Tag Archives: murder

Rebecca — Daphne DuMarier

I was first introduced to this story in an old movie theater when I was about eight. It haunted and intrigued me, and I was thrilled to discover the book on my mother’s shelf some years later. “Rebecca” is the story of a young girl who is working as a companion to a stuffy, overbearing woman who is traveling abroad. While staying in a hotel in Monte Carlo, they meet Maxim De Winter, a handsome widower several years older than our heroine. He takes her on a drive one afternoon and she is completely bowled over by him. She feels … Continue reading →

The Rebirth of Agatha Christie

While flipping through my Sunday newspaper a short time ago, I happened upon an article in USA Weekend, dated September 8-10, 2006, written by Robin T. Reid. In part, the article reads: “Whether or not a new generation of mystery readers will like the novels of Agatha Christie may be a matter for the ‘little gray cells’ so famously employed by her eccentric Belgian detective, Hercule Poirot.” The article goes on to say that the books of Agatha Christie are being republished in hardback to introduce them to a new reading public. I need no reintroduction to Agatha Christie; I … Continue reading →

The Guardian — Dee Henderson

This second installment of the O’Malley series by Dee Henderson tells the story of Marcus, the oldest “brother” in the O’Malley clan. Like his sister Kate, who we met in “The Negotiator,” he feels a deep sense of responsibility to everyone in the family and is on call to meet their needs, day or night. In fact, everyone in the family carries a pager, and when one of them sends out a distress call, they all meet together to rally around and do whatever they can to help. Perhaps it’s these protective instincts that led Marcus to his line of … Continue reading →

Blueberry Muffin Murder — Joanne Fluke

Hannah Swenson, owner of The Cookie Jar, has landed the contract to make all the cookies for Lake Eden’s first ever Winter Carnival, an event concocted by the mayor of the small town to perk up the lagging February economy. She does not, however, have to make the carnival cake; that honor has fallen to Connie Mac, Minnesota’s answer to Martha Stewart, minus the prison record. When Connie arrives in Lake Eden, the town is quick to welcome her and shower her with the praise she feels she so richly deserves. But her peach limousine, peach suit and pretended sincerity … Continue reading →

Shadow of Doubt — Terri Blackstock

Please be patient with me as I review this series out of order. The other day I reviewed the final book as a tribute to 9/11, and I already reviewed volume one before that, so now with the introduction of “Shadow of Doubt,” volume two, we’re back on track and in the right order. In this installment of the Newpointe 911 series, we hear the story of Stan and Celia Shepherd. Stan, a detective, has been poisoned, and the #1 suspect is his wife, Celia. The case is made even worse by the fact that years before, her first husband … Continue reading →