User Profile

Matt

Matt@bookwyrm.world

Joined 1 month ago

Getting back into reading. A fan of mystery, suspense, and thrillers, among others. I always review my reads, and I make sure to always add them fully onto bookwyrm's database. :)

This link opens in a pop-up window

Matt's books

Currently Reading

2025 Reading Goal

66% complete! Matt has read 8 of 12 books.

reviewed The Thirteen Problems by Agatha Christie (Miss Marple Short Story Collections, #1)

Agatha Christie: The Thirteen Problems (Paperback, 2022, HarperCollins Publishers)

A WEEKLY DINNER PARTY TEN AMATEUR SLEUTHS THE TUESDAY NIGHT CLUB MURDERS

On a quiet …

A fun collection of mysteries

This is a short story collection, so this isn't a novel of a murder mystery that needs resolving.

The format works like this:

  • 6 people gather for a meeting (including Miss Marple, of course)
  • Each one tells a story without giving away the 'answer' of the mystery
  • Each character guesses or tries to solve the mystery

Of course, each time, Miss Marple is the one who deduces it, and always manages to completely dot the Is and cross the Ts.

While I'm personally a bigger fan of the full novels, these were fun stories to read and try to solve yourself, and like every good mystery novel, you're always kicking yourself for not seeing the obvious answer presented to you at the end. Each story is quite unique as well, and none of them feel like the same one as before, so you're always on your toes trying to figure …

reviewed RuneScape: The Gift of Guthix by Erin M. Evans (RuneScape 2nd Trilogy, #1)

Erin M. Evans: RuneScape: The Gift of Guthix (Paperback, English (UK) language, 2024, Titan Books)

Asgarnia's fate hangs in the balance.

Disparate tribes unite under the banner of Lord Raddallin, …

A wonderful deep-dive of RuneScape lore

Being a video-game tie-in, I wasn't really sure if this was going to be worth the time, but I can say for sure that it most certainly was.

The book is faithful to the game itself in terms of lore and consistency, writing characters referenced in ancient texts and dialogue, and does a good job explaining how the world of Gielinor is at it is today (i.e. what the game has).

The book makes use of various twists and turns, and always has you trying to figure out and think what's going to happen next, and who is up to what. Admittedly the subtlety of the "main villain" is perhaps as subtle as a brick, but it's still entertaining attempting to weave the web yourself before the book does it for you.

The characters are likeable and you feel for them as time goes on, and despite the different allegiances …

reviewed The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan (The Wheel of Time, #1)

Robert Jordan: The Eye of the World (Paperback, 2021, Orbit)

Discover the first novel in one of the most influential fantasy series of all time …

Fantasy with heavy world building

The Eye of the World is not a particularly gripping book at first - pretty much nothing of major note occurs for the first 500-600 pages, but instead spends its time having the characters travel through the world to introduce the reader to all the many factions and groups that populate the world.

The prose is very detailed, perhaps a little too much, but makes it easy to imagine you're there seeing and feeling what the characters do. I didn't realise how attached to the characters I felt even early on, but the writing is fantastic.

I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would - staying up until 1am to finish it off without realising - and will definitely be reading the rest of the series! The payoff towards the end leaves a lot of room for whatever will happen next and will make you want to get …

Agatha Christie: The Murder at the Vicarage (Paperback, English (UK) language, 2022, HarperCollins Publishers)

A QUITE ENGLISH VILLAGE A SHOCKING MURDER AN UNLIKELY DETECTIVE

Nobody liked Colonel Protheroe.

So, …

A gripping, classic detective story

Shockingly, I've never actually read Agatha Christie before despite her fame, but I am very glad I did in the end.

This is a classic cosy crime book, starting off in a sleepy little English village with not much going on, and then the usual suspects, motives, and red herrings.

The story is always constantly presenting information to you, and keeps you guessing until the very end. It dots the Is and crosses the Ts quite well at the end with a satisfying conclusion.

All-in-all, I most certainly plan to read the rest of the Miss Marple series if they're as good at this one.

reviewed Moonflower Murders by Anthony Horowitz (Susan Ryeland, #2)

Anthony Horowitz: Moonflower Murders (Paperback, English (UK) language, 2024, Penguin Books)

Retired publisher Susan Ryeland is running a small hotel on a Greek island with her …

A gripping detective story

The sequel to Magie Murders, I was wondering how Horowitz would be able to use the story within a story format again that would still make for a good story.

Luckily, Horowitz is a genius once again, this time leading with the crime and having the book work as a primary piece of evidence, as with all whodunnits, it's not apparent why it is relevant until the final chapter slaps you in the face with an explanation that makes it all make sense in a satisfying conclusion.

The Susan Ryeland books are a fantastic twist in the cozy crime genre and I recommend them all to those who enjoy the genre.