Monday, December 31, 2018

Monday Motivation


It has been waaaayyyy too long since I did a Monday Motivation quote, so here we go! I have loved Dr. Seuss since I was little, and his quotes still ring true. 

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Saturday, December 29, 2018

My Year With Agatha: Hercule Poirot Books 1-3

Good Afternoon! 

I hope Y'all had a wonderful Christmas and are looking forward to a great New Year! 2019 is going to be our year, I just know it! 

My Year With Agatha continues with the Hercule Poirot series. I am a little behind on posting, so I am posting three books a week until I get caught back up. ;) 

I adored the Miss Marple series, she and the inhabitants of St. Mary Mead started to feel like my friends by the end of the series. The wonderful thing about fictional friends is that they are always there, waiting for you to pull them back off the shelf, dust off the cover, and revisit them. No appointments necessary! 

I'm already making new friends with the Hercule Poirot series! The eccentric Hercule Poirot and his sidekick, Captain Hastings, are just delightful! Here are my spoiler-free reviews of the first three books:

The Mysterious Affair at Styles (Poirot #1
Published in 1920, this was the book that put Dame Christie on the map! Introducing Hercule Poirot, the world-renowned detective from Belgium, and his sidekick Captain Arthur Hastings, this was a phenomenal start to a new series. Another dysfunctional family where everyone is a suspect, this book will keep you guessing until the end! 



A man is found murdered, his body dumped in a shallow grave on a golf course. It's up to Poirot and Captain Hastings to find out who killed the man before the murderer claims another victim. I'd not heard much about this book (it's overshadowed by The Murder of Roger Ackroyd and Murder on the Orient Express) but I LOVED it. I really don't understand why this one isn't more popular. 



Poirot Investigates (Poirot #3)
This is a collection of short stories featuring Hercule Poirot and Captain Hastings. This contains eleven short stories (which are just so darn fun to read!) perfect for snuggling down with a cup of hot cocoa and a warm blanket and reading the winter away. However, I would like to point out that all of the short stories in this book can also be found, along with many others, in The Complete Short Stories which I will also link below). If you are already loving this series as much as I do, just get the collection. :) 


            

Here is a list of the eleven short stories, for those of you who choose the collection route: 
1. The Adventure of the Western Star
2. The Tragedy at Marsdon Manor
3. The Adventure of the Cheap Flat
4. The Mystery of the Hunter's Lodge
5. The Million Dollar Bond Robbery
6. The Adventure of the Egyptian Tomb
7. The Jewel Robbery at the Grand Metropolitan
8. The Kidnapped Prime Minister
9. The Disappearance of Mr. Davenheim
10. The Adventure of the Italian Nobleman
11. The Case of the Missing Will

It's hard to choose a favorite, but I think The Western Star and the Cheap Flat were my favs, in this set at least. 


Thank Y'all for reading! I wish you all a very Happy New Year filled with happiness and books! <3


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Tuesday, December 25, 2018

Monday, December 17, 2018

My Year with Agatha: Miss Marple Series Wrap-Up


Note: This post contains affiliate links, which means a small portion of the proceeds go to support Pines and Peaches, at no additional cost to you.  

Good Afternoon Everyone! 


Wow, what an Autumn/ Winter this has been. My family has been going through a rough time dealing with family issues, illness, and the passing of my grandfather. During it all, I've managed to squeeze some reading, but not much writing in. Hopefully, the next few months will be more peaceful and I will be able to post regularly again!

While bouncing back and forth between hospital visits, I was able to wrap up the Miss Marple series. I adore Miss Jane Marple! You know you've read a great series when you miss the characters once it's over. Here is a brief summary (spoiler-free, as always!) of the last few Miss Marple books! 



Nemesis


This one ties in with A Carribean Mystery. Mr. Rafiel leaves Miss Marple an inheritance upon his death, with strings attached. If she can solve a mystery, she will inherit a large sum of money. However, in his mischievous manner, Mr. Rafiel leaves her almost no clues to work from. Can Miss Marple figure out the puzzle Mr. Rafiel left behind? 




Sleeping Murder

Ok, this one might be my new favorite in the series. When a young couple purchases a house, it triggers strange memories in Mrs. Reed. Is this a memory of hers? Or is it a message from beyond? The Reeds call upon Miss Marple's expertise to help discover the secrets of the house they have purchased. 




Miss Marple: The Complete Short Stories


I love short stories. This included a ton of stories, including those I previously read in The Thirteen Problems (which I wish I'd know before I ended up buying them twice... lol). The short stories don't spoil anything in the books, so if you aren't sure where to start, you could start with this one. :) 



Have you ever read a book/ series where the characters start feeling like friends? I'm already missing Miss Marple, Raymond West, and other members of the St. Mary Mead community! Oh well, I guess I'll make new friends in the Poirot series! ;) 


Happy Reading!