REVIEW: Deception

 Deception
Author: Paul Rix

I definitely enjoy an exciting Sci-Fi story. And it's even better when I discover a "new-to-me" author at the same time! The cover art and theme of this prequel novella is what first drew me to this Mars colonization story at first...and then the story sucked me right in. 

The basics: The crew of the Falcon has been travelling through space for four months heading to Mars. It's a historic mission -- the first crewed mission to Mars that will land and then return to Earth. The crew is skilled and up for the challenge, and NASA is doing their part on Earth to make the mission a success. But, a last minute discovery of possible problems with the Falcon's computer systems might mean aborting the mission short of its goal. 

This story pulled me in quickly. I love the basic premise -- a manned mission to Mars facing challenges that no other humans before them have faced. I like the characters. All of them face stress, pressure and extreme conditions (4 months floating in space, the stress of keeping a ship functioning and preparing to land on another planet, troubleshooting a serious problem mid-flight, etc), and all react differently. And the suspense and action are great! In my life time, I have seen space missions succeed, and I've seen missions fail horribly. I was one of many students who sat at school in 1986 watching a television screen ready for a day of space-themed class lessons when the space shuttle Challenger exploded after take-off. One minute we were excited for a teacher to be in space -- and the next we were utterly shocked. Even with top notch training, there is never any guarantee that a space mission will safely succeed. So many variables. And a completely inhospitable environment outside the ship. Think about how much pressure and stress just those concerns cause a human crew.... I think that's why I love sci-fi stories set in space so much. Humans pushed to the absolute limits of life itself....and what happens when fate pushes just that little bit extra. Survival or death -- it all hangs in the balance. 

Great story! I like Paul Rix's writing style and characters. And, he had some surprises in store. Very enjoyable short prequel! Deception is the into for the Mars Frontier series. Can't wait to find out what happens next! 

REVIEW: As the Crow Flies

 As the Crow Flies
Author: Craig Johnson

Wyoming Sheriff Walt Longmire is in a pickle. His daughter has her heart set on a wedding site on the Cheyenne Reservation, but there is a last minute conflict that arises. And while he and Henry Standing Bear are trying to unravel the snag in plans, they see a woman fall from a nearby cliff. Suddenly Longmire isn't just trying to save a wedding, but also helping the local police chief investigate the case. 

As the Crow Flies is the 8th book in the Walt Longmire series. These books just keep getting better and better. I love the setting, the characters and the plots. I listen to the audio books. George Guidell is a perfect narrator for these stories. Always a great listening experience! 

I'm savoring this series. I listen to one book....then take a break for awhile....then listen to more. I don't want to reach the end! I'm still sad the TV show is done. I'm really taking my time with this series and enjoying each book and short story. 

I loved the side plot about Cady's wedding. Both Longmire and Henry Standing Bear love Cady. And they really work hard to get her wedding problem fixed. In the end, it's a group effort. The investigation this time was really interesting and complex. It definitely kept my attention from start to finish. 

Another awesome book in this series. I'm going to wait a bit and then jump into book 9 -- A Serpent's Tooth. There are couple novellas in between -- Christmas in Absaroka County and Messenger. I have both in ebook format. I'll read those before the 9th novel. :) 

One of my favorite book series! 

REVIEW: CyberStorm

 CyberStorm
Author: Matthew Mather

Mike Mitchell and his wife live in New York with their young son, Luke. They are battling modern problems -- stresses of city life, his wife wanting to return to work, the joys and fears of parenthood -- when things go horribly wrong. A cyber attack shuts things down. Everything. Power, water, the internet. Gone. And then the snow starts falling. NYC quickly becomes a disaster area with everyone struggling to survive. 

I listened to the audio version of this book. A very engaging and enjoyable listen. I learned during 2020 that upsetting the usual supply chain in any way can cause people to behave badly pretty quickly. I witnessed people panic buying and going into crazed angry rants when informed there were buying limits. People have been beaten and even killed over disagreements about wearing or not wearing masks in public. I saw people come to blows over toilet paper. And I read many reports about senior citizens being targeted by scams and worse. And -- our utilities, basic supply chains for medicines, food and water and the internet were never interrupted. Imagine how people's behavior would slide if the lights went out, running water shut off, no garbage pickup, no gasoline available, no food in the stores, no fire department, no police patrolling......    Can you imagine?

I was totally engaged in this story until the end. I felt let down by the ending.....too easy, felt contrived. I enjoyed it.....but it was just like tying things all up in a pretty bow at the end. I guess that's better than ending on a totally bleak horrific turn of events....but the ending just felt a bit Hollywood. 

