The Market Basing Mystery
by Agatha Christie
It's time for another visit with Hercule Poirot. I read The Market Basing Mystery as a palate cleanser between finishing Hotspur and beginning Wakestone Hall.
It was a fun mystery, quickly solved by Poirot and then related to the reader. As with all short stories featuring favorite characters, I felt it was too short a visit. But that was not the fault of the short story, more of this reader's desire to prolong visits with old friends.
The Market Basing Mystery is a locked-room mystery, which are always fun for the reader to try and figure out. I had a guess, but I did not need Poirot to explain it to me. But getting to the end was fun, if too quick.
One Bear's Opinion: Four Cups of tisane with a plate of fancy chocolates
Happy Reading Everyone,
Oliver
Monday, April 29, 2019
One Bear's Opinion on: Hotspur
Hotspur
by Rita Mae Brown
Hotspur is the second mystery in the "Sister" Jane Arnold Foxhunting Mysteries. Before there are objections: yes it is foxhunting, but it's American foxhunting which chases the fox to ground, not to death. And, as with other Rita Mae Brown mysteries, the animals, including the foxes are characters in the mystery and have insight the Humans do not.
The mystery of Hotspur is an historical one, in that the initial murder(s) took place well before the action of the book. It was an interesting mystery, but in the end, neither the historic mystery nor the current one were really enough to make me want to read the book. They were, frankly, lackluster.
My reading this book through to the end was all down to the animal characters. The animal characters are the main reason I read Rita Mae Brown's mysteries. Her weaving them and the animal insight into the story, making them important rather than just background description is magical. I'm always eager to get into the latest, next-in-series to have a great visit with the animals. Those are definitely the best parts. And I am glad this series features as many animal characters as her (and Sneaky Pie Brown's) Mrs. Murphy series.
While I haven't read further into the series and I can't really see how this mystery fits in the series to carry an overarching plot forward, I don't think it is strictly necessary to read. The foxhunting information and glossary are interesting, but the book is not worth it just for that. I will continue to read the series, for the visits with the animals if nothing else.
One Bear's Opinion: Three Cups of warming tea after a cubbing run with a hearty plate at the post-hunt breakfast
Happy Reading Everyone,
Oliver
by Rita Mae Brown
Hotspur is the second mystery in the "Sister" Jane Arnold Foxhunting Mysteries. Before there are objections: yes it is foxhunting, but it's American foxhunting which chases the fox to ground, not to death. And, as with other Rita Mae Brown mysteries, the animals, including the foxes are characters in the mystery and have insight the Humans do not.
The mystery of Hotspur is an historical one, in that the initial murder(s) took place well before the action of the book. It was an interesting mystery, but in the end, neither the historic mystery nor the current one were really enough to make me want to read the book. They were, frankly, lackluster.
My reading this book through to the end was all down to the animal characters. The animal characters are the main reason I read Rita Mae Brown's mysteries. Her weaving them and the animal insight into the story, making them important rather than just background description is magical. I'm always eager to get into the latest, next-in-series to have a great visit with the animals. Those are definitely the best parts. And I am glad this series features as many animal characters as her (and Sneaky Pie Brown's) Mrs. Murphy series.
While I haven't read further into the series and I can't really see how this mystery fits in the series to carry an overarching plot forward, I don't think it is strictly necessary to read. The foxhunting information and glossary are interesting, but the book is not worth it just for that. I will continue to read the series, for the visits with the animals if nothing else.
One Bear's Opinion: Three Cups of warming tea after a cubbing run with a hearty plate at the post-hunt breakfast
Happy Reading Everyone,
Oliver
Friday, April 19, 2019
One Bear's Opinion on: Wormwood Mire
Wormwood Mire
by Judith Rossell
Wormwood Mire is the second part of the Stella Montgomery Intrigue. In this one Stella is sent by her aunts to an old family house to study and live with her cousins. I'm not certain why she was sent to live with them for such a short period of time, but apparently it was necessary in the world of the book for some unexplained reason, presumably beyond just the aunts' desire to rid themselves of their troublesome orphaned niece Stella.
The book is interesting and continues Stella's search for information about herself, but there is no resolution to Stella's search in this installment of the story. The lack of resolution is both interesting and frustration. It absolutely means that the reader has to read all three books in the series. Many other series I read are written such that each installment has a self-contained element, so that if you read only that book, there is a sense of resolution of the plot, and any cliffhangers are secondary to the main plot of the story of that book. With the Stella Montgomery Intrigues, the orverarching plot is the main plot and the individual installment plots are the sub-plots to the books. This is somewhat unsatisfying and frustrating for the reader. I'm lucky enough to have all three books in the series, but many other readers may not be in that position and the struggle to find the other books may put them off reading this series, or in fact other series by this author.
