69. The Clocks (1963)

 Oh dear Agatha,

This one had me from the very first pages - from the prologue.  What a puzzle you created from the very start and that needed 200 pages more to resolve.  There is so much going on here and yet it doesn't feel overdone or too cluttered.  Fun book that I definitely want to read again.

Catching up,

b.

68. The Mirror Crack'd (1962)

Dear Agatha,

So there are spaces of months or even years between posts - so what, right?  I'm going to get it done though.  I'm going to read all of them.

I've read through these past 4 novels sometime over the past couple of months.  I don't remember precise dates, and really it doesn't matter.  We're in the right year, so there's that.

So The Mirror Crack'd - A Christie classic.  Always fun, always twists and turns.

I followed the book by watching the 1980 film with a lot of big stars (!) that I honestly had never really seen before: Joan Crawford, Kim Novak, Rock Hudson, Tony Curtis, and of course my favorite Dame Angela Lansbury in the role of Miss Marple.  

Books are always better, though, aren't they?

Pardon my brief comments.  As I age, my mind does not remain as sharp as Miss Jane's.  And I didn't mark anything specific to comment on here.

Thanks for the fun, as always.

b.

67. Double Sin and Other Stories (1961)

 Dear Agatha,

Before we start, here is an unsolved mystery for you to unravel.  Where on earth have I been for nearly 3 years???

Honestly, I don't know either.

Mystery #2:  What happened to my book?

Looks like she's been through a lot, amirite?  Thankfully I've got another on the way so the collection will still be intact.

This collection was really a good way for me to jump back in to reading your works.  About half of the stories I had read before, but not all.  But lucky for me I have a poor memory so reading them again doesn't mean I was bored a bit.  In fact, I think I enjoyed them more.  These were "Double Sin," "Wasps' Nest," "The Theft of the Royal Ruby" (which has been published elsewhere as "The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding), "Greenshaw's Folly" (which I sure thought had something to do with a gazebo or something, but um, no, not at all).

But new to me:

"The Dressmaker's Doll" and "The Last Seance" - I am not particularly into the supernatural.  Still, occasionally, I don't mind it - with something like a feel for The Twilight Zone.  This was "The Dressmaker's Doll"... but "Seance" - eh.  It was dark and short and I kind of feel like they should have listened to Elise.

"The Double Clue" was fun, but I do think you saved the best for last with "Sanctuary."  The stories featured both Poirot and Marple and a few with neither.  It felt like a nice visit with old friends.

Thank you for pulling me back in, dear Agatha.

b.

66. The Pale Horse (1961)

Hi, Agatha - 

As I said last time, I read this months ago and am wayyyy behind on my blogging and updating on Goodreads.  I don't remember a lot of details, although I do know that I ended up really liking this despite being apprehensive that the solution would be supernatural. 

I will do a more proper entry next time, dear Agatha.

Always,

b.

59. Destination Unknown (1954)

 {also published as So Many Steps to Death}

Ah, Agatha ~

This book... hmmm...

I loved Hilary and her story, and the book was interesting enough for me to keep on because I wanted to see how that all would turn out, but... this one... this one I'm not sure stands the test of time.  Or perhaps it does, but I am just not a fan of whatever genre this is.  A mystery, yes - and even a murder thrown in at the end - but the politics / conspiracy / spy / take-over-the-world genre... not really my favorite.

But no worries... I have many more to go.

Respectfully,

b.

58. A Pocket Full of Rye (1953)

 Dear Agatha,

It's been awhile.  It's been awhile since I have read anything, but I have especially missed you.  I've worked.  We've moved.  In fact, I'm not sure where my next Christie even is... 

But this book was sure a wonderful one to return to.  I loved how you used an innocent nursery rhyme as a blueprint for a murder mystery.  I read someone used the term "rhyme crime" and you've certainly used that pattern before and again, but I love it and find it wonderful.  The whole conflict between the innocence of childhood and the that wickedness of adults is such a perfect tension.

