WWW Wednesday

Today's post is WWW Wednesday, which is hosted by shouldbereading.wordpress.com
and I am answering these three questions:

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you'll read next?


What are you currently reading?

I am working my way through Agatha Christie: An Autobiography. When I first starting reading Agatha Christie's novels, someone recommended her autobiography to me. But I felt I didn't really know enough of her books, and I didn't want to learn about why she had written a certain book before I read it.

Considering she was writing books for a period of almost 50 years, I wanted to see how her style of writing changed for myself. The first book was published in 1924 (The Mysterious Affair at Styles) and the last book she wrote was Postern of Fate in 1973.


Through reading her novels and short stories, I felt I could better appreciate the true scope of her work and just how well thought out and plotted each story was.


 
The autobiography itself (first published in 1977) is vividly written and full of wonderful anecdotes about her life. Society seemed so different, very formal and rigid compared to today. Her education surprised me, as well as the late start she had into writing. Certainly as a child, her aim was to become a famous pianist rather than a writer!

Agatha when young

I love reading about dating, and the formal 'courting' that went on which seems so different to how men and women behave now! Here is a short excerpt, describing romance and flirting when Agatha was a young woman in 1910:

Flirtation, as I have said, was an art carefully cultivated by girls of my generation. We knew the rules back to front. It was true that in France no young girl was ever left alone with a young man, but in England that was certainly not so. You went for a walk with a man, you went out riding with a man - but you did not go to a dance alone with a young man: either your mother sat there, or some other bored dowager, or appearances were satisfied by a young married woman being in your party. But having kept the rules, and having danced with a young man, you then strolled out in the moonlight or wandered into the conservatory, and charming tete a tetes could take place without decorum being abandoned in the eyes of the world.

What did you recently finish reading?

Simon Brett featured in my last WWW Wednesday (click here for post) and he has featured again!


I finished Bones Under the Beach Hut (2011) which is another in the Fethering mystery series. The whole series of books is based in the fictional town of Fethering, which is on the south coast of England. Two neighbours, Carole and Jude, somehow become involved in murder in this book after human remains are found under a beach hut Carole was renting.

This was the twelfth book in the series, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Set on the seaside, it definitely made me fancy a trip to the beach.

I find the books in this series are very an easy enjoyable read; good plots with lots of twists and red herrings. Perfect after a hard day's work!

What do you think you'll read next?

I am trying to read some more non-fiction this year, but so far all that has meant is more books sitting on the bookshelf!

My aim is to read Max Hastings' book - Finest Years, Churchill as Warlord 1940-45. I got this book as a present almost a year ago and have never made it past the first few chapters!

Churchill visiting Coventry in 1941

I couldn't go without any fiction at all, so I also plan to read Dr. No (1958) by Ian Fleming. I love the film, so it will be good to see where the storyline came from and if the film resembles the book in anyway.

I will be blogging about this book, as it is #1958book month on Past Offences (link here).
Still plenty of time to sign up and read a crime book first published in 1958, if you want to join in!

 Sean Connery as Bond

Thank you for reading :) If you have a WWW Wednesday post on your blog, please leave the link as a comment below and I will check it out!

Agatha Christie- Graphic Novels

Have you discovered any of the graphic novels of Agatha Christie's works? Her crime novels, as well as being adapted into films, plays and on television, have been reworked into wonderful comic style books.

'Famed for her crime masterpieces, Agatha Christie's books have become the best-selling in the world, appealing to readers young and old for their ingenious plots and immediately recognizable characters.
The stories have also transcended the printed page, become bestselling audiobooks and award-winning films, plays and television series. Now words and pictures combine in an exciting new way of telling these stories -- full-colour graphic novels which enhance the original stories and offer a completely new way of enjoying some of the world's most popular and exciting mysteries.'
from agathachristie.com

Not all of her books have been adapted, but here is the list so far of graphic novels:

Hercule Poirot:

