A Murder is Announced – Agatha Christie

The personal ad was intriguing: an invitation to partake in a "murder" at the home of Letitia Blacklock. The uncharacteristic prank comes as a surprise to Letitia's friends -- and a bigger surprise to Letitia herself. Still, the proper hostess welcomes her unexpected guests for an evening of fun. But when the lights go down, a gunshot rings out. Now, Miss Jane Marple wants to play a game of whodunit.

Genre: Fiction, Mystery, Crime, Detective
Publisher:  HarperCollins
Year: 1950
Rating: 4/5 

A Murder is Announced by Agatha Christie was next in my pile of Murder Mystery reads. This is the sort of book you pick up on a rainy day, the type of day where you want a quick yet engrossing read to while away the afternoon. This is a Miss Marple story, that follows the elderly spinster's attempt to solve a this baffling mystery.

As the blurb states, an ad is placed in the local paper announcing that a murder will take place at Miss Letitia Blacklock's property. Everyone who reads this ad can't help but be intrigued, showing up to partake in this apparent show. Little do the guests know, that a real murder has been plotted and they are in for more than they bargained for. Not to mention Letitia herself, who has no idea what is going on.

As the police detectives attempt to figure out what happened, Miss Marple is called in and with her super sleuthing skills she is able to uncover that more is going on that meets the eye. Whodunit? And why? You'll never guess!

This was a typical, enjoyable Agatha Christie novel. Formulaic, full of twists and a plot that will keep you guessing until the very end. This is exactly why I read Christie novels and why you should too.

This would be a good introduction to this style of murder mystery and it is definitely one for fans.

Have you read this novel? What did you think?

Portrait Of A Spy (Gabriel Allon #11) – Daniel Silva

For Gabriel and his wife, Chiara, it was supposed to be the start of a pleasant weekend in London – a visit to a gallery in St. James’s to authenticate a newly discovered painting by Titian, followed by a quiet lunch. But a pair of deadly bombings in Paris and Copenhagen has already marred this autumn day. And while walking toward Covent Garden, Gabriel notices a man he believes is about to carry out a third attack. Before Gabriel can draw his weapon, he is knocked to the pavement and can only watch as the nightmare unfolds.

Haunted by his failure to stop the massacre of innocents, Gabriel returns to his isolated cottage on the cliffs of Cornwall, until a summons brings him to Washington and he is drawn into a confrontation with the new face of global terror. At the center of the threat is an American-born cleric in Yemen to whom Allah has granted “a beautiful and seductive tongue.” A gifted deceiver, who was once a paid CIA asset, the mastermind is plotting a new wave of attacks.

Gabriel and his team devise a daring plan to destroy the network of death from the inside, a gambit fraught with risk, both personal and professional. To succeed, Gabriel must reach into his violent past. A woman waits there—a reclusive heiress and art collector who can traverse the murky divide between Islam and the West. She is the daughter of an old enemy, a woman joined to Gabriel by a trail of blood. . . .

Genre: Fiction, Thriller, Espionage
Publisher:  Harper
Year: 2011
Rating: 4/5

This novel is the eleventh installment in the Gabriel Allon series and Silva once again proves he is the best writer of modern spy fiction. 

Set across continents, Portrait of a Spy follows my all-time favourite Israeli secret agent as he fights terrorism, saves lives, countries and democracy.... all while restoring ancient artwork and making the ladies swoon. What more could you ask for in a novel? (or a man?, ahahaha).

Besides the great Gabriel, Silva's novels are also appealing as they are up to date and set in current times. Silva does a great job of using the current international political climate as a backdrop for his stories. Not only is it enjoyable reading a fun and exciting read, but it's great reading something that "could" be happening right now. 

There are some things about this novel that I expected. Silva has a formula that he never fails to use in this series. Gabriel doesn't want to be a spy, he just wants to restore paintings. He unwillingly gets drawn back into the Israeli secret service because he can't stand back and watch people get hurt, he just has to help. But this time will be the last time (uhuh).

Gabriel then reassembles his work family and they bond over bloodshed and their desire to bring down the baddies. Soon a lot of stuff goes down and Gabriel ends up being nabbed by the enemy, but he survives. He then saves the day, swears never to work for the service again and returns to his paintings. Til next time.

Despite that formula making these novels predictable, they are still good reads. I just can't get enough!

This novel is not only a must read for all Silva fans, but for anyone who loves international spy thrillers! Pick up a copy of one of Silva's novels. You won't be disappointed.

Ordeal by Innocence – Agatha Christie

According to the courts, Jacko Argyle bludgeoned his mother to death  with a poker. The sentence was life imprisonment. 

But when Dr Aurthur Calgary arrives with the proof that confirms Jacko's innocence, it is too late - Jacko died behind bars following a bout of pneumonia. Worse still, the doctor's revelations re-open old wounds in the family, increasing the likelihood that the real murderer could strike again.......

Genre: Fiction, Crime, Mystery
Publisher: HarperCollins
Year: 1958
Rating: 4/5

Like all Agatha Christie novels I have read, this novel was full of mystery, intrigue and suspense. Although formulaic, you know what to expect from an Agatha Christie and that is why I read these novels.  They are great for those times when you want a light, fun and interesting read. 

Christie's murder mysteries are not gruesome like some of the newer novels in the crime genre, but well thought out, formulated and executed. Christie was sure good at what she did. Which is why I am glad she wrote so many novels, so there are lots more for me to read. 

This particular novel was pretty darn good. The ultimate 'who-dun-it'! I for one did not guess this one, and was surprised with who the big bad was. 

I also liked how this novel explored the impact the unexpected proof of innocence would have on a family.... I mean, your brother has been gaoled for murdering your mother and you have finally come to terms with that. In the meantime, he has died. Then you find out that he did not in fact commit this murder, which instead of being a relief, brings a whole new world of pain. This means that someone else did it. Someone else in your family! ..... but who? Talk about scary!

I would recommend this novel to Agatha Christie fans and it would also be a great introductory novel for those wishing to get into Christie's writing. Give it a go!

