My sister really wanted me to read Robert Louis Steveson’s book, Kidnapped, so late last summer, I got it from the library. (Actually, I wrote this review months ago and just never got around to posting it!)

The Author:
Robert Louis Stevenson was born in Scotland in 1850. First studying law, by 1880 Mr. Stevenson had forsaken law school and was entrenched in his writing career. Beginning with essays and pieces of non-fiction published in magazines, he didn’t publish his first novel until 1883. In 1880 Robert Louis Stevenson married an American named Fanny Osborne. He wrote a small handful of novels in his lifetime, including Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and the well-known Treasure Island. He died in 1894, at the very young age of 44.

Technical Details:
Kidnapped was originally published in 1886. The book I read was published by Harvill. They published the book in 1994. 314 pages long, Kidnapped is divided into 30 chapters. (Note: I didn’t read this on my Kindle, I just forgot to take a picture before the book went back to the library!)

The Story:
Both of David Balfour’s parents have recently died and his father left instructions for his son, telling him to make his way to the House of Shaws. So, Davie sets out, only to arrive at the house and find the owner dead-set against him – and for reasons that he doesn’t understand.

When David starts to unravel the mystery of Shaws and further, decides to stand up to the man of the house, the unexpected happens; he gets shanghaied. And that’s only the beginning. The following months bring sickness, exile, and fear for his life. He runs, he goes hungry, he endures the cold – he suffers as a slave, fights in battles, witnesses murder, nearly sinks to his death…  David begins to wonder if he’ll ever return from the land of misery again.

The Writing Style:
I really enjoy Mr. Stevenson’s writing style. He certainly has a brilliant way with words!

I did find his character descriptions lacking feature-wise every now and then, but not enough to really hurt the story.

AS for being in first person; Mr. Stevenson carried it off very well. So well, in fact that I often forgot to even think about the form. David’s personality was portrayed in the narration to be sure, but the book was still beautifully written.

The Characters:
David Balfour was a well rounded character. Heroic, yet capable of wrong doing, he came off very realistic.

Then, there was Alan of Breck, whose actual character I will address more later. As a major secondary character, he didn’t have as much depth as David, but he was colorful and well developed.

Of all the characters, besides David, it’s one of the more minor antagonists that stand out to me the most. Mr. Stevenson described his personality and actions so well, that I can picture the man with great clarity.

Unlike Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Kidnapped had a plethora of characters, some only introduced for very small sections, never to be heard from again. This added an almost whimsical touch, especially since these characters were written as brilliantly and colorfully as the main characters.

A Few More Thoughts:
Alan of Breck. He bothered me. The man was so very set on revenge! Granted, the governor who he wanted dead did commit some cruel acts. Still; “Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the LORD.” (Romans 12:19)

And again: “To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing.” (1 Peter 3:8-9)

David did tell Alan that his actions were unchristian, but as much as I liked that David stood up for righteous behavior, I wish that he had used Scripture and really confronted his friend.

Cautions:
Minor language is about all I can think of…

Conclusion:
I really enjoyed Kidnapped. The writing, the scenery (did I mention the setting is Scotland?!), the characters… Definitely a book I would recommend!

 To the KING be all the glory!

So, I haven’t had a chance to read much this year. I know that it’s only March, but it feels like forever since I’ve read much. I’ve now managed four whole books this year – and they weren’t that long or that difficult. Anyway, I spent a day in bed sick recently and I used part of that time to read Miss Marple: The Complete Short Stories by Agatha Christie.

The Author:
Agatha Christie was born in September of 1890 in Devon, England. Her first book The Mysterious Affair at Styles was published in 1920. Interestingly, it was published first in the United States and several months later, made its debut in England. Mrs. Christie was married twice; first to the unfaithful Archibald Christie, then to Max Mallowan. She had one daughter with her first husband. Mrs. Christie wrote 66 detective novels and 14 short stories. The author is best known for those featuring Miss Jane Marple and Private Detective Monsieur Hercule Poirot. Agatha Christie died in January of 1986 at the age of 95.

Technical Details:
The Miss Marple short stories were published in batches and in different forms. The first edition containing all the short stories together, was originally published in 1985. My copy was published by HarperCollins in 2011. The entire volume is 368 pages, divided into 20 chapters or more specifically, short stories.

The Stories:
The Miss Marple short stories are really divided into four sections. In the first, Miss Marple, along with five others, including her nephew Raymond, form the Tuesday Night Club. Every Tuesday evening, the group would get together and one member would tell a mystery that they were involved in, allowing the others a chance to solve it before they explain the end. The stories vary, but most surround a murder or theft. From the so-called superstitious death of Richard Haydon, to the theft of Otranto’s bullion (gold), to the disappearance of Simon Clode’s will, each take turns telling their tale. To the amazement of all, Miss Marple solves each mystery, even when everyone else is stumped.

