Evil Under the Sun by Agatha Christie with narrator David Suchet

I get this story and the "Triangle at Rhodes" confused with each other. Both are Poirot on vacation with a glamorous woman, in this book, Arlena Stuart, who ends up dead. Both have a female confidante. The confidante in this one is a famous dressmaker who was the childhood friend of the dead woman's husband. In this story, the dead woman's husband has a daughter. His first wife was accused of murder and acquited. The second wife (the dead woman) was also accused of murder and acquited. However, Arlena was rather stupid and vain. She was also having a rather ill-concealed affair with a gentleman who was also on vacation at the Jolly Roger, Patrick Redfern. 

Three stars
Hercule Poirot #23

This book came out in 1941

Follows One, Two, Buckle My Shoe

Followed by Five Little Pigs

Borrowed as audiobook from Hoopla

Opinions are my own

Fool Moon by Jim Butcher, narrator James Marsters

 Harry is still under a curse, he's still in Chicago, but he's trying harder to find work since his job with the Chicago police force hasn't been as lucrative since the first book in the series. His friend asks him about a particular rune but it's magic far beyond what she can control so Harry refuses to tell her, which is the right thing. But then he's pulled into a series of murders that look like they were committed by something like a wolf. It's bad enough that the FBI is in town to take the case. 

Three stars

The Dresden Files #2 

This book came out January 9, 2001

Follows Storm Front

Followed by Grave Peril

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

The Secret of the Old Clock by Carolyn Keene, narrator Laura Linney

Seventy years later, this book holds up amazingly well. Of course, this is the series that was updated after it was found that the original series was a little, um, dated, especially in regard to the overtly racist overtones. This wasn't the first Nancy Drew book I read, but it's remains one of my favorites.

Nancy sees a young girl run into the road and almost get hit by a bus. Meeting the girl's great aunts sets her on the path of solving the mystery of a missing will. Interestingly, it's almost as much to spite the Topham sisters as it is to help a number of people that Nancy gets involved.

Four stars

Nancy Drew #1

This book came out in 1930

Followed by The Hidden Staircase

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Storm Front by Jim Butcher

I read a few of the books in this series soon after the TV show came out but couldn't remember why I had stopped. I think that there is not quite the same sense of fun in the books. There are some funny parts, just a different humor. For this book, there were also a lot of, "I'm not going to make it" moments. A. Lot. 

But this is the book that introduces the readers to Harry Dresden, a wizard in contemporary Chicago. Technology and magic don't work well together so he's not exactly up to date with the latest trends but he muddles along as best he can. He's also trying to make a living. So when two dead bodies turn up with their hearts ripped out, Harry is on the case. 

Three stars

The Dresden Files #1 

This book came out April 1, 2000

Followed by Fool Moon

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Stay for a Spell by Amy Coombe

Tanadelle "Tandy" de Courcy is a bona fide princess. And, while she knows that many people would LOVE to be a princess, she's not fond of traveling thirty weeks a year. It becomes repetitive. And boring. And she has to follow a lot of rules. But at least she can keep reading. So, when she's cursed by a bookseller and is unable to leave a bookshop, it doesn't seem the worst thing. 

Her parents are trying everything they can to undo the spell, including sending seven princes to kiss Tandy. And meeting each of the princes is a delight. At least for the reader. Tandy, meanwhile, is enjoying not having to do her royal duties.

A quite lovely book. It reminded me of Legends and Lattes with a charming world that was just a little sweet. 

Four  stars

This book comes out April 14, 2026

ARC kindly provided by Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Pomona Afton Can Totally Catch a Killer by Bellamy Rose

 stars

Pomona Afton #1
This book comes out April 14, 2026

Follows Pomona Afton Can So Solve a Murder

ARC kindly provided by Atria Books and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Death in the Floating City by Tasha Alexander

I read the previous book in this series eleven years ago but was recently reminded that the Lady Emily series was one that I had enjoyed so I picked the series back up. I had forgotten about the alternating timelines... not one of my favorite plot devices. 

Emily has been summoned to Italy by her best frenemy, Emma. There is no love lost between them but Emma's father-in-law has been murdered, her husband has disappeared. Emily's husband is well known as an investigator and Emily is becoming no slouch herself. 

This murder is entwined with a romance from the 1500s and a family feud that is still ongoing. 

Three and a half stars

Lady Emily #7

This book came out 

Follows A Crimson Warning

Followed by Behind the Shattered Glass

Borrowed as hard copy from library

Opinions are my own