It’s Saturday everyone! Author Holly Bell will be joining us today and sharing her suggestions on this Saturday night. Before we get into her suggestions, here’s a little bit about her book Amanda Cadabra and the Hidey-Hole Truth.
Asthmatic furniture restorer and covert witch Amanda Cadabra is a survivor. After all, her family’s bus went over a Cornish cliff. Now the presentable but irritating Inspector Trelawney is dogging her footsteps as he investigates the unexplained deaths. But that’s the least of her problems. Amanda has just got a furniture restoration job at the old English Manor of Sunken Madley with its murky past.
Armed only with a wand and Tempest, her grumpy reincarnated cat, she’s going in. A body, ghosts, hidden tunnels, chills and unexplained lights; can Amanda solve the mystery in time and save the village from the scandal of murder?
This book is set in England, so the language reflects how we spell and speak here (however strange!). This may be a little different from what you’re used to, especially in the US, but never fear, there’s a glossary at the back of the book if you need help.
As I am a cozy paranormal mystery writer, these are my suggestions for snuggling up with cushions, blanket, and steaming mug of your hot drink of choice, on an autumn weekend night.
The Book
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| Agatha Christie |
Christie’s first Marple is set in the quintessentially English village of St Mary Mead in 1930s. It has all of the ingredients, and indeed set the tone, of the genre that was not to emerge as a recognised form until the next century. Why has it endured as an international bestseller? Settle in and discover the magic of an entertaining, suprising and charming mystery.
The Film
Want a break? Or once you’ve read the final page, smiled, and exhaled with wonderment, you’ll be ready for more. So, my recommendation would be to have lined up Murder She Said. This is based on Christie’s 4.50 from Paddington, starring the talented character actress Margaret Rutherford as Miss Marple. Now, this was not the author’s vision of her heroine. However, she was a great admirer of Rutherford’s work, and the film, made in 1961, has a charm all of its own. There are three others in the Rutherford-Marple series, and you can watch them all free of charge at The Daily Motion, starting with the one suggested, https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6bycfa or on YouTube.
The Wild Card
What is the ideal accompaniment to the book and film? It surely has to be English crumpets, toasted with a generous spread of butter melting through the holes in the top, deep into the luscious centre. Failing that, Victoria Sandwich (with tea, naturally).
There you have it, the essential cozy mystery Saturday night, a trip back in time with a glorious culinary experience in the present.
Happy reading, watching and … tasting!
Thanks for featuring Holly.
Love cozy mysteries and I especially love Aguilera Christine .
Great recommendations. I love cozy mysteries.
Amanda Cadabra is a brilliant name!
Great post idea. I like the sound of the book too.
Gemma @ Gemma's Book Nook
I am not really an Agatha Christie fan, but will try these books
I've always wanted to read an Agatha Christie book 🙂 I have a few on my Kindle right now – think I'll pick one up next. Thanks for sharing your recommendations!
I love the sound of this book!! I love mysteries!!
Sounds intriguing! Thanks for sharing such an amazing read.(Quanda)
For the amount of mystery/suspence/crime/thriller books I read you would of thought Agatha Christie is an author I have read – I haven't. The book sounds intriguing and I love that cover. Great post.
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