Murder is Easy - Agatha Christie

Murder is apparently so easy some people make a career of it. What DO the people in Christie's books do for a living? They're all, apparently, independently wealthy and none the better for it. I'd tried to read this one years before but had to return it to the library before finishing it. It was worth the wait. A frighteningly high body count, though, wasn't it? At least for Christie? Seems like this should have been some kind of record for an English "cozy." Caught the TV version the other night and thought they did a pretty good job of it.

Groucho Marx, Master Detective - Ron Goulart

"Let's see you be funny with THESE boys," said the Herald Examiner reporter disdainfully.

"If you want to see that, you'll have to buy a ticket," said Groucho.

This is enjoyable little tale by Ron Goulart stars Groucho as himself, most of the time, barring a few side runs as his cigar wraggling alter-ego and even a brief stint, in full regalia, as his brother Harpo. For his crime-fighting efforts solving the murder of a Hollywood starlet, Groucho enlists a radio-show hack and a cartoonist. With his determined side-kicks, Groucho takes on crooked cops and movie moguls and manages to not make it all read like some bad cliche. We get only very brief historical references, placing us in the reality of the time without reading like a travelogue. There is some name-dropping, period style, and we get little run-ins with the likes of John Garfield, but nothing is over-done and it all manages to keep the story rolling along without stretching credulity. Of course, there are smatterings of Groucho's comedic patter, although there is never enough of that to satisfy my Groucho-fixation, but what there is is very welcome and quite in character:

"Is this the face that launched a thousand ships? Not to mention three dirigibles, a tuna barge and a garbage scow?" Groucho stroked his chin. "Next time, I'll tell them to use a champagne bottle."

As an avid movie-buff, I enjoyed the book enough to give it four stars. It's the first in a very short series and I hope to stumble across the rest of the series during my book scroungings.

Thank You for the Flowers - Scott Nicholson

I'm not a horror fan, per se. Sure, I've read my share of Stephen King but then I'm not altogether sure that most of his bibliography actually qualifies as horror. But that's a subject for another post. Anyhoo. I've not read Scott Nicholson's other books, but I'll definitely keep an eye out for them. This one is a collection of short stories and a very satisfying read. The stories are quiet and unassuming on the surface but they sink behind your eyelids and deftly work their way into your imagination. And stick there.

There's no artifice or manipulation in the writing and when you read as much as I do, that's my idea of high praise for an author. The tales are off the beaten track: a Little League team with a vampire shortstop; a serial killer who keeps a late-night deejay on her speed dial; a drought ended by a young girl's tears; a high school girl who has a crush on her best friend's guy -- and so does her best friend's ghost.

The stories will not cause a rift in the tectonic plates, but the characters will make themselves at home in your memory and keep you in good company for a while. And isn't that what good characters are supposed to do?

Shirley Jackson: We Have Always Lived in the Castle

We Have Always Lived in the Castle has been on my TBR list since I was in my late teens, back when pterodactyl ruled the not-so-friendly skies. If you've not read it, I can only say: do so. It's not a mystery per-se but it sure feels like one. There's not much I can say about it which will not spoil it majorly other than the simple cover story: a family is wiped out by poison, leaving only two daughters, and an uncle who managed to survive the poisoning but only just. After saying that, it may sound strange to say it is a delightful book, but it is. Delightful and disturbing and certainly something that will linger in your head for a long, long time. I really like dear little Merricat when she decries the need to leave her home for "the simple need for books and food" -- in that order. I can so relate to that. WHALINC was worth the wait. I wish I'd gotten hold of it sooner.

Hercule Poirot's Christmas - Agatha Christie

Apparently, I'm on an Agatha Christie kick this month, but wow, if I could plot like this, I'd never have time to read. I'd be too busy writing! All the clues were there and I still didn't see it coming. I admit that with all the whining family members, it was nice to find a couple of people with a spine. Too bad they were hell-bent on revenge. But still, with all the back-stabbing family members, who wouldn't feel right at home? Christie, not for the first time, borrows a page from Sherlock Holmes in this one, this time a page from The Hound of the Baskervilles with the family resemblance via an old family portrait. It was kind of fun realizing that, like a little inside joke between reader and author. I was reminded of the quote by Edith Wharton:

Another unsettling element in modern art is that common symptom of immaturity, the dread of doing what has been done before.

Dear Ms. Christie had no such difficulty and good for her. When it's this good, it's not plagiarism, it's homage.

