A Murder Is Announced by Agatha Christie

This is the 4th book in the Miss Marple series by the great lady.

I’ve seen a few episodes of the BBC TV series with Joan Hickson in the title role. But had never read any of the books.

This one is OK. Typical Agatha.

A good premise.

The murder is announced in advance in a local newspaper in a small village; Miss Marple is staying at a spa hotel there for treatment.

She works with Inspector Craddock of the county police. …

Wikipedia

Conspiracy of Faith by Jussi Adler-Olsen

I don’t know why I keep reading this Department Q books.

The lead detective, Carl Mørck, is just a jerk.

I do like his sidekick, Assad.

This 3rd book in the series (2013) has an evil serial killer of children who preys on extremely religious families. They trust God more than the police.

Jussi Adler-Olsen is Denmark’s #1 crime writer. The films based on his books are popular.

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Treadstone Resurrection by Joshua Hood

If you like non-stop shoot-em-up ACTION, this is the book for YOU.

It’s dumb.

Not Jason Bourne but a new super soldier killer named Adam Hayes.

Adam kills perhaps a hundred villains in this book — and should have died about 15 times. But guys like him crash in a helicopter and walk away. 😀

Though Robert Ludlum who wrote the Bourne series died in 2001, I think he’d like this kind-of-a-sequel.

This is book 1 in the new series. But it was compelling enough for me to download #2.

A TV adaptation (not of book #1) only lasted 1 season.

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Farewell Antwerp

I was in Antwerp, Belgium for the World Gymnastics Championships. An elegant city.

Grote Markt of Antwerp, Belgium at twilight.

I like Antwerp best at night.

The Gymnastics competition was the highlight, however.

Canadian women qualified to the Paris Olympics 3rd in world in 2022. And the men qualified 4th in the world in 2023. Our best Olympic quadrennial ever.

Here’s where I spent about 50 hours of my life. 😀

I have a media credential.

Crooked House by Agatha Christie

Crooked House is one of Agatha Christie‘s favourites of her books.

I’d agree. This is a good one.

An unreliable narrator. It kept me guessing.

Towards the end of the Second World War, Charles Hayward is in Cairo and falls in love with Sophia Leonides, a smart, successful Englishwoman who works for the Foreign Office. They put off getting engaged until the end of the war when they will be reunited in England.

Hayward returns home and reads a death notice in The Times: Sophia’s grandfather, the wealthy entrepreneur Aristide Leonides, has died, aged 85.

Due to the war, the whole family has been living with him in a sumptuous but ill-proportioned house called “Three Gables”, the crooked house of the title.

The autopsy reveals that Leonides was poisoned with his own eserine-based eye medicine via an insulin injection.

Sophia tells Charles that she can’t marry him until the matter is cleared up. …

I haven’t seen the 2017 movie adaptation.

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Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson

I can see why this book is so popular with young people.

Pippa is a charming protagonist. So sincere and energetic.

You can’t help but cheer for her and potential love interest Ravi.

A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder is a young adult mystery debut novel by Holly Jackson. The novel is the first in a series of three …

… 17-year old true crime enthusiast Pippa “Pip” Fitz-Amobi, a high school student in the fictional town of Little Kilton, Buckinghamshire (or FairviewConnecticut in the US version).

In the novel, Pip plans to investigate a five-year-old murder-suicide case involving the murder of popular student Andrea “Andie” Bell and the suicide of her perpetrator Salil “Sal” Singh under the guise of a school project.

Her objectives are to exonerate Sal, whom she is convinced was falsely accused of killing Andie Bell, and to uncover the true perpetrator, whom Pip believes is still at large. …

I appreciate the plot based so much on smart phones and technology. It feels very contemporary.

 BBC Three commissioned a TV adaptation.

Citadel – season 1

If you like James Bond, you’ll probably like Citadel.

Brainless escapism.

Two spies whose memories were wiped after they both nearly died during a mission.

A dangerous new threat emerges, hellbent on “establishing a new world order”, so they’re forced to remember their pasts and save the world.

With a production budget of US$300 million, the 6-episode first season ranks as one of the most expensive television shows.

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Richard Madden as Mason Kane is a very believable action star, however.

Stanley Tucci as Stanley Tucci 😀 is always great.

The romance is stupid, though. Totally not believable.

There will be a season 2 as well as international spinoffs in different languages. There is a great reveal at the end of season 1 to set that up.

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I had a DAY in Antwerp

Still buzzing at the historic 4th place Olympic qualification performance of Team Canada at the World Gymnastics Championships, I climbed the fire escape stairs to the top of the arena in Antwerp.

Busted.

Security called me down. As well as a Ukrainian photographer.

Many are taking smoke breaks on those fire escape stairs.

Though unsigned, turns out you are not supposed to climb the stairs. Oops.

Don’t tell the Gymnastics Media Manager, whatever you do. 😀

I have 13 hour days at Worlds. Got back downtown late and grabbed a burger. Also WINE to celebrate Canada going to Paris with 2 full teams.

As my burger arrived, some Gymnastics people from Canada and Australia stopped by. I got chatting with them. Burger got cold.

On return to the hostel, I threw the bag into the microwave. It caught fire.

Turns out that paper bag had a metal liner. Oops.

The night manager put out the flames. Doused my burger.

I had pizza, instead.

I won’t forget that day any time soon.

Everyone Here Is Lying by Shari Lapena

For me, Shari Lapena is the queen of the psychological thriller novelists.

I’m always THRILLED with each new book release.

Everyone Here Is Lying is another fantastic story.

William Wooler is a family man, on the surface. But he’s been having an affair, an affair that ended horribly this afternoon at a motel up the road. So when he returns to his house, devastated and angry, to find his difficult nine-year-old daughter, Avery, unexpectedly home from school, William loses his temper.

Hours later, Avery’s family declares her missing.

Suddenly Stanhope doesn’t feel so safe. And William isn’t the only one on his street who’s hiding a lie. As witnesses come forward with information that may or may not be true, Avery’s neighbors become increasingly unhinged.

Who took Avery Wooler?

Foundation – Season 2

Foundation is not must-watch TV.

BUT season 2 was better than season 1. The story much easier to follow.

The ending clearly sets up season 3. The Mule is coming.

Lee Pace is particularly good as Brother Day. I’d watch the show simply for his performance as the egomaniac dictator of the universe.

The rest of the cast is strong, as well.

Visuals and cinematography are first class, of course.

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