The Devotion of Suspect X – Keigo Higashino

Yasuko Hanaoka is a divorced, single mother who thought she had finally escaped her abusive ex-husband Togashi. When he shows up one day to extort money from her, threatening both her and her teenaged daughter Misato, the situation quickly escalates into violence and Togashi ends up dead on her apartment floor. Overhearing the commotion, Yasuko's next door neighbor, middle-aged high school mathematics teacher Ishigami, offers his help, disposing not only of the body but plotting the cover-up step-by-step.

When the body turns up and is identified, Detective Kusanagi draws the case and Yasuko comes under suspicion. Kusanagi is unable to find any obvious holes in Yasuko's manufactured alibi and yet is still sure that there's something wrong. Kusanagi brings in Dr. Manabu Yukawa, a physicist and college friend who frequently consults with the police. Yukawa, known to the police by the nickname Professor Galileo, went to college with Ishigami. After meeting up with him again, Yukawa is convinced that Ishigami had something to do with the murder. What ensues is a high level battle of wits, as Ishigami tries to protect Yasuko by outmaneuvering and outthinking Yukawa, who faces his most clever and determined opponent yet.

Genre: Fiction, Japanese, Crime, Mystery
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Year: 2011
Rating: 3/5

There is not a whole lot I can say about this book.  The blurb above sums up the story pretty well, and although an enjoyable enough read, there wasn't anything really special about this book.... no wow factor.

It was a quick read. A good way to spend a Sunday afternoon. The sort of read that once you are done, it's pretty much gone out of your head the next day. That isn't meant as a criticism, just because this novel wasn't memorable doesn't make it a bad book.

I'd recommend this book if you are looking for something that is easy to read, something you can devour in one sitting and not have to think too hard. I guess you could liken it to watching CSI, fun at the time but not something that is going to make you question your life, floor you with observations or distract you later, while driving. 

The characters aren't going to get under your skin, the prose isn't going to make your heart ache from it's beauty, and you sure aren't going to hug this book to your chest with tears in your eyes when it's done. But you know what, that is ok! Where would we be if all books affected us so profoundly? It wouldn't be good for the soul... sometimes, we just need something light and fun. Something to distract us from our work and woes, and this book will provide just that. 

Want to grab a copy? Try Book Depository!

Fallen (Georgia, Book 3) – Karin Slaughter

On an ordinary spring day, Special Agent Faith Mitchell of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation returns home to a nightmare. Expecting to find her mother minding her new baby daughter Emma, Faith is horrified to discover Emma locked in the shed, her mother's safe open, her gun missing and a trail of blood to the front door. 

Without waiting for back-up, Faith enters the house to a scene of carnage. It has been torn apart and a man lies dead in a pool of blood. She stumbles across two more intruders, and within minutes they are too shot dead. And when the Atlanta police force turns up, Faith has some difficult questions to answer. But she has some desperate questions of her own. What were the killers searching for? Ex-Atlanta police chief Evelyn Mitchell was once under investigation by Faith's partner Will Trent. Is her mother directly involved this time, and where is she now?

With Faith suspended from duty, Will, together with the help of Dr Sara Linton, must piece together the fragments of a brutal and complicated case – and catch a deeply troubled and vicious murderer with only one thing on his mind. To keep killing until the truth is finally revealed.

Genre: Fiction, Crime
Publisher: Random House
Year: 2011
Rating: 5/5

I have been reading Karin Slaughter for many years now. She is one of my favourite crime writers and each year in June, I look forward to her newest release. 

I began reading Slaughter with her first novel, Blindsighted. It was a fluke really. I was at the library and it looked interesting, I had no idea it was the first in a series. I liked it enough to pick up the second book, Kisscut, and from then, I was hooked. 

The Grant County series was fantastic. Dr Sara Linton, pediatrician and small town coroner, is one of the most interesting, endearing and real female leads I have come across. She is intelligent, ambitious, kind, caring and thoughtful. She is stubborn and sometimes, doesn't think before she acts. She has suffered her own share of heartbreak. She has reached breaking point and nearly didn't make it. She is human.

That is what I love most about these books. Slaughter is dealing with some gruesome, horrible crimes. She is delving into the absolute depths of human depravity, but she balances that with good people, who are dealing with their own real life problems. People who are trying to make the world a better place and learn to live their own lives.

I was disappointed when the Grant County series came to what seemed like an end. I was angry with Slaughter. How could she do what she did? What about her loyal fans? What about Sara?

I didn't like the Will Trent books. Purely because I wanted to read about Sara, Jeffrey and their lives! Not some cop with enough baggage to fill a commercial jet! 

Then Slaughter did the unthinkable, she combined the two. She moved Sara out of her comfort zone in the most unforgettable and shocking way, and created a new series. The Georgia series.

At first, I was wary. It just wasn't the same. I had a whole new cast of characters to get to know, and I felt like a sulky little kid. I didn't want to!

Boy, I am glad I did! This new series is shaping up to be pretty darn good. Sure, Sara's story has changed dramatically and she is going places I never imagined, but that is life. Things change. People change. 

The last few books there has been a bit of "will they or won't they" between Sara and Will. I must say, I am satisfied with where this story is going. I am interested to see what Slaughter has in store for Sara in the next few novels. Not just in her romantic life, but her professional life as well. 

Although I didn't like Will at first, he has grown on me. He is smart, attractive and a brilliant cop. But oh so damaged. Will grew up in an orphanage and has many physical and emotional scars from his abusive, and screwed up childhood. I am looking forward to learning more about him, finding out more about his past and discovering what his future may be.

In these books we have also been introduced to Angie. Mean, cold-hearted, controlling Angie. Man, I hate that woman! She is the opposite of EVERYTHING Sara is, yet she has her claws sunk into Will. I don't condone violence against woman but someone needs to give that chick a good beating! I swear, she is evil.

This particular novel focuses on mainly on Faith (Will's partner), and her past. We learn more about her teen pregnancy, the shame it brought on her family, her struggle to deal with her past and shape her future. A future her son can be proud of. She is one tough lady! 

We also learn more about her mother, Evelyn Mitchell. The once decorated detective who was forced into retirement when her squad was busted stealing money. Was she on the take too? Or is Faith right about her innocence? Who is after her now, and why? This novel certainly answers these questions with a dramatic and violence filled showdown!

Lastly, the other thing I loved about this novel was that Slaughter has included an afterword about how she came up with the characters in these novels, why she had to end the Grant County series and some hints on where she foresees the future of her characters. Apparently, we can look forward to another 10 years of books about Sara! Can we get a high five!? So happy to read this. We should also expect Lena (the troubled cop from Grant County) to make an appearance in her own series, soon.

