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Book 2 for the #ChristmasCrimeChallenge - a very convoluted classic Locked Room Mystery. Gets a bit meta in a surprising discussion of all the usual solutions to locked rooms, and warns the reader that detective fiction only has to be possible, not probable.
Also works for Set in Winter. Snow is an important element in the puzzle. Shows its age in the portrayal of the female characters, but is still enjoyable. @RaeLovesToRead @Ruthiella

#BookReport #November23to29 #2025
Finished the first 4 books: #sundaybuddyread #TLI #PasticheBR #ABrunoChiefofPoliceNovel #ChristmasCrimeChallenge #RailwayDetectiveBook15 #prompt7 #setontransport

Currently reading: #NFNovember #ChristmasCrimeChallenge #prompt4
#lockedroommystery #ChristmasCrimeChallenge #prompt6 #setinsnow #audiobook

Next week I predict my reading will slow down as I will be back to work after a 5 day Thanksgiving holiday!

This book seems to be a Japanese classic, but I've only just discovered it, thanks to various Litsy challenges that inspire me to try out new authors! I really enjoyed it and will look for more books featuring the eccentric detective Kosuke Kindaichi.

#192025 #1946 @Librarybelle
#ChristmasCrimeChallenge (locked room) @Ruthiella @RaeLovesToRead
#gottacatchemall (Herdier: set in winter)

These are the books I'm hoping to read for the #ChristmasCrimeChallenge! @Ruthiella @RaeLovesToRead

1. The Black Wolf
2. A Colder Kind of Death
3. The Ghost of Blackwood Hall
4. The Honjin Murders
5. The Return of Campion
6. Cat's Paws and Curses
7. Murder on the Canadian
8. A Kiss Before Dying
9. The Iron Hand of Mars

A #coverbuy although it also sounds good!

Aha! One of the John Dickson Carr books I actually really like! I've had a rocky time of it with his books, not always enjoying them, but of late I seem to be getting along better. This one is majority courtroom drama, which makes for a change, and it's another locked room mystery.

I must say the actual culprit kinda comes out of left field and was less fun, but it's a minor downside.

This was absolutely crap.

I've just spent an hour explaining why on Goodreads, but I'm contemplating deleting my review because it isn't at all tactful.

Seriously though, it's not often that I get this salty over a book.

⭐️

One star

The description of this book sounded promising but it‘s just dumb. It‘s winking so hard at Holmes/Poirot that it‘s more like a grimace. And the construction of it just doesn‘t work. I wish I hadn‘t read it.

This is the 1st time I have panned a book & it hurts me to do it. The author tried something different & I found it to be just too much work to follow. Perhaps a preamble explaining the concept would have helped. I also found the various endings frustrating & while clever, not satisfying. I am a huge fan of Anthony Horowitz (which this has been compared to), but his books, while also quite different, are easy to follow. Thanks to Edelweiss+. 2.5/5