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

Sandy’s comments from the Reading the Detectives group.

Rosina wrote: "I found it interesting that in another of this month's Buddy Reads - Hide My Eyes - there is the same 'clue' of a ring belonging to the victim seen by chance by a relative in a pawn..."

Good catch. I forgot the ring in Hide My Eyes.

I certainly agree with "farcical holiday comedy". At times it was almost a spoof of mysteries with each character having his/her turn as murderer, similar, as said, to Poisoned Chocolates. But it was a really fun read and the only way I knew each ending was not final was by the number of pages left to read. The final twist was a surprise.

This disguise plot was a bit (but only a bit) more reasonable because the group had been together for a week or less. At least Cecil had spotted inconsistency in the way they dressed and Leo was uncomfortable with the new Louli. I was more upset by how easy the red dye washed out. Did Louli never go swimming? Get caught in the rain?

I wondered if Bobby would end up with the girl. He should be settling down soon. The actual romance in the book didn't work for me at all.

I'm well into this now and the group sounds a bit like every tour I've ever travelled with: the cliques that form, the person everyone dislikes.

There are stereotypes all through the book, including Cockie speaking to foreigners, but the humor lightens it for me.

I was confused by Chris Owens involvement, if any. Was the villain imitating his stutter? And dropping his letters? How did he even know Chris Owen?

Jill wrote: "I did think the waxworks on the bus were a big clue as to who was behind it all, when they were discovered to have been given to Jerry(?) quite early in the book."

But, from what I remember, only the niece knew they were given to Gerry. When Aunt Polly (I remember her name from Tom Sawyer) told the police about them she just said they had been tossed out.

I also missed Campion and Lugg. Allingham's portrayal of Campion is excellent: his amusement at being now almost a legend to the police recruits, and his memory of his younger self. (I no longer have the book so cannot verify my memory of this scene. I hope it is accurate.)

What an excellent opening set up: position the bus, the sleeping passengers, the elderly lady at the bus stop and the pouring rain.

I will be starting this very soon. I'm looking forward to reading Brand again.

I finished Tether's End (aka Hide My Eyes) last night and found it riveting.

I'm reading Moving Pictures from the Discworld series. It is not my favorite entry in the series, but I found a great quote:

"... inside every old person is a young person wondering what happened"

True, every time my body doesn't perform as I expect it should.

P.S. when you click on register, the website has a line that says sold out but a second line that allows you to register. I registered and got an acceptance from Eventbrite that I hope will work.

Through another GR group I found this upcoming conference on GA books and authors:

https://bodiesfromthelibrary.com/

It is connected to the British library and, this year, virtual and free. Note that the time is British and for me, on the east coast of the US, it starts at 8:30 AM, Saturday May 15.

Martin Edwards discusses a book I recently finished, Howdunit: A Masterclass in Crime Writing by Members of the Detection Club. The website lists the other participants.

Amusing aside: the website gives the time as BST which I interpreted as Standard Time, as in the US winter season. But it means Summer Time, when the US uses Daylight Time for the spring season. Yet another language confusion.

I have been really enjoying Howdunit: A Masterclass in Crime Writing by Members of the Detection Club. I expected to pick and choose the essays that looked interesting or are by authors I know but ended up reading almost all the entries. My TBR is growing by leaps and bounds.

For $1 in the US:
(The book and author is unknow to me and has mixed reviews on GR)

The Lyttleton Case

The latest in the series of classic crime novels from the vaults of HarperCollins for the detective connoisseur is the only novel by the Welsh writer R.A.V. Morris.


The chance discovery of a young man’s body floating in a Sussex stream provides the first clue to the mysterious disappearance of Sir James Lyttleton, who sent his daughter a curt wire announcing his departure for America before completely vanishing. But this is no ordinary missing persons inquiry – when Sir James’s body turns up inside another man’s coffin, journalist James Dawson and Chief Inspector Candlish of Scotland Yard find themselves on the trail of a particularly ruthless and ingenious murderer.


This Detective Story Club classic is introduced by author and editor Douglas A. Anderson, whose authoritative books on Kenneth Morris led to the discovery of R.A.V. Morris’s true identity.

I think Anne and Harry's relationship would only work in a novel. It reminded me of Tarzan and Jane.

I asked this in the non-spoiler thread and had to remove it quickly.

Did any one re-read this soon enough to remember who the villain was and did his diary read differently the second time? I was tempted to go back to those sections but the lure, and pressure, of the next book was too strong.

Removing my last comment as it was a spoiler ...

I enjoyed this book a lot, especially the humor. I have bought two other books I found on kindle for a reasonable price as my library only had this one.

Nancy wrote: "Sandy, I just noticed that I marked The Poisoned Chocolates Case “want to read” on April 5, 2012. Maybe now, I will finally actually read it."

I doubt you will be disappointed.

Rosina wrote: "Michaela wrote: "I nominate Murder in Vienna by E.C.R. Lorac.

Superintendent Macdonald, CID, studied his fellow-passengers on..."

Similar problem with Amazon in US: listed as $2 but not available for sale.