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A Little Library Mystery #4
And Then They Were Doomed: A Little Library Mystery
Zoe Zola is one of ten invitees to an Agatha Christie symposium. Tempers flare…and then there are nine. Can Jenny Weston save Zoe from murder on the Upper Peninsula?
Little Person author Zoe Zola believes that one of the unluckiest things in life is to receive an invitation—in the form of a letter edged in black—to an Agatha Christie symposium at an old Upper Peninsula hunting lodge. Her reluctance dissipates when she learns that the organizer is named Emily Brent—the name of a character poisoned by cyanide in Christie’s And Then There Were None.
As a dreary rain soaks the U.P., Zoe and nine other Christie scholars—each of whom bears a vague resemblance to one of the classic mystery novel’s characters—arrive at the lodge. At the opening night dinner, arguments flare over the experts’ discordant theories about Christie. Next morning, the guests find one particularly odious man has gone—whereabouts and reasons unknown. Such a coincidental resemblance to a work of fiction is surely impossible; therefore, it appears to be possible.
As the guests disappear, one by one, Zoe resolves to beat a hasty retreat—but her car won't start. She calls her friend, amateur sleuth/little librarian Jenny Weston, but Jenny will have to wait out a storm off Lake Superior before she can come to the rescue. If Zoe’s to stay alive to greet Jenny when she eventually arrives, she’ll have to draw on everything she knows about Agatha Christie’s devilish plots in Elizabeth Kane Buzzelli’s fourth tantalizing Little Library mystery.
Little Person author Zoe Zola believes that one of the unluckiest things in life is to receive an invitation—in the form of a letter edged in black—to an Agatha Christie symposium at an old Upper Peninsula hunting lodge. Her reluctance dissipates when she learns that the organizer is named Emily Brent—the name of a character poisoned by cyanide in Christie’s And Then There Were None.
As a dreary rain soaks the U.P., Zoe and nine other Christie scholars—each of whom bears a vague resemblance to one of the classic mystery novel’s characters—arrive at the lodge. At the opening night dinner, arguments flare over the experts’ discordant theories about Christie. Next morning, the guests find one particularly odious man has gone—whereabouts and reasons unknown. Such a coincidental resemblance to a work of fiction is surely impossible; therefore, it appears to be possible.
As the guests disappear, one by one, Zoe resolves to beat a hasty retreat—but her car won't start. She calls her friend, amateur sleuth/little librarian Jenny Weston, but Jenny will have to wait out a storm off Lake Superior before she can come to the rescue. If Zoe’s to stay alive to greet Jenny when she eventually arrives, she’ll have to draw on everything she knows about Agatha Christie’s devilish plots in Elizabeth Kane Buzzelli’s fourth tantalizing Little Library mystery.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published November 9, 2021
About the author
Elizabeth Kane Buzzelli
15 books180 followersElizabeth Kane Buzzelli (aka Elizabeth Lee) is a Michigan based novelist whose 12th book is due out in 2016. She teaches fiction writing at Northern Michigan College and has written for the NORTHERN EXPRESS, the ROMEO OBSERVER, the DETROIT NEWS, and the RECORD-EAGLE. She is a member of the Author’s Guild, International Association of crime Writers, Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers’ of America, Michigan Writers, and Detroit Working Writers and has three mystery series out, or about to be published.
In the Emily Kincaid series her novel DEAD DOGS AND ENGLISHMEN was chosen one of the best mysteries of 2012 by Kirkus Reviews. A new series (written as Elizabeth Lee) is now out with the third: NUTS AND BURIED (based in Texas) to be published this November from Berkley Publishers. Another series, beginning with A MOST CURIOUS MURDER, (Crooked Lane Publishers) will be out in July, 2016, with the second: DEATH OF A SAD POET, scheduled later in the year.
In the Emily Kincaid series her novel DEAD DOGS AND ENGLISHMEN was chosen one of the best mysteries of 2012 by Kirkus Reviews. A new series (written as Elizabeth Lee) is now out with the third: NUTS AND BURIED (based in Texas) to be published this November from Berkley Publishers. Another series, beginning with A MOST CURIOUS MURDER, (Crooked Lane Publishers) will be out in July, 2016, with the second: DEATH OF A SAD POET, scheduled later in the year.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
December 2, 2019
Dark , gloomy and dumb !
August 24, 2019
Dollycas’s Thoughts
What a great story using Dame Agatha Christie as its theme. Zoe Zola gets invited to participate in a symposium that will be webcast to a group of subscribers. Zoe is nervous about accepting because the invitation envelope is edged in black, just like funeral notices she and her mother received over the years from their estranged family. When neighbor Jenny Weston decides she needs to get away for a few days and plans to visit her sister near where the symposium is taking place, Zoe decides to attend.
When Jenny and Zoe get into the Upper Peninsula it is raining and both the lodge where the symposium is taking place and her sister’s camp is out in the boonies. Zoe is nervous when Jenny drops her off but soon the other participants arrive for a total of 10. Zoe is anxious to get to the true reason for her being there.
The leader, Emily Brent, the same name as a character killed in Christie’s And Then There Were Noneand her helper also with another questionable name try to keep the participants under control but they have various opinions about Christie’s work and fame. When one of the scholars is gone the next morning the group is down to nine, the correlations to Christie’s And Then There Were None were not lost on Zoe Zola. When another is said to have left, Zoe is ready to leave herself, but there is no way to contact Jenny. The visit they had planned is rained out so she is stuck. She just hopes the sisters will arrive before she is the one to disappear.
Elizabeth Kane Buzzelli sure sets a spooky/scary scene. An isolated lodge in the middle of Michigan’s north woods in plagued by rain, rain, and more rain. Roads get washed out and fog gives everything a dreary haze. The lodge itself is pretty rustic and not somewhere I would want to stay on a sunny day, but it is the perfect place for a Christie-Esque mystery to play out.
Little person Zoe Zola has not had an easy life and that is the focus in this story. It brings so much clarity to this character. The characters brought into her life in this story are an eclectic group and not very likable but again perfect for this story. Little Librarian Dora has a minor role again as Zoe takes the lead with some assistance from Dora’s daughters. Jenny and Zoe have become fast friends and share some similar traits like stubbornness and perseverance. Zoe takes some risks that were questionable but I understand needing to get away from something to clear your head even if there are animals and humans that could be a risk.
This book is darker than previous books in the series but I loved that it was based on Agatha Christie. The author has laid out a fantastic plot that had a great flow and some epic twists. I do think the eerie ending pushes the rules of the cozy realm to the limit. It was unusual and unexpected but very compelling. The book was hard to put down, but past the 3/4 mark, it was impossible.
While the author does her best to give background so the book can be read on its own, I really stress that the books in this series should be read in order to understand the characters, their lives and how they relate to each other.
