Saturday, July 25, 2026

The Witness for the Prosecution and Other Stories by Agatha Christie with Hugh Fraser (Narrator), Christopher Lee (Narrator)

Witness for the Prosecution
The story on which this story is based was turned into a really good play. Leonard Vole is a suspect in the murder of the elderly Emily French. His solicitor isn't sure that the man will be found innocent, even with the evidence given by Leonard's adoring wife, Romaine. But there is a shocking turn of events when it starts to appear that Romaine might not be so loving after all.

The Red Signal
A talk between friends brings up premonitions of danger. One character brings up the idea of a "red signal" and a "green signal." One warns of danger. Suddenly, Dermott feels that signal rear its head again. But he's among friends. Yes, he loves his friend's wife, but that shouldn't cause danger, no one knows about it and he's certainly not going to act on it.


Fourth Man
Three men sit in a train carriage. One is Canon Parfitt who actually knows one of the other men, Sir George Durand who is a famous lawyer. The third man is Dr. Campbell Clark who is an eminent psychiatrist. But the title is about the fourth man, the one who appears, at first, to be asleep.
They begin discussing the case of Felicie Bault who apparently had more than one personality. They discuss her story, but are surprised when the fourth man actually has the story behind the story.

S.O.S.
Mortimer Cleveland has had two flat tires and considers himself lucky to find himself in the Dinsmead's family's home with their two daughters and son. But there is an odd air in the house. The two girls go upstairs to make up his bed and on the table next to it is written, "SOS."

Wireless
An elderly worman is told not to excite herself. But the new radio her nephew bought for her seems to be channeling her dead husband...

The Mystery of the Blue Jar
A young man hears a woman screaming about murder at the same time every day. Is it a hallucination or could it be something more fantastic?

Sing a Song of Sixpence
When people promise that they'll do anything to help someone, they rarely actually mean it. Which is what Sir Edward Palliser meant when he said it to Magdalen Vaughn ten years ago (when she was, ew, seventeen and he was in his fifties and he was flirting with her.) Now, she's OLD (ew) and he doesn't really want to help but he promised.
Magdalen's aunt was killed and everyone is a suspect. She would like some help.

Mr. Eastwood's Adventure
Mr. Eastwood has writer's block. He has started writing the mystery of the second cucumber but none of his usual writing methods are working. But then he gets a call. It's obviously not for him, but the code word is "cucumber." What a coincidence! Suddenly he's buying a drink set, meeting a gorgeous woman, and very nearly being arrested. But what is actually happening in this story?

Philomel Cottage
Alix Martin has been having dreams that her old friend/crush has killed her husband. So, when he's in the area, she puts him off. But then, she starts to discover that he may not be the man he presented himself as. Newspaper clippings of a man who has killed his wives make her even more concerned. Then comes the twist ending...

Accident
Now retired Inspector Evans is surprised to recognize a woman in a small village. She was acquitted of poison nine years ago. She said her husband was an arsenic eater and accidentally poisoned himself. The jury let her go. But now she's married again and the Inspector is worried that history might repeat herself.

The Second Gong
Is dinner being served late? Why else would the dinner go off late? Or twice, as one character believes. It seems dinner was pushed back for a visitor. And that visitor is Hercule Poirot. So, you know something has happened. 

Friday, July 24, 2026

Rocky Road by Bob Mayer

If you are expecting this to be a continuation of the Rocky Start series, it is. To an extent. This is very much an instrospectie journey for Max to heal himself (as much as he can) from the pyschological toll his job took on him. His goal is to finish the Appalachain Trail, but his friends and family have added an additional goal of getting out of his own head by talking to at least one person every day.
It's a little corny but it really works for Max and he saves a bunch of people along the way. 

Three and a half  stars
Rocky Start #3.5
This book came out March 17 2,026
Borrowed as ebook from Kindle Unlimited
Opinions are my own

Thursday, July 23, 2026

Hiding in the Bathroom by Morra Aarons-Mele

I can't quite put a finger on why this book didn't resonate with me more. Maybe because it's more of an introvert's guide to navigating the corporate world (as opposed to the regular world). Maybe the audiobook was not the best way to consume this information. Maybe it was that parts of it felt tone deaf; the author was very lucky in her resources but didn't seem to factor that in to her success. I think a large part is that the title and description make it seem like something it is not. If it were marketed as a book to help introverts network, that might have better set expectations. 

