October Book List

October 2013

Reading List

This month I did more cross stitching than any thing, so I didn't actually read many books.

It was  good month for audio books, as most that  I listened to were stellar and highly recommendable.





Books Read

1. Anne of Windy Poplars (1936) by Lucy Maude Montgomery
   I am thoroughly enjoying this gentle series!
2. Princesses Behaving Badly (2013) by Linda Rodriguez McRobbie
   Negative review coming soon.

Audio Books:

1. The Lives of Christopher Chant (1988) by Diana Wynne Jones
   A reread; I love this series!
2. Overture to Death (1939) by Ngaio Marsh
   I was fairly certain of the culprit early on, but enjoyed the narrative and characters tremendously.
3. The Maltese Falcon (1930) by Dashiel Hammet
   I cannot believe how good this was!  I can't believe I waited so long to read it!
4. Towards Zero (1944) by Agatha Christie
   Excellent mystery; kept me confused til the end.
5. A Damsel in Distress (1919) by P.G. Wodehouse
   A delightful tale, typical of Wodehouse.  I knew from the first chapter what the happy endings would be, but that didn't lessen the enjoyment.
6. Little Women (1868/9) by Louisa May Alcott
   I had only read a child's annotated version before this, and yet have devoured all I can find of her sensation stories, so the heavy, preachy tone surprised me.  I still enjoyed it, but not as much as I do her ridiculous thrillers.
7. And Then There Were None (1939) by Agatha Christie
   A long-time favorite; this time I actually remembered "whodunnit", but still had a hard time believing it.  This is such a great mystery.
8. The Cuckoo’s Calling (2013) by Robert Gailbraith
   This was an excellent book and I highly recommend it; well plotted, with excellent character development.  Looking forward to more in this series.
9. Crooked House (1949) by Agatha Christie
   I figured out the murderer just a few pages before the startling answer was revealed; another highly recommended Christie. 
10. The Silver Linings Playbook (2008) by Matthew Quick
    I strongly identified with Pat.  This book was beautiful, funny and poignant.  I recommend it universally.  I will say this, though: I looked at a few of the film clips and from what I could tell, the movie took pivotal, beautiful scenes and farce-ified them.  Read the book, skip the movie.
11. The Black Angel (1943) by Cornell Woolrich
    Stunningly good noir; highly recommend.  This is my second time reading Woolrich and both were fantastic.
12. The Marseilles Caper (2012) by Peter Mayle 
    I can't say that the book had a very riveting plot, and yet I kept listening to see what would happen next.  I enjoyed it enough that I'm planning to read another of this series.

September Book List

Books Read:

1. In Times Like These (1968) by Emilie Loring
   As I mentioned a month or so ago, I bought a huge box of Loring novels out of nostalgia.  I loved them as an early teen. The first one I read, Keepers of the Faith (1944), was simply terrible.  Not so much the plot (which was typical Loring), but the writing--it was DREADFUL.  This one was more what I remembered her novels to be like; she's no Nabokov, but she (generally) writes a readable, pleasant, if predictable, fluff novel.
2. The Gatehouse Mystery (1951) by Julie Campbell
   As I've mentioned earlier, I'm rereading this series; it was my favorite as a child and I recently purchased a complete set.  I'm surprised at how much I am enjoying them, even as an adult.  
3. The Frightened Wife and other murder stories (1953) by Mary Roberts Rinehart
   Some of these stories were particularly good, others just good.  I enjoy sensationalism, and Rinehart did it well.
4. Great Black Kanba (1944) by Constance and Gwenyth Little
   Another gem by the Little sisters, and my favorite so far.  I love the humor in their books, and the mysteries are generally well-plotted.  Excellent reading!
5. The Best Man (1914) by Grace Livingston Hill
   A story typical of it's time with a strong hero and delicate heroine, and a gentle and improbable plot.  Hill's novels are part of my nostalgic, return-to-childhood reading, as they were a favorite in my early teens.  
6. Breakfast at Tiffany's (1958; novella) by Truman Capote
   Will write up my thoughts soon, but can say I was disappointed.