And Then They Were Doomed was an interesting foray for the characters from Bear Falls. However, the characters they meet gave me a case of the heebie-jeebbies. Nevertheless, this was A Perfect Escape.
What a great story using Dame Agatha Christie as its theme. Zoe Zola gets invited to participate in a symposium that will be webcast to a group of subscribers. Zoe is nervous about accepting because the invitation envelope is edged in black, just like funeral notices she and her mother received over the years from their estranged family. When neighbor Jenny Weston decides she needs to get away for a few days and plans to visit her sister near where the symposium is taking place, Zoe decides to attend.
When Jenny and Zoe get into the Upper Peninsula it is raining and both the lodge where the symposium is taking place and her sister’s camp is out in the boonies. Zoe is nervous when Jenny drops her off but soon the other participants arrive for a total of 10. Zoe is anxious to get to the true reason for her being there.
The leader, Emily Brent, the same name as a character killed in Christie’s And Then There Were Noneand her helper also with another questionable name try to keep the participants under control but they have various opinions about Christie’s work and fame. When one of the scholars is gone the next morning the group is down to nine, the correlations to Christie’s And Then There Were None were not lost on Zoe Zola. When another is said to have left, Zoe is ready to leave herself, but there is no way to contact Jenny. The visit they had planned is rained out so she is stuck. She just hopes the sisters will arrive before she is the one to disappear.
Elizabeth Kane Buzzelli sure sets a spooky/scary scene. An isolated lodge in the middle of Michigan’s north woods in plagued by rain, rain, and more rain. Roads get washed out and fog gives everything a dreary haze. The lodge itself is pretty rustic and not somewhere I would want to stay on a sunny day, but it is the perfect place for a Christie-Esque mystery to play out.
Little person Zoe Zola has not had an easy life and that is the focus in this story. It brings so much clarity to this character. The characters brought into her life in this story are an eclectic group and not very likable but again perfect for this story. Little Librarian Dora has a minor role again as Zoe takes the lead with some assistance from Dora’s daughters. Jenny and Zoe have become fast friends and share some similar traits like stubbornness and perseverance. Zoe takes some risks that were questionable but I understand needing to get away from something to clear your head even if there are animals and humans that could be a risk.
This book is darker than previous books in the series but I loved that it was based on Agatha Christie. The author has laid out a fantastic plot that had a great flow and some epic twists. I do think the eerie ending pushes the rules of the cozy realm to the limit. It was unusual and unexpected but very compelling. The book was hard to put down, but past the 3/4 mark, it was impossible.
While the author does her best to give background so the book can be read on its own, I really stress that the books in this series should be read in order to understand the characters, their lives and how they relate to each other.
And Then They Were Doomed was an interesting foray for the characters from Bear Falls. However, the characters they meet gave me a case of the heebie-jeebbies. Nevertheless, this was A Perfect Escape.
September 10, 2019
Zoe Zola receives a strange black-edged invitation to an Agatha Christie symposium. Its appearance brings back horrible memories from her past. She decides to go and confront her personal demons -- and horrible relatives, if they are behind the invite -- so she can finally move on with her life. The event is at a strange, isolated hunting lodge. Zoe is one of 10 speakers attending the event. It isn't lost on her that each one seems to have something in common with characters from And Then There Were None, a famous Christie novel. But she's stuck and can't leave -- the road is washed out. When presenters start disappearing, Zoe fears she will be next. Will Jenny Weston arrive before Zoe becomes a victim?
I love the fact that Zoe is the main character in this 4th book in the Little Library Mysteries series! She is my favorite character in the series and is usually just a side plot enhancer. This time she is in the forefront, dealing with a spooky situation in the middle of nowhere. I liked how the plot linked up here and there with Christie's famous story. I was on the edge of my seat when presenters started to disappear...... Yikes!
Nice character development in this latest book. I still don't fully like Jenny Weston....she's just a bit too flighty and whiny for me. I did love the ending of the story. I sort of had an idea what it might be...but the actual end was a surprise. Nicely done!
Enjoyable story! It definitely kept my attention from start to finish. I will be eagerly awaiting the next book in this series.
**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Crooked Lane via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**
I love the fact that Zoe is the main character in this 4th book in the Little Library Mysteries series! She is my favorite character in the series and is usually just a side plot enhancer. This time she is in the forefront, dealing with a spooky situation in the middle of nowhere. I liked how the plot linked up here and there with Christie's famous story. I was on the edge of my seat when presenters started to disappear...... Yikes!
Nice character development in this latest book. I still don't fully like Jenny Weston....she's just a bit too flighty and whiny for me. I did love the ending of the story. I sort of had an idea what it might be...but the actual end was a surprise. Nicely done!
Enjoyable story! It definitely kept my attention from start to finish. I will be eagerly awaiting the next book in this series.
**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Crooked Lane via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**
June 27, 2019
The fourth book of the Little Library series is a dark and gloomy one. The subject matter of The Little Library series I found hard to read it. However, it was well written and the description put you into the the hotel along with Zoe and the other invitee's. I didn't like any of the characters including Zoe who I like in the previous book.
Zoe received a letter inviting her to a symposium on Agatha Christie but wait the envelope was cover with a black edge all around it. That means death to Zoe. She arrives at the hotel and slowly meets the
others participants. The first night someone disappears . Who?
Zoe wonders what the letter meant whose death did the letter mean hers or someone else? There are twists and turns that will have you reading until the unusual ending. I recommend this book and series.
Disclosure: Thanks to Crooked Lane Books for a copy through NetGalley. The opinions expressed are my own.
Zoe received a letter inviting her to a symposium on Agatha Christie but wait the envelope was cover with a black edge all around it. That means death to Zoe. She arrives at the hotel and slowly meets the
others participants. The first night someone disappears . Who?
Zoe wonders what the letter meant whose death did the letter mean hers or someone else? There are twists and turns that will have you reading until the unusual ending. I recommend this book and series.
Disclosure: Thanks to Crooked Lane Books for a copy through NetGalley. The opinions expressed are my own.
August 16, 2019
Wow I never expected to get so engrossed in this book that I'd not be able to put it down! It started off a little slow (for me, anyway), but I blame that on me not having read the previous books. I'm sure some of it would have made a little more sense, but for the most part, I got up to date on Zoe's life and why she moved, etc. It was a pretty cool tribute to Agatha Christie the way that ten people were gathered for an Agatha Christie event at a rustic old lodge--and very convenient that it just happened to be raining and flooding the river which kept the event attendees from leaving. Zoe was so sure that her relatives (who felt like her mother had shamed them having her outside of marriage) were behind the whole seminar, and she was constantly trying to find clues to prove that. She was actually worried that they were gathered there to kill her.