Enjoyable disaster story. Definitely had me thinking over 2020 and contemplating how we behave during disasters. All the issues that have come up during Covid19....how much worse would it be if something worse came along that left people starving and panicked? Things would get very bad in just a few days. 

I listened to the audio version of this book. Narrated by Tom Taylorson, the audio was a bit over 11 hours long. Taylorson reads at a nice pace and has a pleasant voice. He did a good job of voice acting. Very enjoyable listen. 

I'm definitely going to read more by this author. Even with my disappointment in the ending, I really liked this book. 

REVIEW: Hairless Harrassment

 Hairless Harrassment
Author: Molly Fitz

Trouble seems to be following Angie Russo and her cat companion, Octo-Cat, as they move into their new house. The neighbor, a senator with outspoken views on the environment, is found dead in her house. Although local authorities rule the death an accident, Angie and Octo-Cat are on the case -- there's just something strange about the situation. Angie needs to talk to the senator's two cats, but that proves harder than expected. The two hairless kitties only speak in riddles.

Fun story! Angie is becoming a great amateur sleuth, and Octo-Cat is wonderfully snarky. The plot kept my attention, and the ending was great! 

I listened to the audio book version of this 3rd book in the Pet Whisperer P.I. series (Tantor Audio). Narrated by Ann Richardson, the audio is about 3 hours long. Richardson does a great job of narrating. Her voice is pleasant and she reads at a nice pace. I like how she voices the characters -- even the pets! All in all, a very entertaining listening experience. 

I love the humor and the characters in this series. Octo-Cat is spoiled. Angie is capable, but sometimes a bit rattled by her new found ability to talk to animals. Nan is so supportive and awesome. Heck, even Angie's mother (the reporter) is growing on me. Always a fun story! 

On to the next book in the series -- Dog-Eared Delinquent! 

REVIEW: Terrier Transgressions

 Terrier Transgressions
Author: Molly Fitz

Angie Russo is still struggling to get used to her new talent -- talking to animals. After being zapped by an old coffee maker in book one, she awoke with her new, and often very confusing and embarrassing, gift. Her new sidekick, Octo-Cat, is snarky and spoiled, but they do make a great sleuthing duo!

Terrier Transgressions is the second book in the Pet Whisperer P.I. series. Someone discovers Angie's little secret, and blackmails her into getting involved in a murder investigation. She and Octo-Cat have to talk to the murder victims' little terrier dog to glean clues, before an innocent man is sent to prison. 

Fun story! This second book was just as entertaining and filled with humor and amateur sleuthing as the first book! I listened to the audio book (Tantor Audio) version of this story. Narrated by Ann Richardson, the audio is about 4 hours long -- easy listening length. Richardson does a great job of voice acting. She has a pleasant voice and reads at a nice pace. All in all, an entertaining listening experience! 

I love the book covers for this series! So cute and eye-catching! The stories are easy reading length...not too short, not too long. Just right! I like the characters, the basic premise and the plots. Just fun, entertaining reads! 

On to the next book -- Hairless Harrassment! 

Death Overdue

 Death Overdue 
Author: Allison Brook

I read a review copy of this book when it first came out in 2018. I decided to revisit this series from the beginning, as I lost track of it and new books have been added. I listened to the audio book version - very enjoyable listen!

I love cozy mysteries with a ghost or Halloween theme, so this series is a perfect autumn read for me. The ghost is not scary, and the situations are not horrific (well, except for the murder of course). Just a fun read with a nice mix of humor, amateur sleuthing and mystery. I love libraries....and a haunted would be even better! I wonder how many libraries in the world are considered haunted? All those people....all those books that have been read over and over by so many....old buildings.....   I bet there are a lot of haunted libraries!

The basics: (from my original review in 2018) Carrie Singleton is a free spirit. She doesn't stay in one place too long. She likes her freedom. But, then she gets offered the job as head of programs and events at the library in Clover Ridge, CT. It's a better paying and more permanent job than she has ever had before. She not only discovers that the job is a bit hectic, but that the library has its own resident ghost. Things get out of hand for Carrie immediately. Her first event is a presentation by a retired local police detective. Al Buckley claims he has new information about a decades old local murder case. But, before he can reveal the new evidence....he drops dead. Right in the middle of the library. Carrie feels a bit guilty because Al was poisoned at her library event, so she decides to investigate not only the death of Al Buckley, but the old murder case of Laura Foster as well. I loved this book! Not only because of the haunted library theme -- perfect for an October release! But also because I just enjoyed the characters, the plot and the premise for this new series. Carrie is a strong and intelligent woman who loves her freedom but also realizes that being an adult requires....adulting. The ghost of a former librarian is a hoot -- and a helpful side character that is woven into the plot. Nicely done! And I got sucked right into the story from the beginning. Poor Carrie -- her first event at her new job and the speaker drops dead. Not only that but there is a bit of job tension, jealousy and funny goings-on at the Clover Ridge Library. I had to keep reading to find out if Carrie survived both her promotion, all the adulting, and her amateur sleuthing. :) A great mix of mild spookiness, humor and mystery. Great start to a new series! The mystery moved along at a nice pace with a nicely complex plot. There were several situations going on with multiple suspects. It was a well-written, enjoyable read!  The audio book, narrated by Mia Gaskin, is just shy of 9.5 hours long. Gaskin reads at a nice pace and does a good job of voicing the characters. All in all, a nice listening experience.  As with most cozy mysteries, the cover art for this book is supremely awesome. :) Definitely eye-catching! Definitely going to keep reading and listening my way through this series. Allison Brook is a pen-name for author Marilyn Levinson. For more information on the author and her other books, check out her website: http://www.marilynlevinson.com/

