I enjoy sharing my recent reads with y’all, but I don’t always have a lot to say about each, and I don’t want this to become only a book review blog. Believe it or not, there’s more going on in my life and mind than books and writing, and I want to explore and share other topics here. So, I’ve decided to start sharing just a brief paragraph or two about several recent reads in a single post.
Footsteps in the Dark
Georgette Heyer was a British writer in my favorite era and this copy of one of her mysteries caught my eye at the second hand bookstore. The story stars the Fortescue siblings, Celia, Margret, and Peter, and Celia’s husband, Charles Malcom. The siblings inherit a country estate and move in, thinking it will be a nice, idyllic home. Little do they know their new residence is the site of strange happenings and a legend about a ghostly monk!
This was a fun read. It’s not a typical murder mystery as the murder happens very late in the book. The main mystery is who’s behind the ghostly antics, making it a lighthearted—at times even Scooby-Doo-ish—case. While the story kept me entertained, Heyer’s writing wasn’t the best I’ve encountered and I felt the book was unnecessarily long. I’ve heard Heyer’s Regency romances are better, but I’ve mentioned before how I don’t love that genre, so I won’t be seeking them out.
The Berlin Letters
I mentioned this book in my recent review of A Shadow in Moscow by the same author, Katherine Reay. The Berlin Letters held my interest, and I really enjoyed the last third or so. However, I didn’t find it as gripping as A Shadow in Moscow overall.
It tells the story of a CIA codebreaker who finds letters her father wrote to her grandfather and learns her father is in an East Berlin prison. She sets out to free him and uncover the secrets her family has kept from her.
The story is good, and I liked the characters, but it just didn’t have the same magic as A Shadow in Moscow. However, if you are interested in the Cold War era like I am, I still recommend it.
Enter a Murder
This is the second installment of Ngaio Marsh’s Inspector Alleyn series. I read this book back in January, so I don’t remember the details, but I really liked it and it’s easily my favorite Marsh so far. While she’s still not my favorite of the “Queens of Crime,” her books are really starting to grow on me. This one sees Alleyn and his friend Nigel Bathgate, the reporter, watching a play that becomes a real-life tragedy when a prop gun turns out to be loaded. The mystery is well executed with plenty of unique characters and motives. Alleyn and Bathgate play off each other well, and I enjoyed experiencing the story from their differing perspectives. Since Marsh herself was an actress, she does a good job describing the theatrical elements and atmosphere central to this book.
Read Christie 2025 Note:
I skipped the Read Christie 2025 selection for March as I could not find a copy in time. (I know I could have just ordered one new, but I’m a cheapskate, ok.) However, I did want to mention that one of the alternative selections was Lord Edgeware Dies, which was the first Christie book I ever read. Since I’m a huge Christie fan now, I’ll always have a soft spot for that book. Funnily enough, it was also the first episode of the Poirot series starring David Suchet that I watched.
One Response
I agree. Georgette Heyer’s mysteries are far from good. HOWEVER, liking an occasional Regency read, her regencies are excellent!
Probably among the best of the regency writers. Many of them have an element of mystery in them so you might try one.