REVIEW: The Case of the Missing Will (Agatha Christie)

The Case of the Missing Will
Author: Agatha Christie

This Hercule Poirot short story was first published in the UK on October 31, 1923 in The Sketch magazine. US publication followed in The Blue Book magazine in January 1925.

Hercule Poirot is hired by a woman whose wealthy uncle has died. She and her uncle had a difference of opinion about the education of women. When he passed away, he left a will that gave her a year to find another document that would leave her his money. If she couldn't find the document within that time, all his money and property would go to various charities. Can Poirot's wits and little grey cells find the hidden will?

A very interesting and creative story! It is definitely more than a bit dated though. The old uncle thinks that women should not be educated, but learn homemaker skills and dairy work....that women are only useful around the house. He is basically estranged from his niece because she wants to go to college. And she does! Despite the fact that the uncle threatens to disown her....and then plays a ridiculous game of find-the-will to prove that her education is worthless and that he can outwit her from the grave. What an ass!

The television show Agatha Christie's Poirot adapted this story into an episode (Season 5, episode 4). For the first time, I have to say that I did not like the episode. It makes such sweeping changes to the plot of Christie's original story that it can't even be seen as the same story. The timeline is moved up to the 1930s, Hitler, Mussolini, Germany overtaking other countries,  and going to war are mentioned, and the basic plot is all together different. Ick. David Suchet and the rest of the cast do a great job acting the script they were given.....but, why did they decide to basically trash Christie's original story? No reason for it.

On to the next story: The Submarine Plans!

REVIEW: The Great Matter Monologues

The Great Matter Monologues:
Katherine, Henry, Anne
Author: Thomas Crockett

The Great Matter. It's been almost 500 years since Henry VIII decided he wanted to divorce his first wife, Katherine of Aragon, to marry Anne Boleyn. What started out as merely a question of divorce bloomed into all sorts of intrigue, including England splitting away from the Catholic Church. The Great Matter Monologues gives a theatrical slant to this age-old true story, alternating between the 3 main players in the drama: Katherine (the first wife), Henry (the King), and Anne (the replacement wife). This is a drama that still plays out on a smaller scale in normal lives.....when Henry VIII sought to "trade up'' so to speak, it was a completely different matter......one that people still talk about many, many lifetimes later.

I'm familiar with the history of the King's Great Matter, so the subject wasn't anything new for me. I've read many non-fiction and fiction books about the Tudor era, as I find the drama fascinating. Henry VIII was a horrible, yet mesmerizing, king.

The first 100 pages or so of this book kept my attention....the emotions playing out, the characters giving their side and reactions to events, etc. But, then it just started waxing on a bit long.....I got a bit tired of Katherine lamenting, Henry being angry, and Anne being a shrew. 340+ pages of emotional monologing constantly alternating from character to character was just a bit of overload for me. I love the creative concept of this book.....great idea to set up the scenario like a play and have the characters unload their emotional baggage. But after awhile, I just wanted to slap all three of them and tell them to pull their heads out and just get on with it.

So, interesting concept....I did stick with it and finish, but the last 100 pages or so were a struggle. I like  the concept, but disagree with the portrayal of Anne in particular. Sure....she was The Other Woman, but she really comes off as a total shrewish waste of space. I'm not sure that is a fair portrayal.

Interesting and intriguing concept. Well written for the most part. But just a bit disappointing for me. Maybe I have read too much on this era to thoroughly enjoy another rehashing? Or perhaps my first inclination is correct.....and the alternating emotional monologues just went on for too many pages.

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from John Hunt Publishing. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

REVIEW: The Adventure of the Italian Nobleman (Agatha Christie)

The Adventure of the Italian Nobleman
Author: Agatha Christie

This early Hercule Poirot short story was first published in The Sketch magazine in the UK in October 1923. US publication followed in The Blue Book magazine in December 1924.

Poirot and Hastings are dining with a friend when their meal is interrupted by an urgent phone call for help. When they arrive at Count Foscatini's lodgings, the man is dead. Who killed the Count?

I found this story to be a bit cliche (mafia, corrupt officials, etc), but it was written nearly 100 years ago...so not so cliche back then. Interesting case! Poirot as usual solves the case based on the smallest of clues. Chalk another one up to his fabulous little grey cells!

Agatha Christie's Poirot adapted this story for television (Season 5, episode 5). The show makes quite a few changes and embellishments to fill an hour time slot...but the episode remains basically true to the original story.

I'm enjoying these brief Poirot stories. Christie wrote the first few Hercule Poirot short stories while on a round the world trip. She led such an interesting life! Just as authors today put out short stories and novellas to pull in readers for their novels, Christie published more than 20 of these short Poirot cases after publication of her first novel, The Mysterious Affair at Styles. I wish I could get ahold of a copy of  The Sketch or The Blue Book magazine just to see all the stories from various authors of the day, advertisements, etc.

I'm on a reading journey to enjoy all of Christie's writing in publication order. She has been my favorite author for decades...and I've always wanted to read every book and every story. So, finally doing it!! Having a great time!

On to the next story: The Case of the Missing Will!

REVIEW: In Cold Blood

In Cold Blood
Author: Truman Capote

I grew up in a small town in Kansas not unlike Holcomb where the Clutter family lived. Two men entered their home one November night in 1959 through an unlocked door. They bound and gagged the four family members in the house and then shot them at close range with a shotgun. The closest home was far enough away that the neighbors didn't hear the blasts. Nobody knew anything was amiss until friends showed up the next day to attend church with the family and were met with complete silence. The Clutters were dead.

