Review: The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie

July 27, 2019.Reading time 3 minutes.

Opening sentence: “The intense interest aroused in the public by what was known at the time as ‘The Styles Case’ has now somewhat subsided.’ The Mysterious Affair at Styles has its place in literature history as not only the first Hercule Poirot story, but as the first novel ever published by Agatha Christie. Set in 1917, […]

Review: Hercule Poirot’s Christmas by Agatha Christie

December 22, 2018.Reading time 4 minutes.

This edition published by HarperCollins 1998 (First published 1938) / 219 pages Opening sentence: “Stephen pulled up the collar of his coat as he walked briskly along the platform.” ‘I feel like reading a book to get me in the Christmas mood’, I thought. ‘Yes, why not see what Poirot is up to over the […]

Review: Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie

October 8, 2018.Reading time 3 minutes.

Audiobook narrated by David Suchet / Running time: 7:59 Whenever I conjure up a picture of Hercule Poirot in my mind, it’s basically always David Suchet playing the iconic character (pictured below). He just so perfectly embodied everything about Poirot – from his moustaches to his mannerisms and accent (David Suchet is English but cracks […]

Review: Five Little Pigs by Agatha Christie

September 15, 2018.Reading time 3 minutes.

Five Little Pigs by Agatha Christie Opening sentence: “‘Do I remember the Crale case?’ asked Sir Montague Depleach. Today would have been Agatha Christie’s 128th birthday, so it’s only fitting that I post about one of her marvelous books! Five Little Pigs sees legendary detective Hercule Poirot take on an interesting case. He gets a visit from Carla […]

Review: The Rise and Fall of Becky Sharp by Sarra Manning

August 29, 2018.Reading time 4 minutes.

Published September 2018 by HarperCollins / 386 pages Opening sentence: “BATTLE OF THE BIG BROTHER BEAUTIES!” I need to start this review with an admission: I have never read Vanity Fair. So the fact that The Rise and Fall of Becky Sharp is a contemporary retelling of said book is a little lost on me. […]

Review: Peril at End House by Agatha Christie

June 3, 2018.Reading time 3 minutes.

Peril at End House by Agatha Christie. Audiobook narrated by Hugh Fraser. Opening sentence: “No seaside town in the south of England is, I think, as attractive as St. Loo.” As with all Christie novels, there is always a hook, a twist, an unexpected element that makes it stand out from your average murder mystery […]

Review: Brighton Rock by Graham Greene

May 23, 2018.Reading time 3 minutes.

Brighton Rock by Graham Greene Opening sentence: “Hale knew, before he had been in Brighton three hours, that they meant to murder him.” I grew up in Brighton and remember reading this book at school, being caught up in the excitement of actually studying a famous novel that was set in my home town. I […]