Murder is the Reason for the Monday

[evelyn_b]

What I've Finished Reading

The Return of the Continental Op is five short stories by Dashiell Hammett , told by and about a nameless operative for the Continental Detective Agency. I really like Hammett’s first person here: short punchy similes, sardonically understated re-statements, “I lied” as dialogue tag. The Op is at his best when he’s

Comments

[scripsi]

I like Peril at End House, but somehow it falls a little short of being a favourite. Don't know why, really.

I've read several of P. D. James' books, but only really like Shroud For A Nightigale. It's very melancholy, though.

[todayiamadaisy]

I read Death of an Expert Witness a few years ago after lack of success with other of James's works, and found it all right, if a bit negative about people in general. I've just checked my own comments on it and I seem to have been distracted by the amount of characters wearing fawn-coloured wool.

[evelyn_b]

P.D. James loves for things to be fawn-colored! Or hates it with a hatred that can't be contained. . . I'm not sure which it is. Fawn-colored clothing shows up a lot.

[evelyn_b]

I'm not sure, either! I liked it a lot, but it was just a little bit. . . not formulaic, and "formulaic" wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing. Just very concerned that you Got It about all Poirot's traits.

I'll have to try Shroud for a Nightingale! I'm not sure what it is about James that makes her not quite my thing. It's not a failing to be unable to see the funny side of murder, is it?