Monday, 31 December 2012
2012 Books Read
1. U is for Undertow by Sue Grafton
2. The Sorceress of the Strand by L T Meade and Robert Eustace
3. Amendment of Life by Catherine Aird
4. The Vault by Ruth Rendell
5. The Big Bow Mystery by Israel Zangwill1895
6. The Notting Hill Mystery by Charles Felix1862
7. Fate by Amanda Hocking
8. Double Indemnity by James M. Cain1943
9. Ocracokes Curse- The Mystery at Teach's Hole by Mark Duffey
10. The Monster in the Box by Ruth Rendell
11. The Man in the Queue by Josephine Tey 1929
12. The Problem of the Wire Cage by John Dickson Carr1939
13. The Burning court by John Dickson Carr1937
14. The Black Tower by P D James
15. The Book of the Crime by Elizabeth Daly 1951
16. Notes from the Underground by Fyodor Dostoevsky
17. The House of Silk by Anthony Horowitz
18. V is for Vengeance by Sue Grafton
19. An Ideal Husband by Oscar Wilde
20. Shroud of Darkness by E C R Lorac1954
21. The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey1951
22. The Retribution by Val McDermid
23. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
24. Water-Blue Eyes by Domingo Villar
25. Death Comes to Pemberely by P. D. James
26. DeKok and Murder on Blood Mountain by A.C. Baantjer
27. The Leopard by Jo Nesbo
28. I could Murder Her by E C R Lorac 1951
29. Leave the Grave Green by Deborah Crombie
30. The Tragedy of Z- A Drury Lane Mystery by Ellery Queen 1934
31. The Witches by Roald Dahl
32. Escape the Night by Mignon G. Eberhart1944
33. I am the Cat by Rosemary Kutak1948
34. A Cold Day for Murder by Dana Stabenow
35. Tom Brown's Body by Gladys Mitchell 1949
36. The Scarlet Letters by Ellery Queen1953
37. Second Form at Clares by Enid Blyton
38. Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut
39. Candide by Voltaire
40. First Love by Ivan Turgenev
41. The Charing Cross Mystery by J S Fletcher
42. Shadows over paradise by Anne K Edwards
43. The Holcroft Covenant by Robert Ludlum
44. An Expert in Murder by Nicola Upson
45. Journey into Fear by Eric Ambler
46. Venetia by Georgette Heyer
47. Yellow Snake by Edgar Wallace
48. A Case to answer by Margret Yorke
49. The Silent house in Pimlico by Fergus Hume
50. North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell
51. Zone Defence by Petros Markaris
52. Killing Orders by Sara Paretsky
53. The Question of Belief by Donna Leon
54. Number Sense by Stanislas Dehaene
55. Clockwise by Elle Strauss
56. Middlemarch by George Eliot
57. Xpd by Len Deighton
58. Dangerous Past by A F Ebbers
59. The Hobbit by J R R Tolkien
60. The Marais Assassin by Claude Izner
61. The Saint Zita Society by Ruth Rendell 2012
62. One Major Mistake by Starr Gardineier Reina 2012
63. Small Island by Andrea Levy
64. Dracula by Bram Stoker
65. A Stranger is Watching by Mary Higgins Clark
66. Manga Shakespeare- Romeo and Juliet
67. When Red is Black by Qiu Xiaolong
68. The Great Impersonation by E Philiphs Oppenhiem 1920
69. Hypothermia by Arnaldur Indridason
70. The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough
71. The Postman always rings twice by James M. Cain1934
72. Asta's Book by Barbara Vine (1993
73. Behold Here's Poison by Georgette Heyer 1936
74. Phantom by Jo Nesbo (2012)
75. Caravan of Thieves by David Rich
76. The Piccadilly Puzzle by Fergus Hume
77. Perfect People by Peter James
78.The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde
79. Bloodline by James Rollins (2012)
80. The man in the picture by Susan Hill
81. The mist in the mirror by Susan Hill
82. The Caller by Karin Fossum (Norway)
83. The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett
84. Whited Sepulchres by Anne Perry
85. What am I doing here? By Liz Cowley
86. The Little stranger by Sarah Waters
87. The Women's Room by Marilyn French
88. Simon Cowell: The Unauthorized Biography by Chas Newkey-Burden
89. The Middle Temple Murder by J S Fletcher
90. Service of All the Dead by Colin Dexter
91. The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
92. A dark-Adaptd eye by Barbara Vine
93. False Pretences by Margret Yorke
94. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
95. A Killing Kindness by Reginald Hill
96. The Lock Artist by Steve Hamilton
97. The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins1868
98. Joe Muller Detective by Auguste Groner
99. The man who went up in smoke by Maj Sjowall and Per Wahloo
100. Last to die by Tess Gerritsen
101. Brick Lane by Monica Ali
102. The Black Path by Asa Larsson
103. Don't Look Back by Karin Fossum
104. The Franchise Affair by Josephine Tey1948
105. Snow Angels by James Thompson
106. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
107. The Casual vacancy by J K Rowling
108. The Christmas Odyssey by Anne Perry
109. The Dogs of Riga by Henning Mankell
110. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
111. The Long Song by Andrea Levy
112. The Expats by Chris Pavone
113. The Bat by Jo Nesbo
114. The Game of thrones by George R R Martin
115. Sleuth of St.James Square by Melville Davisson Post
Reading Challenge Addict 2012 Wrap-up
Reading Challenge Addict 2012 (40/40)
I signed up for the reading challenge addict challenge to complete 16 challenges. Here are all the challenges that I participated and completed successfully.
1. Antonym Reading Challenge
2. A to Z Mystery Author Reading Challenge
3. A to Z Author Reading Challenge
4. Support Your Local library Challenge
5. What's in a Name 5 Challenge
6. Chunkster Reading Challenge
7. What an Animal V Reading Challenge
8. A to Z Reading Challenge (Titles)
9. Merely Mystery Reading Challenge
10. 2012 Bucket List Reading Challenge
11. 2012 Ebook Reading Challenge
12. 2012 Ebook Challenge
13. Cruisin thru cozies Reading Challenge
14. Borrowed Book Challenge
15. Criminal Plots II Challenge
16. Mystery and Suspense Reading Challenge
17. 2012 Color Coded Challenge
18. Getting Lost in a Comfortable Book
19. Birth Year Reading Challenge
20. Eclectic Reading Challenge
21. 2012 Vintage MysteryReading Challenge
22. Free Books 2012 Challenge
23. Off the Shelf 2012
24. Read Your Own Books
25. Back to classics Challenge
26. Classics Challenge
27. 52 Books in 52 Weeks Challenge
28. Death by Gaslight Reading Challenge
29. Books Published in the first years of my life Challenge
30. New Authors Challenge
31. British Book Challenge
32. 2012 Why buy the Cow Reading Challenge
33. European Reading Challenge
34. Mixing it Up
35. Fall into Reading Challenge
36. Olympic Reading Challenge
37. R.I.P. VII
38. Orange July
39. Paris in July
40. Reading Challenge Addict (40/40)
I signed up for the reading challenge addict challenge to complete 16 challenges. Here are all the challenges that I participated and completed successfully.
