Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie

Poirot finds himself on a train with a murdered man next door and too many suspects. As he methodically makes his way through the passengers, he finds a connection to an old kidnapping case lies at the heart of the murder.

This is probably my 4th reading of Orient Express. I can't remember when I first read it but it was one of my favorites as a teenager. It's a joy to get to listen to the audio book version especially as it is read by David Suchet, the quintessential Hercule Poirot. He does an excellent job, as expected, of bringing to life one of Christie's most famous mysteries.

The mystery itself, though now a classic mystery ending, is surprising at the end with its complexity. There are a number of clues, misdirections, and red herrings but once all the pertinent information has been gathered Poirot uses his little grey cells to solve the case.

6 hours, 53 minutes.

The Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie (audio)

When  Colonel Protheroe is found dead at the vicarage, it causes quite the stir in St. Mary Mead. Even after there are two confessions, the police and the townsfolk are wondering how it happened. But little old Miss Marple is the one who solves the case.

I read a lot of Agatha Christie as a teenager, like a lot. But it's been a while so when SYNC offered up The Murder at the Vicarage I knew I had to give it a listen. And I'm glad I did. I love a good murder mystery especially one that features Miss Marple who is clearly one of the best detectives ever conceived. It's interesting that everyone views her as a nosy old lady even the vicar at the start of the book. But by the end he comes to respect her keen observation powers and skills at deduction. Miss Marple is an example to us all.

I don't remember reading this book though I'm sure I did so I couldn't remember the solution. It was simple yet not at all obvious like most of Christie's mysteries. I didn't remember it being from the vicar's view point but I liked that. He had the most clues and was the most involved so it makes sense. Now I feeling like a mystery kick and will have to grab a few more Agatha Christie mysteries.

The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith

Cormoran Strike is having some serious troubles with his girlfriend, with paying back his debts and with life in general. But when a wealthy lawyer walks into his office asking him to solve the murder of his famous supermodel sister, he becomes embroiled in a case where everyone has something to hide. Because although the police have already determined that her death was a suicide, something tells Strike there is more to it than that.

How easy it was to capitalize on a person’s own bent for self-destruction; how simple to nudge them into non-being, then to stand back and shrug and agree that it had been the inevitable result of a chaotic, catastrophic life.

I picked this up after I learned who the real author was under the pseudonym.  Of course I did. I tried her Casual Vacancy but literary novels are not my thing.  But mysteries are. It was really good, long but good. I enjoyed it. Rowling can certainly write and certainly world-build. She also creates great characters like Cormoran Strike, the main character and detective in this novel. He is flawed but a good person and a very thorough detective. I liked him. And his temporary assistant Robin was also a great character though she needed more fleshing out.

Overall the mystery was very well done and the ending was a surprise. Though there was a part that I guess was hinted at but still felt like it came out of nowhere. I'm happy that there is another book planned because I liked Cormoran and his methodical detective work and his life story and I'd like to see it explored more rather than doled out in bits and pieces.

Prep School Confidential by Kara Taylor

Anne Dowling may have accidentally set fire to her school's auditorium and gotten kicked out but that doesn't mean her parents have to ship her off to boarding school. But they do and she finds herself having a decent time until her roommate is murdered. The school doesn't seem interested in finding the murderer, just on pretending everyone is safe. Not one to leave things alone, Anne goes in search of who killed her roommate and finds that her roommate is not as innocent as she appeared and that the school is covering up a multitude of secrets.

I don't stick around to hand out explanations. I abandon my chicken salad and take off after Zach. He's fast, but my ever-unflinching willingness to cause a huge scene give me the upper hand her. p. 199 ARC

Here's what I learned. 1. Don't read murder mysteries before bed even if they are YA and you think you are safe. Sometimes they are creepier than you think. 2. This is going to be a series and I'm pretty excited about that. I love a good mystery series and this one has more real elements than a lot of other YA mysteries that I have read. 3. That's about all.

