Stories of detection and mystery Book

I'm not sure where I picked up this book a few years ago, but as I was reading each story, I realized I've read this book before. I'm not sure when, but as I was reading it, it all seemed familiar.

I think this is a book for 5th graders, which doesn't mean it isn't a great book! When my oldest was in elementary school, I read whatever book he was reading because I found chapter books geared for boys, Harry Potter, Artemis Fowl, Holes..... the most fun, entertaining and certainly more adventurous, well, because many times books written for women are....light reads, love stories or just plain ridiculous and silly.

It was interesting to see at the back of the book "Activities" for each story, which of course 5th grade teachers would have their students be doing.

There are seven stories in this short book of only 116 ("Activities" included). I liked most of the stories.

The Blue Cross by G. K. Chesterton

Unfortunately the first story ended up being an okay from me. This was about two Priest, one real, the other fake. The real one was leaving clues behind for the police to find, so they could save the real Priest and arrest the fake one. They were in Hampstead, London, so that was the thing I liked about the story because my grandparents lived there. I went there a lot to visit them when I was growing up.

Philomel Cottage by Agatha Christie

The only mystery author I know of in this collection of stories. I've read many of her books. I'm a huge fan, and this story didn't disappoint me. Alix marries this man who she only recently met. She ends up finding out that he only married her for her money. She also finds out he has been married a few times before and has killed every wife. She very cleverly outsmarts him in the end.

An Unpleasant Man by Cyril Hare

I didn't care for this story. It's about a man who dislikes Americans and kills his servant to make himself look dead, but gives himself away by the way he answers the questions when he was questioned by the police.

An Unlucky Theatre by Elliot O'Donnell

I liked this one until the very end and then it disappointed me. The theatre is supposedly haunted. Since one incident, no play has done well. One person decides to stay overnight to see what happens.

Family Affair by Margery Allingham

The police are called in as it seems the husband and wife have gone missing. Laundry is hanging from the washing line, the breakfast is still on the table....where did they go?

The Invisible Man by C. K. Chesterton

I didn't care for this short story. It seems a man walked away with a dead body in plain sight when all windows and doors were locked. There was no conclusion at the end of the story of how the person was able to do it, and that is why I gave it a thumbs down.

The Case of the Thing that Whimpered by Dennis Wheatley

Something strange is going on at the storefront. Why is there a mourning sound before the security guard either falls to his death or is badly hurt? In come two friends, Bruce Hemmingway, an American who is visiting England and Neils Orsen, who is a a ghost and spirits believer professional. They spend the night to find out what is going on. I should had seen it when there was mentioned of a kidnapping of a little girl, but I didn't put two and two together.

Overall, I was very pleased with the stories. I've come to appreciate short stories with a number of books I've read the last few years.