The Pale Horse

I've been reading some Agatha Christie books of lately. The Pale Horse does not disappoint. It was a bit slow in beginning and around the 100th page it started to pick up. I've read some reviews and I can see how it could be seen as dark. Speaking of witches,and rituals can be scary.

I like reading about the different characters that Christie weaves into her stories. Mark Easterbrook a stand alone for a stand alone book, is very interesting character. Usually these characters put themselves into situations that people don't ask for. Which is annoying. But Mark was different he was asked for his help. He had friends, cousin that could use his help. Ariadne Oliver that was a well known writer of detective stories. She had a weird way of getting into her story characters. She was very eccentric . "The moment you've done a murder the whole thing is terribly obvious", and there is where she needed to be creative and ran things by Mark.Too bad there wasn't so much about her this time. Hope to read more about her again. She seemed fun.

The story alluded to the Shakespeare play MacBeth. And Mark felt that Shakespeare might get a few surprises if he saw his plays acted nowadays. To be able to call up a handy murderer whenever you wanted a little job done. Sounds strange but it can happen. And there lies the plot of the story.

The Pale Horse I believe had a couple of mysteries in one story. A mysterious list of names, people being dead (murdered or died of other causes?). Visited my Mark Easterbrook and friends, The Pale Horse an Inn, more going on there than just what you see from outside. Inside maybe witchery. Mark had to find out if this to be true. After finding out about Mr. Bradley he and his lady friend Ginger put together for a nice, scary experiment .  Who would've ever thought that people would go to the extreme of knowing there is a business to get rid of people they just don't want around anymore.

Having other characters that might be the one that did it. To find out that it was a totally different person/s. So the simple truth behind the Pale Horse ------. You'll have to read it to find out.

And a little romance for a couple too ;)

Very cleverly done. When the real murder/s please stand up! I can see how that came together. Well done Ms Christie! I love the idea "And I look and behold a Pale Horse: And his name is death, and Hell followed him". Now that is creepy.

One of my enjoyable Agatha Christie stories so far I read. Looking forward to more.

I give The Pale Horse 5

The Favorite Daughter

This story was very interesting. I thought the character of Jane was way out there. As I read it was believable that Jane felt all these things that she was saying about her family. I kept trying to find out how her behavior came about. Why she would think this of her family treating her the way she said. From the beginning I knew Jane was obsessed with death. When she was looking out at neighbor, the little boy playing dangerously (or so she says) knowing that "child is about to die". From than on it was all about her and how her husband and daughter treated her. Hmm... interesting to the point that both her husband David, and daughter Betsy was scared of her. Leads me to wonder whatever happened to her other daughter Mary.

Up until chapter 23 I wasn't feeling sorry for Jane. But I started to question where is this story taking me through Jane. I thought, Oh No! the characters around her, including David and Betsy were playing a part to actually make her tell the truth. Like the move Shutter Island. Than I thought no the ending is going to play out fast. Bam! we will know what happened to Mary, the end. 

But not bad how it all lead up to what happened to Mary. For sure there were others who knew certain things and played out nicely. I actually didn't think of what Jane was til end.

Jane Harris is not much different in her mind of what is a perfect life. Her mind was a powerful tool to lead her to believe of everything she did was for the better to protect her family. Her life a perfect routine. And when that routine is disrupted is when it goes wonky.

I don't think Jane had a favorite daughter. It's a part of what she is. Jane would play both girls. Whoever sizes up with her yardstick and she felt at the time was her favorite. For Mary she was Jane's favorite because Mary was gone. It was agreed the Jane would be her mother. For all purposes Betsy was her favorite when Jane focused attention on her. But when Betsy didn't do what Jane wanted than Betsy was stupid, not as graceful as Mary.

Again in Jane's mind she really wanted to become a better mother. With Mary gone she knows something is not right. And again she needs routine .

I don't think Elizabeth James was going to steal Mary from Jane. Mary found out about her biological mother and wanted to know more about her. And with the tension that Mary and Jane had to begin with Mary found peace with Elizabeth. Than things took off from there. Why shouldn't Elizabeth James know and offer to Mary?

I believe society does have this picture of what an ideal mother is. And yes Jane keeping up the facade of being this ideal mother in which (Jane believed) covered the true self of Jane.

No it wasn't hard for me to imagine a mother who isn't what she seems. In a whole we as mothers do seem to have to live up to this idea that we need to be perfect. Our children are our blood, our extensions of ourselves. But we falter. Including me. My daughter at some point made me believe I was this awful mother. That I punished myself. Now that she has children everything is coming back to her, and i wasn't so bad after all.

I think Betsy is like Jane in some way. But what she was doing was protecting herself. What she thinks is right was from what her mother thought of her. Jane really had her on a rollercoaster . Betsy couldn't leave her guard down. But I believe Betsy to have a happy life needs help professionally.

I do in a way feel sorry for Jane. Her reality was a play in her head. She thought all men loved her, she thought she could do no wrong. Jane did mention quite a bit about her acting.

Now that is a tough question about Kylie. Did she deserve what she got? In the end the question was never answered . It was just said that Jane better be right about Kylie. And since Jane the way she was, I believe she was telling the truth and yes Kylie deserved it. She shouldn't been messing around anyway with another women's husband.

I think David liked the thrill of the feeling of a new woman that he can conquer and impress. Even before the weirdness of Jane he was on the hunt. Which is not impressive at all. I think he is just a waste of time.

The behavior of Jane I heard, read about but never thought of a name for it. Narcissist, yes so that's what it is. Jane the protector. Protecting so much that she intruded in her daughter's lives as well as her husband making them hate her. I guess being a narcissist that sadly they make what is good, horrible.

A mind is so powerful the tricks it can play. 

And I will be looking forward to the author's next book.

I give The Favorite Daughter 5