Alexis' Book Blog

The A.B.C. Murders

Author: Agatha Christie

Year Published: 1935

Stars: 4/5

Synopsis:

Hercule Poirot and Captain Hastings have solved many, many murders together over the past years. Now, Hastings lives in South America and Poirot has long retired from the police force. One morning Poirot receives a letter taunting him to ‘step-in’ and solve a crime. The letter gives the location and date of the murder. Chalking it up as a hoax Poirot stashes the letter away until the murder actually occurs and he receives another letter. Now Poirot and Hastings must try and discover a pattern that exists in his victims to determine who will be next. Can Poirot still solve a case even though he has been retired for years or will the killer outsmart the man with all the grey matter?

Why I liked it:

My mom brought up an interesting point awhile back that made me appreciate Agatha Christie novels more. Some mystery authors cheat the ending of the story. And by cheat I mean the author reveals the killer as being the doorman we meet in chapter 3 and has one line. This is not only insanely frustrating but also makes me wonder how they ever got published. I have read quite a few Christie novels and not once did she ever cheat. She has written hundreds of novels and short stories each unique in content and ending. Considering she writes in the mystery genre, I have to give her props.

Another reason I love this, and all her novels, is that Poirot is not always right. It is infuriating to read a book when the main character is perfect and never makes a mistake. In this book…spoiler alert… Poirot gets sent 4 letters before he solves the crime, which means he was wrong at least 3 times. He is protrayed as human and fallible.

Last, she is just a good author. It is a fun, quick read that transforms you from your couch to rainy England instantly.

What I didn’t like:

The Hercule Poirot novels are all written through the eyes of Captain Hastings, Poirot’s faithful sidekick…which I like. However, Hastings has an unusually small role in this novel. In fact, I almost forgot he was the narrator about midway through. Hastings is smart and ‘has a tendency for stating the obvious’, which always leads to the case being solved. Therefore, even though the point is moot and no more Poirot novels will ever be written, I think Hastings should have had a larger role in the novel. Poirot is interesting but not very likeable. Hastings has a charismatic personality and often provides comic relief.

The other part I don’t like is that Poirot speaks French from time to time. It wouldn’t bother me if I spoke French, but since I do not, it is quite annoying.

Little Known Fact:

Her play, The Mousetrap, is the longest running theatrical play in history. Take that West Side Story and Cats!

Fun Fact:

Christie wrote two famous detectives, Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot; however, my favorite main character is Harley Quin. The Mysterious Mr. Quin, in my opinion, is her best book.

Shutter Island

Author: Dennis Lehane

Year Published: 2003

Stars: 5/5

Synopsis:

In September of 1954, U.S. Marshals Teddy Daniels and Chuck Aule travel to Shutter Island, off the coast of Boston, to investigate the disappearance of a woman named Rachel Solando. Ashecliffe, the facility where Rachel Solando resides, is both a mental hospital and prison. When Teddy and Chuck begin to investigate they quickly realize everyone on the island is lying to them. Each time Chuck and Teddy find an answer, they end up with more questions. Through means I cannot reveal without spoiling the novel, Teddy and Chuck realize they may never leave this island and must rely on each other in order to survive. The ending of this story is one that is almost impossible to guess… Who is Rachel Solando and can they solve her disappearance? Will they leave the island or be stuck there forever?

Why I liked it:

This book is just  very well-written. Probably pretty obvious since I gave it 5 stars. There are two excellent scenes in this story, not including the ending (which is also amazing, but I cannot ruin it for you ). The first scene is about 60 pages in, Teddy and Chuck are engaged in comical banter about how they are not receiving any actual support from the Ashecliffe Staff. In the last line of the chapter Chuck turns to Teddy and says “Joking aside… starting to get nervous here”.  That line sent chills up my back because for the first time, the character validated my own thought of ‘what the heck is going on on this island’.

The second scene occurs in a mausoleum when Chuck and Teddy are attempting to ‘ride-out’ the hurricane. Teddy reveals (small spoiler alert) that he is not solely on the island to solve Rachel Solando’s disappearance.  There is someone on this island Teddy needs/wants to find. That conversation not only reveals more of Teddy’s character, but also sets the mood for the entire novel. Now only a fourth grader would fail to infer from the synopsis on the back of the book or even the cover that the book is mysterious, but Teddy and Chuck’s conversation sets the bar of eeriness throughout the novel.

Overall, I loved the book because the ending is shocking and original. Although I haven’t read thousands of books, I have read enough to know this book is original.  

What I didn’t like:

I only have one qualm with the book, the 1950′s acronyms and syntax. It is understandable that Lehane would create dialogue that is reminiscent of the 1950′s because that is when the novel takes place; however, some of the phrases are hard to decipher without context clues. For example, Teddy knows Dr. Cawley has ties to the OSS. I had no idea what the OSS was. Turns out the OSS was the first version of the CIA, but I am willing to bet most people do not know that. The majority of readers today were not raised in the 1950′s and I can only remember so much from my high school history classes. Footnotes or an appendix with definitions would have been appreciated. While the book has a few more of these acronyms, the majority of text is easy to follow.

Little Known Fact:

The book is divided into 4 days (pretty evenly). In an interview Lehane stated he finished the Day 4 section very quickly because he was having nightmares about the storyline and context of the book.