I read this book for the first time in 8th grade. It was before the days of permission slips for controversial books....and I don't believe the district where I went to school ever banned a book. I had read every other book on the required reading list for my class and my teacher didn't know what to do with me. He finally decided to go rogue, and began handing me books from his personal library. The Mouse that Roared. Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee. Invisible Man. The Grapes of Wrath. The Jungle. And....In Cold Blood.

I was profoundly affected by In Cold Blood. I was growing up....and learning the lesson that The World could be a very unsafe place. People could be hurt or even killed by complete strangers...for no reason. Good people....who never did anything harmful or wrong to others....could end brutally and unjustly. The idea first entered my head when John Lennon was gunned down in 1980 on the sidewalk outside his apartment in NYC by a stranger. I remember being dazed when I realized that a complete stranger could walk up, point a gun, and kill ANYBODY without any explanation or cause whatsoever. It shocked and scared me. Then a year later, I read In Cold Blood....it added to the awakening. A family asleep in their small town farm house.....good people. Kind people. They thought they were safe....safe enough to leave their doors unlocked at night. It was a mistake.

I have never slept a night in any house with an unlocked door since I read this book in 1982. Never.

It wasn't the description of the Clutters, their lives, their deaths that got to me.....it was more the fact that Truman Capote also described the killers in detail. Their lives. Their families. Their feelings, emotions, motivations. I found myself feeling sorry for them....abused children, hard lives, brutal lessons. I learned another adult lesson -- every human being is a person, even brutal murderers. There are reasons that people go down a dark path. This book taught me that not all children have happy, safe lives....some parents are abusive, some drink, use drugs, abandon their families. I lived a sheltered life in a tiny town in the  middle of nowhere. I had no idea that some kids had brutal lives. There is a space in time where every child grows up, starts to learn adult lessons and learns the truth about the world.....my awakening was filled with so many things. The Iran hostage crisis. The assassination of Anwar Sadat. John Lennon shot. Reagan shot. And....this book.

I want to watch the movie Capote, so I decided to revisit In Cold Blood first.  I wondered if it would still bother me like it did when I first read it in 1981. I find this book had much more power when read by 13-year old me than it does several decades later. I have lived through so much, seen so much, read so much that it no longer shocks me that bad things happen to good people. I am no longer the innocent unworldly girl that didn't realize that people kill each other over silly things like money....or for no reason at all.

There are rumors that Capote took liberties with the facts while writing In Cold Blood. Even if he did,  the book is still masterfully written and tells both sides of the story. The Clutters. Perry Smith. Richard Hickock.

I listened to the audio version of this book (Books on Tape) and let Scott Brick read me Capote's words. I found myself thinking the what-if questions -- what if those kids had lived and gone on to have wonderful lives....what would have happened to Smith and Hickock if they hadn't killed the Clutter family that night.....what if, what if, what if. So I guess my final thoughts are that yes...this book still affects me profoundly. But...differently. Instead of thoughts about the world not being safe and being surprised by that.....I found myself feeling sad that all of these lives were ruined, wasted, ended. Nancy and Kenyon Clutter would have done so much as adults, but they never got the chance. Herb and Bonnie Clutter would have lived out their days on their Kansas farm. Maybe Perry Smith and Richard Hickock wouldn't have been hanged in a Kansas prison. Lives wasted. For nothing. As a 50-year old grandmother, this book makes me sad.....as a 13-year old girl this book made me scared and shocked. Still emotional. Just different.

And that in itself makes me sad, too. I wish I was still shocked by a tale about an entire family gunned down in their own home. It says something about the world we live in that the story isn't shocking anymore.

Now, I'm going to go read a middle grade book about something magical or watch something on Disney channel to clear my head. And I'm going to check .... just to make sure .....that the front door is LOCKED.

Sigh.

REVIEW: Soot

Soot
Author: Dan Vyleta

The basic premise of this series made me want to enjoy this story. When I first requested a review copy of this book, I did not realize it was a follow-up to an earlier novel, Smoke. I immediately backtracked a bit...and read Smoke. Then came back to this sequel. While some of the original characters returned in this newest story, most of the magic and power of the first book did not. The plot in places just seemed muddled and confusing, and the magical feel of the first story just didn't carry through into this sequel.

I enjoyed the first novel enough to give this series another go. I think I might enjoy this book more in audio format. So, once this is released, I'm going to listen to both books in audio....and see if that makes this story more enjoyable for me. Listening to a voice actor perform a story sometimes breathes some new life into a book that falls flat for me the first time. I liked Smoke enough to give this book a second chance at a later date. And, I will revise this review at that time.

So, at this point, I will just say that this sequel just didn't work for me. I never really engaged with the plot or the characters. Not every story is for every reader....and this one is just not for me. But I'm willing to let the smoke clear (see what I did there?) and try it again in audio format.

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Doubleday. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

REVIEW: Coconut Layer Cake Murder

Coconut Layer Cat Murder
Author: Joanne Fluke

I have been reading the Hannah Swensen series ever since the first book, Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder, came out in 2000! I love the setting, the characters, the recipes, and the light mysteries. Each time a new book comes out, I nab it as quickly as possible and binge read it to find out what's going on in good ol' Lake Eden, MN.