1. Antonym Reading Challenge
2. A to Z Mystery Author Reading Challenge
3. A to Z Author Reading Challenge
4. Support Your Local library Challenge
5. What's in a Name 5 Challenge
6. Chunkster Reading Challenge
7. What an Animal V Reading Challenge
8. A to Z Reading Challenge (Titles)
9. Merely Mystery Reading Challenge
10. 2012 Bucket List Reading Challenge
11. 2012 Ebook Reading Challenge
12. 2012 Ebook Challenge
13. Cruisin thru cozies Reading Challenge
14. Borrowed Book Challenge
15. Criminal Plots II Challenge
16. Mystery and Suspense Reading Challenge
17. 2012 Color Coded Challenge
18. Getting Lost in a Comfortable Book
19. Birth Year Reading Challenge
20. Eclectic Reading Challenge
21. 2012 Vintage MysteryReading Challenge
22. Free Books 2012 Challenge
23. Off the Shelf 2012
24. Read Your Own Books
25. Back to classics Challenge
26. Classics Challenge
27. 52 Books in 52 Weeks Challenge
28. Death by Gaslight Reading Challenge
29. Books Published in the first years of my life Challenge
30. New Authors Challenge
31. British Book Challenge
32. 2012 Why buy the Cow Reading Challenge
33. European Reading Challenge
34. Mixing it Up
35. Fall into Reading Challenge
36. Olympic Reading Challenge
37. R.I.P. VII
38. Orange July
39. Paris in July
40. Reading Challenge Addict (40/40)
European Reading Challenge Wrap-Up
I signed up to read books based in Europe for the European Reading Challenge. Here are the books I read:
The Vault by Ruth Rendell (UK)
Notes from the Underground by Fyodor Dostoevsky(Russia)
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak(Germany)
Water-Blue Eyes by Domingo Villar(Spain)
DeKok and Murder on Blood Mountain by A.C. Baantjer(Netherlands)
The Leopard by Jo Nesbo(Norway)
Candide by Voltaire(Portugal)
The Holcroft Covenant by Robert Ludlum(Switzerland)
Journey into Fear by Eric Ambler1948(Turkey)
Zone Defence by Petros Markaris (Greece)
The Question of Belief by Donna Leon(Italy)
The Marais Assassin by Claude Izner(France)
Dracula by Bram Stoker(Romania)
Hypothermia by Arnaldur Indridason(Iceland)
The man who went up in smoke by Maj Sjowall and Per Wahloo (Hungary)
The Black Path by Asa Larsson (Sweden)
Snow Angels by James Thompson (Finland)
The Dogs of Riga by Henning Mankell (Latvia)
Joe Muller Detective by Auguste Groner (Austria)
The Expats by Chris Pavone (Luxembourg)
visited 20 states (8.88%)
Create your own visited map of The World
The Vault by Ruth Rendell (UK)
Notes from the Underground by Fyodor Dostoevsky(Russia)
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak(Germany)
Water-Blue Eyes by Domingo Villar(Spain)
DeKok and Murder on Blood Mountain by A.C. Baantjer(Netherlands)
The Leopard by Jo Nesbo(Norway)
Candide by Voltaire(Portugal)
The Holcroft Covenant by Robert Ludlum(Switzerland)
Journey into Fear by Eric Ambler1948(Turkey)
Zone Defence by Petros Markaris (Greece)
The Question of Belief by Donna Leon(Italy)
The Marais Assassin by Claude Izner(France)
Dracula by Bram Stoker(Romania)
Hypothermia by Arnaldur Indridason(Iceland)
The man who went up in smoke by Maj Sjowall and Per Wahloo (Hungary)
The Black Path by Asa Larsson (Sweden)
Snow Angels by James Thompson (Finland)
The Dogs of Riga by Henning Mankell (Latvia)
Joe Muller Detective by Auguste Groner (Austria)
The Expats by Chris Pavone (Luxembourg)
visited 20 states (8.88%)
Create your own visited map of The World
Joe Muller Detective by Auguste Groner
Last year (2011) I read The case of the lamp that went out by Auguste Groner featuring Austrian detective Joe Muller, a different kind of detective who cares not only about the victim but also the perpetrator. When I found four novelettes featuring Joe Muller in the public domain I downloaded the ebooks.
In 'The Case of the Golden Bullet', Professor Fellner, is found shot dead in a locked room. The autopsy reveals that Fellner was killed with a golden bullet. Muller uses disguise and solves the case. He is compassionate not towards the victim but towards the murderer.
In 'The Case of the Registered Letter', Babette Graumann approaches Joe Muller to save her nephew who had been wrongly arrested for a murder. There is lots of evidence incriminating Albert Graumann. But Muller believes in his innocence, how will he prove Albert's innocence? Muller uses the nature of the accused to show that he could not have committed the crime. This is an interesting story though I don't think quite possible. There is an important message too.
In 'The Case of the pocket Dairy found in snow', a working-man on his way home, finds a package, with instructions to hand it over to the nearest police sation. The package contains a woman's pocket diary that details her kidnap. Will Muller find her and rescue her before it is too late? The rescue forms the story.
In 'The case of the Pool of blood in Pastor's Study', the Pastor's study is filled with a pool of blood, Pastor's body is missing. Joe Muller is called to investigate, he finds strange circular pattern in the room and a lead. What are the circular patters? What happened to the body? He quickly solves the case.
Interesting stories but no twist or surprise. Muller is a detective with a heart rather than a thinking machine. Originally written in German, and translated and compiled in an omnibus in 1910. These ebooks can be found in Gutenberg.
In 'The Case of the Golden Bullet', Professor Fellner, is found shot dead in a locked room. The autopsy reveals that Fellner was killed with a golden bullet. Muller uses disguise and solves the case. He is compassionate not towards the victim but towards the murderer.
In 'The Case of the Registered Letter', Babette Graumann approaches Joe Muller to save her nephew who had been wrongly arrested for a murder. There is lots of evidence incriminating Albert Graumann. But Muller believes in his innocence, how will he prove Albert's innocence? Muller uses the nature of the accused to show that he could not have committed the crime. This is an interesting story though I don't think quite possible. There is an important message too.
In 'The Case of the pocket Dairy found in snow', a working-man on his way home, finds a package, with instructions to hand it over to the nearest police sation. The package contains a woman's pocket diary that details her kidnap. Will Muller find her and rescue her before it is too late? The rescue forms the story.
In 'The case of the Pool of blood in Pastor's Study', the Pastor's study is filled with a pool of blood, Pastor's body is missing. Joe Muller is called to investigate, he finds strange circular pattern in the room and a lead. What are the circular patters? What happened to the body? He quickly solves the case.
Interesting stories but no twist or surprise. Muller is a detective with a heart rather than a thinking machine. Originally written in German, and translated and compiled in an omnibus in 1910. These ebooks can be found in Gutenberg.
Saturday, 29 December 2012
The Black Path by Asa Larsson
The Black Path by Asa Larsson is third book featuring Rebecka Martinsson. When the story starts with the recovery of Rebecka Martinsson from a trauma, I started wondering if I made a mistake by picking up the third book, without reading the first two. Looking into some reviews on the internet, I found that The Black Path works quite well as a standalone. Now to the story.
A woman is found murdered in an 'ark', a fishing cabin with a hole in the floor through which one could fish from a hole in the frozen lake. Inspector Anna-Maria Mella and Sven-Erik Stalnacke start investigating the case. Who is the murdered woman? What is she doing alone in the Ark? Who killed her and why?
Once you know who the victim is, you know who did it too. The story develops into the possible motives and how she is murdered. Rebecka after the trauma moves to Kiruna and helps with the investigation. While Anna-Maria is involved in the field work part of the investigation, Rebecka scours the internet for information and analyses the financial information of a leading industrialist to help with the investigation. We get insight into Rebecka's childhood, why she lived with her grandmother and the family life of Anna-Maria.
The backstories of various key players (read suspects) are narrated and the various story arcs converge together leading to the final denouement. One aspect that caught my attention in this story is the concept of Maternal love. Rebecka's mother is not able to cope up with the responsibilities of motherhood and finally leaves her with her grandmother. Ester is brought up by foster parents, and longs for appreciation from her foster mother. It did look like Ester's foster mother loved her, but why can't she appreciate the fact that Ester is a better artist than her. Why should she be so cruel? While Ester's character and story is interesting, I couldn't help wondering the purpose of her story. It does add up in the end-in the Black Path.
Translated from Swedish by Marlaine Delargy, The Black Path is a gripping police procedural.
Note: If you wonder what an Ark looks like. I think it is the cabin in the book cover.
A woman is found murdered in an 'ark', a fishing cabin with a hole in the floor through which one could fish from a hole in the frozen lake. Inspector Anna-Maria Mella and Sven-Erik Stalnacke start investigating the case. Who is the murdered woman? What is she doing alone in the Ark? Who killed her and why?
Once you know who the victim is, you know who did it too. The story develops into the possible motives and how she is murdered. Rebecka after the trauma moves to Kiruna and helps with the investigation. While Anna-Maria is involved in the field work part of the investigation, Rebecka scours the internet for information and analyses the financial information of a leading industrialist to help with the investigation. We get insight into Rebecka's childhood, why she lived with her grandmother and the family life of Anna-Maria.
The backstories of various key players (read suspects) are narrated and the various story arcs converge together leading to the final denouement. One aspect that caught my attention in this story is the concept of Maternal love. Rebecka's mother is not able to cope up with the responsibilities of motherhood and finally leaves her with her grandmother. Ester is brought up by foster parents, and longs for appreciation from her foster mother. It did look like Ester's foster mother loved her, but why can't she appreciate the fact that Ester is a better artist than her. Why should she be so cruel? While Ester's character and story is interesting, I couldn't help wondering the purpose of her story. It does add up in the end-in the Black Path.
Translated from Swedish by Marlaine Delargy, The Black Path is a gripping police procedural.
Note: If you wonder what an Ark looks like. I think it is the cabin in the book cover.
The Expats by Chris Pavone
When Dexter Moore gets a job offer in Luxembourg, his wife Kate Moore decides to leave her secretive job in U.S. and enjoy being a stay-at-home mom in their new home. The Moores move to Luxembourg and Dexter is always busy at his work. Kate finds lots of time on her hands and in spite of constant jet-setting travelling different European countries in the weekends and holidays, she is bored. Kate gets friendly with Julia and Bill Maclean, only to learn that all is not as it seems. Is it because Kate is bored that she finds the need to investigate her new friends or is just her habit? What are the secrets our Kate is hiding? What are the secrets, if any, her new friends are hiding? Why is Dexter so secretive about his new employer?
