MAY

Black Coffee by Agatha Christie

Summary:

Inventor Sir Claude Amory feels a bitter taste in the mouth, when the new formula for explosive material stolen by someone in the household.

In order to quickly remedy the situation, Sir Claude locks the door and turns off the light, giving the thief a chance to return the formula without being detected. But darkness brings death and Hercule Poirot has to untangle family strife, love and suspicious visitors tangle in order to clarify the murderer and prevent disaster.

Review:

While this story/play was alright when it came to the plot, it unfortunately suffers from Christie’s normal downfall, too many characters. Since I listened to the audiobook, it was a bit hard to follow despite the interesting premise.

Rating:

3/5

Family of Liars by E. Lockhart

Summary:

The prequel to We Were Liars takes readers back to the story of another summer, another generation, and the secrets that will haunt them for decades to come.

A windswept private island off the coast of Massachusetts.

A hungry ocean, churning with secrets and sorrow.

A fiery, addicted heiress. An irresistible, unpredictable boy.

A summer of unforgivable betrayal and terrible mistakes.

Welcome back to the Sinclair family.

They were always liars.

Review:

Unlike many other readers I have heard from, I liked We Were Liars. So, when I heard about this, I was interested.

This book was extremely disappointing. I didn’t like any of the characters, and the brief connection to the original didn’t stick because I didn’t care about the characters or the plot.

I had to overcome three or four different mental blocks because of the direction the book was going before I even finished it.

Rating:

2/5

Peril at End House by Agatha Christie

Summary:

Hercule Poirot is vacationing on the Cornish coast when he meets Nick Buckley. Nick is the young and reckless mistress of End House, an imposing structure perched on the rocky cliffs of St. Loo.

Poirot quickly takes a particular interest in the young woman. Recently, she has narrowly escaped a series of life-threatening accidents. Something tells the Belgian sleuth that these so-called accidents are more than just mere coincidences or a spate of bad luck. Something like a bullet! It seems all too clear to him that someone is trying to do away with poor Nick, but who? And, what is the motive? In his quest for answers, Poirot must delve into the dark history of End House. The deeper he gets into his investigation, the more certain he is that the killer will soon strike again. And, this time, Nick may not escape with her life.

Review:

This book was filled with many twists and turns. I was invested in the entire storyline and constantly guessing with every chapter. 

Rating:

4/5

Lord Edgware Dies by Agatha Christie

Summary:

It’s true; Hercule Poirot had been present when the famous actress Jane Wilkinson bragged of her plan to ‘get rid of’ her estranged husband, Lord Edgware.

Now the man was dead. And yet the great Belgian detective couldn’t help feeling that he was being taken for a ride. After all, how could Jane have stabbed her thoroughly detestable husband to death in his library at exactly the same time she was seen dining with friends? And what could be her motive now that the aristocrat had finally agreed to grant her a divorce?

Review:

This was a very interesting book to read. While it had a bit of a slow start for me, and I once again got lost in the many potential suspects, I really enjoyed how this story played out.

Rating:

4/5

The Ancient Magus’ Bride, Vol. 1 by Kore Yamazaki and Adrienne Beck

Summary:

Enter the Magician’s Apprentice

Her name is Chise Hatori, a penniless orphan troubled by visions. Sold as a slave to an inhuman mage, she is about to begin a strange new life, filled with magic, fairies, and other beings of a fantastical nature.

Review:

This manga had a great balance of sad backstory and funny interactions between the two main characters. I really enjoyed the world building that started, and I eagerly looked forward to reading the next volume.

Rating:

5/5

My Lovey-Dovey Wife is a Stone Cold Killer, Vol. 4 by Donten Kosaka

Summary:

Not even a top-notch assassin is safe from the common cold! When a new neighbor in the apartment complex masquerades as Setsuna’s new boss, suddenly the notable killer is engaged in a different babysitting. It takes all of Setsuna’s skills to watch out for her new tiny tyrant, only to succumb to the flu! While nursing a sick assassin back to health, the married couple dream over the kind of home they’ll build in the future.

Review:

As with the other volumes, this one had some adorable moments. The two main characters a re a cute couple, and it makes me giddy reading their relationship develop. 

Rating:

4/5