Three stars
This book came out September 26, 2017
Borrowed as audiobook from Hoopla
Opinions are my own

Wednesday, July 22, 2026

The Honey Pot Plot by Bob Mayer, Jennifer Crusie with narrators Eric G. Dove, Cris Dukehart

How can there be even more dead bodies in Rocky Start? Weren't there enough in the first two books? Yes, this is a town with a higher number than average of former asssassins. But most have been retired long enough that no one should be after them any more. But now there are two attempts on the women in the town. 
At the same time there are kilings in town, someone tries to take Max out while he's just trying to finish the Appalachian Trail. Are the attacks connected or is something else going on? And will peace ever come to Rocky Start?
A fun series that seems like it is wrapping up. It's fast, fun, and fluffy but gave me something to listen to. 

Four stars
Rocky Start #3
Followed by Rocky Road
This book came out March 20, 2025
Borrowed as audiobook from Kindle Unlimited
Opinions are my own

Tuesday, July 21, 2026

The Cherkley Court Conundrum by Benedict Brown

Marcus is just about to declare himself to Bella when a face from his past appears. His romantic past. Which I was frankly surprised about since I had the impression that he was not very good with women. Well, Nerea needs help. A maid in the house she works for was attacked and nearly killed. She has read that Marius and Bella solve mysteries and hopes that they can come help her. 
There are strange things happening at Lord and Lady Sheridan's house. He is mostly absent, the children are beyond spoiled, and she is hosting a number of artists. Not everyone is who they seem to be and suspicion has settled on an absent gardenr, Nerea's new love. 

Four stars
Marius Quin Mystery #7
This book came out July 17, 2026
ARC kindly provided Storm Publishing and NetGalley
Opinions are my own


Sunday, July 19, 2026

Our Marriage Is Murder by Carol Goodman

After twenty years and as many co-written mystery novels, Thea is ready to get out. Both out of her marriage and out of writing. The convention they're traveling to will be their last. But that doesn't mean she wants their lives to end. And there are an awful lot of people dying at the beautiful Casstelarosa. Suspiciously dying in the ways and order that Thea and her husband put in their first mystery. 
The local inspector seems inordinately suspicious of Thea so she's going to have to some sleuthing on her own to try and figure out what is going on.
I appreciated that Thea didn't immediately become a super sleuth just because she was a mystery writer. Parts of the plot were a little heavy handed for my tastes and Thea was a little too self-righteous. Overall, I finished the book and enjoyed the ties to Agatha Christie. I also really enjoyed Goodman's characterizations of fervent book fans and laughed out loud over a line about not crossing book club ladies. 

Three and a half stars
This book comes out July 21, 2026
ARC kindly provided as ebook by William Morrow and NetGalley
Opinions are my own


Saturday, July 18, 2026

The Lady Jewel Diviner by Rosalie Oaks

Lady Elinor Avely has a gift. Unfortunately, that gift has made it appear that she is a jewel thief. While she would have preferred to stay in London and brave the gossip, her mother thought it best that they retire to the country to let the rumors die down. Fortunately, Elinor had one friend left who was willing to ask her father to loan them a cottage. Unfortunately, it is just a stone's throw from Lord Beresford's family estate; he had stepped up and offered to sae her name by prettending to be engaged, but Elinor had quickly dismissed that claim. 
In the country, she's thinking she might be safe to use her gift to look for a cache of jewels. And she might learn even more about her Discernment from the little vampiri, Miss Andreda Zooth who just fluttered into her window. 
I had read some books in the series that followed this one. They are fast, fun, and fluffy with a world that is fairly well-developed, even in this first book. 

Four stars
Lady Diviner #1
Followed by 
This book was re-released July 11, 2026
Opinions are my own