The story has a disjointed feel. One moment the children are going to school in Luxembourg, another in Paris. It takes some time to understand that they are different timelines. Only the present is labelled as Today, the timeline in the past is not labelled, causing confusion. I don't know if it is done on purpose. It takes lots of time to get used to the structure. The story gets interesting to me after a magical number appears. Before that the story seemed to be going in the direction of spouse swapping. With the magical number, the story takes a completely different turn. The second half is exciting with lots of surprises, twists and turns. And you get a feel of the expat life in Luxembourg.
I bought the ebook for £0.20 for kindle from Amazon UK. For all I know, it is still the same price, a bargain I think.
The story has a disjointed feel. One moment the children are going to school in Luxembourg, another in Paris. It takes some time to understand that they are different timelines. Only the present is labelled as Today, the timeline in the past is not labelled, causing confusion. I don't know if it is done on purpose. It takes lots of time to get used to the structure. The story gets interesting to me after a magical number appears. Before that the story seemed to be going in the direction of spouse swapping. With the magical number, the story takes a completely different turn. The second half is exciting with lots of surprises, twists and turns. And you get a feel of the expat life in Luxembourg.
I bought the ebook for £0.20 for kindle from Amazon UK. For all I know, it is still the same price, a bargain I think.
The Man Who Went Up in Smoke by Maj Sjowall and Per Wahloo
The Man Who Went up in Smoke, published in 1966, is the second book featuring Martin Beck, Swedish Police detective. This book is translated from Swedish by Joan Tate and published in English in 1969.
Martin Beck is called back from a holiday to look for a missing Swedish journalist in Budapest. Budapest in 1960s is under the Soviet rule and it is interesting how this hardly reflects on the case. Martin Beck has to look for the journalist without any help from local authorities. How to look for somebody in a foreign country without the help of the local authorities? He is not entirely sure what to do. One moment he hurries up to do something, next he slows down. What to do? Back home, his colleague provides him with one lead. Beck goes to check the lead. He is still not sure that anything is going to come out of this. What happened to the journalist? Did he disappear and go up in smoke?
Budapest is described beatifully, that I want to visit. But this is Budapest of 1960s , how does it look half a century later. As the story progressed, I understood what really happened, but didn't figure out the why. This is a short novel can be read in one or two sittings. This is my first Martin Beck read and I look forward to read more books in this series.
I like the title, it is very clever.
Martin Beck is called back from a holiday to look for a missing Swedish journalist in Budapest. Budapest in 1960s is under the Soviet rule and it is interesting how this hardly reflects on the case. Martin Beck has to look for the journalist without any help from local authorities. How to look for somebody in a foreign country without the help of the local authorities? He is not entirely sure what to do. One moment he hurries up to do something, next he slows down. What to do? Back home, his colleague provides him with one lead. Beck goes to check the lead. He is still not sure that anything is going to come out of this. What happened to the journalist? Did he disappear and go up in smoke?
Budapest is described beatifully, that I want to visit. But this is Budapest of 1960s , how does it look half a century later. As the story progressed, I understood what really happened, but didn't figure out the why. This is a short novel can be read in one or two sittings. This is my first Martin Beck read and I look forward to read more books in this series.
I like the title, it is very clever.
Friday, 28 December 2012
2012 Why buy the cow? Reading Challenge Wrap-up
I participated in the 2012 Why buy the cow? Reading Challenge to read 12 free ebooks. Here are the books I read
The Sorceress of the Strand by L T Meade and Robert Eustace
The Big Bow Mystery by Israel Zangwill1895
The Notting Hill Mystery by Charles Felix1862
Notes from the Underground by Fyodor Dostoevsky
An Ideal Husband by Oscar Wilde
A Cold Day for Murder by Dana Stabenow
Candide by Voltaire
The Charing Cross Mystery by J S Fletcher
Yellow Snake by Edgar Wallace1926
The Silent house in Pimlico by Fergus Hume
Clockwise by Elle Strauss
Dracula by Bram Stoker
The Middle Temple Murder by J S Fletcher
The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins1868
The Sorceress of the Strand by L T Meade and Robert Eustace
The Big Bow Mystery by Israel Zangwill1895
The Notting Hill Mystery by Charles Felix1862
Notes from the Underground by Fyodor Dostoevsky
An Ideal Husband by Oscar Wilde
A Cold Day for Murder by Dana Stabenow
Candide by Voltaire
The Charing Cross Mystery by J S Fletcher
Yellow Snake by Edgar Wallace1926
The Silent house in Pimlico by Fergus Hume
Clockwise by Elle Strauss
Dracula by Bram Stoker
The Middle Temple Murder by J S Fletcher
The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins1868
British Book Challenge 2012 Wrap-up
I participated in the British Book Challenge 2012 to read 12 by British Authors. I read 57 books by British Authors. Here are the books I read
1. The Sorceress of the Strand by L T Meade and Robert Eustace
2. Amendment of Life by Catherine Aird
3. The Vault by Ruth Rendell
4. The Big Bow Mystery by Israel Zangwill1895
5. The Notting Hill Mystery by Charles Felix1862
6. The Monster in the Box by Ruth Rendell
7. The Man in the Queue by Josephine Tey 1929
8. The Problem of the Wire Cage by John Dickson Carr
9. The Burning court by John Dickson Carr1937
10. The Black Tower by P D James
11. The House of Silk by Anthony Horowitz
12. An Ideal Husband by Oscar Wilde
13. Shroud of Darkness by E C R Lorac1954
14. The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey1951
15. The Retribution by Val McDermid
16. Death Comes to Pemberely by P. D. James
17. I could Murder Her by E C R Lorac 1951
18. Leave the Grave Green by Deborah Crombie
19. The Witches by Roald Dahl
20. Tom Brown's Body by Gladys Mitchell 1949
21. Second Form at Clare's by Enid Blyton
22. The Charing Cross Mystery by J S Fletcher
23. An Expert in Murder by Nicola Upson
24. Journey into Fear by Eric Ambler1948
25. Venetia by Georgette Heyer
26. Yellow Snake by Edgar Wallace1926
27. A Case to answer by Margret Yorke
28. The Silent house in Pimlico by Fergus Hume
29. North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell
30. Middlemarch by George Eliot
31. XPD by Len Deighton
32. The Saint Zita Society by Ruth Rendell 2012
33. Small Island by Andrea Levy
34. Dracula by Bram Stoker
35. The Great Impersonation by E Philiphs Oppenhiem 1920
36. Asta's Book by Barbara Vine (1993
37. Behold Here's Poison by Georgette Heyer 1936
38. The Piccadilly Puzzle by Fergus Hume
39. Perfect People by Peter James
40. The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde
41. The man in the picture by Susan Hill
42. The mist in the mirror by Susan Hill
43. Whited Sepulchres by Anne Perry
44. What am I doing here? By Liz Cowley
45. The Little stranger by Sarah Waters
46. Simon Cowell: The Unauthorized Biography by Chas Newkey-Burden
47. The Middle Temple Murder by J S Fletcher
48. Service of All the Dead by Colin Dexter
49. The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
50. A dark-Adaptd eye by Barbara Vine
51. False Pretences by Margret Yorke
52. A Killing Kindness by Reginald Hill
53. The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins
54. Brick Lane by Monica Ali
55. The Franchise Affair by Josephine Tey
56. The Casual Vacancy by J K Rowling
57. The Christmas Odyssey by Anne Perry
1. The Sorceress of the Strand by L T Meade and Robert Eustace
2. Amendment of Life by Catherine Aird
3. The Vault by Ruth Rendell
4. The Big Bow Mystery by Israel Zangwill1895
5. The Notting Hill Mystery by Charles Felix1862
6. The Monster in the Box by Ruth Rendell
7. The Man in the Queue by Josephine Tey 1929
8. The Problem of the Wire Cage by John Dickson Carr
9. The Burning court by John Dickson Carr1937
10. The Black Tower by P D James
11. The House of Silk by Anthony Horowitz
12. An Ideal Husband by Oscar Wilde
13. Shroud of Darkness by E C R Lorac1954
14. The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey1951
15. The Retribution by Val McDermid
16. Death Comes to Pemberely by P. D. James
17. I could Murder Her by E C R Lorac 1951
18. Leave the Grave Green by Deborah Crombie
19. The Witches by Roald Dahl
20. Tom Brown's Body by Gladys Mitchell 1949
21. Second Form at Clare's by Enid Blyton
22. The Charing Cross Mystery by J S Fletcher
23. An Expert in Murder by Nicola Upson
24. Journey into Fear by Eric Ambler1948
25. Venetia by Georgette Heyer
26. Yellow Snake by Edgar Wallace1926
27. A Case to answer by Margret Yorke
28. The Silent house in Pimlico by Fergus Hume
29. North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell
30. Middlemarch by George Eliot
31. XPD by Len Deighton
32. The Saint Zita Society by Ruth Rendell 2012
33. Small Island by Andrea Levy
34. Dracula by Bram Stoker
35. The Great Impersonation by E Philiphs Oppenhiem 1920
36. Asta's Book by Barbara Vine (1993
37. Behold Here's Poison by Georgette Heyer 1936
38. The Piccadilly Puzzle by Fergus Hume
39. Perfect People by Peter James
40. The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde
41. The man in the picture by Susan Hill
42. The mist in the mirror by Susan Hill
43. Whited Sepulchres by Anne Perry
44. What am I doing here? By Liz Cowley
45. The Little stranger by Sarah Waters
46. Simon Cowell: The Unauthorized Biography by Chas Newkey-Burden
47. The Middle Temple Murder by J S Fletcher
48. Service of All the Dead by Colin Dexter
49. The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
50. A dark-Adaptd eye by Barbara Vine
51. False Pretences by Margret Yorke
52. A Killing Kindness by Reginald Hill
53. The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins
54. Brick Lane by Monica Ali
55. The Franchise Affair by Josephine Tey
56. The Casual Vacancy by J K Rowling
57. The Christmas Odyssey by Anne Perry
New Authors Challenge 2012 wrap-up
I signed up for the New Author 2012 Challenge to read 15 new authors. I read 69 new authors to me.