From Goodreads:  Librarian's note: this is one of 13 books in the Miss Marple series, which includes twelve novels and one collection of short stories - "The Thirteen Problems." There are a total of 20 short stories about Miss M, seven of which can be found in other collections. Entries for each of the novels and short stories can be found on Goodreads.

Sing a song of sixpence,
A pocket full of rye.
Four and twenty blackbirds,
Baked in a pie.

When the pie was opened
The birds began to sing;
Wasn't that a dainty dish,
To set before the king.

The king was in his counting house,
Counting out his money;
The queen was in the parlour,
Eating bread and honey.

The maid was in the garden,
Hanging out the clothes,
When down came a blackbird
And pecked off her nose.

Thanks again, Dame Agatha,

b.

57. Funerals are Fatal (1953)

 {also published as After the Funeral}

Dear Agatha,

I enjoyed this book so much!  I was nervous at first because there were so many characters, but within a few chapters I had managed to sort out who was who and each had such a distinct personality.  I loved it.

But.

Miss Gilchrist was a spare faded-looking woman with short iron grey hair.  She had one of those indeterminable faces that women around fifty so often acquire.

I'm still trying to figure out (a) what this means, and (b) whether or not to be offended.  But I guess since you were older than 60 when this was published, I won't worry about it too much.

I don't know why I let so much time go between reading my Christies.  I am never disappointed. Maybe 2021 will be the year I finish.  Not likely, but maybe.

Merry Christmas, Agatha.

b.

54. The Under Dog and Other Stories (1951)

Good morning, dear Agatha,

Nothing like a global pandemic to get me reading more, eh?  The kids and I are doing another reading challenge, too - seeing how many pages we can read by the beginning of May.  I'm over 800.  I would guess Grace is about the same, and Josh probably has 246,129.

So, I really enjoyed the main story of this collection, "The Under Dog."  I also liked hearing from sweet Hastings again for the rest of the stories.  

When people talk about you, Dame Agatha - it's always to call you the Queen of Crime and discuss the different complicated plots and solutions of your mysteries.  One thing that isn't mentioned that much, in my humble opinion, is your humor.  I love it because it's subtle, but these scenes from "The Under Dog" certainly made me chuckle.

"I believe in small men!  They are the clever ones!"  (Followed up by Poirot's observation that Inspector Miller is a tall man)

"A heavy thud," he said impressively.

"If I mistake not, it is a dull thud in most works of romance," murmured Poirot.

"Maybe, sir," said Parsons severely.  "It was a heavy thud I heard."

"A thousand pardons," said Poirot.

"Do not mention it, sir.  After the thud, in the silence, I heard..."

Some of the stories seemed vaguely familiar to me.  Perhaps I'd read them before I started this blog - I'm not sure.  I don't see reference to them in skimming my blog posts and the only other collection I see them as part of is Poirot's Early Cases (1974).  For example, the scene of "The Submarine Plans" where the bold young man stole a kiss from the French maid on the stairs seemed familiar, as well as the masquerade of "The Affair at the Victory Ball" (although granted the characters they dressed up as do pop up here and there in some of your other works).

All in all, while I do prefer your novels over your short stories, this was, as always, a great read.

52. Three Blind Mice and Other Stories (1950)

{also published as The Mousetrap}

Agatha!  

How I loved "Three Blind Mice"!  I kept seeing it in my head as a brilliant play.  I Googled it to see if it had been done.  I'm an idiot.  I knew "Mousetrap" has been one of the longest-running plays in history in London and I have always wanted to see it - but it took until this morning to realize it's the same play.  Doh!

But...!  This was such a wonderful, fun read.  I loved every minute of it and now I doubly can't wait to see the play performed.  Someday...

