Archive for September, 2013

Classic Corner Review: The Sleeping Murder – Agatha Christie

Tuesday, September 17th, 2013
Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks; Reissue edition (April 12, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0062073729
ISBN-13: 978-0062073723
Order book here:

amazon

Order E-book here:
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Characters:

Gwenda Reed – 21.
Giles Reed – Her Husband
Miss Marple – An Amateur Sleuth

Synopsis:

A young, recently married woman purchases her dream home. She starts noticing various things about the house seemed very familiar. She enlists the help of Miss Marple to determine why, and to find out why she keeps having these memories of a young woman being strangled.

Review

This was the last of Ms. Christie’s Miss Marple novels. The characters are what you’d expect from a Christie Novel. They are a bit like template characters, not a lot of in depth character development. The story I found very interesting. The plot is an intricate web, but in the end Ms. Christie always manages to make the story make sense.

Its impossible to give too much detail to stories like this, in fear of giving away spoilers. I’ll just say I’ll recommend this to fans of Ms. Christie, fans of mysteries in general, particular the classics, and anyone wanting a good quick story to read.

I’d rate it as PG and the language may be a bit difficult for some readers. However, if you can get past that, I think you’d find it enjoyable. Give it a read, and drop back by and let us know what you thought.

About the Author

Agatha Christie was born in 1890 and created the detective Hercule Poirot in her debut novel, The Mysterious Affair at Styles (1920).

She achieved wide popularity with The Murder of Roger Ackroyd (1926) and produced a total of eighty novels and short-story collections over six decades.

*Disclaimer* A special thanks goes out to at for a review copy of this book. It in no way influenced my review. You can discuss it here or join my facebook page and discuss it there.

Giveaway – The Beast – Faye Kellerman

Monday, September 16th, 2013

Thanks to Gina at Partners in Crime Tours I”m able to offer my readers 1 ebook copy of this book. To enter, follow these simple rules:

1) One Entry if you’re a follower [You can follow through Google Friend connect to the right, you can also sign up to follow through Twitter or Facebook].
2) An Additonal Entry if you blog about this contest.
3) An Additonal Entry if you’re a new follower.
4) One entry each for posting on facebook and/or twitter.
5) Must leave a comment letting me know how you follow me, blog link to this post, facebook/twitter link, etc.
6) Contest will continue until 09/20/2013.
7) This giveaway is open to residents of US and Canada. No PO Box addresses (street mailing only).

See our review here.

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Classic Corner Review: The Poisoned Chocolates Case – Anthony Berkeley

Tuesday, September 10th, 2013
Paperback: 224 pages
Publisher: Felony & Mayhem (February 16, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1934609447
ISBN-13: 978-1934609446
Order book here:

amazon

Order E-book here:
amazon

Characters:

Roger Sheringham – President of a Crimes Circle of Amateur Sleuths
Sir Charles Wildman – Lawyer
Mrs. Fielder-Flemming – Actress
Morton Harrogate Bradley – Author of Detective Novels
Alicia Dammers – Novelist
Ambrose Chitterwick – Amateur Detective

Sir Eustace Pennefather
Graham Bendix
Mrs. Bendix

Synopsis:

The wife of Graham Bendix has been murdered. Mr. Bendix is accused of the crime. Chief Inspector Moseby of Scotland Yard approaches Roger Sheringham about the possibility of introducing the case to his amateur crime circle. How was Mrs. Bendix murdered? Who Murdered her? To find out, read The Poisoned Chocolates Case.

Review

This was the most unusual mystery I’ve read. While I’m used to who done it’s, this didn’t fit that formula. In this story a group of 6 amateur sleuths are given the facts in the case. They must use their own skills to determine who the killer was and why. They are given a week, and then each night one of them presents their thoughts on the case.

