Hosted by Lipsyy Lost & Found my Wednesday post gives you a taste of what I am reading this week. A similar meme is run by Taking on a World of Words
I am currently reading another book for my Mount TBR Challenge which I’m pleased to say is still on track! I purchased A is for Arsenic: The Poisons of Agatha Christie by Kathryn Harkup on 8 September 2016 and I’m working my way through all the poisons with delight!
Blurb
Agatha Christie revelled in the use of poison to kill off unfortunate victims in her books; indeed, she employed it more than any other murder method, with the poison itself often being a central part of the novel. Her choice of deadly substances was far from random – the characteristics of each often provide vital clues to the discovery of the murderer. With gunshots or stabbings the cause of death is obvious, but this is not the case with poisons. How is it that some compounds prove so deadly, and in such tiny amounts?
Christie’s extensive chemical knowledge provides the backdrop for A is for Arsenic, in which Kathryn Harkup investigates the poisons used by the murderer in fourteen classic Agatha Christie mysteries. It looks at why certain chemicals kill, how they interact with the body, the cases that may have inspired Christie, and the feasibility of obtaining, administering and detecting these poisons, both at the time the novel was written and today. A is for Arsenic is a celebration of the use of science by the undisputed Queen of Crime. Amazon
Before that I finished Boundary by Andrée A. Michaud which will be published on 23 March 2017.
Blurb
It’s the Summer of 1967. The sun shines brightly over Boundary lake, a holiday haven on the US-Canadian border. Families relax in the heat, happy and carefree. Hours tick away to the sound of radios playing ‘Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds’ and ‘A Whiter Shade of Pale’. Children run along the beach as the heady smell of barbecues fills the air. Zaza Mulligan and Sissy Morgan, with their long, tanned legs and silky hair, relish their growing reputation as the red and blond Lolitas. Life seems idyllic.
But then Zaza disappears, and the skies begin to cloud over… Amazon
Next up is A Life Between Us by Louise Walters whose debut novel Mrs Sinclair’s Suitcase wowed me.
Blurb
Tina Thornton’s twin sister Meg died in a childhood accident, but for almost forty years Tina has secretly blamed herself for her sister’s death. During a visit to her aging Uncle Edward and his sister Lucia, who both harbour dark secrets of their own, Tina makes a discovery that forces her to finally question her memories of the day her sister died. Who, if anyone, did kill Meg?
As Tina finds the courage to face the past, she unravels the tangled family mysteries of her estranged parents, her beautiful French Aunt Simone, the fading, compassionate Uncle Edward, and above all, the cold, bitter Aunt Lucia, whose spectral presence casts a long shadow over them all.
A Life Between Us is a beautifully evocative story of a family torn apart at the seams, which will appeal to readers who enjoy family sagas and modern-day mysteries. Amazon
What are you reading? Do share!
A is for Arsenic was one of my Christmas presents. Fascinating book.
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I’m really enjoying it she’s written it so the chemistry aspect isn’t too baffling!
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I like the cover for A Life Between Us. I haven’t read any books with family sagas in a while. It looks interesting though emotional.
Enjoy your books this week. Happy reading.
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I always enjoy sagas when I read them but they’re not something I could read loads of but I fully trust this author to provide me with something good!
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Ah, cheery stuff as usual from you, Cleo! I have to laugh at how our similar our tastes are for ‘escapist’ literature… I’ve done a proper blog post this week as well.
https://findingtimetowrite.wordpress.com/2017/03/15/wwwednesday-15th-march-what-are-you-reading/
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I aim to please! There were a stack of books of the girly variety in the kitchen last week and my assistant asked if I’d read those – I said no, there was unlikely to be any murders in them – he looked a wee bit worried 😉
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That’s because we are so nice in real life, right?
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😂
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I like the sound of A is for Arsenic. Sounds very different and totally fascinating.
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It is fascinating Ali
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A is for Arsenic sounds great. I’ve finished Death Comes for the Archbishop by Willa Cather which I loved and am currently reading As Meat Loves Salt by Maria McCann which is set during the English Civil War. It’s written in the first person and that person is a bit of a rotter to put it mildly so it’s a bit remorseless! No escape available with other characters.
