Murder in the Raw by C S Challinor

This is the second book in the series of Rex Graves Mysteries. Since I was impressed by the first book I was eager to read the second one. This time the setting is in a Caribbean island. Rex has been asked to go over by a couple who had bought that hotel where the first book was set. They want him to solve the mystery of the disappearance of a young woman they knew.

There were a few people staying at this resort of the rich and this lady was an actress and wife of a wealthy older man who was also managing her career. There was no trace of her and the police were not doing much except for just initial inquiries. There is a good thread of humour as Rex finds out that this is a naturist resort only when he is in flight. The vision of his musing of what it would be to try remembering the French grammar while in the buff were certainly amusing. It a small island and easy to travel around in borrowed jeep or resort vehicles. He spent a fair amount of time in the day gathering information from all the guests and also doing some sightseeing. The only evidence found was a gold anklet and a torn piece of white wrap with a little blood on it. Most of the people think she has been drowned or eaten by sharks or abducted.  However, there has been no word for ransom if she has been kidnapped.

There was also the mobile phone of the husband found on the beach where the anklet and the scrap of cloth were found. The hotel manager has been hiding something which eventually he shows to Rex – a photograph from that mobile phone showing one of the guests. What was that person doing on the beach at that time of the night? He also sets up a meeting with the owner of the resort and finds he does not like the man at all. He says he was at his club on the day the lady disappeared and so while flowing that alibi up Rex find that the reputation of the owner is not totally pristine.

He gets a friend to dig up more information about this owner and look into his links to a series of murders in Amsterdam. One family had a good alibi and another couple who had been out the whole day and spent the evening in their cabin, while others all identify they were at the birthday bash of one of the guests. One of the guests used to be seen going riding with the lady in question and there was some talk that they might be having an affair although he denies it. He is helpful to Rex by lending his jeep or picking him up from another island when he needs to get back in a hurry.  The husband has no alibi and no explanation as to how his mobile was on the beach. The others while having opportunity appeared to have no motive. If the body was not found then there was no crime.

So where was the young lady? Did her husband kill her in a jealous rage? Did that owner actually manage to kill this young lady even though he had an alibi? Who was killing young ladies in a similar fashion to those murders in Europe? Amidst all this investigation Rex is worrying about what has happened to his girlfriend who was out in Iraq. How was he going to handle meeting up with Helen who he had shared some chemistry with in the last investigation? The romance will blossom or not?

Another easy read and enjoyable as it is a good mix of humour, mystery and romance. It is not a heavy tomb and so the story moves on but still gives the impression of being leisurely progress. There are a couple of totally unexpected turns in the plot which add to the interest and the element of mystery.

Christmas is Murder by C S Challinor

C S Challinor is another new author for me. I liked the synopsis and decided to read the book. A murder mystery by a new author sounded just right when I was getting a little bored. I had a quick look on the internet and found that this is the first book by this author in her series called Rex Graves Mysteries.

The central character is of course Rex Graves who is a QC in Scotland. He is invited to spend Christmas at a hotel owned by his mother’s friend. This is a small hotel and the people staying her during the Christmas holiday are few. In the first chapter one of the guest, an old gentleman, dies and authorities cannot come as the snow is coming down fast and this is a remote place. However, there is nothing suspicious at the time and so while the rest of the guests are sad they are more concerned about being snowed in. Rex arrives after walking 2 miles from the station in the snow. One of the guests takes him aside after being introduced and informs him that the death of the old man was suspicious as there was frothing around his mouth.

This information and after talking to the owner Rex feels he has to investigate as the police will not be able to reach the hotel yet. The next day there is yet another death, this time seemingly by accident. What can this mean? Is there a killer loose and if so who is it from among them? Will there be more people dying? What is the connection between the people who have died? Why would anyone want to kill these people? The snow does not stop Rex from skiing over to the village and visiting the police station and the pub. Does this mean someone from outside could have come and committed the murder? But how can that be possible as no stranger was seen in the vicinity. Also will anything come of this instant attraction between Rex and a fellow guest?

The momentum of the story is well maintained and the time span covered by the story is of around 4 days. Mighty fine sleuthing by Rex to solve the mystery in such a short time. It has the shades of Agatha Christie and the author is well aware of this as the characters in the story refer to their situation as akin to that in ‘And then There Were None’. There is also an oblique reference to Murder on the Orient Express. However, the writing style is easy to read and not too similar to that of Agatha Christie. I would say that Agatha Christie is more of an inspiration for the author. I certainly will read the rest of her books and put up reviews as well. Enjoy reading this author with mysteries set in  modern times.

