Highgate Rise by Anne Perry (Thomas Pitt Book Eleven)

Publication Date:

January 1, 1991

Genre: 

Historical Mystery

Length:  

352 pages

Series:

Thomas Pitt Mysteries

Book description courtesy of Goodreads:

Clemency Shaw, the wife of a prominent doctor, has died in a tragic fire. But whether the blaze was set by an arsonist aiming for the doctor, or set by the doctor himself, Inspector Thomas Pitt isn't certain. With the scarcity of clues, Pitt turns to Clemency's stuffy, but distinguished, relatives. Meanwhile, Pitt's wellborn wife, Charlotte, retraces the dangerous path that Clemency walked the last months of her life, and finds herself enmeshed in a sinister web that stretches from the lowest slums to the loftiest centers of power.

My Thoughts: 

Anne Perry is my go to when I'm in a reading slump. So I was disappointed that this one just didn't do it for me. I guess I'm 0-2 these last couple of weeks with my mysteries! This story started out great as all of her books do and honestly there isn't one I just completely dislike, but while I felt that excitement of a good mystery along with Pitt's no nonsense investigating ahead, it fizzled out pretty quickly. 

After the initial opening pages concerning the fire and suspicions as to who would have wanted the doctor's wife killed, the plot moved to the religious and personal relatives available to shed insight into the reasons they believed it happened. And while this is a normal part of Perry's mysteries, Charlotte investigating via drawing rooms and afternoon teas along with her sister Emily and Aunt Vespasia, I felt like we just kept hearing from the same people over and over again. The stories didn't change except for maybe a small tidbit here and there and I found myself growing bored with it all. 

By the time we figured out who had done it I wasn't very surprised. It seemed pretty obvious to me. And that was disappointing because one of the things I can usually count on with Perry's books is not knowing the full story and being shocked by something in the ending. I am not giving up on her books but unfortunately this one was just a bridge to the next. Sometimes that happens and that is okay, after all, there are 32 books just in the Pitt series alone!

 

Murder On the S.S. Cleopatra by Sara Rosett (Lady Traveler in Egypt Book Two)

 

Publication Date:

October 21, 2025

Genre: 

Cozy Mysteries, Mysteries

Length:  

304 pages

Series:

Lady Traveler in Egypt 

Book description courtesy of Goodreads

Luxury, lies, and murder on a Nile cruise....

Join Blix Windway, an adventurous lady traveler, on a journey down the Nile in 1924. An eclectic mix of passengers boards the steamer, including a captain of industry, a former stunt-girl reporter turned lady of the manor, an archaeologist, an American teacher, a British doctor and his invalid wife, and a German photographer.

When a passenger is found dead, the elegant cruise turns into a floating crime scene. With everyone confined on board, tensions rise and secrets surface. Even her traveling companion, Hildy Honeyworth, is behaving as if she has something to hide. Blix must navigate the treacherous waters of the investigation and uncover the truth.

Set against the stunning backdrop of the Nile River and the ancient wonders of Egypt, this classic whodunit is the second book in the 1920s Lady Traveler in Egypt series from USA Today bestselling author Sara Rosett.

My Thoughts

While I know cozy mysteries are not written for historical purposes per se I still get excited about them when they are set in fun times and locations. The pyramids are always fun so this series is one I've wanted to read and keep up with. And while it was still cozy and cute, this book lacked in details that made the setting feel real. The same characters are there and I enjoy them, the mystery was fun but the "Egypt", "Nile" feel not so much. It started out promising and the passengers on the cruise do take a sight seeing tour in the beginning to some pyramids but that only lasts one chapter and is very cursory. After that the book could pretty much take place in a hotel or on a regular cruise ship. The author added some tidbits from fictional gossip articles at the beginning of each chapter, mentioning the location but it just wasn't much.

I thought the story was nice and had some red herrings that kept me guessing. When we got to the end and found out who the killer was it was clever and surprising. The way the murders were committed was not easily discovered so that meant reading it carefully was necessary. I think the story was crafted more around the crime and interview style solution than the location. In order to call it "Lady Traveler in Egypt" it's going to have to include more places, activities, and descriptions to draw me in. 