REVIEW: Kitty Confidential

 Kitty Confidential
Author: Molly Fitz

The cute cover immediately drew my attention to this first book in this cozy mystery series from Molly Fitz. I'm a sucker for cozy covers that feature cats! Then I was completely taken in by the idea of an amateur sleuth that can talk to animals. Fun! :)

The basics: Angie Russo is rethinking her life choices when a near death experience changes her life....a quick zap and suddenly she can talk to animals and somehow promised to help a cat find his owner's killer. Definitely never a dull moment!

This book was light-hearted, fun entertainment from start to finish. The story is a nice mix of cozy murder mystery and humor. Angie Russo is an intelligent and slightly zany main character. Octo-cat is snarky, opinionated and spoiled -- as any cat (but much more). The plot kept my attention from start to finish. 

I listened to the audio book version. Narrated by Ann Richardson, the audio is just over four hours long. Richardson does a great job narrating. She has a pleasant voice, brings the characters to life, and reads at a nice pace. All in all, a very entertaining listening experience!

I'm definitely going to continue reading this series! This was the first book by Molly Fitz that I have read....and I enjoyed it enough to read all her books!

REVIEW: Broomsticks and Burials

 Broomsticks and Burials
Author: Lily Webb

Lately I seem to be on a cozy and classic mystery kick....a bit of murder and amateur sleuthing, spiced up with a smidge of humor and a dash of paranormal or cute side theme --- Perfect. With all the things going on as 2020 closes, I need my reading time to be my Zen moments of the day. 

The Magic & Mystery series by Lily Webb has been on my TBR for some time. My To-Read list is vast, and things get lost in the jumble sometimes. As I was looking for my next audio book to start the other day, the bright purple cover of book one of this series jumped right out at me. READ ME! So, I did! And I'm glad -- this book was fun and entertaining! 

The basics: Zoe Clarke's life has hit a snag and she finds herself back on her grandmother's farm in NC searching for a job. Then a phone call out of nowhere lands her a reporting job in Moon Grove, NC. She packs up her cat Luna and her few belongings and heads to her new job.....and changes her life forever! 

I live in NC, so I love the setting for this mystery series. Zoe is an interesting and capable main character. She goes with the flow, taking magic, supernatural creatures of all sorts and a talking cat pretty much in stride. I'm not sure I would be quite so understanding if my concepts of the world changed that much over night. Although I would LOVE to be able to talk to my cats! Luna is snarky and fun. Flora, too -- just don't ask about her wings! In fact, I liked all the characters! 

I listened to the audiobook format of this book (Lily Webb Audio). The Audio is about 6 hours long -- a nice listening length. Erin Parker narrates. Parker does a great job of bringing the characters to life. Her voice is pleasant and she reads at a nice pace. All in all, an enjoyable listening experience. 

Right now, this sort of book is just what I need. Nothing heavy. Fun characters, entertaining plot, a bit of magic thrown in. Loved it! Can't wait to find out what happens next in Moon Grove! 

REVIEW: The Blue Geranium

 The Blue Geranium
Author: Agatha Christie

The Blue Geranium is the 7th story in the Tuesday Night Club story arc, featuring Miss Marple. The Tuesday Night Club short stories, published in magazines from 1927-1931,  introduce Miss Marple as a character. The thirteen tales were gathered into book form in 1932 (The Thirteen Problems). 

The Tuesday Night Club includes Miss Marple, her nephew (a writer) and four friends (an actress, a clergyman, an attorney, and an artist). They meet on Tuesday nights to discuss unsolved or mysterious crimes. One member tells a story and the others try to guess the truth. The first six tales each feature one member telling their story....and the truth is revealed at the end. At the end of the sixth story, each club member had told their tale...so Christie had to change tactics to continue the story arc. The Blue Geranium was published 18 months after the sixth Tuesday Night Club story (published in the UK December 1929 in The Story-Teller Magazine with US publication January 1930 in Pictorial Review). The story opens with Colonel Arthur Bantry inviting four people to dinner at his home. He includes Miss Marple in the party because he hears she is good at solving mysteries. Bantry wants to see if she can solve a strange mystery involving an invalid woman and a psychic. 

