The Ballard of Songbird and Snakes by Suzanne Collins

 

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins

Review of the novel The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins

Published by Scholastic
First Published: 19 May 2020
Dedication: For Norton and Jeanne Juster
Cost: £18.99 (UK Hardback 2020)
ISBN: 978-0702-300172 (Hardback Edition – starts on page 3 - 517 pages.)

Having been a great fan of The Hunger Games trilogy, I was keen to read this book. This story is a prequel to The Hunger Games and is set 64 years in the past, where the 10th Hunger Games is about to take place. The problem with reviewing this story is that it will reveal spoilers for readers that have not read The Hunger Games, however, I will try and keep them to a minimum.

This book stands on its own, but I do feel that the author Suzanne Collins makes the assumption that her reader is aware of some details from the previous books and as a result, she fails to set the scene for the new reader. I feel that it is a requirement for the new reader to be made aware of the location and background plot if they are to get the most of the story, with this in mind I want to set the scene before I review the novel in its own right.

The story is set in the country of Panem, which is an area smaller than North America. Panem consists of a capital city, called the Capital, surrounded by twelve outlying numbered Districts – a thirteenth district having been destroyed at the end of a civil war.

Panem is an authoritarian society, modelled somewhat on ancient Rome; a police state in which the Districts are subservient to the Capital. All the Districts provide resources to the Capital in return for protection by an army of Capitol’s Peacekeepers. This is the setting, following a civil war waged against the Capital following an uprising by District 13. To punish the rebellious districts and discourage future rebellion, the Capital’s government established an annual pageant and violent contest, known as The Hunger Games.

Collins introduces the reader to the concept of The Hunger Games on page 14:

There would be twenty-four tributes, one boy and one girl from each of the twelve defeated districts, drawn by lottery to be thrown into an arena to fight to the death in The Hunger Games. It was laid out in the Treaty of Treason that had ended the Dark Days of the District’s rebellion, one of the many punishments borne by rebels.

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes takes up the story as the 10th Hunger Games is about to start. The story is described in three parts. Part 1 covers the lead up to the games. It begins with the story of a young boy in the Capital called Coriolanus Snow, who has been selected to mentor one of the tributes in the games. Although he lives in the Capital, Snow is a hungry orphan in a family that is barely holding onto its assets and struggling to live from day to day. Snow lives in an apartment with his cousin Tigris, and grandmother, where boiled cabbage is a regular meal. The reward for a student successfully mentoring their tribute to winning the games is a scholarship at the highly esteemed University, which Snow could not attend without this award.

As the names are called out, Snow is relieved to hear his name. He will mentor Lucy Baird Gray, who comes from a Covey, (a type of gypsy family), in District 12. During this mentoring period, we learn that Coriolanus will do anything to keep up appearances of being part of a wealthy Capital family. He looks at his tribune and has concerns about her ability to win in the games; Lucy Gray is a singer with little fighting ability. However, it is Coriolanus' own struggles and inept ability to accept his fate that the story concentrates on throughout the tale.

Although this is the 10th annual games, they have yet to emerge into a sophisticated style that readers of The Hunger Games have discovered. Here, the twenty-four tributes are literally thrown into an arena, where there are various weapons, and they must survive on their own wits to make it through the games.

At this period in time the residents of the Capital are losing interest in the games and the mentors are asked to suggest any improvements that might rekindle interest from the audience. Coriolanus puts forward two suggestions, as part of his written homework, and when they are accepted, they mark a new direction for the games of the future.

As a lead up to the start of the games, Collins presents the anxiety experienced by the two sides of the games as she allows the Capital mentors to get close to the District tributes. Problems arise before the start of the games when the District tributes desire for food gets out of hand and one of the young mentors is killed. However, fortune shines on Coriolanus as he is there at the right moment to what in all appearances, he tries to save the mentor’s life. We discover that the Capital is quick to take retribution on the Districts' representatives.

It is decided that both the remaining mentors and the tributes should visit the games arena and once again things do not go smoothly. Walking around the arena, bombs from a previous game explode, killing both mentors and the tributes, but it is Lucy Gray who saves Coriolanus from serious injury at the cost of her own freedom.

