This recipe comes from the cookbook, Christmas Cookies. I was given this years ago for Christmas but never made anything from it.
My new resolution for Spring Cleaning, is use my cookbooks or get rid of them. So I decided to make a cookie from this, even though Christmas is eight months away.
Background on the Cookie:
“These delicious tea cakes were made by an Aunt Cornelia (“Neal) on special occasions and holidays, using hand-churned butter and eggs she gathered from the hen-house. This southern Georgia version dates back to the turn of the twentieth century. “
**Dough has to be chilled**
Ingredients:
1 Cup of Butter, Softened
1 Cup of Granulated (White) Sugar
1 Large Egg, Lightly Beaten
1 Teaspoon of Vanilla Extract
3 Cups of All-Purpose Flour
1 Teaspoon of Baking Powder
1/2 Teaspoon of Baking Soda
1/2 Teaspoon of Salt
1/2 Cup of Milk
White Sparkling Sugar
Directions:
Beat the butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy.
Add one cup of sugar, beating well.
Add the egg and vanilla; beat well.
In a separate bowl: combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
Add the flour mixture and the milk to butter mixture, alternating between the two. Begin with adding half the flour mixture, then add the milk, and finish with adding the flour mixture.
Mix at a low speed after each addition, until just blended.
Shape dough into two discs.
Wrap the discs in wax paper and chill for at least one hour.
After having chilled, preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Roll each disc to 1/4 inch thickness on a floured surface.
Cut with a 3.5 inch round cookie cutter; and place one inch apart on lightly greased baking sheets.
Sprinkle with sparkling sugar.
Bake for 7-8 minutes or until lightly browned.
Cool for one minute and then remove to wore racks to cool.
Makes about two dozen.
Thoughts After Baking:
When I took it out of the fridge it was super hard and I was unsure if it would come out okay.
But after being in my hands it quickly became super sticky, so make sure you flour the rolling pin and the cutting board.
But after all that this cookies were super good. Not too sweet and perfect for tea time.
The Sign of the Four (Sherlock Holmes #2) by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
**Contains Spoilers**
So the second book of Sherlock Holmes has us go on as equally an interesting adventure.
We begin the case with a Miss Morstan coming to Sherlock to get assistance with a problem. And immediately Watson finds himself attracted to her.
“In an experience of women which extends over many nations and three separate continents, I have never looked upon a face which gave a clearer promise of a refined and sensitive nature. “
Miss Mostan comes on the recommendation of her employer, a Mrs. Cecil Forrester, who Sherlock Holmes helped before. Her father was an officer in an Indian regiment, and sent her to a boarding school in Edinburgh after her mother died. She stayed there until she was seventeen, when her father took 12 months leave and planned to come home. He telegraphed her in London than he was safe and to meet him at the Langham Hotel. When she arrived she couldn’t find him, and the manager told her he was there but left.
Since then no one has seen him since and the police have been unable to discover anything.
Luggage was left at the hotel with nothing missing. Her father had only one friend lived in London, Major Sholto, but he didn’t even know that Captain Morstan had returned to the country. That was December 3rd, 1878, ten years ago.
But then six years ago, on May 4th, 1882; as advertisement appeared in the newspaper asking after a Miss Mary Morton, saying it would be to her advantage to answer.
When she did s small cardboard box came to her containing a large pearl, but no note.
Since then every year on the same day, May 4th, a similar pearl arrives. She took them to an expert and they were pronounced rare and valuable.
But this morning she received something different; a note that troubles her.
London, S.W.
July 7
Be at the third pillar from the left outside the Lyceum Theatre to-night at seven o’clock. If you are distrustful bring two friends. You are a wronged woman and shall have justice. Do not bring police. If you do, all will be in vain. Your unknown friend.
I wonder…
Sherlock agrees to take the case, planning for Dr. Watson and him to accompany Miss Morstan on her meeting.
Holmes looks at the note, studying it and leaves to find the answer to what pricked his mind.
