The Killer and the Slain by Hugh Walpole

The Killer and the Slain: 

A Strange Story 

Hugh Walpole 

1942 

5/5 stars

The less known about the plot going in, the better, in my opinion.  Most of the blurbs give details, which may or may not spoil the reader's enjoyment.  I would have preferred to have known less, though, so I'm only going to say that this follows mild-mannered, often bullied, John Talbot as he becomes a different man after an act of violence.  

The story is one of Good and Evil, of the crumbling of the barriers that make a human act "decently", of effects that can snowball from the actions of one person.  Walpole's posthumously published macabre psychological study is emotional, suspenseful, believable, and sometimes frightening.  It's not a story one "enjoys"; it caused me tension, discomfort, and unease -- as was intended.  It is excellently written overall, with a most gratifying ending.  As an experience of the depths of a lost mind, the Killer and the Slain was exceptional.

I will note that those not believing in an Agent of Evil and a Deity of Good, may not find it as moving or satisfying as I did.  

The Seven Sisters by Lucinda Riley

The Seven Sisters

Lucinda Riley

2014

3/5 stars

The Seven Sisters is the first in a series that follows a set of adopted sisters as they heal from the loss of their father, consider their unknown past, and make decisions for the future.  This book sets the scene by introducing the sisters and then follows Maia, the eldest who is in thrall to her past, in her quest to uncover her birth-family's history in Rio.

This is not my typical genre (a combo of historical and contemporary romance/fiction) but I enjoyed it.  I did have quibbles with some of the plot, but for the most part found it engaging and intelligent, and with characters I came to care about.  At one point, I feared it was taking a predictable and trope-ish turn, but was pleasantly surprised.  In the end I found the Seven Sisters, if not fully original, both interesting and well-written enough to continue the series.

By the way. . .

 I'm bookstagramming again.

August 2021 Wrap-Up

Books Read:
Footsteps in the Dark by Georgette Heyer (1932)  3/5 stars

This, Heyer's first published mystery, doesn't have a great plot but still contains her signature humor, style, and well-written conversations.  It wasn't memorable, and I wouldn't recommend it as a first Heyer novel, but it does have some fun moments.

The Body in the Dumb River by George Bellairs (1961)  3/5 stars

This has a great start, but when the solution becomes obvious, the plot looses it's momentum.  Bellairs' prose is extremely sparse, as well, making the book feel unpolished.

Castle Skull by John Dickson Carr (1931)  3/5 stars

This is well written and entertaining, and I was completely engaged until the reason behind the murder was revealed.   To prevent spoilers, I'll merely say that I didn't find it believable.  I enjoyed it enough, though, that I wouldn't hesitate to read another mystery by Carr.

When a Man Marries by Mary Roberts Rinehart (1909)  4/5 stars (my review here)

Capital Crimes: London Mysteries edited by Martin Edwards (2015)  

4/5 stars

This is an anthology of crime -- though not always mystery -- short stories written by (mostly lesser known) Golden Age writers.  As always with the British Library Crime Classics collections, the appeal varies but the diversity is fantastic.  

The Unfinished Clue by Georgette Heyer (1933)  4/5 stars

This is a pleasant English Country House mystery written in Heyer's typical light, fun, and witty style.  I didn't feel like I had quite enough clues, but found the solution satisfying and the book enjoyable overall. 

Audio Books Completed:

Dreaming Spies by Laurie R. King (2015)  4/5 stars

This novel finds Mary Russell and her husband Sherlock Holmes in an adventure in Japan -- one which has repercussions that follow them to England a year later.  As nearly always with this series, it's well-written, completely engrossing, and thoroughly enjoyable.

Anna, Where Are You? by Patricia Wentworth (1951)  4/5 stars

When a young woman abruptly quits corresponding with an old friend, Miss Silver is hired to investigate her possible disappearance.  This was well-written and entertaining with a good plot and, though following Wentworth's typical formula, still managed a couple of surprises. 

The Perfect Guests by Anna Rous (2021)  4/5 stars

While sometimes referred to as a mystery or suspense, this complex story is not exactly either, but is a compelling, engaging, and hard-to-put-down novel.  While not every twist is a surprise, Rous does present some unpredictable turns, keeping the book interesting. I recommend reading as little as possible about the plot, however, to maximize the enjoyment of the experience.

Did Not Finish:

This was quite the month of not finishing!

Our Magnificent Bastard Tongue: The Untold History of English by John McWhorter

This read more like a thesis than a "survey of the quirks and quandaries of the English language, focusing on our strange and wonderful grammar" as advertised, and, as far as I read, focused primarily on disproving other theories instead of providing insights. 

Confessions on the 7:45 by Lisa Unger

I only made it about thirty minutes into the audio book and found it, frankly, awful.  This was my second time trying a thriller by Unger, and will be my last.

Cold Mourning by Brenda Chapman

This started out with sexual violence against a child, and I quit before the scene was over.

Bruno, Chief of Police by Martin Walker

I only got about twenty minutes into the audiobook, but found it bit too "twee" for my taste.

