The Murder on the Links by Agatha Christie

The Murder on the Links (Hercule Poirot, #2)The Murder on the Links by Agatha Christie

I thoroughly enjoyed this book about “Papa Poirot.” Agatha Christie’s prose style is simple and easy to read while her plot is fascinatingly complicated. No wonder she’s remained popular for just about a hundred years (her first novel was published in 1920). This tale starts with a murder on a golf course (links as it’s called in the title). Poirot and his friend Hastings, the narrator, quickly line up a row of suspects, all of whom have secrets to be revealed. While the mystery at the heart of the novel is compelling, I might’ve enjoyed two of the subplots a little more. The first was Poirot’s rivalry with a fellow investigator, Giraurd, who spends his time comically scouring the ground looking for clues. The second was Hastings romance with a girl he terms “Cinderella.” Based on Hastings romantic sections, I’d wager that Christie could’ve been just as famous a romance writer as a mystery writer if she’d chosen to do so. I started this book because I wanted to read an Agatha Christie novel, and I am very happy I did. While I have no plans to read more mystery novels anytime soon, I will probably pick up another Poirot tale in the future.

Read more of my work

View all my Goodreads reviews

Man of War: A Two Hawks Adventure by Heidi Ruby Miller

Man of War: A Two Hawks AdventureMan of War: A Two Hawks Adventure by Heidi Ruby Miller

Fans of pulp should love this story. While I’d never read a Two Hawks adventure before this novella, I was able to step right into this world and easily grasp what made the character and Farmer’s universe interesting. This is a testament to Heidi Ruby Miller’s prose. She details a wild aquatic world for Two Hawks to explore alongside his partner in crime, Dakota. Miller manages to make both her protagonists feel equally interesting, and Dakota never becomes a cliché damsel to be rescued. If you like pulp, Two Hawks, Philip Jose Farmer, or fun, I can’t recommend the book enough.

Read more of my work

View all my Goodreads reviews

The Ballad of Black Tom by Victor LaValle

The Ballad of Black TomThe Ballad of Black Tom by Victor LaValle

LaValle created a novella that takes The Horror at Red Hook and improves on all it’s worst elements while staying true to the themes and tropes of the Cthulhu Mythos as made famous by H.P. Lovecraft. The central character of the novel, his struggles in a racially divided New York, and his fury, propel the reader through this tight read. The novella also does a fabulous job of explaining why elements of The Horror at Red Hook don’t sync up completely with The Ballad of Black Tom. I can’t recommend this story enough if you’re fan of the Cthulhu Mythos.

Read more of my work

View all my Goodreads reviews