Other stories -

With Jane Marple:

• "Strange Jest" 
• "Tape Measure Murder"
• "The Case of the Perfect Maid"
• "The Case of the Caretaker"

With Hercules Poirot:

• "The Third-Floor Flat"
• "The Adventure of Johnnie Waverly"
• "Four and Twenty Blackbirds"

And with Satterthwaite and Harley Quin:

• "The Love Detectives"

What a tremendous volume of stories, dear Agatha.  Obviously "Three Blind Mice" was my favorite, but I enjoyed every one of the others, too - even those strange birds Satterthwaite and Quin.

We are in a strange state of the world today, dear Agatha.  We are in the midst of a worldwide panic over the coronavirus pandemic.  I've never seen any reaction like this at all.  Schools closed, many, many businesses closed.  I'm not sure how I will navigate the next few weeks.  But one good thing about it - there will be lots of time for reading.  And I have lots of books.

Back soon,

b.

PS:  Another mystery...:

51. A Murder is Announced (1951)

Dear Agatha,

This is most certainly one of my favorites.  Such a clever way for the story to begin, full of twists and turns, and an even more clever ending.  I think this would make a fantastic play or movie.  I am not even the biggest Marple fan, but I absolutely loved it.

No quotes today - nothing really to add.  I just sat back and enjoyed this one.

Thanks as always,
me

50. Crooked House (1949)

Dear Agatha,

Another fun, twisty adventure.  I enjoyed reading something with a different person on the hunt, although I do love me some Poirot.  

So, there's this:

"More children suffer from interference than noninterference."

Gave me pause.  Not sure I agree.  I guess extreme interference and extreme noninterference are both harmful, in fact, that's why we have Peter.  His parental noninterference became neglect.  Anyway.

"We're all too fond of each other.  We're not like some families where they all hate each other like poison.  That must be pretty bad, but it's almost worse to live all tangled up in conflicting affections."

Interesting.  Dysfunction much?

I love metafictional comments like this, especially those that your works solidly rebut:

"Anyway...girls can't be detectives."

Thanks for another wonderful read, dear Agatha!

Always,

b.

47. The Labors of Hercules (1947)

Dear Agatha,

What a crazy journey it has been, these past six or so months.  Our life was upended and we have moved over 1000 miles away back to our desert home in California.  Crazy series of events, for sure, leaving me out of my reading routine.  I have a couple of books - like this - that I read months ago - and never had time to blog.  And, because I'm 50 now, I honestly don't remember a lot abou them.  Please forgive me.

Getting back on track.

b.

45. Sparkling Cyanide (1945)

{also published as Remembered Death}

I loved this one, dear Agatha - especially the structure of it, with the first half-dozen chapters being remembrances of Rosemary (rosemary means remembrance) by different characters.  In fact, I might just go back and re-read the chapter of the murderer now that I know whodunit...

Some of my favorite passages:

Race to George:  "I don't like it, George.  These melodramatic ideas out of books don't work.  Go to the police..."

George:  "These women who have children when they're over forty never seem to learn any sense.  Spoil the brats from the cradle by giving them every damned thing they want!"

"But like most people with an idea, George thought only of that idea."

"'What about the cyanide? Was there any container found?'

     'Yes.  A small white paper packet under the table.  Traces of cyanide crystals inside.  No finger-prints on it.  In a detective story, of course, it would be some special kind of paper or folded in some special way.  I'd like to give these detective story writers a course of routine work. They'd soon learn how most things are untraceable and nobody ever notices anything anywhere!'"

"'Moral:  every murderess was a nice girl once.'"

I loved this book, Agatha.  It definitely goes into the "read it again" file... if there's ever enough time.

Love,

b.

44. Death Comes as the End (1944)

Hello, Dame Agatha ~

Funny how I was able to get 3 of your novels read in January, giving me false hope that that would set the pace for the year.  And then February came, and... suddenly we're 1/3 of the way through March.

I'll be honest - I suspected I wouldn't like this book, set as it is in ancient Egypt.  But I was wrong.  Once I finally got past the first few paragraphs and odd names, I was hooked.  Wikipedia says "it is also the first full-length novel combining historical fiction and the whodunit/detective story, a genre which would later come to be called the historical whodunit."  So yeah - *that's* kind of cool!

