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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The Housekeeper and the Professor (2005) by Yōko Ogawa #WITMonth #20BooksofSummer2025

🔢 In 1975, a brilliant Professor of Mathematics had a car accident, which caused a severe head injury, with a peculiar side effect. His memory of events before the accident is intact, but after 1975, the Professor lives with short-term memory of only eighty minutes. It means that after eighty minutes, his memory would be completely erased, except for that of 1975 and before. "In the simplest terms, it's as if he has a single, eighty-minute videotape inside his head, and when he records anything new, he has to record over the existing memories."

🔢 A housekeeper who works for an agency, was hired by the Professor's widowed sister-in-law, to keep house for the Professor, who is now on his sixties. He lives in a small cottage, adjunct to the sister-in-law's house. Eight other housekeepers had been hired and left, and so this one (we never get to know her name) was a little apprehensive when she arrived at the first day. The Professor is quite peculiar in appearance; his suit was worn, and several scraps of notepaper with his handwriting were pinned on it. It was his way of remembering important things. The most important one seems to be the one with "my memory lasts for eighty minutes", but after the arrival of the new housekeeper, he has a new one that says: "the new housekeeper" with a sketch of a woman's face. And that appears to be the beginning of a deep friendship.

🔢 The Professor is fond of numbers. His first greeting to the new housekeeper was: "What's your shoe number"? It's an odd way to say to a new acquaintance, but it's his way to cover his nervousness or awkwardness. After one produces him any number (shoe, telephone, birthdate, and so on), he would give you a theorem of prime numbers or factorial numbers. But the story gets much more interesting when the housekeeper's son came into the scene. He was nicknamed "Root" by the Professor, as the top of his head is flat, just like the square root symbol. Apparently the Professor cares so much for the boy, and since then, an intimate friendship wrought itself between the three unlikely persons. Either around the dinner table, or the baseball stadium, they were always happy in each other's company.

🔢 I think the biggest question that the author, Yōko Ogawa, wanted us to reflect is, whether it is possible to have an intimate relationship when one does not have memory. How can you have a deep affection to someone whom you completely forgot you've ever met before? That is something I have never thought before. Is our relationships built from things we enjoyed in the past? And if we're get rid of that; if we see the other as a stranger each time, will we recognize the bond, even if we don't understand why or how? Interesting isn't it?

🔢 On the whole, this is a thought provoking story. You'll enjoy it more, perhaps, if you love Math and/or baseball. I don't both, but I still enjoy the trio's deep relationship.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐1/2

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My Side of the Mountain (1959) by Jean Craighead George

🌳 Sam Gribley, a boy of about thirteen or fifteen, ran away from home, and determined to live on Catskill Mountains of upstate New York, the land of Gribley's ancestors. Every boy must have thought of running away and living in the wild; few perhaps made it true, but mostly for one or two days only before they went home. Sam Gribley, though, made it for months! And this book is telling you of his adventures, complete with detailed account of Sam's day to day activities; his way of securing shelter, water, and food, and how his wit guides him to survive even the snowiest days in winter.

🌳 Sam made his house by hollowing-up a huge and sturdy tree. How'd he done it? By learning a lot about living in the wild from books in the library. How to fish, how to burn the inside of a tree to hollow it, and how to make fire (he failed on his first night, but eventually became a pro after learning from a farmer he encountered). He eats fish he caught by his self-made rod, and learns to season it from plants or roots he forages from the forest. Sam also knows how to set traps for small animals like rabbits. But his ingenious idea came to him after watching a falcon flew on the sky. He stole a young Falcon from the nest (the mother certainly couldn't count!), and trained it to hunt food - very clever!

🌳 One of the setbacks of living alone in the wild is loneliness. Well, Sam is never very lonely. He has Frightful's - the falcon - company, but he also befriends a weasel he nicknamed the Baron. Well, it's not really Sam's pet like Frightful, but the three creatures live side by side in harmony. Sam's 'biggest' threat is rather from human being, than the animals or the weather. From campers (during summer) and hunters, to old ladies picking wild strawberries, who told reporters about the wild boy living in the forest. But the one he did make friend with is a man whom he nicknamed Bando, as he first thought him a bandit, but actually a schoolteacher who'd been lost. Funnily enough, this man - Bando - nicknamed Sam as Thoreau; what an appropriate name! I loved their friendship and everything they are doing together.