The Searcher by Tana French

French's books have always been stellar for me, and I expected no less from this one. I had trouble with some animal scenes, though, and after a couple, I was wary of there being more, maybe worse, to come so I quit several hours into the audio book.  

The Last Landlady: an English Memoir by Laura Thompson

Despite the subject, it never captured my interest, though I gave it a good try.

The Transcendental Murder by Jane Langston

This is the first of a popular series, but I found the first chapter poorly written, to the point of being confusing, so stopped.  I'm sure it got better, but I wasn't interested enough to push on through.

Her Last Flight by Beatriz Williams

I really enjoyed Our Woman in Moscow by Williams, but after several chapters I still wasn't particularly interested in the story.

After Alice by Gregory Maguire

I am Alice-mad.  I will read any Alice pastiche and as a result have encountered some horrible ones that I couldn't finish (Alice by Christine Henry, about sex slaves and sadism, springs to mind) as well as some magnificent ones (like Heartless by Marissa Meyer that beautifully tells the backstory of the Queen of Hearts).  After Alice falls into the "bad but at least not stomach churning" category.  Maguire did not capture any of the feel of Wonderland or of Carroll's style, and as a result just didn't interest me.  I went in with great hopes, loving the concept, but forgetting that I have not really enjoyed any of the few Maguire novels that I have previously read.

Note:
Force of Nature by Jane Harper (2017)  3/5 stars

I read this in July, but somehow missed both noting it and writing a review.

This was an enjoyable and well-written mystery/suspense with Harper's trademark style, but I did not find the solution fully satisfying.

When a Man Marries by Mary Roberts Rinehart

When a Man Marries

Mary Roberts Rinehart

1909 

4/5 stars

This turn-of-the-nineteenth century novel, a precursor of Hollywood's screwball comedies of the 1930s, is a laugh-out-loud misadventure that is well-written, engaging and completely entertaining.  Telling the plot would spoil it, I think, as so much of the pleasure is derived from wondering just WHAT could possibly happen next?!  The best thing to do, is to let Kit (the narrator) tell it in her own words: 

It began with Jimmy Wilson and a conspiracy, was helped on by a foot-square piece of yellow paper and a Japanese butler, and it enmeshed and mixed up generally ten respectable members of society and a policeman. Incidentally, it involved a pearl collar and a box of soap, which sounds incongruous, doesn’t it? 

Rinehart, known for her popular mysteries, has a wonderful knack for writing conversation and ridiculous situations, both of which made When a Man Marries such fun. It is not perfect, and there are a few bits that could have been smoothed out better or explained more, as well as some dated, now offensive, language.  Despite that, I got five stars worth of enjoyment out of it, and am truly sad that I can't honestly give it the full five rating. 

July 2021 Wrap-Up

Books Read

813 by Maurice Leblanc (1910)  4/5 stars

Arséne Lupin, gentleman thief and adventurer, is framed for murder, a situation which leads him to match wits with a most devious opponent.  This is a fun book, with many twists and turns, and though I guessed the biggest surprise, I enjoyed it thoroughly.  Leblanc writes engaging prose (or the translator is particularly good) and the fast-paced plot, incredible as it is, makes for an entertaining read.

Our Woman in Moscow by Beatriz Williams (2021)  4/5 stars

The less known about the plot of this well-written historical novel the better, as it allows for surprises, so I'll just say that it is a complex story regarding an American who defected to the Soviet Union with his family.  It's not my usual genre, but I was hooked immediately and engrossed throughout.  I certainly plan to try more of Williams' historical fiction.

Bab: a Sub-Deb by Mary Roberts Rinehart (1917) 4/5 stars

This novel about a few momentous events in the life of 17-year old Deb is, at times, hilarious, and always engrossing.  It's told in the first person, with bad spelling and rambling thoughts, and is the forerunner of Lorelei Lee in Anita Loos' equally funny Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.  My version contained a fourth story, added in later publications, dealing with the Great War which was sometimes poignant and gave an excellent insight into an American woman's view of the conflict.  Overall, while some parts weren't as side-splitting as others, I give this a whole-hearted recommendation for those who appreciate the time-period.

Audio Books Completed:

Watching From the Dark by Gytha Lodge (2020)   3/5 stars

This is a mostly well-written mystery, but I found the solution to be unsatisfactory.  I was impressed by Lodge's first book, but found this one to be contrived and only average.

Too Close by Natalie Daniels (2018)  4/5 stars

It's best to go into this knowing little of the plot, so I'll not give any description, except to say that it is not a psychological thriller as advertised but is instead a novel of female friendship and betrayal.  It's extremely well-written for the most part, but I felt like it built up to a fantastic conclusion but didn't deliver.  I still enjoyed it, and found the characters most natural and believable.

The Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle  (1902) 4/5 stars

This is an entertaining classic, despite the solution depending on a coincidence, and I enjoyed it immensely.

Through the Wall by Patricia Wentworth (1950)  3/5 stars

This follows Wentworth's typical formula with Miss Silver investigating while a light romance goes on around her.  I enjoyed it, as I have all of the series, but it wasn't particularly memorable.