Murder in An Irish Castle by Verity Bright (Lady Eleanor Swift Book Twelve)

 

Publication Date:

November 28, 2022

Genre: 

Cozy Mystery/Historical Mystery

Length:   

320 pages

Series: 

Lady Eleanor Swift Mysteries

Book description courtesy of Goodreads

Irish whiskey, rolling green hills, a traditional Christmas feast and… a murder? Lady Swift will need the luck of the Irish to survive this holiday season!

Christmas, 1924. Lady Eleanor Swift has received a rather unexpected invitation to the village Christmas party in the tiny, rural hamlet of Derrydee in the west of Ireland. Eleanor is thrilled about exploring her ancestral roots at her late uncle’s estate and spending the festive season in a castle. Packing Gladstone the bulldog’s coziest Christmas jumper, they set off to the Emerald Isle with her butler Clifford in tow.

Arriving late at night, Eleanor and Clifford are shocked when they find a body sprawled in the snow on the winding country lane outside the estate. The local constable is immediately suspicious and all but accuses the pair of murder. This isn’t the warm Irish welcome Eleanor imagined.

Clifford is certain he recognises the poor fellow from the funeral of Eleanor’s uncle – but what was their connection? Undeterred by the villagers’ lack of gossip on the matter, Eleanor is determined to get justice for the victim. The man’s pockets are suspiciously empty of personal effects, but closer inspection reveals an old key hidden in the heel of his boot. Could this unlock more than one mystery for Eleanor?

But when a fire breaks out at the castle on Christmas Eve, an even bigger question looms: is someone out to ensure the family line dies with Lady Swift? And will Eleanor’s first Irish Christmas be her last?

My Thoughts:

This was a perfect November/December book to get me into the Christmas spirit. The descriptions of the Irish castles and surroundings, traditional food, and the local, quirky townspeople all made it feel authentic and I appreciated the author's research and interesting details. 

Eleanor, Clifford, and the dog, Gladstone really had a baffling mysyery to solve in this story. From the minute they find the nearly dead man in the road it seems no one wants them involved in questioning anything much less investigating suspicious clues. Of course this doesn’t stop them and after taking the man to a local convent and witnessing odd behavior by the nun and doctor there, they feel obligated to find out why. 

Cat Among the Pigeons by Agatha Christie (Read Christie November 2025 Selection) Hercule Poirot Book 36

 

Publication Date:

November 2, 1959

Genre:  

Cozy Mystery/Historical Mystery

Length:   

352 pages

Series: 

Hercule Poirot

Book description courtesy of Goodreads

Late one night, two teachers investigate a mysterious light in the school Sports Pavilion. Among the tennis racquets and lacrosse sticks, they find the body of the unpopular games mistress – shot through the heart. Schoolgirl Julia Upjohn knows too much, and begins to worry that she might be the next victim. Can detective Hercule Poirot find the killer before the ‘cat’ strikes again?

My Thoughts:

I was intrigued by the title of this book before I even started reading it. It sounded sinister and a good title for a mystery. The first part concerns a fictional Middle Eastern city, Ramut, in which there is a revolution going on. Two men end up dying in a plane crash and one of them decides to hide a stash of gems in a place only very few would know to look. It makes for a cliffhanger beginning and I definitely wanted to continue. I like novels and mysteries that make you a bit confused in the beginning as then there's much to figure out as you go.

The story then shifts to three months later at an English boarding school where we become involved in the day to day lives of student Jennifer and her friend Julia, as well as the staff. There are a vast array of characters so I won't list them all but I did have to work hard to keep everyone straight. This was complicated at times.

Murder Among the Pyramids by Sara Rosett (Lady Traveler in Egypt Book One)

 

Publication Date:

October 16, 2024

Genre:  

Cozy Mystery/Historical Mystery

Length:   

316 pages

Series: 

Lady Traveler in Egypt 

Book description courtesy of Goodreads

Escape on an Egyptian excursion to the land of the Pyramids.
Tour highlights include Hieroglyphics and high tea in the desert, followed by murder after sunset.