🌳 On the whole, it is delightful adventure story; informative, funny, refreshing, and insightful. The most hilarious part for me is perhaps when Sam decided to throw a Halloween party for the forest's inhabitants. He collects foods and placed them neatly around the tree. It was thrilled to see the animals' joyful gathering that night. However, at sunrise the morning after, Sam found that the party isn't over! The animals, no doubt ran out of food, ransacked Sam's inventory for the upcoming winter. And they made a whole mess in his tree house. It seems that all party is always the same, whether with human or animal guests - you inevitably found such mess the morning after. Human guests are slightly better because they know when the party is over, but the animals just didn't know when to stop!!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2

Nancy Drew: The Hidden Staircase (1930) by Carolyn Keene

🕵🏻‍♀️ I remember perfectly when Nancy Drew entered the reading radar of my younger self; it's in between the Enid Blyton and Agatha Christie phases. I also read Hardy Boys, but only a few, it's not as riveting as Nancy Drew (or Alfred Hitchcock's Three Investigators, which came to me at the same phase). The Hidden Staircase was the second in the series, and if I have read it before, I completely forget. So, I have read it as if it's my first Nancy Drew - and I loved it!

🕵🏻‍♀️ Nancy Drew is an only child of the Drews; her mother had died, so she lives with her father, a criminal lawyer. One day, as she's alone in the house, a man called Nathan Gombet confronted her. He demanded to see Mr. Drew and accused him of having swindled the his money (which Nancy's 100% certain as impossible). Nancy threw him away finally, but the visit rather worried Nancy. Then she met two middle-aged sisters who lived in a dilapidated mansion house called Twin Elms. They believe the house was haunted; footsteps were heard at night, things or foods were mysteriously missing, and things like that. So, when her father left for a week on a mission, she decided to stay in the house to investigate, and helped the kind ladies to find peace again at their house.

🕵🏻‍♀️ Nancy checked every room, every walls, to find hidden doors or entrance where an intruder could have come from outside (as she didn't believe that ghosts are the culprit). It must have been a joke, or else, a crime. But none existed, or so Nancy thought, because I have immediately saw something fishy when the rooms and furniture were described. I was literally screamed at Nancy: there! you must check there! And I was right at the end. I guess I've read too many mysteries that something out of ordinary immediately intrigued me. Anyway, no entrance was found, but a person did enter the house at nights, and stole things. Worse for Nancy, her father was missing too! Are those two facts connected? And what about Nathan Gombet who swore he would get what he thought is his rights?

🕵🏻‍♀️ On the whole, it's unexpectedly a fast-paced mystery/detective/adventure thriller with wonderful plot, and satisfactory ending. I loved how Nancy Drew was portrayed; an independent, resourceful, highly intelligent girl who is generous and kindhearted. I liked how Nancy defended her father against Gombet's accusation. You know right away how she had been brought up with love and respect by a respectable parents. It is nice to know for sure that your father wouldn't do anything bad.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Agatha Christie Short Stories 2025: AUGUST Reviews #AgathaChristieSS25

THE BLOOD STAINED PAVEMENT

As the Thursday Murder Club reconvened, Joyce retold her eerie adventure in Spain. While sketching during her holiday, a young couple arrived to stay at the same hotel. At the same time a red car arrived, and a striking woman in red came out of it. She was the husband's old acquaintance, and was the very opposite of his subdued wife's plain appearance. The three of them went for a swim on a little island.

Meanwhile, Joyce spotted a red taint on the pavement, which a local man shared that it's believed to foretell a death would occur. And right enough, the wife that stayed at the hotel was found dead, while her husband and friend were out swimming.

This story reminded me instantly of Evil Under the Sun. And in this instance, Miss Marple correctly guessed what happened, while the others didn't even think it a murder case. It mixes superstitions and a good plot of murder. However, as it's too closely similar to one of Christie's famous novels, it just felt redundant.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

THE MANHOOD OF EDWARD ROBINSON

Edward Robinson is engaged to a sensible girl called Maud, under whose thumb, had agreed to marry very soon, despite of his preference to postpone until his prospects improve. Edward loves to read novels, and always admires the self-confidence of the men in those stories. He impetuously entered a competition, won a 500 pounds prize, and bought a car. Edward didn't tell Maud about this, as he knew she would insist to save the money for their wedding.

On his Christmas holiday, Edward drove the car into the country - again, without telling Maud. He felt the thrill of freedom as he sped on with his shiny red two-seater along the country road. After sunset he parked his car, and had a walk before leaving for home. However, he mistakenly took another red car when he came back, which was exactly like his, and found a diamond necklace on the its side pocket, and a note with instruction to meet someone at a local village. Edward impulsively obeyed, and met a beautiful young woman who thought that he's the brother of a man she knew. It turned out that the necklace was a stolen object, but Edward played along. How would Edward free himself from this exiting but dangerous situation? And what would Maud do to him when she knew the truth?

This is neither a murder nor mystery story, but it's an exhilarating one that promised to make a very fun and satisfying reading!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2

Quartet in Autumn (1977) by Barbara Pym #20BooksofSummer2025

🍁 Letty, Marcia, Norman, and Edwin are four early-sixties co-workers who work on the same office. It's not very clear what office that is. I think it's more of a social organization. What kind of work the quartet is doing, I also have no idea. One thing is for sure, they are on the brink of retirement. I believe Pym made their jobs vague on purpose; to emphasize the meaninglessness late middle-aged people might feel in these circumstances. They were there, having their own desk, etc., but with no particular job to do. Like an outcast whom everyone just wait rather impatiently to formally get rid of them. 

