11. Partners in Crime (1929)

Dear Agatha,

What a ride!  THIS is the reason I love your works so much.  THIS is the reason why I want to read them all in publication order and blog about how wonderful you are.  THIS!

The first mystery surrounding this read occurred before I even opened the book.  It took me nearly 30 minutes to figure out what the next book was for me to read!  I was trying to access the info on my phone - wasn't working well - and I was further confused by the fact that I had Underdog sitting at the top of my book pile next to my bed.  (I later remembered I had picked it up at a used bookstore over Christmas break.)

ANYWAY, once I figured out that the next read was Partners in Crime, it took me another ten minutes to be sure it was the right book, because I felt like I'd read it before.  Eventually I checked Goodreads and learned that I'd read it back in 2013 for part of the ACRC... Ahhh, finally things began to click.  These little gray cells certainly weren't functioning at a very high capacity.

What's funny to me is, based on the Goodreads review a few years back, I didn't seem to like this book all that much.  This time, however, I absolutely LOVED it.  It is so brilliant to have Tommy and Tuppence channel their inner fictional detectives to solve mysteries, culminating with Poirot himself!  I love it SO much! 

If and when I ever finish reading all your books, I want to go back to this one and read all the mysteries that inspired Tommy and Tuppence.

As much as I love Poirot, Tommy and Tuppence are vying to be my favorites.

THIS:

He picked up a violin which lay on the table, and drew the bow once or twice across the strings.  Tuppence ground her teeth and even the explorer blenched.  The performer laid the instrument down again.
     "A few chords from Mosgovskensky," he murmured.  "Leave me your address, Mr. Stavansson, and I will report progress to you."
     As the visitor left the office, Tuppence grabbed the violin and putting it in the cupboard turned the key in the lock.
     "If you must be Sherlock Holmes," she observed, "I'll get you a nice little syringe and a bottle labelled Cocaine, but for God's sake leave that violin alone..."

And this:

"It is a great advantage to be intelligent and not to look it."

Oh, Agatha - these mysteries... they make me think and puzzle; at times they are truly suspenseful; but what I love best is your subtle sense of humor that makes me both smile at times and laugh out loud at others.  I just love you.

Beth

10. The Seven Dials Mystery (1929)

Hi, Dame Agatha ~

I am behind on reading.  I am behind on blogging.  I am behind on life.

I read the Seven Dials Mystery several months ago.  I remember only that it was fun.  :(  I was supposed to also be catching up some on your autobiography.  I am behind on that, too. 

Nothing like starting a New Year feeling completely behind and overwhelmed.  I just noticed that Goodreads shows that I only read about 15 books in 2016.  That is disappointing for sure.  I think the last time I wrote you I said that I would start making sure I read before bed instead of playing on my phone.  That works sometimes.  At least I think of it most days.  New Year's Resolution?  Hmmm...

Missing you,
Beth