Book Review: A Fatal Slip by Meg London

In the third book in the Sweet Nothings Lingerie Mysteries, Emma Taylor is settling into life in Paris, Tennessee. She’s in a relationship with Brian, who helps his father at their hardware store and is starting his own renovation business, and enjoying working with her Aunt Arabella at Sweet Nothing Lingerie Store. However it all unravels when a former beau walks into the store and sends Arabella into a spin. What begins as an invitation to a lavish dinner ends in murder, with Arabella as the prime suspect!! Once again, Emma and her friends must play sleuth and try and clear Arabella’s name!

Using the word “Sweet” in this mystery series is perfect because everything about Paris, Tennessee is sweet. From the adorable lingerie store to the delicious cupcakes they bring in for their “Valentines Day” shopping events and even Arabella’s French Bulldog, Pierre, everything is sweetness and love. I find slipping amongst the pages of these mysteries as easy as curling up in my favourite reading chair. The only difference is that I don’t have a nice glass of Tennessee tea, or Arabella’s famous fried chicken!!

Alike to the other two books in this series, A Fatal Slip completely lived up to my expectation. Meg London always delivers a stunning mystery and this one is no exception. Emma goes to work part-time at the Granger’s to catalogue their art collection. Of course it’s the perfect place to snoop into the mysterious death of Hugh Granger, art extraordinaire and Arabella’s ex-love. I found all the tidbits about the art world very fascinating – especially as the author gives us a little lesson in art history as well!

All in all a stunning instalment in a series that I’ve grown to love with each new mystery! I can’t wait for more books in this series to be published, and in the meantime I plan to read the Gourmet De-Lite Mysteries (published under Peg Cochran).

Book Review: The Oracle of Delphi by Agatha Christie

Parker Pyne is traveling incognito under the name of Mr. Thompson. In Delphi, he learns that someone calling himself Parker Pyne is being consulted by Mrs. Peters, who refers to him as "the good gentleman." But who is this imposter, and what does he want with Mrs. Peters?[summary via Amazon]

This was the last story in the anthology, Parker Pyne Investigates, and probably the most intriguing one of them all. A woman's son is kidnapped and she is willing to do all she can to get him back. However, the ending was unpredictable and certainly surprised me!!

I like Parker Pyne. Rather than investigating murder, he seems to investigate missing items or people. I've only seen him thrown into a murder investigation once and at first he didn't quite seem what to make of it. He certainly seemed more at home in this mystery!

For fans of Agatha Christie, I highly recommend the Parker Pyne short stories. They can be read individually, or in the anthology, Parker Pyne Investigates.

Audiobook Review: Agatha Christie: An Autobiography by Agatha Christie

Back in print in an all-new edition is the engaging and illuminating chronicle of the life of the "Queen of Mystery". Fans of Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple and readers of John Curran’s fascinating biographies Agatha Christie’s Secret Notebooks and Murder in the Making will be spellbound by the compelling, authoritative account of one of the world’s most influential and fascinating novelists, told in her own words and inimitable style - and here in her own voice. These audio excerpts were dictated by Agatha Christie herself.[summary via Audible]

Audible has an autobiography of Agatha Christie, actually narrated by the Queen of Crime herself. This seems to be a hidden gem amongst the Audible shelves. While there are plenty of biographies, and even an autobiography, about Agatha Christie, this is the only one narrated by herself.

This recording was recorded late into her career. No date is actually given as to when it was recorded, but she mentions quite a few of her books and I would think it was done in the 1960's or 1970's. A warning to those do listen: it is very static-y and there is a somewhat hissing sound, but this is Agatha Christie talking about her life. To hear the Queen of Crime talking about writing and her life is far more important than hearing quality.

Agatha lived a fascinating life and I loved listening to every second of this fascinating recording. She talks about how it took a long time for her to consider her profession that of a writer, and in fact she quite often wrote "married woman" on documents rather than writer. She talks about her mother-in-law telling her write something "worthwhile" and her success at writing, and why she wrote the romances under the name Mary Westmacott.