I'd recommend this series to anyone who loves crime fiction. 

Want to grab a copy of this novel? Try Book Depository!

Towards Zero – Agatha Christie

What is the connection between a failed suicide attempt, a wrongful accusation of theft against a schoolgirl, and the romantic life of a famous tennis player? 

To the casual observer, apparently nothing. But when a houseparty gathers at Gull's Point, the seaside home of an elderly widow, earlier events come to a dramatic head. As superintendent Battle discovers, it is all part of a carefully laid plan – for murder....

Genre: Fiction, Mystery, Crime, Detective
Year: 1944
Publisher: Harper
Rating: 3/5

Towards Zero tells the story of a group of people, staying at Gull's Point. We have Lady Tressilian, the owner of the seaside house hosting this get together. Nevile, the tennis star and his young, attractive new wife, Kay. His ex wife, Audrey. Edward Latimer, Kay's best friend. Mary Aldin, Lady Tressilian's carer. Thomas Royde, Audrey's distant cousin, and Mr. Treves, an old friend of Lady Tressilian.

This provides the reader with a motley crew of mismatched people who all come under suspicion when one of them is murdered. So whodunit? Who cares. 

I read this novel a few weeks ago when I was home from work, sick with a virus. I couldn't really do much except watch TV and read. I chose to read Agatha Christie because she always provides an easy and fun read. Exactly what I needed with my head pounding and brain not wanting to function too well. 

I was a bit disappointed in this novel. All of the other Christie novels I have read, I loved. This one, not so much. Maybe my short attention span had something to do with it, but I just didn't find I cared about the characters in this book, nor did I find the mystery all that engrossing.

Even the big twist at the end wasn't all that interesting. I was just glad to have finished this novel so I could move on to something better. 

I won't hold this against Christie. We can't all get it right all the time, right? I think I'll go for a Poirot next time I feel like reading a murder mystery. 

Want to grab a copy of this book? Try The Book Depository!

Endless Night – Agatha Christie

Some are born to sweet delight, 

Some are born to endless night.

When penniless Michael Rogers discovers the beautiful house at Gypsy's Acre and then meets the heiress Ellie, it seems that all his dreams have come true at once. But he ignores an old woman's warning of an ancient curse, and evil begins to stir in paradise.

As Michael soon learns: Gypsy's Acre is the place where fatal 'accidents' happen....

Genre: Fiction, Mystery, Crime
Year: 1967
Publisher: Harper
Rating: 5/5

Michael has always dreamed of owning his own home. And not just any home. He wants a home designed by his friend Santonix, the renowned architect who doesn't adhere to convention and designs bespoke dwellings.

This all just seems like a dream though... Michael is a bit of a drifter and odd jobs man, never sticking to anything long enough to make a decent living. 

Then Michael meets Ellie. Ellie is unlike any woman he has ever met. She is kind and good. The perfect woman. And she has fallen in love with him.

To make this fairytale romance even more amazing, Ellie turns out to be filthy rich! She buys Michael his dream property – the place where they met – Gypsy Acre. She enlists Santonix to build Michael's dream home and soon Michael finds himself living his dream life!

Just when Michael thinks life can't get any better, things start to go sour. Someone in town has it in for the couple living on Gypsy Acre. Someone is trying to sabotage their life. But who? And why? Can they stop the attacks before it is too late?

My thoughts....

This may be one of the better Christie mysteries I have read to date! This novel kept me guessing the whole way through and had one hell of a twist at the end I did not see coming!

Like all mystery novels, I find myself trying to guess "whodunit" the whole time I am reading.. in this case, I had no hope. Christie devised a plot and a twist so unexpected that I nearly fell off my chair! 

I highly recommend this novel to Christie fans and anyone who loves a good mystery! You will not be disappointed. 

Want to grab a copy of this novel? Try Book Depository and Amazon!

And Then There Were None – Agatha Christie

'Ten...' Ten Strangers are lured to an isolated mansion off the Devon coast by a mysterious 'U.N.Owen'. 

'Nine...' At dinner a recorded message accuses each of them in turn of having a guilty secret, and by the end of the night one of the guests is dead.

'Eight...' Stranded by a violent storm, and haunted by an ancient nursery rhyme counting down one by one... as one by one... they begin to die. 

'Seven...' Which amongst them is the killer and will any of them survive?

Genre: Fiction, Crime, Detective, Mystery
Year: 1939
Publisher: Harper Collins
Rating: 5/5

Oh what a jolly good mystery! I don't know what it is about Agatha Christie that makes me want to use the term 'jolly good', but jolly good it was!

As the blurb states, we have ten people stranded in a secluded mansion on an island. They have all been accused of having a deep, dark secret and slowly but surely they are being picked off. One by one.

Not only that, but the manner in which they are dying relates to a poem about the dire fate of 10 little soldier boys. We sure have a creative killer on our hands!

Ten little Soldier boys went out to dine;
One choked his little self and then there were nine.

Nine little Soldier boys sat up very late;
One overslept himself and then there were eight.

Eight little Soldier boys traveling in Devon;
One said he'd stay there and then there were seven.

Seven little Soldier boys chopping up sticks;
One chopped himself in halves and then there were six.

Six little Soldier boys playing with a hive;
A bumblebee stung one and then there were five.

Five little Soldier boys going in for law;
One got in Chancery and then there were four.

Four little Soldier boys going out to sea;
A red herring swallowed one and then there were three.

Three little Soldier boys walking in the zoo;
A big bear hugged one and then there were two.

Two Little Soldier boys sitting in the sun;
One got frizzled up and then there was one.

One little Soldier boy left all alone;
He went out and hanged himself and then there were none.

But who is the killer? That is the question that plagued me to the very end. For once, I did not have a clue. Every time I had an "a-ha!" moment, and thought I had it figured out, Christie would prove me wrong.

The ending was a little far-fetched but as Christie states in the author's note, she had to write this book as a challenge to herself, because it would be hard to write a book where so many people die without it being ridiculous or without the murderer becoming obvious. I think she just managed to succeed.

And Then There Were None was a fun and quick read. The sort of light entertainment a good murder mystery provides. If you haven't read any Christie before than this book would be a great place to start.

