Shannon's Library

At 127 pages, I would consider this more of a booklet than a book. A novella instead of a novel. A brief yarn, not a long-winded saga. But don’t let that keep you from reading it! It’s a delightfully, funny little booklet/novella/yarn!

I’m a big fan of murder mysteries taking place in quaint English villages, so this book was right up my alley. Agatha Christie and Hercule Poirot? Check! Magpie Murders and Atticus Pund? Check! The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie and Flavia de Luce? Check! Love them all! So, when I came across the description of this book, I knew I had to read it! The result? I don’t remember a time when I’ve laughed out loud so much while reading! Every page, every illustration had me chuckling.

The book opens with this quote from Sherlock Holmes…

It is my belief, Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin than does the smiling and beautiful countryside.

The author goes on to advise any tourists against traveling to the English countryside. But if they insist on going, she has written this guidebook so travelers will know how to not get themselves murdered. Obviously, this guidebook is written in a very tongue-and-cheek manner. You can’t take it too seriously. But if you’re willing to lighten up and laugh at the absurdity of it all, you’re in for a fun read.

The guidebook first tells you how to survive in the English village; which shops, sites and type of people to avoid. Then it moves on and does the same for the English manor. At the end of each section there is a quiz to see if you learned anything from her guidebook and, depending on your answer, you can see if you would have survived your visit.

I’m not going to tell you much more about this little book because you just need to experience it for yourself! But I will tell you one of my favorite sentences. The author mentions some of the various methods of transportation you might take to get to the countryside village…

In olden times, you would have arrived in a rumbling carriage, or perhaps by foot, tired and sore from the journey. Perhaps today you will arrive by train, that most murdery of conveyances.

“…that most murdery of conveyances!” So good! After reading Agatha Christie’s, “Murder on the Orient Express,” we all know how “murdery” train travel can be!

Do yourself a favor and go read this book! It’ll only take you an hour or so (if that), but it’s guaranteed to lift your spirits, forget your troubles and laugh quite a bit!