The Underdog by Agatha Christie page count unknown

I listened to this Hercule Poirot mystery for the first time.  I can't even find it as a stand alone book in print, but I would guess it is only around 100 pages.  For one of the shorter Poirot stories, it certainly packs a wallop.  Someone has done a murder and the lady of the house is convinced she knows who.  The problem is that the only thing she's going on is her intuition.  Poirot is the only one who does not scoff, but decides to see why she is so resolute in her conviction.  Read by David Suchet, the best Poirot ever. 

The Punishment She Deserves by Elizabeth George, 692 pages

Elizabeth George gives us another enigmatic title and fabulous story to go along with it in the 20th installment of her Inspector Lynley series set in England.

Does the title refer to Sergeant Barbara Havers, whose job is on the line?  Could it be her boss, Isabelle Ardery, who continues to struggle with addiction?  Or is it one of the many women in the seemingly quiet little historic town of Ludlow where Havers and Ardery are sent to follow-up on the apparent suicide of a church man while in police custody?

Read or listen to this great mystery and then lets talk.

In Bitter Chill by Sarah Ward 311 pages

I usually enjoy reading debut novels.  It is sometimes a great way to discover a new favorite author.  However, I found this novel to be a disappointment.   In my opinion, the characters were not fleshed out enough for me to identify with.  The story did not draw me in.  Overall, a thumbs down.
In Derbyshire, England, in 1978, two young girls are kidnapped on their way to school.  One is found several hours later, traumatized, but otherwise unharmed.  The other is never found. Fast forward thirty years later.  The mother of the missing girl commits suicide.  Days later, a teacher from the school ( not the girl's teacher) is found strangled in the woods.  Rachel, the surviving girl, is now a genealogist.  She uses her research skills to see how the recent deaths could be tied to the kidnapping.  In the process, she also uncovers some family secrets.  Has she also put herself in danger?