Five Quarters of the Orange (2001) by Joanne Harris

🍊 My first introduction to Joanne Harris was Chocolat; I knew I have started that book years ago, but couldn't remember whether I've ever finished it. I think not. Either because it's a borrowed book, and I have to return it before I have finished; or it must've been sold while I was reading (I ran an online second-hand book store back then). Anyway, Five Quarters of the Orange, then, became my first book of Joanne Harris which I did finish. It's a big relieve when I had finished it; it's not a bad one, just that I was not in the right mental state to give it a proper credit. It's a complex story of dark secrets, a childish-folly-turns tragedy, acceptance, revelation, and resilience.

🍊 Framboise Simon was sixty years old widow when she returned to her childhood home in a small village on the banks of the Loire. She owns a creperie, serving delicious food she loves to cook; mostly recreating her late mother's dishes from the recipe scrapbook Framboise inherited from her. Although she was born in the village, the villagers thought Framboise a stranger, because she does not dare to use her own name, Dartigen. Framboise Dartigen was only nine years old when she left the village after a terrible tragedy during the German Occupation in the 1940s. This, then, is an intermingled mixture of Framboise's past and present life; how the past affected her present, and how the present helps her to be free from the haunting past. 

🍊 Framboise's childhood is a troubled one. She lived with her widowed mother Mirabelle Dartigen, brother Cassis, and sister Reine-Claude. Mirabelle was a hard woman, who's often mean and cruel to her own children, although she loved them. Her life seemed to be full of hatred and bitterness, and she poured it to her children, whom in turn, hated her too. She's often a victim of splitting headache, which was usually started with smelling non-existing oranges - a fruit she always hated. The title derived from Framboise's idea to trigger the headache on her mother, so that she and her siblings could be on their own; by secretly slicing a tiny sliver of orange - the fifth of the supposedly quarters - to be placed near her mother's pillow. Once she inhaled it, she'd have another spell, and off the children would go. Go where?

🍊 It's during this German Occupation that a handsome German officer who speaks a perfect French called Tomas Leibniz introduced himself to the children. They instantly took to him, but especially Framboise, who worshipped him. Their friendship grew bigger; but unfortunately, also, their risk. It finally led to the tragedy. But Framboise did not quite understand that at that time, and it was now, while browsing through her mother's recipe book, was written snatches of her mother's thoughts, did Framboise finally (almost) fully understood what had had happened.

🍊 Maybe if I had read this five years ago, I would have appreciated it more. Now, it distressed me a little. I was troubled with how Framboise treated her mother - though I could see why. The only person I could like in this book is Paul. I admired his support and friendship for Framboise, and I liked how it all ended. It was a troubling book, but still worth reading, if nothing else, for its beautiful writing.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Tea on Sunday (1973) by Lettice Cooper

☕ A sixty-ish widow Alberta Mansbridge lives alone with her two servants in London suburb. On Sundays, when her servants take their day off, she likes to throw tea parties for her closest friends or family. On that particular Sunday, eight people were invited: her family doctor, her accountant, her solicitor, the manager of her late father's company, a companion with whom she's lately having a quarrel, her two latest protégés (young men with dubious characters), and last but not least, her nephew Antony Seldon with his wife.

☕ Alberta is a punctual woman, she likes her guests to arrive at four a clock sharp; and her guests well know this fact. On 3:30 that day however, her door bell rang. She had installed an intercom to know who's calling, and if she wants to let the guest in, she would just push a button from her room, and a spring would be released, and the guest would be able to open the door and let his or herself in. She did this, and when the guest entered her room, Alberta's greeting was: "You are early!" Then on 4:00, eight of her guests (two of them were several minutes late) rang and knocked without avail. No one seemed to be at home. Later when the police broke into the house, they found Alberta on her desk, strangled to death.

☕ One thing I liked most of this book is that Lettice Cooper provided us a rarely chance to possess a knowledge that neither the police nor the suspects had known. That is, that Alberta's murderer was definitely one of the tea party guests. Only the readers know it from what Alberta said to her guest: "You are early". The minor thing for me was the denouement, which came too early, despite of the actions that followed, which was also a bit anticlimax. Inspector Corby, the investigator, is a competent police officer. I liked his neat and thorough style of investigation, combining skillful interviews with the suspects and both logical and psychological deduction.