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I’m loving all the information in A is for Arsenic which is incredibly well written, informative but entertaining.
Oh had to check out As Meat Loves Salt because of your comments and I now understand! Enjoy the ride!
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Nice post, I might have to take a look at a couple of these books!
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thank you 🙂
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Cleo, were you a poisoner in another life? Ha! I know that you like books about poisons and poisoners, etc. All these sound good. I’m reading Ruth Ware’s upcoming book, THE LYING GAME right now. It won’t be out here until July, but I just really ‘needed’ to read it. 🙂
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Not as far as I know but I have all the tools to be one next time around 😏 ooh I will have to read The Lying Game when it comes out!!
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You’ve got some good ones there, Cleo! The Harkup sounds especially interesting. I may have to look that one up. And I’ve heard some great things about the Walters, so I’ll be really keen to know what you thought of that when you’ve finished.
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Thank you Margot – I’m sure you would enjoy A is for Arsenic – I already have lots to say about it and I’m only up to D is for Digitalis so far…
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And A IS FOR ARSENIC goes into the tbr list! Girl, I told you it’s bad for my attempts to get my tbr under control to read your blog–lol! I always find something interesting to add.
Right now I’m reading Cynthia Harrod-Eagles’s OLD BONES, the latest in her DCI Bill Slider mysteries. I love this series–especially the various characters and the great puns and word play. I recommend reading the series in order because characters do grow and change over time.
Next up: Jane Harper’s Australian mystery, THE DRY. It’s about a man returning to his hometown after a 20-year absence to investigate the death of a childhood friend. This all takes place against the backdrop of a terrible drought. The book has received rave reviews here in the States. I hope it lives up to the hype.
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So glad you found something else today Deb! To be fair A is for Arsenic is fascinating! In return I have added Orchestrated Death to my wishlist – sounds like a great series, although I can’t believe I’m even contemplating adding another one to the list!!
Bloggers I trust have loved The Dry and I’m feeling sad that I didn’t take up the offer of a copy of this one now but I’m sure I will pick it up at some point.
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Boundary caught my eye…Summer of 1967 (The Summer of Love) and the US-Canadian border…and those songs! Nostalgia.
I also love the look of A Life Between Us. Thanks for sharing, and here’s MY WWW POST
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Boundary felt like a much more literary novel at first but I do love the time period and the setting.
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” I’m working my way through all the poisons with delight!” This is a scary sentence! 😂 Glad you’re enjoying it! Happy reading!
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mwahahaha x
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A Life Between Us sounds like such an interesting mystery! I’m going to have to add it to my TBR. Happy reading!
My WWW Wednesday.
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Thank you so much for visiting and leaving your link 😉
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The poison book sounds great! But if I ever come to Jersey, please don’t ask me to dinner… 😉
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Oh but I have the best recipe that I’m sure a sprinkling of foxglove will enhance mwahahaha
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A is For Arsenic looks sooooo good! Agatha Christie is one of my favorites, so I need to read this one!
Here’s my post for this week. Happy reading!
https://darcysbookblog.com/2017/03/15/this-week-in-books-03-15-17/
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I’m only up to D is for Digitalis but I’m so enjoying this book with poison and Agatha Christie!
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Books about twins fascinate me, so I’m sure I’d like A Life Between Us. If you like stories about twins in general too, you might enjoy The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield.
My WWW post
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I was a huge fan of The Thirteenth Tale and it used to be one of the books on my header when I started my blog – great recommendation.
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A Life Between Us looks good! I’m intrigued! 🙂 Have a great week Cleo!
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Thank you for visiting Chrissi 🙂
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Thos both sound like really good books — interesting story lines.
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Thank you 😉
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A Life Between Us looks very good! I hope you enjoy it. Happy reading!
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Than you 🙂
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I love that art deco cover of A is for Arsenic! Sounds like an interesting read too. Hope you’re enjoying it.
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