While he is gone Watson can’t get Miss Morston out of his mind, but tries to move past it, Who could want an ex-army surgeon, with a weak leg, and weaker bank account?
Holmes returns much later than planned with some news. Major Sholto died on April 28, 1882. Within a week of his death a pearl arrives for Miss Morston and follows every year? A letter talks about a wrong that has happened to her. What other than her father’s disappearance could be the wrong? And why presents, unless Sholto’s heir knows something about the whole thing.
Miss Morston comes in the carriage, and they start away. She can’t believe Major Sholto would do anything, as he was her father’s best friend. However, she has a new clue to throw in the mix. A piece of paper found with his belongings that no one could quite figure out what it was. She gives it to Sherlock.
Sherlock examines it and sees that it is from India, part of a blueprint for a large building, with a + and “3.37 from left” written in red ink. In the left hand corner, a symbol that looks like four crosses in a line with the following
++++ The sign of the four- Jonathan Small, Mahomet Singh, Abdullah Khan, Dost Akbar.
I wonder…
Sherlock can’t see how it relates now, but asks Mary to hold onto it.
They head to Lyceum Theater where the crowds are thick. Before they even reached the destination point, they are approached by a coachman. They are invited into a coach and travel to an unknown location, a house that appears to be the only one on the block that is occupied. They are met by an Indian servant, who lets them know that the sahib is waiting.
The sahib is Mr. Thaddeus Sholto, Major Sholto’s son. The house on the outside may look worn and neglected, but in this room are riches. After they introduce themselves Thaddeus asks Watson to examine his heart, as he worries about it.
He reveals that Miss Morston father is dead, that he died of a heart attack. (But then why wasn’t the body found?)
He wants them to help settle this matter, to be a united front against his brother Bartholomew. He then tells his story. Major John Sholto was a part of the Indian army but retired 11 years ago and moved to Pondicherry Lodge in Norwood. Thaddeus and Bartholomew lived in luxury with many Indian servants. However all was not happy. Their father was afraid to go out alone and hired ex-prize fighters as body guards. He avoided men with wooden legs, and shot at one once; who was later revealed to be a harmless tradesman. In 1882 he received a shocking letter, that nearly caused him to faint. He suffered previous medical conditions and by April was reaching the end.
Major Sholto then shared his guilt at never helping Miss Morston and asks his boys to give Mary her share of the Agra treasure, but not until he died. Morston and Sholto had come into a large treasure and brought it over from India to England. When Morston came from India he meet with Sholto and wanted his share of the treasure. Sholto and him argued about what was fair, with Morston becoming angry and his weak heart gave out, making him fall, crack his head, and die. Major Sholto then told his son to make sure that Mary received the father’s share and that the treasure was hidden…
After asking them to promise that, Major Sholto started to yell and scream “keep him out”. The two brothers turn to look and see a bearded man with a wooden leg. They try to get him, but he escapes. The next morning the whole house was searched and one message left behind.
The sign of the four
Their father died and then the two brothers dug everywhere searching for the treasure. Bartholomew didn’t want to part with the pearls, but Thaddeus sent them as they was his father’s last wish. The two argued and Thaddeus left to set up his own home. Yesterday, Thaddeus received word that the treasure was found, and valued at half a million.
The group sets out to talk with Bartholomew, Watson a little saddened ay he state of affairs as to how could a millionairess ever want him?
When the reach Pondicherry, they find a strange state of affairs. The servants will let Thaddeus in but no others. To make things even stranger, Bartholomew hasn’t been out of his room all day. And even though he is in there and expecting them, there is no light in the window. Strange.
Thaddeus goes in while the rest wait outside. Mary is frightened and grabs Watson’s hand.
Inner squeal!
They don’t wait long before Thaddeus comes running back out. He knows something is wrong but not what, they all rush indoors and up the stairs to his room.
He and Watson break down the door and see Bartholomew with a hideous smile fixed upon his face. Bartholomew is dead.
