Murder is Easy

Another good book by AC. It was somewhat different. Had some romance as well as the mystery and murder. A new character for me Superintendent Battle. It's no Poirot, or Miss Marple. Good chap just as well.

How odd an elderly woman would just keep talking to a complete stranger. About a murder and Scotland Yards. Luke Fitzwilliams didn't mind since she reminded him of his Aunt. Soon found out she, Lavinia Pinkerton was killed he becomes interested in wha is going on in that town Wychwood.

With an undercover profile Fitzwilliams goes in and works the crowd of residents of Wychwood to see what they were up to and were capable of murder. He falls for Bridget and together they try to solve case.

With all the characters seemly looks guilty. Luke can't help but remember what Miss Pinkerton has said. My dear boy It's to kill as long as no one suspects you. The last question is, just the last person anyone would suspect. Murder is Easy!

True to those words. It is someone both Luke Fitzwilliams and Bridget Conway didn't expect. Bridget would not accept it. And Luke thought intelligent as this person was he poured over things with them. And was fooled

I give Murder is Easy 5 

 

Layover

I've been waiting awhile to read a David Bell book. Must of went on sale.

I enjoyed reading this book. I thought it was a bit long which put me back in reading as much as I read a book.

The story was well planned out in my option. I could tell there were English major flows and thoughts. The story informational. Seems like the author might be a plotter ;)

It starts out with Joshua in a airport with a layover. I was surprised at Joshua how he pursued Morgan. His train of thought with this woman was painful to read at times. I actually was saying no,no,no leave her alone.

I guess the heart wants what the heart wants. I give him credit he never gave in. The whole thing with the Caldwell brothers were a bit  strange and strained.

The story on Morgan strange but intriguing. Which led me to want to read more. Interesting about the character Kimberly Givens. She is typical cop but being a single mom with a daughter who is spicy. Makes it even harder to do her job.

Between Givens running around after Joshua, not knowing if he is a killer. Knowing he is tracking Morgan. And Morgan being intrigued by Joshua following her. Throw in Simon Caldwell following Morgan and Joshua. 

Makes for a hell of a story! Not to mention Morgan's foster mother, Whew!

I give Layover 4---->

Only because there were so many chapters to go through. Not particularly long ones but a feel for a never ending story

 
 

The book was ok. I think the authors were trying to put across an agenda. They needed to say something and they did, except it felt scripted. I was interested first that it was set in Philadelphia. Where I am from. I liked it was about two friends one black, one white. Jen seemed to not have a very good home life so she spent most of the time over at Riley's. And stem from that she got to know Riley's grandmother. I believe Gigi was trying to teach Jen something. Although as time goes by the friends drift. Jen marries Kevin who becomes a cop. And Riley a journalist. 

Two different worlds, spread far apart.

It's not until Riley is older that she realizes what her full self means. As Jen is in that Blue world.

I don't think Jen really had any idea what Riley went through or her family. Not until it was too late.

I'm not sure if the authors wanted to just concentrate on the friends aspect, or dive into what being one's self is.

I believe nothing really isn't going to change. This was just a hard look at what one author is feeling against the other side.

I'm glad I read it. I have some highlights that I thought interesting but it's a 3 for me

 

Red Sky Over Hawaii

 

This is not my usual genre that I read. Although I do like to read Lit fiction. So when this book came by I had to grab it.

For me it was the characters, and the location (which I will be visiting soon) that made this book enjoyable. It centered around when Pearl Harbor got hit. And what was in front of everyone then.

Suspected sympathizers were dragged away in fear that they had some connection to the Japanese why Pearl Harbor is no more. Should the country have done that for war? Or violation of human rights? I think they did it for both. Our soldiers didn't know who to trust. Although some people weren't released until the end. 

It just wasn't Japanese. There were other nationalities as well. People that have lived for years.

How Lana gets along with her housemates is important to story. It's survival. 

Of course we can't forget the romance. Who would  thought thatLana finds the perfect guy and he's a soldier to boot.

She was a good sport on taking those children who were neighbors of her father's. Lana didn't have children of her own at that time. And it showed she can be a good mother to the two girls that were left when their mother and father was detained. Her Japanese friends too.

Sadly she was too late to see her father before he passed. And for that she regrets but finally knowing that he was proud of her. 

Memories Matter! Lana will always have good memories too of her dad.

