Messages

181

Welcome and General Discussion / Re: Mark your calendars - Agatha Christie's 130th Birthday on Sept. 15!

« on: September 15, 2020, 01:32:16 pm »

Here's another one:

182

Welcome and General Discussion / Re: Mark your calendars - Agatha Christie's 130th Birthday on Sept. 15!

« on: September 15, 2020, 01:30:55 pm »

Do any of you have one or more of the old editions with these cool dust jackets?

I also love the old Dell paperbacks that have maps on the back covers. Here's an example:

183

Welcome and General Discussion / Re: Mark your calendars - Agatha Christie's 130th Birthday on Sept. 15!

« on: September 15, 2020, 02:22:07 am »

Most of my Agatha Christie's are paperback or book club editions. I love the early hardcover editions, especially the artwork on the dust jackets!

184

Welcome and General Discussion / Re: Mark your calendars - Agatha Christie's 130th Birthday on Sept. 15!

« on: September 15, 2020, 02:17:45 am »

Fun news and trivia from Agatha Christie.com:

https://www.agathachristie.com/about-christie#christies-life - The Early Years

https://www.agathachristie.com/about-christie#christies-life - Poirot is Born

https://www.agathachristie.com/about-christie#christies-life - A Difficult Start

https://www.agathachristie.com/about-christie#christies-life - A New Start

https://www.agathachristie.com/about-christie#christies-life - The War Years

https://www.agathachristie.com/about-christie#christies-life - The Later Years

https://www.agathachristie.com/news/2020/the-royal-mint-release-an-agatha-christie-2-coin

https://www.agathachristie.com/news/2020/styles-at-100-a-jigsaw

https://www.agathachristie.com/news/2020/100-facts-about-agatha-christie

https://www.agathachristie.com/news/2020/the-making-of-the-mysterious-affair-at-styles

https://www.agathachristie.com/about-christie/christies-london

https://www.agathachristie.com/film-and-tv

185

Welcome and General Discussion / Re: Mark your calendars - Agatha Christie's 130th Birthday on Sept. 15!

« on: September 14, 2020, 03:43:42 pm »

From Agatha Christie.com:

"2020 marks 100 years since the publication of Agatha Christie’s first novel, The Mysterious Affair at Styles – the book that introduced Hercule Poirot to the world. We’re celebrating 100 years of Agatha Christie stories with a host of activities and events for readers, viewers, listeners and fans. Join us as we celebrate what we love about the Queen of Crime, her timeless stories and her unique characters.

This year sees the release of Sophie Hannah’s new Poirot novel The Killings at Kingfisher Hill, as well as the big screen launch of Death on the Nile with Kenneth Branagh and an all-star cast, so you can expect plenty of exciting news and updates too. Read on to find out more. We’ll keep you updated on our website, and on social media using #100YearsofChristie."


https://www.agathachristie.com/100-years?utm_source=Agatha+Christie+Newsletter+Master+List&utm_campaign=25327945f7-Agatha_Christie_Newsletter_September_2020&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_e436c51fda-25327945f7-27816085

186

Welcome and General Discussion / Re: Mark your calendars - Agatha Christie's 130th Birthday on Sept. 15!

« on: September 14, 2020, 03:32:20 pm »

Our favorites and least favorites are totally subjective and may change over time. Some books I didn't like at all when I first read them don't bother me now. My favorites tend to stay the same, but I frequently add to it.

What are your favorite Agatha Christie novels and/or short stories?

I love all the short story collections but my favorites are PARKER PYNE INVESTIGATES, THE GOLDEN BALL AND OTHER STORIES and  THE THIRTEEN PROBLEMS (aka THE TUESDAY CLUB MURDERS)

As to the novels, this is a list of my current favorites:

MURDER IS EASY

THE 4:50 FROM PADDINGTON (aka WHAT MRS. MCGILLICUDDY SAW!)

MRS. MCGINTY'S DEAD

CARDS ON THE TABLE

A MURDER IS ANNOUNCED

TOWARDS ZERO

PERIL AT END HOUSE

THREE ACT TRAGEDY

THE CLOCKS

N OR M?