Fun Fact:

Lehane has written several episodes for HBO’s ‘The Wire’.

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Jamaica Inn

By Daphne du Maurier

Recommended Reading Age:  15 & Up

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By Sandra Miller-Louden

            “The coaches avoided Jamaica Inn, hidden in the harsh Cornish moors not far from the coast, for its name was evil…”  Yes, there’s enough evil to go around in Jamaica Inn, Daphne du Maurier’s dark romance written in 1935 and set on the Cornish coast, in southwest England.

            The year is 1815.  Young Mary Yellen,  journeying to Jamaica Inn to join her Aunt Patience and her Aunt’s husband, Joss Merlyn, the landlord of the inn, is immediately filled with apprehension at the sight of the desolate, bleak moors surrounding her new home.  Once there, she senses the evil swirling around her and knows Merlyn is involved in something wicked.  Her aunt, once a beautiful lively woman, has been reduced to a sniveling servant, instantly obeying Merlyn’s every command.

            Determined to stay at Jamaica Inn until she can spirit her aunt away from the evil Merlyn, she settles into an uneasy existence,  walking the moors by day, locking herself in her room at night.   One day, an unexpected visitor comes by the inn and Mary soon finds out he is none other than Jem Merlyn, Joss’s brother.  She is  immediately torn between her ambivalent feelings toward Jem—attracted to him because he is handsome, yet hating him because she sees in his looks and personality, traces of her uncle.

            The ambivalence—this constant pulling in opposite directions—is an important thread running throughout Jamaica Inn.  Mary hates what her Aunt Patience has become and scorns the quivering, meek woman;  yet understands why she married and was originally attracted to Joss Merlyn, just as she, Mary, is pulled toward Jem.  When the evil that her uncle commits is finally revealed to her and she is forced to witness his crimes, the revelation comes at dawn on Christmas Day—a day that’s supposed to be one of peace and hope.   The Vicar of the nearby town of Altarnun, who Mary turns to as confidante and friend seems to her to have a hidden side, at once fascinating, yet horrible and mysterious.

            There are many different stories, as well, contained in Jamaica Inn.    It is a literary forerunner of today’s romance novel.  It is a mystery, skillfully and intricately plotted.  Above all, though, Jamaica Inn, is a story of the sea. Daphne du Maurier understands the sea and vividly describes it.

            The inn itself, Jamaica Inn, still stands today between the towns of Bodmin and Launceston in the West Country of England and is open for dining and overnight stays. (www.jamaicainn.co.uk).  It was the inspiration for du Maurier’s novel and retains much of its original flavor and atmosphere.

            Jamaica Inn, the novel,  is available in paperback through Avon Books or as a library bound edition through Buccaneer Books.  Two films were made from the novel; the first in 1939 directed by Alfred Hitchcock and the second in 1985 starring Jane Seymour.  Both are available on either tape or DVD.

            Daphne du Maurier wrote many gothic novels, among them Rebecca (also directed by Alfred Hitchcock), My Cousin Rachel and Frenchmen’s Creek, all of which were made into successful movies. The Birds (yet another Hitchcock film) is based on a short story of the same name by Daphne du Maurier.

Dead Until Dark

Book # 1 of the Southern Vampire Series

Author: Charlaine Harris

Year Published: 2001

Stars: 5/5

Synopsis:

When we enter the novel, vampires are already known to the world. The novel takes place two years after vampires went public in Bon Temps, Louisiana. Sookie Stackhouse, the heroine, is a telepath and works at a bar called Merlotte’s. She meets Bill, a vampire, and finds to her delight that she cannot read his mind. They begin to date off and on. Her boss, Sam, confesses his feelings for her and they date as well. The love story follows along with a series of murders that have been occurring in Bon Temps. With three murders committed, the police grow more suspicious of Jason, Sookie’s brother…and we learn Sookie is the next intended target. We meet Eric, Arlene, Pam, Rene and Hoyt in the first novel as well and these characters provide supporting roles for the main characters. Cliffhanger: Who is the murderer and what will happen in Sookie’s love triangle?????

Why I liked it:

I am a huge fan of character development and you have to love Sookie. While sometimes her actions may seem a little out of the ordinary, we have to remember she is a telepath and not a ‘normal’ person. For example (spoiler alert), when Sookie finds her grandmother dead she has a relatively normal conversation with Bill before calling the police. Not sure that would be my reaction? Bud and Andy, the police detectives, are extremely well-developed and even though they act as antagonists throughout the story, you can’t help but love them. P am and Eric add dry humor to almost every situation which leaves me wanting them in more scenes. Basically, this book is well-written, exciting and has awesome character development.

What I didn’t like:

Not enough of Eric. For anyone who has read more than one Sookie book, you know what I mean .

Little Known Fact:

Charlaine Harris has written three other series featuring  heroines Lily Bard, Aurora Teagarden and Harper Connelly. Are they as good as the Sookie Stackhouse series? I have no idea, but since I love Sookie I’ll give the other girls a shot….after  I finish this series.

Fun Fact:

I read this book on the Outer Banks of North Carolina in October 2009. Listening to the ocean and getting bit my mosquitoes I read a pretty darn good book.