I give Red Sky Over Hawaii 4

It was a good story. Not too much with history. Which you did learn something about Hawaii.

 I look forward to reading more from this author

Fatal Grace

Not sure where I should start with this #2 story in series.

I was pleased to see how the author (Louise Penny) has woven the characters in so the reader doesn't get confused with who is who. I myself could follow with ease and not have the characters be explained again. It was a nice smooth read. I didn't make too many notes/highlights. Surprisingly Gamache didn't come into story til later. It was good to visit the neighbors again of Three Pines. Makes you want to be part of the community.

Still don't like Agent Nichol. We find more about her. Did she know that her father was lying to her about Uncle Saul? Or is she setting up Gamache for some other reason? Like working with Brebouf of getting Gamache out?

Another character Lemieux seems like a good egg. At least Beauvoir is starting to think so. But is he working against Gamache?

Interesting take on CC de Postiers and her harsh way of living and looking at the world. It's a shame it comes down to what her mother did or said. On the flip side she does something to her own child. And her daughter, Crie takes matters into her own hands. Just to find out how The Three Graces protect that was done wrong.

Apparently there is this character Billy Williams. He is a minor character, but a major one just the same. Things he says are quoted by Gamache. And I read that he is woven into other stories.

The whole part of Gamache, Beauvoir, running into a burning house to get Agent Nichol was wild. Beauvoir losing it thinking he was trapped.

Was good to see that Gamache's wife, Reine-Marie is being more of an active character. Someone who Gamache can talk things out with.

Will be interesting to find out more about Gamache's old cases. Like he started to tell Reine-Marie about the Arnot case. He crossed that Blue line and told. One country is the same as others there is always a dirty cop somewhere.

As for how I feel about Fatal Grace another good novel. I give it 4 

I just felt it a bit long in the chapters

 

A Murder is Announced

 I can see why this story is a favorite not only to others I believe toAgatha Christie herself. The story I think you can see happening today. Of course with some time changes.

I have noticed especially with A Murder is Announced that Miss Marple doesn’t come into the story til midway. This way the story builds to where Miss Marple needs to help.

What an ingenious thing to do to put an announcement in newspaper about a murder (like a play). 

Poor Miss Blacklock someone is trying to murder her? Or Murder the others that live around her? Is it/will it be the Colonel, Philippe, Edward, or his mother, Mitzi, or poor Dora?

Miss Blacklock had no money.Although was going to inherit someday. So to stage a murder took some doing. Somehow a murder did happen but not what we though.Something to throw us all off.

    There were some twists and turns that surely I didn’t know Marple.In his own defense it’s hard to admit n older person especially a woman has clues before him. She did have some ideas and eventually Craddock was on board with.

Oh wow we find that Miss Blacklock had a sister. Was that sister there with Blacklock, or was she gone somewhere? Is this the key to what events happened?

I think A Murder is Announced is one of my favorite Miss Marple books so far. I will be looking forward to reading more of Miss Marple!

I give A Murder is Announced 5 

 

 

The Vanishing Triangle

I usually don't read non-fiction. This book caught my eye. Since I have family from Ireland and Northern Ireland too boot I wanted to know what this author was trying to bring into light.

What is the vanishing triangle?

Between 1993 and 1998, eight women went missing from an area roughly eighty miles around Dublin, leading some to nickname it the ‘vanishing triangle’.

What a terrible thing that happened. Lives cut off too early. So what is this author trying to say. I believe she wanted the reader to be aware that these women, who she found out didn't stop at eight, were just as important as anyone else. In her words

I want to look at how and why so many women could go missing without a national outcry, without the disappearances even being linked for so long.

She dives into a number of reasons why these killers/killer is overlooked. A lot are protected by others. And a big thing is also are helped across the border. Officers from the IRA was brought up especially. Political, mental, from church, economy (The Celtic Tiger) as it is put, the differences of people (if they are gay or not), abortion.

And why women? Women are thought of is a certain type. And that is how the priority is run down. If the woman is thought of a sex worker she's asking for it? To be raped and killed? NO! that is all screwed up!

 What kind of country allows crimes like this to happen? As author goes on, why are the perpetrators not being caught? Sadly if there are no bodies or evidence how could anyone go on? It's a small country with a lot of hiding places.

The author does make remarks about the US. She blames America giving Ireland the idea it's a fairytale. Yes we do give money over. For reasons other what the author is alluding too.