Audio Books:

1. Postern of Fate (1973) by Agatha Christie
   This is the final Tommy and Tuppence novel, as well as the last book Christie penned.  For the first time, I was truly disappointed by one of her mysteries.  It was often repetitive and convoluted and seemed to contradict information about the Beresford's given in earlier novels.  On top of that, Hugh Fraser (my all time favorite audiobook reader) did a barely passable job.  It was often hard to tell who was speaking, which is so unlike his usual talent that I was shocked.
2. The Two Destinies (1876) by Wilkie Collins
   I am not ashamed to admit that I adore the novels of Wilkie Collins.  While I've yet to become a fan of Dickens (I'll be willing to give him yet another try later in this decade of my life), the sensational (as a genre, not just an adjective) fiction of Collins totally immerses me.  Filled with the supernatural, the inexplicable, with thwarted love, and thoroughly Victorian heroines, this one is typical of his work and I loved every minute of it.  (Samuel West did a sterling job reading it, too.) 
3. The Colour of Magic (1983) by Terry Pratchett
4. The Light Fantastic (1986) by Terry Pratchett
   I'm rereading this favorite series through audio book.  The first two are, as fans know, not a true example of his talent, but they are good background for the series and still funny as all get-out (whatever that means).
5. Murder is Easy (1939) by Agatha Christie
   Despite having read this before, and being fairly certain of the identity of the murderer, I still found myself wavering under the clues.
6. The Girl in Blue (1970) by P.G. Wodehouse
   A non-Jeeves novel that was light and fun; typical Wodehouse.
7. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1892) by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
   I think that Doyle is at his best writing short stories, at least as far as Holmes is concerned. 
8. Brideshead Revisited (1945) by Evelyn Waugh
   I can not express how much I love this book.  I have read it numerous times; it's one of my top five favorites,.  This isn't typical of his other works (which I still enjoy) but is much more introspective and exquisite.  If you've not read it, you should. 
9. Equal Rites (1987) by Terry Pratchett
   The Discworld evaluates gender equality and Granny Weatherwax is introduced; love this one!
10. The Hidden Staircase (1930) by Caroline Keene
    I continue my Nancy Drew refresher course. . .  It's no Christie, but it kept me entertained.
11. Mort (1987) by Terry Pratchett
    Another reread of the Discworld series--my literary comfort food.  Death takes on an apprentice but, naturally, things don't work out quite the way either planned.
12. Past Tense (2010) by Catherine Aird
    She writes with a style similar to P.D. James, only a little more on the cozy side.  I had the solution figured out early on, but it was interesting to see the story evolve.
13. The Case of Jennie Brice (1913) by Mary Roberts Rinehart
    It started off with the solution obvious, and yet took enough twists and turns to make it an interesting tale.
14. The Seven Dials Mystery (1929) by Agatha Christie
    I'm not usually a fan of international conspiracies, but was pleasantly surprised by both an engaging plot and an unexpected ending.

August Book List

Despite completing several cross stitch projects this month, August has been another good reading month.

Books Read:

1. The Barn Owl's Wondrous Capers (2007) by Sarnath Banerjee
   I found the story hard to follow, perhaps too clever for me, but Banerjee is a talented artist and I had no trouble interpreting the emotions he portrayed. 
2. A Natural History of Dragons: A Memoir by Lady Trent (2013) by Marie Brennan
   Fabulous yarn with a wonderful narrator; I look forward to more installments!
3. Transparent Things (1972) by Vladimir Nabokov
   Parts of it were absolutely brilliant, parts of it I didn't get. I plan to reread it in a few weeks before writing about it.
4. The Saturday Big Tent Wedding Party (2011) by Alexander McCall Smith
   The twelfth in his charming No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series.  I've not read all of them, but this was as gentle, warm and enjoyable as the others I have read.
5. Death at the President's Lodging (1936) by Michael Innes
   I found this an intelligent  well-written novel--it's rare I need the dictionary for a mystery!--and the solution was believable and amusing.  This was my first time reading Innes, and he will be a favorite.
6. Some Die Eloquent (1979) by Catherine Aird
   The first mystery I've run across by Aird; she's now another author I wish I had found sooner.  I look forward to reading more!  
7. The Imposter Bride (2013) by Nancy Richler
   Well written and richly layered; I read it in two days.  (Don't be fooled by the title; it's not a romance.)  Highly recommend this one.
8. The G-String Murders (1941) by Gypsy Rose Lee
   Rather ambitious plot with a somewhat murky ending, but both characterizations and conversations were excellent.  The inside look at the burlesque was also wonderful.
9. American Born Chinese (2006) by Gene Luen Yang
   Graphic novel, often poignant, with an excellent message that would be especially relevant to teens that feel like outsiders.