Above him there was an opening large enough for a person to pass through. A piece of rope on the ground and a brown, close-grained stick, with a stone head like a hammer. Beside it a note
The sign of the four
By his ear was a long dark thorn stuck into the skin. A poisoned one according to Sherlock. Watson grows grim at them ever figuring things out.
“On the contrary,’ [Sherlock Holmes] answered, ‘it clears every instant. I only require a few missing links to have an entirely connected case.”
Meanwhile, Thaddeus has discovered that the treasure is gone. Yesterday they lowered it into the room through the ceiling and locked it up at ten last night. What happened since then? Holmes sends Thaddeus to tell the police of the death and assures him he will figure this out.
Holmes deduces it was the one-legged man aided by another, a sailor; and they dropped one of them in through the hole in the ceiling.
The police arrive and suspect Thaddeus of killing his brother, just what Thaddeus feared. Sherlock urges the police to follow his lead. The first man was a Jonathan Small (one of the original four). He’s small, poorly educated, with a wooden leg. The other, too little info yet to determine who he is.
Watson takes Mary home and then heads to a home near the water’s edge to pick up Toby, a dog with the best nose for hunting down criminals.
When he returns he discovers that not only has Thaddeus been arrested, but the gatekeeper, housekeeper, and Indian servant.
The two examine the house closer, seeing the path that the one-legged man took. They also find his thorns dropped in his hurry to leave. They then set Toby upon it and head out after him.
Watson is still mystified as to what happened but Sherlock sets him right. Two officers were in command of convicts and learned an important secret about where the treasure was buried. Jonathan Small drew a map, putting his name and his associates in the corner. The officers took the treasure, one bringing it over from India. Jonathan Small couldn’t get it himself as he was a convict and in jail. What had upset Major Sholto, was that he had received a frightening letter, a letter about Small’s escape. He then tries to protect himself from the one-legged man. Small tried to get the treasure, but his presence interrupted Shlolto from revealing it to the sons. He searched the whole house but found nothing.
Smalls kept watch and when the brothers finally found the treasure he and his associate broke in and killed Bartholomew, escaping with the treasure. Toby takes Watson and Sherlock down to a wharf, where they discover that the one-legged man and his associate have gone in the water.
The two head home while Holmes employs his street urchins to root out some info. He does figure out more about the assistant. He turns out to be a cannibal from the island Andamand.
Watson heads over to Mary to give her an update and stays for most of the day. When he returns home nothing has come to pass. That night Sherlock dresses up as a sailor and heads out to the river to try and find some answers.
It was a long day with no answers as Watson waits for Holmes’ return. Athelney Jones, the inspector joins them and soon an old man arrives, but it turns out to be Holmes himself.
That night they head out to the ship Aurora and capture Smalls. He reveals all that Sherlock Holmes surmised is true, even Tonga, the islander, having killed Bartholomew.
Watson brings the box to Mary and tells her of the good news, The two break it open but find it empty.
Where is the treasure?!
But this gives Watson the courage to tell Mary how he feels. And she responds the same.
Yay!
They return to Smalls but he won’t reveal a thing about where the treasure is, other than he has hid it where none shall find it. They never discover its whereabouts, Smalls goes off to jail, and another case closed for Sherlock.
It ends with Watson sharing how he is engaged to Mary, soon to be married. So ends this story, but many more are right around the corner.
Thoughts After Reading:
I loved it. I thoughts it had great action, drama, mystery, everything you could want.
I highly recommend it for any Sherlock fan.
And I’m pretty sure that this story is what The Great Mouse Detective writers took a lot from when creating their story. The peg-leg, dressing up as a sailor, Toby, missing father, etc.And I love that film so it definitely already set the foundation for how much I would enjoy this.
But whether you are Sherlock or Basil fan, you should definitely take a look over this book. It was fantastic.