From what I've read, I really like Zoe as a main character--or she appears to be the main character, although she and Jenny seemed to be equally as important to the story (and I have since read the previous blurbs that tend to show Jenny as mc, my bad). She's tough and used to comments and insults on her being a Little Person, but she doesn't take lip from anyone--and she can dish it back out. The story was a bit darker than I'm used to, but I got so caught up in the book that I didn't even care that there wasn't a fresh murder being solved. I'm really intrigued now and want to go back and read the three previous books.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.
From what I've read, I really like Zoe as a main character--or she appears to be the main character, although she and Jenny seemed to be equally as important to the story (and I have since read the previous blurbs that tend to show Jenny as mc, my bad). She's tough and used to comments and insults on her being a Little Person, but she doesn't take lip from anyone--and she can dish it back out. The story was a bit darker than I'm used to, but I got so caught up in the book that I didn't even care that there wasn't a fresh murder being solved. I'm really intrigued now and want to go back and read the three previous books.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.
July 29, 2019
Zoe Zola is a writer who is writing a biography on the life of author Agatha Christie. When she receives a black-edged envelope, it's not the first time she's ever seen one. It always means death. And it's an omen she thought ended with the death of her own mother. Because it seemed her mother had sinned in the eyes of her family, and each time an envelope arrived, it meant the loss of one more family member she would never see again.
So Zoe doesn't open the letter, merely looks at it. She thought she was done with her mother's family, they would never find her. But now...when her neighbor Dora arrives, she sees the letter, and when Dora's daughter Jenny comes to Zoe's home, she finds both her mother and Zoe staring at it. So Jenny opens it - and finds not a death notice, but an invitation to a webinar on Agatha Christie.
After much indecision, Zoe decides to attend, and Jenny will drive her there. Jenny, for her part, has decided she can't marry the man who loves her but doesn't know why. So she's going to visit her sister Lisa, a documentary filmmaker, while Zoe is at the webinar, and will return to drive her home. But will either things turn out the way they want? Or will Zoe find herself in a bizarre twist of Christie's famous And Then There Were None?...
Much of this review has been hidden in a spoiler, so if you've not read the book, read at your own risk:
I received a free copy from the publisher and NetGalley but it in no way influenced my decision.
So Zoe doesn't open the letter, merely looks at it. She thought she was done with her mother's family, they would never find her. But now...when her neighbor Dora arrives, she sees the letter, and when Dora's daughter Jenny comes to Zoe's home, she finds both her mother and Zoe staring at it. So Jenny opens it - and finds not a death notice, but an invitation to a webinar on Agatha Christie.
After much indecision, Zoe decides to attend, and Jenny will drive her there. Jenny, for her part, has decided she can't marry the man who loves her but doesn't know why. So she's going to visit her sister Lisa, a documentary filmmaker, while Zoe is at the webinar, and will return to drive her home. But will either things turn out the way they want? Or will Zoe find herself in a bizarre twist of Christie's famous And Then There Were None?...
Much of this review has been hidden in a spoiler, so if you've not read the book, read at your own risk:
I received a free copy from the publisher and NetGalley but it in no way influenced my decision.
August 1, 2019
This was fourth in the book and quite a slow read as compared to my normal thrillers and cozy reads. It was the Agatha Christie theme which pulled me in.
Zoe received a black edged envelope which an invitation to a webinar on Agatha Christie. Since she was writing a biography on that author, Zoe decided to attend it. But then the book walked on the darker side with characters which were rather off.
My first book by Elizabeth Kane Buzzelli, this was a creepy tale to some extent. The author did create an atmosphere of Then There Were None but in a much darker manner. The characters added to the overall creepiness. One by one the characters disappear and Zoe investigated
There were a few subplots which didn't work for me. But the suspense created was fun, and the ending was a shocker.
Overall an okay read for me.
Zoe received a black edged envelope which an invitation to a webinar on Agatha Christie. Since she was writing a biography on that author, Zoe decided to attend it. But then the book walked on the darker side with characters which were rather off.
My first book by Elizabeth Kane Buzzelli, this was a creepy tale to some extent. The author did create an atmosphere of Then There Were None but in a much darker manner. The characters added to the overall creepiness. One by one the characters disappear and Zoe investigated
There were a few subplots which didn't work for me. But the suspense created was fun, and the ending was a shocker.
Overall an okay read for me.
December 31, 2020
The writing and oversights on this novel made this read a chore, not a pleasure. It's full of mixed up words, dangling modifiers, typos, and contradictions.
Zoe is clearly meant to be intelligent and literary, yet she claims she is only being spiteful about correcting Emily's agreement error: "'Don’t you mean ‘whom’? There’s going to be people here who really watch their p’s and q’s...'"
Zoe initially corrects her: “'Don’t you mean ‘there are’ going to be people?'”
'"No. People is a collective noun. I’m right.'"
"'People is a plural noun, not collective.'”
Collective nouns can be plural, as this one is. I feel like Zoe would know that, and she's certainly not one to back down or say she's wrong when she's not.
In addition to that lapse, there are abrupt switches in movement: in one paragraph, Zoe is upstairs; in the next she's downstairs, with no indication of her movement.
The book reads as though the author just forgot what she'd written previously. For example, Zoe and her peers get dropped off in town and told to meet at the nearby bench, yet when Zoe returns, there are no benches to sit on.
On top of all of that, it's melodramatic and a bit of a hack. I didn't like the book at all.
Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the advanced copy.
Zoe is clearly meant to be intelligent and literary, yet she claims she is only being spiteful about correcting Emily's agreement error: "'Don’t you mean ‘whom’? There’s going to be people here who really watch their p’s and q’s...'"
Zoe initially corrects her: “'Don’t you mean ‘there are’ going to be people?'”
'"No. People is a collective noun. I’m right.'"
"'People is a plural noun, not collective.'”
Collective nouns can be plural, as this one is. I feel like Zoe would know that, and she's certainly not one to back down or say she's wrong when she's not.
In addition to that lapse, there are abrupt switches in movement: in one paragraph, Zoe is upstairs; in the next she's downstairs, with no indication of her movement.
The book reads as though the author just forgot what she'd written previously. For example, Zoe and her peers get dropped off in town and told to meet at the nearby bench, yet when Zoe returns, there are no benches to sit on.
On top of all of that, it's melodramatic and a bit of a hack. I didn't like the book at all.
Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the advanced copy.
August 2, 2019
4 Stars
This is the fourth book in the Little Library Mystery series by Elizabeth Kane Buzzelli.
First there were ten of them all meeting in a remote location to speak about their love of Agatha Christie. Strangely, some attendees have actual Christie character names like Emily Brent from And Then There Were None and Bella Webb from A Pale Horse. Zoe Zola had received her invitation edged in black which was a sign to her and her late mother that a death was approaching. Would it be her own? She doesn’t know what to expect, but due to her past she thinks this could be one big set up to get back at her for something her mother did long ago.
