I continued comfort reading in April, as I learned that my unit was being closed and I was losing my job in 60 days. I didn't have the headspace for much reading, unfortunately.
The Murder at the Links by Agatha Christie I had started reading this through my library's Hoopla account several years ago, but I am not fond of reading on my laptop, so when a audiophile became available, I jumped on it. This is the second Hercule Poirot novel, and the first in which he's summoned by someone who thinks they are in danger but who unfortunately dies before Poirot arrives. Nevertheless, Poirot feels obligated to uncover who killed Paul Renauld. A complicated story with secret identities, it is not one of my favorite Christies, but as I have a long-term goal of re-reading them in order and I could not remember ever having read this one before, I was glad to find it in a more accessible format for me.
Booked for Murder by P. J. Nelson Madeline inherited The Old Juniper Bookshop from her late aunt. Madeline's feelings of obligation and the many happy memories of childhood visits with her aunt, as well as acting career that seems to be in holding pattern, send her back, although she's not sure she will keep the bookstore. Someone sets a fire within hours of her arrival, and then the murder of a new friend anger Madeline, who determines to identify the killer no matter the cost to her personal safety. I enjoyed the book, Madeline's reunion with people she knew as children years ago, and the probable love interest. The writing was engaging, and the secondary characters were well developed; I can't wait to read more about Madeline's aunt's best friend. This was a debut novel for a new series, and as I am a sucker for a bookstore or library mystery, I will be retuning to the Old Juniper Bookstop again.
Murder by the Hook by Betty Hechtman I haven't read one of the Crochet Mystery stories in years, and I will admit that it's because I'm not crazy about Molly Pink, the protagonist. I just don't seem to be able to gel with her as a reader. But I wanted to give the series another try, and the latest was made available to me via Net Galley. The bookstore where Molly's crochet group meets is closed for renovations, so Molly and the Tarzana Hookers decamp to Pixie, a nearby resort town, for a relaxing weekend. Mason, Molly's former beau, asks her to accompany him to a pre-wedding reception his client is giving in, of all places, Pixie--what a coincidence. Someone keeps pilfering small items whenever Jerry R and his wife, Lisa, host one of their gala parties, and Mason thinks that Molly can help him identify the kleptomaniac. But then someone is killed, and Molly finds that finding a thief takes a back seat to finding a killer. Still not my favorite series, still not sure I actually like Molly, and liking the main character is a basic requirement to keep my attention. The series isn't gory or terrible, it's just kind of dull to me. But this is book 16, I think, so clearly a lot of people enjoy the Tarzana Hookers and their shenanigans in the LA area. (Net Galley)
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