One of the things I admire about your writing, Agatha, is the depth of the characters you create in just 175 or so pages, all along crafting a detective story littered with clues and surprises and death along the way.  This was short - but it was absolutely filled with murder and mayhem and twists and turns along every page.  And while it was set thousands of years ago in a completely different region and culture, it just goes to show that there's nothing new under the sun.  People love, people hate, people are inclined to evil and ambition and pride... then or now.

I loved Hori and the ending of the novel... I was worried for a little bit there.  And all the people who died... whatever - except one.  Aw.  :(

I have to say, though - this isn't my favorite cover!

Thanks for the fun again, dear Agatha. 

Hungry for more,
b.

42. The Moving Finger (1942)

{also published as The Case of the Moving Finger}

Ah, dear Agatha... I loved everything about this book - except the title.  I thought the title was dumb.  I thought a better title would've been something to do with a Poison Pen... 

BUT...

Then I googled the reason for the title and wise ol' Wikipedia told me:

The book takes its name from verse 51 of Edward FitzGerald's translation of the Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám:

The Moving Finger writes; and, having writ,

Moves on: nor all thy Piety nor Wit

Shall lure it back to cancel half a Line,

Nor all thy Tears wash out a Word of it.

The poem, in turn, refers to Belshazzar's feast as related in the Book of Daniel, where the expression the writing on the wall originated.

The title shows in the story figuratively and literally. The anonymous letters point blame from one town resident to another.^[3] The Scotland Yard agent determines the envelopes were all "typed by someone using one finger" to avoid a recognisable 'touch'.^[6]

So I am back to loving everything about this novel.

It does make me smile to think this is called a Marple mystery.  Miss Jane doesn't show up until the novel is 75% through, and the narrator - very likable Jerry - does most of the crime solving, although admittedly it does take Miss Jane to point it out.

I found Megan's character intriguing enough to make me want to read this again someday, paying more attention to the aspect of her relationship with Jerry.  There are some dated ideas in here, of course, but nothing to make me like it any less.

As always, dear Agatha, thanks for the fun! 

b.

41. Murder in Retrospect (1942)

{also published as Five Little Pigs}

So I've been working on this little project of mine - reading all your published books in publication order - for three years now.  I'm roughly halfway there.  I think I've been reading at a decent pace, but boy I'd better step it up a bit if I don't want to say that it took me a decade to finish all of them.  (I know, my math is off, but that's called hyperbole.)

I'm starting 2019 off well enough on a good reading pace, although peak tax season hasn't really hit yet.  Still, I'm going to set a personal goal to get 24 Christies completed this year, finishing the project in 2020.  2 Agathas : 1 other book per month.  We shall see how it goes.

It took me a reeeeeeally long time to finish this book.  I just had the hardest time getting into it and distractions, as usual, abound.  I did enjoy it when I finished it, though, and wrapped up the next book, The Moving Finger, quite quickly after that.  And look how cool their covers look side-by-side!  They aren't next to each other on the bookcase (alphabetized, you know), so I'm glad I noticed it.

That's all I've got for this one, dear Agatha.  :)  Plugging along.

Always,
b.

36. Sad Cypress (1940)

How do I love thee, Dear Agatha? Let me count the ways...

I mean, really... there must be a thousand reasons why I love to read your "detective fiction."  (One is that you often refer to your characters reading too much of it.  It always makes me chuckle.)

This book was a quick read that took me awhile.  I have been away from Christies for some time, trying to finish the wonderful but oh-so-verbose The Lord of the Rings.  I'm headed out of town in a couple of weeks.  I might take a book with me but was leading toward reading some of the stuff on my Kindle instead - traveling lighter, I guess.  We shall see.  But back to Sad Cypress.

Five stars, Dame Agatha! because you snuck up on me and surprised me yet again.