Coconut Layer Cake Murder is the 25th book in the series. I happily curled up with this newest book, a cup of tea and my chihuahua for a long night of happy reading. The last book ended on a bit of a cliff hanger of sorts and I just HAD to find out what was going on.....  I waited an entire year to find out! :)

I enjoyed this newest book. About 3 books ago, there were some major writing problems with this series, but it's HANNAH....I can't do without my Hannah-fix each year. The writing seems to have smoothed itself out for the most part, as have some plot developments that left long-time Hannah fans upset (the evil R...boooo hisssss). But, I still see differences in these later books when compared to earlier books in the series. The mystery portion of the plot is much lighter, and the recipes are much longer (instead of just recipes and cooking instructions, they include cute comments from story characters and other things. And each one can be 3 pages long or more). After reading a series this long, I'm ok with the books being shorter, but it does make me think that the series might be winding down. Maybe when Hannah finally makes The Decision, the series will have a final book? I read through this entire book in less than 2 hours....I'm a fast reader, but a lot of this book is recipes. I'm ok with that -- some of them really sound YUMMY this time! I'm going to do a bit of experimenting and see if I can't change over some of the cookie recipes to a diabetic version my hubby can enjoy. :) There are several savory recipes as well -- a mushroom rice dish as well as other non-dessert goodies.

All in all, a fun entertaining read as usual. I'm definitely in line for my next visit with my book friends from Lake Eden! And maybe......The Decision????  It's been 20 years....we need The Decision.ha ha

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Kensington via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

REVIEW: The Market Basing Mystery (Agatha Christie)

The Market Basing Mystery
Author: Agatha Christie

This Hercule Poirot short story was first published in The Sketch magazine in the UK on October 17, 1923. US publication followed in The Blue Book magazine in May 1925.

Hercule Poirot visits a quaint, quiet village with Captain Hastings and Inspector Japp. Their goal is to get away for a few days to a place where nobody knows them...to have a vacation. But it's not in the cards. When a resident of Market Basing is found dead from apparent suicide, the trio is on the case. The local doctor says the man could not possibly have shot himself.  So it is suicide....or murder??

This story is quite short, but it does add some character development to Inspector Japp. I enjoyed finding out that he is a amateur botanist. All in all, a great story!

The Market Basing Mystery was not adapted into an episode of the television series Agatha Christie's Poirot. Christie took the plot from this story, lengthened it, made changes to characters and the setting and published a novella, Murder in the Mews, in 1936. The television show did an adaptation of the novella, so it did not adapt the earlier short story as the plots would have been too similar. I really love the fact that the television show did an adaptation of every Hercule Poirot story that Christie wrote....and then ended the show with Curtain, Hercule's death. I can totally understand why they passed by this short story and adapted the longer novella instead. It will be awhile before I get to read Mews though, as I am reading Christie's writing in publication order.

On to the next short story: The Adventure of the Italian Nobleman!

REVIEW: The Veiled Lady (Agatha Christie)

The Veiled Lady
Author: Agatha Christie

This Hercule Poirot short story was first printed in the UK in The Sketch magazine in October 1923. Publication in the United States followed in 1925 in The Blue Book magazine.

Poirot is hired by a mysterious woman in a veil. She is being blackmailed regarding a letter she once sent to a soldier who died in the war. Her blackmailer threatens to send the letter to her fiance, who she fears would call off their engagement after reading her ardent love letter, even though the recipient is now dead. Poirot agrees to help, and asks for a meeting with the blackmailer. What looks at first like a simple case of blackmail soon becomes much more....

I enjoyed this story, although it really is a bit far-fetched and melodramatic. But, golden age classic detective stories are often fantastical and not realistic....everything is a plot, a bigger scheme, etc. All in all, a very enjoyable short story featuring Poirot and his amazing little grey cells. I love the Poirot novels and stories....but, in person, his ego, fastidious nature and personality would have been a bit.....um....annoying. I read somewhere that Agatha Christie even said that Poirot annoyed her. He would definitely be the one to avoid at parties. :)

The television show Agatha Christie's Poirot adapted this story in Season 2, episode 3. The story had to be changed and embellished somewhat to lengthen it to 45 minutes, but remains basically faithful to the original story. I'm having a great time reading through these short stories and then watching the corresponding television episode. David Suchet is so good at playing Poirot!!

REVIEW: The Adventure of Johnnie Waverly (Agatha Christie)

The Adventure of Johnnie Waverly
Author: Agatha Christie

This early Agatha Christie short story featuring Hercule Poirot was first published in the UK in October 1923 in The Sketch magazine. It was published in the United States in The Blue Book magazine in June 1925.

Wealthy parents hire Hercule Poirot to investigate the kidnapping of their son Johnnie. Days before the kidnapping the father started to receive threatening notes. The writer promised their son would be kidnapped on a certain date if they were not paid a huge sum of money. The money was not paid and the boy was kidnapped out of a house filled with people and even the police. How was this done? And by who? And....where is Johnnie?? Hercule is on the case!

Great story! And the television adaptation from Agatha Christie's Poirot (Season 1, episode 3) was also quite good! They had to pad the story a bit to lengthen it, but it stays basically true to the original. These stories were used to gain readers for Christie's writing in the months after the publication of her first novel, The Mysterious Affair at Styles. The first 25 short stories were first published in magazines that featured writings by various authors and started building the reader base for Christie's writing and the character of Poirot. Later the short stories were gathered into collections such as Poirot Investigates.

These short stories just give a taste of Poirot's immense sleuthing skills (and Christie's writing talent, of course)...his little grey cells. The length of only a few pages doesn't allow for the famous twist endings and reveals like Christie uses in her novels, but still showcase her most famous character. I'm having the best time reading these short investigations! I'm reading the text while listening to an audio book at the same time. I like hearing Poirot's dialogue in his lovely accent....and the audio narrator (Charles Armstrong in the versions I'm listening to) can pronounce the French correctly whereas I can't even come close. I'm reading/listening to each story and then watching the television adaptation. David Suchet is amazing as Poirot!

Because I am reading one version and listening to another I am reviewing each story separately. I will review the short story collections as soon as I have read all the stories in them.

On to the next story: The Market Basing Mystery!

