Three Blind Mice by Agatha Christie - a collection of short stories. The first is the best and longest of the group and is what the play Mousetrap is based on. Several people are trapped in a boarding house during a snowstorm and one of them is a murderer. Another good one is Tape-Measure Murder featuring Miss Marple.
4 stars
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Transcription by Kate Atkinson - Juliet is almost against her will recruited into MI5 at the beginning of WWII. Her purpose is to transcribe the recordings of a group of fifth columnists in an apartment. Unknown to them, they are being run by an agent of MI5. Soon, Juliet is also playing the part of a spy infiltrating a group of women. Ten years later Juliet works at the BBC but is still doing some work for the government. The whole time Juliet has never been sure of the loyalties of the many people she works with and neither are we. I loved the way this was written but didn't always know what was going on and am still slightly unsure.
4 stars
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Mrs McGinty's Dead by Agatha Christie - the murderer of Mrs McGinty has been found, tried, and convicted but Superintendent Spence has some doubts. He goes to his friend Hercule Poirot and asks him to investigate. Poirot is running into dead ends until a chance remark leads him to someone with a hidden past that they are desperate to conceal.
4 stars
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The Under Dog and Other Stories by Agatha Christie - a collection of short stories, all featuring Hercule Poirot. At least one of them was expanded into a full length book. I listened to half of these on audio book and enjoyed the narration by Hugh Fraser and David Suchet. But couldn't stay awake.
3 stars
Sunday, October 28, 2018
Sunday, October 21, 2018
Oct 14 - 20, 2018
All books by Agatha Christie except as indicated.
One, Two, Buckle My Shoe - shortly after Hercule Poirot visits his dentist the man is found dead. There's lots of waffling on whether it was suicide or murder, with Poirot on the murder side. It looks like he may be right when two more people die. The government gets involved and it seems things will be hushed up for national security reasons. But Poirot is always interested in the human angle and keeps digging. I found this one confusing and convoluted.
2 stars
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Five Little Pigs - 16 years ago a woman was convicted of killing her famous artist husband. Now, the just turned 21 daughter comes to Poirot with a letter from her mother stating her innocence. Poirot must try to reconstruct an old crime and he does so by visiting the 5 other people in the house at the time. He gets 5 different interpretations so there is quite a bit of repetition in the story. It's still satisfying to see Poirot ferret out the truth.
3 stars
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Agatha Christie's Secret Notebooks by John Curran - after the death of Christie's daughter, 73 notebooks were discovered. They contained plots, characters, and setting for many of her books along with reminders to herself, Christmas lists, and books she had read. The author, who discovered the books, goes into great detail about them. Almost too much. I did skip portions as there are spoilers (there are warnings) for books I haven't read. Too dry for me.
2.5 stars
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Towards Zero - several people are gathered at the beach house of an elderly widow. Including the current and ex-wife of a tennis player. When the widow is murdered all the signs point to the tennis player. But Superintendent Battle is suspicious at the wealth of clues. And it looks like a natural death may not be so natural after all. I was totally surprised by the identity of the culprit and really liked how the book led up to the murder. I don't think I've read this before.
4 stars
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Death Comes as the End - a very different Christie book, a historical mystery set in ancient Egypt. A widowed daughter returns to her childhood home and everything is still the same. Her brothers are under the thumb of her father, a ka-priest of some wealth. Her sister-in-laws are still squabbling and a household member is still stirring up trouble. Then her father returns from his travels with a beautiful concubine and the trouble really starts. The body count is really high in this, which does eventually cut down on the number of suspects.
3.5 stars
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The Moving Finger - a man recovering from an accident and his sister move to the quiet village of Lymstock and almost immediately receive an anonymous letter accusing them of vile behavior and not being really related. It seems there has been an outbreak of these letters and eventually one of them causes a suicide. This is classified as a Miss Marple but she's doesn't appear until very late and in almost a cameo role. Most of the detecting is done by the narrator. This is also a rather odd love story.
4 stars
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The Labors of Hercules - a collection of short stories in which Poirot decides to take just twelve more cases before he retires. And he wants each of them to resemble a feat of Hercules.
