The Elusive Mrs. Pollifax (1971) by Dorothy Gilman #Reading1971

 

👒 On her third mission from CIA, the septuagenarian Mrs. Emily Pollifax was given a task to convey eight forged passport into Bulgaria, to help members of the underground political movement to flee the country. As usual, despite of the seemingly simple task, Mrs. Pollifax embarked on another more thrilling adventure. It all started when Mr. Carstairs visited Mrs. Pollifax's apartment (it's the first time he saw her on her natural habitat, so to speak). She's embrace a new hobby (besides karate lessons), which is growing, in her balcony, night-blooming cereus - a species of flowering cactus, which, true to its name, only blooms at only a single night. But of course, she must leave her flower for a while, to embark on a new adventure to Bulgaria. But the positive side is, she's to get a new hat intricately trimmed with flower and bird, which was especially designed to hide that eight forged passports she must smuggle to the country. 

Night-blooming Cereus, source: Wikipedia

👒 Unbeknownst to her, however, Mr. Carstair had cheekily slipped something else inside her coat. He shouldn't do that, in my opinion. It's a dangerous game to play with amateur spy-courier, don't you think? Another complication, which Mr. Carstairs would never had imagined, came from Mrs. Pollifax's brief acquaintance with her fellow flight passenger: Philip Trenda. He's a young American college student who's travelling together with several friends to Bulgaria. As often happened, Mrs. Pollifax's affectionate heart usually brought her to further complications. Not that she ever failed to emerge triumphantly from every obstacles. This time, when a young girl called Debbie, a friend of Philip Trenda, brought news about Philip's being arrested by secret police, just after her arrival at Sofia, of course Mrs. Pollifax could not ignore it, could she? 👒 I don't why, but this book felt a little bit off for me. Usually I would immersed into the adventure (and usually there's aplenty of it), but this time, things get excited only when the rescue of Philip Trenda from his captivity in the Panchevsky Institute began. It was quite a mission-impossible, and only Mrs. Pollifax's genuine thinking and encouragement that made it success. The earlier part of the novel was a bit weary; the Balkan tourist agent and Mrs. Pollifax's encounters, while provided a little hilarious conversation, felt redundant. I'm sorry to say, this is rather a disappoinment, but I would still be reading the series through. Davida @ The Chocolate Lady's Book Review Blog has reviewed the fifth book, and mentioned it as the best so far, so I have a lot of expectation on this one. But maybe I should give Mrs. Pollifax a break next year, and come back to her more fresh the year next.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐1/2

The Golden Collar (1968) by Elizabeth Cadell

 

💚 My first ever Elizabeth Cadell brought me to Portugal with delight. It follows David Eliot, an architect who grew up in England, but has inclination to live in Brazil. But before he got chance to secure his career in Brazil, he was offered a job in Sir Bertram's establishment. Sir Bertram is a wealthy and powerful man; the kind who always get what he has set to get, either with money, or cunning. David first got entangled in the bargain by Marly Tranter, Sir Bertram's daughter, a beautiful but overbearing girl who inherits her father's personality. In the end, with a perfect engagement and a promising career, David was stuck in a place where, he slowly realized, he might never fits in; and to get there, he had to sacrifice everything he loved, especially his freedom. Hence, the golden collar - including the chain - had been set upon David.  

💚 Sir Bertram sent David and Marly to Portugal to secure a deal over a property, set in a strip of beautiful and secluded beach in the Algarve region. It was to be the couple's wedding present; so in this case, David would have added interest in accomplishing his mission. The property belongs to a highly respectable widow amongst her people, whom they called Senhora Silva. To foreigners, Senhora Silva seems to be an eccentric woman, who refuses wealthy foreigners who offer her big money to buy her property, while she herself is living in a dilapidated big house. The truth is, Senhora Silva is weary over the foreigner's harassment upon her peaceful existence. She dislikes these noisy boisterous tourists who arrive in their beautiful country to buy land and build holiday villas, where they would only live in few months of the year. In the process, they would change and ruin the country. Hence, her decision to close her door, meaning, refusing of selling. But Sir Bertram and Marly interpret Senhora Silva's closing door to merely a business haggle - it's impossible for any person to close their eyes over so much money (and Sir Bertram has that much). 💚 While trying to carrying out the task, David slowly comes to his senses about his engagement with Marly, as well as his position in the Bertrams. All this thanks to some of his new acquaintances who saw it before David is certain about his position. These new friends of him are including an American wealthy businessman who doesn't look one, an eccentric and bossy elderly woman, a Portuguese lawyer of Sir Bertram, and the elusive Senhora Silva herself - whom David eventually meet, causing astonishment to everyone. But most importantly, there's Teresa, Senhora Silva's niece. Teresa is the opposite of Marly in every way, and here we can see how David and Marly are very unsuitable from the beginning - how men can be thus deeply disillusioned, I will never understand. The rest is needless to say here, but although the plot is predictable, the process and the rough beauty of this Portugal coastal village are the main attraction of this book. Not mentioning, the lovely characters of David, Teresa, the demurred Senhora Silva, and even the dear Mr. Easter (the wealthy businessman). 💚 On the whole, this book feels light, but with a bit of depth in it also. For Senhora Silva and Teresa, money and wealth does not mean anything. They created a crèche facility for local young children in one of the Quinta do Infante (Senhora Silva's house complex) buildings. And this, as well as taking care of stray cats, apparently gave Teresa immense happiness, a wholesomeness in her life, that she decided to stay in the Quinta forever. In time, David too, is attracted with the serene and peaceful atmosphere of the place, and, of course, of the girl he falls in love. There's some funny moments too, usually involving Mr. Easter, what a dear old man he is! In short, I love everything about this book, and would certainly read more of Elizabeth Cadell in the future! Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2

Fell Murder (1944) by E.C.R. Lorac

 

🌾 The 24th instalment of Lorac's Robert Macdonald series, which combines murder mystery and the charm of farming village in the English countryside of Lunesdale. As usual with these stories, it runs a very slow pace. Robert Macdonald, the C.I.D, didn't even appear in about the first forty percent of the story. The story begins with some kind of reunion. Richard Garth has left his home, Garthmere Hall, in the moorland (fell) some nineteen years ago, over a big quarrel with his tyrannical father, now eighty years old Robert Garth. Richard met secretly with the Garths' bailiff. He just wanted to see again his beloved land, without seeing his family, in particular the father whom he hates.