REVIEW: The Garden of Bewitchment

The Garden of Bewitchment
Author: Catherine Cavendish

I loved Catherine Cavendish's creepy tale The Haunting of Henderson Close, so when I saw this new title pop up I knew I had to read it! Glad I did....Cavendish delivers yet another fantastically creepy tale! This one snuck up on me.....the story, the atmosphere and the horror build slowly, but perfectly. Loved it!

Two spinster sisters move into a new cottage. They bicker a lot, as sisters will. Each has their idiosyncrasies....Claire is obsessed with the long dead Bramwell Brontë and sees things that aren't there. Evelyn becomes a bit obsessed with a neighbor, Matthew Dixon. When a strange miniature garden appears in their house....a children's game.....sinister things begin to happen. The Garden of Bewitchment is cursed, after all.....

This book is a bit like gothic suspense meets Jumanji. Very atmospheric....and incredibly entertaining! Lots of twists and creepy weirdness!

Another great book from Catherine Cavendish! I am looking foward to her next book!

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Flame Tree Press. All opinions expressed are entirely my own. No ghostly Brontës assisted with the writing of this review.** 

REVIEW: The House With a Clock in Its Walls

The House With a Clock in Its Walls
Author: John Bellairs

What a magical story! I loved this book!

Lewis Barnavelt lost his parents and he is scared about coming to live with his Uncle Jonathan. He's heard rumors that his uncle is a bit weird....and it's just distressing to a child to be thrust into the unknown. But soon he learns to love his Uncle Jonathan and his eccentric neighbor Mrs. Zimmerman. They love and accept Lewis. Plus, both Jonathan and Mrs. Zimmerman are witches! The old house abounds with magic and all sorts of exciting things! But.....it also abounds with something darker....after Lewis mistakenly raises the dead, trying to impress a school friend. Bringing back an evil dead person is really not a good way to win friends and influence people.....especially when the evil person has hidden a clock in the walls of the house that could end humanity.

Wonderful story! Wonderful characters! :)

I listened to the audio book version (Recorded Books) of this story. Narrated by George Guidall, the audio is just over 4.5 hours long. Easy listening length! The audio quality of the recording was not very good. It had an audible hiss in the background...like the recording had been copied from an old cassette tape. But, even with the hiss, George Guidall is a superb narrator! I have listened to his recordings of the Longmire series and recognized his voice immediately! He gave a great performance! Excellent voice actor!

I was surprised to learn that this book is just the first in a 12 book series! I'm definitely reading the rest of the books! I already have the second audio book checked out from the library. I like Lewis, Jonathan and Mrs. Zimmerman as main charaters -- quirky, magical, eccentric....a perfect family!

I have not seen the movie version starring Jack Black (2018). I'm a bit afraid it won't have the magic of the book...but I'm willing to give it a chance. Disc on the way from Netflix.

REVIEW: The Sun Down Motel

The Sun Down Motel
Author: Simone St. James

"It could always be you.....''

Fell, NY. A small upstate town...quaint, not much going on....but a lot of secrets hiding in the shadows. In 1982, girls from Fell are being murdered. Vivian works at the Sun Down Motel. It's mostly boring. Nothing happens in Fell....until the murders. She decides to do a little investigating. She finds the killings to be strangely intriguing and exciting, because.....it could have been her. Or any other girl in town. It could have happened to anyone.....anyone could be the killer....anyone could be next.

.....then Vivian disappears.

Flash forward to 2017. Carly comes to town. She's Vivian's niece...and she wants answers. What happened to her aunt? She ends up working at the Sun Down Motel...just like her aunt back in 1982. And just like her aunt, she is in danger.....

This book is so spooky cool! There are strange happenings in the motel....the weird vibe in Fell....Vivian's disappearance....    Loved it! I think the line "It could always be you....'' really grabbed hold of my brain and never let go. Because it's true. I watch way too much Discovery ID Channel. The stories of disappearances, random killings, murders....the stories are always about someone else...the unlucky person in a bad relationship or just the wrong place at the wrong time. But......nobody is immune. With one mistake or twist of fate, it could be ..... anyone. It could be me. It could be you. It could be someone I know....someone you know. Maybe that's why I'm so drawn to shows like that.....it's intriguing and interesting because it COULD be me, but wasn't. I got sucked right into the atmosphere of this story. This ended up being a binge read for me.....I couldn't stop reading! Any book that keeps me reading until the wee hours of the night earns full stars from me! Very entertaining story!

I enjoyed The Broken Girls by this author, so I'm not too surprised that I also enjoyed this newest book! I added another book by her, The Haunting of Maddy Clare, to my TBR list. I'm sure I will enjoy it too!

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Berkley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

REVIEW: Weird Things Customers Say in Bookstores

Weird Things Customers Say in Bookstores
Author: Jennifer Campbell

This book randomly popped up in my recommendations on Goodreads. The front cover alone made me chuckle, so I immediately knew I had to read this book. I was not disappointed!

A question posed on Twitter by John Cleese -- What is your biggest pet peeve? -- motivated Jen Campbell to blog all about silly things said in her bookshop. This book expands the concept and collects funny conversations from bookshop owners in the US and Canada. Some are hilarious....others cringeworthy....some maddening....but all are just fun and entertaining to read! :)

My favorite?? This one:

Parent: (to a misbehaving child) THERE SHOULD BE NO YELLING UNLESS SOMEONE IS ON FIRE!!!

Child: (firing back immediately) What if a weasel is robbing the store?

Parent: (long pause....with a flickering of a smile) I don't know....is he armed?

:) This book made me smile!! Very entertaining!

REVIEW: The Adventure of the Egyptian Tomb (Agatha Christie)

The Adventure of the Egyptian Tomb
Author: Agatha Christie

This Hercule Poirot short story was first published in the UK in The Sketch magazine on September 26, 1923 and was published in the US in The Blue Book magazine.

