An Unwanted Guest by Shari Lapena - several guests arrive at a remote mountain cabin, all of them with different reasons for coming. What starts as a romantic snowfall becomes a trap when an ice storm cuts off all communication and no way to get out. It soon becomes evident there is a murderer among them. Told in present tense by all the characters, you're soon waiting for the next victim and trying to figure out the perpetrator. The tension builds right until the end. And there's one more surprise.
4 stars
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They Came to Baghdad by Agatha Christie - several diverse people converge on Baghdad right before a secret international conference. The good guys are anxiously awaiting a man with proof of a nefarious organization stirring up trouble between nations. And the bad guys are just as anxious to stop him. And we don't know who's who. Into all this stumbles Victoria Jones, a rather naive young woman wanting some adventure. It takes a long time to introduce everyone and I almost lost interest before the middle of the book. Christie actually lived in Baghdad for a time and really makes the city come alive.
3 stars
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Sweet Little Lies by Caz Frear - Cat Kinsella became a police officer partly because of her disillusionment with her father at a young age. A body is dumped near her father's pub that reminds her of a young woman who disappeared years ago. And she's positive her father had something to do with it. This is a debut novel that really had me guessing and wondering. Cat's memories as an 8 year old color her entire life but she's finding they might not be accurate. I didn't like her but have to know how she's going to keep her secrets so I'll be reading the second book in the series. Quite a bit of language.
4 stars
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Crooked House by Agatha Christie - all the family living in the household of patriarch Aristide Leionides loved him and yet his death has been found to be murder. The family would love the murderer to be the new, young wife. But maybe everyone has a secret reason to want him dead. One of the most shocking culprits and one of Christie's favorites.
4 stars
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They Do It with Mirrors by Agatha Christie - Miss Marple is asked to visit an old friend whose home is now being used as a rehabilitation center for juvenile delinquents run by her husband. Something doesn't seem quite right and this is proved when a disturbed young man threatens the director. Shots are fired but someone else is found dead. There are lots of suspects and Miss Marple has some acute observations to share with the police.
3 stars
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The Eleventh Trade by Alyssa Hollingsworth - 12 year old Sami and his grandfather have recently arrived in Boston after a harrowing refugee journey from Afghanistan. Sami finds America loud and brash and he would prefer to not be noticed. But when his Baba's rebab (a traditional Afghan instrument) is stolen he has to find a way to get it back. Even when he has no money and must raise $700 in a month. I really enjoyed learning about Afghan culture and how that was woven into the story. And Sami's widening group of friends are great.
4 stars
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Hickory Dickory Dock by Agatha Christie - a string of thefts at a youth hostel interest Poirot at first only because they affect the efficiency of his secretary, Miss Lemon. She is worried about her sister who is the manager there. I found this story to be a little too twisted with too many characters. And the way the foreign students are described is a little jarring from this century's perspective.
3 stars
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