🌾 The story then moved to Garthmere Hall, where we met the rest of the household: Marion Garth - the eldest daughter who loves farming and has been running the business alongside her father; Elizabeth Meldon - the land girl who helps around with farming; Charles Garth, Marion's brother who's just returned from Malay and who loathes the hard labor of farming; and Malcolm, the youngest son who's physically weak - a weakling who loves poetry more than farming. One morning, an accident involving a gun shot almost took Robert Garth's life. The gun belongs to Marion, and it shouldn't have been loaded. Who had loaded it, and why? Then on a hunting day, when the whole neighborhood carrying and shooting guns, Robert Garth was found dead, shot on his back. 🌾 At first, the local Inspector investigated the murder. However, his abrupt and straightforward manner didn't suit the slow pace rhythm of the dale, and he got nowhere. That's how Chief Inspector Robert Macdonald from Scotland Yard at last entered the scene. He begins by gaining respect and trust from the dales people, in the way of blending himself to the farming life. The dales people usually talk about the weather, and the farming, the crops etc. before finally get to the point. This Macdonald follows by instinct. And only then that he begins collecting clues and proofs. It's quite clear from the start that this was a closed-knitted family mystery (despite the fact of the hunt day, which might include outsiders). Now, who has the chance and motive to murder old Robert Garth, who had been ruling both his family and his farm with iron rod, and thus universally despised? 🌾 Needless to say that, as was with all Lorac's books with similar theme, this one has been a satisfying read for me. The slow pace was comforting, rather than annoying, as it enabled me to taste the farming life, and to get to know each character more closely. My favorite here is Elizabeth Molden - the passion which drives her hard working is pleasant to follow. Marion is also remarkable in her own passion, but she is nevertheless member of the family, who thus, has a direct interest to the farm's prosperity. But Elizabeth is an outsider, and to work for other people with that kind of passion is something one ought to be much grateful for. The plot itself is plausible. I have guessed the murderer without trouble, from their character traits, if not from their conversation. What a pleasant murder mystery to read, but only if you have penchant for slow living or farming. Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Read for:

Cloak and Dagger Reading Challenge 2026 hosted by Carol @ Carol's Notebook

20 Books of Summer 2026 and Reading the Meow 2026

Hooray to the return of two of the most anticipated yearly reading events for me! First is 20 Books of Summer 2026, which will be hosted by AnnaBookBel. She's going solo this year, but this reading event, which runs from June to August, was started by Cathy, then continued by AnnaBookBel and Emma last year. Also make its return in June, Reading the Meow 2026, hosted by Mallika. I have almost given this one up, thinking that Mallika was perhaps too busy to host, but I'm very grateful that she's just announcing it a bit later than usual. Anyway, here's the list of my possible reads:

20 Books of Summer 2026

1. The Guest Cat by Takashi Hiraide (2001) - also for #ReadingtheMeow2026
2. The Travelling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa (2012) - also for #ReadingtheMeow2026
3. To Fetch a Thief by Spencer Quinn (2010) 
4. In the Shadow of Man by Jane Goodall - also for my #Reading1971 5. A Secret Garden in Paris by Sophie Beaumont (2024) - also for #ParisInJuly 6. Murder on Wheels by Stuart Palmer (1932) 7. A Walk Across France by Miles Morland (1992) - also for #ParisInJuly 8. The Hidden Gardens of Paris by Susan Cahill (2012) - also for #ParisInJuly 9. French Windows by Antoine Laurain (2023) - also for #ParisInJuly 10. The Carter of "La Providence" by Georges Simenon (1931) - also for #ParisInJuly 11. When the Cranes Fly South by Lisa Ridzen (2024) - also for #WITMonth 12. Cider with Rosie by Laurie Lee (1959) 13. Mr Kato Plays Family by Milena Michiko Flasar (2018) - also for #WITMonth 14. Much Dithering by Dorothy Lambert (1938) 15. One Fine Day by Mollie Panter-Downes (1947) 16. The Narrowboat Summer by Anne Youngson (2020) 17. Murder at the Spring Ball by Benedict Brown (2021) 18. Three Bags Full by Leonie Swann (2005) 19. An Afternoon Walk by Dorothy Eden - also for my #Reading1971 20. Dear Mrs. Bird by A.J. Pearce (2018)

Reading the Meow 2026

1. The Guest Cat by Takashi Hiraide (2001) 2. The Travelling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa (2012) 3. Paw Prints in the Moonlight by Denis O' Connor (2004) Of course, they are possible reads only, I might or might not read them (or adding new titles instead). it all depends on the availability of the titles when I pick the books to read, and, as usual, it also depends largely on my mood. Anyway, have you read any of those titles? And would you participate in either reading events?

Murder at Mallowan Hall (2021) by Colleen Cambridge

✒️ Have you ever imagined what would happened if Agatha Christie were to deal with a real murder? Would she be as shrewd as the detectives she had penned, Poirot or Miss Marple? Well, this new series from Colleen Cambridge were to be as close as you can have to answer that. In this first book we were brought to Mallowan Hall, the fictional mansion of the Mallowans (Max and Agatha), and introduced to their housekeeper and amateur sleuth, Phyllida Bright, who was portrayed as shrewd and organized like Hercule Poirot. In fact, Poirot is Phyllida's hero. And of course, the first murder she's got to solve had taken place at Mallowan Hall.

✒️ The Mallowans was having a house party, and after a storm came just at the first night, another guest is gatecrashing the party: a journalist called Charles Waring. He was accepted upon the Mallowan's benevolence only, what with the storm and it's being late in the night. However, the next morning, when Phyllida entered the library, she found Waring's dead body, stabbed in the neck with a fountain pen (of all the weapon-to-be on the desk: letter opener, marble paper weight). The tragedy creates a havoc among the guests upstairs, and certainly among the staffs downstairs. And Phyllida, who hates disorder, believes it was down to her to solve the murder, without waiting for the Police Inspector to do so, so that everything could be soon back to normal, for her own, as much as for Agatha Christie's sake (she needed peace and order to finish her current book). ✒️ If you are fan to Agatha Christie, you would enjoy this book (and series). Not only that Phyllida Bright has passion of order and little grey cells almost as good as Hercule Poirot's, the sleuthing style itself is a homage to Agatha Christie's. I loved the building suspense before the second murder was about to happen, just like how Agatha Christie had often wrote. I loved also the Hercule-Poirot-denouement style - you know when he pointed finger to one suspect to make he or she squirmed, only to say next that he or she isn't the murder, until dramatically pointed to the real murder? Although Phyllida lacks Poirot's confidence and eloquent, it was amusing to follow nonetheless. But the greatest amuse for me, is perhaps how Cambridge made this murder as an inspiration for the Agatha Christie in the story to write her next book - you know, the body of a stranger found dead in one's library. If you're Christie's fan you would certainly know which book I'm referring to - hint: it's Miss Marple story. Another one is from Agatha Christie's conversation with Phyllida:
"After all, it was you who suggested a story with a victim who everyone thought was an accidental murder, but turned out she was really the actual target and had been killed by the supposed victim as a way to hide her villainy. That is still one of my favorite twist."

Now, I ask you, Agatha Christie fans, do you know which book that is?? No title, please, in case people have not read it!

