Mrs. Christie at the Mystery Guild Library - Amanda Chapman

 Mrs. Christie at the Mystery Guild Library by Amanda Chapman - 358 pages

Book conservator Tory Van Dyne and a woman claiming to be Agatha Christie on holiday from the Great Beyond join forces to catch a killer in this spirited mystery from Amanda Chapman.

Tory Van Dyne is the most down-to-earth member of a decidedly eccentric old-money New York family. For one thing, as book conservator at Manhattan’s Mystery Guild Library, she actually has a job. Plus, she’s left up-town society behind for a quiet life downtown. So she’s not thrilled when she discovers a woman in the library’s Christie Room who calmly introduces herself as Agatha Christie, politely requests a cocktail and announces she’s there to help solve a murder -- that has not yet happened.

But as soon as Tory determines that this is just a fairly nutty Christie fangirl, her socialite/actress cousin Nicola gets caught up in the suspicious death of her less-than-lovable talent agent. Nic, as always, looks to Tory for help. Tory, in turn, looks to Mrs. Christie. The woman, whoever or whatever she is, clearly knows her stuff when it comes to crime.

Aided by a found family of unlikely sleuths -- including a snarky librarian, an eleven-year-old computer whiz, and an NYPD detective with terrible taste in suits -- Tory and the woman claiming to be her very much deceased literary idol begin to unravel the twists and turns of a murderer’s devious mind. Because, in the immortal words of Miss Jane Marple, “murder is never simple.”

Hallowe'en Party (Hercule Poirot, #41) by Agatha Christie

 Hallowe'en Party (Hercule Poirot, #41) by Agatha Christie-259 pages

⭐⭐⭐

This is our next Book to Movie Club selection. The movie based on the book is called "A Haunting in Venice." A young girl, Joyce Reynolds, is drowned in a tub of apples (for bobbing for apples) at a Halloween party. Hercule Poirot's author friend, Ariadne Oliver, who was at the party asks him to investigate the murder. This book is a bit meandering and unfocused. It is definitely not Agatha Christie's best work. It does pick up a bit near the end, though. The ending does pretty much wrap things up and tie all the ends together, but I am still not fully satisfied with it. I actually like the movie better, perhaps because the story is different and more focused.

And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

 

And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie-300 pages

What can you say...Its Agatha Christie!  This one is actually very scarey to me.  An excellent plot twist that you don't see coming.  I always enjoy Dame Agatha...she is the one who got me started on my love of mysteries way back in 5th grade! (Yes...a hundred years ago!) Whenever I need to work my little grey cells she's the one I go to.

LOVED it!

Miss Marple: The Complete Short Stories by Agatha Christie

 Miss Marple: The Complete Short Stories by Agatha Christie, 346 pages

Miss Marple is my favorite Agatha Christie sleuth, and I have read the Marple short stories several times. Personally, I think this collection is a great place to start for the Marple uninitiated, because the stories are short enough to read at least one in a sitting, but not so notoriously complicated that, even if you haven't read them before, you can't make an educated guess at the culprit. 

A Body in the Library by Agatha Christie

 

The Body in the Library by Agatha Christie-183 pages

A Miss Marple Mystery.  A girls body is found in the library of the Colonels home.  Neither he nor his wife have ever seen the girl before.  In true Dame Agatha's tradition, there are many characters and many plot twists.  I have enjoyed her books my whole life.

And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

 264 pages / 6 hrs, 1 min

First, there were ten—a curious assortment of strangers summoned as weekend guests to a little private island off the coast of Devon. Their host, an eccentric millionaire unknown to all of them, is nowhere to be found. All that the guests have in common is a wicked past they're unwilling to reveal—and a secret that will seal their fate. For each has been marked for murder. A famous nursery rhyme is framed and hung in every room of the mansion.

When they realize that murders are occurring as described in the rhyme, terror mounts. One by one they fall prey. Before the weekend is out, there will be none. Who has choreographed this dastardly scheme? And who will be left to tell the tale? Only the dead are above suspicion.

I re-read this for the Jefferson County Reads initiative, and could hardly put it down. I forgot how suspenseful and superbly written it is! I'm looking forward to attending one of the book discussion groups on it. I give it five out of five stars.

Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie

 Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie, 285 pages

When the cantankerous Colonel Protheroe is found murdered in the Vicar's study, the sleepy village of St. Mary Mead is thrown into a hotbed of suspicion, gossip, and mystery. Despite the involvement of the police, the village doctor, and the vicar himself, the murder is solved by none other than Miss Marple, the old maid across the lane. 

Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie

 Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie-323 pages

I read this in 2020, so this was my second time reading it. We're doing this book/movie for the Book to Movie Club, so I wanted to re-read it. I liked it just as much the second time. I have renewed appreciation for Agatha Christie and her writing prowess. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys a good mystery. As is usually the case, I enjoyed the book much more than the movie, although the movie isn't bad. 