1. The Sorceress of the Strand by L T Meade and Robert Eustace
2. Amendment of Life by Catherine Aird
3. The Big Bow Mystery by Israel Zangwill1895
4. The Notting Hill Mystery by Charles Felix1862
5. Fate by Amanda Hocking
6. Double Indemnity by James M. Cain1943
7. Ocracokes Curse- The Mystery at Teach's Hole by Mark Duffey
8. The Man in the Queue by Josephine Tey 1929
9. The Burning court by John Dickson Carr1937
10. The Book of the Crime by Elizabeth Daly 1951
11. The House of Silk by Anthony Horowitz
12. Shroud of Darkness by E C R Lorac1954
13. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
14. Water-Blue Eyes by Domingo Villar
15. DeKok and Murder on Blood Mountain by A.C. Baantjer
16. The Leopard by Jo Nesbo
17. Leave the Grave Green by Deborah Crombie
18. The Tragedy of Z- A Drury Lane Mystery by Ellery Queen 1934
19. Escape the Night by Mignon G. Eberhart1944
20. I am the Cat by Rosemary Kutak1948
21. A Cold Day for Murder by Dana Stabenow
22. Tom Brown's Body by Gladys Mitchell 1949
23. Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut
24. Candide by Voltaire
25. First Love by Ivan Turgenev
26. The Charing Cross Mystery by J S Fletcher
27. Shadows over paradise by Anne K Edwards
28. An Expert in Murder by Nicola Upson
29. Journey into Fear by Eric Ambler1948
30. Venetia by Georgette Heyer
31. Yellow Snake by Edgar Wallace1926
32. A Case to answer by Margret Yorke
33. The Silent house in Pimlico by Fergus Hume
34. North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell
35. Zone Defence by Petros Markaris
36. Killing Orders by Sara Paretsky
37. The Question of Belief by Donna Leon
38. Clockwise by Elle Strauss
39. XPD by Len Deighton
40. Dangerous Past by A F Ebbers
41. The Marais Assassin by Claude Izner
42. One Major Mistake by Starr Gardineier Reina 2012
43. Small Island by Andrea Levy
44. Dracula by Bram Stoker
45. Manga Shakespeare- Romeo and Juliet
46. When Red is Black by Qiu Xiaolong
47. The Great Impersonation by E Philiphs Oppenhiem 1920
48. Hypothermia by Arnaldur Indridason
49. The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough
50. Caravan of Thieves by David Rich
51. The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde
52. The man in the picture by Susan Hill
53. The Caller by Karin Fossum
54. The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett
55. The Little stranger by Sarah Waters
56. The Women's Room by Marilyn French
57. Simon Cowell: The Unauthorized Biography by Chas Newkey-Burden
58. The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
59. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
60. A Killing Kindness by Reginald Hill
61. The Lock Artist by Steve Hamilton
62. The man who went up in smoke by Maj Sjowall and Per Wahloo
63. Last to die by Tess Gerritsen
64. Brick Lane by Monica Ali
65. The Black Path by Asa Larsson
66. Snow Angels by James Thompson
67. The Dogs of Riga by Henning Mankell
68. The Expats by Chris Pavone
69. A Game of thrones by George R R Martin
Books Published in the First Years of My Life Wrap-up
I participated in the Books Published in the First Years of My Life at toddler level, that is read three books from my early years. Here are the books.
The Holcroft Covenant by Robert Ludlum1978
Service of All the Dead by Colin Dexter1979
A Killing Kindness by Reginald Hill1980
The Holcroft Covenant by Robert Ludlum1978
Service of All the Dead by Colin Dexter1979
A Killing Kindness by Reginald Hill1980
A Killing Kindness by Reginald Hill
Crime stories could be stark and grim, especially one where young women are strangled and a serial killer is at work. I like my crime stories with a dose of humour. It is to sample Dalziel's humour that I picked this book and I am not disappointed.
In this book set in Yorkshire, young women are strangled and murdered. The bodies are neatly laid out by the murderer. These murders do not look like sex crimes. There does not seem to be much similarity between the women. What is the connecting link between these women? How is the Choker selecting his victims? Is he killing the women out of kindness?
When the story starts with a Seance, and a caller calls up a newspaper with Shakespeare quotes after each murder, we do know this is not a run of the mill murder of passion and money. Mix in a Psychologist and two Linguists who never agree on anything to help with the investigation and Dalziel who puts clairvoyant, psychologist and the linguist in the same bracket and believes all this is nonsense. And then we have a woman who believes her estranged husband with a midlife crisis is the strangler, the Choker. All this combined together makes interesting reading.
This is a prefect police procedure where various police personnel work out various portions of the mystery. Though Dalziel gets a lucky break, more than Dalziel it is Wield's and Poscoe's case. It is interesting how a boss(Dalziel) affects his subordinates and how his nature rubs into them. I did guess who the killer is, but not the reason. What act of kindness the killer is performing is quite beyond my comprehension! Yep somebody is killing off women out of kindness.
Published in 1980, A Killing Kindness is the sixth book in the Dalziel and Poscoe series. This is the first book I read by Reginald Hill and I will be reading more.
In this book set in Yorkshire, young women are strangled and murdered. The bodies are neatly laid out by the murderer. These murders do not look like sex crimes. There does not seem to be much similarity between the women. What is the connecting link between these women? How is the Choker selecting his victims? Is he killing the women out of kindness?
When the story starts with a Seance, and a caller calls up a newspaper with Shakespeare quotes after each murder, we do know this is not a run of the mill murder of passion and money. Mix in a Psychologist and two Linguists who never agree on anything to help with the investigation and Dalziel who puts clairvoyant, psychologist and the linguist in the same bracket and believes all this is nonsense. And then we have a woman who believes her estranged husband with a midlife crisis is the strangler, the Choker. All this combined together makes interesting reading.
This is a prefect police procedure where various police personnel work out various portions of the mystery. Though Dalziel gets a lucky break, more than Dalziel it is Wield's and Poscoe's case. It is interesting how a boss(Dalziel) affects his subordinates and how his nature rubs into them. I did guess who the killer is, but not the reason. What act of kindness the killer is performing is quite beyond my comprehension! Yep somebody is killing off women out of kindness.
Published in 1980, A Killing Kindness is the sixth book in the Dalziel and Poscoe series. This is the first book I read by Reginald Hill and I will be reading more.
Sunday, 23 December 2012
Death by Gaslight Reading Challenge Wrap-up
I participated in Death by Gaslight Reading Challenge to read 10 mysteries set during the period 1837-1910. Here are the books I read
The Notting Hill Mystery by Charles Felix1862
The Big Bow Mystery by Israel Zangwill1895
The House of Silk by Anthony Horowitz (Victorian London)
Izner- The Marais Assassin by Claude Izner (Victorian Paris)
Whited Sepulchres by Anne Perry (Victorian London)
The Silent house in Pimlico by Fergus Hume1907
The Piccadilly Puzzle by Fergus Hume1889
The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins1868
The Sorceress of the Strand by L T Meade and Robert Eustace
Joe Muller Detective by Augusta Groner
The Christmas Odyssey by Anne Perry (Victorian London)
The Notting Hill Mystery by Charles Felix1862
The Big Bow Mystery by Israel Zangwill1895
The House of Silk by Anthony Horowitz (Victorian London)
Izner- The Marais Assassin by Claude Izner (Victorian Paris)
Whited Sepulchres by Anne Perry (Victorian London)
The Silent house in Pimlico by Fergus Hume1907
The Piccadilly Puzzle by Fergus Hume1889
The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins1868
The Sorceress of the Strand by L T Meade and Robert Eustace
Joe Muller Detective by Augusta Groner
The Christmas Odyssey by Anne Perry (Victorian London)
52 Books in 52 Weeks Challenge Wrap-Up
Here is my end-of-year post for 52 Books in 52 Weeks Challenge. My answers for the questions:
1) How many books did you read this year? So far: 109. May read 3 more.