✒️ I liked all the characters in this book. Phyllida is the most interesting; she lives up to her name: Bright. She has bright hair (fiery red?) and likes to wear bright-coloured clothes while out of work. Her relationship with Agatha Christie is similar to that of Florence Armstrong and Lady Hardcastle's in Lady Hardcastle series (another charming historical cozy mystery). Their friendship dated from their working together during the war. And so, to the outside world they are employer and servant, but in Agatha Christie's closed room, they are friends - although theirs aren't as liberal as Lady Hardcastle and Florence Armstrong's teasing and bantering, it's more of companionship of two people in the same level (they are Phyllie and Agatha between themselves). Phyllida and Christie usually talks about the case, and a little about Poirot and her books. It's not very surprising that Phyllida solved the murder all by herself, without any suggestion from Christie. ✒️ Another interesting character is Bradford, the chauffeur, a sardonic and surly man whose snorts on what Phyllida's saying annoys her greatly, but who had helped her a few times during the investigation. I'm excited to see where their relationship would go from here, and therefore cannot wait to dig into the next books in the series. All in all, this has been a delightful read - a cozy mystery with interesting characters, good portrayal of the downstairs lives of a manor house (imagine Downton Abbey), a nice plot twist with enough red herring, sprinkled with quite a racy motive, and styled similar to Christie's (which I believe, she would even have approved). If you love Agatha Christie, you'll certainly enjoy this series!
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2

Read for:

Cloak and Dagger Reading Challenge 2026 hosted by Carol @ Carol's Notebook

The Splendor of Ordinary Days (2015) by Jeff High

 

🩺 From the "ordinary days" in the title and the pastoral view of the cover, I have assumed that this novel would not be a far cry from James Herriot's All Creatures Great and Small or All Things Bright and Beautiful. Just replace the veterinarian with a physician, and move the setting from English countryside to American small town, and that's that. But there I was wrong. Once again, this reminded me to not judge a book from its cover; least of all, its title. 

🩺 Young Dr. Luke Bradford has just been settled in Watervalley, a small town in Tennessee. He had moved from a bigger town a few years ago, but up till now is still feeling like an outsider. At first the story begins with just... well... ordinary days of ordinary lives in a picturesque little town. I loved the banters between Luke and his.. uh.. housekeeper? Anyway, Connie cleans and cooks for him, so Luke could almost always expect to get a warm greeting from Connie and her sister Estelle (who are often welcomed their as visitor). Luke's interaction with his eccentric patients and townfolks are entertaining too - an elderly woman who drinks too much and a cantankerous old veteran and publisher of the local newspaper are only few of them, but the most intriguing ones are the Mennonites.

🩺 I honestly have not realized of the Mennonite's existence until now - I only know about the Amish. They are apparently slightly different in culture and manners, but they are all embracing the same philosophy. And as they first appeared in the story, I began to be apprehensive of what lays ahead. This book would have deeper layer than I have first anticipated. The first 'casualty' was between two young men's supposed 'fight', one of them is a Mennonite, the other is a local war veteran. And when Luther, the cantankerous publisher, decided to publish a story about it, not without slight prejudice against the Mennonite young man, it provoked the town to their long time prejudices against the Mennonites. Apparently, it's up to Luke Bradford to maintain harmony in Watervalley, the town where he grows to love, and where the girl he loves most, Christine Chambers, lives.

🩺 Throughout the story, we are entertained with the 'ordinary days' of living in a small town with its picturesque scenery, eccentric inhabitants, and the busy days of a doctor's practice. But they are all just the background. On the forefront there is the budding relationship of Luke Bradford and Christine Chambers - including the funny scenes of his planning a romantic proposal and the unexpected turn of event which might have thwarted the couple's bright future. But most importantly, there is also a dark secret looming beneath prejudices and old time enmity between two families. The part about war memorial, and particularly Luke's speech in the end, was very touching. And I loved the mixed of mystery and superstitious that lurked behind. It's really a heartwarming novel with unexpected depth.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2

Remarkably Bright Creatures (2022) by Shelby Van Pelt

 

🐙 Remarkably Bright Creatures is Shelby Van Pelt's debut novel. It tells the story of three characters; of their lives and struggles, and how their lives are intertwined with each other in unexpected ways. First of all, there's Marcellus. He's a giant Pacific octopus who lives - or being captivated, as he always calls his life - in a giant aquarium at Sowell Bay Aquarium in Washington DC. Marcellus is the star of this book, and he narrated his own story on every chapter dedicated to him. I listened to the audiobook version, and I always loved when the narrator, Michael Urie's voice as a grumpy old man boomed through my headphone: "Day one thousand three hundred and..... of my captivity" Well, Marcellus's narration never failed to captivate me too! 🐙 The second best main character is Tova Sullivan, an elderly woman in her seventies, who comes daily to clean the Aquarium on night shifts. She's a widow, and has been struggling after her only son Eric (18 years old) vanished on a boat incident in Puget Sound thirty years ago. His body was never found, and the authorities were never sure what caused the incident (was it accident, or suicide?) Tova is certain it could not be suicide, but what really happened? That episode; the uncertainty of it, is always nagging at her heart, and she never gets her closure. Doing the cleaning at the Aquarium gives her joy and comfort, to at least cope with her current life. I loved how she always greets every creature at the Aquarium, like they are her children or pupils. Well, she's their guardian, anyway. But her most wholesome relationship is with Marcellus. Their bond is really heartwarming - an unlikely friendship between two creatures. It was remarkable how they communicated without ever understanding each other's language, but they understand each other so well, nonetheless. 🐙 Last and, unfortunately, least, is Cameron Cassmore; a thirty-ish orphaned young man who was brought up by his aunt, after his drug-addict mother left him. He never knew who his father was, and so, when finding a college portrait of his mother with a boy, he assumed that he must probably have been his father. And so, driving a camper, Cameron is heading to Washington in quest of his (presumably) father. Not surprisingly, he got a job at the Aquarium, and working on a night shift when Tova sprained her ankle and couldn't work for a while. He eventually be friend with Tova, and of course, Marcellus. Cameron is a self-centered, spoiled brat and a crybaby, and I find no other quality to like him better. From start to end. Someone said in Goodreads review that he's warming up near the end, but I disagree. Cameron is simply an ass. And he ruined the whole story for me. Not that it's a perfect one. There are too many unimportant things and conversations scattered about. I found myself bored with these, and only Marcellus' (and occasionally Tova's when she's alone) line that lift up my interest. 🐙 This book might have a brilliant premise - an intelligent and curmudgeonly Giant Pacific Octopus in his attempt to bring happiness to his favorite human. But the structure is not very neat. I feel I might need more of Marcellus' narration than the humans interaction. He's so observant and intelligent, that it was he, Marcellus, who first solved the mysteries that the humans are searching. I believe he's clever enough to tell the stories (half of it, at least) of the humans, only from his observation behind the glass tank. Anyway, I loved the beautiful friendship between Tova and Marcellus, and she had done for him at the end. Marcellus was a much better friend an elderly woman could find, rather than her friends from the knitting club - nosy old women most of them, and not necessary for the story. All in all, it's a beautiful story about friendship, family, forgiveness and acceptance. All it needed to be a perfect one is just a neater writing. Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Nutmeg Tree (1937) by Margery Sharp

🥜 I think I have found in this book, my favorite (so far) Margery Sharp. The Nutmeg Tree (I loved the title too, though the said tree didn't have focal point to the story - it is an allegory). The story opens with a memorable scene in Julia's bathroom, she's taking a bath, singing the Marseillaise, while surrounded by "some of her possessions" - a table, a clock, and whatnot. The bailiffs were outside, taking some furniture out of the flat, indicating Julia's current hard-up-for-money situation. The cash she received from the furniture - after some rather flirty haggles - she needs it to travel to France, on her estranged daughter's invitation.