3 stars
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Sparkling Cyanide - one year ago a beautiful wife and sister commits suicide during a dinner at a fancy restaurant. Now her husband wants to have a dinner in her honor at the same place with the same people with one exception, an empty chair for a mysterious guest. Of course someone ends up dead. Again, everyone is a suspect and everyone has a good reason. However, no one could have done it. This is an adaptation of a short story that featured Hercule Poirot. But here the police are aided by Colonel Race.
4 stars
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The Hollow - Hercule Poirot arrives at the home of the Angkatells to find a scene that he believes is fake - a man lies bleeding into the pool with a woman standing over him holding a gun while family members look on in horror. But it is not an act, the man was shot, apparently by his wife. All this happens after we've been introduced to all the characters and learned the reason his wife may have wanted to kill him. I didn't like any of the people in this book, I believe I'm in the minority.
3 stars
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The Listerdale Mystery - a collection of short stories.
Witness for the Prosecution - a collection of short stories. On the list I'm using to keep track of all my Christies, these two collections had stories listed that were not in the edition I was reading. But between the two of them all the stories were represented. Witness for the Prosecution was my favorite.
3 stars
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A Murder is Announced - a notice is placed in the local paper of Clipping Cleghorn (one of my favorite village names) saying a murder will occur at a certain house at 6:30. Naturally, several people show up, expecting to play a game of Murder. Instead, a young man bursts in, shots are fired, and the young man is dead on the floor. Why, Who, and How? Miss Marple happens to be in town visiting the vicar's wife so she is able to assist the police.
4 stars
One, Two, Buckle My Shoe - shortly after Hercule Poirot visits his dentist the man is found dead. There's lots of waffling on whether it was suicide or murder, with Poirot on the murder side. It looks like he may be right when two more people die. The government gets involved and it seems things will be hushed up for national security reasons. But Poirot is always interested in the human angle and keeps digging. I found this one confusing and convoluted.
2 stars
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Five Little Pigs - 16 years ago a woman was convicted of killing her famous artist husband. Now, the just turned 21 daughter comes to Poirot with a letter from her mother stating her innocence. Poirot must try to reconstruct an old crime and he does so by visiting the 5 other people in the house at the time. He gets 5 different interpretations so there is quite a bit of repetition in the story. It's still satisfying to see Poirot ferret out the truth.
3 stars
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Agatha Christie's Secret Notebooks by John Curran - after the death of Christie's daughter, 73 notebooks were discovered. They contained plots, characters, and setting for many of her books along with reminders to herself, Christmas lists, and books she had read. The author, who discovered the books, goes into great detail about them. Almost too much. I did skip portions as there are spoilers (there are warnings) for books I haven't read. Too dry for me.
2.5 stars
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Towards Zero - several people are gathered at the beach house of an elderly widow. Including the current and ex-wife of a tennis player. When the widow is murdered all the signs point to the tennis player. But Superintendent Battle is suspicious at the wealth of clues. And it looks like a natural death may not be so natural after all. I was totally surprised by the identity of the culprit and really liked how the book led up to the murder. I don't think I've read this before.
4 stars
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Death Comes as the End - a very different Christie book, a historical mystery set in ancient Egypt. A widowed daughter returns to her childhood home and everything is still the same. Her brothers are under the thumb of her father, a ka-priest of some wealth. Her sister-in-laws are still squabbling and a household member is still stirring up trouble. Then her father returns from his travels with a beautiful concubine and the trouble really starts. The body count is really high in this, which does eventually cut down on the number of suspects.
3.5 stars
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The Moving Finger - a man recovering from an accident and his sister move to the quiet village of Lymstock and almost immediately receive an anonymous letter accusing them of vile behavior and not being really related. It seems there has been an outbreak of these letters and eventually one of them causes a suicide. This is classified as a Miss Marple but she's doesn't appear until very late and in almost a cameo role. Most of the detecting is done by the narrator. This is also a rather odd love story.