The Murder on the Links
Murder on the Orient Express
Death on the Nile
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd
The Mystery of the Blue Train
The Big Four
Murder in Mesopotamia
Hallowe'en Party
Peril at End House
Dumb Witness
Cards on the Table
Five Little Pigs
Dead Man's Folly
Evil Under the Sun

Miss Marple: 

The Murder at the Vicarage

Non Poirot/Marple:

The Secret of Chimneys
The Man in the Brown Suit
And Then There Were None
Endless Night
Ordeal by Innocence

Tommy and Tuppence:
The Secret Adversary
 
As you can see, the list is rather Poirot heavy, with only one Miss Marple adaptation. Perhaps she or the stories doesn't come across very well in this format? There are also many of the classic stories, such as And Then There Were None.

I think it is great that the books have been relaunched, and it is a good way of keeping them up to date. Younger readers will enjoy them, and perhaps then go on to read the full length novel. I feel that the stories are so iconic, the shorter version books can easily be read alongside the novel.

I particularly like the way they have captured Poirot, exactly as I would imagine him!

Murder on the Orient Express (left) and Death on the Nile

Of course, in order to shorten the books the dialogue has been simplified a little bit but none of the plot has been lost. I think the best versions are those of stories set in Egypt, such as Death on the Nile. I love the drawings of the famous monuments, and they add to the atmosphere.

The only complaint I have is that flashback sequences don't work quite as well as they do in the books.

If you are looking for another format of your favourite Christie story, then why not try one of these? I am shortly going to have a blog post comparing the two, starting with Dead Man's Folly (with my favourite Ariadne Oliver). Keep an eye out for it!




Do you think you would enjoy these books? Or do you think that it is best to read the full length novels? Please leave a comment and let me know!

Sunday Brunch with Poirot

Poirot clung firmly to the Continental breakfast. To see me consuming eggs and bacon upset and distressed him - so he always said. Consequently he breakfasted in bed upon coffee and rolls and I was free to start the day with the traditional Englishman's breakfast of bacon and eggs and marmalade.

Peril at End House (1932) by Agatha Christie

I always love having a long, luxurious breakfast on a Sunday. There is never enough time in the week to have anything other than cereal, so it is nice to have something hot.
Come and join me and Poirot for Sunday brunch, whilst we catch up on news and events in the classic crime world!

First chapter of The Monogram Murders

"Since the publication of her first novel in 1920, more than two billion copies of Agatha Christie's books have been sold around the globe. Now, for the first time ever, the guardians of her legacy have approved a brand-new novel featuring Dame Agatha's most beloved creation, Hercule Poirot.
Internationally bestselling author Sophie Hannah breathes new life into the incomparable detective. In this thrilling tale, Poirot plunges into a mystery set in 1920s London—a diabolically clever puzzle that will test his brilliant skills and baffle and delight longtime Christie fans and new generations of readers discovering him for the first time. Authorized by Christie's family, and featuring the most iconic detective of all time, this instant Christie classic is sure to be celebrated by mystery lovers the world over."

The wait is almost over! The brand new Poirot mystery, written by Sophie Hannah is due out this month.

The good kind people at agathachristie.com have released an online preview of the first chapter. I suggest you head over there and check it out, if you haven't already!

After the finality of Curtain, it will be interesting to see where this book fits into the Poirot chronology. Perhaps this is the start of a whole new series of Poirot books?

British Library Crime Classics

Have you seen any of the new releases from the British Library? The Crime Classics series aim to help rediscover 'some of the forgotten gems of the Golden Age of British crime writing.' By reprinting books from the 1930s, hopefully this will bring a whole new audience to these crime classics.

The covers are also beautiful, and would look lovely in anyone's crime collection.

My recommendation would be for Murder Underground by Mavis Doriel Hay.

'When Miss Pongleton is found murdered on the stairs of Belsize Park station, her fellow-boarders in the Frampton Hotel are not overwhelmed with grief at the death of a tiresome old woman. But they all have their theories about the identity of the murderer, and help to unravel the mystery of who killed the wealthy ‘Pongle’. Several of her fellow residents – even Tuppy the terrier – have a part to play in the events that lead to a dramatic arrest.

