Because of Sam (1954) by Molly Clavering #DeanStreetDecember

🐶 After my satisfying read of Molly Clavering's Near Neighbours, I decided to take one more of hers for my final entry of #DeanStreetDecember. Because of Sam was my choice, and what a perfect one it proved to be!

🐶 Upon his death, Millie Maitland's husband left her almost nothing besides their house, Fernieknowe, and their only daughter Amabel. So bleak their condition were, that Millie's lawyer, Mr. Ramsay, proposed Millie to marry him. She wisely rejected it, and made a living as a dog boarder, or in modern day, household dog care facility - a rare occupation, let alone of women, at that time.

🐶 She's saved by an inheritance from her husband's great aunt, though it was given to Amabel. But Millie is a kindhearted, generous woman who doesn't grudge the slight injustice, but lives peacefully on her meagre income from her dogs, and the company of the acerbic and sharp-tongued daughter Amabel.

🐶 Now, in her middle age, two middle-aged men entered her peaceful existence. One is Mr. Martin Heriot, who, besides enjoying her company and homely cooking, asked Millie to take Sam, a black Labrador belongs to his 'cousin'. Millie suspects that Martin's frequent visits to Fernieknowe aren't just to see Sam's condition - it must be that he's in love with Amabel - or is he? The other frequented is Mr. Ramsay, the lawyer. Amabel suspects he's renewing his proposal to her mother, which she witnessed years ago - but is he?

🐶 That kind of romance is good, but would be rather dull without complications, isn't it? Enter the beautiful Mrs. Noble, whose husband has been abroad, and for whom men usually lose their heads. Martin Heriot seemed to be her first 'victim', though later on she moved her course to newly married Jack Ross. The Rosses are Millie's friends, and she's fond of them. So, when things seemed out of control, she came to the rescue.

🐶 On the whole, it's a charming, comforting, heartwarming story - the quality you expect from Molly Clavering. She did it again to me, and I'm sure I'll continue reading her books, at least for #DeanStreetDesember. Molly Clavering was D.E. Stevenson's friend and neighbor. They have similar writing styles, but I find Molly's more gentle but satisfying. She's my newly found favorite author of the year!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2

Read this for:

Dean Street December #DeanStreetDecember

hosted by Liz @ Adventures in reading, running and working from home

Kate Hardy (1947) by D.E. Stevenson #DeanStreetDecember

💚 When a lady bought the Dower House which Mr. Richard Morven from the Manor House had put for sale, it piqued the curiosity of the whole village of Old Quinings. The lady is Kate Hardy, a best seller novelist who impulsively bought the house to escape from her self-centered sister Milly and her spoiled niece Minta, whom she had brought to live with her at her London flat after the war.

💚 Kate, who had expected to be able to write peacefully in the countryside, was quite surprised by the variety of characters she encountered daily. Not mentioning the village life drama in the postwar; from the possible romance for herself between the estate owner (whom everyone believes is a suitable candidate for her) and the village war-hero, the son of her cleaning woman; to a poison pen campaign, and childish games.

💚 Like any D.E. Stevenson's, this one is a charming story of an independent woman, a city girl who lives and tries to mingle with the villagers. As a single woman with self income and self confidence, Kate faces what women like her at that era faces - bloodsucker relatives and gossips. I could well relate with Kate in how she hates, and tends to avoid, drama. Like her, I also find relatives are quite annoying sometimes. And like her, too, it is rather difficult to find friend who really understands me, and with whom I can find an equal. 

💚 On the whole, Kate Hardy is a comforting, witty, and funny story, sprinkled with a bit of mystery, superstition, and romance. Oh, and a glimpse of daily life of an author. It might not be my favorite from Stevenson (I found it less neatly ended), but I still enjoyed it very much.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Read this for:

Dean Street December #DeanStreetDecember

hosted by Liz @ Adventures in reading, running and working from home

A Winter Away (1957) by Elizabeth Fair #DeanStreetDecember

💜 Maud left her overbearing stepmother to stay with her relative in the countryside: cousin Alice and her companion Miss Conway or Con. Her cousin had arranged a job for Maud, as secretary to an old eccentric miser: Mr. Feniston, or Old M.

