Classical Mysteries ~ 8/04 Export

We have said very little about the Inspector French novels---Freeman Wills Crofts. Here is a nice little insight to the Inspector French character.Inspector French
And here is some other Classical Mysteries and photos by Freeman Wills Crofts. I believe you will find this site interesting.
Other novels by this author
Perhaps some of them would make for a good book discussion.

Bill H

Well done article on Detective French. I don't remember reading any books featuring him, yet he does seem familiar somehow. Were any TV shows made featuring him? ...Babi

Babi, I can't find any movies or TV stories of his. Maybe some of the other readers could tell us.

Bill H

Fellow Readers, the first 1000 posts of Classical Mysteries has been archived.. A link to the archived posts has been placed in the heading or you can use this link to reach them.
Previous Classical Mysteries
Many good mystery titles and links can be found in the previous posts.

Bill H

Hi... I'm new to this section. I'm taking an online class in Mystery fiction. I'm not all that well versed in the classics, but I like what I've read so far. Does anyone know about Catherine Louise Pirkis, and her Loveday Brooke tales? I have a couple of the stories, and I'd love to know more about her life and stories. All help greatly appreciated.

Cheryl

go to http://www.chriswillis.freeserve.co.uk/loveday.htm where is the online class in mystery fiction? Is it good?

Cheryl, welcome! I have not read any of the Catherine Louise Pirkis, Loveday Brooke tales. But will we waiting to find out more about them!

Francy

Bluebird, It is given at UC Berkeley extension, and is very good. A lot of reading, but we love that, and some research and stuff. I just finished the Maltese Falcon; I'm midway through.

Cheryl

Cheryl, along with FrancyLou, I also welcome you to Classical Mysteries. It is always so nice to welcome a new person to this discussion. Cheryl, you don't have to be well versed in Classical Mysteries to post here, just tell us what you like or don't care for. Perhaps you could tell us something about the on line mystery class you are taking, maybe we could develop a good book discussion from what you are studying.

Bill H

How did I miss this group earlier? I love mysteries and think I prefer the older ones (Miss Marple, Hercule, Sherlock et al) when compared to the newer ones altho they do have merit, 'tis true. Just an old-fashioned girl, I guess!

I have a question, however. In the list of the mystery solvers at the top of the page, you show Harriett Vane. Where is Lord Peter? He was really the hero.

Would you believe, GranMuzzy, that as long as I have been visiting this site, I never noticed that Harriet Vane was up there and Lord Peter wasn't. (It may have been simple disinterest; I've never cared much for that undynamic duo.) (*^*)

Babi

GranMuzzi, welcome to the Classical Mysteries discussion. I'm glad you found us. If you wish to view the first 1000 posts in this discussion, just click on the Previous Classical Mysteries in the heading. There are some good titles and links in those posts that you may enjoy. By the way, we are having a discussion about the Maltese Falcon beginning October 15th and you are welcome to join us. Here is a link
.
The Maltese Falcon

Bill H

I am new to this discussion and fairly new to SeniorNet. I was looking at the list at the top of the page and noticed Nero Wolfe. I used to read all the Nero Wolfe books and couldn't wait for a new one to come out. I have been a mystery fan for years. Charlene

Charlene, welcome to Classical Mysteries. Yes, we discuss all the old time detectives here and the authors who created them.
I belive it was back in July we had a rip roaring discussion about "Rebecca"--Daphne du Maurier. We are going to have a discussion beginning October 15th about the Maltese Falcon--Dashiell Hammett and you are most welcome to join in. Here is a link
The Maltese Falcon

Bill H

Thanks for the welcome, Bill - I shall have to find a copy of THE MALTESE FALCON. I had best start a list at the library.

as for Lord Peter and Harriet, some of the adventures I like better than others. But I found that, when it came time to downsize the books because I was moving into a smaller place, Agatha Christie stayed and Lord Peter went to the library.

I like Nero Wolfe, too.

GranMuzzy, I believe you made a wise decision in keeping the Agatha Christie novels. I hope you can join us in The Maltese Falcon discussion. We have 10 readers who have signed on for that one. Seems as though our readers go for the old timers.
A couple of years ago, we did a Lord Peter story--"The Nine Taylors"--I believe the discussion would've done better with a Harriet Vane included.