🥜 From that opening scene, we were instantly aware of Julia's type of character. The story is set in the 1930s. During WWI, Julia had married very young to a guy named Packett, it's a hasty wedding, which lasted just for a year or two. Packett died in the war, leaving Julia with their daughter Suzanne. But Julia couldn't live with the priggish and wealthy Packetts; they were opposite her Bohemian nature. So Julia left her daughter with them, and started her own life as actress and showgirl in London. The Packetts gave her some money - thinking that she can start a good life with it - but of course, it lasted only a very short time. Julia lived always in need of cash - which she always had by either a little flirtation or deceit - you know the kind. And now, suddenly she received invitation from Susan (she called herself Susan rather than Suzanne), to whom she never had any communication before, to give advice about the man she (Susan) wished to marry.

🥜 Excepting the opening scene, the story is set in a vacation villa in Southern France. Julia is now playing her yet biggest "role", a refined lady, worthy of her mother-in-law and her daughter. The whole story centered in Julia's struggle to maintain her dignity, while obstacle after obstacle threatened to expose her true character. The first obstacle came from Susan's lover Bryan; Julia soon found (in her dismay) that he is of her kind (but worse), and therefore won't be suitable for her daughter. Then, Susan's guardian, Sir William Waring, arrived, and left Julia to be on guard every second of her existence. Many comical scenes derived from the many adventures that came Julia's way, and in her struggles to appear graceful and poised. Margery Sharp did a wonderful job in portraying these, and in the process, we get to know Julia's genuine character which made people like her instantly. Well, people who cherished the good quality in her, despite of her unrefined outer manners. I, for one, loved Julia, and wished for her happy ending. 🥜 What can I say? I loved almost every aspect of this book. The comical scenes are brilliant; humorous but tender; the main characters - Julia and Sir William - are lovely and charming, despite of their flaws (Julia's in this case); and the plot is smart. The only setback for me is the inconclusive ending. You might probably know that I dislike hanging ending. I am 99% sure of the ending, but I still prefer a neat one from the writer. Although in this case, I understand Sharp's choice of the ending; it emphasized Julia's character perfectly - you would never know what she might of might not do the next second you leave her alone. Well played, Margery Sharp! Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2

The One and Only Ivan (2012) by Katherine Applegate

 

🦍 The one and only Ivan is a silverback gorilla. He was 'picked' from his kind by humans, and currently lives at the Exit 8 Big Top Mall and Video Arcade, where humans can watch him through the glass walls of his 'domain'. Since he grew up in human's home (Mack - the owner of the mall), Ivan has been living like human. His favorite food is yogurt raisin, his favorite pastime is either watching western movies on TV (he has his own TV inside his domain), or working on his art. Yes, Ivan also likes to paint. In short, Ivan is more human than a gorilla should be. He even only vaguely remember about the jungle, and his childhood. Why, he's contented living in his domain (well, a cage really, but her prefers to call it domain). Ivan also lives with his friends - an elderly elephant called Stella, who lives at the next door cage (Ivan's best friend), and Bob, the stray dog, who loves to sleep on Ivan's belly. 🦍 Ivan's favorite human friend is Julia, the keeper's daughter, who also loves to draw and paint. In fact, Ivan gets his art supplies from her. In short, Ivan would have been living contentedly as he is, if Ruby has never come. Ruby is a baby elephant, the Mall's newest 'member', whom they have just taken from her family. They place her together with old Stella. The fact is, Stella is too old to perform anymore with her injured leg, so they need a fresh 'talent' to train. Unlike Ivan, Stella always remembers her previous life in a zoo (elephant remembers, right?), and she's used to tell the others that there are two kinds of human: the kind and the mean; humans in the zoo are the kind one. And when Ruby was 'chastised' by Mack (you wouldn't want to know the details) to learn her actions, something stirred deep in Stella and Ivan's heart. But Stella could do nothing while she's dying, so it's left to Ivan. The question is, what can he do, while he can't even save himself? (Ivan eventually understands what living in a cage means). 🦍 This book is not what I have expected when I picked it up. It has the charming aspects of funny, cute, and tender in it; but it also touches you much deeper. Applegate did a wonderful job of portraying the nature of each animal. And as I was listening to the audiobook, I would also say that Adam Grupper has been equally wonderful in giving each animal character its perfect personification - the sturdy Ivan, the foolish and constantly-chattering Ruby, the graceful Stella, and the laid-back Bob. Ivan is the perfect hero in this alright, but I think I have a soft spot for Bob, haha! On the whole, this is a bittersweet story with a vivid characterization, and also a great way to learn more, in particular, about gorilla. 🦍 I learned an even more intriguing fact from one of Goodreads' reviews, that one and only Ivan was actually derived from a real life story of a gorilla who was also called Ivan. The real Ivan, who was famous as the "Shopping Mall Gorilla", lived - or caged - in a Department Store after being kidnapped from its habitat in Congo. It was then moved - after some protests from some animal protection groups, to Zoo Atlanta, in their Ford African Tropical Forest Exhibit, which mimics the landscape of a natural habitat. You can read more about it here. Needless to say, when I said this is a bittersweet story, I believe the 'sweet' is for the young adult readers' still tender hearts. The reality is much gloomier. When Stella pictured the zoo as a dream place, and also later on when Ruby had been installed safely and happily in a zoo, my thoughts actually were: a zoo is definitely better than a cage, but it's not a place for wild animals. How do we know that they were really happy? They shouldn't have been kidnapped from the first. Now they would never have survived in the wilds. In the end, I had a lot of thinking, and I was not happy. Ah... how I wish I have read this book while I was much more innocent! :( Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2