💜 Maud herself is a shy and 'delicate' girl. The kind that unfortunate incidents often befall onto. I think the center of her problem is her stepmother; she grew up lacking of confidence, and this makes her shy. Maud is actually a quite smart girl, albeit naive, and competent secretary.

💜 Settling into her new job, Maud begins to meet more interesting characters. Charles and Oliver Feniston are the most important, as they provide possibility for romance. At first Maud was more drawn to Charles, the son in exile, so to speak. Old M had quarreled with him, and broke the relationship. The temperamental Oliver seemed to be Old M favorite, though he couldn't seem to stay for more than a few days until another quarrel would break.

💜 The love plot is dragging on until almost the end. It's funny but sometimes frustrating how Maud is struggling to recognize her own feeling, and what's really happened. However, the second characters (and their background stories) are mostly interesting. From the jealous Con with her mischievous pranks aimed to the unwitting Maud, to Maud's friend Ensie with her selfish father to her love of a vicar lover. It should have been a totally charming book, but it gets rather boring near the end. And the end itself felt rather too abrupt and less neat. But in general, it's a warm and comforting story.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐1/2

Read this for:

Dean Street December #DeanStreetDecember

hosted by Liz @ Adventures in reading, running and working from home

Near Neighbours (1956) by Molly Clavering #DeanStreetDecember

Book Beginnings on Fridays (hosted by Rose City Reader)

The elegant oval of Kirkaldy Crescent was placed on the downward slope from Queensferry Street with such consummate art that it looked ad though it had arrived there by happy chance.

🌳 Miss Dorothea Balfour of Kirkaldy Crescent No. 4 has been dominated all her life, first by her father, then, after his death, by her elder sister Belle. Now that her sister was dead, she is free finally - free to do anything she likes. Free, for example, to observe her neighbors, the Lenoxes, who occupy no. 16, from her window. Miss Dorothea is always interested in her neighbors' lives, and so very delighted when one of the Lenox girls impulsively made a visit to the poor old lady at no. 4.

Friday 56 Quote (hosted by Heads Full of Books):

She sounded so wistful that Rowan said: "I would love to call you 'Miss Dorothea' if you didn't think it cheek."

That was the beginning of the warm and affectionate relationship between the two near neighbours.

🌳 Willow, Rowan, Hazel, and Holly - that's how Mr. and Mrs. Lenox had named their girls - from trees. The only son, Murray, escaped this faith, and got a normal name. These five young ones are the center of this story, with the old ones, Miss Dorothea and her brother-in-law, who joined her at Kirkaldy Cresent soon after, as a lingering background. Their fates and lives are intertwined with the young ones, but theirs are more subdued, though not the least significant. I've had suspicions of the brother-in-law along the book, is he really what he says he is? Or will he cause trouble for the naïve Miss Dorothea? The toxic relationship Rowan had had with the dancer was quite alarming too, and I'm glad how it ended.

🌳 With less of a plot, Clavering has cleverly woven the slices of every day life into a charming story. From ex-marital problem to little romances; from awkward adolescence to work-and-love relationship - everything is plausible; sweet, but not overdone. The result is a tender, charming, a bit funny, and heartwarming, wholesome read. If you ever need a book for comfort, this one will be perfect!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2

Read for:

Dean Street December #DeanStreetDecember

hosted by Liz @ Adventures in reading, running and working from home

Announcing Agatha Christie Short Stories 2025 #AgathaChristieSS25

I'm glad to announce that the Agatha Christie Short Stories Read Along is back for the second year: 2025! I've enjoyed it this year, and decided to do another....

AGATHA CHRISTIE SHORT STORIES 2025

What is it?