CROOKED HOUSE

What are your least favorite Agatha Christie short stories and/or novels?

I'm not fond of ENDLESS NIGHT, but I think that is my sister's all time favorite.

MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR AT STYLES

THE BIG FOUR

POSTERN OF FATE

AND THEN THERE WERE NONE is one of Christie's most popular books, but it's not a favorite of mine. (Just another reason to ignore recommendations and just read what appeals to you. Reviews are helpful in deciding what books are up your alley, but beware of spoilers.)

187

What I'm Reading / Oldies but Goodies

« on: September 14, 2020, 10:40:19 am »

While my husband and I were on a little getaway up the coast in Oregon (no fires in Newport, thank goodness), I reread two Agatha Christie short story collections: PARKER PYNE INVESTIGATES and THE THIRTEEN PROBLEMS. Both are old favorites. I was in the mood for another vintage mystery, so I just finished CAT AND MOUSE by Christianna Brand, first published in 1950, this edition was published in 1985. It's spooky with lots of twists. I enjoyed it!

188

Welcome and General Discussion / Re: Free Carolyn Hart novella/Agatha Christie theme

« on: September 12, 2020, 04:52:53 pm »

Reading this helped set me up for my two-day Agatha Christie getaway, Oregon-style. Someday I'd love to visit Agatha Christie's longtime home in Devon, Greenway: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/greenway. While staying in the Agatha Christie room at the Sylvia Beach hotel in Newport, OR, I re-read 13 AT DINNER and PARKER PYNE INVESTIGATES. There were several other Agatha Christie books in our room, but the short story volumes I brought were just right.

http://sylviabeachhotel.com/agatha-christie/

189

What I'm Reading / Re: My latest read is...

« on: September 10, 2020, 12:48:15 am »

I finished reading the Paige Shelton cozy mystery LOST BOOKS AND OLD BONES. You can check out my review HERE!

The book also included a bonus story called A CHRISTMAS TARTAN which was originally published as an ebook novella. It is set before LOST BOOKS AND OLD BONES. It's listed as Scottish Bookshop Mystery Book 2.5 on Goodreads in case you want to read things in "order". You can read my review of the short story HERE!

Meanwhile, I've received two new books for potential reviews for the magazine in the last couple of days. Going by the synopsis on the back of the advance copies both seem pretty interesting so I'm looking forward to checking them out.

Woo-hoo! I just got LOST BOOKS AND OLD BONES about a week ago! I'll go check out your review - I'm eager to read the new Louise Penny book but this one is at the top of my pile, too!

190

Welcome and General Discussion / Free Carolyn Hart novella/Agatha Christie theme

« on: September 07, 2020, 07:20:32 pm »

My friend Susan Stokes sent me the details about a book offer I'd missed:

From the Queen
By Carolyn Hart



FREE

Stories bring us together, even when we’re apart. That’s why we’re pleased to share with you a complimentary copy of one of our favorite thrilling reads! #TogetherInStories
Thrift shop owner Ellen Gallagher finds in her possession a first edition of Agatha Christie’s Poirot Investigates that has been signed by the author and inscribed to the Queen of England. But when the coveted book goes missing, Ellen must call on her friend Annie Darling, owner of the mystery bookstore Death on Demand, to track it down.

I just read it - what a fun story! Also, Carolyn Hart mentions a couple of vintage mysteries that are now on  my wish list:

DRINK TO YESTERDAY by Manning Coles

MING YELLOW by John Marquand

MURDER'S LITTLE SISTER by Pamela Branch

I don't have an ereader but I was able to download this for my PC for free. :-)

191

Welcome and General Discussion / Re: Say Hi and Introduce Yourself

« on: September 06, 2020, 09:15:37 am »

I am passionate about mystery movies, books and more recently about spirituality, manifestation and the power to attract.

Thanks for joining us, Adela! What are some of your favorite mystery movies and mystery books? New ones, old ones - it doesn't matter.

Do you have plans for the rest of the long weekend?

192

What I'm Reading / Re: My latest read is...

