Litsy

The Limpopo Academy of Private Detection | Alexander McCall Smith

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A generous donor to the orphan farm is putting unacceptable conditions on his donations. Mma Ramotswe and Mma Makutsi investigate his reasons. One of the Speedy Motors apprentices is arrested for handling stolen goods. And the ladies get the chance to meet a very famous person.

I did worry just how disappointed Mma Ramotswe and Mma Makutsi were going to be by their special guest.

13 likes

Cuilin

The Adventure of the Lion's Mane | Arthur Conan Doyle

#NoPlaceLikeHolmes

Thoughts?

@pageshifter @AnneCecilie @indoordame @librarybelle @theAromaOfBooks @Aimeesue @kelli7990 @5feet.of.fury @Read4Life @AnnR @mom2bugnbee @pageturner1 @eeclayton @erzascarletbookgasm @aroyse @dabbe

Cuilin @mollyanna @Tineke @Larkken @StayCurious @kimrenee @alldebooks @CogsOfEncouragement @catlass007 @CrystalE02 @curiouserandcurioser @Larkken @BeeCurious @Blackink_WhitePaper @Daisey @RayHallucinogen @Born.A.Reader @Chrissyreadit @Fr3NcHtOaSt @Anishalnkspill 14h

Daisey I enjoyed this one, but it‘s also one that I solved fairly quickly. The title and the initial details seemed pretty clear. I was in no way disappointed that there wasn‘t actually a crime. 13h

Librarybelle I was not disappointed it wasn‘t a crime, but I was surprised by the culprit. I‘m not up on my sea creature knowledge, so I had no clue that a jellyfish could resemble a lion‘s mane. 😂 13h

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Cuilin @Daisey @librarybelle When I saw the title I‘ve got to admit that I thought of mushrooms and wondered if someone would be poisoned. (edited) 13h

eeclayton @Librarybelle Same 😂 12h

CatLass007 I think anyone who criticizes the story because there‘s no actual crime is missing the point that everyone thought it was a crime, including Holmes. 9h

Cuilin @CatLass007 🎯 exactly!!! That‘s the mystery. 7h

dabbe @Cuilin @Daisey @Librarybelle @eeclayton @CatLass007 Excellent observations, everyone! To me, this story proves that Holmes isn't just a crime solver; he's a true investigator, and his skills apply to scientific mysteries and not just human malice. Perhaps Doyle is daring to ask: “Must every villain be human? Can nature itself be the antagonist?“ In the world of conflicts, we have human vs. human, human vs. himself/herself/theirself, ⬇️ 6h

dabbe human vs. society, and human vs. nature. Kudos to Doyle for giving us one with nature as the so-called villain. Perhaps this “eco-horror“ story could be seen as a precursor to movies like JAWS or THE BIRDS. I found it a refreshing take and bold experiment in the canon. And I can't believe we only have three stories left! 6h

CogsOfEncouragement I agree with you all. A mysterious death requires answers and SH gets to the bottom of the matter. Entertaining short story. 5h

CatLass007 I may not participate in next Saturday‘s discussion. I am having surgery on Friday and I have no idea how I will feel on Saturday. But I will catch up and I will keep you posted. 2h

27 likes11 comments

Cuilin

The Adventure of the Lion's Mane | Arthur Conan Doyle

#NoPlaceLikeHolmes

Thoughts?

@pageshifter @AnneCecilie @indoordame @librarybelle @theAromaOfBooks @Aimeesue @kelli7990 @5feet.of.fury @Read4Life @AnnR @mom2bugnbee @pageturner1 @eeclayton @erzascarletbookgasm @aroyse @dabbe

Cuilin @mollyanna @Tineke @Larkken @StayCurious @kimrenee @alldebooks @CogsOfEncouragement @catlass007 @CrystalE02 @curiouserandcurioser @Larkken @BeeCurious @Blackink_WhitePaper @Daisey @RayHallucinogen @Born.A.Reader @Chrissyreadit @Fr3NcHtOaSt @Anishalnkspill 14h

Librarybelle As I said for the first question, Holmes‘s telling is more methodical. I actually found this easier to read. Holmes is thorough, and we can see his thinking throughout. 13h

Cuilin @Librarybelle The two stories from Holmes POV are heavily criticised and considered dry. I agree with you. I think they‘re clear and easier to read. I love that we see him “show his work” 13h

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eeclayton I think there's less “clutter“ with Holmes. Since he knows what he knows, there is no need to fill the narrative with red herrings, descriptive details or false theories, which are often used by Watson when he has no clue about the solution of a case. 12h