Overall, Wormwood Mire was an interesting, but ultimately unsatisfying intrigue. The colored print in the copy I have was nice, but on the whole this installment in the Intrigues was not as much fun as the previous one. Anya was a great character and as a reader I would have preferred to get to know her more, she reminded me a great deal of Lyra Belacqua's dæmon Pantalamion, who was my favorite character in Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials series. The other characters were interesting, but extremely secondary to Stella. There is no question this series is Stella's story and other characters are only there to assist Stella in her search, which leaves them to be a bit one-dimmensional.
One Bear's Opinion: Three cups of hot chocolate with some toast and jam
Happy Reading Everyone,
Oliver
by Judith Rossell
Wormwood Mire is the second part of the Stella Montgomery Intrigue. In this one Stella is sent by her aunts to an old family house to study and live with her cousins. I'm not certain why she was sent to live with them for such a short period of time, but apparently it was necessary in the world of the book for some unexplained reason, presumably beyond just the aunts' desire to rid themselves of their troublesome orphaned niece Stella.
The book is interesting and continues Stella's search for information about herself, but there is no resolution to Stella's search in this installment of the story. The lack of resolution is both interesting and frustration. It absolutely means that the reader has to read all three books in the series. Many other series I read are written such that each installment has a self-contained element, so that if you read only that book, there is a sense of resolution of the plot, and any cliffhangers are secondary to the main plot of the story of that book. With the Stella Montgomery Intrigues, the orverarching plot is the main plot and the individual installment plots are the sub-plots to the books. This is somewhat unsatisfying and frustrating for the reader. I'm lucky enough to have all three books in the series, but many other readers may not be in that position and the struggle to find the other books may put them off reading this series, or in fact other series by this author.
Overall, Wormwood Mire was an interesting, but ultimately unsatisfying intrigue. The colored print in the copy I have was nice, but on the whole this installment in the Intrigues was not as much fun as the previous one. Anya was a great character and as a reader I would have preferred to get to know her more, she reminded me a great deal of Lyra Belacqua's dæmon Pantalamion, who was my favorite character in Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials series. The other characters were interesting, but extremely secondary to Stella. There is no question this series is Stella's story and other characters are only there to assist Stella in her search, which leaves them to be a bit one-dimmensional.
One Bear's Opinion: Three cups of hot chocolate with some toast and jam
Happy Reading Everyone,
Oliver
Sunday, April 14, 2019
One Bear's Opinion on: The Math Inspectors #2
The Math Inspectors #2: The Case of the Mysterious Mr. Jekyll
by Daniel Kenney & Emily Boever
The Math Inspectors are back, solving mysteries in Ravensburg. This one was set around Halloween and involved vandalism being done by someone who tagged it as "Mr. Jekyll."
It was a fun mystery to solve and there were plenty of misdirects and red herrings throughout, but not as much math as in the first one. I was a bit disappointed because the first in the series was such fun to play along and use math with the kids to solve the mystery. This one had math, but it wasn't as much a part of the mystery or solution as in the first book. I was really hoping this series would continue as a kind of Numb3rs in print for middle readers. I'm still going to check out the remaining books in the series, but I am not quite as excited about the rest as I was before reading this one.
Overall, it was a fun, easy, quick read, and without much math at all, even nervous math-phobic readers need not be put off by the title/series name. I'm still recommending the series, but with the caveat that it might not be as exciting and fun in terms of math as I had hoped based on the first book.
One Bear's Opinion: Four big glasses of lemonade and a couple of orders of Wiener Pups for sharing
Happy Reading Everyone,
Oliver
by Daniel Kenney & Emily Boever
The Math Inspectors are back, solving mysteries in Ravensburg. This one was set around Halloween and involved vandalism being done by someone who tagged it as "Mr. Jekyll."
It was a fun mystery to solve and there were plenty of misdirects and red herrings throughout, but not as much math as in the first one. I was a bit disappointed because the first in the series was such fun to play along and use math with the kids to solve the mystery. This one had math, but it wasn't as much a part of the mystery or solution as in the first book. I was really hoping this series would continue as a kind of Numb3rs in print for middle readers. I'm still going to check out the remaining books in the series, but I am not quite as excited about the rest as I was before reading this one.
Overall, it was a fun, easy, quick read, and without much math at all, even nervous math-phobic readers need not be put off by the title/series name. I'm still recommending the series, but with the caveat that it might not be as exciting and fun in terms of math as I had hoped based on the first book.
One Bear's Opinion: Four big glasses of lemonade and a couple of orders of Wiener Pups for sharing
Happy Reading Everyone,
Oliver
Wednesday, April 10, 2019
One Bear's Opinion on: X Marks the Scot
X Marks the Scot
by Kaitlyn Dunnett
It's time for another fun visit with Liss MacCrimmon Ruskin and her friends/family. I usually enjoy my visits in Moosetookalook. This one was especially fun because it involved a trip to Nova Scotia, one of my favorite places in the world to visit.