Part Two of the story covers the games themselves. A character already introduced to the reader is Sejanus, originally from District 2, his father has been able to pave the way for the family to exist in the Capital, but the young boy is ill at ease with the way the Capital functions. His father puts up a prize of a scholarship to the esteemed Capital University for the winning mentor. As Sejanus befriends Coriolanus, he reveals that his heart will always remain in District 2 and that his intention is to help the rebels defeat the Capital wherever possible.

Finally, on page 207 the games begin. Broadcast live on a video feed to all Panem, everyone can see what plays out in the arena:

The gong sounded at that moment, and the tributes scattered. Most fled to the gates that led to the tunnels, several of which had been blown open by the latest bombing. Coriolanus could see Lucy Gray’s bright dress heading for the far side of the arena, and his fingers gripped the edge of his seat, willing her forward. Run, he thought. Run! Get out of there! A handful of the strongest sprinted for the weapons, but after grabbing a few, Tanner, Coral, and Jessup dispersed. Only Reaper, armed with a pitchfork and a long knife, seemed ready to engage. But by the time he was on the offensive, no one remained to fight. He turned to watch the receding backs of his opponents, threw back his head in frustration, and climbed into a nearby stand to begin his hunt.

It is Sejanus that causes the next headache for Coriolanus. Eager to help his own tribute Sejanus enters the arena himself. As the Games Maker directs the cameras away from Sejanus, they desperately try to reflect on how they can get him out. They decide to send Coriolanus in and talk to his friend and coax him out. The relief for Coriolanus of exiting the games in one piece is short-lived, as the murders and killings continue in the games until a winner is declared. A most unlikely tribute. However, when the activity of the winner is reviewed, the Games Maker believes they had outside help, and once again the authorities are swift to punish those involved.

In Part 3, Coriolanus and Sejanus are sent as trainee Peacemakers to District 12. Although distraught and confused, Coriolanus settles down to life as a Peacemaker, wondering how he will manage for the next twenty years. He decides to take the officer’s exam.

Test-taking ranked among Coriolanus’s greatest talents, and he felt the familiar rush of excitement as he opened the cover of his booklet. He loved the challenge, and his obsessive nature meant almost instant absorption into the mental obstacle course. Three hours later, sweat-soaked, exhausted, and happy, he handed in his booklet and went to the mess hall for ice. He sat in the strip of shade his barrack provided, rubbing the cubes over his body and reviewing the questions in his head. The ache of losing his university career returned briefly, but he pushed it away with thoughts of becoming a legendary military leader like his father. Maybe this has been his destiny all along.

At this point, everything appears to be going wrong for Coriolanus, just when he had in his mind’s eye, planned and prepared himself for his future as he saw it. Death and killings take place and Coriolanus' world is turned upside down, and he plans to escape from District 12 and the Capital and take back control of his life. Collins, however, as all great authors do, presents a couple of twists as she rounds off the tale of the 10th Hunger Games, and the part played by Coriolanus Snow. Has the reader prepared themselves for this closure? I’m sure that the readers of the previous stories making up The Hunger Games have expected some of the actions that take place, but they are still surprising, and it leaves the question as to whether there will be further stories in the series.

At its heart, The Ballard of Songbirds and Snakes is about the ability of one individual to change the world Panem. Their self-preservation at the cost of those around them, who he uses to his own advantage. I feel that you have to ask what Collins wants from her reader; does she want us to align ourselves with the struggle for Coriolanus or feel shocked by the Capital’s total disregard for anyone livings in the Districts?

There are two other interesting aspects in the story that have repercussions on the trilogy of The Hunger Games. Firstly, the importance of music and the second the sound of the mockingjays. The music is emphasized by the skill and talent of Lucy Gray, as she sings to the crowds of the Capital elite to gain their devotion, which brings her much needed food and water while in the games. For the mockingjay, it is the fact that the Capital’s attempt to change the world of the Districts using the bird fails and it starts the beginning of the Capital’s downfall.

This is a book that I really enjoyed, I could not put it down, completing it in two days. My enjoyment came from having read The Hunger Games and I wonder if reading this as an entry into The Hunger Games experience, if I would have found an enjoyment here. I certainly feel that there is a possibility of a follow-up novel, but not one for each year of the games, but rather a further period in the life of Coriolanus Snow.  