Bill H

BILL...Thanks for the welcome. I am sorry that I missed the discussion on Rebecca. That is one of my favorites of all time. I don't think I have ever read "The Maltese Falcon", but if it is a mystery I'm sure I would like it. I will have to look for it at the library and read it and maybe join the discussion if I get it read in time. I will have to watch myself, as I am a book lover and like to read so many different types of books and I am wanting to join all the books discussions and if I'm not careful I will overload my poor old brain. lol

Charlene

Charlene, The Maltese Falcon" is a mystery story. In fact, there is a mystery reading club that list it as the tenth all time mystery story.

Bill H

Does anyone have a link or information on Grant Allen? I need the info for a project in an online class.

Thanks in advance, Cheryl

Charlene, here is a link to the Grant Allen website. Be patient because it takes a while to load.
Grant Allen
I hope this help you.

Bill H

Bill, you're a doll. Thanks ever so much for the link.

Cheryl

Cheryl, you are welcome.

Bill H

For those of you who like Sherlock Holmes novels you might be interested in: "The Surrogate Assassin" by Charistopher Leppek.

"The game is afoot once again as the world's greatest consulting detective Sherlock Holmes, along with his beloved friend and companion, Doctor Watson, is presented with a case of most singular proportions - unraveling the truth behind the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln - with ramifications that will change the very course of history as we know it!"

Scrawler, sounds like a good Sherlock. Does it read much like the Doyle stories.?

Bill H

Ginny, many, many months ago you told us here about a mystery--murder--storey that takes place in an English manor house at Christmas time. I have been trying and trying to remember the title and author of that story for the past several days. Would you please tell us again the name of that novel and the author? I believe I would like to read it around the holidays.

Bill H.

Yes, Bill it does read like a Conan Doyle novel. Here is another excerpt:

"...It becomes obvious to Holmes that the stalker on the loose is the same man who assassinated President Lincoln - but surely Booth is dead? How could the stalker be John Wilkes Booth? But in true Holmes fashion, "when every possiblity is explored, whatever remains, no matter how unlikely, must be the truth," Holmes proves that in this circumstance, the unsettling truth is that history is dead wrong!"

Scrawler, was there a TV movie made of this Holmes story you are talking about? It seems to me I saw something like this on TV.

Bill

Bill, there are several, the one at Christmas that I like the best in the requisite English Country Manor house is Christmas Crimes at Puzzel Manor (and the misspelling is deliberate there). It's a real teaser, and Simon Brett, the author, sort of challenges the reader, too. I love it, but it's long out of print.

There's another one (I love Christmas mysteries and collect them) ...Patrick Ruell? Red Christmas? Am not sure on that one. Of course Agatha Christie wrote the best ones, doesn't she have one about Hercule Poirot at Christmas? She had an obsession with houses and always wrote so wonderfully about them.

For some reason I'm suddenly hung up on Ngaio Marsh, they have reprinted all of her books and every one is different and she has SUCH unusual plot lines, I'm determined to read every one of them.

She doesn't get as much press as some of the other writers of her day but I think she's good, she's the same period as Agatha Christie.

I also like Ngaio Marsh, and I'm glad to hear they've reprinted all her books. I haven't by any means read them all. Our library has several, but if they have been reprinted they may acquire more.

Babi

Ginny, thank you for those title names. Our Barnes and Nobles tells me that Christmas Crimes at Puzzel Manor is out of print, but there are used copies available. To take a look at the used copies, follow the link. If the local B&N can't get it for me, I might order it from one of these places.
Puzzel Manor

Bill H

I'm not sure there was a TV adaption of this particular book, although there have been different adaptions of the Lincoln Assassiantion. Most of them have to do with the Stanton conspiracy, but although this book does deal with the idea of conspiracy it has a whole different take on the assassination.

Scrawler thamk you for your response. I'm sorry I didn't get back to you sooner, but I've been off-line the past couple of days.

Bill H

Bill I found what looks like another super Christmas Mystery this time by one of the old greats, Ngaio Marsh. As you know I'm rereading them all and found that I had put away Tied Up in Tinsel for a Christmas read this year and it looks super, you can't go wrong with her, I'm still looking for the one I had picked out and somehow misplaced, about an 80 year old woman who inherits a large estate, now THAT sounds like a super plot already!

