a great whodunit, and it was fun to read aloud
346269
As always, a great whodunit, and it was fun to read aloud, imitating David Suchet's rendition of Hercules Poirot.
4295967
This is a fun, fast-paced mystery with colorful characters and a captivating plot with a lot of suspects, witty banter, interesting twists and turns. Once I started reading, I didn't want to put the book down. Even though this is the fourth Daisy McDare mystery, it is the first one for me and I had no trouble reading it as a standalone.  However, I liked it so much, I plan to read the rest of the series.

I received a complimentary copy in exchange for my honest review.
1724291
I don't normally read detective novels, so this was a really fun read for me.  The twists in the plot were thoroughly engaging and kept me turning the pages for answers.  There were many references to my hometown and other spots in NJ that were a delight.  The story was convincing, and the action never stopped.  Reading this book in front of the fire was a great way to spend a cold weekend!
1058874
This classic Poirot novel(alternative title- "13 at Dinner")is a good, quick read when you're in the mood for a mystery.

What I particularly liked about the story, is that it takes you for a spin. At first it all seemed so obvious I got a little annoyed. And although it is all so obviously simple in the end, Christie does a wonderful job at making the reader, as well as her detective hero, believe otherwise. I also liked this one because it is narrated by Poirot's trusty sidekick, Captain Hastings(Christie's version of Dr. Watson)who ordinary man that he is, proves invaluable to Poirot, and ultimately is the one person who can help him.

I Strongly recommend to any Christie fan, or anyone who just likes a good mystery now and then.
2236883
This was a great story. I'm always on the lookout for talking animal stories, especially talking cats, and this one fits the bill. It combines talking animals (ghosts, in this case) with a great mystery. I only have two complaints: 1) it's pricey! and 2) it's written in first person, not my favorite point of view. Still, it was a great read and I would recommend it to anyone wanting either a good mystery or a story with talking animals.
78310
I'm not usually a big mystery fan, but I'd been hearing about this one a lot and it was on the lucky day shelf at the library. I'm glad I picked it up, it was a perfectly quick October whodunit. It was smart with well fleshed out characters and great atmospheric writing. Sullivan had me guessing until the last, and it was a pretty big shocker that also made perfect sense - which I feel is lacking in a number of contemporary thrillers/mysteries. It is also a little more maudlin than the title and cover lets on, FYI.
3377034
This is a fun read aloud book, or a good book for older children who might enjoy discovering the secrets and codes.  The book features a strong female heroine who is trying to solve the secrets and find the treasure, while avoiding the pirates (although she,herself is a pirate).  Don't let the cover put you off.  There is a reason for the stylized picture, which the reader doesn't discover until near the end of the book.  I wish the author had used one of the internal book illustrations for the cover.  There are several illustrations which would have made the book more attractive to the young reader.  We enjoyed the book, and think you will too.
4602092
I listened to this as an audiobook and enjoyed every minute of it. It was a lot of fun, mostly due to the wonderful narration by Katherine Kellgren. Every character had a unique and wonderful voice, even the male characters, which I usually find hard for women readers to do well. Some of her voices made me laugh (appropriately so). The story was good and the characters fun. I liked reading a cozy mystery set in 1930s England-- a change of pace from the usual cozies I read. If you can listen to this, I highly recommend it.
3150406
I was lucky enough to win this book on Shelf Awareness and thank them for it.  It's a great little mystery. Josephine Montfort has just lost her father and overhears talk that instead of it being from suicide it is from a murder.  Jo takes it upon herself to find out what is true.  The story takes place in the 1890's, so what is proper for a young women then is very different from today.  Her family expects Jo to marry, have children and settle down.  That isn't what she wants.  During her investigations, she meets a young newspaperman named Eddie.  He agrees to help her to find out the truth about her father's death. I enjoyed following them as they search and finally solve the mystery.  It's a fun read and I recommend it highly.
2439695
Tucker Sinclair decides to help a detective-friend, and she becomes deeply involved in a murder mystery.