Rating, 5 stars.

Dr Sheppard

11 October 2020

 

 

 

 

Holy Island by LJ Ross

Holy Island by LJ Ross

Review of the novel Holy Island by LJ Ross

Published by Dark Skies Publishing

First Published: January 2015

Dedication: For Ethan, with love always.

Cost: £7.99 (UK Paperback 2020)

ISBN: 978-1-912310-01-2 (Paperback Edition – starts on page 1 - 457 pages.)

This is Louise Ross’s first novel, where she introduces us to her main character, Detective Chief Inspector Ryan. The success for LJ Ross has meant she has sixteen DCI Ryan novels and three other thrillers.

This story is located on Holy Island, also known as Lindisfarne or The Holy Island of Lindisfarne, a tidal island off the northeast coast of England. Although the location is real, Ross reminds the reader: “Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner”. See Appendix at the end of the review for a little history about the location. It may help the reader to enjoy the plot as it unravels.

It is 21^st December, it’s bitterly cold and as the story begins. The reader is presented with one of the residents reporting, to DCI Ryan, an apparent death of one of the locals, which she has discovered while walking her dog in the ruins of the Priory. Immediately Ryan triggers standard police procedures and takes responsibility for the investigation. However, we discover that as Ryan reports the incident to the Detective Chief Superintendent, CID commander for Northumberland, Gregson, DCI Ryan has been suspended from duty for the last three months and requests that he is reinstated to take charge of the investigation.

At this point, the unusual situation of Holy Island is revealed to the reader. There is no local police presence and the task of managing any local emergency situation lies with the local coastguard. On this morning, at 7 a.m. there is also the problem that the island is cut off from the mainland due to the current tide. The crime involves a young twenty-year-old university student, home for the Christmas holiday, who has been laid out ceremoniously on a alter in the Priory. It is Alex, the coastguard station officer, that points out the implications of the December 21^st Winter solstice in relation to the Priory and Holy Island. It means nothing to DCI Ryan.

Soon after 8 a.m. Ryan has members of the Northumbrian Police on the island assisting with his investigation. Unbeknown to Ryan, Gregson has recruited a university lecturer, Dr Anna Taylor, who has family on the island, to help him with what is now being defined as a ritual murder. Once again Ryan shows his ignorance of the history of Holy Island and tells Dr Taylor that her specialist knowledge is not needed and has no relevance to the murder. Against all standard protocols, Ryan sets up an investigation room in his cottage, calling all relevant parties together to direct the crime investigation.

The story becomes very much a forensic investigation as regular meetings take place at Ryan’s cottage, with individuals reporting back their findings, and it is evident that although Ryan has lived on the island for a few months, he knows very few of the locals or history of the island. This is evident when he visits the local pub.

At that moment, the door swung open and both women turned in reflex. Megan reacted first, recognising the tall, dark man who entered the pub instantly. In fact, she had been watching out for him whenever she could and had even taken to long walks around the village so that she could wander past his cottage whenever she thought he might be at home. The curtains were usually closed, the lights dim. He rarely came into the village and had only been seen in the pub once before. So far, she hadn’t been able to pin him down, but it was only a matter of time.

At this point, page 60, we are given a long description of DCI Ryan, by both women. But Ryan’s thoughts are only about the death of Lucy, so he produces his police warrant card and begins to ask questions relating to the murder.

The pub becomes an important part of the investigation as the landlord knows the history of the island and many of the locals. But it soon becomes the second crime scene when another local is found ritualistically murdered on the roof of the flat attached to the pub.

It’s December 22^nd, and still Ryan fails to see a connection to the Winter solstice, the Priory and the monastic history of Holy Island, even though the forensics suggest otherwise. Perhaps it’s because he begins to have an affair with Dr Anna Taylor. When a third murder takes place, he sees that there is a need to protect her from the activity surrounding the investigation. Then one of the locals comes forward and admits to the killing spree and everyone but DCI Ryan feels they have solved the case and wants to shut down the investigation. Something isn’t right.

There are a couple of twists at the end and I’m not sure if they are forced into the story or have a proper place, particularly the Epilogue, page 453 to 457, and this one in particular may be a lead into the next or future story.