Ginny, sorry I took so long in answering but I've had a bit of trouble )

I believe Tied Up in Tinsel is the one I was thinking about. Thanks you. Bill H

The discussion schedule has been posted in the heading of the Maltese Falcon. For your convenience please follow this link.
The Maltese Falcon

Bill H

Oh, I do hope they like it.
New/Old.
An old favorite, "Books Into Movies" is coming back November 1st. This is the general discussion forum that Lorrie moderated for several years, and is being brought back by popular request.
The forum will include ALL books made into movies, both fiction and nonfiction, old-timers, and recent novels. You are invited to express your opinion of what you think of these movies that were adapted from the books, and what their authors should have demanded from the producers of the screen plays. I hope to see all of you there on November 1st
I sincerely hope that I can do as good a job as Lorrie. With your cooperation, I believe it will be a great general discussion. And just in time for the holidays.

Bill H.

The Maltese Falcon discussion is now open for your posts. For your convenience, follow the link below.
The Maltese Falcon

Bill H

Since I have the Dashiell Hammett stories, I started reading "The Thin Man" last night. Two things I learned immediately: (1) The 'thin man' was not Nick Charles, but another character in the story. (2) Nick Charles was a 24/7 drunk. From the time he got out of bed until he fell asleep at night, he was drinking.

I'm surprised the man could even walk the dog. I was incredulous that he could hold a conversation, much less solve a crime. Still, Nick is a much more likable character, IMO, than Sam Spade.

Babi

BaBi, you are right about the Thin Man not being Nick Charles. This would make for a good discussion.
I don't think Hammett wanted to portray Charles as a drunk so much as he wanted him to come across as a sophisticated guy. But you are right. By today's measures Nick would be considered an alchoholic and in need of help. Did they have the AA then. I wonder how Nora felt about his drinking?
We see Charles with glass in hand and cigarette in other hand. Both of these traits are frowned upon today. However in the twenties and thirties were not these same trait’s a symbol of the very upper middle class society?
I don't state this I just ask for your opinion.

Bill H

The twenties were the flapper era; that's about all I know about them. I would suppose alcoholism has always been frowned upon by respectable society, but of course a gentleman was always supposed to be able to handle his liquor.

This is, of course, a bit before my time, but I thought any drinking ladies did in those days, other than the flappers of course, was done in private. Ladies did not drink in public. Or am I thinking of Victorian times?

Better ask somebody who knows more about this than I do. I can be a cheerful fund of misinformation. <g> ...Babi

Babi, I can't recall if Nora Charles did the same amount of drinking as Nick. However, I believe the roaring twenties accepted the social drinking of women. But perhaps the Thinn Man stories took place in the thirties. Wasn't prohibition in place in the twenties? This of course would rule out club drinking unless in was in a speak easy.

Bill H

That reminds me, Bill. In reading "The Maltese Falcon", I got to wondering where the term "speakeasy" came from. My imagination came up with the image of someone at a dimly lit door, softly speaking the password that would let them in. So, 'speak easy'. That, however, is purely guesswork. Do you know the source of the word? ..Babi

Speak + easy is named from the secretive atmosphere of a place. Slang of the 1920s borrowed the word and referred to a place where illegal alcoholic drinks were served.

BaBi, I belive Scrawler is right about that Speak + Easy. A while back one of the TV news programs had that same question and it was explained at great length, however, I forget just what all was said. )

Bill H

Thanks, Scrawler and Bill. I thought it was something like that and I am always interested in word origins. ...Babi

My uncle, Mother's brother, had a speakeasy during prohibition, one of the family secrets. It was in the basement of the barbershop around the corner from Grandfather's jewelry store.

You had to know a password, which changed regularly. Just about any kind of liquor or alcoholic beverage was available. Most of it was shipped in from Kentucky, but some of the beer was made locally. I learned all this from stories my father told while I was growing up.

Pat, what a great family story. But isn't a shame you couldn't have learned about this first-hand )

Bill H

.An old favorite "Books Into Movies" will begin November First. it will be a read only until that date. Some readers have requested a link to the discussion.
Books Into Movies
Hope to see you all there on November First.

Bill H

The general discussion Books into Movies is now open. Please use this link.
Books into Movies

Bill H

I am looking for an old book so I clicked on Antique Detective Stories in the heading and was surprised to be sent to a sex cam site. Maybe someone can correct that.

Mary

Mary, I am very sorry about that. I will have it taken doown immediately.

Bill H

Folks, I am very sorry this happened in one of my forums. I have no idea who did this.
I have asked Ginny to close this forum.