2) Did you meet or beat your own personal goal? My top goal was 52 books, ya, I am more than happy.
3) Favorite book of 2012? (You can list more than one or break it down by genre): Here are my top reads of the year
Notes from the Underground by Fyodor Dostoevsky
Candide by Voltaire
The Burning court by John Dickson Carr
Escape the Night by Mignon G. Eberhart
Asta's Book by Barbara Vine
4) Least favorite book of 2012 and why?
Fate by Amanda Hocking
It is the second book in a series. There was nowhere in the book the indication that I should have read the first book before reading this. Some books even if they are part of a series, are good standalone. It wasn't in a genre I usually enjoy and the story had no depth, very predictable.
5) One book you thought you'd never read and was pleasantly surprised you like it?
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
I am not into what is called as YA. I didn't expect to read it. But had a inkling that it would be soon shown on TV. So decided to give it a try and yes I loved it.
6) One book you thought you'd love but didn't?
Death Comes to Pemberely by P. D. James. Add two of my favourite authors in my favourite genre and a recipe for disaster. No humour or intelligence in Elizabeth Darcy, not a satisfying mystery from P D James.
7) One book that touched you - made you laugh, cry, sing or dance.
Small Island by Andrea Levy- Sometimes my blood was boiling and others I was laughing out loud.
8) Any new to you authors discovered and you can't wait to read more of their stories?
I look forward to reading books by these authors that I discovered this year.
Baantjer
Jo Nesbo
Petros Markaris
Domingo Villar
Karin Fossum
9) Name the longest book you read? Shortest?
Longest: Game of Thrones by George. R R Martin (894) currently reading
Shortest: Candide by Voltaire 94
10) Name the most unputdownable book you read?
Read The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins in one sitting.
11) Book that had the greatest impact on you this year?
Casual Vacancy by J K Rowling. Can probably never forget Krystal.
12) What book would you recommend everybody read?
Candide by Voltaire
13) Share your most favorite cover(s): I never ever judge a book by its cover, don't even notice it.
14) Do you have a character you fell in love with?
Not really! I liked many. Kurt Wallander, Andy Dalziel, Harry Hole, Sam Spade, Costas Haritos, Dekok to name a few.
15) What was your most favorite part of the challenge? Did you do any of the mini challenges?
Got me reading at least one book a week, many times more.
What are your goals for the new year? To read more non fiction? To dip your toes into a mystery or a urban fantasy? What book are you most looking forward to reading in 2013?
To read at least some books from other genres than mystery. Got a big list of books piled up for 2013. Looking forward to read books by my favourite crime writers Sue Grafton, Barbara Vine, Val McDermid, Harlan Coben and discover some new ones.
1) How many books did you read this year? So far: 109. May read 3 more.
2) Did you meet or beat your own personal goal? My top goal was 52 books, ya, I am more than happy.
3) Favorite book of 2012? (You can list more than one or break it down by genre): Here are my top reads of the year
Notes from the Underground by Fyodor Dostoevsky
Candide by Voltaire
The Burning court by John Dickson Carr
Escape the Night by Mignon G. Eberhart
Asta's Book by Barbara Vine
4) Least favorite book of 2012 and why?
Fate by Amanda Hocking
It is the second book in a series. There was nowhere in the book the indication that I should have read the first book before reading this. Some books even if they are part of a series, are good standalone. It wasn't in a genre I usually enjoy and the story had no depth, very predictable.
5) One book you thought you'd never read and was pleasantly surprised you like it?
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
I am not into what is called as YA. I didn't expect to read it. But had a inkling that it would be soon shown on TV. So decided to give it a try and yes I loved it.
6) One book you thought you'd love but didn't?
Death Comes to Pemberely by P. D. James. Add two of my favourite authors in my favourite genre and a recipe for disaster. No humour or intelligence in Elizabeth Darcy, not a satisfying mystery from P D James.
7) One book that touched you - made you laugh, cry, sing or dance.
Small Island by Andrea Levy- Sometimes my blood was boiling and others I was laughing out loud.
8) Any new to you authors discovered and you can't wait to read more of their stories?
I look forward to reading books by these authors that I discovered this year.
Baantjer
Jo Nesbo
Petros Markaris
Domingo Villar
Karin Fossum
9) Name the longest book you read? Shortest?
Longest: Game of Thrones by George. R R Martin (894) currently reading
Shortest: Candide by Voltaire 94
10) Name the most unputdownable book you read?
Read The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins in one sitting.
11) Book that had the greatest impact on you this year?
Casual Vacancy by J K Rowling. Can probably never forget Krystal.
12) What book would you recommend everybody read?
Candide by Voltaire
13) Share your most favorite cover(s): I never ever judge a book by its cover, don't even notice it.
14) Do you have a character you fell in love with?
Not really! I liked many. Kurt Wallander, Andy Dalziel, Harry Hole, Sam Spade, Costas Haritos, Dekok to name a few.
15) What was your most favorite part of the challenge? Did you do any of the mini challenges?
Got me reading at least one book a week, many times more.
What are your goals for the new year? To read more non fiction? To dip your toes into a mystery or a urban fantasy? What book are you most looking forward to reading in 2013?
To read at least some books from other genres than mystery. Got a big list of books piled up for 2013. Looking forward to read books by my favourite crime writers Sue Grafton, Barbara Vine, Val McDermid, Harlan Coben and discover some new ones.
Classics Challenge Wrap-Up
I participated in the Classics Challenge hosted by November's Autumn. Here are the classics I read this year!
Notes from the Underground by Fyodor Dostoevsky
An Ideal Husband by Oscar Wilde
The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey1951
Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut
Candide by Voltaire
Venetia by Georgette Heyer
North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell
Middlemarch by George Eliot
The Hobbit by J R R Tolkien
Small Island by Andrea Levy
Dracula by Bram Stoker
The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough
The Postman always rings twice by James M. Cain1934
The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett
The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins1868
The Women's Room by Marilyn French
I participated in two prompts!
Quotes from a Classic I read this year
Visual Tour of a Classic
Notes from the Underground by Fyodor Dostoevsky
An Ideal Husband by Oscar Wilde
The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey1951
Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut
Candide by Voltaire
Venetia by Georgette Heyer
North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell
Middlemarch by George Eliot
The Hobbit by J R R Tolkien
Small Island by Andrea Levy
Dracula by Bram Stoker
The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough
The Postman always rings twice by James M. Cain1934
The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett
The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins1868
The Women's Room by Marilyn French
I participated in two prompts!
Quotes from a Classic I read this year
Visual Tour of a Classic
Back to Classics Challenge Complete
I signed up for the The Back To The Classics Challenge 2012 hosted by Sarah Reads too Much to read Classics in the following categories. Here are the book I read.
Any 19th Century Classic- North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell
The Middlemarch by George Eliot
Any 20th Century Classic- The Women's Room by Marilyn French
Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vunnegut
Reread a classic of your choice- The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins1868
A Classic Play- An Ideal Husband by Oscar Wilde
Classic Mystery/Horror/Crime Fiction- The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey
Dracula by Bram Stoker
Classic Romance- The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough
Read a Classic that has been translated from its original language to your language - Candide by Voltaire
Notes from the Underground by Fyodor Dostoevsky
Classic Award Winner - Small Island by Andrea Levy -Orange Fiction
Read a Classic set in a Country that you (realistically speaking) will not visit during your lifetime- The Hobbit by J R R Tolkien
Any 19th Century Classic- North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell
The Middlemarch by George Eliot
Any 20th Century Classic- The Women's Room by Marilyn French
Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vunnegut
Reread a classic of your choice- The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins1868
A Classic Play- An Ideal Husband by Oscar Wilde
Classic Mystery/Horror/Crime Fiction- The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey
Dracula by Bram Stoker
Classic Romance- The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough
Read a Classic that has been translated from its original language to your language - Candide by Voltaire
Notes from the Underground by Fyodor Dostoevsky
Classic Award Winner - Small Island by Andrea Levy -Orange Fiction
Read a Classic set in a Country that you (realistically speaking) will not visit during your lifetime- The Hobbit by J R R Tolkien
Candide by Voltaire
Trust me to confuse Peter James with P D James, Simon Kernick with Ian Rankin and Virgil with Voltaire. What I was hoping to read was an epic poem, a daunting task with probably a reward (some philosophical thoughts, beautiful lines, great story etc) in the end. What I end up reading is a small delightful rewarding tale with gems of wisdom and a immense serving of humour. A kind of tale that I could probably dip in now and then. Published in 1759 Candide by Voltaire presents the case against Optimism. Now to the tale.
Candide grows up in the household of a Baron in Westphalia under the guidance of Pangloss, who earnestly believes that all is for the best and
“the nose has been formed to bear spectacles—thus we have spectacles.”