« on: September 06, 2020, 01:25:09 am »

I forgot to say that I liked the Michael Gilbert story collection a lot. In one story there was a character named Claire Easterbrook. Agatha Christie has a novel featuring a character named Mark Easterbrook. I wondered if that could have been a shout-out to her. Also, Gilbert has a couple of well known characters, Calder and Behrens, as well as a dog called Rasselas. In the book mentioned above, Mr. Calder appears in one of the stories without introduction. I really like those characters and hoped to find more of them. Jonas Pickett, the protagonist in the collection, is what he calls a "retreating solicitor" as opposed to a retiring one. He has given up his London practice and moved to Shackleton-on-Sea, looking forward to a quiet life.

I'm now in the mood for more of Michael Gilbert. I know I have some on my keeper shelves, so the next ones will probably be re-reads unless I strike it lucky at the thrift shop.

Look what I found online: https://www.mysteryscenemag.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2213:a-tribute-to-michael-gilbert-1912-2006&catid=38:profile&Itemid=191

In the meantime, the new Louise Penny has arrived but I decided to save it for the short getaway my husband and I are going on later in the week. So now I'm reading a book recommended by my fellow book-lover, Susan Stokes.

193

What I'm Reading / Re: My latest read is...

« on: September 06, 2020, 12:57:07 am »

I just finished a Michael Gilbert book called ANYTHING FOR A QUIET LIFE, published in 1990. This is going to sound dumb, but when I first started reading it I wasn't sure if it was a single book or a collection of short stories. The same characters were featured but it seemed disconnected. Well, it really was short stories. My copy was apparently missing a sub-title shown in other editions. Here's what Wikipedia has to say about it:

"Anything for a Quiet Life and Other New Mystery Stories is a collection of nine short stories by the British writer Michael Gilbert published in the United Kingdom by Hodder and Stoughton in 1990 and in the United States by Carroll & Graf the same year. Gilbert, who was appointed CBE in 1980, was a founder-member of the British Crime Writers' Association. The Mystery Writers of America named him a Grand Master in 1988[1] and in 1990 he was presented Bouchercon's Lifetime Achievement Award.[2]

All nine stories had previously appeared in Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine. All of them take place in a fictional English coastal town called Shackleton-on-Sea that is situated in the south of England not far from Brighton and Hove. In spite of Gilbert's usual low-key urbanity in his style, a number of them have an unexpected grimness about them. "Michael was an exceptionally fine storyteller, but he's hard to classify," said one of his British publishers after his death. "He's not a hard-boiled writer in the classic sense, but there is a hard edge to him, a feeling within his work that not all of society is rational, that virtue is not always rewarded.".[3]"

194

What I'm Reading / Re: Hank Phillippi Ryan's THE FIRST TO LIE

« on: September 05, 2020, 07:42:37 am »

I'm also a huge fan of Hank and have met her too. She like a lot of female thriller writers has a fantastic and scary writing voice.
 I'll be reviewing the audio version for Macmillan Audio hopefully they can clear up some issues they've been having and get me the file.

Debbie - Great to hear from you! I hope you and your husband are hanging in there during these "interesting" times. It seems like a lot of people prefer audio versions these days. If you come across any books where the audio versions are particularly well done, please tell us about them! Have a great weekend!

195

What I'm Reading / Re: Judgment, by Joseph Finder

« on: September 04, 2020, 12:57:24 pm »

Finder does i again, with more plot twists an turns than an octopus convention. The protagonist is a judge...I can't reveal more than that.

I love your description - now I keep trying to picture an octopus convention! I've read a couple of his books - need to read more.

Just started Michael Gilbert's ANYTHING FOR A QUIET LIFE when Louise Penny's new book arrived. Now I'm torn. Since the Michael Gilbert book is pretty short, I might go ahead with that one and save Louise Penny for the long weekend. I've also been saving a couple Michael Stanley "Kubu" books, another Con Lehane 42nd Street Library book, an old Ruth Rendell and a couple Martha Grimes books I'd missed.

No plans for the weekend but we're going on a short getaway later next week.

What are you reading, or planning to read? Anyone doing anything exciting over the long weekend?