tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-499247432649483938.post1421394168700053215..comments2024-03-11T01:39:11.362-04:00Comments on At the Scene of the Crime: Long live the Queen (of Crime)!Patrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01844617192737950378noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-499247432649483938.post-54487661295744088782012-04-23T19:41:05.055-04:002012-04-23T19:41:05.055-04:00I am very glad that the original Twelfth Labour of...I am very glad that the original Twelfth Labour of Hercules was ditched. It was truly awful. As she presented it to the publisher early in 1940, when the war was going badly and it was due to be published in the autumn of 1940, when it was going even worse, I cannot begin to understand what possessed her to do a cutesy tale like that about Hitler.Helenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13799545178433498944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-499247432649483938.post-36345327239715109242012-04-22T16:29:05.829-04:002012-04-22T16:29:05.829-04:00Also, although it's hardly Curran's fault,...Also, although it's hardly Curran's fault, it's a real disappointment that there were no notes found concerning The Murder of Roger Ackroyd.richmcdhttp://www.completedisregard.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-499247432649483938.post-50860840837144169892012-04-22T16:21:43.430-04:002012-04-22T16:21:43.430-04:00It is enjoyable and fascinating, and sometimes inv...It is enjoyable and fascinating, and sometimes invaluable. I've referred to it a few times when writing blog posts to makes sure I wasn't second guessing Christie too much.<br /><br />But I agree with Les that the organisation could be better. Curran also has a habit of getting carried away and presenting speculation as fact.<br /><br />I didn't realise there was a second volume. I'll have to look it up.richmcdhttp://www.completedisregard.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-499247432649483938.post-33613104558839287152012-04-22T10:46:30.514-04:002012-04-22T10:46:30.514-04:00I'm one of those readers who really enjoyed EN...I'm one of those readers who really enjoyed ENDLESS NIGHT, especially as I think it stands out amongst late Christie which could be pretty uninspired stuff, and is also an interesting attempt to test different waters. But in the meantime, great review Patrick - I haven't come across Curran's books so shall look out for these.<br /><br />Cheers,<br /><br />SergioSergio (Tipping My Fedora)http://bloodymurder.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-499247432649483938.post-59190645008569419982012-04-21T17:32:38.211-04:002012-04-21T17:32:38.211-04:00This is an essential book for the Agatha Christie ...This is an essential book for the Agatha Christie fan, but newcomers to Christie need to be warned because there are so many spoilers!Christopherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03343947041898057102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-499247432649483938.post-65444198491929487422012-04-21T08:49:32.729-04:002012-04-21T08:49:32.729-04:00I'm hoping to read both MURDER IN THE MAKING a...I'm hoping to read both MURDER IN THE MAKING and ON CONAN DOYLE before the awards are presented so that I can appreciate them more. Maybe next year I'll be able to read all the non-fiction stuff nominated for an Edgar or Agatha or something of the sort as a pet project, but I didn't get the idea in time to carry it through this year.Patrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01844617192737950378noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-499247432649483938.post-65820851580783181302012-04-21T08:47:17.516-04:002012-04-21T08:47:17.516-04:00Personally, I prefer the second volume - "Mur...Personally, I prefer the second volume - "Murder in the Making" - which I think is a bit more organized than the first, but they are both fascinating. I hope to meet Curran next weekend, when he will be at the Malice Domestic conference. The first volume won an Agatha last year, and the second volume is up for an award this year (against some tough competition, including Michael Dirda's book "On Conan Doyle.")Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-499247432649483938.post-89008007857467163892012-04-21T08:32:01.939-04:002012-04-21T08:32:01.939-04:00I'm still inclined to agree with you over ENDL...I'm still inclined to agree with you over ENDLESS NIGHT, but John Curran's defense of it is really quite intelligently written, so that even if you disagree you can see why it holds such a fascination for some readers.Patrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01844617192737950378noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-499247432649483938.post-17119711853556328712012-04-21T04:47:42.399-04:002012-04-21T04:47:42.399-04:00Ugh. Endless Night - not a great book, whoever wro...Ugh. Endless Night - not a great book, whoever wrote the various bits... I presume that it's the second death that's the major addition, and as you've said, that is the stupidest part of it. But the conclusion must still be Christie's and that bit's sub-par as well.<br /><br />Thanks for flagging up this book, Patrick. I'll keep an eye out for it when I've finished off the few outstanding gaps in Christie's back catalogue.Puzzle Doctorhttp://classicmystery.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.com