I take offense to that. It's just not Ireland this is happening too. It's happening all over the world. Even human trafficking is maybe another source that this author failed to write on.

Bottom line is not to forget!

Not only the remarks author made about America. I think she poured her own feelings out. By thinking of her own self walking around when she was living in Northern Ireland. Not even thinking she was blessed it wasn't her that could get caught in the net of some killer/s. She did make mention that men can be victims too.

I didn't like the idea she kept naming names that I couldn't remember all. And she was very repetitive which toward the end she could have cut the chapters short and ended book earlier.

Which leads me to give The Vanishing Triangle 4_____> 

I don't know what her fiction books are like. I just think she poured everything out how she felt. And made as many chapters to make a book.

 

The Widow

I started to read The Widow because of the political stuff that we are going through now. And I wanted to see how the author creates her mystery out of this.

I liked the idea of how Kaira started the chapters. With a little advice from a friendly spouse of a Congressman.

I had a whole thing planned out what to say about this book. I agree with the reviews sums up marriage, privilege, and oh so many lies!

Jody and Martin get married. The Ashers have it all. A daughter, the best seat in the place for a Congressman, and a nice house. What else do they want? Well we know Jody wants it all. Even after the death of Martin she finds a way to stay in DC

It was good to know Jody. How she came to what she turned out to be. Shame we didn't get to know her daughter Charlotte a little more.

What is a bit unbelievable is how the group of people VP, Mimi and Steve the best think tank. Or so it seems ;) all knew each other before the DC days.

I thought there might of been a bit more mystery. I thought there was something going on when Jody was giving her splash of eye drops to Martin. It wasn't what I thought. I guess Jody not having emotion gave to the allure of mystery with all her lies.

I wasn't surprised at an affair or who the woman really was. I was sad that it was long. The juice was in the beginning and early middle. A lot of what I like and thought about is in my Kindle highlights.

I thought of the proverbs that Mimi would say like "There cannot be two suns in the sky, nor two emperors on the earth."

Comes to the point of one winner. One thought. And "As distance tests a horse’s strength, time reveals a person’s character"

After a lost, in character to speak of, what is the time going to be? Are you going to be strong or weak? Last one. “When the winds of change blow, some build walls, while others build windmills.”

Always setting yourself up to be strong. Depend on you.

I can give The Widow 4_____>

I like the author and have read some of her other books and will continue on.

 

A Fall of Marigolds

There is not a lot of times that I come across a book that I like that isn't really a mystery, which is the genre I like. A Fall of Marigolds I did enjoy.

I do like how the story does intertwine with one another from back in 1911 and 2011, on.

Clara is a woman who wants to make a path for herself. So she leaves the comfort and safety of her home to go to New York. Manhattan  no less. Seems to be doing good. Thinks she met someone interested in her the way she would like. Sadly that was short lived because of a fire. And he dies. From then on she fights to stay independent and decides to go to Ellis Island and work at the hospitals. So traumatized she never goes off island. She does connect to one of her patients. She feels that she is in a in between world from the fire and this, just like her patient who lost his wife. And the only thing he had of hers was a scarf with bright marigold flowers. This scarf would be the one thing she could clean up and keep safe for him. Clara was brave to get off the island to find out about Lily the patient's wife. And all along Clara keeps the marigold scarf . Through the generations.....

 In 2011 Taryn is married and finds out she is going to have baby. Only to try to tell her husband  only to find her husband is killed. As someone that works with fabric Taryn finds that she has this scarf she needs to find a match. And she finds that it saved her life too on 9/11.

My review really doesn't do the story justice. All I can say it is a story of hope, pride, strength, and love.

From Clara finding the strength to complete the story of a patient and his wife. To find love herself and come to find peace in what happened in the fire at her job in Triangle Shirtwaist Factory about Edward.

Taryn after all the years after 9/11 she finally finds the marigold scarf. Not til someone else a florist, finds her to give the scarf back after helping her that day. He dedicated his life to find the owner at least at that time of the scarf. Not only can she tell now her daughter about the scarf's history, but she can rest assure that her husband did know before he died on that tragic day.

After meeting people relating to Clara. Taryn gets to keep the scarf for her as well as her daughter who will prosper from the scarf.

It's good to have some history in a story. That way it's easy to look up to want to know more. Enough not to make it feel you need to know facts on the subject.