I enjoyed reading this story, but I do feel that some points suggest that it is a first novel; how was it that Ryan knows very few islanders when the population is only about 160; why, after living on the island for over two months has Ryan not visited the pub more than once; why are the locals asking more questions about Ryan than would be expected from someone that has lived with them for a while; as the story opens we are advised that its very cold and ‘Winter is an unforgiving time on Holy Island’, but the weather plays no further part during the investigation – we do have Ryan having a problem with a boat he has commandeered.

I feel that there was too much forensic aspect to the plot, with the case being solved in three days and as a result of that there was little description about the beauty of the island and its history. Would I want to read further LJ Ross novel? Yes, I would. I like the idea that there are sixteen stories, but I’m not sure what career path Ryan can take. He has taken a liking to Doctor Taylor and I’m interested to see if that progresses. Rating 5 stars.

Dr Sheppard

19 July 2020

Appendix

Lindisfarne - Taken from Wikipedia

Holy Island has a recorded history from the 6th century AD; it was an important centre of Celtic Christianity under Saints Aidan of Lindisfarne, Cuthbert, Eadfrith of Lindisfarne and Eadberht of Lindisfarne. After the Viking invasions and the Norman conquest of England, a Priory was re-established. A small castle was built on the island in 1550.

The island measures 3 miles (4.8 km) from east to west and 11⁄2 miles (2.4 km) from north to south and comprises approximately 1,000 acres (400 hectares) at high tide. The nearest point of the island is about 1 mile (1.6 kilometres) from the mainland of England. The island of Lindisfarne is located along the northeast coast of England, close to the border with Scotland. It is accessible, most times, at low tide by crossing sand and mudflats which are covered with water at high tides. These sand and mud flats carry an ancient pilgrims' path, and in more recent times, a modern causeway. Lindisfarne is surrounded by the 8,750-acre (3,540-hectare) Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve, which protects the island's sand dunes and the adjacent intertidal habitats.

As of February 2020, the island had a population of 160. There are three pubs and a hotel was operating; the store had closed but the post office remained in operation. No professional or medical services were available, and residents were driving to Berwick-upon-Tweed for groceries and other supplies. Points of interest for visitors included Lindisfarne Castle operated by the National Trust, the Priory, the historic church, the nature reserve, and the beaches. At certain times of the year, numerous migratory birds can be seen.

The causeway is generally open from about three hours after high tide until two hours before the next high tide.

Cards on the Table by Agatha Christie

Cards on the Table by Agatha Christie

Review of the novel Cards on the Table by Agatha Christie

Published by Wm. Collins Sons & Co. Ltd.

First Published: 2 November 1936

Dedication: None

Cost: 25p (UK Paperback 1972)

ISBN: 0 330 02924 X (Paperback Edition – starts on page 7 - 190 pages)

This is a great story, and partly because it is a quick read, only 190 pages, but it is quite complex and needs the reader to unravel the plot as it progresses. This time Agatha Christie uses a Closed Circle plot to present a murder mystery challenge to her readers. A crime that must have been committed by a small group of individuals. This is the fifteenth story featuring Hercule Poirot, but he is without Hastings; replacing him is Superintendent Battle.

The story opens with Poirot visiting an exhibition of snuff-boxes at Wessex House in London, He finds time to talk to Mr Shaitana, a wealthy, but mysterious man. Shaitana is known to be a collector of rare objects, and has a fascination with crime, particularly murders and the people who commit them.

Shaitana encourages Poirot to attend one of his dinner parties, where it is the fashion to play the card game bridge, following the meal. (For those of you who want to know how to play bridge, I have included a brief description at the end of the review.)

On the designated evening, guests include four sleuths – Hercule Poirot, secret agent Colonel Race, mystery writer Mrs Ariadne Oliver, and Superintendent Battle of Scotland Yard – and four people in the eyes of Shaitana, are suspected to have murdered in their past – Dr Roberts, Mrs Lorrimer, young Anne Meredith, and Major Despard.

After dinner, the guests retire to play bridge – the sleuths play in one room, while the others play in another room that Shaitana relaxes in. As the evening comes to a close and the sleuths end their game of bridge, Poirot and Race find that Shaitana had been stabbed in the chest, with a small dagger from his collection, which has been on display in the room. As he made a veiled accusation about how murder could be committed within one's profession, the sleuths suspect one of the other four guests is the murderer.