4 stars
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The Labors of Hercules - a collection of short stories in which Poirot decides to take just twelve more cases before he retires. And he wants each of them to resemble a feat of Hercules.
3 stars
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Sparkling Cyanide - one year ago a beautiful wife and sister commits suicide during a dinner at a fancy restaurant. Now her husband wants to have a dinner in her honor at the same place with the same people with one exception, an empty chair for a mysterious guest. Of course someone ends up dead. Again, everyone is a suspect and everyone has a good reason. However, no one could have done it. This is an adaptation of a short story that featured Hercule Poirot. But here the police are aided by Colonel Race.
4 stars
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The Hollow - Hercule Poirot arrives at the home of the Angkatells to find a scene that he believes is fake - a man lies bleeding into the pool with a woman standing over him holding a gun while family members look on in horror. But it is not an act, the man was shot, apparently by his wife. All this happens after we've been introduced to all the characters and learned the reason his wife may have wanted to kill him. I didn't like any of the people in this book, I believe I'm in the minority.
3 stars
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The Listerdale Mystery - a collection of short stories.
Witness for the Prosecution - a collection of short stories. On the list I'm using to keep track of all my Christies, these two collections had stories listed that were not in the edition I was reading. But between the two of them all the stories were represented. Witness for the Prosecution was my favorite.
3 stars
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A Murder is Announced - a notice is placed in the local paper of Clipping Cleghorn (one of my favorite village names) saying a murder will occur at a certain house at 6:30. Naturally, several people show up, expecting to play a game of Murder. Instead, a young man bursts in, shots are fired, and the young man is dead on the floor. Why, Who, and How? Miss Marple happens to be in town visiting the vicar's wife so she is able to assist the police.
4 stars
Sunday, October 14, 2018
Oct 6 - 12, 2018
All titles by Agatha Christie unless otherwise indicated.
Murder is Easy - a recently retired policeman has arrived in England. He meets an elderly woman on a train who confides to him that she's on her way to Scotland Yard to tell them about a series of what she believes are murders in her village. He thinks she's probably gaga but when he learns of her death later that day and the death of the doctor in her village he decides to investigate for himself. Christie cleverly leads you to suspect everyone at some point. She also has some clever remarks about the class system in England. This is called a Superintendent Battle book but he only appears in the last 10 pages or so.
4 stars
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After the Funeral - at the funeral of a wealthy man, his odd sister remarks that of course he was murdered. When everyone is aghast at her statement, she quickly retracts it. But when she is savagely murdered the next day, people begin to wonder. Poirot is called in by the family solicitor. Once again, everyone is a suspect. A very clever solution.
4 stars
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Sad Cypress - a woman is accused of poisoning a woman she is jealous of and the evidence is so compelling even she wonders if she did it. She certainly wanted to. Poirot to the rescue. I think the solution to this one is a little far fetched , I even remembered it from my previous reading.
3 stars
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I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga - Jasper Dent presents himself as a normal teenage boy. But he's very worried about himself and those around him. His father is the world's most notorious serial killer and Jasper has been brought up to be just like dad. When there is a murder in his small town, Jasper immediately suspects a serial killer. He decides his special insight will help him find the killer. A gory, brutal book, the first in a trilogy I won't continue. Read this as a break from Agatha, big mistake.
1 star
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Taken at the Flood - the Cloade family has always depended on the wealth and generosity of Gordon Cloade. So when the elderly man marries a young widow there is consternation. And when he is killed during one of the bomb raids in London their worst fears come true. The new wife inherits the money and she and her brother take over the family home. But it's a stranger's murder that draws Hercule Poirot into the mystery.
3 stars
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Evil Under the Sun - a femme fatale, her current toy, his jealous wife, and her seemingly indifferent husband are at an exclusive beach resort off the coast of England. So is Hercule Poirot, who can't seem to have a quiet vacation. Because the woman is found murdered, with everyone having an airtight alibi. This is one with a lovely twist at the end.
