Books Read:
The Kingsclere Mystery by Moray Dalton (1924) 4/5 stars
This, Dalton's first published crime novel, is a mix of gothic novel and murder mystery, and was completely enjoyable. As with her later novels, it's generally well written and fully engrossing, and, despite being easy to solve, was a darn good story.
This, Dalton's first published crime novel, is a mix of gothic novel and murder mystery, and was completely enjoyable. As with her later novels, it's generally well written and fully engrossing, and, despite being easy to solve, was a darn good story.
Death in the Stocks by Georgette Heyer (1935) 3/5 stars
This mystery contains Heyer's signature wit, along with her usual likable characters, amusing situations, and snappy conversations. Unfortunately, the crime was too easy to solve as well as unconvincing.
The Buckled Bag and Locked Doors (1914) by Mary Roberts Rinehart 3/5 stars (my review here)
Miss Pinkerton
by Mary Roberts Rinehart (1932) 4/5 stars (my review here)
The Haunted Lady by Mary Roberts Rinehart (1942) 4/5 stars (my review here)
Episode of the Wandering Knife by Mary Roberts Rinehart (1950) 4/5 stars (my review here)
The Shadow on the Wall by Moray Dalton (1926) 4/5 stars
It's best to know little of the plot of this mystery-suspense novel going in, so that it unfolds as a surprise. I'll merely say that while it is melodramatic and implausible, it's also engrossing, twisty, and highly entertaining.
Audiobooks Completed:
The Dark Queens: The Bloody Rivalry That Forged the Medieval World by Shelley Puhak (2022) 4/5 stars
This is a nonfiction account of Brunhilde and Fredegund, two rival Queens (sisters-in-law, in fact) of the 6th-century Merovingian Dynasty, and how they shaped the Frankish Empire and it's future. It's extremely interesting, generally well-written, and surprisingly entertaining.
Three Empires on the Nile: The Victorian Jihad, 1869-1899 by Dominic Green (2007) 4/5 stars
This nonfiction account tells of the clash between Victoria's Britain, Turkish-ruled Egypt, and the Islamic army of the Madhi in Sudan toward the end of the nineteenth century. Green brings many of the Victorian players to life, and manages to tell a good yarn while explaining a tragic bit of history. I certainly recommend it to those interested in Victorian foreign politics, or larger-than-life Victorian figures.