Bill H

Folks, the offending link--URL--has been removed from the heading. I am very sorry this happened. I contacted the SeniorNet hosts and reported this infraction.
Mary, thank you for bringing this to my attention. I had no idea this link had been replaced by some scumbag's idea of a joke.

Bill H

Arthur's Classic Novels is located at this link.
http://arthurwendover.com/arthurs/detective3.html

Pat, thank you for giving Mary the link.

Bill H

Arthur's Classic Novels is back in the Heading. Arthur Wendover has his own domain now; I don't think there will be another problem.

Thanks, everyone for fixing the problem.

It is a good site.....now.

Mary

Is anyone into the Martha Grimes books and audiotapes? She writes about the UK DI Richard Jury where all the books are entitled by a pub in England. They are great fun. Most of the audiobooks are read by Tim Curry and he does a marvelous job of doing all the voices and dialects. I have been a fan of her's for years.

Hi, Stargazey. If you check some of the older posts, you'll find some posts about Martha Grimes and Richard Jury. Actually, most of them are more or less agreeing that the Richard Jury series is getting tiresome. Too much sameness. But they were fun to begin with. ...Babi

Pat, thank you for fixing the link. I checked it out and found it OK.
BaBi, thank you for answering Stargazey.
Stargazey, I enjoy audio tapes and I'm going to try and find some of the Martha Grimes stories. As you said they do sound very good.

Bill H

I just found out the most interesting facts about Caroline Graham, author of the Midsomer Murder Mysteries which are so popular now on US and UK TV. Caroline Graham was a lady who married, had a child, worked in a low-wage job in England. In her middle years she took Open University courses through British TV. She went on to gain a Master of Arts Degree and began to write radio and television plays and later the Midsomer Murder books (many). Now she writes many of the television adaptations of her Midsomer books featuring DI Barbaby. Still at it, Caroline Graham is about 72. So why is it common knowledge in the US that age matters for agents to consider writers. How dumb is that?

You got me, Stargazey. One would think that an older writer has far more experiences to draw upon. I have enjoyed every British mystery series that came to PBS. And now I am aggravated to find that videos of these series are available now at my library, but have no closed captioning. Without the CC, I am lost! Every week I look at all those videos I would love to watch, and mourn.

Babi

Hi, I'm new to this discussion. I have loved reading mysteries for most of my adult life. I like reading all of the books, in series order, by quite a few authors. My problem is that I no longer have access to a web site that keeps up to date lists of mystery authors who have on-going series. Other than searching the Web author by author does anyone know where there is something like this now?

Betty in Oregon, Sorry I took so long in getting back to you, but I have been very busy the past few days with various appointments. But this may be of help to you. Go to the Barnes and Noble web site and in their search box type the name of your favorite mystery author(s) and you can see their latest novels.
Barnes and Noble
I hope this helps you.

Bill H

Actually, Bill H, what I really need is a source where I can get an up to date list of ALL of the books in a series, with the placement of each book numbered, starting from #1. For example, I know that Nevada Barr has 12 in her "Anna Pigeon" series, I know that #12 is "High Country", I know the order in which the other volumes in her series fall. However, if I wanted the same information for an author that I have just discovered, how do I find the same information? I know that I could probably go to that author's web site and MAYBE that information will be there. However, there are some authors who either don't have a web site or are deceased that I may want to start reading. Do you understand what I'm meaning here? Years ago I came across a book called "Sequels" in the Reference section of my public library. That book listed a lot of authors' series, but the libraries cannot afford to keep getting updates of that book. Without my spending hours and hours looking for a web site, does anyone know of such a site now that is free?

BETTY, see if this site works for you. The lists are alphabetized, ie., you can click on 'G', and get all the authors writing mystery series whose names begin with 'G'.

http://www.stopyourekillingme.com/AuthCats/aag.html

Babi

Betty In Oregon, that is an excellent web site BaBi gave us a link to
BaBi, thank you for that link!!! I bookmarked that one, and I can see where it will be a big help. I'm going to see if that can be put in the heading. However, Agatha Christe's "Endless Night"--the book I'm reading now-- is not listed. It has a copyright date of 1967. I see Tom Clancy's works are also listed.
Thanks again for that link.

Bill H

I finished Endless Night-Agatha Christie. The ending really surprised me, and it was a sad ending, too.
This would probably make a good book discussion.

Bill H

Bill H, I went to the link that was recommended. If you scroll way down on the Agatha Christie page, you will see that "Endless Night" is listed under the "non-series" list of her books.