It’s 1924 and Blix Windway has made a career out of her wanderlust, giving lectures to ladies’ groups about everything from the flora of the American desert to the beauty of the Swiss Alps, but she needs new material for her talks.

She strikes what seems to be an ideal agreement with an eccentric older lady. Blix will be her travel companion during a journey to Egypt, helping to smooth the way through customs and coordinate sightseeing tours. The arrangement will provide Blix with the perfect opportunity to photograph the pyramids and gather material for her next lecture series.

But they’ve barely left England before the trouble begins; rough seas and an attempted robbery. Then a murder occurs during a tour of the pyramids.

Despite the attempts of the British officials to sweep the death under the rug, Blix becomes increasingly convinced that one of their tour party is a murderer.

Blix’s search for the truth takes her from the posh sporting clubs and lavish gardens of Cairo to the narrow, twisting lanes of the city’s centuries-old bazaar and the vast desert around the Giza Plateau. Can Blix unearth the truth before the killer makes this journey her last?

Join Blix on this classic murder mystery from Sara Rosett, author of the beloved High Society Lady Detective series.

My Thoughts:

I had not read any Sara Rosett books before this one but have several of her samples in my Kindle. This one was available on Libby. It was cute. Very similar to some Agatha Christie type books and the author says Elizabeth Peters was an inspiration for the Egyptian setting.

The main character, Blix is smart and resourceful and brave in her quest to find the killer of one of the tourists she is involved with, Vita Duncan.  With her travel companion and the woman funding her vacation, Hildy Honeyworth, and others, she works the clues including a mysterious package she was asked to deliver to someone in Egypt. 

Bethlehem Road by Anne Perry (Charlotte and Thomas Pitt Book Ten)

 

Publication Date:

June 1, 1990

Genre:  

Historical Mysteries

Length:   

 313 pages

Series: 

Charlotte and Thomas Pitt Mysteries

Book description courtesy of Goodreads

The gentleman tied to the lamppost on Westminster Bridge is most elegantly attired --- fresh boutonniere, silk hat, white evening scarf --- and he is quite, quite dead, as a result of his thoroughly cut throat.

Why should anyone kill Sir Lockwood Hamilton, that kindest of family men and most conscientious member of Parliament? Before Inspector Thomas Pitt can even speculate on the reasons, a colleague of Sir Lockwood's meets the same fate in the same spot.

Public indignation is boundless, and clever Charlotte Pitt, Thomas's well-born wife, can't resist helping her hard-pressed husband, scouting society's drawing rooms for clues to these appalling crimes. Meanwhile, the Westminster Bridge Cutthroat stalks still another victim ...

My Thoughts

I have gotten to know the main characters in this series well over the years. There are a lot of books in the Pitt series (32!) and so I always remain behind. But when I start a new book it is like being with old friends. I was excited to check in and see what the Pitts are up to.

The London community is living in fear. Prominent members of Parliament are being attacked and it is not as easy to shrug off this time as it is when the poor people who live in the shadows are normally the victims of brutal crimes. No, these are wealthy, powerful men, found with their throats slit and hanging from a bridge used by all classes of citizens. 

At Bertram's Hotel by Agatha Christie (Miss Marple Book 10) Read Christie Selection September 2025

 

Publication Date:

January 1, 1965

Genre:  

Cozy Mysteries/Historical Mysteries

Length:   

 223 pages

Series: 

Miss Marple

Book description courtesy of Goodreads

This old-fashioned London hotel may not be quite as reputable as it makes out! When Miss Marple comes up from the country for a holiday in London, she finds what she's looking for at Bertram's: traditional décor and impeccable service. But she senses an unmistakable atmosphere of danger behind the highly polished veneer. Not even Miss Marple can foresee the violent chain of events set in motion when an eccentric hotel guest makes his way to the airport one day late.

My Thoughts

I thought it was a bit of a stretch to call this a Miss Marple mystery. She is not in the story very much and her usual expertise in solving the mystery is not in depth. Rather, I think she is there more to be the one who slowly realizes the hotel is not old world charming but rather sinister and jaded. In that respect, her character shines through. But she is not in the novel enough to be as memorable as the other Marple mysteries I've read. 