I have a pile of nine other Agatha Christie books sitting on my shelf, thanks to my wonderful fiancé! I can't decide which one to read next. What is your favourite Christie novel?

Want to grab a copy of this book? Try Book Depository or Amazon!

Bare Bones – Kathy Reichs

First, the bones of a newborn baby are found in a wood stove; the mother, hardly more than a child herself, has disappeared. 

Next, a Cessna flies into a rock face. The bodies of the pilot and passenger are burned beyond recognition, and covered in an unknown substance. 

And then a cache of bones is discovered in a remote corner of the country. But what happened there, and who will be the next victim? The answers lie hidden deep within the bones – if only Tempe can decipher them in time...

 Genre: Fiction, Crime, Mystery
Year: 2003
Publisher: Arrow Books
Rating: 3/5

For those of you who read my last review, you would remember that Sookie Stackhouse is one of my favourite heroines. Speaking of favourite heroines, Temperance Brennan is right up there.

There is something great about strong, intelligent and feisty chicks in literature! They make for great reading. Tempe never fails to please.

In this novel, our beloved anthropologist finds herself helping the police investigate three different cases. At first, they seem like they are unrelated, but are they? What could the body of a newborn baby, a missing teen, a plane crash and the discovery of some buried bones, have to do with each other? If anyone can solve this puzzle, it's Tempe.

This is book number 6 in the Bones series. There isn't really anything new here... sure the story is different but Reichs has a formula and she sticks to it. That's fine by me though, because that is what I like about these books. I know what to expect.

One good thing about this book, is that Tempe and Ryan FINALLY get it together. About time. The tension and attraction between these two characters has been played with throughout all the books so it was great to finally get some satisfaction!

I must admit, I do prefer the Bones books set in Québec rather than North Carolina. They are more interesting somehow... but that could be because I enjoy learning about the French Canadian culture and history.

I am looking forward to the next book in this series. I think I am about halfway through what has been written to date. 

You may like these novels if you like Karin Slaughter or James Patterson. 

Want to grab a copy of this book? Try Book Depository or Amazon!

Grave Secrets – Kathy Reichs

Guatemala, in the searing heat.

The bones of a child no more than two years old are uncovered when mass graves are excavated.

Twenty-three women and children are said to lie where forensic anthropologist Dr Temperance Brennan is searching for remains, in what is one of the most heartbreaking cases of her career.

Then four young girls go missing from Guatemala City...

And when a skeleton is found in a septic tank at the back of a run-down hotel, only someone with Tempe's expertise can deduce who the victim was and how they died.

But her path is blocked: it appears that some people would prefer that Guatemala's 'disappeared' stayed buried. And others seem to want the missing girls kept the same way...

Genre: Fiction, Crime, Mystery, Detective
Year: 2002
Publisher: Arrow Books
Rating: 3/5

This book is probably worth a higher rating. I just couldn't get into it. I have a lot going in my life at the moment and to top it off, I am sick. So concentration isn't a strong point for me, right now.

This book follows Tempe as she yet again unravels a mystery. Reichs has a distinct formula and this book follows it perfectly... Tempe gets called to a job, this leads to a mystery, Tempe is determined to solve said mystery, lots of people are out to get her, she finds herself in dangerous situations (for a smart woman, she acts impulsively and makes dumb choices sometimes), and then she solves said mystery. All the while fighting off the sexual tension between her and Detective Ryan. As I said, it is a formula and it is what I have come to expect from Reichs novels, and usually I love it!

There is one difference in this novel, however, and that is a new love interest! Yup, that's right. Tempe now has TWO men after her.... and she likes them both. I think this is going to make for some interesting material in the next book or two. 

I think I will attempt to re-read this book at a later date when I am well again, and when I haven't got so much other junk cluttering up my mind.

Have you read this novel? What did you think?

Fatal Voyage (Temperance Brennan Book 4) – Kathy Reichs

A plane crashes high in the mountains of North Carolina. 

But a severed foot is discovered a good distance from the main crash site...

Forensic anthropologist Dr Temperance Brennan is first on the scene. The task that confronts her is a sad and sickening one, and her investigation seems to be throwing up more questions than it's answering. 

But when Tempe makes a discovery that raises dangerous issues, her professional standing is threatened. Convinced that another corpse lies in the woods, Tempe pits herself against a conspiracy of silence, and uncovers a shocking tale of deceit and depravity...

\Genre: Fiction, Crime, Mystery, Detective
Year: 2001
Publisher: Arrow Books
Rating: 5/5

In Fatal Voyage, Tempe is working on processing a crash site. A plane took a dive in the mountains carrying the university soccer team, a notorious criminal being transported by her colleague, Jean Bertrand and various other people. 

The scene is chaotic, and it seems the plane blew up, meaning there is wreckage and body parts everywhere. Could anyone have survived? Why isn't Tempe's daughter answering her phone? Could she have been on the plane? Who would blow up a plane carrying a young sports team? Could it be linked to the criminal being transported? Was he even on the plane? Or has Jean Bertrand gone over to the other side, helping a criminal escape? And why is agent Ryan being so elusive and moody? Is it really just worry over his partner, or does it have something to do with 'Danielle'... a mysterious someone he was talking to on his phone? Where does Tempe fit into his life?

To top off all these questions, Tempe must also work out who owns the foot she found in the woods, far from the crash site. It doesn't seem to match anyone who could have been on the plane. Then, Tempe finds the courtyard house, hidden in the middle of the woods. No one who lived in the area even knew it was there. The place gives off a dark and disturbing vibe... and then there is that dark stain, seeping under the wall... but when Tempe tries to get answers to some of these questions, she is blocked by those above her. When she tries to push the matter, she finds herself under investigation for unprofessional behaviour and contaminating the crash scene.

With her job on the line, Tempe must fight to find out who is out to get her? What were they afraid she would uncover? 

This novel is my favourite in the series, so far. This is a novel full of mystery and suspense. Right from the beginning we are faced with questions, and as they are answered, we are faced with more. Just when I thought I had it figured out, another obstacle would be thrown in Tempe's way creating even more mystery.. this is my kind of story. 