The Devil in Bellminster: An Unlikely Mystery - David Holland

I read this one for the 4MA July challenge of reading books with place names in the titles. The story and characters were interesting, and held my attention straight off the bat, but I had gone into this one expecting the main character to be a Bow Street Runner. Instead, the lead was a Reverend Tuckworth, and I admit I floundered for a couple of chapters because of it, but that was my fault for not reading the blurb. I knew only that this was a historical mystery set in 19th century England and so had walked in with preconceived notions. I'd bought this novel as an ebook well over a year ago, and just pulled it up and started reading without investigating any reviews or such. I later found that The Devil in Bellminster is the start of a series featuring the intrepid Rev. Tuckworth. In this first book, the good reverend finds his crisis of faith interrupted by a serial killer making mayhem in his flock. The characters were well written and the atmosphere was sufficiently rendered to keep me reading straight though and I devoured the tale in one sitting. (The family units heading off for bed early probably didn't hurt, either... ) The story was well plotted. It wouldn't surprise me to see it made into a movie at some point. It certainly read like one. Recommended.

They Do It With Mirrors - Agatha Christie

I love Miss Marple. My first was the filmed version of Murder She Said and then somewhere I caught just a piece of one of Joan Hickson's versions. My ideal Miss M is a cross between Margaret Rutherford and Joan Hickson.

As appealing as Marple is, however, I don't know why anyone would invite her anywhere. People drop like flies when she's about. Of course, with Christie's usual flair for populating her novels with so many people you need a program to keep track, the body count -- and suspect count -- can get hip deep pretty easily. I had this one figured out way too early. Still, a decent read.

Tepper Isn't Going Out - Calvin Trillin

This week's book was Tepper Isn't Going Out, a novel by Calvin Trillin. It's an amusing little satire in which, in the end, you realize that things are not always what they seem. The realization makes the ride all the more enjoyable, though. It's a familiar gentleman-minding-his-own-business-becomes-a-folk-hero story with a twist: this gentleman (who also actually happens to be a gentle man) just wants to be left alone to read his newspaper in his (legally parked) car. In New York City.

While it won't have you rolling in the aisles, it will put a smile on you face and has its fair share of laugh out loud moments. Recommended.

Five Skies - Ron Carlson

Five Skies is, at first glance, a simple enough tale: three men, near strangers, are hired to build a ramp to nowhere. It is a frivolous project, required for a stunt which will occupy mere seconds of a completely forgettable film.

As the project unfolds, however, so do the lives of these deeply wounded men. Five Skies is a quiet, understated novel. It is a glimpse at the violence our simplest decisions can do to our lives. It is a tribute, too, of the healing power of work and of friendships forged not by words, but by the simple act of being there, by the handling of a tool, by the shouldering of part of a load.

Carlson's writing is spare and deep as desolate and beautiful as the landscape he paints. Five Skies is the kind of book you became a reader for. It is a rare gem. Five Skies is five stars.

Sudden Death - David Rosenfelt

Sudden Death by David Rosenfelt. I was attracted to this series for the simple fact that the cover of one of the books featured a dog. I'm a sucker for books with dogs, no matter how slight the reference. In my defense, I checked out reader reviews before actually making a purchase. Even so, I find that I'm guilty of reading this series out of order, having read Dead Center first (which should have followed Sudden Death). I managed to keep track of everything just fine, however.

As with too many mysteries lately, I had the who-dunnit figured about mid-way through, but enjoyed the characters too much to care, Overall, the novel was pretty tightly plotted for what was still a "relaxed" read, with just the right level of humor and cynicism. I think this would make a decent TV series. A kind of Perry Mason meets Eureka, maybe.

Or maybe not.

Once Were Cops - Ken Bruen

This is my first Ken Bruen. I enjoyed the style: stark noir, without all the description. A number of scenes packed a real emotional whallop and surprised me, considering I was reading about characters for who I had no empathy whatsoever. My take is that Shea, Rodriguez and Kebar were all serial killers; Rodriguez and Kebar operated within the cover of the job whereas Shea didn't bother. Rodriguez killed Nora just to mess with Shea's head. I think Rodriguez is without doubt the most dangerous and unstoppable of the three: a sociopath who blends. Anybody read Martha Stout's The Sociopath Next Door? I've worked with people like that. No, I'm not in law enforcement--I'm in the automotive industry. LOL! Despite popular fiction, not all sociopaths kill; some enjoy other methods of decimating people's lives and enjoy watching them grieve their losses. And when sociopaths realize they've been recognized it can get a little eerie...

The ending felt somehow oddly rushed, however. I can't explain why, but it just felt it was simply, suddenly, over.If it were film, I'd chalk it up to the studio planning a franchise. Still, recommended.

The Doorbell Rang - Rex Stout

I had this one laying about the house for at least a decade and finally got around to reading it. My first Nero Wolf, if you can believe it. Someone mentioned on 4 Mystery Addicts that the book that plays a lead roll in The Doorbell Rang, The FBI Nobody Knows, is, apparently, an actual book. I wonder if Stout fielded any heat about that, because the book is obviously damning to the FBI. I can't believe J. Edgar took it lying down. Anyhoo, I enjoyed the plot, loved the snappy dialogue. Loved the character of Archie. He can ring my doorbell anytime.

Downside? Thanks to this book, I've officially added lots more books to my To Be Read stack... And why aren't Stout's books available on the Kindle!? Scandalous!