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1Andrew-theQM
What are you hoping for from this book?
Where did we last leave Vera (if you have read the other books in the series)?
Where did we last leave Vera (if you have read the other books in the series)?
2Carol420
The Crow Trap Book #1
This is how we were introduced to Vera Stanhop in the first book.
"She was a large woman-- big bones amply covered, a bulbous nose, man-sized feet. Her legs were bare and she wore leather sandals. Her square toes were covered in mud. Her face was blotched and pitted so Rachael thought she must suffer from some skin complaint or allergy. Over her clothes she wore a transparent mac and she stood there, the rain dripping from it onto the floor, grey hair sleeked dark to her forehead, like a middle-aged tripper caught in a sudden storm on Blackpool prom."
The story is set in the North Pennines on Black Law Farm is an isolated cottage, Baikie's Cottage.
Businessmen want to open a quarry nearby, and three young women are using Baikie's as a base for the environmental study they must conduct.for this to happen.
When Rachael, the team leader, arrives at Baikie's, she discovers the body of her friend, Bella Furness., who owns the farm.
From all appearances Bella has committed suicide...but Rachael finds that impossible to accept.
Soon two other young women arrive s a part of the and another death occurs,
This brings Vera Stanhope into the story line. We waited a VERY long time for Vera to ever make an appearance. Finally she shows up on page 230.
We were all in agreement that the one of the best parts of the book was the back stories for each of the young women.
There were 6 participants in the discussion with 2 - 5 star; 2-4.5 star and 2 -4 star ratings
Telling Tales Book # 2
It's been ten long years since Jeanie Long has been locked up for the murder of her friend, Abigail Mantel. Evidence has now come forward that proves Jeanie's innocence. The villagers of Elvet on the East Yorkshire coast know this means Abigail's killer is still at large, and the Yorkshire police believe it best to bring in an investigative team from outside to re-open the case.
Northumbria's Detective Inspector Vera Stanhope and her young Sergeant Joe find themselves the investigators sent to sift through all the witnesses' stories to piece together the truth. And what an entrance Vera makes. Emma and her husband are in church with their young child when Inspector Vera Stanhope of the Northumbria police appears in the story. It's right at the close of the first hymn when the back door closes with a bang and our Vera has arrived:
Vera and Joe find many inconsistencies in the reports. Seemingly the instigation was shoddy at best. Two of the leads on the original case left the force and are now living in the area. Both of them had seemed content with Jeanie Long's conviction...even anxious to get it over with.
The murdered girl's father is a businessman and no better than he has to be. Even the victim's best friend spends most of her time in La La Land when she's not drooling over the village blacksmith...and is unsure of what really went on ten years ago.
The ending was not what we were expecting but made sense and was believable,
There were 7 participants in the discussion with 1 /5 star rating; 3/ 4.5 star ratings and 3 /4 star ratings
Hidden Depths – Book# 3
The Book takes place on the Northumberland coast:
Luke Armstrong is a troubled boy who may be slightly autistic.
His only friend, Thomas, drowned several months ago despite Luke's best efforts to save him.
Luke's mother, Julie Armstrong, returns home from a night out to discover her daughter asleep and her son dead in the bathtub.
She first thinks suicide….but there are flowers strewn in the bath, floating on the water.
The police quickly establish that he was murdered.
Detective Inspector Vera Stanhope is assigned the case. Because Vera is plain, overweight, middle-aged, and drinks to a little too much, so it's very easy for people to underestimate her. Just because people dismiss her as a plodding lump, it doesn't mean that she doesn't have a very sharp mind.
The case takes on a new urgency when another body, that of Lily Marsh, a young student teacher, is found floating in a rock pool at the beach, her body posed in the same way as Luke's.
Lily leads a life that is anything but what you expect a teacher to lead…she is obsessive about the men she becomes involved with and Vera believes that she is currently having an affair that may have lead to her death.
Vera's attention turns to the group who found Lily, four men, Peter, Samuel, Gary and Clive….who share an interest in bird-watching.
All deny even knowing Lily and the other victim, Luke.
Vera becomes convinced that the solution lies somewhere in their lives…either past or present.
What if any is the connection between the two victims? Is there one…or have they been chosen at random?
When Luke’s sister, Laura, goes missing Vera’s team must hurry or take the very real chance of finding a third posed body.
There were 6 participants –Carol, Andrew, Sergei, Lynda, Eadie, & Lynsey
Ratings: 3/5 star; 1- 4.5 star; 1-4.25 star and 1 – 4.33 stars
This is how we were introduced to Vera Stanhop in the first book.