At the time Christie wrote this story Egypt and ancient tombs were all the rage in England and across Europe. The discovery of King Tutankhamen's tomb in 1922 by Howard Carter and several deaths that followed afterwards ignited rumors of an ancient curse on the tomb. Those rumors still circulate today, but most experts say the story was started by Howard Carter and his excavation team to give the media something extraordinary and exciting to report, while keeping reporters and curious people at a distance from the tomb.

In this story a famous archaeologist dies following the discovery of the Egyptian tomb of King Men-Her-Ra. Two more deaths follow. Rumors of a supernatural curse begin to circulate. The widow of the archaeologist hires Poirot to investigate because her son wants to take over the dig, and she doesn't want him to die if the curse is real.

This is one of my favorite Poirot short stories so far. It had that awesome mummy-ancient curse vibe to it, and also showed the Belgian detective's intelligence and understanding of human nature. Multiple times Poirot states that he believes in the power of the supernatural....not in curses, but in the power of belief itself. I feel this story might have also been somewhat of an aside commentary from Agatha Christie about her thoughts on the rumors surrounding King Tut's tomb.

This story was adapted into an episode by the television show Agatha Christie's Poirot (Season 5, episode 1). The episode stays relatively true to the original story with embellishments to stretch it to a 45 minute episode.

I'm reading through all of Christie's works in publication order. Christie has been my favorite author since I was 9-years old and bought my first Poirot novels. I've always wanted to read her works in the order she wrote them, and I'm having a great time! Because Poirot stories have quite a bit of French in them at times (and I do not speak any French except a few words.....polite/necessary phrases and those relating to ordering food), I am listening to the audio book version of these stories while also reading the text. For me, hearing Poirot's dialogue read in the correct accent just adds so much to the reading experience....and the french is correct. Much better than me making a mangled attempt at it or skipping over those bits while reading to myself. Because I am using 2-3 versions of these stories to compare editions, and to listen/read at the same time, I am reviewing each story separately. I will also review the story collections and specific audio/text versions I read when I have completed all the stories in the collections.

Charles Armstrong narrates the audio books I am reading. I love David Suchet's portrayal of Poirot on television and in audio performances....but Armstrong is also very good. He has a nice voice, and portrays the character very well.

On to the next story: The Veiled Lady!

REVIEW: The Chocolate Box (Agatha Christie)

The Chocolate Box
Author: Agatha Christie

This Hercule Poirot short story was first published in the UK in The Sketch magazine on May 23, 1923. US publication followed in The Blue Book magazine in February 1925.

One day while they are relaxing in front of a comfy fire, Captain Hastings asks Poirot if he ever made a mistake that had a bad effect on a case. Poirot then tells him a story about a suspicious death and deadly box of candy.

Very entertaining story! This is a bit of a flashback to Poirot's time as a Belgian detective before World War I caused him to come to England.

The television show Agatha Christie's Poirot adapted this story into an episode (Season 5, episode 6). The story is well done as usual, with changes made to main characters and events to lengthen the story into an 45 minute episode. It remains relatively true to the original story,with some embellishments.

I am having the best time reading through all of these Poirot stories! Each story is relatively short...only a few pages. The plots are varied and Poirot is his usual fussy but lovable self. I am reading each story while listening to an audio book recording as well. There is just something about hearing Poirot's dialogue in the correct accent that makes it so much more enjoyable! Plus, I don't know french....so nice to have the names and phrases contained in these stories read correctly, rather than my butchering of them when I read silently in my own head. :)

On to the next story: The Adventures of the Egyptian Tomb!

REVIEW: The Mystery of Hunter's Lodge (Agatha Christie)

The Mystery of Hunter's Lodge
Author: Agatha Christie

This Hercule Poirot short story was first published in The Sketch magazine in the UK in May, 1923. US publication followed in The Blue Book magazine in June 1924.

Even famous detectives get the flu! A gentleman comes to beg help from Hercule Poirot, but he is laid up in bed recovering from his illness. Captain Hastings agrees to accompany Roger Havering to his family's hunting lodge. His uncle was shot to death on the property and they need help to ferret out the murderer. Hastings gathers clues, sending them by wire to Poirot, who sends his instructions by return wire. Very interesting case! Even while sick and miles away, Poirot can still use his wonderous little grey cells to solve crimes!

I love how this story shows the close relationship between Poirot and Hastings.....even the little bouts of jealousy that Hastings has when it comes to Poirot's gift for investigation. Hastings really wishes he could wrap up confusing cases as easily as Poirot...but he always seems to miss the mark by just that little bit.

The long-running television show, Agatha Christie's Poirot, adapted this story into an episode (Series 3, episode 10). The story is short so the plot had to be padded a bit to make it episode length. The basics are true to the original story. Very well done as usual! I love David Suchet as Poirot!

I am enjoying all these early Hercule Poirot stories! I have loved Agatha Christie's books for 40+ years, but I never read any of the short stories. Nice to read something "new'' from my favorite author!

REVIEW: The Adventure of the Cheap Flat (Agatha Christie)

The Adventure of the Cheap Flat
Author: Agatha Christie

The Adventure of the Cheap Flat is a Hercule Poirot short story first published in The Sketch magazine in the UK in May 1923. The story first appeared in the US in May 1924 in The Blue Book magazine.

Poirot is intrigued when a couple he meets at a party brag about an apartment they just rented for next to nothing in a prime area of London. How did this couple get a flat in Montagu Mansions, a very fashionable district, for £80 a year when comparable apartments let for at least £350? Poirot knows the reason must be something other than luck and puts his little grey cells to the task!

