“By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes.”

Am I referring to Shakespeare’s Macbeth? In a round about way. How about the famous use of this quote in  the Agatha Christie title, By The Pricking of My Thumbs, a book in which amateur detectives Tommy and Tuppence Beresford (not the most popular of Ms. Christie’s detectives) go in search of a child killer.

How about one of my all-time favourite Agatha Christie mysteries: DEATH ON THE NILE. In this mystery, featuring the most beloved Hercule Poirot, a lovely boat voyage on the Nile goes slightly awry with the murder of Linnet Doyle. Everyone is a suspect. Perhaps it’s her best friend, Jacqueline De Bellefort, who was once engaged to Linnet’s husband? Or could it have been her lawyer and trustee? Her maid? The American socialite (because you know there has to be a connection between them right)? The reveal in this book (as with literally all of Ms. Christie’s books) left me in shock and awe. Shock at how the whole plan was hatched and executed. And in complete awe of Agatha Christie’s sheer brilliance–her genius.

I was in my teens when I began devouring every single Agatha Christie novel I could find. Since then I’ve judged all amateur sleuth mysteries against hers. Yes, it’s unfair. I don’t think anyone will ever, and I mean ever, equal or surpass Ms. Christie in what she did best, which is to grip, intrigue, puzzle and then wow the reader with an ending that leaves you in the state I talked about before–shock and awe.

However, that doesn’t mean I’ve stopped looking. And come August I’m renewing my search. My love for those amateur sleuth (now, I believe are called cozy mysteries) novels has never died. That’s why in August I’m adding Mystery to The Season website.

We’ll start the month with these two titles:

The de Young Museum in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park is throwing a murder mystery party to raise money, and the notorious yet benevolent philanthropist Mary Lee Miller wants Presley Parker to host it. Though Presley is surrounded by breathtaking artwork, it’s a heated squabble between Mary Lee and her son Corbin that catches her attention.

When Mary Lee is found dead with a fake dagger in her chest, Delicia—Presley’s friend and Corbin’s girlfriend—is the key suspect. Presley begins sleuthing to clear her friend and solve the mounting murders, only to find someone wants this life of the party dead.

~*~*~

First in a new mystery series that will have readers stitching—and itching for more.

When Marcy Singer opens an embroidery specialty shop in quaint Tallulah Falls, Oregon, she throws a soiree and a Stitch-In. Soon, Marcy’s sign-up sheet for embroidery classes fills up and everyone in town seems willing to raise a glass—or a needle—to support the newly-opened Seven Year Stitch.

Then Marcy finds the shop’s previous tenant dead in the storeroom, a message scratched with a tapestry needle on the wall beside him. Now Marcy’s shop has become a crime scene, and she’s the prime suspect. She’ll have to find the killer before someone puts a final stitch in her.

So, does anyone read cozy mysteries? Have you read or currently read Agatha Christie? Seen any of the movies? Let me know if I have mystery fans out there.