Author: Agatha Christie  Genre: Mystery/Thriller Original publication date: September 7, 1931 Book description:   M-U-R-D-E-R. It began as an innocent parlor game intended to while away the hours on a bitter winter night. But the message that appeared before the amateur occultists at the snowbound Sittaford House was spelled out as loud and clear as a scream. Of course, the notion that they had foretold doom was pure bunk. Wasn't it? And the discovery of a corpse was pure coincidence. Wasn't it? If they're to discover the answer to this baffling murder, perhaps they should play again. But a journey into the spirit world could prove terribly dangerous-especially when the killer is lurking in this one. Thoughts: It all starts off with a group of friends having a few laughs on a snowy afternoon. While they are playing a mystic game, they get the message from the spirits that a man has been murdered. but it is all laughs, right? When the man is indeed found murder, the big qu...

  So after struggling to get through the book for day 2 I managed to barely finish it the third day. It might have been faster had I only one book to read but I did have to finish the previous one and the corresponding for the current day, so I do pat myself on the back. I did great! One thing at a time. Let's review the second book for this challenge. Title: Knight's Shadow Series: Greatcoats #2 Author: Sebastien de Castell Genre: Fantasy Original publication date: December 8, 2014 Book description:   A few days after the horrifying murder of a duke and his family, Falcio val Mond, swordsman and First Cantor of the Greatcoats, begins a deadly pursuit to capture the killer. But Falcio soon discovers his own life is in mortal danger from a poison administered as a final act of revenge by one of his deadliest enemies. As chaos and civil war begin to overtake the country, Falcio has precious little time left to stop those determined to destroy his homeland. Thoughts: Warning ...

  Series: Harley Quin #1  Author: Agatha Christie Genre: Mystery Original publication date: April 14, 1930 Book description:  Harley Quin is an enigma. Even his friend Mr Satterthwaite is unable to understand how the man seems to appear and disappear almost like a trick of the light - and when he does appear it's usually in the sparkle of sunshine, or surrounded by a spectrum of coloured light pouring through a stained glass window... In fact, the only consistent thing about the Mysterious Mr Quin is that his presence is always a harbinger of love ... or death. Thoughts: This is a very interesting story it is a mystery/historical fiction and yet it weaves a bit of magical realism. It is not straight out magical realism, there are just a few hints here and there on most stories but it feels so organic in them, Christie is a master in her writing style. It all just fits so well.  Mr. Quin is a very peculiar man. He has a special ability; he allows one to solve mys...

  It has not the best start to the challenge. I was working and everything was going well. But as I was about to end my shift something happens. A personal thing comes up. By the time I am free and back home, it's 8:30 pm. I had time to make some quick dinner, but I have very little wish to continue reading. I went to bed at 10, pretty early but I was not really up to staying up late. I only read 20% of the Knight's Shadow.  The new plan, I will read both books Today, the one for Tuesday and Wednesday. To top it off I still have to get the book reviews for the Agatha Christie books. I should be able to pull it off if nothing else pops up today.  (Though with this plan adjustment, I am failing the goal of reading the whole book in a single day. But I want to still try to accomplish the 5 challenge as much as possible.) Wish me luck!

  Author: Agathe Christie Series: Miss Marple #1 Genre: Mystery/Thriller Original publication date: October 1930 Book description: ‘Anyone who murdered Colonel Protheroe,’ declared the parson, brandishing a carving knife above a joint of roast beef, ‘would be doing the world at large a favor!’ It was a careless remark for a man of the cloth. And one which was to come back and haunt the clergyman just a few hours later – when the colonel was found shot dead in the clergyman’s study. But as Miss Marple soon discovers, the whole village seems to have had a motive to kill Colonel Protheroe Thoughts: The start of a new series, this is the first book where Miss Marple is introduced. She is known as a very clever woman who is trying to figure out the culprit of a murder. Jane Marple is a detectivesque woman who is involved in a few mysteries, but this is the introduction, we do not know her yet and the town does not know she is capable of discovering great mysteries. Let's not get ahe...

  Author: Agatha Christie  Series: Superintendent Battle #2 Genre: Mystery/Thriller Original publication date: January 24, 1929 Book description:  A healthy young man dies in his sleep, despite the ringing of eight separate alarm clocks… Gerry Wade had proved himself to be a champion sleeper; so the other house guests decided to play a practical joke on him. Eight alarm clocks were set to go off, one after the other, starting at 6.30 a.m. But when morning arrived, one clock was missing and the prank had backfired with tragic consequences. For Jimmy Thesiger in particular, the words ‘Seven Dials’ were to take on a new and chilling significance Thoughts: It starts off very easy going. A group of friends meet in a bed and breakfast style house. They are all there to goof off and indulge in recreation activities. One of the attendants is mocked as he is a very late riser.  The rest of the people there want to make him feel self-conscious and play a joke at the same tim...

  Series: Greatcoats #1 Author: Sebastien de Castell Genre: Fantasy Original publication date: February 10, 2014 Book Description (from GoodReads): Falcio is the first Cantor of the Greatcoats. Trained in the fighting arts and the laws of Tristia, the Greatcoats are travelling Magisters upholding King’s Law. They are heroes. Or at least they were, until they stood aside while the Dukes took the kingdom, and impaled their King’s head on a spike. Now Tristia is on the verge of collapse and the barbarians are sniffing at the borders. The Dukes bring chaos to the land, while the Greatcoats are scattered far and wide, reviled as traitors, their legendary coats in tatters. All they have left are the promises they made to King Paelis, to carry out one final mission. But if they have any hope of fulfilling the King’s dream, the divided Greatcoats must reunite, or they will also have to stand aside as they watch their world burn. Thoughts: A great first installment of a series.  ...