4 stars
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N or M - the years have gone by, it's WWII, and Tommy and Tuppence are bemoaning the fact that the war effort doesn't seem to want them despite their past success. Then Tommy is sent to a boarding house in a small seaside town that unaccountably may be the headquarters of the head of the Fifth Column, the dreaded German spies and sympathizers that may bring England down from within. Naturally Tuppence finds a way to include herself and there are a lot of possibilities to choose from. It wouldn't be Christie if there wasn't a good twist. More of a spy novel than a mystery.
3 stars
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Don't Make Me Pull Over! An Informal History of the Family Road Trip by Richard Ratay - the author, youngest of four children recounts his family's road trips during the 70's. He also gives us the history of roads, autos, motels, drive-thrus, and roadside attractions. All in an easy-to-read breezy way. I'm a little too old to get the nostalgia of the 70's but still found this enjoyable.
3 stars
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The Body in the Library - Colonel and Mrs Bantry (my favorite couple in the Miss Marple series) wake to find the body of a complete stranger in their library. Since the body is a young, blond woman, tongues begin to wag almost immediately. Mrs. Bantry begs Miss Marple to help her solve the mystery. Miss Marple is more likeable in this book and the police are practically begging her for her insight. Lots of twists and turns before the culprit is found.
4 stars
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The Boy at the Keyhole by Stephen Giles - 9 yo Samuel lives in a sprawling house with only the housekeeper and a part time gardener. His father is dead and his mother left in the middle of the night to sail to America in order to get funds for their business. Samuel's only communication with his mother are the postcards she sporadically sends from all over America. Gradually, Samuel begins to think the housekeeper has done away with his mother. Because he's only 9, his understanding of some things isn't quite right. A rather slow moving book with a big twist at the end. And then a very unsatisfying ending.
3 stars
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Hercule Poirot's Christmas - a tyrannical old man is found murdered in a locked room. He has called his four sons and one grandaughter home for Christmas - not for a warm family time but so he can berate and bedevil them. Poirot happens to be spending Christmas with the Chief Constable of the area, who is more than happy to have his assistance. I did remember whodunnit this time but still enjoyed it very much.
4 stars
Murder is Easy - a recently retired policeman has arrived in England. He meets an elderly woman on a train who confides to him that she's on her way to Scotland Yard to tell them about a series of what she believes are murders in her village. He thinks she's probably gaga but when he learns of her death later that day and the death of the doctor in her village he decides to investigate for himself. Christie cleverly leads you to suspect everyone at some point. She also has some clever remarks about the class system in England. This is called a Superintendent Battle book but he only appears in the last 10 pages or so.
4 stars
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After the Funeral - at the funeral of a wealthy man, his odd sister remarks that of course he was murdered. When everyone is aghast at her statement, she quickly retracts it. But when she is savagely murdered the next day, people begin to wonder. Poirot is called in by the family solicitor. Once again, everyone is a suspect. A very clever solution.
4 stars
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Sad Cypress - a woman is accused of poisoning a woman she is jealous of and the evidence is so compelling even she wonders if she did it. She certainly wanted to. Poirot to the rescue. I think the solution to this one is a little far fetched , I even remembered it from my previous reading.
3 stars
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I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga - Jasper Dent presents himself as a normal teenage boy. But he's very worried about himself and those around him. His father is the world's most notorious serial killer and Jasper has been brought up to be just like dad. When there is a murder in his small town, Jasper immediately suspects a serial killer. He decides his special insight will help him find the killer. A gory, brutal book, the first in a trilogy I won't continue. Read this as a break from Agatha, big mistake.
1 star
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Taken at the Flood - the Cloade family has always depended on the wealth and generosity of Gordon Cloade. So when the elderly man marries a young widow there is consternation. And when he is killed during one of the bomb raids in London their worst fears come true. The new wife inherits the money and she and her brother take over the family home. But it's a stranger's murder that draws Hercule Poirot into the mystery.
3 stars
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Evil Under the Sun - a femme fatale, her current toy, his jealous wife, and her seemingly indifferent husband are at an exclusive beach resort off the coast of England. So is Hercule Poirot, who can't seem to have a quiet vacation. Because the woman is found murdered, with everyone having an airtight alibi. This is one with a lovely twist at the end.
