Dead Man's Folly by Agatha Christie, narrator: David Suchet

This is one of my favorite Agatha Christie books. The clues are all there, but the solution is diabolical.

Ariadne Oliver calls on her old friend for some help. She is helping to put together a mystery story for a village fete (so like an escape room with hints and clues!) but there is something wrong and she just can't put her finger on it. She knows that Hercule will solve the problem.
When Hercule arrives, it is to find Sir George and Lady Stubbs who have only recently bought the house from Mrs. Ffolliot (sp?). However, that woman still tends to run things as Lady Stubbs is... well, even though she's a grown woman, her mind hasn't fully developed. Then there is the group putting on the fete. There are a number of characters fleshed out fairly well. That includes the young girl who is going to be the dead body. And it is she who ends up dead first. It's up to Hercule to determine why someone would want to kill a teenager and to stop them before they kill again.

Four stars

Hercule Poirot #31

Follows Hickory, Dickory Dock

Followed by Cat Among the Pigeons

This book came out in 1956

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Destination Unknown by Agatha Christie, Emilia Fox

I knew I had read this book before but couldn't remember it from the title alone. As soon as Hilary Craven was introduced, I remembered most of the story and also why I was rereading it.

Hilary Craven doesn't have anything to live for. At least that's what she believes. It's what makes her the perfect recruit for Mr. Jessop. The world's scientists have been slowly disappearing. He was going to have his people follow Mrs. Besserton, but she died in a plane crash. The plane that Hilary was supposed to have been on. So why does Jessop come to her? Because she has red hair. She can pretend to be Olive Besserton and hopefully help the English government figure out what is going on.

There aren't a lot of clues as the story unfolds but the solution also doesn't come out of nowhere. There are crumbs that eventually lead to a rather delicious ending. 

Four stars

This book came out November 1, 1954

Borrowed as audiobook from Hoopla

Opinions are my own

Snow This is Love by Christina Lauren; Julie Murphy; Jasmine Guillory; Zoraida Córdova; Jesse Q. Sutanto

Deck the Heels by Julie Murphy

It didn't take me long to realize that this was a follow up to a book I hadn't read. It looks like it's called, "If the Shoe Fits." Henry and Cindy were the end game of a reality show called Before Midnight. Now,w they're just living their lives. Are trying to, anyway. Because they were a big hit, they've got a big following of people who want to see where the two of them end up. Hopefully marriage. So, they decide to go for it; and for the wedding to be filmed. But the course of true love never does run smooth. and Henry seems really distracted. Is this really waht they both want?

Three stars

Beauty and the Baking Battle by Jasmine Guillory

Another postscript novella. I had read the book this follows, "By the Book," four years ago and remembered most of the story. In this story, Izzy and Beau have been invited to be on a last-minute bake-off-type show but for celebrities at Christmas. Beau has even offered to let them set up the baking tent in his back yard. 

Siren in the Snow by Zoraida Cordova

Best (New Year's) Day Ever  by Christina Lauren

Dreaming of a Perfect Lunar New Year by Jesse Q. Sutanto

stars

This book comes out October 13, 2026

ARC kindly provided by Hyperion Avenue and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Jay to the World by Donna Andrews

stars

Meg Langslow #40

Follows Probable Caws

This book comes out October 13, 2026

ARC of ebook kindly provided by St. Martin's Press and Edelweiss

Opinions are my own

The Phantom of Nantucket Carolyn Keene, narrator: Jorjeana Marie

Nancy, Bess, and George are off on another adventure. Bess has a friend, Jenna, on Nantucket who is about to unveil a new museum exhibit that is going to solve the mystery of a ship that sank over a hundred years ago. But someone seems determined to sink the exhibit before it is opened. First, a banner for the exhibit is painted with the word "Liar" in red. Then, a key piece of the exhibit disappears from the museum. The curator is reluctant to call the police but, upon hearing that Nancy is an amateur detective, agrees to let her work on the case. 

This is somewhat interesting that, in the original series, Nancy had quite a few head injuries. This time it's George who gets bonked. 

Three
stars

Nancy Drew Diaries #7

Follows Secret at Mystic Lake

Followed by The Magician's Secret

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own

How To Find A Nameless Fae by A.J. Lancaster

What is a princess supposed to do when she's turned forty-one and the curse that she was born with never comes to fruition? Giselle's mother failed to guess a fae's name and he was supposed to come fetch her in return. But that hasn't happened. And Giselle has lived her whole life with no one wanting to get close to her because she's just going to leave. So, she's going to strike out and write her own story, heading into the fairy realm to find the being who has prevented her from living her life.

It turns out, the fae has lost something as well. And the two are now inextricably linked. The more time she spends with the fae, the less Giselle is convinced she's like to leave.
There were parts that you can't think too hard about but an overall charming story.

Four stars

This book came out June 26, 2025

Borrowed as ebook from Kindle Unlimited
Opinions are my own

Do You See What I See? by Peter Swanson

Nicholas, our first person narrator, had some success with his first novel, a dip after his second, and was not renewed by his publishing company for a third. Marco Tavares, on the other hand, his third book hit the New York Times best seller list and stayed for eighteen months. There's even going to be a major motion picture. 

The problem is with his follow up book. Linda, the agent for both men, summon Nicholas to New York, he's not sure what to expect. It certainly isn't that Linda wants him to go to the Cape for Christmas. It seems like Marco has the idea for his next book. And the book is mostly written. He just needs some help sorting it all out. And that's where Nicholas comes in. He's a bona fide orphan so it's not like he's going elsewhere for Christmas. Of course, he ends up taking the commission or there wouldn't be a story. 

So. Nicholas is going to the Cape for Christmas. Along with Marco, his wife, Maeve, Marco's sister, Cat, and the grandmother who raised them, Louisa. Also there are a best friend that Marco makes fun of, his ex-girlfriend and her husband, and a man who claims Marco stole his idea for the bestselling novel. It is a scene ripe for a murder. Even the characters comment on in it.
In three stories, Nicholas slowly unfolds more and more of the true story. We don't ever really learn what happened, but Swanson gives a satisfying conclusion to a book that says 128 pages in Netgalley but showed 87 in my ereader. It is truly impressive what our author unfolds in this tight of a story and I enjoyed it completely. 

Four and a half stars

This book came out October 6, 2026

ARC kindly provided by William Morrow and NetGalley

Opinions are my own