Great resource for anyone who leads (or would like to lead) a mystery book discussion. Full of information about successful discussions, examples of uGreat resource for anyone who leads (or would like to lead) a mystery book discussion. Full of information about successful discussions, examples of useful questions, and explanations of some of the unique challenges posed by the mystery genre, this book is sure to enlighten and inspire. A broad list of mysteries is also included, along with a mini discussion guide for each. Terrific tool for any mystery buff!...more
I was delighted to go back and read this, the first of the Hercule Poirot novels. Goodreads lists this as Agatha Christie's debut novel, and it's easyI was delighted to go back and read this, the first of the Hercule Poirot novels. Goodreads lists this as Agatha Christie's debut novel, and it's easy to see here many of the elements that her readers have come to know and love: Delightful characters, a charming setting, a twisty plot, and—of course!—a sense of fun. Hercule Poirot is a joy, as always. I am deducting a star because she has a tell; there is one easy way to pick out the killer right from the start, and it works in almost every Christie book I've read so far. It worked here. I hadn't solved anything, but I could still tell right off whodunit. I don't really mind, though, since this book was so much fun....more
Ugh. This is another one of those books where the protagonist is so unlikable that it's hard to root for her as a character. It started out promising,Ugh. This is another one of those books where the protagonist is so unlikable that it's hard to root for her as a character. It started out promising, with interesting characters and a nice mystery. I especially like that the main character doesn't deliberately set out looking for clues like the heroines of so many other mysteries. I found a few plot points to be unbelievable. Most of the twists were quite obvious, and when things started to get too bleak for the heroine, a bunch of improbable events that had nothing to do with her all happened to take away the worst of the problems immediately. It was all a bit too convenient, IMO. Then, about three quarters through, the story changed abruptly, and the protagonist just became a bit too much. (view spoiler)[This is a story about an adult who acts like a child, who thinks she is wonderful and that nothing bad is ever her fault. I mean, sure, she has straight-up murdered someone, and she's an accomplice to a second murder, but that's not really her fault. You see, there is no truth. There's just your truth and my truth and her truth, and HER truth is that maybe she saw something and maybe not—and maybe she did something bad and maybe she didn't. As long as she doesn't tell an outright fib, all this winking and nudging and misdirection and tacit agreement with wrong information isn't REALLY a sin. Maybe she deliberately destroyed evidence and aided a killer and planted suspicion on the wrong man and then helped send him to prison for the rest of his life—but that's really okay because he took her out on a date (twice) and hurt her feelings, so he's a BAD man, and she's really a GOOD person. To be fair, he IS wrapped up in some really bad things, but it is unclear to what extent he's acting under coercion. He was tortured at one point in the story by the really big bad guy. And he is NOT a murderer. And I do believe the protagonist truly doesn't care that she is ruining his life. This all might still have been okay if the story was presented as the POV of a twisted mind, or even as someone who struggled deeply to come to terms with her guilt. But I got tired of feeling like I was being made to root for her, and of being told how clean her conscience is and how innocent she is. I felt dirty just reading this book. (hide spoiler)]
Writing style: 5 stars, kept me engaged Plot: 3 stars, not terribly believable Characters: 1 star...more
This book showcases a good range of Victorian fiction. Featured in these pages are many types of story, including serious, dramatic, macabre, and humoThis book showcases a good range of Victorian fiction. Featured in these pages are many types of story, including serious, dramatic, macabre, and humorous. Here, you'll find romance, infidelity, grudges, vengeance, hard-working detectives, unflinching criminals, secrets, money, jewels, theft, and—of course—murder. You'll read stories in the third person and the first, and which are told from the points of view of the detectives, of neutral observers, and even (in a couple of the stories) of the killers themselves. The stories represent a strong mix of countries and authors, and the editors of this volume have provided for each tale a short introduction that grounds it and the author in context. Through these intros, readers can learn about different popular motifs of Victorian mysteries, and then they can read the tale that inspired or epitomized these various trends. Not all the stories herein can be strictly considered mysteries; some of them might more accurately be called "Crime Fiction." A few tales show each step of the crime and its aftermath, and one focuses more on the killer's defense in court than on the detective who arranged his arrest. As with any anthology, some of the stories are better than others, but together, they offer a glimpse into the vast body of crime fiction of this era, with its many different styles and voices....more
I greatly enjoyed this haunting tale about a mysterious schoolmaster and a boy with a fishing rod. Dark, atmospheric, memorable. I liked that there arI greatly enjoyed this haunting tale about a mysterious schoolmaster and a boy with a fishing rod. Dark, atmospheric, memorable. I liked that there are elements to the mystery that are decidedly human in origin, and the ghostly aspects are built on this solid foundation. A sad story, but quite satisfying....more
