I'm not sure that ending even made sense. 

And the original murder ... Dame Agatha used something similar by way of setting and light switch action, but to much greater effect and in a much more memorable way. 

So, unfortunately, this story kinda fell flat for me.

While Invisible Women is a fabulous book, it's far from a relaxing read.

I need something easy and well within my comfort zone for a midweek bookish diversion, so I had a browse and I think I am ready for the next installment in the Amos Petrie series. 

Murder - Nine and Out was published in 1934, so it's definitely within the Golden Age comfort range. And if it is anything like the others in the series, there should be some fun to be had with this one, too. 

The cover is hideous, of course. It's even horrible when compared with the rest of the series, which is very much a study in how not to design book covers. 

At least there are editions of Below the Clock which are beautiful. It's only a small comfort, tho.

“WHO comes next?” asked the Inspector as the door closed behind Lady Belden. “Our last witness was not an entire success, was she?”

“Very curious, Ripple. It has given me quite a lot to think about. Now I think we will try that little woman—the one with the saucer-shaped eyes, boat-shaped mouth, hair like a shampoo advertisement, red paint on nails that are too long, feet like a geisha girl, and a simpering air that covers a quantity of confidence and brazen nerve. What is her name?”

“You mean Sadie Melsa, the film star.”

“One of those who make the sunshine jealous, and the flower droop its head, cause palpitation in the breast of the cashier every time he pays the salary, and regard all the world as a stage and all the men as merely payers.”

This is not much of a review. I've been browsing my shelves and came across Amos Petrie's Puzzle. Apparently, I read this a few months ago. 

I say "apparently", because I remember nothing about it. Zilch. So, I took a look inside the book to see if anything would eventually remind me of the plot, and all I could be stirred to remember is:

There was a pond. 

There was a murder. 

But neither the motive, nor the method, nor the investigation made a lot of sense to me.

So, yes, this is not much of a review, it's more of a note to myself to say that this has been the weakest offering in the series so far.

Thankfully, I already know that the series is not going downhill from here because this was only Book #3, and the book that got me hooked on the series in the first place was Book #7. 

Let's see what Book #4 has to offer.

Series - Amos Petrie:

Death Must Have Laughed (1932) - 3.5*

Who Spoke Last? (1932) - 4*

Amos Petrie's Puzzle (1933) - 2*

Murder - Nine and Out (1934) - TBR

Death Joins the Party (1935) - TBR

Homicide Haven (1935) - TBR

Below the Clock (1936) - 4*

Książkę powinien przeczytać każdy, który żyje żeby pracować. Wielu ludzi współcześnie zatracając się w pracy, nie radzi sobie zupełnie w życiu prywatnym jak bohater książki Joel. Wyszkolony agent osadu, nie został wyszkolony jak radzić sobie w kontaktach z córką, żoną, matką, sąsiadami. Świetna książka pokazująca, że nie ma ludzi niezastąpionych w pracy, a żyć powinniśmy tak, aby praca pozwalała nam na życie. Każdego fachowca w swojej dziedzinie czeka zdanie od przełożonego: „A więc idź teraz z łaski swojej do domu i żyj z tym”, czasem jeszcze kwiaty i bombonierka w nagrodę za pracę z przesłaniem „nie dzwon do nas trzy razy dziennie”. Musimy pamiętać, że nie ma osób niezastąpionych zawsze za nas mogą wysłać kogoś innego i co z tego, że my – tak uważamy – wykonalibyśmy to zadanie lepiej. Lepiej to poszukać sobie zajęcia, równie potrzebnego jak wykonywana przez nas praca, może być jak w książce wolontariat. Polecam. Amos Oz to poeta piszący prozą o banalnych sprawach tworząc wielką literaturę.