"She was a large woman-- big bones amply covered, a bulbous nose, man-sized feet. Her legs were bare and she wore leather sandals. Her square toes were covered in mud. Her face was blotched and pitted so Rachael thought she must suffer from some skin complaint or allergy. Over her clothes she wore a transparent mac and she stood there, the rain dripping from it onto the floor, grey hair sleeked dark to her forehead, like a middle-aged tripper caught in a sudden storm on Blackpool prom."
The story is set in the North Pennines on Black Law Farm is an isolated cottage, Baikie's Cottage.
Businessmen want to open a quarry nearby, and three young women are using Baikie's as a base for the environmental study they must conduct.for this to happen.
When Rachael, the team leader, arrives at Baikie's, she discovers the body of her friend, Bella Furness., who owns the farm.
From all appearances Bella has committed suicide...but Rachael finds that impossible to accept.
Soon two other young women arrive s a part of the and another death occurs,
This brings Vera Stanhope into the story line. We waited a VERY long time for Vera to ever make an appearance. Finally she shows up on page 230.
We were all in agreement that the one of the best parts of the book was the back stories for each of the young women.
There were 6 participants in the discussion with 2 - 5 star; 2-4.5 star and 2 -4 star ratings
Telling Tales Book # 2
It's been ten long years since Jeanie Long has been locked up for the murder of her friend, Abigail Mantel. Evidence has now come forward that proves Jeanie's innocence. The villagers of Elvet on the East Yorkshire coast know this means Abigail's killer is still at large, and the Yorkshire police believe it best to bring in an investigative team from outside to re-open the case.
Northumbria's Detective Inspector Vera Stanhope and her young Sergeant Joe find themselves the investigators sent to sift through all the witnesses' stories to piece together the truth. And what an entrance Vera makes. Emma and her husband are in church with their young child when Inspector Vera Stanhope of the Northumbria police appears in the story. It's right at the close of the first hymn when the back door closes with a bang and our Vera has arrived:
Vera and Joe find many inconsistencies in the reports. Seemingly the instigation was shoddy at best. Two of the leads on the original case left the force and are now living in the area. Both of them had seemed content with Jeanie Long's conviction...even anxious to get it over with.
The murdered girl's father is a businessman and no better than he has to be. Even the victim's best friend spends most of her time in La La Land when she's not drooling over the village blacksmith...and is unsure of what really went on ten years ago.
The ending was not what we were expecting but made sense and was believable,
There were 7 participants in the discussion with 1 /5 star rating; 3/ 4.5 star ratings and 3 /4 star ratings
Hidden Depths – Book# 3
The Book takes place on the Northumberland coast:
Luke Armstrong is a troubled boy who may be slightly autistic.
His only friend, Thomas, drowned several months ago despite Luke's best efforts to save him.
Luke's mother, Julie Armstrong, returns home from a night out to discover her daughter asleep and her son dead in the bathtub.
She first thinks suicide….but there are flowers strewn in the bath, floating on the water.
The police quickly establish that he was murdered.
Detective Inspector Vera Stanhope is assigned the case. Because Vera is plain, overweight, middle-aged, and drinks to a little too much, so it's very easy for people to underestimate her. Just because people dismiss her as a plodding lump, it doesn't mean that she doesn't have a very sharp mind.
The case takes on a new urgency when another body, that of Lily Marsh, a young student teacher, is found floating in a rock pool at the beach, her body posed in the same way as Luke's.
Lily leads a life that is anything but what you expect a teacher to lead…she is obsessive about the men she becomes involved with and Vera believes that she is currently having an affair that may have lead to her death.
Vera's attention turns to the group who found Lily, four men, Peter, Samuel, Gary and Clive….who share an interest in bird-watching.
All deny even knowing Lily and the other victim, Luke.
Vera becomes convinced that the solution lies somewhere in their lives…either past or present.
What if any is the connection between the two victims? Is there one…or have they been chosen at random?
When Luke’s sister, Laura, goes missing Vera’s team must hurry or take the very real chance of finding a third posed body.
There were 6 participants –Carol, Andrew, Sergei, Lynda, Eadie, & Lynsey
Ratings: 3/5 star; 1- 4.5 star; 1-4.25 star and 1 – 4.33 stars
3Carol420
Just looking forward to visiting Vera and the gang again. I just finished watching series 6 of the television series on DVD. Season 7 is showing on TV now but I'm waiting for the DVD's.
Has any of you ever watched any of the Father Brown series on BBC? I really like them also and anyone that likes historical mysteries would probably enjoy them.