I found this a unique way to unveil the details of the story. The Poisoned Chocolates Case is considered a classic in the mystery genre, and it’s understandable why that is. The plot is very well detailed. The characters each have their own distinct personalities, but seem a bit cookie cutter. However, I let that slide given that this is from the golden age of detective stories.

Overall I found it a very pleasant reading experience and for anyone who likes the classic mystery style I’d recommend it. Suitable for all ages, though it may be difficult for young readers to understand.

About the Author

Born in 1893, Anthony Berkeley (Anthony Berkeley Cox) was a British crime writer and a leading member of the genre’s Golden Age. Educated at Sherborne School and University College London, Berkeley served in the British army during WWI before becoming a journalist. His first novel, The Layton Court Murders, was published anonymously in 1925. It introduced Roger Sheringham, the amateur detective who features in many of the author’s novels including the classic Poisoned Chocolates Case.

In 1930, Berkeley founded the legendary Detection Club in London along with Agatha Christie, Freeman Wills Crofts and other established mystery writers. It was in 1938, under the pseudonym Francis Iles (which Berkeley also used for novels) that he took up work as a book reviewer for John O’London’s Weekly and The Daily Telegraph. He later wrote for The Sunday Times in the mid 1940s, and then for The Guardian from the mid 1950s until 1970. A key figure in the development of crime fiction, he died in 1971.

You can discuss it here or join my facebook page and discuss it there.

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Review: The Judgement Stone – Robert Liparulo

Tuesday, September 3rd, 2013
Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: Thomas Nelson (May 14, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1595541721
ISBN-13: 978-1595541727
Order book here:

amazon

Order E-book here:
amazon

Characters:

Neveah – Leader of a group of immortals known as The Tribe.
Jagger Baird – An Immortal.
Beth Baird – Jagger’s Mortal Wife.
Bale – Leader of the Immortal group, The Clan.

Synopsis:

A follow up to the 13th Tribe finds Jagger Baird once again engaged in a battle against immortals wanting to destroy the planet. This time, Jagger is faced not only with the Tribe, but with a new group known as The Clan. The Tribe, led by Neveah is out to capture Beth and discover what she’d said to one of their members that allowed him to die. The Clan has their own goals that Jagger must discover.

Review

A great followup to The 13th Tribe. Double the immortal action this time around as Jagger is attacked by 2 sides. This novel introduces a new group known as The Clan that is even darker than the Tribe was. While Jagger is faced with the danger presented by The Clan, his wife and son are faced with the danger of The Tribe, led by Neveah. There are twists, turns, and betrayals in a battle between good and evil.

The one drawback I had with this novel, unlike the previous one was the preachiness. The first novel while Christian based fiction, didn’t get preachy. It was just a good thriller novel. This one didn’t seem to follow that mold, and at times just seemed to be a bit over the top.

However, that aside, I’d recommend it to general audiences over 13. If Christian based literature though isn’t your thing, you may not enjoy it. I found it enjoyable just as a thriller and for that I’d recommend it. If you read it, be sure and stop back by to let us know what you thought.

About the Author

Best-selling novelist Robert Liparulo is a former journalist, with over a thousand articles and multiple writing awards to his name. His first two critically acclaimed thrillers—Comes a Horseman and Germ—were optioned by Hollywood producers.

Bestselling author Michael Palmer calls Deadfall, released in November, 2007, “a brilliantly crafted thriller.” Liparulo’s young adult series, Dreamhouse Kings, debuted in May 2008, with House of Dark Shadows and Watcher in the Woods.

He is currently working with director Andrew Davis (The Fugitive, The Guardian) on the novel and screenplay of a political thriller. New York Times best-selling author Steve Berry calls Liparulo’s writing “Inventive, suspenseful, and highly entertaining . . . Robert Liparulo is a storyteller, pure and simple.” Liparulo lives in Colorado with his family.

*Disclaimer* A special thanks goes out Booksneeze at Thomas Nelson for a review copy of this book. It in no way influenced my review. You can discuss it here or join my facebook page and discuss it there.