I enjoyed this story! It is short, but entertaining. I had to suspend reality just a little bit as it seemed a bit far fetched...a little too grandiose a plan.... to seem realistic in any way. But......many golden age mysteries are far fetched and melodramatic. What's not to like? Enjoyable short read!

The long-running television show, Agatha Christie's Poirot, adapted this story in its second season (Episode 8). Great episode!

On to the next story: The Mystery of the Hunter's Lodge!

REVIEW: The Chill

The Chill
Author: Scott Carson

An update New York village was flooded 75 years ago for a reservoir project. There are legends about the strange things that happen in the Dead Waters...the area where you can still see the burnt out submerged buildings that used to be Galesburg. But it's more than that.....an evil....a strange heaviness that is more than just the leftovers of a flooded village.

I'm a sucker for stories about submerged towns. There are so many urban legends surrounding reservoir projects and submerged towns, especially if the dam has not been properly maintained. Portions of this story were incredibly creepy and spooky....but at times the pacing dragged a bit. The story lost my attention at times because it just moved too slowly or went on too long...I'm not quite sure which it is...or if it's a mix of both.

I love the front cover art! It sets the creepy atmosphere for this supernatural horror/disaster story.

All in all, an entertaining read, even if it did drag a bit at times. This is the first book by Scott Carson (a pen name for author Michael Koryta) that I've read. I will definitely be reading more by this author. Very creative, interesting concept!

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Atria Books. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

REVIEW: Microphones and Murder

Microphones and Murder
Author: Erin Huss

Microphones and Murder is the first book in the new Podcasting Sisters mystery series. Liv Olsen quits her job with a popular podcast to strike out on her own. Her sister, Camry, joins her. The two sisters are going to start off their own true crime podcast, Missing or Murdered, by investigating a 10-year old missing persons case. Amelia Clark disappeared after an embarrassing and bizarre video of her went viral on YouTube. Police found the 23-year old woman's car stuffed with her belongings....but Amelia was never seen again. What happened to Amelia Clark? Is she missing.....or murdered??

This is a very promising start to a new series. I like the characters, especially Aunt Hazel. The mystery moved along at a good pace, with plenty of sleuthing and suspense. I like the background theme of podcasting...I'm a podcast addict so knew I had to read this book! Glad I did! Enjoyable story! I look forward to the next book!

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Henery Press. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

REVIEW: The Candy Cane Caper

The Candy Cane Caper
Author: Josi Kilpack

The Candy Cane Caper is the 13th book in the Culinary Mystery cozy series by Josi Kilpack. Sadie Hoffmiller is at home with family to celebrate Christmas. When someone steals valuable antique ornaments right off the tree of an elderly neighbor, Sadie is on a crusade to find out who could possibly be low enough to steal from a 94-year old woman. Then she discovers other thefts that might be related to the case. Someone in Fort Collins is definitely a grinch.....and Sadie is determined to find out who!

This is the first book I've read in this series. I'm definitely adding the rest of the books to my TBR list! This was a very charming and entertaining light mystery. I thorougly enjoyed the characters, the plot and the holiday theme. It made for an enjoyable afternoon of reading! That's just what I want from a cozy mystery novel! I look forward to the other stories in this series!

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Shadow Mountain Publishing. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

REVIEW: The Million Dollar Bond Robbery (Agatha Christie)

The Million Dollar Bond Robbery
Author: Agatha Christie

This short story was first published in The Sketch magazine in the UK on May 2,1923.  In the US, it was published in The Blue Book magazine in April 1924.

This is a very short, but enjoyable, Poirot mystery. A substantial amount in bonds from a London bank are stolen on board a ship bound for New York. The young banker in charge of the bonds declares his innocence and says it's like the bonds just disappeared into thin air. The package disappeared from a trunk tightly fastened with a lock....which was still locked when the ship arrived at port. So, who took the bonds?? And how?? Poirot is on the case!

Great story, despite being the shortest so far! Amazing what interesting mysteries Christie could scrunch into just a few pages. :)

The television show, Agatha Christie's Poirot, adapted this story for television (Series 3, episode 2). The script had to make quite a few changes/additions for this one to be full episode length. But they did a great job as usual! I didn't mind the changes and David Suchet was fantastic as Poirot!

On to the next story: The Adventure of the Cheap Flat!

I am having a great time reading Christie's writings in publication order! I am reading The Man in the Brown Suit while also reading these early Poirot short stories. Agatha Christie has been my favorite author since I was 9 years old and read my first Hercule Poirot book! It might take me awhile to read all of her writings -- 66 novels, 165 short stories, several plays and various other writings -- but I'm going to love every minute of it!

REVIEW: The Kidnapped Prime Minister (Agatha Christie)

The Kidnapped Prime Minister
Author: Agatha Christie

This Hercule Poirot short story was first published in the UK in The Sketch magazine on April 25, 1923. It was published in The Blue Book magazine in the US in July 1924.

In this 8th Poirot short mystery, Hastings recounts a past case. Near the end of WWI, Poirot investigated the kidnapping of the English Prime Minister. Poirot had to work quickly. An important meeting of allied leaders was scheduled to begin in France, and the Prime Minister had to be there!

