Review: In the Darkness

In the Darkness by Karin Fossum
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A new nordic mystery series for me. I liked it even though I think a few things might have been lost in translation. I will spend more time with Inspector Sejer.

A woman and her daughter find a body floating in the river. Instead of calling the police, she calls her father to chat. Because that's not suspicious at all. Ok, Eva. The setting is dark, like all of the nordic noir I've read. Cold, bleak, and stark. Eva is a hot mess, and she makes suspect decisions throughout the entire book. The plot unwinds in a series of time jumps and while I enjoyed the book, I wanted more time to explore Inspector Sejer. I'm hoping he is more of the focus in the next books.

I did not expect several of the twists and it kept me guessing until the end - things I love in my mysteries. A good start to a new author and series for me. Three solid stars.

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Review: The Secret of Red Gate Farm

The Secret of Red Gate Farm by Carolyn Keene
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Nancy, Bess, and George save the day again (well, mostly Nancy). This time, they help a virtual stranger save their farm. Do you know three more "do-gooder" girls out there? Because I don't.

This time, Bess buys some perfume and it kicks off a mystery. Nancy is approached on the train based on the perfume scent, which really confused me because I would never be able to identify a perfume on someone. Oh, is that sparkling waters you are wearing? No, not me. But some random dude can? Please, Miss Keene. You are better than this plot line.

Anyway, they meet a girl who needs a ride, and a job, and Nancy is there to save the day. She really is the original Mary Sue. A guy stalks them, they go to the farm, they meet a cult (yes, a cult) and then they infiltrate it. Why would you expect anything else? Guys flirt with Nancy, as usual, and she saves the day.

And they all lived happily ever after. 3 stars.

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Review: Jackaby

Jackaby by William Ritter
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I went in expecting a paranormal Holmes & Watson type romp. I left underwhelmed, yet happy enough to read book 2.

Abigail Rook, newly arrived in America, stumbles into a position with RF Jackaby, observant mystery solver of the strange and paranormal. They make a decent team. I enjoyed Rook's point of view. She's smart, and in the end she saves herself, mostly, and I like that. No shrinking violets here. And there is a hint of romance to come in future books. Not with her boss, because Rook is not a cliché. A decent mystery with a few plot holes but nothing too objectionable. 3 stars.

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Review: Dumb Witness

Dumb Witness by Agatha Christie
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Agatha, you've done it again. I was WAY off on this one. I guessed 3 times and was wrong for all of them. But not to worry, my friend Poirot was right on target, as usual. I feel a bit like Hastings, in the dark all of the time.

This one involves Poirot and Hastings coming to the case after the crime occurs. A letter delay, the criminal almost off without punishment, until Poirot catches the scent. And like the dog in the book, he doesn't let go.

Good plot (as usual) and some fun twists and turns. 3 stars.

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Review: Firestorm

Firestorm by Nevada Barr
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Anna, Anna, Anna. You continue to surprise me.

On an assignment from Mesa Verde to assist with the firefighters in Northern California, and she uncovers a killer. Don't worry, my boy Fredrick Stanton attempts to ride in on his white horse, but Anna doesn't need that. She's still not sure what she needs. She's a marshmallow inside, sure, but she's walnut hard on the outside.

Anyway, everyone's a suspect and they all seem shady, except Harold Black Elk who just seemed awesome. And Anna solves the case, puts herself in harm's way, and makes it home mostly in one piece. Can't wait to read book 5. Stanton, I'm pulling for your quirky self.

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Review: Mrs. McGinty's Dead

Mrs. McGinty's Dead by Agatha Christie
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Poirot, my friend. Together we exercise our little gray cells and solve the case. Always a pleasure. And as usual, you get to the solution before me.

Another Christie mystery where I point the finger in my mind at all of the wrong people. I think I solve the crime over and over, only to be wrong at the end. But luckily for all of us, Poirot was there and saw what we did not.

Mrs. McGinty is dead. Her lodger is accused of the crime, but several other suspects seem to have the big three: motive, means, and opportunity. Can you guess the answer before Poirot? You can't, but don't feel bad, because he's the best. Three stars.

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Review: A Purple Place for Dying

A Purple Place for Dying by John D. MacDonald
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Hop in your time machines, kids, because we are going back to the swinging sixties. Take a ride with my good friend and salvage consultant, Travis McGee. Private Eye and a real cool cat. The ladies absolutely love him.

This is the third book in the series, and while it's fun to go back in time and see what life was like before the technology age, you have to take yourself out the mystery at times. No, he doesn't have a cell phone. No, he doesn't have the internet. No, he doesn't know how to solve crimes with anything but his brains and his brawn.

This time the T-man is in Arizona, not in Florida, and he's deciding if he will help the fair maiden Mona leave her husband, when, blammo! Sniper. Not to worry, folks. Travis is on the case.