While I did find some parts of this book stretch the imagination a bit far, I was still okay with that. It was amazing the amount of cover-up Anne found as she searched for Isabella's killer. I guess a school as old and prestigious as the Wheatley School would have a lot of secrets. Still it is amazing the lengths that Anne goes to when trying to find her roommate's murder. I was surprised by whodunit because there were very few clues left in that direction. Usually there is at least a little foreshadowing involved. But I enjoyed the mystery and I enjoyed the characters. Anne is bold and brash and an all around cool girl. The love triangle felt a bit forced with her but the guys are pretty awesome. Between the beautiful Brent and the bad boy Anthony, twin brother of Isabella, Anne had a lot to choose from. I assume these relationships will develop further with the series. I love that her last name is Dowling and I wonder if that is a nod to the Father Dowling mysteries. I guess she is going to be sticking around Wheatley since the next book seems to follow a decades old mystery that was touch on in this book.


Received from Netgalley for review.
Publish date: July 30, 2013
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

Red Glove (The Curse Workers #2) by Holly Black

Cassel returns to his boarding school after discovering just what kind of curse work he is capable of and, after his mother works Lila, the girl he loves and consequently
can no longer have. When his brother is murdered Cassel becomes trapped between the FBI and the mob, both of whom want to use his talents for their own cause.

I have to say that Red Glove was as brilliant as White Cat, a book that I loved wholeheartedly.  Even as Cassel explains how to swindle a mark, I can't help but love him.  I feel sorry for him and I keep hoping he can just get out of this whole thing alive.  He is certainly not an innocent character but there is something about him that invites sympathy and I sincerely hope that he can get together with Lila and live a normal life.  I don't think that is possible but, you know, one can hope. 

I love the world of the curse workers that Black has built.  It is intriguing that, as one of the FBI agents says, if you know that you are a curse worker then you've already broken the law.  Because it is taboo to lay bare hands on someone else and it is illegal to work someone.  I love how just the sight of bare hands causes an extreme reaction in people.  It's almost like being naked and carrying a loaded weapon at the same time.

SPOILERS:
(highlight) ** I just wanted to say that I was kind of right about the chair.  In my review of White Cat, I questioned the chair, thinking maybe it was Cassel's dad.  I was wrong about that, but it was a person.  I feel alright about my detecting ability right now because I also was guessed it was Maura that killed her husband.**

Hogwarts: Defence Against the Dark Arts

Slice of Cherry (Portero #2) (e-book) by Dia Reeves

Fancy and Kit Cordelle are the daughters of the Bonesaw Killer and are ostracized by their town because of their serial killer dad.  But the girls have inherited their dad's love of murder though they try to suppress it.  Until Fancy opens a door into another world, that is.  With a place to hide the bodies, the girls begin giving into their desires though they try to only hurt those who hurt others.  But once the Turner boys, whose dad was the Bonesaw Killer's last victim, take an interest in the Cordelle sisters things begin to change.  And Fancy does not like change...

Kit settled against the building opposite the side door of the dress shop, her cap pulled low over her eyes so that her poison mouth was the most visible part of her, the same shade of red as the brick in her fist. (e-book)

Well, this was....er...different.  For me, anyway.  I don't usually read horror since I like to sleep at night but I was drawn to this book, initially, because of the super amazing cover.  And then I read the description and thought well, okay, I'll give it a shot.  Then I download it onto the Nook and got scared.  What was I thinking?  I thought.  I'll wait. But I peeked at the beginning and decide to read the first chapter, then a chapter after that.  And wouldn't you know it?  I read the whole thing.  But only during the day.  I'm serious about sleeping.  And it was a good thing I did.  Because this is some disturbing stuff.  Girls who like to murder people, yeah.  Disturbing.  But strangely compelling too.  I honestly could not figure out where this story was headed especially with the introduction of the two guys.  And so I kept reading because I was invested in Fancy and Kit and could not tell where this was going and where they were going to end up.

There is a whole fantasy element to the story that is rare in a horror novel. At the first appearance of the monsters, I was surprised (I haven't read Bleeding Violet which is set in the same town), but once I went with the whole concept, it blended horror and fantasy perfectly.  The town is interesting with the way they have developed coping mechanisms for the appearance of real life monsters and their reaction to the girls' "solving" of their problems is different.  It defies expectations which is something that can be said for the whole book.

Fancy and Kit do not invite sympathy.  At all.  But the character growth in both of them is done with such style. And the love interest part of the story was very mysterious.  I really couldn't figure out what angle the Turner boys were coming from until it was spelled out for me.  I liked that.  I hate guessing the ending before the story is over. 