I loved this story! It had a wonderful locked-room mystery vibe to it. Very classic. It's one of my favorites of the Tuesday Night Club stories so far. These stories are short, ranging from 10-20 pages. Published in magazines, these are minute-mystery sort of quick tales meant to introduce Miss Marple as a character. The short length means these stories don't have the complex plots, setting and characterizations of Christie's novels, but they do a great job of showing Miss Marple's keen understanding and wisdom. She might be a spinster who has spent her entire life in a small English village, but Miss Marple knows human nature. She notices everything. Nothing gets past Miss Marple! 

The Blue Geranium was adapted for television by the series Agatha Christie's Marple in its 5th season. The episode sticks pretty closely to the plot of the original story, but expands it to fill an almost 90 minute episode. 

Loving these stories! Up to now I had never read any of the Miss Marple short stories. These first tales are very short, but fun to read! I'm reading along in my hardback copy of Miss Marple: The Complete Short Stories (Putnam, 1985) while listening to audio (The Thirteen Problems narrated by Joan Hickson who played Miss Marple on Agatha Christie's Marple from 1984-1992). Hickson does a wonderful job of reading (of course) and it's so much fun to hear the story in a voice I associate with Miss Marple. :) 

On to the next story -- The Companion! 

REVIEW: On Deadly Tides

 On Deadly Tides
Author: Elizabeth J. Duncan

On Deadly Tides is the first book by Elizabeth J. Duncan that I've read. I don't normally jump into a series at book #11, but I've been wanting to try the Penny Brannigan series for some time. My TBR pile is a bit out of control and I lose track of things I want to read just because.....   so. many. books.  So I decided to break my rule of reading series in order and tried this newest book. 

I'm so glad I did! This book was delightful! 

Penny Brannigan decides to go on a weekend art getaway with a friend. A dead body on the beach adds some drama to their planned art retreat. Who killed the reporter and why? 

This cozy mystery really has the old classic mystery feel to it! I really enjoyed it! This story has a bit slower pace, lots of description of Wales, the coast and the people they meet. I definitely got the old time whodunit feel from this story! 

I'm definitely backtracking and reading this series from the beginning! Very entertaining read!

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

REVIEW: The Thumb Mark of St Peter

 The Thumb Mark of St Peter
Author: Agatha Christie

Agatha Christie has been my favorite author since I read my first Hercule Poirot story at age 9. In all those years though I never read any of Christie's short stories. Earlier this year I read though the first short cases of Hercule Poirot....and now I'm reading the first cases of Miss Marple. The stories are quite short, most ranging from 14-20 pages. These tales were printed in fiction and detective magazines before Christie published her first books featuring her classic characters. 

The first few tales feature Miss Marple and five friends gathering on Tuesday nights to share tales of unsolved or strange mysteries. One member of the Tuesday Night Club shares a story, and the others try to figure out the truth. The members are Miss Marple, her nephew, a lawyer, an artist, a clergyman and a writer. In this 6th story, it's finally Miss Marple's turn to tell a story! She tells a tale about a woman suspected of poisoning her husband. The evidence is pretty damning....but did her niece Mabel kill her husband or was she only guilty of marrying the wrong man?

This story was first published in The Royal Magazine in May 1928 (UK) and Detective Story Magazine that July (US). It was later included in the story collection The Thirteen Problems, published in 1932. This story was not adapted for television on its own, but the show Agatha Christie's Marple had an episode based on another story, Greenshaw's Folly, and the plot for this short tale was also included in the episode. 

Interesting story....and I had to smile as Christie went into a discussion about poisons and their effects. I love golden age mysteries....someone always slipping arsenic or some chemical into people's tea or dinner. :) Many of the murders in Christie's books (In her 66 novels, 30 characters met their doom via poison) involve poison, chemicals or an overdose of some sort. Christie worked as an apothecary's assistant during World War I, so I'm sure she picked up quite a bit of knowledge about chemicals, poisons and various drugs. 

This is the sixth and final story that happens at a regular meeting of the Tuesday night club. The characters appear in several more stories...so I'm anxious to find out what other mysteries they try to work out! 

I had to look up the reference used in the title: Thumb Mark of St Peter. It refers to a black mark above the fin of a haddock fish (and other fish as well that have dark spots on their sides like the John Dory fish). Legend has it that the fish got that mark from St Peter. As Peter was fishing and touched the fish, it left the mark of his thumbprint on the sides of them all. Cool story! 