Overheard

It is always funny when you over hear snippets of conversations between people who are strangers to you. Some make you smile as you catch their drift while others leave you wondering what that was all about where as some just make you double up. I overhead some such strange conversations and decided that maybe someone else will find them funny if not at least amusing.

I was waiting at the outpatients department and this one is particularly a large one. The doctors were running late and the people waiting were beyond that initial restlessness. Some were flicking through the heap of old magazines that is always found at the waiting rooms of various health establishments doing its contractual work of passing on germs. There were a couple of young women sitting in the row behind me and this is what they were talking about…..

Lady in jeans – you mean sling backs?

Lady with short hair - It's the ones without backs that have the elastic band or strip of shoe with a buckle at the back of the foot holding them on

This was not very interesting and so I tuned out from that conversation and tuned into the other two ladies in front of me. Both were young and I wondered what was wrong since I was at a rheumatology clinic. One was wearing baggy trousers and a tank top while the other was in a skirt and a red jumper.

Skirt (giggling): ‘I am using a disability placard as leverage to continue working.’

Trousers (with a tongue in cheek manner):  ‘Well you can... I am just happy being a lazy cow..’

Skirt explaining: ‘No before when I was teaching. It was at top of this stupid hill. And there was never parking. I told the doctor to sign this form or I'll quit my job. I can't walk up that hill and be awake to teach the class. So she signed a permanent one.’  She laughed as she finished speaking.

Trousers laughingly agreed: ‘Yes that’s good. I used that to get myself a permanent desk.. as part timers were supposed to hot desk and I said I canna carry my laptop home every day and back…’

Skirt: ‘There ya go!’

Trousers: hahahaha…. See we have so many positives to use.. and we should make up a guide for it.’

Skirt: ‘Oh yeah. I have to come up with more though. Those are the only ones I got right now.’

Sadly I shall never find out the end of that conversation and more tips to make disability work for you as I got called to see the doctor.

Then on the way back home in the bus … another good place to overhear interesting conversations… there was this boy and girl sitting behind me. I could hear them and assumed they were friends and on their way to some party.

Boy: ‘You wouldn't happen to know how to get wax out of a tshirt?’

Girl: ‘Put it on the fire..?’ and giggled

Girl: ‘What kinda wax?’

Boy: ‘It was a Yankee candle wax tart for Warmers’

Girl: ‘should come out if you put it in the freezer then.’

Boy: ‘The warmer had been on for 2 hours and I realized it still looked solid. So I pulled it down to touch it and my fingers weren't holding it as tight as I thought and the bottom melted but top didn’t so it burst through the top down the front of my brand new shirt.’ He did sound cross.

Boy: ‘I had it under hot water to melt it off, then a toothbrush to make sure the wax was off but apparently there was also some oil. I am gonna try to buy a new one tomorrow.’

Girl: ‘Awww put it in the freezer.. and it should be ok.. my gran’s advice.. but just in case it does not work.. I take myself off the blame list.’

Boy: ‘Nice. We always blame whoever isn't here to defend themselves.’

Girl: ‘Oh for oil you have to use something like vanish..’

Boy: ‘I did colour safe bleach soaked it, toothbrushes that then washed it again. I've washed it 3 times. Dried only 1 time when I didn't see anything. But there is still a stain.’

Girl: ‘Well then you will just have to admit to people you have been a mucky pup.. when u wear it.’

Boy: ‘I tried ice the very first thing I did. But the wax had gone thru the shirt and later I found wax on my skin. So the ice help the part that didn’t go all the way through.’

Girl: ‘oh well google it.. answers to everything is supposed to be there na?’

Boy: ‘Yeah. I was just wondering. Needless to say I yelled at the object and it just sat there looking dumb.’ With a chuckle

Girl: ‘Now would it not have been more shocking if it had answered you back.. you are the clumsy one and yelling at me?’

Boy laughed: ‘Oh I would've gone to the ER and asked for Valium if that'd happened.’

Girl: ‘Only valium? I would want to be on anti-hallucinogenic too!’

Boy: ‘Well they would decide once I told them "I hear voices from objects". I am sure Valium would be the tip of the iceberg!’

Girl: ‘Yep the men in white coats would come marching in pretty rapidly put you in a strait jacket and cart you away on a trolley... you know the one which is used to move boxes.’

Both laughed and I had to stop myself from joining them.

Girl: ‘Oh yea the jacket has to match the shoes or else...

Boy: “Well white goes with everything.’

Girl: ‘Aha I see you are using blocks of colour.. white with red I presume?’

Boy: ‘After all fashion has to be upheld not matter what gaga land you are in.’