In the second section, Miss Marple tells her nephew Raymond and his fiancé, a story about the mysterious murder of Mrs. Rhodes. Alone in a room, with the doors in plain sight of witnesses, no one comes in or out, yet a woman is murdered… by whom?

The third section is basically a random selection of stories, sometimes featuring random characters from the earlier sections. Theft, impersonations, and a hidden inheritance all take part, with Miss Marple working to solve each mystery in her slightly odd way.

The last section is comprised of two “longer” short stories. The first centers around Raymond again, his wife, and her cousin, a unique house, a mysterious spinster, a surly boy, and a theatrical murder. The last is about Miss Marple’s niece Bunch (yes… Bunch… an odd name I think.), the wife of a vicar. When a man is found dying in the sanctuary of the church, the minister and his wife take him home. After he dies, the police begin investigations, but when a shady couple make Bunch suspicious and no one will listen to her, she takes off to find her aunt…

The Writing Style:
The writing style varied with each story. A few of the stories were poorly written, both in leaving loose ends and disappointing narration. The rest were written with Agatha Christie’s usual easy to read, yet pleasant style. The storylines were good, though I tend to think her strengths rested more with full length books. Still, it was a pleasant read and you get a good mental picture of Miss Marple.

The Characters:
I really enjoyed the characters in this story. I didn’t care for the personalities and characteristics of a few of them, but I liked the way most of them were developed.

Sir Henry Clithering was among my favorites – a former chief inspector of Scotland Yard and member of the Tuesday Night Club. He was generally serious, with a quiet sense of humor.

Raymond West was another of my favorites, partly perhaps, because of his status as an author. (Even if his stories are “dark”, “depressing”, and about “rather unpleasant” people.) His chosen genre, however, seems a little paradoxical with his personality – cheerful, sometimes far too gullible, with a great affection for his Aunt Jane.

I’m still working on my absolute opinion of Jane Marple. She’s sweet, but almost too… distrustful, to the point that you want to doubt her affection of others. But then, she turns around and does something that proves how much she cares about them.

A small problem with the stories: A young woman named Joyce; by the end of the series her name had randomly turned to Joan. I found that a little confusing.

A Few Thoughts:
One story, the last about Bunch Harmon, while an interesting mystery, I found disappointing. Bunch is married to a clergyman. When she decides to start investigating the mysterious death at the church, she purposely keeps it a secret from her husband, because she knows he won’t want her to do it. She even goes to the length of inventing another reason to go to London – just so he thinks he knows what she’s doing. Her husband, Julian, is a good man, who loves her – there was no reason that I could see, that she should be keeping such a thing from him. I found it even more disappointing that Miss Marple encouraged the secrecy because “We women – well, it’s different.” Which I can’t claim to quite understand, but certainly doesn’t seem like a good reason to keep secrets from and deceive your husband.

Cautions:
There was some minor language scattered throughout this book, like most of Agatha Christie’s works.

Again, I might also caution about the discussions regarding infidelity. The conversations, again, are tactfully written, with nothing explicit, yet I can’t help wishing it hadn’t played such a prominent part in more than one story.

Conclusion:
Overall, I enjoyed this collection of short stories. They were mostly good mysteries and a fun read.

 

To the KING be all the glory!

 

– – –
If anyone had trouble coming to my blog earlier this week, I apologize for the inconvenience. We had some technical problems, but they seem to be fixed now.

So… I found out that I never posted the review I wrote for Agatha Christie’s The Mysterious Affair at Styles that I read from the library last Summer. I found the review, fully written out, hiding in one of my folders. Therefore, I present you with my belated review:

The Author:
Agatha Christie was born in September of 1890 in Devon, England. Her first book The Mysterious Affair at Styles was published in 1920. Interestingly, it was published first in the United States and several months later, made its debut in England. Mrs. Christie was married twice; first to the unfaithful Archibald Christie, then to Max Mallowan. She had one daughter with her first husband. Mrs. Christie wrote 66 detective novels and 14 short stories. The author is best known for those featuring Miss Jane Marple and Private Detective Monsieur Hercule Poirot. Agatha Christie died in January of 1986 at the age of 95.

Technical Details:
The Mysterious Affair at Styles was, as I mentioned above, first published in 1920 by John Lane in the United States and The Bodley Head in the United Kingdom. (Incidentally, the companies both had the same owner, they were just set up in different countries.) The copy I read, Black Dog and Leventhal Publishers, Inc. published more recently. The book is 224 pages long, divided into 13 chapters.

