Agatha Christie - The Under Dog and Other Stories

63. The Under Dog and Other Stories by Agatha Christie (1951)
The Hercule Poirot Series Book 28.5
Length: 192 pages
Genre: Short Stories
Started: 24 June 2014
Finished: 26 June 2014
Where did it come from? From a Library Book Sale
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 10 May 2001
Why do I have it? I like short stories and have read and enjoyed several books by this author in the past. I'm not entirely sure who acquired this book for their TBR pile first, but over the years it has somehow migrated into Mareena's room. I was looking for something to read several nights ago, and I asked her if I could read it.

The synopsis on the back cover of this book declares that the nine short stories contained within are Hercule Poirot's "Nasty Nine". Agatha Christie's sophisticated Belgian sleuth matches wits against nine of the worst criminals in order to solve these most baffling mysteries. A dead heiress on a train, a murdered recluse, and a wealthy playboy slain at a costume ball are only a few of the unfortunate victims of the confounding crimes committed in the pages of Ms. Christie's The Under Dog and Other Stories, a superior collection of short mystery fiction all featuring Hercule Poirot as the investigator.

The reader is invited to accompany Agatha Christie's most famous detective creation on a twisting trail of baffling mystery, shattering violence and delectable deduction as once again Hercule Poirot proves that his magnificent mind is mightier than the swiftest, stealthiest hand of a murderer. Here is Monsieur Poirot at the peak of his powers. Here is Agatha Christie at her spellbinding best.

I thought that this book was vintage Agatha Christie - these were nine of perhaps the most intriguing, most perplexing, yet highly entertaining mysteries that I've read in quite a while. I do enjoy Agatha Christie's writing style, but will say that as with many of her stories, I had trouble concluding "who done it." I give The Under Dog and Other Stories by Agatha Christie an A!

A! - (90-95%)

Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

William Peter Blatty - Elsewhere

39. Elsewhere by William Peter Blatty (1999)
Length: 222 pages
Genre: Short Story
Started: 6 May 2013
Finished: 7 May 2013
Where did it come from? From Paperback Swap
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 6 May 2013
Why do I have it? I like horror and have read and enjoyed several books by this author in the past.

'Elsewhere' is a mansion built in the 1930s and situated on Craven's Cove, a tiny isolated island in Manhattan. Realtor Joan Freeboard - in an effort to dispel the mansion's eerie reputation, obviously fueled by decades of persistent rumors of unexplained activity in the house - arranges for a psychic, a parapsychologist and a noted author to move into 'Elsewhere' with her and ultimately declare it ghost-free. Isolated from civilization by a storm, and stranded on Craven's Cove, the four would-be researchers become absorbed by the house and its growing sense of strangeness. Inevitably, exploring the house's secrets exposes their own - 'Elsewhere' forces them to accept the individual realities that they have created for themselves.

Elsewhere by William Peter Blatty was really very good. In my opinion, the author builds the tension very admirably throughout the book, so it was a quick and easy read for me, filled with many satisfactory instances of thrills and chills. Elsewhere was perhaps not up to the caliber of The Exorcist, when it comes to the 'fainting in my seat, rushing back into my Church' level of horror, but Elsewhere was still very good and I give it an A! 

A! - (90-95%)

Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

Molly Cooper - Classic Mysteries: A Collection of Mind-Bending Masterpieces

109. Classic Mysteries: A Collection of Mind-Bending Masterpieces by Molly Cooper (1996)
Length: 128 pages
Genre: Short Story
Started: 17 December 2012
Finished: 20 December 2012
Where did it come from? From Bookmooch
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 12 December 2012
Why do I have it? I like short stories and Molly Cooper is a new author for me.

This is actually a collection of six contemporary mysteries compiled by Molly Cooper and featuring stories from such famous authors as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Anton Chekhov, Mark Twain, Edgar Allen Poe and others. I have to say that none of the short stories included in this book were particularly memorable to me - except perhaps the last story The Oblong Box by Edgar Allen Poe. 

This is a children's book that Mareena thought I might like to read, however it certainly wasn't what I was expecting. I give this book a B+! 

B+! - (89-94%)
 
Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

Robin Maugham - The Servant

46. The Servant by Robin Maugham (1948)
Length: 75 pages
Genre: Short Story
Started: 4 June 2012
Finished: 5 June 2012
Where did it come from? From Paperback Swap
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 4 January 2010
Why do I have it? I had read The Link several years ago by the same author and as a matter of fact, I saw the film adaptation of The Servant with my sister Margaret in 1963 when it first came out.

Set in London just after World War II, Richard Merton tells the story of Tony, a close friend and fellow Army officer, who - breaking ties with old friends and habits - steadily falls under the influence of his sinister new butler, Barrett. Concerned for his friend, Richard slowly uncovers a strange affair which shatters both class and sexual barriers and turns the servant into the master, and the master into the servant. I really did enjoy this book and give it an A+!

