tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-137677673775151256.post1001793771617289099..comments2024-03-19T02:33:46.696-07:00Comments on The Passing Tramp: The Scarlet Circle (1943), by Jonathan StaggeThe Passing Tramphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09830680639601570152noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-137677673775151256.post-71573898844383922902019-10-04T19:43:38.146-07:002019-10-04T19:43:38.146-07:00If I judged mysteries by the standard of whether t...If I judged mysteries by the standard of whether they kept me in the dark until the very last pages, very few would make the cut, even a lot of dear Agatha's.The Passing Tramphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09830680639601570152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-137677673775151256.post-65285073710915876792019-10-02T18:38:04.700-07:002019-10-02T18:38:04.700-07:00Stagge indeed did not make it overly difficult to ...Stagge indeed did not make it overly difficult to have a solid suspicion of who the killer is by about half or at least two thirds of the book. But even then, I had not grasped the full picture. I have noticed that Brian Flynn did that in some of his books as well. Personally, I tend to enjoy this gentle gradual-reveal approach more than the gee-whiz-I-never-saw-that-coming wizardry at which Agatha Christie was such a master. Maybe I like to flatter myself a bit while reading :-).Christophehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01978885973806549838noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-137677673775151256.post-49928486369243443012019-10-02T00:14:24.632-07:002019-10-02T00:14:24.632-07:00I'm glad you liked it Christophe. This remain...I'm glad you liked it Christophe. This remains perhaps my favorite Stagge. Some people thought the plot was too easy but all I can say is I picked up on it pretty late in the tale and flattered myself I was clever in doing so!The Passing Tramphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09830680639601570152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-137677673775151256.post-46182463577789252832019-09-29T16:05:03.195-07:002019-09-29T16:05:03.195-07:00Thanks you very much for your review. I just read ...Thanks you very much for your review. I just read the book, following your recommendation. It is indeed most enjoyable: nice plot, great writing, colorful characters, and--something rarely care about--a strong sense of place. Also, I found Dawn cute and, though indeed a handful at times, adding to rather than detracting from the appeal of this tale.Christophehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01978885973806549838noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-137677673775151256.post-65401995560471231922018-11-30T00:12:42.303-08:002018-11-30T00:12:42.303-08:00Thanks so much for your comment and for Charlotte ...Thanks so much for your comment and for Charlotte Armstrong! I have blogged about her here several times. A Dram of Poison is one of my great favorites.The Passing Tramphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09830680639601570152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-137677673775151256.post-84756150975655754372018-11-27T19:54:07.860-08:002018-11-27T19:54:07.860-08:00Thanks for this excellent description of this book...Thanks for this excellent description of this book and author. My grandmother is Charlotte Armstrong Lewi. She is a mystery novelist extrordinaire. I have read all of her books and need new authors to check out in this genre. Charlotte Armstrong Lewi's earliest books are classic who-done-it's where as later works were deeper and even more detailed and characters and places just jump of the page."The Unsuspected" is a pretty famous book. "A Dram of Poison" was a Edgar(Allen Poe) Award winning book. Thanks again for this blog.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12521199057106961743noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-137677673775151256.post-10557927321368581962012-10-12T14:56:33.206-07:002012-10-12T14:56:33.206-07:00John,
Yes, Dawn's pretty out-of-control in th...John,<br /><br />Yes, Dawn's pretty out-of-control in this one, so be prepared!<br /><br />"Stagge" writes about Buck's build a good bit in this book, it's definitely noticeable.The Passing Tramphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09830680639601570152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-137677673775151256.post-9494323874853118792012-10-12T09:27:54.832-07:002012-10-12T09:27:54.832-07:00I am one of those readers who finds Dawn to be a p...I am one of those readers who finds Dawn to be a pain in the ass, far from darling or cute. Those scenes with her driving the car in <i>The Star Spells Death</i>? Ugh. I've only read two of these and she is the number one reason I have been reluctant to continue with the series. But this is oh so definitely a Pretty Sinister Book! Mark McGlone's seal of approval (who bought a 1st edition of <i>The Star Spells Death</i> from me) has decided me to find a copy ASAP.<br /><br />BTW -- That Flash Gordon analogy quoted above is another sign of Wheeler's erotic fascination leaking into the books whether as Stagge or Quentin or Patrick.J F Norrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06473487417479127354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-137677673775151256.post-41542074309981440052012-10-09T00:59:35.910-07:002012-10-09T00:59:35.910-07:00Really glad you enjoyed this one Curt - I'm a ...Really glad you enjoyed this one Curt - I'm a big fan of the Stagge books but am surprised by how little read they are these days. Bill Prozini, who in my house is known only as 'the great Bill Pronzini', is susprisingly damning of these books in 1001 MIDNIGHTS and this is a book where BP tried to be generous to a fault. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-137677673775151256.post-4760302584045337192012-10-08T09:45:57.997-07:002012-10-08T09:45:57.997-07:00Sounds tremendous, I must try and track it down.Sounds tremendous, I must try and track it down.Martin Edwardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16082485795280777670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-137677673775151256.post-58446979189352347522012-10-07T11:13:44.882-07:002012-10-07T11:13:44.882-07:00Patrick,
Another one that should be reprinted.
M...Patrick,<br /><br />Another one that should be reprinted.<br /><br />Mark,<br /><br />That telegram is very funny. I think Dawn got really out of hand in Scarlet though! You are right how she seems oblivious to the mystery,even as she does something important to solve it. No Flavia de Luce, she!The Passing Tramphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09830680639601570152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-137677673775151256.post-91866590322500005122012-10-06T18:31:42.955-07:002012-10-06T18:31:42.955-07:00I love these books. I've finally read all of t...I love these books. I've finally read all of them, having recently found an affordable copy of The Yellow Taxi (normally around hundred bucks). The Scarlet Circle is probably my favorite, with Death's Old Sweet Song being a close second, though the plotting of The Scarlet Circle pushes it ahead. <br /><br />I happen to like Dawn, but I could see how she would annoy some people. As an example of the kind of comic relief she provides, in Turn of the Table, her father sends her to camp. She sends him the following telegram to try to get him to come get her.<br /><br />CAMP LIFE UNENDURABLE FOR SENSITIVE GIRL STOP NO NOURISHING FOOD STOP EPIDEMIC OF LEPROSY STOP GROSS IMMORALITY STOP THINK CAMP LEADER DRINKS STOP KNOW YOU ME HOME STOP AM COMING STOP LOVE DAWN<br /><br />I happen to find that funny and charming, but I know it would make some people gag.<br /><br />The odd thing about her role in the books is that in most of the books she's seems to barely be aware of the murders going on. She just sort of stumbles on some important bit of evidence which helps solve the case. That makes it sound like plotting is weak, but they're better than that. The solutions are generally logical and well-developed. I'm only sorry that there are no more that I haven't read.<br /><br /><br />Mark McGlonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10208359156193723805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-137677673775151256.post-53926627589773937252012-10-06T16:58:05.348-07:002012-10-06T16:58:05.348-07:00I like the sound of this one! Thanks, Curt!I like the sound of this one! Thanks, Curt!Patrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01844617192737950378noreply@blogger.com