Y'Allah Y'Allah

Continuing the journey to the East:

33. MURDER IS MESOPOTAMIA (Poirot)
An archaeological site in the Iraqi desert and a bunch of people who "pass the butter to each other too politely". A nurse is called to the site to help Mrs Leidner overcome her irrational fears and horrifying fantasies. But maybe they weren't just fantasies, maybe her life really was in danger! Luckily Poirot is in the neighbourhood and solves this mysterious crime.

Memorable quotes:
-"My wife likes Arabs very much - she appreciates their simplicity and their sense of humour."
-"I was just thinking what a miserable lot they were when Dr Leidner said, 'Rather a fine-looking lot of men, aren't they?'"
-"As a matter of fact it wouldn't be safe to tell any man the truth about his wife! Funnily enough, I'd trust most women with the truth about their husbands."
-"... women can put up with a lot when they've got what they want."

Favourite Guest Character: Hm. Miss Reilly?
Mystery: ****
Final Solution: ****
Entertainment: ***
11/15


32. THEY CAME TO BAGHDAD
I do have a soft spot for Arab countries but even if you don't, you have to love this book! Victoria decides to follow a crush (well, I can't call him the love of her life, can I?) to Baghdad. She arrives there penniless at the time of an important political meeting and meets plenty of interesting characters. The most interesting one, however, dies the minute she meets him...

Memorable quotes:
-"Here was no glamour of travel, only confusion."
-"Every place gets ruined sooner or later."
-"It's always Inshallah, isn't it?"
-"How fatuous men are! Always wanting their girl friends to like each other."
-"If she had been a cat she would have purred."

Favourite Guest Character: Fakir Carmichael
Mystery: ****
Final Solution: ****
Entertainment: *****
13/15


31. DEATH COMES AS THE END
Egypt: 2000 years ago. Young widow Renisenb returns home to live with her family and everything seems the way it was... But the difference becomes apparent when the father introduces his new concubine, Nofret. Suddenly evil and hate emerge - but maybe, as one wise man says, they had been here before? Easy to guess the murderer but with so much going on, you just cannot put the book down...

Memorable quotes:
-"A houseful of women - never quiet, never peaceful - always talking, exclaiming, saying things - not doing them."
-"Sometimes what you think is an end is only a beginning."
-".. if one is to live always in fear it would be better to die - so I will overcome fear."
-"Death feeds you and clothes you."
-"Fear is only incomplete knowledge."

Favourite Guest Character: Hori
Mystery: **
Final Solution: ***
Entertainment: ***
8/15