Judy’s Comments (group member since Oct 01, 2015)

Judy’s comments from the Reading the Detectives group.

For any fans of the Shedunnit podcast, the latest episode is a fun one, Murder Mystery Hotline, where the presenters try to find books fitting specific requests. I have a request featured in the podcast! :)
https://www.shedunnitshow.com/themurd...

P.S. Sandy, I also enjoyed Marble Hall Murders a lot, and definitely agree with your warning to read Magpie Murders first!

Sandy wrote: "Judy wrote: "I've just read Murder à la Mode by Patricia Moyes ...Thank you for the reminder of that series. I have requested #3. I have so many, too many, series in process."

I find it hard to keep up with many series at once - there are quite a few that I've started and not gone back to, though I keep meaning to! I didn't think book 3 in this series was as good as the first 2, but book 4 was back on form. I enjoy the varied settings - so far all the books have been quite different, with a ski resort, sailing trip, conference in Switzerland and a fashion magazine!

Quite a lot of this series is on Kindle Unlimited in the UK at the moment, from book 5 onwards, although books 1 and 2 also used to be on KU and aren't on Kindle at all now. I'm hoping others won't start to disappear, as has happened with some other authors.

Sorry to hear that, Trisha - I really enjoyed it but it was for the characters more than the plot, I think. The ending is odd and not very satisfying - I keep trying to work out what I think about it!

Susan in NC wrote: "Yes, there’s definitely a bit of the skeevy feeling there..."

I'd never heard the word 'skeevy' before! I just googled it and looks like the meaning is similar to sleazy or creepy - is that right, Susan? I think there is something a bit creepy about it and agree with you about the Pygmalion vibe, great point.

Seems as if this is a book that gets strong reactions, both positive and negative! I enjoyed it overall because of the witty writing and interesting characters, but did have one or two issues, which I've posted about over in the spoiler thread.

For those who do enjoy Tey, Caroline Crampton from the Shedunnit podcast recently wrote a newsletter about a visit to Inverness, where Tey's biographer, Jennifer Morag Henderson, showed her around the city.
https://www.shedunnitshow.com/a-visit...

This was very interesting to me as I'm going to Inverness next year - I've just borrowed the biography from the library, but then thought I should have waited until nearer the time! Oh well, I'll probably read it now anyway as I've borrowed it.

I've just read Murder à la Mode by Patricia Moyes, the fourth book in the Henry Tibbett series, which is set in and around the offices of 'Style' magazine - a fascinating setting, as the author worked for Vogue, so really knows her stuff about the world of high fashion journalism. The atmosphere reminded me of Death in High Heels by Christianna Brand. I enjoyed it.

I wasn't sure if Joanna and Griffiths end up together - it's suggested they might do but I don't think it's definite? I certainly hope so.

I agree the Megan romance is rather weird, but at least she refuses to marry Jerry when he first proposes and we get to see a bit more of her as a grown-up before she finally agrees. It is odd that we see the couple with the lovely dog but don't find out what is happening to the young boys, I agree.

Frances wrote: "I was disappointed by how late Miss Marple appears and how small her role is,..."

I was really disappointed by this too the first time I read it, but this time round I stopped fuming quite so much over the lack of Miss Marple and managed to enjoy the book more. :)

P.S. Not quite sure what I think of the ending overall - it's very clever but maybe a bit of an anti-climax? I'd partly remembered it from a previous reading though I hadn't remembered the whole solution. Certainly unusual to get an ending where no one has died (apart from Marguerite years earlier).

Sandy wrote: "I have finished and am disturbed / confused by the ending. Is Leslie going to remain missing, assumed drowned? That seems unfair to the family at Trimmings and Walter will remain under suspicion...."

Grant says that Leslie will have to appear in court for behaviour likely to cause a breach of the peace, so I think it will all come out then. Also, in the previous chapter, he thinks about what a relief it will be to Walter, Liz and the family at Trimmings once the truth is revealed. It would have been nice to see Grant actually tell them what he's discovered though.

I really enjoyed this too. I think the characters are very interesting and I was wondering if she was thinking of real-life models for any of the authors/celebrities - maybe Barbara Cartland for Lavinia Fitch?! I rather like Walter even though it seems as if we are supposed to think he's dreadful.

The book he and Leslie are doing sounds as if it might be successful today, and maybe be turned into a TV series. I wonder if they would go back and finish it after all the publicity, as the journalist Jammy Hopkins suggests? (Joking - I'm sure they wouldn't.)

Tey's books are all in the public domain in the UK as she died more than 70 years ago. I thought that was also the case in the US but just checked and I'm wrong - international copyright laws can be confusing.

Hope you enjoy it, Sandy.

Do you want to do a buddy read of any more Brand, Susan? I'll be reading Cat and Mouse soon but would be up for any :)

I've started rereading this and am really enjoying the quality of the writing and all the witty comments. Clearly, as an author and playwright, Tey knew the worlds of both theatre and publishing really well!

Thank you Susan re Three Days in June! I've had this on my wish list since it was published, very pleased to grab it for £1.99 :)

P.S. I also agree that Marble Hall Murders is excellent.

I enjoyed the previous books in the series but found this one quite boring and depressing. As you say, Sandy, there was not much mystery.

I thought it was pretty obvious that Christina would get away in the end so there wasn't much jeopardy, and there was a lot of violence. I'll try another one as I had enjoyed the others, but all in all it was a disappointment for me.

Sorry, meant to say I was linking the spoiler thread in that previous post. On my phone so can't edit...

Thank you for opening the threads up, Susan. I can hardly believe it's nearly June! I will be rereading this but want to finish the Bradcote and Catchpoll (I may have those names wrong) buddy read first.


ttps://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/23124801...

I've just read it and really enjoyed it even though I remembered the plot from previous readings and TV versions! Thank you for opening up the discussion, Susan.

The spoiler thread is linked below:

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...