From Wiki: Father Brown is a fictional Roman Catholic priest and amateur sleuth created in the early 20th century by English novelist G. K. Chesterton.
Father Brown is featured in a series of short stories where he solves mysteries and crimes using his intuition and keen understanding of human nature. The character was loosely based by Chesterton on Father John O'Connor (1870–1952), a parish priest in Bradford, who was involved in Chesterton's conversion to Catholicism in 1922.
Has any of you ever watched any of the Father Brown series on BBC? I really like them also and anyone that likes historical mysteries would probably enjoy them.
From Wiki: Father Brown is a fictional Roman Catholic priest and amateur sleuth created in the early 20th century by English novelist G. K. Chesterton.
Father Brown is featured in a series of short stories where he solves mysteries and crimes using his intuition and keen understanding of human nature. The character was loosely based by Chesterton on Father John O'Connor (1870–1952), a parish priest in Bradford, who was involved in Chesterton's conversion to Catholicism in 1922.
4Andrew-theQM
>2 Carol420: Thanks once again Carol for your usual superb summaries. 😊They do help to jog the memory!
5Andrew-theQM
>3 Carol420: Not watched any of the modern Father Brown but Kenneth More played a very good Father Brown decades ago.
6Andrew-theQM
You can get many of the Father Brown books free on Kindle or the complete works for a very small amount of money. Would like to go back and read these at some point.
7Andrew-theQM
The last book seemed to highlight a very vulnerable side for Vera, so will be interested to see if this is still affecting her and if so what happens.
Also want to see the continuing relationship between her and Joe, definitely two very different sides to this relationship.
This book was written after a gap of 4 years and about the time it had been taken up by TV so will be very interesting to see if this changes the feel of the series and the dynamics.
Also want to see the continuing relationship between her and Joe, definitely two very different sides to this relationship.
This book was written after a gap of 4 years and about the time it had been taken up by TV so will be very interesting to see if this changes the feel of the series and the dynamics.
8Carol420
>7 Andrew-theQM: I might be wrong but I believe this is the first one of the books that went on DVD. We'll see how true it stayed to the book...if I can actually remember any of it:)
9Andrew-theQM
>8 Carol420: I think you may be right Carol, from the write up I think I saw this on TV when they came out. Don't ask me what happened though, certainly can't remember!
10Lynsey2
Looking forward to the group read and will do my best to keep up but my sons soccer team is in the state tournament this week so will be very busy. Once again they are trying to make it to the Premier League. No, not that Premiere League Andrew, :) The top level in the State of MN for what that's worth. :) They just missed making it last year. Let's hope they do it this year!
11Olivermagnus
>6 Andrew-theQM: - I recently picked up the entire Father Brown series for 99 cents. Even if I ended up never reading them it was just too good of a deal to pass up.
12Olivermagnus
>10 Lynsey2: - I'm rooting for you!
13Olivermagnus
>2 Carol420: - Thanks for the great summary Carol.
14Andrew-theQM
>11 Olivermagnus: That's a better deal than we get over here Lynda, even with the fall of the pound following the Brexit vote our price equates to $1.31.
15Andrew-theQM
>10 Lynsey2: Wishing your son and his team the best of luck Lynsey.
Good to see you are joining us Lynsey, just get to the book as you can and we will come back and discuss it with you.
Good to see you are joining us Lynsey, just get to the book as you can and we will come back and discuss it with you.
16Carol420
>10 Lynsey2: Good to have you back with us, Lyndsey and the best of luck to your son's team.
17Sergeirocks
>10 Lynsey2: Enjoy the 'footie', Lynsey!
18Sergeirocks
>2 Carol420: Always grateful for your summaries, Carol, they bring back the stories so well. Thanks!
19Sergeirocks
>3 Carol420: Watched some of the Father Brown episodes on TV a few years back, rather enjoyed them. I do like the pace and nostalgic feel of period dramas such as these.
Will definitely have to get hold of some, if not all, of the books...
Mark Williams, (well known English comedy actor), who played Father Brown also appeared as the butler in the TV adaptation of P. G. Wodehouse's Blandings series.
Will definitely have to get hold of some, if not all, of the books...
Mark Williams, (well known English comedy actor), who played Father Brown also appeared as the butler in the TV adaptation of P. G. Wodehouse's Blandings series.
21Carol420
>19 Sergeirocks: Four seasons of Father Brown with Mark Williams are on DVD and my mother and I just finished watching season 4. I discovered that our PBS stations carry the current season. We also loved the Blandings series. My mother liked the books. I'm glad she read them before she had to go to reading large print since they don't seem to be out in that format.
