OtterMommy

I haven't read anything by Hirahara besides Clark and Division, but that book isn't part of the series you mentioned. However, I liked C&D enough that I might actually check that one out!

I do think that there is a lot of leeway as to what is considered a cozy. Personally, I don't consider Agatha Christie a cozy read, but I can understand why some do. I did a little googling and here are some of the cozy mystery definitions I found: Cozy Mystery List has a pretty long definition. You can read the whole thing here, but here is a snippet: Wikipedia says: (This explains why some consider Agatha Christie as a cozy read as cozies are supposed to re-create the genre over which Agatha Christie reigned). And an article in Publisher's Weekly says: Perhaps the edges of the genre bleed a bit. However, people have their own tastes and I think that finding books you enjoy is more important than subscribing to a particular genre.

I finished The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James. It was definitely fun and unputdownable, and, of course, a bit creepy. It was also a tad predictable, but I still enjoyed it. I wouldn't say it is my favorite of her books (that would be The Broken Girls), but definitely in the top 3. I started Across a Hundred Mountains by Reyna Grande. I had never heard of this book until I found it in a LFL and it looked interesting. It's about two young women from Mexico--so far, the characters have yet to meet, but I'm sure that is going to happen at some point. I'm also working on The Sentence by Louise Erdrich. Now, there is a book that is bad for your TBR. I think I've put 10 books mentioned in it on my TBR and did a little online impulse shopping at Birchbark thanks to that one!

I can buy that. Personally, I like my mysteries darker so what are marketed as cozies usually aren't for me. That being said, I love some of the books you listed as cozies--I'm working my way through all of Agatha Christie's books now. I think "cozy mystery" like many genres, can be a bit fluid.

Hmmm, I'm not sure I would consider Agatha Christie or Louise Penny cozy. Of course, I have yet to find a definition that separates cozy mystery from regular mystery. However, one thing that I do think differentiates the two is having a "sleuth" who is not someone who would normally be sleuthing. With that, I suppose the Miss Marple mysteries (but not, I think, any other Christie or any of Louise Penny's Gamache books) would fall under that umbrella. I think that is why I tend not to read that many cozies--I don't like my mysteries solved by hair dressers (or chefs or bookshop owners, etc). That being said, I've read books that would be considered a cozy under that definition but are not generally considered to be so otherwise. One title that comes to my mind is Clark and Division by Naomi Hirahara. Another one that I would consider a cozy but others have told me is not is Finley Donovan is Killing It. In my mind, that is pure cozy. Anyway, a long winded into to my question...how do you all define a cozy mystery?

I finished The Hidden and it was a solid thriller, but more than a little infuriating. First of all, I was mistaken--it is not a mermaid thriller, but a selkie thriller. No worries, I'm here just as much for selkies as I am for mermaids. It is a pretty standard thriller and it did keep me interested until the end, but there were few things that just didn't work. The first is non-spoilery: The main character, a police officer, is named Joanna Harper. The author sometimes refers to her as Joanna and sometimes as Harper and there doesn't seem to be a pattern to this. For example, she isn't referred to as Harper when she's working a case and Joanna in a more personal setting. It's just random. I spent half the book thinking Harper was Joanna's partner because it seemed like they were two different people who were always in the same place at the same time. My other two issues are spoilery: Issue 1: Issue 2: Anyway, now I'm onto The Book of Cold Cases. I've really enoyed Simone St. James past books and she's a writer who seems to improve with every book, so I have high hopes for this one.

Air date: March 14, 2022

Right, although Agnes would have loaned Bannister out to families she trusted. What Bannister did was not generally unusual for a butler and, in other situation, would have been fine. And, yes, if he had been above board about it, Agnes would have said no for the reasons you said. However, my guess that the bigger sin is that he wasn't honest with Agnes because having trust in your staff was paramount, and I think Agnes rather childish (but amusing) way of handling her anger shows that. I have a feeling that she would have been upset, although maybe not to the same extent, if Bannister had done the same thing but with a family in Agnes's circle. Again, I think the writers want us to compose this with Turner, who has shown that she is not worthy of Bertha's trust. I just don't think the writers did a good job with it. ETA: I think the other part of Agnes's silent treatment is just that she's dealing with what she considers a great social embarassment after her busting in on the luncheon. She was acting rashly, which is NOT something that Agnes does, so I think part of her reaction toward Bannister is because she can't face that she herself did something so socially unacceptable. Or maybe I'm giving the writers too much credit (but not Baranski, because she is the main reason why I'm watching this show and I do think she's the shining star here).