Despite the fact that I liked it and that I'm praising it, I must say that this book isn't for everyone.  It has some really gory elements and is disturbing.  The fantasy elements might be off-putting for straight horror fans and the horror elements might be too much for fantasy fans.  But if you can put up with fairly graphic scenes of murder and mayhem, then I suggest you read it.  Just don't read it before bed.


Hogwarts: Defence Against the Dark Arts
E-book Challenge

The Lying Game (e-book) by Sara Shepherd

Emma is a foster kid bouncing from house to house.  When she sees a disturbing video online with a girl that looks exactly like her, she wonders what is going on.  Figuring out that she must have a twin, she goes to the girl's hometown only to end up impersonating her twin sister, Sutton, while trying to figure out what happened to the real girl and who is out to get them both.

It was a relief to me, too.  Back at my house, maybe we'd finally get some answers.  p.52 ARC e-book 

Gossip Girl meets Desperate Housewives meets Lois Duncan.  And really really good.  This is a carefully woven tale of games people play, lies they tell and feelings that get hurt and the vengeful road that leads down.  I was sucked in almost immediately and spent the whole book jumping from person to person as the suspect.  And then the book ended with no real answer.  NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!  It is a series so I guess I should have expected that.  Having never read the Pretty Little Liars series, I didn't have any ideas of Shepherd's style.  But now, after reading The Lying Game, I do and I'm definitely reaching for the first one of that series. 

All of the characters are so well drawn that I can picture them in my head.  And the whole concept of the Lying Game that Sutton and her friends play.  Chilling.  I really want to know more about Sutton.  She is such an enigma and I feel like there is a whole lot about her that has yet to be explored.  The same goes for her friends and sister.  There are quite a few mysteries going on besides the bigger mystery of Sutton and I'm excited to read the next one. 

Review based on e-galley provided by Net Galley.
Hogwarts: Defence Against the Dark Arts

Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder

To escape a horrific life, Yelena does something horrific in turn; she murders the son of her orphanage's benefactor who is also the General of her District.  Sentenced to execution, she is offered the chance to live if she take the job as the food taster for the Commander of Ixia, a job that comes with many risks of its own.  Now she chances death with every taste all the while dodging assassins from the General and magicians from the southern continent who seem to have it in for her as well.

I used the map of the castle that I had copied in my journal to find the library.  It was a multilevel suite of rooms, burgeoning with books.  The smell of decay and dust floated in the air along with a sense of abandonment.  I was saddened by the knowledge that this tremendous source of information was going to waste because the Commander discouraged his people from educating themselves beyond what was necessary for their jobs.  p.158

Question: How awesome is this book?
Answer: Pretty freaking awesome!

I've seen this around and finally got around to reading it.  I wish I had read it sooner because it was really really good.  The main character reminded me a bit of Katsa but without the awesome Graceling powers.  Yelena had such a strong spirit and great survival skills.  When she is offered the poison as food taster, she immediately begins to calculate her escape.  Even after she is tied down to the position by the poison she is given to prevent this escape she does everything she can to prevent being killed by the General whose son she killed, learning a lot about herself along the way.

All the characters were well drawn and, in addition to, Yelena, I especially liked Valek, the chief of security and the Commander who is a very interesting character that surprised me at the end.  I liked how level-headed and fair the Commander is and the friendship between him and Valek.  I also liked the dynamic between Yelena and Valek.  The story really sucked me in and it was one of the first books I've stayed up late to finish in a long time.  It was intriguing and sad and fantastic and hopeful.


Read for the Take a Another Chance Challenge - Blogroll Roulette: I went from The O.W.L.'s blogroll to her number 2 (the number from random) blog and ended up on Bookworming in the 21st Century and picked Poison Study from her list.  She gave it 5/5 so I'm optimistic.


Hogwarts: Defence Against the Dark Arts
Take Another Chance
Library

White Cat (The Curse Workers #1) (e-book) by Holly Black

Cassel comes from a family of criminal curse workers, people who have the power to change people, change their memories, their luck, their emotion, with just one touch.  He is the one person in his family who is not a worker, but he is a great con man.  Haunted by the memory of the murder he committed, Cassel tries to become the most normal kid, but his hard work of normalcy starts to unravel the night he finds himself of the school roof lead by a dream of a white cat.

In the Sharpe family the worst thing you can do is be vulnerable in front of a mark.  And everyone who isn't us is a mark.  p.26 e-book

I'm a sucker for a good con game story.  I loved Heist Society and Ocean's 11.  Something about these especially when the main character is sympathetic makes me happy.  Cassel is an extremely sympathetic character even as he explains how to swindle or outright steal from someone.  There are some seriously horrific things going on this book though, but Cassel carries the whole book really well.  The whole idea of curse workers is an intriguing one and there are a lot of parallels that can be drawn to their situation. I liked the whole world that Black built.  It was very thorough and there were lots details that support the idea of the curse workers and their abilities and oppression as well as the fear that having people with the innate ability to change someone would bring.  The mystery was sound and I enjoyed the resolution.  Now I can't wait for Red Glove to come out and I will definitively read that one as soon as it is published.

**SPOILER section (highlight)!
Question for people who have read the book.  Do you think Cassel changed his dad into the chair that he hates but that no one in the family wants to get rid of?  I know that is a weird detail to walk away with, but I was wondering if that one of the memories that got changed.  Like if he did it on accident or if his brothers made him do it, but didn't have the heart to get rid of the dad like they should have.  Maybe that's crazy though.**

Hogwarts: Transfiguration
Colorful Reading
R.I.P.
Twentyten

Low Red Moon by Ivy Devlin

Avery Hood is discovered one night, covered in her parent's blood after they are murdered.  She can't remember much about that night except for flashes of silver.  Now living with her grandmother, she longs to remember what happened to her parents.  But something dark and evil is evading the woods around her house and it's after Avery too.

But now I realized I hadn't understood longing at all.  It wasn't about hope.   It was about want, pure and simple.
p.55 ARC

Y'all, this book is super creepy.  From the very first moment when Avery is found covered head to toe with her parent's blood next to their mutilated bodies all the way to the very surprising ending.  Creepy.  It really kept me guessing and gave me the shivers.  It managed to evoke a quiet, chilling atmosphere while providing an interesting murder mystery and a few paranormal elements.  It was well-written and the main characters were well fleshed out.

I really liked this book.  I would have loved it though if it didn't include the supernatural element that was Ben, the new boy at school.  I mean Ben the character was fine and his connection thing with Avery was actually fine.  It provided a necessary though mostly unexplained reason for his character.  It's what Ben is that bothered me.  It seemed unnecessary though I suppose plot-wise it actually was necessary.  I just wish it had been different.  But I liked the supernatural aspect of Avery and thought it was pretty neat and different.  Can't win them all.


Sidenote: I bet the real book is beautiful.  The ARC has a little bit of what I think the whole book will be, with red at each chapter break and it is gorgeous.   I'll have to pick up a regular copy to see.

Hogwarts: Defence Against the Dark Arts
R.I.P. (mystery)

Beautiful Malice

After her sister's death, Katherine moves in with her aunt, unable to face the loneliness and grief at her own house and also looking for a fresh start.  When she meets beautiful and charismatic Alice, she finally feels like she can move on.  But Alice is hiding a dark side and soon Katherine is afraid of what Alice will do next.

I didn't go to Alice's funeral.
I was pregnant at the time, crazy and wild with grief. p.1

In most books when the sibling dies and the main character blames themselves, it is usually for no real reason.  But, man, does Katherine have a reason.  And, yet, she was wholly sympathetic because she made a choice and she choose wrong.  But that's the thing about choices.  You can't say they are good or bad until you've already made them.  So I felt sorry for Katherine and for her parents and I was wholly creeped about by Alice.  From the book's description, it is apparent that Alice is not all there, but her insanity is best read, it cannot be described.  Her motivation for her behavior was surprising and not lacking, just unwarranted.  I was impressed with the narration through three time periods in Katherine's life and the story of what happened to her sister is unfolded slowly, horrifyingly.  There is a lot of time of guilt and redemption and choices.  I can't say that anything was lacking in this book because all the answers were waiting right there as I read along.  It was an intense and almost sad book.  I liked it.