Bertram's Hotel is pitched as an old style, full service hotel that aims to please its patrons by being a classic London lodging of old. Everyone assumes there is nothing going on but the usual. As the story unfolds we get glimpses of things not being quite right. Shady dealings and train robberies add to the confusion and make the story suspenseful and exciting. The seeming disappearance of a hotel guest and their fate are unexpected and add a lot to the drama; I didn't guess what was actually happening to him at all!

Most of the time we hear from the detectives on the case. Their thoughts, interviews, etc. This felt more like a Hercule Poirot type of story in that respect. It was enjoyable and I came to like the character of Inspector Davy, even though he didn't spend a lot of time with Miss Marple.

The story was unique and worth reading even though I wished we'd seen more of her. Unlike other Christie novels, this one didn't focus as much on murder as it did other crimes but that was a nice change. This one definitely stands out as a departure from her typical mysteries. 

Murder On a Scottish Island by Lydia Travers (Lady Poppy Proudfoot Book Two)

 

Publication Date:

September 8, 2025

Genre:  

Cozy Mysteries/Historical Mysteries

Length:   

 364 pages

Series: 

Lady Poppy Proudfoot 

Book description courtesy of Goodreads

A dead body and a missing sapphire pendant? Lady Poppy Proudfoot is on the case!

Scotland, 1924: When Lady Poppy Proudfoot is invited to her friend’s hotel on the Isle of Skye, she is looking forward to a holiday. But all thoughts of relaxing vanish when she discovers the body of a strangled woman in a church.

The police believe the widow’s death was a robbery gone wrong, as a pendant was stolen from the scene. But Poppy is sure it’s murder. Ignoring the police’s warnings to keep her nose out, she enlists her friend Inspector MacKenzie, and her loyal Labrador, Major, to unpick the case.

Poppy suspects one of the hotel’s guests knows more about the murder than they are willing to admit. Could it be Miss Buccleugh, the avid button collector? Or the travelling guru, who conveniently disappeared just after the murder? Or was it Mr Henderson, so desperate for money he was driven to murder?

When Poppy sees the victim’s sapphire pendant on the neck of another guest, she is convinced the killer is targeting widows in the hotel, and luring them in with jewellery. But to prove her theory, she will have to offer herself up as bait. It’s risky, but her only way of catching the killer… Can Poppy con a con-man, and make it out alive? Or will she be the next wealthy widow on the killer’s list?

My Thoughts

I read book one and this one is an ARC from NetGalley. I like getting in on a new series and reading in order so I wanted to read this one before it came out and review it. It is a cute cozy and continues the story of the characters from book one, Lady Poppy and her love interest, Inspector MacKenzie. Poppy thinks she is going to just have a lovely, relaxing time in Scotland on the Isle of Skye but of course she gets tangled up in another murder mystery. This time it is one of the hotel's long standing guests who seemingly has no past to warrant anyone harming her. When Poppy finds her body she is determined to get to the bottom of things.

The plot is not terribly intricate or detailed but the author does the usual job of creating eccentric characters who seem shady and maybe probable suspects. Lady Poppy pokes her nose where it doesn't belong and MacKenzie chides her involvement. As she delves deeper into the mystery she wonders if she is being targeted as well as she is a widow and it seems the killer is preying on them in particular. Along with her dog, Major she investigates while putting herself in danger sometimes. Her status allows her into places and situations she might not normally go without the title of "Lady." 

In order to create a sense of time and place, the author adds some touches that speak to the 1920's. I liked learning the historical facts she inserted although sometimes in these cozies it feels a bit forced....like they are adding it just to prove the book is historical and not modern day. That is my only complaint that authors of these mysteries could work on. Making the time and place flow a bit better. But the things discussed like fashion etc. were definitely interesting.

I enjoyed this cute cozy and it was easy to read when exhausted from the start of school. I will continue with the series as it evolves. 