Audio Books: 

1. Death of a Gossip (1985) by M. C. Beaton
   The first of the Hamish MacBeth mysteries.  I didn't care for the foul language, and the readers weren't given enough information/clues, but I did like Hamish quite a bit; I may read more of this series, if I find myself short of audiobooks.
2. Poseidon's Gold (1993) by Lindsey Davis
   I am rereading the earlier ones of this series as I work my way to the ones I've not yet read.  I enjoy the characters and plots, and especially all the historical details.
3. The Secret of the Old Clock (1930) by Carolyn Keene
   I am sure I must've read this one as a pre-teen, since my parents blessed me with a large collection of Nancy Drew books, but I didn't remember the plot.  It was silly, yes, but I still enjoyed it--especially now that I can picture the clothes and vehicles in the right time period.
4. Sparkling Cyanide (1945) by Agatha Christie
   An intriguing "stand-alone" mystery.  I hadn't read this one before and was kept constantly guessing and changing my mind about who was guilty.
5. By the Pricking of My Thumbs (1968) by Agatha Christie
   Another in the Tommy and Tuppence series; a rather complex solution, but satisfying, nonetheless. 
6. Anne of Green Gables (1908) by Lucy Maud Montgomery
7. Anne of Avonlea (1909) by Lucy Maud Montgomery
8. Anne of the Island (1915) by  Lucy Maud Montgomery
   I had seen the two Anne mini-series as a teen, but had never read the books.  These books are gentle, pleasurable, and full of the morals and mores of the turn of the 20th century.  I was immediately drawn into the stories and felt deeply for the characters.  I will definitely read the rest of the series.  (Naturally, the mini-series bear only little resemblence to the books; why make up things for the movies when the books were filled with such wonderful material?!?!?)
9. The Sign of the Four (1890) by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
   The second Holmes novel; better written and more enjoyable than the first but still not of the quality that the short stories will become.  Still good fun, though.
10. Instructions for a Heat Wave (2013) by Maggie O'Farrell
    The characters and situations seemed very true to life, as did the rather ambiguous ending.  I found it an excellent read.
11. Nineteen Eighty-Four (1949) by George Orwell
    Wow.  I'll be writing up some notes about it soon.  (update: my discussion is here.)

July Book List

July was a great month for reading--mainly because it was too hot to cross stitch under my bright (hot) lamp.

Books Read:

