It is 1890.
In the twilight of his years, Carl Brooke writes his reminiscences of his time as a member of the Agora Society.This volume contains five complete mysteries in one.
6: Murder by Monday: A mysterious letter sends Carl Brooke and Rutherford Nordlinger off to the aid of a man who, accused of murder, is now threatened by the man he is said to have killed.
7: Eggs over Arsenic: … of murder, is now threatened by the man he is said to have killed.
7: Eggs over Arsenic: An art critic is brutally murdered and the subject of his last review is suspected. Did the artist do it or was it one of the family members–all of whom had motive and opportunity?
8: Remember thy Oath: Edison, the most proper member of the Agora Society, hides a past he thought was long buried. The sudden appearance of a strange priest, however, reveals secrets that demand Edison honor an oath made long ago.
9: The Felled Crabapple Tree: An anonymous telegram introduces Carl Brooke to both his future wife and her conflicted brother who harbors a dark secret from the Civil War. The discovery of a deliberately cut tree reveals the presence of a mysterious one-legged man and the possible reemergence of Carl’s nemesis, Thomas Drake.
10: The Eye of Bennu: Reeling from the horrific pain of the loss of Anne, his wife, Carl Brooke must face his ultimate nemesis, Thomas Drake.
Murder Most Foul–History and Mystery
This series of five epistolary-style tales, delightfully narrated by the author, is the second half of a group of ten which comprise the entire arc of the Agora Society stories. Each demonstrates different qualities of observation in ferreting out the relevant issues which have created the conundrum at hand. While most of these stand alone (nine and ten are better read together), the overarching context is better served by reading them in order. Set post Civil War, the narration and language by and of the author exemplifies the stiffer proprieties of the times and the more formal style of writing contemporary thereto. (Sorry, it’s catching!) Fans of Poe and Doyle should be enthralled!
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Murder by Monday, Book 6~~In Defense of Dogs
A penitent murderer is being haunted by his past sin; but did he even kill the man he’d shot in self defense?
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Eggs over Arsenic, Book 7~~The Art Critic
A drawing room whodunnit with a deserving corpse and some pretty seedy suspects.
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Remember Thy Oath, Book 8~~Pirates!
Legally, duress negates contracts, but pirates don’t operate under the law. Can The Agora Society save the day?
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The Felled Crabapple Tree, Book 9~~Civil War Trauma
A veritable love story, there is still a great deal of historic action and reaction in this tale of a Civil War veteran’s changed personality, now known as PTSD. Flawed people still want to appear perfect to their loved ones; but can one live with oneself, knowing one has wronged another? Another quandry to be solved.
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The Eye of Bennu, Book 10~~Facing His Nemesis
Within the series of 10 stories, most of the previous tales really seem to stand on their own within a greater story arc involving the Agora Society. However, by the time you get to the last two, the interrelatedness becomes compelling and, although you would have a fine fable with just the last chapter, the integration of the whole is worth the effort to read the entire series, or at least stories nine and ten together. I had the benefit of listening to the author read his own words and enact them, using distinct voices for the different characters, with as much skill as a professional voice artist. This episode represents the conclusion and brings history and mystery together, tying off all the disparate threads one didn’t realize had been left hanging.
If Volumes 6 through 10 are this good, I have to go read 1 through 5!
I had already read 8, 9 and 10, but this collection let me get those bundled with 6 and 7. You can also see my individual reviews for the last three. The two that were new to me (Murder by Monday and Eggs Over Arsenic) were also good. All of these are individually short enough to read in one sitting, and all keep you engaged while reading. If you are familiar with the backstories, or even the later stories in my case, then you can use that knowledge to enhance your reading of these. Saying that a different way: Enjoyable if read as stand-alone but better if you have read some of the others.
The point of view is strange. Not bad strange, just different strange. The premise is that these are written by Carl much later in life, at some point after all of the events recorded in the Agora Letters. Each book is a reminiscence told from the perspective of an older Carl, and along with the events that occurred he includes references to events and related feelings from both before those events and after those events, adding some of the wisdom gained over time for the sake of the reader of the letter.
At times it got a tiny bit confusing for me, having present-tense, past-tense, and future-tense all mingled together. However, those pauses did not take me out of the story and did not lessen my enjoyment of the tales.
No spoilers in this review! I’ve read all 5 of the Agora Letters mysteries individually and each one is as good if not better than the last, so it is super nice to see this compilation. Never a moment in any of the stories that you’re sorry you picked it up to read. Completely engaging at every level, and the characters are enjoyable and amazing! Always full of twists and turns and surprises that keep you guessing…definitely will keep you up past your bedtime because you just won’t want to stop!