• Reading & reviewing Christie's short stories as standalones.
• Two short stories a month, starting from 1st January to 31st December 2024.
• I have curated twenty four stories with equal proportions of the Poirot's, Miss Marple's, Tommy & Tuppence's, and some of the non detectives. I omitted the Harlequin's and Parker Pyne's next year, since they were not of my favorites in 2024. And this time I picked stories from four collections only, so we won't need to provide too many books for the read along. Without further ado, here's...

The Reading List

 
JANUARY: The Adventure of the Cheap Flat (Poirot) - from Poirot Investigates
JANUARY: A Fairy in the Flat (Tommy & Tuppence) - from Partners in Crime
FEBRUARY: The Tuesday Night Club (Miss Marple) - from The Thirteen Problems
FEBRUARY: The Listerdale Mystery (NN) - from The Listerdale Mystery
MARCH: The Mystery of Hunter's Lodge (Poirot) - from Poirot Investigates
MARCH: A Pot of Tea (Tommy & Tuppence) - from Partners in Crime
APRIL: The Idol House of Astarte (Miss Marple) - from The Thirteen Problems
APRIL: Philomel Cottage (NN) - from The Listerdale Mystery
MAY: The Million Dollar Bond Robbery (Poirot) - from Poirot Investigates
MAY: The Affair of the Pink Pearl (Tommy & Tuppence) - from Partners in Crime
JUNE: Ingots of Gold (Miss Marple) - from The Thirteen Problems
JUNE: Sing a Song of Sixpence (NN) - from The Listerdale Mystery
JULY: The Adventure of the Egyptian Tomb (Poirot) - from Poirot Investigates
JULY: The Adventure of the Sinister Stranger (Tommy & Tuppence) - from Partners in Crime
AUGUST: The Blood Stained Pavement (Miss Marple) - from The Thirteen Problems
AUGUST: The Manhood of Edward Robinson (NN) - from The Listerdale Mystery
SEPTEMBER: The Jewel Robbery at the Grand Metropolitan (Poirot) - from Poirot Investigates
SEPTMEBER: The Case of the Missing Lady (Tommy & Tuppence) - from Partners in Crime
OCTOBER: Motive vs. Opportunity (Miss Marple) - from The Thirteen Problems
OCTOBER: Accident (NN) - from The Listerdale Mystery
NOVEMBER: The Kidnapped Prime Minister (Poirot) - from Poirot Investigates
NOVEMBER: Blindman's Buff (Tommy & Tuppence) - from Partners in Crime
DECEMBER: The Thumb Mark of St. Peter (Miss Marple) - from The Thirteen Problems
DECEMBER: A Fruitful Sunday (NN) - from The Listerdale Mystery

How it works

• Early each month I will post a reminder of what two stories we will read that month, as well as any background info, if any. You can put links to your reviews of the month in the comment section.
• You're free to put reviews of two stories in one post if you like, or in two separate posts, as long as it's published within the allocated month.
• You're free to post on your blog, twitter, goodreads, or instagram. Just note that I might not do instagram posts/comments, but as long as you put the link in the comment, others might find your reviews.
• You can join in whichever month/story you'd like, no obligation to complete all - it's not a real challenge! As long as you read them within the month.
• Don't forget to visit, read, and comment each other's review - it's always fun to exchange idea/opinion with others who read the same thing with you!
• The hashtag we will use: #AgathaChristieSS25

Will you join me next year?

Jade Dragon Mountain (2015) by Elsa Hart

🏮 Jade Dragon Mountain is Elsa Hart's debut historical mystery novel, set in Dayan, a small mountainous town at the Chinese border with Tibet, in 18th century. Our sleuth is Li Du, an imperial librarian in exile, who is visiting his cousin, who were the magistrate of Dayan, during his journey. Dayan was an insignificant town in the vast empire, but at present it's proudly preparing for the upcoming visit of the Emperor himself, as a total solar eclipse would occur in several days.

