Friday’s Forgotten Book: What Came to Cinderella by Curtis Yorke (1926)

"I must have freedom," she declared. "My life embraces so much. I have so many interests. While you - you poor little soul - you are merely a - a veritable Cinderella." "Oh well, we know who came out on top in that story," laughed Faith good-naturedly. Faith Norman, the eponymous Cinderella, lives in an …

German Classic: Stud. Chem. Helene Willfuer by Vicki Baum (1928)

But that was the way with Life - now and again things went so well, that out of the deepest darkness sprang up happiness, unforeseen, profound and penetrating. The focus of German Literary Month this year was Austrian Authors. That gave me a chance to start reading Vicki Baum, an Austrian writer, who had been …

#1929 Club: The Barrakee Mystery by Arthur Upfield and The Patient in Room 18 by Mignon G. Eberhart

Napoleon 'Bony' Bonaparte, born to a White father and an Australian Aboriginal woman, had been on my wishlist for a long time. I was curious to read a 'mixed-race' protagonist when the detectives were, for the most part, propah British gentlemen. So when the 1929 club approached and I saw that Bony's debut was in …

#1929 Club: The Murder on the Enriqueta by Molly Thynne

British author, Molly Thynne had long been on my reading radar but it was a compelling review by my blogging friend, Rekha [Check out her wonderful blog @ The Book Decoder] that finally pushed me into reading her. When the novel begins, we are aboard The Enriqueta, a luxury-liner, on its way from Buenos Aires …

#1929 Club: The Man in the Queue by Josephine Tey

Though I have read a couple of Josephine Tey's Alan Grant novels, the #1929 club being hosted by Simon and Karen gave me an excellent opportunity to read his first case. A widely popular stage show is winding up in a week and crowds are thronging to the theatre to see the beautiful actress Ray …

#1929 Club: The Treasure House of Martin Hews by E. Phillips Oppenheim

Major Henry Owston, demobbed, without any job or financial security and definitely bitter is counting his last pennies when he reaches Breezeley Mansion, a sinister looking mansion somewhere in the backwaters. Carrying a letter of introduction and his last hopes, he presents himself before wheelchair user Martin Hews, the master of the house. Hews surprises …

#1929 Club: Detective Debuts

Karen @ Kaggsy's Bookish Ramblings and Simon @ Stuck in a Book are ready to host another chapter in their biannual reading club event. The year for October (24th-30th) is 1929. I love to participate in this but this month might not be able to do so because of being tied up in too many …

Black Magic: The Hand of Doom by J.M. Walsh (1927)

Grennel and Crammond (I think they have first names too but they never registered and I am too bored to look them up) are two collectors but while Crammond is someone who is generally interested in the antique artifacts that come his way as a way of increasing his knowledge, Grennel is a fence who …

Friday’s Forgotten Book: The Majestic Mystery by Denis Mackail (1924)

"Then how do you know he was shot at all?"There was an irritating air of the amateur detective about this question which roused Peter at once. Friends Peter Langley and James Vincent are journalist, very junior in the hiearchy. One weekend, after submitting their articles to their newspapers, they decide to take a trip to …

Ghost Story on Christmas Eve

If like me, you like to snuggle up in a razai with a hot cup of cha or coffee and a book of spooky stories during the dark, mysterious, wintry nights of Christmas, than here is something for you. There will be a festive reading of the lesser-known M R James ghost story 'There Was a Man …