CatLass007 @Librarybelle @Cuilin @eeclayton I agree with the three of you. When Holmes tells the story we get to see his thought processes and I find that much more enjoyable than going from Point A to Point C without going through Point B. It‘s actually easier for me to figure out things along with Holmes rather than having everything filtered through Watson. 9h

dabbe @Cuilin @Librarybelle @eeclayton @CatLass007 Agree 💯 with all of your points. To me, Holmes's narration reads more like clinical nonfiction, whereas Watson's reads like dramatic fiction. I enjoy both, but I prefer the dramatic flair of Watson and like trying to figure out the puzzle through his eyes because he is usually lost like the reader is. Holmes's tone is clinical, intellectual, and detached. Watson's is dramatic, admiring of Holmes's ⬇️ 6h

dabbe larger-than-life detective capabilities, and suspenseful. If Watson‘s stories are like watching Holmes perform on stage, “The Lion‘s Mane“ is like reading Holmes's private case notes—enlightening, but not as entertaining. 6h

CogsOfEncouragement I was amused how the reader was not told of SH‘s guess because it was withheld via convo with the Inspector and SH refused to tell him prematurely. SH was writing directly to us for other parts of the account, and then kept us in the dark this way. 5h

CatLass007 @CogsOfEncouragement I don‘t necessarily think that Holmes was keeping us in the dark. And I don‘t think it was a guess. I think he realized he needed a different theory. A theory is not a guess. This is in line with the clues that Holmes has and shares with us. Holmes realizes he doesn‘t have all the pieces yet and begins to do research based on something he read ages ago. 2h

21 likes9 comments

Cuilin

The Adventure of the Lion's Mane | Arthur Conan Doyle

#NoPlaceLikeHolmes

Thoughts?

@pageshifter @AnneCecilie @indoordame @librarybelle @theAromaOfBooks @Aimeesue @kelli7990 @5feet.of.fury @Read4Life @AnnR @mom2bugnbee @pageturner1 @eeclayton @erzascarletbookgasm @aroyse @dabbe

Cuilin @mollyanna @Tineke @Larkken @StayCurious @kimrenee @alldebooks @CogsOfEncouragement @catlass007 @CrystalE02 @curiouserandcurioser @Larkken @BeeCurious @Blackink_WhitePaper @Daisey @RayHallucinogen @Born.A.Reader @Chrissyreadit @Fr3NcHtOaSt @Anishalnkspill 14h

Librarybelle I liked this. Holmes‘s telling of the story is more methodical and laid out than a story told by Watson. The end was a surprise for me. 13h

eeclayton I liked it, too. For me personally, Watson is a more enjoyable narrator, but it's interesting now and then to have a closer look at how SH himself is thinking. 12h

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CatLass007 It made me sad that Holmes and Watson saw each other infrequently at this point in their lives. But I did like the narration by Holmes and I was unsurprised about the culprit in the murder. It was nice to hear Holmes admit he had been wrong when he thought the victim had not been in the water merely because his towel was dry. 9h

Cuilin @CatLass007 A humble Holmes!! Who‘d a thought! 7h

dabbe @Cuilin @LIbrarybelle @eeclayton @CatLass007 I believe this is the one story where we get a glimpse of Holmes's life in retirement. I loved the coastal setting and agree 💯 with @CatLas007 about missing the relationship between H & W. I did found it hard to grasp that Holmes is okay with doing nothing but beekeeping. This is the man who once took drugs because he couldn't handle idleness. But people do change over time--even our beloved detective. 6h

CogsOfEncouragement I thought maybe the death was not by human hands. Then when the answer was revealed, I remembered SH began this tale by saying “soothing life of Nature” and realized that was certainly meant as foreshadowing. 5h

22 likes7 comments

Mattsbookaday

Detective Beans: and the Case of the Missing Hat | Li Chen

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Detective Beans: The Case of the Missing Hat, by Li Chen (2024)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Premise: A plucky kitten solves the greatest mystery of his young detective career: the loss of his favourite fedora.

Review: This is just pure graphic novel cuteness. That is all.

Bookish Pair: Cat‘s Cafe by Gwen Tarpley (2020)

5 likes

rwmg

The Limpopo Academy of Private Detection | Alexander McCall Smith

#coffeeandabook

22 likes

rwmg

The Saturday Big Tent Wedding Party: More from the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency | Alexander McCall Smith

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Mma Ramotswe takes on the case of a farmer whose cattle are being mutilated, and Mma Makutsi prepares for her wedding to Phuti Radiphuti.

I always enjoy visiting Botswana in the company of the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency.

Ruthiella I just finished the 9th in this series. It seems Mma Makutsi‘s engagement will be as long as Mma Ramotswe‘s was. 😂 22h

24 likes1 comment