This is the first time that I have actually read The Servant although I did see the movie when it came out in the 1960's. I enjoyed the movie and the book independently of each other and found that the movie was completely different from the book. In my opinion, the movie did not follow the book at all, but still was very good! :)

A+! - (96-100%)

Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

Norah Lofts - Saving Face and Other Stories

20. Saving Face and Other Stories by Norah Lofts (1983)
Length: 229 pages
Genre: Short Story
Started: 29 February 2012
Finished: 1 March 2012
Where did it come from? From a Library Book Sale
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 1 April 2009
Why do I have it? I have not read many short stories, but I like Norah Lofts as an author and I have read and enjoyed several books by this author in the past.


This is a book of nine short stories set in and around the same small English town. I enjoyed this book. I don't usually read that many short stories but I like Norah Lofts as an author and am willing to read anything written by her at least once. I give this book an A+!


A+! - (96-100%)

Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

Jane Smiley - Ordinary Love and Good Will

61. Ordinary Love and Good Will by Jane Smiley (1989)
Length: 208 pages
Genre: Short Story
Started: 2 December 2011
Finished: 5 December 2011
Where did it come from? From a Library Book Sale
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 15 July 2011
Why do I have it? I had read A Thousand Acres by the same author several years ago and really enjoyed it.

This book is actually two novellas based around the difficult choices that people make that change the dynamics of their families forever. In Ordinary Love Ms. Smiley focuses on a woman's infidelity and the lasting, indelible mark that that affair has on her children years after their mother leaves the family.

In Good Will, a father slowly realizes the affect that his choices in lifestyle has on his son. The results of the man's choices end up having heartbreaking consequences. I think that of both stories I preferred Good Will and I give the entire book a B+!

B+! - (89-94%)

Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

Maeve Binchy - The Return Journey

55. The Return Journey by Maeve Binchy (1998)
Length: 225 pages
Genre: Short Story
Started/Finished: 23 November 2011
Where did it come from? From a Library Book Sale
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 27 August 2011
Why do I have it? I love Maeve Binchy as an author and I have read several books by this author in the past.

This is a collection of short stories in which Maeve Binchy introduces us to sons, brothers, fathers, mothers, sisters and lovers. She looks at the relationships and the affect of love on her characters. I have to say that although I usually love Maeve Binchy as an author and am definitely willing to give anything she has written a fighting chance to take me away; I found this particular book lacking in parts.

I had read this book before several years ago and of course had forgotten what it was like. I will definitely still read Maeve Binchy again but, in my opinion, this was a weak book. I give it a C!

C! - (70-75%)


Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

Russell Brooks - Unsavory Delicacies: Three Short Stories of Suspense

21. Unsavory Delicacies: Three Short Stories of Suspense by Russell Brooks (2011)
Length: 23 pages
Genre: Short Story
Started/Finished: 9 April 2011
Where did it come from? Many thanks to Russell for sending me a copy of this book to read.
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 9 March 2011
Why do I have it? I enjoy short stories and Russell Brooks is a new author for me.

How far would you go to get revenge on the person who ruined your reputation? In these three short stories by Russell Brooks, a rogue operative, a food critic, and a mob boss each encounter embarrassing and tragic consequences for their actions. I truly enjoyed these stories; they were fast-paced and gripping. I give Unsavory Delicacies an A!


A! - (90-95%)


Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

Norah Lofts - Heaven in Your Hand

3. Heaven in Your Hand by Norah Lofts (1958)
Length: 176 pages
Genre: Short Story
Started: 10 January 2011
Finished: 12 January 2011
Where did it come from? From Bookmooch
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 10 January 2011
Why do I have it? This was the second book in a mandatory three book request sent to me to read from Malaysia. Plus I like anything by Norah Lofts.

I didn't realize that Norah Lofts had a short story collection, but when I found this I had to have it. It had been read to bits already but I didn't mind, I gobbled this up right away. I give it an A+!

A+! - (96-100%)


Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

Lee Mather - The Green Man

65. The Green Man by Lee Mather (2010)
Length: 27 pages
Genre: Short Story
Started/Finished: 28 December 2010
Where did it come from? Many thanks to Lee for sending me a copy of this book to read.
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 1 December 2010
Why do I have it? I like horror and Lee Mather is a new author for me.

Peter is going on a plane trip when he receives a frantic phone call from his mother begging him not to go. She has seen a vision of the 'Green Man' and is worried about him. Peter's relationship with his mother has become strained since his father's death and he categorically doesn't believe in the 'Green Man'. What follows is a journey in faith, love and forgiveness. I enjoyed this story because I grew up in Manchester and it reminded me of several things. This story was a little hard to follow in areas but I enjoyed it for the most part. I give it a B+!

B+! - (89-94%)


Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight