Fiona's comments from Bookish Challenges Showing 1,641-1,660 of 4,282

Fiona’s comments from the Bookish Challenges group.

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Elena wrote: "January challenge completed"

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nadine wrote: "Book: We'll Prescribe You a Cat
Author: Syou Ishida
Date completed: 30-Jan
Task: A book that starts a new series.
How it fits: Book 2, We'll Prescribe You a Cat Again, due to come ..."

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Natasha wrote: "Book: Ararat
Author: Christopher Golden
Date completed: 1/29/25
Task: 2. A book that starts a new series.
How it fits: Starts the Ben Walker series"

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I nominate Lock Every Door by Riley Sager

Investigation - William Everett

Daniel: (Glancing up) “Thank you for agreeing to speak with me, Mr. Everett. I understand you’ve been with the Donovan family for quite some time.”

William: (Nods) “Nearly thirty years, Mr. Hunt. I’ve served this household since before James and Sarah were born.”

Daniel: “Thirty years is a long time. You must know the family better than anyone.”

William: (Smoothly) “My role is to ensure the household runs smoothly and the family’s privacy is respected. I observe, yes, but only insofar as it pertains to my duties.”

Daniel: “And yet, I imagine you’ve seen your share of conflicts within these walls.”

William: (Pauses, choosing his words carefully) “Every family has its disagreements, Mr. Hunt. The Donovans are no exception, though they are... more passionate than most.”

Daniel: “Passionate enough for things to turn violent?”

William: (His expression doesn’t change) “I wouldn’t presume to speculate. My focus is always on diffusing tension, not escalating it.”

Daniel: (Stepping closer) “Were there tensions the night James died?”

William: (Hesitates, then nods) “There was a heated exchange during dinner. Mr. James was in rare form, I’m afraid. He seemed... frustrated.”

Daniel: “Frustrated with whom?”

William: (Glances at the floor briefly, then back at Daniel) “There were words exchanged between Mr. James and Miss Sarah, though I didn’t catch the specifics. Later, I saw Mr. Maxwell Carter speaking with him in the study. That, too, seemed tense.”

Daniel: (Leaning forward slightly) “Did you overhear any of their conversation?”

William: “No, sir. I don’t eavesdrop. But when Mr. Carter left, he appeared... agitated.”

Daniel: “Agitated how?”

William: (Pauses, carefully phrasing his response) “He was pacing in the hallway, muttering to himself. I offered to escort him to his car, but he waved me off.”

Daniel: “And what about you? Where were you after that?”

William: “I spent most of the evening ensuring the other guests were comfortable. Mrs. Graves requested tea in the sunroom, and I delivered a tray to Miss Sarah in her room. I retired shortly before midnight.”

Daniel: “Did you see or hear anything unusual after that?”

William: (Shakes his head) “No, sir. The house was quiet when I retired. It wasn’t until the morning that I was informed of Mr. James’s... passing.”

Daniel: “You’ve worked here long enough to understand the dynamics of this household. Do you believe anyone in this family could have done this?”

William: (His expression tightens ever so slightly) “It is not my place to pass judgment, Mr. Hunt. But I will say this: strong emotions can drive people to act in ways they might later regret.”

Daniel: (Watching him closely) “You sound as though you’ve seen something like this before.”

William: (A faint smile) “I’ve been in service for three decades, sir. One learns to anticipate the storms before they arrive.”

Daniel: “And yet you didn’t anticipate this one?”

William: (His smile fades, and he looks Daniel squarely in the eye) “No one could have anticipated this, Mr. Hunt. Mr. James had his flaws, but I never imagined this would be his fate.”

Daniel: “Thank you, Mr. Everett. If anything else comes to mind, you know where to find me.”

William: (Bows slightly) “Of course, sir. I only wish I could be of more help.”

Daniel: (Nods, closing his notepad) “You’ve been more helpful than you realize.”

William: (Straightens, his expression unreadable) “If I may, Mr. Hunt... I hope you find the answers you’re looking for. Mr. James may have made enemies, but he was still a Donovan. That alone makes him worth remembering.”

Daniel: (Turning to leave, his tone thoughtful) “Every detail helps, Mr. Everett. Sometimes the smallest ones tell the biggest stories.”

Read a book that meets the general guidelines.

Clara Donovan

Clara Donovan, a distant cousin, arrives at the manor with an air of entitlement. She has recently discovered that she might be entitled to a share of the Donovan estate, a revelation that hasn’t been well-received by Victoria or the rest of the family. Clara has a sharp tongue and is unafraid to speak her mind, often to her own detriment. Her sudden appearance raises eyebrows, and many wonder if she’s truly here for family or for money.

Task 1: Read a book starting with a letter in INHERITANCE.
Task 2: Read a book where a distant relative returns unexpectedly.
Task 3: Read a book where a character fights for their rightful place in a family.

Investigation - Clara Donovan

Daniel: (Coolly) “Thank you for agreeing to speak with me, Miss Donovan. I understand you’ve recently taken an interest in the family inheritance?”

Clara: (Smiling, faintly amused) “If by ‘interest’ you mean what’s rightfully mine, then yes. My uncle had… a complex way of organizing his affairs. But I’m simply pursuing what’s fair.”

Daniel: “And James? Did he share your idea of fairness?”

Clara: (Her expression hardens) “James believed the world revolved around him. He thought he was the only one deserving of anything in this family. We may have disagreed, but he was a… spirited cousin.”

Daniel: “Spirited? From what I understand, your disagreements were more… contentious.”

Clara: (Sighs dramatically) “Contentious, spirited, whatever word you’d like, Mr. Hunt. James made his feelings about me quite clear. He considered me a threat. But I’m not so foolish as to kill over a will—besides, I don’t have the patience for such theatrics.”

Daniel: “And yet, you were at the mansion the night of the murder. Did you notice anything unusual about James’s behavior?”

Clara: (Hesitates) “He was tense. More than usual, I’d say. I saw him speaking to Maxwell Carter in hushed tones earlier that evening. James looked… agitated. And Maxwell, well, he looked like a cat about to pounce.”

Daniel: (Raising an eyebrow) “Maxwell and James had a complicated business relationship. Were you aware of any recent conflicts between them?”

Clara: (Shrugs, feigning disinterest) “Oh, I never bothered myself with the details. But James was often... selective in his trust. He mentioned once that Maxwell was becoming ‘more trouble than he was worth.’”

Daniel: “Yet, it sounds as if James still kept Maxwell close.”

Clara: (With a smirk) “That was James. Always thought he could control everyone and everything. But perhaps he overestimated his power this time.”

Daniel: “Perhaps. But you still stood to gain a great deal with James out of the way. It wouldn’t be out of place to consider you had a motive.”

Clara: (Laughs softly, as if amused) “I’m a realist, Mr. Hunt. There are simpler ways to resolve family disputes than murder."

Read a book that meets the general guidelines.

For your final task, let me know what your favorite era is and I will give you the tasks for my favorite song of that era :)

That's 2 points for the task and another point for finishing the last era!