This classic mystery novel is set in and around the Northern Line of the London Underground. It is now republished for the first time since the 1930s. Includes an introduction by Stephen Booth, award-winning crime writer.'

Sherlock Holmes

Penguin Classics has released some beautiful editions of four Sherlock Holmes novels: A Study in Scarlet, The Valley of Fear, The Adventure of the Six Napoleons and Other Cases, and The Adventure of the Engineer's Thumb and Other Cases. These were all released 4th September.

 I love the front cover with all the hats for The Adventure of the Engineer's Thumb.

Well, that is the weekly roundup- join me next week for another Sunday Brunch!

What new books are you looking forward to? Which of the book covers above do you like best? Please leave a comment below!

Christie's Corner

Every month as part of my regular blogging, I shall bring you a dedicated post to all things Agatha Christie known as Christie's Corner.
So let's begin with an overview of her books, and my personal favourites.

Favourite recurring character?

My favourite character who appears in more than one book is Ariadne Oliver (portrayed by Zoe Wanamaker in the TV series, Agatha Christie's Poirot). The first full length novel she appears in is Cards on the Table (1936).

Mrs Oliver in Dead Man's Folly

Her profession as a mystery novelist means she feels she is very experienced and able at solving crimes. However fiction is lot different from 'real life' and she doesn't find it as easy as she thought.
I think she makes a perfect comic partner to Poirot, and provides a lot of light-hearted humour.

Favourite detective?

I know most people here would pick Poirot, but I am going to be a little different and choose Tommy and Tuppence. I think N or M? is a perfect example of fifth column worries during the Second World War, and makes a great spy novel.

Christie choose to show the husband and wife ageing as their books went along. So The Secret Adversary (1922) shows the couple as young keen sleuths, who form a detective agency together.
The four further books to feature them show their relationship, as they marry, have children and then settle down into retirement.

I am very excited about the upcoming BBC adaptation of Partners in Crime, which will star David Walliams as Tommy. Not sure who has been cast to play Tuppence yet.



Favourite short story?

Without a doubt it is Yellow Iris, which features Hercule Poirot and was first published in 1937. If you haven't read it, you simply must buy the book Problem at Pollensa Bay which is a collection of short stories.
The TV adaptation of the book is also one of the high points of the series, and is well worth watching.







Favourite Miss Marple story?

It would have to be The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side, from  1962. Although many people might say the quality of writing dropped off as Christie became older, I think this book is an exception.




Favourite Poirot story?

This is such a hard one! My first thought was Death in the Clouds (1935) but then I enjoyed reading so many books! Death on the Nile (1937) is fantastic, as I love the exotic setting and there is a great collection of characters.
I have a soft spot for Dead Man's Folly (1956), which also includes Ariadne Oliver. I can't pick!

The top 3

Least favourite?

Passenger to Frankfurt was Agatha Christie's eightieth book, published in 1970, and it is an example of just how much the quality deteriorated. I have tried to bring myself to read it many times, and it is so bad. The storyline is ridiculous, the characters are unbelievable and it is a chore to read.



If you could only read one book?

And Then There Were None (1939). I don't remember ever reading a book faster! Unlike Murder on the Orient Express, I had no idea of the solution and I couldn't wait to get to the big reveal.
It does not disappoint, and it is clear to me why this out of all her novels is the best-selling.

The BBC are going to show a three part adaptation of the book in 2015, so keep a look out for that!



Do you agree or disagree with any of my choices? Please leave a comment!

What to read after Agatha Christie

Five Authors Similar to Agatha Christie

Agatha Christie is the undisputed Queen of Crime. Her books have sold in their millions, even billions since the first one (A Mysterious Affair at Styles) was released in 1920.

But it would be worth remembering that the 1920s, 30s and 40s were full of fiction writers, many whom were celebrated and revered as highly as Agatha Christie.

This blog celebrates writing from the time known as "The Golden Age of Crime", and it is time to shine the spotlight on some of Agatha Christie's literary contemporaries.