Grey Mask (1928) by Patricia Wentworth

🎭 While I have read a few Patricia Wentworth before, I have yet to start her Miss Silver series. And this time, I prefer to start from the beginning, where Miss Silver was first introduced in Grey Mask. She doesn't, however, appear very often in it. Indeed, it feels like Miss Silver is just a background; like an omniscient protector of the hero and heroine, who involve much more in the actions. It all begins when Charles Moray returns to England, after being abroad for eight years, as a result of being 'jilted at the altar' by his fiancée Margaret. He visits his now abandoned home, which he inherited, only to find that a group of secret criminals have been using it as rendezvous place. The leader is a man with a grey mask. But what astonishes him most, is when he sees the woman he still loves, Margaret, comes and reporting to the grey masked man. 🎭 From his eavesdropping, Charles gets that a girl called Margot is in danger, should some certificates surface. What it is all about, he doesn't understand. What he cares most is why Margaret is involved in it. Apparently, this Margot is a spoiled girl of seventeen, who has just been orphaned after her wealthy father died - drown - at sea, intestate. Moreover, there was either birth certificate nor wedding certificate to be found - or so the lawyer told Margot; that she was literally penniless. Her cousin, to whom the estate would be legally handed down, proposed to marry her. And one the frightful thought on that, she runs away. As you can imagine, she stumbled into Margaret's (and Charles') care and protection, which made them all entangled into this plot. And it was at this point that Charles Moray acquired Miss Maud Silver's service. 🎭 As you can see, Miss Silver's portion of the story is meager. However, we (as well as Charles and co.) always feel her protecting presence. She knows almost everything, even before Charles reports things to her. Sometimes about things that Charles doesn't want to disclose to her. She was portrayed as a lady with her knitting; a woman with brain, who does all the deduction needed, but throws the dirty work, so to speak, to men. She once asked Charles to follow a suspect; and imagining that a detective asking his/her client to do the work he/she supposed to do, was quite hilarious to me. 🎭 As a debut of a series, Grey Mask is a wonderful one. It has the right amount of actions, light-heartedness, mystery, and a pleasant twist with quite surprising villain at the end. Though Charles and Margaret's love story felt rather Victorian, I was entertained enough by Margot's character; a naïve (to naïve for her own good) young girl who always give others consternation, but surprisingly could - mostly by luck - extricate herself from some dangers she had encountered. Her line was so entertaining, and lent this book the light-heartedness, which otherwise would be rather gloomy with that Victorian-ish romance - and plot. Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Read for:

Cloak and Dagger Reading Challenge 2026 hosted by Carol @ Carol's Notebook

They Came to Baghdad (1951) by Agatha Christie: A Reread

🐫 While espionage and political stories don't usually fascinate me much, in term of crime/murder mysteries (my favorite is closed-circle mystery in countryside or manor houses), I found They Came to Baghdad as rather charming and highly enjoyable. It's because the mystery focused more upon a young woman's adventures, than the political side itself - which fell conveniently as mere background. This is a no-detective story, and the heroine is a Victoria Jones, a rather daydreaming-kind of girl who works as typist (not good enough in her job). She met a young man called Edward by chance, attracted to him on first sight, and when he bid her goodbye at the end of the day, because he would go to Baghdad (on duty) the following day, she decided to go to Baghdad herself! 

🐫 Though practically penniless, Victoria somehow procured her way to Baghdad by creating some lies (she's a born liar; and can say deceitful things effortlessly). Fortunately, she read on paper that an archeologist called Dr. Pauncefoot Jones is currently having a dig in Iraq, and since she, conveniently, shares the same surname, Victoria Jones becomes a niece who is traveling to Baghdad to join his archeological uncle. Before she found her Edward, though, strange things happened. A man is dying on her bed in her hotel room - stabbed!; the man was later identified as a top British secret agent, who was carrying a top secret, by which the secret services men tried to uncover and stop a sabotage. Apparently a superpowers summit is going to be held in Baghdad, but a shadowy anti-communist and anti-capitalist group is threatening to ruin the show. The dying man's last words to Victoria was: "Lucifer... Basrah... Lefarge" - or so they sounded to Victoria. Unknowingly, but not without high excitement, Victoria was pulled into the center of this highly dangerous espionage adventure. 🐫 Of course, knowing that Christie's inspiration for this book was her own trips to Baghdad with her archeologist husband Sir Max Mallowan, we were treated with many bits and pieces about its culture, atmosphere, and even the archeological site itself. And what a treat is is, besides, of course, the thrilling adventures. The identity of the villain, is not so much surprising. You'll probably guess it long before our heroine herself realizes it. In short, it's an unusual combination of espionage and lighthearted adventure, that perhaps only Christie could weave into a highly entertaining story.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Read for:

Cloak and Dagger reading Challenge 2026 hosted by Carol @ Carol's Notebook

Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont (1971) by Elizabeth Taylor

🏨 This is my first introduction to the inimitable Elizabeth Taylor, and also the third book for my personal project: #Reading1971, which is the best so far! The previous two were The End of Summer by Rosamunde Pilcher (a pleasant read), and a non fiction by Erma Bombeck: If Life is a Bowl of Cherries, What Am I Doing in the Pit? (a nostalgic memoir that made me chuckling all the time). At first, Mrs. Palfrey gave impression as a light-hearted tale about elderly people on the last stage of their independence life, but the more you read through, the more you realized it has more than what meets the eye.

🏨 After becoming a widow in her seventy-ish, Mrs. Palfrey decided to move to the Claremont Hotel. In the 1970s, it's not uncommon that some hotels reserved some of its rooms to accommodate elderly residents. These were usually widows or widowers who lived alone. Living in a hotel was not only practical (meals, cleanings, and washings were all taken care of), but it also provided what little of independent and freedom the elderly people could get before the "end" arrive (nursery home, hospital). There at the Claremont, Mrs. Palfrey begins to adjust to this new phase of her life - living at close proximity to the same people and endure their eccentricities day in day out; counting the dull hours until meal times (these are usually the most exciting time for them), and reading or discussing the menu from a board on the vestibule to fill in the time in between meals. 

🏨 Of the little freedom the residents of Claremont Hotel could boast of, is the visits of relatives. Sometimes they would dine at the Claremont, or else they would bring the elderly out for a picnic in the country or others. These are usually great events for them - a treat, which they are eagerly looking forward to. And that's what Mrs. Palfrey is lacking of. She has only one grandson - Desmond - but she has invited him without any response. Mrs. Arbuthnot has been pestering her about this relative, that Mrs. Palfrey do something that she would have never dreamt of. She invented a grandson! Ludovic - or Ludo - is an impoverished and handsome aspiring young novelist, who happened to help Mrs. Palfrey when she's fallen on the pavement on her way from the library. His tender care touched Mrs. Palfrey's heart, and what with her gratitude, and Mrs. Arbuthnot's pestering, she blurted out a dinner invitation at Claremont, with the scheme that entailed. In short, Ludo would act as Mrs. Palfrey's charming grandson Desmond, in exchange of some exciting adventures and free dinners. The scheme is successful... until the real Desmond appeared.

🏨 If you think this a comical novel - a Wodehouse with more subdued tone, perhaps - you're totally wrong. It has a much deeper meaning than just a scheme gone wrong. The major themes are loneliness and boredom that old age bring. It's something young people hardly understand, until they too grow old.

"As one gets older life becomes all take and no give. One relies on other people for the treats and things."

"It was hard work being old. It was like being a baby, in reverse. Every day for an infant means some new little thing learned; every day for the old means some little thing lost. Names slip away, dates mean nothing, sequences become muddled, and faces blurred. Both infancy and age are tiring times."

🏨 The loneliness has nothing to do with the presence of others, but the sense of helplessness, uselessness, that the elderly must endure. To watch how their independence slip away from them; that they become more and more burden for the youngsters; the way people treat them like little child, and worse even, treat them as nonentity. I have been witnessing these in my parents. and now I realize that growing old is a painful business - and it's much mentally as is physically - and that scares me not a little. I wish we have that kind of establishment like Claremont Hotel here in Indonesia, though I doubt if I would be able to afford it - it sounds quite expensive...

