And Then There Were None

Title: And Then There Were None

Author: Agatha Christie [Website] aka Mary Westmacott

Publisher: Harper

ISBN: 9780062073471 and 9780061739255

Length: 247 pages

Obtained: Library book kit copy and Library eBook

Why this book?:

I was interested in the story, I enjoy Agatha Christie, I wanted to attend the book discussion that this was being read for.

Comments:

I've never read this before or watched the movie, and while I had a general idea that it had one person die after another, I was not aware of the ending.

The characters were interesting, though being who they were, some of their thought processes were unfathomable to me.  Also, I found the play on levels of guilt and whether the characters are really guilty of accusations or not fascinating.  The setting and poem/rhyme added a fun aspect to the mystery and how it was unfolded to the reader. 

I really enjoyed this story and trying to puzzle it out.  I have read one Hercule Poirot book, and two Miss Marple books, but now I know I need to pay particular attention to some of Agatha's stand alone novels as well.  I also enjoyed the discussion and will have to check out some of the movie variations, as they were frequently mentioned.

The Body in the Library

Title: The Body in the Library

Author: Agatha Christie [Website] aka Mary Westmacott

Publisher: HarperCollins

Series: Miss Marple Mystery, Bk 2

ISBN: 9780061739521

Obtained: Library ebook

Why this book?:

I needed a "book published 15 years ago or more" for the Summer Reading bingo.  I decided to interpret that as original publication date.  Plus I had read the first in both the Miss Marple and poirot series, but hadn't gone further.

Note:

I just read back my commentary about the first book in this series, The Murder at the Vicarage, and realized I claimed I would read them all in audio.  Obviously that didn't happen.

Comments:

I enjoyed this mystery.  It flowed better for me than some vintage mysteries have, and I enjoyed the story line.  I was, of course particularly interested in the body being in a library.  I'm no Miss Marple and I did not detect the circumstances.  Which meant I was able to enjoy the unraveling of the plotting and scheming that goes hand in hand with this type of story.  Fun; I'll have to be quicker about reading the next book.

What do Vermont, Vicarages, and Bookshops have in common? Oh just a little thing like murder...

Well-Offed in Vermont (Pret' Near Perfect Mystery, Bk 1) by Amy Patricia Meade (library copy) -

Stella and Nick are likeable; I especially enjoyed seeing how good their marriage was even when compromise was needed.  I found it interesting how they could go around asking questions and even the Sheriff had no problem sharing information with civilians.  And it was amusing how quickly these newcomers to Vermont were annoyed by the "flatlander" tourists even though they were flatlanders themselves.  I don't know what the second book will be or when it'll come out, but I'll give it a try.

The Murder at the Vicarage (Miss Marple, Bk 1) by Agatha Christie; Read by James Saxon (library Audiobook) -

It took me awhile to get through this because AudioBooks aren't always convenient - especially since the stereo in my car wasn't working.  It was interesting.  This is the second Agatha Christie book I've read now, and I was wondering if the mysteries are always told by one person but sleuthed by another.  It seems strange.  I think I'm going to continue reading vintage mysteries in Audio.  I get to enjoy the classics without the issues I run into reading the print copies.

Double Booked for Death (Black Cat Bookshop Mystery, Bk 1) by Ali Brandon aka Diane A. S. Stuckart aka Alexa Smart aka Alexa Gerard -

I've read Diane A. S. Stuckart's first Leonardo da Vinci Mystery (though I didn't post it for some reason), but I never would have suspected she was Ali Brandon if it hadn't been mentioned in the author bio at the back of the book.  It may have been the switch from historical to contemporary or something else (maybe I'm just not that observant).  Whatever the case, I'm happy to say I enjoyed this book too.  For the characters I  liked Darla and her supporting cast.  Her former cop friend was a nice source of insider police information without being too in your face.  I could believe that the current cop would trust his former partner.  Regarding the story, I guessed certain things and didn't guess others.  And as for the cat... I was just so relieved the the book didn't go into "Cats and Curios" territory.  Hamlet (the black cat) did pull out books with titles that seemed to fit the storyline, but things managed not to get too weird.

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.