I usually listen to audio while reading these stories. I like a proper accent (narrators do a much better job of an English accent than I can concoct in my imagination), and I get the proper pronunciation of names, places and any foreign words. But unfortunately I could not find audio for this story....I read it myself from my old hardback copy of Miss Marple: The Complete Short Stories (Putnam, 1985). Moving on to the next story -- The Blue Geranium. I do have audio for this one! 

REVIEW: Motive v Opportunity

 Motive V. Opportunity
Author: Agatha Christie

The mysterious tales of the Tuesday Night Club continue in this 5th Miss Marple short story. The Tuesday Night Club is a group of six friends -- Miss Marple, her nephew, a lawyer, an artist, a writer and a clergyman -- who meet on Tuesday nights to share stories of unsolved or mysterious happenings. Each week a member of the group shares a story, and the others try to figure out the truth. This time it's the lawyer, Mr. Petherick's, turn. His story is a very classic whodunit sort of story -- a dying man makes out a will, but when the time comes to read it, the document has been altered. Many had the opportunity to do it....but who had the motive and the know-how to pull it off??

This is my favorite of these short Marple stories so far! The story is quite short -- only 14 pages long in the old hardback edition of Miss Marple: The Complete Short Stories (Putnam, 1985) that I'm reading, but it has a classic Golden Age mystery feel to it. The drama surrounding a death-bed will, a group of relatives and a possible charlatan hanging around hoping for an inheritance, and one sneaky culprit's shenanigans. So much fun to read! 

This story was first published in The Royal Magazine in April 1928 (UK) and in Detective Story Magazine in June of that year (US) under the title "Where's the Catch?'' All of the stories were gathered in the short story collection The Thirteen Problems, published in 1932. 

On to the next story -- Miss Marple's turn -- The Thumb Mark of St Peter. I'm enjoying these stories immensely! Agatha Christie has been my favorite author since I was 9 years old, but until now I never read any of the short stories she wrote. I'm reading through her writings in publication order just for the sheer joy of it! 

REVIEW: The Blood-Stained Pavement

 The Blood-Stained Pavement
Author: Agatha Christie

The Blood-Stained Pavement is the 4th story in the Tuesday Night Club tales, the first stories featuring Christie's classic character Miss Marple. In these stories, Miss Marple, her nephew and four others meet on Tuesday nights to share tales of mysterious or unsolved crimes. Each story features a different member of the group sharing a story. This one is told by an artist, Joyce Lempriere. On a vacation to Cornwall she thought she saw blood spatters on a sidewalk in front of her hotel....that seemed to disappear. Was the blood there? Did she imagine it? Or....did something nefarious occur?

These first stories featuring Miss Marple are all very short -- "one minute mystery'' type quick tales published in magazines. The Blood-Stained Pavement was first published in The Royal Magazine in March 1928 (UK) and in Detective Story Magazine (US) that June. In the US, the story was titled "Drip! Drip!'' This story is quite short -- only 10.5 pages long in the hardback version I'm reading (Miss Marple: The Complete Short Stories, Putnam, 1985). But, it's still an interesting whodunit. 

I'm enjoying these short stories. They are entertaining quick reads and give insights into Miss Marple's character. She is quiet and unassuming....most people discount her entirely until they find out she is actually quite observant and wise. These stories sprinkled into detective magazines before publication of novels was really quite a marketing move on Christie's part (and her agent & publisher, of course). They give a nice introduction to the character and her sleuthing skills. I wish I could see the original magazines! It would be  fun to see the story layouts, artwork, covers and any advertisements on the pages! 

Usually I like to listen to audio of these stories while I read along in my book, but the old audio book I found is missing a disc....so no audio for Ingots of Gold or this story. I do have audio for the next story: Motive Vs Opportunity though! On to the next!! 

REVIEW: Ingots of Gold

 Ingots of Gold
Author: Agatha Christie

Ingots of Gold is the third Miss Marple short story written by Agatha Christie. The story continues the tales shared among six friends -- The Tuesday Night Club. Miss Marple, her nephew Raymond and four others. Each Tuesday night a member of the group shares a story about a unsolved or mysterious crime and the others try to figure out the truth. The third tale, told by Miss Marple's nephew, involves gold bullion that disappeared off a wrecked ship. 

