This is the fourth novel available by Kate Morton, and as far as I’m tracking, I’m now completely caught up on her writing. While this novel displayed many of the same engaging plot twists, and secrets buried in the past, I didn’t enjoy this one quite as much as some of her previous efforts, though it was still an enjoyable and engaging read – especially towards the end. Full review.
The Players and the Played
Morality Play is another jewelbox novel – sparse, elegant, compact. There is a simplicity and a brevity to the story – it takes place over two weeks – that could feel insufficient, but doesn’t. This could be a longer book, but the sketchbook quality of it fits the time and story. The story is that of a young medieval priest, not without sin, and fairly self-aware. He’s a wanderer, restless and hungry, who stumbles upon a scene of death. A band of players in the […]
The Labours of Hercules: Christie “lite”
In this collection of short stories, Poirot is retiring, but he decides to take on twelve final cases, a reference to his namesake’s twelve labours in Greek mythology, before he does. Christie’s short stories are a different labour altogether from her longer mysteries, and I can’t really compare them. It was interesting how the plots in these were quite different from her usual – there were art thefts, quelling rumours, hoaxes of various sorts, dognapping, and a surprising amount of cocaine, but a lack of […]
Impuse Buys Aren’t Always a Bad Idea
If nothing else, this book is a strong indication as to why I am pretty much constantly broke.
Paris Hilton Should Take Notes
In today’s culture, where the word ‘heiress’ brings to mind someone like Paris Hilton and an alarmingly large percentage of the world’s population would do just about anything to be famous, Huguette Clark seems like a throwback to an era long past despite having only passed away two and a half years ago.
Perfect Spy Thriller
A Cold-War spy thriller, written to perfection by the master of spy thrillers. Rocket scientist Claude Lucas wakes up in a Union Station men’s room with no clue as to who he is or how he got there. He is hung over and dressed like a bum, and a fellow bum reassures him that he was on a total bender. As he tries to figure out his identity, he discovers multiple skills that suggest he is no ordinary derelict. People start following him, and little […]