And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie Review - Cozy Mystery Challenge

Summary: Considered the best mystery novel ever written by many readers, And Then There Were None is the story of 10 strangers, each lured to Indian Island by a mysterious host. Once his guests have arrived, the host accuses each person of murder. Unable to leave the island, the guests begin to share their darkest secrets--until they begin to die. (from Amazon)

My Thoughts: I had never read an Agatha Christie book before this one. I know, I know! I am not even sure why, other than that I prefer my mysteries set in the U.S. And based on this book, I would read another Christie book, but they wouldn't be my first choice.

And then There were None starts out at a frenetic pace, which carries on throughout the book, We are introduced to the 10 strangers on their way to the island - most arriving via train. Being introduced to 10 characters in 16 pages makes it a little hard to keep them straight! One they get to the island. people start dropping like flies, and it makes a good mystery trying to find out who is the killer and what the motive might be. I liked the ending of the book itself - and that can make or break a book for me. But Christie added an epilogue that ruined the ending for me. BUT then she added a postscript of sorts that totally saved the ending.

I would give it 4 out of 5 stars. The writing is excellent, and the concept is pretty amazing, but it was hard to keep the characters straight.

A Clue for the Puzzle Lady (Cozy Mystery Challenge 2012: Book 3)

A Clue for the Puzzle Lady 

by Parnell Hall

About: Cruciverbalists, rejoice! Pick up a pencil and get ready to solve a puzzling murder-and an actual crossword puzzle-in this sparkling debut of a unique amateur detective: Miss Cora Felton, an eccentric old lady with a syndicated puzzle column, an irresistible urge to poke into unsettling events, and a niece who's determined to keep her out of trouble.

When the body of an unknown teenage girl turns up in the cemetery in the quiet town of Bakerhaven, Police Chief Dale Harper finds himself investigating his first homicide. A baffling clue leads him to consult Bakerhaven's resident puzzle expert-his first big mistake. Soon Cora's meddling, mischief-making behavior drives Chief Harper to distraction and inspires many cross words from her long-suffering niece, Sherry. But when another body turns up in a murder that hits much closer to home, Cora must find a killer-before she winds up in a wooden box three feet across...and six down. (from Amazon)

My review: Well, this was not one of my favorite books. It is tough to like a book when you dislike the main characters. Cora is an alcoholic, and almost utterly useless. Her drunk antics were not funny, interesting or relevant to the story. Her niece Sherry comes across as being too big for her britches, and almost standoffish against Aaron Grant, the local reporter, who of course turns into her love interest - kinda, maybe. Poor police chief Harper is a bumbling loveable type - I kept picturing him as the police chief from the Simpsons.

The mystery itself was interesting - trying to figure out the link between the two people who were killed and what all of the clues meant. But the writing was stiff and the characters unlikeable, so I don't think I will be reading any more of this series.

Crunch Time (Cozy Mystery Challenge 2012: Book 2)

E and I were going to a class at the library, so I thought I'd stop quickly beforehand and pick up my next cozy mystery challenge book. Well, E decided not to cooperate, and so I was grateful to see that the next book in one of my most favorite series was available. I could quickly grab it and go down to the children's section before he started pitching a fit!

Crunch Time by Diane Mott Davidson

Description:  Colorado caterer Goldy Schulz cooks up big trouble as she tries to help her longtime friend and fellow chef Yolanda Garcia. When the rental house shared by Yolanda and her irrepressible aunt Ferdinanda is destroyed by arson, the pair move in with cop-turned-PI Ernest McLeod. But then Ernest is shot dead and his house is set on fire, nearly killing Goldy, Yolanda, Ferdinanda, and nine beagle puppies that Ernest had recently rescued from a puppy mill.

Concerned for her friends, Goldy invites them to stay with her while the sheriff’s department investigates. Yet even Goldy’s house isn’t safe, and after a failed break-in by an unknown intruder a cop is sent to keep an eye on things. Then a second body is found.

Swapping her chef’s hat for a sleuthing cap, the intrepid Goldy steps up the investigation. But she’s got to move fast. It’s crunch time to close in on a killer, before he can close in on her. (via amazon)

Review:  This is one of my favorite book series. I love culinary mysteries, and I love stories where the setting is important, and this series catches it all. While it wasn't my favorite book in the series, it was still a jam packed action ride.

This book was full of new and returning characters, and sometimes it was hard to keep them all straight. I love the character of Goldy Schultz and the way she can get people to talk (usually baked goods are involved!), and in this book she is at her best. However, two newer characters, Yolanda and her great Aunt Ferdinanda were kind of annoying. Having Ferdinanda in a wheelchair seemed a bit gimmicky.

There are a lot of storylines going on at once so it got a bit chaotic at times. Ernest had several clients when he was killed, so each of their storylines are developed along with the main "whodunit" mystery. There are also a few other sidelines and characters thrown in for good measure.

I did like how so much of Crunch Time, like the other books,  depended on the mountain setting. Some of the most pivotal parts of the story couldn't happen in, say, the wetlands. Davidson is very good at putting the reader right with Goldy in her big ole catering van tooling around Aspen Meadows.