If you are a fan of old fashioned whodunits, traditional locked room mysteries or classic mystery, why not give one of these authors a try!

1- Gladys Mitchell (1901- 1983)

Gladys Mitchell was best known for her series of books starring Mrs. Bradley,  who is described as a 'psychiatrist and consulting psychologist to the Home Office'. She featured in 66 books, all published between 1929 and 1975.

Mrs. Bradley is perhaps the polar opposite to Christie's Miss Marple. Gone is the image of a fluffy little old lady who wouldn't hurt a fly! Mrs. Bradley seeks out clues with her eagle eyes, bullying and cajoling along the way and striking fear into the heart of those on the receiving end of her questions.

Where to start? I recommend Death at the Opera from 1934. Although this is the fifth book to star Mrs. Bradley, it is one of the best and doesn't require knowledge from any previous books. Set in a school, it deals with the death of a young teacher during the school's opera production.


2-  Dorothy L. Sayers (1893- 1957)

 Dorothy L. Sayers is most famous for her creation of Lord Peter Wimsey, who featured in eleven novels and several short stories. He is the traditional gentleman detective, with a keen interest in sleuthing as well as several other hobbies including bell-ringing as among the most unusual.

The books are all set between the First and Second World War, and lovingly poke fun at the upper class aristocrats of the age.

A less well known creation is Montague Egg, who only features in short stories and no full length novels. He is very much the 'accidental' detective as he seems to fall into cases, rather than seek them out. He usually relies on his knowledge from his travelling salesman job to crack the case, with seemingly little effort.

Where to start? Hangman's Holiday is my favourite- it is a compilation of short stories featuring both Lord Peter Wimsey and Montague Egg. It would make an excellent opening book, as you can then find out which detective you like the best!


3- G.K. Chesterton (1874-1936)

Best known for the creation of priest turned detective Father Brown, Chesterton's books are the closest to Sherlock Holmes or even Agatha Christie's Poirot in my mind. There are several similarities, such as Father Brown talking to suspects about seemingly everyday matters to lull them into a false sense of security. The books are so cosy and cheerful, and I also really enjoyed the TV series that was previously on BBC.

 Father Brown uses his experience of living in a sleepy town and seeing much of human nature in his role as priest to solve mysteries. He often cracks cases before the police, much to their disgust!

There are five collections of short stories all featuring the priest, dating from 1911 to 1935.

Where to start? If you can find it, the Complete Father Brown includes all the short stories and is a fantastic reading. However, if you prefer to keep your books a bit lighter, then read The Innocence of Father Brown as it is the first and a fantastic introduction. My favourite is 'The Invisible Man'.


4- Ngaio Marsh (1895-1982)

Ngaio (pronounced as Nigh-oh, to rhyme with 'bio') Marsh was a New Zealand writer. She wrote 32 books, all starring the character Inspector Alleyn who is part of the London Metropolitan police. The stories are incredibly well-thought out and full of details not always caught on the first reading.

Watch out! Santa's got a gun!

Inspector Alleyn is another 'gentleman detective' who sometimes masquerades as a member of the public whilst investigating crimes. This adds another layer to the story, as it means he cannot ask too many questions without drawing suspicion.

These days the books are reprinted in collections of three, so it is quite easy to find them all in print.

Where to start? As a Christmas read, I like Tied up in Tinsel from 1972 (it is the twenty-seventh in the series). And just look at this fabulous  book cover!

A Man Lay Dead is the first, and is probably my favourite. It is a typical murder mystery, in which a guest at a party is murdered and the suspect list is limited to all the other guests.


5- John Buchan (1875-1940)

Perhaps not traditionally an author associated with the Golden Age of Fiction, I simply couldn't bear to leave him off the list!

I only discovered his most famous book, The Thirty-Nine Steps fairly recently when I happened to see it in the library. Once I read it, I was hooked and watched two film adaptations of it. One is from 1959, and there is another version from 1978.