1. The Mouse in the Mountain (1943) by Norbert Davis
   Very much enjoyed this well-written blend of the hard-boiled detective with a '40's screwball comedy.
2. The House without a Key (1925) by Earl Derr Biggers
   The first Charlie Chan mystery, set in Hawaii of the 1920's.  I enjoyed it much more than I anticipated; Biggers developed the characters nicely--with the exception of Chan, who played a minor role.
3. The Book of Secrets (2013) by Elizabeth Joy Arnold
   My review is posted here.
4. Becoming Myself: Embracing God's Dream of You (2013) by Stasi Eldredge
   My review is posted here.
5. The Barakee Mystery (1929) by Arthur Upfield
   Characters were nicely fleshed out and the narrative was detailed and surprisingly good.  I will certainly read other mysteries by Upfield.
6. The Secret of the Mansion (1948) by Julie Campbell
   The first in the Trixie Belden series.  I adored these books as a preteen, so I'm doing a reread of the series. 
7. The Case of the Velvet Claws (1933) by Erle Stanley Gardner
   My first Perry Mason mystery and wasn't at all what I expected.  Mason is a sort of soft version of the hard-boiled noir detective (soft-boiled?) and I enjoyed it tremendously.
8. From This Dark Stairway (1931) by Mignon Eberhart
   Another enjoyable hospital murder mystery. I'll admit, I never once suspected the guilty party, though it all made perfect sense when all the pieces fell in place.
9. Flame and Shadow (1920) by Sara Teasdale
   My discussion is posted here.
10. The Red Trailer Mystery (1950) by Julie Campbell
    The second book in the Trixie Belden series.  I'm surprised at how good they still are; then again, it could just be because they are "comfort food" books.
11. The Black Honeymoon (1944) by Constance and Gwyneth Little
    Another darkly funny mystery by these sisters; not as excellent as the other two I've read, but still good.
12. Keepers of the Faith (1944) by Emilie Loring
    Loring was a favorite of my pre- and early teen years.  I've been nostalgic lately for the books of my childhood and bought a box of her novels recently.  This was the first I've read in well over twenty years.  I expected it to be hokey, but it wasn't all that bad; it was written during WWII and I always enjoy glimpses into that era.  It was, however, rather poorly written.  I don't know if Keepers is typical of her writing style, and plan to read at least one more (this time I'll pick one I had read and loved before) to see if they are all like this one before I give up on them.
13. The Martian Chronicles (1950) by Ray Bradbury
    Wow!  My discussion is here.
14. The Penguin Pool Murder (1931) by Stuart Palmer
    A delightful mystery introducing Hildegarde Withers.  I knew the killer early on, and I took umbrage at 39-year-old Miss Withers being described as middle aged (now 41 myself, I see things a bit differently), but the pleasure of the reading experience far outweighed any negatives I found. I look forward to reading more of this series.
15. The Last Days of Ptolemy Gray (2010) by Walter Mosley
    What should have been a sad, melancholy story was not; well written, believable characters, engrossing plot.

Audio Books:

1. Night Has a Thousand Eyes (1945) by Cornell Woolrich
   I couldn't connect to two of the main themes of this novel (near obsessive parent/child love and a paralyzing fear of death) and yet I was drawn into the story because of his power of narration and vivid word pictures.
2. Mamur Zapt and the Return of the Carpet (1988) by Michael Pearce
   Set in British "advised" Cairo in the early twentieth century; enjoyable plot and interesting characters.  Will doubtless read others in the series.
3. The Ocean at the End of the Lane (2013) written and read by Neil Gaiman
   Magical, terrifying, awe-inspiring and wonderful.
4. Partners in Crime (1929) by Agatha Christie
   Another highly improbable, thoroughly enjoyable Tommy and Tuppence mystery.  Christie makes references to the popular fictional detectives of the time, including a hilarious poke at her own Poirot.
5. The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared (2009) by Jonas Jonasson.
   I can't begin to say how much I enjoyed this book!  Allan Karlsson, with his sunshiny disposition and incredible adventures, was a fantastic, likable character.  Yes, the book was improbable, but it was extremely fun.  I highly recommend this one.
6. Every Crooked Nanny (1993) by Mary Kay Andrews
   Another chick lit/Southern/mystery by Anderson, which I am sort of embarrassed to be caught reading (listening to?) and enjoying, but nonetheless, I did both.
7. If You Ask Me (and Of Course You Won't) (2011) written and read by Betty White
   A set of short, cute vignettes--just what one would expect from Betty White.  It was especially fun to listen to it, as she made it very personal, as though she were conversing with the listener instead of reading.
8. The Thirty-Nine Steps (1915) by John Buchan
   my discussion here
9. N or M? (1941) by Agatha Christie
   As is typical of the Tommy and Tuppence mysteries, this is a rather unbelievable, national espionage story.  As is also typical of the Tommy and Tuppence novels, it is delightful.  My only quibble was that the reader (this was sadly not the Hugh Frasier version) didn't seem to have any experience with children; his voice for a child of two was atrocious!
10. A Study in Scarlet (1887) by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
    The first Holmes novel and worth reading only for the introduction of Holmes to Watson, not for plot or solution.

If you aren't swooning over this dangerous,
dashing Captain, you must be dead.

Massive Disappointment of the Month award goes to my attempt to read the fourth book in the Burton and Swinburne series by Mark Hodder.

I had been looking forward to the Secret of Abdu El Yezdi since last April, when I finished the Expeditions to the Mountains of the Moon, with it's rather murky ending.  I was excited to have it all cleared up and go on adventuring with my favorite real life hero and now steampunk novel hero, Captain Sir Richard Francis Burton.

I was stunned when I was unable to fall right into this book. It just didn't grab me; I found it too dark, confusing. . .  I was afraid it was a dud.

However, other reviewers that are also lovers of this series are giving this new one high praise.

I am going to assume then, that I just wasn't in the mood for Burton (WHAT?!?!), that for some reason the time wasn't right.  Or maybe it's just that it didn't start out doing what I wanted, i.e. explaining the ending of Mountains of the Moon.

Anyway, my plan now is to reread the first three books (visually this time, as I did audio last time), making sure I remember everything and am in the right steampunky mood, and then start this one.

It's just so disappointing to have looked forward to it for so long and then to find it unreadable!

I still highly recommend the first two of this series (The Strange Affair of Spring-Heeled Jack and The Curious Case of the Clockwork Man), and a bit less highly the third.  I recommend even more highly that you read about the real Burton, an amazing man that no fiction could contain.  As a tantalizing morsel, I'll just say that the scar is from a lance that went through both cheeks!  The story is better than a Haggard tale!

June Book List

Missed adding this one to my May list somehow, but I reread Rebecca (if that is what one can say when one listens to an audio version of a book previously read) by Daphne du Maurier. This is one of my favorite books.  I've lost count of how many times I have read it.  I love how "the new Mrs. de Winter" is never actually named; for some reason, that adds so much to this book for me.  Du Maurier is one of my top ten favorite authors, and this is her best!

I also managed to leave out Grey Mask, which I read in mid May.  This is the first in the Miss Silver series by Patricia Wentworth.  It wasn't particularly memorable, but interesting enough that I will probably read more by Wentworth when I run low on vintage mystery authors.

Now, on to June:

Books Read:

1. Down Among the Dead Men (1961) by Patricia Moyes
    I couldn't stop myself from running straight to the shelf for the next in this series, after I finished the first.  I don't know how I have read mysteries for nearly thirty years and yet was never introduced to her!  This one was as good the first: good plot, well developed characters and a satisfying solution.
2. The Black Thumb (1942) by Constance and Gwyneth Little.  These sisters became my favorite mystery writing duo from the first page of the first one I read.  This second one solidified it.  The books are hilarious!  Best of all, the plot/mystery doesn't suffer from the humor.  It's a believable, solid and well-written mystery.  I was uncertain until the end, worried about my favorite characters, and giggling the whole way.  Loved it and will be reading more!
3. 8 Faces at 3 (1939) by Craig Rice
   The first in the John J. Malone series which was extremely popular in the 1940's.  I was wishy washy about it at first, but did enjoy it.  The plot was tight, the mystery solid, and there were just enough surprises and unknown factors.  I was turned off by the amount of drinking done by the three main characters--why one of them didn't die of alcohol poisoning before the resolution is the main mystery--but once I started skimming over all the references to "rye", I was able to settle in and enjoy the story.
4. Why Shoot a Butler? (1933) by Georgette Heyer
   I am a long time fan of Heyer's Regency novels, but this was my first time reading her mysteries.  I wasn't impressed with the plot, but I did enjoy the dialog (always a strong point for her).  I'll probably read more of her mysteries over time because I have such a fondness for Heyer and 1930's house party mysteries, and not because of this book's merit.
5. Murder by Experts (1936) by Anthony Gilbert
   At times a bit muddled and/or stilted, it was still interesting.  Reads more like a first novel, though she had written several by then.  I'd still be willing to read another, though, because it was certainly clever.  Also, I by far prefer a mystery that starts some time before the actual crime and gives me time to know those involved, which this was; apparently many of her novels are like this.  (Gilbert is a psuedonym for Lucy Beatrice Malleson.)
6. The Patient in Room 18 (1929) by Mignon Eberhart
   This is my first time reading any mysteries by Eberhart, and I enjoyed her writing style and the characters she developed.  The solution was a bit muddy in parts, though that could've been my fault as I made myself stay awake to finish.  
7. The Norths Meet Murder (1940) by Frances and Richard Lockridge
   I liked the Norths and their interaction with each other, but I found the prose to be mindbogglingly dry and tedious.  This was the first of what became a popular series, so the Lockridges must have gotten better with practice.