Girl: ‘hahaha oh white with black and nude shoes or green or grey?’

Boy: ‘No no I like red.. bit of a statement. Like I might be nutty but I know my fashion.. kinda statement.’

Hahahahahha both laughed.

Girl: ‘Heck yes. I may be nutty but I can walk in heels! Also a statement.’

Boy: ‘Now we are assuming that you would be wearing something more than a d jacket.. cos after all you arenot gonna go to ER in just your shoes...’

Girl: ‘True. I would even go to the ER in heels in all honesty. But red shoes require silver or light grey pants’

Boy: ‘Nah light would get dirty in ER.. go with your black and white theme.. go for black pants and a skimpy sequined black top…. then the white jacket would be perfect and so would the red shoes…..so now we have a uniform to go to ER in..’

Girl: ‘Oh nice. That would be nice. I just bought a cream and gold tank top to go with a dark pair of jeans and the black and nude shoes. It's perfect!!!

Boy: ‘After all we visit it often.. and so no need to go as slovenly whingers..’

Sadly I had to leave this amusing couple to get off at my stop but it did leave me wondering as to whether the young man managed to get the wax off his t-shirt or not?

A fee days ago I went to have a look at the department store in the local shopping mall and was browsing through the clothes hoping to pick up some nice tops in the sales. There were nice ones that I liked and so went to try them on and yes you have guessed it the conversations in the fitting rooms are equally entertaining. I got so carried away that I nearly forgot to try my tops.

Girl 1: it seems there r sales all year round and there is no actual discount in any store anyways

Girl 2: Ok weird question. Would you consider wearing jeans to church if you were leading the singing portion?

Girl 1: Of course why not? you are fully covered.. not as if you gonna go in revealing stuff. Just get a decent top and not t shirt to go with it.. should be fine

Girl 2: I was gonna wear the new tank top with a sweat over it, the jeans, and the black on nude shoes. They keep saying I dress up too much

Girl 1: That should do.. trial run at the church is a good idea.. hehehe

Girl 2 Lol. It just feels weird and just wrong. Always a good trial run….. Church is much more judgmental than anywhere else.

Girl 1: Well jeans r like any other trousers now a days...

Girl 2: I know. I kinda hate that though….

Girl 1: Why?

Girl 2: I never wear jeans often ever. I wore a pair of jeans in 2008…. that was the last time. I like my business pants, skirts, khakis, jeans. Not my fav and it seems wrong for church

Girl 1: Heheheheh I like jeans there was a time I lived in them.. but when I put on a lot of weight I did not buy any.. too embarrassing.. in fact getting clothes was bad. I have some Indian gear which I used to bring out in summer while in winter I used to buy those cotton or denim legging kind.. T shirts and large jumpers or fleece..

Girl 2: See I've got the chunky going on but I am also oddly shaped. No hips or butt, skinny legs, but a gut! So I tried on a pair and I could've used the hips to fly somewhere

Both burst out laughing.

Girl 1: I know what you mean I find that the other way round get something big enough for the hips and butt and you can fit another person at the waist

Girl 2: I tried on the skinny jeans and I had two extra folds in the butt and legs even though I have a fat tummy…

Again they giggled and I was like sitting on the small bench in there and trying not to laugh loudly.

Girl 1: heheheh so you must then look like a lollipop..

Girl 2: Yeah. I have a fat tummy and below the hips looks like it belongs to a different person! I kind do look like a lollipop!!

Girl 1: so there is someone out there with a small upper body and fat lower one.. ahahahahah

Girl 2: Oh yes. There is.

Girl 1: I donna discriminate in my body parts... fat is distributed equally

Girl 2: And I'd like the top half back!!! hahahahaa

Girl 1: Well u gotta to go hunting? Give an ad in the papers?

Girl 2: Lol something

Girl 1: How about a vid on youtube.. cos strange things go viral on it …..   instant celeb.. then one would have to stand in a queue to speak to ya

Girl 2:  I don't know if that's what I want to be a celeb for. A skinny bottom half!!

Girl 1: Well that’s the fastest way.. am sure there is someone out there who wants just like you to be reunited with half their fat self

Girl 2: Lol. True

Girl 1: ……might be hankering.. sitting in a burger joint and stuffing themselves in order to get the balance right

Girl 2: as I starve myself for balance

Girl 1: that’s it…. you can appeal to the sense of balance in people. You sing well so maybe a catchy tune and a jog like the Gangham style

Girl 2: With my luck the skinny top half would belong to a man!!!! LOL……No hips butt or boobs

Girl 1: hehe nothing to be sneezed at….. you can get a boob job..

