Mystery Book Club

August 29, 2012

For our September discussion, we are reading a British cozy in the style of Dorothy Sayers and a modern day thriller set in United States but involving the Russian mafia. Join us at the Antioch Branch on September 24 at 7:00 p.m. to express your views on both.

A Dark and Stormy Night by Jeanne Dams. If you like the mysteries of Agatha Christie or Dorothy Sayers, then here is one for you, complete with eccentric guests and murders. American expat Dorothy Martin, who is married to retired Chief Constable Alan Nesbitt, is invited to spend the weekend at a restored country mansion. The expected purpose is to enjoy the Guy Fawkes Day festivities and the company of friends. When a terrible and unexpected storm destroys the estate's gardens, it also traps everyone at the house without power or communications. While trying to clean up the debris left by the storm and reestablish communications with the rest of the world, Dorothy and Alan find several bodies in varying states of decomposition. They realize that the murderer is most likely one of the guests, and they must protect everyone until the police can arrive. Will there be other murders in the meantime?

The First Rule by Robert Crais. Frank Meyer was living the American dream. He had a family and a business, and by all accounts, he was successful at both. That is until the day a professional hit crew invaded his home and murdered everyone inside, including his family and the nanny. Before his perfectly normal life, a younger Frank Meyer had worked as a professional mercenary with a man named Joe Pike. Joe Pike thought a lot of Frank Meyer, and he wants to know what happened. The police think that Frank was hiding something very bad, but Joe Pike knows better.  With the help of his partner, he sets out on a hunt of his own using himself as bait. He quickly becomes entangled in a web of ancient grudges, blood ties, blackmail, vengeance, double crosses, cutthroat criminality, and an act so terrible even Pike has no way to measure it. What was that act? You will have to read the book to find out.

James H.
Antioch Branch