☕ On the whole, it's a cross between the Golden Age mystery and cozy mystery. I liked the side story of Antony Seldon, though, which might not have close correlation with the murder investigation, but provides an interesting glimpse of the life in the 1970s. Antony's relationship with his more superior wife - she's a model with bright prospect, while Antony is just a clerk in a men's boutique - is pretty interesting. I liked also that we were introduced to Inspector Corby's personal life; his brief interaction with his wife Lucy, and their little daughter. The case ended just in time for him to attend his daughter's birthday. Lastly, while the end is a bit anticlimax, like I said before, Antony's personal ending provides a little humour to end the book - and to emphasize its cozy mystery vibes.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Blog Tour: Murder by Firelight (Flora Steele #12) by Merryn Allingham

It’s my stop today on Murder by Firelight by Merryn Allingham Books on Tour. Many thanks to Sarah Hardy of Bookouture for the invite, and for NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this delightful book.

📚 About the book

No one can hold a candle to amateur detectives Flora Steele and Jack Carrington as they ask the burning question… Who is the killer walking the cobbled streets of their historic little town?

Sussex, November 1959. There’s a chill in the air at the Lewes bonfire celebration. Carnival floats fill the narrow streets, fireworks crackle overhead, and Flora and Jack feel the heat of the burning torches lining the streets. But when Trevor French, chief of the Grove Bonfire Society, tumbles from his parade float, they know something is afoot. Trevor didn’t just fall – and amidst the crowds, his killer slips away through the smoke-filled night.

But who would want the respected Trevor dead? As Flora and Jack question the vying bonfire societies, they find a surprisingly competitive underbelly at play. Did Edwin Brooker, former chairman, stoke the flames of rivalry too far? Or are the tears of the victim’s friend, Leo Nelson, faked to keep himself safe?

Just as the sleuths believe they’ve figured it out, the body of a key suspect in the case is found dead on their hearth rug, and Flora and Jack realise that no one is safe – including themselves. Together, can they smoke the murderer out? Or will their chances of survival go up in flames?

A completely addictive and absolutely charming cozy mystery novel. Fans of Agatha Christie, Faith Martin and Joy Ellis will adore this unputdownable series!

📚 My thoughts

🔥 Here we are, back with our favorite amateur sleuth couple, Jack Carrington and Flora Steele. Not long after coming back from their honeymoon-turned-murder-sleuthing in Venice, Jack and Flora are settling back to their routine in Abbeymead - Jack with his crime novel writing, and Flora with the All's Well book shop. Jack is in his last term teaching at the college in Lewes, and Flora - who has never been keen on staying at the their apartment - is expecting their full time stay in Abbeymead. In the meantime, they attended a bonfire festival in Lewes. It was a ritual celebration usually held around November 2nd, to mark Guy Fawkes Night. And during this festival, a man fell down, dead, from a parade float. It seemed like a usual incident, but Jack found out that the man, a Trevor French, had actually been stabbed. It's not an accident, it's a murder!

🔥 For once, it was Flora who isn't keen on involving in the investigation, while Jack, feeling adamant that Leo Nelson, who rented Overlay house (Jack's old home before moving to the cottage with Flora), was one of the suspects. This time, it is Jack that is eager to seek the truth - usually it's the other way round. Moreover, his friend, Inspector Ridley is on family leave, and his replacement is less incapable, prejudiced man, of whom Jack cannot trust. But it turned out to be a tough case; the stabbing happened during a festival, when people could be moving around on the float, and they were wearing costumes. The motives are also insufficient; would Edwin Brooker (the former chairman of Grove Bonfire Society) kill Trevor French (his new replacement) out of spite? Or could Leo Nelson possibly did it because he wants to renew his old love affair with French's wife?

🔥 Jack and Flora were struggling to build their case throughout the story; no evidence or motive are strong enough to focus on anyone. Meanwhile, dangers are lurking from anywhere; electrocuted door bell, for instance; and then, another murder occurred. This time I guessed the murderer correctly from very early of the story, and I was a little surprised that this murderer didn't raise any suspicions from both Jack and Flora. All in all, it was a fun cozy mystery to read, with satisfying ending. I loved that Jack and Flora were back in Abbeymead; I've been really missing the village life, and the interaction of the inhabitants - Jack and Flora's circle - it feels like a warm blanket in which I could take comfort every time I need it. The Friday suppers of Flora, Alice, and Kate are usually full of delicious mouthwatering dishes. Charlie Teague is now a chef - albeit still a part timer - can you believe it? He's still helping Flora delivering books to buyers' houses from time to time, riding Betty. Old Betty - how I missed 'her'! ;) And of course, the All's Well book shop, the one that made me fell in love with this series in the first place! I wish the next book will be closely connected with the book shop - maybe another murder at the book shop? ;)

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

📚 Author bio

Merryn taught university literature for many years, and it took a while to pluck up the courage to begin writing herself. Bringing the past to life is a passion and her historical fiction includes Regency romances, wartime sagas and timeslip novels, all of which have a mystery at their heart. As the books have grown darker, it was only a matter of time before she plunged into crime with a cosy crime series set in rural Sussex against the fascinating backdrop of the 1950s.