Crouchback: The Welsh Guard Mysteries, Volume 1 by Sarah Woodbury

 

Publication Date:

November 14, 2019

Genre:  

Historical Fiction/Adventure

Length:   

331 pages 

Series: The Welsh Guard Mysteries

Book description courtesy of Goodreads

April 1284. As a newly widowed lady-in-waiting to the very pregnant Queen Eleanor of England, Catrin never expected to return to Wales again. She was definitely unprepared to be confronted with murder when she got there--or to find herself face-to-face with Rhys, the childhood friend she lost twenty years before. Rhys had never intended to return home either, but a lifetime of war has deposited him right back where he started--impoverished and owing service to Catrin's older brother.

With Wales having fallen irrevocably to England, and fearful of trusting anyone within the English court of King Edward, Catrin and Rhys join forces against the treachery and intrigue rife within the half-built Caernarfon Castle. And when the murderer strikes again, the task before them becomes increasingly clear: catch the killer, certainly, but also protect their people from a future that is becoming more dangerous and uncertain with every day that passes.
Crouchback is the first book in The Welsh Guard Mysteries.

My Thoughts

I've had this book in my Kindle for awhile and just forgot. I have so many mysteries it just got overlooked. But when I went back and read the description it sounded interesting and original, and I love all things with Wales as the setting. The characters also being placed during the reign of Edward ! made it especially appealing to me. I'm trying to learn more about this time period already.

The mystery is well veiled and is a good story. So is the history the author weaves into the book. I learned a lot about how the Welsh must have felt having been conquered and subdued by King Edward at this point. Rhys and Catrin being a part of both worlds was a good way to let the reader in on the authentic conflict going on at the time: bow to reality and practicality to stay alive and acknowledge England as the ruling force or fight back and end up in misery and fear but with your conscience intact concerning your loyalty to your homeland. This is the running theme throughout the story as the pair seek to find out who is killing and leaving mysterious signs of a possible cult on the bodies or somewhere nearby. I also learned the true meaning of "Crouchback." This is the symbol for someone who has been on Crusade.

Murder On Boston Common by Andrea Kress (Massachusetts Cozy Mystery Book One)

 

Publication Date:

January 21, 2023 

Genre: Cozy Historical Mystery

Length:   194 pages 

Series: Massachusetts Cozy Mysteries

Book description courtesy of Goodreads

She's rich and bored. This homicide has no motive. Determined to get to the truth, can a socialite solve the murder before she's next?

Boston, 1933. Amanda Burnside yearns for more. Dutifully hitting the social scene and volunteering for charity, the young former debutante is delighted to be dating a doctor yet wishes for excitement. But she wasn't expecting a stroll on Boston Common with her beau to end with the discovery of a dead body.

Shocked by the experience, Amanda ignores her parents' wishes and resolves to follow the clues to uncover the perpetrator. But with shady characters, ruthless bootleggers and wily politicians all fighting to keep the details buried, the plucky amateur sleuth fears the answers may land her in the morgue.
Can Amanda unmask a murderer without becoming the next victim?

My Thoughts

The story was pretty simple and the characters not super fleshed out yet but I have to confess I really enjoyed it. I will likely continue with this series. Sometimes when I read cozy mysteries I can't figure out why I like certain characters better than others. The book had a sense of YA to it in that it was simple but I came away wanting to know more about the next book and see how they develop. Amanda is working hard on her project and volunteering and is more caught up in the mystery drama without trying to be. She and the detective in the story are slightly romantic but definitely nothing serious yet. And the doctor who is proposing marriage is interesting too. 

It didn't have a great big intricate plot of whoodunit and one could have guessed the outcome fairly easitly. But that wasn't all there was to the story. I enjoyed how the author portrayed her family and the doctor's family. Amanda comes from a more aristocratic background (as is so often true in the 1920's cozies) and her parents disapprove of her involvement in "a real job" and of course in the mystery solving. Sounds like a been there done that but the author made these characters authentic and I liked them. 

In addition, there is a whole separate story developing involving Louisa, Amanda's sister and her shady club owner boyfriend, this being the prohibition era. I think it will be fun to see where all of that goes too. 