Several of Buchan's books, including The Thirty-Nine Steps, star Richard Hannay. He has several years military experience, gained in both the Boer War and the First World War. His lifestyle is certainly not extravagant, but he lives comfortably well off in London. Richard Hannay features in five books, and Buchan also wrote several stand alone thrillers.

Where to start? The Thirty-Nine Steps is a classic of the early spy thriller genre, and its influence has extended to many writers such as Ian Fleming and perhaps the modern day Lee Child.

In terms of his other books, The Gap in the Curtain from 1932 is a fantastic read. It is perhaps more science fiction than crime, but has aged very well and is a gripping read.

I hope this post has given you some suggestions for some Golden Age crime novels, and maybe a few surprises! Please let me know if you have any recommendations of your own!

Do you think anyone can match up to Agatha Christie?

WWW Wednesday

 WWW Wednesday

Today's post is borrowing an idea from a lovely blog I found recently, http://michelletheescapist.blogspot.co.uk/ and hosted by http://shouldbereading.wordpress.com/

What are you currently reading?

What did you recently finish reading?

What do you think you’ll read next?

What are you currently reading?

My book of the moment is Murder in the Embassy by the suitable mysterious sounding “Diplomat”. This book was first published in 1933 and is part of Harraps Shilling Library (those were the days for book prices!). The book is obviously now out of print, and a quick look at ebay reveals that copies nowadays sell for about £30! So you could make a bit of profit from your original shilling ;)

I borrowed this from Barbican Library (as part of the City of London libraries), and it was part of their great selection of vintage crime. 

The blurb: 

In a stifling day a small party of high Government officials have come secretly to the Japanese Embassy in Washington to sign an agreement of world importance. They sit waiting for Prince Hojo and Lord Robert Murray, the British Charge d'Affaires, who are talking in the room above. Alarmed by their non-appearance, they investigate - to find the Prince dead and the Englishman unconscious with a poker in his hand. Everything points to Lord Robert being the murderer.

Tyler, the Chief of the Bureau of the Current Political Intelligence, asks the Japanese Ambassador for twenty-four hours before the news is made public and the world's peace endangered. During that time no one is allowed to leave the Embassy.

As the hours pass, the nerves of the actors in the drama become frayed, and startling developments take place. But Tyler's methods are at last crowned with success, and two murders are brought home to the real criminal just in time to avert disaster.

My thoughts: 

The idea of solving a case in 24 hours struck me a good one. This concept, of solving a crime within a limited and short time frame, is not a new one but has stood the test of time. 

The fact that the whole storyline takes place in a clandestine environment is one that appeals to me. I love the idea of all these goings-on can happen behind closed doors, and we mere mortals are completely oblivious to them. Who knows, perhaps there have even been a few real life mysteries in embassies around the world! 

What did you recently finish reading?

Having had some unexpected spare time on my hands, I have managed to get through quite a few books recently!

The Shooting in the Shop and The Poisoning in the Pub (2010), both by Simon Brett

Admittedly these aren't vintage crime, but they are both crime nonetheless! I am a big fan of Simon Brett and his Fethering mysteries. I have been reading the whole series hopelessly out of order, but as each book is a stand-alone story it doesn't make too much of a difference. The contrasting characters of cool Carole and hippy Jude really make the books, and I found both of these books equally gripping. 

Flight 714 (1968) by Herge

Does Tintin count as crime fiction? This story definitely does! Tintin, along with his erstwhile companions Captain Haddock and Professor Calculus are all on their way to Sydney when they become involved in a kidnapping plot. The book features the weirdest storyline I have ever come across in Tintin, involving mind control, aliens and mass hypnosis. If I had to describe it in one word it would be: odd!

If you are a fan of Tintin, then you will enjoy it however it is one of the weakest in the series.

What do you think you’ll read next?

 Next up on my reading list are:

Hopefully a better story than Flight 714!

The Labours of Hercules (1947) by Agatha Christie

Tintin and the Picaros (1976) by Herge

Death of a Millionaire by  (1925) G.D.H. and M. Cole - this will be reviewed in an upcoming blog post, as one of my "Forgotten Fiction" posts.