4 stars
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N or M - the years have gone by, it's WWII, and Tommy and Tuppence are bemoaning the fact that the war effort doesn't seem to want them despite their past success. Then Tommy is sent to a boarding house in a small seaside town that unaccountably may be the headquarters of the head of the Fifth Column, the dreaded German spies and sympathizers that may bring England down from within. Naturally Tuppence finds a way to include herself and there are a lot of possibilities to choose from. It wouldn't be Christie if there wasn't a good twist. More of a spy novel than a mystery.
3 stars
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Don't Make Me Pull Over! An Informal History of the Family Road Trip by Richard Ratay - the author, youngest of four children recounts his family's road trips during the 70's. He also gives us the history of roads, autos, motels, drive-thrus, and roadside attractions. All in an easy-to-read breezy way. I'm a little too old to get the nostalgia of the 70's but still found this enjoyable.
3 stars
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The Body in the Library - Colonel and Mrs Bantry (my favorite couple in the Miss Marple series) wake to find the body of a complete stranger in their library. Since the body is a young, blond woman, tongues begin to wag almost immediately. Mrs. Bantry begs Miss Marple to help her solve the mystery. Miss Marple is more likeable in this book and the police are practically begging her for her insight. Lots of twists and turns before the culprit is found.
4 stars
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The Boy at the Keyhole by Stephen Giles - 9 yo Samuel lives in a sprawling house with only the housekeeper and a part time gardener. His father is dead and his mother left in the middle of the night to sail to America in order to get funds for their business. Samuel's only communication with his mother are the postcards she sporadically sends from all over America. Gradually, Samuel begins to think the housekeeper has done away with his mother. Because he's only 9, his understanding of some things isn't quite right. A rather slow moving book with a big twist at the end. And then a very unsatisfying ending.
3 stars
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Hercule Poirot's Christmas - a tyrannical old man is found murdered in a locked room. He has called his four sons and one grandaughter home for Christmas - not for a warm family time but so he can berate and bedevil them. Poirot happens to be spending Christmas with the Chief Constable of the area, who is more than happy to have his assistance. I did remember whodunnit this time but still enjoyed it very much.
4 stars
Sunday, October 7, 2018
Sept 30 - Oct 6, 2018
The Cabin at the End of the World by Paul Tremblay - an odd and also oddly compelling book that I'm still not sure what to think about it. Wen and her two dads are on vacation at a remote cabin when four strangers appear and force themselves into the cabin. The end of the world is coming and only Wen and her parents can stop it. I probably would not have read this if I had realized it was in the horror genre. But once I started reading I could not quit. Lots of blood and other horrors. Strong hearts and stomachs are needed for this one. I can't recommend this to most readers and yet ...
4 stars
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The Mystery of the Blue Train - stolen jewels, the scandal of divorce, and murder on an exclusive train traveling through France. This is a Hercules Poirot story but he's in the background at first. I didn't like the way this one started and for some reason I couldn't keep all the characters straight.
2 stars
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Scorpion Strike by John Gilstrap - Jonathan Graves and his sometimes girlfriend, Gail, are on vacation at an exclusive resort. It's on a private island 100 miles off the coast of Mexico and under no nation's jurisdiction. The peace is shattered when terrorists invade and round up all the tourists. Jonathan and Gail evade capture and then must try to survive until help arrives in the form of their friends pulling off an unauthorized rescue. Lots of bloodshed, shooting, and mayhem. So.many.acronyms. I'm done with this series now.
2 stars
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Murder in Mesopotamia by Agatha Christie - a nurse accepts a job at an archaeological dig as a companion/nurse to the very anxious wife of the director. She has been getting anonymous letters and seeing things and her nerves are getting on everyone else's. When she is found dead in her room, a room that it seems no on could have entered, it is fortunate for everyone that Hercule Poirot is in the area. The story is told from the viewpoint of the nurse so it's fun seeing Poirot in another light.
4 stars
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The Golden Ball and Other Stories by Agatha Christie - a collection of early short stories, none of them mysteries as such. Quite a bit of people daring to break out of their molds.
2 stars
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The Regatta Mystery and Other Stories by Agatha Christie - another collection of short stories, some of them featuring Poirot, Miss Marple, and Parker Pyne.
3 stars
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Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie - this is the first Miss Marple book and I wonder if Christie even liked her since she's described in such uncomplimentary words. I'm ambivalent about Miss Marple myself. The village blowhard is killed in the vicar's study and there are several suspects, including the vicar himself, who is narrating the story. There are false confessions, anonymous notes, and suspect phone calls. And all the while, Miss Marple is watching and coming to conclusions.
4 stars
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Lethal White by Robert Galbraith(J.K. Rowling) - a mentally unstable man bursts into Cormoran Stirke's office and claims that he saw a child killed when he was a child himself. Then he runs out, leaving Strike with an question he can't get out of his head. Soon after, Strike is hired to stop a politician's blackmailers from ruining him. And this ends up relating to the maybe murder of years ago. First, this book is way too long. A mystery should not be 656 pages. Way too many words, it's as if the author is more in love with how the story reads than the story itself. Second, way too much angst with the Cormoran/Robin relationship. Robin's husband is a jerk and we all knew that in the first book. And just when we thought we were safe, Cormoran's psychotic ex-girlfriend reappears. The mystery itself is convoluted. Not the best in the series, longer doesn't equal better.
3 stars
4 stars
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The Mystery of the Blue Train - stolen jewels, the scandal of divorce, and murder on an exclusive train traveling through France. This is a Hercules Poirot story but he's in the background at first. I didn't like the way this one started and for some reason I couldn't keep all the characters straight.
2 stars
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Scorpion Strike by John Gilstrap - Jonathan Graves and his sometimes girlfriend, Gail, are on vacation at an exclusive resort. It's on a private island 100 miles off the coast of Mexico and under no nation's jurisdiction. The peace is shattered when terrorists invade and round up all the tourists. Jonathan and Gail evade capture and then must try to survive until help arrives in the form of their friends pulling off an unauthorized rescue. Lots of bloodshed, shooting, and mayhem. So.many.acronyms. I'm done with this series now.
2 stars
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Murder in Mesopotamia by Agatha Christie - a nurse accepts a job at an archaeological dig as a companion/nurse to the very anxious wife of the director. She has been getting anonymous letters and seeing things and her nerves are getting on everyone else's. When she is found dead in her room, a room that it seems no on could have entered, it is fortunate for everyone that Hercule Poirot is in the area. The story is told from the viewpoint of the nurse so it's fun seeing Poirot in another light.
4 stars
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The Golden Ball and Other Stories by Agatha Christie - a collection of early short stories, none of them mysteries as such. Quite a bit of people daring to break out of their molds.
2 stars
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The Regatta Mystery and Other Stories by Agatha Christie - another collection of short stories, some of them featuring Poirot, Miss Marple, and Parker Pyne.
3 stars
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Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie - this is the first Miss Marple book and I wonder if Christie even liked her since she's described in such uncomplimentary words. I'm ambivalent about Miss Marple myself. The village blowhard is killed in the vicar's study and there are several suspects, including the vicar himself, who is narrating the story. There are false confessions, anonymous notes, and suspect phone calls. And all the while, Miss Marple is watching and coming to conclusions.
4 stars
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Lethal White by Robert Galbraith(J.K. Rowling) - a mentally unstable man bursts into Cormoran Stirke's office and claims that he saw a child killed when he was a child himself. Then he runs out, leaving Strike with an question he can't get out of his head. Soon after, Strike is hired to stop a politician's blackmailers from ruining him. And this ends up relating to the maybe murder of years ago. First, this book is way too long. A mystery should not be 656 pages. Way too many words, it's as if the author is more in love with how the story reads than the story itself. Second, way too much angst with the Cormoran/Robin relationship. Robin's husband is a jerk and we all knew that in the first book. And just when we thought we were safe, Cormoran's psychotic ex-girlfriend reappears. The mystery itself is convoluted. Not the best in the series, longer doesn't equal better.
3 stars
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