Won from GoodRead's First Reads (out July 13, 2010)
Hogwarts: Defence Against the Dark Arts
YA
Twentyten

Liar

Micha is a liar, but she's telling the truth now.  She swears she didn't kill her secret boyfriend, Zack and she doesn't know what happened.  She swears that's the whole truth, but is it? 

I don't read, but I do like libraries.  I like order, and libraries are all about order.  Every book has a place.  It's quiet, too: no music. p.99

I can't think how to say it nicely so I'll just say it.  This book is a mindf*#k.  I knew it was going to be before I started, but I had not contemplated exactly what that meant until I got to the end and was gasping at the sheer enormity of this book; the audacity, the craziness.  If you haven't read it, I highly recommend that you do.

I'm not sure what to say because I really don't want to spoil anyone.  This book would be no fun otherwise.  Well, a little fun, but it wouldn't be the same.  I am weirdly a fan of unreliable narrator books which is funny because they are no fun in real life.  But I digress.  Micah is a piece of work.  I felt so sorry for her, but at the same time, I almost couldn't stand her.  Larbalestier did a brilliant job of writing an almost sympathetic unreliable narrator.  She did a brilliant job of making me believe multiple things at once and of convincing me each and every time that she was telling the truth.  A-maz-ing.

*My opinion for everyone who has read the book which contains SPOILERS (highlight):
I think the whole book was a lie.  I'm not sure about what Micah and Zach's relationship was, but I wonder if they were in a relationship at all.  I think she killed him and is in prison and that the whole thing is what she wished would have happened.  Because I think she did love him, maybe as a girlfriend, maybe as a stalker and that her parents abandoned her in prison, but her biology teacher visits her. 
END SPOILERS*

I recommend The Basic Eight by Daniel Handler if you like this book.  I recommend it no matter what in general because it is equally as brilliant.

Hogwarts: Defence Against the Dark Arts
YA
Library
Another Chance

Something Wicked: A Horotio Wilkes Mystery

"How are you, Horatio?" he asked.
"Swell.  If things get any better I'm going to have to hire someone to help me enjoy it." p.102

"No, I forget -- your parents read you bedtime stories from Raymond Chandler."  p.222

After reading Something Rotten, I just had to read the next book, Something Wicked.  I really love Horatio Wilkes.  And Something Wicked really stood up to Something Rotten and solidified the character.  Horatio is very funny and sarcastic, friendly and loyal.  And he is a great detective.

Wicked is, of course, based on Macbeth, a play that I'm not terribly familiar with.  I'm mean I know the basic plot but I've never actually read it or saw the play or anything.  But even give that, it wasn't really necessary to know Macbeth to understand this book.  I really enjoyed this book though I probably missed some inside jokes.  It reads just like a regular murder mystery but, if you are familiar with Macbeth, then you know who did it.  There are no major plot changes here, but the dialogue just crackles.  It is a fun retelling of the Macbeth story.  This would be a great way of introducing teens to Shakespeare and maybe get them to read the original afterward (as pointed out as well at What Was I Reading).  My only complaint is that there aren't currently any more Horatio Wilkes books out.  I can't wait for the next one.

The Hunger Games

Katniss lives in District 12, a poor place that is responsible for mining coal. There are 12 Districts total and the Capital who controls everyone. To remind the people of their control, each District is required to send one girl and one boy, tributes, to the Hunger Games where only one can survive. Katniss volunteers to go in the place of her sister and soon she is embroiled in a deadly game where killing is the only means of survival.

Many people I know have read this book and I've actually had sitting on a shelf in my office for a long time. It was one of those going to reads. But when I joined the Take a Chance Challenge and my random author came up as Collins, I googled "author Collins" and this was the first hit I got. And I am so glad it did. This book was amazing. I started at lunch on Monday and finished at lunch on Tuesday. I literally couldn't put it down.

The idea, of course, is repugnant; sending teenagers, children really, in to kill each other on required viewing national television. But this book was so compelling. Katniss is a strong character and it was interesting to see what lengths she would go to survive. She was very cunning and quick and that was very important, but still clueless about social situations. I liked Peetra, the boy tribute from her district. I could see his story coming so there wasn't much of a surprise there, but he was a good character. The last scene of the game was the most disturbing of all for me and made me a little sick, it was almost too much. It won't stop me from reading the next one though. This was definitely an A++.