The Story:
War is raging in early twentieth century England. Mr. Hastings, recovering from his battle wounds, is spending a month at the home of the influential and well-to-do Mrs. Inglethorpe. However, Mrs. Inglethorpe unexpectedly dies and suspicion immediately falls on her husband, who is many years younger than she. However, when Monsieur Poirot begins investigating the case at the request of his friend, Mr. Hastings, he not only clears Mr. Inglethorpe, but spreads the shadow of suspicion on the rest of the family. Did her eldest step-son kill the woman for her money? Or was it perhaps, his wife Mary, who quarreled with the older woman earlier in the day? Then, there’s Lawrence, John’s younger brother. He’s as poor and dependent on Mrs. Inglethorpe as his brother. Perhaps it was he, who wanted to speed up the reception of his inheritance. The more clues that Monsieur Poirot unearths, the more confused Mr. Hastings becomes. He thinks he’s got a talent for deduction and investigation, but this case might lead him to reconsider.

The Writing Style:
The Mysterious Affair at Styles is told through he eyes of Mr. Hastings, a guest at Styles Court. He tells the story in autobiographical style, with Monsieur Poirot receiving the major focus once he appears on the scene.

The book is well written, the style shifting with the moods of Mr. Hastings. When he’s unhappy, the writing grows sarcastic (much what you would expect from an English soldier). When he’s particularly pleased with himself, the narrations clearly shows a bit of vanity. This continues throughout the entire book.

The Characters:
The characters had a variety that was believable and added to the mystery. John Cavendish (the eldest step-son), for instance, has an open personality, concealing very little. Therefore, he talks often to Mr. Hastings about everything that is going on. His brother, Lawrence, on the other hand, is more reserved and shy. Therefore, he’s usually very quiet and few, except perhaps his brother, are aware of his opinions or observations.

All this, of course, is Mr. Hastings perception. Therefore, he considers John an easily made, good hearted friend, while Lawrence he views as slightly suspicious and difficult to understand. He does believe “one could have a great affection for Lawrence” if one could once get to know him, yet when murder appears, it’s obvious that any of his observations and ideas could be very wrong.

As with other mysteries, I will forbear to tell you my favorite character, since I obviously wouldn’t be likely to choose the murderer.

Cautions:
There was some minor language scattered throughout this book, like most of Agatha Christie’s works.

I might also caution about the discussions regarding infidelity. The conversations are tactfully written, with nothing explicit, yet it may be worth expecting ahead of time for some readers.

Conclusion:
I enjoyed The Mysterious Affair at Styles. For a debut novel, Agatha Christie did a wonderful job. This book also serves as Hercule Poirot’s introductory novel, setting the stage for his future cases.

 

To the KING be all the glory!

Image from Just the Write Escape

Last week, I read Mrs. Havig’s newest book Manuscript for Murder. (Doesn’t that title have a great sound? It’s got alliteration and rhythm!)

The Author:

Chautona Havig is a contemporary author, living in California. She is married and the mother of nine children and grandmother of three. Manuscript for Murder is only one of her many published books. Others include, Noble Pursuits and Everard. To learn more about Mrs. Havig and her books, visit her website: Just the Write Escape

Technical Details:

Manuscript for Murder is Mrs. Havig’s latest published novel. Although not her first book, it does claim the honor of her first published mystery, as well as the first in the Hartfield Mysteries series. The book is 32 chapters, but since I read an e-book version, I have no idea how many pages it contains.

The Story:

Alexa Hartfield is a successful, well-known mystery writer, living in the small town of Fairbury. Though her books tell of grisly murders and heartless killers, she spends her own days with much more tranquility. Dressed in her favorite Medieval gown, a Regency dress replete with bonnet and shawl, or perhaps clothed in a 1950’s ensemble, she walks to the bookstore or the market, flies to different cities for her book tours, goes to church, and befriends her neighbor’s two children. By most people, she’s considered eccentric at best. Few people really know her though.

Then the unthinkable happens. After a strange experience with a broken light bulb leaves Alexa with a cut hand and a tiny real-life mystery, she decides to twist the experience to fit her newest book. When, however, a woman turns up dead within 24 hours of Alexa writing the scene, the author is angry and confused. Then a second murder follows the second murder in her book… and a third.

The victims have nothing in common, except Alexa’s unpublished book. They don’t even reside in the same town! The newspapers dub him (or her) the Plagiarist Killer. Who is he? What does he want? And who will he strike next?

The Writing Style:

I’ve seen some people comment that the beginning chapters of Manuscript for Murder are slow. I have to disagree. I found the opening chapter just odd enough to be utterly intriguing. We begin by seeing into the killer’s thoughts – a theme that continues throughout the book, dropping us clues to his identity, but never enough to name him.

Throughout the rest of the book, Mrs. Havig follows much the same style as in Ready or Not or Noble Pursuits. She does spend considerable time describing Alexa’s varied and unique wardrobe, but with one exception, it never seemed to bog down the story. Instead it gave a more defined image of the mystery author as we followed her from scene to scene.

