Arsenic and Cyanide and Strychnine, Oh, My! A Guide to Agatha Christie’s Use of Poison
Carol writes: Cyanide, morphine, digitoxin, ricin, strophanthin, strychnine, nicotine, chloral hydrate, hyoscine, snake venom, and more. The list seemed endless, as Agatha Christie put her knowledge of poisons to work in more than half of her novels and short stories.
S&S Book Club: Rhys Bowen’s Her Royal Spyness
Jen, Carol & Tina chat about Jen’s pick: Rhys Bowen’s Her Royal Spyness. Jen says: Rhys Bowen is a magician. Her (currently) 15-book series follows the adventures of a penniless royal 34th in line for the throne of England in the 1930s, and the books are just as fun as their premise.
One Image, Two Story Ideas: Misty Trees
Jen and Tina love writing prompts. Sometimes they turn into stories, sometimes they just get our creative juices flowing. Either way, they’re a lot of fun. This time Tina’s photo of misty trees took us to two very different stories.
Picture a Mystery: Murder in Montmartre
Carol says: In Cara Black's Murder in Montmartre, protagonist Aimée Leduc takes on another thrilling investigation in the City of Lights, where she would likely pass by the famous cabaret le Lapin Agile.
Time to Relax: A cup of coffee, smooth jazz, and murder…
Tina writes: My husband will never understand why I find murder mysteries so relaxing. I understand his point since I don’t have a violent bone in my body. In fact, I escort spiders and mice out of my farmhouse rather than kill them. But when it’s time to relax, nothing works better than a murder mystery.
S&S Book Club: Alafair Burke’s If You Were Here
Carol and Tina discuss Alafair Burke’s thriller If You Were Here. Carol writes: Alafair Burke’s skill at creating mounting tension and all-enveloping suspense is second to none. Her characters are complex and beautifully flawed, but we can relate to them. The book is filled with wonderfully crafted twists and turns to keep you turning the pages to keep you guessing.
Three Page-Turning Legal Thrillers
Carol writes: I normally don’t read legal thrillers, but I’m so glad I picked up these three novels. If you’re looking for page-turning suspense in a book you can’t put down, look no further.
Revisiting Old Friends
Lida says: I first met Nancy in my Aunty Flora’s bedroom. While my aunt was away at school, I’d tiptoe inside and marvel at her treasures, from pearly hair ornaments to grown-up looking books. What really caught my eight-year-old-eyes was a collection of books with dark blue covers featuring an orange silhouette of a girl holding a magnifying glass—my introduction to the one and only girl detective, Nancy Drew.