Ingots of Gold was first published in The Royal Magazine in the UK in February 1928. US publication followed later that same year in Detective Magazine. The US title for the story was The Solving Six and the Golden Grave. The story is short -- only 14 pages in the hardback copy I'm reading (Miss Marple: The Complete Short Stories - Putnam 1985). The short length of these stories means there is no detailed characterization or place development....these are mystery shorts, not full-blown stories. The stage is set -- the tale is told -- the characters voice their opinions....and then Miss Marple offers her wisdom, usually backed up by another member of the group who has knowledge of the case. I firmly believe these short tales (she wrote more of the same sort of formula detective magazine stories to introduce Hercule Poirot) were an ingenious marketing idea (which authors still use today). Christie wrote short tales to introduce readers to her writing and her characters....get the buzz going....then publish longer novels featuring those characters. Bestsellers. Ca-ching. So.....when reading these initial short stories readers should not expect the long drawn out detailed plots from Christie's novels. No matter how skilled the author, you can't condense intricate plots down to 14-20 pages. These tales were printed in magazines that most likely limited space or word count -- she filled her space.....and introduced the detective loving public to her now classic characters. Genius!  

I do have to admit to an occasional bad attitude. Not about these stories....but about reviewers and readers who complain that these stories have simple, fast plots and no detailed development like Christie used in her novels. Hello! (bad attitude sarcastic tone).....the stories are 20 pages or less. These are "one minute mystery'' style stories published in detective magazines.....a quick showcase meant to introduce characters and help sell later novels. It is a different sort of writing than creating plot, place, character, and action for an entire novel. I get protective of my favorite author! :) But....I do also recognize that every reader is entitled to their own opinion, despite my bad attitude and snarkiness. :) I will continue loving these stories for what they are and researching little nuances from each one.....and others can like or dislike them as they choose. I will vent my bad attitude to my Chihuahua, who politely listens for the price of a dog treat.  

Now...back to my review. As these stories are nearly 100 years old, I find myself having to look up some terms, sayings, and history at times. In this story, Christie mentions a holiday I was unfamiliar with: Whitsuntide. I happily googled it....  I grew up Catholic, but I had no idea that Pentecost was also called Whitsun, and the week after it was called Whitsuntide in the UK and Ireland. I learned through further reading that the term really isn't used anymore and has morphed into the spring bank holiday in the UK. I always learn something interesting when reading old stories! 

Usually I listen to these stories in audio format while also reading along in the book. I just enjoy them better that way...a real English accent, proper pronunciation of any names, places or French words, etc. But this time I just read the text in my old copy of Miss Marple: The Complete Short Stories. The old audio book recording I found seems to be missing a disc, and this story and the next one were left out. 

On to the next story -- The Bloodstained Pavement! 

REVIEW: Boozehounds and Balldrops

 Boozehounds and Ball Drops
Author: Leanne Leeds

I don't normally jump into a new-to-me series at book 6, but this series sounded fun and entertaining. 2020 being what it has been (horrible), I'm taking every opportunity to read more books that include humor, a bit of magic and some FUN. When I won an early copy from the author, I decided to give this series a try. I have read Leanne Leeds' writing before -- her Magical Midway series is wonderful! 

Mystic End has a lot going on for a small town! Witches, ghosts, vampires, magical mafia ties....what a cool place to spend the holidays! But Fortuna Delphi gets a bit worried when everyone in town seems happy....too happy. Does it have something to do with the new coffee shop in town? 

Fun read! I like the characters, the setting, the magic and the holiday theme of this newest book in the Mystic's End series. This series would be best read in order, however, to get the full backstory on Fortuna, the other characters, and prior plots. There were no huge spoilers for previous books, but a few things were hard to follow without reading the series from the start. I solved the issue and now have Book 1 queued up on my Kindle to start reading this series from the start! 

This series is just what I need to bring a smile to my reading time amid the Mess of 2020. Humor, magic, light supernatural mystery and entertainment! And any cozy mystery with cool words like Boozehounds in the title is going to get read by me 100% of the time! It was just as fun to read as the title hinted, too! 

**I won an advanced copy of this book from the author. I am voluntarily posting an honest review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

REVIEW: The Idol House of Astarte

 The Idol House of Astarte
Author: Agatha Christie

Agatha Christie adds a bit of creepiness to this short story of mysterious murder. The Idol House of Astarte was first published in The Royal Magazine in the UK in January 1928. US publication followed in Detective Story Magazine that June. In the US, the story was published as "The Solving Six and the Evil Hour.'' The tales of the Tuesday Night Club continue in this second Miss Marple short story. Six friends tell tales of mysterious unsolved crimes to see which one of them can ferret out the truth! This time it's the clergyman's turn to tell his story. How was a man seemingly stabbed to death....with several eye-witnesses....when nobody was near him?