🏮 Chinese people at that time believed that the Emperor himself was able to command an astronomical event such as solar eclipse. And it was paramount that his people would watch as the Emperor commanded the sun himself. Failed to do so, he would lose dignity and his people's trust in his divinity. It was going to be a grand spectacle, and the magistrate was dreaming to get promotion had the festival been succeeded. Unfortunately, a murder threatened to thwart the magistrate's plans. And it's up to Li Du to solve it before the Emperor's arrival, or else, his future, too, would equally be bleak.

🏮 The murdered victim was a foreigner, a Jesuit priest called Brother Peter. He died instantly after drinking his tea. The Jesuits had a big influence in the kingdom, as advisers of its Bureau of Astronomy. It was the Jesuits who created annual calendars of astronomical events. And that's how the Emperor actually knew when the next solar eclipse would happen, and timed his arrivals well to arrive in time with it.

🏮 Li Du's investigation revealed the intrigue, conspiracy, and politics inside the magistrate's mansion as well as within the kingdom. Who, among its present occupants, was the murderer? Was it the magistrate himself? Or his first consort, who's afraid to be left alone if the magistrate was to be promoted to Beijing? Could it be the fanatic nationalist of the magistrate's secretary, or the old librarian? Or was it a foreigner who poisoned Brother Peter? There're another Jesuit priest who's staying there, and an East India Company merchant with his fascinating astronomical instrument. One of them could have wanted to do harm.|

🏮 All in all, this was an exciting read. The plot was not very complicated, perhaps. I guessed the whodunnit quite easily. But the historical aspect, the rather long but vivid descriptive mention of the building interior, streets, and public places, made up for it's rather weak plot. The author succeeded in bringing us to the 18th century of China, and her researches were superb. Loved it!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Babbacombe's (1941) by Susan Scarlett #DeanStreetDecember

Book Beginnings on Fridays (hosted by Rose City Reader)

We are this term losing a head girl who has been in every way splendid. For me, and for the staff, and the school, next term will be the poorer because Elizabeth Carson is not with us.

👗 I have read three Susan Scarlett's so far (two adults' and one children's), and they're all so satisfying, that I decided to keep exploring her books. Babbacombe's combined working life, family dynamics, and romance. Beth Carson is just finishing school with great marks, and is now ready to enter working life as a junior in Gowns department at the Babbacombe's - a department store belongs to old Mr. Babbacombe.

👗 Beth is lucky because she would join her father, who has been working at the same establishment for many years. How many girls could boast the privilege to go to and from work in their father's company and protection? That would be an ultimate father-daughter time. Providing they have an intimate and affectionate relationship, which the Carsons possess. They embody the perfect family one could ever wish - loving each other, and thriving in each others' being. And now it's time to throw some prickly pins into their blissful existence.

👗 First, a spoilt, self-centered cousin has arrived from the country to live with them: a Dulcie Carson. Her single aim is to get a rich husband. Then Edward, Beth's brother, begins to show early stages of cataracts which affect his sights. An operation would be performed to see whether his sights would be improved or go totally blind. A devastating condition that shakes the family. Lastly, old Babbacombe's ne'er-do-well bur handsome son, David Babbacombe, who entered Beth's life as she was trapped inside the lift with him, and scorned him for not earning his own money, which in turn inspired him to get a job at the Babbacombe's.

Friday 56 Quote (hosted by Heads Full of Books:

You know, she was a girl of sense. I'm not sure she wasn't right. How would it be if I came back into Babbacombe's? ~ David to his father

👗 It's not difficult to imagine how the story would go from here (and even how it would end). And your guesses wouldn't have been very far from true. This is that kind of story, but with a cheerful and affectionate tone, as well as vividly portrayed characters. The characters are the strongest point of this book. I loved the family's dynamic; the way they daily interact. You can feel that they belong to each other, and feel at ease among the others. They become companions and partners, though they keep respecting each according to their merits. It reminds me a lot of my own family. I loved too, that Scarlett didn't "punish" the antagonist too severely.

