Book Review: A Christmas Tragedy by Agatha Christie

Author: Agatha Christie

Title: A Christmas Tragedy

Series: Miss Marple #SS 10

Genre: Short story, Mystery, Classic

Format: ebook

Pages: 38

Published: January 1, 1930

Where I got It: Borrowed from library

Summary: 

At a health resort, Miss Marple becomes suspicious that a man she meets is planning on murdering his wife. It's the Keston Spa Hydro just prior to Christmas where she sees a husband and wife couple, the Sanders, and senses that there's something wrong. Is she becoming desensitized to murder and crime? Or is there something to her concern?

Review:

I've really been eating up some Agatha Christie lately! Her stuff has just been tickling my fancy lately. 

Here we are again with Miss Maple. While at a health resort, Miss Marple becomes suspicious that a man she is meeting murdered his wife. Something is wrong, but she can't tell if there is actually something or not. 

Awww, I'm really like Miss Marple. She is a fun character. I love Hercule, but I am loving Marple too. 

This was a nice little gem. It's nearly Christmas, and Marple just knows something is wrong... but is there? 

Of course there is lol, but I liked watching Marple get to the conclusion. 

Def a nice short and fun read.

Great ending. 

5 stars from me. 

Reading Challenges

- Library Love #34

B's Monday Review: The Witness for the Dead by Katherine Addison

Series: The Cemeteries of Amalo (#1), The Chronicles of Osreth (#2)

Format: 320 pages, Paperback

Published: July 22, 2021 by Solaris

Fantasy/own

This was a standalone sequel to book 1, which I honestly do not remember much of anymore.

Thara Celehar is a witness for the dead and is in a new city. An unknown dead person is found, and he is the one that solves the mystery of who she is, and then who killed her. While solving that mystery he also witnesses for someone else. There are small sidequests while working out the main story.

It was all told in this calm manner. I enjoyed reading about Celehar, and I would love to dive into this world again.

Enjoyable murder mystery set in a fantasy world.

When the young half-goblin emperor Maia sought to learn who had killed his father and half-brothers, he turned to an obscure resident of his Court, a Prelate of Ulis and a Witness for the Dead. Thara Celehar found the truth, though it did him no good to discover it. He lost his place as a retainer of his cousin the former Empress, and made far too many enemies among the many factions vying for power in the new Court. The favor of the Emperor is a dangerous coin.

Now Celehar lives in the city of Amalo, far from the Court though not exactly in exile. He has not escaped from politics, but his position gives him the ability to serve the common people of the city, which is his preference. He lives modestly, but his decency and fundamental honesty will not permit him to live quietly. As a Witness for the Dead, he can, sometimes, speak to the recently dead: see the last thing they saw, know the last thought they had, experience the last thing they felt. it is his duty to use that ability to resolve disputes, to ascertain the intent of the dead, to find the killers of the murdered.

Celehar's skills now lead him out of the quiet and into a morass of treachery, murder, and injustice. No matter his own background with the imperial house, Celehar will stand with the commoners, and possibly find a light in the darkness.

Audiobook Review: The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst

Author: Sarah Beth Durst
Narrator: Caitlin Davies

Title: The Spellshop

Series: Spellshop #1

Genre: Fantasy, Cozy, Romance
Format: Audiobook

Published: July 9, 2024
Where I Got It: Library


Summary: 

Kiela has always had trouble dealing with people. Thankfully, as a librarian at the Great Library of Alyssium, she and her assistant, Caz—a magically sentient spider plant—have spent the last decade sequestered among the empire’s most precious spellbooks, preserving their magic for the city’s elite.

When a revolution begins and the library goes up in flames, she and Caz flee with all the spellbooks they can carry and head to a remote island Kiela never thought she’d see again: her childhood home. Taking refuge there, Kiela discovers, much to her dismay, a nosy—and very handsome—neighbor who can’t take a hint and keeps showing up day after day to make sure she’s fed and to help fix up her new home.

In need of income, Kiela identifies something that even the bakery in town doesn’t have: jam. With the help of an old recipe book her parents left her and a bit of illegal magic, her cottage garden is soon covered in ripe berries.

But magic can do more than make life a little sweeter, so Kiela risks the consequences of using unsanctioned spells and opens the island’s first-ever and much needed secret spellshop.

Review:

Been itching to check this one out. Love a good cozy. Plus, I've been wanting some fantasy. 

Here we follow Kiela, who has lived a quiet life as a librarian. Her only friend has been her assistant and plant, Caz. Revolution breaks out, and they are forced to flee. Taking some books with her, she finds herself in her childhood home. Needing an income, she starts selling jam and a bit of illegal magic. She tries to keep her books and magic a secret, but it is hard with the nosy townsfolk and her handsome neighbor. 

This was a fun lil guy. Fantasy and cozy with just enough drama to keep it interesting. Kiela is just wants to be left alone with her books and Caz. But moving back to the small town of her youth...well...that isn't an option. 

There is a splash of romance here, but it wasn't the whole thing, and that made me happy. I liked seeing Kiela find friends, peace, and a place to call her own. 

I do want to learn more about this revolution tbf. It could make for a good not cozy read. 

Mmmmm what else? 

OH! That cover???? LOVE. 

Oh. The narrator did a good job. I liked her voices overall. Some were a little too similar that there was a time or two I had to backtrack because I lost who said what. But she did well!

Overall, this was a nice cozy listen. Loved the fantasy elements. The romance, cozy, and drama were well balanced. I'll give this 4 stars. 

Reading Challenges

- Audiobook #48

- Library Love #33

Book Review: The Grownup by Gillian Flynn

Author: Gillian Flynn

Title: The Grownup

Genre: Short story, Thriller, Horror, Mystery

Format: ebook

Pages: 64

Published: June 17, 2014

Where I got It: Borrowed from library

Summary: 

A canny young woman is struggling to survive by perpetrating various levels of mostly harmless fraud. On a rainy April morning, she is reading auras at Spiritual Palms when Susan Burke walks in. A keen observer of human behavior, our unnamed narrator immediately diagnoses beautiful, rich Susan as an unhappy woman eager to give her lovely life a drama injection. However, when the "psychic" visits the eerie Victorian home that has been the source of Susan’s terror and grief, she realizes she may not have to pretend to believe in ghosts anymore. Miles, Susan’s teenage stepson, doesn’t help matters with his disturbing manner and grisly imagination.

Review:

I've read a book or two by this author, so why not? I ran out of time for October, but November counts. 

We follow the story of a young woman who is just trying to survive. She is good at reading people, so she has been able to do decent. She is hired by Susan, whose home has been her source of terror and grief. 

This was a weird story for sure. Dark and just plain weird. BUUUUT I did enjoy the journey. 

The ending? That was.....something. I still can't decide if I like it or not. Mmmmm. Might do a re-read one day. 

But yes, this was a nice sprinkle for the spooky season. Weird and dark. 

4 stars. 

Reading Challenges

- Library Love #32