Audio Books:

1. Sleeping Murder (1976) by Agatha Christie
   Another delightful Miss Marple.  This one I either had read before or was clever enough to figure it out early on; didn't hamper my enjoyment, though.
2. A Christmas Journey (2004) by Anne Perry
   A novella with a social "crime" to be sorted out, set in Victorian high society.  It was okay, but would have been better if it had been expanded into a full novel.
3. Flush (2005) by Carl Hiaasen
   This is a Hiaasen juvenile fiction.  It's typical Hiaasen (taking place in the Florida Keys with the plot revolving around bad guys hurting the environment) but toned down for kids. I enjoyed it, maybe not as much as I do his adult fiction, but it was still good.
4. Wish You Were Here (1990) by Rita Mae Brown
   The animal interactions were extremely well-written and fun; the mystery was okay, especially for a first, though it was apparent early on "who done it".   I found both the foul language and the "divorce issue" overdone and tiresome. The was one plot point in particular that was made much of  but not explained and she made a glaring error about firearms.  Finally, while it's her novel and she can rant on whatever she wants, I just didn't see how the anti-religion discussions advanced or enhanced the plot. Despite my complaints, I still probably would've read more in the series because I loved the pets. However, regardless of the fact I can find talking pets believable, I can't buy into multiple murders and high profile crimes conveniently taking place in a small town.  Come on y'all, even Nancy Drew had to have more scope than River Heights; you certainly can't expect an adult reader to think some twenty big mysteries could happen in tiny Crozet, Virginia!
5. The Secret of Chimneys (1925) by Agatha Christie, read by Hugh Fraser
   This was an truly enjoyable, highly improbable, country house mystery that turned out to be an intrigue of international proportions.  I loved every minute of it, especially as it was read by Hugh Fraser.  He reads most of the Christie audio books (as well as played Captain Hastings to David Suchet's Poirot) and he is simply magnificent.  If you only listen to one audio book, make it one read by Fraser!
6. Innocent Blood (1980) by P.D. James
   This is referred to as a mystery, but it's more of a thriller.  The plot and writing were strong, as is to be expected from Dame James, but somehow I found it didn't live up to her other novels.
7. The Enchanted April (1922) by Elizabeth von Arnim, read by Eleanor Bron
   Reread of beloved classic; it's gentleness and story line reminds me of an Austen novel.  Love it so!  Eleanor Bron was excellent.  (If you are interested in the lovely book, please don't watch the movie!!)
8. The Iron Hand of Mars (1992) by Lindsey Davis
   Loving ancient history, it's no wonder that I've loved this series.  This is a reread, as I'm catching up with the series; I'm fairly certain this fourth book was as far as I got.
9. The Secret Adversary (1922) by Agatha Christie
   Another reread this month; this was the first Christie I read and began my love of her novels.  It's another highly improbable and yet thoroughly enjoyable read.  

Notable Failures:

1. Beautiful Blue Death by Charles Finch
   I made it 23 minutes into this one and was so appalled at the historical inaccuracies in a so-called "historical" Victorian mystery that I gave an audible grunt of distaste and turned it off.  I can't believe how highly recommended it comes, nor the fact that it is the first of a growing series.  Frankly, I can't believe it got published at all.  Is it a parody and I just didn't get the joke?
2. Life After Life by Kate Atkinson
   I loved the first several chapters.  It's a bit hard to explain, but it follows Ursula's life and each time she reaches a point where she could die, she does, then her life starts again, skips up to the point where she dies and she makes a different choice and doesn't.  Though, sometimes she does, and has to try again.  (It took several tries to get through that influenza epic after the Great War.)  She doesn't actually know that is what she is doing though; the author just picks back up.  It was reminiscent of choose-your-own-adventure novels, or of playing a RPG and starting back at your last save.  Her early life was delightful and I was thoroughly enjoying it.  Then some bad decisions happened and she endured rape and spousal abuse and I was just hoping she'd finally die.  She did, but after that, I was soured on the whole experience.  I listened a few more hours, but her character was less likable after she took up with a married man and. . . well, I stopped after around ten hours, despite having only about four left to go.  It's rare for me to quit so far into a book, so that says a lot.
3. Deep Dish by Mary Kay Anderson
   After listening to Savannah Blues, actually enjoying it and going so far as to admit it, I decided to give another one of her novels a try.  I listened to about half an hour of this before I quit.  Some really un-lively conversation and dull prose going on there, y'all.  