I was impressed with this and will likely read more of the series. This in-between novella still offered interesting characters and a compelling storyI was impressed with this and will likely read more of the series. This in-between novella still offered interesting characters and a compelling story that kept me turning pages. The mystery itself was not that hard to guess, but I don't think it was meant to be a shock. The characters felt real, the drama was on point, and the story kept moving right to its satisfying conclusion....more
Garfield as you've never seen him before! The main premise of the story is that each of Garfield's previous lives shaped something about his personaliGarfield as you've never seen him before! The main premise of the story is that each of Garfield's previous lives shaped something about his personality. This collection of Garfield tales re-interprets the well-loved feline and showcases a variety of styles, genres, and iterations. Consequently, Jim Davis and his team had more freedom to play with the character; things happen here that could not be done in a typical installment of Garfield's established timeline. See? Jim Davis was reimagining his characters before it was cool!
The storytelling AND artwork vary dramatically between the tales, one of which is even in prose and not comics; and this works well, as each of the nine lives stands apart from every other one. The tone changes, too, with some slapstick, some gentle fun, some horror, and even some noir. The stories can't even be said to take place in the typical Garfield universe, as one might be set on a more magical or even spiritual plane, and one takes place in a city run entirely by humanish cats who wear clothes and have humanoid forms. Since this book pushes the boundaries of Garfield's character, it involves some things that maybe are a bit . . . unorthodox. One of the stories involves a scantily-clad woman and a man who spanks Garfield with a paddle (a possible fraternity hazing?) while another tale implies some romance for Garfield involving a lady cat, alcohol, and a convenient couch. The tone is in many places darker than in other Garfield stories, and sometimes things even border on the macabre. There is, for example, a tale in which a homeless cat (not Garfield) asks for someone to bury him, and another story involving people experimenting on and then dissecting animals. Not for the faint of heart!
These stories are, on the whole, very well-crafted, and the creativity involved is just astounding. Shining through all of it, of course, is a love for Garfield and a desire to play with his character a little bit, to try him out in different circumstances and styles, and (as Jim Davis put it), to stretch him to the limits of the imagination....more
Full marks for this one: it hit all the right notes. Well-crafted characters with memorable personalities, a murder mystery with a bunch of twists in Full marks for this one: it hit all the right notes. Well-crafted characters with memorable personalities, a murder mystery with a bunch of twists in store, enough tension to keep me reading, and enough humor to soften the horror. Parts of this were gritty, and there was much that was bittersweet. Parts are poignant, but there is warmth, too. Loose ends tied up. The ending wasn't too unrealistic to be believed, nor was quite like other books I've read. I don't want to say too much about this one, but know that it doesn't disappoint....more
Reading this was such a wonderful experience! A nice mix of tales that I wouldn't normally consider together. There is mystery, satire, and horror herReading this was such a wonderful experience! A nice mix of tales that I wouldn't normally consider together. There is mystery, satire, and horror here, and yet they all complement each other beautifully. They are less about gore and scares as they are about strangeness and wonder. As with any short story collection, some are better than others, but there is only one tale here that I strongly disliked (and even regretted reading)—the rest were great fun. Highly recommended!...more
Unusual ghost story, with some interesting characters and a nice mystery tying it all together. I also appreciated the way that the house itself is p Unusual ghost story, with some interesting characters and a nice mystery tying it all together. I also appreciated the way that the house itself is practically a character in the story. The romance was a bit predictable, but it was still appealing. All in all, nicely done....more
This was nice, but it could have been better. I read this for book club, and I found that most of us in the group felt that this novel needed somethinThis was nice, but it could have been better. I read this for book club, and I found that most of us in the group felt that this novel needed something to make it better, but we couldn't put a finger on what. Things are slow to start, and the two main characters, Lily and Marvena, take a long time to come into focus. These are two strong women, but for much of the book, they don’t have much personality. They simply react to the things that happen to them, at least at first, though they improve in second half of the novel. This historical fiction book touches on a lot of social issues from that time, including anti-German violence, sexism, poverty, mining safety, unions, corrupt officials—all sorts of interesting topics. The mystery is compelling and well-plotted. Many of the characters, especially the side characters, are well fleshed-out.