👗 Babbacombe's reminded me a lot of Émile Zola's The Ladies Paradise. Both have similarities; from the setting (a department store), to the heroine (Denise and Beth are both junior salesgirl in Gowns department), and they both fell in love with their bosses, though in Beth's case, the boss' son. Denise and Beth are also torn between the decency of class difference and their hearts, with Mouret and Babbacombe are both despaired by their girls' aloofness. I wonder if Susan Scarlett was inspired by The Ladies Paradise, though Scarlett's version was stripped of any Victorian's superfluous exaggeration, typical especially of Zola's. All in all, this is a charming story and perfect read for #DeanStreetDecember. Many thanks to Dean Street Press to republish it!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2

Read for:

Dean Street December #DeanStreetDecember

hosted by Liz @ Adventures in reading, running and working from home

Mini Reviews for #AgathaChristieSS24: December

The Chocolate Box

Poirot is telling Hastings his humiliating failure when he's still a detective in Belgian Police force. At the time when there's struggle between state and church in France, a fanatical anti-Catholic deputy was murdered just one day short of becoming Minister. Reluctantly, for Poirot was a Catholic himself (a surprising fact for me!), he took to the investigation. He found the clue in a new box of chocolate on the table; the mismatched color of the box and the lid was suspicious. The murdered man was fond of chocolate, and one of the house member or his guests must have put the poison inside of those chocolates. But who? Could Poirot solve the mystery based on the evident? Or did he made an incorrect solution?

I liked this one, a very simple and basic murder. Poirot failed this time because he hadn't acquired the art of psychology yet, and just depended on the facts. It is an iconic case too, because "chocolate box" would become Hasting's keyword to remind Poirot to be humble - which he fails all the time! LOL...

Rating:  ⭐⭐⭐⭐

A Christmas Tragedy

In a rather similar theme with Poirot's story, Miss Marple lamented that she had once failed to prevent a murder. She met a couple in a Hydro resort, and knew at once that the husband was getting a way to rid of his wife. She had warned the rather foolish but devoted wife, and was cautious not to let the couple alone. But the wife was found murdered one day, when the husband had a perfect alibi. Had Miss Marple, like Poirot, made a wrong deduction after all? Or was this a clever murder?

This one, by far, is my most favorite of Miss Marple's stories. The old spinster appears less vague than ever, and the murder plot is one of Christie's genius - seems simple but very clever.

Rating:  ⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2

Agatha Christie Short Stories 2024: DECEMBER #AgathaChristieSS24

Two more stories, and then we will complete our Agatha Christie Short Stories 2024 challenge! How have you fared? I wish you've been having fun with these stories - some are probably delightful, the others are boring. In general, I'm glad I've decided to do this. The question remains, should I do it again next year? But first, let's have a look at our two last stories for December. We'll have a Miss Marple and a Poirot - both are a bit Christmassy, and accidentally, have a similar theme. 

Keep scrolling down to see whether there will be another #AgathaChristieSS or not... 

THE CHOCOLATE BOX

Poirot’s only failed case. A French Deputy is found dead on the eve of becoming a minister. This is a rare example of Poirot acknowledging failure and also an account of his life in Brussels as a member of the police force.

First published as a book in the US version of the collection Poirot Investigates (1925), it wouldn’t appear in a UK collection until Poirot’s Early Cases (1974).

A CHRISTMAS TRAGEDY

Miss Marple meets a couple and immediately knows the husband means to kill the wife. But when the wife is found murdered, he has an alibi. Could our beloved amateur sleuth have made a mistake?

The story was published with its revised title in the 1932 collection The Thirteen Problems, and it has a similar plot device as in one of her famous novels.


Now, what about 2025? Will there be another #AgathaChristieSS? The answer is.... YES! We are going to do #AgathaChristieSS25! I will post the detail, including twelve titles that we will read, in a few weeks. Meanwhile, have fun with the December titles!