‘Travels’ (1988) gives surprising insight into Crichton
Michael Crichton Monday (Book review): These essays touch on his inspirations for novels. But Crichton’s interest in the paranormal is the big surprise.
Books
‘Travels’ (1988) gives surprising insight into Crichton
‘Mrs. McGinty’s Dead’ (1952), and everyone’s a suspect
Sleuthing Sunday (Book review): This might be Christie’s most convoluted, unsolvable mystery. But it’s a solid character piece for Poirot.
A twist: ‘Death Comes as the End’ (1944) set in ancient Egypt
Sleuthing Sunday (Book review): Christie ventures outside of contemporary England to tell an ancient Egyptian story – albeit one with familiar parallels.
‘Bloodless’ an amusing dive into Savannah, weird science
Book review: Preston & Child’s 20th Pendergast novel is a wild page-turner, but it crams in too many ideas to be as memorable as their earlier gems.
‘State of Fear’ (2004) has impeccable research, crazy plot
Michael Crichton Monday (Book review): Crichton illustrates that climate worries are overstated, and that the environmental movement has bad consequences.
‘N or M?’ (1941) encapsulates life during World War II
Sleuthing Sunday (Book review): The T&T novels keep surprising me as being better than their reputation. I think “N or M?” is the best of the first three.
Christie dives into romantic minds in ‘The Hollow’ (1946)
Sleuthing Sunday (Book review): “The Hollow” is Christie’s elite piece of character writing to this point. As a bonus, it’s a strong Poirot potboiler too.
‘Grave Descend’ (1970) flirts with high-seas thrills
Michael Crichton Monday (Book review): The seventh John Lange novel isn’t as deep as it could’ve been, but the mystery plot makes it a page-turner.
Christie reflects on death in ‘Sparkling Cyanide’ (1945)
Sleuthing Sunday (Book review): One of Christie’s most cinematic novels shuffles the chronological approach but in other ways goes by the book.
‘A Case of Need’ (1968) makes case as Crichton’s first gem
Michael Crichton Monday (Book review): What was Crichton’s first great novel? A case could be made for the medical thriller “A Case of Need.”