Carol – Page 12 – Carol's Notebook

The Last Death of the Year by Sophie Hannah

January 13, 2026January 13, 2026 by Carol6 Comments

Hercule Poirot has brought Edward Catchpole to the House of Perpetual Welcome on a Greek Island for New Year's Eve, 1933. They are staying as the guests of Nash, the wealthy young man whose parents own the estate. Nash espouses the idea of radical forgiveness and has formed a small community that lives out that ideal, with the stated intent of changing the world. Of course, if he's invited Poirot, we know all is not well. When an after dinner game of guessing each other's New Year's resolutions shows someone is definitely contemplating committing murder, probably before the night is out, celebrations are put on hold. I don't really have a lot to say about this one. Poirot is not exactly Poirot, but he's fine and I've read others in this "New Poirot" series, so knew what to expect. I actually like Catchpole, even if he's a step or two behind Poirot. The folks who live at the...

The Right Murder by Craig Rice

January 8, 2026January 8, 2026 by Carol1 Comment

The Right Murder was my last read of 2025, which worked well, since the book starts on New Years Eve. Defense lawyer John J. Malone is getting drunk in a bar - no surprise - and missing Jake Justus and Helene Brand, who are on their honeymoon. This is a direct follow-up to The Wrong Murder, in which Mona McClane bets Jake her Casino that she can murder someone in a public places and get away with it. In that book a murder is solved, but Mona was not the killer and she states that they had ‘followed the wrong corpse," so the question of who she killed is still hanging out there. Then a man staggers into the bar, calls for Malone, and falls down dead, stabbed - and we're off. I don't think I'm giving away anything the title doesn't by saying this time the murder is connected to Mona. Before Malone and Chicago Police Captain von Flanagan have...

The Wrong Murder by Craig Rice

January 7, 2026January 7, 2026 by Carol2 Comments

The Wrong Murder is another one that I finished at the end of December. I actually wanted to read #4 in the series, The Right Murder, which opens on New Year's Eve, but all the reviews said to read #3 first, which was the right choice. The Wrong Murder has a self-contained mystery, but it is also the set-up for The Right Murder - and I love those titles. This is also the first of Rice's book I've read. I don't know how I missed her. Jake Justus and Helene Brand have just gotten married and they are at a reception hosted by her father. Everyone is drinking - everyone is always drinking in these books. Jake runs into socialite Mona McClane and she ends up making what seems to be an absurd bet, but both she and Jake take it quite seriously. Mona bets that she can commit a murder in broad daylight with lots of witnesses and get...

Read Christie 2026

January 6, 2026June 16, 2026 by CarolNo Comments

I am a huge Agatha Christie fan and love participating in the Read Christie challenge hosted at agathachristie.com. This year the theme is “Biggest, Best, Beloved” books. There are “official” selections, but you can also choice to read alternatives. The hashtag is #ReadChristie2026. January - Best Opening - The Body in the Library by Agatha ChristieFebruary - Beloved Character(s) - Mrs. McGinty’s Dead by Agatha ChristieMarch - Biggest Impact on You As A Young Reader - Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha ChristieApril - Beloved in your Collection - A Caribbean Mystery by Agatha ChristieMay - Best Short Story Collection - The Labors of Hercules by Agatha ChristieJune - Best to Read in One Sitting (The Murder of Roger Ackroyd) - The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha ChristieJuly - Best-Kept Secret (The Rose and the Yew Tree)August - Beloved Duo (By the Pricking of My Thumbs)September - Best According to Agatha (Endless Night)October - Best Cold Case (Sleeping Murder)November -...

Literary Escapes Challenge 2026

January 6, 2026July 7, 2026 by Carol2 Comments

The Literary Escapes Challenge hosted at Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book is one I don't do great at but have fun keeping track of. The goal is to read 1 book set in each of the 50 states + the District of Columbia. (51 Points). If you complete the challenge you earn 50 Bonus Points. You also can earn Bonus Points for books set in Countries around the world. 1 Bonus Point for each country – no repeats. Alabama Alaska - Murder and Mayheim by Ronica Black and Toni Logan Arizona Arkansas California - A Very Novel Murder by Ellie Alexander Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida - Murder by Cheesecake by Rachel Ekstrom Courage Georgia - Murder with a Side of Shrimp and Grits by Skylar Warren Hawaii - Cruising Through Midlife by Addison Moore Idaho Illinois - Arsenic and Adobo by Mia P. Manansala Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine - Murder Will Out by Jennifer K. Breedlove Maryland - On the Hook by Rae Keech Massachusetts - The Dog Park Murders by Angela Barker Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North...

2026 Audiobook Challenge

January 6, 2026January 6, 2026 by CarolNo Comments

I’m signing up for the 2026 Audiobook Challenge, hosted by Caffeinated Reviewer and That’s What I’m Talking About. I might be a bit of an audiobook junkie. My goal for the year is 75+, which puts me at the Over-Achiever level. The hashtag is #2026AudiobookChallenge. Also, June is Audiobook Month, so there will be a special mini-challenge just for the month. Books read:...