Tips for Tuesday - Books: Mrs. Christie at the Mystery Guild Library & Forget Me Not

Books: Mrs. Christie at the Mystery Guild Library & Forget Me Not

Today, we recommend Mrs. Christie at the Mystery Guild Library by Amanda Chapman. Book conservator, Tory Van Dyne, runs Manhattan's Mystery Guild Library. When a woman claiming to be Agatha Christie herself mysteriously shows up appropriately enough in the library's Christie room, Tory finds herself immersed in solving a murder mystery along with her flighty cousin, a precocious 11-year-old, a handsome but sartorially challenged detective, and the alleged Mrs. Christie herself. 

If you like a light mystery and/or a book about a disparate collection of misfits coming together to form a cohesive group, you should love this warm and cosy book. Although you don't have to be a fan of Agatha Christie to appreciate it, if you are, that will definitely enhance your overall enjoyment. Every chapter begins with a quote from one of her books, and quotes are generously sprinkled throughout the chapters as well. You don't have to worry about missing any or trying to determine which book they are from either, because the title of the book is clearly stated right after each quote, but not in an obtrusive way, more in a fun way in which characters are always catching each other quoting Christie books. 

The mystery itself, which involves the poisoning of a dog, followed by two murders and an attempted murder, is interesting enough. There are some unique twists worthy of Agatha Christie herself, plus the requisite surprise ending. Thus, if you are interested in books like Agatha Christie's but with a slightly lighter tone, you should particularly relish this book and this new series. 

Today, we recommend Forget Me Not by Stacy Willingham.  Upon returning home to help her mother recover from an injury, investigative journalist Claire Campbell discovers she is clearly not wanted. On a whim, she takes a seasonal job working on the muscadine farm where her sister worked the summer before she was murdered over twenty years ago. When Claire finds and begins reading a diary written by one of the vineyard's owners, she discovers that the vineyard may have a dark connection to a series of unsolved crimes and perhaps even a connection to her own sister's death even though her sister's murderer was allegedly caught.

This is a complex story brimming with interesting characters, although at times it may be confusing for some readers to keep them all straight. The mystery is intriguing and filled with enough exciting twists and turns to remain interesting throughout. Even if you think you know where the story is heading, you still may be surprised by the shocking ending. 

And that's our view. Mrs. Chrisitie and The Mystery Guild Library and Forget Me Not were both published last Tuesday, August 26, 2025. 

Tune in tomorrow for Where-To-Go Wednesday.

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