I listened to the book on CD while driving across country.  The book was interesting, engaging, and enjoyable.  Although I like to think I can predict and solve well, the book had surprising twists and turns.  I found it easy to picture the images painted for this likable character.

I recommend this book, and I'd gladly read another in the series.
318053
This was a really well plotted and paced mystery. I loved the characters. They're believable and entertaining. The rebel daughter and the over the top mom were a great foil for Toni. I loved the humor of setting it at a convention for make up sales. Having gone to a girls high school the female interaction was spot on.
This is a fun and entertaining read. I recommend it highly for an lazy day book.
My only issues are the formatting when changing scenes. Perhaps a design or spaces would help with the transition  for the reader. It would take a second to adjust. And the misquote from Sherlock Holmes.
4450924
Fun to read aloud, that is, if you don't mind stopping to laugh a few times.  Every time I read it, something different "hits me" as being funny... zany...

It has a nice lilt/rhythm in its language, and it has a nice dramatic suspense.  It has more than enough twists and leaps to keep fidgety children's attention.

Besides being a fun-to-read children's book (fun to listen to, too) -- there's some beautiful, boldly colorful, imaginatively inspiring art in the illustrations.
4384547
I got the Kindle edition at a bargain price.  It was definitely worth the price.  It reads like one of those Dateline or 20/20 whodunnit episodes, but with more depth.  And of course this murder is set back in time so that we learn something about the culture of the midwest at that time.  I thought it was very entertaining.  It is limited only by the limits in what is known about the murder, which unfortunately is quite a bit.
3515683
I just read the second Kate Carlisle book, "If Books Could Kill," and I found it to be a funny, exciting, and really really good mystery story.  Kate Carlisle paints her characters in bright shades, so you can see them as you read.  Her  excruciatingly funny "flower children" parents, her friends, the hated nemesis of a girlfriend, and her sexy boyfriend (though she says she'd never call him a BOY), plus various others who are involved, add to a
good puzzle and an enjoyingly fresh read.  I can't wait for the next book in the series.
2086347
Listening to the audiobook of THE MURDERS AT ASTAIRE CASTLE was an entertaining treat.

The narrator for this audiobook is Dan Lawson. His voice is perfect for the Mac Faraday books. He is able to modulate his voice so that there is never a doubt which character is speaking. I am impressed with his enunciation and was able to understand every word he said.

The story itself is a well written mystery that spans several decades. I have not read, or listened to the second, third or fourth book in this series and yet I never felt like I was missing pieces of the story. This audiobook would even work well as a stand-alone thriller.

The only issue I had with THE MURDERS AT ASTAIRE CASTLE was that when the story was nearing its completion, DNA was sent for analysis and seemed to be returned almost immediately. This is a fantasy. In reality, obtaining DNA results can take anywhere from a few days to several months before the results are returned to the investigating officers. It is exceedingly rare for small town police offices to have their own lab and most biological samples would have to be outsourced. I understand that the DNA results were important to the plot which is why the author chose to speed up the results, but it did stand out to me as inaccurate and unbelievable.

Despite the minor hiccup I just mentioned, I enjoyed listening to this audiobook. There are so many different threads to this story and yet Lauren Carr was able to weave them all together to create a tapestry that readers will not soon forget.

My favorite character in this book is the "Wolf-Man.

I rate MURDER AT ASTAIRE CASTLE as 4 out of 5 Stars.
2651756
This is an excellent whodunnit.  It's typically British in that it's a murder at a big house with lots of suspects, each of whom probably has a good motive.  The characters are complex adults with complex problems. But what I liked most about it was the descriptive detail given: gardens, food, architecture, interior design.  The author is in no rush to get us to the Big Reveal.  We linger lovingly on the good detail.  I highly recommend this one to all lovers of classic British murder mysteries.
3313880
Vicki Tyley has crafted a clever whodunit which is not revealed til the end of the story. There's this tremendous build-up as to why two people have gone missing. In the midst of the protagonist's angst, she has a little romance and her partner's contacts with the police saves her. And I liked the local settings.