Book Review

A Murder is Announced (Miss Marple #5) By: Agatha Christie

a-murder-is-announced

A Murder is Announced (Miss Marple #5) By: Agatha Christie

Plot:

Villagers expect a fun game after a Gazette announcement of murder, but when lights flash off, shots ring out, and a masked burglar falls dead, the Inspector and vicar’s wife Bunch call in expert Miss Jane Marple. Was Swiss hotel clerk Rudi framed? Miss Letitia Blackstone houses scatty Dora, cousins Julia and Patrick, gardener widow Phillipa, and paranoid cook Mitzi.

Review:

This is the first Agatha Christie novel I’ve ever read. I’m kind of ashamed to say that. I’ve watched several movies based on her novels and I’ve meant to read some of her books for a while, I just never got around to it.

Anyway, the mystery was great I didn’t figure out who did it until the very end. I also really liked the idea and thought it was cool, surprised I haven’t seen it done more often. Miss Marple didn’t play as large a part in the story as I thought she would based on the movies I’ve seen. There were also some language and cultural differences that I had to overcome. Still it was a great mystery and great story and I’m looking forward to reading more.

I liked the fact that the policeman knew Marple and didn’t treat her like a batty old woman and actually went to her for help. In the movies I’ve seen with her she’s always in such control and I didn’t really get that from the book. She really came off as a nosy little old lady.

I think I might try a Poirot next.

4/5

Side note: There’s a whole paragraph where they talk about old women and how nosy and useful they are, only they don’t call them old women, the use a slang term that means something else entirely and it was freakin hilarious and at the same time uncomfortable to read.

 

Murder is Binding (A Booktown Mystery #1) By: Lorna Barrett

Murder is Binding

Murder is Binding (A Booktown Mystery #1) By: Lorna Barrett

Plot:

The streets of Stoneham, New Hampshire are lined with bookstores…and paved with murder.

Stoneham, New Hampshire, was a dying town until community leaders invited booksellers to open shop. Now, its streets are lined with bookstores – and paved with murder…

When she moved to Stoneham, city-slicker Tricia Miles was met with friendly faces. And when she opened her mystery bookstore, she met with friendly competition. But when she finds Doris Gleason dead in her own cookbook store, killed by a carving knife, the atmosphere seems more cutthroat than cordial. Someone wanted to get their hands on the rare cookbook that Doris had recently purchased – and the locals think that someone is Tricia. To clear her name, Tricia will have to take a page out of one of her own mysteries – and hunt down someone who isn’t killing by the book …

Review:

Wow Tricia Miles, the main character, comes off as a real bitch in the first few chapters. She’s judgmental, blames her sister or her mother for why she feels certain ways, and is about as boring as a stick in the mud. Things just get worse from there.

I didn’t like the way Barrett wrote, she was overly descriptive about the surroundings, and seemed to be forcing things to go a certain way. A lot of her terms and word choices seemed really dated and I was surprised to see the book was published in 2008. None of her characters were compelling. The setting and premise were interesting, so interesting in fact that I already have the second book (thankfully it was only $.99) but I do not plan on reading it.

So disappointed in this book and will probably never read anything from this author again.

1/5

Side note: I really think this book was some sort of wish fulfillment for the author and a way for her to live the life she wants. She gets to solve mysteries, own an amazing bookstore, and have men love her. Too bad the character comes off as a c!@#

Red Velvet Revenge (Cupcake Bakery Mystery #4) By: Jenn McKinlay

Red Velvet Revenge

Red Velvet Revenge (Cupcake Bakery Mystery #4) By: Jenn McKinlay

Plot:

It may be summertime, but sales at Fairy Tale Cupcakes are below zero–and owners Melanie Cooper and Angie DeLaura are willing to try anything to heat things up. So when local legend Slim Hazard offers them the chance to sell cupcakes at the annual Juniper Pass rodeo, they’re determined to rope in a pretty payday! But not everyone at the Juniper Pass is as sweet for Fairy Tale Cupcakes as Slim–including star bull-rider Ty Stokes. Mel and Angie try to steer clear of the cowboy’s short fuse, but when his dead body is found face down in the hay, it’s a whole different rodeo. With a vengeful murderer on the loose, the ladies are quickly realizing that while they came to save their business, they may have to save themselves–and that’s no bull.

Review:

Oh my god!!! Why??? So the book ended on a romantic relationship cliffhanger for Mel and Angie both. Of course my library does not have the next book and neither do any of the used bookstores in the area. I really need to find a way to secure income for buying books.

Anyway, I thought more of the story was dedicated to relationship stuff than mystery stuff,but that could be because that’s becoming my favorite part. The mystery was good, plenty of twists and turns, but even with all it’s drama I didn’t really care about it. I needed Angie to get her head out of her ass or Mel to knock some sense into her. Neither happened.

Maybe it’s a good thing I don’t have the next book. Some character traits are starting to grate on my nerves. Mel has some boundary issues and they always seem to be in flux. One minute she’s asking incredibly personal questions like who do you think murdered your husband and the next she won’t push Angie on who she’s in love with. Angie is all temper and was a real bitch in this book. She’s always threatening to kick someone’s ass but never does. Mel really nailed Tate when she called him a wuss, dude just tell her how you feel already.

I’m excited to read the next in the series, but I also think it’s a good thing I’m going to have a little break from the characters.

4/5

Death by the Dozen (Cupcake Mysteries #3) By: Jenna McKinlay

Death by the dozen

Death by the Dozen (Cupcake Mysteries #3) By: Jenna McKinlay

Plot:

Melanie and Angie are determined to win the Challenge to the Chef to promote their Fairy Tale Cupcakes bakery. Mel’s mentor from culinary school, Vic Mazzotta, may be one of the judges, but Mel and Angie will have to win fair and square. But, when Vic’s dead body is found inside a freezer truck, Mel and Angie will need to use their best judgment to find the cold-blooded killer or they may lose more than the contest- they may lose their lives.

Review:

Another great installment in the series. Her cupcake/pastry descriptions are really making me want to bake.

This time Mel had someone she was close to murdered, however they were still a heel so as a reader it didn’t really affect me. It worked well as believable motivation for her to investigate, though. The killer was obvious only if you’ve watched too much Law and Order but was still very entertaining.

The Tate-Angie-Roach love triangle is still going strong and I’m happy that the love triangle I foresaw in the previous book for Mel did not come to pass in this book. Really hoping the relationship stuff gets settled soon, people can be happy in their relationships and still find themselves surrounded by murder, right?

4.5/5

Buttercream Bump Off (A Cupcake Bakery Mystery #2) By: Jenn McKinlay

Buttercream Bump Off

Buttercream Bump Off (A Cupcake Bakery Mystery #2) By: Jenn McKinlay

Plot:

Melanie Cooper and Angie DeLaura’s Fairy Tale Cupcakes bakery is gearing up for Valentine’s Day. Unfortunately someone has iced Baxter Malloy on his first date with Mel’s mother. Now Mom’s a suspect, and Mel and Angie need to find time around frosting to dig into the man’s shady past and discover who served him his just desserts.

Review:

Finally got to read the next book in the series, so happy. Tons of more amazing sounding cupcakes and a good mystery as well.

This series is everything you could want in a cozy mystery and is very comforting because of it. I know that the mystery is going to be solved, that I’m never going to be blindsided with extreme violence, and that the romance will work out.

I’m a little concerned about the introduction of a new detective, I think he’s going to have a thing for Mel and she’s already got Joe. Also Angie and Tate need to get on the same page ASAP.

Excited that my library has the next one in and I’ve got it sitting beside me waiting to be devoured.

4.5/5