When Candide is caught kissing Cunegonde, Baron's daughter, and is thrown out of the house. Candide is forced to join the Bulgarian Army and faces various hardships and punishments. But he still believes that all is for the best. Candide is briefly reunited with his mentor Pangloss, who still believes that all is for the best. He journeys all over Europe and finally decides to cross the Ocean and go to the New World 'which is the best of all possible worlds'.
When Candide's companion bemoans all the misfortunes they have faced. A old woman who becomes their companion narrates her story, the hardships she faced and her unwillingness to end all the pain.
“A hundred times I was upon the point of killing myself; but still I loved life. This ridiculous foible is perhaps one of our most fatal characteristics; for is there anything more absurd than to wish to carry continually a burden which one can always throw down? to detest existence and yet to cling to one's existence? In brief, to caress the serpent which devours us, till he has eaten our very heart?”
The New World is no different. Candide faces one hardship after another making him question if all is really for the best.
“What is this optimism?" said Cacambo.
"Alas!" said Candide, "it is the madness of maintaining that everything is right when it is wrong.”
He visits El Dorado , the land of the plenty, but is not content to stay there for ever. He continues on the journey and meets Martin another philosopher with whom he has many discourses. In the end they decide that there is only one way to make life bearable.
"Let us work, then, without disputing; for it is the only way to make life bearable."
Yes! Without much ado "let us cultivate our garden.”
This book is available as a free ebook from various websites including Gutenberg.
Candide grows up in the household of a Baron in Westphalia under the guidance of Pangloss, who earnestly believes that all is for the best and
“the nose has been formed to bear spectacles—thus we have spectacles.”
When Candide is caught kissing Cunegonde, Baron's daughter, and is thrown out of the house. Candide is forced to join the Bulgarian Army and faces various hardships and punishments. But he still believes that all is for the best. Candide is briefly reunited with his mentor Pangloss, who still believes that all is for the best. He journeys all over Europe and finally decides to cross the Ocean and go to the New World 'which is the best of all possible worlds'.
When Candide's companion bemoans all the misfortunes they have faced. A old woman who becomes their companion narrates her story, the hardships she faced and her unwillingness to end all the pain.
“A hundred times I was upon the point of killing myself; but still I loved life. This ridiculous foible is perhaps one of our most fatal characteristics; for is there anything more absurd than to wish to carry continually a burden which one can always throw down? to detest existence and yet to cling to one's existence? In brief, to caress the serpent which devours us, till he has eaten our very heart?”
The New World is no different. Candide faces one hardship after another making him question if all is really for the best.
“What is this optimism?" said Cacambo.
"Alas!" said Candide, "it is the madness of maintaining that everything is right when it is wrong.”
He visits El Dorado , the land of the plenty, but is not content to stay there for ever. He continues on the journey and meets Martin another philosopher with whom he has many discourses. In the end they decide that there is only one way to make life bearable.
"Let us work, then, without disputing; for it is the only way to make life bearable."
Yes! Without much ado "let us cultivate our garden.”
This book is available as a free ebook from various websites including Gutenberg.
Friday, 21 December 2012
Fall into Reading 2012 Challenge Complete
I participated in the Fall into Reading 2012 challenge from September 22-December 21 hosted by Katrina at callapidder days
So here is my list! I changed Blood Work by Barbara Vine to A Dark-Adapted Eye by Vine as I had to return the book to the library. All the other books are from the initial list.
A Dark-Adapted Eye by Barbara Vine (27/10/2012)
Bloodline by James Rollins (30/9/2012)
The mist in the mirror by Susan Hill-(4/10/2012)
The man in the picture by Susan Hill- (1/10/2012)
The little stranger by Sarah Waters (17/10/2012)
The Caller by Karin Fossum (5/10/2012)
The lock artist by Steve Hamilton(17/11/2012)
The Franchise Affair by Josephine Tey (4/12/2012)
The long song by Andrea Levy (21/12/12)
Whited Sepulchres by Anne Perry(13/10/2012)
False Pretences by Margret Yorke (8/11/2012)
Service of all the Dead by Colin Dexter(22/10/2012)
So here is my list! I changed Blood Work by Barbara Vine to A Dark-Adapted Eye by Vine as I had to return the book to the library. All the other books are from the initial list.
A Dark-Adapted Eye by Barbara Vine (27/10/2012)
Bloodline by James Rollins (30/9/2012)
The mist in the mirror by Susan Hill-(4/10/2012)
The man in the picture by Susan Hill- (1/10/2012)
The little stranger by Sarah Waters (17/10/2012)
The Caller by Karin Fossum (5/10/2012)
The lock artist by Steve Hamilton(17/11/2012)
The Franchise Affair by Josephine Tey (4/12/2012)
The long song by Andrea Levy (21/12/12)
Whited Sepulchres by Anne Perry(13/10/2012)
False Pretences by Margret Yorke (8/11/2012)
Service of all the Dead by Colin Dexter(22/10/2012)
Free Books 2012 Challenge Complete
I signed up to read 15 free books for this challenge. Here are the books I read.
The Sorceress of the Strand by L T Meade and Robert Eustace
The Big Bow Mystery by Israel Zangwill1895
The Notting Hill Mystery by Charles Felix1862
Ocracokes Curse- The Mystery at Teach's Hole by Mark Duffey
Notes from the Underground by Fyodor Dostoevsky
An Ideal Husband by Oscar Wilde
A Cold Day for Murder by Dana Stabenow
Candide by Voltaire
The Charing Cross Mystery by J S Fletcher1923
Shadows over paradise by Anne K. Edwards
Yellow Snake by Edgar Wallace1926
The Silent house in Pimlico by Fergus Hume
Clockwise by Elle Strauss
Dangerous Past by A F Ebbers
One Major Mistake by Starr Gardineier Reina 2012
Dracula by Bram Stoker
Caravan of Thieves by David Rich
The Piccadilly Puzzle by Fergus Hume
The Middle Temple Murder by J S Fletcher
The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins
The Sorceress of the Strand by L T Meade and Robert Eustace
The Big Bow Mystery by Israel Zangwill1895
The Notting Hill Mystery by Charles Felix1862
Ocracokes Curse- The Mystery at Teach's Hole by Mark Duffey
Notes from the Underground by Fyodor Dostoevsky
An Ideal Husband by Oscar Wilde
A Cold Day for Murder by Dana Stabenow
Candide by Voltaire
The Charing Cross Mystery by J S Fletcher1923
Shadows over paradise by Anne K. Edwards
Yellow Snake by Edgar Wallace1926
The Silent house in Pimlico by Fergus Hume
Clockwise by Elle Strauss
Dangerous Past by A F Ebbers
One Major Mistake by Starr Gardineier Reina 2012
Dracula by Bram Stoker
Caravan of Thieves by David Rich
The Piccadilly Puzzle by Fergus Hume
The Middle Temple Murder by J S Fletcher
The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins
Off the Shelf 2012 & Read Your Own Books Complete
I decided to read five books from my own shelf this year for Off the Shelf Challenge and
Read Your Own Books challenge. Here are the books read
A Case to answer by Margret Yorke
The Man in the Picture by Susan Hill
Whited Sepulchres by Anne Perry
Service of All the Dead by Colin Dexter
False Pretences by Margret Yorke
Read Your Own Books challenge. Here are the books read
A Case to answer by Margret Yorke
The Man in the Picture by Susan Hill
Whited Sepulchres by Anne Perry
Service of All the Dead by Colin Dexter
False Pretences by Margret Yorke
Service of all the Dead by Colin Dexter
I picked up the Service of all the Dead by Colin Dexter published in 1979 for the books published in the first years of my life challenge. Service of all the dead had been sitting on my shelf for a long time along with other Inspector Morse books. Inspector Morse is one of my favourite detectives but I always keep picking up books from the library than my own shelves. Now to the story.
Holidays for our Inspectors are a rare thing. What do you think Inspector Morse would do on his long due holidays? Go skiing, or rest on a sun soaked beach? No. He goes to attend a service in a Church. And gets investigating two deaths on the church premises. One a murder and another a possible suicide, but is it also a murder? Harry Josephs was both poisoned and stabbed to death in the Church during a service. Some days later Lionel Lawson, the priest jumps off the Church. Did Lionel Lawson kill Josephs and commit suicide? Or did Lionel Lawson know something about Josephs' death and somebody helped him fall? How could Lawson kill anybody when the church was full and he was conducting a service? Is it even possible?
This is one of the earliest Inspector Morse books- the fourth one to be precise, and I don't find the usual wit or the meanness in Inspector Morse. I have read a few of the later books and found them all funny and intriguing. This book is intriguing too, a bit complicated, but could whatever was planned and done even possible, there seem to be too many holes for the plan to work. Some characters are introduced in the first few chapters and they all end up dead at the end of the book except for of course the killer. I didn't guess the killer. The title is very clever.