If you have a WWW Wednesday post on your blog, please leave the link as a comment below and I will check it out!

Book Review- Forgotten Fiction

Death of a Star (1932) by G.D.H. and M. Cole

Synopsis:

The story begins with a typical London scene: a black taxi, the River Thames and a traditional uniformed policeman. We are introduced to Police Constable Wedderburn as he is making his usual night time patrol alongside the River. He is stopped by a cabbie, seeking directions after dropping off their last fare.

The driver mentions a parcel, which was left behind by their passenger, and how uneasy it makes him feel. Upon investigation in the moonlight, the parcel of crumpled newspaper wrapped in a fish bag is found to be a decapitated head with 'eyes wide open and staring'.

How did the head come to end up in the taxi? How did the head come to be separated from the body, a head quickly identified as that of famous starlet Rita Morning? And just where is the body?

These are all questions PC Wedderburn, Inspector Hennessy and Chief Inspector Camp will have to answer. Members of the public, Patrick Sayle and Everard Blatchington also offer their assistance, after they stumble across the scene.

    Having been intrigued by the idea of a husband and wife writing books together, this was the first of their books I have read.

As you can surmise, there is no one overall detective, in contrast to Agatha Christie's works featuring the famous Poirot. This is where the whole books becomes slightly confusing, flashing from one narrative to another. It hardly seems important who will solve the case, just as long as the case ends up solved.

    I was expecting one main 'hero of the hour' who would wade through the red herrings and deceit to solve the murder of poor Rita Morning. The constant stream of sleuths, some working together and others putting in a solo effort, made for a fast paced read that rattled along nicely.

No sooner had one policeman cursed himself for a lack of progress in the case, then another member of the police force took up the reins. They would promptly sniff out three clues, overturn an alibi and whittle down the suspect list. No bad for one chapter's work!

    I presumed one of the main characters would be Patrick Sayle. It is in his road that the taxi turns up, and he resolves to solve the mystery before the police blame it on the taxi driver. Interesting class prejudice- the taxi driver is worried he will be the scapegoat. "Law's different for poor men, sir", he remarks mournfully. So our people's champion, Sayle, decides to investigate the case. The Coles then decided not to mention Sayle for three long winded chapters, by which time I had promptly forgotten how he came in be involved in the whole matter.

Admirable Art Deco inspired title page

    After several days of inquests and interrogations, the case is solved by Chief Inspector Camp (not Sayle!). The choice of perpetrator seems to come completely out of the blue, making for a surprising ending.

    I found the story enjoyable, although the abundance of policemen of varying ranks and characters did take some getting used to. Several plot points are explored, and then never mentioned again until the summing up in the final chapter. I hadn't a hope in hell of solving the mystery, or of guessing the killer's identity!

    Still, all writers’ styles take some getting used to and I have already earmarked some more books by Mr. and Mrs. Cole for the future. Their quick style engages the reader, and I found the concept of a taxi passenger 'accidentally' misplacing a hacked off head both original and fresh!

Drinks mentioned: 

Whisky

A nice whisky cures all problems, even finding a human head! 

'His face was white and glistening under the lamp.

"Find a double whisky, quick, will you?"

More whisky!

'The inspector....seized from the tray the large double whisky which was his daily portion'

Drinking to excess

"Death of the Morning - jolly good poster," he said, chuckling over his sixth whiskey-and-soda.'

 

Punch

It is drunk a party, described as a 'good stiff drink' and 'golden'.

Afternoon tea

'Lady's Christine's club was comparatively cool and comparatively pleasant to look at, and they secured a cool table in the window and a large selection of sandwiches.'

 Rum

Chosen as it works quickest on the drinker! 'He stretched a vague hand for the glass, automatically splashed some soda into it, and took a deep gulp.'

Body Count: Just the one, the unfortunate head-less Rita Morning.

 

Overall verdict: 3 and a half champagne glasses out of 5

Have you read any books by G.D.H and M. Cole? Do you have any suggestions of forgotten authors for future reviews? Leave a comment below!

-bodyinthelibrary