I had a hard time getting into this book in the beginning. I felt like I was missing something. Then I realized it was the fourth book in a series and it suddenly made sense to me. I was missing a huge back story… three books worth.
I am finding it a little bit of a stretch to believe that so many people dislike Zoe or her mother and go to such lengths to come after her. After twenty years you’d think most people would let go of some indiscretion that happened so long ago. It is not such a big deal any more considering the culture nowadays.
Back in my days of writing fan fiction there used to be a few people who tried to emulate the works of Christie. And Then They Were None was a particularly hard one to replicate. Not many had success doing it. Even though this is a combo of that story and Murder on the Orient Express, I am not sure this is completely successful either. I came away wondering why the ruse of it all? It didn’t really seem necessary. It felt like a whole bunch of work for little effect. The culmination could have probably happened days earlier and still been as successful as it was after five days. The ending just lost steam instead of building tension.
I realize this is part of a series of books yet the previous three seem to feature the librarian Jenny. It felt odd to change the focus. The whole thing with her and Tony probably could have been expanded in a different book. I felt that part of it was rushed and both of them seemed almost unnecessary to this plot.
I felt like the beginning was pretty confusing until I got about five chapters in. Then everything seemed to even out. There were a lot of characters to contend with and that alone was a challenge to keep up with especially when Zoe was trying to figure out why some of the names mirrored Christie characters so perfectly. The build up in the middle was good and the twist was unexpected at the end but I fear some will guess what is going on if they are a regular mystery reader.
Pretty good book. Not my favorite and its Christie leanings didn’t always work out but I found the story to satisfy even if it didn’t end with a flourish.
I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.
This is the fourth book in the Little Library Mystery series by Elizabeth Kane Buzzelli.
First there were ten of them all meeting in a remote location to speak about their love of Agatha Christie. Strangely, some attendees have actual Christie character names like Emily Brent from And Then There Were None and Bella Webb from A Pale Horse. Zoe Zola had received her invitation edged in black which was a sign to her and her late mother that a death was approaching. Would it be her own? She doesn’t know what to expect, but due to her past she thinks this could be one big set up to get back at her for something her mother did long ago.
I had a hard time getting into this book in the beginning. I felt like I was missing something. Then I realized it was the fourth book in a series and it suddenly made sense to me. I was missing a huge back story… three books worth.
I am finding it a little bit of a stretch to believe that so many people dislike Zoe or her mother and go to such lengths to come after her. After twenty years you’d think most people would let go of some indiscretion that happened so long ago. It is not such a big deal any more considering the culture nowadays.
Back in my days of writing fan fiction there used to be a few people who tried to emulate the works of Christie. And Then They Were None was a particularly hard one to replicate. Not many had success doing it. Even though this is a combo of that story and Murder on the Orient Express, I am not sure this is completely successful either. I came away wondering why the ruse of it all? It didn’t really seem necessary. It felt like a whole bunch of work for little effect. The culmination could have probably happened days earlier and still been as successful as it was after five days. The ending just lost steam instead of building tension.
I realize this is part of a series of books yet the previous three seem to feature the librarian Jenny. It felt odd to change the focus. The whole thing with her and Tony probably could have been expanded in a different book. I felt that part of it was rushed and both of them seemed almost unnecessary to this plot.
I felt like the beginning was pretty confusing until I got about five chapters in. Then everything seemed to even out. There were a lot of characters to contend with and that alone was a challenge to keep up with especially when Zoe was trying to figure out why some of the names mirrored Christie characters so perfectly. The build up in the middle was good and the twist was unexpected at the end but I fear some will guess what is going on if they are a regular mystery reader.
Pretty good book. Not my favorite and its Christie leanings didn’t always work out but I found the story to satisfy even if it didn’t end with a flourish.
I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.
August 10, 2019
First I want to say thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for allowing me to read an arc of this book..
Ok where to start.. I loved how it was based around Agatha Christie and then there were nine, but not really. It was definitely a complex story with a hidden story line that you don’t see until the middle of the book. At first i thought well maybe the MC Zoe is paranoid due to injustices that were taken against her mother from her family. Whether I was wrong or not I won’t say you will have to read the book.but what I will say that the way that the story was written will keep you guessing.
Ok where to start.. I loved how it was based around Agatha Christie and then there were nine, but not really. It was definitely a complex story with a hidden story line that you don’t see until the middle of the book. At first i thought well maybe the MC Zoe is paranoid due to injustices that were taken against her mother from her family. Whether I was wrong or not I won’t say you will have to read the book.but what I will say that the way that the story was written will keep you guessing.
June 19, 2020
I actually just read and then there were none with no idea the two would be connected lmao but tbh I wanted to like these books more but I really cant get over how they keep calling Zoe child size? there was some uh super rude and ableist comments from some characters in this book. Read these books because they take place very close to where we go up north so I know all the towns (that are real) that they reference and whatnot
May 16, 2019
If you're looking for a really dark noir mystery, you've just found it! Interesting characters, overtones of vengeance, danger, and enough literary references and comparisons to thrill any mystery geek. The publisher's blurb is a good hook, but reading the book is a fascinating excursion!
June 7, 2023
Not my cup of tea, this book. Weird vibe for me and not one I enjoyed. Didn’t care for several of the elements in this book. About the only part I liked was the Agatha Christie tie in but it could have been done differently and better.
May 25, 2022
*Book received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
This was a very interesting storyline, though a little slow at times.
This was a very interesting storyline, though a little slow at times.
August 15, 2019
Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
And Then They Were Doomed is the 4th Little Library mystery by Elizabeth Kane Buzzelli. Released 13th Aug by Crooked Lane, it's 323 pages and available in hardcover and ebook formats.
This is a difficult book to categorize and review. It's too dark and realistic to be a cozy mystery, has too little dramatic tension to be a thriller, and too frivolous to be a modern gritty mystery. The disparate plot threads don't seem to belong to the same book. The characters are generally annoying and I was yanked out of my suspension of disbelief literally every page by the weird (almost surreal) dialogue. The book is written in 3rd person but there's almost no insight or explanation behind the characters' motivations.
I enjoyed the Agatha Christie pastiche. For readers who have not yet read And Then There Were None , or Murder on the Orient Express , and intend to do so sometime, this book might not be a good fit because it spoils both books. This one can presumably be read as a standalone, the weird semi-surreal randomness of this book isn't due to lack of backstory, it's just really strange and random. Zoe Zola is a little person, and apparently, despite it never being mentioned in the earlier books, she's a Christie authority and is writing a biography. She has an extremely dysfunctional family who shunned her mother for being pregnant and producing a little person and have apparently kept up with Zoe and her late mother's whereabouts carefully enough over the years to continue harassing them by randomly sending black bordered death announcements. (Yes, really).
When Zoe gets an invitation to participate in a webinar on Agatha Christie, she agrees, despite the webinar location being in a remote B-horror-film hunting lodge in the middle of nowhere, and despite the black bordered invitation being ostensibly sent by one of her dangerously crazy relatives. (Yes, really). The setup, dialogue, and story honestly become less believable from there.
I can't say it was a pleasant read. This is the second book in the series for me and as of this moment, I'm not tempted to continue. In an aside, there is a very brief random mention of the whole little library concept in chapter 5, but that's it. It has no relevance to the plot at all.
Two and a half stars, rounded up for the Christie references. Very odd book.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
And Then They Were Doomed is the 4th Little Library mystery by Elizabeth Kane Buzzelli. Released 13th Aug by Crooked Lane, it's 323 pages and available in hardcover and ebook formats.
This is a difficult book to categorize and review. It's too dark and realistic to be a cozy mystery, has too little dramatic tension to be a thriller, and too frivolous to be a modern gritty mystery. The disparate plot threads don't seem to belong to the same book. The characters are generally annoying and I was yanked out of my suspension of disbelief literally every page by the weird (almost surreal) dialogue. The book is written in 3rd person but there's almost no insight or explanation behind the characters' motivations.
I enjoyed the Agatha Christie pastiche. For readers who have not yet read And Then There Were None , or Murder on the Orient Express , and intend to do so sometime, this book might not be a good fit because it spoils both books. This one can presumably be read as a standalone, the weird semi-surreal randomness of this book isn't due to lack of backstory, it's just really strange and random. Zoe Zola is a little person, and apparently, despite it never being mentioned in the earlier books, she's a Christie authority and is writing a biography. She has an extremely dysfunctional family who shunned her mother for being pregnant and producing a little person and have apparently kept up with Zoe and her late mother's whereabouts carefully enough over the years to continue harassing them by randomly sending black bordered death announcements. (Yes, really).
When Zoe gets an invitation to participate in a webinar on Agatha Christie, she agrees, despite the webinar location being in a remote B-horror-film hunting lodge in the middle of nowhere, and despite the black bordered invitation being ostensibly sent by one of her dangerously crazy relatives. (Yes, really). The setup, dialogue, and story honestly become less believable from there.
I can't say it was a pleasant read. This is the second book in the series for me and as of this moment, I'm not tempted to continue. In an aside, there is a very brief random mention of the whole little library concept in chapter 5, but that's it. It has no relevance to the plot at all.
Two and a half stars, rounded up for the Christie references. Very odd book.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
June 7, 2019
E-book/ARC/Mystery: I don’t know how I feel about this book. I finished it yesterday afternoon and I knew I would have to think about it before writing a review. I want to thank NetGalley for letting me have an advanced copy of this in lieu of an honest review. This book has not come out yet, so no spoilers here; or at least I’ll try. I will tell you how I felt about the three scenes in the book.
The beginning: If you have not read or seen “And Then There Were None” or “Murder on the Orient Express” and you were planning to, you may want to do that first because this book will spoil the endings for you. This book takes place in present time. Zoe is an author biographer and she goes to speak at a Agatha Christie web convention. While at the secluded hunting cabin with nine other experts, two guests don’t show up, consecutively, the next two mornings for breakfast with excuses of family & health emergences (as a dead body would bring in law enforcement). There is a lot of backstory for Zoe and she is suspicious from the time she gets an invite. I really liked the beginning and I felt like I was getting to know Zoe. This is the third or fourth book in this series and I could pretty much understand all the characters. I couldn’t wait for Zoe to get to the cabin and meet everyone and was trying to figure out how the author was going to pull this off. This isn’t Agatha Christie’s era; it’s the age of technology.
The middle: I figured out Zoe was a little person (either dwarf or midget, I couldn’t figure out. There is a difference, but I pictured her as a midget in my head). By now, we’ve met all the characters and there are some clues to what is going on, or so I thought. Is someone after Zoe while she takes a walk in the rain? Is the bridge to town really washed out? Why aren’t the landlines working? I thought Zoe should have left at first chance; now she’s stuck. I pretty much figured out the ending, or so I told myself.
The end: I was completely wrong. I did not like how the book ended. I understand for safety reasons why Zoe did or didn’t do the action she did at the end. I, myself, would have contemplated calling the state police and skipped the local police. I didn’t like that the author ended the book without explaining what Zoe was thinking. What was going through her head? This book is not in first person, but third and we still get to know what Zoe is thinking, except at the end. I again, I really don’t know how I feel about the book. It was not a cute cozy mystery; it’s dark. It did make me think, a lot.
The beginning: If you have not read or seen “And Then There Were None” or “Murder on the Orient Express” and you were planning to, you may want to do that first because this book will spoil the endings for you. This book takes place in present time. Zoe is an author biographer and she goes to speak at a Agatha Christie web convention. While at the secluded hunting cabin with nine other experts, two guests don’t show up, consecutively, the next two mornings for breakfast with excuses of family & health emergences (as a dead body would bring in law enforcement). There is a lot of backstory for Zoe and she is suspicious from the time she gets an invite. I really liked the beginning and I felt like I was getting to know Zoe. This is the third or fourth book in this series and I could pretty much understand all the characters. I couldn’t wait for Zoe to get to the cabin and meet everyone and was trying to figure out how the author was going to pull this off. This isn’t Agatha Christie’s era; it’s the age of technology.
The middle: I figured out Zoe was a little person (either dwarf or midget, I couldn’t figure out. There is a difference, but I pictured her as a midget in my head). By now, we’ve met all the characters and there are some clues to what is going on, or so I thought. Is someone after Zoe while she takes a walk in the rain? Is the bridge to town really washed out? Why aren’t the landlines working? I thought Zoe should have left at first chance; now she’s stuck. I pretty much figured out the ending, or so I told myself.
The end: I was completely wrong. I did not like how the book ended. I understand for safety reasons why Zoe did or didn’t do the action she did at the end. I, myself, would have contemplated calling the state police and skipped the local police. I didn’t like that the author ended the book without explaining what Zoe was thinking. What was going through her head? This book is not in first person, but third and we still get to know what Zoe is thinking, except at the end. I again, I really don’t know how I feel about the book. It was not a cute cozy mystery; it’s dark. It did make me think, a lot.
April 29, 2019
Author Zoe Zola is invited to participate in an Agatha Christie Symposium. Seeing that Zoe is writing a book about the famous author, it looks like a logical choice for her to be invited. Though she had some reservations about participating, Zoe also knew this had something to do with her family, the family that cut her mother off when she had Zoe out of wedlock all those years ago.
Held in an old hunting lodge in the middle of nowhere, the event seemed to be mimicking one of Dame Agatha’s mysteries, but Zoe can’t quite put her finger on which one. But as each day passes, and they are stranded in the lodge due to flooding, Zoe is counting down the days until she can get out of there and return home to her friends and life in Bear Falls. But while Zoe is certain her estranged family is behind the event, she’s not quite sure what they have up their sleeve and if she will make it out of there alive.
The book was a fantastic compilation of bits and pieces from many of Agatha Christie’s writings. Once everyone arrived at the lodge and the story began unfolding I was hooked! This is a true page turner and well written. It is clear that the author is a fan of Agatha Christie and she has done a fabulous job of bringing so many threads together and wrapping them up in a pretty bow to deliver to the reader.
My first introduction to the author was the previous book in this series, and I said that I would not read another in the series, but here I am. Earlier this year I decided to revisit a few authors and series that I had written off, a second chance so to speak. I am glad that this series is part of my choice, because this book completely turned me around! I truly could not put it down and also notices a marked difference in the rudeness in Zoe Zola that put me off in the previous book. Here’s to second chances, with authors and families!
Held in an old hunting lodge in the middle of nowhere, the event seemed to be mimicking one of Dame Agatha’s mysteries, but Zoe can’t quite put her finger on which one. But as each day passes, and they are stranded in the lodge due to flooding, Zoe is counting down the days until she can get out of there and return home to her friends and life in Bear Falls. But while Zoe is certain her estranged family is behind the event, she’s not quite sure what they have up their sleeve and if she will make it out of there alive.
The book was a fantastic compilation of bits and pieces from many of Agatha Christie’s writings. Once everyone arrived at the lodge and the story began unfolding I was hooked! This is a true page turner and well written. It is clear that the author is a fan of Agatha Christie and she has done a fabulous job of bringing so many threads together and wrapping them up in a pretty bow to deliver to the reader.
My first introduction to the author was the previous book in this series, and I said that I would not read another in the series, but here I am. Earlier this year I decided to revisit a few authors and series that I had written off, a second chance so to speak. I am glad that this series is part of my choice, because this book completely turned me around! I truly could not put it down and also notices a marked difference in the rudeness in Zoe Zola that put me off in the previous book. Here’s to second chances, with authors and families!
June 6, 2019
This book will be a special delight for readers of Agatha Christie and general mystery readers will enjoy this, as well. The premise of the story is based on the Agatha Christie novel, "And Then There Were None".
Zoe Zola is writing a book about Agatha Christie, when one day she receives a mysterious black edged envelope, with an invitation to an Agatha Christie Symposium in the Upper Peninsula at a hunting lodge. Zoe is reluctant at first, but soon her interest changes and she becomes intrigued by this invitation.
During her stay at the hunting lodge, she soon realizes that people's names, events and certain incidents, which occur, start to mirror the actual novel itself. She's aware that she must somehow figure out how's she's going to survive this ordeal and not end up dead.
The plot is well constructed and the characters are revealed and described in a way, which makes them undesirable and somewhat evil. It's hard to find empathy for the characters. The story moves at a decent pace, despite there being so many characters involved.
I applaud the author's strong attempt to create a story within a story from a classic novel, which already exists. That is not an easy task and for the most part, the author is quite successful. I think avid Christie readers will feel the same. I recommend this novel to all mystery readers and also a great opportunity for those who haven't read "And Then There Were None" to do so. I know I'm going to dust off my copy and read it again after reading this book.
This book was provided to me by Net Galley and this is my honest review.
Zoe Zola is writing a book about Agatha Christie, when one day she receives a mysterious black edged envelope, with an invitation to an Agatha Christie Symposium in the Upper Peninsula at a hunting lodge. Zoe is reluctant at first, but soon her interest changes and she becomes intrigued by this invitation.
During her stay at the hunting lodge, she soon realizes that people's names, events and certain incidents, which occur, start to mirror the actual novel itself. She's aware that she must somehow figure out how's she's going to survive this ordeal and not end up dead.
The plot is well constructed and the characters are revealed and described in a way, which makes them undesirable and somewhat evil. It's hard to find empathy for the characters. The story moves at a decent pace, despite there being so many characters involved.
I applaud the author's strong attempt to create a story within a story from a classic novel, which already exists. That is not an easy task and for the most part, the author is quite successful. I think avid Christie readers will feel the same. I recommend this novel to all mystery readers and also a great opportunity for those who haven't read "And Then There Were None" to do so. I know I'm going to dust off my copy and read it again after reading this book.
This book was provided to me by Net Galley and this is my honest review.
July 8, 2019
Zoe Zola is one of ten invitees to an Agatha Christie symposium. Tempers flare…and then there are nine. Can Jenny Weston save Zoe from murder on the Upper Peninsula?
Little Person author Zoe Zola believes that one of the unluckiest things in life is to receive an invitation—in the form of a letter edged in black—to an Agatha Christie symposium at an old Upper Peninsula hunting lodge. Her reluctance dissipates when she learns that the organizer is named Emily Brent—the name of a character poisoned by cyanide in Christie’s And Then There Were None.
As a dreary rain soaks the U.P., Zoe and nine other Christie scholars—each of whom bears a vague resemblance to one of the classic mystery novel’s characters—arrive at the lodge. At the opening night dinner, arguments flare over the experts’ discordant theories about Christie. Next morning, the guests find one particularly odious man has gone—whereabouts and reasons unknown. Such a coincidental resemblance to a work of fiction is surely impossible; therefore, it appears to be possible.
As the guests disappear, one by one, Zoe resolves to beat a hasty retreat—but her car won't start. She calls her friend, amateur sleuth/little librarian Jenny Weston, but Jenny will have to wait out a storm off Lake Superior before she can come to the rescue. If Zoe’s to stay alive to greet Jenny when she eventually arrives, she’ll have to draw on everything she knows about Agatha Christie’s devilish plots in Elizabeth Kane Buzzelli’s fourth tantalizing Little Library mystery.
A good premise and an interesting mystery. Well done but Jenny doesn't play a very big part in this one, she is wrapped in her own personal dilema.
Little Person author Zoe Zola believes that one of the unluckiest things in life is to receive an invitation—in the form of a letter edged in black—to an Agatha Christie symposium at an old Upper Peninsula hunting lodge. Her reluctance dissipates when she learns that the organizer is named Emily Brent—the name of a character poisoned by cyanide in Christie’s And Then There Were None.
As a dreary rain soaks the U.P., Zoe and nine other Christie scholars—each of whom bears a vague resemblance to one of the classic mystery novel’s characters—arrive at the lodge. At the opening night dinner, arguments flare over the experts’ discordant theories about Christie. Next morning, the guests find one particularly odious man has gone—whereabouts and reasons unknown. Such a coincidental resemblance to a work of fiction is surely impossible; therefore, it appears to be possible.
As the guests disappear, one by one, Zoe resolves to beat a hasty retreat—but her car won't start. She calls her friend, amateur sleuth/little librarian Jenny Weston, but Jenny will have to wait out a storm off Lake Superior before she can come to the rescue. If Zoe’s to stay alive to greet Jenny when she eventually arrives, she’ll have to draw on everything she knows about Agatha Christie’s devilish plots in Elizabeth Kane Buzzelli’s fourth tantalizing Little Library mystery.