Some reviews online complained that the story is way too short and the author is just trying to get you to pay for the next one without resolving the first. I totally disagree. After finishing it I came away with feeling things were wrapped up and moving on to another case. So I'm not quite sure why they thought that. Yes, the subsequent mysteries all take place in Boston and might be a bit similiar but as I looked at book two it is a completely different story. 

If you like cozies and need some simple but fun reading you can't go wrong with the Massachusetts Cozy Mystery series, one of the few not set in England either!

Murder at the Spring Ball by Benedict Brown (Lord Edgington Investigates Book One)

 

Publication Date:

March 1, 2021

Genre:

Cozy Mystery

Length:  231 pages

Series: Lord Edgington Investigates

Book description courtesy of Goodreads

A little music, a little dancing, a little murder at the spring ball.
England, 1925. After years shut away from the world, former detective Lord Edgington of Cranley Hall plans a grand ball to celebrate his seventy-fifth birthday.

But when someone starts bumping off members of his scheming family, the old man enlists his teenage grandson to help find the killer, before one of them is next.

The mismatched duo must pick the culprit from a gaggle of preening playboys, scatter-brained spinsters and irate inspectors in this Agatha-Christie-style whodunnit that will have you racing to spot the killer.

My Thoughts

I had already read the first Christmas book in the series and wanted to go back and start the first book. It sets the stage for Lord Edgington and his grandson Christopher's relationship and how it begins. Lord Edgington has been a recluse and missing his deceased wife and when he finally decides to live again he wants to celebrate with a ball, putting his grandson in charge of things. Flattered but unsure of himself, Christopher tackles it to the best of his ability and learns to become more independent. He also discovers his talent for sleuthing when two family members are murdered and he and his grandfather work to find out who wants them dead before it happens to all of the family.

I enjoyed the story between the two men as I did in the Christmas book. I also like the author and his back story. So I will continue with the series and plan to read his spinoff, Lord Edgington Investigates Abroad....where they go to exotic locations and murders occur! I also want to start his other series, Marius Quinn Mysteries. Having said that though....this story was a little far fetched for me. I enjoyed it and I like the characters but the plot was kind of over the top to be believable and the murderer's story a little out there too. I can't say a lot because of spoilers but let's just say I wasn't completely sold. So I'm glad I'd read the other one first or I might not have been attached enough to continue. 

I'll just chalk this up to a debut novel and that maybe it just won't be my favorite of the series. I always like to continue and see if I'm still hooked. The covers are gorgeous, the historical cozy vibe is done well, and Lord Edgington clearly has a back story all his own that is slowly being revealed. His children and their offspring are a hot mess and will be great for more stories going forward. Descriptions of the mansion and Christopher's awkwardness are charming and you can't help but love the way Brown depicts him....sweet, innocent, but smart, and hard working. 

This is a great series if you love strong male leads, family loyalty, and the 1920's cozy mystery feel along with the formality of nobility and manners. 

Danger On the Atlantic by Erica Ruth Neubauer (A Jane Wunderly Mystery Book 3)

 

Publication Date:

March 29, 2022

Genre:

Cozy Mystery

Length: 304 pages

Series: Jane Wunderly Mysteries

Book description courtesy of Goodreads

For young American widow Jane Wunderly, there are worse fates than adventuring aboard a transatlantic liner with the only man who could change her mind about romance. Unfortunately, her first-class itinerary has an unexpected, and deadly, addition waiting just below deck.

Atlantic Ocean, 1926: Voyaging from Southampton to New York, self-reliant Jane is determined to prove herself a worthy investigator on the stately ship--even awkwardly going undercover as the fashionable wife of her magnetic partner, Mr. Redvers. Few details are known about the rumored German spy the duo have been tasked with identifying among fellow passengers, but new troubles unfold once wealthy newlywed Vanessa Fitz Simmons announces the sudden disappearance of her husband at sea.