Chalk the blatant sexism to the era and just enjoy the ride. Like most of them, 3 stars.

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Review: Two Bronze Pennies

Two Bronze Pennies: A Police Procedural Set in Late 19th Century England by Chris Nickson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Started on book 2 because I needed it for a challenge. Interesting enough that I will go back and read book 1 as well.

DI Tom Harper is an engaging enough chap. Newly married and in love, he's a bit of the everyman good fellow you really want to win in the end. Plus, you get historical mystery with an interesting religious storyline that will make you think.

Definitely a good one for historical mystery lovers, and a pleasant way to pass the afternoon.

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Review: Career of Evil

Career of Evil by Robert Galbraith
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I adore this series! It's so good. Cormoran is smart and flawed. Love smart, flawed characters. Robin is also smart and flawed. And I desperately want her to leave Matthew and have lots of little PI babies with Cormoran, because I am secretly a marshmallow inside. Shut up.

JK continues to showcase her ability to write strong, complicated characters and she weaves a good mystery as well. I am anxiously awaiting the next installment, so get to writing, Jo. 4 stars.

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Review: Chihuahua Confidential

Chihuahua Confidential by Waverly Curtis
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Pepe and Geri are back on the case. This time they are in Hollywood performing on the new reality series pilot, "Dancing with Dogs" which sounds silly until you remind yourself you are reading a cozy series about a talking Chihuahua. Geri and Pepe stumble onto a mystery involving what might be Pepe's old owner, some murders, and some dogs in danger.

Not to be taken too seriously, this is a fun, light series. Book 2 is better than book 1, so I'll give the next one a shot. 3 stars.

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Review: The Secret of Chimneys

The Secret of Chimneys by Agatha Christie
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Another great mystery from my girl Agatha. This one introduces us to Superintendent Battle, a level-headed bloke who isn't easily fooled. I like him quite a bit. You know who else I like? Anthony Cade, good-hearted free-spirit, traveling the globe and helping out damsels in distress. He's great.

You get some great Christie twists in this one. She really was the best. Sit back and enjoy the ride, because she will fool you at every turn, and you get a satisfying ending, as usual. 4 stars

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Review: Murder on the Orient Express

Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is one of my favorite Agatha Christie novels. I love Poirot. I love trains. I love books where I think I have figured out the mystery and I am wrong, wrong again, and then wrong a third time. This book is great.

First of all, we have the esteemed Hercule Poirot, so you know it will be good.  Second, the entire mystery is set on a train, adding to the intrigue.  Train travel is awesome.  And third, like all of Agatha Christie's novels, you can't guess the culprit, but once she lays it out in the end, you can't help but nod your head in agreement.  She really was the master of mystery.  I love her.  4 1/2 stars and a wink for Poirot, because he is awesome.


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Cataloging Christie: A Life List

Cataloging Christie: A Life List

You know how certain authors just speak to you?  You just can't get enough of their work and you have to devour everything they've written?  Agatha Christie is one of those authors for me.  I love her variety, how prolific she was, and the interesting step back in time she allows me.  Plus, I'm a huge mystery fan.  She was simply amazing.  She wrote 66 mysteries, 6 romances (under Mary Westmacott), 150 short stories, and 19 plays.  That's quite a life list!

For 2016, I have selected the following stories.  I may read additional ones, but these are the ones by month.
January: Murder on the Orient Express (Hercule Poirot #10)
February: Secret of Chimneys (Superintendent Battle #1)
March: The Thirteen Problems (Miss Marple #2)
April: Cat Among the Pigeons (Hercule Poirot #32)
May: Murder on the Links (Hercule Poirot #2)
June: Why Didn't They Ask Evans (Stand-alone)
July: Murder at the Vicarage (Miss Marple #1)
August: Mrs. McGinty's Dead (Hercule Poirot #31)
September: Dumb Witness (Hercule Poirot #18)
October: The Seven Dials Mystery (Superintendent Battle #2)
November: The Murder of Roger Ackroyd (Hercule Poirot #4)
December: Endless Night (Stand-alone)

For her complete list in publication order, visit Agatha Christie's official site HERE.

My Christie Archives

Review: Death of a Perfect Wife (Hamish Macbeth #4)

Death of a Perfect Wife by M.C. Beaton

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Ah, Hamish. You are such a simple man. Priscilla doesn't deserve you.

More murder and mayhem in Lochdubh. For such a small, quiet village lots of people get murdered. I grew up in a small town of 2700 people and we rarely had these shenanigans go on. The one cop on duty was resigned to setting up speed traps (in the same place!!) to get some action. We didn't even have any stoplights, so I feel like I'm a bit of an expert in small town life. Hamish would have fit in perfectly. Anyway, a busybody newcomer is killed, with a long list of suspects. She was pretty terrible, so anyone could have been the culprit. But Hamish solves the case like we would expect, with no resolution to his relationship with Priscilla. Looking forward to book 5.



