Cat Among the Pigeons - Agatha Christie

This was my last read for the Typically British challenge (ends on 12/31). I finished it on the 12th. Like every other Christie mystery I've read, you get thoroughly caught up in the characters and local community of the story. Most of the action takes place at a highly exclusive British girls' boarding school. A political coup, international intrigue, hidden jewels, multiple murders, mysterious characters, and Poirot stepping in towards the end, it's all here. Classic Christie. Very entertaining, enjoyable read.

Whose Body? - Dorothy L. Sayers

I finished this the middle of last month. The first Lord Peter mystery I read was Strong Poison ( I love the character Harriet Vane). I've also finished The Nine Tailors and Have His Carcase. It feels good to finally have finished the first one. As usual, Lord Peter's energy was contagious straight from the pages. And as always, Wimsey's faithful manservant Mervyn Bunter played assistant detective with his photographic skills and patience in suffering fools. But the story itself is a little disappointing, you know early on who the murderer is because there's no other reason for introducing the character. I spent a good part of the story waiting to hear the murder details explained, but not the murderer. And the other reoccurring characters come on more...what's the word I'm looking for...overdone? than in later stories. No criticism against Sayers, she does a fantastic job of developing her style and characters down the line. I think she's making fun of the British upper class, but I could be wrong, satire isn't my strongest suit.

It's an entertaining story, I enjoyed it. But I think if I had read this first written Lord Peter mystery first, I would have been disappointed. If you're new to Lord Peter or Dorothy L. Sayers, I'd suggest working your way backwards and start with a later publication. Just my two cents speaking from experience.

A Morbid Taste For Bones - Ellis Peters

At last! I have finally read a Brother Cadfael mystery! It's been a literary goal of mine for ages, and I'm embarrassed to admit that I've watched quite a few of the BBC series with Derek Jacobi first. I decided to start at the beginning with the first chronicle, at the recommendation of several people. I haven't watched the television version of this story, so the story's mystery was fresh to me. 12th-century Benedictine monk Brother Cadfael is an ex-Crusader and herbalist, who has retired into monastic life at Shrewsbury Abbey. His quick intellect, keen observation, and compassionate understanding of human nature are his crime solving tools. This particular story chronicles the events that take place when his abbey decides to send a delegation to recover the relics of a Welsh saint. Being Welsh himself, Cadfael goes along as an interpreter. While the characters are fictional, the actual event of St. Winifred being moved from a remote Welsh mountain village to Shrewsbury, England in 1138 is an actual historical event. The only vocal opposition the monks encounter is with one local lord. Before they can come to an understanding he is found dead, having been stabbed in the back with a dagger and then pierced with an arrow in his chest post mortem. This sets the main plot, although there are other lesser dramas happening within the story as well, including a story line that illustrates the animosity between the Welsh and English at the time. It's impossible not to like and admire Cadfael, whose life experiences before taking his monastic vows have given him the poise that enables him to look at a situation from every angle. It might take me a while, but I'm going to read all 20 Cadfael mysteries! And I think I can mooch them from my medieval English professor mother, woot!

The Stolen Lake - Joan Aiken

I apologize about the very badly taken homemade pic, but I wanted you to see the cover picture by Edward Gorey on my copy. I couldn't find one online. This was a compulsive reread, I just love this story. My grandmother gave it to me years ago on some occasion, my birthday or Christmas. She had a distinctive all capitalized handwriting.



Sadly, it's the only Dido Twite novel I've read. I've always meant to read the whole series of the Wolves Chronicles (The Wolves of Willoughby Chase, Black Hearts in Battersea, and Nightbirds on Nantucket) but haven't yet. Someday! Dido's a very lovable character. This story involves various people she's adventuring with, little cats and a big cat, and Queen Ginevra (Guinevere) of the land of New Cumbria as the villian. I'm going to leave you with some quoted reviews and whatever your age, I highly recommend this book.

"A larky adventure story that boasts a free and spirited adaptation of Arthurian legend and a generous supply of menace and chills." - Kirkus Reviews

"Dido Twite is back again and what a treat! There is enough material in the book to provide a lesser author with years of work; Joan Aiken's uniqueness lies in her imagination and in the breathless quality of her storytelling." - The Horn Book

"Satisfies, with or without knowledge of the previous books in which Dido appears, and it offers many of the same pleasures as Raiders of the Lost Ark and Excalibur." - School Library Journal

Endless Night - Agatha Christie

I read this for the Typically British challenge over in Book Chick City. It's been a long time since I read an Agatha Christie story, and even longer since I read one that wasn't either Poirot or Miss Marple. I was looking in only part of the right direction when picking a villian for this one. Up until about the last thirty pages, I was still figuring it out, but then it seemed so obvious. Got me again, Aggie. Some people are just inherently evil.