As Tuesday’s book review was on a fantasy/science-fiction book, I thought that the perfect recipe to pair it would be one from The Star Wars Cookbook: Wookie Cookies and Other Galactic Recipes by Robin Davis.
This is similar to the Joanne Fluke recipe, Hole in One, but doubles it! Is it doubly delicious? Or a double fail?
Ingredients:
1 Wide Slice of Sourdough Bread (at least 7 inches wide)
1 Teaspoon of Butter
2 Small Eggs
Salt & Pepper
Directions:
Put the bread slice on a cutting board.
Using a 2-inch round cookie cutter, cut out two holes side by side, but leaving bread between and around the holes.
Put a skillet on the stove and switch on the medium heat.
Put the butter in the skillet.
As butter melts, spread it evenly around the bottom of the pan.
Place the bread slice in the pan and break an egg into each hole.
Add salt and pepper.
Fry until the clear parts of the egg turn white, about 1 to 2 minutes.
Slip a spatula under the bread and flip it over quickly and carefully enough to not let the eggs slide out of the holes.
Cook for one minute more.
Slide toast on a plate and a plate and enjoy.
Thoughts After Reading:
So this did not work out at all like the image in the cookbook. The bread kept ripping and egg went everywhere.
But I did not see that they needed to be small eggs, I just used the regular large ones.
So I will try to make this again and make sure I use small ones. But otherwise it was a delicious way to start the morning.
For more recipes from theThe Star Wars Cookbook: Wookie Cookies and Other Galactic Recipes, go to Wookie Cookies.
Norbert “Dinky” Binky and his older brother, Albert “Pinky” Binky have started their own detective agency.
On the case!
Dinky thinks that as partners they should be equal, but big brother Pinky decides that being older means he gets more benefits and more of the money gained from their detecting.
While in between cases, the two brothers are selling cups of lemonade for 2¢. While selling, Chub Doolin, catcher, comes along. He hires the brothers as his mitt was stolen, and the team will be unable to beat the Wildcats without it.
Chub hands over the ransom note he was given:
Ha Ha! I have your mitt. Now the wildcats will beat you. Guess who? [Skull & crossbones]
Soon Wildcat players, Spike Brown and Joe Parker stop by. They have information they shouldn’t about the missing glove.
When Spike gets his money to pay, a pink note comes falling out. It is the same type as the one that Chub was given. It has a different message.
Tell the team we can win easy now. I hid you-know-what in the house. Those dopes will never look high enough to find it unless one of them is a monkey. Mel. [Skull & Crossbones]
Pinky figures out that Mel must be Melvin Krantz, the wildcat shortstop. Pinky thinks on the note and decides that the house in the note must be the team treehouse.
When he gets to the house it is too easy. And good reason to be, as it was all a trap to get rid of the Cubs best pitcher, Pinky. Pinky doesn’t know what to do.
Dinky comes along as he has found the glove, having figured out that the second note was a trap. He blackmails his brother into letting him be in the game and get equal share in the detective agency.
Thoughts After Readig:
This was not a good mystery.
I mean it didn’t even explain how Dinky figured everything out, he just did.
Emilie & the Hollow World (Emilie Adventures #1) by Martha Wells
Emilie is living in an 19th century-esque world. She has decided to run away as her aunt and uncle are extremely controlling and always insinuating that she is a wanton women, ready to “whore” it up.
Seriously!
She is going to visit her cousin who runs a school, and work there. Only problem, she doesn’t have enough money to sail there.
But Emilie is of plucky stock and decides to stowaway on a boat. Unfortunately, she ends up stumbling upon a thief ring and a group of sabotagers. She saves the ship she was going to stowaway on, one belonging to Lord Engal.
As the ship sails away, it turns out that they are leaving the country and heading to the center of the Earth. The ship is lead by Lord Engal and Lady Marlende as she is searching for her missing father, Dr. Marlende, his ship damaged inside the Earth.
Also on board is Kennar, a Cirathi which is a creature from inside the planet but traveled out to seek aid for Dr. Marlende.
