Robert M. (shotokanchef) reviewed on 12/27/2011 + 813 more book reviews

Nine stories by Auntie Agatha: some murder, some mystery, some interesting, some dull as dishwater.
The opener, a tidy but called The Edge, I found to be the most intriguing. Edge has so many implications. A marries B, who is in love with C, who is married to D. Nothing new here. But, heres the rivalry; E is in love with A, discovers B and C, of whom A knows nothing. Such a conundrum! E cant decide how to handle it. Someone will go over the edge, but whom?
The Actress is really a ham until she outwits a would-be blackmailer. Now shes a star.
While the Light Lasts revives the old tale of a presumed dead husband, a remarriage, and a return of the dead.
House of Dreams is merely weird. Dont bother.
The Lonely God is an obscure statue that attracts two people and brings them together in a sort of O. Henryish tale.
Manx Gold reminds me of E.A.P.s The Gold Bug, except that the clues a more obscure, we arent allowed to understand their solution as we read, and the explanation at the end is more obscure that the clues. Dont bother with this one either.
Within a Wall is so dull I dont even remember it.
The Mystery of the Spanish Chest is Poirot quickie sans ce cher Hastings. Hastings lucked out on this one.
The title story, The Harlequin Tea Set, is tedious to tears. Absolutely NOTHING happens until the last few pages.

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