The Christie Affair by Nina de Gramont

 

                                                                             

           The Christie Affair by Nina de Gramont-307 pages

I love anything Agatha Christie; so of course I had to read this!  Sad to say it was a real struggle for me
to get through.  I had to keep reminding myself that this is a work of fiction.  There are too many strange story lines and the whole plot is bizarre.  Since the story teller is Arche Christie's mistress, Nan O'Dea, it is more her story than Agatha's. I found myself wondering what Dame Agatha would have thought about such an outlandish re-imagining of her mysterious eleven missing days.

Not sure what I was expecting but it certainly was not this. 

The Killings at Kingfisher Hill by Sophie Hannah

 

The Killings at Kingfisher Hill by Sophie Hannah-272 pages

Hercule Poirot is travelling by luxury passenger coach from London to the exclusive Kingfisher Hill estate. Richard Devonport has summoned him to prove that his fiancée, Helen, is innocent of the murder of his brother, Frank. There is one strange condition attached to this request: Poirot must conceal his true reason for being there from the rest of the Devonport family.

On the coach, a distressed woman leaps up, demanding to disembark. She insists that if she stays in her seat, she will be murdered. A seat-swap is arranged, and the rest of the journey passes without incident. But Poirot has a bad feeling about it, and his fears are later confirmed when a body is discovered in the Devonports' home with a note that refers to "the seat that you shouldn’t have sat in."

Not as good as her previous "Agatha Christie" novels.  It was ok.  Even though I am still looking forward to reading her next Hercule Poirot mystery.

Death on the Nile (Hercule Poirot #17) by Agatha Christie

 Death on the Nile (Hercule Poirot #17) by Agatha Christie-351 pages

I have previously read Murder on the Orient Express and I found it fascinating. I decided to read this for the movie tie-in challenge, but (obviously) I did not finish it in time. I found this just as fascinating as Murder on the Orient Express. I am not an avid mystery reader, but I do like Agatha Christie. In this Poirot mystery, a rich young heiress who recently married her best friend's former fiancé, is murdered aboard a cruise ship on the Nile River in Egypt. Two more passengers are murdered soon after. Throughout the story, many plausible suspects are considered. Other, less sinister, crimes are unearthed (such as Linnet Doyle's pearls being stolen). The story takes many twists and turns, but the ending is very satisfying and makes sense. I would highly recommend this, especially since there is a movie releasing soon. 

Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie

 

        Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie-351 pages

        True to Dame Agatha's form of writing, there are many characters and alot of subplots.  Didn't          see the end coming so I enjoyed it very much.  She truly was a master at her craft.

Black Coffee by Agatha Christie, Adapted as a novel by Charles Osbourne

Black Coffee by Agatha Christie, Adapted as a novel by Charles Osbourne, 289 pages

I usually like Agatha Christie's mysteries, but for some reason, I did not really care for this one.  Maybe, because it was adapted by a different author.  In this novel, Hercule Poirot is called to Surrey by a British Scientist who fears someone is trying to steal his latest formula.  Poirot is too late.  Sir Claud Amory is found murdered by someone in his household and the formula is missing.  Can Poirot solve the murder?

The Body in the Library by Agatha Christie

The Body in the Library by Agatha Christie, 253 pages

This is one of Agatha Christie's classic murder mysteries with Miss. Marple.  When a body is found in the Bantry's Library, Miss. Marple is called in to help solve the case of the murdered young women, Ruby Keene.  Traveling to the Majestic Hotel where Ruby worked as a dancer, Miss Marple, uncovers many clues to the murder.  But, when another girl's body turns up, Miss. Marple really has a mystery to solve.  Agatha Christie's novels are timeless and leave the reader on the edge of their seat!

Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie

Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie-315 pages

I watched the new movie based on this classic mystery by Agatha Christie and it was pretty good, so I wanted to read the book, especially since last month was mystery month for the blog. Unfortunately, I was not able to finish it before the month ended, so I am blogging it now. I enjoyed reading the book because the story flows well once it gets going. I noticed some differences between the book and the new movie, such as some of the characters names and/or occupations. I am glad I have read the book and I enjoyed it, overall.

And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie, 194 pages

I don't think I have read an Agatha Christie book in many, many years.  But, I must say this is one of the best mysteries I have read in a long time.  I believe it is on one of the lists that is a must read book.  The book reminded me of the movie and the game Clue. When ten people are invited to Indian Island by a mysterious person, they wonder why they are gathered together.  And, then they find out the shocking reason why.  But, when one by one the guests are found murdered, everybody becomes a suspect.  There are twists and turns and a surprise ending.  This was a very good book indeed!