The Secret
of Chimneys by Agatha Christie
It is almost
impossible to write a proper summary for this 6th novel of Agatha Christie.
It's a very fast-paced crime story with abundant characters; contains of a
balanced dose of murder, stolen document, treasure hunt, and international
political-economical scheme of a Balkan state: Herzoslovakia (restoring
monarchy vs oil concession - which, naturally, involves British government and
oil syndicates). In short, it's a confusing thriller from the start!
Superintendent
Battle is supposed to be the detective from Scotland Yard - this is our first
introduction, he will appear in several future books - but the main male
character is in fact an attractive-dark-skinned adventurer with shady past
called Anthony Cade. We would be led to suspicion whether he was the good or
the bad guy. It applies also to the main female character Virginia Revel (it
involves some romance too, ahem!) We were also introduced to an elusive jewelry
thief "King Victor" (reminded you of Mr. Brown and ..., eh?) and his
female accomplice, who later becomes the queen of Herzoslovakia. Confused
already? Add that with a lot of false identities, and you'll get a high crime
thriller which is good when you're reading it straight, but right after you
finish and want to look back, you'll forget the whole plot.
Chimneys feels really like a blend of The Man in the Brown Suite and Murder on the Links. Again, not of my
favorites, but a highly entertaining novel to be read when you are feeling lazy
or still in hangover after an intense read, or are in holiday mood - just like
me! And that's why I rated this book:
3,5 / 5
Camino
Island by John Grisham
I normally
don't review popular fiction in this blog, however, this Grisham's particular
novel talks a lot about books - especially 20th century classics novels and
authors - as well as bookstores, and writers, that I decided to publish the
review here.
Five
original manuscripts of F. Scott Fitzgerald (This Side of Paradise, The
Beautiful and Dammed, Tender is the Night, The Great Gatsby, and The Last Tycoon) were stolen from
Princeton University Library on a heist plotted by five ex convicts. It should
have been a perfect crime, if one of the thefts hasn't scratched his wrist and
left his blood stain to be found and traced by the FBI. Two of them were immediately
captured, so the others quickly brought the manuscripts away and threw them to
black market, with the intention to retrieve them after the case cools off.
Bruce Cable
is a self-made independent bookstore owner in Camino Island, after he inherited
large sum of money AND found some rare books from his father's book shelf. He
loves books, and collects a lot of rare first editions of twentieth century
books. He possesses a vault in his basement, and is good in handling and
preserving old books. Not only that, he also loves to support new aspiring
writers. He arranges book tours for them, mobilizes his writers circle and
friends to attend their book signings, inviting them to dinners, connecting
them to other literary people, in short being a friend and mentor to them.
However, Bruce has his dark side too. His love of rare books plunges him to the
black market and all its shady businesses, though he admits he always reports
the income and pays the taxes. It's quite interesting to follow his career.
The insurance
company, whose client is Princeton, suspected that Bruce might have gotten the
manuscripts, so they hired a struggling writer: Mercer Hann to spy on him,
infiltrate his bookstore, and if possible, enter his vault. Mercer is another
interesting character to follow; broken home, choked by student loan debt, and
her books failed. She found peace, affectionate friends, and consolation in
Camino Island, staying in the cabin who belonged to her deceased grandmother,
apparently the only person in the world who has really loved her.
So, Camino Island is one of Grisham's where
the line between good and bad is blurred. I know that making money over stolen
goods is wrong, but still I loathed the FBI gangs and hoped that Bruce
succeeded. Well...
4 / 5 for this
entertaining piece!