🏨 The issue of love or affection is also prominent in Mrs. Palfrey. Elderly people always long for loving care and attention from their relatives, and although Mrs. Palfrey is a sensible and independent woman, she, too, couldn't resist the caring and attention Ludo has been providing her. From the beginning, I have sensed that Ludo's feeling towards Mrs. Palfrey is balanced between amusement, boredom, affection, and professional gain (finding in her a wonderful material for his novel, which he titled "They Weren't Allowed to Die There", from Mrs. Palfrey's own remark. Whether Ludo is exploitative or not, is debatable. I personally think it's normal. Anyway, when you encounter an old lady you didn't know, who knits you a sweater, and gives you money when you need it, do you instantly love her? It depends on so many things, right? And nobody would blame you if you don't. The fact that Mrs. Palfrey truly loves Ludo and thinks he loves her as much, well... it's good for her, and she's not very wrong. Ludo is much kinder (as kind as an artist can be) than her grandson Desmond, anyway. 🏨 As a literary creation, Mrs. Palfrey is definitely a brilliant novel, beautifully written. It was shortlisted for the 1971 Booker Prize, but it's a shame it didn't win one. Taylor's character drawing is flawless; she managed to convey each of their personalities through dialogue, mannerism, as well as their inner thoughts. In the end, I felt like knowing them all for a long time. Of the elderlies, my favorite is Laura Palfrey her self. I loved her no-nonsense and strong character - I hope I turn like her in my old age.. :) I also liked Ludo; he is quite a lovely person. He cared about Mrs. Palfrey in his own way, and I can understand if not all what he'd said or done were genuine; she was nobody of him, anyway. And I understand enough that he's half afraid she would become his burden - which is perfectly understandable. So, you see, this seemingly sweet and unassuming (if you judge from the cover) little novel, turned out to be keeping layers of surprising depth underneath each page. If this do not turn up to be one of my favorites this year, I would be very surprised.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Ivy Tree (1961) by Mary Stewart #1961Club

 

🌳 My third and last read for #1961Club is another Mary-Stewart-success. The Ivy Tree is a slow-paced psychological thriller about double identity, deception, greed, and, of course, a bit of romance. It is centered upon a young woman who calls herself Mary Grey - and who finds herself one day in the Roman Wall countryside in Northumberland, looking on to the ruin of a beautiful old house, and is identified by an angry farmer as Annabel Winslow. The farmer, a hardworking man called Connor "Con" Winslow. He is now the manager of Whitescar Farm. Eight years ago, Connor, who was a scheming and greedy young man, wanted to marry his second cousin, Annabel Winslow. But Annabel rejected him and fled away from Whitescar, to the disappointment of Matthew Winslow, her grandfather who adored her and wanted to make her his heir (hence Con's marrying her).

🌳 Several days after Mary Grey convinced Connor that she's not Annabel Winslow - despite of her uncanny resemblance to the disappeared woman - Connor's devoted sister Lisa Dermott visited Mary and proposed her to impersonate Annabel Winslow, and "come home" to Whitescar, to which Mary agreed. The inheritance money, after being divided between her and Connor, of course, would save her from her current poverty. There are two things, however, that could imperil their scheme: Mary Grey's fear of horses (against Annabel's love of the equine creatures), and Annabel's secret love affair with the Winslow's neighbour: Adam Forrest. Could Mary and Connor work through with these deception, and succeed in inheriting Whitefarm in the end?

🌳 The psychological thriller aspect I'm speaking about lays in Mary Grey/Annabel Winslow's true identity. Throughout the story Stewart threw hints and insinuations, that makes us - along with other characters in the story - continually wondering whether the woman is an impersonator, or Annabel Winslow herself; is this a deception or, well, a double deception? It is this aspect that sparks high level of excitement throughout the reading - beyond, of course, the success or failure of the scheme. Naturally, the first half of it was rather slow in pace. Mary Grey's "lessons" about Whitescar and the Winslows, which ran for three months, acted also as the background to the situation. The condition of the old grandfather (his end is near), and the upcoming arrival of Julie (Annabel's cousin, whom could change their whole scheme). 

🌳 On the whole, this was an exciting thriller/romance to read. And, knowing Mary Stewart, I have been expecting some car-speeding and/or horse-prancing scenes - and Stewart didn't disappoint me - both were there to enlivened the thriller aspect. Of course, there's romance too, but I won't talk much about it. It happened near the end, anyway. What a fascinating book to close my #1961Club chapter this April. I can't wait to know which year Simon and Karen would pick for October!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2

Read for:

The 1961 Club

hosted by Simon and Karen

The Body in the Dumb River (1961) by George Bellairs #1961Club

🎪 My second read for #1961Club is a far cry from my first; this one is a typical Golden Age murder mystery, introducing Superintendent Littlejohn of Scotland Yard as the detective. He was aroused from a deep sleep at 3 am, by a telephone call, informing him that a body has been found swept away by torrential flood in the Dumb River. It was identified as of late James (Jim) Teasdale of Yorkshire. Everyone said he is a decent man with no enemy; yet, he was stabbed to death, and his body was dumped in the river near Ely, Cambridgeshire, miles away from Yorkshire.

🎪 It's later found out that Teasdale had been leading a double life. He had made huge mistake of marrying a girl from a snobbish, social-climbing family, who was always pestering him to be a successful man, which he was not. He failed at several attempts (an art store, photography store, and whatnot), and one day made an impulse of taking over a hoopla game at travelling fairs, on which, astonishingly, he made quite a success. Of course, he couldn't tell his wife and in-laws that he's running a hoopla; hence he told them that he's travelling much for a company, and would only come home every weekend. During his absence on these weekends, the hoopla was managed by a woman he's hired, who eventually became his mistress.

🎪 I have suspected from the beginning that this double life of his would probably be related to his murder. But is it? Is it his family who've done it? Or is it a blackmail case? Either way, this mystery has had a good and promising beginning. I instantly liked Superintendent Littlejohn, with his no-nonsense but gentlemanly manner - just the kind of police/detective I always prefer. I liked also the slowly revealing of facts upon facts, by way of Littlejohn's painstaking interviews with either suspects or people who could provide clues. I always love a slow-building of mystery. However, after such a perfect pace with a promising dramatic scene near the end, the end itself felt underwhelming. The 'drama' during the denouement was too long for an ending scene, and the red herring felt unimportant. I was surprised too to find out that this was actually the 35th book in the series - you'd have expected a smoother one than this! I wouldn't probably continue reading the series, unless you can convince me that one of the previous books is much better than this one.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Read for:

