Here are some brief thoughts on a couple of recent reads that didn’t necessitate full posts of their own, but which I enjoyed reading nonetheless.
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Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie
Published by Harper, 2016 (first published in 1930)
My rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Another thoroughly readable yet deceptively intricate yarn from the queen of mystery. This one captures the gossip fuelled nature of life in small, rural towns with characteristically wry humour and whip-sharp dialogue. I also enjoyed the brief though interesting commentary on society’s dismissiveness of older people’s worth, and the psychology of criminals (with characters questioning whether illicit behaviour is learned or inherited; free choice or an affliction of the mind).
With Christie always one step ahead, and everything planned out with meticulous care, she managed once again to bring her many plot threads together in a satisfactory and surprising way.
You can pick up a copy of Murder at the Vicarage by clicking here.
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Miss Brill by Katherine Mansfield
Published by Penguin, 2015 (first published in 1922)
My rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
One of Penguin’s Little Black Classics, this slim volume brings together three short stories by Katherine Mansfield, who is often considered a master of the form. The selected stories compliment each other well in both theme and tone. Each captures a character’s sense of loneliness and longing, and a quiet moment of realisation which sees their illusion of contentment shattered. There’s a couple who realise they have drifted apart; a woman who spends her Sundays people watching in the park; and a man who craves his wife’s exclusive attention.
They’re definitely understated, but shrewdly observant. And though there’s nothing earth shattering about them, they are united by an effective air of melancholy, and some lovely prose. It made for a nice taster of Mansfield’s style, and I would certainly be open to trying more of her work.
You can pick up the full collection the stories were taken from by clicking here.
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Have you read either of these? If so, I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Callum McLaughlin 
I can’t believe I’ve never read Agatha Christie still, but the deeper societal themes sound really intriguing too!
She’s very readable, but surprisingly observant of human nature. I’m definitely a big fan! I hope you enjoy her if you decide to give her a go 😊
Confession. I have never read an Agatha Christie book! Which should I start with??
I have read Mansfield’s short stories a few years ago, maybe those were included.
I started with And Then There Were None, and it’s possibly still my favourite so far. I’d say it’s as good a place as any to start 😊 I hope you enjoy!
I haven’t read this Chrisite yet but I sure plan to pick it up. Your review reminds me I should have shared my thoughts on Murder on the Orient Express by now! I plan to read Mansfield’s The Garden Party this year. But I like the compact size of this one, it could be nice to read them for a change of pace with longer reads?
I look forward to reading your thoughts on Murder on the Orient Express!
Good thinking. I love a quick, compact read, and Penguin’s Little Black Classics are perfect for trying out an author.
I was under the impression Christie wrote quite a bit when she was older, so I can see why she would include a defense of the elderly in one of her novels!
Most of her best known characters are older, so it’s a motif she brings into a lot of her work. I especially liked it in her Tommy and Tuppence series, as we get to see them age throughout, and resist being resigned to a quiet retirement!
As popular as she is, I’ve only read Murder on the Orient Express! I’ve not become a fan of mysteries (not claiming to have made a huge whiter), but I do love noir, such as Strangers on a Train, which has mystery elements.
I’m not much of a mystery reader but I do love Agatha Christie!
Same here! It’s not a genre I reach for all that often, but when I do, it’s usually Christie.
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