These first Poirot short stories were printed in magazines following the publication of Christie's first novel, The Mysterious Affair at Styles. These magazines featured short fiction and articles from a variety of authors (and lots of advertising...just like today! ha ha), and were no doubt used to garner attention for Christie's writing and characters. It also explains why these initial short stories are brief and relatively simple. The marketing ploy worked famously.....Christie's writing gained popularity, garnering more sales for her subsequent novels and stories. These Poirot shorts can't be read with the same expectations as her novels and later short stories.They were not meant to be in-depth investigations or complex witty writing....they were pure marketing to get Christie's name and the character of Poirot exposed to an expanded readership. Authors do this today all the time -- free short stories offered online.....novelettes listed as Book 0 of a series......first short stories of a series offered free on Amazon......authors sending out short stories in their email newsletters......marketing! She churned all these stories out while on board a ship on a world tour for the British Empire Exposition. 10 months on a ship.....write short stories.....publish upon return....gain readership. Wonderful plan! Marketing strategies like this worked 100 years ago...and still work now. Although most stories aren't written while on a 10-month cruise around the world, but the idea is the same. Pull readers in....give them a taste.....then they buy the book. So, please read these short stories with that in mind -- they are short, simple and one-and-done on purpose. Christie obviously had top-notch advice from her publisher. Her career blossomed into one that has sold billions of books. Billions. Just amazing!

The language and social situations in these stories are from a bygone era. Written almost 100 years ago, these writings can require a bit of understanding of the early 1900s and World War I to make sense to today's readers. Luckily, the internet makes it so much easier to research names, events, places, war history, and other references in Christie's writing! And learning more about the war era and the 1920s can be as simple as watching a documentary or reading a book about the social norms of the time. I find myself led down some fascinating rabbit holes when I start looking up places and events Christie mentions in her writing. :) For those not interested in the history who just want to read the stories....just keep in mind that 100 years brings about a lot of changes. Enjoy the stories for what they are....a glimpse back in time! And interesting mysteries!

The long-running television show, Agatha Christie's Poirot, had an episode based on this short story (Series 2, episode 9).

On to the next story: The Million Dollar Bond Robbery!

REVIEW: The Adventure of the Western Star (Agatha Christie)

The Adventure of the Western Star
Author: Agatha Christie

This Hercule Poirot short story was first published in The Sketch magazine in the UK on April 11, 1923. The Blue Book magazine printed it in the US in February 1924.

A famous American film star arrives in England. She seeks out Poirot's help, stating that she has been receiving strange threatening letters regarding a large diamond she owns. Then a second woman, Lady Yardley, comes forward with concerns about a similar stone in her collection. Poirot jumps right in to lend the powers of his little grey cells to get to the facts of the matter.

There are times when some of the language and attitudes in Christie's writing bother me. The stories are nearly 100 years old and sometimes use derogatory terms for foreigners or non-white characters....terms that were widely used in the 1920s, but are now considered incredibly rude, derogatory, and unacceptable. Several times characters in this story refer to Chinese people with a racist term.....but in the past the term was commonly used without thought or care. I see the benefit to leaving Christie's works as she wrote them as they are her words and it does reflect attitudes of the time, but this is one area where I have trouble with her writing. The ideas expressed by upper class white characters in her books/stories sometimes come off as incredibly racist and classist. But the elite at the time were racist and classist. I'm not saying that society is any better today....we still have some major issues to work through when it comes to how we treat others. But, most of us don't just toss out incredibly racist terms as part of normal conversation. For example, Christie used the n word in a book title in 1939. That would not be ok at all today. Sensibilities have changed at least somewhat. I don't like it when I come across blatantly racist terms in literature (even when my favorite author is the culprit)....but it does make me glad that some verbage that was ok in the early 1900s is not ok now!!  Despite my momentary shock at the term, I did enjoy this story. Interesting case, and Poirot was his usual brilliant self.

Agatha Chrstie's Poirot adapted this story for television in 1990 (Season 2, Episode 10). The story is changed somewhat to lengthen it into a full episode, but the basic case is the same. So glad David Suchet played Poirot for every story that Christie wrote. He does such a good job!

On to the next story: The Tragedy at Marsdon Manor!

REVIEW: The Tragedy at Marsdon Manor (Agatha Christie)

The Tragedy at Marsdon Manor
Author: Agatha Christie

This Hercule Poirot short story first published in The Sketch magazine in the UK on April 18, 1923 and followed in the US in March 1924. It is the 7th short story featuring Poirot and his famed little grey cells.

Poirot is hired by an insurance company to investigate a death. Mr. Maltravers recently insured his life for £50,000 and only a few weeks later was discovered dead on his estate. Despite a local doctor declaring it a natural death by hemorrhage, Poirot is there to check the circumstances and either support or contest the cause of death.

I was curious just how much £50,000 would be in today's money adjusted for inflation.....and was surprised by the amount! More than £726,000! No wonder the insurance company required an investigation! Another lovely investigation by Poirot. He uses several interesting psychological tricks to get to the truth in this case! Very entertaining read!

Agatha Christie's Poirot adapted this story for television in 1991 (Series 3, episode 5). As usual the adaptation adds quite a bit to the story to flesh it out to make it episode-length, but the basics of the story are left intact. Very enjoyable to watch!

On to the next story: The Kidnapped Prime Minister....

REVIEW: Epic Solitude

Epic Solitude
Author: Katherine Keith

The author shares her experiences in Alaska...day to day survival, dog racing, love, loss, challenges....  Living in the wilderness brings hardship, but also a love of life, courage, strength and profound peace.

I enjoyed this glimpse into a lifestyle I have always found intriguing. I could not do what Katherine and others who love living in remote challenging areas face on a daily basis. I enjoyed reading about her life and experiences, but the writing style and disjointed storytelling really hindered me from really getting into this story as much as I wanted to. I did enjoy the book, but I never really felt emotionally invested in it. The concept and message is wonderful...but the writing itself is just ok.

I have a deep respect for those who live and thrive in remote, harsh places. I'm glad that Katherine shared her story!

