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3.49 AVERAGE
3.49 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
3.5 stars rounded up for a mystery book that is something of a homage to golden age mystery writers including Agatha Christie, Arthur Conan Doyle and others. The blurb sets the story line:
"Meet Agatha Dorn, cantankerous archivist, grammar pedant, gin afficionado and murder mystery addict. When she discovers a lost manuscript by Gladden Green, the Empress of Golden Age detective fiction, Agatha's life takes an unexpected twist. She becomes an overnight sensation, basking in the limelight of literary stardom."
But Agatha's life takes a turn for the worse when the lost manuscript turns out to be a hoax. She begins to suspect that her friend Murgatroyd's death was not suicide, as previously ruled by the police.
She starts investigating and is threatened by someone she suspects of murder. There are multiple twists and turns in this quirky cozy mystery. However, I did not like Agatha's constantly drinking herself into unconsciousness.
This mystery is set in London, England.
One quote by Agatha: "I could investigate Murgatroyd's death myself.
That sounded like a a good idea for about a second, before I thought, Would I listen to myself? As if I were the protagonist of the imbecilic James Patterson book on Murgatroyd's nightstand."
Thanks to Pushkin Vertigo for sending me this eARC through Edelweiss.
Pub. date April 29, 2025
"Meet Agatha Dorn, cantankerous archivist, grammar pedant, gin afficionado and murder mystery addict. When she discovers a lost manuscript by Gladden Green, the Empress of Golden Age detective fiction, Agatha's life takes an unexpected twist. She becomes an overnight sensation, basking in the limelight of literary stardom."
But Agatha's life takes a turn for the worse when the lost manuscript turns out to be a hoax. She begins to suspect that her friend Murgatroyd's death was not suicide, as previously ruled by the police.
She starts investigating and is threatened by someone she suspects of murder. There are multiple twists and turns in this quirky cozy mystery. However, I did not like Agatha's constantly drinking herself into unconsciousness.
This mystery is set in London, England.
One quote by Agatha: "I could investigate Murgatroyd's death myself.
That sounded like a a good idea for about a second, before I thought, Would I listen to myself? As if I were the protagonist of the imbecilic James Patterson book on Murgatroyd's nightstand."
Thanks to Pushkin Vertigo for sending me this eARC through Edelweiss.
Pub. date April 29, 2025
I didn't know what was going on for a majority of this book until the end where the evil person explains everything right before the big finish LOL. I just think I wasnt committed to listening very intently and that's on me!
adventurous
funny
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/review/the-mystery-of-the-crooked-man
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Not very impressed as I didn't like the main character at all.
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A fun whodunnit written in tribute to the Queen of Crime, Agatha Christie. Fans of AC will find many references and clues to her work and life within the story (so many!). As a reader and collector of AC's books, i loved this aspect of the story!
The story centres around Agatha Dorn who works as an archivist in a library of rare manuscripts and first editions. She comes across an unpublished manuscript of Gladden Green, a writer whose novels featured a foreign detective named Pere Flambeau. Agatha becomes famous for discovering the manuscript but before you know it, it's suddenly renounced as a fake! The plot becomes quite complicated at that point with Agatha becomes embroiled with a number of shady people (including co-workers, ex-lovers and family) who will stop at nothing, including killing those who get in their way, to get what they want. There are of course a few red herrings and twists along the way, as one would expect, although I found the storyline a little confusing at times.
Agatha is a fabulous and funny character you can't help both love as well as dislike a little (you just can't hate her). She's sassy, outrageously honest and determined to get to the truth: the story is really enjoyable and the references to AC are great fun.
Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this cub
The story centres around Agatha Dorn who works as an archivist in a library of rare manuscripts and first editions. She comes across an unpublished manuscript of Gladden Green, a writer whose novels featured a foreign detective named Pere Flambeau. Agatha becomes famous for discovering the manuscript but before you know it, it's suddenly renounced as a fake! The plot becomes quite complicated at that point with Agatha becomes embroiled with a number of shady people (including co-workers, ex-lovers and family) who will stop at nothing, including killing those who get in their way, to get what they want. There are of course a few red herrings and twists along the way, as one would expect, although I found the storyline a little confusing at times.
Agatha is a fabulous and funny character you can't help both love as well as dislike a little (you just can't hate her). She's sassy, outrageously honest and determined to get to the truth: the story is really enjoyable and the references to AC are great fun.
Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this cub
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes