#Dear Christy

[peter1rose]

Currently in Miami for a wedding, and I couldn't have survived the trip here without some books.

[poirott]

Ariadne Oliver and Hercule Poirot, detective duo

Mrs Oliver is detective novelist and Poirot's friend. She accompanies Poirot on several of his most famous cases, providing her own unique perspective on each of the crimes they encounter. She is feisty, quick to jump to conclusions (sometimes right, sometimes wrong), and strongly believes that Scotland Yard would be better run by a woman. Ariadne Oliver is, in many ways, a vehicle for Agatha Christie's own voice, particularly in relation to writing and the public. In a 1956 interview with John Bull magazine, Agatha Christie dismissed the idea that any of her characters are truly derived from real life, although she did admit that Mrs Oliver has "a strong dash" of herself. Christie always took a somewhat tongue in cheek approach to her supposed fictional alter ego, who she credited with writing a novel called The Body in the Library, a title she would use herself in 1942.

A HAUNTING IN VENICE (2023), dir. Kenneth Branagh

[pflanzidiezimmerpflanze]

speaking my truth

also speaking my truth <33 (they're switches)

[vulpine-gentleman]

so like. what's poor edward's problem.

[thekenobee]

ok got another one (maybe for the scene with the dentist's secretary in the cornish mystery?) (oh also this is cabin pressure ep cremona) Hastings: What a lovely woman. Poirot: Oh, did you like her? You seemed rather cool and distant. Hastings: Oh, no! Did I? Really? Poirot: No.

From Cremona, With love.

[seelessteal]

"Dear Miss Landau" - Book review

(Spoilers)

I recently finished the audiobook "Dear Miss Landau" by James Christie. It is a true story about an autistic man obsessed with Buffy the Vampire Slayer, who writes a 250,000 word fanfiction based on the character Drusilla. He and the actress (Juliet Landau) begin emailing, and James decides to take a trip across America (supported by the National Autistic Society) where he will eventually meet her.

The author writes about his experience as if he is writing a diary, speaking articulately and with humour throughout. Despite his intelligence, he struggles in day-to-day life and appears lost in the neurotypical world.

I really enjoyed this book. I liked the writing style and the delivery of the audiobook (read out by the author himself). I don't know anything about Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but despite it being a big aspect to the plot, I still thought the book was brilliant. And, as an autistic man with very similar traits to the narrator, I thought his descriptions of his autism and experiences related to it were well-written and could help neurotypical people understand the condition more.

I would definitely recommend this book, especially if you are looking to read about autism (especially "high-functioning" or Asperger's).

[therealslimshakespeare]

Julie Jean & Bucky vibes

💌💋🌹

[97gfs]

lead singer of heartlace christie wang - their various expressions and states of being, using this picrew !!

on stage / ep. 1 viewing party

dressy casual / casual casual

[jaded-abyss]

IM BACK BITCHES!!!

Been overwhelmed with work today but its going!!

Current to do list for english is:

ESSAY: “How far does the confrontation between Pinkie and Ida conform to our expectations of crime fiction?” = 500-700 words

ESSAY: “Explore the significance of element/ of crime writing in this extract. Remember to include in your answer relevent detailed analysis of the ways the author has shaped meanings” = On an extract from ‘Force of Nature’ - Jane Harper (2017)

Analysis and annotations of extracts:

‘The Cold Cold Ground’ - Adrian McKinty

‘Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde’ - Robert Louis Stevenson

‘And Then There Were None” - Agatha Christie

‘Lamb to the Slaughter’ - Roald Dahl

‘The Scarlet Letter’ - Nathanial Hawthorne

So wish me luck!!! Other alters might post on here- we might just turn it into a general academic motivation blog tbh :]

[mariana-oconnor]

The Copper Beeches pt 3

I hope you are anxious to hear the conclusion of the case of ‘The Copper Beeches’.

Yes. Yes I am. Because while it's now pretty certain that the Rucastles are not part of a sex-trafficking ring, they're still really fucking creepy and now I also have to worry about the poor dog who is also being abused.

Family of serial killers, I swear.

"Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" "Yes, the wine-cellar."

...

😈😈😈😈

"You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not think you a quite exceptional woman."

Leeeeeeettle bit condescending there, Holmes. Although I feel like I am just more sensitive to that because modern perspective and experience. However, I do think think this section needs noting, if only because of all the people who are determined that Irene Adler is the only woman Holmes ever saw worthy of a compliment. Nothing against Irene, she's great, but Violet Hunter deserves better. She's been doing all the legwork herself this case, and she's made a pretty decent detective.

"If you could send her into the cellar on some errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate matters immensely."

...

heh

heheheh

...

"Of course there is only one feasible explanation."

I still want to know what the other six possibilities were, Holmes. I want to know.

"Miss Alice Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of course, yours had to be sacrificed also."

Miss Alice Rucastle is having the worst year. First she's sick so badly she has to cut her hair off. Then her father imprisons her in her own home. And on top of all of that her stepbrother is a serial killer in training. Worst. Year. Ever.

"The most serious point in the case is the disposition of the child."

Really? That's the most serious point? Like, I agree it's not good. He's clearly showing signs of anti-social behaviour, aggression, and a worrying taste of having the power of life and death over other living beings, but I'm not sure I'd say that was the most urgent thing right now. I think getting Alice out is the most important thing. You can get him some serious therapy later.

"This child's disposition is abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their power."

Ah, okay, you're saying that it's serious because it indicates the level of danger involved. Sure, yeah, okay.

Can't disagree on this point. It's certainly not a good sign.

ALSO, one other thing that has been bugging me since part 2. Does the kid know where his half-sister is? Is he aware she's locked up? He can't be, right? Because there's no way he wouldn't have let something slip. But at the same time, he's just unaware of a whole ass person being imprisoned in his home? It's weird. He's weird.

Dear Little Edward the murderer in training is either oblivious or very good at keeping creepy secrets.

I'm not sure about the stepmother. On the one hand, the crying and the quiet indicate that she's also being abused. But on the other hand she was the one to catch Violet with the mirror and then use it to further the scheme. Although she didn't say 'she has a mirror', which would have made Mr Rucastle angry. That whole bit is weird. Was she trying to stop Violet from getting into more trouble, was she trying to save their scheme? I don't know. But then, if she's living with Rucastle and her darling son all day every day, she's probably been ground down pretty far.

A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is Mrs Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring on the kitchen rug."

Suddenly there came a clanging As of someone wildly banging, banging at the cellar door.

And Mr Toller didn't even make it to bed? He's just passed out on the kitchen floor? He's lucky there's a rug in there and it's not just flagstones.

Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence Holmes's face clouded over.

Not a particularly good sign...

"Now, Watson, put your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our way in." It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty.

Breaking down doors! Love a bit of action with my mystery.

"Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did it." "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not there when the Rucastles went away." "He has come back and done it."

But why would he climb up a ladder when he could just open the door?

I mean we know of the existence of at least one other person who would want Alice Rucastle out of that house and who wouldn't have a key to her room.

I'm just saying, Holmes.

"He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. "I have my revolver," said I.

Oh no... poor doggo.

Please don't kill the dog, Watson. Please.

We had hardly reached the hall when we heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out at a side door. "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!"

Two days?! Two fucking days? Seriously.

But it kind of sounds like the doggo is getting revenge. Good boy. Good boy! You eat the bad man.

There was the huge famished brute, its black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great creases of his neck.

Holy fuck this action escalated quickly. That is graphic and also... poor dog. I mean... I doubt it could have been rehabilitated at this point, but still. Poor thing never had a chance.

I do not remember this story being this brutal. Holy shit that guy's throat was ripped out.

Can't say I'm sorry. Glad the dog got its revenge before it died.

"Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains were wasted."

I mean, you didn't exactly give her reason to trust you? Why on earth would she? This is the most ridiculous 'you should have talked to me' ever.

"If there's police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend too."

I mean, were you? Were you? Alice's friend, sure. But were you Violet's friend in all this?

"He knew he was safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use her money."

It's Mary Sutherland all over again, just with more violence. Hey, Holmes. Holmes! You remember how you sent Mary Sutherland back into that life and didn't warn her about it? Huh? You remember that? Maybe thinking that wasn't such a good idea now? Huh? Are you?

I've had it with these men and their refusal to let their daughters have their own goddamn money.

"When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door."

I know this is like a common Victorian cause of illness and all that, but I'd be real suspicious about that brain fever, because it feels like poison is a real possibility rn.

"...that didn't make no change in her young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be."

Good for him. Basic minimum achieved. I mean, also he's been trying to get her out of this house, so he's also gone above and beyond. I'm glad he and Alice got away in the end.

"But Mr Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your interests were the same as his." "Mr Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said Mrs Toller serenely.

Oh, she did it for the money. Not such a good samaritan. But then if she were, she would have just smuggled the girl out.

Mr Rucastle survived, but was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it difficult to part from them.

I will admit I am sad the guy survived that. I'm not sure how he survived it. He had a mastiff's teeth 'buried in his throat'. He's insanely lucky his carotid wasn't torn open. But I suspect he doesn't do a lot of laughing anymore. So sad.

You couldn't have waited a little longer before shooting the poor dog, Watson? Let it get its revenge?

Also, that household sounds utterly terrible to live in still. Just a lot of horrible people being horrible to each other because they literally can't get away. And what about the child? What about dear little Edward? Is he still in there with them? I can't imagine that this made him less of a serial killer.

And the man doesn't get arrested for imprisoning his daughter?

Justice has not been served this day.

And that kid is going to grow up and kill a lot of people. I'm just saying. This isn't so much an ending as a 'to be continued'.

As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success.

Good for her.

Also, Watson, leave Holmes alone. He doesn't need a wife. He's fine. It is amusing to see that commentary, though. Like... there were 0 vibes of Holmes being into her. He complimented her a couple of times and was concerned for her safety. But he kept comparing her to a sister and there was no hint of romance in the whole thing. Watson is a bit delusional sometimes.

[peter1rose]

Over the last half a year, I have read quite a few Agatha Christie novels. Hercule Poirot is such a fun character, and I enjoy her short stories the most. But some of them show their era in an uncomfortable light, and it pulls me out of the narrative. It's not her fault in a sense. "Things were different then," and all that. But it leaves me uneasy nonetheless.

[vulpine-gentleman]

4 & 6 for the ask game? for both

6 answered here

4. They're tasked with decorating a cake. How does it look?

Ariel wanted the cake to be green but he messed up with the food coloring and now it's mud color. But that's fine... he can work with this. He puts a godawful amount of decorative icing on top trying to make it look maybe like a rose bush. It melts. At least the cake is good beneath all that.

Laila wasn't going to use colored icing but the red spoke to her in her dreams and now the cake is just bright red. Her hands are covered in dye, but she doesn't mind. She opts for a simple trim of icing around the bottom and top in the same color. Simple, elegant, can't screw it up.

[kahran042]

Even though Diva panned the Dear Evan Hansen movie, I can't help but feel grateful to her for introducing me to such a wonderful new fandom.

@sothetherogue

@sincerealev

[jazajas]

STOP ANSWERING THE PHONE WHEN YOU'RE AT A CALL

dude the fuck

[my-timing-is-digital]

013,on the deck of a cruise ship. (this gives me murder mystery adventure on the holodeck vibes and i'm laughing fjal;sdfj help)

The deceased lay, supine, on the deck of a cruise ship. The seafaring vessel had departed the European waters several days prior, and was steadily traversing the North Atlantic Ocean, en route to New York. Unfortunately, all gaiety and felicity was prematurely terminated after one of the passengers had received not one, but two bullets — one to the chest and another to the head.

Shortly after the sonic disturbances, a member of staff had ventured out of her cabin to investigate, and upon the discovery of the assassinated man, had informed her superiors. The rumours of a murder spread like wildfire, and within minutes, all passengers and staff had congregated on one of the decks below the top deck where the murder had taken place. It was during the display of the commotion that the android and his friend had entered the holodeck.

In the presence of the captain, the chief of staff, and the waitress, who had reported the murder, Data crouched beside the victim, mindful not to contaminate the scene of the crime. He diligently examined the shot wounds, and disregarded the woman's silent whimpering — it was evident that she desired to depart. Ensign Chekov, the partner with whom he was determined to solve this holographic murder mystery, was standing 2.4 metres behind him — observing the scene from over the android's shoulder, no doubt.

'What do you suggest we do, Mr Holmes?' the chief of staff enquired tensely.

Data secured the mouthpiece of his pipe between his teeth and drew smoke into his mouth, letting it circulate for a second prior to exhaling it.

'Please, provide me with the crew manifest, the passenger list, anything with accurate records appertaining to the people presently on board this vessel — I require additional information on our victim. And have everyone, passengers and crew, convene in the main lobby. There is a murderer among us, dividing the group would be injudicious; it is imperative we implement this as a precaution lest the murder should strike again,' he answered, his speech processor emulated a posh, slightly exaggerated British accent. 'Restrict everyone from accessing the top deck; it is a crime scene, I do not wish anyone to displace objects or erase evidence. After Mr Chekov and I have subjected this section of the ship to a minute investigation, I would like the body to be relocated to one of the cabins and commence interrogating the passengers and your staff.'

The chief of staff and the captain exchanged a tentative look, but when their gazes landed on the Commander's stern facial expression, they nodded obediently.

'Yes, sir, consider it done.'

'Excellent. You may leave to realise the arrangements. However, she' — he nodded to the waitress in a deliberate fashion — 'must remain here. I have several questions I would like answered, miss. It will not take long,' he assured her serenely.

The young female was evidently, and understandably so, upset and quivered with trepidation. The other two departed promptly, leaving the three of them, and the corpse, behind.

'Mr Chekov, your assessment, if you will.'

[cephalopadre]

Mechtober Days 9 & 10: Ace Detective Prowl and his snarky partner Chromedome!

The Prowl and Chromedome detective stuff comes from Transformers IDW G1 issue "Shadowplay", the precipitate stuff is a plot twist near and dear to my heart from Christie's The Mysterious Affair at Styles, and the comic format's riffing on Aoyama's Detective Conan. Truly self indulgent stuff here, lol. Warpath's the culprit because robot Mrs. Inglethorpe would've been into him being a tank.