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Blackstone Publishing. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

REVIEW: Alone in the Wild

Alone in the Wild
Author: Kelley Armstrong

The Rockton series is one of my favorites! I eagerly await each new book in this series. Alone in the Wild is the 5th book set in Rockton, a town absent from any maps where people go to get away from their problems. Far, far away. Rockton is in the Canadian wilderness and camouflaged so even airplanes flying over head can't see the town unless the pilots know it's there. No electricity. No internet. No contact with the outside world except for resupply trips. Rockton residents pay a lot of money for the privilege of disappearing. Some are running from danger. Others are criminals hiding from law enforcement. It makes Casey Duncan's job as local detective difficult at times. Her boyfriend Dalton is Rockton's sheriff. It's up to them to keep the residents safe. Sometimes that can be difficult and incredibly dangerous.

In this newest book, Casey and Dalton take a much needed rest. Things have been quiet in Rockton for months and residents are busy preparing for Christmas. So, they take a two day camping trip to get a break. When Casey discovers a baby in the forest buried in the snow with a dead woman, she and Dalton realize they need to discover the identity of the woman in order to find the child's family. Their main goal is to return the baby to its people, and to discover what happened.

This series is best read in order to fully understand the setting and the characters. Plus the plot refers to events from previous books a few times. Definite spoilers if a reader hasn't read the earlier books first.

Great read! I thoroughly enjoyed this story. The plot is engaging, well-written and suspenseful. Another great visit to Rockton! I can't wait for the next book!

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from St. Martin's Press. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

REVIEW: Things in Jars

Things in Jars
Author: Jess Kidd

Bridie Devine is a female detective in Victorian London. The 6-year old daughter of Sir Edmund Berwick has been kidnapped. Like Bridie, little Christobel is not ordinary...the little girl reportedly has supernatural gifts. Unfortunately, the child's reputation brought her to the attention of an underworld group obsessed with finding and possessing oddities. Bridie is determined to save the little girl. Turns out it's going to be a very dark and oftentimes gruesome case....

Oh my! This book is a roller coaster ride through the strange and wonderful! Ghosts...abnormally large and bearded parlor maids...murder....mayhem....just an awesomely weird and mesmerizing story!

This is the first book by Jess Kidd that I have read. I will definitely be reading more of her work! This book is an awesome mix of mystery, humor and folklore. I'm curious to find out if Kidd's other books are this much fun to read!

The mystery is constructed perfectly. The characters are magnificently odd and quirky. The dark shadowy side of Victorian London definitely comes to life within this book. The story definitely kept my attention from start to finish. Very entertaining read!

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Atria Books. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

REVIEW: The Plymouth Express (Agatha Christie)

The Plymouth Express
Author: Agatha Christie

This story is the 5th Hercule Poirot short story. It was first published in the UK in April 1923 in The Sketch magazine. US publication followed in January 1924 (The Blue Book magazine). Christie later fleshed out the plot a bit, changed characters and some basics to form the novel The Mystery of the Blue Train (1928)

Christie lived such an interesting life. These first short stories featuring Poirot were written while on a 10-month around-the-world promotional tour for the British Empire Exhibition. Some of the incidents and people she encountered during this tour were used in her novel The Man in the Brown Suit (published in 1924).  What a life!

In this story, a naval officer travelling by train gets a nasty shock when he discovers something gruesome stuffed under the seat of his compartment......the dead body of a woman! Poirot is soon on the case (of course) to discover the why, when and how.

I can understand why nasty goings-on aboard trains are a recurrent occurrence in Christie's writing (and a lot of other golden age detective novelists). It's the perfect "locked room'' scenario. Moving train. Strangers thrown together. Lots of strange places to have clandestine meetings, commit a gruesome murder, etc. Rounding out the top five of great places to have a golden age murder mystery would have to be: on board a ship at sea, on an island accessible only by boat, inside an isolated country mansion (especially during bad weather like a snow storm), and in the dark recesses of some slightly romantic locale like a large museum/pyramid/ancient ruin.

I enjoyed this story.  Very short, but interesting! I like these tales even better now that I know Christie was writing them while on an adventure of her own. There is a book that recounts her stories about her trip, The Grand Tour: Letters and Photographs from the British Empire Exposition. Learning all sorts of new things about my favorite author while reading through her works in publication order. I'm having the best time! :)

The long-running television series, Agatha Christie's Poirot, made an episode based on this story (Series 3, episode 3). It was first broadcast in 1991. The episode is very good, but the script adds/changes quite a bit to flesh the story out to 50 minutes. The basic plot line is still there though....very well done!

On to the next story: The Adventure of the Western Star!

REVIEW: The Disappearance of Mr. Davenheim (Agatha Christie)

The Disappearance of Mr. Davenheim
Author: Agatha Christie

This story first appeared in The Sketch magazine in the UK on March 28, 1923. It was published in The Blue Book magazine in the US in December 1923 as "Mr. Davenby Disappears.''

When a banker disappears, Inspector Japp bets Poirot £5 that he can't solve the case without leaving his house. Poirot takes the bet and vows to discover what happened to the missing man within a week.

So far, this is my favorite of the early Hercule Poirot short stories. It shows the true friendship between Inspector Japp, Hastings, and Poirot.....with a bit of competition/friendly wagering added of course! Plus, Poirot definitely uses all of his little grey cells to figure out the case without even leaving his house. Fun story to read!

The long-running television show, Agatha Christie's Poirot, has an episode based on this short story: Series 2, episode 6. I am watching each television episode after I finish reading the original short story. The television scripts change a few things here and there, but keep the barebones of the stories intact. The writers did a great job fleshing out these short stories into full-length television episodes. And the cast of the show -- especially David Suchet -- always does an excellent job! The episode based on this story is very entertaining and quite faithful to the source. I watched it on BritBox, but it is also available on YouTube.