Frances’s Comments (group member since Aug 21, 2017)

Frances’s comments from the Reading the Detectives group.

Yes it did start to wear after a while-also I'm still not really sure about the whole sequence of events. I twigged fairly early that Frank was masquerading as Uncle Willie on Christmas day-or was it Boxing Day? Anyway, I assumed it was to make his death appear to have happened after his wife's, for inheritance purposes. It was clear there'd been a substitution when he appeared to be avoiding anyone who knew him of old and would recognize the deception. Did he have a will or did he die intestate? At one point someone said that if he died intestate it would all go to the crown-is that reversed by having a living legitimate daughter?
All these secret marriages, marriages of convenience (why in the world did he marry his final wife, other than to provide a plot twist?) and annoying relatives did also start to irritate, as did all the scatty women (and, let's be honest, scatty men as well).

I'm about three quarters of the way through now-while I'm enjoying I do think it could have used some tighter editing and been cut down by about a third. I think I've guessed the plot/solution but will wait to finish and see.

Can someone comment on the level of graphic violence in these books? I had enjoyed the first one until the horrific ending so chose not to read this series further, and I'm guessing from the synopsis that this one might also be bad-thoughts?

Sandy wrote: "I down graded this to three stars because I know Christie can do better. I found the final explanation of elaborate banking schemes with the object of setting up a community of juvenile delinquents..."

Yes I find all these secret society-type explanations haven't aged as well as the more personality-based solutions. As this was a second (at least) read for me, it was fun to see all the references to plays and theatricals and the stress on how theatrical it all felt, nudging us towards the sense that it was all staged.

I also enjoyed the characters in this one-the lovely Gina sticking with her solid American husband instead of the arty Londoners, Carrie Louise and Mildred solidifying their relationship, the weird Philanthropists with their wacky ideas, the bizarre family relationships at the house with all the husbands and step-children and exes more or less happily co-residing.

I also am enjoying Miss Marple more and more with these reads. However I do notice that there is a frequent use of the trope of Marple or Poirot "losing it" when they are pursuing something far-fetched or asking apparently off-topic questions.

I'm about 2/3 of the way through my reread-I vaguely remember how it was done, but can't remember the finer points and as always with these rereads I'm enjoying watching for clues and misdirections.

I'm going to join in on this one-I have it from the library and it's due soon so it is next on my list!

Judy wrote: "I also thought this felt a bit like a series ending with the sudden resolution of the Edgar/Emma/Ruby love triangle. I felt quite sorry for Ruby in the end - we saw a different side to her character after all the mentions of her being self-absorbed.."

I also kept noting the mentions of Ruby being tired or under the weather and wondered if she might be pregnant-no reliable contraception in those days-and that this might affect the apparently solid resolution of the triangle -I hope not because I really think E&E are better suited than E&R, but Griffiths does seem to like pregnancy plots!

I've just finished it. I mostly enjoyed it very much, I'm glad that Griffiths has moved the relationship between Edgar and Emma along-don't think I could take a slow burn for another few books, and felt sorry for Max over Florence, despite the fact that he was rather unkind to Mrs M who I imagine fancied him more than he wants to admit, and so would no doubt have been hurt by his throwing her over for a much younger woman.

The big plot issue for me was, if Cecily was creeped out by Norris enough to move out of Edna's house when they married, why on earth would she send her daughter to live in his house? I can't believe that even in the 50's women wouldn't understand that a creepy man is a creepy man and doesn't grow out of it, and knowing her daughter looked so much like her was double reason to run a mile from him.

I continue to enjoy the glimpse into the world of post-war theatricals and magic, and was sorry there wasn't more of the relationship between Max and Edgar-I wonder how they will square his move to New York with the ongoing series?

I also wasn't a big fan of this one-it just didn't engage me the way previous Lorac mysteries have. The family seemed too perfect, the detection was as Sandy described-rather endless-and while the resolution was interesting, it didn't make up for the other issues. I'll continue to read Lorac as I've enjoyed everything else of hers that I've read.

I look forward to this-it's been a while since I've rear Marsh.

OK I'm about half way in and really enjoying it so far. Do these ones always seem to be set in winter?

I'm getting a little bit tired of Ruby, however, and hope Edgar can move on at some point...

I will be joining you and have the book but still have to finish this months Lorac. I love this series as well.

Are we doing a whole Rankin read? I'm up to about 7 or 8 so will likely pop into the discussions of the ones I've already read but super look forward to doing more with this group!

Gah, I got so excited I didn't read the opening paragraph! Yes we are doing this!

Now about a third of the way in-I'm not enjoying it as much as other Loracs I've read, but she's set up a rather smug little family which doesn't resonate with me as much as more troubled or flawed characters would. However I've liked the first views of MacDonald and the Mountaineer's club scene was amusing-how everyone seems to know everyone else in certain sets.

Judy wrote: "Hastings does seem like a bit of a caricature in this one and it's odd that he allows the annoying Barbara to order him around and call him her "little pet". I suppose in the play there was no need to worry about him being married, as I don't think his wife is mentioned, but even so...
"

Yes, I kept thinking he's back from South America, he went over with a wife, what gives? However it's not the first time he messed up with a pretty woman-was it murder on the links where he did something equally egregious?-so I guess it is rather in character.

Just finished this-was surprised it ended so quickly as I had looked at the page number on my e-reader but of course there was 30 pages of filler at the end so I'm done sooner than expected. It was fine but not great-a neat plot but agree with the comments that it felt very much like a transcribed play (which of course it is). Over to the spoiler thread now!

I will be joining you on this one but I still have another book to finish first so will be a bit late to the party.

I am about half way in, and I agree Judy it feels like a stage play with lots of "exit stage left" type moments and lights and sounds mentioned.

I am enjoying the story very much, and the writing is good but there is something about it that feels different from a Christie so I'm not convinced by Osborne's style. I haven't read any other Poirot or Marple continuations so don't know how it compares to others.

Judy wrote: "It's clever plotting but I find it hard to believe the murder method in this book - could it actually work? There would be such a huge risk that someone would notice Lotty/Letty being in the wrong ..."

Very true-I think I consider most Christie plots to be ingenious AND improbable, so I never even try to solve them, I just enjoy the ride!

I've just (re?)discovered this thread after being in this group for years, so commenting just so it will show up in my feed with new posts-hope it works!