Merryn lives in a beautiful old town in Sussex with her husband. When she’s not writing, she tries to keep fit with adult ballet classes and plenty of walking.

https://merrynallingham.com/
https://www.facebook.com/MerrynWrites
https://twitter.com/merrynwrites

Sign up to be the first to hear about new releases from Merryn Allingham here:  https://www.bookouture.com/merryn-allingham


📚 Buying links

Amazon: https://geni.us/B0F6Y558JXsocial
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Be sure to check out other stops on the tour to see what others thought. Happy reading!

Weekend at Thrackley (1934) by Alan Melville

💎 This was my second inverted mystery, and contrary to my first one, The 12.30 from Croydon by Freeman Wills Croft (published in the same year), Weekend at Thrackley was a delightful reading for me. It's commercial success - it's his debut, moreover! - made Alan Melville giving up his current job, and dedicated his energy as a full-time writer. As usual with inverted mysteries, we, readers, know from the beginning the whodunnit; and the key of the story's attraction is in the how the crime would be committed, and how the victims-to-be would extricate themselves from the villain's clutches.

💎 Captain Jim Henderson had been unemployed post World War II, and a tenant in a dingy boarding house in London, when he received an invitation from Edwin Carson - old friend of his late father - to a weekend at his country house in Thrackley, Surrey. Jim - curious and excited - accepted the invitation (who wouldn't?) And while telephoning his rich bestie, Freddie Usher, to borrow a suit, Jim learned that Freddie, too, was invited to Thrackley. He learned also, that Edwin Carson is a famous jewels collector and connoisseur. The other six guests, including Freddie Usher, were asked to bring their precious jewelry to Thrackley, to be exhibited to the host. Why, then, Jim was invited too? He's the only poor one of the guests. But maybe he was invited for more of a sentimental reason?

💎 The weekend started very nicely, with the host's amiable welcome, sumptuous food, and the countryside air. And then, we were led to Edwin Carson's sinister way of procuring new jewels to be added to his collection. And that is when this story became most entertaining. From secret cellar, elaborate lift system, hidden camera, to electrical wiring - we were provided with an ingenious plot by Alan Melville. Not mentioning the little love affair which was sweetening the mystery, and Melville's eloquent, but hilarious at the same time, style of writing. I loved its neat ending, and some of the characters are unique, like a Spanish dancer called Raoul, and Lady Stone. I liked Jim Henderson from the start - he's a perfect amateur sleuth for this story. In short, this is a delightful country-house mystery, and I'll definitely look for more of Alan Melville's!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2

Agatha Christie Short Stories 2025 #AgathaChristieSS25: SEPTEMBER

THE JEWEL ROBBERY AT THE GRAND METROPOLITAN

(A Hercule Poirot story)

Poirot can’t resist a case, even when holidaying in Brighton with Hastings. A pearl necklace is stolen from a hotel room – only two people could have done it. And only Hercule Poirot could solve it....

This was only the second of Agatha Christie's short stories to appear in print. In the UK, it appeared in The Sketch magazine on the 14th March 1923 as The Curious Disappearance of the Opalsen Pearls and in the US it appeared in October 1923 as Mrs Opalsen's Pearls. It was first published as a book in the collection Poirot Investigates, 1924, by Bodley Head.

THE CASE OF THE MISSING LADY

(A Tommy and Tuppence story)

Having proved their deductive talents to the famous explorer Gabriel Stavansson, Tommy and Tuppence are entrusted with a new investigation: discovering the whereabouts of his missing fiancé, for which, they came across a sinister nursing home in the process. Tommy Beresford adopts a Holmesian mode for solving this case. | This story was published by Collins in the collection Partners in Crime, 1929. There was a stage performance of The Case of the Missing Lady in New York in 1950, although the details are unclear. It was apparently accompanied by a live broadcast. Both seems to be promising, especially the Poirot one (for me at least). Let's see how much we'll like them!

Mister God, This is Anna (1974) by Flynn

🧍🏻‍♀️ Flynn is a pseudonym for Sidney Hopkins, the author of Mister God, This is Anna. It is a spiritual and philosophy novel centered on the character of five-year-old Anna, who has a very intimate relationship with God - or Mister God, as she always calls Him. The story is told from the POV of Flynn, a young man of about nineteen to twenty who lives in London in the end of 1930s. Anna's background was unknown throughout the story. She was found by Flynn one foggy night, as he was wandering near London's Dockland, sat still and alone; apparently having been neglected - and most certainly been badly abused - by her parents or family. Anna never told Flynn about her past, and he never insisted.