The mystery itself was fairly easy to figure it out. I have the basics pegged pretty early, even before there was a murder! But it was still a fun read and fun to find out I was correct from the beginning with my guess, though I do admit that my guess for the motive was wrong.
I do wish Liss spent more time working, but that is a problem with many amateur-sleuth mysteries. Also, the small-town setting lends itself to the newcomer being either the murderer or the victim, so in those ways the series can become quite formulaic, but it's still great fun to spend time with Liss.
Overall it was a fun, quick read. If you've never read one of the Moosetookaloook mysteries, they are great for escapism reading, nothing too heavy and nothing too complicated as far as the plots; just fun reads with friendly characters.
One Bear's Opinion: Four cups of Scottish Breakfast Tea and a plate of shortbread from an old family recipe
Happy Reading Everyone,
Oliver
by Kaitlyn Dunnett
It's time for another fun visit with Liss MacCrimmon Ruskin and her friends/family. I usually enjoy my visits in Moosetookalook. This one was especially fun because it involved a trip to Nova Scotia, one of my favorite places in the world to visit.
The mystery itself was fairly easy to figure it out. I have the basics pegged pretty early, even before there was a murder! But it was still a fun read and fun to find out I was correct from the beginning with my guess, though I do admit that my guess for the motive was wrong.
I do wish Liss spent more time working, but that is a problem with many amateur-sleuth mysteries. Also, the small-town setting lends itself to the newcomer being either the murderer or the victim, so in those ways the series can become quite formulaic, but it's still great fun to spend time with Liss.
Overall it was a fun, quick read. If you've never read one of the Moosetookaloook mysteries, they are great for escapism reading, nothing too heavy and nothing too complicated as far as the plots; just fun reads with friendly characters.
One Bear's Opinion: Four cups of Scottish Breakfast Tea and a plate of shortbread from an old family recipe
Happy Reading Everyone,
Oliver
Saturday, April 6, 2019
One Bear's Opinion on: Just Desserts
Just Desserts
by G.A. McKevett
I have been picking up and putting this book back on the shelf for years at the bookstore. I finally got a copy for my Kindle when it was on sale for $1.00. I am now sorry I didn't buy it all those years ago. Savannah is a great character and I have a feeling she will become a good friend.
Interestingly, this is the fourth book titled Just Desserts I have read, and only one was a cookbook! It's a popular title, so let me make sure you know, this is a review of the first book in G.A. McKevett's Savannah Reid mystery series.
I was a bit worried as the book started darker than I thought it would, and it took a while to reveal itself as a cozy mystery. But sticking with it proved to be well worth it. Savannah and her friends are a fun group and I am looking forward to getting to know them better as I work through the series.
The mystery was complicated enough to keep the reader guessing but not so complicated as to put the reader off. There were a couple of subplots, and one of them I thought wrapped up quickly, but sometimes I find that with books that have multiple sub-plots.
Overall it was a solid first-in-series and I am really glad that I finally went ahead and not only bought this Just Desserts, but read it too.
One Bear's Opinion: Four Cups of Coffee with a big slice of Black Forest Cake.
Happy Reading Everyone,
Oliver
by G.A. McKevett
I have been picking up and putting this book back on the shelf for years at the bookstore. I finally got a copy for my Kindle when it was on sale for $1.00. I am now sorry I didn't buy it all those years ago. Savannah is a great character and I have a feeling she will become a good friend.
Interestingly, this is the fourth book titled Just Desserts I have read, and only one was a cookbook! It's a popular title, so let me make sure you know, this is a review of the first book in G.A. McKevett's Savannah Reid mystery series.
I was a bit worried as the book started darker than I thought it would, and it took a while to reveal itself as a cozy mystery. But sticking with it proved to be well worth it. Savannah and her friends are a fun group and I am looking forward to getting to know them better as I work through the series.
The mystery was complicated enough to keep the reader guessing but not so complicated as to put the reader off. There were a couple of subplots, and one of them I thought wrapped up quickly, but sometimes I find that with books that have multiple sub-plots.
Overall it was a solid first-in-series and I am really glad that I finally went ahead and not only bought this Just Desserts, but read it too.
One Bear's Opinion: Four Cups of Coffee with a big slice of Black Forest Cake.
Happy Reading Everyone,
Oliver
Tuesday, April 2, 2019
One Bear's Opinion on: The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding
The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding
by Agatha Christie
This was a one-off version of this Hercule Poirot short story, not a part of a larger novel-length collection.
I had seen the dramatization of this story starring my favorite Poirot ever, David Suchet, so I knew what was going to happen as I read it, but it was still fun to read the original story. I can report the adaptation was mostly faithful to the story as written, which is always nice when you are reading something after you have seen the dramatization.