I enjoyed this novel so much that I checked out Book Depository and found the next one in the series, Grave Secrets, on sale for $5.07! Bargain! Of course I couldn't go past that. The more I read of this series, the more I like it. By this novel, Reichs is settling into her writing style and her characters, making for a great read. Highly recommended to those who loved a good crime mystery!

Deadly Decisions (Temperance Brennan Book 3) – Kathy Reichs

Violence is escalating, and spilling on to the streets on Montreal.

A nine-year-old girl is shot dead, caught in the crossfire on her way to ballet class. A teenager killed in North Carolina is found hundreds on miles away.

Forensic anthropologist Dr. Temperance Brennan has to pick up the pieces: She knows she shouldn't let emotion get in the way, but when nine-year-old Emily's body is wheeled into the morgue she cannot help but react.

An exhumation uncovers the bones of another innocent in a clandestine grave close to a biker gang headquarters. With her boss in hospital and sparring partner Detective Andrew Ryan mysteriously unavailable, Tempe alone begins a perilous investigation into the lawless underworld of organised crime...

Genre: Fiction, Crime, Mystery, Detective
Year: 2000
Publisher: Arrow Books
Rating: 4/5

Deadly Decisions is the third book in the Bones series by Kathy Reichs. Like the previous two books in this series, it follows Dr. Temperance Brennan as she uses her forensic skills, inquiring mind and keen eye for detail to unravel a mystery. All while dodging dangerous criminals who want her silenced.

In this case, the dangerous criminals are bikers. Members of rival gangs, The Hell's Angels, The Heathens and The Bandidos, who are on the verge of an all out turf war.

Sadly, innocent bystanders get caught in the crossfire. Including a little girl. Tempe can not stand by while children are dying so she offers her services to the team of police officers who are in charge of stopping the carnage. Little does Tempe realise what she is getting herself in for.

I really enjoy the Bones books. Sure they are have a formula.. every book seems to be  about Tempe getting into the same sort of trouble with a different criminal in the background.. but it's fun.

Tempe is a great heroine. She is intelligent, resourceful, headstrong and human. Tempe struggles with her relationships, she is a recovering alcoholic and she suffers from the same sorts of anxieties well all do in regards to work, her personal life choices and even her hairstyle! It's so refreshing to have a strong female lead in a novel who is still painfully human.

I also enjoy the anthropological side of these novels. I find the digs, examining the bones and piecing together the mystery using evidence very interesting. It is amazing what they can tell about a person just from their bones.

These books are always action packed with a great mystery. Just when you think you have it figured out, another twist occurs and you are guessing all over again! That is my type of novel.

I am looking forward to reading the next novel in this series and will definitely be making my way through them all.

1st to Die – James Patterson

As the only woman homocide inspector in San Fransisco, Lindsay Boxer has to be tough. But nothing has prepared her for the honeymoon murders.

A brutal maniac begins a killing spree – slaughtering newlywed couples – and Lindsay takes on the case. She is sickened by the deaths, but her determination to bring the murderer to justice is threatened by a personal tragedy. So she turns to Claire, a coroner, Cindy, a journalist, and Jill, an attorney, for help with both crises: and the Women's Murder Culb is born.

Genre: Fiction, Crime, Mystery
Year: 2001
Publisher: Headline
Rating: 3/5

I haven't had much experience with James Patterson novels before. I think I read Along Came a Spider many years ago but I don't really remember it. I decided to Bookmooch the first book in the Women's Murder Club series because I had played a game based on it (Little Black Lies – lots of fun! Give it a go if you like detective, puzzle games). Weird way to find a novel, I know, but I get my books suggestions from a variety of places.

I enjoyed this book. Lindsay Boxer was an interesting character. She was tough, brave and ambitious but she also had a softer side. I like my characters multi-dimensional. 

This novel follows Lindsay as she tries to crack the honeymoon murders case, all while battling a serious illness. On top of that, she is partnered up with a city detective and sparks fly! It's nice to see a female cop not be so hard as nails she can't have a bit of love in her life, so the stereotype goes. 

The mystery in this book was interesting. It had more than one twist I did not see coming. It wasn't brilliant or original but it was still a good read. Even if it got to the point where it seemed a little far fetched... I mean, that many twists? .. come on. Overkill.

The chapters in this novel were really short... and when I say really short I mean about four pages long. Some were only two. I have never read a book with such short chapters before. It was slightly unsettling. I found it hard to concentrate for long periods of time and put the book down a number of times. 

Each chapter also ended with something that was meant to make you want to keep reading. With a total of 126 chapters in 453 page book, you can imagine how many twists or "oh no!" moments Patterson jammed into this book.

I have no idea why Patterson writes in this way. Are all his book like this? It reminded me of how a movie has short scenes... so maybe Patterson was using that technique. Or maybe it is aimed at people with short attention spans. This would make a great travel read.

I may not have loved this book but it was a good light read for a weekend afternoon. I wouldn't go out and buy any Patterson books based on this, but I would not hesitate to mooch another Women's Murder Club novel.

Cat Among the Pigeons - Agatha Christie

Dear Mummy, 

We had a murder last night. Miss Springer, the gym mistress. It happened in the middle of the night and the police came and this morning they're asking everybody questions. Miss Chadwick told us not to talk to anybody about it, but I thought you'd like to know 

With love, Jennifer

Genre: Fiction, Crime, Detective, Mystery
Publisher: Fontana
Year: 1959
Rating: 4/5

Agatha Christie is one of those novelists that, it seems, everybody has read. I had an old auntie that was a big Christie fan, she had all of her novels in a hardcover set and I remember looking at them, lining her shelves, when I was a child. Being a fan of mystery novels, I decided to give an Agatha Christie novel a go and read Cat Among the Pigeons. I am glad I did. I enjoyed it a lot.

The setting for this novel is an exclusive English school for girls called Meadowbank. The school is run by Miss Bulstrode, a firm yet fair woman who started the schools many years ago in a joint partnership with the math mistress, Miss Chadwick. 

Miss Bulstrode is nearing retirement and is agonising over who to appoint in her place as head mistress, when she leaves. That, however, is the least of her problems. Not long into term one, the gym teacher, Miss Springer, is shot in the new sports pavilion. No one can understand why Miss Springer was in the pavilion in the middle of the night, let alone why anyone would have a reason to shoot her. 