The 1961 Club

hosted by Simon and Karen

Cloak and Dagger Reading Challenge 2026

hosted by Carol @ Carol's Notebook

Owls in the Family (1961) by Farley Mowat #1961Club

🦉 Farley Mowat is one non-fiction writer I have newly 'found' two years ago; Never Cry Wolf was one of my favorite non-fictions I have read for #NonFicNov. So, when I found out, when I was searching something to read for #1961Club, that he also wrote children fictions, how could I resist? And I'm glad I have picked this one (over others on the list), since it proved to be a delightful read; just the one to kick off #1961Club! 🦉 Billy lives in Saskatoon, Canada, near a prairie. He's a boy who loves animals, and he already owns so much pet (dogs, cat, pigeons, rabbits, and gophers - oh, and rats also). But does it mean he could resist adding owls into his menagerie? Of course not! Billy asked his French teacher, who loves animals (besides photography and prairie), to help him catching an owlet from its nest up on one poplar bluff, but that ended in a hilarious flop, which was written perfectly in Mowat's style I remember from Never Cry Wolf. So, Mr. French is out of the picture, but Billy eventually found a way of catching an owlet by himself, whom he calls Wol. 🦉 Wol is a young horned owl. Billy found the nest when he's having a stroll, with his pals Bruce and Maurice, right after a great storm. Two of Wol's siblings had died, and it was when Billy & co. were working on a funeral for the dead siblings, they found Wol - the only survivor. Apparently owls hatched one day after another (not at the same time), and Wol is the biggest, and most probably the strongest of the three - hence he's survived. It's information like this which makes Mowat's books fun to read - he combines knowledge, good narrative skill, and sense of humour into wonderful books. I wouldn't have known that crows and owls are enemy if I didn't read this book, for instance.

🦉 Wol grew up as a pet owl, meaning that he can't fly (no one teaches him to), but mimicking the boys' actions. Although he eventually flew when accidentally fallen off a branch, but he only does it when needed. Wol doesn't haunt, except for skunks. Horned owls seem to hate skunks, they're the only owls family who eat skunks. Hilarious moment it was when Wol brought skunk home for dinner (he used to dine with the family), and the family avoided him after that for days. It ended up with the father bathed him in tomato juice.

🦉 Wol likes to tease Mud, the family's old dog, like hiding his bones or dinner. Occasionally Wol would also playing the tail-squeeze game, which used to enrage Mud - poor old dog! But that's not the only funny scene between Wol and other animals in the book. I don't know which scene is funnier, the one when Wol is mad when he's almost drawn in the river, or when the Prairie chicks were just hatched, and went between Wol's foot thinking he's their mother. Wol then resignedly lower his feathers to warm the chicks. It would surely be a silly yet sweet thing to watch! Later on, another owl named Weeps was added to the menagerie - another owl to accompany Wol. In short, this is a charming book to read - children or adult. Hilarious and refreshing, but also provides some knowledge about animals and nature.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2

Read for:

The 1961 Club

hosted by Simon and Karen

What to Read for the Upcoming #1961Club

The 1961 Club is just around the corner - it runs from 13 to the19th of April 2026!; and I have been preparing for it for a while. As usual, the event would be hosted by Simon and Karen. For one week we will be sharing books we have been reading that were published in 1961. 

As a warming up, here are books published in 1961 which I have read before:

PREVIOUS READS

Travels with Charley by John Steinbeck

A travelogue of Steinbeck's road trip 'in search of America', along with his old French poodle Charley. "For me, the travels provided a first hand glimpse to America in the 1960s, but what pleased me the most is John Steinbeck's writing - incisive, eloquent, and witty." [excerpt from my review, here's the complete one]

The Agony and the Ecstasy by Irving Stone 

Irving Stone has been one of my favorite historical fiction writers. His books are always written vividly, bringing some of the greatest personages the world ever seen to life. I admire his thorough researches, that make you plunge into the time and the person's life so smoothly. My first read of Stone was The Agony and the Ecstasy - read during pre-blogging era, so here's the Goodreads' review if you need to have a look at it. It's a biographical story about Michelangelo's life and his masterpieces.

The Pale Horse by Agatha Chirstie

I have read this ages ago - when I was still in school, I believe. So, no review is available, but here's one from Goodreads. I also can't remember what the mystery is about, but it's one of not-many Ariadne Oliver's mysteries.

Five Go to Demon's Rock by Enid Blyton

I've been saying this over and over, that I have grown up reading Blyton's children adventures. Though it has been a long time since I read them, I still remember that Five Go to Demon's Rock was one of my favorites back then. It's a fun one with a lighthouse and a treasure hunt. Here's the Goodreads' review if you (still) need a clue about it. 


Next, what am I currently reading for #1961Club?

CURRENT READS

I have originally picked eight books as possible reading list. These included Jon Godden's Told in Winter,  Lucy M. Boston's A Stranger at Green Knowe, and My Thirty Years Backstairs at the White House by Lilian Rogers Parks. The latter was what I had really wanted to get into the final list. However, I could not find a copy to read, so, I must turn to the other five from the list. At the last moment, I dismissed A House for Mr. Biswas (V.S. Naipul), as it wasn't appealing to me at that time (I'm a moody reader), and though the next book is in my Classics Club list, I didn't think I would have enough time for Where the Red Fern Grows (Wilson Rawls), so I had to dismiss it too.

And it leaves me with these final three, which I have read (and am currently reading):

1. Owls in the Family by Farley Mowat

2. The Body in the Dumb River by George Bellairs

3. The Ivy Tree by Mary Stewart

I am pleased with my final choices, and have been enjoying all three very much. They are of different genres, and provide different satisfaction in my reading - just what I need in the present time. Can't wait to share my reviews with you next week!

So, what about you? Will you participate in the #1961Club? What will you be reading? And have you read books on my list?

Minor Disturbances at Grand Life Apartments (2023) by Hema Sukumar

 

🏬 I picked up this book in the first place because it has double appeals to me. First of all, I myself live in an apartment, and any book about apartment dwellers almost always attracts me. Secondly, this debut novel of Hema Sukumar is set in an Asian country, which I'd feel most related, as I am also an Indonesian. As a debut novel, I'm quite surprised to find this book as perfectly balanced in depth and its cultural background. It's not overly done - like many others Asian books might - and it is neither too light nor too heavy to read. It is a pleasant slice-of-life book with plausible story-line and amiable but realistic characters.

🏬 Grand Life Apartments is located in the beautiful coastal city of Chennai, India, and is owned by Mr. Mani, who had changed his ancestor's home to be a modern and comfortable middle-class apartment building. It is never mentioned how many residences it originally has, but the main characters in the story are three of them: Kamala (a widow-dentist), Revathi (a single thirty-ish career woman), and Jason (a young British chef). Each of them currently has their own struggles. Kamala's daughter, Lakshmi, had 'thrown a bomb' when she told her mother that she's a lesbian. Like most Asian mothers (I am terribly lucky that my mother isn't in this category), Kamala has been fretting and chasing Lakshmi to have a boyfriend and married properly, probably since she graduated college. It's a typical problem faced by most Asian girls. 

🏬 Similar to Lakshmi's previous ordeal, Reva has also been 'terrorized' by her mother to marry soon. This including sending possible candidates every now and then, continually asking updates on her dates with the respective candidates, and tons of hints about marriage. Reva, also typical of Asian daughters, is always torn between obeying her mother and making her happy, and pursuing her own choice of living - a suitable career and a partner she really wants to get married with. Jason, on the other hand, is a 'fish-out-of-water', so to speak. He fled from England following a painful break with his girlfriend, and just picking Chennai to be his temporary dwelling. His struggles is in burying the painful past, and adapting into his new surroundings. I loved it that both Kamala and Reva, as well as Mani, are accepting him with warm affection, that he soon finds his bearing, and starts to feeling himself again in no time (while cooking more and more Indian cuisine, which won Kamala's approval).