Mrs. Havig also managed to be among the few mystery authors to announce the villain before I figured it out. I had my suspicions, but they were shallow and brief. Usually, I know who the villain is before the hero or heroine.

The Characters:

Mrs. Havig has proven before that she’s good at writing believable characters. This book is no exception.

Alexa was well developed and relatable. By the end of the book, the reader was able to get to “know” her well. She’s flawed like the rest of the world, but she has a kind heart and a likable personality. From her relationship with her family, to her reaction to the murders, to how she relates to other people, we see her character from all sides and angles.

Joe, the police officer that we see investigating the most, does seem less three-dimensional than Alexa. He was still well written though, as well as slightly unpredictable. His character seems to slowly emerge, almost as if from hiding.

As to my favorite character… That would be Alexa’s brother, Wes. I liked his relationship with his sister, his compassion, and just his overall personality. Second favorite, is a tie between Joe and Alexa.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, this book is a good mystery, with memorable characters and settings. Definitely worth reading.

To the KING be all the glory!

– – –
The Body in the Library by Agatha Christie was my first book to check out at the library on our recent introductory trip. (A trip that I thoroughly loved, I might add!)

The Author:
Agatha Christie was born in September of 1890 in Devon England. Her first book The Mysterious Affair at Styles was published in 1920. Interestingly, it was published first in the United States, and several months later, made it’s debut in England. Mrs. Christie was married twice; first to the unfaithful Archibald Christie, then to Max Mallowan. She had one daughter with her first husband. Mrs. Christie wrote 66 detective novels and 14 short stories. The author is best known for those featuring Miss Jane Marple and Private Detective Monsieur Hercule Poirot. Agatha Christie died in January of 1986 at the age of 95.

Technical Details:
The Body in the Library was originally published in 1941 by Dodd, Mead and Company. The copy I read was published more recently by Black Dog Leventhal Publishers, Inc. in New York. The book is 191 pages, divided into 21 chapters.

The Story:
One early weekday morning, the body of a young blond woman is found in the library of Colonel and Mrs. Bantry. Neither they nor anyone in the area knows who the girl is. By the time she is identified as a dancer employed by a well-known resort not far away, the small town of St. Mary Mead is already buzzing with the news. Colonel Bantry’s impeccable reputation is suddenly thrown into question, only protected by the stronger suspicions the police have of his young neighbor, Basil Blake. When evidence and lack of motive leave the police digging for more information, Miss Marple joins their forces with retired chief of Scotland Yard, Sir Henry Clithering. Together they try to discover who orchestrated this murder. The dead girl’s cousin has no explanation for why Ruby would have left the hotel. She had a dance number to perform – she even uncharacteristically changed her dress. In fact, no one knows for sure why she left or with who.

Then, unexpectedly, a second body shows up – another girl. This one even younger than the last. Where will it end? Miss Marple fears a third murder will occur too… Will she and Sir Henry find evidence so that the true killer is arrested?

The Writing Style:
The writing did leave a little to be desired. The arrangement of a few sentences were rather awkward.

Other than that, however, the writing was simple, yet with a touch of elegance. Descriptions of places are mostly left out of The Body in the Library. I believe this might be due to the fact that St. Mary Mead with its occupants, buildings, and dwellings, are recurring places in Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple books. If I read the first of the Miss Marple stories, I might know for sure.

The Characters:
The characters were colorful and full of… well… character! From the bumbling fool to the overachieving police officer, Agatha Christie carved each with obvious expertise.

Even though the characters are so well written, all of them were written from the narrator’s point of view. The book is lacking in a character who you can fully trust and understand. Miss Marple is obviously not going to be the murderer, but she keeps nearly all of her thoughts, opinions, and feelings to herself. This improves the mystery aspects of the case, but prevents the reader from developing a strong emotional attachment to the characters.

My favorite character? I better not give it away… That just might spoil the mystery…

A Few More Thoughts:
One of the plots of this book, shows a couple allegedly living together unmarried. This is shown without much comment – as though a man and woman living together in this manner is normal and acceptable behavior. While it is eventually shown that they were secretly married, this is not brought to anyone’s knowledge until the last quarter of the book.

Cautions:
There was some minor foul language scattered throughout this book.

Furthermore, there were suggestions of a husband’s unfaithfulness to his wife. While these are proved untrue, the topic is brought up more than perhaps nessacary. Thought, giving the writer credit, the idea of such behavior is certainly frowned upon.

Conclusion:
I quite enjoyed The Body in the Library. The mystery was well planned and well written. In fact, I even re-read it to my sisters (a little edited) after I was done.

To the KING be all the glory!

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