After reporting the crime to Scotland Yard, Superintendent Battle is assigned to the murder investigation. He interviews each of the suspects, and asked about their movements during the evening, one aspect becomes clear.

‘It’s difficult,’ he said frankly. ‘I can remember my own movements, more or less. I got up three times – that is, on three occasions when I was dummy I left my seat and made myself useful. Once I went over and put wood on the fire. Once I brought drinks to the two ladies. Once I poured out a whisky and soda for myself.’

  ‘Can you remember the times?’

  ‘I could only say very roughly. We began to play about nine-thirty, I imagine. I should say it was about an hour later that I stoked the fire, quite a short time after that I fetched the drinks (next hand but one, I think), and perhaps half past eleven when I got myself a whisky and soda - but those times are quite approximate. I couldn’t answer for their being correct.’

Each of them denies murdering Shaitana.

In fact, all the sleuths agree it is a difficult investigation, however, each feels that they have a view as to the possible solution of the murder. For Poirot, it the bridge score sheets that interests him, (See pages 38 & 39) as it will establish when each of the four card players were responsible for the dummy hand and able to leave the table for drinks and food – and possible murder!

Over the coming days, it is Superintendent Battle and Poirot that interview the possible suspects and it is here that Christie presents some red herrings for her reader. She suggests typical murder methods from her previous stories to distract the reader.

As Poirot delves further into the four suspects' memory of the bridge game, he begins to establish aspects of their character and when further murders are committed, he narrows it down to one suspect. They could remember little of the card game, except for the grand slam that they made, but they could remember the layout of the room they played in. This was in direct contrast to what the other suspects recalled. The suspect continues to go about their daily routine, believing they have the skill to conceal their murder weapon of choice and the ability to cover-up their crimes,

Although straight forward, the investigation seems to be going nowhere, so in typical Christie fashion, Poirot invites those involved to his home to discuss the various aspects of the case and is fortunate that the murderer is brave enough to attend. Poirot recalls certain points on the night Shaitana was murdered and the other murders that have happened since and finally states – with a little bluff - that there is only one individual who could have committed the murders they are investigating and declares the truth. Although attempting to wriggle out of the points raised by Poirot, the murder admits his crime and gives themselves up.

I really like this story. I enjoy playing bridge and I like the Closed Circle plot and the challenge of trying to solve the crime before it is declared and feel that this is Christie at her best. Rating, 5 stars.

Dr Sheppard

11 July 2020

The Game of Bridge

Bridge is a card game played with 4 players divided into 2 teams of 2 people each. The players sitting across from each other at the same table form partnerships as North‑South and East‑West. The two teams are "pairs".

For this moment think of the card game called Trumps. In a pair, whoever is playing the hand is the "declarer" because that person has declared the “trump suit” or has made the hand to be played without a trump suit, which is called "no trump."

The "dummy," which comes from the French word for silent, is the declarer's partner (and takes no part in the game) and places their hand face-up on the table after the “bidding” is done and the “opening lead” is made by the player on declarer's left.

The other two players are the defenders for that hand

A bridge deal consists of two phases: bidding and card play. In the bidding, players bid for the minimum number of tricks they think they can take to win the deal.

The dealer makes the first call. He is the "opener". Then the auction proceeds clockwise. There may be several bidding rounds. The bidding ends when three players in succession say Pass, meaning that they do not want to bid higher. The final bid becomes the "contract".

The purpose of bidding is to relay information about the strengths and weaknesses of your hand to your partner. It will help you determine the easiest contract to make based on your respective hands. It is therefore important to know the meaning of each bid. This is referred to as "bidding systems and conventions".

During the card play, whoever has played the highest card in the suit wins the trick and leads any card in any suit desired to the next trick.

In a trump contract, if a player doesn't have a card in the suit led, a trump can be played. In that case, he takes the trick unless a higher trump card is played by someone else.