I've been thinking a lot about this since I finished reading it, and I think one of the biggest problems with it is that it doesn't give enough attention to the "bad" guys. It focuses on people's relationships and friendships, sometimes with great nuance, but the people who are mean are flat and almost cartoonish in their simplicity. I'm not asking for every villain to have some sort of traumatic origin story, but I know that in real life, most people are complicated. Even bullies. That sort of oversimplifying might merely be annoying in other novels, but it's disastrous here because of the novel's political focus. This book looks at many political issues, and the biggest ones—miners' safety, fair wages, and unionization—drive the plot. How can there be tension between two opposing sides if we never hear both sides? The heroines want safety, and money for laborers, and all sorts of good things. Good for them. But I have to say, if they're opposing people who believe otherwise, would it hurt to explain their side as well? Or does the author trust her readers so little, that she's afraid we'd side with them? Does she think we'll say safety is bad? Or are there other factors at play? I'm sure these people had reasons that made sense to them, and it would have helped us to understand their side of the issue. It would have helped us understand what the heroines were up against. It's too bad the readers missed out on all that....more
Realistic characters drive the story: in fact, they ARE the story. Lucy and Diana are both a joy to read. Neither one is perfect, and certainly they dRealistic characters drive the story: in fact, they ARE the story. Lucy and Diana are both a joy to read. Neither one is perfect, and certainly they don’t get along with each other. Even so, I found myself drawn to both of them, rooting for them, and enjoying the time I spent in both their chapters. But even though the story, as the title suggests, centers on these two women, Hepworth still paid great attention to the supporting characters, too. Her attention to detail is exquisite, and the nuances of even the minor roles make for a thought-provoking read. This isn’t thriller by any stretch. The mystery unfolds slowly, with tension building steadily throughout, and I couldn’t put it down. A compelling story that raises many questions about family, priorities, and desperation....more
Intricate characters and a well-plotted mystery make this book a delight to read. The mystery involves three murders, decades apart, and the story conIntricate characters and a well-plotted mystery make this book a delight to read. The mystery involves three murders, decades apart, and the story consequently takes place on three different timelines. In the hands of a different writer, that might have been confusing, but author Julia Spencer-Fleming does a masterful job of telling the tale with clarity and wit. This is the first one I’ve read of this series, but it works well as a standalone.
The characters are fully fleshed out, and they feel, in some ways, more real and alive than many characters in other books. Maybe it’s because of the struggles they face, or perhaps it’s because of their flaws—or maybe it’s the way that so many different threads are woven into their stories. So the main plot is the mystery, of course, but there are so many other things going on as well, just as in real life, and these other concerns aren’t always wrapped up neatly at the end. In a way, this makes this one of the most realistic stories I’ve read recently, and the troubles faced by the characters just serve to make them more nuanced and likable.