22eadieburke
>1 Andrew-theQM:
In this book I'm looking forward to Vera losing some weight and becoming more secure with herself. Hopefully, one day she will find someone to love her and take care of her. I guess I'm a romantic at heart and I feel sorry for Vera not having someone to care for her.
>10 Lynsey2:
Sending good luck wishes For your son's team.
>2 Carol420:
Thanks, Carol, for the wonderful wrap up of the past books. I'll have to check out the Father Brown series.
In this book I'm looking forward to Vera losing some weight and becoming more secure with herself. Hopefully, one day she will find someone to love her and take care of her. I guess I'm a romantic at heart and I feel sorry for Vera not having someone to care for her.
>10 Lynsey2:
Sending good luck wishes For your son's team.
>2 Carol420:
Thanks, Carol, for the wonderful wrap up of the past books. I'll have to check out the Father Brown series.
23Andrew-theQM
>22 eadieburke: Agree, Vera needs someone!
24Sergeirocks
>22 eadieburke: >23 Andrew-theQM: Yes; have a heart, Ann, give Vera someone to love her...
25Andrew-theQM
Has anyone noticed there are 8 group members but only seven people listed and there are two consecutive commas with no name between them. Eadie do you think that is EadieBurke as opposed to EadieB. Certainly some strange things happening.
26eadieburke
>25 Andrew-theQM:
I think the commas may be from all the times I tried to join.
I think the commas may be from all the times I tried to join.
27Andrew-theQM
And again the response is from Eadieburke - are you using a different device to the one you used to answer questions on section 3?
28eadieburke
>27 Andrew-theQM:
Using my iPhone right now.
Using my iPhone right now.
29Andrew-theQM
Have you signed out of your account on that one since changing your name? When I changed my user name I had to logout and then log back in. If you haven't logged out on that device it might be why it still appears as Eadieburke on that one.
30eadieburke
>29 Andrew-theQM:
Brilliant deduction! Just restarted my phone. I'm going to post and see what name shows up. Forgot to sign out of the account - need to try again.
Brilliant deduction! Just restarted my phone. I'm going to post and see what name shows up. Forgot to sign out of the account - need to try again.
31EadieB
Another post after signing back in.
Name has been changed, Watson! You are brilliant! Now need to do the same with my iPad!
Name has been changed, Watson! You are brilliant! Now need to do the same with my iPad!
32Andrew-theQM
Yey! Problem solved! 😊
33EadieB
>32 Andrew-theQM:
Thanks to you!
Thanks to you!
34Carol420
>25 Andrew-theQM: I see there is a new member with a comma after their name and I wonder if the second common is when Eadie's old name was removed but the comma that was there stayed. It sounds like "user mal-function to me:))) I still want chocolate cheesecake.
35Andrew-theQM
Yes before the new member I noticed there was a comma but no name before it.
37EadieB
>35 Andrew-theQM: >36 Carol420:
Who is the new member named SuperStar Machine. I think it's a spy. They have no books listed in their profile but they belong to a lot of groups but haven't commented here yet?
Who is the new member named SuperStar Machine. I think it's a spy. They have no books listed in their profile but they belong to a lot of groups but haven't commented here yet?
38Andrew-theQM
It looks like they joined Library Thing and joined a handful of groups. Hopefully he/she will say hello before the end of the group read.
39EadieB
>38 Andrew-theQM:
I think we should flag him/her. I think he/she is up to no good!
I think we should flag him/her. I think he/she is up to no good!
40Andrew-theQM
>39 EadieB: Lol! So far not done anything good or bad, let's give them a chance first.
41EadieB
>40 Andrew-theQM:
You may be too trusting. I don't trust so easily! Since you are the leader here, I will wait patiently with you and wait for their response.
You may be too trusting. I don't trust so easily! Since you are the leader here, I will wait patiently with you and wait for their response.
42Andrew-theQM
>41 EadieB: I think the word you're looking for is naive (for me).
43EadieB
>42 Andrew-theQM:
You're right but I was afraid I wouldn't spell it right.
You're right but I was afraid I wouldn't spell it right.
44Carol420
>42 Andrew-theQM: >43 EadieB: Are they a susperstar or are they a machine? Looks like they only just joined yesterday. Maybe we've scared them to death:) Think I'll just send them a hello. Should I tell them that we aren't a real group in the group sense of the word? Should I send them an invite to joint the Mystery& Suspense group and/or the Extra? Does it matter to anyone that they might be 10 years old? Should I just get back in the boat and eat my chocolate salad? Stand by....
45EadieB
>44 Carol420:
I think it's their turn to write a comment or something.
I think it's their turn to write a comment or something.