At the end of the game, if the declaring pair takes the number of tricks (or more) it committed to in the initial contract, it scores a certain number of points. But if it does not make its contract, the other pair score points.

https://www.funbridge.com/how-to-play-bridge

Murder She Wrote: Martinis & Mayhem

Martinis & Mayhem by Jessica Fletcher & Donald Bain

 

Review of the novel Martinis & Mayhem by Jessica Fletcher & Donald Bain

Published by Titan Books Ltd. Copyright © 1996 MCA Publishing Rights

First Published: 1st December 1995

Dedication:

Cost: £4.99 (UK Paperback 1996)

ISBN: 1-85286-690-X (Paperback Edition – starts on page 5 - 286 pages)

I must admit that I love the Murder She Wrote television series and when tiding up recently I came across my copy of this book. I stopped reading the current book and started to read it. Those of you that have read my previous reviews, know that I stick closely to the book and do not discuss dramatisations, so you, the reader know what you can expect from the book.

True to the character, the book’s author is defined as Jessica Fletcher and assisted by the ‘ghost author’ Donald Bain.

Martinis & Mayhem is book number four in a series of which there are currently fifty-two books. So, it is still early days for Jessica Fletcher to present herself to her audience.

Each novel is essentially its own story and thus, the books do not need to be read in order.

To give you a little background on Jessica Fletcher (for those of you that need it), most of the mysteries are set in Cabot Cove, where Jessica Fletcher, the amateur sleuth, goes about solving a range of murders. Jessica is a retired English teacher that has become a successful writer of mystery novels. She is widowed and has no children, however, she increasingly finds that her personal life and work overlap.

The story is written in the first person, so the reader immediately understands Jessica’s thoughts and reasons for her actions.

In Cabot Cove, Maine's most famous mystery author, Jessica Fletcher, is excited about promoting her new book in glamorous San Francisco. She can't wait for drinks and dinner on Fisherman's Wharf, a ride on the cable cars, and a romantic rendezvous with Scottish policeman George Sutherland. What she doesn't know, is that solving a murder may be pencilled into her agenda.

As the story opens, we find Jessica in her kitchen talking to two of the Cabot Cove residents about her forthcoming trip to San Francisco. They have arrived at Jessica’s home to sample her renown iced tea.

  “About a week. It’ll be a busy one. I’ve got a full schedule of book signings, cocktail receptions, and publicity meetings. I’ve also committed myself to the Women’s Correctional Facility outside San Francisco.”

  Mort put down his large mug of iced tea and asked. “What on earth are you talking about?”

  “Writing,” I said. “I’ll be speaking to some of the inmates about writing.”

  Seth winked at me and threw Mort a smile.

  “Makes sense, I suppose,” he said.

  “Apropos,” Seth said. “Can’t think of a better place to be discussin’ how to write murder mysteries.”

  “That’s not what I’ll be talking about exactly,” I said. “Actually, I’m going to focus on journal writing. You know, writing about feelings, drawing from personal events and experiences.”

  “How come?” Mort asked.

  “Because I truly believe in prison reform. Journal writing could be an important part of that reform. Sometimes you never know you have certain feelings about something until you see then in black and white, on paper.”

One week later Jessica is reflecting on her busy week in San Francisco. Her itinerary had been organised by her publicist, Camille Inken, however, Jessica had still managed to make the most of the hotel’s health club each morning before taking breakfast.

When the telephone rings, she answers it to take a call from the publicist who wants to discuss the day’s activities. There is a need to change the day’s schedule, today the requirement is to visit the Women’s Correction Facility. The visit is timed for two-thirty.

The talk goes very well and as the meeting closes Jessica accepts a question from one of the inmates.

“I’ve read most of your books, Mrs Fletcher. At the end, the murderer is always found, convicted, and jailed. But have you ever written a book in which the clues didn’t add up? Where the character you identify as the murderer couldn’t have done it?

Jessica replies.

“I must confess,” I began, “that there are certain times when even I, as the author of a crime novel, question whether the clues add up and support my choice of murderer. What always concerns me is whether the reader will have found a piece of evidence that doesn’t link the murderer to the crime. Or dictates that someone else must have done it. Should have done it.”

Although the conversation ends there, on returning to her hotel, Jessica finds that the inmate has placed a journal of her crime conviction in her bag. As Jessica reads through the writings, she becomes convinced that the crime warrants a little of her time and she begins to do some research.