Holidays for our Inspectors are a rare thing. What do you think Inspector Morse would do on his long due holidays? Go skiing, or rest on a sun soaked beach? No. He goes to attend a service in a Church. And gets investigating two deaths on the church premises. One a murder and another a possible suicide, but is it also a murder? Harry Josephs was both poisoned and stabbed to death in the Church during a service. Some days later Lionel Lawson, the priest jumps off the Church. Did Lionel Lawson kill Josephs and commit suicide? Or did Lionel Lawson know something about Josephs' death and somebody helped him fall? How could Lawson kill anybody when the church was full and he was conducting a service? Is it even possible?
This is one of the earliest Inspector Morse books- the fourth one to be precise, and I don't find the usual wit or the meanness in Inspector Morse. I have read a few of the later books and found them all funny and intriguing. This book is intriguing too, a bit complicated, but could whatever was planned and done even possible, there seem to be too many holes for the plan to work. Some characters are introduced in the first few chapters and they all end up dead at the end of the book except for of course the killer. I didn't guess the killer. The title is very clever.
Thursday, 20 December 2012
The Dogs of Riga by Henning Mankell
When a life-raft floats up the coast of Ystad, Sweden, with two well-dressed men shot dead, Kurt Wallander starts his investigation. Who were these men and where were they from? How long did the life-raft float before reaching Sweden? There looks to be some connection with Latvia and Major Karlis Liepa from Riga visits Sweden to help Wallander with the case.
Wallander from the beginning hopes to push on the case to some other country. When the opportunity appears, won't he be happy? Only circumstance turn around, Major Liepa is murdered in Riga and Wallander is obliged to visit Riga to help in the investigation. Not knowing the language is not just the trouble, why is the Riga Police keeping watch on him and Baiba Liepa contacts Wallander secretly. What is happening here? The story is placed in the background of the freedom movement in Latvia in 1991.
Why is Wallander called to Riga? The Latvian police could have closed the case without causing much trouble. Wallander has quite an adventure, a small-town detective from Sweden, gets involved in greater things than he could ever imagine. When his adventures take a nightmarish turn, what will Wallander do? The Dogs of Riga are on the scent of Wallander, will he able to keep them at bay and find the truth. The hunter is closing on the prey. But who is hunting the hunter?
I have never seen a police officer in fiction who is so keen to push the case to somebody else. And when the time comes to quitting the case, he clings to it. The story moves away from the initial murders into international conspiracies and freedom movement. Wallander has a sense of somebody watching him throughout. We get a feel of what it is to live in a country under Soviet influence just before the fall of Soviet Union, under constant vigilance. Mankell plays a nice little trick in the end. This book is translated from Swedish by Laurie Thompson and published in English in 2001. An exciting adventure. I look forward to read more books featuring Kurt Wallander.
Wallander from the beginning hopes to push on the case to some other country. When the opportunity appears, won't he be happy? Only circumstance turn around, Major Liepa is murdered in Riga and Wallander is obliged to visit Riga to help in the investigation. Not knowing the language is not just the trouble, why is the Riga Police keeping watch on him and Baiba Liepa contacts Wallander secretly. What is happening here? The story is placed in the background of the freedom movement in Latvia in 1991.
Why is Wallander called to Riga? The Latvian police could have closed the case without causing much trouble. Wallander has quite an adventure, a small-town detective from Sweden, gets involved in greater things than he could ever imagine. When his adventures take a nightmarish turn, what will Wallander do? The Dogs of Riga are on the scent of Wallander, will he able to keep them at bay and find the truth. The hunter is closing on the prey. But who is hunting the hunter?
I have never seen a police officer in fiction who is so keen to push the case to somebody else. And when the time comes to quitting the case, he clings to it. The story moves away from the initial murders into international conspiracies and freedom movement. Wallander has a sense of somebody watching him throughout. We get a feel of what it is to live in a country under Soviet influence just before the fall of Soviet Union, under constant vigilance. Mankell plays a nice little trick in the end. This book is translated from Swedish by Laurie Thompson and published in English in 2001. An exciting adventure. I look forward to read more books featuring Kurt Wallander.
Vintage Mystery Reading Challenge 2012 Complete
I was hoping to read 16 vintage mysteries this year. I went on to read 28 mysteries ranging from the earliest published in 1862 to 1953 in three categories London Mystery Tour, Golden Age Girls and Cherchez l'homme.
London Mystery Tour
I decided to read books with London place names in the title not necessarily based in London. So here is my Mystery tour of London streets.
London
The Notting Hill Mystery by Charles Felix1862
The Big Bow Mystery by Israel Zangwill1895
The Piccadilly Puzzle by Fergus Hume1889
The Sorceress of the Strand by L T Meade and Robert Eustace1902
The Silent house in Pimlico by Fergus Hume1907
The Middle Temple Murder by J S Fletcher 1919
The Charing Cross Mystery by J S Fletcher1923
The Tragedy of Z- A Drury Lane Mystery by Ellery Queen 1934
Golden Age Girls
The Man in the Queue by Josephine Tey 1929
Behold Here's Poison by Georgette Heyer 1936
I am the Cat by Rosemary Kutak1948
The Franchise Affair by Josephine Tey1948
The Book of the Crime by Elizabeth Daly 1951
The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey1951
I could Murder Her by E C R Lorac 1951
Shroud of Darkness by E C R Lorac1954
Escape the Night by Mignon G. Eberhart1944
Tom Brown's Body by Gladys Mitchell 1949
All new authors to me!
Cherchez l'homme
The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins1868
The Great Impersonation by E Philiphs Oppenhiem 1920
Yellow Snake by Edgar Wallace1926
The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett 1930
The Postman always rings twice by James M. Cain1934
The Burning court by John Dickson Carr1937
The Problem of the Wire Cage by John Dickson Carr1939
Double Indemnity by James M. Cain1943
Journey into Fear by Eric Ambler1948
The Scarlet Letters by Ellery Queen1953
Except for Wilkie Collins all new authors to me!
Looking forward to Vintage Mystery Reading Challenge 2013.
London Mystery Tour
I decided to read books with London place names in the title not necessarily based in London. So here is my Mystery tour of London streets.
London
The Notting Hill Mystery by Charles Felix1862
The Big Bow Mystery by Israel Zangwill1895
The Piccadilly Puzzle by Fergus Hume1889
The Sorceress of the Strand by L T Meade and Robert Eustace1902
The Silent house in Pimlico by Fergus Hume1907
The Middle Temple Murder by J S Fletcher 1919
The Charing Cross Mystery by J S Fletcher1923
The Tragedy of Z- A Drury Lane Mystery by Ellery Queen 1934
Golden Age Girls
The Man in the Queue by Josephine Tey 1929
Behold Here's Poison by Georgette Heyer 1936
I am the Cat by Rosemary Kutak1948
The Franchise Affair by Josephine Tey1948
The Book of the Crime by Elizabeth Daly 1951
The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey1951
I could Murder Her by E C R Lorac 1951
Shroud of Darkness by E C R Lorac1954
Escape the Night by Mignon G. Eberhart1944
Tom Brown's Body by Gladys Mitchell 1949
All new authors to me!
Cherchez l'homme
The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins1868
The Great Impersonation by E Philiphs Oppenhiem 1920
Yellow Snake by Edgar Wallace1926
The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett 1930
The Postman always rings twice by James M. Cain1934
The Burning court by John Dickson Carr1937
The Problem of the Wire Cage by John Dickson Carr1939
Double Indemnity by James M. Cain1943
Journey into Fear by Eric Ambler1948
The Scarlet Letters by Ellery Queen1953
Except for Wilkie Collins all new authors to me!
Looking forward to Vintage Mystery Reading Challenge 2013.
The Middle Temple Murder by J S Fletcher
Spargo, sub-editor of Watchman, returning home after the papers have gone to the press at 2 in the early morning, spots news near Middle Temple lane when he finds policemen there. A porter had reported that he found a man lying dead in one of the entrances to the lane. There was nothing on the man that could lead to his identification.
They find a scrap of paper with a barrister's address on it. But the barrister is not aware of any such man. So who was he? Why was he murdered? Who murdered him? Spargo plays an active role in the investigation. He uses his influence of as a journalists to get the case solved.
With the help of the cap, the dead man was wearing, they trace him. It is a complicated and confusing case involving embezzlement, impersonation, hidden identities, invaluable stamps, hidden leather box and a twenty-one year old case.
I didn't guess the killer or the reason. There were many twists that I hadn't anticipated. Interesting mystery that got me glued from start to finish. I liked this book much much better than The Charing Cross Mystery by J S Fletcher. The Middle Temple Murder published in 1919 is available as a free ebook from many websites including Gutenberg and Amazon.
They find a scrap of paper with a barrister's address on it. But the barrister is not aware of any such man. So who was he? Why was he murdered? Who murdered him? Spargo plays an active role in the investigation. He uses his influence of as a journalists to get the case solved.
