I am taking part in the Read Christie 2024 read along, and it has been pretty fun so far! My Mom and also Alissa of Snakes & Cranes are also participating. The theme of the read along is books from the different decades when Agatha Christie wrote, starting with the 1920’s.
The first book of the read along was Christie’s first book, the Mysterious Affair at Styles. She introduces Poirot in this book, and he starts right away using his little gray cells to solve a very twisty murder.
The February book is The Secret Adversary, the first Tommy and Tuppence mystery. For those not familiar with this story line, Tommy and Tuppence are a young couple who get together shortly after the first World War to form the Young Adventurer’s business. They start the story as old friends, join forces to solve a mystery involving missing secret papers, a missing person, a murder, and a bunch of other stuff. There is a lot going on in this novel, maybe a little too much. However, I like that the main characters are very distinct from other Christie characters, and the tone of the novel is somewhat different too.
On recommendation from Alissa, I read The Art of the English Murder by Lucy Worsley, and then watched the associated TV documentary, A Very British Murder. That then led to her documentary on Agatha Christie. I am so glad I did! Lucy Worsley is a treasure.
I love mystery novels in general, so I’m hoping this read along keeps me reading not only the books on the list, but also finding related books and movies along the same themes.
Have you read anything interesting lately? What’s your favorite so far this year?
Quite A Yarn 
I’ve mostly been reading biographies lately, even unintentionally when I liked the cover of The Salt Path and it turned out to be a biography too. I just finished that so on the hunt now for my next read/listen.
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They can be fun for sure!
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Sounds like fun. I like mystery books which is how I got started reading. Remember Nancy Drew and The Bobsey Twins? All good reading for kids.
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I loved Nancy Drew! And the Bobsey Twins as well. You are right – great reading for kids 🙂
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I must add some British murder to my day!
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It really does add something to the day!
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I have enjoyed Lucy Worsley documentary series on PBS. She is like a spritely elf – very droll and entertaining.
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That’s a good way to describe her!
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I’ve read several Agatha Christie books in the past couple of years, but neither of these have been included on my reading list! (Yet…) The Lucy Worsley book sounds really interesting, too. I’ll have to check that one out!
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She wrote just a ton of books. I know I haven’t read all of them. Just more to discover!
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I’ve been trying to focus on one series at a time, or else I’ll end up jumping all over the place.
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That’s a good strategy!
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Well, it’s only really been working with the Christie series, though. I’ve been reading her Miss Marple books so finish that series before I really work on the Poirot ones.
But of course… I’m also reading series by other authors and jumping all over the place between those books… 😉
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Its fun to mix it up! I find if I just really focus on one writer I get kind of tired of them at some point. Switching around is usually a good way to avoid that. For me, at least!
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Yes, that helps a lot!
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How fun! I like mystery/thrillers and read a lot of Douglas Preston/Lincoln Child books. I need to try out some Agatha Christie someday. I’ve seen most of the films made from her books but never read an actual book of hers!
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I haven’t read any Douglas Preston/Lincoln Child books – what are they like?
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They are like detective mysteries and thrillers with lots of twists with the same ongoing characters. I find them to always be well researched – lots of science and history 🙂
If you want to try one – read Relic – their early one that takes place in one of my favorite places in the world the Museum of Natural History in NY – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Relic_(novel)
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Thanks for the recommendation! I will check it out!
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