22 December 2018

Another Little Christmas Murder - Lorna Nicholl Morgan


When Dilys Hughes finds herself snowbound in the middle of a bleak and lonely stretch of Yorkshire, she has no option but to accept help from passing motorist Inigo Brown, who is on his way to visit his uncle.
Arriving at his uncle's remote country house, Wintry Wold, the couple encounters a less than warm welcome from Inigo's new young aunt, Theresa. Why is she reluctant to let Inigo see his uncle, and is he really as ill as they are told?

As the snowstorm brings more stranded strangers to their door, Dilys starts to realise that all is not as it seems at Wintry Wold. When the morning brings news of the death of Inigo's uncle, Dilys sets out to investigate - was it a natural death, or was it murder?
Blurb taken from Goodreads. 
I've taken to collecting some of the classic crime books; there are so many out there that are really worth a read, and I love seeking them out. I got this one for Christmas last year, and so decided it would be a good idea to wait until the next festive season to delve into it. 

It is utterly charming, from start to finish. The beautiful thing about classic crime is that it's so easy to read, and in many ways it's silly, with plots that are simple and not particularly believable. But this book was so easy to read, so sweet, and so quaint, that it just isn't necessary for it to be complicated or shocking. Books like Another Little Christmas Murder are wonderful because they are so simple. I loved every moment of reading this mystery, and I devoured it in a couple of days.

Rating: ⍟⍟⍟⍟
*spoiler alert*

20 December 2018

Lethal White - Robert Galbraith




When Billy, a troubled young man, comes to private eye Cormoran Strike’s office to ask for his help investigating a crime he thinks he witnessed as a child, Strike is left deeply unsettled. While Billy is obviously mentally distressed, and cannot remember many concrete details, there is something sincere about him and his story. But before Strike can question him further, Billy bolts from his office in a panic.

Trying to get to the bottom of Billy’s story, Strike and Robin Ellacott—once his assistant, now a partner in the agency—set off on a twisting trail that leads them through the backstreets of London, into a secretive inner sanctum within Parliament, and to a beautiful but sinister manor house deep in the countryside.

And during this labyrinthine investigation, Strike’s own life is far from straightforward: his newfound fame as a private eye means he can no longer operate behind the scenes as he once did. Plus, his relationship with his former assistant is more fraught than it ever has been—Robin is now invaluable to Strike in the business, but their personal relationship is much, much trickier than that.
Blurb taken from Goodreads 


I'll admit it: as well as being a huge fan of crime fiction, I also love the Harry Potter books. So when I heard that Robert Galbraith was actually a pseudonym for J.K. Rowling, I obviously had to check the books out. The Cuckoo's Calling didn't disappoint, with a lot of drama and a great crime-solving duo. The Silkworm and Career of Evil were even better, and I was so excited to get my hands on Lethal White

Rowling continues to meet my high expectations, with just the right balance of time given to the actual mystery, and the relationship between Cormoran Strike and his partner, Robin. You can't help but admire the precision that must have gone into the planning of this book, because there is so much going on, and yet it all ends up very neatly tied together. It does become a little over-complicated in places, but the vibrant characters and gritty storyline carry it off, and it works. 

If you like your crime fiction complex and sharp, and your characters a little rough around the edges, this is definitely one to look out for.

Rating: ✫✫✫✫

*spoiler alert*

14 December 2018

The Mystery of Three Quarters - Sophie Hannah


Rating: ✫✫✫✫✫

Hercule Poirot returns home after an agreeable luncheon to find an angry woman waiting to berate him outside his front door. Her name is Sylvia Rule, and she demands to know why Poirot has accused her of the murder of Barnabas Pandy, a man she has neither heard of nor ever met. She is furious to be so accused, and deeply shocked. Poirot is equally shocked, because he too has never heard of any Barnabas Pandy, and he certainly did not send the letter in question. He cannot convince Sylvia Rule of his innocence, however, and she marches away in a rage.

Shaken, Poirot goes inside, only to find that he has a visitor waiting for him -- a man called John McCrodden who also claims also to have received a letter from Poirot that morning, accusing him of the murder of Barnabas Pandy...

Poirot wonders how many more letters of this sort have been sent in his name. Who sent them, and why? More importantly, who is Barnabas Pandy, is he dead, and, if so, was he murdered? And can Poirot find out the answers without putting more lives in danger?
Blurb taken from Goodreads. 

I initially had reservations when I heard that Sophie Hannah was going to be writing new Poirot stories. I am such a fan of Christie's novels, and I was very aware that, although they could bring the famous detective back to life, they could also be very disappointing, and ruin the image of the character in my mind. When The Monogram Murders was released, I was very pleasantly surprised, and found myself really enjoying the new take on the Belgian detective. Then came Closed Casket, and I loved that even more. It goes without saying that I was incredibly excited for the release of The Mystery of Three Quarters. And it was even better than the others.

Agatha Christie wrote her murder mysteries with a careful balance of drama and sophistication, which is perfectly replicated by Hannah. She has clearly paid careful attention to the small details that make the Belgian detective so recognisable, and this is channelled throughout the book. The plot is also very well thought out - complex yet easy to follow, and a host of characters that carry the story well. Any reservations I had about a new set of Poirot mysteries continue to be relieved, and this book captured the essence of classic Christie beautifully.

✼spoiler alert✼