With the help of the cap, the dead man was wearing, they trace him. It is a complicated and confusing case involving embezzlement, impersonation, hidden identities, invaluable stamps, hidden leather box and a twenty-one year old case.
I didn't guess the killer or the reason. There were many twists that I hadn't anticipated. Interesting mystery that got me glued from start to finish. I liked this book much much better than The Charing Cross Mystery by J S Fletcher. The Middle Temple Murder published in 1919 is available as a free ebook from many websites including Gutenberg and Amazon.
Wednesday, 19 December 2012
Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
Get ready for the rebellion! Will the Districts overthrow the Capitol? After 75 years of oppression and deadly hunger games, that had taken their children's lives, the Districts are no longer going to tolerate the atrocities of the Capitol. Capitol has failed to provide them both 'bread and entertainment'. Capitol in poor judgement instead of giving bread and entertainment to the rebels, so that they would forget all about freedom, had been providing these necessities to the already complacent Capitol citizens. So a rebellion is inevitable!
So what is the role of the teenage rebel and the symbol of the rebellion? Will it be just symbolic? Will our sweet little Katniss dress-up in Mokingjay costume and dazzle people or is she going to play an active role in the rebellion?
I know, more and more, our battles are fought on TV. One image has more effect than thousand words. Getting the television under control is a major strategic victory in any coup. But Katniss is surely made for greater things than dressing-up and giving soundbites for TV, or isn't she?
If Catching Fire is slow, Mockingjay is slower for me. Katniss has a larger role to play in the rebellion but only in the last hundred or so pages of the book. But I do wish she had a greater role. Don't tell me, she is a sixteen year old, what more can she do! If a sixteen year old can instigate sleeping rebels to take up arms against the oppressor, she can surely do more. I am okay with Peeta, his change and all. But Gale! What's wrong with Gale? I was expecting a more fitting finish for the exciting Hunger Games.
So what is the role of the teenage rebel and the symbol of the rebellion? Will it be just symbolic? Will our sweet little Katniss dress-up in Mokingjay costume and dazzle people or is she going to play an active role in the rebellion?
I know, more and more, our battles are fought on TV. One image has more effect than thousand words. Getting the television under control is a major strategic victory in any coup. But Katniss is surely made for greater things than dressing-up and giving soundbites for TV, or isn't she?
If Catching Fire is slow, Mockingjay is slower for me. Katniss has a larger role to play in the rebellion but only in the last hundred or so pages of the book. But I do wish she had a greater role. Don't tell me, she is a sixteen year old, what more can she do! If a sixteen year old can instigate sleeping rebels to take up arms against the oppressor, she can surely do more. I am okay with Peeta, his change and all. But Gale! What's wrong with Gale? I was expecting a more fitting finish for the exciting Hunger Games.
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
Catching Fire is the second book in the Hunger Games Trilogy. This review contains spoilers for the first book. Now that Katniss emerges as a victor in the Hunger games, you think she would have time to analyze her feelings about Gale and Peeta. Yes. She has too much time. Katniss is a girl of action and all this analyses doesn't bide well with her.
There is a revolution brewing in the districts. President Snow decides to punish Katniss for what she did. She is to particpate in Qurater Quell, special edition of the hunger games. The Hunger Games Arena is interesting and clever.
Last hundred or so pages of the story is exciting, that is after the start of the Quarter quell. Before that it takes lots of time to cath fire. But second books in a trilogy are always a bit slow, aren't they?
I don't think what the Capitol did was clever in choosing the contestants or making Katniss as one of the contestants. Were they trying to quell a revolution or create one by their actions? Capitol should have taken her to Capitol and showered her with gifts and admiration, adulation, showcase her hunting skills and what not, so that her only problem in life should be 'Do I love Peeta or Gale?" Catching Fire is slow in Catching Fire, but then it burns.
The Sorceress of the Strand by L T Meade and Robert Eustace
The Sorceress of the Strand features the exploits of Madame Sara, an evil genius and a woman of science in six short stories.
Dixon Druce is the narrator of these stories. In the first story 'Madame Sara', Druce is introduced to Madame Sara, who owns a perfumery shop in Strand, London and is a professional beautifier expert in medicines, surgery and dentistry. Jack Selby's wife Beatrice and her sister Edith are greatly influenced by Madame Sara, though not in need of any of her services, they approach her as a dentist. At breakfast, Edith eats what everybody eats and she drops dead. Post-mortem reveals a strange poison. How did Edith die? How was the poison administered? Eric Vandeleur of the Metropolitan staff investigates.
In the second Story, The Blood-Red Cross, Dixon is a guest at George Rowland's home. Rowland is in possession of a heirloom, a necklace with eighty pearls that a bride to the family always wears on her wedding-day and kept in storage otherwise. George is engaged to Antonia Ripley. Madame Sara and Vandeleur arrive at Rowland's place too. She is after the pearls, how will she get it? Count on Madame Sara to think of something ingenious and scientific. Will Vandeleur stop her?
In 'The Face of the Abbot', Helen Sherwood seeks the help of Dixon with her inheritance, a haunted castle in Portugal. When Madame Sara prevails upon Helen to visit the castle and look into the mystery of the white face that haunts the castle, we know something is going to happen. This is a nice little gothic story. My favourite in this book.
In the Talk of the Town, Professor Piozzi discovers something spectacular but without commercial value and waiting patent. When he is poisoned do we even doubt, who is the poisoner? But what use could Madame Sara make of an invention that is not commercial?
In 'Bloodstone', Dixon is visiting his friend Lady Violet Bouverie, who is in some financial strait that she does not want her husband to know. When their esteemed visitor Mirza Ali Khan's 'Bloodstone' goes missing, suspicion falls on Violet. How will Vandeleur prove her innocence when Dixon is an eyewitness?
In 'The teeth of the Wolf', Dixon and Vandeleur are invited to visit Julia Bensasan, a lady who tames dangerous animals and Madame Sara is her friend. Can Dixon and Vandeleur escape the teeth of the wolf?
I quite like Madame Sara. She is not just a pretty face or an expert in the art of beautification. But an ingenious scientific mind, an expert plastic surgeon, an expert in toxicology, chemicals, impersonation, with a weakness for precious stones and jewels. She comes with clever methods to lure her victims and send them to their maker. Oh yes! An evil genius. I am supposed to hate this evil mastermind. With so many accomplishments how am I supposed to hate her? Clever little stories first serialised in Strand magazine and published as a book in 1903 is available as a free ebook from Manybooks website.
Dixon Druce is the narrator of these stories. In the first story 'Madame Sara', Druce is introduced to Madame Sara, who owns a perfumery shop in Strand, London and is a professional beautifier expert in medicines, surgery and dentistry. Jack Selby's wife Beatrice and her sister Edith are greatly influenced by Madame Sara, though not in need of any of her services, they approach her as a dentist. At breakfast, Edith eats what everybody eats and she drops dead. Post-mortem reveals a strange poison. How did Edith die? How was the poison administered? Eric Vandeleur of the Metropolitan staff investigates.
In the second Story, The Blood-Red Cross, Dixon is a guest at George Rowland's home. Rowland is in possession of a heirloom, a necklace with eighty pearls that a bride to the family always wears on her wedding-day and kept in storage otherwise. George is engaged to Antonia Ripley. Madame Sara and Vandeleur arrive at Rowland's place too. She is after the pearls, how will she get it? Count on Madame Sara to think of something ingenious and scientific. Will Vandeleur stop her?
In 'The Face of the Abbot', Helen Sherwood seeks the help of Dixon with her inheritance, a haunted castle in Portugal. When Madame Sara prevails upon Helen to visit the castle and look into the mystery of the white face that haunts the castle, we know something is going to happen. This is a nice little gothic story. My favourite in this book.
In the Talk of the Town, Professor Piozzi discovers something spectacular but without commercial value and waiting patent. When he is poisoned do we even doubt, who is the poisoner? But what use could Madame Sara make of an invention that is not commercial?
In 'Bloodstone', Dixon is visiting his friend Lady Violet Bouverie, who is in some financial strait that she does not want her husband to know. When their esteemed visitor Mirza Ali Khan's 'Bloodstone' goes missing, suspicion falls on Violet. How will Vandeleur prove her innocence when Dixon is an eyewitness?
In 'The teeth of the Wolf', Dixon and Vandeleur are invited to visit Julia Bensasan, a lady who tames dangerous animals and Madame Sara is her friend. Can Dixon and Vandeleur escape the teeth of the wolf?
I quite like Madame Sara. She is not just a pretty face or an expert in the art of beautification. But an ingenious scientific mind, an expert plastic surgeon, an expert in toxicology, chemicals, impersonation, with a weakness for precious stones and jewels. She comes with clever methods to lure her victims and send them to their maker. Oh yes! An evil genius. I am supposed to hate this evil mastermind. With so many accomplishments how am I supposed to hate her? Clever little stories first serialised in Strand magazine and published as a book in 1903 is available as a free ebook from Manybooks website.
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