MobileRead September 2009 Mobile Read Book Club Vote

pilotbob · 09-01-2009, 08:18 PM

Help up choose a book as the September 2009 eBook for the Mobile Read Book Club. The poll will be open for 7 days. We will start the discussion thread for this book on September 27th. Select from the following books.

The selections are:

The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie
Belgian detective Hercule Poirot's first case, in which he investigates some strange goings-on in Styles St Mary, and has nothing more than a shattered coffee cup, a splash of candle grease and a bed of begonias for clues.

The Chinese Parrot (Charlie Chan Omnibus) by Biggs
Biggers, Earl Derr: Charlie Chan Omnibus. v4, 22 May 2009
An omnibus edition of the "Charlies Chan" detective stories of Earl Derr Biggers. This volume contains the following books:

1. The House Without a Key
2. The Chinese Parrot
3. Behind that Curtain
4. The Black Camel
5. Charlie Chan Carries On
6. Keeper of the Keys

If your view of Charlie Chan comes from the dozens of very bad, semi-comic movies made in the 1940s and 50s, then read these books and you're in for a pleasant surprise. The books have extremely well-crafted plots ("The Chinese Parrot" is my personal favourite) and are well worth reading.

Lady Molly of Scotland Yard by by Baroness Orczy
Feisty, brilliant, and beautiful; precursor of the sleuth who relies on brains rather than brawn, Lady Molly, and her faithful sidekick and admiring chronicler Mary, began appearing in Orczy's entertaining stories years before the first Englishwoman did in fact become an officer of the law.

A Beautiful Blue Death by Charles Finch
Set in England in 1865, Finch's impressive debut introduces an appealing gentleman sleuth, Charles Lenox. When Lady Jane Grey's former servant, Prue Smith, dies in an apparent suicide-by-poisoning, Lady Jane asks Lenox, her closest friend, to investigate. The attractive young maid had been working in the London house of George Barnard, the current director of the Royal Mint. Lenox quickly determines that Smith's death was a homicide, but both Barnard and Scotland Yard resist that conclusion, forcing him to work discreetly. Aided by his Bunter-like butler and friend, Graham, the detective soon identifies a main suspect, only to have that theory shattered by that man's murder. Finch laces his writing with some Wodehousian touches and devises a solution intricate enough to fool most readers. Lovers of quality historical whodunits will hope this is the first in a series.

Mistress of the Art of Death by Ariana Franklin
Loved it. This was basically 'CSI set in 12th century Cambridge.' The main character is a female doctor who is essentially a coroner. She examines remains and tries to find out what happened to them. She is loaned by Rome (Italy has female doctors in the 12th century) to investigate a series of child murders in Cambridge. I read this earlier in the year and loved it. There is some early subterfuge where she tries to hide that it's her who is the doctor because England doesn't have woman doctors yet, but the core of the story is the mystery itself of who is the bad guy.

Murder Must Advertise by Dorothy Sayers
When advertising executive Victor Dean dies from a fall down the stairs at Pym's Publicity, Lord Peter Wimsey is asked to investigate. It seems that, before he died, Dean had begun a letter to Mr. Pym suggesting some very unethical dealings at the posh London ad agency. Wimsey goes undercover and discovers that Dean was part of the fast crowd at Pym's, a group taken to partying and doing drugs. Wimsey and his brother-in-law, Chief-Inspector Parker, rush to discover who is running London's cocaine trade and how Pym's fits into the picture--all before Wimsey's cover is blown.

JSWolf · 09-01-2009, 08:18 PM

And the vote is where?

lilac_jive · 09-01-2009, 08:19 PM

Ooh decisions! Hrmmm....

lilac_jive · 09-01-2009, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

And the vote is where?

They take a few minutes after you make the post.

pilotbob · 09-01-2009, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

And the vote is where?

Patients young padawan.

BOb

pilotbob · 09-01-2009, 08:20 PM

Murder Must Advertise is not in the Kindle store. Does anyone know if this is available as an eBook? If not, I must take it off the list.

BOb

JSWolf · 09-01-2009, 08:21 PM

Ok, I voted.

JSWolf · 09-01-2009, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pilotbob

Murder Must Advertise is not in the Kindle store. Does anyone know if this is available as an eBook? If not, I must take it off the list.

BOb

Have you by any chance looked for it in the MR library?

pilotbob · 09-01-2009, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Have you by any chance looked for it in the MR library?

No, it is on Amazon as an MMPB published in 1995. So, I tend to doubt it is in our library.

BOb

pilotbob · 09-01-2009, 08:34 PM

Another question... is the Charlie Chan omnibus a collection of short stories. Or, are they all full size novels? If they are full size novels I suggest that we limit the selection to 1 of the books. Perhaps the title one... book 2?

BOb

JSWolf · 09-01-2009, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pilotbob

No, it is on Amazon as an MMPB published in 1995. So, I tend to doubt it is in our library.

BOb

I said that because it is in our library uploaded by Patricia.

pilotbob · 09-01-2009, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I said that because it is in our library uploaded by Patricia.

Oh... well it would have been better for you to say it was in our library.

Thanks.

BOb

fbrII · 09-01-2009, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Another question... is the Charlie Chan omnibus a collection of short stories. Or, are they all full size novels?

Full size novels and like the reviewer said surprisingly good.

Also, I've been looking for a place where I could hang out with some penguins, any ideas?

pilotbob · 09-01-2009, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fbrII

Full size novels and like the reviewer said surprisingly good.

Ok... so I think we should choose 1 of the 6.... what do you all SAY? Or should we just wait to see if it wins?