When they go inside the Earth, they encounter all kinds of strange creatures, get involved in an underearth war, and find themselves caught in betrayal and sabotage.
Emilie is going to have to use every ounce of nerve she has to overcome these obstacles and survive.
Hopefully…
Thoughts After Reading:
I thought this book was fantastically written. For those who are a fan of steam punk, Jules Verne, and fantasy stories, will love this book.
I thought the characters were all well written and fun. Emilie was a normal girl, who was thrown into incredible situations and able to overcome and work with them.
I loved her interactions with one of the sailor/sorcerer Daniel and hope more develops from them. They were hilarious and fun.
Aw, how cute.
I only had two issues with this book:
1) I hate when books have the character Emily spelled Emilie. For some reason my brain keeps reading it as Emil. It’s not the author’s fault, but just a pet peeve of mine.
2) I wish the author gave more background as to Emilie’s world (the non-hollow part). The author just drops us into it, but we never get a lot about the culture. I mean I assume it is similar to our earth, but I don’t know. I think the book would be stronger if they gave us more on that aspect.
So I had a recipe on Gingerbread Wands which I thought would go perfect with Gingerbread Cookie Murder, but I lost the recipe and can’t make them.
So instead I will post a recipe from Joanne Fluke, but if you are interested in Gingerbread cookies, check this recipe out.
Thoughts Prior to Cooking:
So the recipe comes from Apple Turnover Murder. This recipe intrigued me as it only had a few ingredients and seemed incredibly easy to make.
She calls it Vanilla Crack, but that has negative connotations so I changed the name.
Ingredients:
Non-stick Cooking Spray or Butter
1 Box of Soda Crackers ( I used saltines)
2 Sticks of Salted Butter (1 Cup, 8 oz, 1/2 lb)
1 Cup of White Granulated Sugar
2 Teaspoons of Vanilla Extract
1/2 Cup of Salted Nuts (optional)
Directions:
Line a 10 by 15-inch cookie sheet with foil.
Spray the foil with non-stick cooking spray or rub with butter.
Cover the pan completely with a single layer of crackers, salt side up. Set aside
Preheat oven at 350° Fahrenheit.
Combine the butter, sugar, and vanilla in a heavy saucepan. Bring it to a full boil over medium heat, stirring constantly.
Boil for five minutes, stirring constantly. Don’t stop stirring.
Pour the mixture over the crackers as evenly as possible. Spread it about if needed.
Sprinkle the nuts on top.
Slide the pan into the oven for ten minutes.
Remove pan from oven and let it cool. When they have thoroughly cooled, peel off foil, and break into pieces.
Thoughts After Cooking:
When I ate the first piece I thought they were okay. But then, I had to have another, and another, and another…you see why they are called crack. They are addicting! But there is no drugs in it, it is that toffee taste that is so good it destroys your self-control.
These were really good, and there is a chocolate version that I am eager to try.
Gingerbread Cookie Murder (Hannah Swensen #13.5) by Joanne Fluke
So I hate these Hannah Swenson holiday specials.
They are boring, predictable, and just avenues to include a ton of Christmas type recipes. But I started something, and now I am going to finish it. The review must go on.
Plot Synopsis:
It is Christmas time once again in Lake Eden. Ernie Kusak, driver, chauffeur, etc; has recently won the lottery, moved into Hannah’s condo, and started playing Christmas music incredibly loud and ALL THE TIME.
I don’t like it.
He told Hannah he would turn it down tonight, so hopefully he does.
Yay!
That night Hannah goes out with Norman, his mother Carrie, her new husband Earl, Hannah’s mother Delores, and her new boyfriend Gary Jenkins. He just moved into town, and bought Ernie’s old house.
When Hannah gets home she discovers that Ernie negated on his promise and that all the music is on and full blast.
Luckily someone has called the police, so Mike is there. Ernie’s ex-wife loans Mike her spare key to get into the house and they find Ernie’s dead body.