The local police come to investigate but soon events spiral out of control and there is a second murder and a kidnapping. Parents start pulling their daughters out of Meadowbank, but one enterprising young girl, Julia, has her own ideas about what is behind these murders and upon an investigation of her own, comes up with some interesting evidence.

Unsure of what to do next, Julia visits a man who she had heard of through a friend of her mother, Hercule Poirot. Soon Agatha Christie's famous detective Poirot is heading the investigation at Meadowbank, uncovering the mystery. 

This novel was a fun read. The perfect novel for a Sunday afternoon. It was short, at only 188 pages  so it was a quick read.

I love a good murder mystery and this was no exception. This novel had enough twists and turns to keep me guessing and finished off with a nice, neat little ending. Christie sure knows how to wrap up her plot. 

I enjoyed this enough that I am looking forward to reading another Agatha Christie novel. 

Have you read any Agatha Christie before? What would you recommend I read next?

Chronicle of a Death Foretold - Gabriel García Márquez

When newlywed Angela Vicario and Bayardo San Román are left to their wedding night, Bayardo discovers that his new wife is no virgin. Disgusted, he returns Angela to her family home that very night, where her humiliated mother beats her savagely and her two brothers demand to know her violator, whom she names as Santiago Nasar. 

As he wakes to thoughts of the previous night's revelry, Santiago is unaware of the slurs that have been cast against him. But with Angela's brothers set on avenging their family honour, soon the whole town knows who they plan to kill, where, when and why. 

Genre: Fiction, Colombian, Crime
Publisher: Penguin
Year: 1981
Rating: 3/5

Chronicle of a Death Foretold was a strange story. It follows a narrator who is recounting and attempting to reconstruct, the events surrounding the murder of his friend many years before. He does this by talking about his own memories of this day and through interviews with not only the main players in the crime, but bystanders.

Angela Vicario is courted by a man new to town, Bayardo. He decides as soon as he sees her, that he is going to marry her and she is forced to agree to this marriage, against her will, as her parents feel he is a good catch.

Little does Bayardo know, Angela is not a virgin. When he finds out that she is not  a virgin, he is outraged and drags her back to her parents house on their wedding night. Her mother beats her and her twin brothers, out of moral duty, declare they will murder the man she named as the person who took her virginity. Santiago Nasar. 

Little by little, the whole town finds out about this plan. The twins tell anyone who will listen, from shop owners to the mayor. No one takes them seriously or tries to stop them. When Santiago is killed, everyone has an excuse as to why they did not do anything... which makes me question, are the townsfolk accomplices to this crime? Does their inaction amount to a crime within itself? If not a legal crime, is it not a moral one?

It is also hinted at that Santiago could not have been Angela's lover. So who was? Did Angela just throw out any old name in order to protect someone else? 

All of these questions are explored in this novel...which makes for an interesting read. It is only 122 pages long, so I was able to read it in about an hour or so. Considering the story is about one event and the events surrounding it, Márquez was able to explore these issues quickly. The story jumps around a bit, but it is easy to follow and even though you know what is going to happen to Santiago from page one, there is still enough tension and drama in this novel to keep you reading.

It takes talent to give away the ending and main plot point of a story, on the first page, and then keep your readers reading.

If you are looking for an introduction to Márquez then this may be the best place to start, as this novel is short. I haven't read anything by him previously but have heard both good and bad reviews so I was a little apprehensive about reading this title. However, this book contained some good questions and a lot of action, which kept me interested. I would be willing to try another Novel by Márquez in the future.

Death Du Jour - Kathy Reichs

I was introduced to the Bones series by Amanda. Knowing that I love a good crime fiction novel, Amanda suggested that I give Kathy Reichs a try. I was not disappointed. Although I really enjoyed Déjà Dead, I enjoyed this novel, Death Du Jour, even more. It was also the perfect book to read while I was suffering from a reading slump.

Genre: Fiction, Crime, Detective, Mystery
Publisher: Random House
Year: 1999
Rating: 4/5

March in Montreal: It is a bitterly cold night and in the grounds of an old church forensic anthropologist Dr Temperance Brennan digs carefully. She is there to exhume the remains of a nun proposed for sainthood. But the body has been moved to an unmarked grave in a far corner of the cemetery. What will Tempe discover when the frozen ground finally yields to her tools?Just hours later, Tempe is called to the scene of an horrific arson. A young family has perished, and there seems to be no witness, no motive, no explanation.From the charred remains of the arson, to a trail of sinister cult activity and a terrifying showdown during an ice storm, Tempe gathers her evidence and confronts the terror of a killer out of control.

This novel has a lot going on. We begin with Tempe unearthing the remains of a nun that has been recommended for sainthood. When she does her analysis she finds an unexpected surprise which leads her to research the nuns birth. 

At the same time, she is called into help out with an arson investigation. Seven people are found dead in very strange and brutal circumstances. 

Tempe also has to deal with her sister showing up unexpectedly. Harry is on some new spiritual path, taking a course on inner power and taking control of your life, but is the course really taking control of her? 

While all this is happening, a nun from the church where Tempe had been working calls her worried about her niece's disappearance. Can Tempe help find her?

Lastly, in an effort to help investigate the arson case and take a short holiday, Tempe travels with her daughter. Before she needs to help agent Ryan track down some family members of the dead, who could help with the investigation, Tempe takes her daughter to a monkey Island run by an old friend. But of course, the trip doesn't go as planned and Tempe finds herself once again digging up corpses and baffled by the mystery of how they got there.

Oh and how could I forget... the ever growing sexual tension between Ryan and Tempe. Will they or won't they? 

Phew! See what I mean, a LOT is going on in these 436 pages. At times I found it a little hard to follow. Almost as much as I found the neat way in which all of these cases were linked together, hard to swallow. 

'Another day. Another death. Death du Jour. My God, how many such days would there be?'

That sums up this work nicely... There is so much death that you do begin to wonder how MUCH MORE can Reichs possibly fit in this novel.

But, putting that aside.. this was a very enjoyable book. It was easy to read, interesting, fun, scary, creepy and it kept me guessing. All of these are elements that I enjoy in a crime fiction novel so it made for a great read. 

Highly recommended if you like intelligent crime fiction that is full of twists, turns and suspense.