She doesn't talk about her disappearance. I assumed she wouldn't, but of course one can only hope that she might touch on it.

I particularly enjoyed hearing her talk about The Mousetrap, which originally written for the Queen, and she talks about how she believed it would only run for 8 months. Well it is now the longest running play and still going strong!

For fans of her books this is a insightful account of her life in her opinion and it delighted me immensely. I plan to listen to it again at a later date.

It is currently free for Audible and can be found at their website.

Audiobook Review: The Regatta Mystery by Agatha Christie

Diamond merchant Isaac Pointz and his guests come ashore at Dartmouth to enjoy the fair after the yacht races. Over dinner, young Eve Leathern bets she can make Pointz's famous diamond, the Morning Star, disappear right at the table. When the girl does exactly that, she discovers she has made the priceless gem disappear more completely than she had intended. Fortunately, Parker Pyne is able to get to the bottom of what really happened to the Morning Star.[summary via Amazon]

The Regatta Mystery is a classic locked room mystery, where a disappearance takes place (this time a jewel) and the occupants in the room all claim to have not taken in. It takes the detective mind of Parker Pyne to solve the mystery.

I find it interesting that usually the detective is int he room at the time of the loss, but not in this case. Parker Pyne manages to solve the mystery without having actually been at the scene!!

This is another interesting short story from Agatha Christie. I'm finding that most of the Parker Pyne mysteries don't involve murder, but involve a disappearance. I haven't quite warmed to Parker Pyne yet, but mainly because I have read many mysteries with him.

I do find it interesting that there is a Parker Pyne version and Hercule Poirot version of The Regatta Mystery. I listened to the Pyne version, but I'm going to try and hunt down the Poirot version too!

A delightful locked room mystery, and I'm looking forward to reading more of the short stories.

Audiobook Review: Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie

In the sleepy little English country village of St Mary Mead, all is not as it seems. Under a seemingly peaceful exterior lurks intrigue, guilt, deception - and murder.

Colonel Protheroe, local magistrate and overbearing landowner, is the most detested man in the village. Everyone, even the vicar, wishes he were dead. And very soon he is - shot in the head in the vicar's own study.

A visiting artist confesses to the murder, but residents saw him elsewhere at the time the Colonel was shot. If he didn't do it, who did? Is he protecting the wife whom he loves? Faced with a surfeit of suspects, only the inscrutable Miss Marple can unravel the tangled web of clues. A trap set, and Miss Marple's theory is put to the test when the true killer is finally unmasked.[summary via Audible]

Murder at the Vicarage is the first adventure with Miss Marple. Jane Marple is often thought of as a nosy old lady. She's often seen pottering in her garden and knows everything that is going on at St. Mary's Mead. When Colonel Protheroe turns up dead, the vicar and police turn to Miss Marple to assist in piecing the events together.

I love Miss Marple. She's a little nosy, but not over-the-top. She understands human nature and always gets to the bottom of the crime. Given a choice between Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple, I'd say Miss Marple is the clear winner for my favorite sleuth. While Poirot is egotistical and acts so very superior, Miss Marple is subtle and unobtrusive. Miss Marple only appears in 12 full-length novels, and it's probably the reason I've re-read so many of her adventures. I do wish Agatha Christie had written more featuring her.

In this first book we get to visit with Miss Marple in her own village and try to figure out who killed the Colonel. This is probably one of a few that I already knew the killer, having re-read it so many times. I delight in re-reading it, as I'm often amazed at Agatha Christie's brilliance.

This is my favorite part, right at the end: "I wonder, Miss Marple," I said suddenly, "if you were to commit a murder whether you would ever be found out." "What a terrible idea," said Miss Marple, shocked. "I hope I could never do such a wicked thing." "But human nature being what it is," I murmured.

I do wonder if this planted the seed in Agatha's mind for one of her later novels, when the detective did do it!

I love re-reading this book and I really enjoyed listening to the full-cast audiobook. Each book would be a fabulous starting point for anyone new to Agatha Christie. June Whitfield voices Miss Marple and she does a tremendous job. I'm looking forward to re-reading more of my favorite Agatha Christie's!