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O Jerusalem (Mary Russell #5)

O Jerusalem by Laurie R. King

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


More adventures with Holmes and Russell, but in this installment we jump back in time to events in the second book that were not shared with us. We know they spent time in Jerusalem but we don't get to see what happens there. This book takes to the events they shared while they were hiding out.

It's a pretty good story. I like their companions, especially Mahmoud. Something was missing for me, however, and I just can't put my finger on it. I think it was because Holmes and Russell didn't really seem to be partners on this one. There was a distance between them and you just couldn't see that spark. But overall still an enjoyable read.



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The Moor (Mary Russell #4)

The Moor by Laurie R. King

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


More adventures with Russell and Holmes, and this time they are revisiting an old mystery, The Hound of the Baskervilles.

King does a nice job weaving in the details of Doyle's classic mystery while putting a new twist on Dartmoor, Baskerville Hall, and Holmes. I just love this series. Mary is a great character--smart, brave, yet always human and vulnerable. She is the perfect match for "retired" Holmes. I enjoy their relationship and the trust and respect they have for each other.

Another solid entry in the series. On to book 5!



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N is for Noose (Kinsey Millhone #14)

N is for Noose by Sue Grafton

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars


Kinsey, Kinsey, Kinsey. You are such a independent, stubborn woman. I love it. You leave Dietz (sob!) to go after a case that has no good ending. A cop has died and his widow wants answers. Was it a heart attack or murder? And why was he acting so strange before he died? Kinsey, of course, can't back down. She ends up in serious danger (as usual). Pretty satisfying mystery overall, and I totally didn't guess the who or why behind the crime. Plus, we are back to the "Respectfully submitted, Kinsey Millhone" wrap up that I missed at the end of "M".



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Play Dead (Allie Babcock Mystery #1)

Play Dead by Leslie O'Kane

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


I really wanted to like this book because the idea of a mystery series with a dog psychologist / amateur sleuth sounded fun, but it just didn't deliver for me.

A couple of things: The mystery was way over complicated and a bit ridiculous. I felt the main character was annoying, yet she had men tripping over themselves to get to her. Her office partner was in all kinds of insta-love for her, her blind date was crazy about her after 5 minutes, etc. I think she was supposed to be smart and plucky, but it did not come across in the writing. And her roommate was written to be a sniveling, needy psycho--basically the world's worst person who no one in their right mind would tolerate. Pretty much every male character was written to be a total jerk. I would never talk to any of these people in real life, ever, except the mom and the cooking class instructor (but only if she promised not to make me eat vegan food).

The depiction of Boulder was pretty spot on, though. Well done, author, for capturing the hippie-uniqueness that is Boulder.



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Fool Moon (The Dresden Files #2)

Fool Moon by Jim Butcher

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


More fun and mayhem with Harry and friends!

Werewolves. In Chicago. And it's up to Harry to solve the mystery and save the town. As usual, he rises to the occasion while taking an ass-whipping. Harry, seriously, take those martial arts classes with Murphy. I have never seen a man get beaten up as much as you.

There were twists and turns in this one, and a sad part in the police station that shocked me. But it all worked out in the end, natch, and now Harry has a new set of friends to call upon when Chicago is in peril. Because you know it will be, because that's how it all works.



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M is for Malice (Kinsey Millhone #13)

M is for Malice by Sue Grafton

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Oh, Kinsey. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

Dietz is back, Henry is still awesome, Kinsey's cousins are still trying to build a relationship with her while she snarls and snaps like a scared, wounded animal, and she solves the mystery through sheer tenacity and stubbornness. Because she's Kinsey, and she's awesome.

Imagine a world where you have to solve crimes through legwork instead of computers. Where you can miss important calls because cell phones aren't a thing. Where you have to send off a form, in the mail, with a real stamp and everything, to get a copy of a DMV report. Grafton's choice to freeze Kinsey in the late 80s makes the mystery more interesting in a lot of ways. Crime fighters today have it so easy! A google search on your iPhone, and bam, the bad guys go to jail!

This one is about the prodigal son, an inheritance, and redemption. I would have never guessed the culprit--in fact, she kept me guessing right up until the reveal, but it all made sense in the end. Dietz might be back, or not, and I'm as conflicted as Kinsey on whether or not he should be. And the beat goes on.

This is the first one that I've noticed didn't end with Kinsey's case notes. I missed the "Respectfully Submitted, Kinsey Millhone" ending. Not sure why she chose to end this one differently, but it made the ending seem less tied up for me. All in all, classic Kinsey. 3 solid stars.



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