It was a quick mystery, that does not actually involve a murder, so it’s a fun, non-violent read. It would be perfect for a waiting room or an airport departure lounge; the kind of story it’s easy enough to get lost in, but not so long that you’ll miss hearing your name/flight called.
Hercule Poirot is always a good read and this one is no different.
One Bear’s Opinion: Five cups of tea with a hearty serving of Christmas pudding, without the ruby
Happy Reading Everyone,
Oliver
by Agatha Christie
This was a one-off version of this Hercule Poirot short story, not a part of a larger novel-length collection.
I had seen the dramatization of this story starring my favorite Poirot ever, David Suchet, so I knew what was going to happen as I read it, but it was still fun to read the original story. I can report the adaptation was mostly faithful to the story as written, which is always nice when you are reading something after you have seen the dramatization.
It was a quick mystery, that does not actually involve a murder, so it’s a fun, non-violent read. It would be perfect for a waiting room or an airport departure lounge; the kind of story it’s easy enough to get lost in, but not so long that you’ll miss hearing your name/flight called.
Hercule Poirot is always a good read and this one is no different.
One Bear’s Opinion: Five cups of tea with a hearty serving of Christmas pudding, without the ruby
Happy Reading Everyone,
Oliver
One Bear's Opinion on: The Knight of Maison-Rouge
The Knight of Maison-Rouge
by Alexandre Dumas
Dumas has been one of my favorite authors since I tore through The Three Musketeers in college when we should have been studying for finals. (Honestly, I think I did better on the finals because of the distraction.) The Knight of Maison-Rouge is one of his lesser-known books, and I am glad I were lucky enough to find a copy when I did.
This book is set during the Reign of Terror, after King Louis XVI was beheaded but before Marie Antoinette suffered the same fate. It’s based on the real “Affair of the Carnation” in which notes were passed to the Queen in captivity through a carnation. Putting notes into the carnation was ingenious, though in the book, as in real life, the attempt failed. One of the best things about Dumas’ fiction to me is the fact that he based it on real-life events, so while it’s not an accurate history lesson, it can at least prompt readers to go find out more about the real story. And weaving real people into the narrative is always fun. Many authors before and since have used this device.
Overall the book was very good. Each time I come back to Dumas’ works, I forget what a good story-teller he was and how the reader gets caught up in the story. I guess in some ways that was necessary because of the serialized way the novels were originally published, but this reader finds it engaging and very easy to be drawn through the story.
While I missed my friends from The Three Musketeers, I was happy to make friends of the characters in this novel. Maurice and Lorin were likable, which made me want to root for them to succeed through the book. The villains were completely unlikable and the reader really does want to kick them all, if not run them through with a sword.
I am not sure this qualifies as “great literature,” and I am not sure this should be the Dumas work chosen for required reading, if in fact one is at all, but it’s well worth the read and a galloping good journey through a vicious period in France’s history.
One Bear’s Opinion: Five glasses of wine, followed by another five — just trust me
Happy Reading Everyone,
Oliver
by Alexandre Dumas
Dumas has been one of my favorite authors since I tore through The Three Musketeers in college when we should have been studying for finals. (Honestly, I think I did better on the finals because of the distraction.) The Knight of Maison-Rouge is one of his lesser-known books, and I am glad I were lucky enough to find a copy when I did.
This book is set during the Reign of Terror, after King Louis XVI was beheaded but before Marie Antoinette suffered the same fate. It’s based on the real “Affair of the Carnation” in which notes were passed to the Queen in captivity through a carnation. Putting notes into the carnation was ingenious, though in the book, as in real life, the attempt failed. One of the best things about Dumas’ fiction to me is the fact that he based it on real-life events, so while it’s not an accurate history lesson, it can at least prompt readers to go find out more about the real story. And weaving real people into the narrative is always fun. Many authors before and since have used this device.
Overall the book was very good. Each time I come back to Dumas’ works, I forget what a good story-teller he was and how the reader gets caught up in the story. I guess in some ways that was necessary because of the serialized way the novels were originally published, but this reader finds it engaging and very easy to be drawn through the story.
While I missed my friends from The Three Musketeers, I was happy to make friends of the characters in this novel. Maurice and Lorin were likable, which made me want to root for them to succeed through the book. The villains were completely unlikable and the reader really does want to kick them all, if not run them through with a sword.
I am not sure this qualifies as “great literature,” and I am not sure this should be the Dumas work chosen for required reading, if in fact one is at all, but it’s well worth the read and a galloping good journey through a vicious period in France’s history.
One Bear’s Opinion: Five glasses of wine, followed by another five — just trust me
Happy Reading Everyone,
Oliver
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