🏬 In the midst of their personal struggles, though, there looming another problem that will have had bigger impact on all of them. A big construction company has been pestering Mani to sell the apartment building, as they wanted to build more modern ones. Mani refused to do that, and now they are throwing threats. A lawyer (Kamala's best friend) is bringing the case to the court, and now they are just waiting nervously for their future. Would Kamala have to leave this apartment she has been staying for years, and must she find a new one in her age? Would Jason, who has just found his bearing in this apartment, have to be moving again? Amid these restless moments, Kamala, Reva, and Jason are always affectionately supporting each other. Could they save Grand Life Apartments in the end?

🏬 Like I said, this book turned out to be not like typical Asian novels. We are entertained by many Indian cuisines and cultural manners, as well as the most-related (to me personally) atmosphere of hot sunny days, mosquitoes, and the ceiling fan humming. But Sukumar could weave the story around it beautifully, that it never felt overwhelming. It is a gentle, heartwarming story, and Hema Sukumar is definitely my new favorite Asian writer!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2

The Ten Teacups (1937) by Carter Dickson

☕ Although I'm a fan of simple but ingenious murder mysteries - such as what Agatha Christie had often delivered - every now and then I could also enjoy the impossible and intricate ones. The Ten Teacups was one of those. Moreover, it's written by John Dickson Carr - whose pen name of Carter Dickson was too obvious to be hidden from public. And this was my first introduction to Sir Henry Merrivale, the brain of this murder-series, who was accompanied by Chief Inspector Humphrey Master from Scotland Yard, and the young and bright Detective-Sergeant Bob Pollard. Merrivale is an old barrister and head of military intelligent of war office in England. 

☕ The mystery begins with an anonymous letter that Masters received, bearing the message that "There will be ten teacups at number 4, Berwick Terrace, W.8, on Wednesday, July 31st, at 5 p.m. Precisely. The presence of the Metropolitan Police is respectfully requested." Masters' immediate action is to consult Sir Henry Merrivale (or HM, as people usually call him), because the letter reminded Masters of another similar letter the Scotland Yard had received two years previously, which ended on an unsolved locked-room murder mystery. The police had then found ten teacups (empty) laid on the table near the body. This time, though, Masters is more prepared; he instructed his men to watch the house (number 4, Berwick Terrace, which was an empty house on-sale), and Sergeant Pollard to get the key from the agent, and hide himself inside. Despite of these precautions, Vance Keating was dead after having been shot twice, and ten teacups were found near his body, although the police never saw any other person entering the house.

☕ The most interesting part of a locked-room mystery is always the technicality of the murder. How was it performed while there's no one possibly inside the room? But here, the police were also struck by the similarity of it with the previous ten teacups mystery. Were the two connected, or even committed by the same murderer? One thing that they could connect was that both the houses were belonged to the same person. And this man, along with his wife, are the victim's friends. They are the suspects, along with three other friends. What puzzled HM and Masters at the early stages, was why had the murderer not brought the ten teacups with him when he left the place? Were they meant to be a symbol, perhaps? Was there even a ten-teacups-secret society perhaps? What ensued from these, were a combination of theories, interviews, and some actions in the end - the theories (presented by HM) are rather the dominant part compared to the rest.

☕ All in all, this was a solid intricate and impossible locked-room murder mystery. The one which, when you passed one solution, and then the second one, you would forget the previous one. I could remember the murderer, all right. Though I have expected Dickson Carr had given the murderer's more "stage" to elaborate on their motive, rather than reading HM's long-stretch of denouement - a dry explanation that made you a bit sleepy. And my problem with these impossible locked-room mysteries is the technicality. I couldn't possibly know, for instance, whether if you pointed a particular type of gun to a particular angle, it would produce a shot at a certain point, could I? No, it is much simpler to follow the technicality of how human psychology works than these weapons and what not. Nonetheless, this had been a quite entertaining one, though the solution was not what I have expected.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Read for:

Cloak and Dagger Reading Challenge 2026

hosted by Carol @ Carol's Notebook

Dim Sum of All Fears (2018) by Vivien Chien

 

🥟 Following Vivien Chien's debut series of Death by Dumpling, which was okay. I have bigger expectation for the second book, but unfortunately, this has been a little off for me. Our sleuth, Lana Lee, has plan for her future career, which does not involve waiting tables at the family restaurant of Ho Lee Noodle House, located in the Asian Village business complex. However, just days before her coming interview at a professional office, her parents announced that they would go to Taiwan visiting an ailing old aunt. And, they wanted Lana to be in charge of the restaurant, instead of her sister Anna May, who's studying for her law school - which is more important than Lana's current idle existence. And so, like a dutiful Asian child, she relented.

🥟 Lana has just been befriended another bookworm like herself. A few months ago, a newlywed couple opened a souvenir store next door, and the wife has been a kind and gentle person, with whom Lana liked to book-shopping with. However, a terrible thing happened; one night the couple was brutally murdered inside their shop. So, once again, Lana couldn't stop herself from meddling and snooping into the murder case; intending to find the murderer of such a kind woman who was her friend. Of course, her new boyfriend, Detective Adam Trudeau, scolded her for snooping, but how can she resisted anyway? Not when 

🥟 First of all, there's too many dramas around the sleuthing. And I always hate drama! Well, a few dramas to spice up is still okay, but in this case, a lot of Lana's sleuthing came from these dramas. The dead husband turned out to have not one, but two ex wives (and possibly one ex-lover - I have lost count). And 'miraculously' these ex wives, as well as the wife's sister, suddenly wanted to have heart-to-heart conversations with Lana. That must have been every detective's dream, I guess. I still can't imagine how strangers would want to speak with a friend of the deceased (after a murder, no less). And they even answered some of Lana's questions, which would have seemed suspicious to normal people. But there you are. These ex wives even turned tantrums at times. :( Maybe too many women in a crime story is a bad idea after all!

🥟 What I would have expected from this second book of the series, are, first, more noodle dishes to be mentioned, in particular the dim sum that the writer put in the title. Where is the dim sum?! And secondly, I would love to see more of Adam Trudeau, the detective, in the investigation, rather than only as possible boy friend to the sleuth, and who would later on appear when she was in danger, saved her, while saying: I've-told-you-not-to-snoop-look-what-you've-done' kind of thing. Which what I assumed to have happened, because - a confession - I ditched the book right after the murderer was revealed. I lost interest of the final outcome. So, that's how this series turned up for me. A promising one at first, but unfortunately, a disappointing sequel. Another series I won't continue in the future. If only Vivien Chien had put some dim sums into it, I would probably change my mind, because I love noodles and dim sums, and that had been my reason of picking this series in the first place.

Rating: ⭐⭐1/2

Read for:

Cloak and Dagger Reading Challenge 2026

hosted by Carol @ Carol's Notebook