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letsbebookpals's reviews
212 reviews
The Secret of Chimneys by Agatha Christie
adventurous
mysterious
4.0
Anthony Cade agrees to run an errand for a friend and ends up entangled in an international conspiracy centered on a house called Chimneys.
I found the beginning a bit slow and confusing. We’re introduced to several characters in quick succession before the main action really gets started. However, once I settled into it, I had so much fun! There are many mysterious goings-on at Chimneys and some funny characters. I was surprised by the resolution of it all.
Not a perfect book by any means (it was written in the 1920s) BUT it was a fun little ride and I enjoyed it overall.
“I still believe in the Brotherhood of Man, but it’s not coming yet awhile. Say another ten thousand years or so. It’s no good being impatient. Evolution is a slow process.”
A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
3.5
A Psalm for the Wild-Built is a cozy sci-fi about a tea monk (Dex) and a robot (Mosscap) in a wonderful world that gives me hope for the future.
The most impactful part for me was a discussion about meaning/purpose that happens toward the end. Mosscap’s perspective is exactly what I wanted/needed to hear.
I gave it 3.5 stars because while I liked it, I felt that Dex wasn’t very relatable. I guess I’m just not restless like they are, so it made reading their perspective a little frustrating at times. Even so, I did appreciate them.
I want to emphasize that I did like it overall, and I’d highly recommend it. Looking forward to continuing this series!
“It is enough to exist in the world and marvel at it… You are allowed to just live.”
The Murder on the Links by Agatha Christie
adventurous
mysterious
4.0
In Murder on the Links, Poirot and Hastings head to France to answer a letter from a man in danger. Unfortunately, they arrive too late. The man has been murdered and they must find his killer…
This was a fun one! So many twists and turns, interesting characters with intriguing identities, and a cute love story to top it all off. This book was an absolute treat.
“Mon ami, a clue of two feet long is every bit as valuable as one measuring two millimeters! But it is the romantic idea that all important clues must be infinitesimal.”
The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
Did not finish book. Stopped at 5%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 5%.
Just not the moment for this one. I’ll read it later.
The Hollow by Agatha Christie
emotional
mysterious
reflective
5.0
John Christow has it all: a family, a career, a mistress; but he’s still not happy. Then, on a weekend trip, he ends up murdered. Luckily, Hercule Poirot is on the scene!
The most memorable moment in this one is definitely the discovery of the body. The reveal at the end felt anticlimactic, but by that point, the revelation of whodunnit wasn’t nearly as important as where the characters ended up. There was such a tangle of relationships! I found that part of the ending satisfying enough.
You can really tell Agatha Christie did not want Poirot in this one. It feels more like her other books, shifting POVs and focusing on the interpersonal relationships of the suspects. Poirot himself isn’t in it much at all. :(
There are a few conversations from this book that will stick with me. I’m sure I’ll be thinking about this book for the rest of my life.
“Truth, however bitter, can be accepted, and woven into a design for living.”
The most memorable moment in this one is definitely the discovery of the body. The reveal at the end felt anticlimactic, but by that point, the revelation of whodunnit wasn’t nearly as important as where the characters ended up. There was such a tangle of relationships! I found that part of the ending satisfying enough.
You can really tell Agatha Christie did not want Poirot in this one. It feels more like her other books, shifting POVs and focusing on the interpersonal relationships of the suspects. Poirot himself isn’t in it much at all. :(
There are a few conversations from this book that will stick with me. I’m sure I’ll be thinking about this book for the rest of my life.
“Truth, however bitter, can be accepted, and woven into a design for living.”
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
5.0
Dr James Sheppard’s friend Roger Ackroyd is murdered. Luckily, he lives next door to Hercule Poirot! The retired detective can’t help but get involved in the investigation. Growing his vegetable marrows will have to wait…
The reveal of the killer is very good, but I was misled by the hype. People say you absolutely cannot figure it out, so I suspected every background character. The killer is completely guessable. Even so, the reveal is powerful.
This story will change my expectations for every book I read after it. I love the characters, the narration, the pacing… It’s a masterpiece.
“The truth, however ugly in itself, is always curious and beautiful to the seeker after it.”
The reveal of the killer is very good, but I was misled by the hype. People say you absolutely cannot figure it out, so I suspected every background character. The killer is completely guessable. Even so, the reveal is powerful.
This story will change my expectations for every book I read after it. I love the characters, the narration, the pacing… It’s a masterpiece.
“The truth, however ugly in itself, is always curious and beautiful to the seeker after it.”