A good premise and an interesting mystery. Well done but Jenny doesn't play a very big part in this one, she is wrapped in her own personal dilema.
May 30, 2019
Description:" Zoe Zola is one of ten invitees to an Agatha Christie symposium. Tempers flare…and then there are nine. Can Jenny Weston save Zoe from murder on the Upper Peninsula?
Little Person author Zoe Zola believes that one of the unluckiest things in life is to receive an invitation—in the form of a letter edged in black—to an Agatha Christie symposium at an old Upper Peninsula hunting lodge. Her reluctance dissipates when she learns that the organizer is named Emily Brent—the name of a character poisoned by cyanide in Christie’s And Then There Were None."
Ok I will start by saying that I really wanted to like this book. The plot was intriguing and I felt compelled to keep reading until it reached a conclusion even though it didn't really flow for me. It's probably a personal thing, but with such a large cast of characters, Zoe, Jenny, Dora, Lisa, the Lambs and the Jokelas, plus all the pseudonyms, I find it hard to keep track of who is who. Still that said, the plot still kept my attention and I had to read to the end. The one thing that really led to the 3 rather than 4 stars was that I simply did not like any of the charachters. They were all self serving, whiney, depressed or just plain nasty (or a combination of all or any of the above) the result being that I ended it wishing they all had some sort of final comeuppance!
With thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the ARC.
Little Person author Zoe Zola believes that one of the unluckiest things in life is to receive an invitation—in the form of a letter edged in black—to an Agatha Christie symposium at an old Upper Peninsula hunting lodge. Her reluctance dissipates when she learns that the organizer is named Emily Brent—the name of a character poisoned by cyanide in Christie’s And Then There Were None."
Ok I will start by saying that I really wanted to like this book. The plot was intriguing and I felt compelled to keep reading until it reached a conclusion even though it didn't really flow for me. It's probably a personal thing, but with such a large cast of characters, Zoe, Jenny, Dora, Lisa, the Lambs and the Jokelas, plus all the pseudonyms, I find it hard to keep track of who is who. Still that said, the plot still kept my attention and I had to read to the end. The one thing that really led to the 3 rather than 4 stars was that I simply did not like any of the charachters. They were all self serving, whiney, depressed or just plain nasty (or a combination of all or any of the above) the result being that I ended it wishing they all had some sort of final comeuppance!
With thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the ARC.
August 15, 2019
And Then They Were Doomed is a fun little pastiche of Agatha Christie tales.
Zoe has a recently deceased mother who was ostracized by her entire family after giving birth without a husband in sight. Zoe is also a little person and a writer of author biographies. Since she is currently working on a book about Agatha Christie, she is not surprised to be invited to speak at a webinar series about her. She is surprised when she arrives there to a remote lodge stranded by a storm in the remote Michigan woods. No one is whom they claim to be. The two people running the conference are named after Christie characters. There is a statue featuring children on the dining room table that slowly loses children as people disappear. What is really happening here and how can Zoe escape with the bridge flooded and the telephones not working?
And Then They Were Doomed is a fun ride through Christie lore. Both book plots and the author’s real life are called out in the plot. Zoe is a great character. I’m hoping to see more of her in subsequent tales. However, the unbelievable ending just ruined the book for me. Plus while frequently calling out Christie’s “overwriting” as a bad thing, this book is guilty of it too. Even with those flaws, the book is worth the read. 4 stars!
Thanks to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.
Zoe has a recently deceased mother who was ostracized by her entire family after giving birth without a husband in sight. Zoe is also a little person and a writer of author biographies. Since she is currently working on a book about Agatha Christie, she is not surprised to be invited to speak at a webinar series about her. She is surprised when she arrives there to a remote lodge stranded by a storm in the remote Michigan woods. No one is whom they claim to be. The two people running the conference are named after Christie characters. There is a statue featuring children on the dining room table that slowly loses children as people disappear. What is really happening here and how can Zoe escape with the bridge flooded and the telephones not working?
And Then They Were Doomed is a fun ride through Christie lore. Both book plots and the author’s real life are called out in the plot. Zoe is a great character. I’m hoping to see more of her in subsequent tales. However, the unbelievable ending just ruined the book for me. Plus while frequently calling out Christie’s “overwriting” as a bad thing, this book is guilty of it too. Even with those flaws, the book is worth the read. 4 stars!
Thanks to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.
August 15, 2019
This is a series I have read before and I was thrilled to return to . Thank you to Net Galley and to the publisher. My opinion is my own
I am a fan of Agatha Christie so I enjoyed this Christie theme book This was fourth in the series and a reader should benefit from reading the earlier in series . Zoe received a invitation to a webinar on Agatha Christie. Since she was writing a biography on that author, she looks forward to attending. As the event progressed the mystery deepens as atmospheric darker happenings occur. it is in a dark hunting lodge which adds a delicious edge to the story. They become stranded and soon random events occur to the attendees and clues abound as they all become suspicious of each other I loved the similarities to And Then There Were None!
This was such a fun mystery for Agatha Christie fans and those of us that love a cozy with a darker theme to the plot. The charcters were outstanding and well crafted to the plot. I loved the building of the suspense and how the author wrote the conclusion was very pleasing to this avid mystery fan, Very well done to the author !
I am a fan of Agatha Christie so I enjoyed this Christie theme book This was fourth in the series and a reader should benefit from reading the earlier in series . Zoe received a invitation to a webinar on Agatha Christie. Since she was writing a biography on that author, she looks forward to attending. As the event progressed the mystery deepens as atmospheric darker happenings occur. it is in a dark hunting lodge which adds a delicious edge to the story. They become stranded and soon random events occur to the attendees and clues abound as they all become suspicious of each other I loved the similarities to And Then There Were None!
This was such a fun mystery for Agatha Christie fans and those of us that love a cozy with a darker theme to the plot. The charcters were outstanding and well crafted to the plot. I loved the building of the suspense and how the author wrote the conclusion was very pleasing to this avid mystery fan, Very well done to the author !
August 18, 2020
Zoe has been invited to participate in an Agatha Christie webinar. Though she is writing a book on the esteemed author, she believes this is a misleading invitation that really comes from her estranged family, and that they intend to do her harm. Still, she feels compelled to take part. She enlists her neighbor to drive her to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, to a lodge in the woods so far removed from civilization that the roads aren't paved, cell phones don't work, and the only bridge leading to the lodge is partly under water from the unceasing rains the area has been receiving. Jenny drops off Zoe, and goes off to visit with her sister who is filming a documentary close by. All are apprehensive about Zoe's safety, as well they should be. The author does an excellent job of incorporating aspects of Christie's "And Then There Were None" into this story. And it was quite interesting to read so much about Zoe in this installment in the series. This cozy has a engrossing mystery, an eerie setting, and some unusual characters as well as the continuing characters readers of this series have come to enjoy.
December 22, 2019
Zoe Zola is a semi-famous author who gets invited to a literary seminar in Netherworld lodge which is situated a secluded place. Nine other peopke have been invited too. Slowly, people start going missing. Zoe is already suspicious, but she has come to face her fears. The title comes from Agatha Christie's masterpiece, And Then There were None, obviously and the story is inspired from it.
Zoe is a strong character. I liked her zing. She is frank and sharp. She doesn't mince words. The others are a bit unpleasant with their thinly veiled insults. I didn't care for them.
This book is for Agatha Christie lovers, no doubt. There are so many references and parallels with Christie's books. A cozy mystery. Though at times, it felt bland. The ominous feeling dissipates as fast as it builds up. The ending was tragic and yet it failed to move me.
This book is about family, secrets, loss, revenge and fun trivia about our Queen of Crime. Loved the concept. Loved the story. Characters? Not so much.
E-arc from Netgalley.
Zoe is a strong character. I liked her zing. She is frank and sharp. She doesn't mince words. The others are a bit unpleasant with their thinly veiled insults. I didn't care for them.
This book is for Agatha Christie lovers, no doubt. There are so many references and parallels with Christie's books. A cozy mystery. Though at times, it felt bland. The ominous feeling dissipates as fast as it builds up. The ending was tragic and yet it failed to move me.
This book is about family, secrets, loss, revenge and fun trivia about our Queen of Crime. Loved the concept. Loved the story. Characters? Not so much.
E-arc from Netgalley.
May 3, 2019
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a review copy of And then they were doomed.
In the beginning I had no idea what I could expect from this book. As an Agatha Christie fan I loved that the book would be about her, but the two different story lines had me confused. In the end, everything works out well and there are enough Agatha Christie mentions in the book to make me very happy.
The main character is Zoe Zola, who is writing a book on Agatha Christie. She’s invited to a symposium about the greatest mystery writer ever but she feels something is wrong.
Het friend Jenny is planning to visit her sister in the area and drops Zoe off.
Then Zoe finds herself in a really strange setting and she suspects she might be part of a re-enactment of one of Christie’s most famous books: and then there were none.
In the beginning I had no idea what I could expect from this book. As an Agatha Christie fan I loved that the book would be about her, but the two different story lines had me confused. In the end, everything works out well and there are enough Agatha Christie mentions in the book to make me very happy.
The main character is Zoe Zola, who is writing a book on Agatha Christie. She’s invited to a symposium about the greatest mystery writer ever but she feels something is wrong.
Het friend Jenny is planning to visit her sister in the area and drops Zoe off.
Then Zoe finds herself in a really strange setting and she suspects she might be part of a re-enactment of one of Christie’s most famous books: and then there were none.
August 5, 2019
I've been a fan of this series because of the unique characters and the fact that it pulls on other books. This time out, Zoe has been invited to a webinar on Agatha Christie because she is, duh, writing a book about her. She's spooked by the black edge invitation but goes. Her concerns were well founded- there's some creepiness about who was invited and then, well, fans of Christie will likely divide on how wise it was for Buzzelli to base the mystery on her stories. Zoe eventually reaches out to Jenny, who is always a smart cookie. This isn't my favorite of the series and, in fact, might be a tougher go as a standalone because the back stories aren't as obvious as they could be. It also would have benefited from another copy edit. That said, I liked seeing more of Zoe. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. I'm curious what's next for the Little Library.
August 12, 2019
Zoe Zola is a writer and a little person. She had a mother, Evelyn, but the father left after her mother got pregnant. Evelyn's family was very strict and threw her out, but stayed in touch via death announcements. Years after Evelyn's death Zoe receives a black edged envelope. Inside is an invitation to an Agatha Christie conference in upper Peninsula Michigan in a out of the way area.
Zoe is curious so she goes to the conference. Then everything just gets weird.
I think the author is trying to imitate Agatha Christie but it doesn't seem very well done. I skimmed the last 1/3 of the book because I just wanted to finish. The ending wasn't very satisfying. I guess this is the fourth book in A Little Library Mystery series, so maybe I would like it better if I'd been introduced to the characters with their full story.
Zoe is curious so she goes to the conference. Then everything just gets weird.
I think the author is trying to imitate Agatha Christie but it doesn't seem very well done. I skimmed the last 1/3 of the book because I just wanted to finish. The ending wasn't very satisfying. I guess this is the fourth book in A Little Library Mystery series, so maybe I would like it better if I'd been introduced to the characters with their full story.
February 25, 2020
Mystery and mayhem, rain and regret, loss and lies. There are at least 4 different storylines going on during this one novel but it is not difficult to keep them straight. Zoe Zola's family history is revealed as a sad story with hateful spirits. Her friend, Jenny, is trying to find her self and isn't sure that Tony and a wedding are the answer she seeks. An Agatha Christie symposium in the upper peninsula and a township of forgotten Fins lead both Zoe and Jenny to the answers they seek and a question that still needs to be answered. This Little Library story is much less of a library story and more of a Christie mystery. The people at the Netherwood Lodge are not who they claim to be while the fierce Fin ladies are exactly what they appear to be, which makes them an excellent subject for Jane's documentary. Zoe is a headstrong and determined character who is absolutely bigger in personality and talent than her little body demonstrates. I often have to remind myself when reading that Zoe is not full-sized because she certainly does not let her very petite body type stop her from getting the bottom of this mystery and she needs to do it to determine if she is one of the soldiers as a variety of the great Dame's works are almost literally and "literal"ly reenacted around her. Past books are not necessary to be able to understand the character dynamics in the story.
June 10, 2019
Finished this one last night. A Quick read ! And then They Were Doomed is the 4th in the Little Library Mystery Series by Elizabeth Kane Buzzelli. It is about a small person called Zoe Zola she is a writer who is investigating the true life story of Agatha Christie. She receives and Invitation (etched in black) to appear at a Symposium on the subject. Her family has bad blood and she believes this is actually a ruse to get her alone to have her killed. If you liked the Agatha Christie books you will like this one as it is written in the similar fashion. Entertaining and Kept you guessing until the end on the who and what dunit!! Worth reading.
June 18, 2019
This the the fourth book in the Little library Mystery series. I have not read any of the other books in this series and I would recommend reading them before reading this one. I struggled to keep track of the characters and I felt like I was slogging through Part 1 because I had missed out on the backstory from previous books. This book has an excellent plot that pays homage to Agatha Christie (specifically And Then There Were None and Murder on the Orient Express). This is a well-written mystery and my rating reflects my feelings reading it; I would expect that readers of the Little Library Mysteries would give it five stars and two thumbs up!
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