While this wasn't the best of the series, I do highly recommend them. Start with the first book Catering to Nobody.

Cozy mystery Challenge 2012: Book 1: Eggs in Purgatory

I signed up for the challenge last year and DID read all of the books I signed up for... I just didn't blog them all. Oops. So we are trying again this year. Wish me luck!!!

Eggs in Purgatory (A Crackleberry Club mystery) by Laura Childs review

Description: Suzanne, Toni, and Petra lose their husbands but find independence when they open the Cackleberry Club. Then their cozy cafe becomes the scene of a crime when a lawyer dies with a secret on his lips and egg on his face. What this all has to do with a religious cult and Suzanne's past could put her own life on the line. (via amazon)

Review: Eggs in Purgatory starts off with the murder being quickly established. The tale spins of from there and includes a lot of characters - I got lost among them. I had no clue who the murderer was - even after the person was named! However, I did like how different Suzanne, Petra and Toni were. Each one added their own part of the story. And I SO wish the Crackleberry Club really did exist!

I too wondered how a cult would fit into this story and it brings a level of seriousness to the story. I enjoyed trying to figure out how each different element fit into the murders - cults and churches and egg delivery trucks and the mayor and even the bumbling chief of police.

Eggs in Purgatory was very engaging and definitely a puzzler. It is the first in the Crackleberry Club series, and I will be sure to read the rest of the series.

Cozy Mystery Challenge: Book 5!

Continuing the non-culinary cozy mystery books, I read Dead Cat Bounce by Sarah Graves.

Summary: With the advent of amateur sleuth Jacobia Tiptree, Eastport, Maine, could become as deadly as Cabot Cove. Having left the daily grind of her job as a financial adviser in New York, Jake, as she is known to her friends, has settled in an old house in Eastport with her teenage son, Sam, away from her annoying ex-husband, the brain surgeon. When Jake discovers a dead man in her storeroom, an ice pick stuck in his head, her tranquillity is up-ended. Her friend and neighbor, Ellie White, starts acting strangely and then confesses to murdering the man, one Threnody McIlwaine, an old friend of Ellie's father and a ruthless corporate raider. Jake is quickly convinced that Ellie is protecting someone - perhaps her vicious mother or her father, who was ruined by McIlwaine - and despite threats to her own well-being continues nosing into the dead man's past. In her polished debut, Graves blends charming, evocative digressions about life in Eastport with an intricate plot, well-drawn characters and a wry sense of humor.  (from Publisher's Weekly)


My Review:  This was a very different book than the ones I have read so far. It seemed a lot more gritty and real mystery than more light-hearted and funny.  The core mystery was good, and I had fun going through the suspects trying to figure out who did it. I really enjoyed the characters - not only the locals such as Can Man and rotten Sadie Peltier - but also Jake's ex-husband and his girlfriend. It was so nice to not have any tips or tricks or, yes, even recipes! This is the first book in the Home Repair is Homicide series, and I would read the rest!

That said... I think I will go back to a culinary mystery for my next book in this challenge!

Want more information on the cozy mystery challenge?Just click the picture below!

Cozy Mystery Challenge: Book 3!

Yes, book 3 is another culinary mystery but I have two more books on tap that aren't culinary mysteries! With luck I will be able to read nad type them up for future posting before this baby is born!!

ANYWAY, today's book is Death Takes the Cake by Melinda Wells.

Description:  To help boost ratings for her show, Della Carmichael agrees to enter a televised cake competition sponsored by Reggi-Mixx, even though the company’s owner, Regina Davis, is an old college nemesis. When she finds someone drowned in a mixing bowl of batter, Della realizes solving this murder will be no cakewalk. (via Amazon)

Review: This is actually the second book in the Della Carmichael series. When I saw this book in the library, I realized that I had read the first one and liked it... then promptly forgot to read any others lol! The character of Della is just a "normal person" and the book is written very straightforward. While cooking is a huge part of Della's life, the book also deals with her love life, her pets and just the everyday. She gets put into this cake competition situation and of course literally stumbles into the mystery! The book introduces a bunch of new characters, but as unusual for me, I figured out "whodunit" fairly quickly. This is a fun, quick read.


Want to join the cozy mystery challenge? Just click the picture below!

Cozy Mystery Challenge: Book 2!

Right onto Book 2...

Glazed Murder by Jessica Beck

From Publisher's Weekly: When a dead body is unceremoniously dumped in front of her small town doughnut shop in the wee hours of the morning, Suzanne Hart knows it's not going to be an ordinary day. The deceased is Patrick Blaine, a friend and loyal customer. Against advice from her overprotective mother and hunky state police investigator Jake Bishop, Suzanne decides to try to track down Patrick's killer, but her investigation makes her a target.

 My Review: YUM!!! This book will have you craving doughnuts by the end of the first chapter!  Beck really knows how to write about foods and the doughnut making process.  Luckily, many doughnut and other goodies recipes are included - but in a different way. They are at the end of each chapter instead of at the end of the book.