Nineteen Minutes - Jodi Picoult

"In nineteen minutes, you can mow the front lawn; color your hair; watch a third of a hockey game. In nineteen minutes, you can bake scones or get a tooth filled by a dentist; you can fold laundry for a family of five..... In nineteen minutes, you can stop the world; or you can just jump off it... In nineteen minutes you can get revenge"

Genre: Fiction, Crime, Courtroom Drama

Publisher: Allen & Unwin

Year: 2007

Rating: 4/5

So begins Jodi Picoult's 14th novel, Nineteen Minutes. Set in a small town in the aftermath of a school shooting, this novel looks at how such an event can impact on the lives of those involved; the injured, the survivors, the family of those who were killed, and the town as a whole.

It also traces the life of the young shooter. What happened to him to turn him into someone who could walk into a school with four guns, and kill ten of his fellow students?

Peter Houghton has been bullied for twelve years. His whole school life has been one attack after another ranging from verbal to physical. Being a kid isn't easy, but being small and skinny with freckles and glasses basically makes him a target for bullies.

His only friend is Josie. Pretty, smart and kind, Josie is the only friend he needs. That is until Josie gets drawn into the 'popular' group in high school. Soon she ditches Peter because so is so desperate to fit in.

"Ask a random kid today if she wants to be popular and she'll tell you no. Even if the truth is that if she was in a desert dying of thirst and had the choice between a glass of water and instant popularity, she'd probably choose the latter."

Peter drifts through high school shunned by his peers, secretly holding a flame for Josie and suffering one humiliation after another. His biggest tormentor is Josie's boyfriend, Matt. Matt is possessive and jealous. When he finds out that Peter likes his girlfriend he takes particular offense and his reign of cruelty gets worse. One day, Peter just can't take it anymore and he snaps. 

There is plenty of evidence against Peter from the school shooting. There is no doubt that he committed this awful crime but the question is, why? 

Who is really to blame for this? Is Peter, the shooter the only person to blame? Can there really be any justification for murder? Are his parents to blame for lack of attention or for pushing him too hard to be the perfect son? Or, are the bullies who hounded Peter for his whole school life partly responsible for how Peter turned out? 

"When you don't fit in, you become superhuman. You can feel everyone else's eyes on you, stuck like Velcro. You can hear a whisper about you from a mile away. You can disappear, even when it looks like you're still standing right there. You can scream, and nobody hears a sound.  You become the mutant who fell into the vat of acid, the Joker who can't remove his mask, the bionic man who'smissing all his limbs and none of his heart. You are the thing that used to be normal, but that was so long ago, you can't even remember what it was like. "

I really enjoyed this novel. It asked some really important questions. All the characters in this novel were presented in a way which I was able to sympathise with. I felt sad for the children who lost their lives. I felt sad for their parents who would never again be able to kiss their children goodnight. I felt sad for the survivors who have to live with this trauma for the rest of their lives, with scars which are both physical and emotional.  I felt sad for Peter's parents who lost their son too, in a horrific way. And  lastly, I felt sad for Peter, who was pushed to the edge with no one there to help pull him to safety.

School shootings are such a tragedy but in my mind, not all that surprising. Schools are a battle ground for many children everyday. Bullies are always seeking out the weak, social status is everything and one small embarrassing moment can determine your social standing for the rest of your school days. Kids are cruel, have memories like elephants and will do anything necessary to uphold their own popularity and survive. Kids will become bullies just so they are not the ones being made fun of.

The acceptance of this kind of school culture is something that everyone should be held accountable for and it desperately needs to be changed. This novel provides much to think about.

Picoult does an excellent job of analysing this world and it is chilling in it's honesty. Like all Jodi Picoult novels it is an easy read. Her writing style is accessible and of course, she has her trademark twist at the end. A must read for Jodi Picoult fans, those who love a good courtroom drama or those of us who survived high school and lived to tell the tale.

The Rembrandt Affair - Daniel Silva

This has been a good month for me. Karin Slaughter, author of my favourite crime series, released book number 7 in the Grant County series and Daniel Silva, author of my favourite thriller series, released book number 10 in the Gabriel Allon series, The Rembrandt Affair. Awesome.

Genre: Fiction, Thriller, Crime, Espionage, Art
Publisher: Century
Year: 2010
Rating: 4/5

Determined to sever his ties with the office, Gabriel Allon has retreated to the windswept  cliffs of Cornwall with his beautiful wife, Chiara. But once again his seclusion is interrupted by a visitor from his tangled past: the endearing eccentric London art dealer Julian Isherwood. As usual, Isherwood has a problem. And only Gabriel can solve it. 

In Glastonbury, an art restorer is brutally murdered and a long-lost portrait by Rembrandt mysteriously stolen. Despite his reluctance, Gabriel is persuaded to use his unique skills to search for the painting and those responsible for the crime. But as he painstakingly follows a trail of clues leading from Amsterdam to Buenos Aires and, finally to a villa on the graceful shores of Lake Geneva, Gabriel discovers there are deadly secrets connected to the painting. And evil men behind them. 

Gabriel will once again be drawn into a world he thought he had left behind for ever, and will come face to face with a remarkable cast of characters: a glamorous London journalist who is determined to undo the worst mistake of her career, an elusive master art thief who is burdened by a conscience and a powerful Swiss billionaire who is known for his good deeds but may just be behind one of the greatest threats facing the world. 

Keeping true to Gabriel Allon, this novel did not disappoint. It was full of mystery, action and suspense which made me want to keep turning the pages. It's the kind of book where you keep telling yourself, 'just one more chapter'. 

I love the character of Gabriel Allon. He is a sensitive art restorer, a romantic and an extremely skilled and lethal Israeli spy. He has a strong sense of morals, always willing to hunt down evil men and bring them to justice... even if that justice is the muzzle of his gun. He is damaged, not only by the things he has had to do in his life, but by the legacy left to him by his mother who was a holocaust survivor. Gabriel Allon is one complex character.

This novel, like Gabriel Allon, is multi-layered. We begin with a stolen painting but soon find that behind this painting lies a secret and a web of lies, spanning generations. We are taken on a journey through a child holocaust survivors guilt to the mansion of a billionaire. A billionaire who portrays himself to be the perfect saint, but little does the world know, his billions are built on the deaths of millions, with many more deaths to come.

