Just been away on holiday for a week, and completed a number of books:
Passenger to Frankfurt by Agatha Christie, originally published in 1970.
Sir Stafford Nye's flight home from Malaya takes an unexpected twist when the bored diplomat is approached in an airport by a woman whose life is in danger. He agrees to lend her his passport and boarding ticket. Suddenly, Stafford has unwittingly entered a web of international intrigue, from which the only escape is to outwit the power-crazed Countess von Waldsausen who is hell-bent on world domination through the manipulation and arming of the planet's youth, which brings with it what promises to be a resurgence of Nazi domination. Unwittingly the diplomat has put his own life on the line. His Great-Aunt Matilda hints to him of a terrible world-wide conspiracy that has something to do with Wagner and "The Young Siegfried". When Stafford meets the mystery woman again, he finds himself drawn into a battle against an invisible and altogether more dangerous enemy.
The usual convoluted and improbable fare of the Christie thriller. Can't really recommend it.
The Right to Arm Bears by Gordon R. Dickson.
Bought from Baen in December 2000. Two novellas and a short story set on the same planet, with a common theme of humans outwitting the natives of a planet where the locals look like 8' tall bears, with immense physical strength. Very enjoyable indeed. Highly recommended.
Nemesis by Agatha Christie, originally published in 1971.
Miss Marple is surprised to receive a posthumous letter from the wealthy financier Jason Rafiel, who she met in the earlier book "A Caribbean Mystery". Rafiel leaves Miss Marple a large sum of money in his will, on the condition that she investigates an unspecified crime connected to him. A very enjoyable novel follows. This was the last "Miss Marple" novel that Christie wrote. Again, highly recommended.
The Sacred Pool by L. Warren Douglas, originally bought from Baen in January 2001.
Douglas takes the history and mythology of "dark ages" Provence in France, and weaves an excellent fantasy novel around it, based around the conflict between the ancient Celtic gods, and the spreading influence of Christianity. Pierette, a young woman, sets out on her journey to become a sorceress. The first in a trilogy, but a completely satisfying self-contained novel. Again, highly recommended to any fantasy fan.
Elephants Can Remember by Agatha Christie, originally published in 1972.
At a literary luncheon, Mrs Burton-Cox, to whose son Celia Ravenscroft is engaged, approaches Mrs. Ariadne Oliver, a school friend of the late Margaret Ravenscroft and godmother to her daughter. Mrs Burton-Cox asks Mrs Oliver what she believes is an important question: which of Celia's parents was the murderer, and which was murdered?
The last "Poirot" novel that Christie wrote, and very, very good, although Christie's failing faculties are only too evident in parts of the book, with the same murder having apparently occurred 12, 15, and 20 years ago. Again, highly recommended.
All in all some excellent books here, with the exception of "Passenger to Frankfurt", but you know what you're going to get with a Christie "thriller"
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