Who killed him? And why?
Thoughts After Reading:
So what did I think?
So what are my issues with this book?
1)Helpful Hannah
Mike questions Lorna, as we all know the wife/ex-wife usually has good motive for murder. Hannah tries to help by telling her she didn’t do it and it’s horrible to have her be accused. HELLO Hannah if you interfere with Mike’s questioning he is never going to let you in on anything. And two, you don’t know that she didn’t do it. She could be the killer.
Seriously Hannah!
2)Mike Questions Hannah as the killer
Really Mike? You think that she could be a killer. My goodness that is the dumbest thing I ever heard. Why are the deputies so stupid!
3)How does Hannah run her business?
How does Hannah make any money selling her goods at 50¢?
4)The Cops are Idiots
Now it hurts me to write this as I like police officers. My family has had them throughout and I respect them. But man they are so stupid in this book series.
The cops seem to get dumber in each book. In this one they think one man killed Ernie, but only wiped half of his fingerprints, leaving the crucial ones. Really? Smells like a frame-up
5)Fluke Knows Nothing of Cell Phones.
So Hannah discovers that Gary’s phone number was the same on the winning ticket. You know you don’t pick your number when you get a cell phone, you have one assigned. So it is pretty strange to choose “these” influential numbers that mean something, when he couldn’t do that.
6) It is All Circumstansial Evidence
And the dumbest thing to this book? How Hannah discovers the reason for murder and the guy admits it. So all the numbers on Gary’s phone number all have a certain special meaning to him. These are also the ones he chooses for the lottery ticket, the one Ernie claims is his. He has it framed and hanging on the wall, Gary spots it and kills him. Hannah figures it out and when she questions him, all Gary has to do is deny it. There is no proof he was in there, just because they use the same numbers doesn’t mean anything. It all is circumstantial. All he has to do is say he doesn’t know anything, let them prosecute the other guy and go on his way. Why would he give himself up? It’s just dumb, dumb, dumb.
So during the week I go to a coffee shop in the morning to kill an hour before work and while there buy a cup of Earl Grey tea.
I drank so many that I had enough to get any drink free! I asked the barista what she recommended and they said a London Fog- Earl Grey tea with Vanilla and heated, foamy milk. I tried it and LOVED it!
I had to have more of it. So I decided to make it myself.
Ingredients:
Tea Kettle/Teapot
Earl Grey Tea (I use loose leaf but you can do bagged)
Milk
Vanilla Creamer
Milk Frothier
Sugar (optional)
Tall Glass
Tea Mug or Teacup
Directions:
Put your kettle or teapot on and heat the water.
Prepare your loose leaf tea (one teaspoon per cup of water). [I typically drink out of a…
So this year marks something very special. It is the 100th anniversary of America’s entry into World War I.
In fact today is the very day it started for us Yankees. In honor of that, I decided to post a World War I mystery (even though it takes place in England and occurs before we jumped on board.
Oh well…
Before we start, I would just like to thank all those who served (whether alive or dead), thank you for serving your country and protecting it.
A Duty to the Dead (Bess Crawford Mystery #1)
Bess is a nurse in WWI. She has encountered many wounded men, but no loss has affected her like one of her most recent patients. She actually fell in love with him and before he passed, and was given a message to deliver:
“Tell my brother Jonathan that I lied…I did it for Mother’s sake. But it has to be set right.”
After surviving a mined ship, Bess is given some time to recover from the incident and her injured arm. She decides this is the best time to travel and release the words given to her as the young soldier lay dying.
When Bess does deliver the news, none of the family seem to understand. Not Jonathan, his brother, mother, etc. Bess finds this odd, but this is just the tip of the iceberg.
It turns out there is another brother, Peregine, one who has been placed in a psychiatric hospital for his insanity and for the murder he committed of a young girl years before.
But when he is sent to the family homestead to be cared for as he has become ill; Bess finds him to be not what she expected. In fact the opposite of the insane, stupid, beast that has been painted for her.