I love reading Agatha Christie short stories while listening to them on audio, but when I went looking for an audio version of The Complete Short Stories or even just this short story by itself, I was unsuccessful. I did find the short story collection, The Thirteen Problems, in audio format, so listened to this story there. Narrated by Joan Hickson, the story is about 20 minutes long or so. Hickson does a very good job of narrating -- her voice is perfect for it (which is understandable since she played the character on the BBC television series Miss Marple from 1984-1992). The print book I am reading from is an old hardback copy (Putnam Press) from 1985, Miss Marple: The Complete Short Stories. This book has been on my shelf since I found it stuffed among old cookbooks in a thriftshop years ago. It languished unread, yet much loved, with my Christie collection until this year. After collecting the books for years, I finally decided 2020 was the year to actually start reading every one of them. 

I love this story! Christie adds in a touch of the supernatural, weaving the tale around a man's strange dark grove of trees he has dedicated to the goddess Astarte. The Clergyman tells his story with dark purpose, and everyone in the room is shocked when Miss Marple reveals what happened. So much fun to read! And definitely classic Christie! 

These first Marple tales are short, but very well written and enjoyable. Smart marketing on Christie's part -- give fans a taste of a new character by printing several short tales in detective magazines....then follow up with novels. Smart! She did the same with Hercule Poirot. Almost 100 years later and mystery lovers still read her stories and love her characters! I wish I could get my hands on even just one of these old magazines to see the original formatting, artwork, advertisements, etc!! 

On to the next Marple story -- Ingots of Gold! 

REVIEW: The Tuesday Night Club

 The Tuesday Night Club
Author: Agatha Christie

I have been an avid Agatha Christie fan for 43 years. I first fell in love with her classic mysteries when I bought a box set of Hercule Poirot books at a garage sale. I spent an entire summer sneaking away to my room to read all about little grey cells and waxed moustaches. Flash forward to present time, and this year I decided to go on a reading journey through all of Christie's mystery writing in publication order. At times I have made mistakes and had to backtrack slightly. Christie often published short stories in magazines and then later collected them into story collections at a later date. 

Only after finishing Christie's first novel featuring Miss Marple (published in 1930) did I discover that the first Marple short stories were published in 1927 and then later released in book form (The Thirteen Problems/The Tuesday Club Murders) in 1932. Backtrack! :) 

The Tuesday Night Club is the first appearance of Miss Marple. She joins a group of five friends who propose to form a club that looks at old, unsolved police cases. Being of varied professions and life experiences, they want to ascertain which of them is best at discovering the truth. The story is short, but interesting. The other members of the club seem to discount Jane Marple because a spinster can't possibly understand life and human nature as well as people more accustomed to the world can....right??  *Smile*

This story is nearly 100 years old. But it's still a fun bit of sleuthing and a great introduction to one of Christie's most classic characters. There were some things I had to look up -- language and references change a lot in 93 years! So I did a bit of sleuthing on my own!

Corn-flour. Christie mentions a sick woman who asked for a bowl of corn-flour because she is feeling bad. It refers to it as a drink, not prepared like hot cereal or grits. The internet is a lovely thing and I discovered the nature of this "bowl of corn-flour'' pretty quickly. It's basically milk, sugar, spices, and vanilla thickened with corn flour. I can see how this would be soothing to someone with an upset stomach. And it sounds very similar to Mexican Atole. Here's a recipe: 

Corn-Flour drink/Atole

Banting. At one point the woman who feels ill tells her cook to drink the corn-flour as she doesn't approve of the cook "banting" to lose weight. Banting? Once again I turned to the internet. William Banting was a undertaker....and he struggled with his weight. So, at the urging of his physician, he went on a diet -- low carb, low sugar, high fat. It worked well and he lost his extra weight. So then he wrote a popular pamphlet on his diet plan....and his name became synonymous with dieting...particularly low carb diets.  Doesn't his plan sound familar??? ha ha. And we all thought Keto was something new.....it's just banting done over 2000's style. The diabetic diet with some added facets...rebranded. Just think what William Banting could have done if Pinterest existed way back then! :) 

Hundreds and thousands. This was a cooking reference. I was like hmmmmmm.....another UK/US English conundrum. This one was easy though -- one quick internet search. Hundreds and thousands are.....cupcake sprinkles! 

Lovely story! Definitely a fun read and a nice intro for one of my favorite amateur sleuths! And I got to do a bit of internet ferreting as well. Lots of fun packed into a short 16 page story! 

I actually own a hardback copy of Miss Marple: The Complete Short Stories (Putnam, 1985), but I'm going to review these short stories one at a time because I do background research on each one. I did the same thing when I read through the first Hercule Poirot stories....so much fun! 

On to the next -- The Idol House of Astarte!

REVIEW: Nazi Wives

 Nazi Wives
Author: James Wyllie

This book is a heavy read, but a very interesting one. The key players in the Nazi regime -- we all know their names. Himmler, Bormann, Hess, Goering...the usual list. We all know their actions, their beliefs....their fates. Books, movies, television shows, documentaries, school lessons....we've learned all about the men that were Hitler's henchmen. 