🍁 They (and their jobs) are so insignificant, that even the organization won't hire replacements when they're retired. Yet, they are the same as everyone else; they have hopes and fears, searching for happiness, and with a little apprehension about the new life they're about to embark. From the quartet, Letty and Norman are never married. Letty is a kind and caring person, and embraces her independent existence. She was promised to share a country house with her bosom friend, but the friend decided to marry the vicar at the last moment, which threw away Letty's hope. But does she really want that kind of life? Norman is living alone at his bedsitter. He's rather a cranky, eccentric old man, maybe a bit jealous of his friend Edwin, a pious widower, who lives comfortably at his own house. 

🍁 Marcia is the most eccentric of all. She, too, a widower who lives comfortably at her own house - a quite big house with garden. But she's an eccentric miser, who hoards tinned foods and places them neatly on her kitchen cupboards, and keeps her expensive clothes but wears worn ones instead. She and Letty were first to go into retirement, while the two men were still working. The quartet had had a forced intimation during their working together, but strangely, they were closer together right after Marcia and Letty retired. This fact just highlighted the notes of loneliness they all feel - alone, helpless, and insignificant - a feeling that people in sixties and beyond always feel; deeper and deeper until the end.

🍁 In a way, this is not a very cheerful story to read, especially when you are in mid thirties or younger. But for middle-agers like me, it served as a warning, or a glimpse of what to come. It is a little scary, but as it's inevitable, it's better to prepare early, is it not? Back to the story, don't worry, it's not as bleak as it sounds. It's actually rather funny and entertaining, and a happy little twist awaits you on the last corner!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

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The Swiss Summer (1951) by Stella Gibbons #20BooksofSummer2025

🗻 As forty-something Lucy Cottrel, who's been boring with city life of London, received an unexpected invitation to spend summer at a Swiss chalet near Interlaken, she couldn't possibly resist. Lucy's marriage is a happy, but childless one; and she's been longing for a quieter life. Then, on her visit to her friend's house, the friend took her to an elderly widow called Lady Dagleish. The rich old lady owns a chalet on the Swiss Alp, built by her late husband, who, the very opposite of his wife, loved nature much more than social company. Seeing how delightful Lucy Cottrel was when the Swiss chalet was mentioned, Lady Dagleish invited her in a whim, to accompany her companion, Freda Blandish, to stay at the chalet during summer to do inventory of its contents.

🗻 Longing to stay away from London social life, Lucy accepted the invitation, and off she goes one fine morning, boarded on a train, and "pinned on her coat was a bunch of gentians given to her in loving farewell by her husband". Not without apprehension, though, for she knew nothing about Mrs. Blandish, whom, on their first meeting, seemed to dislike her. But the prospect of spending three months on the Swiss Alps, at a quiet chalet, restored her hopes.

🗻 At first, Lucy was delighted with the fresh mountain air, the serene view of the Jungfrau summit from her bedroom window, and the prospect of taking a walk up the mountain everyday. Not even the sour-faced Utta, the loyal servant of Lady Dagleish, seemed to be a nuisance. However, Lucy's dream of quiet life was soon diminished; first by the appearance of Astra Blandish, Freda Blandish' daughter, then the arrival of more people. Lucy was much appalled that Freda Blandish hid the fact that she invited those people from Lady Dagleish, and hoped that Lucy, too, would not reveal it in her frequent letters to Lady D. Lucy hated the situation, but she's the kind of person who can't say no, and to accept things as they are is more convenient than creating a scene. Midway through summer, two young people arrived at the chalet (they are actually permitted by Lady D as Lucy's guests - Bertram and Peter), and soon, love is in the air for the young girls, Astra and Kay (one of the guests).

🗻 However, Mrs. Blandish - who had been promised to inherit the chalet upon Lady D's death - went finally too far by receiving a paying guest. Paying to herself, that is - and of course, hiding it from Lady D. Lucy didn't like it, and Utta the caretaker, hated them all, out of her loyalty to her boss.  

🗻 On the whole, it is a charming story. Its main attraction is, firstly, the beautiful Swiss Alps scenery, and its fresh, cool mountain air, which I could almost feel during my reading. Then, the colorful characters; each portrayed vividly by Gibbons, which provided some of the hilarious scenes along the story. Although this story has neither strong plot, nor character growth, I enjoyed every scene. From the walking and climbing of the hills, the beautiful scenery, the cafe with red and white checked tablecloth where they stopped for rest and a cup of coffee or apricot ice, the youngsters' adventures, and love makings. Each provides delight and freshness to our otherwise rather dreary existences! I also loved the ending, while it's not too conclusive for some characters, it's satisfying and even rather poetic. It is, anyway, a vignette of happy life, in a short period of holiday, that left deep impression to hold on to as long as we live.

 Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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