For example, Claire is pregnant with her first child. Her struggles with the pregnancy range from the serious (did her alcohol consumption during her first trimester give her child FAS?) to the common (how to balance motherhood with her job as a priest) to the slightly comical (apparently, even a priest can swear up a blue streak if she’s in the process of giving birth). At one point, she steals from a friend to support her drug addiction, and yet, she’s also kind and brave and caring. I applaud this book for boldly confronting some serious issues, especially in its main characters. Memorable and poignant....more
Quite enjoyable! This graphic novel does an excellent job of adapting the classic short story for an audience of children. The plot is clear, the dialQuite enjoyable! This graphic novel does an excellent job of adapting the classic short story for an audience of children. The plot is clear, the dialogue is simplified without being overly so, and the characters are still distinctive and interesting. Baker's marital discord and Holmes' fake gambling are cut from this version. It moves quickly, so there isn't a whole lot of space for the characters to shine, but Goodwin manages to give them their moments. Mr. Baker is endearing, and Mrs. Oakshott's bewilderment at her brother's bizarre behavior is sweetly depicted. She was the perfect mix of patient and frustrated, and I think any child with siblings can relate. Best of all, Watson is smart and capable here, and Sherlock is brilliant as always. It's too bad it couldn't be about 10 pages longer, but it is still lovely all the same. Oddly enough, the thing that bugged me most was Holmes' hair; he's so fanatical about grooming in the stories, and here, his hair is sticking up at all angles. I thought it made him look like more of a teenager than a grownup, but I doubt a child reader would care. A charming take on the great detective....more
Most of these were interesting, although some don’t seem very mysterious, and their inclusion is a bit of a stretch. Some of the people I was expectinMost of these were interesting, although some don’t seem very mysterious, and their inclusion is a bit of a stretch. Some of the people I was expecting to read about weren’t included at all, although I think they are probably featured in other books of this same series. It’s divided into sections by type of mystery (e.g. disappearance), and each section is chronological, which was wonderful. There are illustrations—portraits, photos of interest, and other pictures of the people involved. There is also plenty of background information, with pictures of vehicles and terrain, and maps, too, to help set the scene. This book also makes clear what is known and what is conjecture. It explores a few different theories for the different people involved, and it tells what evidence has led to those suppositions. In the hands of a lesser author, this fascinating and slightly morbid subject matter might be used only for its shock value; here, however, the book’s emphasis is exactly where it belongs: on the historical record, and the analysis of facts....more
I have this theory that even a bad Andy Carpenter book would still be head and shoulders above the rest of the books out there—and this book is anythiI have this theory that even a bad Andy Carpenter book would still be head and shoulders above the rest of the books out there—and this book is anything but bad. Rosenfelt has once again given his readers a charming holiday story that blends fast-paced action with wit and clever humor. Andy’s great instincts and intuition are a wonderful foil to his complete ineptitude in a dangerous situation—and his self-deprecating humor about his own shortcomings is icing on the cake. This novel begins with Andy representing a dog; literally, the dog is the client. It was charming and cute. Andy’s second client in this novel is of the human variety, and some very serious crimes are afoot. Of course, there are several twists and turns along the way. The holiday celebrations with his wife and son provide a soft, homey backdrop to this tale. If you like dogs, or mysteries, or humor, or action, or Christmas, then this is a book not to miss....more
Suspenseful, gripping, powerful—none of these words seems quite adequate to describe the desperation and tension that radiate from this book. Things bSuspenseful, gripping, powerful—none of these words seems quite adequate to describe the desperation and tension that radiate from this book. Things build slowly, steadily, to an unforgettable ending. Harper deftly weaves two timelines together, each one, past and present, rife with secrets and haunted by death. Between the drought, the heat, and the bitter feuds, people start acting out in disturbing ways, and the tensions just keep growing. From the start of the investigation to the stunning conclusion, this is one book that I just couldn’t put down....more
This collection of short stories is not the strongest in the series, but it certainly has its moments. Doyle knew this would be the end, and he took aThis collection of short stories is not the strongest in the series, but it certainly has its moments. Doyle knew this would be the end, and he took a few risks with the storytelling, getting away, in places, from his standard approach. This is the book, more than any of the others, where he really seemed to relax and get creative with the style. Some parts are better than others, but all of them are interesting. This book features some stories narrated from Sherlock’s point of view, and one of those, set during Holmes’ retirement, takes place mostly on the beach. That’s a fun deviation from Sherlock’s usual milieu. Doyle also allowed himself to get a little sentimental here, especially in the story “The Three Garridebs.” I would give the collection 5 stars for this story alone. (view spoiler)[In this story, Holmes and Watson go off on an adventure, and Watson gets shot. Watson is also narrating the story, and his account of Sherlock’s reaction is golden: “‘You're not hurt, Watson? For God's sake, say that you are not hurt!’ It was worth a wound—it was worth many wounds—to know the depth of loyalty and love which lay behind that cold mask. The clear, hard eyes were dimmed for a moment, and the firm lips were shaking. For the one and only time I caught a glimpse of a great heart as well as of a great brain. All my years of humble but single-minded service culminated in that moment of revelation.” I can’t imagine that. Sherlock losing control, his lip trembling? And all because he cares for Watson! (hide spoiler)] This is the moment I’d been waiting to see since book one. Absolutely lovely....more
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