Book Review: The Burglar Who Liked to Quote Kipling by Lawrence Block

Book: The Burglar Who Liked to Quote Kipling

Author: Lawrence Block

Genre: Mystery

Julia Rating: 10

Comments: This is a Bernie Rhodenbarr mystery. It's about a professional burglar who has given up a life of crime for a nice used book store. He is co missioned to burgle a particularly easy home and does so, but when he's trying to hand over the goods, his contact is murdered and Bernie is framed for the murder! Now he must discover who killed the lady and why before the cops get on his tail.

I really loved this book and when I bought it, I swore I would buy more Lawrence Block because he's funny and really pulls you into the story. I haven't yet... but I will!

Book Review: The Secret of Chimneys by Agatha Christie

The Book: The Secret of Chimneys
The Author: Agatha Christie

Julia Rating: 8 out of 10

My Comments:
I am a huge Agatha Christie fan, and I love that this one isn't a Miss Marple or Hercule Poirot book - I like to shake things up every once in a while. This book was fantastic. I don't really like the info on the back of the book, so I'll do my own blurb:
In a strange set of coincidences the mysterious Anthony Cade is commissioned by his friend to return to Jolly Old England to deliver a package of letters and a scandalous manuscript. Once there, he runs into all sorts of trouble with the manuscript and finds out that everything is connected to the elusive King Victor - a master criminal that the English Scotland Yard and French Surete are trying to catch. Becoming a suspect himself, Anthony becomes embroiled in the police search for King Victor. His only way out is to prove his innocence by finding the real King Victor.
I really enjoyed the book. It was compelling, with many twists and turns. The only reason I give it an eight is that the chain of coincidences Agatha Christie depicts are too good to be true for any fiction writer. It makes the story rather unbelievable, which is a shame, because I'd really like to believe it.