The book starts off right away with Suzanne seeing the body being dumped. Several realistic characters are introduced, including Suzanne's mom, who is quite the lady! In between running around her small town and neighboring towns trying to solve them murder with her best friend Grace, Suzanne has a little time for romance... and an ex who won't leave her alone!

I have to admit that this book kept me guessing a little... there was one character  who seemed a little shady to me, and it took me awhile to completely trust this person lol The book is fun and engaging. Beck is good at dropping little hints as to who the murderer might be without making it obvious from the get go. I can't wait to read the rest of the books in this series.

Want to join the cozy mystery challenge? Just click the picture below!

Cozy Mystery Challenge: Book 1!

I am so glad I joined this challenge because I am actually making time for reading again! I've been reading a few chapters in bed at night when Jeff is taking a shower. In fact, I went to the library before work yesterday to get a few more books, sinceI knew we'd be snowed in today.

My first book was A Catered Murder by Isis Crawford. To be honest, I THINK I read this book before. It seemed a little familiar. But I didn't remember "Who done it" at least!

Syopsis: In her assured debut, Crawford, a caterer with many travel-related articles to her credit, introduces an appealing family trio: tender-hearted Libby Simmons, owner of a catering business, A Little Taste of Heaven, in Longely, N.Y.; her wisecracking sister, Bernie, a refugee from L.A. and a disastrous marriage; and Sean, their wheelchair-bound father, a retired police chief. Nasty Laird Wrenn, a best-selling author of vampire fiction, plans to celebrate his success with appropriate menu (Bloody Marys, devil's food cake) and decor to match (black roses, a coffin) at a reunion dinner to be held at the local high school. When Laird drops dead at the dinner after drinking a glass of water, a slew of ill-wishers, including Libby's close friend Tiffany, whom Laird was stringing along, become suspects in his sudden demise. A naturally flowing narrative, lively and likable characters, and plenty of clever word play amid the foul play set this first novel above the common run of cozies. (from Publisher's Weekly)

I liked this book. Crawford did a good job on writing about the dynamic and differences between Libby and Bernie, but also how they are connected. The plot was interesting and the book well written. Crawford does a wonderful job of describing all of the food that Libby is making - from the gross (tomato aspic) to the delicious (devils food cake).  My only issue was the amount of characters - because the book starts with  a class reunion, many characters are introduced at once, and I had a hard time keeping track. In fact, when the murderer was named, I wasn't entire sure ho this person fit into it all! But it was a very interesting book and had enough twists and turns and possible suspects to keep me intrigued.

Want to join the cozy mystery challenge? Just click the picture below!

2011 Cozy Mystery Challenge!

I have been wanting to do some sort of book challenge in 2011, so when I heard about the cozy mystery challenge (from http://dollycas.blogspot.com/) I knew I wanted to participate. Cozy mysteries are some of my favorites, and they are quicker reads too, which is perfect!

The 2011 Cozy Mystery Challenge is being hosted by Debbie's Book Bag!  

What is a cozy mystery, you ask? Click HERE for a great definition from www.cozy-mystery.com, which will provide you with lots of great options for this challenge, including an alphabetical listing of cozy mystery authors.

Cozy mysteries usually involve an female amateur sleuth that gets herself into a trouble trying to solve a mystery. These are light, fun reads that appeal to women who liked reading Trixie Beldon and Nancy Drew books when they were growing up. They are not as heavy and deep as most mystery/thrillers. They usually come as part of a series with specific themes. You can find just about any kind of cozy mystery from knitters, to bakers, to bookshop owners and tattoo artists.
 
Sign Up:

~To Sign up for the challenge you must make a post on your blog announcing your participation in the challenge, your level of participation and link back to this sign up page.

~You then must use the URL of that post to sign up through the Mr. Linky provided here.

~Please post the 2011 Cozy Mystery Challenge Button on your side bar so that others can link back to Debbie's Book Bag, if they want to sign up.

Other Details:

~The challenge will run from January 1, 2011 through December 31, 2011.

~ There will be three levels of participation to choose from:

Amateur Detective: Read 1-5 Cozy Mystery's
Private-Eye: Read 6-10 Cozy Mystery's
GumShoe: Read 11 or more Cozy Mystery's

~ You do NOT need to list your cozy mysteries ahead of time, you can add them as you go. If you do choose to list them up front, feel free to change them as you need to.

~ You can sign up any time during the year!

~ Books that have been read before January 1st 2011 will not count for this challenge.
~ Cross-overs from other challenges are accepted.

~ At the beginning of each month I will make a post for you link your reviews to.

Prizes:

~Every person who signs up for the challenge and links at least 5 cozy mystery reviews within the challenge period will be entered to win a prize at the end of the challenge.

~The prize will be a complete cozy mystery series from your favorite cozy author!

I will be signing up at the Gumshoe Level to read 11 or more cozies in 2011.

Head over to Debbie's Book Bag to sign up! Let me know if you are going to sign up. This sounds like fun :)