Reading the Detectives discussion

Welcome to our April 25 group read Crook o' Lune by Detectives favourite E.C.R. Lorac. I do wish we could read her whole series in order, it's sad that are some are still not back in print. That said, let's enjoy what we have in these tumultuous times...

Crook o' Lune aka Shepherd's Crook, is Book 38 in the Robert Macdonald series, first published in 1953 and involves some characters from The Theft of the Iron Dogs: A Lancashire Mystery (book 28 published in 1946 and previously read by the group).

While visiting friends in Lancashire, and looking for a property to settle down in when he retires from Scotland Yard, MacDonald agrees to lend his assistance to investigate some sheep-stealing. Before long he is drawn into a case involving arson, blackmail and attempted murder.

Please do not post spoilers in this thread. Many thanks.

As the 1st April is Tuesday and I am out, I will open this thread a little early so I don't forget!

Thanks for opening the threads, Susan. Who is reading this one? I enjoyed it - I read it last year but have had a look through to refresh my memory.

The spoiler thread is linked below:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

I read it, and enjoyed it very much, but it was slow going for a lot of it - but as always interesting characters and evocative descriptions of the Lune Valley.

P.S. I thought the motive was pretty obscure, but made sense.

I really enjoyed the setting and the characters. It was interesting that nobody liked the local pastor - she turned around that usually so respected character and made them more despised than revered.

The book is waiting at the library.

Susan wrote: "I really enjoyed the setting and the characters. It was interesting that nobody liked the local pastor - she turned around that usually so respected character and made them more despised than revered."

That surprised me, as well; usually a saintly, kind-hearted man in mysteries, she made him a big whiner! Fair warning to audiobook fans, you may want to plug your ears if you listen to this. The reader has done several Lorac books, and generally does a good job with dialects, but took Lorac’s description of Tupper as having a falsetto tone to extremes! Sounds like he’s shrieking, it’s unbelievably annoying, I can’t imagine what he was thinking…

Not sure if this has been posted before, but there's an old post on Martin Edwards' blog where he explored the Lunesdale area, describing it as 'Lorac Country'. It has some interesting photos.

https://doyouwriteunderyourownname.bl...

Judy wrote: "Not sure if this has been posted before, but there's an old post on Martin Edwards' blog where he explored the Lunesdale area, describing it as 'Lorac Country'. It has some interesting photos.

ht..."

Thank you for that link, what stunning photos of a beautiful place!

You have made me pleased I opted for kindle over audible, Susan!

Glad I didn't go for audible for this one too, I can't stand it when the narrators do silly voices for characters, such as shrieking or growling...

Susan wrote: "You have made me pleased I opted for kindle over audible, Susan!"

You’re welcome, your ears will thank you (it really was like nails on chalkboard, can’t imagine what he was thinking…)

Judy wrote: "Glad I didn't go for audible for this one too, I can't stand it when the narrators do silly voices for characters, such as shrieking or growling..."

Same here!