Two things ring true Marigolds "they can bloom in the fall, even after a frost. Even after other flowers...."

And "Everything beautiful has a story it wants to tell" true to Taryn's motto of her store she has a story to tell.

I give A Fall of Marigolds 5 

Looking forward to reading more of Susan Meissner

 

The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding

I read Poirot's Christmas. It was good, but when I spotted this book and read the beginning. How AC put her ingredients of her favorite Christmas mysteries together like a recipe  I knew I had to read it. 

I was not disappointed. Her book started out with the story of The Christmas Pudding. 

A ruby was missing from someone acting for the Commonwealth. It was not just a jewel but a historical possession. Who do they call but Hercule Poirot. With much convincing Poirot agreed to solve this case. Edwina Morecombe had a old fashioned Christmas for Poirot to see. Plus central heating and bath water being perfection for Poirot to do the job.

How did Poirot get a hold of ruby? It was in the pudding of course. Not for long it took someone to steal it. Along with Poirot getting the facts and suspicion  of others.The children decided to put on a play for Poirot to make him feel welcome. They didn't know but Hercule had his own surprise for the kids.

Also very helpful was the cooks. He was so grateful that he told one that when he returns to London he will send her a present. Poirot is never that generous. 

I think he was so taken back that he did enjoy himself. Otherwise he would be alone.

Of course there was no doubt that Hercule Poirot got his culprit.

He enjoyed it very much. He said to himself that he had had a very good Christmas. And to think he did not want to go

Next Up is The Mystery of the Spanish Chest

A story of challenge and jealously. Hercule Poirot yet is looking into another mystery. Asked by a friend of his. This story shows a bit of Poirot not shall we say all pinned up. He looks at Miss Lemon in a different way.

Of course he solves the case of a man found in a Spanish Chest who thought he could see his wife doing who knows what. Not so festive at the party for him. Only does Poirot find that another has put him up to it. Jealously!

This room needs cleansing. The lingering memory of hate.

The Underdog

Poirot gets a visit from a Miss Margrave that her employer has sent her to find the best detective, and we all know that Hercule thinks/and knows he is the best, to look into the murder of Sir Atwell. Lady Atwell goes though what she knows. Leads Poirot to stay at the Mon Repos. Which will bring all that were there on edge. And eventually people will crack.

I'm having bit of trouble with this story. It's one of those stories that I'll be reading again. I watched the episode of Agatha Christie's Poirot and believe it was altered from the story AC wrote. For that I think the series was about some chemical coding being altered and stolen. A reread definitely.

I reread the story of The Underdog. And what I read before is not what I read just now. It comes down to someone who worked with someone for a long time who just broke.

“No, I have looked for the good-tempered man, for the man who is patient and self-controlled, for the man who for nine years has played the part of the under dog.

There is no strain so great as that which has endured for years, there is no resentment like that which accumulates slowly.”

I am not sure where I got the idea of a chemical encoding. Maybe from the show.

Four and Twenty Blackbirds

This story was interesting. Poirot's friend Charles  asks Poirot for dinner. Established that one of the patrons is a regular. And something was weird about him for a few weeks. He came in on specific days. Except at a time where it was a different day. Not only that this man had the same food. Not this time. Hercule Poirot took upon himself to solve this case. Oh yeah the man was found dead. One thing lead to another and Poirot found out what happened. A switch a-roo and money. There is something I noticed. That his sidekick Hastings was not around. One time the way it was written I thought something might of happened to Hastings. This was Hercule's valet George's time in the limelight.

The Dream

Interesting a man having the same dream and actually the dream coming true. Poirot gets summoned by this man. And can not go in detail with Poirot. Which makes Poirot a little confused and more determined. Of course Poirot gets to the bottom of it. For love, and money. Who knows, maybe both.

Greenshaw Folly

This story is a Miss Marple story. In my option is the darker of them all. Leave them asking for more. Of course the tv episode is different. I have to admit I was a bit distracted with this story. Another reread for me. What I did comprehend it was a will that was drawn up and people wonder if they are in it

What my take on these super stories is Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple seem to annoy the police and/or the people with their thoughts and know how. Which to me just makes them the best at what they do. All thanks to Agatha Christie for bringing them alive on these pages.

The Adventures of the Christmas Pudding gets a 5_____> 

And a reread for me