

I listened to this on audiobook and enjoyed it a lot, although my mind did wander from time to time. It's so much information to absorb.

Susan in NC wrote: "Currently rereading the ebook of The Raven in the Foregate by Ellis Peters for our upcoming read. Spending a lot of time in the car lately, wanted a good paperback, so f..."

I'm super behind on my Peters reading, and only getting through Pilgrim of Hate at the moment. I normally love these books, but I haven't been in the mood lately, so its taking me forever to finish.

Just finished Nonna Maria and the Case of the Missing Bride by Lorenzo Carcaterra. It was way too cozy for my tastes but is not without its charms. It certainly made me want to visit the island of Ischia, which I had never heard of, despite visiting southern Italy a few years ago.

It has been a humid, sticky summer in NYC, but all of the concrete and tall buildings will do that. I also sweat easily, which makes me grumpy. Sometimes even a 10-15 minute walk outside can leave you in a puddle. Luckily we only have a kitten to worry about, although we do take him for walks when we spend our weekends/vacations in the Pocono Mountains of PA.

I consider myself to be a devotee of Helene Hanff, and have read and re-read her books. However, this is my first read of Underfoot in Show Business, which chronicles her early career as a playwright. I can't say I know anything about the theater, but her self-deprecating humor hooks me every time.

Rosina wrote: "I don't understand why libraries limit the time that one may keep an ebook - or indeed, claim not to have copies to lend until some are returned."

I'm assuming its because they only purchase so many licenses. The main benefit of auto returns for e- and audiobooks is that you can never be late. Sometimes its the only thing that motivates me to finish a book, so its not entirely a bad thing.

Under the deadline of needing to return the ebook to the library in 2 days, I'm rushing to finish Murder on the Celtic by Conrad Allen aka Edward Marston. I haven't read anything else in this series, but I'm enjoying the dynamic of the married detective couple at sea. Detective couples are a bit of an overdone trope in GA mysteries, but it feels fresh here.

Having read one other mystery by Vincent Starrett (The Great Hotel Murder), and finding it average, I am pleasantly surprised how much I am enjoying Murder on "B" Deck. It doesn't hurt that I'm a sucker for travel/transportation mysteries.

Having just finished Unmasked: My Life Solving America's Cold Cases by Paul Holes, I felt like something a bit lighter. I've been meaning to read The Compleat Angler, or the Contemplative Man's Recreation by Izaak Walton ever since it was introduced to me in 84, Charing Cross Road, so I'm really looking forward to it.