Aided by a friend who is attending a conference in San Francisco, Scotland Yard Inspector George Sutherland, Jessica begins to identify that statements from the prosecution’s witnesses don’t tie up. But, while in San Francisco Jessica intends to enjoy the experience and make the most of her time in the city, so much so, she extends her stay for a further week.

Tying to fit two activities in one journey, Jessica decides to walk across the Golden Gate Bridge. The bridge is designed to withstand strong winds that may cause it to sway, particularly noticeable at its centre. Standing at the visitor’s viewpoint, Jessica not only feels the movement of the bridge, but someone attempts to push her off the bridge. Just as soon as it started, it’s all over, leaving Jessica a little distraught. Perhaps someone is trying to stop her investigation into the murder case. Reporting the incident to the local police, she gains little comfort, but is introduced to Detective Walter Josephs – who is more interested in getting Jessica to read his crime fiction manuscript. The following day the local news reports the death of an individual, who lost his life falling from the Golden Gate Bridge at the same time as Jessica was there. It could have been a coincidence, but when she learns of the name of the individual, Jessica realises that it is linked to the murder case she is investigating.

Pulling all her investigation pieces together Jessica and her Scotland Yard friend, gather the likely suspects to a local restaurant and challenge each one to refute her findings. Taken on the hop, the murderer breaks down and revels how the crime was committed and three individuals are taken away by the police.

This may be a quick read, but Donald Bain ensures that the reader goes through the trauma experienced by Jessica Fletcher. He brings the town of San Francisco to life and you can almost breathe the air that flows through the city. As usual, we discover that the local detectives are not always able to solve the murder case presented to them and it’s the private individual that views human nature from a different aspect, they just might find the clue to solving a tragic murder inquiry

.

I really enjoyed this story and I‘m going to see if I can add others from the series to add to my library of books. I would recommend this compilation to anyone interested in murder mysteries. Rating, 5 stars

Dr Sheppard

15 June 2020

The Pale Horse by Agatha Christie

The Pale Horse by Agatha Christie

Review of the novel The Pale Horse by Agatha Christie

Published by Fontana / Collins. Copyright © Agatha Christie Ltd 1961

First Published: 1961

Dedication: To John and Helen Mildmay White with many thanks for the opportunity given me to see justice done

Cost: £1.00 (UK Paperback 1961)

ISBN: 978-0-00-819638-7 (Paperback Edition – starts on page 5 - 188 pages of small font.)

Unlike the adaptations of Agatha Christie’s work, this story does not have either of her well-known detectives solving the crime. In The Pale Horse, the narrator is Mark Easterbrook, and we learn more about him as the story unfolds. The novel also includes one of Christie's favourite characters, although in a minor role, ‘the famous crime writer’ Ariadne Oliver.

The story begins with Mark Easterbrook, who lives in Chelsea (London), struggling on writing a manuscript for a book he is writing. Although it is late in the evening, he decides to visit an Espresso Coffee Bar on the Kings Road. From his table, he watches a quarrel between two females, which results in one having ‘large tufts of hair being pulled out to the roots’. Although disturbing, he thinks nothing more of it, even when he reads of the death of the girl two weeks later.

When Mark is asked to do a favour for a friend, he contacts Mrs Ariadne Oliver, to persuade her to attend a garden fête. They discuss the coffee bar experience and Mrs Olivier states quite clearly that hair can not be pulled out that easily.

The policeman attempting to solve a murder in this story is Inspector Lejeune. He becomes involves when investigating the death of a catholic priest, Father Gorman, who has been bludgeoned to death after attending a dying woman’s confession. The woman reveals her concerns over the deaths of several people that may have been murdered to order. Trying to remember the names Farther Gorman writes them down on a piece of paper, which is recovered by the police. Trying to understand why the list of names was important, they start interviewing individuals associated with the list, but with little progress. Then an unlikely witness comes forward regarding the attack on Father Gorman.

    Mr Osborne, The proprietor of the chemist’s shop on the corner of Barton Street … He was a small, middle-aged man, with a bald domed head, a round ingenuous face, and glasses.

He describes the assailant:

    “Tall? How tall?”