May Books List

May was a good month for books!  I found three new author that I really enjoy!  I read some stinkers, too, though. . . .

Books Read:

1. The Black-Headed Pins: Constance and Gwyneth Little
   I just discovered these sisters thanks to Rue Morgue Press; they wrote 21 mysteries during the 1930's through the 1950's.  The mysteries are referred to as "screwball comedies".  I adored this mystery, and could certainly see Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell playing the leads.  I'll be ordering more, for certain!
2. Aunt Dimity's Death: Nancy Atherton
   This came highly recommended as a "cozy mystery" with a slight supernatural twist.  It was okay, certainly  not good enough for me to want to read the rest of the series.
3. The Yellow Streak: Valentine Willaims
   ( Published sometime in the late 19-teens, early twenties.)  Plot and writing style were dated, naturally, but it was enjoyable for just that reason.
4. Who Killed the Curate?: Joan Coggins
   (Published in 1944)  Hilarious;  I loved it even though the conversations were a bit stilted.  The mystery itself was rather good, though, and all the clues were there for the reader to figure out along with everyone else.  The loopy Lady Lupin is a mix of Bertie Wooster and Amelia Bedilia, and her social gaffs as the new wife of a curate were laugh-out-loud funny.  Another find from Rue Morgue Press; I've got the second one to read soon.
5. The Case of the Gilded Fly: Edmund Crispin
   (Published 1944) One of the few I've read from the "Golden Age" of detective fiction that really flopped for me.  I slogged through it, just to see if it came together at the end, but the solution was an impossibility, to my mind.  I find it interesting to note that it was published the same year as Who Killed the Curate?, considering the gentleness of that one and the crassness of this one. 
6. Dead Men Don't Ski: Patricia Moyes  I loved this!  She instantly became a new (to me) favorite author. The mystery was tight, the writing good and the relationship between the detective and his wife reminded me of myself and my husband.  All around good book.  I'm super excited that I scored a stack of these at the used bookstore last time! 

Audio Books:

1. A is for Alibi: Sue Grafton
   Dismal; It's as if Grafton wanted to make a female "hard-boiled" detective so she threw in as much drinking, cussing and sex as she could, and the result was an unappetizing book.  This series has a huge fan base, so  I stuck it out, thinking it would get better, but it didn't.
2. Nemesis: Agatha Christie
   I've yet to read a Christie I didn't like, and, honestly, I don't think there are many more that I have not read.  People that poo-poo Christie novels have no place in my world.  She writes solid, interesting, gentle, cozy mysteries and that, frankly, is what I want to read.  This one was a well-plotted Miss Marple tale.
3. Sherlock Holmes Stories (volume three): Sir Arthur Conan Dolye
   Holmes was my first literary crush; naturally I love re-reading these stories.
4. Young Men in Spats: P G Wodehouse
   My husband and I both love Wodehouse and neither of us had read this one, so we listened to it together.  Great stories--especially the one about the fire!
5. Mr. Churchill's Secretary: Susan Elia MacNeal
   A generally well-researched historical mystery; kept my husband's interest, too.  I'll admit to getting bored with it by the end, though; it just seemed to drag on a bit too long.  There are two more in the series; I may or may not read or listen to them.
6. Venus in Copper: Lindsey Davis
   I read the early books of this series back in college.  I was startled to notice how many are in the series now and thought I'd start it up again, back at the beginning of course.  M. Didius is a likable scoundrel.
7. Savannah Blues: Mary Kay Andrews
   The only chick lit I have ever completed; I was surprised at how good it was.  At least, it was really good until the romance began, but by then I was interested in the mystery, so I stuck it out.  I liked her enough, though, that I would consider reading more.  I just hate romance novels, and generally find the plot of chick lit novels less interesting than the back of the cereal box, so admitting that I read and actually liked this book, and might even read another, is a Really Big Deal for me.