Can Gabriel and his team find the Rembrandt? Can they bring this billionaire down before he causes more destruction? Can they overcome the many obstacles in their way to get at a man who is heavily guarded by some of the most ruthless body guards in Switzerland? Can they save Israel from a major threat, a threat which could wipe them out completely?

If you love a good mystery, thriller or tale of espionage then you will love this novel. I recommend this series to anyone who loves a good, fun read! The best part about it, you don't have to start at the beginning to get into it, each book makes sense as a stand-alone, but they are so good, you will want to read them all!

Broken - Karin Slaughter (Georgia, Book 2)

The Grant County series by Karin Slaughter is my favourite crime fiction series.

Genre: Fiction, Crime
Publisher: Century
Year: 2010
Rating: 4/5

I have read all of her novels in not only this series, but in the Will Trent series. In the last novel, Genesis, we saw Dr Sara Linton team up with Special Agent Will Trent in Atlanta, to solve a crime.

In Broken, Sara has returned to Grant County for the holidays for the first time in four years. This is a painful experience for Sara as her home town is full of memories of her late husband. She soon finds distraction when she is called by the acting police chief Frank Wallace, to come and help a former patient of hers, who they have arrested on suspicion of murder. When Sara arrives at the police station, she finds him dead in his cell. The words, 'Not Me' scrawled on the wall. An apparent suicide. Or is it?

Seeing this as her chance to bring down Lena Adams, the police officer she blames for her husbands murder, Sara calls in a favour from the Atlanta Bureau of Investigation. Soon Special Agent Will Trent arrives and once again he and Sara team up to solve this growing mystery.

This is not as easy as it may sound. Grant County is a close-knit community where locals don't like to talk to outsiders and police officers look out for each other. Even if that means bending the truth and hiding evidence. Can Sara and Will find out what is going on before someone else is killed? 

Like previous Karin Slaughter novels, this book is full of mystery and suspense. I really enjoy the character of Sara Linton and have since I read the first book in this series. Acting as the small town medical examiner, Sara helps out by processing crime scenes and completing autopsies. Highly intelligent with a keen eye for detail, Sara always manages to shed new scientific light on cases that have the officers stumped.

Special Agent Will Trent took a while for me to warm up to. I wasn't a fan of his when I read his first novel, Triptych. I think I was just so used to the characters from Grant County that it took me a while to get used to something new. I am glad I kept reading. Agent Trent is an interesting character. Raised in state care, product of a broken home, stuck in a dead-end abusive relationship, dyslexic and slowly falling in love with Sara Linton.... Agent Trent is very interesting. 

Slaughter has a way with characters. They are all broken in some way. They have all had their fair share of problems and heartbreak. Even her secondary characters are complex beings. Take Lena Adams for example. A tough woman cop with a major chip on her shoulder. Lena seems to be attracted to drama. Nothing ever goes right for her and try as she might to do the right thing, she always ends up hurting everyone around her.

Another thing I love about Slaughter's novels is that she is not afraid to touch on sensitive issues. Whether it be murder, rape, child abuse, domestic abuse, drug use or police corruption, Slaughter explores these issues with honesty and feeling.

I really think this may be the last book in the Grant County series. After reading Genesis and now Broken, I get the impression that Sara Linton and Will Trent will be teaming up together in Atlanta in the new Georgia series of novels permanently. I also think that Slaughter will be creating a new series of books to focus on Lena Adams. At least, it certainly seems that way at the end of Broken.

I think some fans may find this disappointing as the Grant County series was so popular among Slaughter's readers, but I for one, am excited to see where these new series take these characters. I love the 'will they or won't they' relationship between Sara and Will, and Lena is such a strong character in her own right that she deserves her own series. 

This book is a must read for Karin Slaughter fans or anyone who loves a fast-paced crime fiction read. I am very much looking forward to the next book out by Slaughter!

Déjà Dead - Kathy Reichs

I am a big fan of Karin Slaughter's Grant County series and am having serious withdrawals while I am waiting for her to release the next book. There is nothing like a good crime fiction series! It's exciting, scary and thrilling! So I was looking for something similar to sink my teeth into. I have heard a lot about the Bones series, especially with the TV show becoming so popular (no, I've never watched it) so I decided to give the first book in this series (Deja Dead) a go!

Genre: Fiction, Crime, Detective
Publisher: Pocket Star Books
Year: 1997
Rating: 3/5

In the year since Temperance Brennan left behind a shaky marriage in North Carolina, work has often preempted her weekend plans to explore Quebec. When a female corpse is discovered meticulously dismembered and stashed in trash bags, Tempe detects an alarming pattern - and she plunges into a harrowing search for a killer. But her investigation is about to place those closest to her - her best friend and her own daughter - in mortal danger.. 

This book had all the elements needed to make a good crime thriller. It was chilling, the mystery kept me guessing and it was realistic enough to totally creep me out because it could happen.

Since Kathy Reichs actually was a forensic anthropologist, she not only knows all the terminology and procedures in an autopsy, but she describes these is such detail that it was kind of gross. Yes I am aware you just found a rotting corpse, yes it probably is good you can tell me exactly how and why a corpse breaks down but do you really need to do it in so much detail? yuk!

I feel a lot more educated than I did before I picked up this book, but I am still a bit disturbed. Even though the characters are fictional, I still can't help but feel that, that is someone's mum, or sister, or wife... autopsy is not something I enjoy thinking about. This could be because I have a weak stomach and a very visual mind. When I read a book, I can see everything in great detail, so in this case parts of this book were very unpleasant. 

One thing I loved about this book was how well fleshed out Tempe was. Reichs did a great job in bringing the anthropologist to life. She seemed like a very natural, normal person with hopes, fears, bad habits, stresses and needs. I enjoyed her as a character a lot. Besides one detail... 

It annoyed the hell out of me that Tempe kept taking off, by herself, to hunt this killer! I mean, come on! What sort of woman would go out at night, alone, to hunt a serial killer that dismembers women??!! THAT'S INSANE. I understand she is supposed to be strong willed, tough and really wants to bring this man to justice, but really, is personal safety not important too? Or the safety of those around you? It just irritated me.

That said, I enjoyed this book. It was a fun (yet disturbing) read. I liked it enough that I have bookmooched the second book in this series and I look forward to reading that soon. If you like crime fiction with a strong female lead, you will like this series.