Death in the Clouds by Agatha Christie

I absolutely love a good classical mystery story, so I adore everything I read by the likes of Christie and Doyle. This book was no different. My interest in this specific Poirot story comes from the Doctor Who episode which contains a gigantic wasp, death and space science (and Catherine Tate, such a great episode!), so when I spotted it in a charity shop I just had to pick it up! I ended up reading the whole thing in one day, reading a lot whilst traveling for a field trip and then finishing off the book once I was home.

As always I loved Christie’s writing style which engaged me and managed to make me emotionally invested in a large number of characters and their lives and relationships. The distractions and false accusations provided by others within the story are always entertaining and distract me well from the true culprit, and as always when Poirot reveals the truth I am shocked and surprised. Within this book I was also upset, as I had become so invested in a particular storyline, but it was not to be.

I personally find that, although they will run well if read in order, you don’t need to read the Poirot series in numbered order, so feel free to pick and chose those that sound most interesting to you! I personally want to read all of them, so I’ll have to slowly keep collecting them over time!

The Mystery of Three Quarters, an homage to classic mystery

I adore classic mystery stories. I’ve loved the original Sherlock books for as long as I can remember, as well as Agatha Christie’s writing, so when I spotted this little gem on NetGalley I just had to request it and luckily my request was granted!

This is the third book in this new installment by Sophie Hannah in the Hercule Poirot series and follows Poirot investigating an apparent murder where a forger has pretended to be him and has accused individuals of the crime via letters. This, of course, intrigues him and he begins to delve deeper into the mystery that has been laid out.

The writing style is done very well, and really gives you the feel of a classic Christie book. There are obviously imperfections in the writing, however, it is a well written piece and incredibly enjoyable. I found myself speeding through the book, and it was finished in no time at all. Always a sign of a good book for me. I definitely want to go back to the first two books Sophie Hannah released and delve into those too, as I can only imagine how much I’ll enjoy them. If you enjoy a traditional mystery then definitely pick this up. Great fun, enjoyable plot twists and all-in-all something that fits in well alongside Agatha Christie and Arthur Conan Doyle.