Mystery Trivia Tuesday: Agatha Christie

See if you can name the murderer, motive, and victim of these 3 most popular Agatha Christie mysteries.
1.  In Murder on the Orient Express, the victim was killed in his sleep. His body was riddled with multiple knife wound. Many felt he deserved to die lest his sins go unpunished.

2.  Mrs. Boynton ruled over her family like a tyrant in Appointment with Death. Emotional abuse was her weapon. Every member of her family had a notice for her murder. But when the desert dust cleared, Hercule Poirot knew the truth. Who killed this heartless woman?

3.  There were two murders in St. Mary Mead, and Miss Marple hated murder. In The Body in the Library, she set a trap and caught the killer. Who were the two victims?

All 3 of my mystery-trivia books can be purchased through my website:
http://www.kathleenkaska.com/
What's Your Agatha Christie I.Q.?
The Alfred Hitchcock Triviography and Quiz Book
The Sherlock Holmes Triviography and Quiz Book.

What do Readers Want?

Welcome to today's Rolling Mystery Blog Tour. I'm the 3rd blogger on the list. See what Mollie, Nancy, and Ryder have to say about our subject. Leave us a comment and tell us what you want in a book.
http://www.molliecoxbryan.com/2011/10/what-do-readers-want/
http://chickdickmysteries.com/2011/10/24/what-do-readers-want/
http://ryderislington.wordpress.com/2011/10/24/what-do-readers-want/

If there were a definite answer to this question, all the mysteries would be pretty much the same. There would be no subgenres, and writers would use the same formula and plug in the information.  
        But I believe that readers have reasonable expectations. I know I do. When I pick up a mystery, or any novel as far as that goes, I expect the first sentence to hook me. I don’t necessarily put the book down if it doesn’t, but it better happen soon. I don’t expect a body on the first page, and if the plot is intriguing, but the characters are less so, I’ll stay with the story. (see Rolling Mystery Blog Tour 10/17/11).

         I pay close attention when my readers tell me what they like about my mysteries, and what they don’t. Fortunately, most readers who take the time to contact me, have encouraging things to relate. They like my zany characters, as well as the humor, the historical settings and accurate background information, and the romance developing between my protagonist (picture a redheaded Lauren Bacall) and her detective (picture Leonardo DiCaprio in a fedora). For instance, in my first mystery Murder at the Arlington, I write about Hot Springs, Arkansas in 1952 and the couple of decades prior. Readers who are familiar with the area can relate to the history lesson. This is true with all my books. Murder at the Galvez (out soon) takes place in Galveston, Texas in 1953. I learned from reading old newspapers, that the development of nearby Pelican Island was a hot topic. I used this controversial issue as a basis for the crime in my mystery. I'm sure however, that readers of different subgenres have different expectations. I write cozies and here's a list of what cozy readers don't and do want.
They DON’T want:

1.  Graphic violence against women

2.  Reading the point of view of the killer

3.  Static, unchanging protagonists in a series

4.  Predictable plots or convoluted plots.

Here’s what they DO want:

1.  Light romance

2.  Twists and turns and a surprise ending

3.  Feeling good after reading the entire book
4.  The discovery of something new.
However, if I had to answer this question in a few words, I say that readers want to connect with the characters and the story, no matter what genre.
        
        

The Great Migrator

I just listened to Bird Note on NPR and learned something about 2 whooping cranes I've known for many years. While spending time in Rockport, Texas, I make a point to visit the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. Almost every year, I see the Lopstick family feeding on the refuge. The male is now 33 years old and he and his mate have produced 17 whoopers during their time together. That may not seem like much of an accomplishment. But since whoopers' lifespan is around 30 years and they don't reproduce until around the age of 4, this guy is prolific. He has also successfully migrated more than 200,000 miles.
http://www.birdnote.org/

On another bird note: Operation Migration is now in the 14th day of migration. All but 2 of those days have been spent on the ground due to bad weather.
Here's an updated profile on the first whooper to hatch in this year's class. Number 1-11, was labeled a bully because he took toys (sticks, frogs, even mud clumps) alway from his flock mates. He'd poke them in the butt when they were resting. On September 11th of flight training, he took off in another direction while the other 9 birds followed nicely behind the training trike. He ended up tangled in brush and became so exhausted that he allowed himself to be carried home. It took a few days before the soreness left his wings and he could train again. Good news: on October 10, the second migration day, #1-11 was the only whooper that flew the entire distance! Upper right is 1-11's baby picture and below is what he looks like now. This information and these chick photos came from the OM website.
Read more about the Class of 2011 by going to their website: go to "In the Field," then "Site Map," and scroll down until you see the bios for the various classes. Next Sunday read about #2-11 (hopefully I'll have good news). http://www.operationmigration.org/Field_Journal.html