Girl 2 starts laughing.

Girl 1: a 36 c... big but not too big.. give a nice cleavage….. go well in the new tank top... see there you are built you a nice body.. and got you kitted out for church..

Girl 2: Lol!!! Oh dang. I'm all set up now!

At this point I burst out laughing and there was sudden silence in the fitting rooms. I quickly picked my things and crept out before the girls came out and saw who was eavesdropping.

Life is fleeting

Intellectually I have always understood that life is fleeting. After all time is relative is it not? So are the years spent by humans felt to be longer than the days or months of the life of insects as felt by that insect? Maybe since time span that is the life of a bug is its life time and so felt to be long. In comparison maybe we humans think we live longer lives and so can disregard the fact that life is fleeting.

What started this train of thought? Well this morning, since it is a glorious, hot, sunny day, I decided to do my laundry. My laundry room is outside the house, on the side of the back veranda. Understandably I have to keep the room locked and so first thing I have to remember, is to unlock the door. While I was doing that I noticed something dark on the side of the white wall. As I pulled the latch that blob moved and there was a nice big spider. I am not scared of the spiders but I am aware that there are many poisonous ones here. Though it was not as big or as pretty as the last spider that made a huge web outside the kitchen window, it was still fairly big and black.

As I looked, it uncurled its legs and shifted to try and hide in the small groove formed where the wooden plank overlaps the next one. I smiled at it reminded me of an ostrich burying its head in the sand. The added laundry room is pretty flimsy as the walls are just wood planks and when the washing machine goes into the spin cycle the walls vibrate in sympathy. When I returned to hang the washing I found that the spider was on the move. It probably did not like this strange vibration that shook its floor! It moved off the wall and into the large empty plant pot that I have stored at the side with other small pots. I stopped and looked at it, wondering should I put it out at the bottom of the garden? Or into the bushes at the side? If I left it there was it likely to try and get into the house as I do know we have some small ones with mighty long legs running about occasionally. Then I thought why annoy the spider. Just leave it there and keep an eye that the back screen door does not remain open or even ajar? Yes I would leave it alone, thinking I was being good and doing it a good turn.

Little did I know….. some time later I was looking out of the kitchen while getting my breakfast. I saw that different birds were coming up to eat some pieces of bread I had chucked out for them. Then I noticed that one blackbird was coming towards the veranda and I went to see if it needed shooing off from my plants. I stopped at the window as I could not see the bird and wondered where it went. Just then it flies out with something in its beak. As I watched it sat on the grass and dropped what it had in its beak…. Aahhh the spider……… The bird must have good eyesight to locate this spider on the side of a pot on the veranda. I watched while it slowly picked the spider apart and ate it. A large breakfast for the blackbird this morning. In hind sight for the spider’s sake I should have taken it out into the back of the garden into the bushes.

This breakfast of the bird suddenly brought the phrase ‘life is fleeting’ to my mind. I am sure the spider when it came meandering into my veranda had not thought its life was going to end. It was, may be, looking for the next place to make its web and think of catching some food. It might have had some babies waiting for it to bring some food. The day would have started for it as any old sunny hot day which brings out all creatures early in the morning or evening as the day is blazing hot specially in this heatwave. Suddenly, in just a flash the bird hopped in and grabbed it. Wham the life ended. Did its life flash before its eyes? Were there regrets and wishes unfulfilled? Or is that only supposed to be for human being? Does it worry about what will happen to its family? Does it worry about the possessions like us? There are a million things that are likely to come to mind of a human, was it the same for that spider? What is a good turn for one may not be such a good turn for another.

Life is fleeting savour every moment and live as if it’s your last. Whatever does that mean? I think if I lived as if each moment was my last I probably would be unbearable. In fact it would not make for a comfortable living should even one person adopt this attitude and become selfish. However, one needs to remember that life is short and so not to spend it in strife, stress, anger, pain, jealousy and sadness. Live life with positive emotions and stop and smell the roses, dream the dreams, feed your soul, share life with loved ones and laugh. For you never know where the abrupt end will come just like the spider.

Cake

I love my cake

There is for every occasion a cake

The lovely soft sponge of heavenly cake

The varied tastes of varied cake

The dark glossy chocolate cake

The pale vanilla Victoria sponge cake

With lovely icing flowers on the cake

Without any fancy decorations on the cake

Some with fresh fruit in the cake

Others with dried berries and raisins in the cake

With or without booze, it makes me high this cake

Nuts galore in my cake

I find it hard to name a favourite cake

As my favourite is a CAKE