Miles Van de Meter, the man Vanessa rushed to marry in Monte Carlo, has allegedly vanished into thin air along with his luggage. Redvers guesses the shifty heiress may be weaving tall tales for fun between flutes of champagne, yet Jane isn't convinced, not after the stunning murder of a trusted acquaintance sends them into uncharted waters. Facing two dangerous mysteries and a boat load of suspects, Jane must navigate a claustrophobic quest for answers before the culprits can slip from her grasp on land, or, worse, ensure she and Redvers never reach their destination.

My Thoughts:

I had been reading this series out of order (not something I like to do anymore) so going back to books 2 and 3 was very helpful and I'm glad I did. Although this definitely wasn't my favorite of the series so far, it does tie up loose ends that book 4 (the one I read first because of the cover and location!) had in it. Jane and Redvers relationship is clearer for me now and I can just go straight to book 5 and pick up from there. This book was a nice addition, just not terribly exciting.

When it opens they are taking the ship to America, where Jane lives, and are posing as husband and wife to find a spy Redvers is looking for. Jane is happy to be sharing time and a room with Redvers although still conflicted about her feelings for him. This being the 1920's and all, it is highly unusual and she is careful about opening up to him, modesty especially important, even though she is a widow. 

The Last Camel Died at Noon by Elizabeth Peters (Amelia Peabody Book 6)

 

Publication Date:

September 1, 1991

Genre:

Cozy Mystery

Length:

 448 pages

Series:

Amelia Peabody Mysteries

Book description courtesy of Amazon books:

If Indiana Jones were female, a wife and mother who lived in Victorian times, he would be Amelia Peabody Emerson, an archaeologist whose extraordinary adventures are guaranteed entertainment. This time Amelia, her handsome, fearless husband, Radcliffe, and their precocious 11-year-old son, Ramses, are in the Sudan, searching for archaeologist Willoughby Forth, who disappeared 14 years earlier with his new wife. Rescued in the desert after every camel in their caravan dies, the Emersons are taken to a lost city where ancient Egyptian customs have been carried into modern times. 

There, entangled in two half-brothers' battle for the throne, Amelia and family fight for the freedom of the slave class while ferreting out the fate of Forth and his bride, and arranging to escape with their lives. 

Peters ( The Deeds of the Disturber ), who also writes as Barbara Michaels, laces her usual intricate plotting with Amelia's commonsense approach to hygiene and manners, and coyly delicate references to vigorously enjoyed connubial pleasures. Combining a fierce affection for her family with indefatigable independence, stalwart Amelia proves once again an immensely likable heroine.

My Thoughts:

Having finished the previous book in the series in which the family is in England, I was anxious to get back to their usual pyramid digs in exotic places. This time the Peabodys go to Sudan on an epic adventure. They are looking for a man and his wife who have disappeared into the desert 14 years ago and only have a map and their wits to guide them. Facing heat, lack of water and supplies and dying camels the odds are really against them. When they stumble upon an ancient society that has maintained Egyptian customs they are intrigued but soon realize they are also prisoners. The civilization does not want to be discovered and the Peabodys, along with their son Ramses are now coming to understand this is not just a fun history re-enactment but a kidnapping. 

This was truly a wild ride! I honestly enjoyed the first half of the book more, the part where they are asked to search for the Willoughbys, the clues, and just the amazing authentic details that Peters includes as they prepare for the journey and make their way through the desert. I was so excited to know where the map would lead them and was really invested in what they would find. Add to that Amelia and Radcliffe and Ramses banter and it was very entertaining. 

The Seven Dials Mystery by Agatha Christie (Superintendent Battle Book Two) Read Christie Selection April

 

Publication Date:

January 24, 1929

Genre:

Cozy Mystery

Length:

 282 pages

Series: Superintendent Battle Mysteries

Book description courtesy of Goodreads

A practical joke goes chillingly, murderously wrong in Queen of Mystery Agatha Christie’s classic detective story, The Seven Dials Mystery.

Gerry Wade had proved himself to be a champion sleeper, so the other houseguests decided to play a practical joke on him. Eight alarm clocks were set to go off, one after the other, starting at 6:30 a.m. But when morning arrived, one clock was missing and the prank then backfired, with tragic consequences.