    “Well---Five feet eleven to six feet, at least, I’d say. Though he might have seemed taller than he was because he was very thin. Slopping shoulders he had, and a definite Adam’s apple. Grew his hair rather long under his Homburg. A great beak of a nose. Very noticeable. Naturally I couldn’t say as to the colour of his eyes. I saw him in profile as you’ll appreciate. Perhaps fifty as to age. I’m going by the walk. A youngish man moves quite differently.”

    Lejeune made a mental survey of the distance across the street, then back again to Mr Osbourne, and wondered. He wondered very much …

The doctor that carried out the post-mortem on Father Gorman takes on board the task of researching some of the names on the list created by Father Gorman and in doing so he bumps into Mark Easterbrook - they were friends at university. Mark reveals details about his godmother, whose name is on the list. When shown the list, he recognises a further name as a recent death recorded in the national news. It was one of the two females that were quarrelling in the café. Mark’s concern is that the list is one of the people who have died or shortly going to die.

Marks attend the garden fête with Mrs Oliver, being held in the village of Much Deeping, and learns of a converted inn called The Pale Horse. The inn is now owned by Thyrza Gey, where she lives with two other women, and the three of them are known as ‘the local witches’. When Mark visits the home of Mrs Grey, she brings up her ability to kill at a distance, an ability that she claims to have developed. She offers her services to Mark.

Mark decides to investigate the link between the Father Gorman list and The Pale Horse set up. With the aid of a girlfriend, Mark discovers he needs to visit a Mr Bradley, a disbarred lawyer, in Birmingham. Bradley outlines the operation of those at The Pale Horse, explaining that what they do does not break the Law. Bradley makes a bet with a client that someone will die within a certain period and the client bets that they won’t. If Mr Bradley is proved right, then the client must pay up. Ginger, the girlfriend, and Mark decided to play out the scenario and test the operation of the witches in Much Deeping and Mark makes the bet that his wife will die. Ginger will play the part of Mark’s wife.

Following Mark’s attendance at a seance held at The Pale Horse, he visits his cousin, Rhoda Despard.

She looked at me kindly.

“You don’t know,” I said, “how—how brave she is. If, in some way they manage to harm her …”

Mrs Dane Calthrop said slowly:

“I don’t see—I really don’t see—how they can harm her in the way that you mean.”

“But they have harmed—other people.”

“It would seem so, yes …“ She sounded dissatisfied.

“In any other way, she will be all right. We’ve taken every imaginable precaution. No material harm can happen to her.”

“But it’s material harm that these people claim to be able to produce.” Mrs Dane Calthrop pointed out. “They claim to be able to work through the mind and the body. Illness—disease. Very interesting if they can. But quite horrible! And it’s got to be stopped, as we have already agreed.”

“But she’s the one who’s taking the risk,” I muttered.

“Well, stop worrying at all. It won’t do her any good. Don’t let’s shirk the issues. If she dies as a result of this experiment, then she dies for a good cause.”

But when Ginger, playing the part of Mark’s wife, becomes ill, both realise Ginger is in danger. In desperation, Mark asks seeks help from Ginger’s girlfriend and discovers The Pale Horse clients are visited by a customer research organisation, that wants to know about what foods and cosmetics and medicines they use. But it still doesn’t make sense.

It is Mrs Oliver that comes to the rescue when she recognises the symptoms being experienced by Ginger – the loss of hair. It’s not a case of witchcraft but poisoning by thallium, also used as and known as, rat poison. The black magic display by Thyrza and her two accomplices is nothing but a distraction. Mark and the police need to discover who has the skill to create and disguise a poison that will be accepted by an individual but will bring about their death.

As in usual Agatha Christie-style, everyone is brought together, and the murder in their desperation to prove their skills at evading detection reveals their crime to those present.

This is a very enjoyable, comparatively short story, where Mark Easterbrook plays the role of narrator extremely well, but it is the discussions with the other characters in the story that enable him to arrive at the solution. The story is complex in parts and the introduction of some characters are there as red herrings, perhaps by the characters themselves or by Christie to lead her reader astray. As the story is seen through the eyes of Mark Easterbrook, we discover very little of the investigation carried out by Inspector Lejeune and it is only at the end that his own investigation is proved right as he encourages the murderer to challenge his ideas. On reflection, I hope that an investigation is carried out into the characters that visited Mr Bradley, but we will never know. Rating, 5 stars

Dr Sheppard

19 February 2020