classic mystery

Book Review: A Murder is Announced

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A Murder Is Announced by Agatha Christie

A Murder Is Announced
by Agatha Christie

5 out of 5 stars

An advertisement appears in the local newspaper saying that a murder will take place at a certain country house on Friday at 6:00pm. Friends of the family assume that it must be a murder mystery party, and they show up at the appointed time. What at first appears to be a mystery play turns into a deadly reality. Each of the persons present are suspected of murder and only Miss Marple can unravel the clues to discover the real murderer and the reason behind this terrible farce.

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Classic Book Review: A Sicilian Romance

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A Sicilian Romance by Ann Radcliffe

A Sicilian Romance
by Ann Radcliffe

4 out of 5 stars

Julia falls in love with the dashing young Hippolitus, but her father insists that she must marry the evil Duke. Julia’s brother tries to help her escape from the clutches of her ruthless father by arranging an elopement, but their plans are betrayed and Julia is caught. Julia goes through every kind of disaster and terrifying mishap, fleeing for her life and weeping along the way.

This is Gothic melodrama at its best! Julia dissolves into tears, is frozen with terror, collapses under the strain of horror, and is prostrate with grief in every single chapter. Several other ladies, not to be outdone, also fainted on several occasions. Everyone is constantly exclaiming some version of “Alas, woe is me!”

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Book Review: Round the Fire Stories

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Round the Fire Stories by Arthur Conan Doyle

Round the Fire Stories
by Arthur Conan Doyle

4 out of 5 stars

These short stories all feature some horrific circumstance or frightening apparition. There are terrifying nightmares, murder, ghosts, seances, dangerous exotic animals, and stolen jewels. Each story gradually leads into more and more suspicious circumstances until the hero of the tale is finally confronted with the full effect of their horrific situation.

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Board Book Review: Lit for Little Hands Jane Eyre

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Lit for Little Hands by Brooke Jorden

Lit for Little Hands: Jane Eyre
by Brooke Jorden, Olga Skomorokhova (Illustrations)

5 out of 5 stars

This board book tells the story of Jane Eyre, simplified for little readers. It has interactive pull tabs and flaps to reveal the mysteries surrounding Thornfield Manor! Some of the story is told with quotes from the original novel and includes original dialogue as well.

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Book Review: Aunt Jane’s Nieces Out West

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Aunt Jane's Nieces Out West by Edith Van Dyne

Aunt Jane’s Nieces Out West (Aunt Jane’s Nieces, #9)
by Edith Van Dyne

4 out of 5 stars

Uncle John and his nieces discover the delights and dangers of the motion picture business when they befriend two young actresses. When a mysterious young man makes their acquaintance, the group are puzzled to explain what he is doing in California.

This penultimate book in the series is so much fun! It has mystery and stolen jewels, a daring rescue, and all the intrigues of the early days of silent films. It was really interesting to see how the girls and their Uncle John got entangled in the lives of these two actresses and the mysterious young man. I loved learning more about the motion picture business in its early days. It’s like a little snippet of history.

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Ranking Agatha Christie Books

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Agatha Christie video playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyxE4BGNkAasUzUlqiFKzgXPejNexND9U

Books Mentioned:
At Bertram’s Hotel: https://amzn.to/3HHj8MF
Boomerang Clue (also published as Why Didn’t They Ask Evans?): https://amzn.to/3328RLM
Murder at Hazelmoor/ Sittaford Mystery: https://amzn.to/32H5yJQ
Funerals are Fatal/ After the Funeral: https://amzn.to/3JrKp7c
Murder on the Links: https://amzn.to/3qRRzeq
Black Coffee novelization by Charles Osborne: https://amzn.to/31TAXox
Mystery of the Blue Train: https://amzn.to/3lsOe0m
Peril at End House book: https://amzn.to/3lrGzSa
The Man in the Brown Suit: https://amzn.to/3A65nna
Pocketful of Rye: https://amzn.to/3AhQQoH
The Mousetrap Book: https://amzn.to/3CpwB9a
Sad Cypress: https://amzn.to/2ZkwugI
Verdict: https://amzn.to/3uwN5ti
Go back for Murder: https://amzn.to/2YfUjWM
Witness for the Prosecution: https://amzn.to/2YcvnyY
The Regatta Mystery and Other Short Stories- Agatha Christie: https://amzn.to/2YtbvYP
Three Act Tragedy by Agatha Christie https://amzn.to/38blio8

Book Review: The Boomerang Clue (Why Didn’t They Ask Evans?)

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The Boomerang Clue by Agatha Christie

The Boomerang Clue
by Agatha Christie
5 out of 5 stars

(also published as “Why Didn’t They Ask Evans?”)
Bobby witnesses the death of an unknown man, and hears his last words, “Why didn’t they ask Evans?” Bobby thinks nothing of it, until he is poisoned days later. The words must have some meaning. Why else would someone try to kill him? His childhood friend, Lady Francis, is intrigued by the mystery, and agrees to help Bobby track down those involved in the stranger’s death. They are surrounded by suspicious characters and possible enemies. Just when Bobby and ‘Frankie’ think they know who to trust, they are betrayed by the last person they suspected, and their lives are in danger every minute.

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Book Review: Murder at Hazelmoor

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Murder at Hazelmoor by Agatha Christie

Murder at Hazelmoor
by Agatha Christie
3 out of 5 stars

Major Burnaby takes part in a séance, even though he doesn’t believe in such foolishness. But when a supposed “spirit from the beyond” tells the group that the Major’s best friend has been murdered, Major Burnaby decides to trek through the snow to check on his friend. He discovers the body, brutally murdered.
When her fiancé is accused of the murder, Emily Trefusis sets out to assist the police in tracking down the true killer.

I guessed the solution of who the real murderer was at about page 65. The mystery was sort of obvious. However, that didn’t lessen my enjoyment of the book! There were a couple of other little minor mysteries that were fun, and I loved all the character studies. I was a little bored by the red herrings though. They all seemed to lead nowhere, and they were full of coincidences.

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Book Review: Funerals are Fatal / After the Funeral

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After the Funeral by Agatha Christie

After the Funeral (Hercule Poirot, #33)
by Agatha Christie
4 out of 5 stars

(Also published as “Funerals are Fatal”)
Strange old Aunt Cora shocks everyone at her brother’s funeral when she lets it slip that she thinks he must have been murdered. The family tries to hush it up, but when Cora herself is murdered the very next day, only Hercule Poirot can unravel the clues that led to her death. Did she know too much? As Poirot investigates, one person is nearly poisoned, and another is “coshed” on the head. Can Poirot catch the murderer before more people are attacked?

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Book Review: Murder on the Links

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The Murder on the Links by Agatha Christie

The Murder on the Links
by Agatha Christie
5 out of 5 stars

Hercule Poirot and his friend, Captain Hastings, have been called to a small village in France, where a millionaire is in fear for his life. But when Poirot arrives, the man has already been murdered. The body was discovered nearby on a golf course, and a myriad of conflicting clues surround the murder.

I loved this mystery! All the clues and red herrings kept me guessing and wondering, and it was amazing to see the methodical way in which Poirot sifts through the evidence to find the truth.

When I read the final reveal of who the murderer was, I literally yelled out, “WHAT?!?!” I was completely surprised and amazed, but once I read the explanation, I realized that it made perfect sense. I love being surprised at the end of a Christie novel!

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