I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for a review here and on my blog Samwise Reviews. It was my first introduction to the Teahouse Detective, and going into it I had no idea what it was about and had never heard of this character or author before. It was definitely light, simple reading, nothing too deep or complicated. I enjoyed it, but the cases weren't gripping or passionate. The characters sat at a table and discussed 13 different cases, and while they were different and had unexpected endings, I found this lacked the excitement you would find in Sherlock Holmes. It was a good way to pass the time, but I'm not sure I would seek out other books in this series.

This also worked for the "Character Who Wears Glasses" part of my 2020 reading challenge. ( )

Note: I accessed digital review copies of this book through Edelweiss and NetGalley. ( )

The Teahouse Detective: Unravelled Knots

Author: Baroness Orczy
Publisher: Pushkin Press
Pages: 320
On Sale: June 2020
Genre: Mystery, Short Stories
Stars: 3/5

From the Publisher:

It has been twenty years since Polly Burton last saw the Teahouse Detective, but one foggy afternoon she stumbles into a Fleet Street café and chances upon the cantankerous sleuth again. The years have not softened his manner, nor dulled his appetite for unravelling the most tortuous of conspiracies, shedding light on mysteries that have confounded the finest minds of the police.

How did Prince Orsoff disappear from his railway carriage in-between stations? How could the Ingres masterpiece be seen in two places at once? And what is the truth behind the story of the blood-stained tunic that exonerated its owner?

From the comfort of his seat by the fire, the Teahouse Detective sets his brilliant mind to work once more.

I received an early reading copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for a review. It was my first introduction to the Teahouse Detective, and going into it I had no idea what it was about and had never heard of this character or author before. It was definitely light, simple reading, nothing too deep or complicated. I enjoyed it, but the cases weren't gripping or passionate. The characters sat at a table and discussed 13 different cases, and while they were different and had unexpected endings, I found this lacked the excitement you would find in Sherlock Holmes. It was a good way to pass the time, but I'm not sure I would seek out other books in this series.

This also worked for the "Character Who Wears Glasses" part of my 2020 reading challenge. ( )

For my tastes in detective stories, this collection of The Old Man in the Corner stories was rather boring. My expectations were probably high after enjoying The Scarlet Pimpernel. The action is quite passive in this series of short stories. The narrative is reiterated, often in a first person format with 'Polly', and an old fellow in a teahouse who takes up a discourse on the mystery.

There was very little mystery, in fact. The chapters are presented as more of a puzzle, with pieces being dropped in the telling. Suspense and heightened engagement are absent. This approach may be more reflective of a dated style of murder mystery rather than poor writing. For readers who enjoy solving literary puzzles, the collection may be very appealing. ( )