The Chalk Man by C.J. Tudor - in 1986 a group of young boys discover a body in the woods. They were led there by a series of chalk drawings, drawings they had been using for a secret code. Thirty years later this same group, now middle-aged men, each receive a letter with the same chalk man. Soon, one of them is found dead. Every character in this book was unlikable and I found the narrator downright creepy even as he tries to find the murderer from so long ago.
3.5 stars
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Go to My Grave by Catriona McPherson - eight family members arrive at Donna Weaver's new bed and breakfast, The Breakers. Much to their surprise they realize they've been here before. When a 16th birthday party went horribly wrong. Now a secret they swore to keep may be revealed. Very atmospheric. There are flashbacks to the night of the party and you learn that this dysfunctional family was as much a mess then as now.
3.5 stars
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Kingdom of the Blind by Louise Penny - Armand Gamache is on suspension as a result of actions in the last book so when he receives a letter asking to come to a stranger's house he thinks why not. Upon arriving, he's joined by Myra, a friend from his village, and a young stranger. There, the three are informed they have been named executors of a stranger's will. This begins a search for truth among many lies and leads to murder. A side story is the search for the drugs that were lost in the previous book. This was a little disjointed for me. Lots of backtracking a few hours or days from the present. Also, my book omitted about 40 pages and repeated the same amount. I'm tired of Gamache always being in trouble with the politics of the Surete. I hope her next book is a straight forward mystery.
3.5 stars
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Dead Girl Running by Christina Dodd - Kellen Adams has a gunshot wound on her head, a year missing from her memories, and that's not really her name. She's taken a job as assistant manager of an upscale resort on the Washington coast to get away from things. As soon as the owners of the resort go on vacation, a body is found. The body of the former asst manager. It seems the resort may be the center of antiquities smuggling. Lots of plot holes and ludicrous happenings in this book and I don't think the author is very familiar with the Wa. coast. I'm also pretty sure if you've been in a coma for a year you don't jump out of bed, escape from the hospital, and join the first armed services you see. The mystery part was okay.
2 stars
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The Christmas Train by David Baldacci - shmaltzy, cliched, and banal. But it's a Christmas story at Christmas time so I finished it. A man with anger management issues has to take the train across country and meets passengers and train employees all the while whining about the one true love he lost.
1 star
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A Pocket Full of Rye by Agatha Christie - unlikeable businessman Rex Fortescue dies after drinking tea at his office. He's been poisoned but it turns out the poison was in something he had at breakfast. And in one pocket there is a handful of rye. Just when it seems the much younger wife must have done it she is murdered. And one more death brings Miss Marple to the household to avenge the death of her former housemaid. A clever book with a clever murderer.
3 stars
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Nemesis by Agatha Christie - Miss Marple is asked to meet with the lawyers of very wealthy Mr. Rafiel who has recently died. There she receives a letter asking her to take on a task where she is given no clues as to what she is exactly to do. If she can figure out the task she will receive $20,000 pounds. When Miss Marple agrees she is sent on a garden tour with several strangers. She's sure she will find something to her advantage. There's quite a bit of repetition here. However, it's always amazing how much information Miss Marple can winkle out of someone just by twittering and acting vague.
3 stars
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Into the Night by Sarah Bailey - Detective Sergeant Gemma Woodstock is living and working in Melbourne after the events of the previous book. She doesn't seem to fit in with her colleagues and really doesn't like her partner. But when they're assigned the high profile case of the murder of a much loved celebrity they begin to pull together. There are a couple of mysteries threaded together and one was quite easy to figure out. But the main ending was quite a surprise and exciting too. Gemma is still unlikeable but there is a ray of hope at the end.
3.5 stars
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