Betty

Hi Bill, I'm so glad to see you are still running the Classical Mysteries discussion, and that it has not disappeared while I was away moving from NY to CA. I noticed that there are some others from CA participating in the discussion, so maybe I can get some useful suggestions for getting settled here.

I just finished "Final Account," the latest in the Chief Inspector Banks series, and am now reading "A Noble Radiance" by Donna Leon, a Commissario Guido Brunetti mystery. Brunetti is a very interesting character and these books are all set in Venice (Italy, not CA).

BaBi, I want to add my thanks for that link. I'm a series reader and will definitely find it useful.

Betty, thank you for the explanation of Christie's non series book Endless Night. I guess I didn't go down far enough )
Horselover, so good to see you again. That was quite a move you made. All the way from one coast to the other. I bet it will take some getting use to. Don't forget to look in on out Books into Movies discussion. Here's a link
Books into Movies

Bill H

BaBi, the link you gave us about book series is now in the heading. Thank you for that link.

Bill H

Oh, goody! Now I won't have to go track it down when I want it again. I didn't think to flag it the first time. duh Babi

I would like to take this moment to wish you all
Happy Thanksgiving!

Bill H

Bill, I was just checking in and see that this discussion has gone dormant since Thanksgiving. Have you given up on it?

I check in - but have been reading mysteries (not classical).

I think Francy put her finger right on the key. We are all gorging ourselves on current mysteries, and more keep showing up!

Babi

Well, just to be on topic, I am currently reading an old Agatha Christie, I think the title is "Destination Unknown" or something like that - a more relaxing pace than a lot of the new mysteries, and I need that.

Horselover, no, I haven't given up on Classical Mysteries. However, I have been very occupied with the restoration crew that has been restoring my game room that was ruined due to the rains of Ivan in September. The rains from that storm also ruined my washer, dryer, furnace and hot water tank. But, thank heavens, I was insured and the insurance covered the replacement of everything except for a $250 doubtable. The damage total was a little over fourteen thousand dollars.
Yesterday and today the restoration crew was finishing up the restoration but they have to come back one or two more days for touch up. It has been a very traumatic time and during those months I was not able to devote as much time to my general discussions here on Senior Net.
However, I must say there has been very little interest in Classical Mysteries and it is difficult to keep a discussion going without the interest of the readers. A discussion leader must have someone to talk too, and the readers like to talk to one another as well
FrancyLou, BaBi and nhome, thank you for posting. Perhaps we can get this discussion going again. I always liked the Classical Mysteries but I realize new stories are coming along all the time.

Bill

Speaking of classical mysteries, there is a new one out about Peter Wimsey et al. It is about the early WWII days, quite exciting. Long time since I read anly of the originals, so can't tell you how true it is to What's her name, the author of Gaudy Night and all those. And, there is a new Annotated Sherlock Holmes, if it hasn't been mentioned here before. I have the earlier edition, and it is fun, lots of original illustrations, etc.

I just finished reading an old Rex Stout, Nero Wolfe mystery. I read these a lot in the 60s and I discovered the library still has five or six of them, so I decided to re-read them. I read "Death of a Doxy" and I enjoyed reading it as much as I did way back in the good ole days.

Charlene

Jackie, the author that wrote the original Peter Wimsey series was Dorothy L. Sayers. I would like to read the new one. I have the Illustrated Sherlock Holmes Treasury. The lustration's by Sidney Paget were reproduced from the pages of the Strand Magazine. I have a link I'll post later showing more of these illustrations.

Charlie, I enjoyed reading the Rex Stout stories about Nero Wolfe more than I liked the TV movies of these stories. There was something about those movies I didn't care about.

Bill H

To see more of these great Sherlock Holmes illustrations by Sidney Paget, click this link.
Sidney Paget

Bill H

At least two of those illustrations I've seen before, so I must have read the specific books in which they appear. They catch perfectly the ambience of the time and the theme, to my mind.

Babi

Babi, you may have seen these illustrations when we discussed the "Bascombe Valley Mystery" by Conan Doyle a while back.

Bill H

I always thought Peter Wimsey took place in the 1920s. It would be interesting to read this new Peter Wimsey book. I thought I saw at amazon.com when I was looking for something else.

Jackie Lynch: I just checked into amazon.com and discovered there were a lot of Peter Wimsey books there. Could you give me the title of the Peter Wimsey book you were referring to. I'd love to read it.

