tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516189026477178777.post4413162198206991424..comments2024-03-27T22:32:02.739+01:00Comments on Beneath the Stains of Time: Something Wrong at Chillery (1931) by R. Francis FosterTomCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03415176301265218101noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516189026477178777.post-24970477115381998872019-03-05T15:13:54.003+01:002019-03-05T15:13:54.003+01:00That's fantastic! Can't wait to read it.That's fantastic! Can't wait to read it.JamesSByrnsidehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03436891505091962907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516189026477178777.post-7174198855375678612019-03-05T09:48:39.761+01:002019-03-05T09:48:39.761+01:00I only mentioned Suddenly At His Residence, becaus...I only mentioned <i>Suddenly At His Residence</i>, because I wouldn't dare compare <i>Something Wrong at Chillery</i> with the masterpiece that's <i>London Particular</i>. <br /><br />You might like to know that my review of <i>Goodnight Irene</i> is scheduled for this upcoming Tuesday. And very much look forward to your second and third (locked room) mystery novels! <br />TomCathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03415176301265218101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516189026477178777.post-17604743707287083982019-03-04T14:16:00.533+01:002019-03-04T14:16:00.533+01:00It was a great way to end, but what I really enjoy...It was a great way to end, but what I really enjoyed was having an above-average Watson narrate the story. It made for some wonderful back and forth as they worked out the clues. I've gotten away from that element a bit in my second novel, and this obscure, little gem has inspired me to focus on that type of banter in my third. You mention Suddenly At His Residence giving the lat detail in the final line. London Particular does this better than any book I've read. The emotion in that final revelation gets me every time. It's not used by a clever detective solving the case, but by a broken man making a desperate plea. The moment is woven so deeply into the character.JamesSByrnsidehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03436891505091962907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516189026477178777.post-54332436102418804272019-03-04T08:38:44.124+01:002019-03-04T08:38:44.124+01:00A chronic lack of viable suspects is the main weak...A chronic lack of viable suspects is the main weakness of the story, but glad to read you still enjoyed it. I assume you were very appreciative of the Christianna Brand-like ending with the solution to the locked room murder given in the last lines of the book. <br />TomCathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03415176301265218101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516189026477178777.post-68163113752247769462019-03-04T01:53:25.964+01:002019-03-04T01:53:25.964+01:00That was a lot of fun to read. You're quite ri...That was a lot of fun to read. You're quite right about the obviousness of the killer though. A pity Foster didn't work in at least one more suspect to be present for the big reveal.JamesSByrnsidehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03436891505091962907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516189026477178777.post-52975983071360558582019-02-10T23:07:38.902+01:002019-02-10T23:07:38.902+01:00I talked about this author a bit in my book Clues ...I talked about this author a bit in my book Clues and Corpses.The Passing Tramphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09830680639601570152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516189026477178777.post-50856654743940938872019-02-07T21:48:06.303+01:002019-02-07T21:48:06.303+01:00Grumble grumble Americans and their swathes of eas...Grumble grumble Americans and their swathes of easily accessible secondhand books grumble grumble...JJ @ The Invisible Eventhttps://theinvisibleevent.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516189026477178777.post-11604581119237188302019-02-07T20:16:53.927+01:002019-02-07T20:16:53.927+01:00"I attempted to read Murder from Beyond but w..."<i>I attempted to read Murder from Beyond but was so bored out of my mind I gave up. So do try to find that one and read it to the end and tell me I was a dope for never finishing. ;^)</i>"<br /><br />Normally, we tend to agree on this stuff, but, after our slight disagreement today, all bets are off. So you're on! <br /><br />"<i>You've just managed to sell four copies of this obscure title, including the one with the DJ that you used to illustrate your post!</i>" <br /><br />Just spreading the good word. I wonder how often this happens when one of us posts a review of an obscure mystery. TomCathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03415176301265218101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516189026477178777.post-42719931084367713382019-02-07T20:12:31.195+01:002019-02-07T20:12:31.195+01:00This was not bad for a second-string mystery and l...This was not bad for a second-string mystery and liked how the locked room was solved in the very last sentence of the book. Hope you like it!TomCathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03415176301265218101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516189026477178777.post-18208286181195609672019-02-07T20:10:14.067+01:002019-02-07T20:10:14.067+01:00Not as difficult as it seems. Just look at the com...Not as difficult as it seems. Just look at the comments below. Apparently, I moved at least four copies of the book since this review was posted. I'm earning my wings by spreading the good word. :) TomCathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03415176301265218101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516189026477178777.post-42328294300785925292019-02-07T18:36:08.044+01:002019-02-07T18:36:08.044+01:00Foster is notably written up in Gun in Cheek (mayb...Foster is notably written up in <i>Gun in Cheek</i> (maybe the sequel) for his "alternative mystery" style of writing and plotting. I had three of his books decades ago, sold them all. I attempted to read <i>Murder from Beyond</i> but was so bored out of my mind I gave up. So do try to find that one and read it to the end and tell me I was a dope for never finishing. ;^) I skimmed this review and read the paragraph about Kali and that was enough to get me to have another go at Foster. So I went to buy a nice copy using my usual bookselling website sources, but had to try three times! Looks like you're taking up an accidental referral business that I used to specialize in. You've just managed to sell four copies of this obscure title, including the one with the DJ that you used to illustrate your post!J F Norrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06473487417479127354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516189026477178777.post-29620935000101602202019-02-07T15:28:16.425+01:002019-02-07T15:28:16.425+01:00I just bought a used hardcover of this on Amazon. ...I just bought a used hardcover of this on Amazon. It sounds right up my alley.JamesSByrnsidehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03436891505091962907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516189026477178777.post-47843623023271489082019-02-07T14:19:19.511+01:002019-02-07T14:19:19.511+01:00*sigh* This does sound rather marvellous. Difficu...*sigh* This does sound rather marvellous. Difficult to track down, you say? Yeah, that figures...JJ @ The Invisible Eventhttps://theinvisibleevent.comnoreply@blogger.com