But then Peregine escapes from the asylum and follows Bess home. He holds her hostage in order to prove his innocence of the crime that occurred years ago.
Is he telling the truth?
Is Peregine telling the truth and is a wronged man? Or is Bess forced to follow the whim of a murderer.
I wonder…
Thoughts After Reading:
Amazing! I couldn’t stop reading as I had to find out what happened next. Which brother did it? Is Peregine innocent or mad?
For more historical fiction mysteries, go to Paper Roses
Phyllis “Flip” Ryan is a tall, leggy, blonde studying for Ph. D. in electrical engineering. She has trouble with people taking her seriously as they don’t expect supermodels to be interested in how things work. But Flip has been working hard on her studies and has proved all wrong.
But then Flip is propelled in another direction. When the star of the English department and famous author of Southern romances, Dr. Lilith Weilman, is murdered; Flip decides to take on the case and discover who the killer is.
This won’t be easy as Lilith had plenty of secrets and enemies.
Besides that someone has gone through a lot of trouble to erase information from her computer, information that would be vital in tracking down the killer.
As Flip prepares to use her cool logic and sizzling intellect at this puzzle, she must tread carefully in order to protect her university and her life.
Thoughts After Reading:
I really don’t like this mystery as it is not memorable.
Meh
Yes it is so bad that my brain is unable to keep any part of it in my mind, it is so just so forgettable.
I thought the characters and the story were super bland. I’ve read this three times and the only thing that stays rooted in my mind is that the English professor’s like to LARP which Flip found insane.
I also recall how the book seemed unfinished at the end with Flip contemplating her future goals with the future of her current relationship. Her boyfriend doesn’t want to leave the area as he is doing well at work, but Flip knows she will have to move to find work. It almost felt like the author was planning on writing another novel, but I guess he just was unsure how to end this one as their are no sequels and this book was published in 1998.
The rest of it was boring, bland, and just not worth your time. Just skip it.
“The Murders in the Rue Morgue (C. Auguste Dupin Mysteries #1)” from Ten Great Mysteriesby Edgar Allen Poe
Thoughts Before Reading:
This was the first Edgar Allan Poe story I ever read. It came in an anthology and I loved it. It is just so creepy, dark, and great.
This is also believed to be the first detective mystery, Dupin being the forerunner to Sherlock Holmes in observation and sleuthing, Many believe that Doyle coped Poe with his character fifty years later, even though Doyle insists that Holmes is based on a professor he had while attaining his medical degree.
Plot Synopsis:
C. Auguste Dupin is from a very good family, but has lost all his money and is now poor. He has just a little bit of money, which enables him to live and afford his greatest vice, books.
Dupin lives with his friend, the nameless narrator, and astounds him with his deductive reasoning, being able to tell what he is thinking!
One morning they look in the paper and see the headline EXTRAORDINARY MURDERS.
The night before Madame L’Espanaye and her daughter, residents of Rue Morgue, were heard screaming in the middle of the night. People heard and tried to get in, but every door and window was locked on the ground floor. They eventually gained access by using a crowbar.
When they came in the room they found it in incredible discord and destruction.
WHAT!
The women were found was a razor caked with blood and gray tresses also dripping in blood, looking as if ripped from the head. Both women’s necks were cut so badly they were practically separated from their necks. Both women were also shoved up the chimney.
Everyone was questioned but no one knows why it was committed, who did it, or how. Everyone who came in heard the voice of whoever committed the act but could not understand the language. Some think it was Spanish, others Italian, etc.
Dupin becomes interested in the case and follows it in all the papers. The only thing that was open was a window on one of the higher stories. But how could anyone get in?
Dupin believes he has the case solved and places an ad in the newspaper to catch the killer. Has he figured it out? Who could have done such a horrible act?
Thoughts After Reading:
I love this story so much. You’ve got to read it for yourself.
Mysterious Eats 
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