The Cozy Mystery List Blog

Man!!! It is hot right now in San Antonio! I am already thinking about the coming autumn and winter months. Of course, our autumn months are not at all cold… but at least they don’t feel clammy, humid, and HOT! So, having said that…

I do not watch television channels devoted to selling products during the year. I simply don’t enjoy shopping, and I am not a collector of anything other than (mostly cozy) mystery books. But I have to confess that as the fall approaches, I start “peeking in” on a few QVC shows to get ideas for gifts that I can give as “gift fillers”… the types of things that can be included amongst the “main gifts” that I send out>>> little things that can be added in to make a nicer presentation>>> sort of like stocking stuffers. Things that aren’t too big or expensive. Things that can round out the big boxes that I send out.

Anyway, let me get to my blog idea for the day… Tomorrow night (Thursday, 24) QVC is starting their “Christmas in July” sale… and, since I never watch television live, I have already set up my Replay machine to tape all of the shows that look interesting to me.  I’m hoping that I am able to get some ideas (and purchases) of doo-dads for all of the people on my list. And, perhaps just seeing QVC’s fake snow might make it feel a little cooler outside!

PS>>>> A Replay machine is like a TIVO. I prefer the Replay since (I think) that it’s easier to navigate. Unfortunately I think it went the way of the Betas, 8-Tracks, and laser discs!

I have read many Agatha Christie novels during my life…  and I have also watched (and re-watched) many different adaptations of Christie’s novels on television. But, I never tire of her oh-so-very cozy works. It is for this reason that I have decided to start at the beginning, and work my way through her novels.

I have just finished listening to The Murder at the Vicarage (1930) and The Mysterious Affair at Styles (1922). Both of these are the first novels of her two most famous series… the Vicarage introduces us to Miss Marple’s unassuming role as the elderly spinster sleuth. The Styles Affair introduces us to Captain Hastings, Inspector Japp, and, of course, Hercule Poirot. What a delight it was to go back and listen to how Christie brought those characters to life. It had been years since I read either novel, and I was most interested in listening to how the two main characters were described.

The audio version of the Mysterious Affair at Styles that I am listening to is actually read by David Suchet… who most of us immediately identify as the best Hercule Poirot ever caught on film. What a treat it is to listen to Hercule’s dialogue by “Hercule himself”… well… almost! 

At first, my plan was to “plow my way” through all of the Agatha Christie audio books that I have available to me. I have since then decided to hold off on that particular plan. I am going to intersperse the Miss Marples and Poirots with other audio books that I have. I don’t want to “overstay my welcome,” so to speak. I have found that many times, when I try to go through a series with no interruptions by other books, I sometimes don’t enjoy the books as much as I would, had I visited the characters more times>>> but less often.