Sunday, April 20, 2008
Death Comes As The End
After the death of her husband, Khay, Renisenb went back to her hometown with her daughter, Teti. Everything seemed the same: Yahmose was timid and obeyed their father, Imhotp; Yahmose’s wife, Satipy controls him just like Imhotp; Sobek was impulsive and boastful while his wife, Kait was quiet and meek; and Ipy was a young and spoilt brat.
When Imhotp returned with his new concubine, Nofret, the family was upset. Nofret created all kinds of trouble for the family with the help of the spiteful servant, Henet.
Meanwhile, Hori got along well with Renisenb as always, helping her with her problems and the newcomer, Kameni sang to Renisenb love songs which made her blush.
Then, Nofret was found dead. It seemed like a natural death until the members of the family died slowly one by one. Foul play was suspected, but who did it? And why had everyone changed their behaviour after Nofret’s death?
Renisenb was determined to solve this mystery and sought the advice of Esa and Hori.
--Mary HAD a little lamb--
10:37 AM
Appointment with Death
Mrs. Boynton was a dominating tyrant. All her family members were not allowed to talk to people in the “outside” world, even on their first vacation in their lives.
Her stepson, Lennox Boynton was totally helpless and his wife, Nadine, wanted to move out and live their own lives. Meanwhile, Nadine’s friend, Jefferson Cope was in love with Nadine and wished to make her happy. Raymond and Carol Boynton wanted freedom from their stepmother’s claws. Raymond was smitten by the attractive doctor, Sarah King, who told off Mrs. Boynton. Ginevra Boynton, also known as Jinny, told Dr Theodore Gernard that she was a captive in the family.
Then, suddenly, Mrs. Boynton passed away not peacefully from her heart problem but murdered with a fatal injection. Besides the suspects above, Lady Westholme and Amabel Pierce were also involved in the case, telling Hercule Poirot their story.
Just like Murder in Mesopotamia, the key to the mystery is totally psychological.
One comment about this mystery is that it is a bit longwinded, but this is necessary for the readers to understand the personalities of the characters.
--Mary HAD a little lamb--
10:36 AM
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Murder in Mesopotamia
Amy Leatheran narrated the mystery. She was a nurse that went to Baghdad to take care of Mrs. Louise Leidner, a lovely woman who was traumatized by threatening letters. Her devoted husband, Dr. Eric Leidner, seemed skeptical about the letters and hired Nurse Leatheran to make Mrs. Leidner feel more at ease. That was before Mrs. Leidner was murdered.
The following are the suspects in this murderous story:
- Anne Johnson
- Marie Mercado
- Joseph Mercado
- Father Lavigny
- Richard Carey
- David Emmott
- Carl Reiter
- William Coleman
However, it seemed that everyone had an alibi. Hercule Poirot arrived to solve the case and this time Nurse Leatheran acted as his assistant. Who killed Mrs. Leidner? Who wrote the letters? Is it Mrs. Leidner herself?
Hercule Poirot will crack this ingenious case of murder. Who did it?
--Mary HAD a little lamb--
4:38 PM
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
While The Light Lasts
This collection of 9 short stories comprised of early works by Agatha Christie and published in magazines.
The House of Dreams talks about a man who had been a complete failure while the Actress is about a woman who shook away her blackmailer.
The Edge is about a jealous woman who discovered a secret about her rival in love. Hercule Poirot created a remarkable plan to scare off a criminal in Christmas Adventure.
Meanwhile, the Lonely God brought 2 lonely persons romantically together. This is one of the first romances that Agatha Christie has written. Manx Gold is a story that blends romance into a treasure hunt and Within a Wall is another romance where the ending was unexpected.
The Mystery of The Baghdad was solved by Hercule Poirot as the victim’s rival in love was accused of murder and the victim’s wife tried to clear his name. While the Light Lasts puts a woman in a dilemma with two choices-love or money.
These are some of the best stories I have read and you can see a lot of twists and turns in the book as a typhoon would have.
--Mary HAD a little lamb--
6:37 PM
Thursday, April 03, 2008
Crooked House
Charles Hayward had fallen in love with Sophia Leonides who had kept information about her family a secret. He left Sophia as he was ordered to go to the East towards the end of the war. A couple of years, he returned to the country only to find out that Sophia’s grandfather, Astrides Leonides, had been murdered and the happy family was collapsing.
Roger Leonides was Astrides’ favourite son, who was about to be a bankrupt. His father promised to help him but Roger no longer wanted to be in a business. Did he kill his father to gain freedom?
Clemency Leonides was a supportive wife of Roger and was determined to help Roger live the kind of life they wanted. Did she kill her father-in-law to free themselves?
Philip Leonides was Roger’s brother and was jealous of him. Did he kill his father so that Roger will become a bankrupt to make Roger deserve his desserts?
Magda Leonides was Philip’s wife and was overdramatic. She did not have any motive, did she?
Sophia Leonides was Philip and Magda’s daughter. It seemed that she had no motive.
Josephine Leonides was Sophia’s younger sister. She was most probably ruled out since she was 12 years old.
Eustace Leonides was the brother of Sophia and Josephine. He was very clever but very moody. It seemed that he had no motive.
Edith de Haviland was the aunt of Roger and Philip. She had hated Astrides, but was the hate deep enough to make her kill him?
Brenda Leonides was Astrides’ young wife and \there was a rumour that she had married him for money.
Laurence Brown was Josephine and Eustace’s soft-spoken tutor. It was rumoured that Brenda and him had an affair. Did he kill Astrides to free his lover and prevent him from changing the will?
The story takes on an unexpected turn at several points and the ending was a terror.
--Mary HAD a little lamb--
5:38 PM
Five Little Pigs
16 years ago, Caroline Crale had been convicted of the murder of her husband, Amyas Crale. It was interpreted that she wanted to stop Amyas from divorcing her.
16 years later, Caroline’s daughter, now known as Carla Lemarchant, was determined to clear her mother’s name and Hercule Poirot just kept linking the 5 suspects to the nursery rhyme of 5 little pigs.
Suspect #1:
Philip Blake (the stockbroker) who went to the market was Amyas’ best friend and felt very sure that Caroline was a cold murderess. It seemed he had no motive.
Suspect #2:
Meredith Blake (the amateur herbalist) who stayed at home was Philip’s brother and a friend of both Amyas and Caroline. He had admired Caroline secretly. Did he kill the unfaithful Amyas?
Suspect #3:
Elsa Greer (the 3-time divorcee) who had her roast beef was a rich lady who had fallen madly in love with Amyas. She had made Amyas agree to divorce Caroline before his death. She did not seem to have the motive to kill Amyas.
Suspect #4:
Cecilia Williams (the devoted governess) who had none had tutored Caroline’s stepsister. She respected Caroline and was on good terms with her. She loathed Amyas’ unfaithfulness but she had no motive to kill him.
Suspect #5:
Angela Warren (the disfigured sister of Caroline) who cried all the way home was very close to Caroline. She hated Amyas for sending her to school and often put stuff in his beer? Did she kill Amyas due to her hate or help her sister?
Hercule Poirot got detailed accounts of the events from all the five little pigs. Using psychology, he miraculously solves the mystery.
--Mary HAD a little lamb--
5:37 PM