Quote:

Originally Posted by fbrII

Also, I've been looking for a place where I could hang out with some penguins, any ideas?

Once you give away your good haunts they become much too busy and touristy.

BOb

lilac_jive · 09-01-2009, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pilotbob

Ok... so I think we should choose 1 of the 6.... what do you all SAY? Or should we just wait to see if it wins?

Once you give away your good haunts they become much too busy and touristy.

BOb

I think we should say the first one. I kind of disregarded it since I didn't want to read a bunch of books. Luckily I haven't voted yet

View Poll Results: September 2009 Mobile Read Book Club Vote
The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie	26	34.21%
The Chinese Parrot (Charlie Chan) by Biggs	15	19.74%
Lady Molly of Scotland Yard by by Baroness Orczy	2	2.63%
A Beautiful Blue Death by Charles Finch	1	1.32%
Mistress of the Art of Death by Ariana Franklin	9	11.84%
Murder Must Advertise by Dorothy Sayers	23	30.26%
Voters: 76. You may not vote on this poll

09-01-2009, 08:18 PM	#1
pilotbob Grand Sorcerer Posts: 19,832 Karma: 11844413 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Tampa, FL USA Device: Kindle Touch	September 2009 Mobile Read Book Club Vote Help up choose a book as the September 2009 eBook for the Mobile Read Book Club. The poll will be open for 7 days. We will start the discussion thread for this book on September 27th. Select from the following books. The selections are: The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie Belgian detective Hercule Poirot's first case, in which he investigates some strange goings-on in Styles St Mary, and has nothing more than a shattered coffee cup, a splash of candle grease and a bed of begonias for clues. The Chinese Parrot (Charlie Chan Omnibus) by Biggs Biggers, Earl Derr: Charlie Chan Omnibus. v4, 22 May 2009 An omnibus edition of the "Charlies Chan" detective stories of Earl Derr Biggers. This volume contains the following books: 1. The House Without a Key 2. The Chinese Parrot 3. Behind that Curtain 4. The Black Camel 5. Charlie Chan Carries On 6. Keeper of the Keys If your view of Charlie Chan comes from the dozens of very bad, semi-comic movies made in the 1940s and 50s, then read these books and you're in for a pleasant surprise. The books have extremely well-crafted plots ("The Chinese Parrot" is my personal favourite) and are well worth reading. Lady Molly of Scotland Yard by by Baroness Orczy Feisty, brilliant, and beautiful; precursor of the sleuth who relies on brains rather than brawn, Lady Molly, and her faithful sidekick and admiring chronicler Mary, began appearing in Orczy's entertaining stories years before the first Englishwoman did in fact become an officer of the law. A Beautiful Blue Death by Charles Finch Set in England in 1865, Finch's impressive debut introduces an appealing gentleman sleuth, Charles Lenox. When Lady Jane Grey's former servant, Prue Smith, dies in an apparent suicide-by-poisoning, Lady Jane asks Lenox, her closest friend, to investigate. The attractive young maid had been working in the London house of George Barnard, the current director of the Royal Mint. Lenox quickly determines that Smith's death was a homicide, but both Barnard and Scotland Yard resist that conclusion, forcing him to work discreetly. Aided by his Bunter-like butler and friend, Graham, the detective soon identifies a main suspect, only to have that theory shattered by that man's murder. Finch laces his writing with some Wodehousian touches and devises a solution intricate enough to fool most readers. Lovers of quality historical whodunits will hope this is the first in a series. Mistress of the Art of Death by Ariana Franklin Loved it. This was basically 'CSI set in 12th century Cambridge.' The main character is a female doctor who is essentially a coroner. She examines remains and tries to find out what happened to them. She is loaned by Rome (Italy has female doctors in the 12th century) to investigate a series of child murders in Cambridge. I read this earlier in the year and loved it. There is some early subterfuge where she tries to hide that it's her who is the doctor because England doesn't have woman doctors yet, but the core of the story is the mystery itself of who is the bad guy. Murder Must Advertise by Dorothy Sayers When advertising executive Victor Dean dies from a fall down the stairs at Pym's Publicity, Lord Peter Wimsey is asked to investigate. It seems that, before he died, Dean had begun a letter to Mr. Pym suggesting some very unethical dealings at the posh London ad agency. Wimsey goes undercover and discovers that Dean was part of the fast crowd at Pym's, a group taken to partying and doing drugs. Wimsey and his brother-in-law, Chief-Inspector Parker, rush to discover who is running London's cocaine trade and how Pym's fits into the picture--all before Wimsey's cover is blown. Last edited by pilotbob; 09-01-2009 at 08:28 PM.

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09-01-2009, 08:18 PM	#2
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 76,404 Karma: 136466962 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	And the vote is where?

09-01-2009, 08:19 PM	#3
lilac_jive Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,870 Karma: 27376 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Pennsylvania Device: PRS-505	Ooh decisions! Hrmmm....

09-01-2009, 08:20 PM	#6
pilotbob Grand Sorcerer Posts: 19,832 Karma: 11844413 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Tampa, FL USA Device: Kindle Touch	Murder Must Advertise is not in the Kindle store. Does anyone know if this is available as an eBook? If not, I must take it off the list. BOb

09-01-2009, 08:21 PM	#7
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 76,404 Karma: 136466962 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Ok, I voted.

09-01-2009, 08:34 PM	#10
pilotbob Grand Sorcerer Posts: 19,832 Karma: 11844413 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Tampa, FL USA Device: Kindle Touch	Another question... is the Charlie Chan omnibus a collection of short stories. Or, are they all full size novels? If they are full size novels I suggest that we limit the selection to 1 of the books. Perhaps the title one... book 2? BOb

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