Review of by Miss Pym Disposes (1946) by Josephine Tey

Posted by on Jul 29, 2013

Bottom line: A quirky novel with a murder. A good read for fans of the Golden Age mystery era who are looking to add some more authors to their list. Rating: Recommended if you are a fan of Golden Age mysteries. Blurb: Miss Lucy Pym, a popular English psychologist, is guest lecturer at a physical […]

Review of “Nineteen Eighty Four” or “1984” by George Orwell (1949)

Posted by on Apr 30, 2013

Bottom line: Definitely worth a read, as it explores timeless topics such as power, inequality, and control. Rating: Strongly Recommended Blurb: 1984 has come and gone, but George Orwell’s prophetic, nightmarish vision in 1948 of the world we were becoming is timelier than ever. 1984 is still the great modern classic of “Negative Utopia” – […]

Review of Timekeeper by Heather Albano (2012)

Posted by on Mar 30, 2013

Bottom line: A very strong sequel to Timepiece, and a very fun read. Rating: Strongly Recommended Blurb: An alternate history adventure featuring time travelers, freedom fighters, Frankenstein’s monster, the Battle of Waterloo, and Napoleon invading Britain by dirigible. — In Timepiece, young adventurer Elizabeth Barton and her suitor William Carrington used a mysterious pocket watch […]

Review of the Lord Peter & Harriet Vane mysteries by Dorothy Sayers

Posted by on Aug 5, 2012

Bottom line: Great mysteries, great characters, great writing. I cannot recommend these highly enough. Rating: Strongly Recommended Review: Gaudy Night is my all-time favorite book. Not just mystery, but book. The other three books in this series are all very, very good (though I’d rate Have His Carcase a bit below the other three – […]

Five Free Kindle E-book Classic Mysteries Written in the 1800s

Posted by on Apr 19, 2012

I think it’s interesting to read some of the earliest mysteries and science fiction and see what has changed in the genres over the centuries. Some are as enthralling as the day they were published and some….not so much. Here are five free Kindle e-book mysteries from some of the writers who popularized the genre […]

A Handful of Agatha Christie Mystery Recommendations

Posted by on Apr 9, 2012

Agatha Christie is one of my favorite authors. That being said, most of her books are of the “read it and forget it” type of mystery. I think her talents tend more towards great storytelling/clever murder ideas (which she does better than just about anybody) than exceptional literary skill. You can go into just about […]

Review of Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie (1920) (Hercule Poirot Book 1) Free Kindle E-Book

Posted by on Mar 30, 2012

Bottom line: A classic Golden Age mystery, by the Queen of mystery, although not her greatest work. The first time the world was introduced to the Hercule Poirot – the funny little man with the egg shaped head and impressive mustache. Update: As of 7/1/2013 this book is no longer free. Rating: Recommended IF – […]

Harry Potter Series Now Available in E-book Formats…

Posted by on Mar 28, 2012

…but they’re not going to make it easy for you. If you want to get the e-books ($7.99 for the first three, $9.99 for the last four) you can find them on most sites that sell e-books (including Amazon and B&N), but to complete the purchase, you get routed to the “Pottermore” shop where you […]

Review of Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency by Douglas Adams (1987) (Dirk Gently Book 1)

Posted by on Mar 27, 2012

Bottom line: Not up to Douglas Adams’s usual standard. Worth a try if you’re a big fan of his other work. Rating: Recommended IF – you are a Douglas Adams fan Blurb: There is a long tradition of Great Detectives, and Dirk Gently does not belong to it. But his search for a missing cat […]

Review of Cover Her Face by P.D. James (1962) (Adam Dalgliesh Book 1)

Posted by on Mar 25, 2012

Bottom line: I liked this story, although I would have preferred to get to know the detective better. A traditional murder mystery set in an English country house, it was a fun introduction to P.D. James. Rating: Recommended Blurb: On the same day as the St Cedd’s church fete in the grounds of her home, […]