tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516189026477178777.post7292761849818153513..comments2024-03-27T22:32:02.739+01:00Comments on Beneath the Stains of Time: Through the LabyrinthTomCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03415176301265218101noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516189026477178777.post-12610322110705297222020-07-10T18:42:21.062+02:002020-07-10T18:42:21.062+02:00Thank you for a timely reply! Murder in the Maze i...Thank you for a timely reply! Murder in the Maze is a delightful read so far, and I'm glad to have other books from him to look forward to. <br /><br />My original theory involved the killer moving one of the twin's corpses between both centers to be discovered consecutively so that one corpse could be misidentified as both twins (creating the impression of two deaths from one corpse in two locations). Sadly the theory almost immediately got blown to smithereens. I look forward to seeing what Connington pulls off with the set-up!HeartfeltDesuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14992885956277891200noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516189026477178777.post-21468679549148559182020-07-10T12:36:46.892+02:002020-07-10T12:36:46.892+02:00I've not read enough of Connington's work ...I've not read enough of Connington's work to say he always prioritized the how over the who, but the method, or the exact circumstances of a murder, were integral to the plot in the three novels reviewed on this blog. Such as the nine possible combinations of accident, murder and suicide in <i>The Case of the Nine Solutions</i> and the ingenious way to dispense death in <i>Jack-in-the-Box</i>. And readers more familiar with Connington often compare Connington to Sayers (see first comment). <br /><br />So the short answers is probably yes. TomCathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03415176301265218101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516189026477178777.post-33460645726360891752020-07-10T12:07:53.776+02:002020-07-10T12:07:53.776+02:00Would you say it's a fair statement that Conni...Would you say it's a fair statement that Connington falls into the Sayers school of "it doesn't matter much to obfuscate the killer identity, their methods are the key point of interest"?<br /><br />I admire that aspect of Sayers's writing. I'm currently reading this very Connington and the setting of a hedgemaze promises a lot of trickery. Would you consider Connington a worthy method-focused GAD writer?HeartfeltDesuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14992885956277891200noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516189026477178777.post-28401729295312034692017-08-15T00:26:52.921+02:002017-08-15T00:26:52.921+02:00I'm with Jonathan on this, I prefer to save an...I'm with Jonathan on this, I prefer to save an author's best/most interesting for last, if just because I don't want to blaze through the best and end up with a bunch of dreck. Besides, it's useful for trying lesser-known/underrated novels or having a better appreciation of them, as I'm learning with Christie.<br /><br />--The Dark OneAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516189026477178777.post-28582482464119604742017-07-30T19:20:37.830+02:002017-07-30T19:20:37.830+02:00Yes, this was my first exposure to Connington. You...Yes, this was my first exposure to Connington. You often go for the lower-to mid ranking books first, don't you? I could never do that. When sampling a new author, I always try to get one of the (reputedly) better books, because I want to know what a mystery writer is capable of doing at their best. If I really like a writer, I can be very forgiving towards the flaws of those lower-to mid rank titles (see JDC). TomCathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03415176301265218101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516189026477178777.post-15092608560317853282017-07-30T11:03:42.812+02:002017-07-30T11:03:42.812+02:00Is this your initial foray into Connington? I'...Is this your initial foray into Connington? I've heard that his best titles include 'Castleford Conundrum', 'Case of Nine Solutions' and 'Sweepstake Murders'. But I want to keep the best for the last, and as such I've begun with 'Eye of the Museum' and 'Tragedy at Ravensthorpe'. 'Eye' seemed to evolve into a less-than-fair-play thriller by the end, and 'Tragedy at Ravensthorpe', apart from one of two great ideas, was more interesting than compelling. Jonathanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03389512470283015279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516189026477178777.post-52058329338749528832017-07-29T15:50:33.395+02:002017-07-29T15:50:33.395+02:00Thanks for your recommendations, Anon!
I've r...Thanks for your recommendations, Anon!<br /><br />I've read some good things about <i>The Sweepstake Murders</i>, but not about <i>Grim Vengeance</i>. So that one has been added to the wish list. I also want to give the much-touted <i>The Case with Nine Solutions</i> and <i>The Castleford Conundrum</i>, which have been <a href="http://at-scene-of-crime.blogspot.com/search/label/J.%20J.%20Connington" rel="nofollow">described</a> by some as (minor) masterpieces. <br /><br />You can expect a post about one of those titles in the hopefully not so distant future. TomCathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03415176301265218101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516189026477178777.post-80068886585873426732017-07-29T10:38:06.603+02:002017-07-29T10:38:06.603+02:00I've read a few Conningtons now. He seems not ...I've read a few Conningtons now. He seems not to tell you explicitly who the murderer is but makes no efforts at misdirection (other authors did this, notably Sayers). There is often much ingenuity in clue interpretation and murder method (Mystery at Lynden Sands, The Ha-Ha Case), and he has a uniquely pawky narrative style which sets him apart from the other 'humdrums' (so you won't confuse him with Gladys Mitchell). The Sweepstake Murders is probably the best of his books I have read, combining all these elements with a not too obvious murderer. But you shouldn't miss Grim Vengeance (Nemesis at Raynham Parva) for a particular reason you mention in your review.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com