The Widow's Cruise by Nicholas Blake (1959)   4/5 stars

While on a cruise, Nigel Strangeways investigates a death that could be suicide or murder.  It's quite well-written and very enjoyable.  I knew the solution early on, though, but that was not the fault of the author: it's simply that in all my years of reading mysteries, I had already encountered the situation.

Did Not Finish:

Aurora Floyd by Mary Elizabeth Braddon

I have enjoyed other melodramas by this Victorian author, but the plot of Aurora Floyd  was somewhat dull and seemed to go on interminably.  I quit and then returned numerous times, and, despite wanting to know the ending, when I realized that I was only about halfway through the three volume novel, I finally admitted defeat and read the Wikipedia plot summary. 

The Town in Bloom by Dodie Smith

Smith's I Capture the Castle is one of my top ten favorite books, but this one was simply not enjoyable.  I was struggling through it, expecting it to get better, but when the reader was supposed to regard an affair with a married man as amusing and charming, I quit.

The Night Hawks by Elly Griffiths

During the summer of 2019, I binged on the Ruth Galloway series and loved it.  With last year's release, however, I became tired of Ruth's personal drama.  I still waited for months to borrow this new one, though, because Griffiths' mysteries are usually good.  I got a few chapters in, however, and realized I just couldn't get interested.

June 2021 Wrap-Up

Books Read:

The Lost Man by Jane Harper  (2019)  4/5 stars  (my review here)

The Girl from Montana by Grace Livingston Hill (1908)  3/5 stars

Written in 1908, this novel follows the story of a young woman fleeing Montana to escape from a wicked man's evil intent.  During her flight, she encounters a man from the East, lost and in trouble, whom she helps, and who helps her in return.  While sweet and mostly entertaining, this Christian-themed novel is light on plot in the second half -- quite a let-down after the promising start.

The Yellow Room by Mary Roberts Rinehart (1945)  

4/5 stars

When Carol Spencer arrives at her summer house in Maine, she discovers a burnt corpse in her linen closet, beginning a nightmare for her family and the small coastal town.  Written and taking place during WWII, this mystery is interesting, well-paced, and suspenseful.  The plot is convoluted, and couldn't be fully solved from the clues given, relying at times on information the detective has but doesn't reveal.  Despite that annoyance, it was a good, quick read, complicated enough to be enjoyable, with a surprising and satisfying ending.

The Guest List by Lucy Foley (2020)  3/5 stars

This thriller takes place on a remote island the day before and the day of the wedding of a high-profile couple.  It follows several members of the party, in first-person alternating chapters,  as they muse on their past and their personal demons, while gradually leading up to the end of the wedding and a murder.  The Guest List has some good twists, and I stayed mostly interested, but I was never invested in any of the characters or their situations.  The various voices weren't distinct enough, nor the prose engaging enough, to make it an immersive read.

Audio Books Completed:

The Lake House by Kate Morton (2015)  4/5 stars (my review here)

The Secret of Chimneys by Agatha Christie (1925)  3/5 stars

This is a sometimes convoluted story of international intrigue taking place in an English country house.  It's not one of Christie's best written or most believable, in part because not all the clues are available for the reader, but, despite that, it is still a generally entertaining escape, though not fully engrossing.

Did Not Finish

The Strange Case of the Alchemist's Daughter by Theodora Goss

I feel bad for not finishing this one.  I was interested in the plot, liked most of the characters, and generally enjoyed the format, but. . . I didn't care much for Mary, the main protagonist.  I didn't feel like she was well-drawn, nor particularly likable.  There were several historical inaccuracies, as well.  I tried to tell myself that as alternate history, the author doesn't have to stick to the facts, but (as a history major), it grated on my nerves continually. Then, there was the main reason: I especially hated how Goss made use of a  character called "Sherlock Holmes" who had very little in common with the canon Holmes.  (As a friend and I have discussed lately, Holmes fans tend to be very passionate about their interpretation of him, and soundly dislike authors that break with that vision.)  I began dreading to read it, not wanting any more interaction with the faux Holmes, so, with 57% completed, I stopped.  I  think it's really a case of "it's not you, it's me".  Good book on the whole, but a bad match for me.

Moon Over Soho by Ben Aaronovitch

This is the second in the Rivers of London series (my review here), and it was quite good: witty, funny, and interesting.  Unfortunately, about the time I reached page 75, BOOM, I was out of the mood for fantasy.  I'll set it aside and pick up the series again when I'm in that frame of mind again.

The Stranger in the Lake by Kimberly Belle

Oh my.  I'm sorry, but this book is not very good.  Part of the problem is that Belle is depicting a fictional small town in the mountains of NC.  Now, I grew up in an actual small town in the mountains of NC, and her idea of how one works is quite different from mine.  Then there were several other things I found off-putting or eye-roll worthy, including a lot of ageism, so after over an hour of the audio book, I just quit.  

The Last Flight by Julie Clark

I really wanted to like this one, as it's got an average of over four stars on Goodreads, but, while it's not exactly a trigger, I just don't like to read about women in abusive relationships.  I made it a few chapters in, and decided it wasn't for me.