For Jimmy Thesiger in particular, the words "Seven Dials" were to take on a new and chilling significance.

My Thoughts:

I try to be as honest as I can with my blog and reviews but without being harsh or finding nothing positive to add. I admit this wasn't my favorite Christie story, not even close and I gave up on it twice! But then I decided to stick with it as I'd already invested time in over half the book at that point. I'm glad I did (always glad to finish books!) but it was definitely a strange one. I read that it didn't receive positive reviews when it was released and that is lacked her usual efforts. I guess when you are as prolific a writer as Christie you are bound to have some misses sometimes. 

The "prank" pulled at the very beginning seemed very silly and juvenile to me. But I'm not a practical joker type person and especially noting they do this while someone is sleeping which I find very creepy. Gerry Wade, the victim of the joke is subjected to eight alarm clocks ringing at different intervals and ends up dead (not giving away particulars) so the joke goes horribly wrong. 

There were a lot of characters to keep up with and I just didn't connect with them much so I struggled to pay attention. As the story progressed it got more interesting though and by the time I was ready to quit I was getting intrigued. It changed from just the joke, deaths, and odd secret club mystery to more in depth of a plot involving  scientists and secret formulas. I had to know more. 

"Bundle" the nickname for one of the main characters is actually Lady Eileen Brent and she figures prominently throughout along with her Father and love interest as trying to solve the mystery of the Seven Dials Club, who the members are, and especially who "number 7" is. This is the shady character who might be the key to it all. At this point the story was intriguing and started to have that espionage feel to it that is fun in these types of stories. This occurs about halfway through as does the heavier involvement of Superintendent Battle. The behind it all unfolds very slowly but is a fun reveal and I enjoyed the justice that happens to the murderer. 

While not my favorite, I am glad I stuck with it. Read Christie each month is a reading challenge goal of mine and I try to complete it. I don't always get it done but I give it my best shot! 

The Deeds of the Disturber by Elizabeth Peters (Amelia Peabody Book 5)

 

Publication Date:

January 1, 1988

Genre:

Cozy Mystery

Length:

389 pages

Series:

Amelia Peabody Mysteries

Book description courtesy of Goodreads

Can fear kill? There are those who believe so but Amelia Peabody is skeptical. A respected Egyptologist and amateur sleuth, Amelia has foiled felonious schemes from Victoria's England to the Middle East. And she doubts that it was a Nineteenth-Dynasty mummy's curse that caused the death of a night watchman in the British Museum. The corpse was found sprawled in the mummy's shadow, a look of terror frozen on the guard's face. 

What or who killed the unfortunate man is a mystery that seems too intriguingly delicious for Amelia to pass up, especially now that she, her dashing archaeologist husband, Emerson, and their precocious son, Ramses, are back on Britain's shores. 

But a contemporary curse can be as lethal as one centuries old and the foggy London thoroughfares can be as treacherous as the narrow, twisting alleyways of Cairo after dark when a perpetrator of evil deeds sets his murderous sights on his relentless pursuer... Amelia Peabody!

My Thoughts:

I seem to be on an Egypt kick this year! I wanted something to listen to besides Agatha Christie books and thought I'd finish this Amelia Peabody I'd started last winter. I prefer reading her books and am reading the next book in the series alongside listening to this one. It's strange because when I finished book 4 I thought I'd take a break from this series but something drew me back in. I am enjoying catching up with Amelia, Emerson, and Ramses again.

I've read this is the only book in the series that takes place in England. I confess that was disappointing because part of the draw is the exotic locations and the explorations of the Peabodys in the pyramids. But I just know that these books can be complex at times and I needed to make sure I read this one to fill in any gaps Also, I like the characters of Walter and Evelyn (Emerson's brother and his wife) and since they are in England with their brood of children, I knew this might be one of the few that included them going forward.

In addition to the mystery of the guard's death, the Peabody's have been saddled with Amelia's brother James' very odd children. They seem to act innocent but get into all kinds of weird situations with Ramses. I began to actually feel sorry for him early in the book. It's a good peek into Amelia's family and her strange upbringing.