But how much do we know about their wives? The women who followed Hitler....the women who were married to these famous, horrific men? Most sources I have learned from over the years only focus on the men involved.  I knew a little bit, but not a lot about the women and families behind those men. The only wife I was really familiar with was Magda Goebbels. 

How were people so mesmerized and drawn to Hitler? It just astounds me. This entire circle of people knew there were millions of men, women and children being murdered....and they did....nothing. Planned it. Agreed with it. Carried it out. Fine-tuned it. Not a pang of conscience or morality in the bunch. They thought it was right. Wow.....it's just horrifying. This book brought so many new facts into the light for me, but it did nothing to calm my astonishment and horror at the events the Nazis brought about. 

And, the women behind the men are just a culpable as their husbands. It still chills me clear to the bone when I think about Magda Goebbels poisoning her six children....having them injected with morphine and then administering cyanide to each of them....herself. And the rest of them.....their fates vary, but they all paid a price for their allegience to the Nazis. 

Chilling, but enlightening read. 

This is the first book by James Wyllie that I've read. It was well-written and obviously Wyllie did thorough research into the topic. I would definitely like to read more of his writing. 

REVIEW: The Murder at the Vicarage

 The Murder at the Vicarage
Author: Agatha Christie

Agatha Christie has been my favorite author ever since I bought a box set of Hercule Poirot novels at a garage sale when I was 9. I always wanted to read everything she wrote, but back in the day some titles were hard to find...and I grew up in a small town that had no bookshop (can you imagine?? The horror!) Then life got hectic and I never got the chance to pursue that goal, despite collecting many of the books in paperback. Flash forward a couple decades....the internet, access to bookshops, and the invention of lovely things like audiobooks, ebooks, booksellers who ship internationally....and I can FINALLY read every story, every novel and every play that Christie wrote!

2020 with all it's mess has made it slow going, but at least I have started! I just finished listening to the audio book of The Murder at the Vicarage! Loved revisiting this classic murder mystery! This story was first published in 1930 and was the first novel featuring a famous Christie character -- Miss Marple. Miss Marple first appeared in several short stories published in magazines in 1927, which were later published in a short story collection, The 13 Problems. 

The basics: St Mary Mead is a small English village. Picturesque, rural....tranquil, at least on the surface. But underneath....there are scandals, jealousies, secrets. Everyone dislikes Colonel Protheroe. He is loud, obnoxious, over-bearing.....just an ass. But, when someone shoots him in the head.....in the study at the vicarage no less....the entire village is in uproar! The gossips are gossiping. The detectives are detecting. The vicar is attempting to vicar...despite the bloody scene in his study.  Who shot Protheroe? The one person who can ferret it out is Miss Marple -- the local spinster who sees everything. On the outside she appears to be a slightly nosy old lady....but on the inside she is so much more!

The audiobook (HarperAudio), narrated by Richard E. Grant is an enjoyable listen. Grant has a nice voice and does a great job of voice acting. He manages to voice Marple and the other village ladies without sounding like English ladies ala Monty Python. The audio is just a bit over 8 hours long...so a relatively easy listening length.  

The Murder at the Vicarage is a well written, engaging mystery. The characters are small village stereotypes for the most part, but the plot is a good one....and Miss Marple is wonderful. The tale is 90 years old, but has aged well. The years may keep rolling by, but human nature stays the same. What led to murder 90 years old ago, still leads to murder today. So despite the setting being many years ago, this book is still an excellent classic murder mystery. 

The story has been adapted into a play, two television episodes (Miss Marple and Agatha Christie's Marple), and even a graphic novel. Now that I've listened to the audio book, I'm curious about the television adaptations. They always seem to change things about the characters and plots.....most of the time unnecessarily. I have to admit I have never watched a single episode of either British Marple television series. It's time to change that! I'm going to watch both versions of The Murder at the Vicarage before I move on in my Christie quest. 

Before I read the next novel - The Mysterious Mr. Quin - I'm going to backtrack and read the first Marple short stories. The first stories were originally published in 1927 in magazines, and only later gathered into a book (The Thirteen Problems - UK title /The Tuesday Club Murders - US title) in 1932. So if I'm reading in publication order, I really should have read those stories right after The Murder of Roger Ackroyd. :) Whoops! I'm learning so much about Christie, her writings, and how she published her works as I work my way through her ponderous list of publications. And sometimes, I have to back up and read things I missed. I had to do the same thing while reading Hercule Poirot. His first appearances were in stories published in magazines which were later gathered into story collections. 

Fun times! Bibliophile heaven!