My guess is that the reason Turner was fired and Bannister was not was because the writers were trying (unsuccessfully) to show what a big step it is to fire "good" (capable) help and what a big ask (demand) it was of Agnes to have Bertha fire Turner. They could also have been trying (unsuccessfully) to show that what Bannister did was stupid, but not fireable. Doing a side job at someone else's house was a thing that was done. Bannister's mistake was in not being above board about it. However, Agnes knows he is a good butler and doesn't want to lose his service, even though she is refusing to talk to him. Turner, on the other hand, should have been fired. I mean, yes, she should have been fired when she crawled naked into bed with her employer's husband, but beyond that, she wasn't a very good servant. She didn't get along with her co-workers and was anything but supportive to her employer. But I agree...I doubt this is the last we'll see of her. I did realize what was bugging me about this show. There is a certain style of acting that most in the "upstairs" cast employs (except Ada--and Foghorn Leghorn, which is a whole other issues) which is very stilted. The thing is, there are some great actors there and I know that they are capable of performing the same lines far better than they are here. The only one who is pulling it off is Christine Baranski and it almost seems like she is having fun with it. I can only assume that the actors are directed to act like this, but I cannot understand why.

I'm about to start The Hidden by Melanie Golding, which sounds like a mermaid thriller? I guess it goes with Into the Drowning Deep by Mira Grant, which I read earlier this year and was mermaid horror (thought not really that scary). Anyway, I have no expectations about this one, so we'll see how it goes.

Air date: March 7. 2022

Please remember that any discussion of other Julian Fellowes shows needs to go into this thread. Posts discussion Downton Abbey (or any other Fellowes show) have been and will be removed from the episode threads.

I am a huge Beverly Cleary fan. I loved her books as a kid and couldn't wait to read them to my kids when they were old enough--and, a bonus...there were books I read to the kids that were new to me. I think the last 2 Ramona books were published after I had aged out of them, but was able to enjoy them as readalongs to my children!

I can't say that I bought it. It was sort of like Jason Alexander's appearance son Young Sheldon--a solid actor who resorted to hamming it up. I felt Lane's performance was less successful, not only because of what kind of show this is (i.e. not a sitcom) but because we really weren't given anything to go on as far as to what to expect with MacAllister that Lane could then subvert.

This. Even if they aren't in the uppermost classes, Raikes (I still say the name is a big clue) actions towards Marian, whether or not she reciprocates, are far too aggressive. Marian may be just as into as he seems to be, but the sad truth is that the only one who will pay a consequence is Marian. I mean, look at the Jeanne Tripplehorn character. Raikes clearly wants to be part of the uppercrust. Whether or not what he wants from/with Marian is genuine, he should know that his class aspriations are not compatible with him marrying a woman he has previously "known."

I'm not sure it was a test. I thought it was until George told Archie he would ruin him professionally if he didn't take his offer. It was really a no win situation for Archie.

Done! Sometimes the fingers type too fast for their own good!

Air date: February 28, 2022

UK Air date: February 20, 2022

Perhaps I read too much, but I am instantly suspicious of any male character with a name like Raikes. I would expect him to be a ... rake of a character

I agree that this should be recognized as assault instead of whitewashed into "seduction." I think that is much more revealing as to Turner's character. My theory as to why George didn't fire her on the spot: He's very protective of his wife and he realizes how ruthless Turner is. Therefore, he may think it is safer to keep her under his roof where he can maintain some control instead of kicking her out where she can say or do anything in revenge that might harm his wife.

Air date: February 21, 2022

And that’s a wrap! Thanks for a great live chat!

Has The Rock sold his soul to the peacock?

This Uber eats commercial is 99% stupid. The 1% of Paltrow was spot on