🧍🏻‍♀️ Anna instantly clang to Flynn from their first meeting, so Flynn brought her home. His mother used to brought runaway children to their house, so she instantly took care of Anna without question. From then on Anna and Flynn were inseparable. Anna is "as busy as a bee, as inquisitive as a kitten, and as playful as a puppy." and has an uncanny way to analyze new things in out-of-the ordinary view. And, as she has a firm love to God, she somehow always manages to apply either mathematic or scientific formulas into the characteristics of God, or into the way human being perceive God and religion. Flynn's love of mathematic and science help nurturing Anna's obsession of investigation and experiments.

🧍🏻‍♀️ And so, the whole book consists of these observations on philosophy or religion or spirituality, from Anna's point of view.

"...Mister God is different. You see, Flynn, people can only love outside and can only kiss outside, but Mister God can love you right inside, and Mister God can kiss you inside, so it's different. Mister God ain't like us; we are a little bit like Mister God, but not much yet."

"...You see, everybody has got a point of view, but Mister God hasn't. Mister God has only points to view."

🧍🏻‍♀️ During the three years of her stay with Flynn, Anna is able to learn more about God and God's way better, perhaps, than an adult who's been to church every week since childhood. 

"Anna searched for Mister God and her desire was for a better understanding of him. Anna's search for Mister God was serious but gay, earnest but light-hearted, reverent but impudent, and single-minded and multi-tracked."

🧍🏻‍♀️ I loved how the story ends. World War II was looming, and Anna was beginning to distressed over the impeding war. Although her stay with Flynn was short, she had managed to wrought a beautiful friendship with him. Not only that, she had changed many lives too, touched many souls with her beautiful soul and firm devotion to God. Even her Mister God would have been touched deeply by her simple love. In short, this is a beautiful book about finding God through everything you could come across - a pure reminder for our battered souls. Though it feels rather redundant sometimes, just continue on, you'll get gems every now and then.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐1/2

Crooked House (1949) by Agatha Christie: A Reread #20BooksofSummer2025

🩰 Crooked House is always one of my most favorites of Agatha Christie's, with its memorable 'plot-twist.' It is one of Christie's familycide mysteries - the one I enjoyed most, due too its simplicity. It's really a simple murder, at least from our, readers', point of view. The clues are there for us to see plainly, but only a few, perhaps, could solve it due to its impossibility. Well, it's not impossible, but unprecedented. I love Christie's cheekiness in this one; and it is what made Crooked House a memorable one.

🩰 It's post war, and Charles Hayward was engaged with Sophia Leonides. When her grandfather Aristide Leonides was murdered (poisoned with eserine from his own eye drops), Sophia told Charles that their marriage would never happen unless the murder is solved. Charles' father is Assistant Commissioner in Scotland Yard, and he asked Charles to stay with the family, to investigate "from the inside", along with the formal police investigation. And that's how Charles arrived at the Three Gables, the abode of the Leonides, which Sophia called the "crooked house" - inspired by the nursery rhyme: "there was a crooked man who lives in a crooked house...". Sophia acknowledge that there's the ruthlesness among the Leonides.

🩰 The family consists of Brenda - Aristide Leonides' far younger new wife; Philip (the oldest son) and his wife, with their three children: Sophia, Eustace, and Josephine; Roger (the youngest son) and his wife; an Aunt (Aristide's sister-in-law who came after her sister died); and lastly, a private tutor. One of them was widely believed to have been injecting Aristide with a dose of eserine, instead of insulin. But which one? Everyone has the opportunity - Aristide had practically provided the method of his murder to everyone. And so, the motive is what the police are seeking.

🩰 Brenda and Laurence were the "perfect" suspects. They're outsiders, and how convenient it would be that they are the murderer. But are they? Charles did his job quite nicely, mingling with the family, and got them to talk to him. His concern was for Josephine who likes snooping around, listening at doors, and playing detective. She knows too much (even bragging about knowing whodunnit), and likes to write everything in her black notebook. Charles' father asked him to watch her very closely, for her own sake. But he failed at that, because one day Josephine was found lying unconscious from a blow to her head. The murderer strikes again! They need to find the murderer as soon as possible, but which one?

🩰 Crooked House is one of Christie's fine analysis of the psychology of a murderer. What makes a murderer commit the murder? Charles' father described the characteristics of a murderer; it's a pity that Charles used more of his heart than his 'grey cell' when valuing his fiance's family. Christie also presented the theory of hereditary quite splendidly. Each member of the family, especially the direct descendants of Aristide Leonides possesses certain characteristics - good and bad, either from him or his late wife. All these aspects make this book a gem! I still loved it after this second or third reading, and though I won't ever forget the ending, I'll keep rereading it every some years.

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20 Books of Summer 2025

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