Ordeal by Innocence by Agatha Christie

Ordeal by Innocence by Agatha Christie

by CarolNo Comments
It's been a long time since the last time I read Ordeal by Innocence. It's one of Christie's standalones without any of her regular characters. Instead, we have the dysfunctional Argyle family, and Dr. Calgary who has upset their status quo. Jacko Argyle was convicted of killing his mother, despite his claiming to have an alibi, and died in prison. Now, two years later, Dr. Calgary shows up to provide Jacko's solid alibi - first the doctor had had amnesia from an accident, then gone on a research trip to Antarctica, so had been unable to testify at the trial. Now, the case is reopened, and all the "innocent" are under scrutiny again.This is not my favorite of Christie's books. Most of the Argyles are unlikable and we get to spend a lot of time learning about their odd relationships with their adoptive parents and each other. Rachel Argyle, the victim, had opened their home to children during the...
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The Chester Grand Murders by Karen Baugh Menuhin

The Chester Grand Murders by Karen Baugh Menuhin

by CarolNo Comments
This time around, Lennox and Swift are called to the Grand Hotel in Chester. Three members of the Grand Proprietors’ Syndicate have recently died, each ruled an accident, but three accidents among ten members is more than suspicious.Lennox and Swift are there usual selves, Swift more practical and by the book, Lennox willing to act bit more on instinct - and to stop for a bite to eat. The whole gang shows up - wives and children and pets to add to the fun and chaos.I appreciate that the secondary characters get full personalities, with secrets and entanglements and plenty of drama. I did figure out the whodunnit and kind of wish the book had gone a different direction, but it all made sense and the clue worked together well....
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And Then There Were Bun by Vivien Chien

And Then There Were Bun by Vivien Chien

by CarolNo Comments
I like Lana and her friends and family, but I've never been a huge fan of her detective boyfriend, Adam, and here he's the main suspect in the murder of her ex-boyfriend from college. Adam is suspended while the case is being investigated, which is even more awkward because Megan, Lana's best friend, is dating the chief, Adam's boss.I didn't necessarily love this one. The whole throwback to college people when you're 30 and haven't seen them since forever seems odd. It's weird that the ex even came to the party and Adam's behavior, both losing control during an argument and being so secretive about how he's spending his time recently, seemed out of character. Sometimes I just want characters, and people in real life for that matter, to act like grown ups.The mystery itself was fine. We had plenty of clues and several suspects. I'm not a fan of how quick Lana and Megan can be at jumping to...
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Murders in the Marquee by Dana Mentink

Murders in the Marquee by Dana Mentink

by CarolNo Comments
I didn't love Murders in the Marquee. The setting had potential, a fancy hotel in San Francisco in the early 1900s. The ducks, who paraded through the lobby on a daily basis, were cute. The rest of the book was kind of dumb. Our three amateur sleuths, Kitty, a hotel guest, Saul, the man who takes care of the ducks, and Henry, the elevator boy, were an unlikely team, given the era and Kitty's social class. Kitty herself is a bit annoying. Her clearly well-off and all she does is whine. I never really cared about Saul or Henry and felt like their personalities were rather superficial.The mystery was slow. All the clues added up in the end, but they're doled out one at a time and it's like the three have to deal with each clue before they're allowed to have the next.I will say I didn't pay attention to who the publisher was. This would definitely fall...
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Mistress of the Art of Death by Ariana Franklin

Mistress of the Art of Death by Ariana Franklin

by Carol2 Comments
It's 1171 and King Henry II has a problem. Children are being murdered in Cambridge, and the Jews have been blamed, which wouldn't matter much, except the King gets a lot of taxes from them. The Jews are currently under the King's protection in a castle fortress, but the situation needs resolved. He requests aid from the King of Sicily, who send an unlikely trio to England: Simon of Naples, a Jewish investigator; Mansur, a eunuch Saracen; and Adelia Aguilar, a woman doctor trained in the study of corpses.The medieval setting was fascinating.. Religion and politics are completely intertwined. The crusades are on-going. There are calls for the Jews removal from England. Women have little to no value or sway. Adelia, herself, has to pretend she is not as competent and knowledgeable as she is, just to avoid being burned as a witch. Women in historical novels are so often more progressive and have more agency than the majority did...
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