I loved the connection to roses and The War of... I loved the mentions of current movies at the time.  I loved the tension between love and happiness and how both might not be found in the same person.  (And I'm glad, for I didn't necessarily love the character that Elinor loved.)  I loved this slightly different format - Poirot didn't gather all the involved into a study to explain how it all worked out. He was present and brilliant and saved the day, *and* he answered questions in the final chapter, but it was still different from before.

Loved every page, dear Agatha.  Thanks again.

Beth

34. And Then There Were None (1939)

{also published as Ten Little Indians}

First book I've read in one sitting in... years.

This.

Dear Agatha, I have always thought that The Murder of Roger Ackroyd was my favorite Christie.  Murder on the Orient Express is up, there, too.  But this... this book is different from any of the others I've read.

I'd almost classify it as horror or suspense rather than detective fiction.  Yes, there is a mystery to solve -- who exactly is U. N. Owen? - but it is solved in the context of ten people fighting for their lives.  That definitely brings a horror / suspense element to the normally cerebral cozy mystery that we are so used to from you.

Roger Ackroyd was written early on and certainly established your position as Queen of Deception, but the novels that followed were often formulaic (no criticism intended as I still can never guess the culprit!).  Then, somehow, you manage to do something so creative, so extraordinary with And Then There Were None - in the middle of it all.  It blows my mind simply that you published something like 5 novels in 1938 and 1939 - that alone is a feat of workmanship to be admired - but to come out with ATTWN in the middle? Astounding.

What else can I say?

I love that the mystery is not solved with the final chapter.  Or what you think is the solution is found not to be the solution in the epilogue.  It isn't until the final pages of the novel in one character's confession that everything is wrapped up neatly.  (If it weren't for that confession, we would have no solution!  What if...?)  Even structurally this book transcends norms.

Tonight we get to go see the stage version of the story.  I can't imagine how this will translate into a live production.  And I can't wait!

33. Easy to Kill (1939)

{also published as Murder is Easy}

(I like the American title of Easy to Kill better, dear Agatha.)

I *loved* this book.

It was really outrageous and shocking and twisty and fun.

And while you know I adore Hercule Poirot, it was certainly a nice break from his order and method - in favor of a new sleuth in town (a not very successful one, in the end, mind you) and the lovely heroine (who, as she said, would not die - although it was close!). 

A serial killer with no apparent pattern, no apparent links among the victims... Red herrings and twists and mentions of detective fiction and books and... what is not to love about this book?

And no typos, unlike the previous read. (Forgot to mention that, did I? It *annoys* the heck out of me, Agatha!)

Love!

me

PS:  Oh yeah - I started this book with the British edition on my Kindle.  (1) The title changed - not unusual - but (2) the British version has chapter titles while the American version does not.  Odd.  And (3) one of the main characters' name was changed from Pinkerton to Fullerton.  Hmmm...

PPS:  And... on my cover there is a picture of... someone.  Who?  Not sure, really.  It could be the creeper Ellsworthy (who made me think of Mr. Gold of Once Upon a Time) I guess.  Or maybe Miss Waynflete?  I don't know.  But I *love* the cover art that came up on my Goodreads post.

32. A Holiday for Murder (1939)

{also published as Murder for Christmas}

Dear Agatha,

What if Mrs. Boynton from Appointment with Death had hooked up with Simeon Lee from this book?  Holy cow - talk about dysfunctional families led by a sadistic figure.  This book actually felt very similar to AWD - hated head of the family dies, every member benefits, every family member a potential suspect.  Yet this one went a step further with another common theme of yours - people aren't who they say they are.

It wasn't until a chapter or two in that I realized I'd read this before - and what it was that made me remember was Lydia tending one of her creative garden landscapes.  I am blessed (or cursed, depending on the scenario) with a very bad memory, but it is a blessing when rereading books because I still didn't know the ending, the culprit, or anything!  But yeah - it was part of an anthology I'd picked up a few years ago called Murder for Christmas.

Anyway, dear friend (I would so like to consider you a friend, if I may), thanks again for the fun.  I love to hang out with you and hear your stories.

Always,
Beth