A new Curious Minds discussion begins Sunday, January Sixteenth. A timely topic has been chosen for your thoughts and opinions. I'm sure you will enjoy…
.
Presidential Inauguration Days

Bill H

Yes, BILL, I definitely remembered the one of Holmes lying on the ground for a close-up search as being in "The Bascombe Valley Mystery". I can't really place the others specifically.

There are many occasions when the illustrator of a book greatly enhances the value of that particular edition. I bought a children's book, about the story of Christmas, primarily because the illustrations are awesome. My great-niece now has the book, and I was so bold as to ask her grandmother/guardian to try and see the book was handled with special care, as I believe it will some day be quite valuable.

Babi

The last purely Drothy L. Sayers Wimsey novel was Busmans Honeymoon. Jill Paton Walsh expanded Sayers' notes for the next novel into "Thrones, Dominations" which is a good mystery, and about as good a job as you could hope for in terms of describing their personal life now that they are stuck in an establishment type house. It is just pre WWII.

Prompted by your posts, I saw that amazon.com lists a further Wimsey book by Walsh, "A Presumption of Death", which takes place during WWII. I have ordered it.

Winsum, I finished L'Amour's "Comstock Load." I really liked that story because Louis told it in such an informative way. He covered so many things in how the West was settled. And his description of silver mining really gave me an education in that category. I had heard the name Comstock Load but I never understood it until I read that book. Claire--is it Claire? I plan on reading more of his stories.
Alf, I didn't read either of those two novels. I did just start reading Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz. Does anyone know about this novel?
Hi, Pat. Thank you for the heads up on those two books. I found this about Thrones Domination.
FROM OUR EDITORS
It's been 60 years since the last Lord Peter Wimsey/Harriet Vane mystery, and 40 years since the death of their creator, Dorothy L. Sayers. Yet here is Thrones, Dominations, picking up practically where Busman's Honeymoon left off, in the early months of the Wimseys' marriage in 1936. Turns out Sayers left a partial manuscript and outline for the book, which has been neatly and stylishly completed by Jill Paton Walsh. It's a treat for lovers of the earlier books, as Peter investigates the murder of the beloved wife of a theatrical producer -- and Harriet asks all the right questions. All "very fair and Mayfair," but we wouldn't want it any other way.

Bill H

There is also an audio of Thrones Domination read by Ian Carmichael. Now why am I not surprised that Carmichael does the reading.
This is also Sayers, Walsh.
Did Jill Paton Walsh receive permission from the Dorothy L Sayers' estate to expand her writing?

Bill H

The "King of Torts" by John Grisham , has been moved to PROPOSED. If you would like to join the discussion, please sign up. You can use the link below.
The King of Torts

Bill H

The San Francisco Chronicle's Sunday Magazine section was dedicated to The Maltese Falcon. It is available online at sfgate.com. Where did Hammett live, where was Spade's apartment, etc. Lots of good stuff about the movie: who was the first choice to play Sam Spade? Who turned down the Brigid Oshaunessey role? Fun.

Well, Jackie, I suppose no one know the answer to the questions you asked.

Bill H

Bill, I wasn't asking those questions, I was summarizing the contents of the Chronicle's celebration of the anniversary of the Maltese Falcon. Dashiel Hammett was a detective for Pinkerton in San Francisco in the 20s. The Maltese Falcon takes place in downtown SF and there is a walking tour, etc. We love our characters here in SF.(I'm not really an SFer, I live in San Jose, but I've adopted SF as my own,(

He has always been a favorite author of mine. I also found his life and that of Lillian Hellman as well to be very interesting topics. I have San Francisco on my "to do" list when time allows, and that walking tour sounds like a good idea.

Jackie, we did a book discussion about the Maltese Falcon several months ago. The points you summarized would've been well placed in that discussion.

Bill H

Gee, sorry I missed it. That must have been fun.

Jackie, yes it was a lot of fun. We set a record for the number of posts we received in that two week discussion. Most of us were sorry to see it end.

BillH

A decision has been reached to archive Classical Mysteries as a read only.
I thank all of you who posted in this forum and made the first year so successful. But it is apparent that interest has wained and it is time to move on.
Please direct future posts to
The Mystery Corner
From time to time, I will still offer short classical mysteries as book discussions.
Once again, my thanks to all of you who contributed to this discussion.

Bill H