The Mysterious Affair at Styles

Title: The Mysterious Affair at Styles


Author: Agatha Christie aka Mary Westmacott

Publisher: HarperCollins PerfectBound

Copyright: 1920 (ePub edition March 2008)

ISBN: 9780061750083

Series: First of the Hercule Poirot mysteries

Synopsis (from agathachristie.com):

Invalided home from the First World War, Lieutenant Hastings finds himself in a convalescent home very much to his disliking. Thankfully his old friend John Cavendish invites him to spend the rest of his sick leave at his family home. The beautiful Styles Court is home to John’s step mother Mrs Inglethorpe, and her new husband Alfred. Despite the tranquil surroundings Hastings begins to realise that all is not right. When Mrs Inglethorpe is found poisoned a murder investigation begins, and who better to investigate than war refugee Hercule Poirot, a retired Belgian detective.

Comments:

This was the last of my reads for the Vintage Mystery Reading Challenge, and I enjoyed it.  My strongest impressions are about the character telling the story, Hastings.  I liked him at first but as it went on... I marvel he could still walk about with such a big head.  And he could be so dense too.  Poirot was cool as a charming and amusing observer and, well, detective.  I'm glad I included an Agatha Christie story in my challenge (my first!), and I certainly must read more of the Hercule Poirot series at least.  I didn't get past the first few chapters of the first Miss Marple mystery (an earlier e-book vintage mystery attempt), but I'm going to try that in audio.

Here we go, now... Here, here, here we go...

Sorry about the title.  I have a stupid boy band song stuck in my head.  Anyway... on to what I've been reading...

Reckoning by Lili St. Crow (personal copy via J. Kaye - thanks!)

Going into this I knew that J. Kaye felt this was the best of the series, but questions aren't answered, and a reviewer on pbs said it was their least favorite, but too many loose ends.  Complete opposite opinions but on one thing everyone agreed.  Now for my take... It's neither my favorite nor my least favorite.  I enjoyed it just as I've enjoyed them all.  I can guess about some of the loose ends.  Because this is a YA series and you don't have all the answers when you're a YA. 
Since I'm so motivated by characters, though, lets discuss them... I wanted Dru to treat Ash better.  To view him as more than a puppy or toddler, but a friend.  I was dissapointed in how that aspect worked.  I just can't decide on Christophe.  I never loved him, and I don't think I ever will, but I came the closest to being okay with him in this book.  I stopped loving Graves after the first book, but the insight to him in this one helped me remember why I had.  Even if the changes in him make me think I never could love him again.  I don't know what to say about Dru herself.

Artistic License by Julie Hyzy (ebook free through Sony Reader Store)

I own several of Julie Hyzy's backlist, but this is the first I've actually read.  I enjoyed it.  I mostly liked Annie, minus some stupid moments w/ her ex. ... I didn't like her ex at all.  Overall, I liked the story.  It's categorized as a mystery, and I don't know how accurate I'd say that is, but still...










"Clever is as Clever Does" by Linsey Lanier (ebook short story free through Sony Reader Store - still currently free in multiple e-formats - I've linked to Smashwords)

The second of the Clever Detective shorts.  It was fun just like the first.  I really want to read the third "Cleverest of Them All" but unlike the first two, it's not free.  So it's only $0.99... I have not paid for a single e-book yet.  I might have to break down and make this my first.  Very frustrating.  But that tells you something about how fun they are, right?  Try the first one.  And try reading it out loud in a dramatic fashion.  Seriously.  Maybe you'll be as hooked as me.

Heaven is for Heroes by P J Sharon (ebook free through the Trick or Treat event this past Halloween)

Overall, I liked this story.  It's a young adult book, and it can be difficult to remember that when the characters are going off to war, being killed and/or injured, etc.  Then you think about how soldiers really do go overseas and fight that young and you get chills.  Anyway, it's a very emotionally driven story.











I've been trying to work on The Roman Hat Mystery (Ellery Queen) for the Vintage Mystery Challenge but it's slow going, even though I like it so far.

Snowbound

Title: Snowbound

Author: Janice Kay Johnson

Publisher: Harlequin Super Romance

Copyright Date: 2007

2009 e-book edition

ISBN: 9781426830679

Pages: 277

Series: Super Romance # 1454

Book Description (from goodreads.com):

When a blizzard strands Fiona MacPherson and her students in Oregon's Cascade Mountains, their only hope of survival is to seek shelter at Thunder Mountain Lodge. Their host is John Fallon, a handsome, enigmatic war veteran haunted by secrets and scars that may never heal.

John Fallon never imagined he'd be playing host to this captivating teacher and her eight teenage charges. But when his solitude is shattered by their arrival, his world shifts on its axis. He needs Fiona — but does she need him? There's only one way to find out. The ex-soldier must find the courage to reach out to the remarkable woman who has transformed his life...

Comments:

I enjoyed this book. Too bad I didn't save it to read for a month later when I had a real blizzard outside, but oh, well. This was a nice preview of what was to come. Certainly better than my reality which consisted of lots of shoveling and waiting to see if I was going in for work during a state of emergency... sorry, a little off tanget there.

Anyway, I liked the characters in general — always a plus. And it's been a long time since I've read one of the Super Romance line, but this book reminded me of two things. 1) Super Romance means longer and fuller as far as Harlequins go, and 2) Super Romances can be great reads for cozying up with.

As far as I'm concerned this was a good choice as my 1st book for the 2011 E-book Challenge of the year and my 2nd book for the 2011 Harlequin/Silhouette Challenge (a weather condition in the title).